Chapter Seven
"C'mon, you must know some secret hide-away Ellie?" Ophelia pressed as she stood with her hands planted on her hips in nothing but her bra and knickers as Ellie rummaged in the closet, displaying dress options every so often.
"I told you Ophelia, there is nowhere in this castle that a vampire could not find you. Besides, as much as I'm fond of you and as much as I'm aware that I'm going against the orders of the future queen, I don't much feel like being punished for your escapades in disobedience," Ellie's tinkling voice floated from the closet. "What about this one?" she appeared at the door, holding up a gorgeous avocado green dress. The bodice of the dress sported an intricate Celtic design woven with gold thread, a Queen Anne neckline and long sleeves.
"Perfect."
Ophelia looked down at the circular skirt of her dress as she twirled her hips side to side, mesmerised by the way the skirt swished and billowed with her movements. "Will you please stay still your majesty," Ellie sighed in exasperation as she repeatedly attempted to secure Ophelia's French twist with a diamante leaf hair comb.
"Why is getting ready so time-consuming? Why can't I just throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt if all I'm going to be doing is sitting around listening to someone drone on about royal etiquette?"
"Because you are to be the queen, Ophelia."
"Exactly, so the queen should be able to do as she pleases," she huffed as Ellie re-powdered her nose.
"There is protocol to adhere to my lady, the king himself had to pass through it, why not you?"
"That's what he said…" Ophelia mumbled, admitting defeat. A loud knock sounded on the chamber doors, silencing any further petulant whining she had in her arsenal. "Come in," she called out, swatting away Ellie's hands that were obsessively pulling at the skirt of her dress and padded into the sitting room.
The doors to her chamber opened and her heart both literally and metaphorically skipped a beat when David strode into the room. Her eyes drifted from his handsome face to his strong muscular body adorned in a rather fetching seaweed green silk shirt and a pair of leather pants. Ophelia noticed the top three buttons of his shirt were undone, giving her a glimpse of a strong pale chest and a dusting of dark blonde hair. Her eyes landed on the emblem she'd seen yesterday in the throne room hanging from a silver chain around his neck.
"Ellie, you are dismissed," David spoke authoritatively, his crystal blue eyes never leaving her face and the lady in waiting immediately departed from the room, leaving the two of them alone. He closed the space between them and she automatically linked her arms around his neck with a smile.
"Have you come to tell me that lessons have been cancelled?" Ophelia smirked, shuddering when his hands coasted the curves of her waist, coming to rest on her hips.
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"To escort you to breakfast," he smirked, ghosting his lips across her jaw.
"Oh, is that all?" her breath hitched when his teeth lightly grazed her earlobe.
"Is there something else that you wanted from me Ophelia?" he breathed against her ear.
Yes, I want you to do what you did to me in that dream… she thought to herself.
"What dream?" David grinned, startling her.
"Sorry, what?" she frowned, puzzled – how did he know what she was thinking?
"You want me to do what I apparently did to you in a dream. Thus, I'm simply asking what kind of dream it was that you had and what specifically did I do?"
"But-" Ophelia's brows knitted in confusion, surely, she hadn't said the thought out loud, had she? No, it had most definitely been a fleeting silent thought. The gears in her mind slowly turned as she tried to figure out how it was possible that he knew what she'd been thinking, then it hit her - he's a vampire Ophelia, duh. "-You read my mind, you sneak!" she drew back, pushing him away, folding her arms over her chest.
"Why such theatrics over something so minor your highness?"
"It's not minor, it's an invasion of privacy," she pouted, breezing past him towards the door and strong arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her back against a solid chest.
"How else am I supposed to know what's going on in here?" David crooned, tapping her temple as his chin came to rest on her shoulder, his mess of platinum blonde hair tickling the shell of her ear.
"Oh, I don't know, ask me?" she countered haughtily.
"And would you have told me with honesty, what you were thinking?"
"Probably not," she sighed, sinking into him.
"So you see, sometimes an invasion of privacy is necessary in order for me to sate my queens desires seen as she is so obviously too shy or perhaps too prudish to verbalise them," he smirked against the crook of her neck.
"I am not a prude," Ophelia snapped, becoming irritated that first Ellie and now David would think of her in such a way. Just because she liked to read and daydream, didn't mean that she was oblivious to her body's desires or the world around her. She was almost eighteen, she was old enough to know what happened between two people who were attracted to one another, it wasn't her fault she'd never found the one she wished to act out her fantasies with – until now.
"If such a statement is true, then tell me about this dream."
Ophelia opened her mouth to speak, only for the words to get stuck in her throat – perhaps she was a little shy after all. "You're going to make me late for my first lesson," she sniffed, wriggling out of his grip.
