by Ivy Blake
“You are seriously the most twisted person I know. Do you know how many women would love to trade places with you? You just had a passionate affair with a prince who is about to become king. Do you not see how awesome that is?”
Ellie stuffed a big bite of ice cream into her face and then offered me some. I declined.
“I guess it does sound ridiculous, but I don’t care about any of that. I don’t care that he is the prince. I don’t care that he might become king. I just want him. But I know if I am with him that I’m going to become queen. Queen! Do you get what that means?” I pleaded with Ellie to understand, but Ellie was fantasizing, gazing off into thin air.
“Wow, I could have been best friends with a queen. How sweet would that have been?” Ellie fantasized.
“Ugh! Are you kidding? Being Queen is a lot of work. It’s a lot of responsibility. You are partly responsible for an entire nation of people’s well-being. Does that not compute?” I asked.
Ellie thought a moment. “Yeah, that would be a lot of work…”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Ellie was so clueless sometimes.
“I never should have left,” I said. “I should have stayed and tried to figure things out with him.”
“I can only tell you what I would do, but this is something you really have to decide for yourself,” Ellie said.
“Ok, what would you do?”
“I’d call him up and explain myself,” Ellie said.
Deep down I knew she was right. But I was so afraid that he would be so pissed at me that he wouldn’t even take my call.
But I knew I had to talk to him.
Otherwise, I would regret it for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER 22
Cort
“After much debate and deliberation, based on the feedback we have received, the Parliament and the council have agreed to the amendment of the rule of secession.”
I could hardly contain my excitement as Marcel delivered the verdict on the new ruling. It was insane how quickly the Parliament had gotten involved once the people took to social media and staged several protests throughout the country. They did not want anyone but Cort to take over as king. They loved my father, and they knew that I would continue his work. I would even progress things farther along, and the country would continue to prosper. This would never happen under the rule of my uncle. And the people knew that. He had been in the tabloids one too many times.
So, parliament got involved, and forced the council’s hand.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said.
Marcel ignored my interruption. It was obvious the old geezer hated saying every word that was coming out of his mouth, but it was beautiful, sweet music to my ears. I could hardly believe that this was happening.
“With the new amendment, the Parliament nominates you, Prince Cort Monreau to secede your father as the new king. Your coronation will be precisely one month from this date.”
I thanked them all kindly and left the chambers, where Markus and my advisors were all there to greet me. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t believe how it happened, but I was humbled that my people stood behind me. I was in shock, my skin crawling, my body trembling. It was clear now exactly how much stress and strain this had actually caused me. I was not sleeping well; I couldn’t concentrate on my duties, my workouts and diet had suffered, I’d been drinking too much, and I lost the best thing that had ever happened to me.
I had to get her back.
And I had an idea of just how to do it.
CHAPTER 23
Teagan
“That’s it, guys. You really want to sink down into your knee and feel that squat position as we shift from Warrior One to Warrior Two. I know it burns, but that is the sign that your muscles are responding. You have to give that muscle a test and force it to submit.”
I squatted further into my pose showing the class how it was done, remembering the new things I’d learned from Siri during the retreat. If I could help at least one of my students attain a higher level, then I felt that my job was worthwhile.
I was excited to get back to teaching, thankful to be back in my normal life, and back to my regular routine. It had been almost a week since I left Cort and come back to California. And I finally was starting to feel like everything was going to be ok.
I missed Cort terribly. Every waking moment was spent thinking about him, even when I was doing something else. I kept imagining he was with me, holding me, talking to me. I swore I could hear his masculine voice whispering in my ear and telling me how much I meant to him.
I’d blown it, and I knew that. But there was nothing I could do about it now. I reminded myself constantly that I left the best thing that had ever happened to me because I was afraid. And I was determined to fix that.
He had found my email through my website and had emailed me a few times over the last week. But I had been too scared, too embarrassed, to even write back. Hell, I wasn’t even able to open up the emails. But I knew with work, I would eventually make my fear go away.
“Ok, everyone. I want to thank you all for your hard work today. I think we made some real progress and I will see you next time. Namaste.”
I watched my class pack up their things and start to head out. I leaned down to grab my yoga matt and water bottle when I saw a figure in the back who was not moving. He was just standing there with a smile on his handsome face and watching me.
I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
It was really him.
Cort was standing in the back of the classroom.
My last student waved goodbye to her, but I barely even registered it. It was just Cort and I standing in the empty classroom now. It felt like my feet were rooted to the ground.
“Hey, there,” Cort said. “I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I’d drop by.”
The weight on my feet suddenly lifted and I let the tears roll from my eyes as I rushed over and wrapped my arms around him. Cort kissed me, holding me close, and I felt my body melt like it always did in his arms.
“Are you really here?” I sobbed.
“Yes. Baby, I’m right here,” Cort said.
“I can’t believe it,” I said. “How…?”
