I reach down to stroke her fur. “Gray is fetching your breakfast, baby. Be patient.”
I can feel my prince combing my body with his eyes as he sips his water. “I haven’t slept that soundly in a while,” he admits.
“It felt right, the three of us back together.”
He opens his mouth to respond, but no sound comes out. Instead, he sets down his glass and spins me roughly around. Paxton kisses me so forcefully, it knocks the breath from my lungs. My polite and proper prince doesn’t hold back as he pushes me against the wall, his hands acquainting themselves with the buttery silk of my pants.
“Of all the times I dreamed about you, my imagination never came up with anything as sexy as this.” His lips find my shoulder, teasing the skin as he slips the strap down my arm. His breath is warm and welcoming, pushing out all the worries I’d been entertaining just last night.
Kissing Paxton has always been a dreamy treat, but there’s an aggressive quality today that tells me he’s been holding himself back for the sake of decorum, waiting until I was ready for more, and less preoccupied.
I adore this side of him. The way he grips my hips over the silk, turning my pelvis to just the right angle, it makes me wonder how much of himself he’s been burying for better days. Now that they’re here, I get to watch him peel up the layers we both know he doesn’t need when it’s just us.
Paxton bites at my lower lip, squeezing my body tighter to test my willingness for such things.
“Where are Charlotte and Cass?” I whisper between kisses.
“Out. Where have you been all my life?”
“Right here.” I grin through the cheesiness of our exchange because it’s exactly the sweetness we both crave. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
The kiss turns more forceful as his body grinds against mine. He pins my arms to the wall on either side of my head, and for the life of me, I can’t believe this gets to be how I spend my morning. Paxton leaves one of my arms on the wall, and uses his other hand to trace along the lines of my exposed ribs. His fingers dip beneath the cropped lace, doing what they like because I’m just ready enough to let him. The smell of him, the taste of him, all of it is heady and goes straight to my pelvis.
When his thumb traces the underside of my breast, my lashes fight to stay open. I’m utterly in the moment, which I didn’t think possible. I’ve been so distracted lately. Maybe this is exactly what I’ve been needing.
I don’t want to wait any longer. My fingers work quickly to trace under the hem of his undershirt, peeling up the fabric to reveal a strapping prince who should only ever go around topless. The heat of his chest against mine as his kiss crushes me to the wall with its fervor serves to rouse parts of me I’ve tried to write off as unimportant.
I’m not sure when the front door opens, but not soon after, the sounds of clapping and whistling breaks apart our heated exchange.
“Well done! I was starting to think you’d forgotten you were a woman,” Cass says rudely after a catcall.
Charlotte giggles through her clapping. “Well done, indeed! Paxton, dessert before breakfast? I never thought of you as a rulebreaker.”
Paxton grabs up his shirt off the floor and threads it over my head, as if both women haven’t seen me in the shower loads of times. “Ha ha. You’ve had your laugh. Good for you. Yes, yes, we were having a snog.”
I curtsy to the women, not minding at all that I’m a bit cheekier than I usually am this morning.
“A snog? Is that all? If we hadn’t interrupted, would there have been a royal baby on the way? The scandal!”
Charlotte’s hand over her mouth does nothing to stem her laughter. “Silly. Royal babies aren’t conceived in a dining room. They’re made beside ancient vases and gold statues.”
Cass smacks her forehead. “I forgot. You’re right. Carry on. Warn us if you have a shag atop the table. I’ll make sure to wipe it down before anyone eats off it.”
My cheeks heat, but Paxton is mortified. “Now, now. Nothing of the sort was going to happen. I wouldn’t make love to Arlanna where just anyone could walk in. I got a little carried away, is all.”
“Only a little?” Cass tsks me. “You’re losing your touch, Princess.”
When Gray trots in with three plates of food, his cheery expression falls when his eyes land on me. “You were supposed to have breakfast in bed. How did I mess that up?”
I flit over to him, kissing his cheek and arresting my plate from his grip. “You brought me breakfast. Thank you.”
He growls in my direction. “Back to bed with you.”
Cass giggles. “And that’s our cue to exit.”
Charlotte leans up on her toes, but Gray still has to bend his knees for her lips to land on his cheek. “Glad you’re home, Gray. I missed you.”
He smiles, and I can tell the compliment hits him in all the right spots. “I guess I am home.”
I set my plate on the table and sit down. “I’m too clumsy to eat in a bed without spilling something. Everything okay out at the chow tent?”
Gray shrugs. “Looked normal to me. No one fighting. No one being timed during their meal. Everyone’s actually pretty happy out there.”
The three of us sit together, and for the life of me, the whole thing shocks me with how normal it all is.
I shovel in the eggs quickly, chewing only as much as absolutely necessary.
It’s when I’m halfway through my breakfast that I realize the guys have barely eaten a bite. They’ve stopped all motion so they can stare at me with looks of pity.
“What?”
Paxton swallows hard. “Nothing, love.”
Gray isn’t as tight-lipped. “You’re eating like you’re still at Prigham’s. You’re guarding your food like you’re afraid it’s going to be snatched away. Breathe, Arly-girl.”
I’m embarrassed as I take in the protective stance, with one arm around my plate to block anyone from stealing my food from me.
Paxton sits with his perfect posture while Gray holds himself like a normal person.
I feel like a wild animal who’s never been taught proper table manners.
Paxton’s gentle smile reminds me I’m in a safe place. Gray’s deliberate slowness enforces that there’s no rush in here. This is our home, and no one’s going to take my food from me.
One day, I’ll remember to sit up straight while I eat, but the habit of trying to protect my food so it doesn’t get snatched away isn’t something that fades quickly. Still, it’s this life I want, and not that one.
Paxton sips his water, switching subjects to take the focus off of me, because he’s nothing if not the consummate gentleman. “Gray, two of the busses could use some work. Is that something you might be able to help with today? I don’t want to spend the money to have them serviced.”
I stop chewing, unsure if Gray is going to stick around today, or if he’ll be gone again.
Gray tears into his bacon. “I can give them a look. What else do you need help with?”
My shoulders relax that Gray seems to be showing a little interest in taking part in the world around him, and his focus isn’t aimed at leaving. “I’ve got a meeting later today. If all goes well, it’ll mean big things for everyone. Loads more support, which we could use. While I’m gone, could you help Barry?” Then it occurs to me he might not even know who Barry is. “Barry owns a construction company. After he finishes his jobs for the day, he brings some of his equipment over and helps us pour foundations for the mobile homes that are coming in. We don’t have many hours to work, so we need all hands on deck for that. The second the sun sets, it’s a lot harder to get things done.”