Royally Mine: 22 All-New Bad Boy Romance Novellas

by Susan Stoker

  Yally stood in front of both Austin and Erik. The heels she wore pushed her calf muscles tight and firm. Her thighs were like pieces of art. The skirt hugged her curves more beautifully than any painting in history. Her core was slender which only extenuated her breasts even more. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and back like a tropical rainforest waterfall. Even though he was only able to see her from the side profile, he knew her mouth could form the most elegant smile he’d ever seen.

  Stumbling back behind the door, Dryce was baffled. Fuck me twice on Sunday. Who the fuck is this girl. Why in the hell am I feeling like this? I’m not shy around women, he thought, smacking himself in the face.

  She was talking fast and direct to Austin while Erik stood there listening.

  “I gathered that information from the cellphone I acquired last night at the parking garage. Who we’re actually looking for is a smaller faction, they mostly deal in arms trading. No one I can’t handle and haven’t in the past. They’re actually nobodies. We should be good and your Prince is as safe as a baby in the cradle,” she said.

  Erik grinned and tapped Austin on the arm. “See, I told ya she took the cellphone.”

  Shaking it off, Dryce opened the door and walked out. “Good morning,” Dryce said with a fake yawn.

  “Good morning, Your Highness,” Austin said.

  “Hey, good morning there, kiddo,” Erik said, then noticed Austin’s face. “Ah, I mean… sir.”

  Yally turned. “Your Highness.” Her eyes caught her first up-close view of Dryce.

  As he smiled back and came in an arm’s distance of her, he extended his hand to shake. “Please, call me Dryce.”

  Her eyes rolled off to the side looking down at the floor almost behind him, then back up again at his face quickly. His smile sparkled in her eyes. Confused and nervous, Yally left Dryce hanging there without returning the handshake. She turned back to Austin and Erik. “So… Ah…” She coughed, attempting to clear a knot that had built up in her throat. “Ah, I’ll…” She looked at Austin for the answer of what she was about to say.

  Austin stood confused, politely waiting for her to finish. Slightly shaking, his head, he prompted, “Youuuu’ll?”

  “Umm, when I find out more. I’ll be in contact. What… umm.” Yally took a long blink like she was thinking. When she opened her eyes, Dryce’s face was there. Quickly her eyes shied away and down at Austin’s feet. “I… what frequency are you on with the radios?”

  “Oh… I’ll get you a radio and earpiece for you,” Erik chirped. “It’ll be easier for you this way.”

  Yally and Erik walked off to the back room.

  While watching Yally walk away with Erik, Dryce whispered to Austin. “Who the hell is that? She’s stunning.” His eyebrows raised.

  “That… that is the bodyguard I hired.” Austin grinned, then looked at him. “So, what’s the plan for today? What kind of shit are you going to get into?”

  Dryce looked around the suite and sneered at the mess, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know; all I know right now is that I’m freakin’ hungry.” Patting his stomach, he said, “I’m going to get dressed, then let’s go eat.”

  ***

  Dressed and very well put together, Dryce came out of the bedroom. Walking and looking down at his phone, he read a text from Tom. “Austin,” Dryce called out, “hey, there’s a party tonight for Tom.”

  Austin looked up from the couch. “I thought you said last night that you were done. Last night was the last time.”

  “No no no…” Shaking his head, he said, “This is going to be for Tom’s investiture. It looks like he’s moved up in the ranks with his family,” Dryce said, a bit surprised.

  “What happened? What happened to his bagillion brothers in front of him for the line?” Austin asked, confused.

  “I’m not really sure. All the message says is that he’s getting recognized within his family and he wants me there with him.” Dryce scratched the side of his head. “I’m guessing it’s kinda like my coming-to party when I turned eighteen. Just, umm, like five years too late.”

  “Well, I’ll tell you this. I’m proud of you. You’re becoming more and more responsible and doing the political thing every day.” Austin stood up, fixing his suit jacket. “Just let me know the details, and I’ll make the arrangements.”

  During brunch, and in the midst of making the arrangements for the party that evening, Austin glanced over at Dryce.

