“Nicky Winterfield…” Nicky gave off a confident aura and shook hands with her boyfriend’s ex.
“… Jeffrey’s girlfriend.” She smiled.
A part of Jeffrey was tensed not knowing what to expect. He had past relationships. He wasn’t a playboy but he loved keeping his private life…. you know, private.
Ashley raised a brow at the both of them.
“Wow, Jeff.” She muttered almost sarcastically. “You moved on faster like the racer you are.”
Jeffrey bit his lip hoping Nicky wouldn’t take offense. Ashley Dan had always been like that. Too witty to a point of annoyance.
“Of course! After all, he found the perfect one for him.” Nicky beamed and intimately entwined their arms.
“Right sweetie?” She sweetly smiled up at him. The blondie looked owlishly at the two ladies next to him, feeling left out of something huge.
What were they playing at??
“Mhm.” He pushed the thought away and smiled at her, wondering if he imagined a scowl under Ashley’s cool looks.
“It was nice meeting you…” She forced a smile and turned to Jeffrey. “… again Jeff.”
Nicky gave a low chuckle which had spiky thorns around it.
“Okay.” Jeffrey muttered, starting to feel weird.
“And it was nice meeting a childhood friend.” Nicky politely smiled. Ashley rolled her eyes halfway and turned back to Jeffrey again.
“I’ll see you around?” She beamed and took a step back, giving Nicky a strange look before stalking away.
Jeffrey smiled and turned to Nicky. “Nicky…”
“Just take me home, please.” She said with a blank look and walked ahead to the parking lot.
During the drive, she stuck to her side of the car and stared out the windshield in absolute silence. Jeffrey spared her a few quick glances, concluding she was mad at him because she had a habit of chewing on her lower lip whenever she was upset.
“Nicky, Ashley’s an old friend. We were together once but we’re over. I’m sorry if I made you upset.” He spared her another look.
She hummed a lifeless okay but didn’t break her view for a single second. With hesitation, he reached for her hand but she casually moved hers away.
A painful ripple washed through his heart at lightning speed.
He was hurt that she was mad and avoiding him. He took his lips in and faced the wheel trying not to show how hurt he was.
Suddenly, Nicky heaved out a deep breath and took his hand, entangling their fingers. Jeffrey held hers closer and raised it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss there. Nicky blushed.
“I’m sorry too.” She pouted. It was his turn to hum a lifeless ‘never mind’ and continued driving.
“I said I’m sorry!” She whined and intimately placed her head on his free arm with a sweet face.
“Nicky, i’m not mad at you.” He said, fighting to maintain his serious look.
“Prove it!” She insisted and he swiftly switched the car to automatic piloting before giving her a heartfelt kiss. She giggled and playfully pushed his head away.
“Take control of the wheels! I don’t entrust my life with machines.” He obeyed her instantly and they lapsed into a comfortable silence, holding hands when he was’nt switching gears.
“Why did you two break up?” She mouthed after a while. Jeffrey worriedly looked at her, his face telling if it was okay talking about it. But Nicky gave a smile and nodded.
“Our relationship was kinda complicated. We had completely different personalities and never seemed to agree on anything. So I broke it off. Turned out we weren’t meant to be.”
“Well she still doesn’t agree with you.” Nicky muttered to herself but Jeffrey heard it.
He spared her a quick glance, wondering what she meant. Why wouldn’t Ashley agree with him?
Then the image of the both of them earlier, sharing strange looks flashed across his memory making him confused the more. But he waved it off again with a sigh.
Mom was right.
Girls??
Sighs…
***
“No, no. It’s not Elva or Nicky. I’m with someone else.” Natalia breathed.
“Oh… Becky?” Arian’s beautiful voice sounded a bit more puzzled than it previously was. And she almost groaned out in frustration.
“Nope.”
“So who is it? A female… or a male?” His voice dropped a notch lower. Natalia pursed her lips and hesitated before confessing.
“Arian, i’m out with a friend. I got bored at home so he offered to go on a walk with me, so i’ld be safe.” She whispered, forgetting about her half eaten snack.
Arian’s silence stretched for some seconds which felt like a century! For a moment there, Natalia preferred his usual hypertensive whinings to the awkward silence.
Suddenly, his chuckle echoed out of her speaker, leaving her speechless for a moment.
“Damn! You should’ve seen your face.” He chuckled again.
“Huh?”
“Look over to your right.” He chirped. She did and her phone almost fell off seeing him leaning on his sport car a few metres away, waving at her.
