Cinder Royal: A Fairytale Retelling

by Crawford, Mila

  It would always be about her, until the day I died.

  My heart seized in my chest the closer she got, my body going taut, my focus on her. Only her. I felt like I’d waited my entire life for this moment, like time was standing still. The guests rose, turning to stare at the same thing I was, anticipating, awaiting the arrival of their future queen.

  I wanted to take the anxiety from her, to let her know there was nothing to be nervous about. My gaze was locked on the woman who completed me, who was my fucking world.

  And then I slipped the ring on her finger. I stared at it—my mother’s engagement ring. I’d asked my father for it when I’d proposed to Cindy, knowing I wanted her to wear it, that my mother would have loved her, approved of all of this.

  I stared into Cindy’s face, the woman I loved, the future mother of my children … my queen.

  God, I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve her, but for the rest of my life I’d show her and the world that I was worthy of having Cindy as mine.

  For the rest of my life I’d show her how much she was loved.

  Epilogue Two

  Cindy

  Two months later

  God, it seemed like this had happened so fast. Yet here I was, holding onto a pregnancy test that I’d had a friend buy for me because lord knew I didn’t need the media knowing about this. It seemed whenever I made an appearance outside there were cameras in my face.

  But then again, I wouldn’t change it for the world, not when I had Alex by my side.

  My hand shook as I stared at the pregnancy stick, the PREGNANT bold and right in my face. We were married so it wasn’t like this wasn’t expected, especially since we hadn’t been taking any precautions against it.

  It’s just that I hadn’t seen it happening so soon.

  My heart was this steady drum in my chest.

  How could it not have happened so fast? Alex’s passion is raw, fierce. It’s exactly how I want him to be.

  And the things he said to me as he filled me, pumped his seed into me…

  I want my baby here, in your belly, growing big. I want to fuck you so much, pump my seed into you until it takes, until I can watch your belly grow big with our child.

  But I was still nervous even if this was what I wanted too. My stomach felt like a million butterflies were in it.

  “Cindy, baby?” I heard Alex call out from the bedroom.

  He rounded the corner, stopping in the doorway when he saw me. “Hey.” He grinned, that genuine look of pleasure whenever he saw me breaking through.

  “Hi.” My voice was shaky. I couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop the nerves that made themselves known.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m good. Yeah, I’m fine.” I’d had the test tucked between my thighs, hidden. I pulled it out then and showed him. “I’m pregnant.” My throat tightened, my heart raced.

  “Pregnant?” he said almost as if to himself, as if it were unbelievable. He reached for the test and stared down at it.

  “A baby, Alex. God, it’s so soon. I know it. It’s just. God.” I was stuttering out words, my nerves coming out strong. I couldn’t help it though. I was going to be a mother.

  He lifted his head and looked at me, then lowered his gaze to my belly. I placed my hand on my stomach. He was silent for so long I grew worried. What if he wasn’t happy about this? And he grinned, a big, pleasure-filled smile.

  “God, that makes me so damn happy.” He cupped my cheeks and kissed me with as much passion as I had for him. I wound my arms around his neck, pulling him close, needing him that way. “Are you happy?” he murmured against my mouth.

  “Deliriously so,” I whispered against his mouth.

  Who said fairytales didn’t happen in real life?

  Epilogue Three

  Alex

  Five years later

  I couldn’t help but grin as Charles chased after Cassandra, who we named after my mother. My children. A son and a daughter. A prince and a princess. Turning my focus to my wife, my queen, I stared at Cindy as she took a pair of garden shears and cut roses. She refused to let the landscape help do that, and instead got dirt under her nails, holes in her dresses, and her hair became a wild mess by the end of the day.

  My father came out moments later, a servant following behind and carrying a tray of milk and cookies for the kids. Cassandra and Charles ran to him, jumping up and down as he laughed and laid a blanket on the grass for them. They proceeded to have their picnic, cookie crumbles falling everywhere as Charles told his grandfather all about catching grasshoppers.

  To think my father, the king who was stern and proper, was currently sitting on the grass getting chocolate chips and crumbs all over his pressed, designer suit. I couldn’t help but smile at the fact so much had changed since Cindy came into my life, since our children were born.

  I walked up to my wife and she looked up at me, a smile on her face. She removed her gloves and set them aside, facing me so I could envelop her in an embrace.

  “Walk with me, love,” I said and took Cindy’s hand in mine. We walked the rose gardens, the yellows and reds, pinks and peaches a splattering of color along a vastness of green. I turned and faced her, cupped her cheeks, and leaned in to kiss my wife. Even after all these years I loved her more than ever. Each day brought happiness to me, each moment a gift.

