Page 19 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

He was so breathtakingly beautiful.

Kai had swapped his grey hoodie and pyjama bottoms for a black top that hugged his built torso in a way that was perfectly fitted and not two sizes too small. The best part though, was that he’d paired the top with a dark blue, knitted cardigan.

A cardigan. A fucking—

“You didn’t dry your hair.”

I clapped my lips together as my lashes snapped up to find Kai’s ink black eyes on me through his glasses, his mouth pressed firm, and his brows pinched in a scowl.

I hoped with my entire existence he couldn’t see the blush spreading over my face and neck as I shuffled towards the side of the counter. He had two mugs and a small tea strainer waiting next to the stove with loose tea leaves simmering away in a saucepan.

I tucked my towel-dried hair behind one ear. “My hair dries quickly naturally, and I didn’t want to wake anyone up with the noise of a hair dryer, so I didn’t bother.”

His frown only hardened, and it should have made me shift uncomfortably like last night.

It didn’t.

Because there was no malice in his scowl as it travelled over my hair. He was just…scowling. Maybe like he was thinking, but more like it was just natural for him. And it was kind of cute actually.

He nodded to his right. “Take a seat. It’s almost done.”

I did as he said, taking a seat in one of the navy-blue stools along the kitchen island where I’d been chattering away with Nur and Pierre in the morning. From there, I watched Kai with my chin resting on my right palm, biting down on my bottom lip to stop myself from moaning in absolute bliss.

He was just making tea, but the concentration on his face, the way his arms flexed as he poured the liquid into the two mugs. His flipping outfit! I might as well have been watching a hot porn video.

I snapped straight, not wanting to be caught swooning, when he picked up both mugs and came around to put one in front of me. I thanked him and wrapped my hands around it.

“What tea is this?” I peered into the clear golden liquid in the white ceramic and took a deep breath of the flowery, almost sweet scent.

“Jasmine tea. Honey or sugar?”

“Uh...none, I think.”

He stared at me like I'd grown a second head. My choice personally offended him apparently, and I felt the strongest urge to giggle, half in shock and the rest in pure amusement. Instead, I ogled as he carefully measured a level teaspoon of honey and stirred it into his tea. Then he meticulously tidied up after himself, even washing the saucepan, spoon, and strainer he’d used.

When he was finally satisfied, Kai stood on the opposite side of the kitchen island with his hands resting on the surface on either side of his mug, staring at me. Not exactly frowning, but he had a stern resting face—jaw set, brows faintly dipped, eyes dark and piercing. Dark. Gorgeous.

It wasn’t exactly an awkward silence, but it was weird, nonetheless.

I smiled at him. He shifted on his feet, his brows dipping lower as he tugged on his left earlobe.

I couldn’t help it, the chuckle erupted from my mouth before I could cage it in.

Who was this man? This stern, grumpy prince. Was this really my Orange—the man the world called The Perfect Prince? But he seemed so damn adorably awkward.

Kai’s brows shot up before they settled back into a furious pucker. “What’s so funny?” he grumbled.

“I just…” My laughter settled into a wide smile. “I’ve never seen you like…this before, so it’s a little weird. Funny—not in a bad way, of course. It’s just…different.”

His glare softened as he looked down at himself but then tightened again. “I cannot wear my uniform day and night, Princess Esmeralda.”

I rolled my bottom lip into my mouth sheepishly. “It’s not just the clothes.” I trailed my gaze over the regal yet harsh lines of his face.

“I could say the same thing about you,” he muttered in reply.

Heat crept through my cheeks, and I sat straight—yes, because he’d never seen me in my underwear before tonight. “I guess so,” I swallowed, struggling to meet his fierce stare. “I, uh, apologise if I offended you, Prince Kai.”

For a second, he was still. Then his thick lashes dropped. A lock of his raven black hair flopped over his forehead as he tugged at his left earlobe again, twice.

---