This is LifeasKim "Not everyone gets the same version of me. One person might tell you that I have an amazing beautiful soul...another might tell you that I am a cold hearted asshole. Believe them both. I don't treat people badly, I treat them accordingly."
Hey Tumblr Fam! This is an updated version of my Masterlist. So far it includes:
The Royal Romance
Open Heart
The Nanny Affair
The Freshman
Ride or Die
I write fluff and smut with a pinch of angst. My work is NOT for those under the age of 18. Read at your own discretion. If you read my work PLEASE COMMENT AND/OR REBLOG. If you would like to be added (or removed) to my TAGLIST, leave a comment or inbox me. Also, as always, your constructive criticism is welcomed in my inbox.
The Royal Romance: Becoming (COMPLETE)
Being (in Progress)
Being: Chapter 1- Before the storm
Being: Chapter 2- Back at One
One Shots
Role Play
Me before You
Chapter 1: Haven’t met you yet
Chapter 2: For Real
Chapter 3: Excuse me miss
Chapter 4: It’s getting late
Chapter 5: Love on the brain
Chapter 6: When a man loves a woman
Chapter 7: Bad Habits
Chapter 8: Dive
Chapter 9: Guess who’s coming to Dinner?
Bonus: Just the way you are
Chapter 10: I Choose you
Chapter 11: Everytime I close my eyes
Chapter 12: Die a Happy Man
Chapter 13: Sorry
The Freshman Series: The Newlywed’s (On Hiatus)
TRR: A Cordonian Romance (On Hiatus)
One Shots
Can I be him (Drake and Hana)
OPEN HEART
The Best Part Ethan x MC (NSFW)
That’s what love can do Ethan x MC
To Us. Officially. Ethan x MC
These Arms Ethan x MC (TW SEXUAL ASSAULT)
Jealous Ethan x MC x Raf (NSFW)
Say you won’t let go Ethan x MC x Raf
Almost doesn’t count Raf x MC x Ethan
Touch me Tease me Ethan x MC (NSFW)
I left my heart in Boston Raf x MC (NSFW Kinktober)
He wasn’t man enough for me Ethan x MC x Sam (NSFW)
Stretched Ethan x MC (Raf watching) (NSFW Kinktober)
Fatherly advise Ethan x MC (NSFW)
If I were a boy RAF x MC (NSFW Kinktober)
The one shot that turned into a series in my head.
I think I wanna marry you Ethan x MC
Ex’s & Oh’s- Ethan x MC
RIDE OR DIE (in progress)
Meet my MC-Bree Perry
Back to the Future Logan x MC
Just Stay Logan x MC
Breakfast at Rosie’s Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
A Long Walk Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Why I love you Logan MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Can you handle it? Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Silent Prayer Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Where is the Love? Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Ready or Not Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
The Soul of a woman. Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Damage Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Blame it on me Logan x MC x OC (Emmett Perry)
Retrospect for Life MC (Bree Hill) x OC (Emmett Perry)
Significant Other Mc (Bree Hill) x OC (Emmett Perry)
Fallin all in you MC (Bree Hill) x OC (Emmett Perry)
Make it home MC (Bree Hill) x OC (Emmett Perry)
We Can’t be friends (Bree Hill) x OC (Emmett Perry)
And Al and I are back! Al has been sick so it's good to have him back! 😁
So let's kick off another Six Sentence:
This Six Sentence Sunday is all about my newest TRR fic Love Everlasting. This snippet is from chapter 8 (catch up on the last 7 chapters here.) it's a moment between my LI King Marquise and my MC (and his wife) Queen Shanelle.
See below:
“Indeed. Now let's order lunch and then get down to business.”
“To defeat the Huns?” she asked.
“You watch too many Disney movies,” he replied.
“You know how much your daughter loves her Disney.”
Marquise shook his head with a smile.
After making a quick phone call to the kitchen, lunch was served. The two decided to eat out in the garden.
Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @txemrn @peonierose @twinkleallnight @shewillreadyou
A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.
Rated: Mature. (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.
Current Word Count: 7,030 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾♀️)
If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘
This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!
TW: mention of murder. Reader Discretion is STRONGLY ADVISED!
Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!
MAJOR Thank you and S/O to @shewillreadyou for always letting me pick her genius writer brain whenever I get stuck on something and can't figure it out.
Tag List: @shewillreadyou @txemrn @peonierose @twinkleallnight @choicesficwriterscreations
Chapter 6.) Enemy Of The State.
Shanelle’s heels rapidly clicked across the marble floor as she strode to her husband's office. Today was the day she would get full ownership of all of the Royal Family's personal vacation properties. It was all part of her new brand Rys International. She has plans to open her Hospitality Brand. But first, she needs her husband’s signature on the transfer of ownership paperwork.
There were butterflies in her stomach. And not because of her twins. This was the first time she would do something outside of her duties as queen. She would finally achieve her dream of opening a business all on her own.
When she walked into Marquise’s office, he was just finishing up some important paperwork with his cousin. The Keeper of The Royal Archives Giancarlo Rys.
“That should be the last of the acquisition paperwork, Your Majesty. I just need your seal and signature here and here and I need you to record the date and time of each.” Giancarlo said to him.
Marquise signed and sealed the paperwork.
“There. Signed, dated, and sealed. Thank you again, Carlo.”
“Of course my King. It's my job. I'll have these sent to Queen Reena immediately.”
“By this time tomorrow Auvernal will be mine. It’s crazy to think that one of our more adversarial counterparts will be under my control!”
“Uh oh! The King has gone mad with power!” Shanelle said as she walked into his office.
Marquise snickered.
“You’re just now figuring that out, my love? I went mad with power years ago!”
“However did I miss the signs?” She replied dramatically.
Giancarlo shook his head with a laugh.
“You two were made for each other.” He said to Shanelle before turning back to Marquise, “I will have these filed and sent off immediately.”
“Thank you, Carlo. That’s all for now.”
Giancarlo bowed.
“Of course my King. It’s good to see you, my Queen.”
Shanelle smiled at him.
“It's good to see you too, Carlo. Give Mariana my regards.”
“I will do that, my Queen.”
Shanelle watched Giancarlo close the office door before turning her attention to her husband.
“Well, that's one meeting down.”
Marquise sighed.
“Yeah and about 50 more to go.”
“My poor husband. Being the King isn't as easy as many believe it to be,” she said as she walked behind his desk.
“Not at all, my Goddess. Now, what brings you here, hmm?”
“You mean besides, your good looks, hypnotic baritone, wicked charm, and strong arms?”
Marquise shook his head with a smirk as she plopped into his lap.
“Yes, besides that my love.”
“Paperwork. You, my handsome husband, are supposed to sign the transfer of ownership paperwork.”
“Ahh yes. I have that right here,” he said as he reached behind them and laid the paperwork on his desk.
He watched Shanelle’s eyes light up.
“I can't believe this is actually happening!”
“It's happening my love. You've earned it.”
He signed and sealed the paperwork before handing the pen over to her.
“Sign here, love.”
She couldn't sign the document fast enough.
“Congratulations my love. You are now the sole owner of every Royal Family property that isn't a consulate,” he said to her with a smile.
Shanelle squealed happily.
“Yay! Thank you, baby!”
“Anything for you my love. Now, are you sure you don't want the Monarchy’s help?”
“Absolutely sure. I don't want to owe this centuries-old dinosaur that you call a monarchy a goddamn thing when I die.”
Marquise snorted as he rubbed his thumb in small circles just at the hem of her skirt on her right thigh.
“So what else is on your calendar for the day, my King?”
“I have an audience with the new head of state for Comery Isle.”
“The elections are over already?”
“Yes. The people have chosen their new leader.”
“That was fast. Who did they choose?” she asked.
“Someone you don't like.”
“Who?”
“Your cousin, Prince Edwin.”
Shanelle looked at him like he had lost his mind.
“You're joking, right?”
“I wish I was my love. But he has been chosen as the new leader of Comery Isle.”
“How?!”
Marquise shrugged.
“He ran a good campaign. He promised to be more vocal for the people and their needs of the Crown than former Lord Neville and his family were.”
Shanelle scoffed.
“Anything to keep him and his dad in politics,” she muttered.
“You don't have to deal with them if you don't want Shanelle.”
“Oh but I do. Comery Isle is under the Queen’s jurisdiction. That's why he ran. He only did it to get on my goddamn nerves. And because I refuse to forgive his father.”
“More than likely. Did I mention that he is engaged?”
“What woman would be stupid enough to marry him?”
“Naya.”
“WHAT?!”
“Yup.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me! Your ex is marrying my cousin?!” she asked.
“Yup. They announced their engagement yesterday.”
Shanelle’s face soured.
“This is why I hate political marriages,” she muttered.
He kissed just under her left ear.
“You're in a political marriage, love,” he whispered.
“True. But you and I have common goals. For both our family and the kingdom. On top of the fact that I am maddeningly in love with you and your obsession with me would cause you to murder anyone over me. They on the other hand only got engaged to piss us off.”
“That may be true, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter why they got engaged. All that matters is that it's official and whether we want to deal with it or not, it's happening. So I will do my duty as their King and send a congratulatory fruit basket on behalf of the Crown.”
Shanelle pouted.
“I hate it when you get all serious and Kingly.”
“I thought you loved it.”
“I do. When it benefits me.”
Marquise snickered.
“Your cousin isn't the only audience that I have today.”
“Who else is there?” she asked.
“My father’s wife.”
Shanelle groaned.
“Oh good, Lord! What does that dragon want now?”
Marquise contorted his face into a haughty scowl reminiscent of his father and former stepmother.
“Marquise, I am requesting this audience to discuss your late father’s death stipend and why I haven't been moved into an estate befitting my station.”
Shanelle cackled.
“Oh, God. You sounded like your father.”
“Gee thanks,” he muttered.
“You're welcome.”
“Basically she is demanding that I move her into a bigger estate and increase the amount that she gets from the Monarchy.”
“A.) she's already living in the biggest estate in Fydelia. B.) how much more money does that old bat think she should get?”
“She wants the other half of my father's death stipend.”
“Is it owed to her?”
“Yup.”
“And you’re withholding it?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Isn't that illegal?” she asked.
“It would be if I wasn't the King. But since I am the King, all stipends owed to former heads of state, are subject to be given, halted, or halved at the King’s discretion,” he replied.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, she gets what I decide to give her and nothing more.”
“Oh, you’re petty, Your Majesty!”
Marquise smirked.
“Now, have I kissed you since you walked in here?”
Shanelle shook her head no.
“Are you sure, my love?”
“Positive. Must be your old age.”
“How can I make it up to you, my Queen?” he asked before nuzzling her neck.
“Let me sit in on the audience with Edwin.”
He looked at her, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“Only if you can behave.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes.
“Fine. I won't have you execute him. So let's make it a state dinner.”
“Good girl. I'll have the arrangements made,” he said as his left hand rested on her stomach, “Now how are my little ones?”
“Giving me indigestion.” she deadpanned.
“Well, that's not good. Be sure to bring that up with your doctor.”
“They're also giving me constant butterflies.”
“Thought that was my job.”
“You give me a different type of butterflies, Your Majesty.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes as he chuckled.
“And what is on your agenda, my Queen?” he asked before kissing the inside of her wrist.
“My parents arrive today. I'm excited to see them later this afternoon. As is our daughter.”
“Ahh yes. I'm always happy to have my mother-in-law visit.”
Shanelle snickered.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what? What did I do?” he asked.
“I said, my parents are coming. Not my mother is coming,” she replied.
“Okay, so your father will be here too. So what?”
“You're horrible Marquise,” she said with a snicker.
“Indeed I am. Now have I told you how beautiful you are today?” he asked.
“No. At least not yet,” she replied.
She felt his lips kiss softly on her neck.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known,” he whispered in her ear as his left hand slid under her blouse and into her bra. He watched her flinch as his thumb ran over her right nipple.
“Are you alright, love?”
“Yeah. An unfortunate side effect of being pregnant is tender, swollen, and/or sore breasts.”
“Should I stop?”
“Not at all.”
He smiled against her neck before continuing to circle her nipple with his thumb. He made sure that his touch was as gentle and slow as possible.
“I don't know if you know this but that door isn't locked.”
Marquise groaned.
“Someone could walk in and find us in a very compromising position,” she said to him.
Without taking his lips off the spot he had them on her neck, Marquise reached forward and pressed a button under his desk, and soon an audible lock click was heard.
“How did you do that?” she asked with a giggle.
“A.) the King’s Office is built like a bomb shelter so there are secret panels and buttons everywhere. And only I know where they are. B.) you forget that I grew up in this office. I know every last secret that this room holds.” he replied.
“Secrets like what?” Shanelle asked.
“Like the time my father shot a hole in the wall.”
Shanelle’s eyes went wide.
“Connie did what?!”
“He shot a hole in the wall,” Marquise replied nonchalantly.
Shanelle stared at him.
“I never told you the story?” he asked.
“No, you never told me the story!” she replied.
“Oh well, when I was 13 years old he got drunk one night.”
“That's nothing new.” she quipped.
“Let me finish! Anyway, he was in here on his second bottle of Scotch when he pulled out his old .22.”
Shanelle’s eyes went wide.
“Oh noooooooooo.”
“Whatever it is you’re imagining, it was worse. Apparently, he had the bottle in one hand and the gun in the other. And do you know what happened?” he asked her.
“The gun went off?” she replied.
“Bingo. According to what I could get out of Jackson, my father was drunkenly waving the gun around when he pulled the trigger.”
The look on Shanelle’s face said it all.
“Oh. My. God!”
“Yup. The bullet ricocheted off the ceiling, chipped the paneling on the back wall right there before going through the paneling by the door and lodging itself into the wall,” he explained. “That's why my father's Coronation portrait is there. It's to hide the bullet.”
“It's still there?! Why did they leave the bullet in the wall?” she asked.
“As I said before, this office is built like a bomb shelter. So to take the bullet out of the wall, they would've had to take the entire wall and paneling out just to remove the bullet, then rebuild the wall and the paneling. And the Monarchy saw no point in doing so since no one was hurt.” he replied.
“Can I see it?” she asked.
Marquise nodded yes before they both got up and walked over to Connie's portrait. When Marquise took the portrait down Shanelle was able to see the bullet hole in the paneling clear as day.
“Holy. Shit!” she said as she ran her fingers over the bullet hole.
“Now you know, my love.”
“I know I've said this before but your father was an idiot.”
“Yup.”
Shanelle shook her head.
“Promise me something?” she asked him over her shoulder.
“Anything,” Marquise replied as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Promise me that if you ever get drunk in here you won't have a gun in your hand.”
He chuckled.
“I promise,” he whispered in her right ear before nipping her earlobe.
“Since you know every secret of this room, you wanna answer an uncomfortable question because I'm morbidly curious and will probably regret my morbid curiosity later?” she asked.
“Shoot,” he replied.
“Your father never had sex in this office did he?”
“If he did, it was more than likely in the bedroom behind the bookcase,” he replied.
“There's a bedroom behind the bookcase?!” she asked.
His arms tightened slightly around her waist.
“What have I told you about me not wanting to repeat myself?” he asked.
“Okay, okay. Can I see it?” she replied.
“My my, you sure are nosy today, my Queen,” he replied.
She snickered.
“It's your fault.”
He walked over to the bookcase and pressed a button revealing a hidden opening in the wall. Shanelle’s jaw dropped.
“How did I not know that was there?!” she asked.
He shrugged.
“You're not the reigning Monarch, my love,” he said while nodding towards the bedroom, “so you coming?”
Shanelle followed her husband into the hidden bedroom.
“How long has this bedroom been here?” she asked.
“Longer than I've been alive,” he replied, “it was built by my great-grandfather Leonidas during WWI. He wanted to be able to take a nap in peace. And my father had the bathroom added on after my 15th birthday.”
Shanelle looked around the bedroom and glanced into the ensuite as she sat down on the King size bed.
“This room could use some sprucing, Your Majesty. It feels cold and sterile. I mean the mattress on the bed feels soft but other than that. It's like a dungeon in here.”
Marquise shrugged.
“This room was used for sex Shanelle. I doubt my father cared much about the room’s aesthetic.”
“True. Again at least the bed is soft.”
“Of course it is. The mattress is replaced every six months. And the linens are changed every week. Kinda like our bedroom here in the palace.” he said as he sat down next to her.
“Thank God. I don't wanna sit on anything that your father was fucking on.”
“I would never do that to you. Hell, I would never do that to myself,” he said as he pulled her into his lap.
“Now now, Your Majesty. You have an audience with a certain wicked witch of the west to host. You can't be distracted.” she warned him.
Marquise rolled his eyes.
“I am the King. If I want you then you’re mine.”
“You've said that to me before.”
“I will always say that to you,” he said as he moved a few strands of stray hair from her face.
“You. Stepmother from hell. Audience. Ring a bell?” she said to him.
The look in his eyes was half fire, half annoyance. And she knew it when his grip on her hip tightened.
“Never forget my love. I wait for no one. They wait for me.”
“Who knew the jolly old King had a dark side?” she asked with a smirk.
“You've known this about me for years my love.”
“True. So how quick can you be my King?” she asked.
Marquise glanced at his Apple Watch.
“My audience with Regina isn't for another 90 or so minutes. Why?” he replied.
“Because I only need half that time.”
A slow smirk bloomed on his face as he ran his hands up her sides.
“You don't know what you do to me,” he whispered before he brought their lips together.
He savored the feeling of her lips on his. Exploring her mouth with his tongue. He could feel her body relax in his arms. As their shared kiss ended, both were breathing heavily.
“I hate it when you do that.” she sneered.
He smirked as he ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because it makes me feel like agreeing to anything,” she replied.
“Anything huh?” he asked. “Like this?”
He wrapped strands of her hair around his fingers and pulled her head back. Exposing her neck. He leaned forward with his arm around her waist and left a suckling bite on her pulse line.
“If you drop me, I will murder you.” she playfully warned him.
She felt his smile against the skin of her throat as he stood up slowly with her in his arms. As he stood up he let her slip slightly. Causing her to yelp and cling to him before busting out laughing.
“Oops! Silly me!” he teased.
“You asshole!” she giggled.
He set her down with her still in his arms and his mouth on hers. Without missing a beat, he popped the buttons of her blouse open and let it fall to the floor. He went from kissing her thoroughly to kissing down her jaw, her neck, and across her clavicle.
He hastily unfastened her bra and let it fall to the floor. He placed featherlight kisses on the tops of her breasts. He was careful to not apply too much pressure to her sore breasts. He knelt in front of her before reaching behind her and pulling the zipper of her skirt down. He pulled at the bottom of her skirt slowly pulling it and her panties down her baby bump and hips, before letting both pool at her feet.
She rested her arms on his broad shoulders. His hands were splayed along her back as he rested his lips against her bare baby bump. She rubbed her right thumb in small circles on the back of his neck before leaning down to kiss him softly. He kissed from her left hip across her growing belly to her right hip.
“As much as I enjoy you kissing me everywhere, don't you think we're a bit unevenly matched, my King?” she asked.
He looked up at her, before gathering her up and laying her down on the bed. He made short work of taking off his suit. His gaze swept over her body as he gently placed her leg on his shoulder and kissed the inside of her right ankle he slipped her high heel off and did the same for her left ankle. He alternated slowly kissing up the insides of her calves to her inner thighs. The closer he got to her center, the shallower her breathing became.
“You are intoxicating,” he whispered.
“And very impatient,” she replied.
He smirked before his mouth descended onto her. He used his tongue to slide in between her slick folds as he feasted on her. He watched her eyes roll back, her head fell back against the bed as she bit her bottom lip, and her fists bunch the bedding at her sides.
He enjoyed squeezing and massaging her thighs, knowing that he would be leaving handprints on her inner thighs. Every soft moan, every gasp, every whimper, every shallow breath she took urged him on. He would swirl his tongue around her swollen clit before sucking on it.
He sent shockwaves of heat and pleasure coursing throughout her body every time he sucked on her clit. Her body began to tense up as her orgasm rose. She was close to her edge but he was nowhere near done with her. With one final kiss to her clit, he pulled his mouth away so he could kiss his way up her body.
“You'd think I’d be used to this by now,” she said as she tried to catch her breath.
He watched her chest rise and fall with every she took.
