by Ella Frank
Julien pivoted toward the stairs at the shallow end, where Robbie sat with his back to the tiled wall. His hair was slicked back and he had a pair of sunglasses on, and standing between his legs, jumping up and down with glee was a grinning toddler dressed in a hot-pink, frilly swimsuit with matching pink floaties on her chubby little arms.
Her grey eyes were smiling as they focused on Julien, and as he swam closer, she said, “Catch, Papounet! Catch.”
Julien stood and held his arms out. She walked to the edge of the step and took a flying leap of faith toward him, and Julien swooped her up in his arms. Water droplets splashed up into her laughing face, and as they clung to the russet-colored curls that had escaped, she swiped them away and said, “Merde.”
Julien’s eyes widened, but before he could react, Robbie said, “Chloé Thornton-Priestley. You do not use that word, young lady. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
Robbie had certainly perfected that little speech over the past few months, their daughter, Chloé, having become quite the mimic of her fathers’ less-than-perfect language choices at times. And it didn’t matter which language they used; the impressionable little three-year-old was developing a rather well-tuned ear for it.
Chloé adopted a pout that rivaled Robbie’s, and then she turned her big bright eyes on Julien. “Oh, non.” Julien chuckled. “Your daddy is right. Don’t even try that look on me, bichette. It won’t work.”
“What are you talking about? It always works,” Priest said as he walked through the door to the deck and headed toward the loungers.
It was Friday afternoon, and Priest was still in his suit, shirt, and tie, but had removed his jacket. He had a bottle of sunscreen in one hand, a little white hat with pink polka dots in the other, and three towels under one of his arms.
As he reached the sun chairs, Chloé beamed at him, and Julien waded over to the edge, already knowing the routine. Priest dropped two of the towels onto the chair, and when he turned toward the pool, he smiled at the little girl, who called out, “Papa. Come in the pool, Papa.”
Priest crooked a finger at her, and when Julien hoisted her up over the edge, Chloé’s little feet were moving before they landed. She raced over to where Priest stood with a towel, and when she got there, he wrapped her up in it and blew a raspberry kiss on her cheek.
Chloé giggled and tried to squirm away, but Priest bundled her up and lifted her into his arms, rubbing his beard along her smooth cheek. “How’s my favorite girl this afternoon?”
“Bien,” she said with a grin, and then Priest looked at Julien and Robbie.
“And my favorite men?”
“Bien,” Julien said as he pushed away from the edge of the pool, and watched Robbie walk to where Chloé now had her arms wrapped around Priest’s neck.
“We’re all good,” Robbie said. “But this one is picking up someone else’s bad habits. Isn’t she, Jules?”
Chloé’s bottom lip stuck out, and when Robbie raised an eyebrow, she said, “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“Good girl,” Robbie said, and kissed her on the cheek. Then he did the same to Priest and scrunched his nose up. “Ohhh, it tickles.”
Chloé laughed like a loon, and Priest rolled his eyes. “When was the last time you put some sunscreen on, bichette?”
“She’s due for some more, actually,” Robbie said. “But she’s getting hangry, so we were just cooling off before we headed inside to fix dinner.”
“In that case,” Priest said, as Robbie picked up a towel to dry off his hair, “we might head inside, get her bathed and dressed, and we’ll meet you two in the kitchen.”
“I don’t wanna to take a bath, Papa,” Chloé said, but Priest was already walking toward the door.
“You know the rule, young lady,” Priest told her. “Bath before dinner. Especially after the pool.”
“But I don’t wanna,” Chloé said, with plenty of attitude to spare.
Julien couldn’t stop the chuckle that left him. He aimed his eyes at Robbie and said, “Oui, she’s definitely picking up on other people’s bad habits, isn’t she, princesse?”
Priest pulled open the door and then looked back. “Both of you have bad habits,” he said, and then winked. “That’s why I love you. Twenty minutes work for you?”
“Twenty minutes is parfait,” Julien replied, as Priest disappeared inside with Chloé.
