Page 67 of The Royal in Room 3

“That’s how much I really really really love you.”

“And you’re never going to let me go after our contract ends?”

“What contract?” One of his hands slid down to my ass, and his lips brushed mine. “We’ve been going off script since the day you moved in with me. I have no intention of letting you go, little prince. My home is your castle now, and I’m the dragon at the keep. No one is coming to your rescue.”

A smile curved my lips. “Good. I don’t need to be rescued anyway.”

22

JUDE

Throughout the year, Halo House funded several LGBTQ charities and local projects, from toy drives to winter coat and blanket collections. The angels who lived directly within the four walls might have benefited the most, but Phoenix gave his all to support the community at large. This month, we partnered with a shelter a few towns over to put together care packages for LGBTQ youth, and the support was amazing.

Current and former angels, sponsors, and caregivers had spent weeks donating whatever they could. Some brought items, while others gave money so that Phoenix could buy what was still missing and donate it. The shelter could better handle its finances that way. Many of the boys who had moved out years ago returned with whole carloads of supplies.

By Saturday afternoon, the ballroom barely looked like a ballroom. Long folding tables filled the center of the room, covered with open boxes and neat rows of supplies. Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, washcloths, and sanitary products were grouped at one end. Farther down were socks, underwear, T-shirts, sweatpants, reusable water bottles, flashlights, first-aid kits, and folders containing information on local support services. Blankets filled several chairs near the windows, and the completed packages were lined up against the far wall in sturdy reusable bags.

I returned to the house after transporting the first truckload to the shelter to find someone had put on music to liven up the place while they worked. Phoenix was still on his feet, moving between tables with a clipboard, checking numbers and directing people wherever they were needed. Dean was complaining loudly about being assigned to fold blankets while continuing to fold them better than anyone else. His Daddy gave him a smack on his ass that made him pipe down. It was about time he found someone who could handle him, and it seemed his current Daddy Dom was just perfect to handle the brattiness.

Jorge had returned for the day with his caregivers and was making handwritten cards to place inside the bags—a personal touch so everyone felt special. His hands must have hurt, but he was too determined to stop.

Since I’d left, some of the nightclub staff who weren’t directly involved in Halo House had shown up and taken over so others could have a break. I scanned the room and found Soren packing hygiene products. He’d been excited about helping but hadn’t taken a break all morning.

When he straightened slowly, I noticed he rubbed the middle of his back. I walked over to him and placed an arm around his waist.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“Hi, Daddy. You’re back.”

“You’ve been bending over that table all morning. Why don’t you take a break? I’ll fill in for you.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

He reached for another empty bag, but I took it from him. “Aren’t you going to listen to your Daddy?”

He bit his bottom lip, and for a while I thought he would argue, but then his mouth softened into a smile and he nodded. “Okay.”

I loved the way he never challenged the decisions I made for him. While I didn’t have an issue taming a brat, Soren choosing to trust me at all times, whatever I decided was in his best interest, meant more to me.

“Okay. I’ll have some water. Do you want any?”

“No, thanks. I had some just now when I returned.”

Soren headed for the kitchen, and I picked up the task he’d been assigned. A few minutes later, I noticed Vale enter the ballroom, dressed in his uniform. He didn’t look like he was here to help, and he only nodded at Phoenix once before his gaze landed on Soren, who was handing out bottles of water to a few of the boys.

He walked over to Soren and whispered something in his ear. Soren nodded once, then promptly followed him. Although curious, I didn’t think much of it. Aaron had been one of the first people Soren trusted after arriving in California, and they spoke often.

But several minutes passed with neither of them returning to the ballroom. I set down the tape and looked toward the hallway where they’d disappeared.

Phoenix came over to me. “Don’t make a thing about it. I’m sure there’s a good reason they’ve been gone that long.”

Instead of bringing comfort, his words only made things worse. “You noticed too?”

He blushed, and I knew it bothered him that Vale had gone off with Soren without even coming over to talk to him. Everyone knew Vale always sought out Phoenix first.

“I’m going to check on Soren,” I said.

“You don’t trust him?”