"Your tongue feels so good… Kostas… oh…oh."
It built like a slow burn. A wave crashing against a beach. My body tightened before the release found me.
I was panting hard when I came. A bead of sweat dripped down my temple as I practically sobbed out my release. My hips bucked of their own accord and he had to hold me still to keep me from falling into his lap.
"Oh. My. Gods," I whispered, my legs twinging slightly as he pressed them back together. He left kisses on each thigh before sitting back and wiping his mouth. "Thank you."
He grinned. "Babe, I'd do that every day for you if you wanted."
My belly swooped at the thought. Of having him pleasure me like that daily. Of being able to spend enough time with him to warrant daily sessions like that one.
He caught my eye and grinned even wider. Probably because I looked completely and utterly satisfied.
"I love you, Kostas," I blurted. It wasn't the planned declaration I'd rehearsed in my head at all. But maybe this was better. I wasn't nervous about saying it. It just … happened. Like pretty much everything else we did. It happened.
He swallowed in earnest, "I love you." A grin tugged at his lips as he repeated it. "I love you, Vi."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Violet
I could see Kostas' trepidation in the way he walked.
He was nervous. And with good reason, I supposed. Our relationship was about to go super viral and we had only been going out for a couple of weeks now. Oh, and he was meeting my parents. And Tristan's. And one of Gideon's.
It wasn't just normal parents he was meeting, either. It was the ruling monarch and his wife. Plus Queen Sofia of Etria and one of her husbands, Prince Robert. And two members of the council who had decided to stay for dinner. And members of the press who would be asking us personal questions afterwards
So a little trepidation was maybe warranted.
Hell, I felt a little jumpy myself. My heart rate increased as we entered the sitting room where everyone had congregated before dinner.
It didn't help matters that Kostas and I had been fooling around in my suite not twenty-four hours before. I could tell that was part of his trepidation as well as mine.
I felt it when I looked at Tristan, too. It was as if everyone could tell what we'd been doing.
All I felt when I looked at Gideon was longing. We still hadn't been able to do anything other than kiss for the entire time he'd been here. He was too much in demand and, now that George was onto us, it was nigh impossible to find alone time with him. The only reason I'd been able to be with Kostas the night before was because George hadn't known he was here.
George knew now, unfortunately. And he knew about the article the Daily Justanian was planning. He was chomping at the bit to give them a statement, but I had forbidden it in my father's name. I'd put him off by explaining that I would be announcing my choice in suitor at the meal that day, but it had only bought me so much time.
If there weren't so many officials in attendance, he'd have been impossible to handle, but as it was, he was loathe to miss an opportunity to kiss some council members' behinds, so I let him hobnob as much as he wanted.
As Kostas and I entered the room, Queen Sofia and Prince Robert both bowed slightly. I felt Kostas falter in his movements, even though I'd told him what was expected of him. I suppose it was understandable. And a lot to take in. He did bow, rather deeply, in fact, towards the Queen and her husband. He also bowed to Tristan and Gideon, who made a big show of shaking his hand and carrying him off to go talk closer to a window and away from the cluster of activity. My heart went out to both of them for making him feel (and look) equal in the eyes of everyone there.
I knew Queen Sofia and Prince Robert likely knew who he was and thought highly of him, but the other guests did not. It was a grand gesture on the part of Tristan and Gideon. Justanian Royals and Council members were notoriously snooty.
I could also see the two reporters the Daily Justanian had sent furiously swiping on their phones and snapping photos of the two princes with Kostas. Justana was, in fact, one of the more old-fashioned and backwards nations in our part of the world. My announcement was just what it needed.
I approached the Queen and Prince Robert, bowing and accepting kisses from both of them.
"Tristan tells us you've made a decision," Sofia murmured when she was close enough to do so without drawing attention. "Robert, Adam, and I are thrilled. Your Kostas seems like a nice fellow. I hope your father will cooperate."
"Me too," I whispered, sighing nervously.
"I'm sure he will," Robert said, reaching out to pat my shoulder. "Not to worry, dear."
Robert certainly seemed to know my father a lot better than I did. My mother, I knew for certain, would be fine with everything except Kostas' lineage. But if Father did cooperate and make him a duke, she would be happy so long as I was happy.
I glanced over to my boys, all three standing by the biggest window in the room. It was, consequently, in the middle of the room where everyone could see. I could tell it made Tristan nervous; he was standing ramrod straight with his hands behind his back.
Gideon was the most animated of the three, but I could see Kostas was slowly warming up to being here. Tristan had loaned him a suit, one which actually fit him rather well now that I was really looking. I had been so nervous about getting to dinner on time that I hadn't taken the time to admire him in it. All three of them cleaned up rather well. Once Kostas had a few suits of his own, actually tailored to him, well…
I would be the envy of everyone anywhere I went.
Who was I kidding? I already was.
Thanks to Gideon's friendly behavior, Kostas actually appeared to calm down as the evening wore on. Of course, he tensed right back up again once George entered the room. Everyone sort of did, now that I was looking, but it was especially apparent in Kostas.
