by J. S. Cooper
“Regular guy?” He raised an eyebrow at me and I stared at his naked torso in front of me, trying not to run into his arms. Okay, maybe I had really worded that incorrectly. There was nothing regular about him. His body was toned and magnificent. My eyes followed down his chest to his abs and then to his hard cock that was standing to attention. I quickly looked down and stared at his muscular thighs and calves. How was it fair for him to have such a perfect body? He stood there looking so casual and cool, as if it were entirely natural for him to be standing there naked.
“You know what I mean.” I swallowed hard. “I mean it’s kinda hard to feel in over your head when the guy you’re with is arguing with his mom, even if his mom is a Queen.”
“I’m glad you feel comfortable around me.” He stepped towards me, his cock swinging and I jumped up off of the bed.
“I need to make my call now. You better shower.”
“Little Lola is scared of me.” He laughed and stopped. “I guess you’re not that comfortable.” He murmured as he walked towards the bathroom.
“I guess you’re not that big.” I whispered under my tongue as I pulled my shirt on. “What are you doing?” I squealed as I felt his arms around me picking me up and carrying me onto the bed. He dropped me onto the mattress and then pinned my arms back next to my head as he climbed on top of me.
“Showing you just how big I am.” His eyes glinted down into mine and I felt his cock rubbing against my body.
“Xavier.” I gasped as he let go of my arms and pulled me up slowly. “What are you doing?”
“What do you think?” He winked at me and positioned his cock next to my mouth, rubbing the tip of it against my lips.
“I,” I spoke and my eyes widened as I felt him push the tip into my mouth. I licked it slowly delighting in the salty taste of his skin against my tongue. I wrapped my lips around him and he pushed himself slowly into my mouth, our eyes never leaving each other. I could feel myself starting to gag as he continued to push himself into my mouth. I opened up my mouth wider to see if I could take any more of him into my mouth when he pulled himself out swiftly and laughed and jumped off of the bed.
“I don’t think you’ll be making that comment again, will you Lola?”
“You’re a jerk.” I sat up, my head spinning as I licked my lips.
“I guess you like jerks then, don’t you, Lola?”
“Whatever.” I shook my head and he grinned at me.
“Go and make your call and I’m going to shower. Make sure to eat a hearty dinner, I have a long night prepared for us tonight.”
“What do you mean a long night?” I frowned. “What do you have planned?”
“I mean a long night.” He paused. “Or maybe you’d prefer me to say a big one.”
“Oh.” I flushed. “You’re so crude. Did you just bring me here for sex?”
“I’d rather not answer that.” He shrugged. “Or as you Americans say, I’ll plead the fifth.”
“Uh huh.” I walked over to my bag and opened it quickly and pulled my phone out as he walked into the bathroom.
“Lola.” Anna’s voice was loud as she picked up the phone. “You’re alive. What’s going on?”
“You don’t want to know.” I groaned. “I’m in Romerius at the Royal Palace with Xavier.”
“No flipping way.”
“Yes, way. It’s crazy. I even met his mom and dad, the Queen and King.”
“No flipping way.” Her voice grew even louder with excitement.
“And I met his cousin Tarquin. He came to meet us at the airport, but then disappeared when we made it back to the palace.”
“Oh my god, Lola. You’re in a palace.”
“Can you believe it? It’s so surreal.”
“I cannot believe it.” Anna’s voice sounded a bit jealous. “You have all the luck.”
“Anna, trust me. It’s not luck. And it’s not like he’s fallen in love with me and wants to marry me. He just wants some hot sex.”
“I want hot sex.”
“Anna.”
“What? I’m just saying. Shit, I’d love some hot sex with a Prince. Could you imagine what I’d tell everyone in Palm Bay, “hey biatches, I fucked a prince? Who did you fuck, Johnny the head waiter at Applebees?”
“Anna.” I giggled. “That’s so bad.”
