Chapter Sixteen
Three Months Later...
The king exhaled a shaky breath as he thumbed the ring-box nestled in the palm of his hand, the black velvet a stark contrast to his ethereally pale skin. "How long has it been?" Dwayne inquired cautiously.
David peered over his desk, meeting his best friends sorrowful gaze, his rich brown eyes flashing with understanding. "Since I so much as glanced at my parents belongings? Too long..." he sighed, his eyes drifting back to the box in his hand. "Do you really think she's going to like it?" the king asked hesitantly.
"If I know Ophelia like I think I do, then I believe she'll love it," Dwayne nodded.
"Besides, we've been trawling this kingdom and the neighbouring kingdoms for the perfect ring for the past three months and you've never been satisfied with any of them. If this feels right then that means something-" he stated, "-it's what your mother would have wanted..."
David swallowed around the lump in his throat, the lump that was ever present when he thought about his mother and father. Their loss still cut him deep. "She would have loved her..." the king spoke lowly, his voice thick with emotion.
"Who?"
"My mother - she would have loved Ophelia," David clarified.
"Ophelia would have loved her too-" Dwayne agreed, "-your father too."
"I wish my father was here to give me some advice, I have no idea what to say-" David frowned, toying with the filigreed gold clasp on the ring-box, "-do I get down on one knee? Do I just get straight to the point and ask her or do I lead up to it?"
"I know I'm no consolation for your father but I can share with you my opinion, if you're not opposed to hearing it?" his best friend offered.
"Please," the king nodded.
"I think you should just do what feels right in that moment - follow your heart," Dwayne advised.
"When did you become so wise?" David scoffed with a smirk.
"Eh, a few millennia ago," he shrugged breezily eliciting an amused chuckle.
"The preparations for tonight, are they underway?"
Dwayne shook his head. "We need the ballroom and Ophelia is currently undergoing one of Alexandria's exams in there, we forgot to advise him to use the library for today's lesson."
David groaned.
"We also need a distraction. It's going to be so busy in the palace that I fear the party won't remain a surprise if Ophelia remains within the palace grounds. Why don't you take her on an outing into the village, I'm sure she'll appreciate the winter scenery and it will give the rest of us the chance to set things up back here."
"Perhaps a walk will give me the opportunity to calm my nerves," the king sighed, rising to his feet.
"What do you have to be nervous about?" Dwayne cocked his head curiously as he followed the king to the door of the study.
"Rejection..." David grimaced, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Dwayne barked a laugh. "You absolute fool. Ophelia is crazy about you, there is absolutely no way that her answer will be anything other than yes. Why else would we be throwing an engagement party if we didn't believe there'd be an engagement to celebrate?"
"You really think so?" David countered hopefully.
"No, I know so," Dwayne smiled, patting the king's shoulder in a gesture of assurance.
Ophelia grimaced, tossing her pen onto the desk in front of her where it hit the polished surface with an audible clatter. She rubbed her aching wrist before moving on to massage her aching temples. She'd been holed up in the ballroom all morning meticulously making her way through an exam on the Undergrounds history that Alexandria had so kindly sprung on her out of the blue. Originally, when Paul had led her to the ballroom she'd feared she'd be in for another grooling dance lesson only to find it was something much worse.
"Please tell me we're done for the day?" Ophelia groused with a pout, glancing over her shoulder to find Paul sprawled on the floor, his eyes glazed with boredom as he stared up at the extravagant chandelier hanging from the ceiling. "I think you broke Paul," she laughed, tossing her pen in her personal guards direction.
"Finally!" he groaned, hauling himself onto his feet.
"I think he was broken when you found him," Alexandria quipped as he sifted through the mound of parchment all decorated with Ophelia's neat scrawl. Paul was about to give the older fae the finger when the doors to the ballroom swung open and the king entered and he quickly lowered his hand, clasping it behind his back innocently.
Ophelia giggled, shaking her head in amusement.
"Your highness," Alexandria bowed, greeting David with reverence.
"Good to see you Alexandria, how is your wife fairing? Has her health improved?" David inquired, genuinely concerned.
"She's getting stronger with each day that passes your majesty. Thank you for your understanding and lenience with my absence," Alexandria smiled, the creases in the corners of his eyes prominent.
