by B. B. Hamel
She nodded and put her fingers in the water. “Why this place?” she asked.
“I used to live near here. Back before I was king, I’d come here sometimes just to get away from the shit. I like it here.”
She nodded. “It’s nice. Quiet.”
“Quiet, sure, but not nice.” The fountain was crumbling and hardly working anymore, and there was trash littering the edges of the courtyard.
“Okay, fine. Not nice. But I can see why you’d like it.”
“It’s one of the last real places left for me,” I said softly. “Maybe that sounds stupid, but I wanted to bring you here.”
She shifted her weight toward me. “Got any change?”
I grinned. “Sure. Need me to buy you something?”
“No. Come on, hand it over.”
I fished a few coins from my pocket. She took them and tossed them into the fountain.
“What did you wish for?” I asked.
“Can’t say. Otherwise it won’t come true.”
I tossed a few coins in and then stroked my chin. “I don’t know what to wish for.”
“Better hurry. The magic doesn’t last.”
“I wish that you’d finally let me spread your legs and taste that pussy.”
She blushed and looked away. “How’d I know you’d say that?”
“Because you know what’s on my mind.” I reached out toward her and pulled her chin toward me. “We both know what I want. And we both know what you need.”
“What do I need?”
“You need to taste me. Ever since I whispered in your ear, you’ve been thinking about what it would feel like to have me against your lips.”
“Not true,” she whispered, but her body said differently.
“Liar,” I said softly. “You know it’s a crime to lie to the king?”
“You’re not my king.”
I moved closer to her, still holding her chin. She didn’t move, her eyes locked on mine. “Maybe not yet.”
“And how do you think you’ll become my king?” she asked.
“First, I’m going to kiss you, and then I’m going to make you come so hard you forget where you’re from. I’ll worry about the details later.”
She smiled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I pulled her against me and kissed her hard.
She didn’t fight. She wrapped her arms around me and I pulled her against me, our lips pressed together. Her taste flooded my mind and my mouth, every inch of her like flames against my skin.
It was exactly what I wanted. Her lips were soft and starving against mine, and she let out a soft moan as my hands spread her legs open. She didn’t fight me, and I knew she was mine to do with whatever I wanted.
I needed to taste her, to feel her. I wanted to press myself deep inside her tight pussy and bite her lip. I wanted to fuck her in the shadow of the crumbling fountain, the last place I felt at home.
Instead, as I continued to kiss her, our tongues touching, my phone began to ring.
It rang and rang and then stopped. We kept kissing. It began to ring again.
Finally, she pulled back. “Get it,” she said. “It could be a national emergency.”
“It’s always a fucking emergency,” I said. “And right now, I’m too fucking hard to do anything but feel you.”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Answer it.”
I sighed, pulled my phone from my pocket, and answered it.
“Yes?” I said.
It was Al, and he sounded serious.
“Your Highness, there was an attack at the east Stehen rail station. Reports say two dead, many wounded. We need to bring you home.”
My jaw went tight. “Very well. Meet me at first and Hohle.” I hung the phone up.
“What’s wrong?” Bryce asked.
“We have to go.”
“National emergency?”
I stood up, sighing. “For once, yes.”
She stood, worried. “Is everything okay?”
“It will be. I promise.” We headed back to the car and got in. I started the engine and drove to the intersection. My security detail was already there and waiting.
We headed back to the castle in tense silence. I hated that we were interrupted, but I hated even more that those bastard rebels would start killing civilians in Stehen.
It had only been a matter of time. Their brutal tactics could work only so well so far from the capital city. They were butchers and thieves, and they would pay dearly for this.
I was going to kill every last rebel I could get my hands on. Those bastards were going to feel my retribution.
13
BRYCE
I couldn’t believe I kissed the king.
I looked at myself in my bathroom mirror, my mind reeling. We got back to the castle not too long ago, and although I could tell something had happened, nobody was telling me what was going on. It was probably some obscure Starklandian crisis I wouldn’t care about, but still.
I couldn’t believe I kissed Trip. I kept telling myself over and over that I wasn’t going to fall for his shit, but the second he actually pulled me against him, I couldn’t resist. I should have known better than to put myself in that position at all, but I couldn’t help myself.
I was beginning to see more in Trip than just a bad boy king. He wasn’t just a player and a partier. He seemed to genuinely care about his subjects, and I was impressed with their social welfare programs. We didn’t care that much about people back in America.
Then there was that fountain. Of everything Trip had shown me so far, that was the most real. Not just because it was rundown, but that helped. No, it was because of how small it was and how out of the way it was. I believed him when he said that he used to spend a lot of time there.
I couldn’t begin to fully understand Trip. His experience of the world was so different than mine. Everything he said and did held a weight I couldn’t exactly fathom, completely unlike everything I did.
But he was also a regular guy, too. He was a normal person who liked fountains and had simple taste for his personal life. Sure, he was a king, an asshole, but I was beginning to see past that.
