Chapter Eleven
"You have fun with Ellie and Aeofe, OK?" Ophelia smiled down at Jeremiah.
"Why can't you and David come?" the little boy pouted.
"Honey I wish we could but David's busy being a king and the king doesn't want his queen to leave the palace without him, so I must stay here but I'll be here when you get back and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with aunt Ellie and Aeofe, don't you think?" Ophelia bargained, ruffling his hair.
"I guess," Jeremiah admitted defeat, hugging Ophelia's legs tightly before obediently taking Ellie's outstretched hand.
"See you soon," Ophelia waved, as the trio disappeared, the door clicking in place behind them. "Ugh," Ophelia groaned, dramatically flopping down onto the couch.
"What's up queenie pops?" Paul chimed from the armchair; his mouth crammed with peanut M&M's that he'd stashed in the back pocket of his pants.
"I wanna have some fun Paul-" she whined, "-it's all - be a queen, no you're not doing it properly, straighten up, don't laugh, don't do this, don't do that, blah… blah… blah… ughhh…" she palmed her forehead and Paul barked a laugh.
"David's busy with the whole fall out between King Solomon and the Goblin King-" she grimaced at the name, "-Jeremiah gets to go off for the day with Ellie and the nanny, Alexandria has taken the day off and what am I supposed to do?"
"I have one word for you Phee – anarchy," Paul grinned devilishly.
"Are we forming a Sex Pistols tribute band?"
"No airhead," Paul chuckled.
"Did you just call the future high queen an airhead?" Ophelia smirked.
"Might've, what you gonna do about it?" Paul challenged.
"Flush the rest of those bloody M&M's down the toilet before your head follows," Ophelia quipped and Paul cackled.
"Feisty, I like it," he winked.
"But seriously, what do you mean by anarchy?" Ophelia quizzed, tilting her head back.
"Rebellion babes, toss out the fucking rule book and have some fun – rules were made to be broken."
"That why you've spent so much time in the dungeons?" she laughed, amused.
"You bet your ass it is-" Paul grinned impishly, "-but if you're too chicken, too scared of what ole blue eyes will do to you if he finds you misbehaving…" he goaded.
"I am not scared-" Ophelia sniffed, pulling herself upright, "-in fact…" she mumbled, padding into the bedroom, making a bee-line for her closet.
"What're you doing in there? I don't mean rebelling by wearing the wrong fucking shoes with your dress," Paul scoffed.
"I'm not changing my shoes you twat," Ophelia retorted, hearing Paul's muffled laughter. "Ah-ha," she grinned, finding her old backpack, routing through its forgotten contents until she found what she was looking for. Ophelia emerged from the closet waving the miniature square baggie containing the two electric blue gummy bears.
"One for me, one for you," she smirked.
"Are those edibles?" Paul grinned mischievously. "You've been holding out on me Phee, where'd you get those from?"
"A girl at school gave me them as a thank you for helping her out one time, I completely forgot about them in all honesty."
"Shit, I wanna meet this chick-" Paul stated examining the two drug-laced gummies, "-she ain't one of the chicks we killed was she?"
"No, she's still in Santa Carla somewhere," Ophelia smiled.
"Sweet, might have to track her down, she sounds like my kinda chick," Paul winked, running his finger over the seal of the baggie, emptying the gummies into the palm of his hand. "Last chance to puss out, I'm sure we can find a book you haven't read somewhere in the library," Paul teased.
"Bite me Paul," Ophelia stuck out her tongue, taking one of the edibles for herself.
"With extra fang baby," he winked, tossing back the gummy bear with a grin.
~/~
"Dude…" Paul murmured, his arm flopping over the side of the couch. The two of them were currently sprawled out on the couch, their legs hooked over either end with their heads resting crown to crown in the middle. "I'm so fucking wasted, I totally need to link with this chick man, she's got some bomb ass shit."
"Paul am I floating? I feel like I'm floating…" Ophelia mumbled dazedly.
"Nah you're anchored babes," Paul reached back, patting her forehead. Ophelia giggled, catching his hand. She brought his hand in-line with her face, studying the plethora of rings decorating his fingers and twisted the silver band on his thumb, imagining she could hear the silver ring rotating with a steady click, like the bars of a turn-style. "Hey Phee, if you had to describe yourself as a cookie, what cookie would you be?" Paul asked, drawing her own hand back, feeling him trace the lines on her palm.
Ophelia giggled, her giggles turning into hysterical laughter when she pictured herself as giant talking cookie. "You know I think I'd be a rainbow sprinkle," she giggled, her hand flopping down against the couch cushions when Paul relinquished his hold.
"You big fairy-" Paul barked a laugh, "-I'd like to think I'm an Oreo, I'm definitely creamy in the middle," Paul grinned.
"You're a perv-" Ophelia laughed. "Hey Paul, do you have any secrets?" she whispered after a brief lull in conversation.
"Not really, I'm a pretty open book," he replied, toying with the ends of her hair over his shoulder.
"You must have one, even books have pages to turn," she countered.
"You think I'm like an onion? Like, I have layers?"
"Maybe, but you smell better than an onion," she giggled and Paul laughed.
"You smell like cherries," he sighed.
"I do?" she frowned, sniffing her arm. "No dude, I smell like papaya and mango soap."
Paul chuckled. "Yeah that's what you smell but I'm a vampire, I can smell your blood, every human has a unique smell-" he clarified, "-and you smell like cherries – not the cheap dime store shit either, but those expensive ones they use in cocktails, maraschino is it?"