"There's no need to thank me Alexandria, take as much time as you need, if need be I can tutor Ophelia myself," David smiled, shooting his queen a flirtatious wink.
"What's he gonna tutor you in? How fast he can unbutton your corset?" Paul murmured and Ophelia snorted a laugh while Alexandria rolled his eyes.
David struggled to stifle his own amusement and cleared his throat, restoring order. "Alexandria, if Ophelia has finished her exam, would you mind if we cut today's lesson short? I'd like to take the future queen on an outing."
"Not at all your majesty, I need time to go over her answers and it will give me the opportunity to ensure my wife's comfort," the fae smiled amiably.
"Most gracious Alexandria – Paul you're relieved of your duties for the day, do try and stay out of trouble."
"I make no promises," Paul grinned, trailing Alexandria out of the ballroom, leaving David alone with Ophelia.
"You know, you could have come and rescued me sooner, I think I've got carpal-tunnel," Ophelia pouted, rubbing her aching wrist.
"You do have a penchant for exaggeration my queen," David chuckled, drawing her into his arms.
"Yeah? Well you have an penchant for getting on my nerves," Ophelia countered.
"Such harsh words my queen utters-" David drawled, grazing his teeth against the crook of her neck eliciting a sharp exhale, "-perhaps I should call for Alexandria to return, I'm sure he could rustle up another examination."
"Noooo-" Ophelia whined, "-I'm sorry my liege," she smiled sweetly, melting his resolve with a rather salacious kiss.
"Hmmm... what's gotten into you today Ophelia? You're practically insatiable... not that I'm complaining..." he grinned wickedly.
"I guess I just find you simply irresistible your majesty," Ophelia beamed, giggling when David nuzzled her nose, kissing her forehead affectionately.
"Come my love, we should leave before you weaken my resolve any further," he smiled, taking Ophelia's hand as he lead her out of the ballroom.
Ophelia pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, shielding herself from the bitter bite of the winter winds, the fur-line collar brushing pleasantly against her neck. She blinked, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand when stray snowflakes nestled on her lashes, quickly melting and bleeding icy cold water into her eyes. Despite disliking the cold that seemed to seep into her bones leaving her stiff and achy, Ophelia liked the snow, it made everything prettier, purer, not that her future kingdom could get any more enchanting.
Ophelia peered up at the king with a coy smile, his pale complexion and platinum blonde hair blending with the glistening white canvas surrounding them in a way that seemed to accentuate his handsomeness. Her smile widened when she saw the king's mouth twitch and she knew that he knew she was looking at him, even more so when he lightly squeezed her hand, drawing her attention back to the beautiful winter landscape laid out before her. A thick blanket of snow replaced the lush green grass of spring and summer, the steady snowfall preventing the ground from turning to the horrid brown sludge winter back in England always seemed to leave behind. The bare tree branches were dusted with white powder, the dark rough bark of their trunks a stark contrast to the delicate blanket of snow settling on their spindly appendages.
The duo wandered deeper into the park on the far side of the village, each step leaving an imprint of the soles of their boots in their wake, leaving their own mark on the pristine canvas. They made their way towards the left side of the park where Ophelia spotted a crowd of spinning bodies and twirling arms and legs, the sounds of exhilarated squeals and giddy laughter filling the powder pink and lilac sky. Ophelia approached the edge of the frozen lake, content to observe both skilled and amateur skaters alike, gliding and stumbling their way around the large patch of frozen ice while David momentarily wandered off leaving her under the watchful gaze of one of the palace guards. Ophelia's eyes danced over couples holding hands, children giggling and tugging at each other's coat sleeves and groups of friends coaxing one another into showing off with a dizzying spin or a sliding, skidding stop.
"Magical isn't it?" a familiar drawling lilt popped her bubble of solitude and Ophelia's stomach fluttered. She turned to find the king had returned, his tousled platinum blonde hair peppered in a light dusting of snow as the hood of his cloak had fallen, resting askew on his shoulders.
"Hmm... what's that?" she hummed, straightening out the hood.
David smiled, shaking his head in amusement. "I do wonder where your mind wanders sometimes beloved-" he chuckled, "-I'm referring to the scenery – ever since I was a child I've always thought that the snow just seems to make everything seem so magical, like the perfect portrait of a fairy tale, don't you think?"
