Confessions: The Princess, The Prick & The Priest (Confessions Series Book 4)

by Ella Frank

  “Because they’re already married, dear,” his mother said as though it were the most normal thing. Then she patted his arm. “There, there, don’t pout. That’s your own fault, remember.”

  Priest and Julien tried to cover a laugh, and Robbie rolled his eyes. “That’s not fair.”

  “Would it help if we told you we’d miss you?” Priest asked, and Robbie poked his tongue out.

  “I’ll keep your men company until they head off to bed,” Robbie’s nonna said, as Julien took her hand and escorted her to the couch.

  “That would make us very happy,” Julien said, and then came over to kiss Robbie on the cheek. “Bonne nuit, princesse. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  When Robbie frowned, Priest started to laugh.

  “Ugh, fine. Let’s go,” Robbie said to his ma. “I need my beauty sleep anyway.”

  “No, you don’t,” Priest said, and kissed his other cheek. “But you do need to rest. Good night, sweetheart. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Robbie and his ma headed upstairs and toward the bedrooms he and his sisters used to stay in whenever they came here for the summer. They were on the opposite side to the two guest rooms, which he figured was his mother’s intention, and when they finally got to Robbie’s room, she sat down on his bed and indicated the spot beside her.

  “Felicity told me you asked her to do the ceremony tomorrow.”

  Robbie nodded as he sat, and when he took her hand in his, Robbie heard her sniff. “Ma? Are you all right?”

  “Oh, yes. Don’t worry about me. I’m just…” She cupped Robbie’s cheek. “I’m just feeling a little bit emotional. That’s all.”

  Robbie placed his hand over hers and then kissed it. “Good emotions?” he asked, wondering if she was at all second-guessing the unusual union her son was about to enter into. “I know this might be a little awkward for you and Pa, but—”

  “Robert? Shh…baby. Stop worrying. They’re good ones. I’m happy and a little bit sad that my baby boy is all grown up. But mostly I’m so proud of the man you have become.”

  Robbie’s eyes welled, and when she let go of his hand to cradle both his cheeks, she said, “You have always been my sweet boy. The one who had a smile for everyone and wanted nothing more than to be loved. And for that reason, I always worried about you the most. That you would give your love to the wrong person—until now.”

  Robbie didn’t realize until she’d wiped away a tear that he was crying. But when she leaned in and rested her forehead to his like she used to when he was a boy, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  “A person would have to be blind not to see how much those two men love you. This might not be conventional, and it might not come with a legal document attached. But from the moment they asked your father and me for your hand in marriage, they became part of this family, and our family does not embarrass us, Robert. So tomorrow, you go out there and be proud of who you are, because that’s the man I raised, and that’s the man they love.”

  Robbie wrapped his arms around his mother’s waist, and as she kissed the side of his head, he shut his eyes and held on tight until, finally, he felt together enough to let go. He had the best family in the world. He’d known that a long time ago, but as he sat there with his mother, now going over tomorrow’s plans, Robbie realized that not only was he excited about marrying Julien and Priest, he was also excited to give them this.

  A family who would love and accept them—and occasionally drive them up the wall—and no amount of money could ever buy that kind of love or happiness.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Damn, the two of them make me feel like…wow

  ~ Robbie

  “BONJOUR, MON CŒUR.” Priest’s voice wrapped around Julien like a caress, as the sun crept between the sheer curtains of the lake house guest room and roused him from his sleep. “The sun is rising, the rain is gone, and you and I are marrying a princess today.”

  Julien smiled before he even opened his eyes, and when he finally did and turned his head, Priest rolled him to his back.

  “Bonjour,” Julien said as Priest stretched out alongside him, his head propped up on his palm. “You’re awake early. Couldn’t sleep?”

  “I could…” Priest said, as he lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to Julien’s lips. “I just found that I liked what was here better than anything in my dreams.”

  Julien grinned against Priest’s mouth, a sleepy chuckle rumbling from his chest. “Aren’t you charming this morning.”

