Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,153

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Three’s A Crown

JA Low

1

Augustine

“Your father would like to speak with you,” Joss Knight, my father’s longtime bodyguard, advises me.

I look over at Greyson, my bodyguard, best friend, and Joss’s son, who is sitting on my bed, flipping through a magazine.

His father’s eyes narrow on Greyson as he notices his crumpled clothing on the floor. He’s not the biggest fan of our relationship. He doesn’t understand it, and neither does my family. Still, I don’t care what they think because my feelings for Greyson are real and have been for the past fifteen years we have been hooking up.

“Okay, give me five, and I’ll meet you outside.”

Joss nods his head in acknowledgment and closes the door behind him.

“You knew the day was coming, Auggie,” Greyson tells me, his face softening as he looks at me.

“Still doesn’t mean I’m happy about it,” I reply with a pout.

Greyson pats the space beside him, and I willingly go to him. “We’ve been together half of our lives, Auggie,” he explains. “We’ve dated other people.” He’s reminding me of the years when I had to put my heterosexual cap on for the media and my family.

“And you dated people, too,” I remind him of the countless women and men he’s been with over the years. It wasn’t fair of me to demand his fidelity while I wasn’t.

Greyson reaches out and wraps his hand around my neck, pulling me closer. “It was always you.” His lips touch mine in the briefest of kisses. “It will always be you, Auggie.” As our kiss intensifies, I lose myself in it, in him. “I know I will never have you publicly. You’re not an average person, and it’s taken me a while to wrap my head around what our relationship is.” I know I don’t deserve this man. “I will always be by your side for however long you need me and in whatever capacity it needs to be.” His brown eyes are shimmering with emotion.

“You will be by my side forever, and no one is going to change that,” I tell him. “No matter what my parents want. No matter what my country dictates.” Now, it’s my turn to grab his face and kiss the hell out of him. Both of us are panting when we pull away. “I will make sure whoever they pick accepts you are part of my life and that it’s non-negotiable,” I reassure him.

Greyson gives me a sad nod. “No one is more important than your country and its citizens, Auggie,” he tells me. “Not even me.”

He’s right, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

“Good luck,” he states, pushing me off the bed to get dressed.

I give him one last look as I walk out of my suite and into the hallway where Joss is waiting.

“I know you love my son, sir,” Joss starts as we stride down the long marble hallway toward my parents’ wing of the palace. “But you must love your country more.” He’s reiterating his son’s words. I understand he’s trying to help, but it’s not one or the other as far as I am concerned.

“I love Grayson, and I love my country. I will have both,” I reply before turning on my heel as I continue down the hall.

Joss knocks on my father’s office. His deep booming voice echoes down the hall as he tells us to come in. Joss opens the door for me, and I walk into the imposing room before he closes the ornate door again, leaving us alone.

Floor to ceiling of deep mahogany panels filled with books lines the entire side of the room. On the other side is a large