“Okay, okay. Maybe they fucked Luke the shoe guy at Dillards.”
“He was a sick fuck.” I laughed, remembering the creepy middle-aged man that sold women’s shoes in our closest mall in Melbourne.
“Do you remember that time I went to get heels for Homecoming and we caught him sniffing my flip-flops.”
“Don’t remind me.” I shuddered.
“At least he gave me a discount.”
“He should have given you more than 5%.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I miss you, Lola.”
“I miss you too, Anna.”
“I’m happy for you though. I hope you know that I’m not being a sour bitch.”
“You mean a hater?”
“I’m not being a hater.” She giggled again. “Well just a little bit. I want to meet a guy; he doesn’t even have to be a prince. I want to be whisked somewhere. I want some hot sex.”
“What about Sebastian?”
“Sebastian?” She laughed. “Yeah, right. He thinks I’m crazy after the first night we met.”
“No, he doesn’t.” I lied. It was very possible that Sebastian thought she was a big creeper after her psycho behavior the night we’d all met.
“Lola, it’s okay. You don’t have to try and make me feel better. I’d think I was a psycho if I was him.”
“I wish you could come out here.”
“Why don’t I?”
“I’ll only be here for a week.” I whispered into the phone. “Then Xavier will have no need for me.”
“What?” Anna sounded pissed. “You are not going to really let this guy use you, are you?”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Lola, remember this. You are beautiful. You are good. You are kind. You don’t need no losers.”
“Are you misquoting that movie?” I asked, laughing, but happy at her words.
“What movie?”
“The Help? You know that scene where she says ‘you is this and you is that’?”
“You is isn’t proper grammar.”
“Anna, I swear. Sometimes you’re so annoying.”
“What? I’m an English major. It’s something I pay attention to.”
“Anyways, I just wanted to tell you I was okay and not to worry.”
“I’m still going to worry.”
“You shouldn’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
“I can’t help but worry. This isn’t part of the plan. This isn’t something you do.”
“We all change and do crazy things.”
“You’re not the one that’s supposed to do crazy things, though.”
“I can’t be boring Lola Franklin anymore.”
“I think you lost that title the night you slept with Prince Xavier of Romerius for the first time.”
“You’re so bad.”
“Actually, I think you’re the bad one.”
“No, I’m not.” I giggled and then paused as I heard the shower in the bathroom stop. “Anyways, I really have to go. I think Xavier is about to get out of the shower.”
“What? Are you sleeping in the same room? What?”
“It’s a long story, Anna.” I whispered.
“Don’t tell me he’s a prince, but lives in some sort of one-bedroom apartment or something? He’s not a poor prince is he?”
“No, Anna.” I rolled my eyes. “His family is rich. Even the toilet is plated in gold. And I already told you I’m staying at the palace. You even exclaimed that you’re so jealous I’m staying in a palace or something like that.”
“So how is it that you two are sharing a room?” She demanded.
“He kinda told his parents we were engag
ed.”
“WHAT?” Anna shouted into the phone.
“Anna, be quiet.” I whispered. “It’s a long story, but basically we were in—”
“You were where with who?” Xavier’s dry voice interrupted me as he walked out of the bathroom, drops of water rolling down his body effortlessly. A towel was tied around his waist and he leaned against the door as he stared at me.
“Nothing. Look Anna, I have to go.” I hung up the phone quickly and stared at Xavier. “I don’t appreciate you eavesdropping on my conversations.”
“You really didn’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy talking to your friend in my bedroom, Lola.” He shrugged and walked towards me. He shook his head back and forth and water drops went flying. He looked back up at me and I smiled at how crazy the top of his head looked.
“Reasonable expectation of privacy what?” I frowned and jumped up.
“Sorry, it’s a term we use in the law.”
“I thought you studied art.”
“And law.” He grinned.
“Well bully for you.” I rolled my eyes.
“A future king has to be knowledgeable in most things.”
“What aren’t you knowledgeable in?”