  Priest kissed his way over to Julien’s ear and nuzzled in under it. “I’m charming every morning.”

  “Non, you are not.” Julien laughed as he rolled to his side and Priest slid his leg between his, and then slipped his hands into the back of Julien’s white briefs. “You are usually broody and silent until you are showered and caffeinated.”

  Priest eyed him for a minute, and then shrugged. “Fair point. But I’m never like that on my wedding days.”

  Julien put his hands against Priest’s chest and tested the muscle there. “True. You always seem to wake up very energized on those particular days.”

  “You should know; you’ve been there for both of them.”

  Julien kissed along Priest’s jaw, and when he hummed in the back of his throat, Julien pushed him to his back. As he placed a palm on either side of Priest’s head, Priest stared up at him, his grey eyes taking in every feature of Julien’s face, as though he were memorizing it for all eternity.

  “I love the way you look at me,” Julien said, as he ran his fingers through the thick auburn strands, and Priest widened his legs so Julien could settle between them.

  “I love looking at you. Honestly, I don’t know how I got so lucky that I get to do that for the rest of my life.” Priest ran his hands up Julien’s back and then traced his fingers down one side of his face. “You have such a beautiful soul, Julien. I always knew that. It’s right there in everything you do and say. But every day I spend with you, that I see you with Robert? I swear, I fall more in love with you. How is that possible? When I already love you so much?”

  Julien’s eyes blurred as he kissed Priest’s fingertips, then he shifted down the bed until he could lay his head on Priest’s chest.

  As Priest’s heart steadily thudded in his ear, Priest wrapped his arms around him, and Julien said, “I don’t know. But I understand how you feel.” Julien looked up at Priest. “He’s shown us new ways to love each other. Kind of incredible, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. It really is.”

  Julien smiled, thinking of their princesse sleeping somewhere else in the house, and knew that Priest was missing him just as much as he was.

  “Did you text him yet?” Julien asked.

  “No,” Priest said, and then smiled. “But he texted us about fifteen minutes ago.”

  Julien chuckled and looked over to their phones on the nightstand. “Of course he did.”

  “Ah huh,” Priest said, and then reached over to grab his. “I thought I’d wait for you to wake up so we could give him a call.”

  Julien kissed the center of Priest’s chest as he shifted up the bed so his head was propped up on the pillow against the headboard. As he unlocked the phone, Priest turned it around and showed Julien the message.

  Robbie: Good morning! Happy wedding day! I hope you both slept well. I tossed and turned ALL night. This bed is too big for just me. ~sigh~ I can’t wait to see you both today. Or text you. Or call you…

  Julien grinned, and could see the pout behind those words as clearly as if Robbie was standing in front of them. When neither of them had responded, a second message had come through, then a third, and then a fourth.

  Robbie: Or you know, you could call me maybe?

  Robbie: Great, now I have that song in my head.

  Robbie: Where are you two? The sun is up. Don’t tell me you’re actually sleeping in, Jules. Really? Today?

  Julien shook his head. “You could’ve texted him back. Put
him out of his misery.”

  “I could have,” Priest said, as Julien got off him and moved to sit up. “But I find that I’m a little weak this morning. One suggestion from him that he come over here, I would’ve caved like a house of cards.”

  Julien held his hand out for the phone, and when Priest gave it to him, Julien leaned down and kissed him on the lips. “I don’t blame you at all, mon amour. I would’ve done the same thing. But I think the two of us can handle him.”

  “That’s what everyone keeps telling us,” Priest said.

  “Then let’s see if they’re right.” Julien hit Robbie’s number, and not halfway through the first ring, their princesse answered.

  ROBBIE STARED AT the second hand of the clock as it tick-tick-ticked its way around too damn slowly for his liking. It was creeping up to seven thirty now, and he’d been staring at it since five.