“I had to see you.”
I pulled back and looked up at his face.
“But I left. I just -”
Cort cupped my face in his hands and he kissed me on the lips.
“Shh, Teagan. It’s alright. I understand that I put you under a lot of pressure.”
“I know, but,”
Cort smiled brightly. “It doesn’t matter Teagan. I get why you left. It was all too much, too quickly.”
I let out a long sigh of relief. He didn’t hate me for leaving, even though he should. I hugged him tightly.
“So, what does this mean now?” I asked with my head buried into his chest. He pulled me so I was looking back up at him.
“Parliament got involved. My people stood behind me and helped me overturn the rule. I am no longer forced to be married in order to become king.”
I kissed him deeply as he lifted me up in the air. I had never been happier for another person than I was right at that instant. It was like everything I been worried about was all gone. It all seemed so silly now. All that mattered was the two of us being together.
“Well, I guess we have to celebrate properly,” I said.
I left the warmth of his arms and quickly ran to the door, locked it and walked back towards the center of the room, stripping my clothes off all the way.
“I guess it’s time for my second Yoga lesson,” Cort said with a smile on his face.
“Let’s see if you improved.”
EPILOGUE
Teagan
Two years later
“Wow, this is the most beautiful day!” I exclaimed as she plopped down on the sand beside Cort.
Cort looked at her and smiled. God, I could never get enough of that smile.
L
ooking out over the ocean, I thought about how truly lucky I was. Cort and I had dated long distance for a year before I finally decided to move out to Ronovia. The distance was far, but we somehow made it work with skype dates, and lots of planned trips together. When I finally had saved up enough money to open up my own studio how I wanted it to be, I decided that the best place to open it, was where the person I loved the most was. Along with opening my own studio, I was able to go on more retreats with Siri Park, and I was now one of his retreat teachers. I would fly out every few months to a different exotic location and get to teach class to new students, and learn more underneath Siri.
Cort has become king, six months after we started dating. He loved being the King of Ronovia and the people truly loved him. Over the last two years, I had gotten used to the paparazzi and the attention of being the king’s girlfriend. I loved the ring of that. ‘The King’s Girlfriend.’
We had decided to take things slow with our relationship for once, and I loved every second of it. Even when we were long distance.
“You just spilled sand on my book,” Cort said with a smirk.
“Well, I only sprinkled sand on the dull parts,” I replied.
“Hey, there are no dull parts in non-fiction.”
I stuck my tongue out, but Cort pulled me close for a sudden, deep kiss.
“You are in a frisky mood today,” I said with a laugh.
“Aren’t I always? You bring it out of me.”
“I do, don’t I?” I joked.
The waiter came by just then with a delivery of drinks.
I grabbed my champagne while Cort picked up his whiskey. We clinked our glasses together and took a sip. I looked back out at the water and closed my eyes taking it all in.
I placed my drink down and jumped up quickly.
“Let’s go in the water!” I exclaimed.
When I turned around to pull Cort with me, he was there on one knee on our beach blanket holding a ring box. He smiled at me as I dropped down onto my knees.
“Aren’t I the only one that is supposed to go down on one knee?” he laughed as I threw my arms around his neck.
“Yes, Cort, yes!”
Cort pulled me into his arms and we fell back down on the blanket nearly spilling our drinks that were next to it.
“You didn’t even give me a chance to ask the question!”
“I know what you are going to ask already and the answer is yes. It has always been yes.”
Cort smiled and placed the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. It was by far the most beautiful thing I had ever laid her eyes on. It was large diamond with a halo of diamonds around it. Every time she moved her hand, it sparkled in the sunlight.
Cort kissed me softly and pulled me closer.
“I love you, so much,” Cort said.
“I love you!” I cried. “Oh, I love you so much!”
Off in the distance, she saw several people begin to clap.
The people of Ronovia were about to get a new queen.
Vacation Heat
by Ivy Blake
Chapter 1
Austin
A loud smack pierced the silence in Austin’s room. Fuck, not again, Austin thought. He squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that his clan mate Logan was getting it on again with his flavor of the night.
The woman let out an audible moan of pleasure. God, that noise sounded good, Austin thought. His boxers started to tighten. Man, how he wished he could be the one with her, instead of Logan.
“You like that?” Logan asked.
There was a shuffle of movement and then the bed started to slowly creak back and forth, lightly hitting the wall behind the headboard. Austin closed his brown eyes as he imagined taking the woman from behind. As much as he hated how he could always hear Logan, the girls he was with always sounded so hot that he couldn’t help but close his eyes and pretend he was taking them himself.
Austin pictured his hands holding her thick hips tightly as he pushed deep inside her. The woman moaned louder, and Austin ran his hand down to his boxers. The creaking intensified and the headboard hit the wall with a loud bang.
