Page 91 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

“Oh, Ezzy,” Mariyah cooed through a heavy sigh. “You love him.”

I nodded to myself as the words sunk into my every bone. “I do.” I had for a while now. And maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen so quickly, but it was too late to rewind the clock. Not that I wanted to. I hadn’t been blind to what was happening. I’d chosen to let it happen. I’d wanted it to happen, and there was no other way it was meant to be. Loving Kai had been my fate and my choice.

“Kyah!” she squealed. “Oh my gosh, this is so cute. You’re so cute, Esmeralda!” I giggled. “This has to be the best royal love story ever. Oh my gosh, I can’t. I think I’m gonna die from happiness.”

“Okay, okay,” she said once she stopped cheering and I stopped laughing, then her voice went low and suggestive. “What about the sex? Was it good?”

Good was the understatement of the century. I still couldn’t believe how fucking amazing it had been considering Kai admitted that he hadn’t had sex in nearly five years. He didn’t say it directly, but I realised that meant he hadn’t even been sleeping with Meg towards the end of their relationship. That stupid, narcissistic, abusive bitch.

But that was a secret he’d entrusted to me, and I couldn’t tell it to Mariyah. I wouldn’t tell anyone.

I licked over my lips slowly. “It was life-changing, Mariyah.”

She cackled loudly down the phone as I heard a faint thumping sound like she was smacking something. Probably her pillow. “She didn’t say insane, she said fucking life-changing. Oh shit, I’m dead!” She tried to tame her laughter. “Damn. Crap. I think I woke the kids up.” She went quiet for a second. “Shit, they’re really awake. Ez, quickly. Give me details without giving me details.”

“Uh.” I chuckled, thinking of what to say. “So…turns out he is in fact a soft Dom.” My best friend gasped, muttering something that sounded like ‘no way’. “And I uh, accidentally called him Sir. And then he Sir-ed the fuck out of me all night long.”

I swear Mariyah’s shriek of laughter was so loud, it probably could’ve been heard from outer space.

* * *

Kai kept me close to his side as we walked through Chaukham Palace’s kitchen that same evening after the Peace Memorial Service at Westcombe Palace.

We found Fay, Adam, and Shehryar in conversation with Pierre and head chef, Nur, around the big metal kitchen island towards the back. Half full mugs and plates covered most of the countertop as if they had been eating like they’d been starved all day. I didn’t blame them.

The luncheon after the service had been a hall of too many people and too little portions, especially the elaborate, deconstructed apple crumble for dessert. And the hour and a half of mingling with emergency service and Army personnel after hadn’t helped with the tired and hungry situation.

When the five men spotted us, they stopped what they were doing and blatantly stared at mine and Kai’s intertwined hands. A blush assaulted my cheeks.

It was the first time Kai and I were holding hands in front of anyone during the day. And if it wasn’t proof of what I’d said to Mariyah on the phone, I wasn’t sure what was.

Maybe we hadn’t talked about what we were to each other, nor had we discussed when we would officially tell people, but last night had clearly changed something between us. And this was our silent declaration we weren’t going to hide that we were involved with each other.

Shehryar stopped shaking his protein shake mid-air, his eyes narrowing on Kai like an overprotective brother judging his little sister’s boyfriend for the first time. Kai’s siblings, Adam and Fay, smirked at me, Adam more subtly than Fay. Nur grinned like a proud grandfather under his silvery moustache, and Pierre was trying to play the part of the heartbroken second male-lead who didn’t get the girl.

No one said anything as Kai pulled out the last available navy stool for me next to Adam and then stood beside me as close as he could, while Nur, Pierre, and Shehryar stood on the opposite side.

“Tea or coffee, Your Highnesses?” Nur asked.

I requested black coffee, Kai opted for jasmine tea, and Nur headed off past the island to make them. That was when Pierre finally spoke up.

“So, this is how it’s going to be?” he muttered, though his ruby red eyes danced with mischief. “I thought there was something between us, Princess.” He gestured between me and him then pointed to Kai. “But now you’re choosing him? Were you just playing with my heart this whole time?”

Fay chuckled quietly, while Shehryar shook his head, taking a sip of whatever disgusting flavour of protein shake he was drinking, probably banana. Kai, though, radiated feral rage as he shifted even closer to me, so that he was standing on the rounded base of my stool.

It was comical and unbelievably cute. I found myself struggling to hold in an adoring giggle as I leaned into my jealous bear’s side. I felt Kai shift above me, but I kept my smile on Pierre.

“I’m sorry, Pierre,” I said, playing along with a light sigh. “I don’t think this thing between us would have ever worked out. It’s not you. It’s me.” I tipped my head back to grin up at Kai. “I’m completely infatuated with the way this handsome prince frowns at me.”

Kai blinked at me, his eyes widening. Then his brows furrowed, his cheeks going pink as his hand came up to tug at his left earlobe. He looked away, appearing shy and embarrassed.

I nearly doubled over from the overdose of adorable that stabbed me right through the chest. How and why was he so fucking cute?

“Why the fuck are you blushing?” Fay hooted hysterically. Pierre and Adam chuckled along, but Shehryar tried to hide his amusement.

“I’m not,” Kai grumbled, scowling viciously at his brother as he tugged at his ear again.

I pressed my lips together, but a snicker still slipped out between them loud enough for Kai to notice. I leaned into him, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt, but he just scowled down at me. Even if it did turn more playfully grumpy than embarrassed. It was beautiful.

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