Chapter 3

Iglanced at the clock on the wall, yet again, and silently cursed that time was going so fucking slow. Dani would be done with classes soon, and we were meeting at my apartment before taking off for a long weekend. There was a huge event on campus, so no classes had been scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. This meant we had a five-day weekend, so I had something special planned.

Normally, I loved my job, which surprised me at first because I'd never thought about being a professor. I sort of fell into it while finishing my coursework for my PhD in Archeology.

After serving my mandatory two years in my country's military, I'd earned my bachelor"s and master's degrees at Oxford, then spent four years working in the field. My boss had been impressed with my knowledge and skills, so he'd taken me on explorations with him early in my career. During one dig, I'd devised a new idea for preserving the items we recovered, and Marlow had encouraged me to pursue it. Eventually, the concept was perfected enough to patent and pitch to other companies. Everything took off from there, and it wasn't long before I had enough money to form my own business.

I'd offered Marlow a partnership, but he'd turned me down, saying he was too old to jump into something new. However, he'd remained a consultant and good friend. During those four years, my company developed other revolutionary new tools and methods for researching, retrieving, and preserving historic locations and artifacts.

Since it was easiest to travel back and forth to my country from New York City, I'd headquartered the business here. Eventually, I decided to come to Columbia and earn a PhD even though I was already worth over a billion dollars—without my royal inheritance. Near the end of my coursework, I was asked to guest lecture a couple of days a week. Once I'd finished and was working on my dissertation, they'd asked me to teach a class as well.

I was surprised when I realized how much I enjoyed it. Being in the classroom was a lot more fun than being holed up in my office in my company's Midtown building. I'd finished my dissertation and officially graduated last year, at which point I was offered a full-time teaching position. Since I wanted more flexibility, I agreed to stay on but only part-time. I needed the freedom to take off on a project or go home for an extended visit.

Today, I didn't have any focus for my class, so it was a good thing they were taking a test. But the time seemed to be dragging on so fucking slowly, it was driving me out of my mind.

Finally, the last student brought their paper to my desk at the front of the lecture hall, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I stuck the stack of tests into my briefcase. I stopped by my office to give them to my TA to grade, then I hurried home.

Dani was in the kitchen packing snacks into a cooler when I walked in the door. I fucking loved coming home to her, but she'd been stubborn as hell about moving in, which was driving me insane. Especially when she spent most of her time here, including sleeping over every night during the six weeks we'd been together.

Michel had occupied one of the other two bedrooms in the apartment, but when I decided to convince Dani to move in, we'd secured the unit next door for him. He wasn't particularly happy with me at the moment because I forced him to be much more covert about his duties since I still hadn't told Dani about my family. There just never seemed to be a right time.

Somehow, I'd managed to lie low enough to avoid being harassed by the media, and Michel had been able to intercept the few who'd tried. Since there wasn't any drama at home presently, they weren't too interested. But I knew if they got wind of my relationship with Dani, the paps would go fucking nuts. I had no idea why everyone was so obsessed with the love lives of royalty. Dani had been clear that she hoped someday the press would focus on her other siblings who better handled the limelight that came with being the child of a world-famous billionaire mogul.

Honestly, my guilt over not telling her, and what might happen if I did, was the only reason I hadn't simply moved all her shit in one day while she was at class. But after this weekend, I was going to put my foot down.

I silently prowled into the kitchen and over to the island where she was standing with her back to me. Slipping my arms around her waist, I kissed her neck and murmured, "Bonjour, princesse."

Dani shivered, and I grinned. I loved how she responded to me.

"Welcome home," she said softly, turning in my arms to smile sweetly up at me. I kissed her slow and deep before pulling back and rubbing my nose against hers.

"Are you ready to go?"

"All set."

I kissed her forehead and took a step back, picking up the small cooler before taking her hand and leading her to the front door. After setting the alarm and locking up, we took the elevator down to the underground garage where my Jaguar F-Type was parked.

There was a similar car a few stalls down, and Michel lifted his chin at me when we locked eyes. He would follow us to the cabin, then stay in the nearest one in case he was needed. After tonight, he would no longer have to hide his job from Dani, so he was in a much better mood than he had been lately.

Our bags were already in the trunk, so I put the snacks in the back before helping Dani into the passenger seat. She rolled her eyes playfully when I pulled the seat belt across her lap and snapped it into place. After six weeks, she'd mostly gotten used to my hovering, controlling ways and possessiveness. Although, she put up a fight on occasion, I usually won…often by fucking her agreement out of her.