Natalia was too stunned to wave back. Instead, she gaped openly as he walked over like a movie star, ignorant of the gawking girls stripping him with their eyes!
She frowned when she caught that sight!
She’d laughed Jake’s experience off because it wasn’t her business, but the esteemed Royal was ready to gorge off their sinful eyes from HER boyfriend!
“I missed you.” Arian smiled and kissed her. Natalia cocked a playful brow after he pulled away.
“We had a video chat about an hour ago.” She pointed. He gave her one of his adorable smiles, pushing stray hairs from her face with a ringed finger.
“We were faraway. Let’s leave this place. It’s so hot outside.”
Natalia gazed at the sun which was presently covered by white clouds and grinned helplessly at the fussing French. She turned and walked over to Jake with Arian practically gluing himself to her ass.
“Uh Jake? Do you mind if I leave without you?” She asked guiltily. Jake turned from the increasing number of his little friends and flashed her a genuine smile.
“Sure! I don’t wanna keep you either with the kids i’m currently fathering.” He whispered and she giggled.
“Jake.” He noticed Arian and stretched out his hand. Arian paused for an abstract second before slowly taking it.
“Arian.” Then they gave themselves odd looks.
Weirdos. Natalia blinked between the both of them and concluded.
“Bye Jake.” She waved.
“Mhm. If I don’t report to the house later, please come rescue whatever piece that’s left of me.” He whisper yelled as the kids began chanting;
“Go uncle, you can do it! Go uncle!”
Natalia stared at the helpless face he had and the encouraging smirk the seller gave him and laughed.
It was hilarious!
The drive back home took a couple of minutes. Elva was still stuck with whatever she was occupied with making Natalia pout in annoyance. They were supposed to watch a marathon of soaps together that afternoon!
“What would you like to have? Apple juice? Lemonade? Soda? P…”
Natalia asked the moment she skipped into her room with Arian trailing behind her. But she was cut off with a warm hug.
“Okay?” She fluttered her lashes at his upset face.
“I told you to call on me whenever you feel bored and I’ld be over in a heartbeat.” He whispered softly and pulled her closer.
Natalia smiled and touched his luscious long hair, something she was starting to get addicted to.
“I know, Barry Allen. But you live at the other end of the city and I didn’t want to bother you.” Arian chuckled and framed her soft cheeks.
“Okay. Promise it’ll be me the next time. Else, I’m gonna move in right next to you.” She giggled and nodded.
They crashed on the newly ordered couch in her bedroom. Natalia filled her mouth with her favorite chocolates as Arian talked about Tommy’s recent whinings to come live with her!
She chuckled.
Her room was starting to get stuffed with peculiar romantic stuffs he got her. A custom made stuffed teddy with their shipped names “Arlia” stitched to it and a red rose came with the box of creamy chocolates. Arian loved it when she ate well.
“Thanks.” She smiled adorably, running her fingers through the soft, fluffy, white teddy. It was half her size and was so cute.
“I’m sincerely gonna get mad if you keep repeating that word. It’s not like you can’t get it yourself.” His grave looks only complimented his gorgeous outline as he sat next to her in grey sweats and fancy slippers.
Growing up in obscurity with only a family relative who was usually occupied with state affairs, the princess was not used to receiving frequent, emotionally attached presents.
She looked at the person she had fallen so deeply in love with, snorting on how to handle his little brother whom he thought had a crush on his girlfriend, and smiled.
“Okay. Tell Tommy we’ld all go together.” She grinned and he nodded. So she had a date with the Argent brothers tomorrow.
“Wear something with a touch of cream. I love the color on you.” He whispered naughtily and kissed her bare shoulders.
Natalia nodded as the kiss deliciously shifted to her neck, leaving a hot trail behind. She found herself moving to sit on him, unconsciously granting him more access to perfect his seduction skills.
Soon enough, they got tired of the teasing game and exploded into a wild, hot lips and tongues tangle. They got so lost in the passionate kiss that neither noticed when her back touched the soft cushion or when he hovered above her, pushing away the couch pillows.
Natalia slightly shook as electric waves seeped from his body to hers, sending delicious sensations all over. His hot hand worked its way down her hip as her fingers slid up and tangled with his raven black hair.
She deliriously tilted her neck as his sinful lips slipped from hers down the crook of her neck, tasting and nibbling at the same time. But Natalia gasped back to reality when she felt his other hand tentatively slid down to her chest in slow motion…
Chapter 82