“No, you shouldn't. You should never be used to it. You getting used to what I do to you would mean that I'm not doing my job as your husband.”
“And what job is that, Your Majesty?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Instead of answering, he slid his palms into hers intertwining their fingers and capturing her lips in a long, slow kiss. She loved feeling the length of his body against hers. Feeling him grind his hips into hers drove her crazy causing her to break their kiss. With his dick in his hand, Marquise teased her entrance. She let out a frustrated growl.
“Will you stop being such a cock tease already?” she asked.
He smirked.
“As my Queen commands,” he whispered in her ear.
He lined up with her entrance which was warm and welcoming. With a wink, he pushed inside her. When he heard an audible gasp from her, it was all the satisfaction and motivation he needed. He started to move his hips, reveling in the feeling of her muscles tensing and releasing around him as he moved inside her.
“God yes…” she breathed out.
He watched the look on her face change as he began to really fuck her. He tightened the grip he had on her right hip, while his left hand was pressed against the wall above her head to steady himself. He started to circle his hips with each thrust.
“Fuck! I love the way you feel around me.” he hissed as he sank into her.
Every sound she made drove him crazy. Her moans were broken just the way he wanted them to be. He dug his nails into the soft skin of her hip as he fucked her hard. The pain mixed with the pleasure that coursed through her. As he went deep inside her, he watched her back arch and her knuckles go white as she grabbed the sheets under her. He was giving her what she wanted.
“Yes! Right there! I need this!” she cried out.
“Tell me you want it, love.”
“Please don't stop.”
“I don't want you to beg for it. I want you to tell me that you want it.”
“I want it! I want it so bad! Give it to me.”
She felt his smile against her right ear.
“That's it. Give yourself over to me," he whispered in her ear. “Give in to me. ”
He’d surge inside her before pulling out barely leaving the tip inside her just to fill her up again and again. He wanted to watch her lose her mind and senses from the pleasure. She wrapped her legs around his waist and squeezed her thighs together. He stopped long enough to feel her walls pulsate around him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and dug her nails into the skin. She was taking every inch of him and he was loving it. He could feel her start to fade as her orgasm began to crest.
“That's it, love. Take it! Take me!” he growled in her ear. “Let your body give in to me. Let your walls squeeze around me. I know you can feel it. Let it out. Let go. Let me take you away.”
Before she could respond, he squeezed her hips hard and pumped inside her. He was getting close to his orgasm. Her walls squeezed tightly around him but she wasn't quite there yet.
“Let it consume you, love. I know you want it. Take it. It's yours. It's all yours.” he whispered in her ear. “You're fighting it. Don't fight it. Give in. Cum for me. Cum on this dick.”
It was too much and pushed her past the edge she teetered on. She sank her teeth into his right shoulder to muffle her scream just as her orgasm overtook all of her senses. Her body shuddered and her vision blurred.
“Fuck! Yes! Yes! Cum for me love! Cum for me! Right now! Right! Now!” he growled in her ear as he buried himself to the hilt inside her.
“Shit!” he hissed as his orgasm shattered.
They held each other close as they came down from their combined delicious delirium. She took advantage and nipped at his earlobe. She felt his deep chuckle.
“Cannibal,” he whispered.
“You know I have a sweet tooth,” she replied.
“I am not a chocolate bunny.”
“No, you’re not a chocolate bunny. You’re my chocolate bunny.”
He finally detached himself from her and laid on the bed pulling her into his arms. He rubbed the dewy soft skin on her back before softly kissing her forehead. She sighed contentedly.
“I think it's time we admit that we're just a couple of horny teenagers,” she said to him.
Marquise snorted.
“I admit nothing.”
“Then explain how we always wind up fucking somewhere in this palace.”
“Simple. You are my addiction. I have to have you.”
She snickered. As he held her, she noticed that he had a look on his face.
“What? What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing. I just adore you. That's all.” he replied.
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
“You always have.”
“And I always will.”
She rubbed the bite mark she left on his shoulder.
“Would this be considered treason?” she asked.
“Technically yes. But considering that there are bruises on your hip courtesy of me. We're square.” he replied.
“Phew! I thought I'd be sent to the gallows.”
“The gallows haven't been used in over 100 years. Besides, your daughter would have my head.”
“True. She would be so mad at you.”
That's when the alarm on his Apple Watch went off.
“Well, it's been fun. But duty calls, my King. Your audience awaits.”
Marquise groaned.
“Fineeee. I guess I can let you and my little ones go for now.”
She giggled at the look on his face.
“You'll be okay.”
He kissed her one last time before both got dressed and went their separate ways for the rest of the day.
The next day Shanelle found herself just finishing up lunch with her parents and her very animated daughter in one of the palace gardens.
“I can’t wait to be a big sister. Grammy, do you think I’ll be like you are with uncle Hank?” Khari asked her grandmother.
“I hope so, sunshine,” Shantel replied.
“You want my daughter to boss the twins around like you are to uncle Hank, mom?” Shanelle asked her mother.
“I don't boss him around! I just tell him the correct way to do things.” Shantel replied.
“Mom. You are mean to your baby brother.”
“I am not!” Shantel protested.
“Your mother’s right Shanelle. She's not mean to her brother.” Damien piped up.
“Thank you. See? Listen to your father Shanelle.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
“Besides, the only brother Shantel’s ever been mean to is mine.”
Shanelle dropped her fork.
“You have a brother Pop Pop?” Khari asked Damien.
Damien looked up from Khari to see his wife and daughter looking at him like he had lost his mind.
“Yes, sunshine. I have an older brother.”
“I didn't know that! Where does he live?” Khari asked.
“He lives here in Cordonia,” he replied.
Shanelle glared daggers at her father. That's when Marquise walked into the garden. He instantly noticed the looks on the faces of his wife and mother-in-law. He knew whatever it was, it wasn't good.
“Well hello everyone.”
“Hi, daddy!” Khari replied as she ran up to him.
“Hello, my love. How is lunch?” he asked his daughter.
“It's good. Daddy did you know Pop Pop has a brother?” she asked her dad.
“Yes, I know my love. How do you know?” Marquise asked his daughter.
“Pop Pop said so. He said his brother lives here. Did you know that too?” she replied.
Marquise had to school the annoyance at his father-in-law on his face into a mask.
“Yes, my love. I knew about that too,” he replied.
“Will I get to meet him, Daddy?” Khari asked.
“Probably not, little one,” he replied.
“Oh…” she said dejectedly.
Marquise didn't like seeing his daughter disappointed, but he knew that her mother didn't want their daughter to know about him. So His Majesty changed the subject.
“Did you tell your grandparents about your river rock collection?” Marquise asked Khari.
“Huh? Oh yeah! I forgot about that.” she replied.
“Why don't you go show your grandparents your rock collection?” he suggested to his daughter.
“That's a good idea Marquise. Pop Pop and I would love to see your rock collection sunshine.” Shantel quipped.
“Okay, Grammy! Let's go!” Khari said to her grandmother before saying to her grandfather. “Come on Pop Pop.”
“Pop Pop will join you in a bit, baby. You and Grammy go on ahead.” Shanelle said to Khari.
“Okay, mommy,” Khari replied before taking Shantel’s hand and going into the palace.
When the coast was clear, Shanelle turned her furious gaze to her father.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” she hissed at her father.
“I'm sorry Shanelle. It just slipped out.” Damien replied.
“Way to go, Your Highness. You have put the thought of that idiot brother of yours into my daughter's head.” Marquise deadpanned.
Damien rolled his eyes at Marquise before turning to his daughter.
“I know how you feel about him, Shanelle, but that doesn't make him any less family.”
Shanelle scoffed as she stood up.
“Family to who, daddy? To you? Because he will never be family to me.”
“Shanelle, please. Don't you think you've punished him enough?” Damien asked her.
“Is he still alive?” she replied.
“Yes.”
“Then no. I haven't. And why do you care anyway?” she asked her father.
“Because he's still my brother. And whether you like it or not, he's still your uncle.” he replied.
“If I may interject, Your Highness.” Marquise piped up. “A lesson your daughter and I had to learn the hard way. Blood makes you related. It doesn't make you a family.”
Damien let out an aggravated sigh.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm well aware of how you and my daughter feel.” he said to Marquise before looking to his daughter.
“If that were the case, Daddy, you would've kept your mouth shut. But clearly, that's not the case.”
“What is so wrong with Khari knowing that I have a brother?” Damien asked.
“Your brother is the problem. Your brother is a cancer that I don’t want anywhere near my children.” Shanelle replied before walking inside leaving her father and husband by themselves.
“Well, Your Highness, you have once again managed to piss your daughter off,” Marquise said to his father-in-law.
“I just wish she’d stop acting like he's the villain of the story.”
“He is the villain of the story. Him, my father, and you. All of you are the villains in this story.”
“How many times do I have to apologize for my role in the marriage treaty?” Damien asked.
Marquise shrugged.
“However long it takes, Your Highness.”
Damien sighed heavily.
“I made an honest mistake mentioning him. And when Khari asked, I didn't want to lie to her.”
“While I understand that, the job of telling my daughter about your brother is up to two people. Her mother and I. Not you.”
“Again, I'm sorry. It won't ever happen again, Your Majesty.”
“Good. See that it doesn't. Now have you spoken to him, recently?” Marquise asked.
“No. Not in months anyway.” Damien replied.
“But you have had communication with him, yes?” Marquise asked.
“Of course I have Marquise. As I said earlier, he's still my brother.” Damien answered.
“He's the same brother who sold your daughter off. It's extraordinary how you still hold him in such high regard.”
“I'm not my daughter. I can't just cut him off.”
“Of course, you can Damien. You choose not to.”
Damien let out a frustrated sigh.
“In other news, your nephew won the election in Comery Isle.“
“He did? That's great!”
“He'll be here tonight for a state dinner.”
“If it's alright with you, I'd like to attend the dinner as well.”
“It's fine. As long as you don't embarrass my wife tonight.”
“I wouldn't dream of it.”
“Good. Now I'm going to find your daughter and calm her down, and you’re supposed to be looking at the rock collection of mine.”
“Is that an order, Your Majesty?” Damien asked.
“What do you think Damien?” Marquise asked before walking inside.
That evening Marquise and Shanelle were walking to one of the side dining rooms in the palace with her father in tow. When the three stopped at the doors leading into the dining room, Marquise gently squeezed his wife’s left wrist.
“Are you ready, my love?” he asked Shanelle.
“As I'll ever be,” she replied.
“It'll be over soon. And before you know it, we'll be able to put our daughter to bed.”
She smiled softly at him. He spared a glance at his father-in-law who dipped his chin as if to bow, before signaling to the guard to open the doors. When the three walked into the dining room, they were greeted by Shanelle’s cousin Prince Edwin Miller and the last person on earth that she'd ever want to see: her uncle.
“Good evening Your Majesties. You’re both looking well.” Prince Edwin said as he greeted them.
“Thank you, Your Highness. You as well. Congratulations on winning the election.” Marquise replied.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I am ready to hit the ground running for the people of Comery Isle.”
“And congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness. We wish you and Naya all the happiness in the world.”
Edwin nods politely.
“Thank you, my King. I appreciate your good wishes. And I hope you and my cousin know that our engagement is not meant to be spiteful. Naya understands the region we are both in and wants to bring about change for the people.”
“I'm sure that she does. Again, we wish you both well.”
Edwin looked at Shanelle.
“You’re looking well, Shanelle.”
“Thank you. So are you.”
“Congratulations to you and His Majesty on your newest edition.”
Shanelle smiled cordially.
“Thank you, Edwin. I appreciate that.”
“You’re most welcome.”
That's when Edwin’s father groaned.
“Yes yes. Félicitations and all that. Can we move on?” King Edward asked impatiently.
Shanelle set her jaw but kept her mouth shut when Marquise wrapped his hand around her left wrist. Edward looked over her shoulder to see her father standing behind her. He softened slightly.
“Hello, little brother. It's been a while," Edward said to Damien.
Damien smiled softly.
“Hello, Edward. It's good to see you. How is Genevieve?”
“She's doing well, thank you. How is your wife? Forgive me, I've forgotten her name.”
“Shantel," Shanelle spoke up.
“Ahh yes. Thank you, my niece.”
“Your Majesty.” She corrected him.
Edward raised an eyebrow at her.
“Oh so now you care about your title, my niece?” he asked her.
“I have always cared about my title. And I will not continue to remind you of my title.” she replied.
“Nice to see you are still as obstinate as ever…Your Majesty.” he sneered at Shanelle.
“Let us all have a seat, and get started shall we?” Marquise suggested.
Everyone took their seats at Marquise’s request. Not soon after the first course was served.
“I see you still know how to serve your guests an appropriate meal, Shanelle,” Edward said to her.
Marquise placed his right hand on his wife’s knee. Rubbing it in soft circles.
“Edward, I will only remind you once. You will address my wife by her title.” Marquise warned the former King.
Edward backed down.
“Apologies, my King. I'm only teasing is all.”
Marquise smiled tightly.
“With all due respect, Your Highness. I know for a fact that you’re not.”
Edward gave Marquise a lopsided smile.
“Again, my apologies. I meant no disrespect.”
Edwin cleared his throat awkwardly before addressing the room.
“I was hoping after dinner Her Majesty and I could discuss the new budget proposal I have for Comery Isle.”
“As long as it follows the tax codes of Cordonia and includes the continuation of the labor tax incentive program, we'll talk.”
Edward clears his throat.
“Okay. I will have to revise my budget plan and then reschedule with you, Your Majesty.”
Shanelle raised an eyebrow at her cousin.
“Whatever for?” she asked.
“Well the current budget I have written doesn't include the tax incentive program,” Edwin replied.
“And why not?” she asked.
“If I may be completely honest, it's a waste of time. The money is better spent on more pressing matters of Comery Isle. Like paying the severance package owed to the former Lord Neville and his family.” Edwin replied.
Shanelle sighed in annoyance.
“Is what the people voted for, Edwin?” she asked.
“No, it's not. But I also believe in forgiveness. The Vancoeur family served Comery Isle and Cordonia with distinction.” he replied.
“Did you get a look at the finances of the former Lord's family?” Shanelle asked.
“No, I didn't,” Edwin replied.
Shanelle nodded decisively.
“I'm not surprised. Because if you did you would've seen that they had been embezzling from the main treasury of the island for decades. Imposed unsafe and unfair labor practices. Much like Connie, they underpaid and even fired workers at their estate without any true rhyme or reason. All of this on top of their involvement with the Via Imperii. In conclusion, I'm not about to sign off on any type of severance package for them. They're lucky they got to keep whatever treasury they had left.”
Edward scoffed.
“So they skimmed a little off the top, so what?” Edward sneered at Shanelle.
“That's funny. I don't believe I was talking to you.” Shanelle snapped at him.
Edward rolled his eyes before addressing his brother.
“You know, I'm starting to regret putting your daughter in power.”
Damien took a deep breath before looking at his older brother.
“Unfortunately for you, it's too little too late to rewrite history.” Shanelle said to the former King.
“Is that so? And what makes you think that I can't snatch your title from you?” Edward asked Shanelle.
“Well for starters, you lost the power to do anything when my husband and I were married. Second, many of your old friends, allies, colleagues, and associates were given a choice: either align with the new Monarchy under my husband and I or lose your social status.” Shanelle replied.
Edward clapped slowly.
“Very clever, my niece. You've finally learned to wield your power.”
“First, last and only time I am going to tell you this: I am not your niece. We are not family.”
Edward gave Shanelle a haughty look.
“So you keep saying.” he sneered.
The former King then turned his attention and sneered toward Marquise.
“I have to know, is this how you honor your father's name, house, and legacy, Your Majesty? By erasing his contributions to the Kingdom?” Edward asked Marquise.
Marquise closed his eyes and then took a calming breath.
“Edward, that's none of your goddamn business. What I do as King with or in my kingdom is the business of me, my wife, and the new Monarchy. As my wife stated, you lost your power and right to control anything when we were married. Which by the way, was by you and my father's design. So if you're feeling forgotten by either the Monarchy or the people, then that's your fault.”
Edward's face soured.
“You two were handpicked for a reason. You were supposed to have toed the line. Kept the Monarchy and nobility first. That's how Cordonia is supposed to work. But instead, you two are soft. You punish the nobility because of your combined hatred for me and the late Constantine.”
“Watch your tongue, Edward! Less you want it to be cut out.” Marquise hissed.
Edward scoffed.
“Is that a threat, Your Majesty?” Edward asked.
“No. It's a reminder that there is only one King in this room. And as that King, I have had just about enough of you and your disrespect.” Marquise replied.
Edward chuckled darkly.
“I see now why your father always considered you to be weak, Marquise. You don't have the balls to make the decisions necessary for the kingdom to thrive and survive. It's no wonder why your mother didn't last long as Queen.” Edward sneered at Marquise.
“Edward, that is enough!” Damien finally spoke up.
“And of course, my spineless little brother finds a way to defend these fools.”
That's when Shanelle had heard enough.
“You know what?” Shanelle said before throwing her water glass at Edward who barely had enough time to duck.
“You ungrateful bitch! I gave you and this hollow idiot the world on a silver platter and this is how you both repay me? The only reason you’re even the shadow of a Monarchy is because of me!” Edward shouted.
“Guards!” Marquise’s voice boomed. “Get this parasite out of my palace before I have him tried for treason and hanged!”
Everyone watched as the guards hauled the shouting former King away.
“Damien get my wife out of here. Now!” he ordered his father-in-law.
With one last look at her husband, Shanelle followed her father out of the dining room. Marquise turned his attention to an annoyed Edwin.
“Well, my cousin does it again. She has a temper tantrum and my father gets blamed for it,” Edwin sneered.
“Prince Edwin, please do what your father can never seem to do and shut up!” Marquise hissed.
Edwin kept his mouth shut and the annoyance on his face clear.
“I will only issue this warning once. If you ever bring that God-awful human slug anywhere near my palace again, I will make sure that your wedding day is the day of your wake.”
“Are you threatening me?” Edwin asked.
Marquise gave him a cold smile that was reminiscent of his father’s smile.
“Merely reminding you of who you are and aren't my good man. We'll be in touch, and do give Naya my regards.”
With that Marquise walked out of the dining room leaving Prince Edwin in a stunned silence.
A/N: This is a TRR AU. Liam is already married, but see’s Riley and wants his cake. Drake and Riley are MARRIED! It’s the day after their wedding and they are headed off on their honeymoon adventure, but first... Enjoy.
Disclaimers: Most characters are property of Pixelberry
Word Count: 2000
Warnings: Language, adult content, sexual content, IF YOU ARE NOT 18 JUST DON’T. 🍋🍋🍋
A HUGE THANK YOU to all those who take the time to read my fics. I truly appreciate you. Extra thanks to those who comment and reblog. Y’all give me LIFE!
Chapter 1: Haven’t met you yet
Chapter 2: For Real
Chapter 3: Excuse me miss
Chapter 4: It’s getting late
Chapter 5: Love on the brain
Chapter 6: When a man loves a woman
Chapter 7: Bad Habits
Chapter 8: Dive
Chapter 9: Guess who’s coming to Dinner?
Bonus: Just the way you are
Chapter 10: I Choose you
Chapter 11: Everytime I close my eyes
Chapter 12: Die a Happy Man
Pairings: Drake & Riley
Song inspiration: Monster- Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber
Drake excused himself to contact Madeline, the reception from Liam’s room was terrible. Riley waited by Liam’s side texting Carsyn. She knew that they only had a short window of time before they missed their flight. Carsyn confirmed that she was on the way back to the hospital as Riley settled into the chair beside Liam’s bed.
“Thank you.” His voice was so quiet Riley wasn’t sure if she had actually heard him or if she imagined it.
“Liam? You’re awake.”
He coughed before Riley quickly grabbed the white styrofoam cup next to the bed to hold the straw to his dry lips. He nodded, thanking her before speaking.
“What happened? Where are we?”
Riley stood to look into his eyes. “Liam, you were in a wreck after you left the strip club. You lost a lot of blood. We’re at Baylor hospital.”
“And you--” Liam chokes on his words. “You are here with me. I’m so sorry, Riley.”
