by H. M. Irwing
A blasted Earl. There was no way I was going there. Without hesitation I reached in to my pack where I had placed Barry's contact and passed it on to...Melissa?
I could hear her squealing in delight long after I exited the little courtyard and entered yet another long corridor.
"You shouldn't have done that," the husky whisper at my shoulder almost gave me a whiplash as I turned to see his face.
"You shouldn't have been practically royal. Royalty and I have a history of not quite getting along," I stated vaguely, not wanting to get into details over it. After all, I could still vividly recall with painful clarity my hike through the great plains that one mad royal prince pain in the ass tricked me into. Nope if I've learnt anything at all from that encounter, it was to keep my distance from all blue bloods.
I waited...and then waited some more. But his laughter rang out clear, loud and... long.
"I'm not an Earl," he gasped out finally, wiping away the tears that were still rolling down his cheeks. I simply waited for more information than that. This time I would require more facts then to simply just believe.
"My mother is American. She named me Earl. It’s my middle name," Barry Earl Stanton explained shrugging his shoulders indifferently. "My cousin was over from the UK recently and she made a great show of calling me Earl and displaying suitable esteem to purposely rouse just the sort of reaction that she did. She is a terrible prankster." Barry grinned unrepentantly not at all even mildly put out by his cousin’s outrageous work of deception.
"So you're saying the entire campus simply bows down to you because they were ...are still… deceived by your cousin?" I questioned him, disbelievingly.
"Well.... I am the founding partner of Stanton and Stanton, a fairly prestigious law firm that just about every student here wants to be a part of. A placement you so cavalierly gave away to just anyone," he murmured disappointedly. That made me feel bad.
"I'm sorry I didn't know. I just have this terrible dislike for all things royal," I said stubbornly.
"Things?"
"You know what I mean," I waved my hand dismissively. "But now that I know you're normal could I get another one of those cards, pretty please?" I whined out pitifully. I was thinking this job as a gopher would be perfect for me. I had too much time on my hands to keep pondering over what might have been with Jake and Richard, had I stuck around to work things through rather than chickened out and headed for the hills. A job would fit in nicely and tire me out so that I would actually sleep at night instead of having the bizarre dreams that have been plaguing me nightly.
I put on my most pouty and doe eyed face and held my breath as his electric blues lazily drifted across my features, assessingly.
"Someday you're going to have to tell me just what your aversion to royals is all about," he stated finally before slipping a hand into his jacket and pulling out another of his cards.
I squealed with joy. Grabbing the card I tucked it safely in my purse before shooting him a beaming smile.
"Report on Monday," he said abruptly before turning heels and marching off. I too automatically turned heels to march off but then had to turn back when I realised my class was the other way. I took off to classes feeling cheered after what felt like such a long drawn out draught from happiness. I had something to look forward to. The excitement of a new job. I rushed in to class and this time laughed inwardly at all the looks of awe being thrown my way. Barry's cousin had a lot to answer for.
Chapter 2
I placed the delicately wrapped parcels into the bag last. I couldn't allow the presents to be squashed. It had been an awfully long week with Mark dodging me at every point over the last three days. I began to feel like I was stalking him. But he couldn't be dodging me for much longer. Mark would be there for the twins birthday party and that was just two hours away. I planned on being there earlier if only to slam home a few truths to my dear bratty little sister. Turning seventeen or not, she was not too old receive the set down they so richly deserved.
I looked at my packed bag assessingly then gaged that it would suffice for the weekend. Then I grabbed a denim mini skirt and a blowsy top in grey that I had laid out as my change for the party. I felt the usual thrill that going home over the weekends always inspired in me. I loved my family. They were the epitome of what I felt a family should be, quirky, bothersome, intrusive and most of all, noisy.