  “What… what are you looking at?” Dryce asked, noticing Austin staring at him.

  “You, look at you today,” Austin said in a tone like a proud father. “You’re actually wearing your clothes properly. You actually did something with your hair today.”

  “Just because I don’t like to, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to,” Dryce said, playing with the food on his plate.

  “So, what’s going on? What’s different about today as opposed to any other day?” Austin asked, taking a sip of his cranberry juice.

  “I don’t know. Like I said last night. I get it, I understand now. It’s not just me anymore. Tom has a ton of older brothers, he’s allowed to show off and not worry about anything. But, me. I’ve only got one brother, what if something happened to him? I’ve gotta step up. I think it’s about time for me to start acting like the prince I am.” Dryce laid his fork down on the plate and crossed his arms, leaning over the edge of the table. “I think its about time for me to settle down. I had my fun gambling and street racing… and, I think I’ve had my fun with the women.”

  “You have been a menace, that’s for damn sure,” Austin murmured.

  “I know you think I’m just a little spoiled brat, but I see everything you do for me. I see how much you work. And it’s all because of me, all because I get some wild hair up my ass and decide to go to Las Vegas or… or even here in Dubai,” Dryce said with a very serious look on his face.

  Smiling, Austin leaned forward on the table. “So you’re going to settle down huh?” A smirk cracked the corner of his mouth. “Who’s the lucky lady? Anyone in mind?”

  Dryce’s head dropped, his chin rested on his tie. “I’m not really sure yet.” His head tilted upward slightly, his eyes focused on Austin’s neck. “If I was going to be serious about just one girl. Like actually have only one girlfriend. How would I go about doing that?”

  A chuckling laugh from Austin’s burst out. “Dryce… my Prince… that is something that you’re going to have to find out on your own.”

  Just then Erik walked up to the table. “Ah, there you two are,” Erik said, taking the seat across from Austin. “Can you believe it? Never in a million years would I have guessed that Yally was a chick. A smoking hot one at that.”

  Dryce’s face started to blush. Tilting his head down not to make eye contact with them, he picked up his fork and continued to fumble around with the food again.

  Austin sipped his drink. “When I first met her, she was dressed in a business suit. I had no idea, she pulled an ugly duckling on me. For sure.”

  Erik signaled to the waitress for a drink. “So, anyway… Mr. Ngo, I got the message about the party tonight.” Erik turned at Dryce. “And look at you lookin’ all spiffy today. Check you out.” He nudged elbows with Dryce.

  Feeling that there was some kind of tension in the air, Erik looked back and forth between the both of them. Dryce was still blushing, thinking about Yally. I’ve never felt like that around any girl before. Why am I still even thinking about her? Dryce thought.

  “What did I miss here? What’s going on?” Erik started to feel like he was left out of something.

  “Our Prince here.” Austin winked. “Our Prince is seeing the light. He’s decided to make some changes in life.”

  Dryce stood up from the table. “Come on, let’s go. We should get ready for Tom’s ceremony.” He wiped his mouth with the napkin and tossed it over his plate.

  “Was it something I said?” Erik asked, baffled.

  Chapter Ten

 
The limo pulled up to the manor. Erik stepped out first, Dryce followed and smiled for all the cameras from the paparazzi. Austin and Erik walked behind him as he made his way up the steps. Tom was at the top, greeting everyone as they came in.

  Dryce extended his hand and gave Tom a very proper like hand shake and congratulated him. Turning and posing for the cameras some more, Dryce muttered in Tom’s ear.

  “Looks like there’s no more fucking around for us. Huh.”

  “Oh, not you too. I’ve been getting the lecture all damn day from my father,” Tom said while smiling and waving.

  While Dryce stepped to the side and greeted Tom’s father and mother, Tom shook Austin’s hand. “Mr. Ngo, I would like to introduce you to my new security.” He pointed to the man standing next to him. “Maybe, if it’s not too much… you can give them some pointers?”

  “It would be my pleasure, Prince Tompika,” Austin said, as formal as ever.