"Ah, now you're interested in the lessons?-" David grinned, "-then allow me to escort you to breakfast, Prudence."
Ophelia scowled, enough was enough. "Oh yeah? Would a prude do this?" she retorted, cupping her hand around the back of his neck and yanked him down to meet her lips. Her free hand slipped beneath the gaping silk fabric of his shirt as she parted her lips, urging him to deepen the kiss. His chest was warm to the touch and she could feel the brawny muscle beneath the pads of her fingers, taking pleasure in the way the light dusting of hair tickled her palm. She drew back, gasping for air as her heart hammered wildly, glancing from the seductively curved lips of the king to his piercing blue eyes, finding them dark and hooded with desire.
"Tell me about the dream Ophelia," he crooned, nudging her lips softly as she toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"A queen should not be late for a scheduled engagement," she smirked, stepping back to smooth down the skirt of her dress.
"You may think yourself cunning enough to evade giving me an answer now but know this, my queen – I have ways of making you talk and one way or another, the next time I get you alone, you're going to tell me," David purred, brushing his lips over the backs of her knuckles. "Come, we'll be late for breakfast," he smiled, leading her by the hand, out of her chambers, in the direction of the dining hall.
The king leant back in his chair, resting his feet on the desk, his legs crossed at the ankles as he reclined, linking his hands beneath his head. He could not stop thinking about Ophelia, her beauty, her wit, her intelligence, her sensuality, everything about her consumed him. The desire he felt towards her brought with it a flood of scalding heat that washed over him like a tidal wave of blisteringly hot molten lava. His passion for her burned like the fire of a thousand suns and he wanted nothing more than to dominate her. He yearned for her to submit to him, leaving her body at his whim and mercy. He wanted to hear her moan and scream, he wanted to see her skin flush as the fire of lust destroyed her.
David shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, a certain part of his anatomy straining against his zipper. He would never be able to concentrate on the mountain of paperwork piled high on his desk if he continued to fantasise about his queen the way that he was doing so ardently and had been doing so all morning. David glanced at the clock standing sentry beside the door to his study, the golden pendulum swinging side to side rhythmically, filling the room with a steady tick as time continued to pass by. It was a quarter past one, he'd usually take lunch around one-thirty, but he didn't much feel like dining without his queen by his side. He was quickly becoming accustomed to her presence in his everyday life and though he had decided to enjoy the fruits of their blossoming relationship, deep down, he was terrified that she'd one day disappear or that one day she'd reject him, declaring her hatred for the life she'd been destined.
He groaned, swinging his legs off the desk to the floor as he dug the heels of his hands into his eye sockets seeking to chase away the cloud of doubt that threatened to eat him alive. He was about to call for Dwayne when a crackle of electricity caught his attention and he inwardly cursed when he raised his head to find Jareth -the Goblin King- in all his glamourous glory. "Your Majesty," he greeted, with a genteel bow, the charming lilt of his voice enough to deceive anyone – but not David. The king had grown wise to Jareth's quirks and eccentricities over the years and knew the fae king to be devious, disturbed and more than a little sadistic.
"It is customary to send notice of a visit Jareth and after already sifting through all the mail prior to your arrival, I'm entirely sure I didn't miss it. Additionally, it would seem you have completely disregarded all manners when you dare enter my study without express permission," David sneered.
"And here I was, believing that such pointless protocol was redundant between old friends," Jareth flashed his sharp teeth as he sank into one of the chairs positioned in front of the desk.
"We're not friends Goblin King, I am your king and you will treat me as such," David snapped, irritated.
"Yes, quite," Jareth mused, feigning interest in his boots.
"Is there a reason for your visit? I'm sure you can see, I'm quite busy," he gestured to the unfiled paperwork.
"I wanted to speak to you about the ongoing issue of the land dispute between myself and Travis."
"That is a matter for court, not unscheduled visits."
"You don't understand your majesty-" Jareth drawled, his hands poised regally on the arms of his chair, "-Travis is out of order for even suggesting the land belong to him and his drivelling dwarves. That land is part of my kingdom and I demand that you hand over the rights to the rightful owner."
"And if I don't?" David challenged, not taking too kindly to the way he was being spoken to.
Who was this pompous prig to demand anything of him?
"Then perhaps you will come to find out what it feels like to have something that is inherently yours, taken away from you," Jareth deadpanned.
"Are you threatening me?" David growled, rising to his feet.
"Would I do such a thing like that?" Jareth spoke coolly, pushing himself up from the chair. "I'm just simply reminding you of karma," he shrugged. "Tell me your majesty, is the rumour true that the future queen has arrived?" he smirked, his eyes flashing sinisterly.
"Get out!" David yelled, slamming his fist hard against the desk. "How dare you show up in my palace unannounced making demands and threatening the safety of my family. I suggest you remove yourself from my sight while your head is still attached to your shoulders."
