Solid Ground

♔ Chapter 17

// Summerz1 this dedication goes to you:) thank you for helping me improve my writing at the first few chapters of my book. Thank you for your sincere critics too:) improvement has to start some where right :) hope you enjoy the chapter:) and feel free to follow her guys!^.^

PS. this chapter hasn't been edited. I apologize before hand.

Riley

My eyes were baggy and tired. Drunk and dizzy. I probably couldn't tell an apple from an orange if it's in front of me.

But everything snapped clear when Marcus and Kim exchanged gazes and drank that cup of wine.

I felt like throwing my glass at Marcus. That idiot. That cheater.

Instead of throwing my glass at him, I resulted splashing my wine at him.

He looked like he had been in hell and back. He looked at me with his shirt stained with my wine. I stomped out of the room and to the front yard. The harder I try to understand him, the further he pushes me away.

I ran out to the front yard. My head pounding like a drum, my eyes out of focus. I wanted to scream my frustration out to the night sky, but that wouldn't solve anything...

I heard clumsy footsteps heading towards me. "Go away!"

I really didn't want to look at Marcus. Not now, and probably not this entire trip at London.

"Riley, let me explain..."

"Explain?! Explain what?! I think you have explained enough for today." I crossed my arms, and have my back facing him.

"Y-you are so ignorant! What the hell Riley. Whatever I did last time, was my past! No matter how much I want to change something I can't! So stop torturing me over something I cannot change!" He yelled at me. I just didn't know whether he yelled at me in frustration or in drunkness.

I kept quiet. Staring quietly at the twinkling stars hanging on the night sky.

"Besides I don't regret what I did." He said with a chuckle.

This time, I immediately turned around and faced him. My eyes spitting fire. This guy not only did not say sorry yet he had the nerve to say he doesn't regret it.

Before I could open my mouth to say anything, he stopped me.

"Because it was just a high school play. I played Romeo, Kim played Juliet. And that's it."

Romeo and Juliet? A play? A stupid high school play?

Everything was clear now. He didn't kiss her voluntarily. It was part of the script. Part of the play. I ducked my head in embarrassment. My hair covering my face.

"It's okay. I don't blame you. I don't blame you for anything princess." He wrapped his arms around me. Making me feel the warmth of his body on mine. He rubbed my back in soft circular motions, and gently kissed my head.

I loved how our bodies matched perfectly. There wasn't gaps between us, there wasn't a second of awkwardness.

I lost myself in his tender hugs, and rested my head on his chest.

"Can my pet name not be princess." I said sleepily as I yawned.

He whispered softly in my ear, "No. I think it's time for us to go home."

He held my hand as he lead me to a nearby bench. He took his handphone and contacted someone.

"Hey, could you come here and pick me and Riley up?.... There are two cars..... What?! You can only send one person here?!.... What happened to all the other butlers?... Okay. Get here as soon as possible."

I wasn't able to think straight. I couldn't manage to understand half the things he was saying through the phone. But deep down, I had a sense of pity for him. He had yesterday's beer, today's hangover, and tonight's wine to take care of.

He was going through hell, yet he still had to take care of me.

Not long after one of Marcus's butler came to our aid.

"Drive Riley home. Take her car. Bring her home safely." He ordered the butler.

"But sire, your mom and dad would not approve of you drunk driving. Why don't you hail a cab." He went against Marcus's orders.

"No. Bring Riley home at once. I'll drive my car home. Or else my mom and dad would be even more mad." Marcus sounded firm.

"I'm sorry, but you know your safety is priority..."

"No! My order is final. Bring Riley home at once. Why isn't her safety anymore important than mine!" Marcus raised his voice at the butler, emphasizing my safety.

I got to my feet. "M-Marcus it's okay. I think I'm fine. Let the butler bring you home. You still have your hangover to deal with..."

Before I could finish, Marcus grabbed me by the arm, and dragged me to the driver's seat. When I got in, he whispered softly to me "I'll be home before you know it."

The butler didn't say anything and followed his exact orders to bring me home.

I sat in the car, worrying for Marcus safety. If anything happened to him, I would never forgive myself.

In between my fears for his safety, suddenly everything blanked out. I must've been more drunk than I thought.

Marcus

I placed both of my hand firmly on the steering wheel. Driving at a snail pace. Definitely something a sports car driver should be humiliated of. I tried my best to keep my eyes open, the only thing helping me through the journey home was to see Riley home safe.

And ultimately, I made it home safely. With a spinning head, and my brain irrupting inside of me, I was quite proud of being able to make it home.

I went into my room, and searched through the drawer looking for my hangover aid pills. I popped two into my mouth, and I heard the sound of running water stop. The maids must be done cleaning Riley up.

Two maids emerged from the bathroom and placed Riley onto the bed. Subsequently after that they left, shutting the door behind us as well.

Riley twist and turned on the bed, not being able to fall asleep. She threw the pillow on the floor, then tucking her hand under her head.

I went and picked the pillow up. Putting it back on the bed.

When I reached for the bed, Riley suddenly caught hold of my hand. "M-Marcus, it's... It's so warm. Pl-puh-lease take my night gown off." She pulled at her night gown.

I stood there, pausing for a second. But at the end I did as she wished. I slipped the silky night gown off her, leaving her body almost naked and exposed.

I pulled the blanket over, covering her. But she kicked it off again, and tugged my shirt.

"S-sss-sleep with me please. I-I want to have kids." She mumbled again.

She was probably unconscience and unaware of half the things she was saying. But I too was also hanging on a very thin thread.

I laid next to her and pulled the blanket back and covered her. "Sleep Riley. We will talk about this when the time is right." I wrapped my arms around her, and tucked her under my chin. Our legs intertwined, and her breathing went steady.

She finally fell asleep.

Kids. Something I would ponder about. But my answer was already clear...

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