"No way," she gasped, giving herself another sniff, disappointed when she couldn't smell anything other than the soap she'd used in the shower. "What about Jeremiah, he's human, what does he smell like?"
"He smells like those dryer sheets my mom used to use, ocean breeze or fresh cotton or some other bullshit," he laughed.
"Do you miss your mum and dad Paul?"
"Sometimes-" Paul shrugged, "-if I tell you something, you promise you won't tell anyone?"
"Pinkie promise," she stated, holding up her pinkie finger.
Paul linked his own pinkie finger with hers and gave a gentle tug. "I miss my mom sometimes, but I don't miss my dad, the whole reason I ended up in Santa Carla was 'cause I dipped out of home one night and hopped on a greyhound. My mom was sweet n'all but too sweet, you know? She let my dad treat her like a doormat, he used to strut around town sticking his dick in whatever chick flashed her ass at him and then come home to my mom and brag about it, running his mouth about how if she satisfied him, he wouldn't need to go elsewhere."
"On top of that, he used to be physically abusive, like he used to beat ten shades of shit outta me on the daily, and I got tired of it man, I didn't do shit, I was just a teenager who liked to play, you know? I wasn't harming anyone, I was just living my life but my old man didn't like to see anyone happy and he tried to break me, but I ain't the kinda person to let anyone break me, I am what I am and if you don't like it, then kiss my ass, I ain't gonna change."
Ophelia rolled onto her side and Paul followed suite, leaving the two of them face to face. "I'm sorry Paul, that's… heavy…" she frowned.
"Eh, it is what it is Phee," he smiled, his pale blue eyes glinting in the low light. "What about you angel-face, you got any secrets?"
"Just one…" she chewed her lip coyly.
"Oh yeah? What ya got jelly-tot," Paul wriggled his eyebrows.
Ophelia giggled, playfully flicking his hair. "My secret is that…" she paused, her stomach fluttering with a million dancing butterflies – she couldn't believe she was going to put the feeling she'd felt for a while now into words.
"Go on, tell me," Paul coaxed eagerly.
"I'm in love with David," she blurted and Paul's eye's widened, his jaw hanging loose.
"You love him? Like proper? Like not just a crush or maybe you just like, like him?"
Ophelia shook her head. "Like really – I've felt it for a while but I'm kinda scared to tell him," she whispered, peering over the back of the couch at the doors to the chamber, fully expecting someone to walk in and not only catch her baked with her personal guard, but declaring her love for the king.
"What're you scared of? It's just words," Paul shrugged.
"But words that mean something huge Paul, what if he doesn't love me back? What if I tell him and he's just like – OK thanks?" Ophelia grimaced and Paul cackled a laugh.
"That'd be fucking hilarious," Paul chuckled.
"No it wouldn't," she giggled.
"I think you should tell him-" Paul mused, "-I'd wanna know if my chick loved me, though there'd probably be a Paul sized hole in the fucking door if she did."
Ophelia giggled. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Nah, there's this one palace chick that I'm kinda obsessed with though, but that's only 'cause she sucks like a Dyson," Paul winked, and Ophelia gasped, bursting out in a fit of laughter. Paul reached for the pack of peanut M&M's that had fallen down the side of the couch cushions, pouting when he realised it was empty.
Looking up at the crinkled packet and smelling the faint aroma of chocolate kick-started Ophelia's descent into the munchies. "Hey Paul, remember when you gave me the palace tour and you told me that I could just walk into the kitchen and make demands?" Ophelia smirked.
"Yeah?" he quirked his brow, curious to find out where her train of thought was leading.
"What if my demand was to take over the kitchen?" she grinned impishly.
"Yas queen!" Paul whooped hopping to his feet. "Oh my God, I just had like the perfect idea!" he enthused.
"What? Tell me?" she conspired, following him to the door.
"You could totally make Dave a heart-shaped cake right, you know as a way to tell him you love him? And then if he doesn't say it back, you can eat the cake yourself and like, there's no evidence you ever even said it!" Paul threw his hands up like it was the best idea in the world.
Ophelia gasped, at that moment in time feeling like it really was the best idea in the world, not only because there would be no evidence of what she'd tried to say but also because she'd get to eat a whole cake. "Genius!" she clapped her hands excitedly, linking her arm with his as they giggled their way towards the palace kitchens.
"Solomon, brother, can we not end this whole charade?" David sighed wearily, he really didn't want to be involved in yet another dispute with Jareth, it was enough that the arrogant son of a bitch was still making back-handed comments about his decision over the land he'd signed off to Travis and that was two damn weeks ago and he'd provided him with the tangible evidence. David had better things to do than play peacemaker between the two kings, things like spending time with his queen and the new addition to their relationship – Jeremiah. Not to mention he had the entire Underworld to run and a decision to make by tomorrow night when the veil was once again lifted between worlds.
Would he allow Ophelia to accompany him, or would he leave her behind where he knew she'd be safe with his guard?
"With great respect your majesty, I don't see why I should, that insufferable imbecile is constantly trying to throw his weight around like he has some kind of superiority over the rest of us, he has a damn God-complex and I'm sure you know how I feel about God, we're not exactly on speaking terms," King Solomon groused, irritated.
David's patience was wearing thin and he could feel himself on the verge of snapping. Solomon was one of his closest friends, the Demon Kingdom along with the Kingdom of Fire were David's kingdom's closest allies. He, Solomon and Drake had grown-up together, they were the true members of the Underworld unlike the other dominions which fused with them overtime and he was angry that the man he'd considered a friend was pushing him further into Jareth's war path without even knowing it.
