Valor, Princes, and Bad Guys
Four
Valley of the Dolls-Marina & The Diamonds
She woke up in Derek's hard arms, feeling her face warming when he glanced down and met her gaze. "You're awake," he said, surprise lacing his voice as she looked over his shoulder. Tori waggled her eyebrows at Chloe and the blonde choked a laugh, her face feeling as though it was on fire.
Worry creased Derek's forehead. "Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded as his hand stroked her hair; it was heavy and it made her feel safe, wanted—loved, even.
She relaxed and fell asleep rather quickly.
oOo
It was mid afternoon when she woke up again, finding a heavy weight resting on her leads. She sat up, brushing away her tangled hair, and her heart melted at the sight.
The dog, Martin Tori called him, was curled up against Derek's arm and Derek was using her legs as a pillow. He wore a light, white shirt and trousers; his feet were bare. His hair was long and curled at the nape of his neck but he'd brushed the overgrown fringe of his bangs back and he looked charming. Handsomer.
"He wouldn't leave your side," said a voice and Chloe looked up, embarrassed. She relaxed when she saw it was Tori, dressed in a loose fitting gown that bared her smooth shoulders and sharp collarbone.
"Really?" Chloe's hand found Derek's silky hair and she stroked, feeling him shift closer to her hand in his sleep. He shuddered and his breathing hitched but evened out slowly; he really was asleep.
"Yeah."
Tori crossed the room and scooped up Martin. The pup whined at being woken and squirmed in her arms but she shushed him and rocked him like a baby. He yawned sleepily and settled down, nestling his face into the crook of her arm.
Chloe felt a spike of something, a nameless emotion that tasted sour on her tongue, as she stroked her betrothed's hair. It was thick and silky, so unlike her baby-fine hair; she wanted to bury her face in it.
He stirred under her hands and she froze as his eyelids fluttered open and he snarled a yawn; the image of a wolf yawning came to mind, for that's what he looked like. His sleepy, green eyes met hers and all she could feel was the heat.
"You're awake." Surprise laced her voice as she watched him sit up, stretching out his muscles. "Sorry 'bout that," he muttered and the tips of his ears turned red. Chloe smiled. "I didn't mind." The pressure of your head on my legs felt rather nice, she mused to herself.
Derek looked around and his leg bounced like he was anxious. "I'm supposed to show you around," he said after a moment. Chloe nodded and pushed back the comforter; her bare feet touched the ground. "Where…?"
"Here."
Derek took her by the hand and sat her down; she felt like Cinderella as he got down on his hands and knees and swept an arm under her bed and pulled out a pair of comfortable looking shoes…that didn't match her dress at all. He slipped the flats onto her feet, one hand wiggling the shoe on, the other holding her calf and she felt a spark of heat run through her face.
Embarrassed, she turned to Tori but the other girl had left; Chloe turned back to Derek, who'd stood up now and was waiting with an—an annoyed look on his face!
Feeling a bit hurt, and pissed to be quite frank, Chloe got to her feet and stayed behind him. Her mind was churning and churning just like her anxious stomach; she wiped at her eyes with a scowl and kept her mouth shut when he tried to engage her in conversation.
oOo
"And this is a bakery. We have lots of them here," he was saying as she picked up her skirts and turned to look into the window. A woman in a yellow coat was setting out warm loaves of bread and, when she caught sight of Chloe, she waved.
Chloe waved back with a smile and didn't notice Derek stiffening. He took her by the elbow and steered her away with a nod of acknowledgement to the yellow coat woman, who beamed even brighter and waved furiously.
"H-hey," the princess stuttered out, her mind racing as anger spiked in her chest. She tried to yank her arm away but his other hand wrapped around her other elbow and then he stood still, his breathing right in her ear.
All her anger vanished and all she could hear and smell and just feel was him, feel his arms around her, smell his soft perspiration, hear his heavy breathing in her hear, feel the thumping of his heart against her back, feel his hard muscles against her body, feel his entire body. She melted against him and her one half of her mind was screaming don't! He's angry with you! and the other half thought, damn it all! He feels so good and nice and he smells wonderful.
"You've been very…distant with me. What's wrong?" Derek rumbled in her ear. She squirmed. His chin dug into her shoulder. "Y-Y-You t-think I'm annoying," she admitted and felt her face flame when he chuckled, vibrating through her entire body. "I'm not a fan of the hot weather here. Sweating isn't very…attractive for princes." His nose wrinkled and she felt all the anger rush out of her toes.
"So if that's what you're angry about…" He trailed off as a voice sneered behind them, "Hello, Mutt. Who's the cutie?" Chloe's blood chilled as Derek stiffened against her, muscles taut, ready to fight, ready to flee if necessary. How long had it been since she heard that voice? How long had it been since her mother died and Rachelle abandoned her to seek refuge—and companionship, she added with a wrinkle of her nose—under him?
Chloe turned and Derek's grip on her tightened, nearly crushing but still comforting. The boys behind them were all tall and muscular, although the swarthy-dark-haired one was a bit shorter and broader. On the other side was a blonde with a red handkerchief tied round his throat. And in the middle was a dark-skinned boy with malicious eyes.
"Hello, Royce. Long time no see," Chloe said.
