Page 2 of Royally Drawn (Resplendent Royals #3)
Welcome Aboard
KEIR
A ruba in April was paradise and a perfect long weekend escape for young royals looking for sun and parties. With a yacht, anything was possible. My brother Nate and I were due to arrive at the vessel where things were underway. The sun bounced off the waves as we sailed across them on a fast, tender boat. Soon, we’d be aboard the majestic ship awaiting our arrival. Until then, we’d take in these sights and soak up the sea breeze.
“You’ve been smiling since we landed. Jesus, I forgot you even knew how!” Nate ribbed me.
“Nathan, it’s been a long time. I’ll grant you.”
“Test pilot school is bad for your brain.”
“No, it’s the inverse,” I said. You can only get in with a broken brain. It’s a feature, not a bug, for us.”
I’d barely returned to the UK, only to agree to fly us out from London, where my brother lived. I’d been training on a new aircraft in America following a lengthy deployment. We both needed some time away. I only wished the time away wouldn’t be spent with Duncan. Duncan acted like a buffoon most of the time. I rarely thought of myself as terribly mature. I lived in the RAF mess with a bunch of my men, I had no steady girlfriend, and I didn’t even own my own home. However, I was more mature than the twenty-six-year-old head case that was our cousin. Moreover, I figured Duncan would be insufferable on a stag-hen-do weekend.
Arriving at the Danish super yacht, we were immediately greeted by the groom, Prince Isak of Denmark. The bride, our cousin Cecilia, was nowhere to be seen. Isak beamed in excitement as he said hello. Duncan and our younger brother Ollie, for some fucking reason, were belting out “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey.
“Don’t look so bothered.”
I saw our cousin Leah talking to one of Isak’s friends. Leah was a live wire—slightly older than me but no more mature. True to form, she was hanging back with the boys.
“I didn’t realise you’d make it!” I laughed.
“I was in Paris and dipped down,” Leah said.
She gave me a tight hug. “You look tan.”
“I am,” I said. “The fucking desert does that to you. What is happening in Paris?”
“I’m shooting a small part in an indie project for a friend,” Leah answered. “Between things, I’m setting up the Sweet Charity revival workshop.”
As an actress, Leah’s life was probably more exciting than anyone else’s on this boat. Sometimes, I wish I had even a teaspoon of her talent.
“Ignore them,” Leah nodded at Duncan and Ollie. “They started drinking at eleven.”
I pulled a face.
“What? It’s a stag party.”
“Duncan should know better. Didn’t he fly out here?”
Leah giggled.
“What?”
“He can drink. Let him be. We’re all here to get rowdy, Dad .”
“I expected more maturity from the matriarch of the family.”
Leah rolled her eyes. “Meh. I’m bored and hoping to get laid.”
I snickered. “Well, what’s the lay of the land like? ”
“More girls than boys. Unfortunately, you are related to many of them. Edina’s here.”
Crown Princess Edina was Isak’s older sister. We hooked up plenty of times. She was very uptight. I got her walls to come down, along with her knickers, better than anyone. However, it would never work. We weren’t really friends—she never got vulnerable. I wasn’t opposed to hookups or friends-with-benefits, but I was looking for something more than the fight that would ensue the following day if I dared make her a cup of tea. She was a magnificent yet odd duck.
“Meh.”
“Meh?” Leah shook her head.
“What is the plan?”
“We’re going out tonight?—”
Leah kept talking, but I was unable to speak, captivated by a short woman with an adorable ass crossing into my line of sight with an adorable ass. Wavy blonde hair fell from the ponytail atop her head. Oversized sunglasses blocked her eyes from view, but I somehow knew they were beautiful. She was gorgeous.
“Hey, are you listening?”
“Uh…” I wanted to ask who the hot blonde was but knew she’d tease me.
“Oh, you found the recruit. That’s Ingrid.”
“Ingrid?”
“She’s Princess Alexandra’s youngest sister and a friend of the bride. Cici and Betty call her Ingy.”
“Oh my God! You’re here!”
I heard a shriek. My half-sister Betty threw her arms around me. Given she was young and impressionable, I hoped she would stay home. Now, I’d have to watch her like a hawk while behaving myself.
“You’re not old enough to be here.”
“I am,” Betty said.
“You’re drunk,” I noted.
She shrugged, then giggled and ran off.
“This weekend is going to be a mess,” Leah said. “We have so many loose cannons and amateurs.”
The blonde turned our way. Damn, she was beautiful! I’d be dumb not to pursue her. She was fresh meat—it was a bonus we were not related. Besides, she had one hell of a smackable little ass and a fabulous pair of tits. I hoped to see more of her.