Chapter 5

• Simone propped herself up on Leah’s bed as she watched as her best friend throw on a new outfit for her date with Marcus. She was calm and not as nervous as Simone expected.
• “So, how does it feel to rebound with a prince? But to his advantage, Keith was scum to begin with.”
• “You caught that first. What's your radar saying about these princes?” Leah asked, flicking her long hair around to add volume.
• “I'm going with the flow. I want to avoid getting sucked into this weird fantasy. I've already gotten my heartbroken by a man I thought was my prince.”
• “I think you're on the right track. These princes are hot, but you got to remember they only want one of us. Don't get your hopes up. We're most likely going home, or I'm going to wake myself up from this nightmare.”
• “You're going to go like that?” Leah asked as she caught a glimpse of Simone’s appearance through the reflection in the mirror.
• Simone had no motivation to impress the Princes. She wore gray sweatpants, a long sleeve shirt, and topped off her grungy look with a messy bun, but unfortunately, it didn’t come out as messy as she had hoped it would have.
• “Yup. Honestly, I'm hoping he won't find me in here.”
• “Are you nervous? Does he scare you?” Leah has never seen Simone get so worked up by any guy.
• “No. He just… I don't know. I get a bad vibe. Damien is the sweet, friendly one. Lucien is the tough, cautious one, and Darius is just a flirt. You know I can't stand the cocky, flirty type guys.”
• Leah couldn't argue with her observations on that one. “Yeah, but I also know you love putting cocky guys in their place. I'm surprised you're not jumping at the opportunity.”
• “I'm getting homesick. I bet our families are freaking out by now.”
• “If this is a dream like you think it is, then they are fine. Don't feel guilty about playing along.” Leah winked at her mischievously.
• Was that confirmation? Did Leah know something she didn't?
• There was a knock on the door, and she panicked, but Damien was the one to enter.
• “Can I join you guys? I really don't want to hang out with your brother.” Simone pleaded.
• Damien seemed pleased with the idea. “Trust me, I'd love to, but Darius would kill me for breaking the rules.”
• “What are my chances of him believing I'm sick?”
• “It would only be postponed. Eventually, he'll have to get his time with you.” Damien couldn't understand how any woman would want to reject a date with his brother.
• Darius was the brother with the most game. Women were attached to them right off the bat, add the crown, plus a little flirtation and women were puddy in their hands.
• “He's so… privileged and cocky.” She exhaled in frustration.
• Leah threw a dress at her. “Put that on and show that no good arrogant prince just how privileged he is to be on a date with you. I know by the end of it, you'll make him feel like a simple peasant.”
• “I do have a gift, don't I?” Simone felt a surge of motivation and purpose.
• “You're a Man-eater. No one gets close.” Simone was a destroyer of egos.
• “This will be interesting.” Damien was on board to hand Darius a dose of his medicine. “We'll see who cracks first.”
• “I'm betting Simone crushes your brother.”
• Damien shook her hand to seal the deal. “You're on.”
• Simone wore a black one shoulder, floor length dress Leah lent her. It was a killer with a long slit reaching the middle of her thigh. It was bound to turn heads and leave a lasting impression on Darius.
• She found him leaning against her bedpost, talking to Lacey. She was 20 minutes late, and he didn't seem happy to have waited on her, but not like she cared.
• “Don't alert the hounds. I haven't escaped… yet.” Simone said mischievously.
• He turned with the intent to chew her out, but forgot about that when his eyes fell on her. She was petite, but strappy heals hide that fact. Simone wasn't thin or slender, nor could he consider her fat. She had full breasts, a flat but wide waist, and a round butt that was considerably larger than her breasts. She had a perfectly proportioned hourglass shape that was emphasized in her stunning black dress.
• “You're lucky I didn't go out and find you myself.”
• “Why? Because then you'd have to punish me? Yeah, you'd enjoy that too much.”
• His face was collective, but she knew his mind was probably racing wildly with naughty thoughts.
• Darius was in a tight navy-blue shirt that hugged every curve of muscle on his body and black jeans. It took everything in her not to gawk at him like an idiot. She needed to play hard to get, not drool over him like some love struck idiot!
• She twirled around to add to his wandering mind. Furthermore, she wanted to make him puddy in her hands.
• “Presentable?” She caught him staring deviously at her butt.
• She wondered how long it had been since he last had sex. Not only that, but she guessed, not too long. Elite playboys didn't have to sweep women off their feet. They typically went for the easy women who accepted jewelry, fine things, and simply to be seen with royalty in exchange for their body.
• Simone was so planning on making this royal pain playboy grovel at her feet tonight.
• “It will do.” He shrugged, wearing a playful grin.
• She huffed and turned to walk the other direction. “Then why don't you go with someone who's actually willing to go?”
• He snaked his arms around her, forcing her to stop. His lips touched her ear as he whispered, “Because you're mine tonight.”
• He entwined his fingers with hers and pulled her into the hallway. She gave in, even though she despised holding hands.
• “Where are we going?”
• “Somewhere to eat. I'm starving.”
• “Last night as I watched you eat food, I realized I couldn't base this world off movies or books. So, you don't just drink blood?”
• Simone was, by nature, a collector of data. She loved knowledge and hated the saying ignorance is bliss. Although every so often she could admit it was helpful with dealing with certain situations.
• “Food can sustain us, but blood is where we get our true energy from.”
• “Do you consider all human's food?”
• Could the question or answer be that simple? Darius didn't want to offend her or scare her. It was a different world, and that meant there were different customs.
