1 Chapter One

Zemira ran down the stairs with a handful of her skirt clenched in her hands. She collided into a servant on her way, she apologized and continued running.

She was about leaving the mansion when she heard her mother's voice, "Zemy! Where are you off to in a hurry?" She turned and saw her mother walking towards her majestically. She wasn't the queen of Thurtian but she behaved like her.

"Stern is taking me out to test some new horses" Zemira said with so much smiles. "Again?" Altair asked as he stood between mother and daughter.

"My lord" Verona, Zemira and the servants greeted the marquis as they bowed their head. Altair held Verona's hand and pressed a kiss to it, "My lady" he said and looked at Zemira who knew that her parents were far from the being the lovey-dovey couple they portrayed.

It was just a front they put up. When they had recently gotten married, Altair would kiss Verona's hand every morning and call her his lady. Time passed by, they had children and they grew distant. But the hand kiss was already a habit.

"You are supposed to go a tea party with the ladies" Altair said and Zemira looked at him, "But I do not want to go, father. I am not like other girls. I want to explore! I want to wear trousers and live life to the fullest".

"Quiet!" he barked and she bowed her head, "Only God knows how you turned like this. Your sister and your brother were very obedient. But you are talking about wearing trousers?" Altair said unbelievably then he turned to Verona, "This is your fault. You gave her too much leverage. Now my daughter is known for being seen with men in bars, drinking and vaping her arse off!" he glared at Zemira and left.

Zemira looked at her mother who just sighed, "Have fun dear" she said and followed her husband.

The servants turned back to their work, although Zemira could hear them gossiping; "They should just marry her off!" "Marry her to that Stern she always talks about" "Talk with more respect!" the butler, Isaiah said as he eyed Zemira.

The servants bowed their heads and ran away. Zemira smiled in gratitude and ran outside.

"Stern!" she yelled as she saw him. A tall, guy with light brown curly hair, in black trousers, white button-up shirt with a grey waistcoat under a black jacket, turned and smiled at her, making dimples at his cheeks.

She always gushed over his dimples and poked at them whenever she saw them, which earned a laugh from him, and then he swatted her hand away.

She was still smiling and thinking about his dimples, that was why she did not notice the rock in front of her. She tripped and fell.

Stern's smile dropped and he rushed to her, "Are you alright?" he asked, with concern in his voice. Her face flushed and she looked away, "I...I am alright" she whispered.

He softly took her hand and raised her up, "What were you thinking about that you were not watching your steps?" he asked and she removed her hand from his grip, "Wine! Lots of red wine and whiskey!" she hmphed and entered the carriage.

He just shook his head and smiled, then he entered the carriage and the rider rode away.

>>>>>>>>>>>

The horses galloped to the finish line and Zemira jumped down. "Beat your arse...again!" she smirked and Stern came down his horse, "Just with two seconds" "You counted?" she asked and he pulled her close, "Of course I counted" he smirked and slowly pressed his lips against hers.

"This is a racecourse. Get a room if you want to make babies" Stern's younger sister, Aza said. Stern and Zemira looked at her, "Babies are not in the cards for for us" Zemira said and Stern looked at her, "Why are babies not in the cards for us?" he asked and she held his face, "Because they are distracting. I do not want anything to distract me from loving you!" she said and kissed him then she let go of him.

Aza mouthed to Stern, "You need new cards then, she is not serious about you." Stern just rolled his eyes and followed Zemira, "There is a party at our favorite bar. The owner's daughter is having her birthday party" he said and Zemira looked at him, "Will there be whiskey?" she smiled and he smiled at her, "Specifically bourbon" "Then I will be there!" she giggled and Stern just nodded.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Zemira puffed out smoke from her mouth and then inhaled it then she let it out through her nostrils. Everyone whooped while Stern just chuckled.

"Bartender! More wine for everyone!" Zemira yelled and everyone hollered. They liked it whenever she came because she always bought alcohol for them.