  Tom looked over at Erik, “Tank. Nice to see you again.”

  Erik nodded. “Your Highness.”

  Inside the ball room Austin peeled off to go survey the rooms and scout the crowds, but not before nudging Erik with the nonverbal look to watch Dryce.

  Dryce made his way to the bar area. “Scotch, on the rocks,” he ordered from the tender behind the bar.

  “Hey, kiddo, not too many of those tonight,” Erik said softly.

  “I know, Tank. This is just to get me to relax a bit.” He looked at Erik. “I’m trying to ease my way into this world.”

  Austin’s voice came across Erik’s earpiece. “I don’t know if Yally’s going be here tonight. It’s pretty locked down from what I can tell.”

  Erik queued the mic twice indicating that he heard and understood. It was just up to Erik and Austin tonight.

  A female voice came over the radio. Both Austin and Erik pushed on their earpieces to hear better. “Is this how you always talk about me?” Yally tolled in.

  “Yally, you’re here. Where are you?” Austin was surprised.

  “Of course I’m here,” she replied.

  “Where?” Austin repeated.

  “I’m nowhere. I work better alone. But don’t worry, I have eyes on my Prince… our… our Prince,” Yally stuttered.

  Moving his eyes only, Erik glanced around the room. Unable to find her, he grinned and slightly shook his head.

  “Prince Dryce.” A young lady walked up and stood next to him.

  “Hey.” Dryce turned and recognized that it was Tom’s sister, but didn’t remember her name. “How are you? It’s been so long.”

  “Yes, yes it has. Isn’t this wonderful? I’m so happy for my Tompika,” she said with a drunken smile.

  “I’m very happy and very proud of him.” Dryce smiled back at her.

  “Would you honor me with a dance?” she asked.

  “Of course I would.” Dryce took her hand and escorted her to the middle of the ballroom.

  Erik followed to the edge of the dance floor and waited for him.

  Yally watched from her position. Her eyes squinted, a sense of irritation, annoyed, a feeling she couldn’t describe rushed over her. She watched as Dryce walked across the dance floor, turned and embraced Tom’s sister to dance. What the fuck is that I’m feeling? He’s just another client… a client who floats across the dance floor. He’s an outright beautiful client, Yally thought to herself. Her eyes started to glass over with the imagery of Dryce holding her. Having his hands wrapped around her. She could see Dryce holding the small of her back, pulling her in tight to him

  Shaking her head to get rid of the images, she looked off to the side. Ro, what the fuck are you doing? I’ve killed more powerful men than him. But, god damn it… he’s got some kind of power over me, Yally wondered.

  Yally started to look back at Dryce when she noticed a man staring in his direction. He pulled a syringe out of his jacket pocket. When he pulled the cap off the needle behind his back, she could see that it was filled with a dark blue liquid. He started making his way toward Dryce on the dance floor. She saw this. It registered to her what was happening, and she stood there. Frozen. The idea that the guy was really going after the girl Dryce was dancing with paused her actions.

  She was too late to doing anything stealthy. That was her expertise. She was the master at eliminating the problem before it became a problem. She had to act. She had to do something quick, the man was less than four feet away from Dryce.

  “Darling, there you are,” Yally yelled as she ran up to him in her high heels.

  Before the man was able to pull his arm from his back, she grabbed his wrist. His hand hid the syringe underneath his suit jacket. Yally squared up to him, jamming the syringe’s needle into the man’s ass and squeezing the plunger down.

  The man was about to cry out, but she used her other hand, cupping the back of his head and covered his mouth with hers.

  Quickly the serum started to take affect. His legs turned to jello. Yally removed the syringe from his hand and stuffed it in the back of his pants and danced her way towards Erik.

  Erik called Austin over the radio. “Boss, I’ve found Yally. She’s, umm… I’m going to need you over at my position.”

  Yally leaned the man against Erik’s enormous chest. “We need to do something with him,” she hinted.

  Erik wrapped his massive arm around him and held him up on his feet. Looking around to see if anyone took notice, Erik said, “I got ‘em.”

