KENNEDY
He’s awesome.
He could be as committed as Prince Thayer in front of his people and could be as the free-spirited ordinary man beside me right now. He was flexible—from a man who had a huge responsibility to a thoughtful friend to Lud and Ash.
I’d been watching him in awe. Everything he did made me admire him even more, and without a doubt, it had nothing to do with how I was madly in love with him that I couldn’t see and think straight. Right now, he was the most adorable and my favorite person on earth.
He was shaking in amusement as he watched his friends, yeah, his friends—those guys down the water who would take a bullet for him, not because they got paid hefty of money to protect him, but the genuine care for him as his friends.
“Are your balls freezing already?” he yelled from the top of the deck.
“The water isn’t cold, candy ass! Come on and jump already!” Lud had been convinc
THAYER There is it. The big three words. The letter L word. Finally, out of my chest. I just confessed that I loved Kennedy. My woman, the only person who embedded my heart, my body, and soul. Not exactly the reaction I was expecting. Most women would say the letter L-word back, but I knew Kennedy was not those most women. I wasn’t worried. Not at all because what we shared was more than just logic-defying chemistry. It was more than sex. What we shared was everything. She just came, screaming my name. Her cheeks were red, her body flushed with orgasm. Yet here she was, on top of me as she showered me with kisses, licking my nipples, grinding her heat into my growing cock. “I want you again,” she said without a shame in her body. I loved her even more. “Take me however you want, my love.” She smiled, biting her lip before she lifted her ass, position my cock into her entrance. Then sh
THAYER Marry me. Those two words. Two powerful words echoed in my head. Yes, I’d planned on proposing to her over our dinner. Was I overwhelmed? Yes, because I loved her so much it hurt. But I was in my most vulnerable moment, and my plan just crumbled over my head. Maybe we were both in a euphoric state after all. “What?” Sucking in a sharp gasp, she pulled away from my arms, hit me on his chest, and frowned. “Aren’t you full of surprises? What else do you keep up your sleeve? You can’t tell me you love me and ask me to marry you at the same time. That’s ridiculous—” “Kennedy.” My tone was almost a beg. “Wait. Are you serious? You can’t be. Oh, my God!” she started babbling. “Darling, I love you, and there’s nothing more I wanted in my life than to be with you. To be your husband.” I was about to be on my knee when she put that to an end. “Stop! You’r
KENNEDY Princess Carlott Better Food for Better Learning Foundation. Its mission was to ensure to have nutritious food for these beautiful abandoned and special children. This foundation was too personal and close to her heart. I got it why. Just by watching how these children with special needs rushed towards her to wrap their little arms around the Princess’ legs, it melted my heart. She was born with privilege, yet she chose to help these angels over other charities. “What?” “You care for them. You’re not only here to fulfill your duty. They have a place in your heart, Princess. Again, you surprise me.” “Thanks.” Her smile reached her eyes. “Most people don’t look at me the way you just did.” “You deserve better recognition, but it doesn’t matter to you. You help these kids from your heart.” “Correct. Kids are innocent little angels. They don’t deserve to be deserted or carry
THAYER Jesus. I couldn’t watch her crying like that. It broke my heart. I wished she knew how I felt while I watched how she proudly answered that asshole. I was grinning the whole time. The people behind me were laughing their ass out when the camera focused on the tabloid reporter. I felt terrible for him, but he got his first warning. I drew her into my arms and pressed a warm kiss to her lips. “We’re gonna have ups and downs. Our lives wouldn’t just be rainbows and unicorns, darling. But as long as we have each other’s, no storms we can’t overcome.” Sighing contentedly, she draped her arm around my waist, her leg over mine. “I’m scared.” “You don’t have to. I will always be right by your side. I promise. We may fight over something or disagree, but we just have to trust each other.” “I mean, I was scared that’s why I turned you down.” I lifted her chin. “Look at me,
KENNEDY Learning his sexual experience frightened me. My insecurities fluctuated. Watching those exhibitionists exploring their desires, comfortable in their own skin, and their way of life had me question my own sexuality. Was I enough for Thayer? Knowing how far he would go to satisfy my needs, my curiosity, as he said, my fantasy, I loved him even more. What if one day, he would ask for something more? What if I couldn’t give what he wanted? I woke up to an empty bed. Since we were back together, he shared my bed. We didn’t have any arrangements, but having him every night made me feel content. Judging by the time on my nightstand, I expected he left work already. Once I was done to look myself satisfactory, I went down and met Ash with his cup of coffee in his grasp. “Morning.” He was always kind, even if he looked like he could snap me in half effortlessly. “Morning. You’re still here?”&nb
THAYER We enjoyed dinner with a little chat. Kennedy seemed to have an appetite and smiled and laughed at my terrible jokes. “Can I make a request?” I nodded. “Of course.” She raised her hand with my engagement ring. “I think this is too flashy. Do you have a smaller stone than this?” Instead of getting offended, I laughed. “I’m not a jeweler, darling. But I picked that stone myself. I mean, I requested the carat and the color. So, it’s too special for me, and I would be sad if you take that off.” She checked it out again. “I’ve never dreamed wearing an engagement like this. Don’t get me wrong. This is so gorgeous, and it’s the color—” “Of your eyes.” She looked at me, seemingly surprised. “Yeah.” “See? That’s why it’s important to me. And I only intended to be engaged and married once. Even if I get married again, I’m sure to be with the same person who’s wearing my ring right now.
