She pulls me into the kitchen. “Do you trust me enough to put this on you?”
I watch as she holds up a blindfold. “I guess so,” I roll my eyes in a good-natured way. “Besides if you try to hurt me, Parker’s got to make sure I’m safe.”
He grunts from wherever it is he watches, and she giggles. For some reason I don’t think it would be too hard for Parker to throw me under the bus if she asked him too. She stands on her tiptoes, securing the blindfold around my eyes.
“Walk slow,” she cautions as she pulls on my hand.
I always thought if someone blindfolded me and made me go somewhere on this property, I would know where they were taking me. I’ve downright prided myself in knowing every square inch of the land I own.
But I don’t know. I can’t place it as we walk outside. The only reason I know it’s outside, is because of the change in temperature, and the wind comes in off the ocean. Inhaling deeply I smell the salt. It’s one of my favorite scents, always reminding me of home.
We walk for what feels like hours, but I know it’s really only a few minutes.
“Okay,” she says as we come to a stop. “You can take off your blindfold.”
I do, letting my adjust for a few moments. We’re in one of the shelters on the beach. There’s a fire going, pillows laid out, and a blanket. Popcorn, candy, and drinks sit beside the blanket. “What is this?”
She points to a screen I didn’t notice before. “Parker got a screen set up for me. We’re gonna watch a movie. Like in a movie theatre.”
“I’ve never been to one of those,” I admit, slightly embarrassed.
“I know, I called my brother, and he let me know. It’s kind of hard to know what you’ve done and what you haven’t, because so much of your life is as private as it is public.”
Truer words have never been spoken. As much as I’ve wanted my entire life to remain private, I’m much too public for it to happen.
“Do you like it?” She asks softly as we settle in. I should have known she’d pick The Fast and the Furious. She does like fast cars and bikes. Those are two things I can say with complete conviction she enjoys.
“I love this,” I look around, not exactly sure I’m able to believe we’re here. There were so many things she could have done for me when I laid down the gauntlet.
“I’m glad.”
Her smile is huge and I can tell she’s pleased with herself. On a whim, I entwine our fingers together.
“I’m glad, too. There’s not many firsts I can share with you, but I’m glad this is one of them.”
She giggles elbowing me in the side. “I was way too late to take your virginity, Tris.”
I snuggle in closer to her. “But just think, if anyone asks. I can always say you popped my cherry. No one has to know which one I’m talking about,” I motion to the screen with my bottle of beer.
“Oh my God,” she rolls her eyes. “Shhh! We need to watch the movie.”
For long minutes, I give her what she wants. To watch the movie, but there’s something else I want, and eventually I can’t wonder about it any longer. My arm is still around her, our fingers are still entwined. Parker stands outside, and I know he won’t bother us unless he absolutely has to. Licking my lips slightly, I lean in, kissing the side of her neck softly, and slowly.
“Trisssttann…”
“Shhh, watch the movie,” I whisper to her. “Isn’t this what you’re supposed to do at the movies? Or have I heard it all wrong?”
With a sigh, she relaxes against me, melting completely into my body.
“Tristan,” she whispers.
“Yeah?”
She turns my chin so that we’re looking at one another. “I never go all the way on a movie date. Just because you’re going to be a king, you think you’re special?”
Running my hand up her thigh, I cup her heat. “I know I’m special,” I lean in, kissing her softly.
“Hmmm,” she makes a noise deep in her throat.
“Don’t you think?”
She shifts her body over, opening her thighs slightly. “I think we should watch them turn this into a ten second car.”
“Opening your thighs to me says something totally different,” I smooth my mouth along her neck. “So you keep watching them make a ten second car. I’ll show you how to have a two minute orgasm.”
She laughs loudly. “With Parker right outside?”
“With Parker right outside,” I confirm. “So that means you need to be quiet. I want you telling me what’s happening in the movie, I haven’t seen it before.”
Amelia adjusts herself against the pillow, burrowing deeper into the covers we’ve spread out.
My fingers slide to the button of her jeans, slipping the metal through, and pulling them down her thighs. Her panties come along with the denim. Carefully I move down to position myself between her thighs. I hook my arms under her thighs.
“Don’t forget, Lia. Tell me about the movie.”
Her eyes are dark as they look down at me. I take one last look at her before I lean in, my mouth covering her core. The fingers of her hand dig into my scalp, grabbing hold off my hair.
A noise escapes her throat causing me to lift up. “Keep those noises to yourself, babe. Don’t forget to tell me what’s happening in the movie.”
“They’re at the Race Wars,” she pants as I lick her clit.
“Tell me about them.”
“Uhh,” she pushes against me. “Jesse, he,” she inhales deeply. “He bets his pink slip against someone with a faster,” she stops for a moment, seeming to collect herself. “Oh my God, with a faster car.”
Bringing my hand up to core, I tuck my my pinky and ring finger into my palm, using my middle and pointer finger to slide deeply inside her body.
“Feels so good,” she tugs on my hair.
“How long does the race last?” I whisper.
