Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

31

THAYER

“Darling?” She just bumped into me and seemed in such urgency. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay? Do you really care?” She glared at me, those blue eyes darkening.

“Of course, I do.” My brows met in confusion. Why would she think that I didn’t care? Then a warning

siren alarmed my head.

Shit! I told my sister that was a bad idea, but it seemed to work. Only Kennedy hated me beyond

measurable.

“Get off of me.” She jerked out of my arms. “Asshole.”

“You should not get used to cursing on me, Kennedy. Especially in public.”

She shook her head, blinking. “Do you know that your—” She abruptly stopped.

“Do I know what?”

“Never mind. Why are you here?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

I didn’t usually hold back what I wanted. I went after it, but with her, I learned to practice my patients,

even celibacy. When I looked at her chest, those swells that I missed, all I could think of was throwing

her to bed and make love with her.

“I want to take you somewhere.”

“Not interested.”

“Fine, but tell me what you’re about to say.”

“Not a shit.” She went to the door, sending me a signal to get out.

“Darling,” I warned her.

“I hated it when you call me that.” She was lying. I knew she liked it. There was always a glint of pull in

her eyes every time I called her darling. Besides, she was the only one I’d ever call that endearment.

“Then suck it up because I would never call you babe or baby.”

I glared back. My lips tightened. I’d been playing cat and mouse with her for days while she was

playing hard to get. This had to stop.

“Get out, darling.” She rolled her eyes, mimicking me.

“Not until I’m done talking with you. I’m tired of you pushing me away and treating me like shit. I’m a

prince, for fuck’s sake, and no one—no one has ever treated me the way you do, but that’s not the

point. It’s my fault why you’re mad at me. I’m here to apologize for taking you involuntarily. I’m sorry. If

you only answered my call and replied to my messages, that abduction wouldn’t have happened. I

have every reason for your questions, Kennedy. But because I respect you so much, I’m apologizing. If

you happen to be another woman, I won’t do shits.”

“You always do shits on your own. If I accept your apology, will you leave me alone now?”

“Yes.” I looked away as I swallowed hard. Words from my sister popped into my head. One more test,

brother. “For good.”

“Good. Apology accepted.” She seemed to struggle to finish her own words.”

“Have a nice day.” I turned around. She called my name when I was out of the door. I held back the

smile threatening to curve up my lips. “Yeah?”

“Did your father tell you something?” She didn’t meet my gaze anymore.

“I think whatever you and my father have talked about, it was between you two alone.”

She barely nodded. Come on, say that you miss me, that you want me and I’ll press you against your

bed and kiss you senseless.

For a short time, I’d learned something about Kennedy that was fascinating and very challenging. I left

her alone, hoping she would realize how strong her feelings were for me.

***

Three days. Three fucking horrible long days of not seeing her. I made that terrible decision of avoiding

her even if we were living under the same roof.

I was even tempted to bug her room just to hear and watch what she had been up to for three whole

damn days. I held myself because I loved her, and I’d been violating her trust, and how did it work for

me? Terrible. I was still paying for my own repercussion until now.

I talked to my father, hoping he would tell me what he’d talked about with Kennedy. Nada. My father

had been tight-lipped about it.

Yesterday, she spent time with my sister, and it terrified me that she seemed to do fine. I mean, yeah, I

should be glad to hear that, but she was only the tip of the iceberg. I had pressing matters I had to deal

with, and I couldn’t do shit if she was not on board.

“Damn it.” I checked her location, where it pinged on my phone. She was at home.

Great. Now what? I sat back in my chair in defeat. My gaze averted from my phone screen to a knock

on the door. Before I could answer, the door swung open.

“Oh?” She halted with her big blue eyes staring at me. So did I. She could be covered in mud, yet she

was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. And she never ceased to make my heart pound so

hard it was hard to breathe.

I was just thinking about her, and there she was, standing just a few feet from me, and I just stared at

her like an idiot.

“Can I help you?” Stupid question. I could have said something better, but that was the first thing that

came to my mind.

“I should go back.” She pointed her thumb out.

“Pretend that I’m not here.”

“They let me in. I thought you’re—” She stopped and chuckled. “Of course, they wouldn’t be here

guarding the damn door if you’re not here. My bad.” She pressed her lips together.

I maintain my expression neutral. “I have tons of gold bars in my safe. They’re not here for me.”

“Oh.” Word of the day? Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Kidding. Do whatever you want. I’ll be right in my room.” I rose from my seat, ready to flee. Only, it was

a bluff.

“Stay. I’m only looking for books.” And I will, my darling. ”Oh, I’m so sorry. Do you mind if I borrow your

books?”

My lungs expanded in relief. “Not at all. Take anything you want. You don’t need my permission, and

the staff is well-briefed.”

“Thanks.” She smiled. For three days I’d been in hell, it was worth it to see her smiling. She scanned

the vast collections of books in the floor-to-ceiling shelves and half of these walls.

“Looking for specific books?”

“Yeah.” She turned to me. “Your sister told me that you have books here about your lineage and

genealogy.”

“Baynburd Royal Descendants?”

“Yeah.”

What’s her interest in my family lineage? It was stupid to ask. Of course, she was curious. Instead, I

walked to the shelf and pulled one drawer. The book was pretty heavy, hardbound, with our family crest

printed on the cover.

“Here.” I took the book with me in the size of an Encyclopedia. I put it down on the coffee table.

“How about Biographies of the government officials? And World Famous Personality, if you have the

latest edition.”

“Sure.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I smiled. “You’re studying, Kennedy?”

“Curiosity kills the cat.” Her answer was always concise. It hurt, but at least she was talking to me.

The book she was looking for was just on top of the table. “It’s right there.”

“Thanks for the help.” She carried three books into her arms.

“Let me help. Those are heavy.”

She shook her head. “Million times lighter than what you carry on your shoulder every day.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

She just walked out, and I was still damn speechless.

So I decided to finally break my way of hunger strike and showed up.

“Kennedy, can I come in?” I followed with a knock.

“Please.”

I entered. She was lying on her stomach in bed, reading about the World Famous Personality. I took a

seat just right beside her. “Sometimes, I forgot their names. Marko did his job well, reminding me.”

“Do the Kardashians are in here too?” She lifted her gaze to look at me. It was comforting the warmth

and sparkles were back in those eyes.

“The woman with a sex tape?”

She barked out laughing. “I’m surprised you know about that.”

“I know many things since I have to catch up with trends, about those Twitter hashtags, and current

events.” I laid down in bed. My head was just a few inches from her sweet round ass.

“Do you have personal accounts?”

“Social media?” I turned to her side. My fingers were itching to grab and squeeze her globes. “You’re

stalking me?”

Her body shook in her laugh. “So you do have, huh?”

“I don’t have, darling. Someone is handling my official account for the sake of my foundation and

engagements. People still have to know that I’m doing my duties. I still need privacy, and I don’t have

another personal account.”

“Did you ever wonder what your life might be if you’re not born into a royal family?” She looked at me.

Her question was sincere enough.

I turned myself in bed so that I could lie my head on her back. “Yeah. Many times when I struggled to

be the perfect son. When I wanted to experience an ordinary teenager who could make mistakes

without judgment, could throw eggs to the house of a mean alcoholic old man. I wanted to go out on a

date without my bodyguards tailing me.”

“That must be hard.”

I sighed in contentment when she didn’t seem to care that I was breaking our agreement of touching

her. I raised my hand, tracing my fingers on the soft skin of her arm. “When I met you, I wished for that

one more time.”