Page 51 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

Kai was hard. For me. From kissing me.

A heady breath shuddered out of me as I pushed myself closer against his erection. Kai hissed a breath into my mouth and pushed back. But just as quickly as he did, both of his hands settled on my waist, and he shoved my hips away. The next thing I knew, I was pressed against the door, he was standing in my place, and the gap between our wanting bodies was way too big for my liking.

“Kai,” I panted, reaching for him as my heavy lashes lifted.

With glazed eyes, he shook his head quickly. “No—no. We can’t. I can’t. Not like this, Esmeralda.”

I nodded rapidly, tugging at his hoodie. “We can. Just like this.”

“No. I’d be taking advantage of you, Esmeralda,” he croaked, his face twisted.

His comment sobered me. I cupped his cheek with one hand, getting him to look right at me. “No, you wouldn’t be,” I said softly. “I want this. I want you. I’ve wanted you for so long, Kai.”

“Exactly.” He sighed, pressing his cheek into my palm. “You have liked me for so much longer when what I feel for you, Esmeralda—it’s nothing I’ve ever felt before—but it’s new and I’m still figuring out what it is. And I would feel like I was taking advantage of you if I…” He shook his head. “I cannot do that. I won’t disrespect you like that. You deserve better. You deserve more.”

He was being so sweet and considerate, but I still wanted to argue. “Yes, I’ve had a crush on you for longer, but Kai, technically my feelings for you are new too. Because the one I really like is this you. And I didn’t know this you existed five days ago.”

He smiled a tired little curl that was annoyingly sexy. “Still, Esmeralda. It’s different. You know it is.”

All the steam behind my argument faded away, and I slumped back against the door in defeat. “Okay, fine.” I pouted through a smile. “But know that I’m damning you for being a noble prince right now.”

His dimple peeked out by my thumb. “I don’t think a noble prince would have a princess pinned to a door in a palace hallway where anyone could see them.”

Shit, that was right. We were by the open garden doors, where anyone could have walked past.

Wait, where was Raj?

“He slipped away a while back,” Kai said as I peered around us.

“Oh. I didn’t notice.” I shifted awkwardly. “You don’t think he saw us, do you?” As much as I was used to having guards around me seeing every detail of my life, there were some things that I would rather they didn’t see.

“No.” Kai shivered, a little frown tugging his brows down.

“Are you cold?”

“I am now.” He stepped back from the door, taking me by the hand. “Let’s go somewhere else.”

I grinned cheekily. “Where? Your bedroom?”

He scowled a warning. “No.”

Well, it was worth a try.

Chapter Sixteen

Esmeralda

We kissed!!

Mariyah

AHHHHHH!!!!!

Mariyah

AGNKHITPJNUEGGKDNH

Mariyah

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