“Your mind.” He said softly and his expression changed. “And the way I feel when...” His voice trailed and he shook his head. “What games are you playing with me Lola? What magical powers do you have?”
“What games am I playing with you?” I gave him a look. “Is that a joke?”
“No joke.”
“And I guess the only power I have over you is the power of the pussy.” I said lightly and then slapped my hand to my mouth. I hadn’t expected to say that out-loud. “Oops, I didn’t mean that.”
“Sure you didn’t.” He stopped in front of me. “Maybe you’re using your pussy to trap me.”
“Xavier.” My face reddened.
“What?”
“That word is so crude.”
“You just used it.” He rolled his eyes. “Did you not?”
“By mistake.”
“Go and get in the shower, Lola. You’re confusing me.”
“I’m confusing you? I don’t even really know why I’m here.”
“What’s there to know?” His voice was exasperated and he walked to the closet. “Do you have anything appropriate to wear to dinner tonight.”
“Appropriate?” I stopped at the bathroom door and looked back at him. “What does that mean?”
“Something a bit nicer than what you had on today? Something befitting the fiancée of a prince of Europe.”
“Oh because what I was wearing earlier wasn’t nice enough?”
“You have to admit it was a bit scrubby.” He shrugged. “I know you don’t have money, but do you have to dress like you shop at, what’s that store, Walmart?”
“Are you telling me you think my clothes come from Walmart?” My jaw dropped at his audacity. Was he really telling me that my clothes looked cheap? I knew I was being more indignant than I should be. To be honest, many of my clothes came from Target and Walmart and I was proud of it. I was pretty sure I was smart, buying jeans for $15 as opposed to $1500.
“I’m just asking if you have anything nice to wear tonight.”
“Sure.” I nodded sweetly. I’ll show him. “I have something really nice to wear tonight.”
“Good.” He nodded in satisfaction. “Now go and shower.”
“Yes, boss.” I mumbled under my breath as I walked into the bathroom and I heard him laughing behind me.
***
His View
I tightened my bowtie and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked as I normally did on the outside. However, inside I felt a bundle of knots of confusion. Lola was confusing me. I’d expected her to be quiet and timid and impressed by my wealth. I’d expected her to walk through each room and mentally calculate how much I was worth. Well, that’s not true. I didn’t think she was after my money. She had so little care for money and status symbols. It was something I loved about her, yet, I didn’t know how she’d survive in my world. She’d be judged by her appearance and I’d be judged by her appearance. I sighed as I realized that I was thinking about her being with me in the long term. What did it matter to me if she looked like a model on the catwalk or a bag lady? It didn’t.
I froze as I heard her coming out of the bathroom. I didn’t want to look at her. I didn’t want to feel that habitual need every time I looked into her eyes.
“Is this outfit good enough for tonight?” She said sweetly and I turned towards her. Her eyes were laughing at me as she stood there in a red dress with big ugly yellow polka dots. It was horrendous and as I was about to ask her what she thought she was wearing, I realized that she was playing me. She wanted to get a rise out of me and not one in my pants. I smiled to myself as I decided to keep my mouth shut. Lola would feel more uncomfortable than I would wearing that at the dinner table.
“It’s beautiful.” I smiled at her and watched as her face dropped at my words. Did she really think she was playing with an amateur? Her twenty-one years were nothing compared to my twenty-eight years. She was going down and I was going to enjoy watching it play out.
“You really think so?”
“Oh yes.” I grinned. “Are you ready to go down to dinner now?”
“Like this?” I watched as she swallowed hard and hid a smile. Yes, this was going to be very very enjoyable.
CHAPTER
THREE
The room went silent as Xavier and I made our grand entrance. Unfortunately, I knew that the silence wasn’t because everyone was in awe of what a great couple we made. I knew people were staring at me and my cheap dress. Why had I chosen to wear it? I knew I looked like an idiot. The dress was short and red with big yellow polka dots. It had been a present from my grandma one Christmas and I’d packed it to remind myself of her. I’d never planned on wearing it. I would never willingly wear this dress, not even to my local grocery store back home, and Publix was certainly no gourmet market. I cringed as I realized that I was wearing the ugliest dress known to man in front of a bunch of Royals.