As the door shut behind them, Robbie took his sunglasses off and tossed them on the lounger before diving into the pool. When he surfaced in front of Julien, he made sure to slide right up against him until Julien’s back was against the wall, and Robbie was against his front.
“Mmm,” Robbie said, as he kissed his way up Julien’s jaw to his ear. “Twenty minutes seems like an eternity without a sassy little three-year-old to watch over.”
Julien spread his arms out along the edge of the pool and wrapped his legs around Robbie’s waist. “It does, doesn’t it? So how are you going to spend it, princesse?”
“Well,” Robbie said as he flicked his tongue over Julien’s earlobe, and then ran his hands down to the erection in Julien’s shorts. “I could show you some of those bad habits you seem to think I have.”
Julien chuckled and turned his head to nip at Robbie’s lower lip, and when Robbie moaned and opened up to him, Julien let go of the pool’s edge to take hold of Robbie’s face so he could get a much deeper taste of that sweet, tempting mouth.
Stolen moments like this one, and the ones that came at nightfall, were taken whenever they could now that Chloé had entered their lives.
As Robbie pulled back, Julien kissed his way up his jaw and said, “Teasing me is certainly a bad habit, husband.”
Robbie shut his eyes and tilted his head to the side. “I’m not teasing, just giving you a preview. Tomorrow’s date night, and Chloé’s spending it with her aunt Penny and cousin Shayla.”
Julien raised his head and saw that Robbie’s eyes were close to sparkling. Penny had moved into the city around a year after they had gotten married. It had worked out perfectly in the end, since right around the same time, the three of them had started talking all things…baby. “I didn’t know that.”
“Mhmm,” Robbie said. “I thought we might go dancing. It’s been a little while, and I’d like to feel you and Priest all over me, and all up…in me—all night.”
“Putain.” Julien cupped Robbie’s ass and pulled him in close. “Does Priest know yet?”
“No,” Robbie said. “I thought I’d tell him tonight when I give him his bath.”
“Dieu,” Julien said, then chuckled and made himself let Robbie go. “You need to leave…now.”
Robbie flashed a cheeky grin as Julien swam to the other side of the pool.
“Go, troublemaker,” Julien said. “I’m sure Priest could do with a hand downstairs about now.”
“I’m sure you could do with a hand right now,” Robbie said, but moved to the stairs as he’d been told.
As he climbed out of the pool and the water streamed down over his lean frame, firm ass, and long legs, Julien was starting to think telling Robbie to go had been a mistake.
He palmed himself as Robbie strutted up the pool’s edge to the lounger, and after he picked up his towel and dried off, Robbie slung it around his neck, keeping that perfect ass on full display as he walked over to the door and called out, “Tomorrow night?”
“Oui,” Julien said, as Robbie aimed a final flirty look over his shoulder. “Tomorrow night.” Then Robbie disappeared inside.
ROBBIE COULD HEAR the sound of water splashing and laughter as he headed out of the bedroom, now dressed and ready for dinner.
He hadn’t bothered with a shower, figuring he’d take one once Chloé was asleep, so he’d just pulled on some shorts and a shirt before heading down the hall to the main bathroom, where he knew he’d find the two who were making such a ruckus.
When he got to the open door, Robbie did his best not to make a sound, so he could take a second to enj
oy the sight that greeted him.
Priest was kneeling on the plush bathroom mat beside the bathtub with his sleeves rolled up, and water soaking through his shirt where Chloé had splashed him. He had a grin on his face and a small container in his hand, and when he scooped up some of the water and said, “Shut your eyes, shut your eyes, shut your eyes,” Chloé squeezed her eyes shut and angled her head up toward him.
Priest guarded her closed eyes with his free hand, as he tipped the water over the remaining suds in her hair, and when she opened them back up and swiped at them, she said, “Again, Papa. Again.”
Priest chuckled. “The soap is all gone, bichette, and we have to get you out and dressed for dinner.”