Jareth gave the king a feline grin. "Now, now your majesty, there's no need to get yourself so flustered," he mocked before vanishing from the room with another loud crack of energy.
"Damn fool!" David seethed, calming himself down enough to call for his advisor.
"The crescent moon is straighter than your back!" Alexandria rolled his eyes in exasperation while Ophelia tried for the millionth time to correct her posture.
"Yeah well, the seed of a grape is larger than the amount of patience I have left for your insults!" Ophelia retorted, planting her hands on her hips.
"A lady doesn't say 'yeah', she says 'yes'," Alexandria corrected haughtily and Ophelia muttered a string of expletives under her breath, she'd already been thoroughly chastised for swearing once already and it just wasn't worth the headache. She'd expected to be a little bored, perhaps a little irritated by endless repeats of do's and don'ts but what she hadn't expected was a sore back, a stiff neck and to be pelted with a constant stream of insults and criticisms.
Alexandria according to David, was the best in the business when it came to training children of royals and those marrying into a royal family. However, right now, Ophelia just considered him a first-class twat. Alexandria was obviously a lot older than those she'd come into contact with over the past few days, his age showed in the fine lines at the corner of his eyes and the light dusting of grey hair among his glossy, obsidian locks sleeked back in a neat pompadour. The fae was of lithe build and stood at around six-feet-tall, cutting an intimating figure in his sharp, crisp white shirt and black slacks.
So far that morning she'd been working on how to walk, talk and sit like a royal. She'd mastered the art of sitting in a demure manner and she'd even mastered a neat little curtsy but apparently the way she walked and talked was a point of derision for Alexandria and his unobtainable standards.
Ophelia let out a sigh of relief when Laurent stepped into the ballroom to announce that lunch was served. "Right, let's take a break shall we, not that you deserve one," Alexandria shot her a look of disapproval as he strode past her in pursuit of Laurent.
Ophelia childishly stuck out her tongue and Paul hooked his arm around her shoulder, giving her a friendly squeeze. "Looks like it won't be just Dave with the urge to imbed a fork in someone's scalp, huh?" he smirked, guiding her out of the room.
Ophelia was delighted when she walked into the dining hall to find the table set out in the style of afternoon tea. "Oh, when I was a little girl, I always wanted to travel to London to have afternoon tea in one of the big posh hotels," she gushed, clapping her hands with glee.
"What's the big deal? The food is barely big enough to feed a mouse," Paul frowned, studying the tiers of sandwiches and cakes.
"Do stop talking you nit-wit," Alexandria chided and Paul flipped him the middle finger.
"You aren't the boss of me man, don't be getting all up in my grill - you're here to teach the queen how to fit into this lifestyle, not to be an asshole," Paul retorted, pulling out Ophelia's chair.
"With you as a personal guard, no wonder she's got the vocabulary of a gutter rat," Alexandria rolled his eyes.
"Hey!" Ophelia frowned, feeling more than a little offended.
"The proper phrase to use if one is offended would be 'excuse me?"
Ophelia growled and inhaled a calming breath. "Shall we proceed?" she spoke graciously, pushing back her urge to slam a miniature sponge cake up each of his nostrils. Paul patted her hand with a sympathetic smile, taking his seat beside her.
"Now, the first thing we must perfect in regard to etiquettes of afternoon tea is how to properly pour the tea," Alexandria exclaimed. "Firstly, we take our tea strainer-" he picked up the small golden utensil resting on a holder beside his teacup, "-we hold the strainer over our teacup and pour the tea through the strainer in order to catch the loose leaves and prevent them from floating around the surface of our tea, like so," he demonstrated, re-enacting the process. "Then we place the strainer back on the holder so that it drips into the tray of the holder rather than on someone's expensive tablecloth."
Ophelia mimicked the fae's actions, completing the process without any spillage. Paul on the other hand, managed to over-fill his cup, spilling tea all over the crimson tablecloth much to Alexandria's displeasure. Ophelia added a few drops of milk and one sugar cube, stirring the golden brown liquid back and forth like her instructor had shown her before shaking the spoon once over the cup to shake off any excess tea -rather than tapping it on the side of the cup which was apparently wildly inappropriate- and placed the spoon back onto her saucer.
"The proper way to drink one's tea is to pinch the handle of the cup so that your fingers all fall in line with one another, do not lift the saucer from the table. The handle should face the direction of your writing hand, to the right if right-handed and to the left, if left-handed."
"Sometimes with afternoon tea, champagne is served, how would you hold a champagne flute properly without causing offence?" Ophelia inquired curiously, causing Paul to choke on his tea. "What? I'm serious," she giggled, swatting his arm.
