Chapter Ten - A Candy Crush

Daimian's eyes shot open as he woke up. 'Wow, what a dream' he thought as he stretched before leaning up on one arm and gazing down at his wife, who was still sleeping soundly. He remembered it took a long time before she agreed to go out with him after that kiss. Daimian smiled dreamily. He'll never forget how sweet her virgin lips tasted, how soft her hair felt, and how he felt her eventually relax and grip him back. He smiled at Ripplelina and, leaning down, kissed her cheek lovingly. She moaned soundly in her sleep. Daimian smiled at her before sitting up. He ran a hand through his messy hair and got up and began to get dressed. Daimian had just attached his belt with buckles and mini chains on his dark brown, almost black pants with red and gold stripes down the sides when there was a knock on the door. He sighed as he straightened up and walked to the door, the buckles and chains jangling on his belt. As he opened it, he saw Taffyta standing there! Daimian leaned against the door frame, slightly annoyed. "Taffyta, you should know better than any other racer than to wait downstairs if you want to see me and my wife!" Taffyta straightened up. "I'm so sorry Your Majesty, but I was hoping you and Ripplelina could do something about Gloyd's pranks..." Her eyes grew wide as she noticed Daimian's muscular chest. Her heart began beating fast and her cheeks began burning. She quickly began fanning her face while short of breath. "Oh wow..." she whispered in awe, scanning the King's body with her sharp eyes. After a few seconds of silence, Daimian raised an eyebrow. "Uh, what is it you wanted Taffyta?" he asked, completely unaware that his naked torso was a cause of distraction for the pink lollipop themed racer. She quickly shook her head and looked up at the King "Oh! Sorry Your Majesty, I mean..." Daimian eyed her, confused, before folding his arms across his chest. She eyed his torso again. "Oh sugar..." She muttered, feeling giddy. "Taffyta, are you ok?" the King asked concerned. "I don't know..." She muttered before fainting. "Taffyta!" Daimian cried out worriedly as he caught her. He then called to a couple of servants nearby. They quickly ran over and Daimian handed the pink racer to them. "Take her downstairs and lie her on one of the couches in the hall. I'll be down in a minute" The servants gave a respectful bow "Yes Your Majesty" they said simultaneously and carried the racer downstairs. Daimian sighed and shut the door. "Well, that was unexpected" he muttered as he quickly pulled a white t-shirt on. After a few minutes, Ripplelina began to stir. Daimian looked over at his wife as he adjusted his belt. He watched her as she began to stretch, indicating she was waking up. He smiled lovingly as he walked over to her and sat next to her on the bed and stroked her hair back. "D-Daimian?" mumbled a sleepy Ripplelina, still yet to open her eyes. Daimian leaned down and whispered in her ear "You get some more sleep darling, you need it. I'll take over the racing announcements today while Mia looks after you" Ripplelina opened her eyes a crack. "Are you sure?" She whispered as she yawned. She reached up and stroked his face. Daimian smiled and took hold of her hand, kissing it several times. "Positive. Both you and our baby need plenty of rest" he whispered, gently placing his hand on her bump under the covers. Ripplelina gave a small smile before drifting back off to sleep. "I love you" he whispered in her ear before grabbing his hat and jacket. He quickly but quietly walked out of the room. Unbeknown to him, Ripplelina gave a smile and whispered back "I love you too."

