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Derek finally dropped to the ground, still holding his bride in his arms. He carried Ellery to the car, loaded her into the driver’s seat, carefully arranging her beautiful dress and stealing one more kiss. He jogged around to the passenger side, waving jauntily to the crowd. They drove very, very slowly out of the castle gates and started down the narrow road.
“If she drives that slow, maybe the Veneno will survive,” Ray murmured.
Macey slugged him. “She’ll do fine. She’s nervous and doesn’t need your bad vibes.”
“Forgive me, love.” Ray took her hand and kissed it.
Nobody but Macey would get that kind of response after reprimanding Ray. Tristan smiled. Macey was great.
“I’m slipping away. I’ll meet you up in my suite,” he told Ray quietly. “See you, Macey.”
“Watch out for your fan club,” Macey cautioned.
“I will.” He searched around, then carefully eased toward the castle entrance. There were land mines everywhere as the crown prince, and he’d learned one of them was women trying to trap him into a date, a kiss, or a photo op. He didn’t blame the women wanting to become the future queen, but his heart had been Jennifer’s for years.
He pulled the door open just as arms wrapped around him from behind.
“There you are.” The blonde from earlier beamed up at him.
He stepped away and her arms fell to her sides. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Jaylene, wasn’t it?”
She nodded, obviously pleased he’d remembered her name.
“I need to retire for the night. Pardon me.”
“You’re going to bed?” she asked, her nose wrinkled. “It’s so early. Come to the bar with us.” She winked at him. “Unless you want me to ‘retire for the night’ with you.”
Tristan’s stomach churned. What would this woman do if she knew he already had a woman waiting in his suite for him? Thankfully with Jennifer, though they savored each kiss, their relationship had never been about lust. They’d both committed to waiting for marriage to be intimate. No matter how delicious her kisses were and how she consumed him, he stayed in control because of his respect for her and for God.
“No thank you.” His voice was cold, stiff. “Goodnight.” He turned and strode through the door.
“Stuffy royal,” she muttered to his back.
Tristan was sure he’d been called worse when he had to reject a woman. He didn’t care. He rushed to the stairs and pumped up them two at a time. Jennifer was waiting for him. That knowledge made his steps light.
He might only have a few minutes before Ray, Jensen, and his dad arrived, but he would make sure those minutes were well spent, showing her what lovely lips he had and savoring her generous mouth against his.
He rapped softly on his own door, not wanting to surprise her.
The door opened a crack and then Jennifer opened it fully, blinking up at him with her large, dark eyes.
“You stayed,” he breathed out, uncertain if she’d disappear on him again.
“I had nowhere else to be for a minute.” Her beautiful lips curved into a smile.
She was intoxicating.
Was his Jennifer really back? She hadn’t come home for him, he still had no idea why she’d left for over eight months like she had, and she had some misperceptions about him happily dating other women. None of that meant they couldn’t work things out and create their future together. After they saved her parents and locked up William and Naomi for good.
Tristan swept her off her feet and against his chest. She let out a small gasp of surprise. It was as intoxicating as she was. He smiled as he carried her to the closest couch. He was done messing around, and somebody could interrupt them at any moment. Someday soon, they could talk out their separation and heal together. He needed a lot of healing after losing his mum and the bombing incident and, most of all, losing her for the past eight months with no knowledge of whether they’d ever be together again. Hopefully they could rescue her parents so she wouldn’t have to heal from losing one of them. He’d do anything to help her.
They were together again, and right now … He was kissing her.
“Oh my, Mr. Crown Prince, what a strong chest you have.” She placed her hand over his racing heart, making his muscles tighten and his poor heart speed up even faster.
“All the better to cuddle you with, my dear.” He gave her a smoldering look, hoping it was still as effective with his face disfigured.
“Oh my, Big Bad Wolf, what enticing blue eyes you have.”