"That is a fair question my lady. When it comes to drinking champagne, it is proper for one to hold the glass by the stem and to sip slowly. Neither tea nor champagne should be thrown back like you're at a frat party," Alexandria grimaced and both Ophelia and Paul snorted a laugh.
Over the course of the next hour or so Ophelia learnt that you should always eat sandwiches first, then the scones, then the pastries. The sandwiches should be eaten in small, elegant bites not shoved in your mouth whole like Paul kindly demonstrated. When it came to eating the scones, she must gently break the scone into two halves before spreading with cream and jam and under no circumstances must she then stick the two halves back together and eat it like a burger; she must eat each half separately.
Finally, with the pastries, it was up to her to use discretion for whether she should use her fingers or her fork to eat. For example, it is perfectly acceptable to eat a macaron with her fingers but frowned upon to do so with a miniature lemon meringue. All in all, despite Alexandria's odd eye roll and exasperated huffs whenever she or Paul said or did something improper, she managed to enjoy herself, the little girl inside thoroughly ecstatic that she'd finally gotten to fulfil one of her life-long dreams.
"Right, I believe the break has been adequate, I suggest we return to the ballroom to continue our work on posture," Alexandria stated and both Ophelia and Paul slumped back in their chairs with an audible groan.
"Do you honestly think that it was a threat David?" Dwayne frowned, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest as he watched David pace the length of his study, his hands balled into fists by his side, his features hard and angry.
"Don't you?" David countered, incredulously.
"I don't understand why he'd go to such lengths as threatening the high king and queen to secure a barren piece of land," Dwayne sighed, combing his fingers through his hair.
"Because he's a petulant little brat with a penchant for throwing tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. The prat was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and showered with everything his overindulged child-self wanted. He doesn't like the word no, as it doesn't fit the lifestyle he's grown accustomed to."
"He doesn't have the balls to touch Ophelia," Dwayne tried to reassure his furious best friend in a bid to calm the storm waging inside him.
"You do not know what he is capable of Dwayne. He might be able to fool everyone with his charm and fake humility, but he doesn't fool me. I won't take any chances, security is to be tightened and Ophelia is to never to wander the palace alone," the king ordered.
"What about her chambers?"
David paused his pacing, massaging his temples. "She'll stay with me for the foreseeable. Ellie can still assume her duties but instead of reporting to the queen's chambers, she'll report to mine. Now, please go and inform the staff and the guards of these changes and the reason behind them. I want everyone on high alert and on the look-out for anymore of Jareth's unanticipated visits."
"Yes sire," Dwayne bowed and turned to leave, almost colliding with Alexandria as he opened the door.
"Ah, good day Dwayne," Alexandria smiled.
"Good to see you again Alex," Dwayne nodded in greeting before continuing to fulfil his king's orders whilst David motioned for Alexandria to enter.
"Such a charming young man-" the king's old tutor mused, smiling broadly, "-and how is my most troublesome pupil?" he added with a smirk as he clicked the door closed behind him.
"I'm well Alex. Thank you for taking on the responsibility of getting my queen ready for her coronation," David smiled genuinely, allowing the older fae to embrace him in a fatherly manner. "Tell me, how did she fair?"
"Honestly, she has the potential to be a marvellous queen."
"I'm sensing a but…"
"But she is young and highly spirited - she is one for fun and games, not walking the length of the ballroom with a leather-bound book balanced on her head," Alexandria chuckled.
David chuckled. "Yes, she has definitely kept me on my toes since she arrived, but I don't wish to break her spirit, I enjoy her humour and oft defiant attitude, I find it rather endearing," he grinned, flashing his pearly white teeth.
"I'm sure you do, after all, she's the female version of you," Alexandria smiled, patting the king's shoulder.
"So long as she's not being disobedient or challenging you too much."
"No, no, she's taking my approach to teaching rather well, I only managed to elicit a temper tantrum twice - with you it was every hour."
David barked a laugh, shaking his head in amusement. "When do you think she'll be ready for me to introduce her to my kingdom and the other royals?"
"I'd say within a few weeks if she continues to comply the way she did today. However, I suggest you never let that guard of hers anywhere near another royal, the mans a complete oaf," Alexandria grimaced.
"Don't worry, I don't plan to," David scoffed.
"Anyhow, I must leave, lest my poor suffering wife will have my guts for being late for dinner yet again. It's good to see you, your majesty and I'm truly happy that you finally found your queen."
"Thank you, Alex," David smiled, watching his families oldest friend exit before sagging against the edge of his desk.
'Paul bring Ophelia to my study and you're relieved of your duties for the rest of the day,' David connected with Paul, knowing he sounded weary but not having the energy to care. He needed Ophelia, he needed a distraction from his rage lest he storm the Goblin Kingdom and behead its arrogant king.