Taffyta had awoken just as Daimian hurried down the stairs to check on her. "Is she alright?" the King asked worriedly as he put on his hat. Now that he was a King, it wasn't Ripplelina's only responsibility to keep the young racers safe and away from harm. Taffyta held her head as she looked around, still a little giddy. "W-what happened?" She muttered. "You fainted" Taffyta looked up as she realized it was Daimian that spoke. She stared at his badass outfit, one hand on his hip, her heart beginning to thud as she gave him a ridiculous smile. "Oh...um...ok..." She said, sitting up. Daimian got down on one knee so he was level with her. Taffyta noticed his messy hair made him look even more handsome. "Are you alright Taffyta?" he asked gently. Taffyta couldn't say anything, she just stared at Daimian straight on. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Daimian stood up. "I'll get you some lemonade ok?" Taffyta quickly nodded and Daimian went into the kitchen. 'Oh Wow!' she thought 'I never realized how handsome he was! Those muscles...and that hair! Not to mention that outfit! How come I never really noticed him wearing such a badass outfit before? Oh...what would it be like to have a muscular King helping me with my kart during the races?' Taffyta then began to daydream about Daimian strutting by at the track with the other racers staring as he gave his sweet pink racer a helping hand with her kart while making her giddy with happiness...She suddenly broke out of her daydream as she heard Daimian come back into the room, holding a cup of lemonade. He held it out to her. "Here you are" he said smiling. Taffyta trembled as she took the cup and slowly began to drink, unable to take her eyes off of the Sugar Rush King, who watched her the whole time. She breathed out as she swallowed the last drop of lemonade. "Thank you" she said gratefully, her heart thudding. Daimian smiled and nodded. "Always happy to help Taffyta." They sat there for a while, before Taffyta broke the silence. "So, um...where's Ripplelina?" She asked. Daimian looked up, eyeing the top of the staircase. "She's still in bed. I told her to stay home today. She and our future baby need some rest." Taffyta nodded "Oh...ok" Daimian then stood up. Taffyta's eyes widened "Wait! Where are you going?!" she blurted out anxiously. Daimian turned to her "I'm just going to get some breakfast" He then paused. "Why, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?" Taffyta thought for a minute. She actually had sugar strawberries with waffles for breakfast, but being offered to eat with the King was too good of an opportunity to pass up! "Uh...yes please! I'm starving!" she cried out as she jumped up and happily skipped over to Daimian and clung to his arm, like Candlehead does whenever she's happy. Daimian smiled down at the racer as they walked into the kitchen. "That's good. I'd prefer to have a racer accompany me than be without my wife" Some tension struck a nerve in Taffyta. Why did she suddenly dislike the mention of Ripplelina? It was strange. She usually liked Ripplelina. They were once racing rivals before she became pregnant. They were still rivals now, but she and Daimian sometimes preferred to race with the other upgraded racers who race in another area of Sugar Rush since the human world planned to delete their codes. They were fortunate enough that Ripplelina's father, King Candy, agreed to save a copy of their codes after his daughter pleaded him to save them, such as Kristelle Kreme and Galaxia Crumble, two of Ripplelina's best friends. She rarely got to see them since she got married, but tried to visit them when she could.

Taffyta sat on a stool as Daimian went to start to make her some breakfast. She had never had a breakfast made for her by the King before, so it was all new and exciting to her. She observed the King as he cooked up breakfast, before deciding to start some small talk. "So, just asking Your Majesty, have you and Ripplelina always been adults?" Daimian chuckled. "Not always Taffyta. We were once 9 year olds ourselves before we got upgraded" Taffyta tilted her head to the side, interested. "So wait, you were both kids once too? How does that work?" Daimian rolled his eyes as he placed a plate of pancakes with two bottles of chocolate and strawberry sauce in front of her and a small plate of fresh strawberries. "That's a long story Taffyta. Eat up, or we'll be late" He then sat down opposite Taffyta with a plate of pancakes too and took hold of the chocolate sauce and began drizzling the sauce over his pancakes. Taffyta watched him as he began to eat. 'Wow...he's so handsome up close' she thought, her mind racing. Daimian looked up as he noticed her staring and not eating. He blinked. "Uh, Taffyta. Your breakfast" Taffyta quickly shook her head, poured some strawberry sauce on her pancakes, grabbed her fork and began to eat. She licked some strawberry sauce off of her lips. "Yum! They are delicious! How did you learn to cook so well?" Daimian smiled at the eager racer. "Well..." he began. Taffyta gave him puppy eyes "Please please pretty please Your Majesty!" she asked in her sweetest voice, her eyes sparkling. Daimian smiled. "You really are something aren't you Taffyta?" Taffyta grinned. "You better believe it" Daimian smiled as he shook his head. "Ok. Ripplelina taught me" He smiled dreamily as he mentioned his wife's name. Taffyta frowned. 'Her name AGAIN!' she thought angrily, her gloved hands turning into fists. Why did she feel so much jealousy all of a sudden? She didn't know, but what she knew was that she couldn't stand hearing the King mention his wife at all!

