Page 45 of Duty and Desire

Chapter Forty

Nick

I caught my breath as the car drew closer to the palace gates.

“Look at that.”

Our way was barred by people who’d gathered there, but unlike the crowd at the station, some of them held up banners and Pride flags.

Gio chuckled. “News sure gets around fast in this country.” He pointed to one banner, on which was painted Equality and Freedom . Another read Same-Sex Marriage NOW .

I choked when I saw a rainbow flag with the words We Stand With The King emblazoned on it. Gio gave my hand another squeeze.

“I think there’s little room for doubt. And I wonder what your ministers are going to make of this.”

We were about to find out.

Franz managed to get the car through the gates without mowing anyone down, and by the time we entered the courtyard, Daniela Risch was already at the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Gio .

I gave her a polite smile as I got out of the car. “Those flights you organized. Cancel them.” I wasn’t sure if I was going to forgive her for being so quick to get Gio out of Eisenland—and out of my life.

She flushed. “Your Majesty, we’ve been flooded with calls, emails…”

I couldn’t rein in my smile. “Not quite the disaster you anticipated?”

Daniela stared at me, and then she chuckled. “We were braced for uproar and riots. What we got was an explosion of support.” Her eyes twinkled as she gazed at Gio. “The fairytale romance of the King and the commoner is proving very popular.”

I blinked. Daniela was human after all.

“Call a meeting, immediately,” I instructed as we followed her inside. “The Prime Minister and the rest of my Cabinet.”

“Right away, Your Majesty.” She hurried away.

I took a moment to breathe.

Gio chuckled. “I know, right? This was… unexpected.”

“It’s only just dawning on me that we have a whole new reality to navigate—an openly in-love couple.”

No more hiding.

Gio sighed. “Don’t let this euphoria go to your head. There’s bound to be some opposition, you know. Not everyone is going to be happy about this news.”

I took his hand in mine. “Let me enjoy this wonderful feeling while it lasts? I know it will wear off eventually, but right now, I’m relishing this blissful state.”

“Where am I to put Gio’s bags, Your Majesty?” Franz asked from behind us.

“Back in his room, of course.” I arched my eyebrows. “This might be a brave new world, but I don’t think the palace staff is quite ready for their king sharing his bedroom.” I grinned.

He coughed. “I think you’re right.” He disappeared along the hallway .

I watched him go. “I owe that man a lot.” I had to find a way to express my gratitude.

“Gio!” Claudia’s joyful shout bounced off the stone walls. She ran over to us and flung her arms around him.

I stood there while they hugged. “Don’t I get a similar welcome?”

She released him, then stood in front of me. “You didn’t screw it up. Well done.” Before I could take issue with her, she hugged me. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered.

I kissed her cheek. “We’ll talk more later. Right now I have something important to attend to.”

Claudia smiled. “Then I’ll let you get on with it.” She gave Gio a peck on the cheek, then left us.

We walked slowly, heading for the Council chamber.

“Do you know what you’re going to say to them?”

I nodded. “It’s clear no one anticipated my subjects would welcome such a change.”

Gio smiled. “Their king came out, and stirred up a rebellion against the old guard.”

I laughed. “ Now you sound like a writer. And I’m not sure ‘rebellion’ is the term I’d use.

But last night my ministers were acting out of a sense of duty, to protect the monarchy.

They wanted to control the narrative.” I held his hands.

“What you said earlier was true. The tide has indeed turned. The events at the station and at the gates have convinced me changes need to be made, and swiftly. The people are behind me, and I cannot let them down.”

“What kind of changes?”

“My subjects need to feel safe to express their views—whatever those views may be. They must be free to live as they choose, to love who they choose. That means we need to enact a new law.”

Gio’s eyes shone. “Marriage equality?”

I nodded. “And I won’t let it get left behind in months of deliberation.

This needs to be laid down now.” I stopped outside the door to the chamber.

On impulse, I pulled him to me, locking our lips in a tender kiss.

Then I leaned in. “Because I want my marriage to be lawful,” I whispered.

“And the sooner we enact this law, the sooner I get to put a ring on your finger.”

Gio’s soft gasp was music to my ears.

I straightened. “Now why don’t you go find a quiet spot and work on your book. I’m sure you haven’t even looked at it since you arrived.”

He smiled. “You’d be right. And right now I’m feeling inspired.”

“Then I can’t wait to read it. Tonight. In your room.”