“Sorry Liam? You’re sorry? For what? Are you sorry that you have been a creep since the moment we met? Or are you sorry that you burst into Drake’s room while I was changing? Or that you forced a kiss on me and accused me of wanting it? Perhaps you’re sorry for taking my husband to a strip club and paying a whore to seduce him. How about what you should be sorry about, about how disappointed your best friend was because you missed his wedding after staying out all night with strippers? We are supposed to be at the airport starting our happily ever after!” she spat. “But noooo, Drake is a better friend to you than you could ever be to him. So here we are! So you are right, you are one of the sorriest motherfuckers I have ever laid eyes on. How much more is he supposed to endure for you, Liam?” a deafening silence fell over the room. Liam closed his eyes contemplating her words.
“Answer me, dammit!”
“Riley, I--”
“You what? Liam, you are a poor excuse for a man.”
“I know. You have made your point. I-- I am ashamed of my behavior. It’s clear that I have some self reflecting to do.”
“That’s the understatement of the year. Carsyn is on her way. We have a plane to catch.”
“She is? Where’s Drake?”
“Yes, she is…and when she gets here you had better have your shit together. You are going to lose her and Drake if you keep to your trifling ways. They are sick of your shit, Liam. I don’t know how much Carsyn has left in her but Drake is done cleaning up your mess. That man, he is mine and I will protect him until my last breath. You’re not going to keep treating my husband like shit. He’s too good to you for that…”
“What am I too good for?” Drake asked as he and Bastien entered the room.
“Nothing,” Liam said quietly.
“Liam, you’re awake.” Drake moved to his side. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t feel so good.”
“I’m sore; but I will live, I guess.” he trailed off. “Look, Drake I owe you an apology. I missed the wedding, got you tangled in my mess and now you might miss your flight.”
“It’s ok.” Drake started.
“No, it’s not!” Riley interrupted.
Drake shot her a warning glare before he continued. She deadpanned.
“I couldn’t leave knowing you were laid up in the hospital unconscious. Then we got here to find that girl from the club lurking around. She wants hush money Li.”
“Heh, I’m not surprised. Let Madeline handle it.”
“I contacted Madeline so she could get ahead of all of this before it hits the media. Riley and I had a flight to catch and we missed it. She insisted on getting you squared away before we headed to the airport.”
“Drake, I feel awful. Take the royal jet. I’m sure I can’t fly in this condition anyway. It’s the least I can do.” Liam pleaded.
“Damn right,” Riley quipped. Drake glared at her and she shrugged her shoulders as Liam smiled.
After getting Liam all squared away, Drake and Riley set out on their first adventure as a married couple. The 24 hour flight from Dallas to Phuket, Koh Phi Phi aboard the private jet gave them plenty of time to talk about the future, take naps, read, and of course rack up frequent flyer miles as members of the “Mile high Club.”
He had planned their day, but after that flight they were both spent. They spent the day in bed, tangled in the white cotton sheets, before slumber came to claim them both. Riley fell asleep on her husband's chest in the center of paradise.
The sound of heavy rainfall plucked her from her sleep as a gentle breeze tickled her skin. She reached across the bed to find the place where Drake slept the previous night empty. It was really early. The sun hadn’t come up yet the door to the deck was open and the breeze seemed to draw her.
------
Back in Dallas
“Carsyn, you came.” Liam laid heavily medicated in the Dallas hospital bed. He laid eyes on the one person who he never expected to see. He was sure he had blown it with her. His remorseful eyes followed her as she moved to his side.
She looked at his bruise pale skin before she placed her hand over his. “Li, I have to be honest. After all that we have been through, everything within me tells me I shouldn’t be here. That I should run away from you and never look back.”
“Car--”
“Let me finish,” she interrupted. He nodded. “But when I look into your eyes and I remember the vows I took to be by your side for better or for worse, I just can’t help coming to your aide. I have no idea if I will live to regret this, because all it has been for our entire marriage is for worse. When does the “for better” part start Li? When?” Her shoulders visibly shook as she held back a sob.
“Now,” he said barely above a whisper. “You’re a remarkable woman Carsyn. I’m not sure how you have held on this long, but I’m glad you have. I honestly didn’t know the depths of how deeply I needed you until you left. Come home. Let me prove to you that I can be the man you fell in love with. Riley was right. I have been a bismal husband, poor king and a pitiful friend.”
She gazed at him thoughtfully. Quietly, she spoke. “I don’t trust you. You assaulted your best friend’s wife, got drunk and got in a wreck and missed their wedding. Drake is a better friend to you than you could even be to yourself. He and his new bride missed their flight to their honeymoon to be at your side.”
“Don’t you think I know that? All the people I hurt the worst were the only ones by my side when I woke up. I realize that now. This has all been quite the humbling experience. I promise you Car, I will spend the rest of my days trying to right this wrong. All I do is run people away. You left me, Drake left me. Hell, even my own mother… I am so damaged.”
In Phuket
The rain poured violently through the canopy of trees. Riley found a shirtless Drake in a trance staring out into the storm. His far away look alarmed her. She slowly approached him, wordlessly placing her hand on his shoulder. After a few moments he reached up to cover her hand with his own. His deep breathing turned into unabashed sobs when she took him in her arms. “Babe, what the hell?”
“I’m a horrible friend. I left him alone. If I just stayed..He needed me.”
She wiped his tears. They terrified her. Her big strong, confident, brooding, masculine husband was a blubbering mess of tears. She swallowed thickly, trying her best to hold it together. “No! No Drake. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to blame yourself and take on his bullshit.” she chidded. If you would have stayed you would have missed our wedding too. You’d be laid up in the hospital or worse, dead! You were where you were supposed to be. You came home. He’s a grown man Drake! You’ve taken care of him long enough. Let his wife take care of him. I need you. I’m your wife. Take care of me.”
His tears slowed as he pulled his bride into his lap. “You’re right, il mio amore. I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her neck. His lips found the sensitive flesh as his large calloused hand ran up her thigh. Her breath caught in her throat, she shivered as he broke contact with her just long enough to slide his undershirt over her head. “You are perfect, you know that?” She blushed at his words as she straddled him running her fingers through his thick chocolate mane. He bit his lip as he ghosted his hand down her curves. Her full lips found his in a slow lust filled kiss. She moaned into his mouth as he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Her swollen lips parted as she panted. Her stiff tongue flicked one of his nipples before she moved over to suck the other. Her warm mouth followed her hands down his defined abs, her tongue tracing each muscle. She slowly dragged her tongue down his Adonis belt before tugging his boxers down. She smiled when he lifted his bottom to help. His monstrous erection sprung free as her eager mouth found his tip releasing it with a pop.
Drake pulled Riley to her feet and pressed her up against a post, before running his hand up her body settling his large hand around her throat. Their eyes met in adoration as her chest rose and fell with anticipation. Her body was on fire. She had never felt so connected to another person. It was deeper than a physical connection. As he looked into her eyes she was sure that their souls were one. Drake fell to his knees and rested his wife's thigh on his shoulder. He took his time kissing her inner thighs before burying his face in her apex. She gasped at the sensation. “Drake, I--Iove you,” she stuttered. “I love you more.” His voice reverberated throughout her core. His words were enough to send her crashing into her first orgasm.
Drake lifted her petite frame with one hand as she trembled. He stroked his throbbing length with the other pushing inside of her without warning. “Drake!” Riley screamed as she stretched around him. With her legs wrapped around his waist he thrusted into her slowly and deeply. A single tear fell down her cheek as she gripped the hair at the nape of his neck. His greyish blues met her hazel greens as she bounced up and down. “What have you done to me, woman?” Watching her cry got him all choked up. After several more passionate, sensual minutes of love making Drake could feel himself getting close. “I can’t hold out much longer in this position. Where do you want this?”
“Inside me.” she whispered in his ear. “I can’t wait to have your gorgeous country ass babies.” Drake buried his face in her neck as he chuckled lowly.
In that moment he knew he was a goner. He knew that he would give his life for her. He knew that she had been the best decision he had ever made. She was his dream come true. She completed him. She held him down like no one else could and still let him be a man. He didn’t know where life was taking them. But he was sure that with her by his side it would be an adventure.
I should be excited about TNA Friday and the big wedding tomorrow, but I'm just so sad that TNA is coming to an end. 💔 Before I found the OH fandom, TNA was my weekly little escape. I know, I know... it was a f*cked up story to begin with, but I fell in love with how much Sam loved our MC in Book 1. And don't get me started on M&M. I'm just going to miss it so much.🥹
Now that the story is coming to an end, I'd love some recommendations for TNA fanfics.
Can't wait to see what everyone thinks after the series finale tomorrow.
Hii love 💙
I know how you feel 😿 It feels really bittersweet you’re sad that the books are coming to an end but at the same time you’re happy because Sam & MC are getting their long awaited Happy End.
That’s how I felt with when OH ended I was looking for fanfics because I missed the book so damn much 😿
@cariantha *big hugs* I know exactly what you mean. I had a moment last night when I was drinking out of my TNA tumbler where I felt... existential. lol Is that the word? *shrugs*
I had been playing Choices for a few years right when the pandemic hit. I was one of the lucky ones that got to keep going to work to socialize, but my social life took a HUGE nose dive. So, I got this wild idea: maybe I should look on FB for Choices fan groups. LOL And voila! They were there, and I made a couple of friends!
When TNA came out, we had no place to talk about it, and we kinda felt foolish starting a group because surely, no one else enjoys this dumpster fire of a story... WE WERE WRONG! We established a group of HUNDREDS of fans, and every week, it was a circus! Falling in love with Sam, wanting to beat Sam, wanting to runaway with Robin... it was crazy!
And yesterday... was our last circus. And the normal jest was no where to be found. We all just kinda commented "I'm going to miss this"... 😭
I share all this with you, Cari, because I just want to give you the biggest hug and let you know that you're not alone in this feeling. It is sad! You've invested so much energy, so many FEEEEEELINGS into these characters... it's hard.
But, thank goodness for fandoms and fanfiction. It might not be the same, but it will help us savor and remember some of our favorite moments!
Maybe this is a sign that you should try your hand at some TNA fanfiction!
I recommend checking out @thenannyaffair-fanfics. It's run by a sweet friend of mine @chemist-ana who is currently on an indefinite hiatus. Here's a list of known writers of TNA. I know @socalwriterbee has a post-series series going on right now, and @peonierose has a crossover/pre-series story she just started.
Also...
Rumor has it...
There is a TNA Appreciation Week coming in JANUARY...
Anyway... Love you dearly, sweet Cari! TNA isn't everyone's cup of tea... but it definitely gave us so much joy. It will be missed!
Hi love! yes, I do! I will post the links here but they are under my header. Also, I did not forget about your request it is on my list !!!
American in Cordonia
Forged in fire
The Stories in between
Our life together
The Pencil Chronicles
Wacky Drabble A/U
Forged in fire, the series is in the works, and its a reboot of my series under an old handle; once all my projects in waiting get released, the first chapter will be released!
I want to thank you for your interest in my work, your support, and for always being a positive fixture in fandom.
After what seems like forever, I have managed to carve out some writing time in the midst of riding the rollercoaster that is my life now. I am making headway on lots of deadline late stories, and have even managed to finish the first one!
This story is my submission for @choicesflashfics inaugural prompt challenge. I chose the following prompt: “Neither one of us is drunk enough for this conversation.” and it will appear in bold.
The storyline is born of the idea that Liam has a private conversation with Adelaide, the Duchess of Krona, following her lack of support once Barthelemy invokes the Coventus Noblis. It’s really nothing new, but hopefully the perspective these two characters bring sets it apart.
It was also brought to my attention that @queenjilian and I share a head canon regarding the death of Queen Eleanor I and the reasons behind it. I promise, the idea came to me at 2am this morning and was not influenced by her story, Only Time Will Tell. Specifically, check out her Chapter 5 to see her execution for the hows and whys it went down.
Also, unsure if it’s canon or fanon, but I think a majority of us share the belief that Leo’s middle name is Alexander. If not, my usage is purely coincidental.
Now re-thinking posting this story …
THANK YOU to all who looked this over. It’s still a one-shot. (for now)
THANK YOU to all who will read this story; you and your likes, comments, and/or reblogs are appreciated more than you know.
A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.
Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.
Current Word Count: 7,250 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾♀️)
If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘
This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!
Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!
Every so often the chapters will be or include flashbacks. This is just the first flashback.
Tag List: @twinkleallnight @txemrn @choicesficwriterscreations
How It's Going vs How It Started.
Once again it was The Queen vs The Princess. And Marquise had to decide which side he was on. The Royal Family was hosting a dinner and Khari and Shanelle were fighting over The Princess saying she wasn't going.
“No!”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no!”
Shanelle looked around like she was hearing things.
“Did you just tell me no?”
“You have ears right?”
“Little girl…I think you're forgetting who I am and who you are.”
“I know who I am. I'm you. Only better.”
“Of all the times for you to be a 4-year-old brat…”
“From what Grammy and Pop Pop say you were an even bigger brat than I am.”
Marquise choked on his water when Khari stomped her right foot challenging her mother. A trait she most definitely got from her.
“Marquise if you don't get your daughter!”
The King let out a deep sigh.
“Princess. Come here.”
Khari looked at her father before walking over to him and climbing into his lap.
“Now I understand that you don't want to go to the ball, but you know you have to.”
“But!”
He put a gentle finger to her lips.
“You know you can't be by yourself.”
“But King ElI smells funny. And Princess Octavia is always mean to me.” she pouted.
He hated to see his daughter pout.
“Believe me, your mother and I don't like being around them either. Especially Queen Vanda.”
“I forgot about her," Khari muttered.
“I haven't.” Shanelle quipped.
“Do you remember what happened the last time they were here?”
“Queen Vanda ruined one of mommy’s favorite dresses when she spilled her drink on it?”
“Mmmhmm. And do you remember what your mother did?”
Khari started to giggle.
“Mommy accidentally dropped her dessert on her?”
Marquise snickered before leaning in conspiratorially.
“Between you and me, that wasn't really an accident.”
“She had it coming…” Shanelle said nonchalantly.
“Mommy!”
“What? She did! You know how much I loved that dress.”
“But why do we have to host them, Daddy?”
Marquise thought for a second.
“Well, you know the Nintendo Switch you have?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“Well, the kingdom of Gemmora is a major supply hub for Nintendo. A lot of the computer chips that they produce go into many of the Nintendo gaming systems.”
“I didn't know that.”
“Daddy has known that for years.”
“So King Eli doesn't want one to be open here?”
“He doesn't want one to open anywhere else outside of Japan and Gemmora.”
“Well, that's not fair.”
“I know.”
“Is that why we're hosting them?”
“Yes, my angel. This dinner we're hosting is in hopes to get King Eli to open up to the idea of Nintendo opening a manufacturing plant here.”
“And if we have a plant here, that means I can get a new Switch for my birthday and Christmas right Daddy?”
Shanelle snorted.
“When did I say that?”
“You haven't…yet.”
“Anyway, now you know why it's important that we host this ball. Even though none of us want to.”
“But why do it at all?”
“Well, because sometimes as Monarchs we have to do certain things that we might not necessarily like or agree with. Hosting this dinner might not benefit us per se. But it will benefit our people.”
“Does that include my friends?”
“Yes. Including your friends.”
Marquise thought for a second.
“Tell you what, I'll make you a deal. If you go get dressed, and we all survive this dinner, we'll have a bedtime snack of your choice. How about that?”
Khari put on a thoughtful look that melted the King’s heart.
“Okay, Daddy. I'll go get ready.”
“That's my girl. But first, you owe your mother an apology for your behavior.”
Khari nodded before looking at her mother.
“I'm sorry Mommy. Do you forgive me?”
“Apology accepted. Now go get dressed.”
Khari kissed her father on the cheek before she got down to hug her mother then ran off to go get ready.
“I don’t know how you do it but you do it.”
Marquise snickered.
“Tactical negotiations my Queen. They're not just for dealing with hostile nations and kingdoms you know.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes with a smirk.
“As for you my gorgeous wife” he asks as he wraps his arms around her, “how are you feeling?”
“So far I'm alright. No early pregnancy symptoms yet.”
“Good. Very good.” he said before he kissed her. “So let us go get dressed as well. It's bad decorum for the hosts to be late.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
That's how it’s going. Let's look at how it started between The King and Queen.
Their engagement caused quite the stir. The Crown Prince Of Cordonia is marrying The Princess From Brooklyn. Sounds like a fairytale right? But you know what they say? All that glitters ain’t gold. Their engagement was a cover for an arranged marriage between their fathers. It happened when Shanelle was only 6 months old and Marquise was 2 years old. Their betrothal was made in effort to unify a struggling Cordonia as one. And as much as Shanelle didn’t want it to happen, she couldn’t stop it. And neither could he.
His dream was to be Cordonia’s Prime Minister. But when he found out about Shanelle and their betrothal he had to shift his thinking. Being Prime Minister was out. If he was to marry her, he had to be King. His new dream almost didn't happen thanks to her not wanting to have anything to do with him. He met her for the first time when he made an unexpected trip to visit her at home in New York. He was standing in her living room.
“Hello, Princess. How are you?”
“So you’re the one I'm stuck with?”
When he turned around and they made eye contact the sparks flew between them.
“If by that you mean your future husband, then yes I'm the one you’re stuck with.”
Shanelle stood there in the doorway annoyed by him.
“Great. I got matched with a fucking comedian.”
He shrugged.
“Call me ComicView.”
“Yeah, no.”
Something about her fire intrigued him.
“Well, aren't you fiery?”
“Don't get too close, you might get burned.”
“Oh, I assure you I can handle the heat.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes.
“Why are you here?”
He walked closer to her and she had to control her racing heart rate.
“I've heard so much about the Princess of Brooklyn that I had to see for myself. No one told me how beautiful you would be in person.”
When he got closer, she couldn't resist the temptation to look him up and down. Especially after he kissed the back of her left hand.
“Wrong hand. For a royal, you would think you'd know which hand to kiss. Left hand means a woman is married. And the right hand means she's available. You kissed my left hand, which is the wrong one.”
“No, I definitely had the right one.”
“I'm single.” she hissed.
He smirked as he pinned her between his body and the door frame. The look in his eyes made her body hot.
“Not anymore.” he said as he tilted her chin up so she looked up at him, “As of today, you belong to me.”
“I am not your property!”
“You're right. You’re not my property. You’re much better than that.” he said before leaning in to whisper in her ear, “Shanelle…you are My Queen.”
The next night Shanelle couldn't wait to get together with her best friends The Fab Babes for a Friday girl’s night and Chinese at her place.
“Alright! We have food from Szechuan Palace, we have an endless supply of wine, we have my dad's new flat screen, and we have movies!” she said as she laid out the food.
“We should start with–” Nina said before Shanelle cut her off.
“WE ARE NOT WATCHING JURASSIC PARK!”
“You’re such a hater!”
“Bitch I will throw off the top of the Empire State Building! Don't fuck with me!”
“Okay break it up you two. Can we get back to eating now?” Chutney asked.
“Yeah yeah. Besides, I got news for y'all.”
Shanelle gave the girls a rundown of meeting the Prince the day before.
“HE DID WHAT?!” Chutney shouted.
“Yup. Walked right into my momma’s house and demanded to see me.” Shanelle replied.
“Bitch you lying!” Robin told her.
“Nope. He stood in the middle of her living room floor and said he was not leaving.”
“Holy shit!” Dee quipped.
“Where were you?” Robin asked.
“Knowing her she was probably sleeping,” Nina answered.
Shanelle sucked her teeth at Nina before throwing a fortune cookie at her.
“You know she's right, Nelle.” Bronwyn said.
“Shouldn't you be operating on a puppy or something?”
“Wait! Is he here?” Aly asked.
The girls looked towards the hallway and Shanelle rolled her eyes.
“No, he's not here. He's at the Cordonian Embassy, Something about not telling his dad he was coming to town.”
“So what does he look like Nelle?” Bron asks.
Shanelle groaned.
“Here we go…”
“He's short, isn't he?” Chut asks.
“Is he ugly?” Rob asks.
“Maybe he has a voice that sounds like Michael Jackson’s!” Aly says.
“Nina, what do you think?” Dee asks.
“She laid eyes on him and fell in love. What else?” Nina deadpanned.
“I did not!”
“Okay fine. You didn't fall in love with him the minute you saw him. But you do want him to fuck your brains out. Is that better?”
