Sirah

“Mum, calm down. I love her, and I would never do anything to harm her. I might have nudged things into place in my favour, but it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. You're all blowing this out of proportion. For God’s sake, I have her engagement ring in my pocket,” Saul said with exasperation.

My mouth fell open as I backed away from the door. Evelyn’s delighted squeal barely registered. I recalled the first time I went to Irene’s house when Ryan told her we were engaged. The woman couldn't even fake a smile when she looked me up and down like I was a vermin invading her home to steal her precious son.

I considered making a break for the front door. Saul was deluded if he thought he was in love with me. We only met last month.

“I've known her for five months, and in that time, I haven't as much as glanced at another woman,” he said defensively.

Five months? I was still married to Ryan then .

“In his defence, that is rather good for a former fuckboy,” Seth said with a laugh.

The door suddenly opened, and Kat stood before me. Everyone was looking at us, and Kat gave me a sympathetic smile.

“Sorry, I really needed to pee,” she said before she whispered. “I didn't know you were eavesdropping, but if you missed anything, I can fill you in over drinks next week. We girls need to stick together, and I’m part of an alliance. We can help you.”

I smiled weakly and nodded before I stepped aside to let her pass.

So much for avoiding drama .

∞∞∞

The silence in the car was deafening, and Saul put the radio on. Jingle Bell Rock filled the car, and I relaxed with a soft sigh at the familiar song. My last two Christmases had been full of stress due to Irene’s intrusive requests and her attempts to make me feel as uncomfortable as possible. I became aware of the next song that began to play. It felt like fate, but it was John and Yoko’s ‘Happy Christmas, War is Over’. It is a fifty-year-old song about peace, and humans still haven't learnt to love one another.

I glanced at Saul, whose focus was on the road. They changed the subject when I entered the room, but Saul’s nervous disposition was amusing, considering what he had put me through. His fingers danced against the steering wheel to the soft music. I bit my lip and took a deep breath before I put my hand over his.

“Thank you for a lovely Christmas, but if you ever drug me again, I will rip your dick off with my bare hands and shove it up your asshole,” I said calmly, which seemed inappropriate against the backdrop of a song about peace, but these were the cards I was dealt with.

His wide eyes shot to my hand before he glanced at me. It was the first time since I’d met him that he was speechless. He grinned and grabbed my hand as his eyes returned to the road. He squeezed my hand before he put it on his leg but kept his on top of mine as if to trap it there.

When I inched my hand away towards his crotch, only for him to yelp, and tried to clamp his thighs together. He almost steered us off the road and onto the pavement while I cackled.

At least he knew I was serious about my threat.

∞∞∞

When he parked the car, he came around again to open my door. I wasn't used to it, as Ryan had never done it for me. Not that I needed someone to open a door for me, but it was a polite gesture. I hadn't missed Seth did the same for Katya. Evelyn and Sterling did a good job with their sons, other than all the creepy shit Saul had pulled off.

“Are you going to tell me how we met five months ago?” I said as he held his hand out for me to get out of the car.

He gave me a calculated look before he let go of my hand and dropped to the ground. I felt sick when I realised he was on one knee and had a ring in his pocket.

“It depends. Will you marry me? Baring in mind you might be carrying our child, and it’s our first Christmas together,” he added, holding a box in his hand.

I was too shocked to respond, and my apprehension got the better of me.

“I hardly know you, Saul, and apparently, you have been spying on me for months. So you know much more about me,” I said, pausing to consider the chain of events. “Did you have something to do with my parents going away?”

I glanced down to see he had opened the box, and I stared at the ring. It wasn't a typical engagement ring. The large solitaire stone was black, with two smaller white diamonds on either side of the white gold setting. I gulped because I was tempted by jewellery. My will seemed to waver as I stared at the stunning piece of jewellery.

“It’s a black diamond. If you agree to marry me, I will answer your questions,” he said with a smile before shuffling around on the ground.

“I am not going to marry a complete stranger,” I said, shaking my head at him. “Stand up before you do your back in.”

“How are we strangers? We have been neighbours, we work in the same building, and we go to the same church,” he said innocently but snapped the box shut when I began to get out of the car.

He helped me out of the car, and when I stood up, I saw the tall iron gates had closed. His hands wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me against his chest so my back rested on him.

“There’s no escaping me,” he murmured before he whispered. “Ever.”

∞∞∞

When I woke up the following day, I glanced around until I remembered where I was. Saul was still asleep with the covers low enough that part of his chest was on show. He looked perfectly innocent as he slept. I smiled at the memory of last night. After he had arranged for our gourmet dinner to be delivered to his gate, we ate before we played card games, which turned to strip poker, and him bending me over the couch. I was about to pull the cover off when I saw the ring. He must have slipped on my finger while I slept.

Unbelievable .

After I admired it under the dim morning light, I decided it was time for payback. I slowly eased off the bed and snuck out of the bedroom. He had given me a tour of the house, so I made my way into his study. After searching for what I needed, I snuck back into the bedroom, pausing beside the bed to ensure he was still asleep.

I pulled the covers down until they reached his belly and wrapped my hand around his dick. When he pushed himself towards my hand, I thought he had woken, but he sighed as his dick began to harden around my fingers. I pulled the covers off until his cock was uncovered to see he had a semi. I pulled his foreskin down to reveal the thick, smooth head and got to work.