Love Goes On Read online

  Love

  Goes On

  Crystal Britton

  iUniverse, Inc.

  Bloomington

  Love Goes On

  Copyright © 2012 by Crystal Britton.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously

  iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

  iUniverse

  1663 Liberty Drive

  Bloomington, IN 47403

  www.iuniverse.com

  1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

  Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

  Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

  ISBN: 978-1-4759-3310-9 (sc)

  ISBN: 978-1-4759-3311-6 (hc)

  ISBN: 978-1-4759-3312-3 (ebk)

  iUniverse rev. date: 06/22/2012

  Contents

  1 The Secret

  2 Sweet 16

  3 16th Birthday Party

  4 France

  5 A Weekend at the Beach

  6 Christmas Shopping

  7 Another Pug

  8 Disagreement

  9 Shopping Trip

  10 Home Ideas

  11 Riley’s Party Plans

  12 Riley’s Party

  13 The Perfect House

  14 Sleepover

  15 An Easter Party

  16 A Surprise Visitor

  17 A Very Special Day

  18 Planning

  19 Kaden’s Trip to Rome

  20 Fooled Around

  21 Almost Summer Vacation

  22 School’s Out

  23 Rome

  24 Kyle’s Friendship

  25 Trip Home

  26 School Starts

  27 17th Birthday

  28 Dad’s Party

  29 May It Be A Match Made Right?

  30 Pregnant Pug

  31 Dad’s Love

  1

  The Secret

  I became even more excited and nervous by the minute anticipating what Kaden might say.

  “Sara, I have been keeping a secret from you, but not intentionally. I have just been waiting for the right time to tell you.” He paused for a few moments. “I come from a royal family; matter-of-fact I am next in line to become king,” Kaden informed me.

  I stared at him stunned. I couldn’t believe what my ears just heard. I was engaged to a prince! Although this is exciting to me I knew what my duties would be and I wasn’t sure I could live up to that standard.

  “Did you not think to mention this to me before you asked me to be your wife?” I asked breathlessly.

  “I thought if I did you would decline my proposal.”

  I stood up crossing my arms as I overlooked the gardens. I loved Kaden dearly and was expecting to live the rest of my life with him as any normal couple would. But now that I know he comes from a royal family I don’t know if I can handle what comes of our duties as prince and princess.

  “I hope by me keeping this from you hasn’t made you think twice about being my wife,” Kaden said.

  “I want to be your wife more than anything, but I’m concerned that I will not be able to live up to the duties I would be expected to complete,” I replied.

  “I have faith in you.”

  “You may have faith in me, but I don’t.”

  “Are you declining my engagement to you?”

  “No. I’m having a hard time taking in what you’ve just told me. I’m not some money greedy whore who would jump at the idea of becoming wealthy.”

  He chuckled. “Well, instead of keeping me guessing; what’s your answer?”

  I sighed deeply. “Are you sure you want me not only as your wife, but as Rome’s princess?”

  “Of course I do, Sara. I wouldn’t have asked you for your hand in marriage if I didn’t.”

  I was silent for a few moments as I thought of what my decision might be. I had already accepted Kaden’s proposal so if I disagreed to being Rome’s princess then I wouldn’t become Kaden’s wife that I yearned to be.

  I pulled him to me and kissed him sweetly. “I would be pleased to accept you as my royal husband.” He grinned as far as his mouth would let him as he lifted me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist as we hugged, but Kaden seemed to be gripping me a little too tightly because my body was beginning to go numb. “Kaden, if you keep squeezing me they’ll be nothing left of me.”

  He chuckled as he sat me down. “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy!”

  We grinned at each other as we kissed tenderly. Then we joined Heather for dinner.

  “Remember when you asked me if I told Sara that I come from a royal family and I said no?” Kaden quizzed Heather.

  “Yes, and I told you that should have been the first thing you told her,” Heather replied.

  “Well, by me waiting to tell her until after I proposed didn’t turn her away.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful to hear!”

  “I might have to become accustomed with my royal status, but I’m glad Kaden is the one that’ll be there by my side all the way,” I grinned.

  Heather smiled. “I will be here to help you too.”

  “Thank you. I won’t hesitate to ask for your help,” I grinned.

  “Please don’t. I won’t know if you need help if you don’t ask.”

  After we finished devouring dinner Kaden and I took Sadie outside to play as he and I lay on a blanket looking up at the shining stars.

  “This is just the beginning of our crazy life together,” Kaden stated.

  I giggled. “At least it won’t be boring.”

