by Lara Swann
“You have his ring, I believe.” She says suddenly, refocusing on me. “My ring. I gave it to Derek years ago, as is tradition.”
I’m curious why tradition is that it goes to the younger brother, but the image of that ring distracts me and I try not to wince.
“Ah, yes…of course. Derek said.” I try to smile. “It’s, ah, a very impressive ring.”
Her eyes crinkle up at the edges, in what I think is the closest I’ve seen any Aldoran to laughing.
“It’s a terrible ring.” She says, as straightforward as she has been all afternoon. “I almost refused him on the spot, and he was an Aldoran Prince, don’t forget. I picked this one out ten years later, when we had learned how to talk to each other about such things.”
She leans forward and shows me her hand - and the lovely, demure diamond ring she’s wearing. It’s still got a couple of sapphires, set in tiny gold flourishes around the diamond, but…it’s gorgeous. I’m immediately jealous even though, of course, the ring Derek gave me isn’t actually my engagement ring. We’re not actually engaged. It takes a moment to remind myself of that.
But I tell her anyway.
“It’s beautiful.” I agree. “And I think I’m a little jealous.”
“If you want my advice, learn how to talk to him about such things a little quicker than ten years.”
I grin at that - I can’t help myself - then nod sagely. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”
“Now I need to rest. You can come back tomorrow and I will tell you more, and teach you a little Aldoran.”
“Thank you.” I say again, genuinely grateful. I’m not quite sure what I’ve done to deserve her attention, but it feels like the first good thing that’s happened since I arrived here. Well, apart from that kiss.
“Learn what I tell you well, girl. Work hard, and it will make it worth my time.”
I nod, then stand and make to leave - before something else occurs to me. Something that I’d really like, but I don’t know whether it would be appropriate of me to ask. But since Adele is the only person who seems able to tell me upfront if it is inappropriate, I go for it anyway.
“If I learn all the things you tell me, and do as you suggest…will you tell me a bit about your life? I would love to hear it.”
She looks up at me, and though I can’t quite tell, she seems surprised. She’s silent for a long moment, and then finally she nods.
“Yes, I will do that for you.”
I smile again. “Thank you, Adele. I finally feel like I have a chance here.”
I leave, with my mind buzzing and filled with everything she’s told me. What was frustrating and impossible only a few hours before now seems achievable - and more than that, interesting and absorbing too. As much as I’m looking forward to a few days with a good book in the sun, I know I want to spend my time here doing more than that. I want to learn more about Aldora, and the history behind all the customs she’s started telling me about.
I’m excited about learning the language too, even though I’ve flunked out of pretty much every language course I’ve attempted before. But Adele is a good teacher, and I have a different kind of motivation now.
With no hint of Derek or anything I’m supposed to do now, I make my way back to my room, going over the different Aldoran expectations and trying to work out how I’m going to learn before the next time I’m presented to the court. Assuming there is a next time - I didn’t tell Adele, but Derek seemed doubtful about that this morning. If I get a chance though, I’m determined as hell to do better.
Though the thought of a Court Ball is pretty scary. And I don’t know how to dance. I try and make a mental note to ask Adele about that tomorrow, already excited at the thought of seeing her again.
The moment I enter the corridor that has my room branching off though - getting better at finding my way around the palace - I hesitate. There’s someone stood outside - one of the men in that uniform I keep seeing around - and I don’t know what he wants.
Steeling myself, and trying to remember all the things Adele told me so that I can practice, I walk up to him.
“Hi there.” I say as I approach.
Okay, not an Aldoran greeting.
But being formal to someone who is already trying to be deferential is weird. And uncomfortable. Maybe I’ll adapt some of these things for when I’m not with the court.
“Can I help you?” I ask, before he can say anything, and he looks at me in surprise.
I guess maybe that’s what he was meant to say - it’s what all the others have.
“This is my room.” I say, by way of explanation.
He nods. “I know, Princess. I’m Simeon, your page.”
I blink at him. My what?
“I’m here for whatever you might need while you’re staying with us, Princess.”
Oh god. I’m not sure I’m quite ready for this. This is the part of the whole Princess thing that I really didn’t want to deal with. But I can’t exactly tell him that without seeming rude, and I think Derek did mention something about this…
“Oh, okay.” I say, unsure. “Well, thank you.”
I glance past him to my door, not sure what else to say. I don’t really want someone here for whatever I might need.
“Well, I don’t think there’s anything—oh, wait. Actually. Do you know where Prince Derek is?”
I’d been distracted with everything Adele had told me until then, but now that I think about it, Derek and I have a little unfinished business—
The page - Simeon - nods. “He’s attending to state business at the moment. But I could take you to him?”
I hesitate, the spark of interest turning to disappointment in a heartbeat. “No, that’s okay. I won’t disturb him. Thank you anyway.”
He nods, and I look at him again, unsure what’s expected of me. Then, feeling a little awkward, I give him another nod and open the door to my room. Once I’m inside and it’s safely closed behind me, I let out a deep breath.
Pages. Another thing to ask Adele about.