And those lips. My god, the way he kissed me sent chills down my spine just thinking about it. I’d been ready to strip my clothes off right there and let him take me. I’d been out of my mind.
I quickly left the bathroom and got into bed, pulling my laptop onto my stomach.
I did a quick news search for Stehen, and the first result surprised me. Apparently there had been a big attack on the main rail station in the city, and the body count was up to five people, with many more wounded.
And it had happened recently. The attack must have been the reason why Trip had had to get back to the castle, and why he’d seemed so serious. For a brief moment, I wondered if we were safe.
But of course we were. We were inside a giant castle with hundreds of guards all over the place. I should have been more worried about the people out in the city who didn’t have the king’s immediate protection. Nothing bad was going to happen to me, not while Trip was around. I didn’t know why I believed that, but I did.
I continued reading more about the war with the rebels in the south. There were a lot of articles in Starklandian and very few in English, but what I could find was surprising.
The fighting had been going on since the old King had died, which I’d known about. The rebels wanted democracy, and the Royal Army was fighting back.
But I didn’t know about the reports of abuses on both sides. I knew the rebels were brutal, but so was the Royal Army. Apparently hundreds of civilians had died already, with thousands more injured or displaced. Many of them reported horrible things done by the Royal Army.
I sat back, biting my lip. That only made me so much more confused. On the one hand, I was convinced that Trip genuinely cared about his people and went out of his way to provide much-needed services to them. But on the other, Starkland was a lot more complicated than
I had realized. There were ministers all with their own power bases and land holdings, and they all were fighting with each other all the time. The king had to try to keep the peace between them, but that was a pretty impossible task.
Then you throw this rebellion into the mix and things were only muddied and horrible.
And Trip wanted to get me involved in all of this. He wanted to make me his queen, which meant I would have a political position in this country. I was a total outsider, and I knew absolutely nothing about any of it.
And yet the way he touched me sent thrills through me. I didn’t want to be queen, but I was starting to realize that I wanted the king anyway.
There was a knock at my door not long later. I got out of bed and answered, assuming it would be my father.
Instead, it was Trip.
“Trip. Hey,” I said.
“Bryce. You okay?”
I nodded. “Come on in.”
I stepped aside and he came in. He glanced back at the security detail and they hung back as he closed the door.
“Sorry about earlier,” he said. “Something fucked up happened.”
“I know; I read.”
“Those bastards.” He walked over to my little side table and took a glass decanter full of some brown liquid. I hadn’t bothered with that stuff, but he poured himself a drink and knocked it back. “Those sick bastards. They bombed a train station full of innocent people.”
“It’s really awful,” I agreed. “I can’t imagine how you feel.”
“I feel fucking angry,” he said. “I want to crush these bastards underneath my boots. I want to kill them all and be done with this foolish war.”
“I don’t blame you,” I said softly.
He sighed, poured himself another drink, and then sat on my couch. “Sorry. I’m just angry.”
“I understand. I mean, I can’t really get it all since I’m a stranger here, but I understand why you’re angry.”
“You are a stranger here,” he agreed, “but you’re a person. You get that much.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Anyway, I just came here to check on you.”
“I’m fine. You should be with your people.”
“Maybe,” he said. “Truthfully, the generals will handle this. I already gave them the order.”
“What order?”
“To get revenge. Tomorrow morning we’ll be starting renewed attacks on the rebel strongholds.”
I bit my lip, looking away. I knew I shouldn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help myself. I was a foreigner, that was true, but I could read and I had Trip’s attention. Maybe this wasn’t the best time, but it was better than never.
“Trip,” I said, “I read some things online.”
“I’m sure you did.” He sipped his drink.
“Your Royal Army has been doing things, some very bad things.”
His face hardened. “Allegedly.”
“Come on, Trip, people aren’t making this stuff up.”
“Maybe they are. Maybe some men in my army are doing bad shit. Those men are caught and they are punished.”
“But is all this fighting helping anything?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “The rebels aren’t going to stop on their own. They have to be put down. This is war, Bryce.”
“I know it’s war,” I said. “But your attacks are going to kill people.”
“They are,” he said. “That can’t be helped.”
“The rebels are your people too, you know,” I said. “I know they’re doing bad things too, but isn’t there some other way?”
“No,” he said simply, standing. His face was drawn and serious. He knocked back his second drink and then put the glass back on the tray. “I’m glad you’re okay, Bryce.”
“Wait, Trip,” I said. “I didn’t mean to be an asshole.”
“You’re not,” he said, “but you don’t understand. These aren’t easy, black-and-white decisions. If I could have my army move in and destroy the rebels without harming a single civilian, I would. As it stands, we punish those individuals who break our rules very harshly.”
I felt terrible for what I’d said almost immediately. “I wasn’t trying to say you’re okay with any of this.”
