The Secret Admirer - Prince Marik

A floral fragrance wafted in the air and made me want to sleep in some more. But a light breathing on my face persisted and interrupted my peace. I tried rolling over and a strong pressure on my back and waist prevented this.

Celphi I swear.

My eyelids were sticky from what I assumed was crying. When I finally managed to pry my eyes open, it wasn't Celphi who welcomed me. I did not take my sweet time lingering and recollecting like I always do. I pushed myself off the stranger without hesitation and although delayed, his strong arms swept from the small of my waist to my hips, keeping me close to him. Like a body pillow.

What a predicament I am in.

The stranger slowly opened his eyes, revealing rich brown eyes with a hint of yellow. His expression was innocent, breathing still slow, as if all is well in the world. Every single part of his face is what people would call on earth, a perfect version of that part.

Big eyes that pierced through your soul. Chiseled nose that balanced his facial structures. His hair looked like it was sprayed there in place, with its rugged overall cut and a secret long tail from the back that trailed to his left side. His defined collarbone completed his masculine profile. He was very good to look at. My eyes were studying his healthy chest when he finally spoke.

’How long are you going to be on top of me?’

I cringed my face and attempted to remove myself once more but his strong grip kept me in place.

’Please let me go.’

’You were just biting your lips when you looked at my body.’

Did I? Why do I feel like I am forgetting something important?

‘Did you say you were Marik? Prince Marik? I don’t want to be on top of you please let my hips go. I won't run away this time. I will hear you out.’

Where am I? How did I end up here? Did he take me from Celphi and Mede?

His grip loosened and I didn't hesitate in removing myself from him. He probably caught the spark in my eyes as he swiftly pushed me down and pinned me under him.

‘You were going to run.’

’No I wasn't.’

He was right. I would’ve ran for it the moment he let go. With one hand he pinned both of my arms on top of me and with the other he took my chin and forced me to look at him.

’Are you not going to beg for your life like you did earlier?’

What is this position? I did? Why is my memory so hazy? Didn’t he save me? From what again?

’No. I was poisoned earlier. That wasn't the normal me’, I mumbled through being pinched on the cheeks.

’You really are a prideful lion. You are still having poison in you, don’t assume you're healed just cause you can see me now.’

‘I am not a lion. I am just a regular human.’

’You can’t lie to me anymore. I’ve known your identity for a long time now.’

’Can we talk in a more civilized manner?’ I said as I disengaged from our stare down. I had to look away. I had to look for an exit. I had to look at something else at least. Otherwise I could stare at his charming face and rock hard abs for days.

’Hmmm’, he followed with a deep, tiny laugh.

I didn’t know a giggle could sound so sexy. He eventually let go and lied down beside me. My first instinct was to book it, but I feared being pinned down again.

‘I was so sure you’d run.’

’No I wasnt.’

I was gone the moment he let go. How predictable do I look in this man’s eyes? In fact how can he and Celphi read me so clearly?

‘So my assessment is, you find me severely attractive but you are not easy.’

’You can back up on the “severely” part of it’, I quickly rebutted with a small glare, as I turned my back on him and sat on the side of the bed.

I unintentionally fanned myself with my hands, and he didn’t let this go unnoticed.

’You’re flushed, there’s no point looking away from me now.’ He whispered.

Why, dear me, I can't see any door.

‘Are you holding back because of your two lovers?’

‘What do you mean lovers?’ I said as I stood up and looked around. ‘And where is the door?’

‘Phoenix and dragon’, he twirled his fingers as if telling me to turn around and pointed at my back and arm. ‘You can’t deny having lovers when you have their marks.’

I touched my back and felt a smooth area that wasn't there before. It felt the same as the one on my arm.

I have a snake-looking, now dragon birthmark on my arm yes, but this mark on my back, how did I get it?

’I never had that before. Why do I have that now?’ After circling the room and not finding the door, I walked back to Marik.

As he sat up, I couldn’t help but notice the bulge of the veins on his arms and his sculpted abdominal region. He looked like the type to have a balanced muscular body. Strong shoulders and strong hips.

’Do you want to add my mark to your collection as well?’ Marik inquired enticingly after noticing that I was studying his physique.

I gulped. ‘No, I am good. But do tell me how I got these marks.’

How do I even add him? I do not even know how I got the rest to begin with.

I walked around to his side and showed my left arm.

’This changed recently.’

’Sigh’, a weight seemed to have lifted off Marik's shoulders. He patted his side and I sat down at a respectful distance.

’Females get marks from love making from males. There are instances where the female is more powerful, so her mark will appear on the male's skin instead. But that’s a rarity. It’s a sign that that creature already has a protector or a lover.’

‘And some females or males can have multiple marks?’ I followed up.

’Yes. And some females abuse the capability of having multiple protectors, just by sleeping with them,’ he said in a low, irked manner.

Maybe it’s a common thing for him? Maybe that’s why he thinks I’d be easy to take. Since females around him use males to get a power-up, not for love.

‘I haven’t slept with anyone. Ever. I don’t understand how I can have these marks. And why do they mean I’m linked with two creatures.’

‘Sigh,’ another huge resignation. ‘Then you have accidentally entered into a soul-tie pact.’

