by Anna Lewis
Pulling away from her, his chin glistened in the early afternoon sunlight peeking through the curtains. He smiled. “You ready for me?”
“Always,” she said licking her lips. He plopped down on top of her with a chuckle, stopping himself just before he landed on top of her chest. He lowered himself down onto her body, slowly and then slid inside of her body.
Just as Whitney opened her mouth to speak, he put his finger up to her lips. “Let me handle this part.”
Whitney nodded silently and let him do just that. He pumped himself inside of her with every stroke building momentum. At one point he held one thigh in his hand while he anchored his other into the bed. He rolled his body into hers so they both could enjoy the sight of him moving in and out of her. His abs flexed as she ran her fingers down his stomach.
Pulling him down to her, she wrapped her legs around his torso as Julian continued to move. The sounds of her wetness splashing with every movement made her nipples harden even more. He took one of them into his mouth while she clawed at his back. There was nothing more important in that moment than chasing their climax. So they chased it together, until it finally happened.
A day of sexual escapades and relaxation followed until they were both too exhausted to continue. The moon was out by the time they were finished. There was a pitcher of water on the nightstand, and a damp washcloth. The sheets would have to be changed and the windows needed to be opened. The room stank of sex.
“I can’t believe we spent all day in bed,” Whitney laughed.
“I can,” Julian smiled hazily. “We gotta get as much in as possible if you’re going back to school next week.”
“You know I’m barely an hour away, and that’s by bus. If you come and visit, I’m sure you can get to me in a half hour,” she said.
“Really? The way you never came home, I would have thought your school was across the country. Don’t do that anymore either,” he told her, kissing her temple.
“I won’t,” she promised, “You ain’t gotta worry about me. I’m not running away anymore. You’re stuck with me now.”
“There’s no place or person I’d rather be stuck with.” He kissed her again.
The sounds of the Shadows riding by interrupted their moment. They hooted and hollered like they were after someone. Of course, there couldn’t be a perfect ending to their day. Cedar Breeze didn’t belong only to them. But at least, Whitney and Julian now belonged to each other.
THE END
= Bonus Book 8 of 12 =
The Heart of a Prince
“Keep it together, Nina,” she whispered under her breath.
The clock against the wall ticked away, echoing in the quiet kitchen as Nina gathered some items to put together a dish. It was one of her favorite parts of catering—she didn’t yet have to deal with people and she could focus on the beautiful task of stirring together delicious ingredients that guests would later enjoy. She spread the paste in the center of the dish, balancing a green leaf on top of the completed pâté.
Nina leaned forward and inhaled deep, her lips slowly curling up into a smile. It was perfect. She sat up and hummed to herself, gathering some crackers to place neatly around the mixture of cooked ground meat. She added a dash of minced garlic and then placed the covering over the food to keep it fresh for the party later in the evening.
“Have you finished yet?” asked a voice from behind her.
“Yes, Allyah,” Nina replied.
“Good. Let me see,” Allyah said.
Obediently, Nina lifted the covering and Allyah smiled at the dish, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Good job, Nina,” Allyah said. “You’ll need to go home and shower.”
“Why?” Nina asked.
“Because I have a different job for you tonight,” Allyah replied.
Nina raised a curious eyebrow, her smile fading.
“It won’t be hard. Miranda called out and we need a proper hostess. You’re the only person in this kitchen with that sort of experience,” Allyah went on.
“Yeah, maybe for a party, but this is totally different than anything we’ve ever catered,” Nina said.
“You’ll be great. I trust you’ll be polite and that you’ll be able to recognize faces. Apparently, this prince has quite a collection of guards,” Allyah explained.
“That makes me nervous,” Nina said.
“It makes everyone nervous, but you should be fine. You’re the sweetest woman on this side of town. It’ll be fine,” Allyah said.
Nina shook her head.
“No, you’ve chosen the clumsiest person alive. Please, don’t make me do this,” Nina begged.
Allyah sighed and put her hands on her hips, tilting her head slightly to the side. She smirked.
“Didn’t you major in dance?” she asked.
“Well, yes, but that was several years ago,” Nina replied.
“Think of it like a dance,” Allyah said. “You’re one of my best workers and you’ve accomplished practically everything you’ve ever set out to do. There’s no task you can’t handle. I’m really trusting you with this, Nina.”
Allyah pointed to the door.
“Go meet Sylvia in the lobby and she’ll take you to get fitted for a proper dress. That’s an order,” she said.
Nina sighed and looked down at the ground, staring at the gray shoes Allyah was wearing. They looked silver in the bright light of the afternoon coming through the window on the opposite wall.
“Alright,” Nina said. “But I’m not happy about this.”
Allyah clapped her hands and grinned wide.
“It’s going to be fine. You’ll see. Once you get out there and start performing, it will be just as easy as when you did your dance routines,” she said.
“I would feel better having a lot more time to work with than just a few hours,” Nina commented.
“Well, we’re pressed for time. It’s what we have to worth with, alright?” Allyah said.
“Alright. I’ll be back,” Nina said while walking to the door.