A cautious knock on the door shattered his rather gory daydream concerning the painful demise of the Goblin King. "Enter," he called out and the sweet, exotic aroma of maraschino cherries filled his senses as Ophelia stepped into the room with a curious smile.
"You requested my presence, my liege?" she teased, dipping into an elegant curtsy. Immediately, David sprang from his perch on the edge of his desk and yanked her into his arms, enclosing her in a desperate embrace. He buried his face against the crook of her neck, inhaling her calming scent, feeling the tension in his shoulders, slowly start to ebb. "Hey, what's wrong?" Ophelia soothed, gently stroking the back of his head.
"I won't let anyone hurt you. I won't let anyone take you away from me," David murmured, holding her tighter against him.
"I wasn't aware I was going anywhere, nor did I realise someone wanted to hurt me. What's going on David?" she questioned, and he could hear the fear in her voice. David reluctantly released his hold on her to guide her over to one of the plush chairs by his desk. He dropped down into the cushioned seat and pulled Ophelia down into his lap, cradling her back with one arm whilst resting the other, over her hip.
"To make a very long story short, Travis -the Dwarf King- and Jareth -the Goblin King- have been in a year-long dispute about a piece of land that lies between their kingdoms with each of them claiming it belongs to them. I have yet to make a decision on the matter as it involves delving into the history of their kingdoms and I already have enough to deal with. However, Jareth, being the impatient prig that he is, has demanded that I hand over the land to him immediately."
"But what's that got to do with me?" Ophelia frowned, confused.
"Jareth in a roundabout manner, told me that if I do not give him what's rightfully his, then I shall find out what it feels like to have something of mine taken away from me, to which he then begun asking questions… about you…"
"Oh…" she worried her bottom lip between her teeth anxiously.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out what he was implying but I vow to you Ophelia, that I won't let him within a foot of you. I've upped the security around the castle and ordered that you never be permitted to walk around unaccompanied."
"Isn't upping the security enough?"
"No, Jareth doesn't play by the rules and he's fae which means he can teleport-"
"-Like Ellie?"
"Yes, exactly like Ellie."
"Oh…"
"Yes, so you see now why I can't allow you to be alone? He could just show up anywhere without anyone knowing, which is why I also believe you should no longer stay alone in your chambers.
"Are you going to have Ellie stay with me?"
"No, from now on you will stay with me in my chambers."
Ophelia's emerald green eyes widened before her cheeks lit in a soft, pink glow. "Is it proper for a king and queen to share a bed outside of marriage?" she teased, taking the news much better than he'd thought she would.
"Of course-" David smiled, kissing the tip of her nose, "-don't worry, I won't be trying to relieve you of your virtue on the first night."
"Relieve me of my virtue? Who even talks like that?" Ophelia giggled.
"Then how would express such a statement?" he smirked.
"You won't be trying to get in my knickers, that's what I'd say."
"What if you're not wearing any?" he countered and Ophelia gasped in mock outrage, swatting his shoulder playfully.
"You're outrageous," she giggled, toying with the pendant around his neck.
"Are we once again approaching your boundaries, Prudence?" David taunted, trailing a finger down her stomach.
"What is it going to take for you to stop calling me a prude? I thought I proved myself earlier," she pouted, tracing his eyebrows with the pad of her thumb.
"You didn't prove much, only that you're not shy to initiate a kiss," he shrugged.
"I touched you," Ophelia reminded him.
"You touched my chest, it's not exactly the height of sexual exploration, is it?" he chuckled.
"Then what do you want from me?" Ophelia implored.
"I want you to submit yourself to me-" he crooned, "-lose your inhibitions, forget your shyness, surrender your body to me Ophelia, let me show you the pleasure only I can give you."
Ophelia swallowed, averting her eyes to stare at the emblem hanging from his neck as she thumbed the silver chain. Ophelia allowed herself a few quiet moments to truly think about what she wanted. Did she want to surrender herself to him? Did she want him to be the one to take her innocence and show her what it meant to be a woman? Yes, she surmised. She wanted to explore the feelings and desires he'd awakened within her. She wanted to explore the meaning behind the way he tugged at her soul. She wanted to give in to her most erotic fantasies and finally let go of the reserved, bookish girl she'd once been and grow into the self-assured, confident queen she was being primed to be. However, the only thing that stood in her way, was her perpetual shyness and self-doubt and she wasn't sure how to fully defeat them. "I want to-" she whispered, "-but at the same time, I don't know how…"
"Listen to your body Ophelia," he crooned, capturing her lips in a slow, scorching kiss. Ophelia closed her eyes, instantly tuning into the gnawing ache in the core and the pulsing throb between her thighs. She swallowed thickly, becoming increasingly away of the rigid bulge pressing against hip and the all-consuming need to touch, feel and taste her fated king, overwhelmed with the urge to explore the feelings he'd stirred inside her. Her chest hitched as her breath caught in her throat as her eyes fluttered open, meeting the stormy-eyed kings hungry gaze.