I’m more relieved to have her to talk to about these things than I can say. Derek is wonderful, and he does seem more willing to answer my questions now, but…I feel like most of the time he’s trying to reassure me instead of telling me what I need to deal with. With Adele, I know that will never be a problem - she has no hesitation in letting me know how it is.
Walking further in, to the bedroom part of the suite, I stop again as another surprise greets me.
The place has been completely cleared - it’s tidy, with nothing out of place at all anymore. A far stretch from the remains of breakfast that we left scattered on the table, my open suitcase, the disorder of the belongings I’d thrown around last night after I came back from dinner with the intention of getting straight into bed and forgetting about everything that had happened.
Fuck me.
The breakfast tray - okay, I can understand that - but as I look around for where on earth my suitcase has gone, half wondering if I’ve been moved to a different room and no-one told me, I find it inside the wardrobe. With all my dresses hanging there waiting for me - including the one I wore last night. Suspicious, I lean forward and take a sniff.
Yep, definitely clean.
In what, less than a few hours?
Someone had come in, unpacked all of my things, then taken my dirty clothes and laundered them, before replacing them for me?
That uncomfortable feeling in my stomach redoubles. Maybe this is the sort of thing some people like - but I’m not one of them. The idea of someone dealing with my dirty clothes is too much for me, and I was going to unpack. I just didn’t get round to—
Something else occurs to me, and I suddenly go beet red. It wasn’t just clothes in that suitcase and…
I open the suitcase back up, but it’s empty. I guess my laptop and the books I brought along with me are in the room somewhere, but the other thing isn’t there either. The thing I hope to god that no one found, but has somehow vani
shed from my suitcase…
Cautiously, I open the top drawer in the wardrobe, holding my breath.
And there it is. Neatly nestled between my underwear, in practically the same place I keep it at home.
The bright pink, smooth length of my vibrator.
I flush so hard that my glasses steam up, and I have to take them off and wipe them. I have no idea what the modest Aldoran society thinks of such things, but my god…I’m just thinking about someone unpacking that for me.
I take it out and glare as if it was its idea to come along on this trip with me. I only brought it because…well, because maybe I’d had a few fantasies before coming out here, and with all the time I’d be spending with the Prince…I just wanted to be prepared. In case I needed it. Since it was more than likely that nothing else was going to happen.
Nothing like, say, kissing on the top of the castle ramparts - the sea in the background, and the breeze running between us. Huh. Now that I think about it, it’s a pretty romantic spot. I hadn’t really noticed that as we’d kissed, all my focus and energy entirely on Derek.
I pause with the vibrator in my hand, and look at it again. My pussy clenches, and I think of the hard bulge of Derek’s cock pressing against me. The way I’d wanted to grind myself against his hard body and kiss him until he was growling with need. I glance back at the door, thinking of the page - Simeon, I remind myself - just outside, and the heat creeps back into my cheeks.
But…there’s nothing else I need to do. I’m on vacation. And Derek is totally inaccessible right now. What else is a girl to do, when she’s spent the last few days with a guy like that?
I glance back at the underwear neatly arranged in my drawers, the dresses hung up waiting for me, but the anticipation building in my stomach seems to have overwhelmed my discomfort.
Just don’t leave anything on the floor again. I tell myself. There’s a hamper. Use it. And please, please, please just forget that anyone ever saw this little thing…
I walk back into the bedroom and shut the door between that and the small corridor that all of the rooms branch off from. I’m pretty sure the doors are thick, and it’s not like I intend to be loud, but even so - without that extra degree of separation, I’m not sure I could work up the nerve to do this with Simeon basically standing at the door to my suite.
My heart is already beating hard in my chest just at the idea, and I sneak around the bed and draw the curtains too - hoping it’s not obvious for anyone in the gardens looking up, and hoping if it is that they don’t guess why. It’s a ridiculous thought, but I can’t help myself. I’m not sure this is what Princesses are supposed to do.
Fuck Princesses, I think as I shrug my shorts off and lie back on my bed. It’s beautifully soft - something I was too tired to notice before - and luxuriously smooth to feel against my skin.
Fucking on this bed would feel amazing.
I smile to myself at the idea. And then, unable to help myself, my hand slides down to my panties. It doesn’t feel anything like the callouses on Derek’s hand would, but that’s what I imagine anyway. His cocky smile above me, that toe-curling voice in my ear as he tells me how much he wants me. How he thinks I’m perfect. How he’s going to take his cock out and fuck me just the way I need.
I’m already biting my lip, gasping, just from my fingers making slow swirls across my clit. I bet he’d be amazing at this - and not just because I’ve overheard more than one conversation about it back in college. He’s just got that glint in his eye, the one that tells you he knows exactly how to play your body, better than you even can. The one that promises to have you gasping and on edge and crying out his name.