“Ooh!” the girls say in unison before looking at Shanelle who stabs at her food.
“Ugh! I need a new set of friends. Y’all suck.”
“Love you!” the girls say.
“So is Nina right?” Dee asks.
“…not exactly," Shanelle mutters into her food.
“Not exactly? What's that supposed to mean?” Chut asks.
“It means she's been dickamitized.” Bron says.
Shanelle glared daggers at her.
“Scuse me?! You have no room to talk about ANYBODY being dickamitized. Because if Lo walked through that door right fucking now, there’d be a puddle at your damn feet.” Shanelle snapped back at her.
“I–“
“Shut it Lenny Williams!”
“Be nice Nelle. It’s not every day that you crush on your patient.” Rob teased.
Bron groans.
“Rob…not you too.”
“Never mind the fact that said patient is your friend’s baby brother…” Shanelle adds.
“Okay damn I get it!”
“So what is he like?” Aly asks.
“Bossy as hell.” Shanelle replied.
“What?!” the girls said in feigned shock.
“Imagine that. The Princess met someone bossier than her.” Nina teased.
The girls cackled collectively.
“Shut up before I have you hoes thrown outta here.” Shanelle hissed.
“You love us too much to do that.” Nina says.
“I have my limits. Thank you very much.”
“Except for when it comes to a certain Crown Prince of Cordonia.” Dee quipped.
“I will call Zig!”
“That's not a threat. Also, please call him. I wouldn't mind seeing him.” Rob adds.
“Justice for Dino! He deserves better!”
A fit of cackling broke out amongst the girls.
“You never did answer the question Nelle.” Chut says.
“What question?”
“What does he look like?” The girls ask in unison.
“Stop yelling at me!” Shanelle replies.
“Don’t want us to yell at you, answer the question.” Nina says.
“Ugh! Fine!”
Shanelle pulls out her phone and pulls up a picture of the Prince. The girls look impressed.
“Not bad Princess.”
“Are those real diamonds he’s wearing?”
“I wonder if he owns a dungeon.”
“He looks official.”
“So serious.”
“He doesn’t look so bad.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes.
“Y’all done?”
The girls cut their eyes at Shanelle.
“Well, now y’all heifers know what he looks like.”
“So what's the problem, Nelle?” Dee asks.
“The problem is I have to marry a man I barely even know,” Shanelle replies.
“You don't have to marry him, Shanelle,” Nina says to her best friend.
“My dear sweet Keane Klown, have you not met my father?” Shanelle asks.
“Why are you still calling me that after all these years?”
“Because your last name is Keane and you, your two goofy ass brothers and your cousin are all a bunch of clowns. That's why.”
Nina rolled her eyes.
“He wouldn't actually make you go through with it, would he?” Aly asks.
“According to the treaty he signed, he has to and if he doesn't, his brother and the Prince’s father can force me to. So once again, I don't have a choice.”
Hearing the dejection in her voice, Bron and Rob wrap Shanelle in a hug.
“Maybe it won't be so bad?” Chut asks.
“I can only pray it won't be," Shanelle replies.
“You get the chance to be an actual future Queen. And we get the chance to say that we're best friends with one.” Dee says.
“No no. You girls will just be regular friends with a future Queen. While I am the best friend of a future Queen.” Nina corrects her.
Shanelle cackled while the rest of the girls groaned.
“Put that ego away Nina, you gonna hurt someone!” Chut tells her cousin.
“Oh, you’re so jealous!”
“I still don't know how I wound up knowing and getting stuck with you two clowns but here we are.” Shanelle piped up.
The girls dissolved into laughter. This is what Shanelle needed.
“I don’t know where I'd be without you girls.”
“We love you!” the girls say in unison.
“Oh shut the fuck up! Y'all don't love me! You hoes just love that I feed you.”
“There's a difference?” Dee asks.
This caused the girls to laugh. The girls spend the rest of the night giggling, gossiping, and enjoying each other's company.
The next night Shanelle was sitting on her bed in her robe finishing up the newest Press Release for her father's office when there was a knock at her door.
“It's open," she called out without looking up from her laptop.
The Prince walks in.
“My my. Don't you look official? And drop-dead gorgeous. Is that robe new?”
Shanelle rolled her eyes before glancing up.
“How the fuck did you get in here?”
The Prince sat down next to her on her bed. Letting his eyes slowly trace her body.
“Well, that's rude. Is that any way to speak to your husband?” he asks.
Shanelle closed her laptop and then looked down at her left hand.
“Gee…that's funny, Your Highness. I don't see a ring on my finger.”
He tilted her chin up.
“Always look at me when you speak to me, Shanelle.”
She pulled away from him.
“I'm not one of your subjects. I don't have to do a goddamn thing you say.”
He smirked at her before tucking a few stray hairs behind her left ear.
“Of course not beautiful. You’re so much more than that. You will always be more than that.”
“What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were staying at the Embassy.”
“I was. Hell, I was about to have you sent for.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Just what I said, I was going to have you sent for. Instead, your father insisted that I stay here with you while your mother is in Martha’s Vineyard for a teacher's retreat and conference and he takes care of official business in Cordonia. He assured me that you were quite the hostess Princess," he replied nonchalantly.
“Yup. I am not marrying you. I don’t care what that treaty says.” she hissed.
“There it is. There's that fire. That sweet venom from a beautiful and vicious viper. It's all I've thought about since I met you the other day.”
“Careful, Your Highness. I bite.”
“Bite me all you like, Princess.”
“Ugh! You're infuriating!”
He covered her left hand with his. His touch was warm and electric.
“Infuriating or enticing?” he asks her.
“You have nothing that I want.”
He smirked before leaning in to whisper.
“The goosebumps on your skin say otherwise.”
She just glared at him.
“Your silence is all I need to know.”
“Your Highness…get out of my room.” she hissed at him.
“Marquise.”
“What?”
“My name is Marquise, love.”
“Why do I care what your name is?”
“Because it's about time you learned it.”
“Again, why do I care?”
He stood up then pulled her to her feet.
“Because you'll be screaming it. That's why.”
She scoffed.
“So that's the game we're playing?”
He cocked his head to the side.
“It's okay to say that you like it, Princess.”
“You don't know shit about me.”
“That's where you’re wrong. I know more about you than you think.”
“Like what?”
“I know about the butterfly and stars tattoo on the back of your left shoulder, the Scorpion tattoo on the back of your right shoulder, and the dragon tramp stamp that you got just to piss your father off. I know your favorite color is purple. I know you’re terrified of heights, flying, snakes, and spiders. I know you have a temper. I know you took pole dancing lessons and your legs are…quite flexible. I know you've made a name for yourself on the kink scene when you went to school in Boston and when you worked in D.C. As a matter of fact you are one of the D.C. Headhunter's finest trainees. Rowan says hi by the way. I know you’re ticklish and hate to be tickled. I know you are a classically trained ballet dancer and choral singer. I know you believe strongly in education and healthcare. Did I miss anything?”
He brought the wrist of her left hand to his lips and grazed it softly with his teeth before kissing it.
“I would be a terrible husband if I didn't know anything about you.”
She couldn't believe it, she was stuck.
“Cat got your tongue love?”
That snapped her out of whatever trance she was in.
“That's called stalking, Your Highness.”
She watched his eyelid twitch.
“Something wrong…Marquise?”
“Nope.”
She arched an eyebrow at him.
“Liar. I saw your eyelid twitch.”
He shrugged.
“Fine. I'm not one who likes to repeat himself.”
“Is that supposed to scare me, Your Highness?”
“Never love. Contrary to what you think about me, I'm not here to scare you. I'm here to elevate you.”
“Elevate me to what?”
Rather than answer her, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a Cartier ring box.
“My Wife. What else?”
Shanelle just stared at the ring box in his hand.
“Princess?”
Shanelle blinked herself back to reality.
“I'm sorry. But are you…?”
She watched him get down on one knee.
“Yes, I am. So Shanelle Miller…will you marry me?”
Suddenly, the room felt small and it was hard for Shanelle to breathe.
“You're not serious.”
“Dead serious. Being King is my goal and you are the key to attaining that goal.”
“Why would I help you?”
He stood up and brought her face close to his.
“Because you believe in helping others. You are your mother's child. Service is what drives you. I can give you that, plus whatever else you want.”
“Whatever I want?”
“I don't have a stutter, Princess. Nor do I stammer.”
“Fine then. Convince me.”
“Convince you?”
“Yes. If you want me to go along with all of this, then you have to convince me. Because so far I'm not impressed nor am I convinced you'd be the King that Cordonia needs.”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“You know there is something else I just remembered about you.”
“What is that?” Shanelle asks.
“I know that you only like the movie Dirty Dancing for one scene. And it has nothing to do with putting Baby in a corner or having the time of your life.”
“So you have been stalking me?”
He shrugged.
“You say stalking, I say doing my due diligence and research.”
“Yeah whatever. There’s a reason why you mentioned it.”
“You’re correct. I did mention it for a reason.”
“Okay fine I’ll bite. Why did you mention it?”
“You’re smart. That’s good. I want you to dance with me.”
“Dance with you?”
“That’s what I said.”
“No. I don’t want to do that.”
The Prince arched an eyebrow at her.
“Did you just tell me no?”
“I sure did. And since you’re a Prince, you have to convince me to dance with you.”
“Very well.”
He instantly changed his posture and then held his hand out.
“May I have this dance Princess?”
“Seriously?”
“Answer the question Shanelle.”
She looked at him before putting her laptop on her nightstand and slipping her hand in his.
“See? Now that wasn't so hard was it, love?”
“Go fuck yourself.” she hissed.
“Don't worry, you'll be doing that soon enough.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes.
“Whatever. What are we dancing to?”
“Cry To Me by Solomon Burke.”
“You want to dance to that?”
“Yes. After all, it's from your favorite scene in Dirty Dancing. Now, do you know the Cordonian Waltz?”
“You want to do the Cordonian Waltz to Cry To Me?”
“Humor me.”
Shanelle shook her head.
“Are you ready?”
“Can we just get this over with?”
“Aren't you charming?”
They soon began a simple box that turned into an awkward Cordonian Waltz around her room.
“You’re very stiff, Princess.”
“Gee I wonder why.”
He let out an aggravated sigh before pausing the song.
“Stopping so soon, Your Highness?”
“Yes. I prefer my dance partners to be alive, not statues.”
“Then go dance with one of my guards.”
“My guards, Princess.” he corrected her.
“No, they're MY guards. They answer to me.”
“No, they answer to me. Yours were sent with your parents. Why do you think you’ve been able to get any work done without someone knocking on your door to pester you?”
She stared at him like he had lost his mind.
“You sent my guards away?”
“No, I sent them on assignment with your parents while they're in Martha's Vineyard. They're good but I prefer my own personal guards to your father's.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I believe we've been over this, love. I'm your husband.”
“And I believe that I told you we aren't getting married.”
She watched his eyelid twitch again before he regained his composure.
“You need to loosen up, Princess.”
“And you need to go back to Cordonia or whatever the hell it is that you came from.”
“The only way I go back is with you going with me.”
“Then I guess we're at a stalemate…Your Highness.”
She felt his left hand tighten slightly on the small of her back. Sending a delicious shiver running down her spine.
“Okay how about this, I lead and you follow?”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“You aren't known for giving up so why should I?”
“…fine. But only one dance!”
“That's all I'm asking for, Princess.”
She let out a breath then squared her shoulders.
“Okay, Your Highness. Lead off.”
He pressed play and off they went. Waltzing around her room.
“You’re still stiff Shanelle. Relax your shoulders a bit.”
Even though she didn't want to, she relaxed her shoulders.
“Good. The more relaxed you are, the better your steps will be.”
“I know how to do the Cordonian Waltz, thank you very much.”
“I can't tell. You normally dance so gracefully. Which is why I can't understand why you’re choosing to dance like a blundering rhino.”
“I am not!”
“Prove it.”
He smirked when she sucked her teeth.
“Get ready.”
She barely looked up at him before he dipped her low.
“You missed your cue.”
“I didn't miss my cue. That wasn't my cue to begin with.”
He leaned in his warm breath ghosting over her right ear.
“I lead and you follow, remember?”
“Yeah yeah.”
“So if I say you missed your cue then you missed your cue. So let's try this again.”
“…fine.”
They reset and started dancing again. She was ready, only he didn't dip her this time. He spun her out and then back into his arms again. Her back was to his chest, her left hand was in his, his right hand rested on top of her right hip, and his chin rested on her right shoulder with his left cheek against her right cheek. Something about being this close to him felt intimate. She tried and failed not to get lost in the feeling. They stayed in that position until he spun her out and back again.
“I don't remember any of that being part of the Cordonian Waltz.”
“I lead. You follow. Why is that so hard for you to comprehend?”
“Someone could say you have an ulterior motive for this dance.”
“So what if I do?”
Before she could answer, he dipped her again this time she remembered the cue.
“Very good. You managed not to miss your cue.”
The more they danced together, the more comfortable she started to feel around him.
“Well, this is an improvement.”
“What is?”
“When we started I was so sure that you would've punched me by now.”
“Who said that still won't happen?”
“Such a violent woman.”
“Viper, remember?”
“Touché.”
When he looked at her she had a puzzled look on her face.
“What is it?”
“Aren't you hot in that jacket?”
“Concerned for me? I'm touched.”
“I'm sorry I even bothered to ask.”
“To answer your question, no I'm not. I've gotten used to wearing it during dances like this.”
She shrugged.
“It just looks so stuffy and I feel like I'm suffocating just looking at it.”
“If it'll make you feel better I'll take it off.”
“Please do. I'm sweating just looking at it. And while you’re at it, have some A/C built into that thing.”
Marquise rolled his eyes before tossing his jacket onto her bed. She got a good look at how his shirt fit the muscles of his arms.
“Better?”
“Yes actually. You don't look like that much of a dick anymore.”
He gave her a tight smile.
“Your charm precedes you.”
“Glad you like it, Your Highness.”
“Shall we reset?”
“Sure, just one question.”
“What is it?”
“How long are we gonna keep doing this?”
“As long as it takes.”
Shanelle groaned.
“The sooner you accept that we are meant to be together, the sooner we can stop.”
Shanelle rolled her eyes before they started again. As they danced, she caught the scent of his cologne.
“That's a nice cologne you’re wearing.”
“I don’t know which is more shocking, the fact you noticed that I'm wearing cologne or the fact I just got a genuine compliment out of you.”
“Note to self: keep your mouth shut from now on.”
He chuckled low.
“Thank you, Princess. It's a custom scent from my mother's favorite perfume shop in Paris.”
“I've never been to Paris. I've always wanted to go.”
“It's beautiful. Especially at night from atop the Eiffel Tower.”
“Of course you've been there.”
“No need to be jealous, love. I'll take you one day.”
“That's a dangerous promise to make.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“Because I might be tempted to make you take me.”
“Whenever you're ready, Princess,” he whispered in her ear.
He had her right where he wanted her and she knew it. Their movements soon became more intense and a lot more sensual.
“I don't remember the scene in the movie being like this.”
“Like what?”
“So intimate.”
“It wasn't. The scene in the movie was actually pretty tame in my opinion. Then again, I'm not Patrick Swayze and you aren't Jennifer Grey and I still have my shirt on so, there's that.”
She snorted.
“Point taken.”
He spun her out away from him then back again close to the doorframe.
“You can admit it now.”
“What?”
“That this wasn't as bad as you thought it would be," he whispered.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that bloomed on her face.
“Fine. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But you’re still a jackass.”
“You just couldn't resist the dig could you?”
She shook her head no as she watched him softly kiss the inside of her right wrist.
“You don't give up do you, Your Highness?”
“Never. If I want it, then nothing on this earth will stop me from making it mine.”
That's when he took the chance and kissed her. It was a slow kiss that quickly heated up when he backed her up against the doorframe. With his left arm keeping her steady and pressed tightly against him, he locked her door with his right. Hearing the door lock caused her to break the kiss.
“Did you just lock my door?”
“I don't want nor do I need an audience for what I'm about to do.”
“Okay I'll bite, what are you about to do?”
“You.”
Before she could respond, he slid his right hand into her hair so he could bring her lips to his. The force of the kiss made her want more. She began to crave him in any way she could get him. When their kiss broke both were breathless.
“Don't be so shocked, Princess.”
“I'm not shocked by the kiss. I'm shocked it took you so long. I figured you would've done that 20 minutes ago.”
“A gentleman always waits on a lady.”
“You're a gentleman huh? And here I thought you were a Prince.”
He snorted.
“Smartass.”
She shrugged innocently.
“Better to be a smartass than it is to be a dumb one.”
“Oh you’re good.”
“Except for when I'm bad.”
“Well, let's see how bad you can be.”
With a low growl, he captured her bottom lip between his teeth and slid his tongue into her mouth. They stumbled from the doorway back to her bed. Desperately grabbing at each other like they couldn't get close enough. Hastily taking each other's clothes off. Not wanting anything much less the fabric to stand in the way.
“You are so damn beautiful.”
“You’re not so bad looking yourself for a pompous stuck-up brat.”
He snickered.
“You are impossible, you know that right?”
“You get what your daddy bargained for.”
“You can stop doing that.”
“Stop doing what?”
“Downplaying yourself. You aren't a bargain. You are the rarest diamond on God's Green Earth. And you’re all mine.”
“What part of I'm not your property did you not understand?”
“You know what I meant, Princess.”
“Yeah yeah. Less talking. More of whatever we were doing before.”
He smirks before pinning her wrists above her head with his left hand.
“Do you trust me?”
“I guess so.”
“That's not an answer, Shanelle.”
“Yes, I trust you.”
“Good. Don't move until I tell you to and always keep your eyes on me. Understood?”
“Yes.”
He hooked his right hand behind her neck and brought her lips to his. He kissed her slowly, wanting to slowly savor the taste of her mouth. Teasing her tongue with his. As they kissed he slowly dragged his left hand along the left side of her body, leaving goosebumps along her skin. He went from kissing her to nicking the base of her neck with his teeth. He felt her body shift slightly under him, causing him to press her wrists into the pillows in a warning. He trailed featherlight kisses from her sternum to the spot between her breasts. He listened to her breathing quicken as he paid special attention to each of her breasts. Her chest rose and fell every time his mouth made contact with her skin.
“Please…” she breathed out.
She watched him put a finger to his lips.
“Soon.”
His method was complete madness to her, but she loved it just the same. He was slow, methodical, and attentive to the softest most sensitive spots in her midsection. She shivered as he dragged his tongue along her stomach. Her moans were soft and impatient, she wanted more but had to wait for him. She started to close her eyes and lose herself in the sensation, but he couldn't have that. Not yet.
“Eyes on me, Shanelle.”
“I can't wait much longer,” she whined.
“Very well, I guess you have been patient enough, love.”
He kissed his way down the inside of her right thigh while massaging the inside of her left thigh. The heat between her legs radiated as he got closer to her center. She loved feeling his lips on her thighs. He took his left thumb and rubbed her throbbing clit. When she shivered and her eyes closed, he spread her legs wide and went for it. She gasped when his tongue made contact with her clit.
“HOLY SHIT!” she shrieked.
She bit her bottom lip as she watched him feast on her. He was relentless as he ate her out. He nearly swallowed her clit before dipping his tongue inside her warm entrance. She didn’t want him to stop or move. He was a beast at making sure she was thoroughly satisfied. He snaked his left hand up her stomach to keep her still. Shanelle had nowhere to go. She was at his mercy. Her strangled moans, shrieks and other sounds she made only intensified his hunger for her.
He switched from tasting her entrance to nursing her clit, which made her toes curl. He alternated between swirling his tongue around her clit and nearly sucking her soul out of it. With his right hand, he slipped two fingers into her and finger fucked her. The stimulation caused her to scream while white knuckling her bed sheets.
“JUST LIKE THAT! THAT’S IT! MAKE ME CUM!” She screamed.
Her body, especially her legs began shaking as she struggled to hang on. She was close and he knew it. He plunged his tongue inside her and rubbed her clit with his thumb and sent her over the edge into sweet oblivion. Her eyes rolled back, her legs spasmed and her jaw went slack as she let out a silent scream and flooded his mouth with her juices. When he let her go, she was gasping for air and trembling.
“Well…that was delightful. Shall we go again Princess?”
