Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 68: Memories

Chapter 68: Memories

But she wants me gone.

Should I leave just like that?

I know I asked for just a week’s stay and she accepted that. With her laughing around me, I forgot the fact that she is just letting me have a good time before I leave her forever, right?

She really doesn’t want to return to Esteria and she doesn’t want to stay with me here either....

What should I do?

What should I do when I only fall for her deeper and deeper each day?

How can I get over her?

Talia dragged her tired body to her bedroom and throwing her clutch on the vanity table, plopped on the bed, with her legs dangling down and kneaded her head.

’The demon who killed his own brother..’

What Prince Edward said repeated itself inside her brain in a loop and she didn’t know what to do about it.

’Who should I ask? Or should I ask about it?’

It’s Ray... Who cares how he died? And if Fred killed him? So what? He should have deserved it! ’

’He was alive and well in the morning when I was made to sign the register, right? If Arthur killed him afterwards, it must have been for some other reason... Not for me!’

Talia in the end didn’t find her feelings towards Arthur even sway a bit with this new information. But there was a still a slight nagging feeling in her heart.

But, this guy Fred, knowing that she killed Cyrus asked her to carry without any hesitation, stays with her even though she shouted at him and only cares for her and never once feared that he might end up like Cyrus in her hands too.

’If he is willing to trust me, why shouldn’t I do the same?’

Then she remembered what Arthur said the other night that he was sorry for being late.

’ Did Arthur, not being able to find a way to stop the wedding and realising he has no other way, kill his brother?’

Talia felt a shiver through her spine and hugged herself.

’Then again... Who cares how or why that Ray died? I don’t!’

She really found it odd that she feels nothing about the death of that guy. And thinking about his oddly brought a disturbance in her mind. Especially remembering his face. It was too similar to Arthur.

But when she thought about Arthur, her heart clenched like it was an orange being squished in a juicer.

Killing someone... It would break oneself. She has practical experience. Whether it was intentional or accidental, taking another life is something that would take away a part of one’s soul. One cannot return back to their old self ever again.

Whether Ray deserved it or not, or even if it was accidental, it doesn’t change the fact that he is Arthur’s brother. And if he took his life, there would be deep regret in his heart.

She remembered the face he made when she talked about his family. It seemed like he was hurting. She could now understand why it might be.

’How much are you suffering, Fred?’

Talia closed her eyes as a tear drop rolled from the corner of her eye.

She wondered if she could be of help. But then she knew deep in her heart, she is more broken than him. If she latches on to him, she would be only the ball and chain in his life, hindering him.

They might develop a relationship of Co-dependency and that would be the worst thing she could do to him. Like those crabs bringing each other down.

But she cannot deny the desire in her heart to be with him. To get married to him for real and start a family with him. And maybe even return to Esteria, to her family, to her home.

She remembered the past couple of days where she was happy. She forgot how to be happy for a long time... For a really long time, until he came back.

We weren’t dragging each other down but made each other really happy, right?

She really was conflicted whether to follow her heart or mind.

But she knows in this situation, she cannot return back to Esteria. The Council seems to be planning something and they want her back and if she returns who knows what might happen? She didn’t want to play into her games.

She tried to turn to the side, but felt her shoulder hurting and so she laid on her back and stared at the ceiling for a while.

Darn you Edward! Rot in hell!

In her own thoughts, she didn’t realise when she slept but she once again had those hallucinations she had repeating as a dream.

That man above her... The snickers... The sounds of cameras...

She felt a little bird trapped in a cold sea with the waves hurling her around, making her suffocate. She had wings that couldn’t fly. She had legs but no solid land down.

She just wanted a solid rock at sight so she’d finally escape the cold waves and a gentle wind to carry her sway from the cold sea.

The more she struggled, the more she sank in the cold water. Her chest hurt and her nose and throat burned and wished for fresh air.

Then there was a little warmth and a gentle voice by her ear that overthrew the snickering voices and the profanities she was hearing.

" You don’t want to be my woman, but I want you to be my first woman, Iris..."

Then there was more warmth. There was some coldness on her forehead, but everywhere else, she felt warm and...familiar.

That nice fragrance entered her nose, the floral scent of her soap. But there was some other familiar scent mixed in there too. The scent she loved the most.

