Broken Kingdom

by Stephany Wallace

  Did I have sex with… what was his name again? Ash. Yeah that was it. I sighed. Leave it to me to have my very first one-night stand, with the fantasy of all women, and I couldn’t even remember. It figured.

  “Well done, Gaby,” I mumbled, feeling his chest rise and fall steadily against my cheek.

  I moved again and his arms flushed me against him. Possessive much? I quickly realized there was no getting out of his arms unless he let me go. The man was huge. I guess it was a good thing he was a gentleman. After all, Ash had brought me here after learning I was “temporarily” sleeping in my car. I cringed, ashamed, and felt the deep blush spread over my cheeks. No one was supposed to find out about that. It was just for a few days anyway, until I could find a place I could afford with my small salary. Who was I kidding? I was screwed.

  I sighed, resigned to Ash’s prison of love, and set my cheek back on his chest. If I were honest with myself, I would have to admit that it felt amazing to be in bed with him like this—it was tantalizing—although, that didn’t ease my shock. How had I even agreed to have sex with him? I had barely met the man and I was not a one-night stand kind of woman—not that there was anything wrong with that—I was just too insecure and awkward to pull that off. The very thought of it mortified me, and I had sworn never, ever to have one.

  Ash had quite the sex appeal though, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. I had almost thrown myself at him from the stage, after I first laid eyes on him back at the piano bar. That lightly tanned skin, black hair, black eyes and the way the dark green of his shirt contrasted with, well everything, was a major YUM. He was tall and hella sexy, and to top it all off, that smirk of his promised delicious, wicked things to come. I had no idea what it was about him, but damn if he didn’t make me want to ravage him. It was a hell of an effect to have on a woman. It also explained how cocky he was, though. But if the sex had been as good as his eyes promised it would be, then he was totally forgiven. I briefly hated myself for not remembering.

  His fingers began to roam my back and I looked up, hoping he had awakened. I needed to pee.

  “Good morning, Star…” his baritone, scruffy voice sent a rush of need through my body, directly into my gut. Even his voice was sexy. His hand cupped my cheek and he looked into my eyes as his thumb rubbed my cheekbone. “I’m sorry, you gravitated towards me during the night and I couldn’t help myself. I needed to hold you. I hope you slept well.”

  I stared at him perplexed; the man was excusing himself for holding me after sex? Yeah, he wasn’t human. His gaze dropped to my lips and his thumb followed. Oh, what the hell, I was already here; I might as well enjoy it. I tilted my head towards him, seeking his lips and he rewarded me by closing them over mine. My whole body tingled at the contact, and it felt as though a rush of electrifying energy had slammed into me. His kiss was soft and sensual but way too short. It seemed as though he wanted to taste the waters, and didn’t want to take more than he was allowed. But we had already had sex, why was he holding back?

  Ash pulled away, leaving me breathless, and smirked when he saw my expression. I was well aware of what he saw, and I didn’t care. I was a puddle in his arms, and wanted all of him against me... in me. The cocky gleam entered his eyes and his smile grew. I leaned closer, brushing my lips against his, silently asking for more. He didn’t disappoint. His teeth bit my bottom lip and gently pulled, sucking it.

  When his lips closed over mine again, he grunted and unleashed an attack on my senses. His mouth moved over mine, determined to break me apart, and break me it did. When his head tilted and he deepened the kiss, I was as good as gone. The second his tongue caressed mine the world exploded around me.

  Yep. I was screwed.

  This man had skillz, and I wanted him to show me everything he could do. Even the hangover was gone after his kiss. I wanted to remember him making love to me. My hand moved down over his chest and abs, I whimpered at the perfection of his taut muscles. Really? He was dangerously ripped. I discovered, breathless, that the muscles and bones of his hips formed a perfect v, and I moaned on his lips when my fingers wrapped around him.

  I had no idea what had gotten over me; I had never been this bold. It was like Ash had entranced me with the sensual haze he exuded, and my inhibitions had somehow disappeared with him. What was happening to me? I couldn’t think. I just wanted him to make love to me. My grip tightened on him, and my hand began to move. He grunted, instantly pulling away from me.