She grazed her fingers over the solid contours of his chest, relishing in the involuntary shudder the gentle action elicited.
David lightly gripped Ophelia's jaw between his thumb and forefinger, observing the way she nervously licked her lips. Despite the pounding of her anxious heart, he could scent her desire and it was gloriously sweet, musky and extremely arousing, so much so that he winced when his cock throbbed, the tight seams of his pants digging into the sensitive flesh. He dipped forward, ghosting his lips across her jaw, her skin so soft and warm it was driving him to the point of agony.
Ophelia sighed, her throat working as she swallowed and David exhaled, grazing his lips down the length of her neck and the underside of her jaw, stifling his groan. He pulled back, palming his bulging crotch with a grimace. "Are you uncomfortable?" Ophelia asked, her bottom lip finding it's way between her teeth.
Ophelia tentatively placed her palm against his throbbing bulge and his breath caught in his throat. "Let me ease your discomfort your majesty," she whispered, biting her lip and David was no longer able to stifle his groan of pleasure when the heat of her palm bled through the material of his pants.
The king watched her intently, exhaling shallow pants as she sank to her knees before him, shuffling forward to position herself between his thighs. David clenched and unfurled his fists around the arm of the chair with pent-up lust as he observed his queen tug down his zipper. Her eyes innocently widened as she took in his size, adjusting to the weight of him in her hand before her slender fingers grazed the length of his stiff shaft and a strangled moan escaped him, his hands balling into fists.
David's body jerked when her petal soft lips ghosted his leaking tip and her tongue tentatively swirled around the head of his cock before trailing the full length of him leaving his shaft damp and sticky from her saliva. His breath hitched when she caught his tip in her mouth before skimming her lips down the length of him, working her way back to the top with her warm, wet tongue. She alternated between slow teasing licks and soft, gentle sucks, driving him to the brink of insanity and he could no longer hold back the moan stuck in his throat when she took him in her mouth, experimentally bobbing her head in a rhythmic motion, the tip of his cock grazing the back of her throat.
His deft fingers massaged her scalp as her lush locks fell in a waterfall of liquid chocolate curls over her shoulders while his hips jerked with every rhythmic jerk of her head. Ophelia cradled his base with her soft, warm hand, stroking him teasingly and the king groaned, his body jerking uncontrollably as he quickly found himself hurtling towards the limits of his restraint. He inhaled a shaky breath, a deep rumbling groan tearing from his chest when the intoxicating scent of his queens arousal flooded his senses and he found himself yearning to repay the favour just to taste her liquid desire on his tongue. The thought of his mouth covering her hot, wet mound proved too much and he came undone, moaning as his body trembled as a body-shaking orgasm rocketed through him while Ophelia milked him dry.
The king slowly exhaled, haphazardly tucking his twitching cock back into his pants while Ophelia straightened out the skirt of her dress as she rose to her feet, absentmindedly running the pads of her fingers over her lips, the very same lips that had just been moulded so perfectly around his cock. David rose from his seat, gripping Ophelia's hips and turned her toward the chair he'd just vacated, guiding her back until her legs hit the chair's front and he gently lowered her onto the cushion before kneeling at her feet.
"Allow me to return the favour my queen…" he drawled, slowly inching his fingers up her thighs, pushing the skirt of her dress up to rest at her hips.
He slowly slid the damp material covering what he desired the most down the length of her legs and nudged her legs apart leaving her exposed before him. His eyes became transfixed on her desire slick folds, her neat, dark curls glistening with moisture, making him salivate. David could hear her the rapid thump of her heart, her breath hitching nervously as he lowered his head, covering her apex with his hungry mouth. He hummed with satisfaction as he tongued her warm, wet slit, the taste of her desire deliciously sweet. He buried his tongue deeper, sucking her folds ravenously as she writhed beneath him.
"Oh God, David… she panted.
The king kissed and licked her inner thighs, his fingernails caressing her bare calves. "God you're exquisite my queen…" he murmured, teasing her mound with hot, wet kisses. He parted her swollen folds and covered her sensitive bud with his mouth, sucking gently, eliciting whimpers of pleasure. Ophelia's finger's tangled in his hair as she desperately drew him closer, urging him to continue his feast as David hummed with lust, sucking her engorged clit a little harder.