It was something I had no trouble noticing now: Kostas and George's mutual disdain for the other. Kostas was much more polite about it, but I could tell. His shoulders tensed whenever George was in the room. And I was pretty sure that sound George made constantly with his teeth made Kostas' grind together.
Not a single one of my future husbands seemed to care for my advisor. Not to mention my own disdain for the man grew by the minute, it seemed.
It was a problem. A problem of which I was definitely aware. A problem that would have to be fixed as soon as I was able.
I was actually thinking about firing a Smithe, oh unknowable universe!
Well, not firing perhaps, but letting him go, or re-assigning him to other endeavors in the kingdom. I'd need a new advisor on political affairs, and my mind boggled to think of who I could possibly find who was also qualified to advise me on such matters.
But that was a another hurdle for future me. I'd worry about it when that time came. For now, I had to be charming and lovely and push Kostas up onto the pedestal he deserved in front of my parents.
And announce to my parents, members of the council, and the press that I was planning on marrying all three of my suitors.
I was confident everything would go well. I was.
And then George had to open his stupid mouth.
I heard him whispering in Councilman Jacquey's ear, chuckling under his breath, even though Jacquey, surprisingly, simply rolled his eyes and took another sip of wine.
"You know, I thought it was a fling for a while? It would have to be, wouldn't it? For someone such as the Princess to slum it with one of the working class?"
It made my blood boil.
George proceeded to make no qualms about his feelings for Kostas throughout the entirety of his conversation with the councilman. He sneered in Kostas' direction, literally looked down his nose at him, brought up the settlement the crown had paid him, his job at the delivery company, the neighborhood where he lived, pretty much anything else that he thought would sway the councilman to his side, as though Kostas' provenance was something I shou
ld feel shame over.
I simply could not believe it. With the threat of the news story the media had looming over us, there was my advisor, bad-mouthing one of my suitors! It was a failing on my part, neglecting to see just how low he would sink if he thought it would benefit him in any way. I could see that the angle he had chosen was decidedly different from the one I had taken.
Kostas, fresh out of a conversation with Gideon, came over to press a quick kiss to my cheek. He noticed my expression and followed my gaze. I wasn't quick enough to hide my anger, unfortunately, and Kostas was quick to realize the source of my ire. He sniffed loudly and slipped his arm around my waist, turning my away from George and walking with me towards Tristan, who was standing over to one of the windows along the far wall.
"You know," Kostas chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "I lived in a homeless shelter for almost a year of my adult life and I've never felt like such a charity case as I do when George looks at me."
I pressed my lips together, grabbing handfuls of my evening gown and doing an about-face. No one was going to ruin this evening. Especially not my slimy advisor. I'd made up my mind, I wasn't going to wait until I became queen. I was going to fire him immediately.
I took a deep breath.
Well, not immediately immediate. Most likely tomorrow. Because I meant what I said before about no one ruining this evening.
My eyes flashed as I approached George, the last few words of his conversation floating into my ears.
"A bike messenger, can you believe it? The Princess of Justana, infatuated with a bike messenger. It's like a damned…" George threw his hands in the air. "Smut novel." He scoffed and shook his head. "Unbelievable."
I stopped directly in front of him, extended my hand and snapped my fingers loudly in George's face. "That will be all. And I'll thank you to remember yourself and treat my guests with respect. Everyone else here has managed quite nicely. It would seem that with the effort you put forth in your endeavor to be nothing but nasty, you could do something more productive, such as removing your rear end from your shoulders and walking upright for a change."
George's face screwed up for a moment. His mouth looked like a certain orifice I'd rather not mention in polite company. I almost thought he was going to argue with me. I halfway hoped he would. It would give me a reason to dismiss him from my presence. Maddeningly, he didn't. Instead, he schooled his face into a mask of calm and bowed towards Kostas.
"My apologies, sir." He spun on his heel and left the area. If only it could be forever.
I smirked before bowing slightly in Councilman Jacquey's direction. "Your Honor."
The Councilman returned my look with one of surprise, as if he'd only just noticed me there. "Your Highness. Is there more wine?"
Leave it to George to start gossip with a lush.
"Of course there is, sir," I turned and got the attention of one of the waitstaff, gesturing to the councilman's glass knowingly.
I knew it had probably killed George to make deferential gestures to Kostas, but it wasn't enough. I could clearly see that George was out to sabotage my parents' opinion of Kostas and everyone else's he could along the way in order to paint my relationship with him as nothing more than a dalliance.
And if he couldn't sabotage the royals' opinion of my boyfriend, then who was to say George wouldn't stoop even further?
I simply had to talk with my father about this. He had to push forward to grant Kostas' title sooner rather than later. Kostas had to become Duke Esker. Hopefully my father wouldn't be too upset following my announcement this evening to agree with me.
As though conjured by my thoughts, Kostas appeared beside me once more. I took his arm, gripping tightly.
"Shall we?" I asked, motioning towards the next room, another of the newly-decorated sitting rooms.
Kostas chuckled slightly, but kept it under his breath.
"What?" I asked.
"Another sitting room?" he asked incredulously. "I'm going to need a cheat sheet just for the sitting rooms in this place."
"Ah, well, this one has a fireplace."