A fairy tale complete with a rather dashing prince charming. Ophelia smiled with a nod. "There's definitely something magical about winter. Being down here in the Underworld has only served to accentuate it," she agreed.
"Do you know what else I love about winter?" David arched his brow.
"What?" Ophelia countered, her eyes trained on his handsome face.
"It's the perfect excuse to drink copious amounts of hot chocolate," he grinned, holding up two paper cups. She hadn't even noticed, she'd been too busy swooning to pay attention. "Though these days I have more preferred methods of maintaining body heat, this will have to suffice – for now," he grinned devilishly, handing her a steaming cup.
"Thank you," Ophelia smiled, humming in satisfaction as she sipped the hot drink, savouring the sweet mix of rich cocoa, whipped cream and mini marshmallows.
"You're most welcome my love," David returned her smile, sipping his own drink with a content sigh, his piercing blue eyes tracking the rowdy crowds a few feet away.
"So, do you merely plan to observe or do you plan at any point to perhaps join in?" the king gestured to the make-shift ice rink with an arched brow.
"Trust me, if I were to join in, we'd be heading straight back to the palace to visit the healer," Ophelia laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Come starlight, where's your sense of adventure? Where's your sense of whimsy and throwing caution to the wind?" David smirked, his smirk morphing into a wicked grin.
"According to the torturous lessons you force me to endure, a queen isn't supposed to have a sense of adventure," she countered eliciting a bark of laughter.
"Neither is a king but I refuse to live my life to such limiting constraints. Of course royal etiquette is important and it should be followed but it doesn't mean that we must stifle ourselves. Is this how you wish to live, constantly undermined by your newly acquired fear of taking risks?"
"If it means avoiding getting hurt then I'm more than happy to air on the side of caution..." Ophelia sighed, reluctant to end up with a soggy bum and broken leg.
"My queen, don't take life so seriously, have you learnt nothing from Paul?-" David chuckled, "-is it truly your heart that's preventing you from taking the risk, or is it simply your mind working itself into a frenzy? Where's the woman who once got high with her personal guard, trashed the palace kitchens and challenged the king when caught red-handed?" he added, resting his palm over her heart.
Ophelia's brows furrowed as she stared up at David's hypnotic crystal blue eyes, feeling her chest flood with warmth, the heat of his palm bleeding through the thick material of her cloak, setting her skin on fire. She knew that David was right, she was a shadow of who she once was. After her brush with death and the months following her torture at the hands of the Goblin King, she'd lost her sense of adventure and her care-free outlook on life, moulding and morphing herself into an overly cautious, anxious drone. "Suppose I did want to join in... I don't have skates..." she stated, chewing on her bottom lip.
David rolled his eyes with an expression that screamed exasperation which Ophelia found highly amusing, the expression as close to 'do you not know who I am?' as you could get. David signalled for the guard she knew was watching over them and watched as Caius strolled toward them with two pairs of skates. Once Caius had retreated to his post, David helped her into her skates before stepping into his own. He offered her his hand and Ophelia felt her cheeks heat as their fingers intimately interlaced, flooding her with a sense of completion – the final piece of a jig-saw puzzle slotted into place.
As they begun to inch closer to the frozen lake, Ophelia was hit with a fresh bout of nerves as she envisioned her feet ripped out from beneath her the minute she stepped onto the ice resulting in her flat on her back with her legs in the air and not in the way that followed a skin flushing flood of liquid fire in her veins. Rather she'd end up with an egg-shaped lump on the back of her head drowning in shame.
David stepped out onto the ice, for all intents and purposes the physical embodiment of elegance and unwavering confidence and while Ophelia meticulously attempted to replicate his elegant movements, she ended up with her arms and legs flailing, looking like she was having some kind of fit before landing unceremoniously on her ass.
"Such grace, such finesse, behold he next Anna Pavlova," David drawled, stifling his laughter as he helped her back onto her feet. "You're half-immortal now beloved, I would have thought you'd be able to keep yourself on your feet for longer than a few seconds," he teased.
"Bite me your majesty," Ophelia scowled, her bottom lip jutting in a pout as she rubbed her damp backside.
