Page 105 of Tall, Royal Hater
“I came like six times, so what do you think?” I said it as if he’d given me any choice in the matter when, other than the one I’d given myself, the truth was far from it.
Shehryar had bloody damned manipulated each excruciatingly sweet orgasm out of me like some freaking A-list orgasm-whisperer.
Esmeralda’s eyes bugged wide before she threw her head back and cackled. I couldn’t do anything but wait for her to stop asmy skin burned raw. Hiccupping little giggles as she wiped the corner of her eyes, she said, “What happened after?”
“What do you mean‘what happened after’? I left his room. But the bloody idiot got annoyed and started hounding me to talk as if there was a tonne of shit to talk about.” I swore at this point I was just repeating the same conversation to different people, and it was growing kind of tiresome.
“Of course, there are things to talk about,” she instantly argued. “You and Shehryar have been at each other’s throats for years now—for something you still haven’t properly discussed with him either—but you had sex. That’s a big deal. It’s not something you can just brush under the carpet. And knowing Sher, he must’ve wanted to make sure you were both on the same page.”
I scrunched my face in disagreement. “It wasn’t a big deal. It was just sex. I didn’t realise he was gonna wanna fucking talk about it. And it wasn’t as if he approached me toaskif we were on the same page. He was acting all weird and pushy, so I left it—”
“You haven’t spoken to him about it yet?” she exclaimed.
“Can you let me finish before you jump to conclusions?” She settled back, chastened, and I continued. “Firstly, did you know that he can pick locks?”
“Yes. It was a part of his training and mine too. But why are you asking?”
“Because he picked my bedroom lock last night and came in while I was walking around fucking naked.” Her jaw collapsed. “Yeah, yeah, exactly. All because he wanted to ‘talk.’”
She clapped her lips back together but failed to hide her sparking amusement. “That’s not okay. It’s not, really, but—”
“Don’t you dare take his side, Esmeralda Ayla Jahandar.”
She put her palms up in surrender. “I’m not, I promise. But did it work? Did you talk to him?”
“Yeah, we spent hours analysing each mind-blowing orgasm,” I said sarcastically, and Esmeralda grinned. I glared. “When has talking ever gone well for me and Shehryar? We bloody argued for like two minutes before he fucked me senseless again.”
She gasped. “It happened twice?”
“Stop getting so excited!”
“How could I not?” She grabbed my forearms and squeezed gently. “Mariyah, you and Sher could be so good together if you two just—”
“Woah, no.No.” I all but pushed her hands away, literally recoiling from what she was saying. “Did you not hear what I said? It was just sex. It hasn’t changed anything. We still don’t like each other, and there is nothing more there between us. There never was when I liked him, and now that I don’t like him, there definitely never will be.”
Her brows bunched together. “You don’t dislike him, Mariyah, and he doesn’t dislike you either. I wish you would stop saying that.” I opened my mouth to argue, but she stormed on ahead. “You clash because you seem to think you’re on opposing sides, but if you took a minute to appreciate each other, I’m sure you would see what everyone else does.”
Annoyance rose to the surface of my chest, but something else zigzagged underneath it. Not fear—no way did I fucking fear Shehryar. But something jumpy and skittish made me want to bolt from the room and plug my ears against the idea of feelings related to Shehryar. Not because I was disgusted by it, but because…because it felt so close to the—
I shook my head. “No, Esmeralda. This is not like what happened with you and Kai. You can wish for it all you want, but there is no…” My mind went blank for the right word, so I settled with a phrase she’d understand. “No TRG moment here. Shehryar isn’t some tall, royal, and grumpy prince who blushes and makes me think of forever.” I grunted and widened my eyes.“He’s tall, yeah, but he makes me want to break his fucking teeth. And fine, the sex is good, but so what? This isn’t a romance book, Esmeralda. Sex and lust aren’t a good way to start a relationship. Add hate on top, and you’re just bound for failure.”
The knitted peak of Esmeralda’s brows rose higher. “I never said Sher had to be your TRG—he’s nothing like Kai, and you’re nothing like me. And yes, sex isn’t usually a good way to start a relationship, but that is more of a guideline than a rule. And it’s not as if you and Sher are newly acquainted, so thatguidelinedoesn’t apply to you.” A slight pout tugged at her lips. “If I thought it was a bad idea, I would never put in jeopardy the relationship I have with you two. Because if it doesn’t work, then I stand to lose one or both of you.”
She smiled small and hopeful. “I know he’s not your TRG, but I do think he could be your…tall, handsome, beefy defender—”
I arched a disbelieving brow. “What is this? The MMA?” My laugh came out as more of a snort. “To be fair, that sounds about right.” I deepened my voice and cupped my mouth. “And in this corner is the rude and judgemental Beefy Defender!”
“Okay, fine,” Esmeralda grumbled, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “He could be your…tall, royal, and handsome lover.”
“Pah!” The incredulous noise burst from my lips. “Lover? More like tall, royal hater. And he’s not even technically royal. Through marriage, if that even counts for anything, but he doesn’t even like the fact his mum is marrying Prince Arsh.”
Before Esmeralda could add another stupid name into the mix, I lifted a hand up. “Look, Esmeralda, we’re not gonna agree on this, so can we just drop it please? I just want to enjoy the sex and not pick apart why we don’t like each other or why we might.”
Her shoulders slumped sympathetically. “Okay. I’m sorry. It’s not my choice anyway, so I shouldn’t keep pushing it. Whatever happens is for you and Shehryar to decide.”
“Thank you,” I said, offering her a smile. “Now. Do you want to tell me what you gotta tell me? Because I got a gym to get to.”
“Wait, let me change too,” she said, shuffling to the edge of the bed.
