The Prince of Royalty (PREVIOUSLY ROYALTY HAS ITS PERKS; UNDER MAJOR EDITING)

24

I woke up to an empty bed and a dim room. The curtains had been closed and I was vaguely aware of water running. It took me three yawns to finally make myself get up, and I stretched for a few minutes. I was really just delaying the requirement to go find Dean and discuss my sore nose and his drunken words. It made me nervous. I didn't want things to be ruined. 

Finally, I decided to grow up and move to my feet, following the sound of running water. I gently pushed open the bathroom door and found Dean sitting on the edge of the bathtub, the shower running. 

"Are you taking a shower?" He turned to me quickly, nearly falling into the tub. I caught his flailing hand and stabilized him.

"Um..." He scratched the back of his head. "No, well! Yes. I am." I quirked an eyebrow. I turned to the mirror, picking up the toothbrush that I kept at Dean's place and brushed my teeth. After gurgling some mouthwash, I rinsed my mouth and turned to him. He was only staring at me, eyes unreadable.

"Well, go on then." I waved my hand in the air as a notion to get a move on it, and he sat up straighter.

"I actually think I'll wait a little." I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms as I looked down at my feet. I gnawed on my lip.

"Okay." He turned off the shower.

"How's your nose?" He asked after a few moments of silence. I paused before shrugging.

"Just a little sore. I'm fine." He sighed.

"Johnny—"

"I know. And it's okay."

"It's not. I was never supposed to... I..." He took a deep breath. "It is not okay that I hurt you."

"I've been worse off." He was quiet so I looked up, finding his mouth turned down in a frown.

"What does that mean?" I shrugged, looking away from his questioning eyes.

"Just that... you didn't hurt me. Besides, my nose bleeds easily anyway. Did I ever tell you how in elementary school, I—"

"Did someone hurt you?" He asked softly, refusing to be deterred. I sighed.

"No, Dean." I watched his jaw clench. "I just used to get into a lot of fights. It's... it's why my parents sent me here." His eyes softened. "And that isn't even the point. The point is what you said last night." He was silent. I stared at his eyes and he scanned my face. "You said you're a mess. And that you don't blame me for 'not loving you.'" He frowned, looking down at my chest.

"It's true, so I don't see the problem in saying it." I huffed, shaking my head.

"You are a mess." He narrowed his eyes.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better, because if it is—"

"You are. You're a mess. You're a huge flirt, you won't let anyone in, and you're very forward. You're closed off and you can be a hypocrite and you made a scene like that when you were drunk." He wasn't looking at me now. "You are a mess, but so am I, and I do love you, you idiot." His eyes snapped up to mine, and he just stared at me for a good minute before speaking.

"You... what?" I smiled softly, stepping closer to him and cupping his cheeks.

"I love you." He stared at me, his eyes shimmering with tears.

"You do?"

"More than anything," I murmured, looking his face over. He sniffled, laughing slightly. The next thing he did was kiss me with the kind of force I'd only read about and seen in movies. His tongue swiped over my bottom lip swiftly and I gladly granted him access. His tongue grazed mine and I hummed slightly, wanting more. He grinned against my mouth, his kiss growing hungrier quickly.