  “I’m sorry.” He breathed harshly, as his hooded eyes looked down at me. He was struggling to breath, just like I was.

  His eyes said he wanted to press me against the wall and have his way with me. It sent a rush of excitement through me. I’d never been pressed to a wall before, and I had no problem letting him do it.

  Ash blinked as though to regain clarity. “I must have gone crazy,” he mumbled, almost to himself, and slid back on the bed breaking the contact between our bodies completely.

  I missed the warmth of his arms the moment it was gone, and I realized I wanted it back. “Did I do something wrong? You don’t like to be touched during sex?” I stared at him perplexed as he chuckled.

  “Star, believe me when I say that you can do anything you want to me when we have sex, but when we do, I want you to be completely certain that is what you desire from me. In the meantime, do you want to have breakfast? We can spend the day together, and tonight you can decide if you want me. I’ll do everything you ask me to do to you then, but I want you to be sure.”

  Okay, it was true I had never done this before, but I was pretty sure this was not the way one-night stands went. “Sure?” He laughed, kissing my lips and stepped off the bed. Sanity suddenly returned to me. “Breakfast? Wait, what time is it?”

  He slowly stretched, resembling a panther, and giving me a perfect view of his glorious form. I whimpered. He was smooth and hard in every single place it counted, and where it didn’t too.

  Ash yawned, taking a watch from the night table. “It’s 10:30 a.m. why?”

  I gasped. “Hell’s hairy balls! I’m so fired!” I jumped from the bed and began to run around the room like a chicken without a head. “Where are my panties?!”

  Ash raised his hands in front of him. “I had nothing to do with that. You still had them on when I tucked you in, I swear.”

  I stopped and turned to him. “Wait, what? You tucked me in afterwards??” He shrugged. I sighed. This was getting weirder by the second. I looked around me suddenly remembering. “I guess I know what happened to them. I tend to remove everything while I sleep if I’m extremely distressed, or overwhelmed by something. It’s like I can’t stand the feel on anything on me, and I start sweating.” I lifted the covers, searching the bed for my thong. “The stupid stress attacks make me feel claustrophobic, and I panic even while asleep, end up fighting for air. The only way to calm is by taking everything off. Then I can breathe once again…”

  I spotted the black lace hanging on the corner, in between the sheets, and grabbed them.

  “It’s been a stressful past few days.” I added straightening. He tensed at my words and his gaze became worried. Protective. I felt vulnerable all of the sudden. I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. This isn’t the first time it’s happened, and I know how to handle it. I’m fine.” I lied, praying he didn’t ask anything else. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth to begin with.

  It seemed like Ash wasn’t convinced by my words but he nodded, letting it go. The naughty gleam returned to his dark eyes as they roamed my naked body. “In all honesty, I can’t complain. You felt amazing against me, and you look absolutely gorgeous in your given body.” An appreciative smile stretched his lips, but it wasn’t a pervy one, it was as though mesmerized by me, admiring me as one would a work of art.

  I blushed profusely, but for the first time in my life I didn’t feel insecure about my body, or being naked in broad daylight in front of a man. I suddenly felt proud. Confident even. It was amazing to be seen that way.
I smiled, while he sauntered towards me and cradled my cheeks in his hands, kissing me. Once again I melted at his touch. Damn work.

  “I’m sorry, I really have to go,” I whispered breathless against his lips.

  I forced myself to turn around and ran to the living room, aware that Ash was following my every move. I reached for my bag and pulled out a change of clothes I had prepared the day before, planning to go into a Starbucks’ bathroom to change and get breakfast before going to the store. I put on the thong and my hot pink bra, and threw on my Justice League t-shirt—I had a thing for superheroes with strange abilities, and Superman was definitely my number one heartthrob. The shirt was a junior size, so it was small and it showed my stomach, but I actually like that, it helped me sell more and I didn’t mind showing a little skin. I made commission.