  “Even if I weren’t from a royal family I would make our life worth living.”

  I grinned. “How would you do that?”

  “Well, I’m not sure, but I would make it happen.”

  I propped myself on my arm as I ran my fingers through his sandy blonde hair.

  “I still can’t believe my parents let me move in with you at such a young age,” I stated.

  “It took me quite some time to get their approval,” Kaden replied.

  “I think they gave in because they trust us.”

  “I’m glad your Mom and Dad agreed to letting you move in with me and for letting me be your fiancé. You are still quite young so I feared they’d disapprove.”

  “What did you think when they said that you could propose?”

  “I jumped out of my seat and hugged your Mom and Dad until they told me they were losing their circulation.”

  I giggled. “You’re already trying to get rid of my parents, huh?” I joked.

  He chuckled. “I would never get rid of your
parents I would just take you very far away from them.” He continued the joke.

  I pushed him on his chest feeling his abs through his shirt. I quickly removed my hand feeling awkward as I lay back next to him.

  “You don’t have to be afraid to touch me.”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  “What’s wrong then?”

  “You know the first day I moved in we made love?”

  “Yes.” He sounded worried.

  “I felt like we should have waited longer to make love. I told my mother we weren’t interested in having sex, but yet we’ve already done it.”

  “I understand. I think we just let our guards down. It’s hard to resist sexual temptation, especially when you are such a great kisser.”

  I grinned. “Should I pretend to suck at kissing so it’ll turn your sexual desire towards me off?”

  “I’m crazy for thinking that! Even if you sucked at kissing; I’d still feel that desire.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t kiss then.”

  “Are you insane? I couldn’t go a day without kissing your luscious lips.”

  I smiled as I leaned in and kissed him momentarily.

  “I couldn’t go a day without kissing you either,” I replied.

  “So what do you say about waiting to have sex again until our wedding night?” Kaden suggested.

  “I think we should at least wait until I’m eighteen.” I smiled.

  He grinned widely. “Okay. I can deal with that, I hope.”

  I giggled. “You’ll be just fine. Relationships are not based on sex you know.”

  “You’re right. They’re not, but a guy can only resist the urge for so long especially when there is a gorgeous girl around.” He kissed me.

  I giggled. “When the time comes to make love again I know it will be exhilarating!”

  “You bet it will! So, when do you plan to tell your Mom and Dad about my family being royal?”

  “I’ll tell them tomorrow.”

  He smiled as he edged his arm beneath my head pulling me close to him.

  The next morning as Kaden and I sat down for breakfast his phone rang so he excused himself from the table. When he came back, he did not sit down instead he took my hand and led me out the front door.

  “I have to go to Rome now,” Kaden informed me.

  “Are you serious?” I questioned sadly.

  “Yes, I have to go! We can speak over webcam.”

  I eyed him curiously. First he tells me he’s becoming king of Rome and now he’s running off without me!

  “I will be gone today and half of tomorrow. I should arrive home around five in the evening,” Kaden said.

  “I wish I could go,” I replied sadly.

  “I wish you could too, but I’ll only be gone for a day and a half so there’s really no point for you to come.”

  He kissed my lips swiftly then he climbed into his truck and I watched as he drove away.

  After I ate breakfast alone I went to my room. I was lying on Kaden’s pillow smelling his brand of shampoo as tears trickled down my cheeks soaking his pillow when I suddenly sat upright in bed and thought, I knew events like this would come up where Kaden would have to leave, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I’ll have to learn to deal with this in a better way. I can’t go crying my eyes out every time he leaves.

  I placed Sadie on my bed then I grabbed my laptop placing it in front of me as I lay on my stomach. I logged onto Facebook seeing that Anna was also on so I sent her a chat message,

  “Hey!” I greeted her.

  “Sara! What are you doing?” Anna replied.

  “I am missing Kaden!”

  “I thought you moved in with him?”

  “I did. He went to Rome.”

  “Why did he go there?”

  “He didn’t say because he left in such a rush, but I’m thinking it has something to do with him becoming king of Rome.”

  Anna didn’t reply for what seemed like minutes. I was getting ready to ask if she was still there when her message appeared.

  “You mean you’ll be princess of Rome!”

  “Yes, I will be.”

  “Wow! My best friend is going to be a princess!”

  “Yeah, pretty amazing, huh?”

  “Of course! You don’t seem so enthused by the way your message is typed.”

  “I’m just trying to take everything in and come to the fact that I have such a big commitment when I become Mrs. Rittenhouse.”

  “I’m sure Kaden will be there for you all the way.”