My hips are thrusting in time with my fingers now, wanting more, but I like drawing it out as I picture him there above me, murmuring in my ear. Clutching his shoulders and begging to cum, desperate for it, longing…
I let out a small moan, just a very quiet one, and flick my vibrator on before teasing it around the edge of my pussy, just playing. I can feel the anticipation tense within me, that electric spark as I bring myself closer to and further from the edge, again and again. I’m soaking wet, and all I can think about is that kiss earlier. The rough passion, the intensity of it. What it would be like, to be thrown against the wall and taken right there. To have him bite my neck, suck hard as I spasm against him and my legs clench around his hips, his hard cock thrusting into me…
With a gasp, I push the smooth shaft of the vibrator inside me. It’s not big - nowhere near what I felt from his length - but I move it hard and fast, thinking about what it would be like to be filled completely, stretched completely. I haven’t seen Derek’s cock, but…I’ve got a good idea. And my pussy clenches hard against the vibrator as I imagine it.
I pull it out in the next moment, and slam it roughly against my clit, the sudden shock of it sending me hurtling over the edge. My orgasm rushes through me, tingling every nerve along my skin and leaving me panting and gasping for breath. I’m still picturing Derek, and as I roll over and feel the silken sheets against my sensitive skin, I imagine what it would be like to curl into his arms. That heavy, strong weight around me and his satisfied, amused voice in my ear. The way his breath would tickle my hair against my cheek.
I sigh softly and as I come down from the pleasure, feel my lips curving upwards.
Oh yes, I want some of that.
I’ve never been interested before because I’m not really the right girl for one night stands - and Derek hasn’t had a relationship once throughout college. I like the time to learn someone, the delicious pleasure of getting to know them and working out how to make their eyes light, their voices roughen and how to bring that wild-animal ferocity out of them. I like the intensity of hot sex any time or place with them, the way you fall into bed - or anywhere else - almost by accident sometimes. The banter, the laughs, the fun.
You don’t get much of that with one night. So - despite the rumors I’d heard about it being worth it, Derek was always out for me.
But here…like this…?
We’ve already spent days together.
And a summer fling is an entirely different proposition to a one night stand.
The sort of proposition that just might make my vacation complete.
Chapter Twelve
Hanna
Of course, the moment I decide that hot sex with Derek is definitely on the cards - he disappears.
I don’t see him for days.
Anytime I ask, he’s apparently busy doing royal Prince stuff and meeting people for important state business. After the third day like that, I’m tempted to ask Simeon to take me to him anyway - but then I actually consider the consequences of interrupting a royal state meeting to tell Derek that I want him, and back out of it.
I guess he’s busy doing the being a good son thing and convincing his parents that he’s changed - that’s the whole reason I’m here, after all - and I can’t blame him for that. Even if I’m a little bit put out that that kiss didn’t register enough for him to come looking for me at some point.
So I let it go - with a fair bit more help from my vibrator, anyway.
Instead, I spend my time doing what he’d originally promised me - enjoying my vacation.
I Skype my parents to let them know I got here safely and tell them all the drama of the journey, and how beautiful the castle is, and how scary the court where we had dinner was. It makes for an amusing story when you’re not actually living it. Of course, I don’t mention any of that was because Derek and I are supposedly engaged - and I feel bad again about lying to them. Or not-quite-telling-them. It’s surprising how much of what I do say is actually true.
But they wouldn’t understand. Or, to be slightly more accurate - they’d totally freak out. So I reassure them that I’m safe and having a good time, and that I’ll be in regular contact.
Then I Skype Carly and tell her the whole truth. Well, apart from the kiss, anyway. Right now, that seems like it’s mine, and I’m not quite read
y to share it. She does actually freak out, but in a good way, and I get all the sympathy I’ve been missing - with a little bit of green-tinged envy. I hadn’t realized how good it would feel just to actually talk to someone about all of this craziness. Someone who completely understands why it’s all insane, has absolutely no clue right alongside me, and can remind me that I’m not the strange one here - it’s everyone else.
We also swap more ideas and plans for our European trip, which I think Carly has dedicated the entire month to finalizing plans for. I can’t blame her, and I get excited all over again as I think about everything we’re going to do - even if, no, I still can’t show her Aldora first.
I also spend a lot more time with Derek’s grandmother, Adele, who is without doubt one of the most fascinating women I’ve ever known. As well as one of the most feisty characters - in a calm, controlled way of course - to try and get to know. I’m very slowly picking up a few basics in Aldoran - enough that I’ll be able to say a few stock phrases for the Ball, I think, but probably won’t then understand a single response. At least that’s what I think, but I haven’t told Adele yet because I don’t think she’d be impressed.
She tells me some more about Aldora and its history, too, but that’s still not a subject that can be easily discussed in the detail I’d like to go into - I have about ten questions for every sentence she says that can’t all be asked at once - so after a couple of days, I decide to head to the library. Which I immediately regret not visiting earlier.
It’s fucking incredible.
Like it stepped out of my fantasy of what a good library should look like.
The stone walls are paneled with rich wood, and there are bookshelves upon bookshelves spanning the whole room. They stretch up to ceilings double my height, and there are alcoves and wandering stairs to the level above, and little sets of armchairs and tables to sit and read at. And the books…these must be some of the oldest books I’ve ever seen. They have modern ones too, of course, but I spend a good hour walking around just looking at them all, stroking the spines and admiring the elegant joining work. I don’t know much about putting books together, but I can appreciate it all the same.