The drive back was an hour long and death defying as my Wogwarts did its best to send me off into an early grave. The chronically aged rust bucket certainly did its best to make untimely demise swift and sure. It surged forwards leaping over pot holes and every bit of uneven ground with its tires relentlessly squealing in protest over every turn. It made its aspirations known through the loud clanking of its engines as I switched gears and where I continued my perversion in driving amiably along the busy highway, the Wogwarts took matters to another level, exuding snorts of exhaust and sending showers of loose gravel at those unfortunate vehicles following behind. I suffered through the usual barrage of insults, honking and yes, even the finger from my fellow disgruntled road users as I casually made my way home.
It was a long while later before I finally reached home. Throwing the gear into neutral I pulled up the hand break and shut the engine. The peace that came over me then was instant and inviting. I basked in the cool silence for a moment then heaved a great sigh of relief and reached into the back seat to haul out my bulky luggage.
The front door swung open before I even set foot on the gravel foot path that led from the garage to the house. The most unexpected hazel green eyes gleamed at me from across the distance. My hand went lax in shock and my bag slipped free of my grip to land on the ground with a silent thud. Of their own accord with no conscious thought from me my feet picked up speed to fly across the short distance and then I was flinging myself into his warm embrace.
"Jake?" I breathed out questioningly not quite believing he was really there. I wrapped my arms around his broad muscular shoulders and clung on tight.
"Hmmm... you still drive that death trap I see," Jake murmured into my hair. I ran my hands through his unkempt golden brownish locks and tried hardest to stifle the urge to swamp him with my affection.
"Hmmm..." was all I could manage for the moment as I lost myself in the bliss of his embrace.
"The party is out back," murmured Jake huskily in my ear. I snuggled further into his embrace and clung on tighter. I wasn’t ready to relinquish this hold on heaven just yet.
"Shhh.. I'm still here, baby," murmured Jake soothingly drawing me further into his power. I felt the urge to cry out that I love him...that I...
"I love you," I muttered eagerly. I was weary of fighting myself. It was easier giving in to the urge I couldn't avoid anymore.
"I know you do," he whispered huskily. I sighed happily and gave him a squeeze which he returned in interest. I felt myself falling back into his spell with effortless ease.
So I smacked his shoulder half-heartedly and mock-glared up at him, "You're supposed to say you love me too!"
"Why should I?" he asked reasonably. "You spurned that love," he reminded me.
"Noooo! I would never spurn anything of you. But you are right what I did deserves your contempt. You shouldn't love me back," I said dispiritedly, still clinging hard. His deep chuckle was unsettling so I wrenched out of his arms and my glare was back. This was no laughing matter.
"I'm sorry… you're just so cute. Like a confused puppy," he grinned down at me and I groaned out in pain at the analogy. I didn’t want to be a cute anything… and certainly not a puppy. Jake did not seem at all cut-up over my desertion. I stared up at him feeling ridiculously hurt.
He pulled me in for a comforting hug which I returned with interest unable to help myself from rubbing up as much of me as I could against him.
"Stop wiggling," he ordered.
"Or you'll what?" I asked cheekily.
His hand fell away from my back to land on my ass as he felt me
up reducing me to a panting puddle of happiness.
"I'll smack you that's what," he whispered huskily and I moaned in pleasure. Jake smirked down at me," I didn't know you were into kinky or I would have...," he trailed off suggestively leaving me wanting.
"You would have what?" I asked eagerly, forgetting entirely that we were no longer together. That I had ended it between us, not three months past.
"Tsk tsk… such impatience," he shook his head down at me," I would have had to teach you some of that too...some patience, that is."
I stared up at him in annoyance for he was doing this on purpose enticing me and then withholding. I shifted uncomfortably already terribly wet where it mattered. I had a sudden craving for him that couldn't be denied. I pulled free from his arms and with a mischievous smirk I turned around to run back for my luggage but I was back at his side in an instant. I thrust the bag into his unsuspecting grip and grabbed his arm to haul him after me as I trudged upstairs to my room.
