Author's Notes

Hi! Sorry about the delay, but I wanted this chapter to be right.

Thank you for favoriting and following.

Smithy – I moderate my reviews and had no idea I could go in and move the process along. Now, I do and will check my queue more often. I will try and post sooner than later. So sorry about that!

Ebon-Drake – We all know Keith and Lance have the ultimate bromance. His second-in-command was just trying to get a smile out of his miserable friend, at least I think.

KathDMD – You will soon see that Keith is tired of hanging around backstage. He is ready to take control. How will the princess respond to this unexpected side of her commander?

Cubbie – Even Keith needs BFF time. There is nothing like it! LOL.

Paulina Ann – Now that we are back at work, I don't have as much time to revise, edit, and post. Updates will be less frequent, but thanks for sticking with me. Allura's reaction will definitely be unexpected.

Rated T for suggestion

Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and its characters. The story is mine.

Chapter 4

Allura paced angrily within Keith's office. She had been waiting for him for the past hour. No one really knew where he was, and all Lance would say was that he was dealing with some personal matters.

Growing more and more agitated the longer she waited, Allura stewed over what he had said to her. She was prepared to tell him that she would request he be relieved of his command if he insisted she step down from the Voltron Force. Dancing in her angry fog, she almost jumped out of her skin when the door to the office suddenly swished open.

Taking two steps into his office, Keith stopped dead when he caught sight of the princess standing there with her arms crossed and a furious expression on her beautiful face. His heart lurched unconsciously at the sight of the vision in royal blue. Shaking his head to regain focus, he gasped out her name in surprise. "Allura! What are you doing here?"

Rage darkened her blue eyes at the sound of his voice. "We need to talk," she snapped.

"You're right; we do," he replied. He didn't wait for a response. "I am so, so sorry for what I said after Lion practice. Please know that I didn't mean it. I said it out of anger." Stepping toward her, Keith grabbed her hands.

Allura stared into his black eyes. Something was different about the way he looked at her. There was emotion stirring in those midnight depths, and Allura found herself almost drowning. She was trying to make sense of it. Confused by his apology, she cocked her head at him. "You are?" she asked, her practiced tirade almost forgotten.

"Yes," he stated. His black eyes pleaded with her. "Allura, I know I've been a jerk to you and I beg your forgiveness for that."

Huffing at him, she pulled her hands from his grasp. "You have been an ass," she corrected him. "I don't get it, Keith. What happened? What did I do?"

Turning away, Keith stared across the lake at Black. Gathering his strength, he faced Allura. "Lord Arthur came," he replied simply. "It seems you have accepted a suitor."

"What?" Allura replied. "First of all, I have not yet accepted Artie as a suitor." Furrowing her brow, she took a deep breath to focus her thoughts. "Second of all, why should you care?" For some reason, Allura's heart hammered in her chest as she waited for Keith's response.

Keith took a step toward her so that less than a foot separated them. Allura could feel the heat emanating off his body. She could smell his clean, soap smell. Her heart was racing as she looked up into his handsome face, a tender look in his eyes.

He reached up to cup her face. "Because," he said gruffly. "I'm in love with you."

The princess felt like she was in a dream; did she just hear him correctly? With her head spinning, Allura suddenly felt lightheaded. "What?" she squealed. "You're what?"

"You heard me. I'm in love with you," he repeated. "And I don't want you to choose Arthur. I want you to choose me." Dropping his arms to his sides, Keith straightened his shoulders and stood tall and proud as if presenting himself for inspection.

Staring at him in disbelief, Allura started at what he had just admitted. "You want me to choose you?" she cried. "But Keith, you're…."

"A commoner?" he quipped, flashing a lopsided smile as he moved still closer to her. "A pilot? Your superior officer? Not royalty? I know all that." His face grew serious. "But I didn't think any of that mattered to you. You're not interested in titles. You want love; you dream of love. I could give that to you, Allura. I love you, and I love Arus. Isn't that what you want?" Leaning toward her in a bold move, Keith pressed a light kiss onto Allura's flushed cheek.

A shiver ran down her spine. Allura absentmindedly brushed her fingers against her cheek. Her breath was ragged; her heart tripped all over itself as she realized what he had said. He loved her. Keith loved her. He wanted her to choose him.To hug him.To kiss him.To be made love to by him.Desire washed over the normally stoic princess of Arus. To belong to him. But, this couldn't be. He wasn't royalty.

Taking a step back, Allura cleared her head as she put some distance between them. "I don't know. I…I… I need to go," she stammered. For the second time that day, Allura ran from the room.

Sighing as he sat at his desk, Keith ran his hands through his hair. Well, his feelings were out there. He needed to give her time and space to digest it all. Sitting back in his chair, he tried to prepare his heart for whatever came from his confession.