  Ugh, so much for beauty sleep. He’d tossed and turned all night in the bed he used to sleep in just fine whenever they’d come to the lake house. But not last night. No. He’d lain there most of the night thinking how big it felt, how…empty, and had come to the decision that he never wanted to sleep anywhere alone ever again.

  Figuring Julien would be up by now doing his yoga—or if he’s lucky, Priest—Robbie sent them a quick message to let them know that he was up too. Just in case they wanted to, you know, call him on their wedding day.

  Robbie stared at the phone, waiting for a reply, and when nothing came through, he sent off another text, and then another, and when he still got no response, Robbie let out a deep sigh and texted: Where are you two? The sun is up. Don’t tell me you’re actually sleeping in, Jules. Really? Today?

  Feeling slightly desperate, and a little pathetic for how much he missed them, Robbie tossed back the covers and walked over to the large windows that overlooked the lake, and just like that, he forgot all about his restless night.

  The morning sunlight was shimmering across the calm water and filtering through the property’s tree line to electrify the vibrant colors of the fall leaves. The rich shades of red, orange, and yellow made the morning appear as though it were bathed in gold, and the arbor that had been delivered yesterday evening sat still and silent, beautiful in its solitude, as it overlooked the sparkling water.

  Robbie could see his mother down there already, slipping the bouquets of orange roses, burgundy chrysanthemums, and yellow daisies into the organza bows, and Felicity was behind her putting the programs on the chairs with little gold pumpkins on top to hold them in place.

  Robbie brought a hand to his heart to try and calm its erratic thudding. But he knew it was no use. This was his wedding day. This moment? He’d never have again, and as he stared out at the morning greeting him, he knew it was going to be perfect.

  The sound of his phone buzzing had Robbie turning away from the window to see Priest’s name and number, and he quickly snatched it and hit answer, before turning back to once again soak in the magnificent view.

  “Bonjour, princesse,” Julien said, and Priest added, “Good morning, sweetheart.”

  “Good morning,” Robbie said, and bit his lower lip as he imagined them across the house in the guest room, lounging in bed together.

  “How are you this morning?” Priest asked, and if he’d called five minutes earlier, Robbie’s answer would’ve been much different.

  “I’m wonderful.”

  “Oui, you are that,” Julien said, making Robbie want to swoon. “But how are you feeling? You said you couldn’t sleep in your text?”

  Robbie leaned against the wall and watched his mother and Val begin to decorate the arbor with the same beautiful flowers as the bouquets. “Yeah, last night was long.”

  “We’re sorry to hear that,” Priest said. “Why don’t you try and get another hour or so in now?”

  “Are you kidding? I couldn’t sleep now if I tried,” Robbie said. “Plus, I just looked outside and realized…” Robbie trailed off, wondering if they’d think him silly.

  “What, princesse?” Julien said. “What did you realize?”

  Robbie felt his cheeks heat even though he was standing on his own. “Just that I don’t want to miss any part of today. Not one second of it. This is our wedding day.”

  “Yes, it is.” Priest’s confirmation sent a shiver racing up Robbie’s spine.

  “It’s beautiful out there this morning,” Robbie said. “Have you seen? It’s the perfect day.”

  “Of course it is, sweetheart. We wouldn’t let it be anything other than perfect for you.”

  Robbie chuckled as he fiddled with the hem of his pajama top. “I miss you both,” he confessed, and then shook his head. “That sounds dumb, I know, but—”

  “It doesn’t sound dumb at all,” Julien said. “We miss you too, and can’t wait to see you today.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Oui.”

  “So you haven’t forgotten what I look like?” Robbie said. “You don’t need me to come and remind you, maybe?”

  “I told you he’d do this to me, didn’t I?” Priest said, and Robbie could hear the smile in his voice.

  “Do what?” Robbie asked.

  “Test his control,” Julien said. “Priest is feeling a little bit weak this morning when it comes to you, princesse. Better stay out of his path until he can claim you.”

  Robbie loved the sound of that, like, a whole lot.