  “I know he will, but this is a very big person I have to be.”

  “I don’t know how to make this easier on you?”

  “It’s okay. How have you and Rick been?”

  “We are great! We are going to dinner and a movie tonight.”

  “That is great! I would like to do that with Kaden.”

  “By what you just told me there isn’t a money issue so make a date and go.”

  “He is busy most days.”

  “Well, I’m sure he will make time for you.”

  “How could he not? I’m too gorgeous to say no to.”

  “Ha-ha! I’m sorry I have to go. Rick wants to take me somewhere before we go to dinner. I just got on here so I could tell all the ladies what my man and I are doing tonight to make them jealous. I’m just kidding about that last part.”

  “Ha-ha! Have a great night out on your date.”

  “I will and I want you to cheer up! You are engaged to a prince! Think about it.”

  I smiled. “Okay, bye.”

  “Bye.”

  I signed off and shut my laptop. I smiled to myself. She always cheers me up! I am glad Anna’s my best friend! I petted Sadie. She did not acknowledge me.

  I laughed. “Well, at least my friends will acknowledge me,” I said aloud to Sadie. She still did not move. I laughed again.

  I took out my cell phone and phoned my mom hoping she would allow me over for dinner tonight.

  “Hello?” Mom answered.

  “Mom, it’s Sara. I was wondering if I could come over for dinner tonight,” I said.

  “Miss us that bad already?”

  “Yeah and Kaden isn’t here.”

  “Oh, well of course you can come over. I’ll be there at six-thirty to pick you up.”

  “Okay. See you then. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  An hour before my mom was going to pick me up my laptop beeped letting me know I had an incoming webcam message. When I opened my laptop I saw Kaden’s handsome face filling the screen.

  “Kaden, I am so happy to see you!” I said overjoyed.

  He smiled. “I am happy to see you too!”

  “How are things in Rome?”

  “They are fine; my parents want to say hello.”

  Kaden turned the computer toward his mother and father. They seemed to be in a library room because I saw nothing but book shelves filled with books behind their bodies.

  When Kaden’s father appeared on the screen he introduced himself as King Thomas. He was quite tall and rather chubby in his navy blue pin lined suite. He had sparkling blue eyes that seemed to draw you in to him as being kind and sociable. He had graying hair and a cleaned shaved face.

  Kaden’s mother introduced herself as Queen Rohanda. She wore a khaki suite and was rather petite and skinny with shoulder length sandy blonde hair. She wore glasses over her beautiful brown eyes that seemed to smile at you.

  “It’s nice to finally see you, Sara. Kaden has told us so much about you; leaving only our imagination to help us visualize you and I have to say you’re so much prettier than what my visions showed me,” Rohanda stated.

  I smiled
shyly.

  “Oh, I can see Kaden didn’t mention you were shy. You can’t be shy around us it’s impossible,” Thomas added.

  I giggled. “I’m so nervous about becoming Rome’s princess.”

  “Don’t worry about your royal status. I will be here to help you as well as many other members of our family. We won’t leave you to figure out things by yourself.”

  I smiled. “Thank you. I feel better knowing that.”

  “Well, it was nice seeing you, but I hope we’ll meet one day soon in person,” Thomas said.

  I grinned as his parent’s bid me good-bye. When Kaden re-appeared on the screen we spoke briefly because it was around eight in the morning there and Kaden had so much to do before he came back home. After I told Kaden good-bye my mom arrived a few moments later. Once we arrived at my parent’s house we sat right down to dinner.

  “So, Sara, how do you like living at Heather’s?” Dad asked.

  “It’s been nice so far,” I replied.

  “So why is Kaden not there?” Mom asked.

  “He had to take a day and a half trip to Rome,” I replied.

  “Oh. What was so important he had to do there for him not to take you?” Dad asked.

  “I’m guessing it had to do something with him becoming king of Rome,” I replied.

  Mom and Dad stopped eating as their eyes grew huge as they stared at me.

  “Kaden’s a prince! How long have you known about this?” Mom asked.

  “Since yesterday,” I replied.

  “Wow, Sara, Kaden’s just full of surprises,” Dad huffed.

  “What do you think about this?” Mom asked.

  “I’m just hoping I can live up to the status as Rome’s princess,” I replied.

  “Are you sure you want this?” Dad asked.

  “I know I want to be with Kaden for the rest of my life and in order for me to be able to do that I will have to accept him and his royal family,” I replied.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I like Kaden; he’s a good guy, but I don’t want to see your heart broken,” Dad said.