  Dryce noticed. He watched as Austin and Erik escorted the limp body away, and he watched Yally disappear back in the crowd of people standing around.

  I thought she was beautiful before, he thought while still dancing with Tom’s sister. That dress looks amazing on her. No, she looks amazing in that dress. Her eyes, her hair. Her strength. She’s so strong, she’s magnificent. She’s the one. I need her.

  Chapter Eleven

  In the limo, on the way back to the hotel after the royal investiture gala, Dryce was quiet. He stared out the window while Austin and Erik talked back and forth to each other.

  “Mr. Ngo, I’m sorry, that shit was freaking awesome. Watching Yally in action tonight was…” Erik boasted.

  “I didn’t even see what all happened,” Austin said, almost disappointed.

  “Oh my god. It was incredible. Yally got that guy’s attention by yelling something at him. All I saw was her running across the dance floor and grabbing the guy. At first I thought she was just going to dance with the guy like a cover or something to get closer to Dryce. But then, BAM. I tell ya what… if you would have blinked you would have missed the whole thing. Within seconds that guy was a freaking paper weight,” Erik said, overly excited.

  “Well, that guy’s not actually dead. In the morning I’ll contact the embassy and get clearance to go interview him. I’ll find out what he knows,” Austin said.

  Erik was still hyper. “Man, I still can’t even figure out how she even got in there.”

  “That place was damn secure. All of those royal families… that place was locked down like Fort Knox.” Austin was amazed as well.

  “The shit that’s in her file is downsized like a motherfucker.” Erik chuckled. “Watching her in action… I mean, damn.”

  Erik looked over at Dryce. Erik could tell that he wasn’t paying a lick of attention. His mind was elsewhere.

  “You alright over there, kiddo?” Erik tapped Dryce’s knee.

  “Hmm? Yeah, whatever you guys want to do… I’m down for whatever,” Dryce responded.

  With another chuckle, Erik palmed his knee cap and shook him. “No, we’re talking about our newest recruit. What do you think of her?”

  Dryce’s face turned bright red from blushing. “I don’t really know her all that much,” he said in a shy timid tone.

  The limo rounded the corner and pulled up to the hotel. Austin leaned up, getting closer to Erik. “Alright, we still don’t really know what’s all going on, but we know that it’s starting. They’re actively after the Prince
, so, let’s be on the ready until we get him up to the suite.”

  “We making a hasty rush-in?” Erik asked, still pumped, ready for some more action.

  “Sure, sounds like a plan. Are you okay with that, Your Highness?” Austin asked.

  Dryce nodded yes, and he shrugged his shoulders. I kind of wish something would happen. Then I would get to see her again. He thought.

  They rushed through the lobby to the private elevator up to the suite. Erik was extra on guard, since he knew that he had fucked up. Even though Yally was there to take care of that guy, he didn’t even see that shit coming.

  In the elevator it was quiet. Floor after floor passed, and all three of them were deep in their own thoughts.

  Erik opened the door to the suite and flicked on the lights. “Whoa!” He quickly started to reach for his sidearm, then recognized her. “Oh, Yally, how the hell did you get here before us?”

  “It’s my job.” She turned towards Austin. “I have some intel for us. I think you’re going to be pleased.”

  Dryce entered the room. Yally’s eyes locked with his, her stomach fluttered. Still talking to Austin while looking at Dryce, she continued, “I… umm… there’s, you know. I… umm, I have something else to tell you as well.”

  Dryce felt the need to say something to her. He tried his hardest not to look her up and down. His eyes started to wander. Play it cool, play it cool. Say hello and tell her she looks gorgeous. He thought, giving himself a pep talk. “I’m… you’re going to bed.” Fuck.

  Erik looked down at Dryce, noticing the shine in his eyes when he looked at her. Erik, unlike Austin, hadn’t known Dryce his entire life; but over the past four or five years, he’s gotten to know enough. Erik grinned. It was like watching his little brother falling in love. “Yeah, kiddo. You had a long day. It is time for you to hit the rack.” Erik led Dryce to the bedroom before returning to Austin and Yally.