“That’s right,” Robbie said, and when Priest and Chloé looked at him, Robbie couldn’t have stopped his smile if he tried. The likeness between the two looking up at him was so unreal that at moments like this, when they were side by side, it never failed to stop Robbie in his tracks.
When they’d first discussed using a surrogate to have a child, both Robbie and Julien had shocked the hell out of Priest by agreeing they wanted the baby to be biologically his—and Chloé was a dead ringer, except her hair was a couple of shades darker.
“You want to help Papounet make pizzas tonight, don’t you?” Robbie said, and Chloé’s eyes lit up.
“Pizza?”
“All the pizza you can eat,” Robbie said as he pushed off the door and handed Priest a bath towel. “So you better get out and get dressed.”
When Chloé gripped the edge of the tub and tried to get to her feet, Priest moved up on his knees, scooped her out, and then wrapped the huge towel around her.
As he got to his feet, Priest kissed Robbie’s cheek and said, “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“You’re welcome,” Robbie said, as he looked down at Priest’s wet shirt. “Why don’t I get her dressed for dinner while you get changed? I think you’re as soaked as she is.”
“I think you might be right,” Priest said, as he looked down at the little girl and tapped her on the nose. “For someone who complains about taking a bath, young lady, you sure do have fun in them.”
Chloé aimed an it wasn’t me look at Priest that had him shaking his head. “She gets that from you.”
Robbie scoffed as he wrapped his fingers around Chloé’s, and they all walked out the bathroom door. “Kind of like she enjoys playing in her bath, like you?”
“Mhmm. Exactly like that.” Priest winked, and even after all this time, Robbie’s cheeks flamed, and as he walked off toward the bedroom, Robbie heard him chuckle.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, bichette?” Robbie said, pulling his eyes away from Priest’s retreating back.
“I want to dress up for dinner. Like a princess.”
Ah, I’m so proud. “Well, of course you do,” Robbie said as Chloé waddled along beside him in her enormous towel. “Let’s go and see what you’ve got, shall we?”
Robbie guided her into her bedroom, plopped her down on one of the little white stools that went with her tea party setup, and then opened her closet with a flourish.
“Right,” Robbie said, adopting his most fabulous voice, making her entire face light up with a grin. “Let’s see here. No,” he said, and tossed a little blue skirt aside, then he went for a pink one and did the same. “No, no, no.”
Robbie continued as Chloé laughed, then he paused on the sparkly purple princess dress that his mother had given her for Christmas, looked over his shoulder at her, and nodded.
“This,” he said, and pulled the dress out and held it under his chin. “This is the one.”
Chloé bounced in her seat, and when Robbie held a hand out, she jumped off her chair and raced over to him.
Robbie brushed out her soft curls and dried them, then helped her pick out some silver slippers to match, and once she was dressed and fit for receiving, Robbie heard the distinct sound of a cook in the kitchen, and made a show of sniffing the air.
“Mmm. I smell something yummy,” he said.
Chloé tugged on his hand, pulling him toward the door. “It’s Papounet!”
“Are you sure?”
“Oui,” she said, as she picked up her taffeta skirt and headed toward the door like a princess on a mission.
As she hurried off in Julien’s direction, Robbie followed. One of her favorite things to do was watch Julien cook. Not that that was a huge shock—she was a smart one, after all. But what was so endearing about it was the pure joy both she and Julien got whenever he let her help out.
Chloé was his number one assistant, both here and at the restaurant, and they all had a feeling that they had a budding young chef in their midst—either that, or a princess in waiting.
“ROBERT’S BEEN GONE awhile,” Priest said, as he looked at the clock hanging above the fireplace. He and Julien were watching a movie on TV, as the day finally wound down and Miss Chloé was being read her bedtime story.
This week had been long, and Priest was looking forward to spending some quality time with his family over the next couple of days. Julien snuggled into his side and pressed a kiss to his jaw, and Priest wound his arm around his shoulders and tugged him close.
“This is nice,” Julien said, and Priest kissed the top of his head.
“It is. I swear, sometimes I forget what it’s like to sit in silence.”