David wasn't worried for himself, he didn't personally fear the Goblin King, what he did fear however, was what Jareth was capable of and how far he'd go to hurt him, and he knew wholly that he'd target Ophelia in order to do so.
"Why must you let that spoilt fool strut around like a damn peacock, spouting his dreck about every man and his wife and let him get away with it? Use your power dammit David, your father would have banished him years ago!" Solomon fumed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
David felt the frayed band wrapped around his patience snap and he grabbed his old friend by the scruff of his shirt, his body trembling with pent up rage. "Do not speak about my father, you have no damn right!" David hissed, his grip tightening. "You know nothing Solomon, nothing! You think I enjoy sitting back and listening to the absolute drivel that, that rat-bastard speaks? Do you think I enjoy sitting back, watching him prance around like he's the one in charge? I am aware of my power, I am aware of my position but what you are not aware of is what your inability to keep your damn mouth shut is costing me!" he yelled, releasing the Demon King with a hard shove.
Dwayne clamped his hand on the king's shoulder, silently advising him to hold his temper. David palmed his forehead, pinching the bridge of his nose, he wanted to scream, he wanted to tear something apart.
"I don't understand David, what is my dispute with the Goblin King costing you exactly?"
"Aside from my patience?" David growled.
"Clearly your patience has worn thin my friend-" Solomon frowned, "-what exactly has the spoilt brat got over you? You are high king, what could he possibly do to harm you?"
"It's not me that he intends to harm Solomon, do you not understand?" David roared, driving his fist into the wall, showering himself in a cascade of crumbling rock.
"Friend, I'm struggling to make sense of what you are telling me, you're speaking in riddles, tell me in simple terms, perhaps I can help you, you know my loyalty is with you."
David's fists clenched and unfurled by his side, his shoulders heaving from the weight of his anger, he could feel his body trembling, fighting to transition as he struggled to maintain control. Just the thought of his queen being harmed was enough to drive him to the brink of insanity. He could no longer deny that he loved her, he loved her with the whole of his tortured soul and if anything happened to her, it would destroy him.
"The Goblin King has more or less threatened harm to the future queen. He told the king that if he didn't sign the land he was disputing with Travis over to him, then the king would know how it felt to have something of his taken away and he was certainly referring to Ophelia. Now, he's angry about the result of the land dispute, you know how he hates to lose and if David continues to fight him, it will push him further to exacting his revenge," Dwayne explained, glancing at David with concern.
"Is this true David?" Solomon asked, furious.
"Yes-" David sighed defeatedly, "-I do not care for what he wishes to do to me, I don't fear the scrawny little maggot in any way, but he can hurt Ophelia, she is human, and he is powerful in his own way. He's sadistic, twisted and will stop at nothing to make his point."
"If he hurt or even tried to hurt the queen, it would be punishable by treason, a crime against the crown, would it not? What makes you think he'd risk his own crown?" Solomon inquired.
"No-" Dwayne sighed, "-they are not married and she has not been coronated. There is not even an engagement, therefore there's no tangible proof that she is truly destined to be queen, if he hurt Ophelia then potentially, he could get away with it."
"That is fucking bullshit!" Solomon hollered, his eyes flashing red. "Forgive me my king, I did not know your situation, had I have known, I would have ignored the son of a bitches pathetic comments. I would not wish harm to befall the queen."
"Do not take this as weakness Solomon, I am not weak," David growled, erasing the notion before it even had time to entire his fellow monarchs head.
"I could never think you weak sire, we must do what must be done to protect those we love – I know how your past loss hurt you deeply and I wouldn't wish the same grief for you twice," Solomon stated solemnly, patting his friends shoulder. "You should know that if that snotty little brat does anything, anything at all to hurt you or your family, I will wage war on his kingdom and I'm sure Drake would follow – his army of grog drunk goblins and airy fairy guard wouldn't stand a chance against my army of fallen angels."
"I appreciate the sentiment brother but I do wish that it doesn't come down to such extremes," David rubbed his forehead, stressed.
"For your sake, so do I-" Solomon sighed, "-I should return to my kingdom, you know how those mischievous sprites enjoy causing mayhem while I'm away," he chuckled.
"Ah yes, what was it they did last time?" David smirked.
"Filled my throne room with carnivorous locusts-" Solomon laughed, "-if you should need me David, send word and I'll be happy to be of service," he added sincerely.
"Most gracious of you Solomon," David nodded in acknowledgement.
"Until next time," Solomon grinned, vanishing in a puff of thick, black smoke.
"Does he have to do that," Dwayne coughed, waving his hand in front of his face.
"He's always had a flair for the dramatics, he likes to make an exit as well as an entrance," David chuckled. He stepped up onto the dais, shedding his cloak and crown, setting the royal attire neatly on the seat of his throne.
"Do you hear that?" Dwayne frowned, tilting his head curiously.
"Hear what?" David replied, confused.
"Listen," his adviser urged.
David concentrated, giving his full attention, his sensitive hearing picking up the sound of loud rock music, followed by a multitude of loud crashes and raised voices which all seemed to be coming from the direction of the palace kitchens. "What the hell are they doing?" he frowned, making his way out of the throne room, heading in the direction of the racket.