After they had eaten, Daimian stood up and cleared the table. Taffyta jumped up and grabbed hold of the dishes. "Wait wait! Allow me Your Highness!" she exclaimed. Daimian stared at her, bewildered. "It's fine Taffyta, really..." he began. Taffyta shook her head. "No no! You made me breakfast! The least I can do is clear up!" she said. Daimian held his hands up defensively. "Ok ok! I won't stop you Miss Muttonfudge!" he said smiling. Taffyta gave the King a cute grin before putting the chocolate and strawberry sauce bottles away. Daimian pulled on his fingerless gloves before turning to the pink lollipop themed racer. "Ready to go?" Taffyta's face brightened up. She then struck a casual pose as she stuck a new pink lollipop into her mouth. "Sure" she said in a casual tone before grabbing hold of Daimian's arm and began walking towards the castle doors with the King in tow. Daimian didn't think twice, but he smiled as he let her drag him out. 'Kids' he thought fondly.

At the Track

Each of the racers had already arrived at the Track and were preparing for the day ahead of them when Taffyta and Daimian drove up. Taffyta jumped out of her kart and skipped over to Daimian's, giving her best smile as she leaned against it. Daimian stood up and stretched out, preparing for a day of racing. Taffyta's eyes widened as she could faintly see the shape of his muscles through his t-shirt. Her heart began thudding, her eyes sparkling. So much so that she didn't notice that Candlehead was waving a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Taffyta? Are you alright?" Taffyta blinked wearily. "Huh?" She muttered. Candlehead dropped her hand. "I said are you alright? You seemed to have zoned out there for a minute" Taffyta turned as she watched the King walk to the candy fan stands to greet everyone before the morning announcements. Jubileena skipped over from her Cheeriot. "Hiya guys! What's up?" She noticed Taffyta staring at the King. She tilted her head to one side. "Hey, Taffyta, is something the matter" Taffyta, still keeping her eyes on the chocolate King, slowly answered. "No...why would you think that?" She continued staring at Daimian. Jubileena pulled a face. "You're acting strange Taffyta. You haven't taken your eyes off of Daimian since you got here. I noticed from a distance." Rancis turned from tiding his hair for the fifth time and looked at the three racers. "Is anything the matter girls?" he asked politely in his British accent. Candlehead turned to him. "I'm not sure. Taffyta isn't herself" Rancis turned and saw Taffyta staring at the King. "Woah, what's wrong with her?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Adorabeezle noticed this too and whispered to the others "A crush maybe?" Everyone's eyes widened. "Seriously?" Jubileena muttered unenthusiastically. Just then, King Daimian called out a greeting to everyone through the microphone from the ground (Morning announcements were always held on the ground), and every racer gathered to hear what he had to say. "Ok, first off, I hope you all had a good night's sleep as we have a busy day ahead of us..." As he continued, with the winning Random Roster Race racers listening intently, Crumbelina felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around "Taffyta?" she said, surprised. "Doesn't his outfit look HOT?!" she whispered excitedly. Crumbelina raised an eyebrow "Say what now?" she asked in a confused tone. Taffyta gestured toward King Daimian. "I said, doesn't his outfit look HOT?!" The pink racer almost squealed when Daimian tugged at his top, which was tight against his chest. Crumbelina looked back and forth between the two "Uh, Taffyta, he ALWAYS wears that outfit. Did you overload yourself with the sugar on your breakfast again?" Taffyta didn't answer. Her mind was racing as she watched the King intently as he read the names of the racers for today on Ripplelina's clipboard. Their FULL names. "Wow, I never knew you all had middle names too" he muttered. The racers looked round at Taffyta nervously. They knew that apart from losing, she hated her full name being mentioned. As the King finished, he looked up, his chocolate brown eyes scanning the racers. "Mmm...let me see. Taffyta, Candlehead, Rancis, Jubileena, Crumbelina, Sticky, Adorabeezle and Swizzle...Seems like everyone is here. Have you all prepared your karts for today?" Every racer nodded...except Taffyta. Daimian glanced at her. "Is something wrong with your kart Taffyta?" Taffyta said nothing. She was too busy looking at Daimian's outfit. Daimian pulled a face "Taffyta? I said is something wrong with your kart?" Taffyta still said nothing. She was too far off. Daimian straightened up. He decided to test her to see if she was paying attention. "Taffyta Marie Muttonfudge! Is there something wrong with your kart?" He asked in a louder tone. The racers gasped and looked at Taffyta anxiously. Taffyta blinked, suddenly breaking into reality. At first she said nothing. She just stared at the King for a minute, before her heart began beating, her eyes sparkling. 'He said my middle name!' she thought excitedly. "You said my middle name..." she whispered in awe. Nobody had ever said her middle name before, and nobody dared did, but the way he said it was with such care and concern. The racers stared at her bewildered. Daimian raised an eyebrow "I hope that isn't a problem Taffyta..." "No no! Of course not Your Majesty!" She took a deep breath. "Yes actually, something is wrong with my kart...the uh..." She hurriedly tried to think of something. Anything for him to be near her! "How about I give your kart a full check Muttonfudge? That way we'll see if there are any hidden problems" As the other racers departed for their karts, some giving Taffyta awkward looks. Daimian smiled as he walked over to her. He gently placed a hand on her back as they walked over to her kart. Taffyta's heart kept on pounding. The King was so close to her, and it was AMAZING!