Julien laughed, his chest vibrating against Priest’s side, making him smile. “Well, snatch up the minutes while you can. I don’t think silence is going to be a common thing in this house for many years to come now. Chloé is talking more and more these days. Her speech is incredible. Both English and French.”
“Of course it is,” Priest said. “She’s learning from the best.”
“Arrogant much?” Julien said.
“Am I right?”
“Oui. But you’re also arrogant.”
“I believe when it’s in reference to our child, it’s called pride.”
Julien grinned at him and nodded. “I believe you would be right. It’s not like that’s a huge surprise, though. She has your genes, mon amour. She was bound to be intelligent.”
“My genes, Robbie’s attitude, and your…persuasive ways. I almost feel sorry for the world. It hasn’t seen the likes of someone like our Chloé.” Priest craned his head to look over his shoulder again. “Speaking of persuasive ways, where is Robert? He goes in for one book and I swear we don’t see him for two hours.”
“Aw, don’t fret. You’ll get your turn with the princesse soon enough. In fact, he has something special planned for us tomorrow night, I’m told.”
“Does he?”
“Mhmm,” Julien said, and stroked his fingers down Priest’s chest. “He’s going to tell you tonight while he washes your back.”
Curious, and liking that idea, Priest flicked off the TV and said, “Let’s go find him.”
Julien pushed to his feet, and when Priest stood, he couldn’t help but take Julien’s lips in a long, sweet kiss. “Hmm, thank you for dinner, mon cœur. You and Chloé did an excellent job.”
“We did, didn’t we?”
“Yes. Maybe we’ll see a father and daughter restaurant one day,” Priest said as he took Julien’s hand and walked with him down the hall toward Chloé’s room.
“That’s up to her to decide. But should she want to, I would love nothing more.”
When they got to the bedroom door, they found Robbie, all right. He was stretched out on top of Chloé’s pink duvet with his arm wrapped around her shoulders and a picture book open on his chest. She was snuggled into his side, still wearing her princess dress, and the purple taffeta was sprawled all over Robbie’s legs, making Priest and Julien smile.
“Our two princesses,” Julien whispered. “Sleeping beauties.”
Priest wrapped an arm around Julien’s shoulders as he drank in the sight. “They make quite a picture, don’t they?”
“Oui. They do,” Julien said, then kissed Priest’s cheek. “Th
is family, you, them. You own my heart. All of you.”
Priest pulled Julien in close to his side and kissed his temple, and as he looked over at the two sleeping soundly on the bed, he couldn’t have said it better himself.
This family they had created was unlike any other, and yet perfect for them. It was built with love and acceptance, and if that was what one got from wanting an awful lot, then so be it. Because when the day finally arrived for him to take his last breath, Priest would be fully content knowing, we did it our way.
Thank You
Thank you for reading
CONFESSIONS: THE PRINCESS, THE PRICK, & THE PRIEST
I hope you enjoyed the final chapter of Robbie, Julien & Priest’s journey. If you did, please consider leaving a review on the site you purchased the book from. The men would be MOST grateful.
If you would like to talk with other readers who love this series, you can find them HERE at
Ella Frank’s Temptation Series Facebook Group.
Coming Soon
Phantom Desires
MM Standalone
Coming 2019
Special Thanks
I would like to thank everybody who picked up Confessions: Robbie and took a chance on a love story that made its own rules.
As we all know, Robbie Bianchi—sorry, Robbie Antonio Thornton-Priestley—has never walked to anyone’s beat but his own, and Julien and Priest were the perfect couple to take each of his hands and walk with him.
I have loved writing every single word of this book (even the harder ones) and yes, there were definitely difficult moments to get out. But now that this story has been told, I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.
So on with the thank yous!
Brooke Blaine. Thank you so much for putting up with my crazy breakdowns this year. I feel like I had more than usual, and you were right there as always to talk me through it and say, “Pull yourself together, woman.” You make my writing better, you help me see things in ways I might not have even thought of, and without you, my books wouldn’t be half of what they are.