  We had two children and hopefully more in the future. I wanted that, a houseful of little Cinderella’s running around and laughing, keeping me on my toes and light in the heart.

  “You always look at me that way,” she whispered and smiled.

  “And what way is that?”

  “Like the world revolves around me.” Her cheeks turned this beautiful shade of pink and I smoothed my fingers along the soft skin.

  “That’s because it does. You are my world.” I kissed her once more and murmured, “My everything.”

  The End

  Stoking Her Fire: A Blue Collar Romance

  By Mila Crawford

  Web: www.MilaCrawford.com

  Email: Milacrawfordauthor@gmail.com

  Copyright © June 2018 by Mila Crawford

  First E-book Publication: June 2018

  Cover Artist: Popkitty

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental. Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  I’d always loved her, even if she never knew.

  Growing up as Avery’s friend was the hardest part, especially when all I wanted to do was claim her as mine. But I was that awkward, geeky kid with the black-rimmed glasses, a social outcast.

  Time and distance had separated us, but I never forgot about her. My love for Avery never lessened. It only grew.

  Now back in town, working as a firefighter, I doubt she’ll recognize me. I’m big, strong, and confident, so different from who I was all those years ago. Seeing her again after so long has me realizing too much time has passed. I know what has to be done.

  I need to let Avery know she’s mine and that nothing and no one will stop me from claiming her.

  Warning: This is a friends-to-lovers, double virgin safe romance that also has that spark of filth thrown in. Yes, you read that right … double virgins. No need to wear protection for this one because these two know exactly what they want, and that’s each other.

  Prologue

  I pushed my glasses up my nose and stared across the classroom at Avery. She probably didn’t even know how beautiful she was, how much I loved her. At sixteen, I was a geek, so awkward even I not
iced it. I was a social outcast amongst the majority. But Avery had seen something in me, befriended me when no one else would.

  She laughed at something her friend said, and I was transfixed. I loved her more than life itself, had this feeling since before I even knew what love meant. But I was too afraid, too much a coward to ever admit to her that she was the love of my life.

  It made me happy just by looking at her, just hearing the sound of her voice. But today was the last day I’d get to experience those things. Being forced to move across the country with my family was heartbreaking. But I had no choice. And as much as I hated leaving, the truth was, I wouldn't ever have the balls to tell her what she meant to me.

  The bell rang for the class to end and I grabbed my stuff. I was shoulder checked by one of the jocks, but I didn’t care. I was too focused on Avery. I met her at the door, smiling, reaching out and taking her bag from her before she could object.

  “Hey, thanks, Jackson,” she said and grinned. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I wanted to,” I said quickly, maybe a little too obvious. But hell, just being next to her made every part of my body come alive.

  She smiled wide at me, perfect teeth flashing. God, that dimple on the right side of her cheek had my heart racing. We stepped out into the hall and went to our next class.

  “Avery, hey baby,” Frankie, one of the jocks, said, sidling up next to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “You got plans tonight?” She moved out from under his hold. She didn’t respond to Frankie’s question, which only seemed to make him press harder. “Come on, sweetheart. Let me take you home, maybe we can hit up a party tonight.”

  “No thanks,” she said without looking at him. “Come on, Jackson.” She looped her arm through mine.

  “Come on, baby,” he said again.

  “Leave her alone,” I ended up saying and stopped to look over at him. “She’s not interested.” I don’t know why I’d suddenly gotten balls of steel, but seeing the frustration on Avery’s face over Frankie bothering her pissed me off. I’d get my ass kicked over this but it would be worth it.

  “You want this fucking nerd over me?” Frankie asked and rammed his shoulder into mine again. I was slammed into the locker, my glasses getting knocked off my face. Frankie grinned and brought his boot down, crunching them beneath his foot.

  “You asshole,” Avery said and pushed at Frankie’s shoulder. He grinned at me once more and pushed away, giving Avery a once-over before stalking off. Avery got on her knees and picked up my glasses and her bag. “I’m sorry about them, Jackson,” she said and handed me the busted-up frames.

  I smiled, her scent making me feel drunk—even if I had never actually been intoxicated before. I had a feeling this lightheadedness and euphoric feeling was a pretty good comparison. “Worth it.” She grinned.

  I felt my heart speed up but then drop to my belly. Today I’d have to leave, have to let her know that I would never see her again. And that would be the hardest thing I’d ever done in my life.

  Out Now: https://amzn.to/2OITFa5

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  About the Author

  www.MilaCrawford.com

  MilaCrawfordAuthor@gmail.com