Accidentally Royal_An Accidental Marriage Romance

by R. S. Lively

  “Jesus Christ, Pops,” Adriana says when she walks back into the room, her face aghast. “What did you do to her? What did you say?”

  He rolls his eyes and lets out a loud snort. “Christ,” he says. “I've been around the Terminator here so long, I almost forgot that people have emotions.”

  I shake my head. “He didn't say anything,” I say. “If anything, he's helped me. A lot.”

  Adriana eyes me for a moment and then turns a frown at Pops. “You sure you didn't do anything, old man?”

  “Not to her,” he says. “To you, I have a long list of things I'd like to do.”

  “Old man, you couldn't handle this,” she says and laughs as she turns back to me. “You sure you're okay, honey?”

  I nod and wipe at my eyes. “Yeah. I'm good, actually.”

  I stand up and walk over to where Pops is sitting. I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and pull him into a tight embrace. He hugs me in return, softly patting my back. Eventually, I pull back and wipe away the last of the tears.

  “Thank you, Pops,” I say. “You really are the amazing man Carter says you are.”

  “Oh boy,” Adriana says. “You pump up that ego on this old man anymore and he's going to be more unbearable than usual for the rest of the day.”

  “Hey, maybe if I'm unbearable enough, you should give me a spanking,” he says.

  “In your dreams, old man,” she laughs. “In your dreams.”

  She's smiling and rests a hand on Pops' shoulder. The affection between them is palpable and heartwarming.

  “Thank you, Pops,” I say. “Thanks for talking to me. I really appreciate it.”

  “Anytime, doll,” he says. “I mean that. Come by anytime. It'd be nice to see a beautiful smiling face once in a while, instead of the beautiful scowling face I usually see. Somethin' to break up the monotony is always appreciated.”

  Adriana playfully slaps him on the shoulder and laughs. I bid them both a good day and turn, leaving his apartment. I ride the elevator down to the lobby and step outside the building, and flag down a cab. All the while, my head is spinning in a million different directions, and I'm honestly not sure exactly where it's going to stop.

  At least I have a little more information to work with, which makes the next step I need to take a little bit easier.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Carter

  I'm standing by the open door of my place, waiting for the elevator doors to open. Exactly where I’ve been since I got the call from the desk that Darby was downstairs and wanted to come up. After what seems like an eternity, I hear the soft chime of the elevator, followed by the sounds of the doors opening. And when Darby steps out into the hall, I feel my heart stutter drunkenly inside of me.

  “Hey,” I say when she approaches.

  “Hey,” she replies, avoiding my eyes.

  I step forward to pull her into an embrace, but she steps back, so I raise my hands in surrender. The bubble of ice that surrounds her is as thick as it is cold and I'm dying to melt it away. Dying to feel her in my arms again.

  For now though, I need to be patient and let her play this out her way.

  “Come in,” I say.

  I follow her in and close the door behind us. I take her coat and hang it on the rack that stands next to the door. She folds her arms over her midsection, almost protectively, and walks immediately over to the windows, gazing out at the city beyond.

  Standing there, looking at her from behind, the urge to take her in my arms is overwhelming. It's all I can do to keep myself from going to her. But, I know I can't. She's not ready for that yet. And until she is, I need to keep my distance. Being too near her is too tempting, and the last thing I want to do is scare her off, or give her a reason to run.

  “Wine?” I ask.

  She nods, but doesn't say anything, so I walk to the bar and take a bottle out of the refrigerator. I pour her a glass and pour myself a drink while I'm at it. The lights in the main room are dim, most of the illumination coming from the fireplace. Soft jazz plays over the sound system, and as I look around, I realize belatedly how unintentionally romantic the setting is.

  I reach over to flip the light switch, but Darby's voice stops me.

  “No, leave it,” she says, obviously watching me in the reflection of the window. “It's fine. I'd rather it not be too light anyway.”

  “Okay,” I say and carry her wine over to her.

