Commanding Royal

  Club Royal, Book 7

  Elouise East

  Copyright © 2023 Elouise East

  COMMANDING ROYAL (CLUB ROYAL SERIES, BOOK 7)

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Elouise East. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or by any other means, electronic or print, without premising from Elouise East.

  The unauthorised reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Please purchase only authorised electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All products and/or brand names mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective holders/companies.

  Publisher: Elouise East

  Cover Design: Design By Tina Løwén

  Editor: Maria Vickers

  Beta Readers: Emma Brown

  Contents

  List of characters (alphabetical order)

  Bodyguard list of characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Protecting his Past

  Books by Elouise East

  About Elouise East

  Commanding Royal

  Andrew has suffered through a loss he would never wish upon anyone. Louisa had been the light of his life and at his side for too many years to count. When she was killed, he promised to do better by his family, to stick by their sides no matter the consequences to himself. He owed that to Louisa, to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. When he finds himself wanting to be in the presence of two people who should stay far away from him, he tries to step back, but will they let him?

  Kean loves his family, but he doesn’t particularly like them. They push him to be someone he’s not and towards people completely wrong for him. Although, the people he chooses himself haven’t worked out either. How can they when one is a king and the other has been hurt too much. He expects to live his life as their friends, nothing more. But when he gets the chance, he grabs it with both hands.

  Kendal plans to stay alone for the rest of their life. They’ve stopped trusting their instincts after everything that had happened to them before. What they choose to do instead is to live their life as if it never happened, creating a sanctuary. But when their needs become too much, who can they turn to? How about the two men who’ve come to mean so much to them?

  Three people with entirely different needs come together in the unlikeliest of situations, but is the weight of the crown too much for them all to handle?

  This is an MMM book containing BDSM scenes and D/s dynamics in all forms. It also has lots of loving, friendships, family drama, a large age gap and, of course, a HEA.

  Author note

  If you would like to see any potential triggers for this book and any other books I’ve written, please go to this link on my website: https://elouiseeast.com/triggers

  Dedication

  To my entire team

  You’ve made this series possible, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  List of characters (alphabetical order)

  Andrew, King of England

  Brady, Police Commissioner, Andrew’s friend

  Charles, Andrew’s nephew, Charlotte and Ernest’s child

  Charlotte, Andrew’s sister

  Christian, Andrew’s nephew, Oscar’s boyfriend

  Clarice, Club Royal’s receptionist

  Damon, Frederick’s fiancé

  Daniel, Christian’s friend, works with Neil

  Dante, Kean’s father

  Douglas, Andrew’s son, Mav’s boyfriend

  Eddie, George and Timothy’s boyfriend

  Elizabeth, Andrew’s niece

  Ernest, Andrew’s brother-in-law

  Frederick, Andrew’s son, heir to the throne, Damon’s fiancé

  George, Andrew’s son, Timothy and Eddie’s boyfriend

  Gia, Christian’s friend, works with Neil

  Henry, Andrew’s nephew, Robert’s fiancé, Victoria and Patrick’s son

  John, Andrew’s brother, Christian’s father

  Kean, Henry’s best friend

  Kendal, friend of family

  Kieren, Patrick’s boyfriend, security consultant

  Louisa, Queen Consort, Andrew’s late wife

  Maverick, Douglas’s boyfriend

  Miranda, Andrew’s sister-in-law, Christian’s mother

  Neil, Christian’s boss

  Oliver, Club Royal bartender

  Oscar, Christian’s boyfriend

  Patrick Snr, Andrew’s brother-in-law, Patrick and Henry’s father

  Patrick Jnr, Andrew’s nephew, Victoria and Patrick’s son

  Pierce, Quinn’s partner

  Portia, Randall’s assistant

  Quinn, Kendal’s friend

  Randall, Andrew’s assistant

  Robert, Henry’s fiancé

  Simon, Kean’s late brother

  Timothy, George and Eddie’s boyfriend

  Victoria, Andrew’s sister

  William, Andrew’s brother

  Xan, Kendal’s friend

  Bodyguard list of characters

  (Showing royal member assigned.)

