Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

56

THAYER

Those furious, disgust, and hurt brewed in her beautiful blue eyes.

Even if how many times I tried to blink it off or push it out of my head, they wouldn’t dissolve.

There was no denying her feelings for me were still there, our connections were still powerful, but she

was mad. What have I done? How could I let that happen?

“So, no Cruise wedding then?” Ash asked.

“Impossible.” I sipped the most potent liquor this bar could offer. Nothing could compare to the burning

sensation as I swallowed down the words Kennedy had thrown at me.

My parents and sister had flown to Dubai. They would be staying there for a while.

“Are we spending New Year here?” Lud asked.

“What’s bad about it?”

“I wanna spend with Carlott,” he said bluntly.

“Then go.”

“She would understand. You still have two days to grovel.” He patted my shoulder. “Good luck. You

need a lot of it.”

"Thanks."

“For what it’s worth, you did everything you could. And her parents are enjoying their stay. So consider

this a win.” He slid from the stool, taking his drinks with him.

“Where’s Kennedy?” Ash asked.

“Sleeping.”

“She still doesn’t know her friends are here?”

I shook my head. “No.” I grabbed my drinks. “I’ll just be on the deck. I need some air.”

Ash nodded.

I was crushed in disappointment added to my broken heart. I gulped the remaining amber liquid, letting

it burn in my throat. The night was peaceful, so us the ocean. It was calming, quite the opposite of the

turmoil feelings inside my chest.

I lost options. Maybe I just have to wait. I could be patient as I could be. Anyway, The King was

recovering very well, and I wasn’t going to marry for my birthright anymore. It wasn’t a part of my plans

since I realized I fell so hard in love with Kennedy.

The ocean and the wind did a calming effect on me. I sat down on the lounge. The view was stunning

—it was so silent and peaceful.

“You left.”

I stiffened.

“Kennedy?” I turned my head to her.

“God.” She strengthened her limbs. “I’m sore like ran by a freight train.”

“I’ll take you to the spa. I think it is on the third floor.” I looked at her. She was wearing an ankle-length

bohemian dress.

“No, thank you.” To my surprise, she took a seat beside me. She seemed calm like the ocean. “It’s so

beautiful here. Where are we headed?”

“Morocco.”

“Really?” Her eyes grew big.

I swallowed and looked away. “Yeah.” That was the plan. Get married on the cruise. Then our

honeymoon would start from Morocco, then Greece, and then the Caribbean. “What’s not to like in

Morocco? Casablanca.”

“It’s great.”

“But the movie has a terrible ending.”

“Well, not everyone has a happy ending.” Great. Maybe I was one of that everyone.

“Would you like to drink something?”

“I’m hungry.” Great. I was beginning to realize how awful a person I was.

“I’m sorry. I was caught up on something. I forgot you haven’t eaten anything.” I rose from my seat.

"Let’s go to the restaurant.”

She looked at me. “Can we stay here for a while? This so serene in here.”

“Of course. Let me ask someone to prepare food for you.”

“Thanks.”

When I was far enough, she couldn’t sense me anymore, I turned to look at her and sucked the air into

my lungs. After I asked the chef to cook dinner for us, I returned to her, and she was in the same

position.

“Dinner will be ready shortly.” I sat beside her, the same place as earlier.

“I never thought I would see you again.”

“I’m like a skin disease, am I?”

She turned her head to look at me. “I don’t mind this kind of skin disease.” For the first time, I saw her

smile. Fuck, it felt so good.

I even sighed in delight. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “Don’t wanna ask how did you find me, but I never expected you to travel all the way to

Dubai to see me unless you have an official engagement there.”

“I don’t. The Ameer is a friend of mine, but I went there to see you.”

“Why do you still want to get married even if your grandfather is recovering?” Fair question.

“I fell in love deeply. Even if I’ve messed up a couple of times, I still intend to marry her with or without

birthright or terms. Fuck those things. I want a life with the person I love. I informed Lud and Ash that

I’m leaving my royal title, but they made sure I couldn’t run away from it.”