  She accepts the glass with a small smile and then turns away. The distance between us – a chasm really – is killing me. I'm dying to do something – anything – to bridge that gap and get back to being us again. There's nothing I can do at the moment though, so I retreat a few steps and sit on one of the stools at the bar.

  “I talked to Pops,” she said.

  “He mentioned you'd stopped by,” I reply. “I'm glad you met him though.”

  I was curious when I heard she dropped by his place. I'd actually forgotten that I told her where he was living. Her mind though, like Eddie's – a steel fuckin' trap. I honestly though, don't know what they had to talk about, or why it prompted her to finally contact me after days of radio silence. Not that I care, I'm just glad she finally called me.

  “Pops loves you a lot,” she says and takes a sip of her wine.

  “And I love the old man a lot too.”

  She nods. “I know,” she says. “He's a good man. Just like you said.”

  “He is.”

  I want to tell her everything that happened after she left. Want to tell her what a piece of shit her brother is. But, she's dipping her toes in the waters right now and I don't want to force her hand by pushing her into the deep end just yet.

  “I've missed you,” she says, which surprises me – but heartens me at the same time.

  “I've missed you too, Darby,” I say. “More than I can even begin to tell you.”

  There's a faint smile on her lips, but a strange look in her eye that I can't interpret. She turns and walks toward me. I feel my heart beat harder with every step she takes, and when she's standing before me and I catch a faint whiff of her perfume, of her, I feel like my heart might well explode.

  Her eyes fixed to mine, she takes a long drink of her wine and sets the glass down on the bar next to me. Next, she takes the glass out of my hands and sets it next to hers. Her eyes are so direct. So penetrating. And I know the next words out of her mouth are going to be important.

  “Do you love me, Carter?”

  I rock backward as if she'd just punched me. It's not the question I was expecting. Not even close. It takes me a minute to get my bearings and I sit there gaping at her for a moment, my head a swirling mass of confusion. Slowly, I start to gather myself and nod.

  “With all of my heart and everything in me,” I say. “I love you, Darby White. Always have.”

  Darby takes my face in her hands and pulls me to her, kissing me hard and deep. I can feel every ounce of her pain, her pleasure, her passion, and her doubts in that kiss. I pull her to me, wrapping her small body in my arms, relishing the feel of her warm body against mine.

  “I love you, Darby,” I say. “I've always loved you. Ever since we met outside Pops' bar. I fell in love with you that day and that love hasn't diminished one iota since then.”

  Tears roll down her cheeks and she kisses me again. When she looks at me, I wipe away the tears and just look into those vibrant green eyes that captivated me so long ago. Eyes that still captivate me. I feel a stirring in both my heart and my body as I look at her.

  I pull her to me and kiss her again, hoping she can feel everything I feel for her pass through my lips and into her. She gasps softly as I kiss her neck, sliding my hands through her hair and down her back. Darby presses herself harder against me, grinding herself against my rapidly thickening cock.

  This is not how I expected this evening to go, to be honest. But, I'm liking this turn of events. I'm liking it one hell of a lot.

  Taking her hand, I get off the barstool and le
ad her through the house. I take her into the master bathroom. Turning the lights on, I quickly dim them to a more romantic setting, and add some bubbles and salts to the tub as I turn on the warm water, letting a tub that can easily fit four people fill.

  “I never took you for a bubble bath kind of guy,” she says softly.

  I laugh softly, more than glad to hear her sarcasm return. “Nothing beats coming home from a long day to a warm bubble bath and a drink.”

  “I can probably think of a few better things.”

  I pull her to me and kiss her again. As our tongues mingle and swirl together, I unbutton her shirt and toss it onto the counter. Standing behind her, I unhook her bra, then slide the zipper down on her pencil skirt. I take both items and toss them onto the counter, on top of her shirt as Darby kicks off her heels. I turn around to let her watch me pull my shirt off over my head. I drop it to the floor and then unbutton my slacks. I kick my own shoes and socks off, and then let the slacks fall down to the floor, pooling around my feet.

