Page 24 of Troubled Skies (Blue Skies #3)

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Adrian

An hour later, Adrian was still fuming.

To his credit, Ren had immediately gone to the captain to inform him of Adrian’s presence on the yacht and ask if they could return to Ibiza, but the captain said that was impossible.

The storm which initially delayed their departure had weakened enough to give them a small window in which to leave around two in the morning.

Returning would keep them on Ibiza for another two days as another storm was moving into the area.

Their first refueling stop was two days away in Malta, the captain had said.

Adrian could disembark there and return to Ibiza by plane when they arrived.

Or, Ren had offered, Adrian could stay for the entire trip to the Maldives.

Adrian had stared at him in disbelief and asked for some time alone to figure out what he wanted to do. And also, so he didn’t murder Ren and toss him overboard.

He’d retreated to the aft lounge on the upper bridge deck where Sylvie brought him a cup of coffee and a plate of the most delicious pastries he’d ever tasted in his life.

None of that, nor the gorgeous view made up for the fact that he felt like an idiot for ending up in this situation.

He didn’t know if he could trust Ren. Even through his anger, he did still recognize that Ren was doing as he’d asked and giving him the space he’d requested to think, despite how clear it was to Adrian that Ren wanted him to stay.

He peered over the rail at Ren lying on his stomach on a lounge chair by the pool.

He was once again naked, and Adrian took a moment to admire his broad shoulders, trim waist, beautiful ass, and long legs, a shiver running through him as he remembered the previous night.

And, as much as Ren appeared to be relaxed, Adrian could see tension in every line of his body despite having only known the man for a day.

Adrian had no doubt Ren was truly apologetic, but it was also clear Ren was used to getting what he wanted.

And even though the invitation had been a spur-of-the-moment thing born out of the situation they found themselves in, Adrian had no doubts it was genuine.

Ren wanted him on the yacht. And two weeks on a private luxury cruise where his every need would be taken care of as well as the promise of scorching hot sex with a gorgeous man?

Adrian ran a hand over the soft material of the chunky sweater he’d donned after discovering that it was cold out in open water.

Am I an idiot if I say yes? Or would it be more foolish to say no?

Adrian knew his judgment wasn’t the best and needed an outside consultant to help him sort through his conflicted thoughts.

But first…he picked up his phone and snapped a picture of Ren with the telephoto lens, taking care that his face was clear and nothing showed below his waist. Then Adrian clicked on the front-facing lens and took a selfie with the Mediterranean in the background and his hair blowing in the wind to convey that the yacht was moving. He sent both photos to Luis.

Just in case I don’t make it back alive or get sold into sex slavery or something. This is the guy who might or might not have kidnapped me last night , he typed out and texted that as well.

A little more relaxed now that someone knew where he was…

Adrian picked up his phone again. We’re on our way from Ibiza to the Maldives , he texted to Luis. Left early this morning. First stop Malta in two days. Ship’s name is the Belleza del Sol.

Now that someone knew more or less where he was, Adrian returned to watching Ren and wondering what he was going to do in the face of a connection that seemed genuine.

Ren was also gorgeous and sweet and had been nothing short of amazing since the man had helped him off the plane at Heathrow.

At least he had been up until I woke up on his fucking yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Well, okay, there was that misstep Ren had explained by the captain not knowing Adrian was on board.

“If it’s any consolation, poussin,” Ren had said, his entire demeanor contrite while Adrian continued to glare at him, “he is not pleased with me about your presence, and I am sure I will hear all about it from my father before the day is over.”

Adrian had felt the teensiest amount of satisfaction that Ren might be handed his ass by his father, but that didn’t help him in his current predicament.

His phone buzzed, and he looked down to see a response from Luis. He turned in his seat and picked up his phone.

What the hell are you doing on a yacht with Prince Henri? Luis had texted. And in a Brunello Cuccinelli sweater no less.

Who the fuck is Prince Henri? And who the hell cares who made my sweater? Adrian shook his head at the screen. Focus on the important thing, Luis! I may have been kidnapped!

The man you sent a picture of? That’s Prince Henri Renard Sebastien Montclair of Belvaux!

!! He’s only one of THE HOTTEST and sexiest men on the face of the planet right now!