“You…are…a…fucking…demon!” she sneered at him while trying to catch her breath.
“Happy to be of service.”
He kissed her again, savoring the feeling and taste of her mouth on his. She felt his hands grip her highs tightly. He kneaded circles with his thumbs on the soft skin. He slowly moved his right hand further between her legs. She shivered when his fingers ran along her wet folds.
“Tell me Princess…how bad do you want it?” He whispered in her ear.
“I crave it!”
“The things I am going to fucking do to you!” He hissed.
As he said that, he grabbed the condom from his pocket, then used his body to pin her down before he lined himself up with her entrance. He circled the tip around it before sliding inside her. She moaned softly when she felt him sink inside her. He started out slow. Giving her time to adjust to him.
“Goddamn, you are so wet!” He hissed.
He braced himself with one hand on her hip and the other on the headboard as he started to really move against her. Hearing her moan was all the motivation and permission he needed. Once Marquise found his rhythm it was on from there. It didn't take long for her bedroom to soon dissolve into their combined moans, groans, and the sounds their bodies made as they fucked.
“That’s it! Take it! Take this dick!” He growled as pounded her.
“Make me cum! Give me more! Give it to me!" She begged as he fucked her harder.
“That's it! Beg for it! I want to hear you beg me to fuck you!" he replied before tightening the grip he had on her hip.
She felt amazing around him. The way she took him deep drove him crazy. He wanted her that bad and the more he gave it to her, the more she wanted him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and dug her nails into his back.
“That's it, Princess. Show me that you want it!” he hissed in her ear.
Her moans were filled with lust and desperation. She wanted him to make her forget where she was at that moment. All she wanted was to feel him deep inside her.
“Marquise! I need it! I need you! Don't hold back! Give it to me! Give me all of you!” She begged.
“Say it! Say you want it! Tell me that you want me to fuck you!” he growled.
Hearing her unravel was pushing him closer towards the edge. He gathered her up in his arms as he rolled into his back. He wanted her on top. He wanted to see her face as she fell apart. He made sure he had his hands full of her ass. It was almost like he couldn't get enough of her.
“Who knew the Princess was such a whore?”
“Fuck you!” she hissed.
“That's what we're doing love.” he said with a grin. She rolled her eyes with a smirk.
“You have no idea the kind of power you have over a man like me, do you?”
“Nope. At least not until all this started but I’m starting to really enjoy it.”
“You should. You have the power to bring the world to its knees, Shanelle. All you have to do is unlock it and don't look back.”
“You talk too much.”
“You did tell me to convince you.”
“This is you convincing me?”
“I mean you are in my arms completely naked, Princess. But to answer your question, no. This is not me convincing you.” he said before bringing their lips together for a hungry and rough kiss. “This is…”
He trailed off as shifted his position slightly and then brought her down hard onto him. He filled her up completely, stealing her voice.
“You feel so fucking good! Just the way I want you to be! So goddamn tight! So wet! Take it! Take me!” He said to her.
He loved watching her lose control as he took her. She was his and he was determined to make sure she knew it.
“Look at me Shanelle!” he demanded as he forced her to look at him, “I want you to know that you belong to me! Do you hear me? Your body and your heart belong to me! Do you understand? You! Are! MINE!” He growled.
He would pull her off of him just to slam her back down. Driving her insane. His lust and need for her were insatiable. He couldn't be close enough to her. He loved feeling her claw his chest as she rode him. Her moans, gasps, mewls, and any other sound she made drove his hunger for her higher. Every stroke sent her orgasm soaring higher. She was discovering that she loved this side of him. It was raw, pure and dominant. He took control and filled the void in her life that she had desperately tried to fill. When he hit her G-Spot she damn near lost her mind.
“YES! FUCK YES! RIGHT THERE! RIGHT! FUCKING! THERE! TAKE ME! MAKE ME YOURS!” She screamed as she continued to shred his sweat soaked chest with her nails. She was teetering on her edge and soon he would be at his as well.
“That's it! Scream my name! Let it drip from those pretty lips!”
He pulled out of her leaving just the tip in, because he wanted to see her face.
“No! No! No!” She cried out in protest.
“Look at me, Shanelle.”
“Please don’t do this! Not now! Not when I’m so close!” She whined.
“LOOK! AT! ME!” He demanded.
When she looked into his eyes, all she saw was lust and power.
“I want you to look at me as you cum all over me. I want to see the desperation on your face and the wanton need in those beautiful eyes. Do you hear me? Do not break eye contact!”
He kissed her deeply and passionately, before he brought her down on his dick one last time then lost himself inside her. He watched her arch her back and felt her nails dig into his chest drawing blood as she screamed and flooded his dick. Their combined orgasms all but sealed the night for them. As they came down from the beautiful delirium he cradled her close to his chest. Stroking her back he asked her a simple question.
“Convinced yet?”
She didn’t have the strength to answer him and just pinched him.
“Ow!”
She smiled softly before drifting off to sleep in his arms.
The next morning when Shanelle woke up and looked around her room as she tried to piece last night together. It wasn’t until she looked over and saw him laying next to her that it hit her.
“Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! I didn't! I didn't! I! Didn't!”
“You did,” Marquise said with a yawn and stretch, “good morning gorgeous. Last night was fun.”
“I did not sleep with you.”
He arched an eyebrow as he sat up.
“The scratches you left on my chest and my back say otherwise.”
Shanelle wanted to die at the moment.
“Oh! And you were stone cold sober so no use in saying you were drunk to deny what we did last night.”
“What the hell was I thinking?!”
Marquise rolled his eyes.
“You can stop being so damn overdramatic now.”
“Get out of my room!” she hissed.
“I'm not leaving our room.”
“This is MY room! You are in the guest room down the hall.”
That's when he grabbed her chin and looked her dead in the eye.
“My wife is in this room and so am I. So once again, I'm not leaving OUR room.”
“I am NOT your wife!”
Marquise ran a frustrated hand down his face.
“Just when I thought we were making progress.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Your Highness.”
“You know I would hate for you to learn the phrase 'what's yours is mine’ the hard way.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Never love. But you’re gonna have to accept the fact that we are stuck together. Whether we want to be or not. So you might as well get used to it.”
Shanelle scoffed.
“Unfuckingbelievable.”
“And now that we have that settled, breakfast is in 45 so go get in the shower.”
“What makes you think you can order me around?!”
“Don't you ever forget your station, Princess! You are beautiful. Very beautiful and one of the smartest women I have ever met. But your station and its rank are STILL WELL BELOW mine. And your consequence is also your father’s consequence. Never forget that.”
Shanelle seethed.
“So what I say goes. Do I make myself clear?”
“Go to hell!” she hissed.
“Don't make me repeat myself, Shanelle.”
Shanelle let out an explosive breath.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good girl. Now go get in the shower. I'll see you in a few.”
He watched her throw on her robe then stomp off to her ensuite. He laid back down when he heard the water turn on. He was so close to his goal, nothing was going to stand in his way. Not even her stubbornness to admit that this is what she truly wants.
A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.
Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.
Current Word Count: 4,090 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾♀️)
Tag List: @txemrn @choicesficwriterscreations if you'd like to be tagged just drop a message in my little ole inbox! I don't bite!…unless you’re into that sorta thing. 😏🙃
TW: mentions of miscarriage and child loss. Viewer discretion is STRONGLY ADVISED.
Baby Blues.
Shanelle thought she was hearing things.
“Your Majesty?”
“Huh?”
“Did you hear me?”
She blinked herself back to reality.
“I…think so?” she said after shaking her head, “You said something about my bloodwork.”
“Yes ma'am. Your most recent bloodwork came back positive for hCG. Congratulations. You’re pregnant.”
Shanelle stared at her doctor.
“Pregnant? Like pregnant…pregnant?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“But I can't be pregnant! I just renewed my vows. I literally spent half the night drinking! My wedding anniversary is next weekend!”
“Not to worry Your Majesty. You’re not that far along.”
The news hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Sonuvabitch!” she muttered a little too loudly.
“Ma’am?”
“Oh! I'm sorry. I was talking about my husband.”
“His Majesty?” her doctor asked.
She chuckled dryly.
“Yes, him. He's gonna love this news.”
“I'm sure. This is an amazing time for you and your family.”
“That's one way to put it…” she replied before exhaling deeply, “thank you, Dr. Andersen.”
“My pleasure, Your Majesty. I'll put in a call to Dr. Ramirez and get the ball rolling on that front. You should expect a call from her soon.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“Of course.”
“Now I have one helluva bomb to drop on my husband.”
“Good luck.”
She scoffed.
“Yeah, I'm going to need it.”
Shanelle watched her doctor as he walked out of her office. Leaving her alone with her racing thoughts.
“What the fuck?! How the fuck?! When the fuck?! Where the fuck?! Who the fuck?! Why the fuck?!”
She couldn't believe it. She just couldn't believe it. She's pregnant. Again. For a third time.
“I'm pregnant?! I'm pregnant! Me! I'm having a baby?! I'm having a baby! Holy Shit! I'm having a fucking baby! How the fuck did this happen?! How did I wind up pregnant?!”
She looked at the picture of her whole world on her desk. Her loving husband and the little girl that has had her heart since she gave birth to her. The two beats of her heart. The two people she would crush the world for. Her perfect family of three will now be four. And she has no idea how it happened.
Well…she knows how it happened. She just doesn't know when it happened. She was pulled from her thoughts by a knock on the door.
“My Queen?”
It was Margo Geaneaux. Shanelle’s lead attendant.
“Yes, Margo?”
“It's almost time to go pick up the Princess from her piano lessons.”
“Oh yeah! Thanks for reminding me.”
“Are you alright, My Queen?”
“Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just…distracted.”
“Distracted? What's wrong?”
Shanelle chewed her bottom lip. And Margo knew something was up.
“If I may, what is it Shanelle?”
Shanelle let out the breath she had been anxiously holding in.
“Close the door and sit down.”
Margo does as she's asked.
“Okay, I'm sitting down. Now, what is it?”
“Umm…promise me you'll keep this to yourself.”
“How long have I worked for this family, Shanelle?”
Shanelle nodded.
“Point taken.”
“Indeed. Now, what is it dear?”
Shanelle took a deep breath.
“Okay here goes…I’m…I’m…I’m…pregnant.”
Margo’s eyebrows shot up.
“Seriously?”
“Yup. I met with Dr. Andersen earlier. He confirmed it. Your adopted son got what he wanted.”
Margo chuckled.
“Well, congratulations my dear. I'm happy for you, him, and especially my granddaughter.”
“You will never let them go, will you?” Shanelle asked.
“Never. You know Marquise is as much my child as my own children. As the one that had to raise him, I will always lay claim to him. To hell with Constantine. Laying claim to him also means you are as much my daughter and Khari is as much my granddaughter as the two I have.”, Margo replied.
Shanelle smiled softly as Margo reached for her trembling hands.
“This is great news Shanelle. For you and the family. But I know you. Something else is bothering you.”
Shanelle got quiet.
“It's your son, isn't it?”
“That obvious?”
“Yes, dear. You aren't feeling guilty, are you?” Margo asked her.
“It's hard not to be Margo,” Shanelle replied quietly.
“Shanelle, I will tell you the same thing I have told him for years, none of what happened was your fault.”
“I know that I just…” Shanelle trailed off.
Margo could sense her sadness.
“My dear. I want you to always know and remember that you and Marquise are great parents. Your daughter is the sweetest little girl. Feisty at times but sweet nonetheless. She's being raised by two people who care for and love her as she is.”
“I know that Margo but being pregnant just brings up so many emotions that I thought I buried.”
“I'm sure it does. But again what happened that day was NOT your fault. And it doesn't make you a bad mother if you feel excited about being pregnant again.”
“Are you sure?”
Margo gave Shanelle an earnest maternal smile.
“Yes, my dear. No one will blame you for feeling happy.”
Shanelle stood up and hugged Margo.
“Thank you. You always manage to get me out of my head.”
“If I can do it for your husband then I can do it for you. Now hurry. Your daughter is waiting for you.”
“I'm off.”
“And Your Majesty?”
“Hmm?”
“Don't call me if he faints.”
Shanelle smirked at Margo before walking out of her office and going to pick up her daughter from her piano lessons.
Later that night after putting her daughter to bed, Shanelle found herself standing on her balcony and going over the ways in her head that she could tell Marquise she was pregnant. It has always been his biggest dream to have as many children as possible. And while the thought of having 12 kids like his ancestor King Fabian scared the shit outta her, Shanelle did want another child. But she didn't think she could have another one. Not after losing her first. But she had Khari, who was as healthy as any baby. Yet, she couldn't help yearning for their first child. The son they lost.
They found out she was pregnant shortly after their honeymoon. They were excited about the news but wanted to keep it under wraps. So they only told a select number of people and kept her schedule light to not raise suspicion. And at first, everything was fine. Until that awful night.
Marquise had left for a three-day summit in Cairo when he got the worst possible phone call from Margo. The urgency in her tone struck fear in his heart.
“Margo? What is it?”
“Marquise you need to get home now! Something’s gone wrong!”
“What is it? What’s wrong mom?”
“It’s your wife, son. You need to get home! Now!”
That conversation would haunt him all the way back to Cordonia. When he touched down in Cordonia he was taken straight to the hospital and met with the lead Obstetrician on the Women and Children’s floor that night. That’s when he would hear the words no expecting parent wants to hear.
“Your Majesty…we did everything that we could to try and save the baby but we couldn't.”
Marquise felt like someone had knocked the wind out of him. And if he wasn't sitting down he probably would've fainted.
“Doctor Bell…what are you saying?”
“I'm so sorry my King but your son is dead. He was stillborn.”
“…stillborn? But how can that be–”
The words died in his throat when he heard his wife scream. At that moment the doctor's response didn’t matter. Shanelle is what mattered. Getting to her is what mattered.
“What room is she in?”
“She's in the last room down the hall, Your Majesty. Room 3486.”
Marquise ran down the hall as fast as his legs and feet could carry him. And when he got to her…his heart shattered. She had a look in her eyes that was a mix of heartbreak, utter disbelief, and complete devastation. And what was worse was there was nothing he could do to take it away.
“Shanelle…”
When she looked at him, he nearly lost his nerve as the nurse who was in the room with Shanelle left to give them time alone.
“It’s not true…tell me it’s not true! The baby…they’re not…they can’t be…tell me it’s not true!”, she pleaded with her husband.
“I…my love…I…”, he struggled to get the words out.
“Tell me, please! Tell me our baby is fine!”
Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell her the one thing she desperately wanted to hear. He took her trembling hands in his own and prepared himself to speak the very awful words.
“They tried Shanelle. They did everything they could…”, he trailed off.
“No. No. Marquise no! No!”
“My Queen. I’m…I’m…I’m so sorry. Our baby…our son…” he choked up at the look of horror and devastation on her face.
“NO! NO! NO! IT’S NOT TRUE! IT CAN’T BE TRUE!” She screamed before bursting into tears.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried. His heart was broken for his wife, his son, and especially himself. When the doctor brought the baby to them Shanelle was inconsolable.
“Your Majesties, I thought you’d like to see your son.” Doctor Bell spoke softly as he presented them with the swaddled infant.
Marquise couldn’t believe their baby was dead. And he didn’t believe it until he held him close. That’s when he felt his soul break.
“My son. My beautiful son. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He said as his voice trembled as he held the baby. He looked at Shanelle and placed the baby in her arms.
“No. You can’t be gone! You can’t be!” She cried as she held their son, “My baby. You can’t be gone!”
Sadly for them, both their son is dead. And the loss of him was as real and raw as it gets. Shanelle wanted nothing to do with the funeral arrangements so she left that duty to her husband. Rather than have a funeral according to Cordonian tradition, they were joined by her parents and those that were trusted with keeping Shanelle’s pregnancy a secret at a simple burial.
Shanelle was fine until they were asked for any final words before he was to be interred next to Marquise’s mother. That is when her grief took hold and her knees gave out. If it wasn’t for her husband standing behind her she would’ve hit the floor. She couldn’t stand it. She couldn’t stand the thought or sight of her baby boy being buried.
“No. Marquise, please. Don’t bury him. Please. Don’t let them bury him.” She sobbed in her husband’s arms.
“I’m sorry my love. I’m so sorry.” was all he could say as he rubbed her back.
He was fine until they sealed the tomb. That is when he broke and the tears fell. Clutching his wife close to his chest the King Of Cordonia sobbed as his son was laid to rest.
“I can’t be here. I’m ready to go. I don’t want to be here anymore.” Shanelle said to him. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Okay. Let’s get you out here.” He replied.
They barely got out of the Royal Family Mausoleum before she couldn’t walk anymore. She didn’t have the strength. So Marquise carried her back to the main residence of the palace until they left for her duchy the next day.
All these years later and the memory still haunts Shanelle. She refuses to go back to their son’s grave. The memory of watching him be buried has scarred her. And yet, she still wonders what she could’ve done to save him. Why did she see or notice the signs? And now that it’s been confirmed that she’s pregnant again, she wonders if it could or would happen again. But all of that was put to rest when she glanced down at her phone in her hand. She had to tell her husband they are expecting again. She decided to wait until he came home from his trip to Japan the next day.
His Majesty returned home early the next morning and spent his day on conference calls and with a certain little girl who was happy to have her Daddy back home.
Later after he had put Khari to bed, he hopped in the shower and she laid down on the bed and flipped channels. She knew he was tired but not exactly ready to go to bed. When he walked out of the bathroom and she saw him, her jaw hit the floor. He was wearing nothing but a towel and his trademark smirk. She couldn’t help but stare at her husband.
“Take a picture, love. It’ll last you a lot longer than staring at me will.” He teased as he flexed his muscles.
“I will stare whenever I see fit…Your Majesty. I am the Queen after all.”
He shook his head and dried off before grabbing the lotion and applying it while she watched.
“Need help?” She asked.
“Sure. You can get my back,” he replied.
“Okay. Lie down on the bed babe.”
It didn’t take her long to cover his back. What started out as her simply applying lotion to his back, turned into the best massage he’d ever had. Her fingers worked deep into his muscles driving away any stress she knew he may have had. He was in heaven and also a tad curious.
“Damn! What did I do to deserve that?” He asked her.
“Nothing outside of me just wanting an excuse to put my hands on you.”
Marquise turned over on his back and arched an eyebrow at her.
“Uh-huh. What did you do now?” He asked as she straddled his hips.
“Nothing!”
“Yeah okay. How many of your cards did you max out?”
“I swear I didn’t do anything!”
“Do I need to have that verified?”
“No, you don’t because I’m telling the truth!”
He snickered.
“I just wanted to see your reaction.”
“Jackass!” She sneered.
“That’s King Jackass to you.”
She rolled her eyes and smirked at him.
“So tell me what was that massage about?” He asked.
“I missed you. That’s what it was about.”
He chuckled.
“No that’s not it. I mean I believe you when you say you missed me but a massage like that only happens when you want something or when you've done something bad and you don't want me to find out. So since you claim you haven't done anything, what is it, my love? What do you want?” He asked before burying his face in the crook of her neck.
“Weeeelllllllllll…there is something that I need to tell you. But you’re distracting me.” She said as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her close.
“Am I now?” He asked before placing a soft kiss just below her right ear.
“Yes. You’re in nothing but a towel and it’s messing with my concentration.” She replied as her arms rested on his broad shoulders.
“We’ll just have to do something about that now won’t we?” He whispered in her ear. The tone in his voice made her shiver. “Starting with this pajama set you have on.”
“What did you have in mind, My King?” Shanelle asked.
A slow smile bloomed across his face.
“I was thinking something like this…” he trailed off before bringing her lips to his.
When their kiss ended the only thing he wanted to do was devour her. Although the turquoise and black satin and lace pajama set she wore caught his eye.
“Is that new?” he asked.
“This old thing? Nah I’ve had it for years. I just haven’t worn it in a while.”
His eyes roamed up and down her body.
“See something you like, Your Majesty?”
“Always when it comes to you. But I must say you look beautiful in this outfit.”
“Has there ever been a time where you haven’t thought I looked beautiful in something?” she asked.
“Nope. And there never will be.” He whispered in her ear before nipping her earlobe. “Now My Goddess, you can hurry up and take this outfit off or I can rip it off of you. The choice is yours.”
