Royally Duched (Duched #2)

by Xavier Neal

  “Your birthday hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll see how you handle it. But I’m telling you now, no ponies.”

  She rolls her eyes at the declaration.

  “I’m serious! The stable at the palace is full and the trouble of having one built by our future home would be horrendous. The paperwork. The permits. And then there’s the proper equipment-”

  “No ponies.” Unable to resist, she asks, “Can you horseback ride?”

  “Of course I can horseback ride.”

  “What do you mean of course? Is there some sort of law that requires you know?”

  “Who do you think makes these bizarre laws your mind keeps conjuring up.” My hand gives my messy hair a ruffle. “My great grandmother, my grandmother, and mother all enjoyed horseback riding.”

  Brie’s face stiffens. “Oh God, is this like a requirement to become a Kenningston? Must love horses?”

  “No…” I dip my head a bit to the side. “Though now that you bring it up, Soph loves horseback riding too. She, however, doesn’t get much time to enjoy it. Aside from the constant royal responsibilities, she’s very hands on with the cancer research foundation her and Kristopher run.” Our eyes lock. “Why? Do you hate them?”

  A small sigh flees. “They terrify me.”

  “Horses?” The requirement to stifle down my disbelief is hard. “You’re afraid of horses.”

  “Save your judgment there Lone Ranger. Horses are very unpredictable.”

  “Perhaps untamed horses yes.”

  “Even the tamed ones! They’re like one bad carrot away from biting your hand off!”

  Her fear, which feels irrational to me, pushes the laughter I was trying to swallow back up my throat.

  She glares. “It’s not funny. They can cause some serious harm unlike the Disney mascots you’re too much of a pussy to be around.”

  “Hey!” I point a finger. “Those things are terrifying as a child! Who wants an oversized cartoon character waddling towards them!”

  “About 90 percent of the children in the world.”

  “That seems high…” My denial is met with a smirk. “Alright, we’ll let the horse thing go for now, but I would at least like to take you near the stable. Just so you can see how calm and gentle they are.”

  Rather than agree, Brie changes the subject. “How was your party yesterday?” She takes a beat to hide her disappointment in the question she should’ve been there to know the answer to. “Swanky? Busy?”

  I give the side of her face a stroke. “I wouldn’t really know. I didn’t stay for long.”

  Her face quickly coats in confusion. “What do you mean you didn’t stay long? It was your party.”

  “Well, I spent the beginning of yesterday showering, shaving, and trying to recover my dignity.” My hand falls to grip her closer. “And then I spent the remainder of the day ring shopping. Afterwards, I went by the party, late, and left early to catch a flight.”

  “It’s your jet. It wasn’t exactly going to leave without you.”

  “Yes, but I wanted to be back in the states when the clock struck midnight. I wanted to spend my entire birthday as near the woman I love as possible.”

  Brie tilts her mouth up to sweetly touch mine. A small sigh shifts my lips apart and our tongues tenderly twist. When she pulls back, she quietly coos, “I love you, birthday boy…”

  “Finally, a little sweetness on my special day.” She gags and tries to wiggle out of my clutches yet fails. With a wide grin, I state, “I love you as well.”

  Her head falls back to my chest and I pull the blanket up to cover her beautiful naked body. She rests her engagement ring next to her face before she finally shuts her eyes. For the next several minutes, the two of us lie in serene silence, simply enthralled with the moment. My fingertips roam her soft, brown skin, cradling her to slumber quite swiftly. Once she’s there I helplessly stare in adoration.

  This really has been the perfect birthday…

  I carefully reach for my phone on the nightstand beside me. It takes a bit of careful, creative movement, but I eventually angle it to take a proper self-photo. I don’t hesitate to post it, though I know I should.

  Don’t ruin this for me with your think about the big picture conversation. Come on. Lighten up. It’ll be harmless. Well…almost harmless. And hey! Let’s give me a little credit for not flashing my ass again.

  My fingers fly across the keys to type the caption:

  Of course she said yes.

  #BestBirthdayEver

  I hit the post button to Instagram and continue to admire the photo of us.

  You know, technically, this is our first engagement photo. Do you think she’s going to be upset she wasn’t even awake for it?

  An unexpected yawn creeps its way out of me. I put my phone on vibrate, discard it back to the bedside stand, and wrap my arms back around Brie where they belong.

  And that’s the God’s honest truth. I belong here with this woman until death do us part. We belong together and I know as long as we never forget that, we can make it through the choppy, unknown waters ahead.

  The incessant sound of my phone vibrating across the nightstand successfully shifts my lids open. Between groans of irritation and yawns from having to wake up long before my body is ready, I reach out for the device, confused as to why my brother is requesting a video chat so early in the morning.