He was a few feet from the doors to the kitchen when he heard a familiar melodious giggle followed by Paul's cackling laughter, his friend and his queen's voices warbling over the sound of the loud music. He glanced over at Dwayne who was looking back at him with an amused smirk. "Someone's in trouble," he snickered, and David grinned.
"A world of trouble," he smirked wickedly.
David stealthily stepped through the doors with Dwayne following close behind, his eyes widening at the sight that greeted him. The king folded his arms over his chest as he took in the absolute carnage. Flour, chocolate, sugar, eggs and who knew what else was splattered all over the island in the middle of the room, while various upturned mixing bowls and spatula's lay dripping cake batter over every surface. His eyes drifted from the mess to the two culprits who were yet to notice his presence.
"Take a bottle, shake it up-" Ophelia warbled, shaking up a random bottle of Coke before releasing the bottle cap and showering Paul in the sticky, sweet liquid, "-break the bubbles, break it uuuppp."
"Pour some sugar on meeee, in the name of love-" they both hollered, tossing handfuls of miniature marshmallows in the air, "-pour some sugar on meee, c'mon fire me uppp."
David glanced over at Dwayne who was literally pissing himself with laughter, biting his knuckles and shaking his head in obvious amusement. David shut off the music playing from what he recognised to be Paul's boombox. "What the hell are you two doing?" David barked and the two hellions froze, a fountain of miniature marshmallows raining down on their heads with a flurry of soft taps that seemed to echo in the silence and David found it hard to stifle his laughter, though Dwayne didn't even try, snorting a laugh.
"Uh-oh-" Paul whispered, "-we're royally fucked."
"Literally," Ophelia smirked and Paul cackled a laugh. Ophelia turned to face him, her eyes glazed and her smile bright and beaming. "We were making a cake," she stated around a mouthful of marshmallow.
"That is what they are for-" David snapped, gesturing to the crowd of kitchen staff cowering in the corner of the kitchen, "-what is the meaning of this?" he barked at Laurent.
"The queen gave the orders sire, we thought you were aware…"
"Do I look aware?" David countered, arching his brow.
"No your majesty," he shrank back.
"Just what the hell were you thinking Paul, your job is to guard the queen not coax her into dancing around the damn kitchen covered in cake batter and tossing marshmallows."
"It was my idea," Ophelia argued on Paul's behalf.
"I don't believe I was talking to you Ophelia," David retorted.
"I don't believe I care," Ophelia countered mockingly and Paul snorted while Dwayne released a strangled noise of amusement.
"Do not be insolent, I am your king, I demand respect."
"And I am the future queen, respect works both ways honey," Ophelia smiled, slipping a pink marshmallow into her mouth with a cheeky smirk.
"You are not acting like a queen you are acting like a child, is this the behaviour of the future high queen of the Underworld?" he gestured to the chaos.
Ophelia surveyed the room, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "But I made you a cake, look," Ophelia bargained, sliding a rather messily decorated chocolate cake across the surface of the island and David had to force himself to keep his expression stoic when he noticed that the cake had been purposefully baked in the shape of a heart.
"That does not take away from the fact that you are showing blatant disregard for the rules of queenship, you are disobeying orders, you are being insolent and you are making a mockery of your future leadership in front of the palace staff-" David spoke harshly, "-you are to return immediately to my chambers, your behaviour will not go unpunished," he commanded, pointing to the door.
Ophelia tucked her bag of marshmallows beneath her arm and sauntered past him wearing a pout.
"As for you Paul, you can clean up this mess before reporting to the dungeons where you will spend the night reflecting on your poor decisions as the queens guard," David barked before stepping out into the corridor.
"C'mon man, she made you a cake-" Dwayne chuckled, his face alight with amusement, "-you can't really be pissed off with her?"
David huffed a laugh, running a hand through his hair. "I've never tried so hard to keep a straight face in all my life-" he admitted, "-no, I'm not angry but I couldn't let the staff see that, could I? I have to act like a king, I can't just let her act like a little hellion and get away with it."
"So, you're not going to punish her?"
"Oh no, I'm going to punish her," David smirked devilishly.
"Ah-" Dwayne smirked knowingly, "-but a punishment only fit for the queen?"
"Exactly."
"What about Paul?" Dwayne asked.
"His punishment still stands. Don't get me wrong Dwayne, I'm happy to see her having fun, yet at the same time, Paul must understand that he has a job to do and how can he do that when he's arsing around being an idiot? I don't necessarily want to punish him, but I need him to understand what I'm trying to drill into him," David sighed.
"I understand-" Dwayne nodded, "-they're both totally baked," he chuckled.
"You noticed that?"
"Of course, I spend my life getting baked, I know the look when I see it," Dwayne shook his head in amusement as the two of them parted ways.
"You sure I can't tempt you my liege?" Ophelia smiled, waving the bag of marshmallows in David's direction.
"I'll pass, I really don't see the appeal in marshmallows," he shrugged.
Ophelia playfully gasped. "They're squishy, soft, fluffy, sweet little pieces of heaven, how can you not see the appeal Davey?"
David smirked, rounding on her like a cat stalking a mouse. "I do enjoy a mixture of soft and sweet-" he drawled, sliding his hands up her waist, "-but the luxury of that which appeals to my sweet tooth, is that which I enjoy never ends, it's mine to savour forever," he added, grazing his thumbs over her breasts and Ophelia shuddered, tossing the bag of marshmallows onto the couch in favour of curving her hands over his shoulders.
