The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)(83)

Zahra’s lips remain pressed together, although I can read a hundred questions in her eyes.

I exhale. “I got to the point that I started resenting myself. All I wanted to do was make my dad happy, but instead, I proved to him time and time again why I failed. Why I was the weakest of his sons. Why my mother was better off never seeing me become such a pathetic child.”

A tear trickles down Zahra’s face. “You can’t believe that.”

Look at you making her cry. Always the same disappointment.

I shake the thought away. “I—I don’t know. But I changed. There was a shift in my mindset after—” I stop myself from revealing too much. “I withdrew. Learned everything I could from my brothers and stopped caring about anything but proving my father wrong. I spent every day proving why I wasn’t a disappointment.”

“At the expense of what you loved?”

“It was a price to pay for peace. I didn’t think I would draw again—”

“Until you saw my atrocious drawings.”

I nod with a small smile. “Because I didn’t know it at the time, but I wanted you to see me.”





39





Zahra





I want to kiss Rowan until his lips are swollen and the sad look in his eyes is replaced by lust. Part of me wants to go back in time and protect that little boy who wanted nothing more than to dream and draw and be who he was without being attacked for it. I’d do anything to shield him from his father’s ugly words—a result of him hurting just as much as his sons.

I tighten my arms around his body. His ocean breeze scent washes over me as his head drops to the curve of my neck. He releases a shaky breath.

I’m not sure what this is but it feels right.

His heart pounds against his chest at an unsteady pace. “I didn’t tell you this for you to pity me.”

“Then why?”

“Because—” His voice trails off.

I give him the time he clearly needs. We do nothing but sit here together, basking in the comfort of each other’s company.

“You—because—” The fire conceals most of the redness in his face, but I catch the look of terror in his eyes.

I brush my lips across his, leaving behind the faintest kiss. “Because what?”

His heart pounds faster against my chest, the beat becoming alarmingly fast. “Because I like you. It’s scary as hell because you make me feel everything. And I know I’ll disappoint you. That I can’t promise much, but sometimes I think maybe I could. If I tried hard enough. If I found a way to make things right.”

My entire heart threatens to disintegrate in my chest from the heat spreading through my body. It’s the closest thing to a confession of love that I might get from him. And it’s a sign of hope.

That he might be in this for more than a casual fuck and a friendship with someone who treats him like a normal guy. That he really could be willing to make things right if he tries hard enough.

I rise up on my knees and press a kiss against Rowan’s lips. It’s meant to be one of comfort, but he doesn’t let me go. One of his hands wraps around my ponytail and tugs while the other grips onto my hips as he deepens the kiss. I moan, giving him better access to my mouth. Our tongues clash together, and blood pounds from my erratic heart to my ears.

Rowan’s lips don’t break away from mine as he gently maneuvers me so my back presses into the lush rug. He kisses me like he wants to brand me with his tongue. Like he needs to make sure I don’t forget him. I wouldn’t. Not in a hundred years or a million kisses later. There’s something about our connection that has me stumbling for more.

My head grows dizzy as he traces the shape of my body with the tip of his fingers. I move on from his lips and claim the area at his neck, sucking on the skin until I brand him.

He groans as he pulls away. With hungry eyes, he lifts the hem of my hoodie.

“Hmm. That’s unexpected.” His hoarse voice breaks through my heavy breathing.

Every ounce of blood rushes to my cheeks. “Ani packed it.”

“Damn. Way to wound my ego. I thought you picked this just for me.” He runs a finger across the obnoxious donuts design. I’m pretty sure this bra hasn’t seen the light of day since I was in high school. Pro: It makes my boobs look stellar. Con: It makes me look ridiculous. I can only hope he’s desperate enough to skip past reading the “Donut You Want Me” quote plastered across my ass cheeks. I’m not sure I could live that down.

“Do you plan on staring at me all night or are you going to get on with the show?”

His gaze remains focused on my chest. “I like the view.”

“I’d like mine better if your face was between my legs.”

His lips crash into mine. He rolls us over before I can catch a breath. One of his hands unhooks my bra while the other makes quick work of removing my hoodie. It takes him less than a moment to leave me topless and waiting for him.

He rises up, taking me with him. The area begging for him presses into his erection, and together we moan. His hands are greedy, running across my skin, creating goosebumps wherever they linger.

My head spins as my back hits the rug again. I can’t help it. Our lips break apart as I let out a laugh.