Gio gaped at me in mock horror. “Your Majesty. What will people say?”

For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t afraid of public opinion.

It felt liberating.

It felt amazing.

The previous night I’d wanted to find Hans Hasler and have him tossed into the deepest dungeon I could find. But now?

I wanted to thank him. That miracle Gio had spoken of?

Hasler had brought it about.

“Nick. Before you go in there, I need to remind you of something really important.” I gave him an inquiring glance, and he smiled. “I love you.”

I didn’t hesitate. I put my arms around him and kissed him, a sweet, chaste kiss that would have to do until we were alone.

“Feel free to remind me as often as you like.”

Gio’s gaze met mine. “How about every day for the rest of our lives?”

I returned his smile. “That sounds like a good start.”

The palace slept, but I was awake, my steps soundless as I crept along the hallways toward Gio’s room, my heart pounding. When I reached the solid door, I didn’t knock. I turned the heavy handle.

It wasn’t locked.

Gio sat on the bed, his laptop on a pillow over his lap, his notebook open beside him. He didn’t turn toward me immediately, but I didn’t miss the way his breath caught.

He’s been expecting me.

Gio closed the laptop and gave me a knowing smile. “You’re late.”

I let out a mock gasp. “I don’t believe I specified a time.” I closed the door. “I hoped you’d still be awake.”

Gio chuckled. “You think I could sleep after today?”

I walked over to the bed, my pulse racing. Gio swung his legs over the edge of the mattress and stood.

Neither of us moved. I could feel the weight of this moment settling around us, the hush before a storm. I couldn’t bear the distance between us a heartbeat longer.

I closed the gap.

Our lips met in a slow, aching kiss, one that held within it all the times I’d wanted and waited, all the minutes we’d been forced to be apart. It wasn’t a hurried kiss, nor a stolen one. It was deliberate, deep, and soul-shaking, the kind of kiss that silenced all thought and unraveled every word.

Gio’s hands were on my shoulders, then my neck, and finally his fingers combed through my hair. I shivered at his touch, reveling in the warmth of his body, a warmth that mirrored the heat building within me.

He kissed my neck, and another shiver trickled through me. I slid my hands under the top he wore, exulting in the feel of firm flesh beneath my fingertips.

I forgot to breathe when Gio pulled away from me.

“What’s wrong?”

He sighed. “You’re going to think I’m nuts, but… I think we should wait until after the wedding.”

I blinked. “You’re right. You are nuts. It isn’t as if we haven’t done this a hundred times before.” I smirked. “Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.” He laughed. “But you’re acting as though we’re virgins preserving our honor until our wedding night.”

Gio enfolded me in his arms, his soft chuckle vibrating through me.

“Then let me explain. I think we should wait until after the wedding, because the next time we make love, you won’t be afraid of being discovered.

You won’t be afraid of leaving my room and having someone see you.

” He kissed my forehead. “You’ll finally be free.

And it won’t matter that everyone in the palace will know what’s going on behind our bedroom door—well, they can guess—because we’ll be a new entity, the king and his husband, not the king sneaking around the palace to visit his boyfriend’s room, scared of getting caught by his parents.

Except in our case, it’ll probably be Daniela or the housekeeper. ”

I gazed at him open-mouthed. “Do you have any idea of what stands between us and that night? First, I have to get the marriage equality law passed, and that won’t be something that can be achieved in a week, not unless I put a bomb under my ministers.

Then we have to prove that neither of us are married.

Then we have to apply for permission to marry. Then we have to wait another?—”

Gio stopped the flow of words with a kiss. “In other words, you’re horny, and waiting feels as if I’m torturing you.” He looked me in the eyes. “But you know I’m right, don’t you?”

Damn it, I did.

I pushed out a heavy sigh. “Fine. We’ll wait. But you were right about one thing—it will be torture.”

He laughed. “Think of it as character-building.” He kissed me again, a lingering sweet kiss I knew was our last one for the night. “Now go back to your own room before someone sees you. Sleep well, baby.”

I swallowed. “That’s the first time you’ve called me that since Bora-Bora.” I smiled. “I’ve missed it.” He walked me to the door. Before he opened it, I stroked his cheek. “Goodnight.” Then I pressed my cheek to his. “Now I know what my first task of the day will be when I wake up.”

“What?”

I drew back and grinned. “To give my ministers a massive coronary.”