His queen hummed with pleasure when he caught her bottom lip between his teeth, drawing his tongue over the sticky surface, sucking softly. He released her lip and she automatically sought his mouth, kissing him feverishly. David chuckled, gently detaching himself from her lustful advances. "Ah, ah, ah, sweet one, I do believe you are due the punishment for your crimes."
"What crime did I actually commit here?" Ophelia argued, acting all innocence, sweetness and light while her hair was matted with chocolate frosting and her dress dusted with flour.
"You broke the rules my darling, the behaviour you exhibited was not befitting of the future queen, you made a mockery of my authority and you were openly insolent to me in front of my staff. Not to mention, you flaunt the fact that you are under the influence of drugs, is the queen prancing around openly high something that should go unreprimanded?"
"But I made you a cake – it was a heart and everything," Ophelia pouted, looking up at him with glossy emerald green eyes.
David chuckled. "I know sweet one and though I appreciate the gesture, it doesn't negate your behaviour. You are due a lesson in obedience Ophelia and that my darling, is final," he crooned, drawing her into a teasing kiss.
"Teasing me is punishment enough David, I'm tempted to just hump your leg right now," Ophelia sighed in frustration.
"One of the branches of obedience is patience my queen," he breathed against her ear, lightly biting the lobe whilst his thumbs grazed, slow, deliberate circles over the peaked buds that strained against the velvet fabric of her dress. "I think a lesson in patience should be part of this particular punishment – for future references," he added, ghosting his lips across her jaw, pulling back before he reached her lips.
"Your cruelty knows no bounds my king."
"I've been known to be a bit of a sadist Ophelia, I was under the impression you were aware of this fact, if not then perhaps you're due a reminder," he smirked impishly, pressing his hips against her, relishing in the low whimper that slipped from her lips when his erection nudged her apex. "Now, go get yourself cleaned up," he instructed motioning to the bathroom.
"Yes your majesty."
Ophelia stepped into the bedroom, her body wrapped in a fluffy, Egyptian cotton towel, her damp hair falling in heavy ringlets over her shoulders. The heat of the water and heady scent of jasmine shower oil had sobered her up slightly and she was suddenly hyperaware of the fact the king was perched shirtless on the edge of the bed, his eyes dark and stormy like the midnight ocean. She was also keenly cognizant that she was about to find out just what her punishment entailed.
"Would my queen be so kind as to remove the towel that's so frustrating covering her mouth-watering body, I wish to see every inch of her unblemished, alabaster skin," David drawled, leaning back on his hands. Ophelia hooked her fingers around the knot in the towel and pulled. "Slower," David ordered and with an involuntary shiver, she complied.
Ophelia could feel the scorching heat of his gaze as his eyes roamed the length of her body, leaving a path of tingling heat in their wake. "Come," he ordered, and she obediently moved to stand before him, her body submitting to the power of his presence. "Lay face down across my lap," he instructed and Ophelia bristled slightly, nervous about entering a whole new world of submission. She couldn't deny that her body yearned to comply and her heart told her that he wouldn't hurt her, that she could trust him, yet her mind was a little more reluctant to enter such unchartered territory.
Ophelia exhaled slowly, effectively calming her nerves but not her racing heart. She had no idea she would enjoy this kind of thing. She'd always assumed herself to be a little vanilla but judging by the way her body was responding to David's masterful commands, she'd underestimated herself and her desires.
"Does my queens defiance continue?" David drawled.
"No, my king," Ophelia countered confidently, inching forward to lower herself into his lap. It was a little awkward, laying across his lap with her breasts pressing against his thigh and her bare arse on display but she couldn't deny the thrill that rippled through her.
Ophelia felt David shift, pulling himself upright, the tips of his fingers cruising the curves of her calves. "Now my queen, I did warn you from the very start that disobedience would incur consequences, did I not?"
"You did," she answered, chewing her lip.
"And as such, are you ready to face those consequences?" David drawled, stroking the soft, cushiony flesh of her rear.
"Yes, your majesty," Ophelia nodded. Was he going to spank her? Would it hurt? Would she enjoy it? God, she could feel herself growing wet just from the anticipation…
"You are not permitted to speak during your punishment, if you break the rules, the punishment will restart, do you understand?"
Ophelia wordlessly nodded.
"Very good starlight-" David crooned, "-the punishment is three strikes to this glorious mound of flesh of yours, it seems such a shame to deface such perfection but alas, needs must…" David stroked her bare skin from the indent of her lower back to the crease of her thigh before his hand struck her rear with a loud slap.
Ophelia stifled her yelp of pain, feeling the flesh where he'd struck her smart with a stinging heat. Her breath hitched when she felt something warm and wet caress her stinging flesh, easing the discomfort, turning the slight pain into a flood of pleasure. David's tongue continued its path the length of her spine, trailing wet, open mouthed kisses across her shoulder blades before his teeth lightly bit the juncture of her neck and shoulder while his hand once again struck her rear. This time, rather than only feeling the stinging pain, Ophelia felt a rush of pleasure, the two sensations mingling to create one rapturous flood of pleasure and she couldn't hold back her low moans of gratification, the sound muffled by David's thigh.
Ophelia's steady breaths slowly developed into lusty pants when David's hand snaked beneath her body, his fingers tweaking her pebbled buds. "Spread your legs," he instructed, his voice deliciously deep, husky and dominating.