• “Humans are valued here because we need them to survive.” He came to a stop, knowing the stubborn person she was. He didn't want her to take it in the wrong way. “I don't want you to get the wrong idea. You will see countless things in this world that you won't agree with.”
• “Alright.” Her beautiful eyes hardened. “Then do you, Damien? Prince of whatever the hell world this is, do you see humans as only food?"
• His thump involuntarily grazed her cheek. “I see you. I see you as a person.”
• “A possible equal?” She was giving herself more incentive to crush his little heart, if he even had a heart to begin with.
• He nodded, but his unspoken words were strong enough to convey his true feelings on the matter.
• She determined he was lying to her. Damien didn't see her or any human as his equal. But she knew she couldn't be too hard on him. He was technically a prince. His life was considered more valuable than a mere human would be.
• She continued walking, and he resumed holding her hand and leading the way. They entered the garage, and he opened the passenger side door to a black Ferrari.
• “You have a Ferrari 458 Spider.”
• Damien stared at her in shock and yet with pride. He pointed to his shiny black car and asked, dumbfounded, “You know what kind of car this is?”
• She rolled her eyes. “My brothers are car freaks. I used to help them build cars and help work on any that came into their garage. Plus, I remembered all the pretty one "
• “So do I, so not only pretty but smart.”
• She ignored his comment and surfaced the irresistible puppy eyes. “Can I drive? Please, please, please?”
• He laughed. “No.”
• “But why?” She whined in response.
• He loved watching her plead. “I'll tell you what; if you behave tonight, I will let you drive us back home.”
• “When you say behave, you mean…” she trailed off.
• “No rude remarks. We will be in public, and it really isn't a good idea to insult a prince in front of his people. It will make me look bad.”
• She slid into the passenger seat while whispering, “Spoiled prince.”
• Simone twisted in her seat, waiting in anticipation to get a glimpse of the scenery Lucien had described about their home. The castle dominated just about the entire mountain. It was subtle, only random sections stuck out, but the rest blended in so well. The waterfall spewing from the one side added to the overall natural element of subtlety.
• “That's spectacular,” she whispered.
• “It is.” Damien replied, briefly glanced down at her.
• She got distracted by the city lights. It was a massive city. She could say even bigger than the biggest city on her earth, Shanghai. Buildings were touching the clouds, subways zipping through the sky, and beaming lights outlining every beautiful, unique architectural appeal.
• Damien pulled into a very popular club barely bordering the city. The twenty-story establishment was covered in a tinted glass. No one could see inside, but that didn’t mean no one couldn’t see outside. He parked in a reserved spot a few feet away from the entrance. Damien opened her door and pinned her to the car once she was out. His body was crushing on her.
• “What the hell?"
• He traced his lips down her jaw to her neck. He took a sniff of her scent and swam in the smell of vanilla and hazelnut. Not only that, but he fondled her neck, feeling her pulse quicken. Then a jolt of shock possessed her as he kissed her skin. “Marking you.”
• He felt small tingles on his lips as he placed a final kiss on her collarbone. He stood back to see Simone with her eyes closed, her jaw slightly clinched.
• “My scent is on you now. So, no one will dare touch you, especially if they catch my scent.”
• It felt like the wind was knocked out of her. How could his mere touch want her knees to give out beneath her?
• "I don't care if you have a crown on your head. Don't ever kiss me again. Without my consent.”
• Damien didn't look disappointed; perhaps he didn't believe she was serious.
• They were escorted inside by two men in black suits. They seemed a bit on edge in Damien’s presence. On the top floor, it became even more surreal for Simone when people began to bow their heads. The crowd pulled apart as a path was made for them.
• Simone absolutely hated attention, but was used to the backward stares. Her mouth had gotten her into plenty of trouble over the years. She wasn't the kind of person to buckle under pressure or tremble at anyone's opinion of her.
• Damien’s hand fell to the small of her back as he led her up the stairs of the extravagant ball sized room. The bottom floor had a dance area and a stage with a live band. They were at the top floor where a classy dining area which looked to be restricted for special guests. They were seated closest to the back; immense privacy and a gorgeous overview of the city.
• Simone shook her head, laughing.
• “Why are you laughing, sweetheart?”
• “All these people acknowledge you, bow down to you, but I doubt they even know which brother you are.”
• It didn't matter to him. Not when it came to the little things.
• A blonde waitress came to the table. “What can I get for you to drink, your highness?”
• “Red wine for me and a moscato for my date.”
• The waitress blushed. “Would you like to order your food now or wait?”
• Damien turned to Simone, waiting for her response.
• She hadn't even glanced at the menu. “Shall I order for you, sweetheart?”
• “Sure, anything but seafood. I hate fish.” She scrunched her nose in disgust.
• “I'll have my usual, and she will have the La Sole Classique de Dougré Meunière.”
• “Yes, your highness.” She bowed before leaving.
• “Is that always the reaction you get from women?” She asked curiously.
• He shrugged his shoulders. “It comes with the looks.”
• “Or is it the title?” It didn't even bother her that it might have offended him.
• “It's hard to trust people when you're in my position.”
• “I can't imagine.” Was she supposed to feel sorry for him?
• “But you have your brothers. What more do you need? I'm guessing your parents are still alive?”
• “We're hard to kill.” He smirked at her.
• “Any more siblings?”
• “A sister.” His answer was short, meaning he didn't like talking about the subject of family, which seemed a little odd to me.
• “Do you ever feel like you live in their shadow?”
• “I don't feel like that, I do. I'm technically firstborn. But sometimes people do tend to think we're one.”
• She could tell he didn't like being out shined by anyone, especially his brothers for that matter.