Prince Arik: A Prince of Tease Novel (Princes of Tease Book 1)

by Xavier Neal

  “I know,” she continues politely. “It is amazing how I can run a social event flawlessly without being in the room.” After a beat she states, “Yes. He will be driving all three of you home. Now, if you need me for the next few hours I will unavailable.” Ari's eyes give me a soft look. “I'm having some personal time. I will check my phone when I return. Everything should be fine. Enjoy your wine tasting.”

  As soon as she ends the call I slyly say, “I like that I'm personal time.”

  “Well you damn sure aren't business.”

  The playful snap tugs at the worry that's tensing my body.

  That's the thing though. Usually someone's personal time is my business. I get paid to relax women. To give them something to enjoy outside their normal realm of bullshit. The shit I'm doing for Ari because she's my girlfriend is typically what I'm paid thousands for. To make a woman feel excited. To make them feel sexy. To make them feel wanted. That's fucked up isn't it? Besides being good at stripping, making it an easy way to make a living, I get paid to play music. That's what makes my set stand out. You come to see me get naked and hear me play. Giving one for the other has never bothered me before. Why am I letting my brother get to me now?

  “Um...so does the SUV turn into a boat Batman or are we gonna get out?” Ari's question pulls me back out of my thoughts.

  Noticing I've already parked and removed the keys from the ignition I try to shake it off. “Yeah. Follow me.”

  The process of getting Cappy out and about is one I heavily enjoy. With easy instructions I let Ari give me a hand in helping set sail. Eventually she takes a seat close to the edge, enjoying the warm sun and the fruits of my manual labor. Her eyes swing back and forth between the water and me during the start of our voyage. Each time her attention lands on me the passionate look I long for causes dread.

  That's fucking stupid. It's supposed to make my dick hard not make me feel like I'm a dick head.

  Once we're floating in calm waters and it's safe for me to relax, I do my favorite thing and lie down shirtless on the deck closest to the stern. Without having to be instructed to follow Ari makes her way over, lying down beside me. For the first few minutes there isn't a word spoken. Thankful for the quiet, I shut my eyes, and inhale the warm air surrounding us.

  Fuck, I love the summer time.

  “So are we gonna talk about what's got you wound up tight enough to shit diamonds or ignore it a little longer?”

  Unable to resist the urge to chuckle at her crass mouth, I quietly answer. “I'm fine.”

  “You're not fine,” she quickly denies. “If you don't wanna talk about it then fine. Don't. But don't lie to me. Never lie to me.”

  The request has my brother's words ringing in my ears.

  He fucking ruins everything. Started out when he told me there was no Santa and now it's gonna end with him killing the first real relationship I've ever had.

  Guilt has my mouth moving without my consent. “Greg just said some shit and it got in my head. It's not that big of a deal.”

  “Tell me what it is.”

  I turn my head and open my eyes yet don't give into her demand.

  Not sure now is the right time.

  She rolls over to face me and leans on her arm. “I'll make you a deal. You tell me what's bothering you and I'll tell you one of my secrets.”

  Tempted I cock a smirk. “A good one. I don't want none of that 'I practiced kissing with a girl at camp' crap.”

  “How'd you know I kissed a girl at camp?”

  Chuckling, I wink. “I didn't.”

  “Asshole,” she playfully mumbles then nudges me with her foot. “Now spill. What'd your brother do to ruin your favorite activity in the world next to sex with me and playing the piano?”

  Her choice of phrasing has me faintly smiling. “He said some shit that has me wondering what will happen when you discover the pieces of me you haven't yet.”

  “You're not like Dexter or some shit, are you? Because that I could see being worried about.”

  I laugh lightly. “No. Not a serial killer.”

  Don't say serial stripper. It's not funny.

  “Then what are you worried about?” My eyes are suddenly being held hostage. “That I'll find out you're not perfect? Hate to break it down to you. No one is.”

  “But what if...” the words breathlessly come out, ready to confess in the middle of the water where she has no choice but to confront my little secret head on. “What if my imperfections are ones you can't deal with? What if they're not something you wanna deal with? What if they're the out you're looking for? What if you don't like what's behind the sail?”

  “Didn't you mention something about being my lifesaver?”

  “I did.”

  “Then pick one,” she snips sternly. “You can't be both. You can't be worried about being enough at the same time telling me you already are.”

  My head tilts at the point she's made.

  “Honestly? I'm not looking for a lot. Whatever is hiding behind the sail can't possibly undo the amazing person you've already shown me you are. So fuck your brother and just keep being you. That's enough for me.” When my eyebrows lift, she pushes me onto my back, and straddles my lap. “In fact, why don't you let me show you that's enough?”

  Without waiting for my consent, she pulls her white crop top off, revealing her black bikini top. I fold my arms behind my head. “Have I told you how fucking beautiful you are lately?”

