Royally Kidnapped by the Prince novel Chapter 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.