The Night Feeds

by Lauren Hunt

  “Time to go now, Pearl.”

  “Yes, sir,” I replied, doing a fake bow.

  Alexander grinned and collected our things. The sun burned brightly as we exited the motel; Alexander's car was right where we left it. I remembered my first ride with the top down and the vibrations beneath my thighs—how it turned me on so much. But nothing turned me on more than Alexander touching my naked flesh.

  I sat in the passenger seat and placed my hand on Alexander's thigh as he turned the key in the ignition. We weren't strangers anymore. Alexander was my boyfriend now.

  I wanted to say it out loud just to make this was all real.

  My heart jumped with glee. I was no longer a freak—no longer a virgin.

  We drove off and I enjoyed the nice breeze and the feel of Alexander's hand in mine. I wanted to ride around town all day with him. But we stopped outside of my apartment complex.

  “So this is where you live?” he asked.

  “Yep, until school is over at least.”

  “Any roommates?”

  “I did but she moved back to the states at the end of last semester.”

  “Why don't you invite me inside?” Alexander grinned.

  The thought of Alexander taking me on every surface of my apartment was a tantalizing image but I shook my head. “I would but I know what would happen if we were alone again. I just have to work on my history paper for a little bit.” The words felt so idiotic the moment they came out of my mouth. I wanted him so badly.

  “You sure you're not going to run away?”

  “I can't, my car is still at the pub.”

  Alexander smiled. “How about I have it delivered.”

  “That would be perfect.”

  Alexander leaned outside the car window and planted a kiss on me cheek. He put his sunglasses back on and started his Mustang. The thunderous roar of the engine vibrated in my chest. I waved and exhaled as he drove away.

  I went into my apartment and everything looked foreign. I had only been away for a day but it felt like an eternity. I went to the kitchen and opened the fridge for something to eat—completely empty. I fixed myself a cup of tea instead and opened up my laptop to a blank Word document. I wanted to get down as much information as I could before I forgot. My notes from yesterday were pretty much useless.

  Flashes of last night distracted me from my work. How could I get any work done when Alexander was the only thing on my mind? But now I had the perfect subject. I typed the title at the top of the page:

  Prince Alexander

  Chapter Twelve

  Alexander

  I rode back to the pub, thinking about my love for Pearl. My entire existence was built around my brothers. It was who I was. But my feelings were changing. I no longer desired to be the bad boy rebel prince. If I could go somewhere safe with Pearl and live the rest of my life in peace—no more bloodshed—then isn't that what I should do?

  I found John, Hudson, and Bryce sitting around the meeting room table. Their faces were long but their eyes lit up when they spotted me. Bryce shook my hand as Hudson gave me a one-armed hug; a white shoulder-sling kept his arm close to his chest.

  John stood up and gripped my biceps. “I'm glad you're okay, Alexander.”

  “Me too,” I replied.

  We sat down at our seats. Our club had become so small. I ached inside for the loss of Charlie. He was my closest brother. I'd never forget him for as long as I lived. But how could we break the news to my parents. They'd be heartbroken. Mum, would bury herself in liquor and Dad would bury himself in work.

  I had to get revenge for Charlie. I had to make sure the family was whole before I got out.

  John sighed. “We all want the Russians to bloody pay but we need to think this through. We're hanging on by a string here. If we went against the Russians now, we'd all end up in body bags. As of right now, all the Russians involved in that deal are dead. Give me a chance to talk with some of the higher-ups in their organization. For all we know, Boris was doing this alone. Once I get more information, we can make an informed decision.”

  The one thing I wanted in the world—revenge—was finally within my grasp. But I didn't feel complete. Not without Pearl by my side.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Pearl

  My paper was nowhere close to being started. There wasn't much information about Prince Alexander on the internet. His brother John was next in line of succession. What was I supposed to write about? I was close to asking the professor for advice.

  My mind was completely distracted. Two pregnancy sticks sat behind me on the bathroom counter. There was no denying it—Alexander and I were having a baby.

  But I hadn't seen him in weeks. I tried to get a hold of him at pub but John told me he was really busy. I tried to call him at his house but I had no idea where he lived. The internet didn't give me anything.

  What if I was just another one of his conquests?

  My luck that I would get pregnant the first time I had sex. I was on birth control but I must've missed a day by accident. There was just so much that happened to me over the past couple weeks.

  How could I tell him? Should I even bother? I barely knew the man. He might run for the hills the second he sniffed trouble.

  But he was the right one for me. I knew it deep down in the pit of my stomach.

  I needed to focus on my paper. All I had was a title that didn't say much. What did I want to covey? I didn't want to just recite his whole family history.

  The family aspect was the key.

  The words flowed through my fingers and into the computer. I wrote and wrote until my wrists began to cramp up.

  Outside the booming engine of a vintage Aston Martin approached. I saved the document and slammed the laptop shut. My paper would have to wait...

  Alexander was here.

  I checked my makeup in the mirror and brushed my hair quickly.

  The doorbell rang and I tried to still my pounding heart. I opened the door, wearing nothing but a silk robe. Alexander's eyes went wide.

  “I'm pregnant,” I blurted out, my hands shaking. Bad timing, Pearl. My man stood in the hallway with a faceless expression.

  Alexander finally smiled and stopped me before I could say anything else.. “You better invite me in before I take you right here in the hallway.”

  I grabbed Alexander's arm and pulled him inside. His mouth latched onto mine while his hands wandered underneath my robe and felt my pregnant belly.

  “I love you...my princess,” he whispered to me.

  “I love you too, Alexander.”

  This rough and hard man was all mine.

  And I was his to do with as he desired.

  We would be a royal family soon enough.

  The End