“Why would do that?” she asked in disbelief. Her eyes widened.

“Because I’d rather be with you. I have no regret with my decision.”

“I don’t want you to do that.”

“That’s what exactly they said to me.” I bit my bottom lip. My eyes glazed with unshed tears. “I’m so

sorry. Ash and Lud quit their jobs because of what I did and said to you. Lud punched me.”

She flinched. “Oh, God. I’m sorry.” She raised her hand, touching my cheek.

“I deserve it.” I gathered everything in power to hold her hand, press it against my lips. “I love you. God,

I don’t deserve you. I’m a selfish bastard. I was so selfish that I forgot to think about your feelings. I’m

asking your forgiveness—”

“You’re like a broken record, Thayer. Just shut up. Can we at least have this peaceful moment in a very

romantic and serene place to ourselves?” She moved closer to lean against my body.

I wrapped my arms around her, kissing the top of my head.

She sighed. Her head rested on my chest.

“Blanket, Your Highness.”

“Find yourself a woman, Zakkary,” Kennedy said, taking the blanket from him. “This is a lovely

evening.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ash said before he left.

I wrapped the blanket around us. “Jesus Christ.” We laughed at each other when the love song started

playing in the speaker.

“I have a surprise for you later. After or dinner.”

She raised her head to look at me. “I want it now.”

I shook my head. “After dinner.”

She narrowed her eyes at me before she rested her head back. “Then I won’t marry you.”

“What?” I asked urgently. My body stiffened.

“You heard me.”

“Okay then. Your parents and your friends are here.” I rushed the words out of my mouth.

She was quick to a sitting position. “What? When? How?”

“You seriously have to ask the Prince of Capria, Duke of Guardion?”

She laughed out loud before she threw herself into me. I caught her in middle, pulling her into my arms.

“I will do everything to see a smile on your face that lights up like a Christmas tree. I will do everything

to make you happy, Kennedy.”

“Even if you’re an asshole to me.”

“I guess that’s a part of me, being an asshole, the skin disease you can’t get rid of.”

“I still love your assholeness, your skin disease. I will always love you.” Her words made me freeze, but

my heart started pounding wildly.

“You love me?” My voice came out shaky and low. “Do you mean it?”

“I don’t know when did I fall in love with you, but who cares?” She lifted her head. “All I want right now

is to love you and erase those sorrow and pain in your eyes. Because it’s killing me knowing I’m the

one hurting you. I love you, Thayer. So much it hurts. I don’t care you’re a prince or a homeless man,

but I don’t want you to—”

I pressed my lips against hers to stop her from talking. She kissed me back. “I’m still—” I kissed her

again. This time, she giggled, pressing her finger on my lips. “Where was I? Uh—I don’t want you to

give your title. I will support your endeavors. We’ll do it together and help each other for your people.

For us.”

“God, I love you.” I got up, hold her hands, looked at her in the eye before I got on one knee.

“Again?” She laughed out loud, throwing her head back.

“Shush now. I need to concentrate. I didn’t exactly practice this.” I cleared my throat. “Fuck! The ring.”

“Your Highness.”

Kennedy turned her head to Lud, still laughing. “You’re terrible without your friends.”

I reached for the ring. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat again. “Kennedy, I was in a quest for my bride.

But in an unexpected time, you walked in, carrying the beautiful aura with you. At that moment, I didn’t

have to look for that woman because I just found her. And I couldn’t imagine living a life without her. I

may do desperate measures at desperate times because I couldn’t let you walk away from me again. I

can’t guarantee that we won’t argue or I won’t make mistakes, but I promise you with my life that I

would love you, take care of you, provide for your needs, cherish you, and make you smile every day.

Kennedy Emmersyn Ann Gilby, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“Can I think about it first?”

“What?” My mouth hung open. My heart just stopped beating.

She rolled her eyes. “Kidding.” She then smiled and drew a deep breath as tears welled in her eyes.

“Yes. For the last time, yes. I will marry you.”