Page 49 of Desert King

“Don’t beat yourself up. What does he want?”

“My blood plasma.”

Tarak almost jumps out of his seat. His skin draw’s tight over his cheekbones. “Over my dead body.”

I bite my lip. “I want to. It’s not for him, but for his little girl. Tarak, he says it’s theirs. His and Mandy’s.”

His fists clench. “I heard there was a child. I just didn’t want to face it.”

“He has a DNA test.”

Tarak looks away. “She never told me. I-I don’t want to bring up my past or any of its baggage with you tonight. I loved her despite her lies. I was younger, more hot-headed. I was in love with the idea of our forever but in reality, maybe it wasn’t so perfect as I made it out to be.”

“I’m sorry. I want to do it. She needs it. She has a medical condition.”

“That’s so selfless of you. It makes me feel like even more of a dirtbag for hating you.”

“Why? Why did you hate me?”

“Because Edge found you first. Because you remind me of her and yet you are stronger… with more layers. For making me see I could move on… take your pick. If you were gone, I could stay in my own despair. I could stay stuck with my excuses for not moving on.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“I’m sorry. Deeply.”

“That’s okay, because there’s more. I did something to hurt you too. Something completely unforgivable. So, if we end here and pay the check I’ll understand.”

“What could you have possibly done?”

I look away, embarrassed. “I followed you. I was angry at you and Regan. Edge was on my nerves. I don’t even have a good excuse. You were with a few other men…”

“I know where this is going. It was you. It was always you just like you said.”

“We didn’t. I stopped you… I wanted to but it wouldn’t have been right. Please just understand, I saw you in so much pain. It made me want to just take it all away.”

“Your hair smelled familiar. You felt familiar in my arms. I’m a bit pissed because well, I’m embarrassed you saw me high as fuck and acting like that.”

“Don’t be. It was beautiful. The way you loved her was beautiful. I’m a bit jealous.”

“Well, you and I have chemistry. Pure chemistry. I don’t ever want you to think I’m thinking about her when I’m with you.”

“You think I’m such a sure thing then, eh? I’m going to make you work for it, Tarak. I’m not going to fall at the desert king’s feet so easily.”

“Fine. Game on, princess. I’m going to seduce the shit, out of you.”

“Really? By the time I’m done with you, you’re going to be calling me Queen. Not princess.”

“I see my little mouse has become a tigress. I like it.”

“Good. Because I like it too.”

“Do you want to go for a ride?”

“On your bike?”

“What else did you think I meant?” he winks.

I blush, tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and take his outstretched hand.

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