  “Beautiful?” she hums out. “No. Mind blowingly fucking sexy? All the time.”

  On a chortle, I question, “Do you prefer being called one to the other?”

  “Both are equally welcomed.”

  Before I have the chance to laugh further, she grinds her pussy on top of my crotch. My cock, which was already stirring, is now at full attention. Ari slides her hand on top of my shorts and massages firmly.

  I prepare to touch her when she snaps, “No-huh. I told you. I was going to show you that you are enough. Now lie there and let me.”

  Finding the bossiness even more exciting my cock thumps against her.

  She smiles proudly and unzips my shorts, freeing the prisoner. Ari tugs away my clothing and tosses it to the side, before standing to drop her own shorts. I intently watch the slow seductive motions she's making with the intention of torturing me. Each tug of her string bottoms feels like a tug at my cock. Suddenly the inexplicable impassioned feelings I felt the first time we were together are whirring through my system again.

  How the fuck does she do that?

  Ari pulls out a small square package from her top before she lets her tits free. Teasingly she coos, “Pretty sure we're going to be solely responsible for the Christmas bonuses at the condom company this year.”

  “And this I'm alright with,” I retort as she rolls the rubber on.

  The moment the condom is secure, her pussy follows suit, sliding down so slowly it toys with my self-control. My eyes threaten to shut but the sight of Ari rolling her body on top of me prevents that from happening. Effortlessly she rocks along with the boat, hands wound in her own hair while her moans are tilted to the sky, relentlessly offering them up to whomever will listen.

  In a growl I question, “You like my cock, don't you?”

  Ari's hips buck sharply and a groan falls from my lips. “Do you blame me?”

  I may be a bit bias, but no. I can't.

  Suddenly she repositions us, so our legs are both bent, and she's squatting on top. Using my chest for support she begins to bounce brazenly. The change in tempo and eagerness encourages my cock to give into the warm wet paradise. I bite my bottom lip harshly as her walls whisper to my dick to explode, to be the first one to drown in the waters it knows so well. Determination battles with desire. For the first time in my life I'm not sure which is going to win.

  “God,” Ari croaks in strained voice. “I'm gonna...I'm gonna...”

  “Show me I'm enough.”

  The words send her spiraling over the ed
ge. Her pussy pulsates in waves that match the motion of the ocean. Instantly my cock caves, creating another ripple of orgasmic whimpers from both of us.

  It takes several deep breath before my girlfriend speaks. She tilts her face down my direction. “That enough proof?”

  Exhausted, I simply nod.

  She removes herself and the condom, flouncing naked across the dock to dispose of it. When she returns, she wedges her body beside mine, and rests her head on my chest.

  Firmly she states, “We all get insecure, Arik. It's what we do with it that matters. I don't mind being your cheerleader sometimes, but you're the one who has to look himself in the mirror and be alright with the man you've chosen to be. You're the only one who will always have to live with the choices you make. Remember that.”

  Sexy and wise. I did hit the jack pot. Question is, will she be able to live with the choices I've made? Frankly, I don't wanna lose her. I never thought I'd feel this way about a woman and now that I have, I'm not sure I can live any other way.

  Putting my doubts on the back burner I ask, “What's the secret?”

  “Hm?” she jokingly hums. “I forgot.”

  After a swift pop on her ass, I question. “Remember now?”

  “I remember telling you, don't start things you can't finish.” She wiggles her ass and then giggles. “Why don't you remember that?”

  With a smirk, I sigh, “Fess up.”

  To my surprise Ari stops fighting and turns her body to face me better. “You know when you're little and your mother would sing you lullabies?”

  “Yeah. The one with baby and cradle falling used to give Ali nightmares, so mom said she couldn't ever sing it to me.”

  Apparently because of it Ali has an irrational fear of heights.

  She gives me small shake of her head. “Weird.”

  “You're telling me. I, on the other hand, have an odd love of eggs thanks to hearing Humpty Dumpty as it's replacement. Pretty sure that one wasn't meant to be a song...”

  Ari snickers, but continues, “Anyway, my mother never sung me lullabies. And my dad, well he could never remember them, so he would sing whatever songs he could remember. I was four the first time I recall him singing 'Come Sail Away'. When I told him it was my favorite, it became the only one he would sing me before bed. Then, when he married Brenda and we did a father daughter dance at the wedding, it was the song playing.”

  “That's why it's your favorite,” I softly say.

  “Like I told you, total daddy's girl,” she brushes it off. “But I've never told anyone that he used to do that. And when I moved in with him and Brenda after my mother's death, he came by every night before bed for years and sang it. Sometimes we sang it together. By the time I was an angsty teenager he found ways to keep it our song without singing it. He would have them play it over the sound system at the house. Turned my ring tone for him to that song. Those sorts of things.”