  “But to answer your question,” Julien said, “non, we have not forgotten what you look like. You are quite unforgettable, mon cher petit.”

  Robbie lost his ability to form a coherent sentence, because damn, the two of them were making him feel like…wow.

  When Robbie didn’t answer, Julien said, “Robbie? Are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m just—” Robbie paused as his eyes shifted to the clock he’d been cursing earlier, and he realized that, oh shit, he only had four hours to get everything ready and look the best he’d ever looked in his life, and that suddenly didn’t seem like long enough. “I have to go. It’s nearly eight o’clock. Why didn’t you tell me it was nearly eight?”

  Julien chuckled. “Désolé.”

  Robbie ran a hand through his hair as he walked to the mirror in the bedroom, and when he saw his reflection, his eyes widened in horror. “Yes, well, now that I know, I need to stop talking to you two and go and get pretty.”

  Priest hummed. “You’re already pretty.”

  Robbie shook his head. “Trust me, if you saw me right now—”

  “I’d feel exactly the same way,” Priest said. “But go, before I try and convince you to come over here.”

  Robbie grinned to himself. “I love you. Both of you.”

  “On t’aime aussi,” Julien said.

  Reluctant to end the call, even though he knew he needed to get moving, Robbie lingered. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “We’ll be the ones waiting for you at the end of the aisle,” Priest said, and Robbie’s breath caught as he conjured up that image.

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Au revoir, princesse,” Julien said, and then ended the call, and Robbie kicked his ass into high gear and went off in search of his sisters. It was time to get this day officially underway, because the sooner it began, the sooner it would end, and then he would belong to those two amazing men for the rest of his life.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  We are meant to be with one another,

  and if that means we want an awful lot—then so be it

  ~ Robbie, Julien, & Priest

  “WELL, WHAT DO you think?”

  Priest’s voice had Julien turning away from the French doors, where he’d been watching the guests below locate their seats. As Priest walked out of the bathroom dressed in a classic tuxedo, Julien ran his eyes over the polished shoes, up the long, tailored legs, to the fitted black waistcoat, and the black buttons on the crisp white shirt. Then, knotted at the base of his throat, was an elegant black bow tie. His beard had been trimmed close, his hair
swept back, and his grey eyes were watching Julien closely.

  Julien walked over, smoothed his fingers down Priest’s lapel, and said, “J’en ai les jambes qui tremblent.”

  “Merci,” Priest said, as he took Julien’s hand and stepped back to look him over. “You look devastating. Robert is going to want to run down the aisle when he sees you.”

  “Then we better get down there, non?”

  “Yes, I suppose we should,” Priest said, looking at the clock. It had just turned twelve forty-five, and the ceremony was set to begin at one. “I imagine most of the guests are already here.”

  “Oui, that was what I was just looking at,” Julien said, and he tugged on Priest’s hand, leading him to the doors. “Did you ever think in a million years that we would marry into a family who not only accepts us, but has invited their friends and family to celebrate their son marrying two men?”

  As Priest shook his head, they watched Felicity lead Elliot to his seat, and Valerie help Penny down the aisle to a padded one off to the side—poor, still pregnant Penny.

  “No,” Priest said, and brought Julien’s hand up to kiss it. “But I can’t say I’m that surprised, considering the kind of man Robert is.”

  “Oui. It all makes sense now, doesn’t it? How caring he is. How open with his heart.”

  “It does, and it shows. There’s a lot of love down there for him right now.”

  “And even more up here in this room,” Julien said, as he looked back to the scene below. Robbie’s sisters and Sofia had created a fall fantasy wedding for the man they all adored, and the only things now missing from it were his grooms. “It’s time we go down there now and join them, don’t you think?”

  Priest nodded, and Julien knew that he understood what he meant. For so long, the two of them had been on their own due to circumstances beyond their control. But today they not only joined their lives with Robbie’s, but also with his sisters, his parents, his nonna, and soon a niece.