I slammed the door open then released Jake's hand to rush in and collapsed onto my bed. I bounced up and down and waited… but not for long for Jake tossed my bag to a corner and launched himself across to land on me. My breath whooshed out in a gasp and then I broke out into laughter. My shout of laughter was infections and he returned it with chuckles of his own. I felt merry and free. I haven't felt this way for too long and I think neither has Jake. I ignored the niggling dread that beeped out continuous warnings that this won't last and instead turned my lips up to his for a devouring kiss. It was as if I was coming home. The warm loving feeling was overwhelming. My eyes watered even as I returned his kisses with an almost violent need. We broke away from each other than gulping in huge noisy breaths.
"I missed you," I said lamely.
"I can tell," Jake replied with a wry grin. I smiled up at him until a thought struck me," Why are you here?"
"After a kiss like that are you trying to say you don't want me here?" Jake raised a brow incredulously.
"No I just wanted to know how you came about being here," I said simply.
"Emily invited me for her birthday," he replied mildly.
"Oh," I said, and then I put two and two together," Oh!"
"Why? What?" Jake asked confused.
"Emily!" I exclaimed outraged realising what my manipulative little sister was up to. At Jake's continued look of bewilderment I related all that my impish little sister has been up to.
"Emily and Mark?"
"Yes!"
"Fuck! She's still a minor," said Jake his face suffused with anger.
"That's what I've been trying to point out. You know Emily and she never does anything by half measures. Can you talk to Mark? I will have a word with Emily. They've been dodging the bullet all week but no longer. I will have my say....birthday or not," I said adamantly.
Jake leaned over me to capture my lips with his again. After a while he broke away to gasp out," We have to get back to the party. They all know you're here. Your car could be heard approaching from miles away."
I sighed knowing what he said was true. Mum would be banging on the door at any moment.
I pouted as I watched him roll off the bed then fixed himself so that he was decent then I heaved up my sorry ass and trudged after him to head back down stairs. I jerked to a halt on reaching the landing and having spotted Emily as I did, Jake stopped too.
I frowning heavily at her and opened my mouth to say we have to talk but then an evil glint lit her eyes as she took in both me and Jake and then stared at the front door whose knob she was even at that moment turning. I knew an instant a sense of foreboding of what was to come before the door swung open to reveal, "Richard!"
"Richard?" I breathed out in shock. Jake froze then changed his direction towards Richard. Both men solemnly shook hands before their gaze rose as one to pin me where I still lingered on the steps. I shivered. Everyone was staring at me. I felt charred under the spotlight. Lucky me there were only three in the audience. Recalling the existence of the third set of eyes trained on me I turned to face it boldly head on. Emily winced. Just as she should. This was not playing nice.
I moved then and took the few steps necessary to reach the ground floor.
"Richard," I said again seemingly unable to do or say much else.
"Who do I hand these to?" Richard asked not shifting his eyes away from mine. He lifted his hands to show that they were occupied carrying two bottles, with little pink bows, of champagne. Gifts. Birthday presents for my two conniving twin pack of younger sisters. Well only one was the real conniving culprit but the other was guilty by association.
"You do realise their are still under aged," I muttered under my breath. It was something everyone seemed to have been forgetting recently. Especially, the twins themselves.
Richard only shrugged his shoulders and said indifferently, "This was all I had."
Jake came to stand by me tearing my eyes away from Richard. I saw his imperceptible nod at Emily's direction and I refocused my thoughts and energies where it belonged on the conniving brilliant mind behind this orchestrated drama.
"Come in," I said calmly if belatedly, inviting Richard Reeves, my only other love, in to my home. I nodded toward the back and said, "the party is out back."
I stood there trying to control the trembling that suddenly racked my body as Richard brushed past me. Jake ran a soothing hand down my spine grounding me and I immediately relaxed my stressed muscles with a grateful smile. Jake understood that I loved Richard, too. Understood but didn’t necessarily like it.
Jake gave me a meaningless smile, that successfully hid his true thoughts and followed Richard out back and I turned my hardening gaze on one very in trouble sibling, "Emily!"