  Seriously, the sun still has morning breath…

  Not wanting to personally be the one to wake up Brie, but not thrilled at the idea of her possibly waking up because of the call, I wrap the sheet around my waist, and slip onto the other side of the balcony glass door.

  I flop myself into the patio chair and answer the call.

  Kristopher doesn’t hesitate to speak first. “Before you go to bed at night, do you just lie there and contemplate the best ways to fuck up everyone’s morning?”

  He’s quite chipper.

  Before I can attempt a comeback, he continues shouting, “Do you have any bloody idea how much hell you’ve caused?”

  “In general?”

  Soph tries to hide her snicker behind her hand in the background, which causes me to smirk.

  “This is no laughing matter, Kellan!”

  “I don’t even know what the matter is at this point.” A yawn breaks out. “And frankly, whatever it is, you’re honestly telling me it couldn’t have waited until the sun completely rose on this side of the world?”

  My brother opens his mouth to reply yet is immediately sent silent by our father’s over powering voice. “Is that Kellan!?”

  You wanna be Kellan for me? I fear this is not going to end with extended birthday wishes.

  The moment his seething face appears on the screen beside Kristopher’s the hairs on the back of my neck run for cover.

  I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him livid. Of course, I’ve typically been the one to make him that way, but that’s beside the point. The actual point is, I’m rather accustomed to the ‘my son is a royal pain the ass’ face, however this one is something much, much worse. Pretty sure the vein in his neck is about to pop. First Brie’s father has a heart attack, now I might’ve given mine a stroke. We’re not having much luck in the parental health department.

  “I asked you to do one bloody thing, Kellan. One.”

  I press my lips together.

  “One!” He shouts. “I asked you to handle this with sophistication and tact!”

  Isn’t that two things?

  “And what do you do? You get bloody engaged?!” His hands fly in the air. “Bloody engaged!”

  Did I forget to mention that when I told Brie with or without his blessing, I was being completely truthful? He hadn’t given us a blessing in regards to that yet. Not that it would’ve mattered. Living without her is insufferable. I knew the moment I had the chance to make things right, it would include a proposal to insure we never had to go through anything like this again.

  “How is posting about it on bloody Instagram using
tact?!” The volume of his voice increases again and Sophia cringes behind him in pain. “Why didn’t you tell us before you left?! You absolutely knew you were going to bloody ask-”

  “I didn’t know she was going to say yes-”

  “You bloody well did!” He shrieks.

  Hoped. I hoped she’d say yes. But you’ve met Brie. There was actually a serious chance she’d say no. She likes saying that word to me.

  “You should’ve given us the opportunity to get in front of the social media storm you’ve created!”

  I reluctantly nod my head in agreement.

  In my defense I was going to tell them this morning when I actually woke up, but I’m assuming that’s beyond irrelevant now. Think I’m trending?

  “And you know what you’re going to do?” He begins, hands dropping onto the desk where the laptop is located.

  Instantly I announce, “I will not take back my proposal. I will not pretend it was a joke or a mistake or anything other than exactly what it was, no matter what consequences I have to face.”

  “You’re right.”

  His agreement digs up unsuspecting dread. “Pardon?”

  “You’re absolutely right. You will not take back your proposal. You will in fact be celebrating it.”

  “I’m confused…”

  “You and your new bride to be will be here to make a formal public announcement to the country Sunday morning and then will be attending an engagement party that evening, per previous decrees declared by my mother’s mother and honored as well as expanded by your own.”

  My back braces itself against the chair. “And if we aren’t?”

  His nostrils flare in outrage. “Then I will be on the jet to bloody drag the two of you home to make sure it happens.”

  An uncomfortable feeling settles in my chest.

  “You’re doing this the right way, Kellan.” He points a stern finger at me. “There are many traditions that are going to be broken, but denying the people the right to celebrate and express their joy for the Kenningston family will not, I bloody repeat, will not be one of them. Your mother was a beloved member of the country because she was willing to allow us to connect to it in a way previous queens did not. So you will be here in your finest tailored suit with your happiest bloody smile. Do I make myself clear?”

  I quietly reply, “Yes.”

  “Good!” He storms away out of the frame leaving my brother to continue with the look of disapproval. Once again he starts to speak only to be beckoned away. “Kristopher! Now!”

  “Right!” My brother calls and follows him away.

  Soph leans down and peers into the camera with a shit eating grin. “Congratulations. I thought it was an absolutely sweet announcement. Very simple. Basic. And most importantly, very Kellan.”

  The corner of my lip tries to kick up. “Thank you.”

  “According to the pissed of publicity team, your photo is the highest trending photo from the country of all time. Successfully passing me and Kristopher’s wedding picture.”