  Darby is biting her bottom lip, taking me in from head to toe, as I step over to her. I lean down and kiss her again, softer and a little more tender this time. I lead her over to the tub, and help guide her as she steps into it. Darby sinks down into the water, letting out a soft sigh. I join her in the water, shutting off the faucets when the tub is filled.

  We sit side by side in silence for a few moments, simply staring into one another's eyes. It's intimate and I can feel the bonds between us growing and strengthening as the ice around her begins to thaw.

  “Why haven't you told me before?” she asks softly. “That you love me?”

  I let out a breath. “I've been afraid to.”

  “Afraid?”

  I nod. “I keep thinking, fearing, that one day you're going to wake up and realized you can do better than me. That you should do better than me,” I say. “Your brother isn't wrong – you really are too good for me, Darby. You're better than me. Always have been, always will be. I guess, I was afraid to tell you how I felt because that would make it real. And when feelings are real, people get hurt.”

  She puts her hand on my cheek, leans forward, and kisses me softly. “None of that is true.”

  I shake my head “It is,” I say. “You are better than me.”

  Darby kisses me again, but lets her lips linger. Slowly, our kiss grows more passionate and more heated. The look in her eyes is one of absolute desire, which only fans the flames inside of me.

  “Fuck,” I grunt as I feel her hand beneath the water gripping my cock.

  She starts to pump her hand up and down, stroking me firmly and with a purpose. It feels so fucking good and I softly call out her name. She jerks me off with a fervor, a light in her eyes I haven't seen before. I can the pressure in me building quickly, and I really don't want to get off so quickly.

  I reach over and pull her onto my lap. She sits astride me, her hands wrapped around the back of my neck, her eyes burning with a fevered intensity. I kiss her, sliding my hands up her back, slick with the water and soap, and bring them around, cupping her breasts. I lean forward and take her stiff nipple into my mouth, giving it a firm nip that makes her moan softly.

  Darby reaches down and grabs hold of my cock. She guides it to her warm, sweet opening and lowers herself down on it. Her forehead pressed to mine, she bites her bottom lip as she takes me into her inch by inch. When I'm fully sheathed inside of her and is pushing me even deeper, she throws her head back and cries out.

  I slide my hands back down beneath the water and grab hold of her ass, helping set the rhythm as she starts to move up and down on my cock. I kiss her neck, running my tongue down to her breasts and back up again. Darby moans my name as she rides me, moving slowly and steadily at first, rising and falling on my hard prick.

  The water in the tub is sloshing, spraying above the rim, as Darby's movements start to grow frantic. Her pace growing fevered. She's thrusting herself up and down, impaling herself on my cock, crying out with every thrust.

  “Yes, Carter,” she gasps. “Fuck, yes, baby.”

  After all the uncertainty of the past few days, it's as if we both need this validation of our love. As if we both need to feel connected and bonded. Electric sensations course through my body, setting my skin on fire as rides me, her tight, wet pussy gripping my cock. I feel her muscles tensing up and she grows even tighter.

  A moment later, she digs her nails into my shoulders and I gasp as she throws her head back and screams. It's primal. It's a release of every pent-up emotion she's been carrying on her shoulders the last few days. Shuddering and breathing heavily, she leans forward, pressing her forehead to my chest, as she rides out the current of her orgasm.

  When she leans against me, her body relaxed, she looks up at me and I can see the fires of lust in her eyes have yet to be quenched. I slide her off my lap and stand up, reaching for her hand. She quickly leans forward and takes my dick into her mouth though, sucking me with as much zeal as she'd been stroking me. I grip the back of her head as bolts of electricity shoot through my body. I grit my teeth as she bobs her head up and down, working my cock hard and fast.

  “Jesus, Darby,” I moan. “Yes, baby. Fuck yes. Holy shit.”

  She uses her hand and mouth in concert, making me shake and quiver, my entire body alive with sensation. Darby works my cock with a fury, bringing me to the brink. I have to step back and gently push her away. I'm not ready to come yet.