Ophelia cried out, her sensual vocalisations of immense pleasure like the finest aria to his ears. His tongue lapped at her throbbing nub, each teasing lick eliciting strangled moans, the scent of her arousal growing stronger until he knew she was close to her peak. He sucked her bundle of nerves and nudged her apex until she was quivering with restraint.
"David…" Emelia cried out, her back arching as her hands palmed the chairs arms and her eyes fluttered closed, her cheeks flushed with a rosy pink glow.
David released her from his mouth and pushed back to sit on his heels, looking up at Ophelia with warmth in his chest as she lay against the backrest with her eyes closed and her face flushed, her chocolate brown curls splayed haphazardly across her heaving shoulders. He watched completely enthralled by the rise and fall of her chest, unable to take his eyes off her. As as he knelt watching her come down from the highs of passion, he was hit with a rather daunting realisation – he could so easily fall for her and he was completely powerless to stop it, already in such a short space of time she'd burrowed beneath his skin, consuming his mind and his every waking thought.
Liquid fire flowed through her veins, burning her from the inside out as her eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting the king's gaze with a dreamy smile. The king grinned wickedly, his hands snaking up the length of her thighs as he moved to cover her trembling body. "Call me by name once more my queen..." he drawled, ghosting his lips across her jaw.
"Dav-"
A hurried fist hammered on the door to the study silencing her and Ophelia not only heard but felt a rumbling growl rip from the king's chest. She quickly tugged down the skirt of her dress, hoping she didn't look as flushed as she felt as he stormed over to the door.
"What?!" he barked, yanking the door open to reveal Dwayne stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
"King Travis of the Dwarf Kingdom has just arrived requesting an audience with the king," Dwayne informed the seething immortal king.
"Does no one send notice anymore?" he yelled, balling his hands into fists. "Come," he ordered Ophelia and she quickly scurried to his side, glancing up at Dwayne in confusion. Dwayne's expression told her that he wasn't sure what the king was planning either and fell instep behind the two of them. David clasped Ophelia's hand in his, like she was a lifeline, an anchor keeping him grounded, preventing him from losing control. She liked the idea that he thought of her in such a way, it made her chest feel warm and her stomach flutter.
Sooner than she anticipated they came to a jerky stop outside a familiar set of heavy doors. Dwayne moved toward the door and gave the king a brief confused look. When David made no move to send her away, Dwayne shot her a re-assuring smile and pushed open the door. Ophelia desperately tried to remember what Alexandria had told her in regard to how to greet another royal but all she could concentrate on was the sound of her heart pounding in her ears and the feel of the kings saliva drying between her legs. David squeezed her hand, prompting her to raise her head, her anxiety alleviating slightly when she caught sight of his warm smile and the understanding flicker in his eyes.
Ophelia exhaled a shaky breath and followed David into the throne room, coming to a standstill before who she assumed to be King Travis. Ophelia curtsied the way she'd practiced, trying to hold her nerve as the unfamiliar royal bowed graciously. "Your majesties-" he smiled amiably, "-I must say, I didn't expect an audience with both the king and the future queen."
"Well strange things happen when you turn up at my palace unannounced," David hissed, ushering Ophelia up onto the dais. She baulked slightly when David gestured for her to take a seat in the throne beside his own, it was one thing to look at it but another thing entirely to sit in it. Ophelia graciously lowered herself onto the plush velvet cushion, pressing her knees and shins together before angling them slightly to the side, bracing her arms on the padded armrests, trying to remember everything Alexandria had told her while trying to ignore the way Dwayne was looking at her with a knowing smirk as if he knew what had happened in the kings study.
David slumped unceremoniously onto his own throne, clearly agitated by the Dwarf King's presence and Ophelia took a moment to appraise the royal standing before her. He was slightly shorter than David and of stockier build. His hair was a rich chestnut brown, cut short at the back and sides but left longer in the front, so much so that it fell just below his brows. His facial features were more rounded and the goatee he sported, paired with the olive pigment of his skin made him look somewhat Mediterranean. "My apologies my king but I received correspondence from Jareth and-"
"-Dwayne!" David barked and Dwayne was by Ophelia's side just in time for a loud crack to echo around the stone room as none other than the Goblin King himself materialised before her very eyes. Ophelia was initially confused, until she remembered from the story she'd so arduously read over and over again, that the Goblin King was summoned by the use of his name and by the looks of it, David knew it all too well, hence his order for Dwayne to flank her side.
Ophelia never dreamed that she'd be sitting, wide-eyed and sweaty palmed in front of the Goblin King but the man before her, wasn't the man she'd imagined. It was true that he resembled the character portrayed in the eighties cult classic but there was something sinister and off about him. His eyes were predatory and held the threat of immense pain, his teeth were razor sharp and he was a little brawnier than the lithe character Bowie portrayed in the movie.