  Brett = Christian

  Colt = Andrew

  Des = Henry

  Dominic = Andrew

  Eric = Douglas

  Felix = Oscar

  Ford = Kendal

  Gerald = Andrew

  Greg = Kean

  Isaac = George

  Jade = Patrick

  Jared = Andrew

  Landon = Andrew

  Locke = Frederick

  Matt = Robert

  Nick = Andrew

  Nina = Kieren

  Owen = Frederick

  Rae = Mav

  Sam = Eddie

  Selena = Andrew

  Simon = Andrew

  Van = Timothy

  Viola = Andrew

  Chapter 1

  Andrew

  Andrew Alexander Charles Sutcliffe, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, stared at the bathroom mirror, seeing the deepening lines on his face. He wasn’t one to notice these things usually, but he was feeling every hour of his age of late. The lines seemed to have sunk to craters this past year, but it was no surprise. Stress and grief could do that to a person.

  That day was no different. It would take every ounce of strength he had to get through the hours to come. Not only because it was the first anniversary of his wife’s death but also because it was a security nightmare. If he hadn’t believed they needed a show of strength, he would never allow his family to have targets on their backs. Unfortunately, sharing the weight of the crown with his sons was the only way they might be able to retain it.

  He sighed and rubbed a hand over his chin, his beard scratching audibly, and set about washing the weariness from his face.

  Far too soon, he stood in front of the suit hanging innocently in its place. The black-on-white had never looked so bleak, but maybe that was just his outlook on life. Louisa hated the dark colours they were forced to wear in their grief, and if the media wouldn’t have crucified him for wearing a purple shirt, he would’ve done so. It was her favourite colour, after all. Instead, he slipped the white shirt over his shoulders and fastened the buttons, sliding the jacket over the top and pinned a purple flower to his lapel. It was the best he could do, and he hoped she forgave him for it.

  A knock sounded, and he sighed. The time had come.

  He opened the door and smiled at Simon, his head of security. Simon had his work cut out for him, managing Andrew’s eight personal guards, but he’d been steady as a rock, even with the issues they’d had from within their circle last Christmas. Simon had taken it upon himself to recheck and audit every member of his personal guard after the attack. There was only so much he could do, though. People were good at hiding their goals if they wanted to. As Andrew well knew.


  “Morning, Your Majesty,” Simon said with a head bow.

  Andrew returned the greeting, grateful Simon hadn’t said “good” morning. There was nothing good about that day, and he doubted there ever would be.

  They strode down the hallways towards the exit, one other guard falling in line beside him and two guards settling behind him. His final four guards would be positioned by the exit doors, waiting to spread out around him as they walked the distance to the chapel.

  His heart clenched when his sons came into view, waiting just inside the doors. With them were their partners, and an immense well of love filled him at the sight. Louisa would’ve loved to see them all happy, and as Freddie always said, she must’ve been psychic with how much of what she predicted had come true. Her final prediction would be a failure, though. But that was something to think about another day.

  “Father,” Freddie said, clasping him.

  Andrew was too choked up to reply but smiled when they pulled apart. He repeated the action with Douglas and George, then hugged each of their partners: Damon, Mav, Timothy and Eddie.

  “It’s time, Your Majesty.”

  Andrew nodded and gazed around him. “Chin up, boys,” he whispered. He hoped the reminder of their not-so-secret action of tilting the other’s chin up before they departed would help bolster them.

  “You, too, Father,” George whispered.

  Andrew nodded towards the guard by the door, and several of the security team left the building before the royal family did, fanning out to ensure they covered the family as much as possible. It wasn’t like it had been—even a year ago—when they could have one or two guards surrounding them. With everything Charlotte and John had put them through, they’d increased the guards at all events, and although there had been no sight nor sound from either of them recently, they had highlighted this event as the last hurrah, so to speak. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he’d given his guards and the security team an order they had initially refused to obey; if something happened, his children and their partners were their first priority, not him. It had taken a lot of persuading and explaining before they would even consider it.

  Andrew heard the roar of the crowd, shouting and screaming to them, but he shut it out, unable to distinguish what anyone was saying. He focused on the walls of Windsor and the rhythm of his footsteps as he drew closer to the chapel, where he would give a speech about his late wife before closing the curtains on his grief for good. At least to the public. Internally, she would never be gone.

  They climbed the steps at the front of the chapel, shaking hands with the Dean of Windsor, who would preside over the service. They wandered down the long aisle, nodding at the guests already in place, the music low and sombre. Andrew took the spot he usually sat in, and Freddie settled beside him in what used to be Louisa’s seat. The toll that knowledge took on his son lined his already drawn face, and Andrew rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed before staring at the space on the floor where Louisa’s coffin had stood three hundred and sixty-five days ago before being taken to her final resting place.

