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“I’m not coming out again until everyone leaves.” I tucked my face deeper into him.
“She’s a slippery one,” he said to the crowd. “If you all wouldn’t mind, Miss Johnson needs to go to her room to change.”
I heard the pattering of feet that was almost as loud as the pounding of my heart. After a moment, there was nothing but silence.
“Are they gone now?” I dared to ask.
“Yes, they’ve left. You can get dressed and I’ll send a memo excusing them from their duties for the night.”
“Why are they here?” I was so freaked out and incensed I mean, wasn’t this his house? Why were people just hanging out in his house?
“Well, usually I have staff members on duty at all times during business hours, which end at seven. Then there is a night staff who are on call.”
I slowly extracted myself from him as he lovingly escorted me back to his room. “Why does one man need so many people?” I couldn’t imagine a bachelor wanting one servant let alone several.
“There’s a lot to do when you’re the son of a king. The more staff you carry the more important you are. It’s just part of the game. I can’t make them leave, but we will be afforded more privacy when I’m married. There are rules around a married household that are different for a single occupant and the rules will change again when our baby comes. You’ll find that royals often have to get away just to escape their lives. We travel quite a bit. You’ll get used to everyone soon enough.”
It was doubtful I’d ever feel comfortable with a bunch of people milling around, but at that moment, I didn’t care, I was focused on just getting dressed. As soon as I arrived back in Liam’s room, I realized I had nothing to wear.
“Ugh, all of my clothes are still in a bag somewhere.” At that moment I felt totally defeated.
“I’m on it.” Liam left me standing there naked as he went out, also naked but wearing a sheet, and came back with a handful of clothes. “There was a bunch of nightwear in the bag, so have your pick.” His smile was as gorgeous as ever.
“Maybe I should wear something more appropriate.” I eyed the clothes with a newfound skepticism.
“Most of the staff have gone home as I requested only Martha remain. She’s a grandma of twelve and has seen a lady in her nightwear before. There’s a fabulous meal set out and I for one am starving.” He laid out my clothes on the bed. “So have your pick and let’s eat.”
I did see a comfy looking brushed cotton lounge pant and T-shirt combo that was calling my name. I decided to just cool down and take the ride, so I quickly dressed, noting Liam didn’t bring me any underwear, sneaky devil. I felt at ease as soon as I was clothed. While I dressed so did he.
“Okay, let’s eat.” I turned and presented myself as he walked over to me kiss my cheek with stiff facial hair that tickled as somewhere over the last twenty minutes he’d grown a five o’clock shadow which made me flinch and giggle.
“I promise, you’ll get used to all of this soon.” Doubtful, but I gave him a weary smile so as not to set off the bomb about to explode inside of me.
“I like this,” I rubbed my finger over his scruff.
“Good. I like this.” He slapped my ass as we headed to the dining room to eat.
Dinner was delicious: salmon, salad, and some kind of pudding or bread or whatever. It was cinnamony and delicious. After dinner, we wandered around his large second-floor estate. He showed me all his most loved artifacts and artwork that he’d collected from around the world. Each had a story. While I suspected he was quite the playboy, I discovered on our tour of his home that he was also well educated and interesting. A lot of his collected works were indigenous art from small villages in remote countries. While the artwork was exotic, brightly, colored, and provocative, it also reflected civilizations far from any kind of European monarchy.
I discovered that Liam had interests outside of his own circle of influence. This made him even more attractive to me. Later that evening we watched a movie, made love, and fell asleep. That next morning, I was awoken to a man standing in front of us dressed in a three-piece suit.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry to wake you, but your father has requested that you and Ms. Johnson meet him downstairs presently for a day of mini-golf as requested.”
Through my blurry vision and sleep hazed eyes, I recognized James, who had also woken us up in much the same manner at the hotel.
“Ugh, this was your idea, Avery. You’ve created a monster; you must’ve made a very good impression. Tell my father we’re on our way.” Liam said with a sleepy grog.