Taffyta leaned against her Pink Lightning with her lollipop in her mouth. She was watching Daimian intently as he checked her kart. "So, I heard you were once a dancer Your Majesty?" Taffyta asked casually. Daimian looked up, surprised that she mentioned one of his previous talents. He loved dancing just as much as racing, but ever since he married Ripplelina, he didn't dance as much as he wanted to spend more time with his beautiful wife. "Um...yes. Yes I was" he muttered. Taffyta's eyes sparkled as she jumped up "Can you dance now?" Daimian looked at the eager racer. "Maybe later." he said before resuming to checking her kart. After a few minutes, he turned to Taffyta. "Your kart looks like it's in perfect condition Taffyta. Though it looks like one of your gears is a bit loose. That can easily be fixed" He leaned over and began tightening the gear stick, as Taffyta watched him in suspense. The others stared until Candlehead went up to her. "What are you up to Taffyta?" Taffyta turned to her, eyes narrowed. "Nothing. As far as I know, I'm practically the best kid racer there is, and I get whatever I want for keeping that status. At least I'm not a ditz like you" she snapped, pointing her lollipop right in front of Candlehead's face. Candlehead stared at her, stunned. Didn't she know what she tried to do for the racers yesterday? "But..." she began. Taffyta glared at her. "But nothing Cakehead! Now if you'll excuse me, I've got more important things to do" She turned and eyed the King, her eyes shining as she stuck her lollipop back in her mouth. The birthday cake themed racer's face dropped and she turned around and slowly walked away, feeling hurt. "It's Candlehead" she muttered.

Taffyta just shrugged and continued watching Daimian. Without even turning around, he said "Taffyta, you should cut her some slack" Taffyta's eyes widened as she almost choked on her lollipop. "Candlehead may be a ditz, but she is a great racer too. And she is a much better friend than you realize" Taffyta stared at him as he turned to face her. "She has done more for you and the others than you realize. I think you need to treat her with some more love and respect. Maybe then she wouldn't be such a ditz" They both glanced over at Candlehead as she sat in her kart sadly, tracing the outline of her steering wheel. The King sighed "I hate seeing her like this. It would make me happy if you and the others were nicer to her." Taffyta straightened up, eyes wide. "I-It would?" She asked. Daimian gave her an obvious look. "Well, yeah. I was enjoying your company up until now Taffyta!" he said. Taffyta's heart sank as he said that. "I-I promise to be nicer to her" she muttered.

Oh dear. So it seems like Taffyta has developed a crush on the King! I wonder how things are going to develop! Obviously Daimian only has eyes for Ripplelina, and is completely unaware of Taffyta's crush on him, and only see's her as a kid since his main focus is to keep Sugar Rush running and to be there for his pregnant wife. And let's hope the racers will start to treat Candlehead better! Find out what happens next in the next chapter!