Page 102 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

My heart hiccupped. “What? When? Where were you?”

“It was after the countdown at midnight. I needed a break from the crowd, so I went out onto the balcony. I didn’t expect anyone else to be there. But you were.” He rolled his jaw. “You were on the phone, and I couldn’t quite hear you, but I didn’t know how to make myself known. So, I didn’t. But I didn’t leave either.”

My jaw hung loose as he stroked his fingers through my hair. “You looked stunning in that black silk dress, and it caught me off guard. I didn’t understand how I had known you my entire life and only then realised how beautiful you were. I couldn’t look away. I knew I was being a creep watching you, but I couldn’t even move, Esmeralda. You had me captivated.”

I spluttered an unintelligible sound, and he flashed me a lazy, lop-sided smile. “And then you laughed, and I…couldn’t breathe. It was so loud, so unbashful, so sweet. And I loved it. I wanted to go over to you and find out what made you laugh and do it again and again so you would laugh just for me. But then you turned, and I panicked and hid in the shadow instead.”

He shook his head. “But Babble, I never forgot the sound of your laugh or the way you looked that night. I thought about you for days and nights after, wondering what would have happened if I had made myself known. I lost count of the number of times I wished I had.”

“And you’re just telling me this now?” I exclaimed when I found my voice, giving him a hard shake by the shoulders. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

He frowned but still looked amused. “What was I supposed to tell you? That I stood in the dark watching you laugh like a perverted stalker and day-dreamed about you for weeks after?”

I nodded vigorously. “Yes! Do you even understand how happy that would have made me? The guy I liked watched me and was thinking about me without my knowing? That was my ideal scenario.”

His head reared back. “We must have different definitions of ideal.”

I chuckled at his dismay then dragged him back to me, capturing his mouth in a clumsy kiss.

“But I’m glad you didn’t hear what I said that night,” I whispered.

“Why?” he breathed, the mint of his toothpaste filling my lungs.

“Because I was talking about you to Mariyah.” I kissed the sweet, bashful tilt that blossomed on his mouth several times in quick succession. “Are you sure about this, Kai?”

“Yes. And if you ask me that again, you’re going to earn yourself a hard spanking.” My thighs clenched around his as his growled warning sent a bolt of heat rushing down my core. “I would never let anyone, or anything take you away from me. I will always fight by your side.”

“But what if your family—”

“My family would pick you too, Esmeralda. They’re obsessed with you. And if I don’t ask you to be my girlfriend tonight, I am a hundred per cent certain they will ask you themselves tomorrow.”

My thudding heart felt like it was going to explode trying to process what he was saying. “You want me to be your girlfriend?”

“Of course, I do. But if King Kareem is still not happy with me—”

“No. He’s not unhappy with you, or with us. He told me so himself earlier. Before I came here.”

Understanding melted over his face. “So, the reason you were crying…”

I nodded. “He apologised, and we had a chat. It wasn’t easy, but I think we can slowly start to fix our relationship now.” I smiled, lifting a hand to Kai’s cheek. “And he told me he really likes you.”

“So, I can give you a rose tomorrow?” His eyes were aglow as he nestled into my palm.

“Hmm.” I traced my thumb down the bridge of his nose below his glasses.

“And you’ll be my girlfriend?”

“Yes. If you’ll still have me.”

All I heard was a rush of air in my ears and suddenly I was on my back, blinking dazedly up at Kai as he hovered above me on all fours.

“You shouldn’t have said that, Babble,” he growled as he stroked one hand up my decolletage and wrapped it around my throat. “Because now I want to punish my girlfriend even harder for still fucking doubting me.”

My heart went yes, fuck, yes in my chest, even though a ball of panic bounded through me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

KAI

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