“At the Race Wars?” She pushes up against my lips.
“Yeah.”
“Like thirty seconds,” she digs her heels into the sand.
“Bet I can make you come by the end of this scene.”
She gives me a saucy smile. “You’re welcome to try.”
Challenge. Fucking. Accepted.
With a determination I haven’t had in a long time, I go after her hard. Sucking, licking, sliding my fingers inside her warmth, I flick my tongue against her hard bud. She’s wet, so fucking wet, so close.
Lifting my head up. “Have they started racing yet?”
“They’re at the starting line,” she whines, pressing further up into me.
“Are you close?” I ask her.
“So close,” she pants, wriggling against me.
It takes all my strength to reach up, placing a palm on her belly, holding her down. My other hand abandons sliding in and out of her. It moves to the top of her pussy, pulling her lips apart, letting me get even closer to her clit.
“He’s about to go across the finish line, Tris. You better hurry.”
Closing my mouth around her, I flick my tongue like my life depends on it, and in some ways it does. Her thighs tighten around my head, and I can hear the pleasure about to erupt from her throat.
Hoping to keep her from blowing our cover, I press the fingers I had inside her core into her mouth. She surprises me by sucking strongly against them, running her tongue around the digits.
That, is the one thing that gets me.
As she’s coming down, I raise up on my knees, push my jeans down my thighs and take my cock into my hand. My eyes are closed, so I’m surprised to feel warmth around my cock. Prying them open, I see her kneeling in front of me, her mouth around my length.
“Lia, if you don’t want this, you gotta let me go,” my groan is guttural and it takes all of three strokes for me to shoot down her throat.
As I try to get my breath back, the two of us look at one another.
“So Jesse lost his car,” her voice is dry as we’re cleaning ourselves up.
&
nbsp; I laugh loudly. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“I mean you wanted me to tell you.”
Pulling her in my arms, I wrap them around her waist, before laying back against the pillows again. “Now,” I kiss her nose. “We can watch the rest of the movie.”
Chapter Fourteen
Amelia
“Amelia, I’m Charlotte, nice to meet you.”
The woman in front of me holds out her hand. She looks to be early forties, dressed as if she’s a member of the Royal family and avoids my eyes as I try to get a good look at her.
“Hi, Charlotte, nice to meet you too. May I ask,” I take a sip of my coffee, “what are you here to teach me, because you’re obviously here to teach me something.”
She smiles patiently, before pulling a briefcase from behind her body. I’m not sure if she was hiding it from me, but it wasn’t completely visible. “You’re observant, Amelia. Can I call you Amelia?”
“Please do.” I nod. There’s not a title attached to my name yet, and for now, I like it that way. I prefer for people to treat me as they would their friend, instead of being intimidated by who I’m going to be.
“Do you have an office?” Her gaze takes in what’s left of my breakfast and coffee. Apparently she doesn’t want to get into whatever it is we have to discuss at the kitchen counter.
“I believe I do.” I push my hair back from my face. “I’ve not used it yet, so I’m not exactly sure where it is. For the past week or so, Tristan and I have been getting to know one another, there hasn’t been any need for an office.” I feel the need to explain, feeling stupid, because I didn’t even realize I’d need such a place. Especially here.
Parker appears out of nowhere – he’s very good at that. “Ma’am, your office is right off the second landing of the stairs. To the left, first door. Tristan’s is the third door down that hall.”
So if we’re both working in our offices, we’ll be close to each other for the day. For some reason that warms my chest and makes me halfway giddy. Maybe it’s because of yesterday, I had no idea what he was doing for the entire day, just like he had no idea what I was doing.
“I’ll show you up,” I tell Charlotte as I grab my plate, taking it over to the sink.
One of the women who work in the kitchen, I’m still not sure of her name, grabs it from my hands. “Ms. Amelia, how many times have I told you to leave it?”
More than I care to be reminded of, but I’m used to cleaning up after myself, and it’s a hard habit to break. “I’m trying.” It’s the same thing I’ve told her every morning since I arrived.
“Try harder, Ms. Amelia. This is what I’m here for.”
I sigh, nodding. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll go up to the office.”
As I enter the room I absolutely knew nothing about, I wonder who decorated it. It’s not really in my style, and I make a mental note to check with Tristan to see if I can change it. They won’t be huge changes, but there are some that would make me feel more comfortable. As Charlotte walks in, I close the door to give us some privacy, before going around and having a seat behind the desk.
This feels completely odd and out of character for me, but it appears to be what she expects me to do. “Okay, what can I help you with?”
She reaches into her briefcase, pulling out one of the biggest stacks of paper I’ve ever seen. “These are all charitable entities that would like you to support them, Amelia.”
“What?” I’m astonished as she keeps pulling papers out. It’s like the never-ending bag – like that thing in Harry Potter that doesn’t have a bottom to it.