  The Dean of Windsor started the service, talking about Louisa and her charity work, and then led them in a hymn. Then Andrew stood and, followed by two guards, took his place at the lectern. He had prepared a speech for the guests and the viewers who watched the service through their TV screens, but he couldn’t bring himself to take it from his jacket.

  “My wife…was one of a kind. I’ve never known anyone with a bigger heart, a warmer embrace or such gentle words. Even when I was in trouble with her, she never raised her voice. She stated her reasons and made me see sense.” He gave a small smile, remembering how she had taken him to his knees when he’d demanded things of Douglas that no father should. As soon as she’d made him see he was following in his father’s footsteps, he’d acquiesced and changed his ways. She would always be the conscience on his shoulder whenever he had a decision to make, or he needed to reply to something.

  “Her wisdom was beyond her years, leading us all to believe she was psychic.” He chuckled. “But I know, from having loved her for forty years, she would prefer to be where she is now than for the same thing to happen to her children. As would I. Louisa’s love will never leave us. We’ll feel it in every interaction that brings a memory with it. We’ll feel it in every place we scent honeysuckle. We’ll feel it every day when our hearts beat because she was the beating heart of this country.”

  He swallowed the lump in his throat. “When her heart beat for the last time, she sent that love into all of us. Yes, I may be the king. Yes, my family are the heirs to the throne. But in every one of us, she lives, and therefore, her heart beats within us. She would not want us to falter in our belief of how amazing our country and the commonwealth could be, but she would gladly hand over the reins if that was what the public deemed in the country’s best interests.

  “So, I stand before you today, hoping your hearts still beat for us. That your love for your late queen still lingers within you. That you trust in love itself, no matter what form that love comes in. I, for one, know Louisa would have been overjoyed to be surrounded with as much love as my family has recently brought within it. I hope you can be, too.”

  He stepped back, closed his eyes and breathed for a second before going back to his seat. The rest of the service was a blur, but he followed the motions of his family and his guards until it was time to leave. They walked the distance back home but headed for the receiving room they had begun using as a meeting room. There were too many of them to fit into the rooms they’d used previously. His family often used it for their parties and get-togethers, too, which was what they had decided to do now. A small party for those who couldn’t attend the service, this time away from the prying eyes of the media and the public.

  He greeted his nephews, Patrick, Henry and Christian, the latter of who he saw more as a son than a nephew after what his family put him through. No child should ever be disowned because of who they loved. Other guests had arrived while the service was in progress, and he spent a few minutes with each before he found himself faced with a man he wanted to spend more time with but couldn’t.

  “Your Majesty,” Kean Seymour said with a bow and sympathetic smile.

  Andrew hugged him, closing his eyes for a brief moment and inhaled, trying to borrow some of Kean’s strength to keep him going. “Kean. Thank you for coming.”

  “You’re welcome. If there’s anything I can do…”

  Andrew squeezed his shoulder. “I appreciate that.” He exhaled. “How are you? How’s the studying?”

  Kean rolled his eyes, making Andrew smile. “It’s okay. I still don’t understand why I need the qualification, but my father insists I have it if I want to be part of the business. It’s keeping me busy if nothing else.”

  “And is construction where you want to be?” He asked the question he’d been wanting to for a while because he could see something inside Kean. Something that appeared to want something other than following in his father’s footsteps.

  Kean’s eyes widened. “Maybe,” he said finally, his gaze never wavering from Andrew’s.

  Andrew pushed down the need to pull him into his arms again and soothe whatever worried him. Kean wasn’t his, and he needed to remember that he never would be. After all, it was okay to be out and proud about being the first bisexual king, but if he were ever to take a partner, it couldn’t be someone the public would crucify because Kean was thirty years younger than Andrew. He was younger than his sons.

  “You know I’m here if you need to talk about your options,” he said instead.

  “Thank you.”

  A hand appeared on Kean’s biceps, and they both turned to see the other person who had a piece of Andrew’s heart. Kendal Lawson. An amazingly resilient person who was a ray of sunlight whenever they were in the room, and a sub who had been abused by a Dominant who’d been part of Club Royal. Andrew didn’t take too kindly to people hurting others, especially those under his care. In the aftermath, Andrew had taken it upon himself to ensure Kendal’s health and safety and had checked up on them to make sure they were managing since the incident.