Read All About It: Chapter 5
Summary: Using Twitter to ask an actual princess on a date may not have been Killian’s best idea - until it was.
The credit for the wonderful banners for this story goes to @hollyethecurious and @itsfabianadocarmo. Thank you both so much!
Killian spent the next hour pacing the length of his hotel room. He wasn’t anywhere near smart enough with technology to know how to delete the tweet, and he definitely wasn’t about to put out another asking for advice on how to do so.
He couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid. He’d let his anger at his brother overcome him, and now, he’d ruined what could possibly have been something special.
When his phone vibrated in his hand once again, Killian cringed. For the first time since he’d run into Princess Emma, the thought that it could be a notification of her reply made him feel slightly sick. A quick look at the screen showed her name, but Killian couldn’t bring himself to unlock the device to see what she’d written. Instead, he threw his phone down onto the bed and decided a hot shower would probably help to loosen him up a little.
While the steam helped to clear his mind, it didn’t help calm the nerves churning in his gut. He considered ignoring the message and just pretending that he never received it - but that would be cowardly, and he didn’t want whateverhe had with Princess Emma to fizzle out just because he stopped responding to her. She deserved better than that. He would just have to suck it up and apologise for snapping at her, then hope that she could find it in herself to forgive him.
When Killian opened the Twitter app, he was surprised to find no new message from the princess waiting in his notifications section. He checked her feed and the last tweet she had sent was about a charity organisation she worked with. It had been published three minutes after her last message to him. Confused, Killian pulled down the notification alerts on his iPhone. There was definitely a message from Princess Emma there, so he clicked on the link, hoping it would take him straight to it.
When the Twitter app launched again, he was taken to a different area of the site; one he’d never used before. It appeared to be some form of direct and private communication messenger, which he was instantly grateful for. Killian clicked on the message under her name as dread slowly replaced the confusion churning his stomach.
Is everything okay? I hope I didn’t offend you. I was going for light and breezy, but I guess that doesn’t always come across in 140 characters.
Killian’s dread was quickly replaced with a kind of warmth he’d never felt before. The princess was so incredibly sweet, and he didn’t know what he’d done to deserve her concern.
No, you didn’t offend me. Your message came across perfectly. I’m just having a bad day. I’m sorry I snapped at you.
Princess Emma’s reply was almost instantaneous. Killian really hoped she hadn’t spent too long waiting on his.
Phew. For a second, I thought I’d annoyed you. Sorry you’re having a bad day. Did you get lost in the big city? ;-)
Killian chuckled as he arranged himself more comfortably on the bed so that he could lean back against the plush headboard.
No. Believe it or not, I do know my way around the city.
I’d never have guessed it. You know, what with the way you ran straight into me the other day.
Killian couldn’t believe he’d never discovered this form of tweeting before. It was much easier to be himself when he knew millions of people were not sitting on their phones, analysing every word he typed.
I was running a little late, and I wasn’t really looking where I was going. I can’t apologise enough for walking into you.
There’s no need to apologise. I’ve dreamed of your arms around me for a while now, and you’re definitely more firm in real life than you are in my dreams :-P
Killian’s heart kicked up a notch as he reread Princess Emma’s words. This was going well.
In that case, I’d happily hold you in my arms any day. Anything to help make your dreams a reality ;-)
I’ll keep that in mind. Sadly, work is keeping me chained to my desk right now. I have a bunch of financial reports to finish reviewing before the quarterly meetings next month.
I have to admit I would not trade my job for yours. Learning lines seems like a walk in the park compared to what you’re doing. Although, the thought of you chained to a desk is fairly appealing.
Killian allowed his mind to wander for a moment. What would Princess Emma look like while she was working? He’d never seen her in anything other than formalwear. Would she be dressed in some kind of power suit or maybe a sleek dress? Would her blonde hair be pulled back from her face to keep it from getting in the way? Did she need glasses when she was reading?
It’s not so bad. This is the most boring part of my job, but someone has to do it. And I can think of more interesting places to be chained to :-P . . . Did I lose you with all the boring work talk?
Killian cursed himself again when he realised he’d been lost in thoughts of the princess at work for a little over ten minutes. His imagination had kicked into overdrive, and he had gone from picturing the princess in a sexy, professional look to something altogether more slutty in a matter of minutes. Apparently, he’d also completely ignored the vibrations of his phone during that time.
Sorry. I was just trying to imagine what you’d look like.
The moment he hit send on his message, Killian wanted to kick himself. He might as well have gone the whole hog and asked her, ‘Whatcha wearing?’
Thankfully, Princess Emma didn’t seem too offended by his words.
Were you imagining me chained to a desk or at work? ;-)
Killian swallowed hard as he read her comment for a second time and then once more. He wasn’t used to women flirting back with him so directly. They were usually too busy fangirling over him or not bothering to give him so much as a second glance - there was rarely a middle ground. So having someone like Princess Emma flirt so outrageously with him over Twitter was a little dizzying.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Killian tapped out a reply and hit send.
A little of both!
Apparently, Princess Emma was full of surprises. Instead of typing out a reply to his suggestive message, she had decided to send her answer in photographic form. More specifically, she’d sent a picture of herself.
Killian’s hand shook slightly as he reached out to tap on the image, enlarging it so the picture would fill his screen.
Fuck, she was beautiful!
He’d gotten a couple of things right, at least. She’d pulled her blonde hair back into a messy bun on top of her head, and the little wisps that were too short to fit were left to frame her face. He’d also been right about the glasses. Princess Emma wore a large black pair that seemed to suit her perfectly, giving her an air of professionalism that he knew she would command in her office.
Everything else he’d gotten wrong.
The princess wasn’t bent over a desk, slaving over huge stacks of paperwork or hidden behind a computer screen. Instead, she appeared to be sitting cross-legged on the floor. There was a small pile of papers to her left, but the main feature of her image was the MacBook sitting in front of her. She also wasn’t wearing a suit. The princess had clearly decided to settle in for the night as she was wearing a pair of cream shorts that left her lower thighs and legs enticingly bare, and a black vest. Killian nearly spat his drink across the bed when he realised that the vest had the logo from his show printed across the front of it.
Sorry it’s not me chained to a desk. I’m not sure how Anton would take that request.
Killian definitely spat some of his drink across the bed when he read that message.
Wow. That was not what I was picturing at all.
It wasn’t eloquent in any sense of the word, but Killian was honestly surprised that his fingers still knew how to type words with her image so fresh in his mind.
I know… I look a mess right now. Not quite as glamorous as my usual appearance.
Killian snorted out a laugh at her words. He was certain Princess Emma had never looked more beautiful than she did that evening. He would be forever jealous of whichever lucky aristocrat ended up making her his wife.
You look beautiful.
You’re sweet, but I’m sure I don’t. I’ve been up since 5 am. That does not make for a beautiful combination. But thank you. Now… Your turn! :-P
Killian gulped as he read through each of her messages. Was she asking what he thought she was asking?
Shit!
He wasn’t at all photo-ready – especially when the recipient was an actual princess. Yet, a large part of him didn’t want to let her down, so Killian decided honesty was probably the best policy as he explained his situation to her.
I would, but I just got out of the shower.
Princess Emma’s response came through faster than any of her others had that evening.
And? I can guarantee you won’t hear any complaints from me :-D