“Part of your duties to the Royal family will be picking charities to support, and you want to make sure you throw your support behind causes you care about. Things you believe in, and to a point, things that will make the Palace look good. It’s your duty to do your research, to make this decision to the best of your ability. And this,” she taps the papers, “is where you’re going to begin. You have a week to get through all of these and select possibly fifteen that we can whittle down even further. I’ll be back to speak with you about what you’ve learned.”
She gets up from her seat and I feel as if I’ve been dismissed instead of her. “I look forward to seeing what’s been offered.”
“Oh dear, it’s a little bit of everything. No need to show me out, I know the way.”
As I sink back down into my seat. I wonder what in the world I’ve gotten myself into. The pile of papers in front of me looks absolutely daunting, but I reach forward, grabbing the first folder and start reading to see what gets my interest.
Two hours later, my mind is blown. First because of how detailed this information is, and second by how some people in our country don’t have basic needs. This will definitely be something I take a stand on. I’d had my mind made up previously when Tristan had asked me. Now, I’m wondering if I have enough in me to help all these people. My eyes are starting to cross when I hear a knock on the door.
“Yes?”
Tristan slips in, closing it, before walking over to sit in the chair Charlotte vacated. I give him a bright smile. One I’ve come to learn is reserved for him. “What brings you here?”
“I’ve managed to slip Parker.” He gives me his own bad boy grin.
There’s one thing I’ve learned about Tristan. It doesn’t matter that he’s going to rule this country in a few short months. There are certain things he makes his own rules for. And I’m beginning to learn there are certain things he needs to be the person he is. He can’t be put in a box, and I don’t think he ever will be able to. There’s a fire in his eyes, a mischievous look on his face.
“What exactly does that mean? You’ve managed to slip Parker?”
He gets up, coming around to where I am, he turns me so that we’re looking outside. “It’s a gorgeous day out there, Lia. The sun is shining, the sky is a deep blue.
“It’s cold out there,” I argue, knowing that it’s cold enough to snow again if we get enough moisture.
“Be that as it may, it’s also gorgeous. Almost as gorgeous as you.”
I laugh so hard I let loose with an unladylike snort. “What in the world is it you want so bad that you’re laying it on this thick?”
He holds out his hand. “Take a ride with me?”
Immediately I’m back to where I sitting behind him on the bike, my arms around his waist, the wind whipping past us. “Are we allowed to?”
“Who cares if we’re allowed to.” He pulls me into him, pushing my hair back with his fingers, palming the side of my face with his hand. “When we get back to the city, we won’t be able to do these things. That will be the fact of life there. Here, we still have a little bit of freedom left, and there’s no one I want to express that freedom with more than you. So, Amelia, do you want to take a ride?”
His eyes blaze hot, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s asking about a ride on the bike, or a ride on him. The way a smile plays at the edges of his lips makes me narrow my gaze. “On your bike?”
He chuckles, the sound deep, flowing through my body, right to all the places he makes me tingle. “On my bike.”
Looking down at the desk, I see the papers, and I know I should work, I know it with every part of my being. But him, coming to me in the middle of the day, asking me to spend time with him? How long will that last – especially when we get back to the city? I can’t say no. I crave being around him, loving being in his arms, and live for the moments when he lets his guard down and is the real Tristan behind the mask. These are those times when he’s the real man, and the real man is what’s got me hook, line, and sinker.
“I guess all of this will still be here later. Promise to take me somewhere I’ve never been before?”
He nods. “Have you been to Agua Park yet?” He mentions a wilderness area.
“No, but I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”
“It is. Come on, let’s get dressed and get out of here before Parker catches on.”
&n
bsp; With giggles, shushes, and hands held we run to the edge of the stairs, take the landing to our room, and quickly get dressed. Then we do the same, as we sneak into the garage.
“Don’t laugh so loud,” he cautions as I wait for him to put his jacket on.
I flip my visor down, hoping it will hold in some of my giggles.
“Oh no, we’ve been spotted,” he laughs loudly as he climbs on the bike, motioning me to get behind him. He starts up the bike, and revs the engine as we make our way out of the garage.
Looking behind us, I see Parker running.
“Hold on tight, Lia.” I hear him through the visor, doing as he says, as we race down the drive and hit the main road.
I realize he was right. I’ve never felt so free in my life.
Chapter Fifteen
Tristan
“Did you get it cleared for me?”
Parker nods, taking a drink of his coffee. “The track is at your disposal for the entire day. I’m not sure why you think this will impress Amelia,” he eggs me on. “Or even be a good birthday present.”
“She likes riding the bike, and I have a feeling she will love the speed of the cars.”
“Most women want to be wined and dined,” Parker argues.
“And I’m not saying she doesn’t want that on occasion, but she did something for me no one else has ever been able to do. I want to give her something she’s never been able to do too. I don’t expect you to understand it.”
Parker holds up a hand. “No, I do understand it, I just never expected you to be this invested in her.”
“She’s going to be my wife,” I say it almost as if it’s stupid of him to question me.
“I know, but you have to admit, what’s happening between the two of you wasn’t exactly planned.”
Royal Rebel: A Royal Romance (The Haldonia Monarchy Book 1) Page 8