“I kinda like the idea of a striptease then again it would be quicker to just let you rip it off…so why not both?”
Marquise arched an eyebrow.
“Both huh? Fine. But I call dibs on the shorts.”
“The King has decreed it, so shall it be!”
With a sly look in her eyes she bites her bottom lip and pulls the top and bra off. He had his hands all over her ass, palming, squeezing and kneading it.
“Look at you. So fucking beautiful.” He said as his fingers traced the contours of her breasts.
Soon she plants him with a searing kiss that he returns full force. She pressed her chest against his as their kiss deepend. She introduced her tongue into his hungry mouth and he growled against it. She felt his strong arms tighten around her. Feeling her body against his shot his possessive desire for her through the roof. When their kiss broke, all he wanted to do was ravage her.
“I just remembered something.”
“What?”
“You still have these goddamn shorts on.”
“Then do something about it…Your Majesty.”
He growled as he ripped her shorts and panties off of her. He then laid her down and tangled his left hand in her hair exposing her neck to his teeth. He placed suckling bites all down her neck and across her collarbone.
“You just don’t know what you do to me.”
“You poor sweet man. I know EXACTLY what I do to you.”
The wickedness in her voice spurred him on. He dragged his mouth across her breasts. He slowly teased and tasted them which drove her crazy. He loved making her nipples harden at his touch.
“More please! I need more!” she begged.
“That’s exactly what I want to hear,” he told her.
That’s when his right hand found its way between her thighs. His thumb circled her clit while the rest of his fingers teased her entrance.
“Watch the fireworks, my love.” he told her with a wink before he slid between her thighs.
It never took him long to make her melt. She could feel his mouth all over her clit and could feel his fingers playing with her entrance.
Even with his left hand squeezing her breast he was laser focused on her and her pleasure. He drove his fingers deeper inside her causing Shanelle to grab the cover under her. He is relentless. She was trying to ride his fingers as he quickened their speed. Her body began to tremble as he worked her over.
“I can't hold it in much longer! I need you! Now!”, she begged.
He could hear the desperation in his wife’s voice but he wasn’t done teasing her. The sensation coming from him was almost too much for her.
“Not yet My Queen. Not yet.” he whispered against her lips before he kissed her.
The only thing she wanted was for him to fuck her but the King had other plans. With a gentle yet firm tug of his left hand, he pulled her head back. He dragged his tongue down her pulse line before biting gently leaving a mark. The sensation caused her to rake her nails across his back.
“Do that again and watch what happens," he growled in her ear.
She took his warning as a challenge and dragged her nails across his back again. She felt his smile against her ear.
“Have it your way, my love…”
This was the game they'd played for years. The swipes and snide remarks, the jokes, the insults, the teasing, the sex, the love, the devotion, and the affection all of it made their marriage work. He twisted his fingers just enough to make her back arch. His thumb circled her clit faster and harder. He could feel her body writhing beneath him. Begging him for more. He listened to her breathing become more and more shallow. But he decided to take it slow and torture her. He wanted to remind her that he isn't just her husband, he is her King.
“This is where you belong. Beneath me. Just the way I want you to be.”
“Will you please shut up and fuck me?”
“Defiant as ever.”
“You’re taking too long!”
“Desperate My Queen?”
“I swear to God if you don't–”
He silenced her with a surge of his fingers. Quickly working her over driving her crazy.
“That's funny. I don't remember permitting you to speak.”
“Please.”
“I know you need me, my love. Besides, I'm getting impatient myself.”
He pinned her down to the mattress, threw her legs over his shoulders, and took no time filling her up. That is when she arched her back off the bed pushing her chest into his and clawing his back.
“That's it, love. Show me how badly you want it.”
If there was one thing the King knew all too well it was his wife's body. He knew which spots were sensitive to his touch. And judging by the sounds she was making, he knew he was onto something.
“Is this what you want, my love?? He asked as he surged inside her.
“Yes! Give it to me.”
“I don’t think you can handle it, love.”
Every surge of his hips sent her deeper into a frenzy.
“I want you! I need you!”
“God, you feel incredible around me, my love. Like a fucking glove.”
Her moans were getting louder and more desperate. That meant she was truly unraveling and her orgasm was rising.
“I can never get enough of you. You feel so fucking good. So tight. So warm. And all mine!” He growled in her ear before softly biting her neck.
“You feel so good! Give it to me! Take me! Make me cum!!” She screamed.
Her body trembled under him and broke out in a cold sweat. She was closer to the edge. And he knew it.
“Good girl! I know you can handle it! I know it feels good to you! Take it!” He moaned.
He knew he wouldn’t last much longer. But he wanted them to cum together, with a shift of his hips, his thrusts went deeper. Relentlessly he began hitting her G-Spot. Never giving her body a chance to adjust. He would pull out just to slam back in. When her eyes started to roll back, he grabbed her chin and made her look at him.
“Keep your eyes open! I want to see those beautiful eyes as you cum for me.”
He went from grabbing her chin to pinning her wrists down. She tried to push him off but he made sure that she had nowhere to go.
“Oh no! Don't you dare run from me!” he growled. “Now be a good girl and take it! Cum for me!”
He applied slight pressure to her wrists as he fucked her harder and faster. Going deeper until she just couldn't take it anymore and stars burst in her eyes.
“Don't fight it, love. Give in! Give it to me! Cum for me!”
This sent them both hurdling straight into their combined orgasm. Her body gave into his and he collapsed above her. He wrapped her in his arms and cradled her close to his chest. He used his left hand to draw abstract shapes along her back.
“Well, that was fun.” she breathed out.
He chuckled low.
“It always is, my love.”
Shanelle buried her face into the crook of his neck as he placed a soft kiss on the side of her head.
“Shanelle?”
“Hmm?”
“I know.”
She looked at him confusedly.
“What are you talking about?”
He kissed her slowly while placing his right hand on her stomach.
“I know," he whispered against her lips.
When she looked at him it dawned on her what he was saying.
“How did you know? Who told you?”
“I had a feeling you were pregnant. You haven't been yourself lately. But I had no concrete proof until you left your pregnancy test on the bathroom counter.”
Shanelle’s face went pale and she groaned.
“Well, there went my element of surprise.”
He shook his head with a smirk.
“Look at me,” he said as he tilted her chin up, “I love you. You know that right?”
She smiled at him.
“I love you too handsome.”
He pulled her close and slowly drifted off to sleep with his right hand resting on her stomach.
I’m not really sure the last time I posted one of these, lol
Thank you for the tags, @sfb123, @dcbbw, @harleybeaumont, @bebepac, @ao719, and @phoenixrising308! I just missed the @choicesficwriterscreations deadline, dammit. Time zones are not my friend hahaha
Hey! I wanted to do a picture prompt but with a twist! I leave you four prompts but you can only pick ONE 🧡 (Tobias edition)
I’ll Be Watching You
Book: Open Heart (post Series)
Pairing: Tobias x Casey, Ethan included (sort of)
Rating: Teen
A/N: In the better late than never category... This was DIFFICULT to choose! That first photo… exploding ovaries. The little girl is adorable, and the idea of a T walking his little girl to school (ovaries...again!), but you were kind enough to allow me to steal that for Alannah in my new angsty WIP. The cake is divine (NGL, I'm keeping it for another time... but I'm going with the nursery. Because I had an idea...
I'm dying at Papi thinking the giraffes are like Ethan watching them lmao. Now all I can imagine is Tobias turning them the other way before kissing Casey lmao 😂
A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic when I first started it over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.
Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.
Current Word Count: 830 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾♀️)
Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations
The Beginning.
Shanelle stood on the balcony of her duchy’s estate and watched her husband play a hybrid game of tag and hide and go seek with their daughter.
“Will you hold still? How am I supposed to catch you if you keep moving?!” He asked their daughter.
“Silly daddy! You’re not! That’s the point of the game!” she replied through giggles as she ran from him.
“Get back here!” he called out to her as ran after her.
She smiled to herself as she watched them. Their relationship is reminiscent of her relationship with her father. He dotes on Khari as much as he dotes on her and Cordonia.
Being the ruling Monarch is no easy task and she knows it but Marquise has led the kingdom for 8 years and she's been right by his side. He's a leader of the people. The same way his mother was. When they became the ruling monarchs Shanelle made education and healthcare her core missions for Cordonia. She wanted them both to be equally beneficial to the people and the nobility. And her husband has made sure that it's happened.
When it comes to politics, Marquise is an expert at the game they both play. He never loses his cool. Even when he wants to say fuck it and not give a shit, he understands that isn't an option for him. He keeps his emotions in check as he navigates the murky waters known as politics on the world's stage.
As Shanelle goes to lean against the stone banister she's stopped by her protruding pregnant belly. Being pregnant with twins - twin boys no less - is not the walk in the park that some led her to believe. The complications have thrown her entire schedule off but at the same time, she's thankful to be pregnant. Because there was a time she didn't know that she'd be able to have children.
Shortly after getting married Shanelle was pregnant. But unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage that left her with uterine scarring. She was terrified to try again. But she also knew that per the Cordonian laws of ascension, an heir to the throne had to be produced within two years of her being married to her husband. So after many nights of prayer, they tried again, and the second time proved successful. They had a baby girl. A baby girl named Khari Noelle Rys. That baby girl will one day become the next Monarch of Cordonia. So being pregnant a third time was supposed to be easy. Except being pregnant has proven that life ain't easy.
She watches as her daughter tries unsuccessfully to find her dad.
“Daddy! Where are you?!” Khari calls out to her father as she looks for him.
Little did the Princess know, her daddy was right behind her snickering to himself.
“He's behind you! Turn around!” She silently tries to warn her daughter. But she was too late.
“Gotcha!” he said as he wrapped their daughter up in a hug and spun her around.
“You found me, daddy!”
“Indeed, I have my little one! And as my prize, I am going to cover you in kisses and tickles!” he declared.
Doing so caused their daughter to break out into a fit of squeals and giggles.
“No! Nooooo! Not that!”
“Yes! I will tickle you until you can't stand it anymore!”
Shanelle smiled as she watched them roll around in the field of flowers laughing and playing together. When they stopped both were smiling and breathless.
“Daddy?”
He turned to face her.
“Hmm? Yes, my love?”
Khari cups her daddy's face in her hands.
“I love you! Bunches and bunches!”
He smiled.
“I love you too, my Princess. Now let's go find your mother.”
“Okay!”
She watched them walk inside then smiled to herself.
Over the last few years, she's gotten to know him as the Father, the Husband, the King, and especially the Man. And even though each side of him is as complex and complicated as they come, she also knows that he loves and protects truly, honestly, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally. None more than their family, their friends, and especially their kingdom.
At his core, Marquise is a good man. Yes, he has a tendency to be a dick, but you can't sing with your angels without acknowledging that you danced with your demons. And he's got demons a mile long. But he's accepted them and has worked to change and become better. Why? Because of his wife. He had to change for her. Old habits had to die. She wouldn't accept anything less. She made it clear that she married him and NOT the clone of the elder Rys.
Shanelle and Marquise have come a long way both separately and together. Despite what many may think or assume about them, they don't live a fairytale life nor do they have a fairytale marriage.
yeah well here’s a cool idea: start creating and start reblogging. leave nice comments to your favorite creators. send them prompts. start interacting with others. sounds wild, right? start it today. keep these fandoms alive.
Summary: After a nasty run-in with the press, the Daltons spend the day at the twins' soccer tournament; however, fate has a plan of its own.
Word Count: ~1475
Warnings: adult themes; light angst; brief language
A/N: I completely forgot about this fic until we went through our WIPs last week, and I honestly can't remember why I never posted this! I haven't written/released anything TNA in a long time, so this feels good! @sfb123 thank you for helping me with the finishing touches! And @charlotteg234 and @kat-tia801, do y'all even remember this fic? Y'all pre-read it for me last year! lol So ... THANKS! All spelling and grammar mistakes are my own, so please forgive me. All characters and some plots belong to our friends at Pixelberry!
~🖤~
Frantically packing the stack of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with the freshly diced carrot sticks, she quickly taps on her phone for the time--and to see if Sam was leaving the office anytime soon. “Mickey! Mason!” She calls out through the penthouse. “We’re going to be late for the first heat of your tournament--”
“Mommy?”
Nearly tripping over her youngest son Matthew, the expectant mom stops to admire the three-year-old’s latest playdough creation. “That looks so good, Matty!" She croons, rubbing his back. "Now put that away for Mommy and wash your hands.”
Her phone begins to ring, jolting her with excitement that maybe her husband was finally tearing away from work. Unfortunately, the name on the screen makes her face drop. “Michael Weston! Mason Warner! Let’s go--” She hits the green button to answer the call with a sardonic, syrupy-sweet voice. “Hi, Vivian, have you left yet?”
“Yes, dear. We should be at the fields--” she begins talking to someone else in the car,“--less than an hour.”
“Sounds perfect--”
“Sam mentioned you may need some help--” the mother-in-law interrupts. “I can have Mason stop by and--”
“No!” She accidentally shouts, but quickly corrects herself. “I mean, no, ma’am. Thank you for the generous offer, but… no.” The mention of her father-in-law makes her stomach uneasy, especially after her husband’s confession that Mason offered Sam the company in exchange for a divorce from her. “We’ll see you two at the soccer fields.”
With a sigh of relief, she hangs up the phone before gathering her picnic basket and beach tote. As she prepares to call for her eight-year-old twins one more time, they suddenly barrel into the kitchen.
“Sorry, Mom,” Mason sweetly apologizes, grabbing a camping chair. “I had a knot in my cleat.”
“But, we got it out,” Mickey proudly chimes in, sliding a Nike knapsack on his back.
“Okay, perfect,” she smiles brightly, guiding all the boys towards the elevator doors. “Mouthguards?”
“Check,” Mickey chuckles.
“Water bottles?”
Mickey takes an obnoxious swig from his chilled water as Mason answers. “Yes, Mom, we’ve got everything.”
She kisses the tops of their heads, ruffling through their soft chestnut waves with her fingers. “You two are growing up too fast. Soon, you won’t even need me--”
“That’s not true,” Mason pipes up.
“Mom, we will always need you,” Mickey wraps an arm around his mom’s shoulder. “Besides,” he lowers his voice, “Dad’s cooking is pretty awful in comparison.”
As they all share a chuckle, they head down to their private car, escorted by building security and Carter, their personal driver. But, the moment the family exited the building, they are blinded by flashes of light from shutterbugs and reporters with microphones.
“Mom, I’m scared!” Matthew cries as she hoists him onto her hip, the men taking her bags and folding chairs. She grips tightly to the older boys, shuffling them quickly into the car.
“Mrs. Dalton! Mrs. Dalton! Over here!"
“Damnit,” she scoffs to herself, buckling up the boys. “It’s okay, guys. Don’t look out the window--” she is quickly interrupted by the brush of a hand on her backside. She abruptly swings around, her open hand colliding with a reporter's cheek.
"Fuck!" He grips his face. "You're gonna be sorry for that, princess--"
"You assaulted me, asshole--" she swivels around, ensuring their belongings are tucked away before she steps into the vehicle.
"Oh! Such a picture of Dalton perfection!" He spits at her. "Such a great example for your kids. Are you sure you can handle one more?"
As she carefully climbs into the sedan, she holds her arm out the window, her middle finger extended as they finally drive off down the street.
"You okay, Mom?" Mason quietly breaks the tension inside the cab.
Offering a cordial smile, she combs a few tresses behind his ear, stroking his cheeks with her thumb. "I should be asking you that," she titters into a sigh. She squeezes Mickey's knee endearingly. "Never, ever forget how much I love you boys--"
"And baby Maggie!" Matthew shouts proudly, placing his chubby hands on his mother's growing bump.
She hugs her arm around Matthew before leaning back. "That's right, Bubba," she slowly exhales in relief. "And Maggie, too." She closes her eyes, relishing the innocence of her boys' chatter. As they draw closer to the soccer fields and closer to her in-laws, a pit grows in her stomach, knowing that her short dealings with the paparazzi will cost her.
Once at the soccer fields, the boys are registered with their team for the day-long tournament. Together, they set up a tent with their fold-out camping chairs and picnic blankets. Sunscreen and bug repellant are carefully applied to each of the boys. As their mother sends them out into their first game, she lays down Matthew with a juice box, hoping that he will rest in order to survive the day without any meltdowns.
She picks up her phone, but of course, there are no alerts from her husband. Putting her phone facedown, she readjusts her short bob into a messy bun before reapplying her Chanel sunglasses. As she begins to sip on an apple juice, a shadow is cast over her body.
“You flicked them off?”
She smirks to herself as she continues to watch the game.
“Baby,” Sam steps behind her chair, pressing his lips into her temple, “did you seriously--?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she grumbles.
“Well, my folks want to talk about it,” he sits down on the blanket next to his resting son, letting out a deep sigh. “Again.”
She pushes her sunglasses onto her head. “What was I supposed to do, baby--?”
“You don’t do anything--you don’t say anything!” He rubs his hands down his face. “Is it that hard for you just to keep your mouth shut?”
“Samuel! He touched me--that’s assault!”
“Are you sure you didn’t--?”
“Of course,” she throws up her hands, interrupting her husband. “It’s my fault.” She stands up, adjusting her sunglasses on her face. “Stop pinning this on me.”
As she begins to take off to get some fresh air, Sam quickly stands up, grabbing her wrist to pull her back to himself. He wraps his strong, comforting arms around her, rocking her back and forth. “Baby, talk to me,” he whispers against her ear.
“I don’t think you know what it’s like to always be under fire with these guys--”
“Um, hello? They are trying to slander my name--”
“--by insulting my character, Sam! By insulting what I’m wearing, what I’m eating, what I feed the boys,” she wipes away a wayward tear. “They took a cheap shot at me today, questioning my capabilities as a mother--”
“Their opinion shouldn’t matter. They don’t even know you.”
“I know, but your parents--”
“Baby,” he silences her, giving her a crooked smile, “they don’t know the real you. The way I know you.”
“They seem to only care about the press--”
“I know, I know.” He tightens his embrace around his wife, pressing his lips against her forehead. “It’s business. It’s the image of the business. And it’s not fair.” He pulls off her sunglasses, dabbing at her wet eyes. “But I know you are remarkable,” he kisses the tip of her nose, making her wince into a smile. “And you’re the only one who can take my breath away--”
“Heads up!”
Suddenly, a soccer ball flies over the young Daltons’ heads, quickly heading towards a duck pond. Sam takes off, chasing after the ball, hoping to stop it before it hits the water. But, luckily, someone else is there to stop it for him.
“Oh, God, thank you so--” he freezes as a young, petite woman with stormy blue eyes and long almond waves steps forward, offering him the soccer ball.
“Mr. Dalton?”
“Yeah, um,” he clears his throat, shaking the shocked look from his face. “I’m sorry, um,” he titters awkwardly, “do I know you?”
“Oh!” She giggles, offering a bright smile. “I know it must be hard keeping up with all of your employees. My name is Brynn. Brynn Schuyler. I work in your laboratory department--”
“With Evan, right!” He blushes, running his fingers through his hair. “Well, it’s wonderful meeting another beautiful face– I mean, face… um, I mean, meeting another employee from Dalton--”
“Sam?” The all-too-familiar voice of his wife startles him from behind as she gently caresses his lower back. Sam quickly pulls her forward, draping his arm around her shoulders. Though she smiles kindly, her chocolate brown eyes narrow in on the young coed.
“Oh, this is Brynn,” he nervously gestures for the women to meet with a chuckle, “Brynn Schuyler from the lab. And this is my... um, this is…”
“Addison.” Mrs. Dalton raises an irritated eyebrow, sticking out her hand for a cordial hand-shake. “His wife.”
~🖤~
A/N 2: If you're new here, hi! Just in case you are wondering what just happened, my MC's name is Brynn Schuyler, and I decided to write this one-shot kinda like a "what if" type situation... what if the subway accident never happened? Were Sam and Brynn still destined to meet? Here's how it might've happened...
~🖤~
Tags (please let me know if you'd like to be added/removed):
Amelia Ramos, Jennifer Lawson , Daniel Lawson and Amy Rodriguez belong to me and so do this story.
Warning: Gun violence, Oral sex
Summary: This take place 2 year’s after meeting Riley, Liam meets 24 year old Amelia Ramos and starts a new relationship.
