Coronation: A Royally Forbidden Romance

by Cleo White

Once upon a time, I definitely knew how to masturbate.

I want them to see us together.

What were you looking for, darling? What do you need from me? Whatever it is, I will provide it.

“The house could burn, and I wouldn’t stop looking at you.”

I hadn’t known it then, but I do now: never again will my heart be wholly my own.

Now, here I am, a grown man falling in love for the first time, and I don’t know how to say it, or if I even should.

“I know I’ve made such a mess of this,” I begin, my voice a rasping plea. Now that I’ve started, though, the words come more easily than I would have believed. “And I know that you deserve so much better than what I’ve given you. It might be selfish, but I would regret it the rest of my life if I didn’t ask you to give me a second chance, darling. Beg, actually. I believe this is me begging.”

“I didn’t know it was possible to feel so many good things until I met you.”

As much as I’d like to, I can’t turn back time. For better or worse, this is our story, and I won’t allow it to become one more fucking tragedy.

“If you mess up, then I will forgive you, because you have already given me more than I knew possible. Do you understand?”

I am a king, but at this moment, it couldn’t be less consequential. I would crawl on my hands and knees for this woman.

“Not fate, no. Merely a very bitter, lonely man, who stumbled into the path of the best thing that’s ever happened to him and was never going to let her go.”

“Perfect is fake. I don’t want another flawless thing I couldn’t possibly deserve.”

I want you. I want to be the me I am when I’m with you. I want us to be together. Always.

Did I have a thing for chest hair before Ben? I can’t remember finding anything about it particularly appealing or unappealing, but now I’m definitely in the pro camp for the dark dusting of hair in the center of his broad chest and trailing below his navel.

“We’re having a baby,” I confirm. “You’re really okay with this? I wouldn’t ever want you to think I’m trying to trap you.” “Trap me?” Ben scoffs, and then he’s leaning forward, guiding me onto my back as he drops soft, worshipful kisses over my face. “If I’m being trapped, then I will be the happiest victim in history. Trap me, darling, by all means.”

“Zelda, I love you. You and this baby are my family, and I will be there for you both, as long as I live and breathe. Do you understand?”

Zelda is pregnant. We’re having a baby. I’m going to have a family.

Yes, because I trust him. Yes, because he is my favorite person. Yes, because he fought for me to love him, and yes, because it worked.