Ophelia obediently obeyed, inching her thighs apart whilst he continued to fondle her breast. Ophelia's breath hitched when David's fingers slid between her thighs, teasing her slick folds, leaving her squirming in his lap. She wanted to beg him to touch her where she needed it the most, she wanted to beg him to enter her, to work his fingers inside her until she couldn't see straight but she managed to keep control of her desires, though barely. David lightly tapped her apex, and she whimpered as a spark of pleasure rocketed through her body, her clit throbbing with arousal. He repeated the action, eliciting a gush of wet heat, the evidence of her desire trickling down her thighs. Without warning, David rolled her peaked bud between his fingers at the same time his hand struck her rear and her cry of pleasure was deafening in the silence of the royal chambers, the mixture of pleasure and pain delicious, leaving her longing for more.
"Stand," David demanded and Ophelia pushed herself up onto liquid legs, her chest rising and falling with the weight of her desire. "Stay," he smirked, his eyes trained on her flushed face as he unbuckled his belt, the sound of the heavy buckle clanging against his thigh making her shiver. He shook off his leather pants, positioning himself on the bed with his legs stretched out in front of him, leaning back on his hands, the bulge of the muscles in his arms prominent against his pale skin.
"You're so beautiful starlight, the sight of you could never become tiresome…" he sighed with an affectionate smile.
David beckoned her with his finger, patting his lap. Ophelia clambered onto the bed and straddled his thighs. She looked up into his beautiful crystal blue eyes from beneath her lashes earning a throaty groan. David cupped her face in his hands, taking her breath away with a salacious kiss, his tongue slipping between her eagerly parted lips while his deft fingers tangled in her damp curls, his nails grazing her scalp. Ophelia moaned, savouring the taste of him and reached out to run her hand through his tousled mess of platinum blonde hair, only for him to pull back, catching her hand and placing it back by her side. "I did not permit you to touch me my queen, what did I say about patience?"
"That I need to get some?" Ophelia smirked impishly and the king's eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Exactly," he quirked his brow. "Trust me Ophelia, when I've finished with you, your patience will have been tested to its limits and perhaps, so will my own."
Ophelia bit her bottom lip hotly, awaiting his next move.
"Lean back on your hands," he instructed, and Ophelia wrapped her hands around his ankles, bracing her weight as she angled her body backward. The fire in her soul burned fiercely as she observed the way he licked his lips, his eyes wolfishly trailing the contours of her body. David slowly leant forward, his mouth covering her breast as his tongue teased her pebbled bud before he released her from his mouth with a wet pop. He repeated the action with the opposite breast, each teasing caress of his tongue stoking her desire and chipping away at her patience – he really was a sadist.
David placed gloriously wet, open mouthed kisses to her chest, his tongue snaking between her breasts, swirling a warm pattern across her ribs whilst he slid his hand between her thighs, penetrating her with two fingers for all of a second before sliding out. Ophelia whimpered, fighting the urge to buck against his hand, trying to ignore the yearning throb of her apex. David's tongue worked its way across her stomach, exploring the opposite rib and the sensitive strip of skin beneath her breast, slowly ascending the curves of her chest until it found her peaked bud. He sucked her sensitive nub between his lips, lightly biting down with his teeth at the same time his fingers slid inside her hot, wet heat, lazily grazing her inner walls in a come hither motion, barely brushing her g-spot before she was once again left empty.
Ophelia exhaled sharply with a mixture of frustration and lust. "Losing patience already my queen?" he chuckled, lightly biting her breast.
"No," Ophelia lied and David's lips curved up in a sly smirk.
"Oh really?" he quirked his brow, his eyes darkening with mischief and desire as his thumb nudged between her folds, finding her aching clit while his fingers slid into her wet heat. Ophelia whimpered, biting her lip hard as she fought with her body. Her hips yearned to buck against his fingers, the pressure of his thumb on her clit and his fingers filling her was almost too much to bare – she needed more. David remained torturously motionless until his lips found her breasts and the torture mounted. He didn't suckle, he didn't swirl or twist his tongue, he merely gave her the pleasure of his warm, wet mouth on her breast and nothing else. Her body shook with restraint, her whimpers of frustration and need gaining tempo whilst David remained still and silent.
Without warning, everything seemed to happen at once, he sucked her breast into his mouth, his thumb brushed over her clit and his fingers thrust deeper, the resulting ripple of pleasure so great that a strangled cry escaped her, mingling with her panting breaths. Ophelia was close to growling in irritation when David released her, moving back to his original position, resting his weight on his hands. "Sit up," he drawled and Ophelia pushed herself upright, meeting his hooded gaze.
"I want to feel your hot, wet heat my queen, will you allow me such pleasure?" he crooned and her eyes drifted to his pulsing erection, feeling her apex ache with the yearning to be filled.
"Yes sire," Ophelia replied breathily as she positioned him at her ready entrance, the two of them moaning in unison as she lowered herself onto him, shuddering as the feel of his thick, hard cock consumed her.
"Stop-" David ordered when he was buried deep, leaving her fit to burst, "-do not move," he panted. Ophelia wanted to protest but managed to keep her lips sealed, her inner walls involuntarily squeezing around him every time her apex pulsed with need and David's groans soon joined her whimpers. "Roll your hips, slowly…" David breathed and without hesitation, Ophelia complied, managing three glorious rolls of her hips, each move sparking pleasure low in her stomach, before he ordered her to stop.
Ophelia braced her hands on his shoulders, fearing that if she didn't use him as an anchor, she'd drown in her own desire. She could feel her juices trickling down the length of him, leaving both their thighs sticky and wet. "You have ten seconds to do as you wish with me, your times starts now," David stated.
