Hope you enjoy! Here's Chapter Two :)

Maxon held my hand in his as we walked along the river. It was wonderful being alone. He asked about my family, and I told him of baby Astra. He pulled us to a large rock beside the river, and after brushing it off, we both sat on it.

"Can't ruin that dress," he teased. I laughed lightly, shaking my head.

"My mother picked it out in hopes that would attract a husband. I actually despise this thing. I can hardly breathe."

"I never understood corsets, they seem incredibly painful to me," he noted as he bent down to pick up some stones from the river bank. He tossed one in the water before handing a couple to me to do the same.

"I think I have an extra one with me. You can try it on and see what it's like."

Maxon laughed, that joyful one that made everyone who heard it smile. I tossed a stone into the water, and he nodded appreciatively at the distance it went.

"I think I would look quite dashing, suck all this flub in." He patted his stomach, which he pushed it out to make it look bigger than it actually was. I knew better though. Maxon didn't have an ounce of fat on him. I'd never seen him shirtless, but I could feel the hardness of his abs when he was kissing me.

"Far better than I could ever look," I agreed. Maxon tossed his last stone, taking the remaining one from my hand. He ran his fingertips along the lines in my palm, and my breath hitched in my chest. How could so small of a touch feel this amazing? His lips brushed my cheek, and I gazed up at him.

"No one could ever look more beautiful than you, America. You look really, fantastically beautiful in this dress. I wanted nothing more but to announce to the court right then and there that you were going to be my wife. I couldn't stop staring at you. Then again, everyone was staring at you."

My eyes went back to our hands. Maxon had always said he was better with pictures than words, but I disagreed. He always knew exactly what to say to get my heart fluttering wildly out of my chest.

"No one was looking at me," I muttered. "If they were, they were just wondering what I was doing there."

"I was," he admitted. "I'm always looking for you. You're the only thing I see anymore."

The blush erupted on my cheeks, and Maxon rested his forehead against mine. His breath mingled with my breath, but he didn't kiss me. He only gave my hand a quick squeeze. He turned away with a sly grin before throwing the last stone into the river.

"So, I've told you what's been going on with me, so why don't you tell me what's going on with you and this French princess." Maxon pulled away, groaning slightly. He looked uncomfortable and aggravated.

"Well it's not just the French Princess, unfortunately," he trilled. He fiddled with his hands, a nervous gesture I had come to know him by. "It's-

"Prince Maxon!"

We both turned to the voice, and a court page emerged from the bushes. He looked slightly flushed, and I wondered what the hurry was.

"Yes?"

We both stood, and Maxon offered me his hand. I took it, and he wound my arm through his, keeping a firm grip on it. The page stared at us, his eyes a little wide.

"Your father, I mean, the King, requests your presence immediately."

"Tell him I will be there with him shortly-

"He said it cannot wait your highness."

"Fine. I will walk Lady America back to her quarters, and then I will see him."

"He said to come right away-

"And I am. I'll be there momentarily, so go and tell him that. Am I understood?" Maxon's tone was firm, but it wasn't overbearing. The page sighed, looking down at his feet.

"Of course, your highness. I'll let him know."

Maxon nodded his head, and the page left us alone by the river bank. Maxon waited until he was out of sight, and then he took a path different from the one that page left on, one that was completely unfamiliar to me.

"Is everything okay?" I questioned.

"Father's been extra controlling lately," he explained. I nodded my head. Maxon had told me some things about his father, things that the kingdom would cringe to hear. It didn't make me want to get to know him, and what he said when I was introduced at court earlier still bothered me. Something about the king sent shivers up and down my spine. I didn't like it at all. We walked in back up to the castle in silence. I wanted to say something, to ease his tension, but I really didn't know what to say. Was it because of me? This French Princess? Was something wrong?

We arrived at the side door of the castle instead of the front one, and instead of taking the main staircase, he turned to the wall, releasing a latch that opened a hidden doorway. Maxon and I had memorized every secret passageway and less known staircase in our time together. It was the only way for us to be alone inside of the castle. This wasn't one that I remembered. I hesitated for just a moment, wondering what he was doing. He must have noticed because he turned to me, holding out his hand. He looked so calm and confident.

"I want to show you something. Do you trust me?"

"Of course," I whispered as I took his hand. He lifted it to his lips, placing a quick kiss on the back of it.

Maxon grabbed a torch on the side of the wall and pulled me into the passage way once he made sure no one would see us. After about thirty feet, we came to a narrow set of stairs. I tried to palace where we were going. I was sure we headed up to the second or third floor, and we were somewhere in the wing that I was staying in.

"He wants me to get married soon. He's adamant about the Princess from France or this girl from the Columbia province. I've met the girl from Columbia before. Duke Ambers' daughter? He's even mentioned a few of the other courtiers. He's shown me girl after girl, forcing me to go on outings with them. But the only one I want is the one he hasn't shown me," he added softly. My stomach sank and fluttered at the same time. Of course that would make sense. "I've made excuses, and my father has noticed. He's asked who I have my eye on, but…I'll have to make him see reason."