  Playfully, I ask, “Is that why Kris is grumpy? Bitterness for being second place?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Doubtful. He’s probably relieved they’re talking about this as opposed to you secretly trying to dethrone him.” Her husband summons her and she lets out a groan of displeasure. “I have to go too. Apparently, it is a palace effort to throw this impromptu party.” She purses her lips together. “Fuck you for that.”

  I chortle and she winks before shutting the camera off.

  Not certain if that could have gone any better…

  With my phone in hand, I stroll back into our bedroom, not surprised to see Brie having made her way to the middle. The way the comforter is playing peek-a-boo with her nipples when she breathes completely erases the trepidation my family left on my tongue.

  Talk later. Sex now.

  After banishing my phone back onto the nightstand, I drop my sheet, and crawl in bed beside her. The moment my mouth swiftly sucks her deliciously dark nipple into it, she arches into the action. I give it a small tug between my teeth. Brie whimpers at the feeling in what appears to be encouragement. I switch to the other side, repeat the action, and reverently stare up at her response. As she wiggles in acceptance, I redirect my attention lower, leaving a trail of lecherous licks in my wake. My hands slide her thighs apart and I eagerly latch my mouth onto her glistening clit. She sacrifices a heavy sigh while I savor the sticky sensation.

  Best breakfast for a growing cock…

  I grip her hips and feverishly push my tongue against her impatient pussy. Brie’s fingers immediately wind through my tangled locks to sharply yank me closer.

  Her voice faintly begs, “More…”

  Happy to oblige, I nip lightly, suck stronger, and ruthlessly roll my tongue against her clit as well as her soaking wet opening. She continuously curves off the bed while my name tumbles mindlessly in repetition from her parted lips. Her hunger feeds mine, encouraging me to savagely devour every offered portion of her pussy. My tongue slips its way in and out, up and down, and even grazes the lower territory she’s embarrassed to admit she enjoys.

  Nothing wrong with a good lick against that tight hole.

  The sound of Brie’s breath beginning to hitch pushes my efforts into overdrive. A tantalizing tremor takes hold of her alongside a symphony of cries. Her thighs quiver and clench around me yet I don’t bother stopping. I wildly ravish the orgasm and continue to stake my claim where it properly belongs.

  When Brie’s moans finally begin to resemble sweet sobs of exhaustion, I let go and place a gentle kiss on top the slick, bare area.

  She locks her eyes onto mine. “Is that the official royal wakeup call for the future Duchess of Rockbridge?”

  A smirk instantly appears. “It can be…”

  With a giggle, she reaches out for me. Our lips briefly connect to let out tongues touch and she hums softly at the taste of her own flavor.

  I must admit ladies, it is quite sexy when a woman has no problem with having her own juices on her tongue.

  I fall back onto my half of the bed. “And I want you to officially be duchess before the end of the year. How does that sound?”

  Brie’s naked body climbs on top of mine. In a dreamy daze, she lowers herself onto my throbbing cock, and coos, “Perfect…”

  And it will be, even if we have to suffer though the nightmare of a royal engagement party first. But that discussion is going to wait. There’s still making up to do, so if you’ll pardon me, I have a naked fiancé to make come…again.

  I lean against the edge of the gray leather couch, my nerves trying desperately to strangle my voice. “You want me to come in and interview on Monday?”

  “That’s correct,” states the secretary on the other end of the phone. “Would you prefer the 9 a.m. opening, or 11?”

  Who wants to interview that early in the morning? What? Oh shit, you’re right! What if this is some sort of pre-interview test to see how punctual I can be?

  “Nine is fine,” I state with the most confidence I can.

  “Perfect. I have that written on the calendar now. If for some reason you need to switch to the 11 o’clock appointment we will keep it open for you as well. Please, feel free to call us back at any time before your interview if you have any additional questions or concerns.”

  My fingers continue to fidget with my locket. “I will. Thank you.”

  “Have a nice day,” the woman politely says before ending the call.

  Holy shit! McCormick and McCordick is the leading host of art events in the world. That’s right. The entire world. We’re talking top of the list. They have six branches around the globe, two of which are in this country, with the original location being here in Highland. McCormick and McCordick is the headquarters for artistic direction. They handle everything from the runway fashion show visions to helping pick out art pieces for the President. Basically, if there is an art avenue, whether it be interior decorating or helping restore da
maged art from the 1800s, McCormick and McCordick has a hand in it. They’re a huge company that can take you places you’ve never dreamed. Kinda like Google but for the art community…

  The sound of the door closing forces me to turn around.

  “Hello, love,” Kellan greets me warmly, tossing his wallet on the black round kitchen table right beside the vase of red roses he had delivered the morning after his birthday.

  It’s definitely beginning to feel like home again…