Page 92 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

“Well,” Pierre said. “I suppose if frowns are your thing, Princess, then you’re with the right man. No one frowns harder than my friend—for no apparent reason too.”

We all chuckled at Kai’s expense, and he grumbled and growled incoherently under his breath until I swivelled the stool around and wrapped my arms around his torso. It only took a few seconds for his dimple to make an appearance in his cheek as he hugged me back tightly.

Fay muttered something about the sight of us being sickeningly sweet, at which point Nur returned with my coffee and Kai’s tea before leaving again. Adam saved his eldest brother from any further teasing by changing the conversation, mentioning the upcoming release of an improved re-make of one of the old-school games we had played in the TV room a few nights back.

“I already have a copy of the game,” I announced proudly.

“What? How?” Adam practically leapt off his stool towards me.

“I’m friends with Andreas, the CEO of Cork, and he sent me an early copy for my birthday.”

“For your birthday, huh?” Fay echoed.

Pierre smirked. “Just asking, but how good of friends are you?”

I felt a dark aura crowd me from my right. Giddy delight bubbled inside me as I sighted the frustration flaming through Kai’s narrow eyes.

“We’re just friends,” I said, more to him than anyone else. His nostrils flared but he gave me a single, reluctant nod. It looked more like he was sulking. “Kai.” I stretched his name. “I mean it.”

“Andreas Price is a forty-five-year-old happily married gay man,” Shehryar deadpanned.

Kai invented a new measure of speed with how quickly his head snapped from Shehryar to me. I laughed so hard and loudly, I nearly fell off the stool. He caught me and kept me upright, but he did not look impressed that I’d purposely let him believe otherwise about Andreas.

Fay grunted and smirked. “That’s what you get for acting like a jealous prick.” Kai glared at him.

“Do you have it with you? The game, I mean,” Adam asked with a childlike hope to his tone.

“I do actually. Andreas sent me a download code on my Connect, which I actually brought with me.”

Adam’s eyes lit up. “Could we play? Please.”

“I don’t see why not. There’s plenty of time for a few rounds before dinner, isn’t there?” He nodded eagerly. “Let me go grab it from my room then.”

Adam looked like he was about to say something, but Fay spoke over him. “Sure thing, Esmeralda.” His eyes went to Kai. “We’ll meet you down in the TV room, okay?”

With the way Kai shifted like a child who knew he was about to be told off I was almost hesitant to leave him alone with them. But I agreed and hopped off the stool, squeezing Kai’s hand before I left.

Once I passed the tall, metal shelves full of pots and pans of all sizes, I glanced back over my shoulder. Adam, Pierre, and Fay were crowding a wary-looking Kai while Shehryar finished off the last of his protein shake without moving from his spot.

“So, are you officially dating?” I heard Pierre ask.

Kai’s answer was too quiet for me to decipher but—

“You haven’t asked her to be your girlfriend yet?” Fay exclaimed. “What the fuck are you waiting for? Permission from the King?”

* * *

Kai, Shehryar, Fay, and Adam were only just coming down the opposite end of the corridor with what looked like big bags of crisps in hand as I rounded the corner, my handheld console with me.

They made it to the door first, and Kai stepped away from Fay to wait for me. His relaxed expression made me a little curious as to what they’d said to him in the kitchen after I left, but I held my tongue. He pressed a kiss to my temple when I reached him.

“Could you stop with the lovey-dovey shit please?” Fay teased with a smirk. “There are children here.” He thumbed at his youngest brother, pushing the door open. “Adam cover your eyes.”

“I’m not a child,” Adam grumbled, following Fay in.

They both froze a step inside the TV room, going dead quiet.

“Why did you stop?” I asked, moving inside and between them.

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