Chapter Summary: Liam and Mia grow closer, Disaster strikes.
Word count : 2,166
Song inspiration:https://youtu.be/PASAYTTLZDQ
ENVY
Chapter 2: Never thought
Drake arrived at Riley’s apartment, nervous that she’ll turn him away, he stood listening he heard a male voice and his heart sunk in his chest, he
thought maybe she has moved on or maybe she never wanted me, a few minutes later the door opened, a man who kind of reminds you of Leo walked out, Drake quickly ran to the stairs and watched as the man and Riley got on the elevator, her hair was longer and she looked more polished, she looked like a business woman she now had changed her hair color to blonde with dark brown highlights, she had put on about 10lb or so but he liked it she was beautiful still small, but the extra weight hit her just right, he waited for five minutes getting his thoughts together, then left.
Once back at the hotel he confided in Maxwell about seeing Riley but didn’t have the courage to actually show himself
Maxwell patted him on the back “ we only have two more days, so if you want blossom back you better let go your fears Liam already gave his blessing, only one stopping you is you.
“I know, But this guy came out of her apartment what if they’re together or worse married, then I’ve lost her for good.
Liam walked in the room smiling, “good morning gentleman, I have meetings all day
“And you are happy about that hmm
“I’m cool no big deal.
Liam Had two in person meetings , the other agreed to zoom meetings, he wanted to spend as much time as Mia as he could, they had spent the week getting to know each other, she had moved her work to home for the week, he arrived at Mia place he stopped and picked up a dozen of a white roses.
---------------
He pulled up in front of her building and pulled out the key she had given him, it was November and very cold out, it was just 2 weeks from Thanksgiving, Mia had invited him to go to California with her to her father for Thanksgiving, she warned Jennifer would be there too.
Once his meetings were over he walked to the near by grocery store to pickup a few items, he wanted to surprise her with a dish his mom had taught him as a boy.
Mia walked in, “What smell so good in here, what did you make, and those roses are beautiful.
“I made Mediterranean lamb ragu, my mother taught me, she learned how to prepare a few dishes for my father, they sit and ate, and talked.
Neither of them wanted to bring up the Elephant in the room , that they only had one more day together.
They finished dinner and played a few games and watched a movie, Liam felt as if he was really dating it wasn’t social season, even tho his father asked him to do another social season to find a bride, after finding out Riley was into Drake, he refused to even think of marrying Madeline.
He now wanted to find his own wife not some arrangement, Riley opened his eyes to actually finding real love with someone.
Mia turned on some music asking him to dance, they slow danced for a while and went to bed .
“Bastein you are to keep me updated on my son, why haven’t I heard from you all this week?
“Sir I just been keeping an eye on them, he’s been with her every night, her name is Amelia Ramos, she lives in the penthouse and sir the penthouse lights went out about 30 minutes ago, he must have a key, he was there hours alone.
“God dammit my son can’t be falling for another American, we need a strong queen who knows what we she’s getting into and he think that it could just be any stray woman off the street.
Bastein listened in disbelief. Eleanor was strong beautiful queen and had a heart of gold, he thought. “Sir if I may speak?
“ Sure Bas go ahead
Liam is much like his mother, but like you when he wants something he doesn’t stop till he gets it.
“My son Dating is a joke, I want Ms. Ramos visited after he leaves warn her to stay away from him, offer money all Americans like money.
Yes sir on it, this kind of stuff Bastein hated, but Constantine was his king.
--------
It was the next morning, Liam woke up at 6 am, with a dozen of calls from Drake and a few from his father, he walked in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee and scrambled eggs whites and fruits on the side.
At 7:20 Mia was up, she walked into the kitchen and kissed Liam it took everything in both of them not to give in ,they both agreed to wait to have sex, they wanted to know each other first
My love what’s wrong?
“Nothing
“Remember I been trained to read people, something is wrong.
“Okay you are right, we known each other now 2 weeks, I wish I could jump on your plane and go with you, I will miss you .
“ In a few weeks I want you to come out to visit me, I will be free and have more time for us.
“I was going wait but I don’t know if I can’t stay away from you that long, he takes her hand with a sad look in his eyes.
My love these has been the happiest 2 weeks of my life, I feel like I’m home if that makes sense, things with you feel right.
He hugged and kissed her, then fixed her a plate honestly this is what he wanted just a normal life with someone he loved and hopefully children one day now this made him want to stay in New York, but he knew he also had a duty to his country, but he felt his father was pushing Madeleine on him, in his father mind she would be a good choice, his father knew how he felt about Riley, he had told him pick Madeleine but keep Riley as his mistress, the nerve of that man he thought, he was brought out of thought by Mia voice.
“My love what did you say?
“I said did you want to shower together, I need to meet up with Jen and Amy, I’ll only be an hour then I am all yours.
“Love too, I got to go meet my friends too
They showered and got dressed.
While no sex, they did oral and hand jobs, they couldn’t go without exploring each other, they both was tempted, but both thought they was protecting their hearts, but not having sex didn’t stop them from falling, the time they spent and the things they did together, they both had past relationships where their person wanted someone else.
He made it back to his hotel, he opened the door, he liked to jumped out of his skin, Drake was sitting in his room in a chair, “what the hell Drake, how did you get in here?
“ I have my ways Li, so you mind telling me what the hell going on with you, I mean some nights you haven’t checked in, guess what Con on my ass because he put me in charge of you, so wherever you go he wants me to go, you know I don’t want to do this but it’s my duty.
“I am fine Drake just went on a morning run he lied.
“Hmmm that run was all night, I been waiting since last night, so I believe you need to try another lie, look Li your personal life is your business, if you’re not ready to tell us yet. but I am your security detail so I am to know to make sure you are safe.
He stood with his mouth slightly open,. “sorry man, they sit talking for a while, he had fill him in about Mia and apologized.
Drake told him about seeing Riley.
He no longer had any emotional ties towards Riley, all he wished is that she was healthy and wanting for nothing, “that’s a good thing you should talk with her, how do you know who the man was ? if you don’t actually say anything? What if he’s just a friend or family member
“I’ll think about it.
They heard a lite knock on the door, “Hey you guys hungry?
I can use something
“I already ate, I have a meeting at 10.
“Okay please check in with me.
“Okay I will, let me get going
He had 2 meetings then met up with Mia, it was almost 1pm, She was quiet, not wanting to look at him, he noticed.
He felt sad and guilty, he wanted her with him, they spent the rest of the day together; it seemed like night came too fast .
Tonight he wanted to taste her to be inside her, but he settled on wanting to taste her, she laid back on the bed opening her legs to give him full access to her, he give her 3 orgasms two with his tongue and one with his finger, they both wanted more.
She got on her knees in front of him,, he stopped her saying she didn’t need to, “but I want too, you’ll be leaving early morning I want more but l miss you even more, but let me return the pleasure you just give me.
He wanted to stay, but his flight left at 6 am.
It was 10:15pm he headed back to his hotel.
----------
The next morning he woke up at 4 am showered and got ready to leave, they boarded the plane.
Liam was in a really bad mood, he hated leaving he just wanted to sleep not to talk about it and not to be bothered.
Mia woke at 7, remembering Liam was gone, she just wanted to not be bothered but promised her friends they would hang out, she told Jennifer and Amy he was leaving today.
They did their best to take her mind off Liam but nothing was working.
Liam had woken up 2 hours later, he looked around, he had a dream about Mia, Drake was looking at him strange .
“You okay Li?
“Yeah I’m fine, we still got a few hours
“So you want tell us about Amelia?
“There is really nothing to tell.
Ha Max let a laugh giving Drake a knowing look
“And what do that mean Mr. Beaumont
“Well you are holding back, you spent most of your time with her, so that tells me that you really like her, so when can we meet her? Max was happy that Liam could finally date again he wanted his friends to be happy, he kept in touch with Riley but after sometime she had completely cut him off, him and Bertrand both had missed her a lot, it was like they had lost another family member.
Drake got some water.
“Who are you Max and Liam said in union
“You both know I am on duty, and I need to be ready for anything.
---‐-----
It had been a few days, they had talked over video chat and phone and text.
Liam had a fundraiser to attend, that evening .They blow quick kisses.
Jennifer and Amy showed up with take out and some wine coolers.
“We can’t leave you alone at a time like this, I don’t know you haven’t known him that long but the sex must be hot? She doesn’t make eye contact with Jen, oh my God you never had sex with him?
“Jen please we are getting to know each other, everything isn’t about sex.
So you have fallen in love with a man, you haven’t had sex with?
“Can we change the subject you are making her uncomfortable.
“Okay mother Amy, they played a few games of cards calling over Daniel, who was 2 years younger then Jen and Mia, Amy was a year old than Mia.
It was now 6 pm and midnight there, not really watching the news, but there it was Prince William Rys of Cordonia was shot.
Mia wasn’t the only one watching the news, “ You get me there or I go to the press about everything, if you think I am joking try me.
Series Synopsis: In the midst of a violent political war, Queen Riley Rys’s life is dismantled overnight, forcing her to flee Cordonia to live in hiding as a commoner with a loyal, best friend
Series Song Inspo: “Pour Two Glasses” by the Movielife
Chapter Song Inspo: "Speak to Me" by Amy Lee
Series Warnings: 🔞 For Mature Audiences Only 🔞angst; profanity; major character death; grief and mental health discussion; discussion of violence & war; alcohol use; NSFW material
A/N: Characters and some plot references belong to our friends at Pixelberry. Special thanks to my sweet friend @charlotteg234 for brainstorming with me and helping me work out some sections; and special thanks to one of my fanfiction godmothers @ao719 for pre-reading for me.
~🖤~
"Are you sure we have permission to do this?" Riley stands under an umbrella, trembling in the rain as she watches Drake unlock the large wooden door to the entrance of the Bossina Cathedral.
"For the last time," he stops fidgeting with the old, rusty key, looking back at his best friend's wife. "Yes. Why else would I have the key? Besides, you're the fucking Queen of Cordonia. What are they gonna do?'
That earns him a subtle smile before she continues to anxiously peer through the dark, overgrown courtyard of the church.
Suddenly, a short shrill of metal reverberates into the night as the massive barrier is unlocked. Drake tugs on the ring pull, the swollen, damp wood of the door letting out a groan. He turns to Riley, motioning for her to follow him.
Once inside, she deposits her umbrella while her eyes adjust to the dimly lit vestibule. Top cathedral-shaped windows litter the long hallways, raindrops drumming their solemn chorus of a silent requiem against the panes. Candles dedicated to prayer and supplication for the deceased illuminate the stoned walkway, leading to the sanctuary, leading her to Liam. The familiar scent of stale air and burnt incense flood Riley's senses, sending her to memories from what seems like a lifetime ago.
As her personal guard runs on ahead to notify the other men of her majesty's presence in the building, Riley wanders around the entrance hall to the nave. Has it always been this grim? Her fingertips brush against the cold brick, showing its age through fine cracks and missing fragments.
She turns to the opposite wall, noticing a large picture depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, framed in a rustic, yellow gold. Stepping closer, she focuses on the anguish of his face, his body strung out cruelly and naked. Blood pours out from his arms, his feet and even his side.
Her lips twist, her eyes flinching at the painted brutality as she trains her focus to a brushed-bronze placard nailed to the frame: Questo é amore.
"This is love," she whispers to herself. She takes a tentative step back, soaking up the scene. Wearing Liam's favorite burgundy sweater, she hugs her body tightly, the light remnants of his sweet scent wafting to her nose. She looks at the painting again. The torment. The heartache. The loneliness. And all anyone could do was… watch.
Her lashes dust her cheeks as memories of that day swirl in her head: the gentle, scent of pink lilies she holds in her hand; the soft vintage pattern of white chantilly lace she wears on her arms; the romantic swell of Pachebel ushering the bride to her groom. The love she shared with Liam was overwhelming, oftentimes breathtaking, like diving into the deep end of the sea and never wanting to emerge. A love that was all-consuming, holy and perfect in its own right; a love that represented everything that was good in her life.
Or so she thought.
In losing Liam, Riley has discovered that because of her love, she is filled with unspeakable anguish, being tormented day and night with a pain that she bears alone. God, she wishes her heart could be pierced by a spear… afterall, wasn't it?
This is love.
“...what matters most is that you found happiness…”
The sudden articulate voice from Ramsford has her whirl around, the enunciation so close, so real.
"Whoa," Drake holds out his hands, "I didn't mean to scare you. Are you… ready? To go in, I mean?"
Riley nods, watching her dear friend open the door. She looks back at the picture of the Christ one last time. Love? It wasn't just butterflies and stolen breathless moments. It wasn't just inside jokes, midnight tickles and surprise gifts. It was more than just knowing the number and placement of freckles on his shoulders, the cowlick that would never lay down on the right of his crown, or the hum on his lips when he was trying to conceal his concern.
She looks forward through the threshold into the nave, taking in the steep ceiling space, the uniform of empty pews, the bounce of the old crimson carpet. But as she looks towards the altar, it glows like a lighthouse in the night, like a single candle in a storm. At the end of the long aisle, a pristine white casket illuminates in the darkness. The Cordonian flag lays respectfully on top of the lid, accompanied with two white roses per tradition, representing the second day of Liam's Royal Wake.
But, something curious sticks out like a sore thumb in the sanctuary, something that is clearly out of place. Situated in front of Liam's casket was a cluster of pillows and blankets on top of an army cot.
Her breath catches. "Drake?" She looks to him with questioning, yet appreciative eyes. She anxiously chews on her lip as she glances at the intimate set-up.
He pivots around, noticing her bewildered expression. "Don't worry, your majesty," he kindly grins, offering his elbow as a single tear rolls down the slope of his nose, "he's … he's been waiting for you."
With her attention sealed onto her husband's casket, a pained look of joy washes over her, a grin crawling across her mouth. She takes Drake's arm, and together they walk down the aisle.
"Now, the cathedral closes to the public after dark, and the nave is locked to everyone until 9 AM. The church council has agreed to let you stay here at night during the Wake, and I've got you covered with extra security so, hopefully," he exhales fluidly, "you can get some sleep."
"Every night?"
His lips coyly curl, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Every night."
"Drake, I–" She looks to the pile of bedding before smiling back at him. "I don't know what to say–"
"Oh! One more thing." Drake digs into the front pocket of his chambray shirt, pulling out a single silver chain with two pieces of metal attached, gently tinkering together.
"His rings," Riley gasps. "Drake–" her voice disappears into sniffles at the sight of these handsome treasures, now on a chain where she won’t lose them. She steps forward, cradling the rings in her hand as Drake holds onto the ends of the necklace.
He smiles proudly, motioning for her to spin around, her back facing him. He fastens the closure, pulling her espresso waves out from under the chain. She turns around to model it for him as he gives an approving nod. Seeing her attention fixed on her late husband’s wedding band and signet ring, Drake gives an appeasing grin, his fists finding his pockets.
"Well," he sighs, "is there anything you need? Something to drink?"
She threads the jewelry onto her slender fingers, a somberness floating over her as she watches her personal guard slowly mosey backwards up the aisle. "No, I… I guess not."
"K, well…" He combs his fingers through his hair, pushing back a cascade of strands. "I'll be right outside if you need me–"
"Wait," Riley interrupts, taking a few stutter steps towards him. "You're leaving?"
Drake turns around, studying her. "Not leaving leaving. I'll be in the foyer with my sleeping bag."
"Oh," Riley responds dryly, trying to sound understanding. But as she glances around the still blackness of the nave, surrounded by relics and religious imagery, her heart becomes anxious. “Hey, Drake,” she calls out to him. He glances up, gesturing with a shake of his head. Her eyes survey around the room, spooking herself with the shifting shadows. “You have been so kind, And–and–and I know you’ve already sacrificed so much for me already, and please know that I… well, I hope you know that I’m–”
“Brooks,” he holds up a hand to slow her down. He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth turning up. “What do you need?”
Fidgeting with her new piece of jewelry, she swallows thickly. “Can you maybe stay in here with me–just until I fall asleep?”
Drake lets out a big, sardonic sigh, taking a seat in the front pew. He pats the hardwood next to him, inviting Riley to take a seat. The antique furniture creaks under her weight as she pulls her knees up to her chest. Drake puts a friendly arm around her as she relaxes her head on his shoulder. Together, they fall into a quietness as they stare reverently at the casket before them.
“Thanks again, Drake. This is all… just so special.”
Drake gently rests his chin in her hair, the subtle notes of lavender tickles his senses. His eyes float closed, a smile growing with each passing moment.
Riley yawns. “Your friendship… I feel like it’s the only thing I’ve got right now, one of the only things connecting me to Liam.” She quickly looks up at him, creasing her eyebrows. “How are you doing, by the way?”
Drake adverts his eyes quickly back to his best friend’s casket. “Uh…” he clears his throat. “I–I don’t know. Some moments… it’s like a bad dream.” He breathes out heavily. “Sometimes I think he’s just on his trip, and he’ll be barrelling through those doors any minute,” he chuckles. “And then other moments…” he stops, staring at the flag-adorned coffin.
Riley removes Drake’s arm from her shoulders, taking his large, calloused hand in her own as they both stare in silence at Liam’s resting place.
“Can I ask you another question?” The queen quietly requests. “A personal question?”
“Hrmmm?” Drake warmly hums, gazing at her with tired, hooded eyes.
“Do you… believe in God? The afterlife? In–” she motions aimlessly around herself with her hand, “–all of this?”
Drake bows his head for a moment. He then lets go of her hand, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Rubbing his hands together, he remains thoughtfully quiet.
“I–I’m sorry,” Riley whispers. “That was maybe too personal–and terribly morbid on my part–”
Drake subtly turns his head, shaking it. “No, no, you’re fine.” He turns back to face the altar, a large crucifix hanging above the choir stall. Not saying a word, he finally closes his eyes.
Riley relaxes into her seat, folding her hands into her lap. A warming guilt rakes at her nerves, regretting that she ever asked the question. That is, until Drake took a deep breath.
“I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” Drake smirks, opening his eyes to stare at the ornate cross on the wall. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” He falls silent again, chewing on his mouth, Riley’s full attention on him. He nervously looks down at his mindless hand-wringing as he takes another deep breath. “As kids, anytime we had a problem, Moma would say, ‘Fix those eyes to the hills. The Lord promises to help you.’” He becomes quiet again, his eyes rapidly blinking as he sucks in his bottom lip. “Then Dad died.”
Riley endearingly pats his shoulder, tears slowly cascading down her cheeks.
“And–” Drake sarcastically chuckles, forcing away his own sobs, “I looked. I looked, and I fucking kept looking to the hills because ‘he promises to help you.’” He blows out a breath, wiping at his lower eyelids. “Dad was gone… and God was no where to be found.” His jaw becomes rigid, his words cutting like a blade. “The Crown cut the funds almost immediately after Dad died, leaving us stranded. I looked, but there was no help from… from God. And then Moma left us…” He sniffles, his hands casually balling into fists. “She just… left us. And I looked–I fucking begged for God’s help. If not for me, then at least for Savannah. But... ” He shakes his head.
Riley remains silent, taking in Drake’s painful memory.
“But,” his voice lightens, more hopeful, “I still keep looking–as fucking stupid as that sounds,” he laces his fingers together, “I have to believe and look for him–for God.”
“Why?”
“Because the thought of being alone–completely alone in this world with no one to turn to?” He peers intently into Riley’s eyes, his voice softening into a small whisper. “That terrifies me… but the thought that my dad is really gone? That–that I can’t talk to him in heaven–?” Drake chokes up. “And now Liam? And–and soon my… my Moma?” He runs his hands down his face. “I have to believe, Ri. I just… have to.”
Riley slips her arm around Drake's elbow, hugging his arm. Quietly supporting one another, both Drake and Riley stare towards the front of the church in reverent thought. Riley considers Drake’s words, her heart touched by his own hope in the midst of so much tragedy. But then, her forehead creases in curiosity.
“Wait… you talk to Liam?”
“Well, I mean…” A rosy pink rolls across Drake’s neck and face, “Yeah… I try.”
“Does he… talk back?”
Drake sighs. “I don’t know. I’d like to think he does, and I just… can’t hear him.”
“What about your dad?” Riley gently asks.
“Yeah,” Drake snickers at himself, feeling slightly foolish of his admission. “Yeah, I talk to him a lot.”