The bartender smiled and signaled his wife to pass alcohol around. Zemira handed the vaping bottle to Stern, he took the pipe and sucked on it, drawing the smoke into his mouth.

Zemira gulped down an entire glass of bourbon and everyone cheered then she took the vaping bottle and sucked in some smoke then she puffed it out through her nose and mouth.

Stern just stared at her before the owner's daughter, Peony, a fair dame to look upon with blonde locks and light-eyes, sat beside him and gently rubbed his chest. "I want to vape too" she whined.

Zemira could hold her liquor well...but she was already drunk...but not senseless and not wasted which was why she saw Stern kissing Peony passionately. Her skirt was thrown over his laps and his hand was all over her bodice.

"Peony---" her mother was about saying but Zemira held her shoulder and shook her head then she took a swig from the bottle in her hand and walked away into the inn. The bar had an inn too.

Zemira and Stern were not really courting. It was just casual fraternizing...with a lot of kissing and sex. So he could kiss who ever they wanted. And that was exactly what she was going to do.

She took another swig from her bottle and stumbled into a few rooms which were occupied with men and women. She stumbled into one and on finding it empty, collapsed on the bed.

Her throat was on fire, her eyes stung with tears. They were not courting but it still hurt seeing Stern kiss a bartender's daughter. She covered her eyes with her arm and sniffled then the door opened slowly.

"I told her that I did not need someone" the person cursed under his breath. Zemira removed her arm from her eyes and stared at the person.

From the light that the fire gave, she was able to make out some of his features; tall, dark not too slim or too muscular, just the right size to stay on top of her without crushing her. His hair was covered with a hood. Shame, she really wanted to see his hair. When he came closer to her, she noticed a scar running along his left eyebrow. Perhaps a scar gotten from war?

Must be a soldier, she thought. Oh well, might as well just sleep with him and never see him again, considering their rank.

He tapped her rather harshly, "I apologize about whoever brought you here. I do not want to be with anyone this night" he said and sat on the bed.

Zemira looked at him then she sat up, "I brought myself here on my own accord" she said softly and he looked at her. He had to admit, she was beautiful.

But not as beautiful as her, he thought sadly. "Look, I shall pay you twice the amount you were paid to come here. Can you just go?"

Pay? Zemira almost scoffed. She was the daughter of the Marquis of Damodar. She did not need any money.

Right now, she was drunk, heartbroken and aroused. She wanted sex.

"I do not need money" she whispered seductively and put her arms around him, "I need you" she whispered into his ears.

He forcefully pushed her away and she fell on the wooden floor. Well, he was by no means a gentleman. Whatever happened to chivalry.

Zemira got the point that she was not wanted, so she was going to go home drunk and feeling stupid. She dragged herself up from the floor and was about going when the man held her wrist so delicately. So he was chivalrous afterall.

"I am sorry. I just had a bad day" he apologized and she turned to him. He was handsome. He had high cheekbones which made his chiseled face more attractive. But what caught her attention the most were his eyes. His beautiful grey eyes which looked dead but it still made her heart churn. Who wouldn't want to jump on a man like that?

Her eyes flickered to his lips and she moved closer to him. "What are you---" she kissed him. He pushed her away and held her at arm's length then he studied her.

Brown eyes, long curly black hair, slim face, flushed cheeks, parted lips. Parted red lips. Probably red because of the lipstick but that did not matter. Her appearance made him do something that he had never done since the tragedy. Want her.

He had never looked at woman twice, let alone want her. But the woman in front of him was making him have other thoughts.

He pulled her back into his arms and crushed her lips with his. Her hands swiftly removed the hood he was wearing, revealing his black hair. She ran her fingers down his hair to the hair at the base of his neck. She curled it on her fingers and he groaned. Guess he liked it.

His hands moved to the ropes at the back of her corset and in one swift finger movement, he loosened it. Her corset fell and she stood bare before him.

He lunged towards her hence falling her on her the bed, with his lips firmly on hers.