“I’ll check on you again tomorrow.” He turned and left the room without another word.
I felt awful. I shouldn’t have started pushing him on politics, not right after his people were killed in a terrorist attack. I thought maybe I could convince him to open negotiations with the rebels, but I realized that was foolish.
I was out of my depth, and now I’d pissed off the only person in Starkland who seemed to give a shit about me.
I crawled back into bed, groaning to myself, feeling like an idiot.
14
TRIP
Nobody wanted to be thought of as some violent tyrant, least of all by the woman they wanted.
It wasn’t like I didn’t understand what she was saying. Yes, the Royal Army had done some things during the war that weren’t okay, and those who had performed those actions were punished accordingly. It was not the policy, officially or otherwise, of the Royal Army to harm civilians or to torture people in any way, and yet I knew that I had to own up to that.
Still, I wasn’t negotiating with terrorists. I wasn’t going to show a single ounce of weakness, not after this. Maybe before they murdered my brother and bombed civilians, but not anymore. The only thing these rebels understood was strength, and I had to show it to them.
Bryce meant well. I knew she wasn’t directly blaming me for any crimes committed by my army, but I still couldn’t help but feel stung by her.
I sat in meeting after meeting. The generals were planning their maneuvers and the ministers were all arguing over what sort of response was most appropriate. None of it mattered, since it was ultimately my decision, but still. Everything about the ministers and their squabbling drove me insane.
I didn’t have time for any of this. The only thing I knew was that my people had been killed, and I needed to do something about that. I didn’t have time to argue over bullshit minor policy details with some third-rate assholes who only cared about themselves and their own interests. I wanted something to be done, and I wanted it done immediately.
I sat through meeting after pointless meeting, and the day slowly dragged on. I made decisions when I had to, but I mostly sat there and stared off into the distance, distracted by my own anger and distracted by Bryce.
I kept picturing that kiss. I hated that we were interrupted. I wanted more, needed more, but I wasn’t sure if that feeling was mutual anymore. She seemed pretty intent on finding flaws in my country’s very way of life.
Dinner came and went, and we ate only briefly, never leaving the conference rooms. I was exhausted and frustrated, and the only thing I wanted was to see Bryce.
As another minister went into some inane and absurd discussion on some minor point, I felt my phone vibrate.
Ready for any distraction, I pulled it out. There was a text from Bryce.
It was a picture. Curious, I opened it.
And nearly toppled from my fucking chair.
It was a mirror shot. She wore nothing but a thin cotton T-shirt and the black panties I’d sent her as a present.
My cock was hard as fuck almost instantly. Bryce looked incredible in the picture, her long legs lean and gorgeous, a little smile playing on her lips. I got another text a few seconds later.
“Apology accepted?” she asked.
Fucking hell, this girl. One second she was pushing me on my war policy, and the next she was sending me fucking sexy as hell pictures.
Not like I could complain. My heart was hammering in my chest.
“Meet me at the pool in fifteen minutes,” I typed, and then I sent it off.
“OK,” she sent back.
I scooted my seat back. “Gentlemen,” I said, “I’m sorry, but I have an urgent meeting to attend to.”
The ministers loo
ked at me, surprised. “Shall I continue later, Your Majesty?” the minister who was speaking asked.
“No. Please, go on without me. My secretary will give me notes.”
I quickly turned and left the room, not caring what they thought.
This was what I needed. I didn’t want to sit in fucking rooms all night long doing nothing. I’d end up in meetings again soon enough, but I needed a little break.
Ten minutes later, I had my bathing suit on and was in the pool, swimming laps. My security detail didn’t follow me into the room, fortunately, and I felt at peace for the first time since I’d been called back to the castle.
Soon, I finished a lap and looked up. Standing at the side of the pool looking down at me was Bryce.
“Fancy seeing you here,” I said.
“The king summoned me,” she said.
I floated back, getting a look at her. She was wearing a navy blue two piece, and I could barely keep myself under control. The girl had perfect breasts and a beautiful body, though I could tell she was shy about it.
“Come on,” I said. “The water is heated.”
She laughed and sat down at the edge of the pool, dipping her feet in. “I don’t know. I’ve been warned about swimming with strange men.”
“Strange maybe, but not a stranger.” I swam over to her. “Your king commands you to swim.”
“That just makes me want to not swim even more.”
I grinned and hopped up onto the side of the pool next to her. “Fine then. We’ll both sit here.”
“How’s it going out there?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about out there. I’d rather talk about that picture you sent me.”
She blushed a little bit. “I couldn’t think of a better way to apologize.”
“I don’t think there is a better way.”
“I figured it’s no big deal. It’s like seeing me in a bathing suit, right?”
“Something like that,” I murmured.
She bit her lip. “Did you like it?”
“Very much,” I said. “I’m still fucking hard. I had to leave that meeting immediately and see you.”