Chapter 8 CHAPTER EIGHT: WON AT THE START
ZARA
“What…” The word barely made it out of my mouth in a stammer, feeling the familiar warmth all over me.
“Princess, we agreed to be a real couple for two years,” he said, his hand playing on my cheek before he pulled my face up with his feelings burning through my skin. I shook my head, unable to answer because of how hot my throat felt.
“Good,” he said. His hands dropped to my shoulder as he guided me back one step at a time until my legs connected with the frame of the bed.
“Wh…wha… What are you doing?” I tried to protest, but it was already too late as he pushed me down to the bed.
He bent down as if he had a mission in mind, his eyes firmly peering into mine. “Do you need help getting the dress off?”
I wanted him to think he did not affect me, but I was probably red even under this makeup. I nodded and pulled my lips into a thin line.
“Just that,” I managed to get out.
“Only that?” The back of his hand trailed my body. He smirked and tilted his head. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure, Michael,” I said and tried to get out of bed.
“Ohhh, you called my name. How sweet of you.” His sarcasm was radiating.
“You are a big-time playboy,” I said as I pushed him off and stood defiantly, our eyes meeting and mine widening so he knew I wasn’t going to back down. I shifted on my foot and managed to turn my back to him.
“Could you help me get out of the dress?”
“Playboy? I am a one-woman man, princess,” he said with a scoff.
“And you expect me to believe that?” I wanted to turn to see the expression on his face, but I thought otherwise. “With how skilled you are?”
“You think I am skilled?”
“I know that you didn’t learn how to make love from nowhere. No one wakes up to touch someone like that.” My breath hitched in my throat when I felt his breath fanning over my shoulders before his lips connected with them.
“I like that you think that.”
“Stop fooling around and help me out of my dress.”
“But it is our wedding night,” his mouth added a trail of more kisses. “That should mean something,” he added.
“Remember our agreement.”
“What about it?” he asked, his voice barely audible as his lips were buried in my shoulder and his breath quickened like he had come back from a run.
“We don’t get together until we both need it.”
“I’ve wanted this since that night.”
He finally took his face off my shoulder and spun me around. Our eyes meet, and his icy blue eyes had gone down a notch, as if someone had coloured them all over in black. “Are you saying you don’t?”
“I am saying, after a long day of greeting guests and acting so in love, I don’t have the time to play house with you.” I stopped and gathered my courage to refuse to ride him.
He pulled my hand and dropped it on his waist. With how close he was, I already felt the bulge underneath his trousers, and I knew his play; if I felt it, then I would have no choice but to give in. He wanted to overwhelm me. He wanted to make me fold. Not tonight. I kept my hand on his belt and sharpened my voice to cut.
“Not tonight.” My tone was firm. I wasn't losing the battle. If I gave in tonight, then he would be the one to set the pace; I can't let that happen.
Silence, the kind that came with crickets and darkness. He pressed his lips together and took a step back with a nod.
“You are right; it’s late, and we are both tired.”
I let out a breath of relief. If he had pestered just a little more, then I would have given up, and he would have been the one begging later.
“Here, let me help you.”
He took a step back, and I turned once again. His hand gently worked through the zip and multiple corset lines until the ball dress fell to my ankle. Underneath was another corset that was supposed to keep me looking snatched and beautiful. It was the reason I barely had a clear head. He skilfully took it off.
“And you say you’ve never done this before.”
“When it comes to you, princess, you seem to learn fast.” His response was the only reason I knew the words fell out of my mouth. “And I want to impress you,” he finished.
I was left naked before him, my hand crossed over my breast as if it was something he had never seen before.
“No need to be shy.”
Why was he so bold? Like he had been waiting for an opportunity to tease a woman this way. I thought I was getting away from Aiden the jerk. Did I just fall for Michael the Playboy?
“Do you want to take the first shower, or should I?” he asked, and I slowly turned to him. His eyes ran across my body, and then a smirk crossed his face. That stupid smirk that made my thighs ache.
“Or if you want, we could take one…”
“I will take the first shower,” I said, slipping into the bathroom at once. I closed the door and stood in front of the mirror.
“Good job, Zara; you really managed to write your history. How wonderful.” The sarcasm in my voice was evident. I knew it was still a long battle.