Page 81 of Trained Royal

“Damn it! I should’ve thought of that. I have no clue what to get them.”

“You snooze, you lose!”

Henry shoved Patrick, and Patrick shoved Henry.

“Now, now, children. What’s all this noise about?”

His mother entered without knocking, and Patrick thought he might need to bring a new rule that everyone knocks from this point on. What would’ve happened if he and Kieren were in a compromising position? The idea made him lightheaded.

Henry held one of the drawings and asked Kieren if he could show her. Kieren’s face flooded again, but he nodded. Patrick climbed back into his lap and held him, knowing this was difficult for him.

“They love them, sweetheart. They aren’t just saying it. Didn’t you want to become an artist when you went to university?” he murmured in his ear.

“I did, but this is…unexpected.”

“I know, but look.” He moved his head so he could watch his mother’s excited expression as she gushed over the drawings.

“Kieren, these are wonderful! You have such a gift.” She held up the one of Patrick studying that Kieren had just drawn. “This is like looking at it in real life, just without colour. I love it.”

“You’re welcome to have that one if you like,” Kieren said.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t take your hard work,” Victoria said.

“Please. I insist.”

Victoria smiled at the picture, then frowned. “You must sign it first, though.Iinsist.”

Patrick withheld his smile at the standoff, knowing his mother would win because Kieren wouldn’t want to upset her.

Reluctantly, he grabbed his pencil and signed the bottom corner, returning the picture to her hands.

“Thank you, dear.” She stood. “I got sidetracked from my reason for being here. I just came to tell you that we have requested an early dinner today because your father and I are going to see Andrew. I wondered if you would all like to join us.”

“What time?” Henry asked.

“Five o’clock.”

“I’ll be there, but Robert might not be back in time.”

Patrick glanced at Kieren, who nodded. “We’ll be there,” Patrick said.

“Wonderful. I’ll see you in a short while.” She smiled at Kieren and held up the drawing. “Thank you for this.”

“You’re welcome.”

She left the room, closing the door behind her. Patrick waited a few seconds before dropping the bombshell on Kieren.

“You do realise that she will tell and show everyone that picture, and you’ll be inundated with requests soon, don’t you?” Kieren’s eyes widened. “But you can say no to them all if it’s not something you want to do. Don’t feel forced into it.”

“No, it’s…” Kieren blew out a long breath. “I just wasn’t expecting to get back into it. I’m used to doing it whenever I had a spare few minutes that I never considered trying to make a career out of it again.”

“It doesn’t have to be a career if you don’t want it to be. It can still be a hobby while you protect if that’s your preference.” Patrick cupped his face. “You decide.”

“I…don’t know.”

“And that’s fine, too.” Patrick pecked a kiss on his lips several times before pulling back. “There’s no rush to decide at all.”

Kieren pressed their mouth together again, but this time, he swiped his tongue over Patrick’s lips, and Patrick opened immediately to his questing tongue.