Page 148 of Shâhzâdeh

“What’s wrong?” I didn’t see anything that was an immediate danger, but I was ready to help however I could. The tensions from the wedding were probably simmering so I needed to remember that despite it being vacation, we still needed to be on guard.

“Ziba what are you doing?” Xerxes looked so confused, I glanced around trying to understand what I had done wrong. When he pointed to the counter and the food that was cooking on the stove, I laughed at his surprise.

“I’m making lunch,eshgham.”

He smiled at my words but then his face went back to the seriousness it had before. “But why?”

“Because Iwantto.”

My words were simple but I knew he could understand exactly what I meant. A soft smile graced my face as I watched the meaning of my words sink in. I turned the knife around and went back to what I was doing, since it was clear nothing was wrong.

I heard his footsteps shuffle closer, but somehow Sho and Quentin knew their presence wouldn’t be an issue so they lingered at the door.

His large tan hand covered mine stilling my chopping. I glanced at him with curious eyes waiting on him to say what he needed to.

“You do not cook, Vanya. You made it very clear.” He wanted me to elaborate. I could see the pleading in his eyes as he studied me, needing me to say words that would further wrap his heart in my love. My body was something that he’d waited for, but my desire to serve him was something he hadn’t forced. Something I’d railed against for months. Years even. But willingly doing it meant something because he had never expected it from me. It meant everything.

“I also made it abundantly clear I didn’t like you and wanted you to stay away from me. But now I’m walking around our family’s compound, wearing your ring and your last name with your cum making a happy trail down my thigh. I would say that things change,shohar.” I whispered the last sentence so that only he could hear me as I moved closer to him. When I spoke the word husband in Persian, my lips were barely touching his.

This man growled, actually growled, in his throat before moving even closer to me so he could bend down and whisper in my ear.

“You will have even more of it filling you up if you keep doing zhings like zhis zhat take my heart and squeeze it wiz your submission. You will never have time to make anozer meal because you will be far too busy being impaled upon your rocket being lifted into zhe heavens.”

“Sho, they’re good. We need to give them their privacy.”

I turned to look at the doorway and Quentin was really trying to get them out of our way. I held up my hand because I was feeling completely happy and was eager to see if I could still cook, since it had been so long. “Don’t leave yet. I made enough for everyone.”

“This is your honeymoon, Ms. Vanya. We only came running because we did not expect there to be anyone in this part of the house.” Sho almost looked apologetic like he didn’t want to interrupt our time together.

“And that’s fine. I’m setting a place for us to eat on the balcony in our suite. I cooked, don’t be afraid, I promise I can.”

“What you make?” Xerxes let that rumble in his throat come back out but Quentin didn’t stop moving toward the island. “Stop acting like that, Xerx. Happy wife, happy life. Besides, it smells too good for me to not at least ask.”

“Smothered chicken and gravy over rice. I’m finishing up the salad now. There are biscuits, too. And you know it’s fine. The house was stocked to Ms. Babette’s specifications so everything is fine for you to eat too, Sho.” He gave a nod of thanks but didn’t move to take a step closer. “Why are y’all looking at me funny?”

They really were looking at me like they were afraid to make a step toward me and I couldn’t understand why.

“Because zhey can see my face and zhe look of hunger on it zhat has nozing to do with zhis food, despite how delicious it smells.” His breath on my ear had my eyes fluttering closed and the knife dropping back to the countertop.

“You can’t say stuff like that in front of people.” I tried to whisper but they were laughing and not bothering to hide how hilarious they found this situation.

“I warned you,ziba. Warned you zhat zhe intensity of what I felt would only grow exponentially once I experienced how you felt on the inside. Did you zhink I’d be able to temper zhat just because other people are in zhe room?” His fingers danced their way up my spine before I felt him grip the strands of my hair and tugged softly so my head bent back and I was looking at him.

When I saw his face I realized he wasn’t lying. His features were filled with hunger. The way I’d often seen Liam looking at Frankie. Like he wanted to lick every potential crevice I possessed and would savor the taste. His hair was a curtain around us so it was like we were in our own world. “You held out for so long—”

“Because I am a man of discipline. Zhat discipline no longer has to be exercised until you tell me so. Are you telling me so?” His challenge was clear and the throbbing was back. After only a few hours of knowing pleasure, I had become attuned to longing for it. Sex used to repulse me but now I could see how your partner made all the difference. I couldn’t think of a moment when I wouldn’t want Xerxes or to be with him.

“No.”

He kept his eyes on me as his smile turned slightly predatory. “Quentin, Sho, enjoy lunch. Make sure you keep it warm. I plan to be ravenous when I come back in here.” I shrieked as Xerxes pick me up and tossed me over his shoulder. He kept a hand over my ass so that there were no modesty issues with my sundress.

“Put me down!” I was laughing and didn’t have a problem with him playing, but I could walk to the bedroom.

“I will. And zhen I’ll put it down for the next few hours until your eyes, mouz and core are weeping from zhe pleasure I’ve delivered. Are you still zhinking about food, Vanya?”

Even though I was looking at his back I shuddered at his words. “Nope.”

“Wise answer. I zhink a reward is in order.”

---