  I jumped, pulling the jeans over my hips and took the pink Converse shoes out of my bag, sliding my feet inside. Facing the living room mirror, I blinked as I stared at myself, almost dying of embarrassment. My hair looked like someone had used it to mop the floor, my mascara was smeared everywhere, giving me raccoon eyes, and the burgundy lipstick I had worn still stained my lips. Classy, Gaby. How in the hell did this man still find me sexy?? Sheer shame pushed into action. I separated my hair in parts, cringing as I ran my fingers through, carefully untangling it. There was no brush in the world that would fix this mess without leaving me bald.

  My eyes went to Ash, who stood behind me in a pair of jeans and a light blue fitted t-shirt that hugged the muscles of his chest and shoulders decadently. “Why did you get dressed?”

  “I’m going with you.”

  I turned to face him, finishing the two loose braids I had weaved my hair into, and placed hair bands on the ends. “Um, no you are not.”

  “Yes, I am.” He stated, moving closer.

  “And there it is. You are a psycho, aren’t you? A stalker?”

  He laughed so hard, he clutched his stomach. My lips twitched, I liked the way he laughed. It was contagious. “I’m going with you to make sure you are okay. Consider me your bodyguard for the day. I’ll even get your boss to give you the day off, we’ll go have brunch and then you can spend the day with me.” His hand rested on my neck, instantly sending a rush of need through me, and he leaned into my ear as though to tell me a very important secret. “Then tonight, if you let me, I’ll make love to you, over and over again.”

  His breath brushed my skin making me moan. “Against the wall?” I whimpered, and my eyes widened. Had I really just said that?

  Ash pulled back, repressing a smirk, and kissed my lips. “On every inch of this place.”

  “Okay then,” I said, clearing my throat and moving away from his intoxicating… everything. “I’m sorry, but I can’t spend the day with you. It was a one-night stand, hence, one time. It’s over, big boy. Thank you for letting me sleep here, but that’s that.” I turned to the mirror and blinked, my vision was hazy and my eyes were super dry. “Crap, I slept with my contacts again,” I whined and reached for my bag. I pulled out the case for the lenses and my eye drops, as well as my make up remover wipes. I proceeded to clean my clown face, until I looked human again.

  Ash watched me in silence as I removed the contacts. “Wow,” he whispered, walking closer.

  “I know, I know.” I placed the lenses in their case and applied a few drops to my eyes, feeling the relief. “My eyes are freaky, weird, and whatever. Yes, they are a chartreuse green, an unnatural color, and no, I’m not an alien or a gecko.” I looked at him through the mirror; he was frowning. I shrugged. “You’d be surprised at what people say when they see my crazy green eyes. I wear dark brown contacts because it’s so much easier. No explanations, and no getting weird looks on the streets. I have enough in my life as it is.”

  Ash’s lips stretched into an amused smile. “I love your eyes. Not freaky, or weird.” He stepped closer and turned me around. “Close your eyes. I want to show you something.”

  I looked at him wearily. “Is it your penis? Because I already saw it. Although, I should have taken a picture, you know, for later.” Ash laughed, and gave me a peck on the lips. It was such a comfortable gesture, as though we were a couple. It should have startled me but it felt kind of nice. He raised a brow at me and I sighed. “Fine.” I closed my eyes and waited for the sound of his zipper or something—men were stupid sometimes—but nothing came.

  “Open them,” his words brushed my lips as though he couldn’t help but kiss me. Not that I was complaining. I responded to his kiss instantly, but it was way too short.

  When my eyes found his, I gasped. His black irises were now an ice blue hue, so light that it seemed almost white. “You have freaky eyes too!” I squealed. I knew it was stupid, but I had never been so excited in my life. Ash grinned, giving me the most swoon worthy smile I had ever seen on a man. “You use contacts too?”

  He chuckled. “You could say that.”

  His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me close. Damn, he was tall. I had to stretch my neck almost all the way back to look into his startling eyes. They almost glowed as he stared at me. Falling into his spell once again, my arms wrapped around his neck and my lids fell closed when he kissed me. What was this man doing to me?

