Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
R upert
“Hold on,” Veronica added. “Isn’t that the same princess who was caught screwing around with one of the staff personnel at her palace?”
That scandal had gotten major press coverage. I nodded, wondering why James had decided to take on such an intense assignment far from the UK. My brother was a workaholic through and through. He hadn’t taken a day off since he’d started the business, except during Christmas, of course, and he worked through every summer holiday cooped up in his office. To get so much out of his comfort zone wasn’t like him. That guy was a robot, and he never cared about anything other than work in his life, so when we all heard that he’d taken the job as personal bodyguard to the princess of Bellavista, we were all shocked.
“Yep, the princess is the only living relative to inherit the throne as her older sister died in a car accident a few years back,” I explained, staring at the woman who completely shook my world. I was utterly and completely screwed. “She is a wild one because a few months later, she was caught giving head to some other guy who worked at the palace. Another huge scandal. The parliament of Bellavista called for her abdication. I don’t recall exactly what happened after that, but she managed to somehow salvage her reputation.”
“And your brother is not getting on with her?” Veronica questioned, drinking her iced coffee.
“He said, and I quote, ‘She’s a brat and stubborn as a mule. I fucking count the days until this contract is over.’” I smirked and quickly added, “James hasn’t dated anyone for years. I’m sure he likes the princess, but he’ll never admit it to anyone. He’s got issues. He probably has severe PTSD from his military tour in Afghanistan because he’s never been the same since then.”
“How are you so sure that he likes her?”
“I know James. All he did during that phone call was complain about her, and that’s saying something. Trust me, sunshine, I’m never wrong about these things,” I said. My brother had had a few girlfriends before the army had truly fucked him up, but never anything serious. He was incredibly dedicated and had a cold personality. Now I was very curious to find out more about this mysterious princess. “Anyway, we’re going to be docking soon, and I’m fucking excited to see if you can figure out where we are.”
We were getting closer to the marina in Mykonos. Veronica had no idea what I was planning, but I’d already booked us a romantic dinner at my favourite restaurant on the island. It was time to have a serious conversation about us. We were finally done fucking around, and I wanted her to tell me she was leaving Emperor for good. I wasn’t ready to propose to her yet, but she was mine, and I wanted to make it official.I wanted us to be exclusive and for her to stop fucking around with other men from her job.
After around twenty minutes, the captain finally managed to dock the yacht in the marina, and Veronica bounced up and down as she squeezed my arm.Her excitement was infectious.
“I recognise this place. Clara and I went to a party here once. Oh my God, Rupert, don’t tell me you brought us back to Mykonos?” she asked.
I turned to face her, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist.
“Yes, and later we’re heading to town, maybe even popping into the bar where we met.” I winked at her.
Veronica’s green eyes sparkled, and I instinctively moved my hands down to her arse, then farther down between her legs. “Then we’ll lock ourselves in the hotel bedroom and fuck like bunnies all night long. I can’t wait to be inside you again, sunshine.”
“Rupert, I … maybe we should slow down a little. I love everything you’re doing to me, but we don’t need to rush this,” she said, biting on her bottom lip.Something flashed across her eyes.
She was having cold feet, which was normal. That had to be it, just normal cold feet. Something this serious, that was bound to happen. Maybe we had to take this day by day.
“I want you, sunshine, and I want us to be an item. I’m tired of going back and forth, but if you really are that concerned then we’re going to take it slow from now on,” I said, hoping this would reassure her that I wasn’t screwing around anymore.
“All right, hotshot,” she agreed with a smile.
Several minutes later, we stepped out on land. I’d never liked sailing for too long. I quickly announced to the captain and Suzanne that we were going to be spending a few days on this island, and they were free to do whatever they pleased until then.
At the port, a car was waiting for us already. The rep from the rental company handed me a key and wished us a pleasant trip.
I decided to take us to the best beach on the island since we’d been stuck on the yacht for the past few days. Spencer sent me a text asking me where I was and what I was planning next. He was probably fishing for information, and I was kind of glad that no one from our close family or friends knew Veronica was with me.
“Agios Sostis beach. I’ve heard so many good things about that place, but I’ve never actually managed to get here with Clara,” Veronica said while we drove through the roads of Mykonos.
It was scorching hot when we arrived at our destination, and I couldn’t wait to get into the water. The temperatures soared during this time of the year, and we had to make sure we stayed out of the sun for some time. Technically I was on holiday, but I was always cautious with respect to taking care of myself, especially in the heat.
“Come on, sunshine, let’s enjoy ourselves for a few hours.” I took our bag. I had planned this entire trip, aiming to cater to Veronica’s every wish. This trip was going to be special because we were finally here alone.
Veronica
I was hesitant to go into the water, but after sunbathing for some time, the heat became a bit overbearing, so I wanted to cool down. Rupert had already done some swimming, after which he’d come out of the sea looking like an actor from Baywatch . I could have sworn that half of the women on this beach drooled over him. If I wasn’t mistaken, one had actually tripped when he flung his hair back when he was getting out of the water. I was so happy that he was mine, even though this whole thing still felt like a dream.