Her shoulders sunk forward and she sighed heavily, dragging her feet from the kitchen and into the lobby. Cynthia was waiting for her in the center with a bright smile and sparkling eyes.
“You get to host the party tonight!” she said excitedly.
“I sure do,” Nina replied flatly.
“Aren’t you excited to meet the prince? I hear he’s exceptionally handsome,” Cynthia said with a wink.
Nina shrugged and feigned a smile, her eyes trailing back to the kitchen where she could hear Allyah taking over her food tasks.
“It should prove to be an interesting evening,” Nina commented.
“Interesting? It should be much more than that, Nina,” Cynthia said while leading her out of the building. “I’m certain it will be magical.”
“Where is this guy from anyway?” Nina asked.
“He’s from Othio. It’s somewhere in Central Europe, but I’ve honestly never heard of it before,” Cynthia replied.
“It almost sounds Romanian,” Nina commented.
“How would you know?” Cynthia asked.
Nina shrugged and looked up at the tall buildings surrounding them. They were heading to her car, their shoes dull against the rugged pavement that desperately needed fixing. People passed around them like drones. Some of them walked quickly and others sluggishly dragged along. The city was alive regardless, busy bees buzzing about in and out of buildings with briefcases and folders, appearing important or much less. Nina sighed.
“...he owns a wine vineyard. Actually, he owns about a dozen or more. The whole point of this party is to welcome him here. Can you imagine? He’s moving from his home country to America,” Cynthia said.
Nina regarded her comment with a smile, procuring her keys from her purse.
“Where to first?” Nina asked.
“We should get you washed up, honestly. You have meat on your blouse,” Cynthia replied.
Nina blushed a
nd swatted at the wad sitting on her collar, straightening her shirt and then checking her reflection in the rear view mirror. Her hair was in a messy bun, strands sticking out in random directions. She looked frazzled.
“That hair definitely needs a good coat of conditioner,” Cynthia said.
“I know,” Nina sighed.
She turned the engine and pulled out into the heavy traffic, laying into her horn when a car nearly merged into hers. Frustrated, she pressed her middle finger to the window and zoomed off, causing Cynthia to grip the center console.
“Alright, Nina. Don’t kill us,” Cynthia said with a nervous chuckle.
“Sorry. I’m just really nervous about this,” Nina said.
“It’s going to be fine. When Allyah volunteered your name, I wholeheartedly agreed with her choice. You’re the perfect fit, doll,” Cynthia said.
“Am I really? I feel like the worst available choice,” Nina said.
Cynthia waved her hand.
“Nonsense!” she insisted. “You have the face of nobility. There’s no way you could mess this up.”
Nina shrugged nervously.
“I mean, I’m sure I could find a way,” she joked.
“Well, don’t think about it. We’ll get you fitted for a dress after your shower and then I’ll walk you through some basic etiquette. There’s nothing to it,” Cynthia said.
“I hope you’re right, Cynthia,” Nina said. “Otherwise, we’ll need a miracle.”
***
Nina admired herself in the mirror. The ballgown glittered around her waist, billowing out into a cupcake shape and dragging a bit along the ground. She twisted around and leaned forward to admire the jewels hanging around her neck. She hoped they didn’t look too fake. Costume jewelry wasn’t typically her style because of how shoddy it looked, but these jewels were fairly convincing.
She traced the outline of a jewel with a teal nail, eyes trailing up her fingers and to her painted face. It was perfectly contoured. Her hair was pulled up in an elegant bun with little diamond hearts decorating the strands. Glitter sat on top of her head. A small smirk slowly crossed her lips and her eyes twinkled.
“I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever been,” she whispered.
“You should,” Allyah commented beside her. “Now, get out there and greet some guests before they start wondering what’s going on.”
“Now?” Nina asked, cringing at the thought of leaving the kitchen.
“Yes, now. And use the other entrance. Seeing you come out of the kitchen might rub them the wrong way,” Allyah replied.
Nina sighed.
“Show time,” she whispered while grabbing her notebook of faces.
She lifted her dress an inch from the ground and made her way carefully around the tables in the kitchen to use the side door. The man standing at the doors opened them with a bow and Nina walked in, setting her book on the podium near the entrance. Only two people had entered the giant ballroom. A group of violinists were sitting on the far end near the dance floor, their instruments perched in their necks while waiting for the right moment to begin.
One of the men holding his violin raised his eyebrows at Nina and she nodded with a nervous grin. A soft hum of music filled the room, floating across the dance floor and gently greeting Nina’s ears. She smiled at the lovely sound. When she turned around, a short man wearing a tall hat with feathers glared at her across the podium. She nervously smiled, bowed her head, and opened her book to look through the faces.
“Lord Burham of Austria, welcome to the Chateau Briand,” she said while extending a small gift box.
He regarded it carefully, took it from her hands, and promptly ripped it open, tossing the remains of it on the ground. A glass swan sat between his fingers. It amused him for a moment and he wandered away without a word, Nina following him curiously with her eyes.
“A-hem,” said someone behind her.
