KENNEDY
One thing I was sure of, Thayer was freaking rich. If Alessia was his relative from his father’s side, then they were filthy rich.
I was in his bathroom as I stared at, at least twelve paper bags from a known brand—from underwear, shoes, dress, belt, coat, and even makeup. I didn’t know which one I should try first. But of course, I should start wearing my underwear. Then I put on the peach long-sleeve mini dress, which made me surprise with the size that it was perfectly fit for me, and also the size of Follies pumps by Louboutin.
I put a little make on my face. I was not ashamed to show off the freckles on the top of my nose. Then I brushed my hair and applied the nude lipstick on my lips. Once I was done, I
THAYER Damn it! What was I thinking? I was better than that. I twisted and turned in bed. The urge to knock on Kennedy’s door and pick up what we left off at the rooftop made me vibrate in anticipation. The fact that my raging hard-on in my pants jerked at the thought of those perk breasts and those plumped red lips, I was already fully awake. Fuck. I let out a frustrated sigh as I forced myself to erect to sit in my empty bed. A few seconds later, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Ash. Ash: Tea? T:Turn off the fucking feeds. I hit the send button. His reply popped up. Ash:Sparring? T:Not interested. Ash:Just knock on her door. What’s so hard about it? She’s American. T: Not gonna happen. S
KENNEDY He kissed me.Thayer kissed me. The word fuck escaped his mouth shocked me. He’d been trying hard to control whatever this lust and attraction we both felt. Then he finally gave in. Last night, I didn’t sleep a blink—that was why I drowned myself in caffeine. I’d kissed a lot of men, but damn, his kiss made me squirm and me wet. That kiss wasn’t gentle, and that was exactly what I wanted to overwhelm myself. And god, if his scent didn’t turn me on—the smell of rich and masculine that I could sniff him all day. Even his breathing fanning me right now made my toe curl. He was driving me insane, driving me mad with lust and unsatisfied hunger. And I definitely looked forward to his promise. I stepped out of the car with weak knees, his large hand on the small of my back. Despite the red minidress I was wearing, a tingle of heat radiated the spot where he touched me. I knew this w
THAYER My self-discipline is legendary. I was born with privilege—with a golden spoon. Since birth, I was molded to be a man with dignity, with class. I was taught how to act, how to smile, how to behave, and how to speak. Everything. But here I was glaring at the asshole who broke my Kennedy’s heart while I was fighting the urge to yank her head and devour her mouth for a raw kiss. Pride swelled in my chest as she remained calm, throwing curses at her ex. A woman cursing in front of people was not quite impressive. With an exemption of my woman. And watching her stand against that son of a bitch was even a turn-on. For the next couple of minutes, I leisurely observed her even though I may have fucked up in the head. I dutifully inspect the apartment she shared with that scuzzball. My chest constricted in jealousy. Then I realized what a class A asshole
KENNEDY I thought I let my hopes up. What was I thinking inviting Thayer over into my room? But what about that, we’ll continue this later speech?Oh, god!I buried my face into the pillow in frustration, hoping my embarrassment would decimate. I’d known to be straightforward, but with Thayer around, I tended to make terrible mistakes. He had just consumed me—my thought, my energy—my world in general, and the fact that I enjoyed it a lot, it should terrify me, but it was quite the opposite. I found it more liberating. In truth, if it wasn’t for the three big bad wolves, I couldn’t have faced my ex and that woman alone, but those guys boosted my confidence and backed me up, and it felt good. At my work, I shared my perspective. With my sexual partner, I voiced out my needs, but with Thayer, though, it was another story—I was a patient person. It was not that he was my sexual partner, but I nev
THAYER “So?” Lud asked. His eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Don’t stick your nose in my business.” He shook in the front seat. I wanted to hit him in the head. He thought it was funny. In my entire life, I had never encountered been turned down by a woman. I was the one who was used to turn offers down. Even if Kennedy knew who I really was, I might still be getting the same answer. She wasn’t ready to give up her job. I shouldn’t be surprised. “It wasn’t so bad. She’s in love with you, but you left with so many unanswered questions.” Ash looked over his shoulder. “I hope you’re right.” “I know when a woman has feelings or not. She wouldn’t have acted the way she did if she didn’t have feelings for you. She was confused and undecided. You have to give her time. She’ll come around.” “And that precious time you didn’t have,” Lud sang. “Shut the fuck up, Ludovic.” Ash gla
KENNEDY “Wow! Nice apartment.” Serenity wandered around. “I mean, wow!” “You mean how could I afford it? I told you my roommate is far richer than Donald Trump.” “I can see that.” She slid to the stool. “Why he chose a small apartment if he could afford the whole building or a penthouse?” “Good question. And who ishe,by the way?” Siena grabbed her champagne that we used to toast earlier for my upcoming assignment. Until now, Thayer was still a mystery to me, but I would lie if I didn’t miss him since he left twenty-two hours ago. Out of sexual frustration and how we ended, I put my vibrator to good use last night. I came after I thought of filthy stuff we did together. After that, I felt guilty for imagining him between my thighs. Gosh! I was so screwed up. “Ken?” Siena nudged me. “You’re flushed. Oh, my God!” I was startled in my seat. “What?” “Is he your new guy
THAYER I was pacing back and forth, and every now and then, I watched through the window for the car to arrive. I rechecked the time. “For God’s sake. Just sit the fu— down.” Lud growled, glaring at me. “I swear I’m gonna drug you to sleep if you ask me one more time what took them so long. Just sit down, Your Highness. You’re giving me a severe headache. I can’t focus on keeping you safe if I have more dizziness than you.” “Really? This is how you show your support?” I glared back. They looked at each other before they barked out laughing. Ash shook his head in amusement. “Do you think it’s funny? I don’t know the driver you hired to pick up Kennedy. For all I know, he already kidnapped her.” “You’re irrational, Your Highness. Please, relax a little.” He checked the time on his watch. “They should be here in a few minutes.” “You’ve been saying the same thing for thirty minutes now. Yet, I
THAYER I couldn’t believe I was standing besidemyKennedy with all her gorgeous self. I knew she could feel that I was holding something back, but I was hoping she would not push. In due time, I would tell her everything—that was the plan. “This would be your room,” I said as I pushed the door wide— European style in white and gold motif would meet her taste. “Thank you. This way better than the hotel room,” she said with a smile. “You wouldn’t need a hotel if you’re here, Kennedy,” I said truthfully. She walked in and checked her luggage. “I apologize. My housekeeper must have organized your things already.” “Oh? That won’t be necessary, but thanks.” Her eyes glittered. I noticed the anticipation in there, and I couldn’t wait to explore it. “How long can you stay?” I sat on a chair. “I have to go home by the end of this week. Why? Do you plan to invite me skating
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