"One…"
Ophelia raised herself up until she reached his tip before lowering herself back down onto him, eliciting a husky moan.
"Two… three…" Ophelia rolled her hips, tangling her fingers in his tousled platinum blonde hair as she kissed him fiercely, moaning into his mouth with every roll of her hips. She placed his hand on her breast, urging him to tease her, to fondle her as she felt a familiar pressure building at speed.
"Nine… ten… stop…" David panted and Ophelia growled in frustration earning a wicked smirk. "Does my queen have something she'd like to say?" he crooned huskily, running his finger the length of her body.
Ophelia let out a strangled 'no', holding on to her self-restraint by a thread. Her whole body tingled, her skin flushed with heat, between her legs throbbed, her heart was racing, and her patience was wearing very, very thin.
"Again, slowly roll your hips," David ordered and Ophelia whimpered, every nerve in her body was on fire. David opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a strangled moan as he fell back against the pillows, his hands reaching out to rest on her hips. Ophelia continued her torturously slow pace, enjoying every graze of her g-spot and every nudge against her swollen bud. She braced her hands on his chest, feeling herself climbing ever closer to the summit of her pleasure, her breathless pants punctuated with low moans.
The king's moans spurred her on, stoking the flames of her desire. The sight of his hooded eyes, his bottom lip caught between his teeth, the sound of his sensual moans and the sensation of him buried deep within her pushed her over the edge and she experienced one of the most intense orgasms of her life. Her head dropped to her chest, her teeth biting down against her lip as she whimpered and shook, her hips rolling forward, coaxing David to fall with her. Her walls squeezed around him, and he reached his peak, his fingers digging into the padding of her hips as he groaned, his hips arching to meet her, burying himself deeper as he spilt his seed.
Ophelia collapsed against his chest, trying to catch her breath as David tenderly stroked her hair, the aftershocks of his orgasm leaving his muscles involuntarily quivering beneath her. She skimmed her lips over his chest, placing soft, open mouthed kisses to his throat. Ophelia could feel the words she was so afraid to say dance on the tip of her tongue but she swallowed them back, too afraid that he wouldn't share her feelings.
"Well that was torture," Ophelia murmured, resting her cheek on his chest.
"Punishment is meant to be torturous sweet one-" David mumbled, kissing her crown, "-I think perhaps I punished myself in the process," he chuckled and Ophelia giggled.
"Don't expect me to feel sympathetic," she peered up at him with a smirk.
"You are a cruel mistress Ophelia," David grinned, tilting her chin, softly nudging her lips.
Jareth paced the width of his throne room, the heavy clump of his boots echoing in the stark silence. He tapped his riding crop against the side of his boot, his eyes trained on something unseen. Growing tired of the incessant pacing, the Goblin King exhaled a frustrated breath and slumped down on his throne, one foot firmly on the grey stone floor as he hooked the other leg over the armrest, dropping his head back against his shoulders. He stared at the high ceiling, feeling anger and spite bubbling in his chest, threatening to spill over in one big tidal wave of loathing.
He was still sour about the result of the land dispute with Travis, the king should have handed it over when Jareth had asked him to rather than spending weeks pawing over historical tomes just to find an answer that he knew would piss Jareth off to no end. Did the king think that he would let his treachery slide? Did the king think that he wouldn't live up to his promise that the king would know the pain of losing something that was rightfully his? That piece of barren wasteland might belong to Travis by word of some dusty piece of parchment but when it came down to the gritty truth, it was Jareth who owned it. It was he who'd conquered it during the war thus it belonged to him.
How dare the king piss on his glory in such a blatant act of disrespect.
Furthermore, if screwing him out of his own land wasn't enough, now the king was siding with that wretched demon Solomon. Jareth scoffed, of course he would, those Underworld creatures were all the same - snivelling, traitorous vermin who had no true right to the Underground. It was merely circumstance and misfortune on the Undergrounds behalf that their two worlds had collided, and the Kingdom of Bloodthirst held court over all dominions. The rest of the Undergrounds sheep had fallen to the late King Demetri's feet, declaring their servitude from the very start but not Jareth. The Goblin King had more integrity in his left testicle than any of those submissive Neanderthals.
Jareth rolled a crystal back and forth over the back of his hand, weaving it through his lithe nimble fingers as he conjured the image of the supposed future queen. Jareth studied her in the crystals reflection, she was quite alluring for a human, a classically beautiful face, curves in all the right places. His kingdom could do with a queen like her – well, more like he could do with a woman like her writhing beneath him every night for the next millennia.
The Goblin King grinned, flashing his pointed teeth. He knew of her obsession with him, he knew of her dreams where she'd taken the fabled Sarah's place, he knew she'd fantasised over him on occasion so much so that the evidence of her yearning trickled down the crease of her thighs, leaving her undergarments warm and damp.
"Perhaps it's time for you to join me here in my castle precious-" he smirked, stroking the crystal that bore Ophelia's image, "-perhaps it's time your king finds out what happens when he underestimates me and perhaps, you'll find out how cruel I can be…" Jareth tossed the crystal into the air where it spun rapidly before vanishing with an audible pop. "
"Till we meet again precious," he laughed darkly, drumming his fingers against the arm of his throne.
"…Robin Hood and Little John were standing by the roadside disguised as lady fortune tellers when the coach passed by. Prince John ordered to stop the coach. While Robin Hood told Prince John's fortune, he slipped the royal rings off his fingers, and Little John helped himself to the Prince's gold. Prince John never ever knew he had been robbed until Robin and Little John had already escaped…" Ophelia narrated, holding the children's story book in one hand whilst the other tenderly stroked Jeremiah's hair.
