A/N: I don't own anything.
The story takes place after 03x05
A kiss on the inside of her thigh roused Eleanor from sleep. Still half slumbering, she concentrated on the pleasure her boyfriend brought her - on her hips, her stomach, her breasts and finally her lips. Giving into his advances, she lifted her upper body from the mattress when Jasper sat up to leave the bed behind. Her lips stayed pressed to his as long as they could, before she had to let go, sinking back into her pillow.
Still keeping her eyes shut, she roled to her side, pulling the blanket over her head. Jasper pulled the blanket down a bit again and planted another kiss on her cheek. With a groan, Eleanor opened one eye, trying to figure out why her boyfriend wouldn't let her sleep.
"Why are you dressed?" she asked him, taking in his suit covered body.
"Because I have to work. Liam wants to go into town for a new tuxedo. No idea why he can't have people bring him one. He really is too independent for a Prince."
"And what are you waking me for then?" she closed her eye again, cuddling further into the pillow.
Jasper, knowing how hard it is to get his girl out of bed, pulled at the blanket again, ripping it away from her body.
Met with the cold air of the bedroom, she groaned out again. "Jaspuhhh, why?!" she drew out his name.
"It's almost 11 a.m. and the stylists with your dresses for the party will be here in a few minutes. Believe me, I let you sleep as long as I could."
"I still could have stayed in bed until they arrived," Eleanor argued.
"You do know that you are naked, right?"
"Nothing they haven't seen before."
"Well, let's try to keep your body for my viewing pleasure only, okay?" Jasper pulled her up from the bed, bringing her body smack to his. With his hand in her hair, he gave her one finale kiss. "Have fun choosing a dress and try not to make the stylist's life hell."
He turned around to leave and Eleanor walked over to her couch to pick up Jasper's dress shirt from the day before. Right when she finished buttoning the shirt, there was a knock on her door.
At her "Come in," three stylists pushed a rack full of dresses into the room. Knowing their place in the monarchy, neither of them even took a second look at the form of undress the princess was finding herself in at the moment.
Eleanor strutted over to the clothing rack, hastily browsing through her options.
"Urgh! How can anything be this ugly?" Eleanor took a dress from the hanging rail and threw it across the room. "Are you sure these are not meant for my mother?" she growled at the stylists. The leader of the pack suddenly became a flurry of activity, trying to temp the princess with some of the pieces.
Close to giving up hope, Eleanor made a find at the second to last dress. "This I can work with." She took the dress down and laid it on her bed. "You can leave," she ordered the stylists out.
After a shower and some fresh clothes, she sat down at her vanity, applying her make-up. Checking her phone for any messages from Jasper, she remembered that she promised InStyle a callback about the feature they wanted to run on her. After today's fashion disaster, her mind was set on styling herself for the shoot, just like they offered her.
After being redirected three times, does no one know how to treat a princess, she got Andrew Hopkins on the phone. He was delighted that she wanted to style herself and promised to send over some general ideas the day after New Year's. They decided on Thursday, January 5 as the date for the photoshoot and interview, to get it finished in time for the spring issue. As she was still without a full-time bodyguard, she considered asking Liam if he would lend her Jasper for the day. He was so supportive in regards to the feature and she really wanted him to be part of that experience.
Knowing that Jasper will be working all day, so he can have the night off for the ball, she ordered breakfast and made herself comfortable on the couch to watch another episode of 'Royal & Beautiful'. There is nothing like a lazy day, watching TV, when the boyfriend is occupied. Somehow he does not find the show funny at all, anyway.
Hansel von Liechtenstein could not occupy her attention for long though. Her mind kept wandering to tonight's New Year's Eve ball. It will be the first time Jasper will accompany her as her boyfriend – not sanctioned yet, due to Cyrus not giving a crap – but she was sick and tired of letting others dictate her life. She was happy with Jasper, as happy as she had ever been and she wanted the world to know. For tonight the world would only exists of Members of Parliament and other socialites, but they had to start somewhere. She knew that Jasper was nervous of the consequences his past could have on her reputation but she did not care. Her past did not scream Virgin Mary either and the Henstridge monarchy survived that as well.
Somehow she managed to pass the day with TV shows, some research about fashion degrees at London universities and an hour long fighting with her mother about the jewelry she wanted to borrow. She had not heard from Jasper all day, so she sent him a text message, telling him that he was supposed to meet her in the ballroom at 8 p.m. His answer was a simple thumbs up emoji.
She scheduled an hour to get ready for the party, so when 7 p.m. came along she hurried towards her vanity, applying her make-up extra carefully for their first official outing as a couple.
