xxiii.
SHE GASPED AT HIS WORDS, SHUTTING HER eyes tight as he pressed his forehead against hers, the warmth of their skins seeping into her soul as she felt her own fingers in the soft hair at the nape of his neck.
Isadora Tremaine's thumb caressed Zander's neck deftly, gently, and he didn't move-not wanting to break this trance they were both immersed in while the lavishly decorated cakes lay adorned on the dining hall table that started it's length six feet away from where they both stood. The first cake was a gorgeous three tiered display of lilac cream, etched with intricate decorations made in white cream. The contrast of white upon the soft lilac looked like a dream.
She turned back to look at another dream she must've dreamed at one point in her life, for it to become to real and human in front of her now. Zander dipped his head and clasped his warm lips on her jaw, and Isa gasped softly at the contact. Both his arms were wrapped tight around her waist, holding her body captive in the cage of his strong, muscled arms.
He breathed in deeply as her fingers brushed against the soft hair at the nape of his neck. Her thumb caressed Zander's neck gently, his skin warm under touch. Half of those fingers were on the hard collar of his suit, for it reached higher on his neck, and Isa suddenly felt the dismay of having that barrier-of not being able to touch more of this skin.
"If you decide on a cake, we can pick that," Isadora began softly, the butterflies in her stomach-no doubt borne of lilac and cream-were still sensitive upon Zander's earlier spoken words.
"We shouldn't waste time for my own approval too. Her majesty's seemingly stressed about her missing jewelry and-"
"Isadora," He spoke then, his tone hard as he freed an arm from her waist and brought his palm to hold her face.
His dark skin seemed to glow golden under the remnants of the sunlight twirling in the dining hall.
"We're not leaving this room until you like and choose a cake," Zander's eyes bore into hers. "If you find one you like, then that's well and good. If not, I will get the chef to ensure there will be another table with a dozen more cakes for you to choose from no matter how much time that takes him."
"Zander please," Isa shook her head, "Really, it's alright, I'm sure I'll like any cake you choose. I don't want to impose like this. Her majesty is too kind to arrange this but I-"
"Impose?" Zander scoffed harshly, as though she had uttered some obscenity.
His eyes turned hard in hers, a sudden fury touching his chocolate irises.
"Impose on what?" His brows furrowed.
Isadora's heart pounded in her chest.
"On your time," She started, her pleading eyes peering into his. "On your kindness and that of your mother's."
"Isa, you're going to be my wife," He blurted out, angry at her for reasons she couldn't understand.
"You're marrying me," Zander's hand in her face splayed a little as he brushed his thumb against her bottom lip.
"You're going to my Queen," His eyes fluttered back to her face from her lips. "You'll impose on every fucking thing, do you understand me? You'll impose on my time, anyone else's time, my kindness, everyone else's kindness-every fucking thing there is to impose on. You'll take up however much space you want to, and if anyone comes in your way, I'll cut them down. If anyone so much as hinders you, I'll gut them and string them up."
"Zander," Isadora breathed, shocked at his words as she brought both her hands to hold his face, her palms coming in contact with his cheeks.
He let go of her cheek and replaced his arm back around her waist, joining his other arm as he leaned his face into her hold, wanting to melt into her hands.
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𝐀 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐋𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐘 - Cinderella AU
Historical Fiction(Completed) "Want, Isadora? I don't want you. I need you," The royal neared her, his dark jaw set tight as his sharp brown orbs bore into hers. "I need you to be mine," He husked, his voice etched with firm desperation. "I could raze this entire ki...