“And?” Riley smiles.
“That man does not talk back; he fucking yells at me.” The pair fall into much needed laughs, kindly smiling at one another. Drake relaxes back in the pew, crossing his ankle over his knee to turn towards the brunette. “You should try it… talking to Liam.”
“What?”
“I’m serious.” Drake's expression is still slightly embarrassed. “If that boy’s gonna talk to anyone, it’s gonna be you.”
Riley chews on her bottom lip, not convinced at what her guard is suggesting. She looks away, towards Liam’s casket before turning back to Drake. “What would I even say?”
“What would you say to him right now?”
Riley giggles to herself, bowing her head as a flush overcomes her cheeks. Her eyes fill with more unshed tears, thinking of all the conversations that she was yet to have with her husband. Is it possible that she could still talk with him? Even now?
God, I hope Drake’s right…
“Well, my good friend,” Riley stands up, smiling back down at Drake. “I think I’m going to try to get some sleep.”
“Are you going to be okay in here?”
Riley nods thoughtfully. “I think so. Thanks for talking with me, and… well, you know. Everything.”
“Anytime, your majesty,” he jovially winks. “Oh hey,” he stops her as she starts making up her cot. “What’s ‘PTG’?”
Her eyes widen. “What?”
Drake rakes his fingers through his hair, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. “Well, when I was fixing up the necklace–” he points to the new jewelry Riley was wearing “–I saw that there was an engraving inside Liam’s ring, and… well, they were clearly not your initials,” he titters. “What does it mean?”
Riley looks down at the etching inside Liam’s wedding band before fidgeting with her own ring that had the same inscription. “Pour two glasses.”
Drake raises an eyebrow. “Pour… two glasses? Of what? Like, wine?”
Riley snorts, shaking her head. “It's…" She shakes her head. “It's silly."
"Oh, c'mon," he encourages. “It can't be that silly if y'all put it on your wedding bands."
Riley nervously chuckles. "Well, um… It was our promise to each other, that even though we may be apart,” she sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes fluttering to the coffin, “our love will always reunite us again. So, go ahead…” She smiles brightly, “Pour up the drinks: one for you and one for me,” she shrugs shyly. “And… we will be united again soon to drink together.”
“Hrmmm,” Drake thoughtfully takes in the romantic sentiments. “You two,” a crooked smile grows across his face as he massages his neck.
“We’re pretty gross–”
“Nah,” his eyes twinkle as he looks at Riley. “Y’all were just in love.”
------
Feeling emotionally exhausted, Riley crawls into her bed for the night, hugging a goose-feather pillow tightly in her arms. With the atmosphere becoming instantly still around her, she rolls over to face the grand white casket.
And he's there. She knows her husband is there with her, separated only by a few inches of distance, separated only by sturdy-aged oakwood and fire-pressed metal, separated only by a single breath.
Then why did she feel so alone?
------
Five Years Ago (During Liam's Social Season)...
"Lady Riley, are you out here?"
The American suitor quickly dabs her eyes dry from her anxious tears, hoping the moonlight wouldn't give away the rosy worry of her cheeks.
"I'm here," she softly speaks. Adjusting the fullness of her petal pink ball gown, she stands from the balustrade, making her presence known. She forces a smile, but her eyes train to his loafers, unable to match his handsome gaze as she fidgets with her fingers.
"There you are," Liam strides closer in the moonlight with a bottle of champagne in his arms. "I've been looking every–" He stops, noticing her troubled look. His pearly white smile dissipates as he sets down the bubbly drink. "Riley? Is something wrong?"
"I–I’m fine," she sniffles into a forced smile. "I guess… I'm just a little homesick is all.” She dares to look into his powder blue eyes, glittering with pure adoration. She quickly turns away, biting her lip as a single tear spills onto her skin.
"Just a little homesick?" Liam echoes. He brushes the back of his finger against the soft planes of her face, offering her a crooked smile. "This would be easier if you would just tell me.”
She takes a deep breath, considering her words carefully. “You know I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Because of your generosity, I am experiencing things I never–”
“Riley,” he takes her hands into his secure hold, “it’s me. You’re talking to me. Not ‘Prince Liam.’ Not the king or–or queen or any other noble for that matter… it’s me. It’s just you and me.”
She sighs, slowly turning away from him, her heels clicking against the stone floor. She finally stops, pivoting to look up at the tall blond. “It’s just…” She exhales, tittering to herself. “This is foolish,” she waves her hand, walking towards the door to exit the balcony. “You have the other suitors to attend to–”
Liam grabs her arm, pulling her pack into himself. “And they can wait because I’m with you. Come on,” he brings her hand to his lips before giving her a toothy grin. “I happen to be an excellent listener.”
Through the curtain of her tears, Riley titters as she blushes at the touch of his lips on her skin. “I… I just…” She pulls her hand back; taking a big breath, she stares back up at Liam. "What are we even doing?"
"I… don't quite follow–"
"Us, Liam," she fixes the lapel of his tux, running her palm flat against his chest. "I'm talking about us. This… I don’t even know what to call this anymore." She shrugs, letting her arms fall carelessly at her sides. "Are we dating? Or am I being foolish? Living out some silly fairy tale fantasy?" She looks up, dabbing under lashes to keep from ruining her make-up. “And I know this hasn’t been easy for you either, having to abide by so many rules--God!” Riley covers her face with her hands, “how can I even be complaining right now?”
Liam gently takes her wrists, pulling her fingers from hiding her face. “Because it is hard for both of us.” He pulls her into his strong embrace, Riley instantly finding comfort in his warmth. He tenderly traces circles across her back. “I’m sorry. I… I wish there was some way I could make this easier for you–”
“I just want to know that this will all be worth it, which is so selfish of me. I have no right to demand that of you… I feel so selfish, vying for your attention even now… because you have several beautiful and intelligent suitors in there that could all make an excellent queen–”
Suddenly, Liam’s phone begins to ring in his pocket. Mouthing the word ‘sorry,’ Liam takes the call. With a nod, Riley quickly crosses to the otherside of the balcony to give him privacy, wrapping her arms around her body. She looks back out across the city. Is this her home? Could she someday be responsible for this, for these people? For their livelihood? For this country?
“I–I’m so sorry Riley,” Liam furrows his brow as she turns towards him. “I’m–”
“Needed elsewhere,” she sighs before politely grinning. “I know.”
Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Liam hastily grabs the bottle of champagne before gathering Riley into his arms. “Take this.”
Her expression turns inquisitive as she inspects the bottle before surveying his face.
“We will talk about this later, Lady Riley,” he nods, “and I promise you… I will prove it to you that this will all be worth it.” He cups her cheek tenderly before turning to quickly exit the balcony.
“Liam?” Riley holds up the bottle with an unspoken question as he glances back to her.
“Go ahead… and pour two glasses. I promise I’m coming back to you. Tonight.”
------
Unable to fall asleep, Riley reaches for her phone to check the time: 1:12 AM. She sighs to herself as she rolls over, readjusting her pillow under her head. Staring out her window, she notices the clean cuts of the crescent moon, its silver glow captivating her as the stars in the blue velvet sky dance and twirl for her entertainment to their own rhythm–that is until a different beat raps against her door.
Startled, she sits up staring at the large shadow standing outside of her quarters. She grabs her satin robe, cinching it around her waist as she lightly pads to the entrance to her room.
The knocking becomes more vigorous, making Riley accidentally yelp. She grabs a stiletto shoe, hoping to use the heel as a weapon if needed as she reaches for the doorknob. But to her relief, when she opens the door, Liam is waiting for her, leaning his shoulder against the doorway.
“Liam!” she quietly shouts, her voice husky as she tosses her shoe to the ground. “You scared me.” She motions for him to come in as she reaches to turn on a lamp. With her back still to him, she continues. “What are you doing here so–?”
Liam grabs Riley’s hand, and suddenly she whips back, falling into his strong embrace. Before she can protest, his mouth blissfully pushes into her pout. Her eyes flutter close as her lips savor every tug, every lick of his fervent touch. Parting her lips, his tongue is hungry, but gentle; his mouth is greedy, but tender. He wraps his arms lovingly around her body as her fingertips wander to the back of his neck, her foot gently popping out freely behind her.
They abruptly pull apart, gasping for air. Staring longingly at one another, their chests violently rise and fall, desperately wanting more of each other.
“Whoa,” Riley pants, the taste of Liam’s tongue still intoxicating her senses. “You… you came back.”
The corners of Liam’s reddened mouth begin to curl. “Yeah.. of course, I came back,” he chuckles, a blush swirling up his neck. He finally steps forward, cupping the velveteen skin of her face with his hand, her body trembling at his touch.
“Liam, I–”
“Shhh,” he sweetly hushes her, painting his thumb across her lower lip. “I’m so sorry, Riley... I–I should’ve done this a long time ago. You have so many questions, so many fears,” he swallows thickly. “I should’ve told you the moment I knew.”
Her eyebrows raise, her heart crescendoing in her chest. “Knew what?”
“The moment I knew you were the one.” He combs her hair behind ear as a solemn tear spills out joyfully on her skin. “I have to finish out the social season to maintain suitable connections with our allies… but damnit,” he bites his lip mischievously, “I’m in love with you, Riley Brooks.”
“I’m in love with you too, William Rys.” She wraps her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him into another heated kiss. His hand finds the back of her neck, his fingers tangling intimately into her raven waves.
“Wait a minute,” he pulls away, “I almost forgot.” Liam quickly darts towards the door, stepping outside the quarters, only to return seconds later with a pink gift bag. There’s a subtle clinking coming from inside before he hands the surprise to Riley.
She raises a playful eyebrow. “What is it?”
“You’ll see,” he winks.
Riley carefully reaches inside, pulling out two finely etched pieces of stemware. She smiles widely, snickering at the sentiment.
“They’re champagne glasses… You know, so we can enjoy the bubbly together–”
“You goofball,” she giggles as she admires the brushed-gold rimming. “And forgive me if I’m mistake, but I do believe… well, at least according to Bertrand, that these are champagne tulips, your highness.”
He chuckles, pecking her lips. “No,” he leans in again, kissing her tenderly, “this is my promise to you.” He takes the glasses, and safely puts them on her dresser before taking her hands in his. “You don’t have to worry anymore, my love. No matter how hard this road gets for us, I promise you… I’ll always come back to you.”
------
Present
Riley clings to Liam’s metal bands around her neck, holding them close to her heart as his last words resound over and over in her head.
“Pour two glasses, my queen. I’m coming home to you.”
What she wouldn't give to actually hear those words pass through his lips, to hear the tone and sultry timbre of his rich Cordonian accent, to hear him say, ‘I love you’ just one more time…
Remembering that final day when she saw him off in the motorcade, Riley wishes she could’ve known it was the last time. Maybe she would’ve paid just a little more attention to the smile she already knew so well. Maybe she would’ve savored his coveting touch, dedicating it more to her memory. Maybe she would’ve kissed him longer, harder, more passionately, memorizing over and over the restraining tug of his mouth on her lips.
Or maybe she would’ve begged him not to go.
With these intrusive thoughts swirling around in her head, Riley is unable to fall asleep as she previously thought. She considers retrieving Drake, thinking that maybe having some company would relax her, saving her from her own mind. But as she sits up, she looks back to Liam’s casket.
You should try it… talking to Liam.
Riley nervously picks at her nails as she mindlessly surveys the dark, empty nave. Is she really doing this? She begins to rub her hands up and down the soft weave on her arms, finding a snagged, loose thread in her husband’s old sweater. As she fidgets with the string, twirling it around her finger, she hesitantly steps closer to the white casket.
She carefully touches the polished exterior, her fingertips brushing against the gold handles and intricately designed filigree. Taking a deep breath, she pulls back the Cordonian flag before pressing her palms to the cold, sturdy lid where he lies.
“Liam?” Her voice is low, barely even a whisper as her eyes shift up and down his resting place. At first, she feels silly, her cheeks reddening despite her solitude. She’s not sure what to expect or what she even wants to happen by talking to Liam; but Riley can’t deny the sudden rush of comfort she feels calling out to her beloved. It feels nice to imagine, even if for a moment, that she’s conversing with him, as if life was back to normal.
Her breath hitches in her chest as storm clouds gather in her eyes, tears eroding across the curves of her face. She trembles as she traces figure-eights across the surface.
I happen to be an excellent listener…
Riley drapes her arms across the top of the coffin, resting her head against the hard lid. She pinches her eyes closed, overcome with the torrential downpour of her tears.
In her personal darkness, she sees Liam, those handsome dimples, the peaceful warmth of his strong embrace, the vast galaxy of stars in his eyes. She opens her mouth to speak, but her sobs rob her of her voice.
It's just you and me…
Riley tucks a closed fist under her body. She nuzzles her head like a kitten against the lid as her bottom lip quivers. With her thoughts hazy on what to say, she finally chokes out in a single, desperate breath the one thing–the only thing–she can muster.
"I miss you."
Seized by her sadness, uncontrollable tears pour out as her hopeless cries reverberate through the sanctuary.
In the back of the darkened nave, a hidden pair of chocolate eyes takes in the scene as they begin to sting with bitterness at the sight of his best friend’s widow.
------
It has been a little over three weeks since Liam's death. Riley has spent twenty of the past twenty-one nights of his Royal Wake at his side, finding comfort in the memories of him, in talking about him.
In talking to him.
Although the thick cloud of grief haunts stagnantly around her, the river of tears and the uncontrollable cries have become manageable. Discussing Liam, his honorable death and legacy has become slightly easier. Little reminders around the quarters, like his empty coffee cup, his untouched tennis racket, even his empty laundry hamper, aren't so jarring anymore.
As she slowly transitions into a new era of her life, Riley recognizes that she isn't healing or moving on from the death of her husband. Rather, she has become numb, barely existing. Her body gasps for survival, moment by moment, minute by minute, breath by breath.
Perhaps this is what happens when a beloved dies. The heart doesn't bruise or break; it's a treasure, sealed by love in the arms of a lover, never meant to be returned. But, what is life without a heart?
Riley's heart remains steadfast with Liam and always will.
Today, he will be buried. He will be honored before the heavens in a televised mass before his body is escorted to his final resting place, next to the great rulers that came before him.
Today, she slips on a knee-length black peplum dress with a modest black heel. She fixes her dark waves into a low bun while adorning a black fascinator to her crown, pulling a veil over her face.
Today, her family, her friends and her country will gather one last time to say those unimaginable words just one more time.
Goodbye.
The service is lovely, at least that's what Maxwell whispers to Riley as they form the processional for the exit from the cathedral. Her eyes refuse to leave Liam’s casket as six guards prepare to move him. With delicate precision, they fold up the Cordonian flag and gather the twenty-one white roses that once decorated the lid, and hand them respectfully to her.
She clutches the gifts dearly to her chest, her fingers finding her necklace with her husband’s rings. Her eyes well with tears as the men begin to walk Liam carefully down the aisle to the back of the nave.
A warm hand gently touches Riley's back, guiding her into the open aisle behind the casket. She looks up to see a tear-stained Drake, motioning for her to follow.
Without saying a word, she offers her arm, her eyes pleading with him to walk with her.
Drake drops his mouth to her ear. "Brooks, I'll be along in a minute. It’s family first–"
"You are family." A corner of her mouth curls as Liam's best friend finally takes her arm.
Feeling more at ease, they somberly follow in the processional. Exiting the sanctuary, they continue down the stoned corridors, brilliantly colored by the stained glass in the daylight. Once they reach the antique, double wooden doors at the front of the church, they take a moment to ensure the lineup.
"Excuse me?" Riley softly calls to the guards. "I… I was wondering if I could just have a brief moment. With my husband? Just one last time while we’re here in the church."
With the nod of their heads, she steps forward to the pearlescent casket, laying a single hand on it. She begins to whisper sweet sentiments unheard by everyone present, tender words only meant for heaven’s ears. Riley then kisses her palm before pressing it once more over the smooth surface of the lid. She hugs the flag and flowers back to her body before giving a subtle shake towards the guards.
As the large doors swing open, the thunderous creak of the wood reverberates through the foyer. And in an instant, the Mediterranean sunlight pours in, particles of dust dancing amongst the golden rays. As the guards proceed with Liam, her eyes adjust to the abrupt punch of brightness to her swollen eyes. The warmth of the day washes over her skin as if to welcome her into a new life. She remembers once upon a time feeling this way, walking out of this very cathedral hand-in-hand with Liam, and the sweet bathing of the Cordonian sun felt like a renewal, as if the universe was greeting them into their new life as husband and wife.
As the cozy, familiar feeling melts over her senses, her long, dark lashes flutter shut as she remembers that special day, her wedding day.
Riley Brooks, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?
“Riley?” Drake breaks her reverie, giving a kind, yet pained grin as he offers his arm again. “Are you ready, my queen?”
Unfortunately today signifies a different kind of beginning for Riley. A new life. Without her Liam.
Fixing her tiny hand to him, Riley takes a deep breath, and steps into the light. She sees the stairs and then a distinct pathway marked off with large crowds of people on either side. As she and Drake ease down the entrance from the cathedral, she trains her eyes onto her husband's casket as they make their way to the royal motorcade.
The crowd is still, completely quiet as the late king passes by. Many bow their heads in reverence; others cross themselves in prayer.
Do you vow to love him, comfort him and cherish him…
Suddenly in the distance, Drake hears a familiar sound causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand. He and Riley continue to proceed, but he anxiously surveys the crowd, both to his right, and then carefully to his left.
…for better or worse…
With the crowd still silent, Drake hears the distinct noise again, only this time it’s closer. Louder. Echoing off the side of the building.
A glock.
…for richer or poorer…
"Switch sides with me," Drake demands in a low, stern voice, trying to guide Riley from his left side to his right.
Riley knits her eyebrows together with curiosity, pivoting her body to face her dear friend. "What’s wrong?"
...in times of joy and in times of trial…
Drake looks over Riley's shoulder, his eyes growing wide as he watches a man dressed in a dingy military uniform with dark-complected skin step forward in the crowd, something hidden in his hand. A member of the Les Combattants.
And now it’s clear what he hides: a gun.
"Oh, fuck me," Drake mutters, grabbing the queen’s shoulders. "Riley, get down!"
Violent echoes like the crack of a whip strike terror in the gathered masses. Frightened screams pierce into the air as people flee the grounds in horror. The gunshots continue, one after another after another, popping incessantly until the cries for help cease, and the grounds of the cathedral choke back into silence.
… till death do you part?
Twenty-one long stem roses scatter chaotically across the stoned pathway; crushed and bruised white petals have been ripped and casted into the wind like chaff.
The neatly-folded Cordonian flag that once adorned the late King's casket lays untucked on the ground…Only its sharp colors are no longer bold and pristine as a deep shade of crimson soaks into the fabric.
I do.
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Series Synopsis: In the midst of a violent political war, Queen Riley Rys’s life is dismantled overnight, forcing her to flee Cordonia to live in hiding as a commoner with a loyal, best friend
Series Warnings: angst; profanity; major character death; grief and mental health discussion; discussion of violence & war; alcohol use; NSFW material
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Chapter 1: "...While You're in the World" Queen Riley Brooks-Rys has it all: the perfect life with a decorated king as her perfect husband, and together, they share the perfect fairy tale love... that is until political unrest stirs in Northern Africa. Life as she knows it is about to change.
Chapter 2: "... the Fear That I Can't Control This." Loyal best friend and royal guard Drake Walker recollects his final promise he made to Liam as he helps Riley navigate through her own grief.
Chapter 3: "...Dreaming Makes for Sweet Escape" In the midst of Liam's Royal Wake, Drake surprises Riley with a secret trip away from the palace in hopes that it might help with her sleepless nights.
Hey, girl! Thank you so much for asking about this fic! Yes! Chapter 4 is in the works right now, so hopefully later this week, early next week, we will see more of Drake's surprise for Riley, and ... we will be saying, "Goodbye," to Liam. 😭😭😭
Eeeeee! See? Now I feel like dropping everything and working on it... lol (I'm currently editing the next chapter of Stay). But, this next chapter of PTG is going to serve as a catalyst for the rest of the story, like a chip in the windshield and it's going to spider out with a few other subplots that include some of our old friends from TRR. Soooooooo excited! 💜
The rest is Unwritten... @shewillreadyou - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
