Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Over the coming days, Lior would surprise everyone with how adept he was at preparing to be king. He took Sabine out for lunch at a popular restaurant in town, held her hand as they window-shopped in front of the paparazzi, and laughed at her soft jokes. Lior made my father proud and my mother giddy.
Lio only surfaced late at night. When the lights were out and the doors were closed, and the feel of the cool, soft sheets slid across his legs as he imagined Felix’s tight warm channel clasped around his cock. As the scream of his climax went straight into the thick down pillows with someone else’s royal crest embroidered on the case. As the hot splash of his tears could evaporate before morning when Lior would rise again and take charge of the day.
Chapter 30
Felix
It didn’t take much for Grandpa and Doc to get the truth out of me. With the exception of Lio’s identity anyway. There was no way I was taking the chance of saying anything that could result in outing a damned king.
My cousin Otto had come with them, no doubt using the trip as an excuse to avoid settling back down in Hobie. I knew he had to be restless going from a career traveling the world in the military to coming home to our sleepy, tiny town. Regardless of the reason, I was glad he’d come with them to see me. Otto’s big muscular presence made me feel safe, and his strong but silent vibe made for good company when I wasn’t in the mood for idle chitchat. I didn’t feel pressured to fill the silence when I was around Otto.
The four of us were sitting around a dining table with a million-dollar view of the Eiffel Tower. We’d ventured out to an Italian restaurant for dinner, and Otto was currently stealing everyone’s remaining pasta to fill his bottomless gut.
“Jesus, man,” I teased. “Where the hell are you putting all of that?”
“Going sightseeing tomorrow,” he grunted. “Carbo loading.”
I made eye contact with Grandpa, who shook his head before muttering, “The kid hasn’t stopped moving since he got home.”
Otto swallowed his last bite and wiped his mouth with a napkin before speaking. “I’m not passing up an opportunity to see Versailles for fuck’s sake, old man. And you’re coming with me whether you like it or not. You can get a cup of coffee in the cafe and park yourself on a bench somewhere while I explore. We’re here and we’re going to have an experience.”
Doc laughed and squeezed Grandpa’s shoulder. “He’s right. I’d love to see the fountains even if we have to bundle up to do it. Let’s all go. Maybe Felix could stand a little exercise and fresh air.”
So the following day Otto dragged me around the extensive palace and grounds, exhausting me to the point my legs and feet were complaining, when my cousin suggested taking a break to grab a bite to eat in the restaurant where Doc and Grandpa were relaxing by a nice big fire.
Once seated, the claws came out.
“You should go to Monaco,” Doc began.
“Don’t start,” I mumbled into my cup of coffee.
“Hear him out,” Grandpa chastised. “The man knows what he’s talking about. He’s somewhat intelligent if you didn’t know that already.”
I tried not to roll my eyes, but I noticed Otto snicker into his own coffee.
“I’m just saying that maybe you could let him know how you feel about him. Give him a chance to pick you over whatever the hell that job is that he thinks is more important than coming out.” Doc’s words were well-intentioned, but he couldn’t understand that sometimes there were jobs you could neither avoid nor come out for.
I sighed. “Doc, let’s just say… he’s taking over the family business. It’s a long-standing traditional company with superconservative employees and coworkers.”
Doc opened his mouth as if to say something, but Otto beat him to the punch.
“What about just being friends with the guy? You said the two of you could talk for hours, right? If he’s going through a stressful time taking over his dad’s business, he could probably use a friend.”
Otto was right about Lio needing a friend, but I wasn’t sure I was strong or selfless enough to be Lio’s friend without wanting, aching, for more.
“Friends, hm?” Doc and Grandpa exchanged a meaningful look before looking at Otto with accusation.
“Keep it to yourself. I know what you’re thinking,” my cousin growled.
“Hypocrisy,” Grandpa mused. “How interesting. Pot, this is kettle, you’re black.”
Otto sighed and excused himself to get some more coffee. I turned to my grandparents and quirked an eyebrow.
“What was that about?”
“Walker.”
Walker and Otto had been best friends practically from the womb. Growing up, where Walker was, Otto hadn’t been far behind. All of that changed when Otto followed his brother Saint into the Navy and Walker left to go into law enforcement. I hadn’t put two and two together that they were both back in Hobie now.