“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
I turn in his arms and he place a kiss to my forehead. “Good night, Güzel.”
He starts to walk away. “Stay.” I call out. I know don’t have to ask him twice. He turns and follows me inside.
I check my messages then try to call my mom, getting her voicemail. I text her to call me when she can.
“Everything okay?” He asks, sitting at the edge of the bed, his fingers laced in front of him.
“Yeah.” I smile.
“I’m going to shower.” I feel a lump in my throat. He stands and walks over to me, slowly. I take his hand and lead him into the bathroom. We undress each other, our eyes roaming over each other. We both know nothing can happen tonight. Stepping under the warm spray of the water, he just holds me to his chest as I fall apart, my shoulders trembling. I don’t know what I feel for him, God knows what he feels for me, but this, this fucking hurts. It feels like a bullet grazing my heart.
In the middle of the night, I wake up, scared he’s left, but I feel the weight of his arms around me as I drift back to sleep.
* * *
I’ll be leavingon the next flight home, after the engagement party. Now that I know Henry will be okay. When I wake up around midday, Sai is gone. I don’t try to call him.
Amy’s eyes are puffy despite the make-up I use to try and help her cover it up. She’s been crying non-stop. We are in her bedroom, the French doors that overlook the ocean are open, letting in a salty ocean breeze. This room is fit for a princess, and that is exactly what my friend is. She has a massive king-sized bed with a salmon colored comforter. Part of the room has been converted into a small sitting area with plush couches. Her walk-in closet is the size of my entire apartment. She looks at me in the full-length mirror, where I stand behind her. Her flaming red hair is loose and hangs in curls down her back. Her emerald green dress hugs her slight frame perfectly. She looks amazing.
“You’re stunning, Amy.” I say, wrapping my arms around her small waist from behind. “You’re going to get through this. I promise.”
“But how, when you’re leaving tonight?” she sniffs. She doesn’t blame me for not wanting to see Sai. I know he will never hurt her because she told me that their families are part of what she calls ‘The Society’. We both know me leaving is what’s best. I just hope that Sai will keep his end of the deal and let Henry go.
“I should go get ready.” I kiss her cheek.
“Something changed, between the two of you. I know you. I wish you’d tell me.” I didn’t tell Amy about what happened on the yacht, I figured she didn’t need more reasons to hate her future husband. But I wish I could talk to her now. I can’t put into words how conflicted I feel. The man on that yacht the other night and the man I held in my arms as he cried, the man that silently slept beside me, are completely different people. And I’ve fallen for them all.
“I love you.” I tell her, offering her a sad smile.
“I love you more.” she tells me as she takes a seat on her pedestal.
When I enter my condo, I shut the door and close my eyes for a second, letting out a deep breath. When I open my eyes, Sai is sitting on my bed, his eyes on me. He’s so painfully handsome I want to run to him.
“You’re making this a habit.”
He shrugs and extends his hand to me. My heart hurts with every step I take toward him. I stand between his legs and let him engulf me in his arms, knowing this is the last time.
“I had to see you.” he says. “Miss me?” He flashes me one of those grins that makes my insides warm up, but his eyes are sad and lost.
“Maybe.” I whisper, a tear slipping from my eye.
“You’ve got to cry for the prince, not the Frog. Legend says he gets flung against the wall.”
“In my world, he turns the girl into a frog, and they end up marrying in a swamp.” We both laugh at that.
“This isn’t where you should be, Sai.” My voice cracks, betraying my emotions. He drags me onto his lap, and I wrap my arms around his neck.
“This is where I will always want to be.” Another tear slides down my cheek, and he catches it with his thumb. I look into those obsidian eyes I’ve grown so fond of, wanting to say so much to him. Instead, I press my lips to his, hoping it conveys what my words can’t. I kiss him with a voracity I never knew I had in me. I straddle him, unable to stop myself. He kisses me back with what feels like everything in him. My fingers tangle in his hair, and I tug at it as his hands roam under my tank top, his touch igniting the desire only he brings out in me.
“I need you.” I don’t even recognize my voice. My body moves of its own accord, grinding against his hard cock.
“Fuck, Kennedy.” he groans as he grips my hips, stilling me. He rests his forehead against mine. “I don’t deserve you.” I’m out of breath as he plants a kiss on my forehead. He gently lifts me off him and leaves my room. I slip down to the floor, my back against the bed. I touch my lips, still swollen from his kiss.
After my heart stops slamming against my ribcage, I stand, freshen up, and slip into a violet cocktail dress Amy bought me. I pile my hair in an updo and put on some make-up.
