“Why?”
“Theo, let’s not get into this.”
“No, let’s.” His cough erupts through the phone. “Tell me why she’s not good enough for you.”
“Not good enough for me?” I ask. “Theo, I’m not good enough for her.”
“Where did you get that idea?”
I pace the front of the castle, the sharp sun beaming against my naked chest. “I’m here to serve Torskethorpe, to help protect the crown. That’s my responsibility, that’s what I was born to do. She’s above that—”
“Do I not serve this country?” he asks. “That’s what my entire life has been dedicated to doing, serving this country. Just because my blood is different from yours doesn’t make you any less important. Let me ask you this, if you offered her comfort, would she take it?”
Yes.
With open arms.
I’m pretty sure she was following my every command yesterday just to turn me on.
It worked.
“That doesn’t matter,” I say. “I don’t want to sway her decision in any way.”
“I appreciate your noble attempt to be a good man. I’ve taught you well. But please do me a favor.” Theo catches his breath. “If she needs comfort, if she needs a shoulder, please offer her what she needs. She’s had a lot of loss in her life, the type of loss you can understand.”
I push my hand through my hair. “Yeah, I know.”
“I know you’re doing a lot, but I need you to offer her everything she needs to make the right decision that will sway her to stay. Okay?”
“Okay.”
But here’s the rub—I doubt Theo understands that offering her a shoulder to lean on isn’t the same as taking her from behind over the couch in her bedroom. Offering her everything she needs isn’t making her kneel before me so she can take my cock down her throat. Contrary to what Lilly implied, giving in to our sexual urges wasn’t as uncomplicated as she thought. And yet, I said okay to my king.
“Thank you. I know I’m asking a lot of you.” More than you imagine.
“You’re asking me to do my job,” I answer. “But I need to know, what are we doing, moving forward? I know she wants to speak with you.”
“And I desperately want to speak with her as well. I’m cautious, though, with the news spreading and not knowing who the leak is. I’m afraid if I speak with her, people will start to seek her out. We want to keep her safe. And safe right now is keeping her secluded in Harrogate as she tries to decide what she’s going to do. If we bring her here, she’ll be subjected to a life it seems she’s not ready for.”
“I believe you’re right. As much as I would like to get out of Harrogate and move her into the palace, she’s not ready. Not even close.”
“Then in Harrogate she will stay. But I need you to keep me updated as to how she’s feeling. Only then will we be able to move forward.” He pauses for a second and then says, “Keller?”
“Yes?”
“What’s she like?”
A stupid smile spreads across my face. “A spitfire, doesn’t take any shit, and is a royal pain in the ass.”
Theo lets out a boisterous laugh. “Then she very much has the Strom blood in her.”
That she does.
We say our goodbyes, and when I hang up the phone and step into the castle, I’m greeted by Brimar, with a worried look on his face.
“Is everything okay?”
“No,” I answer. “Lilly’s name has been dropped, and it’s going to be all over the news this morning.”
Brimar winces while looking around. “Are they calling us to Strombly?”
I shake my head. “No, we’re to stay put.”
Brimar’s brows draw together. “How can that be? Does King Theo truly believe we’re safer here than behind palace walls?”
“He does because she hasn’t committed to a decision yet. She’s yet to decide if taking on the role of a monarch is something she wants to commit her life to. If we take her to Strombly, then she’ll be subjected to a life she’s not ready for,” I whisper, not wanting my voice to carry.
“Well, we can’t stay here forever,” Brimar whispers back. “Keeping her safe here in Harrogate is temporary. The public will find out.”
“I know. But I don’t want to push her. There’s a fine line, Brimar. She doesn’t deserve unnecessary pressure to make a decision.”