I winked at her and whispered, "I love you, princesse."

She practically swooned and sighed, "I love you, too, Tristan." Then she smirked. "Or I wouldn't put up with you babying me all the time."

I laughed. "I prefer to call it spoiling."

I straightened and shut her door, then jogged around to the driver's side and got in. After starting the engine, I laced our fingers together and set our joined hands on my thigh.

Like always, our conversation was easy and comfortable and the drive seemed to fly by. When I pulled up to the little cabin in the Berkshires, she stared out the window and gasped.

"It's adorable!"

I raised her hand to my mouth and kissed the back. "I'm glad you like it, princesse."

We got out of the car, and I grabbed our bags. We walked to the front door, and Dani practically vibrated with excitement while I unlocked it.

I laughed and curled my arm around her waist. "Wait until you see the deck." I smiled devilishly. "And the primary suite."

The cabin had an open concept design on the first floor—the living room on the left, the dining on the right, and a large kitchen in the middle. Dani raced through the living room and over to the wall of windows that faced the back of the cabin.

She gasped as she pushed open one of the two sets of glass double doors. The cabin sat up high, and there was a steep drop underneath the deck, so the view was unobstructed. "It's amazing," she breathed as she walked out onto the deck.

After dropping our bags at the foot of the stairs, I joined her outside. Walking up behind Dani, I pulled her back against me, breathing in her scent. I'd become so addicted to it that whenever I smelled anything vanilla, I went a little hard. But nothing compared to Dani's intoxicating aroma.

"It's not nearly as beautiful as you, princesse."

Dani turned in my arms and locked her hands behind my neck. Her cheeks were adorably pink, and she smiled sweetly.

"My family has a home similar to this upstate, but the place is huge because it has to accommodate all nine of us kids and my parents. I'm finding the coziness of this one very appealing. Although, a lot of that has to do with the company."

I winked and kissed her lips briefly. "Well, then we'll just have to get two cabins. One to share with all of our kids, and the other just for the two of us."

Dani's brow furrowed a little, and she canted her head to the side. "I don't need all of that. I just need you. Even one of these cabins might be tough to afford on a teacher's salary and whatever job I decide on."

She wilted a little when she talked about getting a job. "You don't want to work?"

"Not really." She shrugged. "I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. And I have a trust fund that could make that possible, but my parents raised us to be independent, and I like the idea of standing on my own two feet."

A corner of my mouth lifted, and I gazed at her in awe. She was so perfect for me. I hadn't kept my wealth a secret as a test or even on purpose. I was so used to people knowing what I was worth because of my royal status that it hadn't even occurred to me. Even though I knew she had no clue who I really was. I wondered just how pissed she would be when she found out, but I knew I'd get her to forgive me eventually. I would definitely enjoy all the orgasms I was going to give her to make up for it.

"First of all, it will be our four feet. And second, I think it's admirable that you want to stay home with our children. Also…it just so happens that we don't need your inheritance, or mine for that matter."

"I know," she insisted. "So let"s just forget about extra houses and focus on…wait…" Her lips pursed as she thought hard about something. "Did you say our four feet?"

I laughed and gave her a squeeze before looking directly into her clear blue eyes. "Princesse, I've told you that I love you. Begged you to move in with me. And I have fucked you bare, which is something I have never, ever done. What did you think came next?"

"W-well, um…" she stammered. Then her cheeks bloomed with color, and her lips curled into a small smile. "I guess I was hoping, but I didn't want to assume."

I grinned and shook my head. "I had a whole thing prepared. A candlelight dinner, snuggling around a fire, and a speech about how much I love you and want to marry you. But now just seems like the right time."

"Time for what?"

"Wait here." She didn't have a chance to respond before I was stalking inside and over to our bags. I retrieved an item from one of the zippered pockets of my duffel and hurried back to my love.

"Time for this," I told her softly as I flipped open one side of the little black box, then the other. The setting sun glinted off the ten-carat, belle round brilliant diamond micropavé engagement ring, making it sparkle. I pulled the ring out of its velvet bed, then brought Dani's left hand up to my mouth, and I kissed her fourth finger before sliding the band onto it.

"I…oh, Tristan," she sighed. "It's absolutely gorgeous. But you shouldn't have spent so much." Her smile was bright when she cupped my face in her hands. "I would have said yes with a ring out of a gumball machine."

