12Hayden“You did so well, Princess,” I said, kissing her hair when she sighed, her body relaxing against mine. When her breathing evened out, I took a peek at her face and bit back a small smile. It seemed like even the innocent vixen had her own limits, and I had effectively fucked her to sleep. I slowly slid out of her and gently tucked her on the bed, hating to walk away from her soft, warm body, but I had to clean myself and her. We both had made a mess.After cleaning myself and her, as much as I could, in her sleepy state, I came back to the room. A smile crept up at my lips at the adorable sight of her sleeping naked on the messy sheets. Her dark hair was fawned on the pillow, her pale body covered in red hues where I had spanked her and held her too hard with hickeys all over her body. I did that to her. Male pride surged me as I stepped closer, noticing the shadows of her long lashes on her cheeks. I trailed my fingers on her cheek and held my breath as she curled around
13ZaraHayden didn’t call me that night. I had to make up an excuse of food poisoning to my brothers for not meeting them at the dinner and ate alone in my room, clutching the phone and waiting for his call. “Why are you sighing like that?” Safiya asked from the lounge chair, flipping through a magazine as I sat on the settee of the low table on the balcony of my room. Water in the pool rustled with wind as the sun disappeared down the sand dunes, painting the sky orange and blue. “Sighing like what?” I asked, looking down at my sketchbook. My cheeks burnt noticing the soft curves and hard definitions of two bodies. Since when did I sketch nudes? Especially of me and Hayden. Safiya closed her magazine and looked at me. I squirmed under her heavy gaze. She had scolded me when I met her after her night of being a princess in my place and forced me to shower because, according to her, I reeked of men. I didn’t bother to correct her that it was just one man. Hayden. “Don’t tell me you
PART TWO“Are you my sweet Princess slut, Zara?” 14ZaraTwo Years Later“Are you sure this fits me?” Ivy asked, her fingers pulling at the hem of the dress. “I look… ”“Beautiful,” I interrupted her. “You look stunning. Stop stretching the fabric with your fingers and here… you might like this one.”She took the perfume bottle of Delicate Dew from my hand. Ever since my brother, Khalid, engaged to Valeria, I received a lot of perfumes launched by her brand. “Oh, this smells so sweet.” Ivy applied it with a shy smile as I met her eyes in the mirror's reflection.We were in her old childhood room, all ready for her father’s surprise event. Since I had moved to San Diego a month ago, she had invited me and asked me to get ready with her. I had met Ivy when I was in Australia, still hell bent on travelling the world with a camera and a backpack, treated like a commoner than a royalty. She was the same age as me and I had made a friend out of hers when I was bar tending at a club. A guy
15HaydenA few hours agoA small grunt escaped my throat as I pushed the heavy weights from my body, focusing on my breathing despite the heavy soreness of my arms. One more round, and I am done. Just one more. Breathing deep through my nose and slowly pulling the heavy weights down to my chest. Holding them there for two more seconds, I pushed, exhaling through my nose and keeping the bar on the rack. I sighed, taking the face towel and wiping the sweat off my brows. “How’s it going, man?” one of the veterans, Jim, clapped my shoulder as I drank some water mixed with a protein shake. I nodded at him, “Doing alright, Jim. How are the kids?”He smiled just at the question, and I knew he was doing well. “They are little stubborn shits but Mary and I couldn’t be happier.” His expression said it all. I tried not to make a point of looking at his prosthetic leg when he sat down beside me on the other bench press. “Tell Mary I loved her cookies. Take care, soldier,” I said, standing up
16ZaraYou have always been a terrible liar, Princess. God, fuck him and his handsome as ever face. If I put anymore force on the heels while walking, I was sure I would break them. But I was angry. Frustrated, and a bit sad. At the man-who-must-not-be-named and at me. After two years, changing my hair, the way I look, everything I had tried, and I still hadn’t changed. I was still a weak Princess who was living in a small rented house instead of a Palace. That’s the only thing that had changed. Nothing else. “I saved you a seat, sweetcheeks!” Noah called out, the round tables where everyone was already siting around in their own little groups. Ivy sat with us, her group of friends with three chairs empty. Before I could ask Ivy about the man-who-must-not-be-named, she stood up, a grin on her face as she looked over my shoulder. “Robert! Zara, come on I will introduce you to my brother.” What? No! But she was oblivious to my expression and turned me around to face him, my nos
17HaydenI had lost the number of counts I had imagined her soft pillowy lips. Kissing them, biting them, claiming them. Of her arms wrapped around me, urging me closer and parting her soft thighs for me. I had squeezed my eyes shut, shivering and swallowing the sweet hums of her. Her fingers were in my hair, keeping me close, as if she was afraid I would pull away. I was scared that if I opened my eyes, it would be just another dream. I would wake up in my bed, dark, cold and alone. That her warmth would leave me. The aching press of her body, gently rocking against me, would disappear.A groan left my lips when I felt the metal on her tongue and pulled her closer, squeezing her hips with my other hand. She had her tongue pierced. “This…” I murmured between the kiss. Eyes closed and kissing her beauty spot. I could trace it with my tongue even if I was blind. “This feels like a dream,” I breathed out, her hot breath brushing against my jaw as her hands fidgeted with the collar of m
18ZaraI went straight to our table and sat beside worried Ivy and concerned Noah. They both knew something was wrong as soon as they saw my face, but I told them it was nothing to be worried about. I ate the dessert, ignoring Hayden when he walked back, whispering something in Jane’s ear and avoiding looking in his direction. I was probably being childish, but he had given me lost hope. My nineteen-year-old self was so saddened that I had been angry at myself and chopped my hair with craft scissors in my room. I had hated how vulnerable and emotional he had made me feel that I was willing to change myself.Nasrin, my sister-in-law, had helped. I had moved on from him with time, never expecting to see him again, and as soon as we were alone, he brought up all those memories. I should be angry at him.“Slow down, Zara,” Noah whispered, his hand on my waist when I swallowed the white wine. It was my fifth glass.“I’ll be fine, you cutie,” I said, smiling at him.Ivy chuckled. “She’s ti
19HaydenI wanted to make sure Zara entered the house before driving away. Frowning, I leaned closer when I saw someone in a suit walking towards her, hair blond. I remembered that guy. Ivy and Zara’s mutual friend, Noah. The guy she was sleeping with. My hands clenched into a fist when they talked, too far for me to hear anything or even read lips. With horror, I saw her leading him inside and closing the door behind them. “Fuck,” I cursed, wanting to punch something or go in there and do some not-so civil or gentlemanly things to Zara. I dialled Aiden’s number again, a headache forming in my head. But he didn’t pick up. When it went to voicemail, I said, “Call me. It’s color red.” Color red was one term we had made up to let the other person know when things were looking terrible. I glanced at Zara’s house and drove away. I didn’t want to stay outside her house like a creep and hear… whatever they were doing inside. I told myself that it didn’t matter. Zara and I had just met to