Royally Not Ready(101)

“Lilly.” His voice is distraught. When I look him in the eyes, he says, “I . . . fuck, I shouldn’t say this, not like this, but I need you to know . . . I need you to understand how much I care for you.”

My heart hammers, pounding so hard my pulse feels like fire in my veins.

“Say it.”

He wets his lips again and looks me in the eyes. “I . . . I love you, Lilly.”

His cock hits me in all the right places, and even though the words are on the tip of my tongue, I can’t voice them as my orgasm tears through me, shooting through my limbs and causing me to feel weightless as I come all over his cock.

To my surprise, he flips me to my back and pounds into me a few more times before he stills and groans as he comes as well.

When our eyes connect, we both attempt to catch our breath. He tries to maneuver out of me, but I clamp my legs around him, holding him in place. With my hand on the back of his head, I bring him close to my mouth and say, “I love you, Keller, so much.”

“You do?” he asks, insecurity clear in his expression.

“Yes, I do. You make me feel truly whole.”

“Love . . .” he says softly. “Fuck.” He presses his forehead to mine and then kisses me softly.

We spend the next few minutes cleaning up and getting ready for bed. Once we’re done, we fall back into his bed, my back to his chest as he spoons me from behind, his large, warm body offering me all the comfort I need in this world.

He gave me his heart.

“I need you to understand how much I care for you. I . . . I love you, Lilly.”

It’s been years since anyone’s said that to me. Years since I heard my parents’ voices telling me they loved me. Years since I felt this safe. This loved.





Timmy: Is today the big day?

Lilly: Driving to the palace now.

Timmy: How do you feel?

Lilly: Like I’m going to puke.

Timmy: Fair reaction. Is Keller with you?

Lilly: His hand is on my thigh as I text you.

Timmy: Good. As long as someone is there to metaphorically hold your hand.

Lilly: He’s here. He’s barely left my side all day. He keeps telling me I’m going to do great, but all I can think about is, for the love of God, don’t puke on the king.

Timmy: I think that’s something solid to repeat in your head. But also . . . don’t forget the filter. You’re not spraying down wet tits anymore. You’re dignified now.

I snort, and Keller leans in, whispering, “What’s so funny?”

“Timmy,” I answer. I flash him the text, and Keller chuckles as well.

“Yeah, no more wet tits.” He keeps his voice so quiet, so close to my ear, that I know only I can hear him. “Unless it’s your wet tits in the shower, with me.”

“Like this morning?” I ask him.

His hand slides farther up my leg, the dress I’m wearing riding up with his hand. “Yes,” he whispers again, and I’m not sure if he’s doing it on purpose, but his touch, his voice? They’re washing away the nerves and making me focus on one thing alone—the desire I have for this man.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” I tell him quietly.

“I don’t mind finishing you, as long as you’re quiet,” he whispers back.

My eyes flash to his, and I shake my head while smiling. “No way can I be quiet with you.”

“Missed opportunity.”

I lean into his touch and rest my head against his shoulder. “Keller?”

“Yeah, love?”

“I’m scared.”

“I know.” He wraps his arm around me and holds me tight. “You have all the right to be scared.”

“What if . . . what if King Theo doesn’t like me?”

“I would be hard-pressed to see that happening. He’s going to love you. Just like I do.” He kisses the top of my head. “Now stop worrying and think about all the good things that are going to happen. You’re going to meet your grandfather for the first time. Now that’s something to be excited about.”

“You’re right,” I say. “That is exciting. But also . . . puke worthy.”

He chuckles. “If you need to puke, you tell me. I’ll get you everything you need.”





Chapter Twenty





KELLER





“Wow,” Lilly breathes as she looks out the window at the fast-approaching Strombly Palace. Ever since we reached the capital, she’s been glued to the window, taking in all the buildings, saying how they look like something you’d see at EPCOT, which made me laugh. “It’s breathtaking. I wasn’t expecting it to look so . . . medieval. I had more Buckingham Palace vibes in mind, you know? But this is . . . this is breathtaking.”

Strombly Palace sits on the top of a secluded hill, surrounded by an expansive stone wall that circles the entire perimeter. Only accessible by the famous Strombly Bridge, with its imposing heights over the Torske River, the palace’s structure is made up of tall towers, bastions, a myriad of stone carvings perched high, gracefully large windows, and burnt-orange roofs. Outfitted with a plush green courtyard at the center of the majestic building, a marble ballroom, and an endless number of bedrooms.