He turns to face me. No longer having the flirty tone, just a pure conversational demeanor.

Banzai! Give up! Whew! His smouldering wasn't good for my heart.

’There are cases where intimacy is not the only type of penetration that can cause a connection’, he mulls over it very seriously.

’Did these creatures happen to go inside your body without actually making love to you?’

’Excuse me what?’

That is so bizarre. But I have to get accustomed to the way things are done here.

‘Hmm, well.’ I trailed off as I thought.

‘I’ve had the serpent one since I can remember. It changed shapes to match Celphi’s growth. As for the mark behind me…’ I tried remembering as I spoke

Why are there gaps in my memory?

Marik took my hand gently and studied the mark.

‘You said it looks different now. It could have been affected by the dragon’s awakening’, he flipped my arm to the other side and then went on to inspect my back. I faced away from him so he could take a better look. I felt his rugged yet kind hands study my back. His fingers were trailing from my lower back up to the back of my neck.

Stop your thoughts. Concentrate.

I tried to gulp in silence as one of his hands took hold of my neck from the back and the other explored the rest of my back. It sent a shiver of excitement up my spine. His hand was rough and calloused. And somehow, despite the grit and roughness, it felt safe. Marik just emitted a feeling of familiarity.

Something is terribly wrong with me. This can’t be right.

‘Just exactly who are you?’

’Marik.’

’And do you know me?’

’Since childhood.’

‘Not true. Also stop touching me already.’

Marik removed his gentle grip on my neck and his wandering hand on my back. For just a quick second, I missed the warmth.

He listens. Good.

’What is the point of having the marks? If anything happens to both of them, will I know?’ I said as I studied the now dragon mark on my left arm.

He sounds like he will tell me anything.

‘Mmm. That also depends on your connection with them. If you love that dragon so much, for example, and he dies, you will have a pain in your chest so severe that you would just as well die with him.’

’That’s a bit dramatic.’ I concluded.

Marik huffed.

’Would you believe me if I said I wasn’t Raiona?’

There was silence in the air.

’Face me.’

’Ok.’ I followed and I sat closer. ‘I am facing you.’

Marik and I gazed into each other’s eyes for a significant amount of time. At first I was only letting him psychoanalyze me, but somewhere along the way, I started admiring the way his gentle gaze came across. His eyes reflected me but saw something more than the surface.

’You are Raiona. That’s a fact. But you are also not lying’, he said as he cut eye contact and sat down with elbows resting on top of his open knees. I gave him a bit more time to gather his thoughts. His head tilted back to look at me.

’Did you lose your memory when you were here, as Princess Raiona?’

’If I lost it then I won’t remember isn't it?’ I giggled.

’Oh. That’s right’, he finally showed a semblance of a genuine smile.

‘I woke up one day on Earth, that’s my world, without any memory. And I already had this mark by then’, I hesitantly explained.

Does telling him the truth change anything? Maybe he can help me get back.

‘You would’ve been young then so I doubt you did anything lascivious with the dragon. Did he bite you by any chance?’

’I don’t have any memories of that, sorry.’

’That’s right’, he added, ‘did the phoenix attack you somehow?’

’He saved me. I was drowning in Celphi’s cocoon womb thing. It was a sack filled with water that held him during what seems to be his hibernation or downtime after reaching his full dragon potential. I am not entirely sure myself.’ I tried my best to recall.

Oh right. Some memories are coming back now! I was mercilessly passed around like a football between Celphi and Mede.

‘Mede was launching an all out attack trying to get me out of that thing. He probably succeeded in saving me from being drowned or absorbed. I don’t really know how to explain it in better words.’ I continued.

‘Hmmm..That’s new, even for him.’ Marik looked very displeased.

’What’s that mean?’

Do they know each other? Dislike each other?

’So he entered your body through different means, then you got the mark on your back.’

I almost died! Why is he fixated on the mark?

’Um. I suppose? Pretty much yes. The violent pain started after my body had been exposed to some fire and a lot of ashes.’ I shiver at the recollection. 

‘Most immediately after I started looking for him.’ I clarified.

’Must’ve been out of necessity but regardless what a lucky outcome for him’, Marik grumbled.

‘Do you have feelings for him?’ He followed up, this time speaking clearly. Looking at me with a suspicious glare.

’I just met the man!’

’That’s right, you can’t remember anything from this world’, a hint of sadness on his face.

’And that means you don’t recognize me too?’ He asked with anticipation in his eyes.

’You already gave me the verdict of non-liar, don’t doubt yourself now.’

Another genuine smile from Marik. But this time mixed with bitterness. More silence between us followed as he closed his eyes and mulled. I do not mind studying his form as he spaces out.

Are all men here incredibly attractive?

’I don’t know anything about this world, Marik. Do educate me’, I asked plainly.

’Go ahead and ask. I will be honest. I can do at least that, to apologize for the things done to you by my people and to the things coming in the future’, he calmly said. So I didn’t think much of it. I should not have brushed it off.

I knew I was forgetting something! I still can’t remember the full details of being taken by his men but I remember Marik saving me. Well. Actually. Did he?

‘I am so confused about a lot of things. First, why am I in this world? Second, if I am here because I am Raiona, prove it.’