Naturally, Jasper arrived before Eleanor at the party, so he stuck to the door as to not miss her entrance.
When she arrived, he could not take his eyes off of her. She always looks stunning, be it in her riding clothes on the odd days she's with Charlie Jones, her short party dresses or a simple pair of jeans with a band t-shirt when she was cleaning her own room - which only happens when she wants to hear from James how proud he was of her.
But today beat all of these occasions. Her long, black sheer dress was as tight and see-through as always and her stilettos took her nearly up to his height. What was different today though, was the lack of overdone make-up on her face. He had seen her in every state of undress before, but this was a new look for her. And he loved it.
She walked over to him, twirling around when she arrived in front of him, to show him the open back of the dress, which ended just at the top of her butt. The whole bottom part of the dress was transparent and the top was embroidered with beads and wound around her neck, leaving her shoulders free. The outfit was completed with matching gold and citrine earrings and a big cuff bracelet. For Eleanor, this was plain.
She had changed so much in the past month since they officially became official. She was drug free, she drank as little as possible, she threw herself into her charity work and even considered going back to university. She was nothing like the girl he met on his first day on the job. She captivated him back then, now she took his breath away, every single moment.
"You look amazing," he greeted her with a drawn out kiss on her lips.
"You don't look too bad yourself, Mr. Frost. I love the new tux."
"Liam forced me to buy it. Apparently, I'm not allowed to wear the same one twice. No one will see the difference, they all look the same to me."
"Have you learned nothing from your time with me? No piece of clothing is the same and they all beg to be worn. Don't you want them to be happy that they get to cover your delectable body and end up on the floor of our bedroom later?"
"What has gotten you so silly, this evening?"
"You," was Eleanor's short answer. Not able to contain herself, she grabed him by the jacket lapel and pulled his head down to kiss him again. Jasper's hand found her back and he pulled her even closer to himself.
Lost in their kiss, they only realized that they got company when someone cleared their throat next to them. Letting go of each other, they looked up into the stone cold face of His Royal Highness, Prince Robert Henstridge. Even if it wouldn't be common knowledge that Robert did not approve of the couple's relationship, the current look on his face couldn't have made it more obvious.
"You know that you are surrounded by other people, not to mention the press, right? Don't make a spectacle of yourself."
Eleanor looked at her oldest brother in shock. He had never talked to her like this. Before Jasper could hold her back, she got up into Robert's face.
"What I do in my free time with my boyfriend is and will always be my decision. Things have changed around here, Robbie. I have grown up and me kissing my boyfriend is the tamest thing the press has ever seen me do. So, off you go, smoothing MP butts, I'm here to celebrate and I will do so the way I see fit."
Robert was always Eleanor's favorite and in the past she thought he would support her in all her decisions – good or bad. If he could not stand behind the best thing that has ever happened to her though, she had no trouble letting him know what she thought of him.
With one final penetrating look towards Jasper, Robert left the two of them behind.
"I need a drink!" Eleanor exclaimed, trying to pull her boyfriend over to the closest waitress.
"Why don't we dance instead," Jasper trieed to steer her away from her old behaviors. She was doing so well in the past few weeks, he did not want her to reach for a drink whenever she was feeling agitated again.
Much to his satisfaction she agreed and they took to the dance floor as a slow song starts to play. Unlike the first time they danced together all these months ago, they could not stop staring into each other's eyes, their hands clasped in a soft touch. Each part of their bodies that was touching tingled under their skin.
Next to them, the flash of a camera went off, interrupting their intimate moment.
"There are days I really wish Dad would have managed to abolish the monarchy," Eleanor picked up the conversation again.
"Why are you saying that?" Jasper gave her a puzzled look.
"I can't even be with my own boyfriend without being scrutinized by the people or my own brother for that matter. Sometimes I just wish for a simple life – just you and me."
"What would we do? Where would we live? You can't really consider leaving all of this behind…" he pointed out the opulence of the ballroom to her.
"So you don't think I could make it? That I'm just a princess without any skills or talent?" Eleanor let go of Jasper's hand and took a step back.
"You bloody well know that I don't think that. If there is one person who can achieve anything they set their mind to, it's you. You are smart, driven, resilient and so talented. I just don't want you to make a drastic decision purely because your brother hates me."
"My brother doesn't hate you," Eleanor interrupted him.
"We both know very well that he does."
"I don't plan on leaving here, but in the end I can imagine many lives – rich or poor – but not one without you."
Jasper looked at her astound. "Come with me," he took her arm and led her out to the balcony. The balcony on which, roughly a year ago, their whole relationship changed. Apparently all their life defining moments had to take place on it.