KENNEDY I knew how he felt. Instead of the rigidity of his body and the raw emotions brewing in his eyes, I knew he wasn’t comfortable with my decision to visit my family back in the States. He twisted and turned in bed. He woke up earlier. I watched him run around the property. He came sweaty catching his breath, but he still looked delicious. Usually, he cracked a joke or gave remarks. Not this morning, though—just a wry smile and a quick kiss, then he took a shower. I fought the urge to join him. I thought of giving him time to himself. But he made me worry as soon as I heard thuds coming from the shower room. “Thayer?” It took a few seconds before he responded. “Yeah?” “I thought I might join you.” I was only in my robe. Then he peeked her head out. “I’m almost finished. Why didn’t you join me immediately?” I didn’t buy it. He wasn’t like this—Thaye
THAYER The announcement was out. It was all over the front page of leading newspapers, magazines, tabloids, and gossip sites. It was the headlines of any news channels, trending on social media with our own hashtags #PowerRoyalCouple, #Kenyer, #Thayedy. But if there were more excited and ecstatic about our engagement, some people called it propaganda, a publicity stunt, and an act of shame towards the King. I wanted to throw my phone across the room. How dare did they call this a publicity stunt? “You can’t please anyone. What’s important is your feelings and intentions? From what I’ve seen, this is not about the terms anymore. You both are in love, so prove them all wrong,” Ash said. “And show them your middle finger,” Lud added. I glanced at the woman I loved. She was scrolling on her phone. I couldn’t really read her expression or what was in her head. Then she burst out laughing. “What’s funny,
THAYER Three years later… It was my wife’s birthday today. After our last public engagement this week, I planned to take her to our private property in the Caribbean. The sun shone overhead. Her skin glistened as she basked the beach in warmth. I still couldn’t get enough of her after all these years of happy marriage. I still got the same reaction as if the first time I saw her every time I came home from work. She was busy with her work as the people’s Duchess, Princess Kennedy, but she never neglected to take care of me, even during our hectic days. She still made me feel loved. “Stop staring at me.” She was lying on the small blanket splayed on the sand only in a two-piece bikini. A wicked grin touched my lips. “Why not? When I got the most precious prize.” I could feel her rolling her eyes beneath the sunglasses. “Oh, my God, babe. Can’t you think of another
KENNEDY I love you. Those words I felt in my heart, embedded to my soul that I’d been wanted to say to him. Finally, now he knew how I felt for him. My heart was filled with everything. “I love you, Kennedy.” His voice was breathy. His words were like my salvation. He laid me down on the bed. I opened and slid my lips against his. He pushed his tongue into my mouth. We were still fully clothed, but I felt as though we were both naked. Emotions coiled through me as we deepened the kiss. This was it. I was in love with the man who cared for his family, for his friends, and his people. And because of my love for him, I took a huge risk to be a part of his world. I broke the kiss, gasping sharply. “Babe, take off your clothes.” In just a few seconds, we were both naked, and standing at the foot of the bed was the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on—h
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 l
KENNEDY I’d never been afraid in my entire life that knowing exactly how you’d going to die. At first, I thought he was bluffing, messing with me so that I could say yes, but when I realized we were above the ocean, that was when I started to worry. He was not going to let us drown in the ocean even if I knew he could swim. What if there were sharks?Oh, my God. I could only manage to breathe and feel relieved when he deployed the canopy, but I wouldn’t let this go. That was a promise. He would get what he deserved. He nearly killed me with a heart attack. I might not be going to die by drowning or swallowed whole by sharks, but my heart gave up with so much pounding. “Are you trying to land on the cruise? Are you insane?” “Better than into the ocean, don’t you think?” “I thought you’re an expert, asshole!” I would never filter after what he did to me. I nearly died.
