When it looked like Rian would be busy for a while, I shot a quick text to her and London, knowing full well that London wouldn’t check her messages for a while.
Sparrow: You guys look amazing. My side hurts. I’m going to crash. I’ll see you in the morning for the brunch.
I gave Olly a wave as he twirled some brunette across the dance floor. He winked in return with a smile. He was having a blast. Good for him. Kannon had been relying on both of us a lot with things changing so much. Olly needed time off just as much as I did.
As I left the ballroom, I gave some smiles and nods and waves to people I’d met during my stay. I hoped my tight smile said I’d had a great time and not, “Dear God, if you talk to me, I’m so tired I might bite your head off.”
All I wanted to do was crash and get off my damn feet. Right outside the ballroom doors, I slid my shoes off. I knew it was probably a major faux pas, but hell, my feet were killing me. The moment I slipped them off, I felt so much better—the cool marble floor icing down the inflammation.
I pulled the little map out of my dress pocket. Nothing better than a dress with pockets and a map to show me the way. The map in the party favors London had given her bridal party was a brilliant touch because it was the only way I’d be able to find my way back to my room. The palace was massive. Even after being there for three days, I was still unable to find the correct hallway toward my quarters, and I was trained for shit like that. I kept worrying that eventually I’d stumble down to the dungeons and no one would ever find me again.
Although London kept trying to tell me dungeons didn’t exist in the palace, I wasn’t sure if I should believe her or not. I mumbled to myself as I turned left down the hall and then took a right past the gardens.
One more right turn, and I was in my hallway. I recognized the painting right across from my room which I’d drawn as the X that marked the spot on my map.
London’s family had graduated to the tech of the new century, and so had their digs. As I approached my door, my phone told the door who I was, and the lock disengaged.
Turning the handle, I pushed on the heavy wood but paused when I heard moaning.
What the hell? I pushed the door farther, letting in more light, and the moaning increased. Then somebody called out, “Love, whether you’re joining us or not, letting in the light is kind of rude.”
“What the fuck?”
I hit the lights, only to find a man in my damn bed. A man with the nicest ass I’d ever seen. In my bed. With a blonde and a redhead.
“Are you fucking kidding me? This is where I’m sleeping tonight.”
His grin was rakish. “Go ahead, strip down. Join us.”
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. “Oh my God. You’re a pig.” I briskly turned, struggling with the heavy door, which gave him time to catch me. He had the sheet held at his waist as the women in bed grumbled.
“Wait.” The heat from his body was hot enough to scald. And his voice, low and slightly slurring, sent a shiver down my entire body.
His hand grabbed my forearm, and I shook him off as I managed to get the door open. “No, thank you. Don’t touch me. I can see where your hands have been.” He was lucky I wasn’t in the mood to hurt my side or cause a scene, or I’d have thrown him over my shoulder and taught him what happened when someone touched me without permission.
He glanced back at the bed and laughed. “You’re the one who tried to join our private celebration.”
I could smell the alcohol on his breath. And from the dim light in the foyer, I could see that his pupils were dilated. Jesus Christ, how trashed was he?
And I knew exactly who this was. Hard to miss it when he looked so much like his fucking brothers.
Breck Waterford. The partier of the family without a care in the world.
Wilder was the one with the connections and the focus.
Roman was the one with steel and responsibility.
Breck? He looked to be just like his cousin Barkley. Useless.
“No, you idiot. This is my room. You don’t even recognize me, do you?”
He leaned closer. “Oh, I recognize you all right. You’re my sister’s uptight little friend. The stiff one who’s always a little too watchful, who sees too much.”
“Well, I’ve certainly seen enough tonight. Let go of my arm, or I will put you down.”
He leered down at me. “Now that, I would like to see.”
With a well-practiced judo move, I placed a hand over the one still holding me, swung the arm he was holding around, and then pressed down on his wrist. He winced and immediately released me. “Jesus, fuck.”
“I told you not to touch me.”
He held up his hands. “Fine. All you had to do was ask.”
“You’re a dick.”
He grinned. “Oh, you haven’t even seen the worst of it.”
“Touch me again, and you’ll be missing your appendage.”
“I promise, I’m not going to touch you again until you ask me.”
I leaned forward so he could hear me as I ground out each word. “I will never ask you to touch me.”
“Never say never, love.”
* * *
****
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Next Up in the Tattered Royals series?
ENEMY HEIR
For more information please go to Carrie Ann Ryan and Nana Malone’s websites.
* * *
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Kannon & London? CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann & Nana
Thank you so much for reading ROYAL LINE!!
Next up from in the Tattered Royals series is ENEMY HEIR! Sparrow and Beck might not be ready for each other, but we’re ready for them!
* * *
The Tattered Royals Series:
Book 1: Royal Line
Book 2: Enemy Heir
More to come!
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Kannon & London? CLICK HERE!
Acknowledgments
Writing a book is never easy. Writing a book with your friend is honestly a lot more fun! At least that’s what I’m telling myself. Please, Nana, don’t disabuse me of this notion!
Nana and I would love to thank so many people for helping us get Royal Line completed!
Thank you to our editors, Angie and Chelle, for somehow making Royal Line into a full book and not just fun times with Kannon and London where they fight and have steamy interludes.
Thank you to our amazing cover artist, Jaycee for not only hitting this cover out of the park, but for doing it on the first try. Thank you to Wander and Kaz for this fantastic image!
Thank you to our friends who are numerous in name and even more so in knowledge and genius! We couldn’t do this without you as our touchstones.
I (Carrie Ann - the louder one) would love to thank my family for being so supportive during this book. Thank you for your help and for not laughing when I said I wanted to write about princesses who kicked butt.
I (Nana - the one with all the hair) would like to thank Carrie for making this whole process so much fun. This series is going to be such a wild ride.
And thank you dear readers for being so fantastic! Here is to more royals!
* * *
~Carrie Ann & Nana
About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan and Nana Malone have been writing romances for over a decade. Between them, they have nearly two hundred romances under their belt to date!
That means they love romance, happy ever afters, and growly heroes, and the idea that love is love is love is love.
They were fangirls first, then friends, and now writing partners. Their Tattered Royals series is just the start…and they can’t wait to see what comes next.
* * *
Find out more at each of their websites:
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
https://nanamaloneromance.net/
Also from Carrie Ann & Nana Malone
With nearly two hundred he
art pounding and thrilling romances between them, they figured they’d show you the best place to start with both of their works!
Loved Royal Line? This is where to go next:
* * *
From Carrie Ann & Nana:
The Tattered Royals Series:
Book 1: Royal Line
Book 2: Enemy Heir
More to come!
* * *
Start here if you’d like to read Carrie Ann Ryan:
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series:
Book 1: Wrapped in Ink
Book 2: Sated in Ink
Book 3: Embraced in Ink
Book 4: Seduced in Ink
Book 4.5: Captured in Ink
* * *
Start here if you’d like to read Nana Malone:
The See No Evil Trilogy:
Book 1: Big Ben
Book 2: The Benefactor
Book 3: For Her Benefit
Royal Line Page 20