!! How do you not know this????? And I care who made your sweater, honey, because there’s no way you bought that for yourself, so if you’ve been kidnapped, at least he’s a generous captor with a great sense of style.

It looks terrific on you, BTW. But seriously?

WTF? Is he as gorgeous in person as he is in his photos?

He’s not a prince. His name is Ren. I met him on the plane to London.

In first class.

Yes.

And you’re on his yacht. In the Mediterranean.

Yes.

My sweet summer child…

A photo appeared on his screen. It was the cover of People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue, and there was Ren’s picture as one of the up-and-coming hotties to watch.

Or rather, there was a picture of His Royal Highness Prince Henri Renard Sebastien de Montclair of Belvaux, the swooniest royal out there according to the cover.

Adrian leaned over the railing again. Ren was still by the pool, but now Rachel was with him, and they were deep in conversation. The buzz of an incoming text message brought Adrian’s attention back to his phone.

It looks like you found yourself a real life prince charming , Luis’s message read.

I don’t know about charming. He did kind of kidnap me , Adrian wrote back. He didn’t tell me . I had no idea. And now I’m stuck on this yacht for two days, and he wants me to stay all the way to the Maldives, but I don’t know what I should do.

Did you sleep with him? Please tell me you slept with him. Now that I’m an old married man, I need all the vicarious thrills I can get.

Adrian snorted. Trust Luis to ignore the whole kidnapped on a boat bound for the other side of the world thing and go right to asking him to dish on his new boyfriend.

Oh, fuck. There was no way Adrian was going to say anything like that to Luis.

He’d never hear the end of it. Not to mention, he was supposed to be making better decisions rather than jumping headlong into what was absolutely destined to be a disaster.

And Ren was not his boyfriend. He was not going to lose his heart or his head to this man. And possible kidnapper.

Can you focus, please? Tell me what I should do, Adrian typed out.

Is he nice?

A quick glance at himself, the coffee and pastries, and a shiver as he remembered the way Ren— excuse me, Prince Henri —had taken care of him and held him and kissed him and called him beautiful, incredible, magnificent.

The prince had been nothing but kind to him since they met.

Not to mention the sex had been amazing.

He took care of me after I freaked out on the plane and bought me an Armani suit and a bunch of clothes after my suitcase went missing , Adrian typed out.

The next thing to appear on Adrian’s screen was a Pretty Woman gif that made him laugh out loud.

Please be serious , he responded.

I am. Honey, you’ve had a shitty year. I know stuff was going on for you before the crash even if you didn’t tell any of us what it was or let us help. You’ve been through a lot. Maybe this is the universe’s way of balancing things out for you. Maybe you should let yourself have some fun.

The message was accompanied by a shower of confetti.

I’ll think about it , Adrian texted back. Thanks .

Anytime. Keep me posted. And send me more pictures!

Adrian was about to sign off, but something occurred to him, and he texted back.

Hey. Maybe keep this to yourself and Darius for the time being.

Okay? His father doesn’t like people knowing Ren is into guys as well as girls.

The last thing Adrian wanted was to get Prince Henri in deeper trouble with his father or alert the paparazzi to a juicy piece of gossip.

Will do. Have fun! Love you! And send those pictures! (So jealous…)

This time, Adrian sent back a kiss emoji.

He was about to turn his attention back to Ren down below, but the doors slid open, and Rachel stepped out onto the deck. She sat down in the chair next to Adrian’s and nodded at the plate of pastries. Although Adrian had devoured two of them, several still remained.

“Were these not to your liking?” she asked.

“They’re great. Amazing, really. I’m just not hungry at the moment.”

Rachel nodded, then leveled Adrian with an assessing gaze. “He cares about you.”

“I know.”

“Non, I don’t think you do. Henri can be…careless with people’s feelings. He doesn’t often need to take them into consideration because people are quick to cater to him, too interested in pleasing him because of who he is and what he might be able to do for them.”

“Are you warning me?” Adrian asked.

“Not at all. I am saying that he’s different with you than anyone else I’ve ever seen him with. I could tell when he called me to ask for last night’s dinner. And then I saw you together, and it was clear that he cares about you a great deal, that you mean something to him.”

“He doesn’t know me.” Adrian squirmed under Rachel’s steady gaze.