THAYER “What’s next?” Lud asked. My gaze flew up to Lucas when he cleared his throat. “We’re not entirely honest with you. You can’t blame us for protecting our daughter, you know. And we made a promise to Kennedy that we won’t tell anyone when someone’s asks where she is.” My chest expanded with hope. “Where is she?” “You can tell her that Lud is very resourceful. Even if she hides in Mexico’s Naica Mine, I will still find her.” Lud managed to lighten up the situation. “How can we find her?” Ash came and joined us in the lounge. “I emailed her two days ago, and she called me using a local number there. She said she’s with a guy named Talal.” “Who the —” I cleared my throat. “Who is Talal?” “Name’s sounds like Arabic. Middle Eastern,” Ash surmised. “Yeah. That’s correct. Talal guy is an instructor.” I chuckled. A small smile spread on my lips. “I know where to
THAYER “Son, where are you? You’re supposed to land two hours ago?” Right on time. We just touched down. The reverse thrust break roared against the airstrip. “I apologize, Dad, but we just landed.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. Ash and Lud were already on alert, gathering the luggage from the bin. “You never call me dad if you won’t apologize or ask a favor, Thayer.” He inhaled audibly to the mouthpiece. “You’re right, Dad. I’m not asking for a favor, though, but an understanding from you. And you know exactly where I am right now even before we land.” I climbed down the airstairs. The memories of how I met Kennedy sprung in my mind. “Very well, then. Are you going to see your grandfather?” “Yes. That’s a part of my plan. Any message you’d like me to relay to Grandfather?” “Just tell him that we can’t wait to see him.” “I’ll relay your message, Dad.” “I won’t get in the middle of whatev
KENNEDYMy pulse raced as my Gmail popped on my phone. I had a new email from Mom.I opened it to read the message. I hadn’t contacted my parents other than an email, telling them that I needed some space.My heart sank.I drew a deep breath, let out, and dialed Mom’s number. She picked right away as if she was expecting my call.“Hey, Mom.”“Honey. Oh, thank God. Where are you? You made us worry.”“I’m fine, Mom. Tell Dad not to worry. I’m having fun, actually.”“Having fun? What kind of fun, honey?” It was Dad. Maybe she put the speaker on.“If I tell you both, could you not tell anyone where I am? I need some time for myself before I come back. But don’t worry, I am doing great.“Can you tell us now?”“I’m in Dubai.”“Dubai? In the Mi
THAYER “Where’s my son?” I was startled by my father’s words. Then I froze like a corpse when I sensed him behind me. He was probably with my mother. I ruined everything. Now, I realized what I just did. I probably lost the woman I loved as well. “Son?” I was fucked-up mess. Shaking, I turned around to face my parents and the consequences I would face. But it wasn’t what I saw before my blurry eyes. “How are you holding up?” my father asked. I shook my head. My emotions were everywhere. What had just happened was like a freight train running over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to erase those images out of my mind. Jealousy stabbed me in my chest, and I lost control. I just couldn’t bear someone or those men touching Kennedy. A hot warm liquid rolled down my face. I bit the trembled on my lip, wiping off the tear on my face. “Honey, we’re gonna fix this. Ash is already asking th
KENNEDY“You destroyed me. Bitch.”I had not been able to process what just happened. Why Thayer had gone insane, cursing the living shit out of me?Serenity and Siena barged into my room. I looked at them through my blurry vision—they were wearing the same expression on their faces—pain and sorrow.In silence, Siena picked the remote control and turned the tv on. My picture flashed on the screen.***It hurt when people judged you something you didn’t even do, but no one could ever imagine what I’d been going through for the last couple of hours, knowing the man I loved had hated me for ruining his life—their lives.I cried into my pillow.My life was ruined. My career was over because of something I had nothing to do with. My name, family, and even my friends were all tangled with the mess I didn’t even do. That was now people could easily judge m