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 away and a strong pressure on my waist held me securely.

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 beside me. I didn’t take my sweet time lingering and recollecting like I always would. I pushed myself off the stranger without hesitation. His strong arms immediately tightened around my hips, rolling me on top of 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 again 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’ll 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.

What is this position?

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

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.

‘Poisoned or not, you’re still prideful. A lion pretending to be weak.’

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

‘Don’t lie to me. I’ve known who you are for a long time.’

His face hovered so close I felt the heat of his breath. My heart was on overtime. He was a very attractive man. Probably the kinda people called “alpha” in books.

’Can we talk in a more civilized manner?’ I said as I disengaged from our stare down.

His chest vibrated against mine as a low laugh rumbled through him.

‘Hn.’

Even that sound made my heart shake.

Angel: Hello? What happened to Celphi’s “If I’m stuck, I won’t mind if it’s with you”?

Demon: We are pinned on the bed by a dangerous man! Concentrate!

Angel: Oh come on! At least have some loyalty.

Demon: Celphi was a good man. This one’s a bad boy. Go for it Ina. My full blessing.

He eventually let go and lied down beside me.

Close call.

‘I was so sure you’d run.’

’No I wasnt.’

I would have. And he knew it.

‘So my assessment?’ His lips curved. ‘You find me severely attractive. But you’re 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 bear their marks. Don’t deny it.

Door please!

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 what’s this mark on my back?

’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.

‘Please tell me about them.’

He sat up, towering without effort, then extended a hand toward me. I hesitated, but when his fingers brushed my wrist, my body betrayed me with a shiver. He pulled me closer, not harshly but with a certainty that left no room for refusal.

‘Show me.’

My throat dried. Still, I turned away, lifting the edge of my hair so he could see. His touch followed. Rough fingertips glided along my spine. He traced the mark’s edges like he was memorizing them. His palm pressed lightly against the small of my back before traveling upward. When his hand cradled the back of my neck, my mind went blank.

‘Stop.’ I whispered.

‘If I stop,’ he said close to my ear, his breath hot against my skin, ‘you’ll wonder forever.’

Demon: GIRL I SWEAR IF YOU MAKE ME WONDER!

Angel: Shoo!

He lingered, his thumb brushed the base of my neck in slow circles before finally releasing me. The sudden absence of his warm rugged hands left me longing for what I didn’t dare want.

‘You don’t even know what these marks mean, do you?’ His voice had softened, but the hunger hadn’t left his eyes.

‘That’s why I asked you.’

‘Soul-tie pact.’

I nodded, urging him to carry on.

‘They bind you,’ he said. ‘To protectors. To lovers. To men strong enough to leave themselves etched into your very flesh.’ His jaw tightened. ‘Some women abuse this bond. They take as many protectors as they can. Not for love. For power.’

Is that’s why he thinks I’m easy? Do females around him use males to get a power-up and not for love? What about girl power?

‘Can’t a female be strong enough to mark others?’ I asked.

‘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.’

His gaze darkened. ‘You have two powerful protectors. Did you plan that all along?’ 

His words stung.

I didn’t even want to be teleported here! Let alone be tied to two god-like mythical beasts…

‘I haven’t…’ My voice caught. ‘I’ve never been with anyone. Ever.’

For a moment, silence. His gaze searched mine like he didn’t believe me. Then, slowly, he exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing.

‘Then you don’t know what kind of man I am to hold back.’

My heart and mind simultaneously short-circuited. He lifted my chin, gently this time, tilting my face to his. His lips hovered just short of mine.

‘You’re flushed again,’ he murmured, the faintest smirk at the corner of his mouth.

I pushed lightly at his chest.

‘Marik… You’re too close.’

‘Too close is the only way I’ve ever wanted to be.’

Demon: Restraint is the sexiest weapon of all! Take this sexy man’s spousal mark this instant!

Angel: Ina isn’t easy. She rejected nine guys in earth just the other month.

Demon: Why are you torturing this man?

Angel: He just accused Ina of being a horrible woman! Ina was hurt by that statement.

Demon: For a man who could pin us without effort, he just let us push him away. He’s nicer than he lets on. Stop it! Stop pushing away! Just accept him.

Angel: We don’t even know him.

‘Do you have feelings for him?’ Marik asked suddenly.

‘For who?’ I blinked.

‘The phoenix. Mede.’ His gaze darkened, a flare of jealousy passing through.

‘I just met the man!’ I snapped, but my voice shook more than I wanted. ‘Like you! I just met you too!’

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

Marik leaned back, exhaling. Some of the storm left his face, but not all.

‘Look into my eyes.’

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 an innocent 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.

‘Did he bite you by any chance?’

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

‘That’s right. You don’t remember,’ he muttered to himself. ‘You don’t remember anything from this world.’

‘No,’ I admitted, forcing myself to meet his gaze. ‘I don’t. Not Raiona, not whoever she was supposed to be. Just Ina. Just me.’

He looked shaken for the first time. He turned his head away, jaw clenching. A long silence stretched between us. When he finally looked back at me, his eyes had softened, stripped of arrogance.

‘And that means you don’t recognize me either?’ His voice wasn’t taunting this time. He looked vulnerable. The ache in his tone caught me off guard.

‘You already said I wasn’t lying,’ I reminded him gently. ‘So don’t doubt yourself now.’

For a moment, I thought he’d laugh it off. He smiled but his eye looked bitter.

‘You’ve forgotten me,’ he said, more to himself than to me.

He leaned back on his elbows, posture open, no longer caging me in. No longer the predator. Just a man who’d lost something, and found it staring back at him without recognition.

‘I don’t know anything about this world, Marik,’ I admitted. ‘But if you do, educate me. Please.’

His eyes closed briefly, like he was reining himself in, then opened again with a steadier calm.

‘Go ahead and ask,’ he said. ‘I’ll answer honestly. It’s the least I can do for what’s been done to you by my people.’ He trailed. ‘And for what’s coming.’