Chapter 16

After royal laws, coronation training, and being taught the Mecca Island Waltz, Jett ate dinner alone. Soon after, he returned to the library to study. It was far enough away from the rest of the guest to focus on his notes. "I have never worked so hard to impress a woman in my life. This is nuts," he chuckled to himself.

"Hopefully, she's worth it." Bella snuck in, closing the door behind her.

Jett jumped up from his chair, rushing to pull Bella in his arms, kissing her over-and-over. "Bella, what are you doing here? If you get caught..."

"Shh. We won't. The king is sleeping. The guards are on shift change. I had to see you. I'm sorry about all this. You don't have to do it. I'll understand if you don't want to escort me to the ball. I know it's a lot to ask," she sighed with a look longingly.

Jett cupped her face in his hands, trying to burn the image of her to his mind. He hadn't realized how much he had missed her till now, and touching her again was like heaven. "I want to do this, Bella. It's difficult, but I have already figured out a lot of what they are asking me to do. Come over here. I found this earlier today," he said, directing her to a desk in the middle of the room. "Look. I found a photo of your great grandfather and his family in an old book. I learned about how the ceremony works and how you have to address the court. It's like acting only in person. Even if it doesn't happen for us, I know that it's worth it."

"I'd like to believe things will work out for us."

"I do too."

"Jett, we don't have much time together. Please. Just hold me." She fell into his arms, resting her head on his chest.

"I have to do this for us. Come sit on the couch with me. Our time together is precious. How much time do you think we have?" Jett took her hand, leading her to the chair.

"About an hour."

"I can work with that," Jett said with a coy smile. He wasted no time starting to kiss her. Pulled her on top of his lap and started peppering kissing down her neck, making Bella shiver from his light touch.

"Jett, will you make love to me? I need to feel you near me."

"You never have to ask. I will always want to please my queen."

As they made love, it was as if the entire world slipped away. Nothing but silence and the sounds of their own heavy breathing surrounded them. After what seemed like forever, they quietly laid in silence, wrapped in each other's arms.

Breaking from the silence, Jett's voice filled the room. "I want more than this, Bella. I'm falling for you."

Bella felt tears fall from her face at his revelation. She had been feeling it too, but the risk was too much. Dripping down to his chest, a tear escaped her cheek. "You can't fall in love with me. Too much is at stake. I'll only end up hurting you and I don't think I could take it. I don't want to be the reason you get your heart broken." Her heart felt like it was being ripped from her chest, realizing how hard life in secret would be for them. If anyone of importance found out about them, the monarch would fall into the hands of the Duke.

"This is already breaking my heart, and we haven't even explored it yet. I'm not letting you go. I won't. I don't care what anyone says. I've waited for a long time for someone like you. I won't accept that this is all there is for us." He kissed her forehead, trying to reassure her, but truthfully he didn't know how to make this work.

"I want love. Everything in my life tells me it's never going to happen for me. I want to be with you, Jett. But I also don't want to hold you back from having your own happiness. I can't be selfish."

"I want to be with you too. For now, we're happy. Can't we at least acknowledge that? Even if it ends as soon as it starts, I will not regret this time with you. I hope you won't either."

"I will never regret this as long as I live," she said as she snuggled into him and kissed his cheek.

Laying with Bella in his arms felt so right. How in all the years of being with so many women, on the road as a wrestler, could this be the one who stole his heart? In just a few days of having Bella in Jett's life, he knew he would give up everything to be with her. He never believes in love at first sight. At least not until now. Their lives collided in a time that made it impossible to have anything more than this, but he would fight to change that, just like everything else in his life. Not getting what he wanted was not an option in his world.

As Jett sat thinking about how hard things could get, he realized Mason was right. Could he put all his future life plans to the side for this woman? A wife, kids, a family. A life he had always seen himself having. Would she be able to leave all this for him? No, of course not. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. A country's history and future relied on Bella, and he knew that this was far more than his own selfish needs.

For Bella, she felt like her heart was breaking. In a few short days, their time together would come to a screeching halt. This life had destined her to marry a man who made her skin crawl. She vowed to herself that the only man who would ever touch her would be Jett. He — a wrestler. Her — a princess. Two worlds so very far apart.

***

An hour later...

"Bella, sweetheart, wake up. You have to get going. If they catch you here, we won't be able to see each other again." Jett waked her by kissing her cheek.

"I don't want to go."

"Baby, you have to. One more day and you'll be in my arms again. Tomorrow I have to practice. I will not let you down. I promise."

Bella sighed, "All right. I guess your right."

Scarlett lightly knocked on the door, quietly whispering through the crack in the door. "Bella, hurry. The king is awake, and heading this way."

"Go. Don't get caught." Jett went back to studying, trying to pretend nothing happened as Bella rushed away.

A few minutes later, the old elderly man walked in on his own. "Ahh! Jett, my boy. You're up late. Care for a drink of Scotch?" The king was up walking about with his nurse nowhere in sight.

"Sure. Where's your nurse?"

"Oh. That old hag is always treating me like a child. I had to move around some to stretch the old legs. Sleep has seemed to elude me, as of late. Here you go. My finest year," he said, handing Jett the drink.

"Thank you, sir."

"I see you are studying Mecca Island etiquette. I always hated that stuff. So stuffy and fancy. When I was your age, I rebelled all the way, but I did it anyway to keep appearances. A girl, as you can imagine. My wife, Hera. She was from the old bloodline. I was just a lord then, from the rivalry family line. Her father hated me with a passion. I couldn't do a damn thing right in his eyes. I kept making a mockery of everything according to him. On her coronation, I slipped and ruined the Mecca Island waltz and the Queen of Weston's dress. A bit of putting-the-nail-in-the-old-coffin, so to speak. The king made me his number one priority from then on. He taught me everything about being king. As much as I hated it; I loved her more. As you see, my boy. We are not too much different, you and I." The king raised his glass to him.

"But it is different, isn't it? I'm not of royal blood. You would never allow me to marry her. Even if we loved each other. It's against the law." Jett was getting frustrated trying to reason with the old man.

"I'm sorry to say this, but yes. It's difficult for me to come between love. The crown depends on Arabella. Jett, I'm going to be frank with you. I'm dying. Cancer. Family curse, you could say. I have very few good days. I can't change the laws in my current position. They would say I wasn't in my right mind. The Duke would fight it in parliament after my death. With Arabella being a bit of a wild child, she wouldn't be able to stop him. People are yet to see how truly intellectual and driven she is. If I could change it, I would. I'm sorry. Starting the day of the coronation, I won't tell you to stay away from her. Spend the time you have with her to its fullest. I'm getting tired now. Could you please help me back to my room? My old bones get tired fast these days. Come to my room tomorrow. I will help you learn some of those silly rules."

"I will. Thank you for explaining," Jett nodded, now understanding the king's point of view a little better.

"Promise me this. If you find yourself in love with her, find a way. Don't let that nasty duke touch my niece. He's a disgusting man. Evil to the core and smells like old cabbages. He would hurt her to get his hands on the crown."

"I promise. I'll protect her. You have my word."