Royal Love Read Free Page B

up, nice and secure.”
    “Very good, sir.”
    “Let’s go into the living room,” Michael said.
    “This is nice, very nice,” Darren said as he looked around.
    “It’s not bad. I’m comfortable here, but it’s certainly not like my relatives’ homes.”
    “I’d be happy here,” Darren replied.
    “Drink?”
    “Something soft, please. I think I had enough alcohol at the club.”
    “This will be the only soft thing you encounter tonight,” Michael replied with a smile.
    “Promises, promises,” Darren said as he accepted a glass of orange juice with ice.
    As they sat down, Michael apologized again.
    “Darren, if I overreacted to that arsehole putting his hands on you, I’m sorry.”
    “Well, I am a big boy, and I think I could have handled him. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
    “Rodeo? Isn’t that an American thing where they ride wild horses or something?” Michael said facetiously.
    Darren chuckled. “I mean, this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered a man who wouldn’t take no for an answer. If I had really needed help, I would have signaled security.”
    “You wouldn’t have signaled me?” the prince asked.
    “No, I would have signaled the men whose job it is to handle exactly these types of situations. A prince of the royal household of Great Britain is not usually called upon to be a bouncer. Besides, if you had intervened and gotten hurt, the palace would have been pissed, and the story would be all over the place.”
    “Okay, as long as you know I would have come to your aid. You’re right about the reaction from Buckingham Palace, if it had gotten out of hand.”
    “I know. My mother wouldn’t have been pleased either, let alone Uncle David and Uncle Shane. If anything like this happens again let security handle it, please?”
    “Agreed. Come here, Yank.”
    Darren chuckled. “But I don’t wanna be accused of stealing a British man from other Brits!”
    Michael swallowed any more words with a deep, passionate kiss that lasted for what seemed like a lifetime to Darren. It literally took his breath away.
    “Damn, you’re a good kisser. You’re pretty good with your mouth, you know that?” Darren said with an evil grin.
    “I’ve never had any complaints. Not that there have been that many blokes I’ve bedded, but they were well pleased. I’m doing far more with you than I’ve ever done with any other man. I think you’re quite special, Darren. I just wish you weren’t in the damn military.”
    “Thank you, but why? What’s wrong with my being in the Air Force?”
    “It’s the thought that you could receive orders tomorrow and be off to some faraway place in the world. Even worse, if your country was pulled into another war, you could be in danger. I wouldn’t deal with that very well.”
    “Neither my mother nor the Air Force would ever permit me in a war zone, so that’s not gonna happen. As for a transfer, technically, it could happen, but Uncle David would get me assigned here because of us. He really likes you, which means a lot in my book. Uncle Shane is very hard to impress. Of course, if you were to hurt me by breaking my heart, I wouldn’t want to be you with Uncle Shane on your trail.”
    Darren chuckled, and Michael pretended to be shocked.
    “I’ve got a smashing idea. Why don’t we go up to my bedroom, shower, and climb in bed?”
    “I can make that idea even better. Why don’t we shower together and save on the royal water bill?”
    “Brilliant. Bring your drink!”
    Michael took Darren’s hand, and they went up to the second floor to a bedroom. It was modestly appointed compared to the rest of the house, but it was spotless and had its own bathroom.
    “Nice, but I’m surprised it’s so simple.”
    “Why? What did you expect? Queen Elizabeth I’s bed?” Michael laughed.
    “No, the room is nice but not overdone. The rest of the house is more formal.”
    “Once in a while, we have official guests staying here, and the house has to be