"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't consider just how awkward it would all be,” Em said quite shamelessly ignoring the fact that awkwardness aside, what she did was plain wrong. I took a threatening step forward and Emily quickly raised her hands palm up in defeat all the while backing away from my advancing frame.
"It doesn't matter how many distraction you push my way, I'm still going to give you an earful. Let me remind you that you're still very much underaged and-"
I got cut off mid-tirade by the blasted door bell. Who else has she invited?
I turned angrily back to flung open the door to welcome in.., "Sadiq?"
I rudely turned my back on him to glare pointedly at Emily.
"That was not me." Shaking her head, Emily denied my silent accusation vehemently.
"Cat?" I called out angrily," your guest has arrived!" Sadiq-the-blue blooded-royal-pain-the-arse-sadist, was most certainly not my guest. I resisted the urge to sock his smug mug with one fist full of vengeance but I was not petty. I was also not suicidal. At least not anymore. I recalled vividly the one occasion in which I did land him a punch. My lips curved with utter satisfaction over that recollection.
A clatter of feet in low lying platforms made their way in and the first thing I noticed was the ill fitted dress she was clad in. Knowing it could only be the work of Emily and one of her many discards. I moved to turn back and shoot Emily another deserving scowl but then I paused shocked still as the floating material of Cat’s dress momentarily rested to outline her trim form. Trim in all ways other than the well concealed baby bump she was sporting.
My mouth fell agape in shock,"Cat?"
My gaze shot up to clash with Cat's but she dodged my look and stared only at Sadiq. I was incredulous over what was happening. My two little sisters were in over their heads. How this came about I had no idea. I only knew I had to do something. So I moved quickly without thought to intercept Sadiq's advance on Cat.
Ignoring Sadiq's snarl of outrage, I turned on Cat," What the fuck is that?" I pointed blatantly to the bump she was trying to hide. Cat blushed scarlet. I had been back every weekend since I moved off to university and not once has she even deemed it necessary to mention her condition. I felt betrayed. Had she not trust in me?
"That is the future Amir
of my people. I would have you speak of him with respect," stated the current Amir thunderously.
I gave Sadiq, a semi-apologetic nod and returned my attention to Cat, "Does mom and dad know?" I jumped on to the next question not waiting for an answer to the first.
"No I haven't told anyone yet," Cat muttered simply. I threw a swift glance at Emily and was gratified to note her stumped expression. At least I was not the last to know. Still how long more did Cat think she could keep us off the scent? If I hadn't been away as often as I have been, I doubt I would have noticed either but I think it was that flowy choice of dress that she was wearing that instantly alerted me to that possibility. Well that and the six foot reminder of her lapse of better judgement that towered threateningly nearby.
"So why is he here?" I demanded not bothering to give him a name. I relished at the opportunity to be as rude as I could with him.
"I did not invite Sadiq but he has been having me stalked. I think it was my visit to the gynaecologist yesterday that has triggered this impromptu visit," said Cat sarcastically which was very unlike her normal calm self. Were the hormones acting up already?
"What did the doctor say?" Both Sadiq and I leaped in simultaneously with that question.
Cat lifted an eye brow at both of our eagerness and said mildly," I am having a healthy child. It’s too early yet to determine the gender."
I squealed with delight and shoved aside Sadiq's outstretched arms to envelope Cat in my own. I pulled her to me. Emily was quick to wrap her arms about Cat too and between us we successfully cocooned Cat off from Sadiq's advances.
The Amir was not happy. But then he shouldn’t have been. Sleeping with a random girl at a party, not asking for her name, not verifying her age and to top it all not using blasted protection. He deserved to be clobbered and tossed in the nearest ditch. But we had tried that already. Tried and failed. If he weren’t the bloody Amir, equipped with diplomatic immunity, that was exactly where he would have been. But the fault hadn’t been entirely his, Cat was not a fool, she knew she was under aged. She could have told him… I took a deep calming breath. I had been over this countless times in my own head and as always the urge to strangle the pair of them does not lessen.
