Page 15 of Damaged Prince
I’m oddly excited about this new development. Knowing my boyfriends have a past together could be messy because I don’t know what the details of it are. But I can tell that both Kai and Eli still have some kind of connection between them.
“I do have a question I’d like you to answer."
“I’ll try my best.” He nods.
“Did things between you two end up messy?”
Kai thinks for a moment. “Not exactly. No one did anything to the other that would hurt them. Honestly, I just think it was a case of not the right time.”
“And when was all of this?”
“About a year ago.”
“Mhhmm,” I hum. “Maybe now would be the right time?”
Kai watches me for a moment, and I can almost see the cogs turning inside his head.
“Come on, Kai. This is you we’re talking about. Since when did you start taking no for an answer? Since when do you just sit back and do nothing regarding the person you want to be with!Hello, look at me.” I laugh. “You knew what you wanted and you made sure you got it. Why can’t you do the same with Eli?”
“It’s not that easy, Sweetheart. There’s still sensitive topics between the two of us.”
“How about this? Call him, talk to him, let him know I approve of whatever might happen between the two of you. And that it doesn’t change anything between me and him. I’d tell him myself, but we are in a bit of an awkward place.”
“You are?” Kai’s brows furrow.
“Ah, yeah.” I laugh. “Before I say anything, by any chance do you know where he works?” Kai nods slowly. “And what his job really is at that club?” He pauses for a moment, then nods again. “Thank god,” I sigh in relief. “Because we went there last night. My mom, my aunts, and Winter.”
Kai’s eyes widen as he coughs, choking a little. “You what? You went to a strip club with your mother and aunts?” he asks in disbelief.
“Don’t you judge me.” I point a finger at him in warning. “It was for my aunt's birthday, okay? Anyways, turns out it was the club Elijah works at. I found out what he does, he freaked out, and thought it would be a deal breaker. It’s not, by the way. I made sure he knew that. So we’re kind of in this weird place because he hinted that the reason he works there is a lot deeper than it just being a regular job. I didn’t want to push him because I could tell it was something deeply personal. And with something Winter said, I know it’s nothing good. Anyways, that’s where we’re at. And I don’t want to add any more weirdness between us. I just want him to know I really like him and I’m excited to get to know him more. I just want him to be happy and—”
Kai silences my rambling with a soft, sweet kiss. My eyes flutter shut, and I sigh in contentment as I lean into the kiss,body humming with need. “You are way too good for us, Delaney Jones.”
“No, I’m not.” I blink up at him, a little dazed from the kiss. “You are all amazing men. And I’m lucky to call you mine.”
The smile he gives me melts my heart. “Oh my sweet, sweet girl,” he chuckles low and deep, making my stomach flutter. “I’m never letting you go.”
Good, because I don’t have plans of going anywhere.
Chapter 4
Kai
Unfortunately, Elijah leaves after getting a call from his boss, asking him to go into work, ending our little brunch date sooner than I’d like.
After he left, Laney immediately started interrogating me. I should have known my girl would pick up on the tension between Eli and me.
Seeing him show up with her was a surprise, but not an unpleasant one. It just caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting to see him. I’ve only seen him once since moving back to Rose Briar Hill, and that was at Thanksgiving. He avoided me the whole time I was there, too. But it wasn’t hard when all the attention was on Delaney’s and my relationship and our coming out to the whole family.
I didn’t miss the look of longing in his eyes when our gazes met, though. It took everything in me not to pull him into my arms and tell him I wanted all the same things with him that I do with Delaney.
But I couldn’t because things between him and me are beyond complicated. Something I’d very much like to work on if we’re going to be sharing the same woman.
After I talked with Delaney, telling her as much as I could without giving away personal details that weren't mine to spill, I was surprised that she wasn’t upset at the knowledge that Eli and I had a past, but curious, even supportive.
I’m a fool to expect anything less from that woman at this point. Delaney Jones is a literal godsend, and I meant what I said: we don’t deserve her. That doesn’t mean I’m going to let her go. No, she’s mine and she’s going nowhere.
Not wanting to end my time with Delaney, I ask her to spend the rest of the day with me.
