Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“I have a million arrangements to make,” she whispered, unzipping my zipper and sliding her hand to my cock. “So much to do.” She wrapped her palm against my shaft.

I looked over my shoulder. The apartments were open for royal business. Staff could come and go at any time they needed. There was mail drop off. The plants had to be watered. Maid service and the royal laundress usually came by in the morning.

“But my dirty princess wants to play?” I almost chocked on the words when she tugged lightly on my balls. What had gotten into her?

She nodded.

Well, fuck. How could I say no to that?

24

Kenley

My spontaneous lust for Nic had cost us a valuable thirty minutes of planning, but I felt satisfied and closer to him. When he left for his next meeting I couldn’t help but feel we were leaving permanent marks on each other. Every time we were together, we dove deeper, scratching the surface of our souls.

If he thought we could pull off a trip to America without a royal manager, he had no idea why my job entailed. I was going to have to detail everything and make it happen. I didn’t have time to interview candidates for my replacement. I’d do that when we returned.

In the meantime, I had to coordinate an international travel schedule for the prince.

I had turned in my resignation letter, but I hadn’t turned in my tablet. I pulled up the schedule used to sync the family’s movements.

I tapped my pen on the table, reading through the engagements Nic was supposed to attend over the next two weeks.

All those venues needed to be notified before word got out he was headed overseas. I typed out an official memo with the Sauvage family crest at the top. I would make sure each one was hand delivered before we made the announcement about the trip.

I walked to the dining room and poured another cup of coffee. I was on my way back to the sitting room when I heard footsteps in the foyer.

“Oh, Your Majesty.” I immediately bowed when I saw the queen.

“Oh my God. Don’t do that.” She smiled. “I heard you’re no longer a royal manager.”

I swallowed. “No. I’m not.”

“Damon told me about it and I wanted to visit you myself. I thought you might need an ally.”

“Can you I get something to drink? Coffee?” I stopped. “Or tea?” That was a better offer for a pregnant woman, but I didn’t know anything about pregnancy.

“You can sit while I pour a small cup.” She laughed.

We strolled to an open sun room next to the balcony. The room was washed in light. I didn’t want to take her into my war zone. I had lists and stacks all over the coffee table.

“You know, I’ve never been in Dominic’s apartments.” Her head pivoted back and forth. “I had a small suite for a few weeks.”

“Yes. I remember.” I nodded. Alya had told me she never slept in them. The queen-to-be at the time had used them to work on her dissertation.

“Right. I guess everyone knows everything under this roof.” She stretched her legs forward on an ottoman. “It’s so nice in here. I would curl up in this chair every day and take a nap.”

I laughed. “I don’t know if Nic even uses it.”

“That’s cute. You call him Nic.”

I blushed. It had seemed so natural when I said it. “I never did before.”

“I know you have a lot to do. I heard about the trip too. I don’t want to take up all your time. I just wanted you to know that if you need anything…I’m here.”

“Thank you.” I didn’t know how to respond to the queen coming to me as an equal. I couldn’t shift modes so quickly. Nic wanted me to, but it wasn’t that simple.

I was always on the outside looking in. I had watched Molly Washington stumble more than once since she married the king. And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me how cavalier she was about it all.