"You can't mean what you just said. Eleanor, you can't give up your life for me."
"I never said that I will, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't though. If all goes well, we move into Kensington Palace and live the lifestyle of boring royalty. And in the worst case, we move to Shoreditch, I become a fabulous fashion designer and you guard some other rich and famous people. If you can't see this because you don't love me…"
"You know damn well that I love you," he interrupted her, offended. "I have been in love with you all this time. But I've hurt you so much, and am not deserving of your love. Still I hope every day that there is a place for me in your heart. Is there, Eleanor?"
She did not get the opportunity to answer, as the door to the balcony opened and her oldest brother interrupted them again.
"Lenny, mother wants to talk to you – alone." Robert did not even look at Jasper.
"Did you go tattling to her that I once again don't behave like the wholesome little princess?"
"I didn't think poorly of you before, but right now I might need to reconsider. You always did let yourself get influenced by the people you surround yourself with."
"You did not just say that." Eleanor's anger filled up the whole balcony. "What is your problem with Jasper, Robbie? You don't even know him!"
"And you do?" Robert shot back. "I always thought you were smart and wouldn't let yourself get conned into a relationship by a bloody American, who only wants you for your money. Had I known what was going on here, I would have left that island sooner."
"Hey, man! That's enough," Jasper stepped forward to defend his girlfriend. "You can come at me, but don't ever talk to your sister like that."
"What are you going to do about it, bodyguard? Shoot me?" Robert stepped closer to get into Jasper's face. "That will clearly help you win the heart of a princess. You should be lucky you are still here. It will take just one word from me and you are out. Of the palace, out of England and most importantly out of my sister's life. So if I were you, I would be careful how to talk to the Prince of Wales, Jasper from Las Vegas."
"Enough!" Eleanor stepped between the two men, forcing them apart. Jasper could usually bury his anger deep down and not say what he felt, but at this moment Eleanor feared an explosion and that would be the fasted way to get kicked out of the palace. Putting a hand on his chest to calm him down, she turned to her brother.
"Robbie, what is going on with you? Why are you acting like this?" Eleanor's anger got pushed aside by actual concern for her brother.
"Nothing is going on, I'm fine," he appeased her. "I'm just looking out for you and the family." He turned towards the door to get back to the ballroom. "Mother is still looking for you. You don't want to keep her waiting." With that, he stepped through the door and disappeared into the crowd.
Eleanor closed her eyes and leaned back against the stone railing, letting out an audible sigh. Jasper stepped in front of her, caging her in, with his arms on both sides of her.
"Are you alright?" he asked his girlfriend with worry in his tone.
"I don't know." She opened her eyes again, looking up into Jasper's face. "This is not the Robbie I have known all my life. I have never seen him openly attack anyone."
"A lot has changed in the past year. All of you changed. You had to grow up and become your own person – he is not used having you talk back at him. And we can only imagine what he went through on that island. The experience must have changed him too. And now with your father gone, he suddenly has to be the patriarch of the family. That must be a lot to handle for him."
"Why are you defending him? He insulted you mere minutes ago and plans on having you thrown out of the country."
"I'm not defending him. I just don't want the both of you to fight. You just got him back and I am not worth ruining your relationship over."
"You are worth everything," she stood up on her tiptoes to give him a lingering kiss.
"That might not be the right time or venue for a conversation like that. Why don't you go and see what your mother wants and I have a chat with James? It looks like I will need his support when it comes to Robert."
"Remember that I am the one with diplomatic immunity. I might be of bigger value to you than James is," she grinned up to him, the tense atmosphere slowly falling off from both of them.
"Nothing in my life is of bigger value than you." The look Jasper gave her, made her heart flutter. She did not care what Robbie, all the MPs in the ballroom or the press thought of her relationship with him. They belonged together and everyone who would try to get between them, could be certain that the princess was coming at them personally. Hell has no fury like a princess defied.
Her mother introduced her to a couple that wanted to start a charity with Eleanor's help. Something about providing girls from low-income families with clothes. She was not really paying attention to be honest. What she heard sounds great and she will look forward to working with them, but the fight with Robbie occupied her mind too much to listen to details. She promised to get in contact with them and sought out Jasper again.
She found him in a corner, talking to James who was on duty tonight.
"Foxy," she greeted him, giving him a hug.
"Princess," he answered back. "You look very beautiful."
Eleanor felt her cheeks blush. Receiving praise from James will always feel special to her. He was just what she needed after her father's death – someone who was proud of her, despite all of her wrongdoings. A father figure with Sara Alice as an annoying little sister.