Nina averted her eyes back to the front and smiled politely, bowing her head while looking through her book. She did this a number of times in succession. It was difficult at first, but she quickly found a good pace and followed it with ease while giving each guest her undivided attention. Everyone was reasonably polite, albeit a bit snotty, and Nina found herself enjoying some of the finer company of New York.
When the guests died down to a slow trickle, she would turn to see the glittering gowns and shining suits floating across the floor. Their faces were stern while others were soft, jewels shimmering in the dim light from above. A good chunk of the guests in attendance were aristocrats from distant countries, some of their names difficult for Nina to pronounce. She studied their faces as promised and matched their names to different identifying marks—a strange birth mark, a unique earring, and a deformed eyebrow for one.
How do people do this regularly? I can’t imagine being an ambassador, she thought.
Nina turned and looked at the door. The prince had yet to make an appearance. She looked down at her book and studied the picture of the prince, admiring his strong jawline and piercing green eyes. Mindlessly, she traced the frame of the picture with a smile. The chatter around her suddenly grew louder and she looked around to find the guests looking miffed, each of their aristocratic faces frowning hard while peering around the room.
Panicked, Nina lifted her skirt and floated towards the side door where she leaned against the hard wood. Her heart was racing. The guests were clearly becoming agitated without the prince in attendance. The clock on the wall read that it had been forty-five minutes since the party had begun. Where was the prince?
Nina shoved the door open to the kitchen and waved for Allyah who was frantically setting up appetizers. Allyah shot her a hard look and pointed out towards the ballroom.
“Get back out there!” she shouted.
“The prince isn’t here yet. What do I do?” Nina asked.
Her face was flushed and she was panting. It felt like the weight of the hotel was starting to rest on her shoulders, slowly causing her arms to hang forward and her neck to ache. She sagged towards the counter, leaning against it with her pale palms.
A cold cloth appeared and rested against her forehead, soothing her immediately. She looked up to find Allyah.
“You really need a vacation. You work for me too much,” she teased.
Nina laughed lightly.
“I think I just like keeping busy, honestly,” she admitted.
“Well, it’s starting to show,” Allyah commented.
Nina frowned.
“Is it?” she asked.
Allyah took the cloth away from Nina’s sweating forehead and smoothed a loose lock of hair behind her ear.
“Only now. You still look ravishing, Nina. Let’s get you some water,” Allyah suggested.
As Nina stood up straight, Allyah went to the sink and filled a glass with ice water from a pitcher. Nina accepted it gratefully.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Allyah nodded.
“So, no sign of prince charming?” she asked.
Nina shook her head.
“Well, we’ll have to keep the party alive for when he does decide to arrive,” Allyah said. “Can you start a waltz?”
“A waltz? I haven’t danced in years,” Nina replied.
“But you majored in dance, Nina. You’re the only person who knows how to start a waltz in this kitchen,” Allyah said.
“I’m aware,” Nina sighed.
“So, go start one,” Allyah said.
Nina blushed and looked at the ground.
“But it’s been years, Allyah,” she insisted.
“You’ll be great. Just please, keep them happy. I don’t want the aristocrats eating each other alive,” Allyah said while gently pushing Nina to the door.
Taking a deep breath, Nina pushed against the wood and walked back into the quiet hallway. No one was at the door this time when she approached. It felt eerie in the empty hall, the only sound was the clock ticking as she approached the door. On t
he other side, she could hear the roar of chatter and the soft hum of violins beneath it. They were like wolves preparing to eat. It was terrifying to think they might become ravenous at any moment.
Another deep breath sent Nina through the lavish wooden doors. She wore a confident smile as she floated towards the front, leaning down into the ear of the violinist.
“Vienna Waltz, please,” she whispered.
The violinist nodded and turned to his group as Nina took the floor, holding her arms out to the guests surrounding her.
“Would you all mind joining me for a waltz?” she asked.
A number of guests nodded in agreement, setting down their glasses while grabbing their partners. It made Nina feel awkward standing in the center of the floor with her arms extended while waiting patiently for someone—anyone, really—to approach and take her waist.
The couples gathered around her as the musicians settled into their chairs, readjusting their instruments on their necks. Nina waited. It suddenly became quiet in the ballroom and she held her smile while looking around. Deep down, her heart was sinking. She felt like any of the eligible bachelors standing around could take her waist, even just out of pity. But she wasn’t accustomed to this society. Maybe there were rules for that.
A soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned to leave the floor, but she was stopped by a gloved hand. It turned her gently. Standing in front of her was a tall man wearing a long coat and part of a mask. It was silver and glittered in the dim light. Nina noticing her reflection in the small section that covered his face.
“May I?” he asked.
Nina nodded with a grin, bowing her head deeply before standing up straight. One hand gently rested against her waist while the other caressed her fingers. She shivered. While retaining her smile, she rested her hand on his shoulder and waited for the music to begin.
The violins roared to life and the couples began to sway, moving side to side as their dresses billowed and bounced across the floor. Smiling, Nina followed the lead of the man wearing the coat and mask. He seemed out of place at such a high fashioned party, like he might belong at the theater or maybe even down a dark alley.