Page 94 of The Royal in Room 3

“Because I didn’t think I had the right to, and when I worked up the courage, I didn’t know what to say. There were so many channels to go through to get to you directly, and I didn’t know if I could trust the person on the line to mention who I was to you. They just took me for a prank caller.”

“Then why didn’t you visit sooner?” What the hell was I doing? Wasn’t this what I’d wanted? I should grab him with both arms and not let him go. But he’d hurt me badly. “Why show up now after all this time and expect me to forgive you?”

“You may not believe me, but I tried,” he said. “Do you know how hard it is to get your High Commission to issue an ETA to travel here when you have a criminal record? They denied me, Soren.”

“They did? But-but you’re here.”

“Because your father intervened. I told him how much you meant to me, and he agreed to help me get here.” A low chuckle rumbled from his lips. “Of course I would have arrived yesterday with Phoenix and Vale, but they flew first class on a shorter flight. Your dad thought I deserved a lesson for turning you down before, so although he did help me, I had to travel here the long way.”

“Father did that?”

“Yes. I’m hoping that you’ll let me suffer just a little bit less than he made me suffer to get here.”

I bit my bottom lip to hide my smile. “And what if I insist that you have to suffer a lot to make it up to me?”

He winced. “I could do without the suffering, but whatever you throw at me, baby, I’ll gladly take it as long as you give me another chance to stand proudly by your side and be your Daddy for as long as you want.”

“And you’re willing to become a prince consort in the long run?” I asked, my heart beating fast in anticipation. “Because they let me get away with loving another man, but I don’t think they’ll be so easygoing if I don’t marry and produce an heir.”

“I’m happy just being your Daddy, Soren, but I’ll assume whatever role I need to in order to be by your side.”

“And what do we do for kids?” I asked.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want you to try again and again to breed me,” I said with a grin, the tears finally rolling down my cheeks. “And when we fail, we can have a surrogate.”

“Baby, believe me, that won’t be a hardship.”

“But you understand we will have to use my sperm? The line of succession only works if the child is related by blood.”

“Ah, little prince.” Jude pulled me into his arms, and we both tumbled to the floor, me on top of him. “I am happy to have children with you who have your DNA. They’ll be beautiful just like you, and I will love them as much as I love you.”

“Oh, Daddy, I missed you so much.” I slammed my lips hard against his.

Jude made a rough sound beneath me and wrapped both arms around my waist, holding me against him as if he believed I might disappear. It’d been so long since he held me like this that I didn’t even mind the lack of air getting into my lungs.

I touched his face, refamiliarizing myself with his features as we kissed. And for a while, there was no palace, no crown, and no line of succession to preserve. There was only Jude beneath me, solid and warm and present, kissing me as if he would never let me go again.

When we finally broke apart, breathing hard, I rested my forehead against his and laughed shakily through my tears. “You’re really here.”

“I’m really here.”

“And you’re not leaving?”

“Not unless you send me away.”

I lifted my head to glare down at him. “Don’t say foolish things. I’ll never send you away.”

His mouth twitched. “Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Absolutely not.”

“No?”

“No.” I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand, then poked him in the chest. “You are not allowed to use my title unless we’re attending a formal occasion.”

“I’ll make a note of that.”