Royal Line by Carrie Ryan (online e book reading txt) 📕

“Also, I’ve got a wallet in here for you and a new phone. It’s a burner, but it’ll do for now. And some hair products. I didn’t have anything fancy. Just a few things to get you through.”

“Thank you. My friend, this is her house, she’s taller than me, but we’re about the same size, so I have other options too.”

Sparrow nodded. “Well, I’ll leave you two kids to sort yourselves out. Or bum, you know. But, boss, you might want to clue us in on security before you get back to your extracurricular activities.” Then she turned and sauntered out of the kitchen.

Kannon’s gaze snapped to mine. “That can’t happen again.”

I stared at him. “Oh, don’t worry. It won’t.”

Chapter 10 Kannon

You can run, but the past can’t hide.

After extricating myself from London and getting the security brief from Olly, I tried my level best to stay the fuck away from London.

I was an idiot. But none of that was new. Twice now, I’d put my hands on London. It didn’t matter what I told myself... She’d start talking and we’d start arguing. And then I’d forget that kissing her was a terrible idea. Never mind that she was a princess and that I’d met her less than forty-eight hours ago. Oh, and some assholes wanted her dead, so I had more important shit to think about.

I was better than that.

Jesus Christ, the last time I had gotten close to someone I was supposed to protect, it ended in blood and screams.

That wasn’t going to happen again.

And it sure as fuck wasn’t going to happen to the Princess of Alden.

I paced around the monstrosity of a safe house and shook my head.

My team was on it, doing what they could to keep her safe, as well as coordinating with the royals back in her country.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary there, other than an arcane rule that was going to make London a breeder.

I held back revulsion at that thought.

It wasn’t my business, and while her brothers seemed to be doing their best not to have to bend to that rule, London was on the run because of it.

And people were after her.

I hadn’t imagined those gunshots. Hadn’t imagined the threat. I needed to make sure London was safe. And then I’d walk away. Because I wasn’t going to fucking kiss her again.

“Why are you growling in the corner?” London asked, a frown on her face.

Speak of the devil and she shall appear.

I glowered at her. “I’m not growling.”

“You literally just growled the words, ‘I’m not growling.’”

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say. I’m watching the perimeter and keeping you safe. And if you’d stay away from the fucking windows, that would help me out.”

She raised a regal brow and looked pointedly over her shoulder.

“The blinds are shut. Sparrow already came through and gave me the spiel. Why are you acting like a dick?”

“I’m acting like the guy your brothers are paying to keep you safe. If you don’t like my attitude, then go to your fucking room and stay away from me.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, folding her arms over her chest.

Once again, I did my best not to look at her tits.

Liar.

It wasn’t easy.

I remembered the exact shade of her nipples, that gorgeous dusky pink, the way the water had slid down in between her breasts when her towel had fallen.

I could still feel the softness of her skin and the thickness of her ass when I spread her cheeks.

And now I was hard, and I was pissed off. I wanted her. She knew I wanted her. But just my luck, she was only having a bit of fun with me. Slumming it with the bodyguard.

Get it together. You’re not a teenager. You have self-control.

My heart rate increased. “You think maybe for the rest of the day we can give it a rest? I’m not in the mood.”

She lifted a delicately arched brow. “Excuse me? You’re the one acting like a dick. What is wrong with you?” she asked. I heard the hesitation in her tone.

I knew I was hurting her. But if I didn’t, she wouldn’t go away. And I needed her to fucking go away. Far away from me. She’d get hurt and I couldn’t carry that guilt on top of the other guilt.

“You said you’d do what you’re told. Now do it.”

“I said I would do what I needed to do to stay safe, and I would listen to your rules for that. But you going hot and cold on me? No, we’re not going to do that.”

“I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”

She shook her head and came forward. Thankfully, she didn’t touch me. As it was, I could already feel the heat of her, and if she put her hands on me? I wasn’t sure what I would do.

“No, we’re going to talk this out. The thing between us.”

“We don’t need to. Nothing is going on between us.”

Hurt showed on her face, but I ignored it. I had to. I needed to be the asshole. I needed to push her away.

Because every time I looked at London, I didn’t only see her face.

And every time I heard her voice, there was another entwined with it.

And I’d be damned if I let what happened before happen again.

“No,” she said. You don’t get to do this. You’re the one who kissed me. More than once. You’re the one who had your hand on my ass. You’re the one who wanted more. And now what? You get caught by your team, and now I’m not good enough?”

How could she think that? “This has nothing to do with my team.”

“Of course, it does. It has to do with everyone but you.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” I muttered.

“What it means is you are running hot and cold, as I said, and I don’t know why. I get