  My chest swells with pride that she's opening up to me.

  It doesn't matter that it's taken weeks for her to trust me. What matters is she finally does.

  “Not quite as hot as my camp make out story, but hopefully it'll do.”

  Wouldn't trade it. Wow. I really do have feelings for her.

  “You did say you wanted to know more than my cup size.”

  Leaning forward, I stroke her cheek gently before pressing our lips together. The kiss is slow and soft. Our tongues roll small circles around one another, each lap more forceful than the last.

  I hesitate to pull away yet somehow manage to. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  “Yeah, well.” She shrugs and turns, so she's on her back again. “All the sails on your boat are always open. Might as well let one of mine down occasionally.”

  Not all my sails. There's one I'm not ready to let catch wind just yet. Wait. Did my girlfriend just use a boat metaphor?

  “Speaking of open sails.” The analogy acts as a reminder to something important I had forgotten. “I ran into this girl I went to high school with-”

  Instantly she sneers, “Bitchy Dora?”

  I hide my chuckle. “No. Not Courtney.” Ari gives me a brief dirty glance before I continue. “Anna Thompson. We used to have swim team together.”

  “You were on the swim team?” she giggles. “Oh please tell me you wore those teeny tiny little speedo things.” My mouth drops to answer when she snaps her head back at me. “Please tell me you have pictures! Oh God, we will go back to shore right now to look at them!”

  Don't encourage her. And for the record that fucking thing could barely hold my dick in. My music isn't the only reasons ladies come see me strip, remember?

  With a clearing of my throat, I ask, “Are you done?”

  “For now.”

  “Like I was saying I ran into Anna at the Perfect Foods Market-”

  “Wait. You go grocery shopping?”

  “How do you think the food gets in the loft?”

  “Delivery?”

  Rolling my eyes, I push on, “She was flipping through bridal magazines and bitching about needing a wedding planner. I told her my girlfriend was great in that department. She got all excited and demanded I give her your name and number. Anna hates settling for anything less than fantastic. I told her with you that wouldn't be an issue.”

  Panic shoots her body up. “Are you crazy?”

  Well, that's not the praise I was hoping for.

  “Ari, I was just trying to be helpful.”

  “I don't need help,” she snaps. “And I have a job. A job I love.”

  My face sarcastically crumples.

  “Fine. That pays wells. That I'm good at. That-”

  “That you don't love. That drives you crazy. That brings all the stress and none of the joy.” She tightly shuts her mouth. “Look, I didn't mean to cross the line. I just thought that maybe you would be interested in dipping your feet back into what it is you love to do. If she calls tell her no. Or tell her yes. Or think about. Do whatever you wanna do, baby. I was just trying to help.”

  She ruffles her hair and looks away.

  Was I out of line? I just figured...I get to do what I love most in the world, she should get to do the same. It's not like I signed her up for the job or anything. I...I feel like I fucked this up. Did I fuck this up? How is it one minute everything was smiles and sex and now it's silent treatment? Damn it! Why the fuck is dating so goddamn difficult?

  Ari

  The redundant argument forces my eyes shut and for me to pinch the bridge of my nose. “Helen, the event is next week. The tables have already been ordered. My hands are tied.”

  “Then untie them,” she shrieks from the other end of the phone. “I want round tables!”

  Because they might take the focus off the fact she's round?

  “I've already ordered-”

  “How many ways can I phrase, 'I don't care'?” Helen snaps. “I think I've reached my limit.”

  She's reached her limit? Hello! Which one of us lives in hell while the other one dictates? Exactly.

  Calmly I sigh, “Helen, I can try to swap the tables if it's an absolute must-”

  “It is a must!”

  “-but the square tables actually flow better with the way we have the piano and the first floor bar set up. They allow for a better flow from the entrance to the dinner area. However-”

  “No,” she huffs. “If it's a better fit-”

  Which I have been trying to explain for the last ten minutes, by the way...

  “-then let's keep it that way. This event is the biggest I've ever thrown. I can't afford for anything to go wrong.”

  “I've got everything covered,” I try to reassure. “Back-ups for the back-ups. I'm always prepared for any scenario.”

  Your first failure leaves lots of room to learn and panic over all possibilities leading to the destruction of someone's special day. Now if I'm worried stress gets too intense I make sure I schedule a romp in the sack with my boyfriend. Surprisingly eno
ugh it leaves no room for stress in my body. Yeah. He has a way of owning everything about me in a caveman sort of way when we bone.

  “See to it that there's no need for those back up plans. In case that's not clear enough. Don't screw this up,” her final bite is proceeded with an ended call.

  Yup. I work as Satan's dungeon master.

  “Why do you insist on staying with Helen Sea Urchin?” Liz whines at me from the other end of my couch.