  Reaching down, I help her to her feet and sit her down on the wide rim that surrounds the tub. I push her back against the wall and spread her legs as I get back down on my knees and bury my face between her thighs. Darby grips my hair and cries out as I plunge my tongue into her, slipping it between her soft, velvety folds.

  I lick and suck on her swollen lips and clit with a vengeance. Her cries are stuttering gasps and her body trembles as I fuck her with my tongue. Sliding two fingers inside of her, I go to work on her clit, nipping at it, sucking on it, pumping my fingers into her hot little hole hard and fast. The taste and scent of her drive me crazy and urge me forward. I eat her pussy with a maniacal glee, reveling in the feeling of having my mouth on her most intimate parts.

  Her body is tensing up and she's moaning as I lick and suck on her, crying out as I drive my fingers into her. I can't get enough of her, the taste and scent of her a heady combination that is driving me crazy.

  Darby grips the back of my head, pulling my hair good and hard as she grinds herself against my mouth. I can feel her body growing tighter, hear her breathing growing ever more ragged. I keep fingering her, sucking and licking on her until she explodes.

  “Oh my God, Carter,” she cries out.

  After that, her words break down into an incoherent jumble of sounds. She's got both hands on my head, pulling my hair hard enough I fear she's going to rip it out of my scalp. Darby is grinding her pussy against my mouth, her body shaking hard as her orgasm tears through her body.

  Slowly, her grip on my hair loosens and her body begins to relax again. Her breathing slows and when I look up at her, licking her juices off my mouth, I see that her cheeks are flushed, but she's smiling wide at me.

  “That was goddamn amazing,” she says. “You have got a magical tongue.”

  I give her a smile. “I can't get enough of tasting you, baby,” I say. “You're like a drug.”

  She bites her bottom lip, a sultry look in her eye. “Then come get your fix, baby.”

  I pull her back down into the water and slide her beneath me, propping her back up against the side of the tub. Darby parts her thighs and wraps her legs around my waist. She grips my shoulders, her nails digging into my flesh as I lean down and kiss her. She gasps into my mouth as I drive my cock into her with one hard thrust of my hips.

  I fill her up completely and her pussy squeezes tight around my shaft. I grit my teeth and move slowly at first, sliding my cock into her deep, but easy. I look down at her and she's giving me a salacious grin.

  “
Fuck me, baby,” she purrs. “Fuck me hard, Carter. Fill me up.”

  As if she's cast a spell on me, I do as she commands. I start pumping my hips harder and faster, plunging my cock into her depths, unable to control myself. Unable to slow down. The water is sloshing higher in the tub and I hear it slopping onto the tile below.

  “Yes, oh God, yes,” Darby moans. “Just like that. Fuck me, baby. Give it to me just like that.”

  My pace is torrid, my breathing ragged, and the pressure inside of me is building to a crescendo. I know I'm not going to last much longer. Darby reaches down and grabs hold of my ass, slapping it as it rises and falls from the water. I grin at her, relishing the sharp sting of her hands on my flesh as I pump away inside of her.

  “Come for me, Carter,” she moans softly. “I want you to come so fucking hard. I want to feel you filling me up with that hot cum, baby.”

  As if that was the magic key that unlocked the dam, her words sent a bolt of white lightning through me, searing my every nerve ending. A sound that's nowhere near human erupts from my throat and I feel my body tighten to the breaking point. I grit my teeth as I explode, blowing my hot load deep into Darby. She cries out, her eyes wide, her body shuddering as I fill her with my hot seed.

  We stay like that, linked together, looking deep into one another's eyes for long moments as that post-coital glow wraps us up in its warm embrace. It's as if after everything that's happened the last few days, we needed this life and love-affirming act.

  “I think there's more water on the floor than is left in the tub,” Darby says and laughs.

  I shrug. “That's why I have a cleaning service.”

  She laughs and smacks me in the shoulder. Her smile is wide and bright – and is easily the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I catch her gaze and hold it, letting my eyes bore deep into hers.

  “I love you, Darby,” I say.

  “And I love you,” she replies softly.