“Oh God, fuck me harder!” the woman screamed, but her yell was slightly muffled in the sheets. Austin stroked himself in time with each pound of the headboard, imagining how tight and slick she felt around him. Logan growled in the other room, and an audible smack rang out again. The headboard of the bed pounded harder into the wall, and Austin imagined pumping into her from behind as her ass jiggled with each thrust. Her moans became louder with every squeak of the bedframe.
“Oh yes! Don’t stop,” she yelled. Her moans turned to wails as she teetered over the edge, and Austin could tell that she was almost ready to release, and he was just about there with her.
“Yes!” she screamed as the banging against the wall shook the whole room. Austin moved his hand faster, longing for release.
“Oh God, I’m coming!” The bedframe pounded into the wall as she moaned, falling into her orgasm. Austin’s body shook with her moans as he reached his climax.
Austin pushed his head back in the pillow. This is just fucking pathetic, he thought. Austin hated himself for what his sex life had become, getting off with the girl next door. But he couldn’t bring himself to actually take the plunge with another girl. He wasn’t ready to open his heart like that again.
Austin got up and cleaned himself off. The room next door was eerily quiet, and he hoped that they were done for the night. Take a bow, dude, Austin thought. She will be there in the morning.
As much as Austin loved and hated hearing Logan give it to some girl, Austin couldn’t blame him for getting with this one. She was a fine piece of ass. She had curves in all the right places and perfect pouty lips. If it were six years ago, Austin would have loved to throw her around in his sheets. But now, despite how he liked to imagine it was himself making her moan like that, he couldn’t bring himself to be with someone else. He was just too broken to let another woman into his heart.
Austin squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to stop the memories of her from invading his thoughts again. But it was no use. His thoughts always returned to her. He let out a low growl as he remembered her long, wavy blonde hair cascading over him, and how much he loved to tangle his hands in it. Her bright blue eyes had captivated him the moment he met her. He would give anything to get lost in her eyes once again.
Callie Jordan had been his everything. They had met the first night of their freshman year of college and had been inseparable. He had been instantly attracted to her, and once he got to know her adorable personality he was completely hooked. He could not get enough of Callie Jordan. Austin’s buddies always joked with him that he was completely whipped, but he didn’t care. He was happy to be whipped by Callie. Callie had made him feel whole.
Now, the wholeness that he once felt was gone, ripped from him by a drunk driver. Callie had been on her way to see him. Austin had told her it was late and that she could come over the next day, but she insisted that she wanted to spend the night in his arms before they left for summer break. She lived only ten minutes away from him, so she was Gavinant that she would be fine, and Austin had stupidly believed her. Callie was almost at his place when an idiot in a pickup truck took a turn around a corner too fast. The driver had lost control and slammed Callie’s car into a tree.
The night that Callie had died changed everything. It was as if part of his soul was gone, and he feared that there was no way to get that piece back. Without her light, he was only left with the darkest parts of himself. His sorrow over her death overtook his mind, and what was left was hatred and anger. Austin blamed not only the drunk driver for her death but himself as well, and he started to become self-destructive.
After Callie’s death, Austin’s personality completely changed. Instead of the fun-loving guy he once was, he was now just a hard shell with a very short fuse. His temper caused him to piss off a lot of people, getting him into several fistfights. After getting a high off the
fighting, Austin was quick to pick fights just to take out his anger. One fight in particular got him sent to the emergency room with a black eye and broken ribs. His parents met him there and were worried sick about him. Austin’s mom had begged for him to get some help and talk to someone, but it fell on deaf ears. Austin didn’t want help; he wanted to wallow in his anger. The night after Austin left the hospital, Austin’s fighting record caught up to him. Charges were pressed against him, and while his lawyer father was able to get him off without a dent on his record, it did come at a price. His father had given him an ultimatum. Either Austin got his act together, or his father would do it for him. Austin hated ultimatums. However, he knew his father was serious. When he ran into one of his friends who had joined the army, he figured that would be the easiest way to fix things, a place to take out his anger somewhere far away from the constant soul-crushing reminder of Callie.
The higher ranks in the army quickly saw his inner demons and decided to use his rage for their benefit. Within a year he was transferred to a special ops team where he constantly put his life on the line for his country. He knew it was a stupid decision that could possibly kill him, but his rage had consumed so much of his soul that he no longer cared about what happened to him.
But even the constant noise of battle never silenced the rage that was deep inside of him. Several members of his unit tried to help him, but ultimately he lost his cool on his superiors too many times to count. The Army wasn’t prepared to deal with his anger issues, so he honorably discharged, with hefty severance package, and it was now this is what he had become. Luckily he had found a few other veterans that were just as broken as he was and they all lived together in the same apartment building. It was like having a support group right outside his door.
As evidenced by Logan’s nightly theatrics, Logan used sex to forget about war. He used dating apps to get his fix, and Austin would always stifle a laugh in the morning when he would see the girls depart of their walks of shame.