I chuckled and peeled one of her hands from my cheek to kiss the palm. "As I was trying to tell you earlier, we don't need to worry about money, princesse. I have more than we will ever need, even before my own inheritance."

Dani's mouth turned down, and she blinked rapidly as she absorbed what I'd revealed. "You're rich?"

I nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. Honestly, it just never came up, and I didn't think about it because most people—"

"Hold up," Dani interrupted, taking a step back. "Did I hear you right? Did you say all our children?"

My head spun a little at her change in subject. "Yes," I confirmed. "That was a bit of a delayed reaction."

Dani planted her hands on her hips and raised a brow. "Just how many is all, to you, Dr. St. Clare?"

I aimed my most charming smile at her, and when she seemed a little dazed by it, I took a step closer. "As many as you'll give me, princesse." And as soon as possible.

Her eyes narrowed, and she lifted her chin stubbornly. "So you'd be okay if I only want two?"

I almost laughed because she'd already mentioned wanting a big family, but I knew she was fishing to see if I meant what I said. "Absolutely." And I did mean it, however… "As long as I reserve the right to convince you to have more."

I had no doubt that I'd have her begging for my come. The image of her laid out on our bed, her white, blond tresses spread over the pillows, and the proof that I'd bred her making her belly round and swollen…fuck, she'd probably be constantly knocked up for the foreseeable future.

She was already hungry for my cock a couple of times a day, which suited me just fine since my dick was in a permanent state of semi-hard anytime she was around. Or when I was just thinking about her.

We'd even snuck a few fucks in my office on campus. She wasn't my student, but it still had an air of taboo, which made what we were doing even hotter. I'd given her plenty of lessons on sex education while she bounced on my cock in my office chair. Or when I taught her to control her gag reflex and take me to the back of her throat.

One time, she'd even surprised me during a phone call with the dean. I hadn't noticed her until she'd taken out my dick and licked it like a lollipop. I managed to maintain a neutral tone until she took all of me down the back of her throat and swallowed. I'd made an excuse through clenched teeth about not feeling well and thankfully the dean hung up. After that, I'd grabbed Dani's hair in a hard grip and held her head still as I fucked her mouth. When I finally exploded, I shouted as she looked up at me with a "cat ate the canary" smile, the little vixen.

She'd paid for it when I tied her to our bed and spanked her ass until it was cherry red, before giving her orgasm after orgasm, each right on the heels of the other, until she begged me to stop. I could have asked her for anything at that moment, and she would have given it to me.

Dani sniffed haughtily. "I could hold out if I wanted to."

This time, I did laugh. "Whatever you say, princesse."

She glared at me, and when I moved to take her in my arms, she retreated. I frowned and took another step forward, causing her to back up again.

"Princesse," I growled. "Get your sexy little ass over here so I can kiss my fiancée."

"I'm not your fiancée yet," she replied.

"Yes, you fucking are, Dani," I growled. She opened her mouth to speak, and I clenched my fists at my sides. "Be careful what you say next, princesse. Or you just might find yourself bound and gagged while I punish you."

Her eyes flared with heat, and my cock turned to stone. I hadn't really delved into the world of kink before Dani, but I wanted complete control during sex with her. I wanted her submission, although to what extent depended on my mood. And hers, since I would never make her uncomfortable. I only used a little pain for punishment…and to heighten her pleasure.

I'd been happy as fuck when Dani was willing to experiment with my desires. Then when she discovered that she enjoyed it, I truly couldn't believe I'd found someone so damn perfect for me. I would have given up any, or all, of it for her.

Dani huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, but not before I saw her hard nipples poking through her shirt.

"Is it because of my money?"

Dani rolled her eyes. "I don't care about the money. I would have preferred you'd told me before now, but we've only been together six weeks. I can see how it hadn't come up."

"Then what is—"

"Tristan," she growled adorably, cutting me off. "You haven't asked me to marry you."

I burst out laughing and reached out to grab her arms, tugging her toward me until her body fell against mine. "Je t'adore princesse." As usual, when I spoke to her in French, she melted into me. "The reason I haven't asked you to marry me is because I won't accept any other answer but yes, ma princesse."

"Oh," she whispered, gazing up at me dreamily. "Well, I was going to say yes, anyway."

Palming her ass, I lifted her, and she put her legs around my waist. "I promise you'll say it many, many more times," I crooned as I carried her inside. "With much more enthusiasm."