  “So, what do you say, Star? You want to be weird together today?” Ash’s eyes lit up with the question. He actually seemed relieved as he looked at me without his contacts. I connected with that. I knew how hard it was to walk around with a “mask”, not allowing anyone to see the real you.

  And why did he keep calling me Star? I sighed. Ash was being cute, and I couldn’t deny I liked it. “Fine.” I pulled away while he smirked, and swung my bag over my shoulder. I gasped once I finally realized my suitcases were in the living room, open and empty. “Where the hell is all my stuff?!”

  “In the walk-in closet. I put it away last night after you fell asleep. You are staying with me. I’m not letting you go anywhere until you find a place to stay. Well, hopefully that will be before I have to go back.”

  “I’m not homeless, you know. I’m just waiting for a friend to come back from vacation so I can be her roommate.” I lied, praying he didn’t notice. “So this is your creepy secret? You kidnap women and force them to stay in your sexy arms?”

  He smirked again and grabbed the keys to my car from the console. “You are staying with me, end of discussion.”

  “Ugh! You are so bossy!” I stomped out of the suite, walking towards the elevator.

  “So I’ve been told.” He pressed the button.

  “Your hotness level just went down like ten points by the way.”

  I crossed my arms stubbornly, although I was secretly relieved inside. This was weird in sooo many ways, but there was something about him. I felt comfortable with Ash… safe. And I had to admit this was ten times better than sleeping in my car, in dark parking lots. New York wasn’t exactly the safest city.

  “On a scale of one to ten?” Ash asked, his gaze lit with humor.

  “Yeah.” I narrowed my eyes at him and he shrugged.

  “I’m good then. I still have thirty points left.” He winked and held my hand, pulling me into the elevator.

  ASH

  * * *

  We drove through the city in silence. Actually, I drove while Gaby rested her head against the seat and sang along to the radio. Her voice was low, as though she didn’t want me to hear her, but my ability let me understand each word as the melody that flowed through her lips seeped into my body.

  There was something about her… When I woke up in the middle of the night and found her snuggled against me, seeking the warmth of my body, something happened. She seemed so vulnerable, so small, I just wanted to hold her against me and don’t let her go. The way she felt in my arms… fuck.

  What the hell was I doing? No sooner had the question entered my mind, when my hand reached for hers. Gaby’s head lifted from the seat as I intertwined our fingers, and the smile that curved her lips in that moment�
�� Damn it.

  “So,” she breathed and straightened. “How old are you? And how is it that you live in the penthouse of the freaking Waldorf Astoria?” She looked me up and down after signaling I should turn the next corner. “Are you a drug dealer or something?”

  I laughed, a genuine laugh that originated from deep in my belly. Gaby was one of a kind, I was discovering. I cleared my throat as she narrowed her eyes at me. She liked doing that a lot. “I am twenty four…” I stopped, hating the fact that I had to lie to her. I had repeated the same lie for thousands of years to thousands of people, but my throat dried just thinking of lying to Star. What the hell was wrong with me? “I’m a prince.”

  “What?!” She pulled her hand away from mine, and began looking all around. I frowned, observing the change in her demeanor. “Please don’t tell me you are like one of those hidden princes from a weird ass place that no one has heard of, and you are in a reality show, looking for love or whatever. Are we being recorded?”

  I cringed. “I’m not exactly looking for love, but I am looking for someone… or at least I’m supposed to be looking for him,” I mumbled and pushed my hand through my hair. I should have just gone with the lie. “No one knows I’m here, so yes you can say I’m hidden—more like lost—and yes I am from a place you probably haven’t heard of. No one is recording or following us, though.”

  “Okay…” Gaby let out a heavy breath and her back fell on the seat while my heart raced. What the hell was I doing?

  She looked into my eyes as though trying to determine whether or not I was lying. The urge to tell her the whole story rushed through me. But could I trust her with my truth? For some strange reason I really wanted to. She relaxed once again. I guessed she had found the answer she was looking for in my eyes.

  “At least now I know why you are so weird. It makes sense that you are a prince, that is why you are such a gentleman.”