Arthur on the other hand thought through it all during his shower. He wasn’t sure if his decision was under the influence of alcohol or his anger towards her for not accepting him but he made a decision and decided to follow through it.

She loves me.

She loves only me but she doesn’t want to be with me.

If she doesn’t want to be with me, then so be it.

Is it because I only remind her past trauma? She is not happy with me?

Heh!

She doesn’t want to be my only women, let her be! Who wants to be clingy?

Let her live however she wants to live!

I will find another woman and live a good life! Let her find a man for herself....

As the thought of another man with her, he felt a sting in his heart. She cannot be with another man. Even I haven’t been with her.

Ah, right! I’ll get over her by sleeping with her!

Reaching to this decision, he walked to the bedroom to see her asleep in an uncomfortable position on the bed with her feet still down. There was a deep frown in her face even in her sleep.

Can’t she be happy even in her dreams?

He felt bad for her. Really bad.

He kissed her slowly and was surprised her body was so cold and so he hugged her close to warm her. In his embrace, he could feel her warm up. And so he spoke to her.

"Fred..."

She could only open her eyes a little as she could feel the stimulating kisses that were placed on her neck. They were gentle but hurried and wanting a King her burn with desire.

"Sleep with me, Iris. Now. I’ll have to leave tomorrow," he said as he said his name.

When Talia woke up she could see Fred on top of her. His hair was still wet. Not dripping wet but still wet and cold. And she felt he was not wearing anything as she could feel it.

And she was melting in his hot kisses. She couldn’t understand how he was able to find the sweet spot in her neck this soon.

" Tomorrow?"

Slowly what he said entered her brain and she was stunned.

Why would he leave already?

"I asked for a week, but with the company now... I’ll have to be there..." he said and lifted her up and undid the zipper on her back with ease, revealing her red lingerie.

With her little confused look, the red lipstick and red lace lingerie, she looked more alluring in the eyes of Arthur and placed her on the bed.

" When... " will you be back?

She wanted to ask but she knew he never will be.

It seems like what he is implying is he wants to sleep with me and break off the relationship with me?

I know I was the one who asked him that, but when it comes to it, why does it hurt so much I can’t breath?

"No!" she pushed him away. She really didn’t want to end the relationship with him.

"Iris... Please... Can’t you at least give me this?" he spoke in a begging tone and proceeded to kiss her.

She was confused but she was still being swayed by his seduction and she felt her body warming up and wanting his warmth as her hands wrapped around his neck.

She wanted to sleep with him. But she didn’t want to break up with him.

If sleeping with him means he’d break up with her, she didn’t want to sleep with him.

She could feel his hard manhood rubbing in her sensitive spot between her legs and slowly she could feel it moving inside her.

There was a slight pain but she wanted to speak first. He was talking in her ears coaxing her to give in to him. She just wanted to talk to him and she could feel him slowing down.

She felt her head hurt and before she said what she wanted to say, another burst of memories flowed into her brain, like blurred images.

Her head felt like it was being hammered and with each hammer, she felt a image pop in her mind. It want clear but she could recognise what is what.

"STOP!!! JUST STOP FRED!!!"

She pushed him away. She was thankful she could move her hands this time around.

Arthur was stupefied by that ear piercing scream and he could see the layer of perspiration on her forehead...

Did I hurt her again? He wondered. She looked deathly pale.

" Iris? " he asked still on top of her.

"Get off me!" she screamed and he obliged. He felt his hands getting cold. She saw her bra already on the floor and pulled the duvet and covered it around her and started shivering.

"Iris... You..." Arthur was hurt seeing her this scared and stood silently watching her. She wasn’t scared the previous time when they were intimate.

What did I do wrong this time?

It was hard to get inside... Was she not aroused? Did I hurt her?

His heart beat in his throat.

Talia slowly moved her eyes that were shifty till then and looked at him and his heart broke seeing the coldness in those eyes.

What happened?

" I thought I was hallucinating till now... But I wasn’t... Those were my memories... You tied me up... You drugged me using a needle... You called me names... You cut off my clothes while making your men record it with cameras... And then you tried to r*pe me with a knife... Why did you do that?"

Her voice was calm and steady and her eyes were cold making Arthur freeze.

What? What? What is she saying?

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