“This is your seat, Lola.” Xavier grinned at me as he pulled a chair out for me. “Next to me, of course.”
“Of course.” I wanted to roll my eyes and move away from him, but I already knew that I’d already made a spectacle of myself.
“Did you lose your keys?” Tarquin asked me curiously as I sat down. I could see everyone staring at me waiting for my response.
“My keys?” I looked at him curiously and I could see a bright light in his eyes as he laughed at me.
“Your padlock keys?”
“The padlock keys that open your suitcase.”
“My suitcase didn’t have a padlock.” I frowned and saw that Xavier’s lips were trembling. “Why did you ask that?”
“Oh, I figure you didn’t have access to most of your clothes.” He looked down at my polka-dot dress and I blushed.
“Tarquin.” Xavier’s mother cut him off. “Don’t be rude. I’m sure that must be the fashion in the United States, their styles are very different to us.”
“I thought the fashion there was short shorts and tight tops?” He grinned. “If it’s not, then I don’t want to go to the States next year after all. I’ll just go to St. Tropez instead.”
“It’s not the fashion in the States to wear dresses like this.” I mumbled, embarrassed.
“It’s just Lola’s style.” Xavier grabbed my hand. “She’s unique like that.”
“I’m just trying to express myself.” I smiled at everyone at the table, going around and making eye contact with each person. I realized that the only people at the table were Xavier’s parents, Tarquin and us. The table was so large and there was so much food on it, that I’d thought there were more people.
“It’s nice to express yourself.” Xavier’s father nodded. “Sebastian was like that when he was a teenager, always wearing those hippie clothes.” He
smiled at me indulgently. “Now can we eat, I’m starved.”
“James.” Xavier’s mother pursed her lips. “You’re not starved or starving, you must stop saying that phrase.”
“No one cares, Henrietta.”
“We care.” She looked at him sternly. “And you never know when you might slip up and say it in public and then all the liberals will be on you and the family. The King says he’s starving, what about the rest of us?”
“Mother.” Xavier sighed. “Let’s leave politics for another day.”
“You know it’s true. Between you and your father, the press is all over us.”
“Mother, you know that I’m sorry for what happened. I can’t go back and change the fact that the paparazzi followed Lola and I. It’s not like we planned this.”
“But an engagement, Xavier, really?” She almost sobbed as she gazed at her son in disappointment. “You know that you were betrothed to...”
“Mother.” Xavier’s voice was sharp. “You’re being rude. Lola is sitting right next to me.”
“You’re breaking my heart.” She sighed melodramatically and I looked down at the table. I’d thought that Xavier was rude, but his mother was even worse. Did they think that the fact they were royalty meant they could speak as rudely as they wanted to people.
“I’m sorry, Lola. Would you like for us to go out to dinner instead?” Xavier gazed at me and I could see a look of concern in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if he felt bad for me or more annoyed at his mother. I was about to accept his offer when I realized just how bad that would look, Imagine going out to dinner on our first night. What would people think? What would his mother think? Yes, she’d been rude to me. But I knew I wasn’t going to be helping matters if I left now. A part of me didn’t care what she thought or what happened. This wasn’t real. We weren’t really getting married and I wasn’t going to have to put up with her in a week.
“Come.” Xavier grabbed my hand and attempted to pull me away from the table.
“No.” I said loudly and firmly. “This is fine. I don’t want to leave.”
The room was silent for a few minutes as we stood there and I wasn’t sure where to look. Tarquin’s expression had changed to one of admiration and I knew that he had expected me to leave. It was then that I realized that the servants were standing by the door and by the wall waiting for us to be finished.