CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54

"Do you want more, Pumpkin?" Zeenare’s breath fanned over her skin, making her shiver as he growled softly in her ear.

I want it, please, just set me free from these wants inside me, she thought inwardly.

But she nodded instead.

With his mouth on her neck, he said, "That is not an answer, Pumpkin." His fingers found their way under her panties, teasing her clit.

Her waist burned, her legs both aflame and trembling cold.

Then he added, "Tell me your desire, Pumpkin." The tip of his finger slid inside her, just an inch. And that alone was enough to turn her inside out.

Oh God! Zeenare! Fuck me already!

"I need you," she whispered.

"Like this?" He took her lips in a dreamy kiss.

More than that, like you slamming me into these walls, ripping my clothes off, and taking me right here, right now.

"I need you inside me," she answered throatily.

"Oh, Pumpkin. That is a wild thought there." His lips locked onto hers. His tongue swirled within her, his hard cock pressing against her entrance.

Then he gently put her down, arranged her clothes and her hair, then placed a kiss on her cheek.

"I didn’t know you were a dirty girl who wants to get fucked at school. Be patient, little one."

Then, when he got to the door, he added, "Wait a little before coming out, because you wouldn’t want others to see you like this." He muttered over his shoulder as he opened the door. "See you around."

Leaving her there, sexually disheveled and emotionally manhandled.

Her lips parted as if to speak, but nothing came. Then they pressed together.

Panting and still tasty.

What just happened? Was I just left hanging? Just like that. Her eyes fluttered to the door.

"What the fuck?" Rhea scoffed scornfully.

Who the fuck does that? She staggered back a little, resting on the wall, with her hands on her waist and her head tilted up.

Then she took a long, deep breath. What was I expecting! That wasn’t the deal we made. But he shouldn’t have done that.

Why’d he lead me only to pull out?

Her jaw clenched in denial, then slackened as realization set in.

He did this to make me go insane with craving him!

After a while, she stood up and walked out of the room.

It’s not like I’m angry or anything, I’m just saying, she thought as she made her way home.

I will make sure not to get my hopes up ever again, just because my body is... acting up.

I’m going to think of the bigger picture and not be mad.

Rhea’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as she pondered the circumstances she had found herself in.

No, I’m not mad. Rhea, you are not mad. You are simply frustrated, so don’t let it get to you, okay, she reassured herself.

Just get home, take a well-deserved bath, and sleep it off.

And everything will be just fine.

She flung her apartment door open as she reached inside and went straight to her room, not noticing Tia, who was sitting largely on the bed.

Calm down now, girl, you are not mad. She stepped into the shower, bathing with anger blazing in her eyes. Her grip on the sponge was double her usual strength.

"Girl, I was wondering why you came home late," Tia spoke as Rhea stepped into the sitting room, a towel in her hands, drying her wet hair.

Rhea was startled by the sudden sound of Tia’s voice, and the towel in her hand almost fell.

She was sitting there all along? Rhea asked herself.

"What happened to your car?" Tia asked, not lifting her head from the comic book in her hands.

"What do you mean? It is right outside." Rhea pointed to the outside through the window.

Tia lowered the book in her hands by a fraction, popping her brow.

Rhea, on the other hand, stared at her in a daze, blinking rapidly. Then she ran to the window, looked down at the parking spot.

And her car wasn’t there.

Did I walk all the way from school! she exclaimed, stressing the word school.

"Don’t tell me it’s what I’m thinking," Tia said, completely dropping the book.

Rhea slowly wilted to the ground, her hand over her head. Then she gave Tia a nod.

Tia burst out laughing, fumbling over the couch, clenching her tummy.

"Why would you do that?"

Because my stupid mind was preoccupied by Zeenare.

"What if your boyfriend finds out you trekked all the way home, while the car he gave you is beautifully parked at school?"

Tia fell into another fit of laughter.

He’s to blame for it.

Rolling her eyes, Rhea muttered, "Could you please stop teasing me now."

Tia stopped laughing, her hands over her mouth. "Okay, yeah sure." Her brow twitched, then she burst out laughing again.

"Ugh! Fine, laugh." Rhea stood and made her way to her room.

"I-I’m s-sor-ry," Tia said between laughter, tagging along behind her.

★★★★

"You are to marry the Duke."

"But Father, I know nothing of him. And according to the rumours, he is a notorious man, with the blood of the innocent on his name. He has never gotten married before, and isn’t that strange?"

Rhea’s translucent body stood at the corner of a room that looked like a Victorian-era castle, watching a girl that looked like her argue with her father.

"That is why you have to marry him. You will be the first woman to ever have received a marriage proposal from the Duke. And you would also do your family proud being the first lady."

"I can’t marry him!"

A slap reverberated through the room, cutting her sentence short.

"You will marry him, then give him an heir." Then he added coldly, "This is never to be discussed again. See yourself out."

The girl gracefully walked out, as tears welled up in her eyes, biting down on her inner cheek to hold it back, one side of her cheek red.

As she got to her room, she threw herself on the bed, crying.

"Madame," her handmaid called softly, stroking the girl’s back as she cried on her pillow.

Then she continued, "He wouldn’t be that bad as the rumours said. Seeing that he has never had a woman before, he could be an upright man, true to one woman."

"And your father wouldn’t match you, his beloved daughter, to a hoodlum."

"You think so?" she asked, her voice soft.

"I know so."

On the first day the girl and the Duke were introduced, she stood in a daze, mesmerised by his beauty.

Is this my husband? her thoughts began. How can someone be so beautiful and sad at the same time?

"My lady, I am Duke Zeenare of the Staxod family."

Why does he look so happy and sad at the same time? her thoughts continued.

"And I am Lizabeth of the Bermond family."

He took her hand in a kiss, his lips lingering on it.

"It is my honour to meet you." Zeenare’s eyes slowly trailed over her, causing her to blush before standing.

"I want to mother your child."

The scene suddenly changed, to Lizabeth sitting on a porch with Zeenare by her side.

Zeenare’s face coiled in a tiny frown, turning from her without replying.

Sensing the hesitation in him, she asked, "Don’t you want to have a child with me? Together?" Her voice was low and tight.

Zeenare quickly moved to her. "I do. I truly do. I would love to see the bundle of joy we could make, but if only it could be possible."

What does he mean by that? Can he not bear children? Rhea questioned.

Then the girl continued, "We have gone through thick and thin together, then why don’t you allow me to give you a gift that would stay by your side when I’m gone."

"You are enough for me, Lisa. I don’t need anything else, I only need you. Nothing more."

He pressed her hand in his hold, brushing his thumb on her skin.

Then suddenly the scene changed to the girl lying in her own pool of blood.

But no.

Her body lay in a crimson pool, blood seeping from her throat, ears, nose, and mouth, as though grief itself had torn her apart from the inside.

"You can’t die on me, Lisa!" Zeenare’s voice broke.

"I’m sorry, my love. I wanted to do something for you before I die." She coughed up blood, her eyes blood red. "To make you as happy as I could, but my time is too short. I hope when we meet again, I see you early."

A little tear rolled down her cheek. "I have caused you nothing more but pain. If you hadn’t met me, you wouldn’t go through this pain of losing something every time. I’m sorry, Zee."

He placed his forehead on hers. "No, no, no, no. It can never be your fault. Even if I go through more excruciating pain to be with you, I would stay by your side."

Tears streamed down Rhea’s eyes as she stood at the side watching.

As Rhea blinked, her eyes fluttered open in her room. Tears smeared her face, pouring uncontrollably down her sides.