"Is it the only one with a fireplace?" he asked.
"No," I replied, smiling.
"How much sitting do you people do?"
"A lot. You know. Practice for sitting on the throne."
My mother and father finally entered the room through the south set of doors, a quiet afterthought of an entrance. I'd honestly been expecting a little more fanfare. Well, not literal fanfare, but maybe something more than a hurried, "His majesty, King Mark of Justana and his wife, Queen Katherine."
I suppose my father must have gotten his way this time, since my mother preferred much more of a spectacle.
I think Kostas was expecting a bit more of something as well. Something that lasted a little longer than three seconds so he wouldn't have his mouth full of an amuse bouche. Goat cheese and pear on something so crunchy that it impeded his speech for what felt like an eternity while he chewed and chewed and chewed.
But I supposed it was better than him opening his mouth and spraying crumbs all over the King and Queen of Justana.
Kostas bowed slightly at the waist in Father's direction and in Mother's. "I apologize for my… chewing," he stammered awkwardly.
To his merit, my father simply chuckled. "I do the same thing, my boy. Every time I take a bite, someone wants to speak with me."
The butterflies in my stomach settled after Kostas was able to greet both of my parents with grace, if not full dignity.
"I hope to speak to you more after dinner, Mr. Esker," Father said. "Unfortunately, I must go greet the others before the meal is served."
And with another bow to both the king and queen, we watched them make their way around the room.
Kostas turned towards me, I was barely able to contain my glee. "I take it that went well?" he asked, raising his eyebrows quizzically.
I nodded. "Very well. You did great!"
"I was chewing for most of it," he said with a laugh.
"A man after my father's own heart," I assured him.
Dinner was kind of a big deal around here. It started at six and lasted at least two hours, even when it wasn't a special occasion. There were seven courses.
Kostas looked nervous as we sat down at the table. I tried to send him good vibes, but everything seemed to go by quickly once he'd sat down.
They seated him on my right, between me and Gideon. I was actually relieved at the seating arrangements, because Gideon gave little regard to formal eating, responding to the plethora of silverware with a chuckle before picking out a few pieces and tossing the rest into the center of the table.
Tristan was seated with his parents, and rolled his eyes at Gideon's lack of refinement.
The first course was crudités, which was simple to work through. One could just use their fork.
It felt like everyone was trying to talk to Kostas, and it cut into his eating time. He was making an effort to place his utensil beside his setting whenever someone said something to him, so he wasn't embarrassing himself, thankfully. But I didn't know how much he was actually managing to eat in the process.
Father seemed very jovial, if reserved. Mother was being very sweet and open. She took an immediate liking to Kostas and wanted to know everything he could tell her about himself. About his work.
She gushed about how good he must be at his job, how she could never deal with anyone in a customer service setting. She added in how proud she was of me for volunteering, how wonderful it was that he volunteered as well.
The next course was served before she could get into how sad it was that he had been an orphan and homeless. Not that she would have talked about it per se, but it was bound to come up at some point and, while my mother had many gifts, tact was not among them.
One of the courses was a traditional Etrian dish. I'd eaten it before, but I wasn't sure of the name. For the life of me, I couldn't ever understand the chef when the name of the dish was announced.
It looked as if some internal organ had been stuffed with something else and cooked for a good long while. The diners were given what looked like an ice pick, as well as a large spoon, with which to consume the supposed delicacy.
I hated this dish, but it was Gideon's favorite, unfortunately.
Kostas seemed to catch on easily enough; he took his cues from the other diners and stabbed his ice pick into the middle of the bulbous thing in the center of his plate. Steam hissed out, whistling simultaneously all around the table. He caught my eye just in time to see me stifle a laugh as I poked at the thing multiple times to induce multiple whistling holes.
It always smelled alright, but it looked like pig slop.
Tristan and Gideon were both enjoying it, and I wondered how many times I was going to have to suffer through this weird pudding stuff once we were married. Perhaps I could sway Kostas to my side and relegate this Etrian delicacy to holidays only.
I took some of it onto my spoon and wobbled it before taking the tiniest of tastes. It had the consistency of pig slop as well as the looks. With many chunks in it.
A palate cleanser came next, thankfully. I glanced around the room, realizing that the meal was coming to a close and I would then be expected to make my announcement. Butterflies began fluttering around in my stomach once again, turning into something more akin to bats as the minutes ticked by.
It took an entire, agonizing three hours to finish all the courses, and I felt completely wiped afterward. But, as everyone began to pour their coffee, I stood and rapped my wine glass with my dessert fork. My skin felt hot, my knees felt wobbly, but I caught the gazes of all three of my men and suddenly felt fortified enough to make my announcement.
"I know many of you have been waiting with bated breath for me to make my decision regarding my suitors," I gestured to include both Princes and Kostas.
I could feel my parents smiling at me and I hoped against hope that they would still be smiling afterwards.
"I've decided… not to make a decision," I said definitively.
A hush fell over the room.
"I don't want to choose, and my suitors have helped me understand that I don't have to, and so I'm not. I'll marry them all." I closed with a smile and the hush that fell over the room before could have been a roar compared to now.
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