I wasn't sure what to tell him. I pulled my hand from him, and he stopped in the middle of the hallway. Maxon turned to face me, watching my face, looking for some kind of reaction.

"I don't have a high enough title," I blurted. "I'm… I'm not good enough for you, am I?"

I could hear the hurt in my voice, the pain that was laced through it. Had he lied to me, was he just another spoiled, selfish aristocrat whose only motive was to ruin me? I knew it wasn't true, but I couldn't stop the thought from entering my mind. He put the torch in a bracket and turned to face me. He watched me for a second, his eyes bright in the firelight. Maxon moved forward, taking the few steps that separated us. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly to him. I laid my head on his chest, and for a brief second everything was easy. I could be with him without anyone standing in our way. His finger brushed my chin, tilting it up so I was looking straight into his eyes.

"Of course you are. America, you are all I have ever wanted. Titles do not matter to me. Even if you were a maid, I'd still want to marry you," he whispered as he squeezed my hand. "He's just trying to push his favorites, people he owes favors to, and who will give him the biggest advantage, which is exactly like him. I just had to be sure of your feelings, and now that I am, I will tell my mother, and then my father."

"What reason will you give him?" I stammered. "My family has no money, no contacts, nothing. We are poor and low, and how can you justify that? How can a prince justify marrying someone barely higher than a commoner? I-

Maxon put his fingers to my lips, silencing my words. "Your family is valuable, America. You are titled. Your father holds the people's loyalty. There is power in that. And your father has wonderful ideas. I heard him talking to some of the other noblemen, about wanting to have representatives sit in at regional meetings. A fair voice will empower our people."

We watched each other for a second. His fingers brushed my cheek, a tender gesture that sent chills down my spine. "And you think that will work?"

"I promise, on my honor as future King, that I will find a way, America," he vowed. He pressed his lips against mine, but that little spark was all it took. We had kissed passionately by the river, but the bite of hesitation had still lingered. It was careful, measured, but this time, it was gone. His hands laced in my hair, holding me to him. My arms wound around his waist, feeling every tight muscle through his tunic. I wanted nothing more than to run my hands up under it, to feel his skin against my palms. Maxon pressed me against the stone wall, his hands digging pleasantly into my waist. His heat surrounded me, igniting a feeling in me that I had sorely missed. His lips traveled down the edge of my jaw to my ear, making me melt into his arms.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you? How every day I was away from you was torture?"

"N-no," I breathed, but it came out a little whiney. His lips moved down, tenderly sucking a spot on my neck. I knew he wouldn't leave a mark. He was too much of a gentleman for that. I closed my eyes, sighing deeply. His hands kept me up, and I fought the urge to wrap my legs around his waist. Ladies of court didn't act so wonton, but God, did I want to. His fingers brushed the lacing of my dress, but he didn't undo it. He had such control. I knew I shouldn't be in a tunnel alone with a boy. I knew that it would be dangerous if we were caught, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the feeling of his lips on my skin, the way his scent and heat enveloped me into something far better than I could ever dream of.

"I want you to be my Queen, my wife. I want you to mother my children, and I want to give you everything that you've never had. I want to show you the world, and I never want you to leave my side again." His lips traveled across the top of my shoulder, and Maxon's hand brushed down the edge of my dress down my shoulder on my arm. He gently kissed the skin that was covered. It was such an intimate gesture, and I heard his sigh as he pulled away. He straightened my dress, a look of resigned guilt on his face. He didn't want to stop as much as I did, but we both knew better. "I want to be yours, in every possible way," he murmured huskily. "Just give me time, love."

I nodded my head, and he placed a brief yet sweet and loving kiss on my lips. He moved a couple of steps to the left and motioned for me to follow. He opened a panel, and I was shocked to see that it led straight to my room. He gave me a knowing smile, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I knew there was a reason we were put in these rooms!"

"Wait until you see where else this tunnel leads to," he murmured as he brushed his lips against mine with a grin. "There's going to be a ball tomorrow night, to celebrate everyone arriving for the celebration. It will be a mask, actually. Can I ask what color you will be wearing?"

I grinned. The only reason he would ask that was so that we could match. If that didn't send a message, I didn't know what would. I thought about all the gowns I had packed, and my favorite sprang to my mind. "Blue. Royal blue, actually."

"How fitting," he grinned. "I want at least half of all your dances. I know that I'll have to fight off suitors all night."

"I highly doubt that," I scoffed. "I'll be the jealous one, with all of the ladies vying for your attention. You are the most eligible suitor in the kingdom."

"They can seek my approval all they want, but my heart has already been stolen by a lovely young woman from Carolina. May I see you after dinner tonight?"

I nodded my head, my pulse racing from the pleased and excited smile on his face.

"Do you remember our signal?"

I tugged on my ear, earning an even bigger heart stopping grin from him.

"Good. Be looking for it at dinner."

I hope you enjoyed. I can't wait to get to the next few chapters, but it will be a few days before I update again!

Leave a review pretty please! I love to know what you guys think!

-Holls