"Where is Sara Alice, tonight?"
"I think right now, she is hanging on His Royal Highness, Prince Liam's coattail." Eleanor tried to make out her brother in the crowd, not wanting to miss this. Not seeing him, she turned back to James.
"Since Mr. Caterpillar moved on to a princess, she decided that now it was her turn to catch herself a real prince. When you see your brother, can you please tell him that her curfew is 10 p.m. though?" he joked with her.
"Will do. But first, I want to try dancing with my boyfriend again." She took Jasper's hand and pulled him towards the dancefloor. "I will see you later Foxy."
The couple found a spot close to the stage and started their second try at having a great New Year's Eve party.
"What did James have to say about Robert's behavior?" Eleanor wanted to know after a few minutes.
"He agrees that he possibly suffers from PTSD and advices us not to take him too seriously. In the end, he wants his sister to be happy and if a Las Vegas grifter holds her heart, he will have to arrive in the 21st century and realize that protocol and standing is not everything in life. He still promised my though, that he will have a word with him."
"Good old Foxy, saving the day again."
"We can handle your brother; I am still more concerned about the press. These people can be ruthless when they sense a good story. It's not fair to you, if they drag your name through the mud just because I made bad choices in life."
"I think we had this conversation before and I will tell you now, what I told you then: I want you. Your past, present and future. I can take what they dish out. I had my fair share of bad press. There is nothing they could write that will knock me down. And if all else fails, I will just send them a picture of your dick. They get why I want to be with you after that."
"And here I thought you left the bad girl behind," Jasper laughed with her.
"Oh, the bad girl is not gone. She just prefers to stay in the bedroom these days. Want to go and find out if she is there right now?"
"And miss the countdown?"
"You have two options, either you come with me and I give you a New Year's kiss on whichever body part you prefer or you stay here and risk Cyrus's ex-wife finding you. She likes them young and juicy."
Jasper visibly swallowed and checked that there was enough space between him and Veruca Popperwell.
"And is these arguments were not good enough, Sara Alice is on her way over. I'm sure she would just love to slow dance with her ex-boyfriend – if only to make Liam jealous."
"You should really stop teaching her stuff."
Out of the corner of his eyes, Jasper saw Sara Alice dragging Liam over to them. The determination on her face made his decision easy and just like the little girl, he draged the younger Henstridge twin away.
In their bedroom all thoughts of countdowns and fireworks were forgotten. Even in the early days, their sex was mind blowing. Now, with all the added emotions, the couple could go for hours, never sated by each other.
Jasper opened the small button that fastened the halter-neck strap of Eleanor's dress. The top part of the dress fell down immediately and Eleanor unzipped the skirt herself. Standing with her back to Jasper, he was able to enjoy her delectable backside clad in black hipster panties. He would never tire of this view. Undoing his bowtie, he watched her crawl onto their bed. Quickly ridding himself of his tuxedo, he ended up in his boxer briefs and joined his girlfriend between the sheets. Just like this morning, he worked his way up to her lips, placing kisses all over her body. They met in a fiery kiss, Jasper now fully straddling her body.
What starts out as a slow seduction, quickly turned heated. Hands all over each other, the remaining clothes coming off and tongues battling.
Jasper held Eleanor's hips still with one hand, while guiding himself into her opening with the other.
She held onto his shoulders, arching her back from the sudden fullness she experienced in her core. Being all the way in now, Jasper grabed his girlfriend's hips possessively with both hands and slowly sank in and out of her.
"Jaspuhh, please!" Eleanor screamed out, urging him to move faster.
Not listening to her pleas, Jasper kept up his slow movements. He knew that she liked it rough, just like he did, but sometimes the buildup made for a greater finish.
Eleanor's legs wound themselves around his hips and they pushed him further into her. Years of horseback riding gave Eleanor immense strength in her legs and she knew when to use this skill.
Jasper could not hold himself back any longer and sped his thrusts up. When she came, her walls grabed him so tight that he spilled into her just a few seconds later.
Catching himself on his forearms, he sank down into the mattress, his upper body still hovering over her.
"I needed that," Eleanor declared. "But don't you ever go slow on my again."
Jasper just laughed and gave her a kiss. Pulling out of her, he stood up, walking towards the bathroom.
"I could use a show. Do you want to join me for round two?"
Without a word, Eleanor jumped out of bed, racing past him.
Eleanor did not make it to midnight as Jasper exhausted her into unconsciousness. Lying on his side of the bed, he stared at the text message he just received from an unknown number. As the fireworks went off outside, he saw all of his dreams explode in front of his inner eye.