Page 155 of Tall, Royal Hater
But it was no longer a game of only fucking. It was seduction, claiming, courting, respecting,and fucking, and all of it was meant to lead to making her mine. So, despite wanting to drag her out immediately and drive her deep into a mattress, I shoved the urge down in the order of steps.
For now.
Mariyah
“There’s still time to change your mind,” Candy said, pulling me by the hand back to the dance floor.
Trudging behind him barefoot with my dress fisted in one hand, I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “And why exactly should I change my mind?”
He threw a glance over his shoulder like the answer was obvious. “Because he’s an idiot.”
“He is,” I agreed with a grunt. “The biggest idiot and bossy, irritating control freak, and he’s a smug dickhead.” I tilted my head as I stared at the delicate silver tied around my wrist. “But—and I can’t believe I’m saying this,but—his irritating presence has grown on me, and I want more of it.”
“Just say you’re a masochist, Mariyah.”
I smirked at the back of his head. “Well, I never said I wasn’t, so…”
We merged into the edge of the dancing crowd where Pierre and little Tara were boogying like they’d lost the plot while Trevor was videoing them and bobbing along.
I chuckled at the sight, and Pierre looked up. “You brought Mar back.” But his eyes went wide as he stumbled. He gripped the side of his head and winced. “Bloody Neves, my head.”
“Uncle Pie,” Tara said, giggling as she gripped his other hand. “Don’t fall.”
“Thanks, Princess Tara. Who needs a knight when they’ve got you, huh?”
She grinned proudly and quickly put her little hand out towards Candy and Trevor. “Uncle T, Uncle Candy, dance,” little Tara demanded. “Mar, you too!”
Candy snuck his arm around my waist. “Sorry, Princess Tara. Mariyah will be dancing with me for a bit.”
“Candy,” I warned. “Hand.”
He smirked. “But don’t you enjoy it when he comes running like a raging beast?”
As much as making Shehryar jealous had its perks, doing it on purpose once we’d agreed to being exclusive wasn’t something I had any interest in doing. I was loud, proud, snarky, and spiteful, but I wasn’t toxic, and going out of my way to make him jealous would’ve been a toxic move.
But before I could voice that, Candy’s hand was ripped off me, and a possessively tight band latched across my stomach. My eyes widened and lips parted as I was tugged back against a rock-hard wall. I was quickly engulfed by a familiar heat and clean, citrusy scent that warmed my lungs.
“Keep your hands to yourself, Candy,” Shehryar said, his voice deceptively calm but his piercing gaze laced with murder.
“See.” Candy rolled his eyes. “Raging mindless beast. He’s worse than Kai.”
Trevor smacked Candy across the back of his head, causing little Tara to giggle. “Then don’t touch his woman and pi—irritate him,” he said, and Candy glared, holding the back of his head.
“Um, I have a name,” I said blandly.
Pierre knocked Candy’s shoulder too. “Apologise. Now.”
“For what?” Candy snapped.
“Mummy says you shouldn’t be mean,” little Tara added. “So don’t be mean, Uncle Candy.”
Candy grumbled under his breath as he glared down at the girl. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Tara grinned and clasped a small hand around Candy’s. “I can hold your hand and you can say sorry. Daddy holds my hand whenIdon’t want to say sorry, and—and then I do.”
I pursed my lips together, trying not to grin, while Pierre snickered behind his palm. Candy looked far from impressed, but he huffed out a breath. “Fine. I apologise,” he said and lifted his chin high. “But that doesn’t mean I like you or think you’re worthy of her.”
“I don’t like you either,” Shehryar said instantly. I felt the rise and fall of his chest against my back as he fought for control. “For some reason, though, Mariyah does. But if you can’t respect the boundary of friendship, I will show you just how far my rage can go.” His pause added a dark weight to his threat. “And the only one who can judge whether I’m worthy of her is Mariyah herself.”