"I do believe my name was mentioned," he spoke with an old-fashioned British lilt that dripped arrogance.
"You are not welcome here Goblin King," David snarled, clenching his fists angrily.
"Ah so, you all just decided to gather to speak ill of me and thought you could get away with it, is that what this is?" he smirked wickedly, then as if he'd only just noticed her presence Jareth's predatory gaze shifted to her. Every hair on her body stood on end and the once fiery blood coursing through her veins turned to ice. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he smarmed.
"Dwayne, escort Ophelia to my chambers at once," David demanded and Dwayne offered her his hand only for the Goblin King to growl in anger.
"If she moves but an inch, I shall have her transported to an oubliette before you realise that she's gone," Jareth threatened, balancing a crystal in the palm of his hand.
"Jareth? My king? What is the meaning of this?" Travis frowned, clearly bewildered.
"Jareth has demanded that I sign off the piece of land you're both in dispute over to him immediately else he'll bring harm to the queen," David spat through gritted teeth. Suddenly, the doors to the throne room flew open and Marko, Paul and five other guardsmen marched into the room, aiming iron pointed arrows at the fae king.
"I see the cavalry have arrived-" Jareth scowled, "-until next time, precious," he smiled malevolently in Ophelia's direction before vanishing from the room.
"I'm confused, J- I mean he sent me correspondence that you'd signed the land off in his name. That is why I came here, to seek word whether it was true as I dare not believe that the high king would be so deceitful."
"Do not question my loyalty Travis, I have done no such thing - he is obviously playing a game and my queen's well-being is at stake," David exclaimed.
"My apologies your majesty, please forgive my intrusion and my disturbance, because of me the poor queen has been scared out of her wits.
David glanced over at Ophelia who was attempting to hide the way her hands were trembling and this time it wasn't the lingering tremors of passion. "Travis, my friend, if you would be so kind as to return tomorrow for court and we can discuss this matter further. I hope you understand I am in no mood to talk about such matters."
"Yes, of course your highness-" Travis bowed, "-until tomorrow, and please accept my sincerest apologies my queen," he added, bowing to Ophelia before exiting the room, flanked by the palace guards.
"Please request the kitchen to serve dinner if it is ready, I wish for myself and the queen to dine and retire to my chambers early," David directed towards Dwayne.
"Yes sire," he nodded, making a hasty retreat.
"Come," David sighed, welcoming Ophelia into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder, fighting back the tears born of fear she was so desperate to hide. Nevertheless, moments later, unable to disguise her frightened state any longer, Ophelia clung to the king, her tears soaking the cool silk of his shirt.
"Don't cry sweetheart-" David crooned, kissing her crown as he rubbed soothing circles over her back, "-I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Paul stop," Ellie exhaled a shaky breath as Paul trailed hot, wet open mouthed kisses down the length of her neck. "I wanted to talk…" she weakly pushed at his shoulders, whimpering when his teeth grazed her throat as his hands skimmed her waist.
"So talk…" he murmured against the crook of her neck, his tongue drawing lazy patterns on her chest.
"I'm worried about-" Paul yanked down the bodice of her dress, covering her breast with his mouth, "-oh… God…" she moaned as ripples of pleasure rocketed through her body, settling at her aching apex with every skilled swirl of his tongue over her stiff peak.
"What are you worried about?" Paul released her breast with a wet pop, his gorgeous grey eyes drifting to her face.
"About Ophelia and how all this mess with that pompous Goblin King is going to affect her relationship with the king," she chewed her bottom which soon found it's way between Paul's teeth when he drew her into a succession of hot, seductive kisses.
"Why would it affect their relationship?" Paul frowned, sitting back on his heels.
"You know as well as I do that the king cuts himself off from others during times of stress. What if he does the same to Ophelia? I'd hate to see her burned by his lack of affection, I believe she feels rather strongly about him," Ellie smiled sadly, combing her fingers through Paul's feathery, dirty blonde hair.
"It's a test of their relationship babe, if they really like each other, they'll work it out. The king has feelings for her, I know he does, if he makes a mistake then he has to make up for it, I don't think he'd purposely hurt her," Paul assured the queen's lady in waiting as he gently pushed her back against the pillow, teasingly pushing the skirt of her dress up towards her hips.
"I don't know Paul I- mmmm…" Ellie's protests morphed into a low moan when Paul's mouth nudged her aching apex.
"You worry too much Elle," he sighed, parting her glistening folds with his fingers in search of her sensitive bud.
"You worry too little," Ellie countered, her breath catching at the back of her throat when Paul's mouth covered her mound and tongued her engorged nub. Paul hummed with satisfaction, the vibration of his lips sending jolts of pleasure to her core as Ellie's fingers became entangled in his hair as she held him against her, urging him to continue his hungry assault.