In the end, I went for a long swim, then sat closer to the shore with my towel wrapped around me. I believed it was over forty degrees here and hoped that soon we could go in the shade because I really didn’t want to burn myself. I applied some sunscreen on my arms and chest, but I was worried about my back because I’d burned myself on the yacht.
I glanced around, hoping Rupert was heading back. He’d gone to the bar to get us some drinks. I struggled, trying to get some of the damn sunscreen on my back, and with all that wiggling around I was suddenly out of breath. This was ridiculous. I’d chatted a little with the girls on my left, but now they were nowhere to be seen. I suspected they too went to get some drinks. I was just about to give up when someone knelt next to me.
“Let me help you, omorfiá mou , I see you’re struggling,” said a deep voice from behind.
I glanced to my left where materialised a guy who’d been eyeing me earlier when I was in the water. He took the sunscreen from my hand and squeezed it all over my back. I was too shocked to say or do anything.
“Oh … all right … thank you,” I muttered, because I had no idea what to do. He’d randomly just showed up next to me and offered to help me, so I felt bad saying no to him now. He was tall and dark-haired.
“Where are you from? I’ve been watching you with your boyfriend, but he’s not here now,” he said with a thick accent.
“From England. We are both from London. How about you?” I asked.
At this point he was really getting into it, moving his hands lower and lower towards my arse. Shit, I really had to do something or get him off me before Rupert showed up, otherwise he’d truly lose his shit.
“My parents are from Marbella, but I was born here,” he murmured, then his fingers nearly grazed my left breast.
I jerked a little, indicating that he was crossing the line. That didn’t seem to discourage him in any way, and when I was just about to stand, thinking that maybe then he’d get the message, someone emitted an unholy growl behind me.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, mate?”a familiar voice barked at the man.
I quickly jerked around to find Rupert standing next to my towel. Shit. I quickly stood and snatched the sunscreen from the guy, who didn’t look bothered in the least, at all, by Rupert’s sudden appearance.
He smiled and lifted his hands in the air like he was surrendering.
“Your girlfriend needed to put sunscreen on her back, so I offered to help her. She was struggling with it,” the guy who still hadn’t introduced himself stated, then chuckled.
Rupert took off his sunglasses and my heart rate sped up because he looked angry, absolutely rage filled. The muscle on his jaw ticked. This was a bad sign.
“Veronica, did you ask this guy for help?” he asked me, his voice dropping a few decibels, sending a cold shiver down my spine. He’d used the same tone when I’d nearly made him crazy at breakfast, right before he’d punished me.
“No, not exactly, but he just—”
“She didn’t fucking ask for your help and you were touching what’s mine—very inappropriately—so before you turn around and walk away, say sorry to her,” Rupert interjected. He took a step towards the guy, fury radiating off him. He was taller than him, more intimidating, and looking frightening.
The guy looked shocked for a split second, then he laughed again. He didn’t seem to be at all intimidated by Rupert. We were now drawing random stares from people.
“This is not the way to talk about such a beautiful lady, and I was only trying to help. I think you have to chill out a bit, mate ,” the guy replied.
Rupert took a sharp inhale, then stepped closer to him, towering over the guy. He put me in mind of a ticking time bomb.
“I’m going to give you another chance to apologise to my woman and then I want you to apologise to me for being too handsy with her and for touching what’s mine,” Rupert said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“And what if I won’t apologise?” the guy challenged.He was fucking clueless and crazy.
“Rupert, come on, let’s just go,” I pleaded.
But he ignored me.
“If you won’t apologise then I’ll stop being a gentleman and cause permanent damage to your bone structure by dislocating your jaw to begin with. There won’t be enough wire and screws to help what I will fucking shatter there,” Rupert stated matter-of-factly.
Then the guy reached out and defiantly ran his finger over my arm, then started to take a swing at Rupert’s face. For a split second I thought his fist had connected with Rupert’s jaw, but then my man caught the guy’s wrist and smashed it right back into his nose. A crack of cartilage resounded, and he yelped and stepped back. The guy stumbled a bit, holding his nose, blood spilling and running between his fingers like Niagara Falls. I had only ever seen blood like this in the movies, but this was real. I couldn’t believe that Rupert was able to dodge and redirect this man the way he did.
“You broke my nose, you fucker!” the guy shouted, then swung at Rupert with his other fist.
Rupert grabbed it, twisted his hand with one swift movement, and another bone cracked. A moment later, the guy was on his knees, howling with pain as he stared at his pinkie finger, which was now twisted at a very odd angle. Part of the bone stuck out, and I thought I was going to be sick.
“I didn’t break shit. It was your hand that connected with your nose. Now your pinkie, that’s a different story. Now, are you going to apologise to me about touching my woman and then apologise to her about making her uncomfortable, or will we continue with this, mate ?”
Oh dear.