David stood in the in the archway separating the bedroom from the play room, his eyes fixated on the sight before him that made his chest ache almost painfully. At first, he'd thought that perhaps taking on the responsibility of a four year old child would put a strain on his and Ophelia's relationship considering they were still getting used to one another and their fated future. However, it would seem he'd been completely wrong for watching Ophelia interact with the boy-child had only made him fall harder for her and he found himself daydreaming about his queen's stomach swollen with his own child.
Furthermore, observing her with Jeremiah only served to remind him of how soft and tender she was, reminding him of how delicate she was and how any harm coming to her would destroy him. He loved her in every sense of the word and he would not willingly put her in danger, it was decided, she wouldn't accompany him to the Overworld, it wasn't safe with Jareth still on the war path and he didn't want to risk taking his eye off the ball in favour of sating his bloodlust. Ophelia would remain at the palace with Dwayne and his guard, he trusted Dwayne to not only keep the palace running adequately but to keep his queen safe. Paul needed to let loose and get the ideocracy out of his system, as much as David would love to leave him to pout in the dungeons.
Seeing that Jeremiah had fallen asleep, Ophelia kissed his forehead, setting the book on the bedside table before slipping off the bed, tucking the sheets around his small frame with a soft smile. Ophelia gasped, clutching her heart when she noticed David's silent presence. "Can you quit sneaking up on me David, you need to wear a bell or something," she tutted, walking into his awaiting arms.
"My apologies sweet one," he chuckled kissing her crown.
"You OK?-" she smiled up at him, "-you look a little distracted."
"Hmmm… I'm fine starlight, though I do need to speak to you about something," he grazed his knuckles across her cheek. "Come, let's go to bed, I'm feeling weary," David sighed, taking her hand as he guided her back to his chambers.
Ophelia lay her head on his chest, the tips of her fingers drawing lazy patterns on his bare skin as he grazed his thumb over her shoulder, his free hand resting on his waist. "So, what did you need to speak to me about?" Ophelia asked.
"The next full moon is tomorrow," David murmured and Ophelia pushed herself up, resting her weight on her elbow as her beautiful emerald eyes met his.
"It's been a month in the Overworld already?"
"Yes, and once again the veil between worlds will be lifted," he affirmed.
"So you're going to cross over for the night?" she surmised, toying with the silver emblem hanging from his neck.
"Yes and on this occasion Ophelia you will not be joining me," he stated.
"Why? Do you think I'm going to run away and not come back?" she frowned, her eyes flickering with hurt.
"Starlight that thought never even entered my mind," he shook his head, grazing his thumb over her jutting bottom lip.
"Then why can't I come with you?"
"Because I'm still concerned for your safety Ophelia, the Goblin King is still seething about the result of the land dispute and now he's picking a fight with Solomon which once again I'm stuck in the middle of. He's made it known that he isn't happy with me and I still fear that he will try and hurt me by hurting you," David swallowed. The thought of Jareth putting his vile hands on her made his stomach knot with fear. "I don't want to risk taking my eye off the ball in favour of sating my bloodthirst – I don't want to lose you Ophelia, if anything were to happen to you, it would destroy me," he mumbled.
Ophelia's eyes softened and she smiled with understanding. "I take it Paul won't be the one staying back with me?" she smirked.
David scoffed. "Not a chance, I've asked Dwayne to stay back with you."
"He doesn't mind?"
"He doesn't have a choice," David sniped with a scowl.
"David…" Ophelia sighed.
"He doesn't mind - he cares about your safety too."
"OK, I don't mind staying back if it means that much to you, but you have to bring me a pizza, and if you don't I'm going to throw a tantrum worthy of an Oscar," she smirked and David barked a laugh.
"As you wish Starlight," he smiled, drawing her down into a slow, lingering kiss.
Ophelia pulled back, staring down at him with anxious eyes, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. David could feel she wanted to say something but evidently, she was nervous about doing so. "What's wrong sweet one? You wish to say something?"
Ophelia exhaled, averting her eyes as she sat back on her knees, looking everywhere but at him. He pulled himself up onto his knees, mirroring her posture as he caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, gently guiding her head in line with his, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Ophelia?"
Her throat worked as she swallowed nervously. "There's something I want to say to you but… I'm afraid to say it…" she murmured, searching his eyes.
"Why? You are free to say anything sweet one, you should know that," David frowned.
"I do, it's just… what I want to say… I'm scared of how you're going to react…"
"As long as you're not about to tell me that you plan to run off with the Goblin King, I don't care," David countered and Ophelia laughed incredulously.
"You're the one that I want David, no man can compare to you," she stated shyly and David's chest swelled with pride.
"Then what is it Starlight?"
"David I…" Ophelia bit her lip.
"Yes?" he urged.
"I love you," she whispered, her cheeks flushing pink.
"You love me?" David gawped, unable to believe what he was hearing – she loved him?
"Yes…"
He felt his face break out in an uncontrollable smile, his chest aching with the emotion he felt but the words left unspoken. "I love you too," he smiled sincerely.
"You do?" she whispered, her lips curving up in a breath-taking smile.
"With all of my tortured soul," he uttered, drawing her into his arms, holding her tight against him. "I love you Ophelia."
"I love you too," she beamed, giggling girlishly when he playfully pushed her onto her back, his lips seeking the crook of her neck.