Page 145 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

His lips twitched as he tugged at his left earlobe. “Thank you.”

Damn it. What I wouldn’t have given to throw myself into his arms and kiss him all over his perfect face. But it was his moment to shine, and I didn’t want to take away from it by giving people a reason to talk about us and not him and only him.

I walked away when I had to, even though I wanted to glue myself to his side, and he looked like he was promising to buy me said glue and paint it on me himself.

He climbed down from the platform and the crowd of invited guests swallowed him up. But over the heads of so many people his glowing eyes latched onto mine. I winked at him and turned away, walking the edges of the hall to find Yami while everyone else praised and congratulated my man.

* * *

There wasn’t a breeze outside, but the midnight air was cold and crisp against the sheen on my skin as I stared up at the clear, twinkling sky, the moon hanging huge and bright.

I’d snuck out ten minutes ago while Kai had still been surrounded, nearly two hours after the announcement. I was the only one there in the small, gated garden around from the Grand Hall, though I could hear some distant laughter over the melody of the orchestra. My arms rested against a low mossy wall as the bushes whispered to each other around me.

I was so lost in the beauty of the night sky I missed the crunch of steps on the gravel behind me. So, the large hands that slowly snuck around my waist and dragged me back against a broad, hard chest scared a gasp out of me.

My favourite scent and warmth filled my senses as a heavy weight settled against the side of head.

“You left me in there alone,” Kai grumbled into my hair and a smile spread across my lips.

Without glancing up, I settled back into him, wrapping my arms over his forearms. “I didn’t think you would notice if I disappeared for a minute.”

“Of course, I noticed.” He swayed me gently from side to side. “Candy was so fed up with me asking where you had gone that he went to ask Shehryar himself.”

I giggled quietly. “How did you sneak away?”

“I excused myself to the bathroom.”

“You lied? That was naughty.”

He squeezed me tighter, weighing me into the crook of his arm. “I needed to see you, but you weren’t there. I had to find you.”

Ah, shit, my heart. “You’re now the guest of honour, Crown Prince Kai. Everyone wants to speak to you and congratulate you. I didn’t want to ruin that by lingering.”

“You weren’t ruining anything. You were the only reason I hadn’t bolted from the hall sooner.” He pressed his lips to my hair and took a deep breath. “There were too many people around me.”

My chest did a little twist at how tired he sounded. “I know. But you did such a good job talking to all of them. Everyone loved you, and I felt so proud watching you.”

I felt his heart pick up pace, knocking incessantly against my back. Assuming he liked the praise, I offered another, more playful one. “And you looked absolutely gorgeous too.” He grunted, and I grinned. “What? You did—oh, wait. I haven’t even looked at you properly with your crown on. Let me turn around.”

“You don’t need to look.” Just from hearing his tone, I knew he was blushing.

“Kai!”

It took a bit of wriggling, but he eventually let me turn around and step away to get a good look at him. I nearly doubled over from the impact.

The little lock of hair falling against the side of his forehead from under the silver crown was absolute perfection paired with his half embarrassed, half grumpy frown.

“How did I ever get so lucky?” I sighed. “You’re so beautiful.” He rolled his jaw as he glanced away and tugged at his left earlobe. “Are you blushing?”

“No,” he grumbled.

I chuckled and flopped forward against him, encircling my arms around his waist. His dimple appeared in his right cheek as he hugged me back before planting a long kiss to my forehead.

“Should we go back inside?” I asked moments later as we swayed gently.

“Probably.”

Neither of us attempted to move and the frolicking melody coming from the hall changed into something softer and slower.

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