David barked a laugh, closing the space between them with one fluid movement, cupping her cheek in the palm of his hand. "I jest Ophelia, tell me, how's your arse?" he grinned, flashing his pearly white teeth and Ophelia couldn't suppress her laughter.
"A little bruised," she huffed a laugh.
"Would you like me to rub it better?" he smirked roguishly.
"Keep your hands to yourself your highness," Ophelia smiled, shaking her head in amusement.
"I'll try but I make no promises," he winked as he gently took her hands, slowly twisting their bodies until they were facing away from the growing crowds. He slowly started to propel himself backwards and Ophelia faltered, feeling herself losing balance once again.
"Starlight you're over-thinking it, just concentrate on me and forget about what your feet are doing. Do you think you can do that?" David smiled, there was no teasing in his voice this time, only soft reassurance and encouragement.
Ophelia nodded, her eyes lifting to meet captivating crystal blue, her mouth curving up in a coy smile. She was so mesmerised by his ethereal beauty that she didn't realise they'd once again begun to move until she caught sight of the surrounding snow dusted trees that had started to blur in her peripheral vision. The weight of David's hands in hers left her feeling shrouded in a blanket of safety and she knew that if she were to stumble, he would be the one to break her fall.
She'd placed her heart in his hands and he'd never faltered, he'd always remained firm in his hold and she trusted him with her life. She couldn't imagine life without him by her side whether in the past, the present or the future.
"I'd die for you Ophelia. I'd do anything you ask of me. I'd prostrate at your feet for only a smile..." the king's voice crooned in her mind as if he'd heard the longing in her soul and Ophelia's heart thrummed like the rapid flutter of a hummingbird's wings.
David spun in a slow circle, his movements like the tentative steps of a ballroom dance. "I love you sweet one... always..." his rumbling voice continued to resound in her mind, making her head spin as the world around them seemed to distort until she imagined it was just the two of them, no spectators, no royal protocol, just two lovers in a lover's embrace, their mind, body and soul unified in a dance that would last forever.
Paul lounged against a plush violet cushion in the parlour of the palace harem's quarters, his eyes trained on Ellie who sat across the room deep in conversation with Annaliese one of the palace concubines, her dainty fingers twisting Annaliese's hair into a braid. Paul brought a smouldering cigarette to his lips, inhaling a lungful of toxic smoke, his vision of Ellie momentarily obscured. Once the cloud of smoke had cleared, he felt an affectionate smile tug at the corners of his mouth when he caught Ellie glancing in his direction, her pale complexion flushing an attractive rose-bud pink when their eyes met.
'I miss you...' he crooned telepathically, observing her blush deepen as her smile grew wider. Ellie chewed her bottom lip in the way that drove him crazy and averted her eyes, her attention swayed by her friend. Paul sighed, resting his arm on his knee, letting his head fall back against the cool stone wall. He was only supposed to be taking a short break from helping with the party preparations but he hadn't been able to ignore the ache in his core, the ache that always seemed to be present whenever he thought about Ellie.
They'd been officially dating or whatever they called it in the Underworld for the past three months and he'd honestly never felt so in tune with a chick in his life. She seemed to know just how and where to touch him to make his head feel fuzzy. Just the sound of her voice made his chest flood with warmth and he couldn't seem to think of anything else but her when she wasn't around. He'd thought that monogamy would be hard, that he'd end up getting bored and going back to ploughing his way through the palace concubines but the more time he'd spent with Ellie, the more he realised that the only one who'd ever truly satisfied him had been her.
He sat up straighter when the door to the parlour swung open and Ezra strolled in, greeting Paul with a friendly nod. Paul felt his chest tighten with jealousy when Ezra made a bee-line for where Ellie still sat with Annaliese. "Shirking your party planning duties Ellie? Aren't you supposed to be the queen's lady-in-waiting?" Ezra teased, caressing Ellie's shoulder in a way that made Paul's fists clench, his inner voice screaming at him to rip the son-of-a-bitches arm off and beat him with it.
"My duty is reserved to preparing the queen for the party, not that it's any of your business Ezranynx, it would seem the only one shirking their duties is you," Ellie countered, rolling her eyes.
"Ice, ice, baby-" Ezra laughed, "-what's got your knickers in a twist? Is your corset pulled too tight? Would you like me to loosen it for you?" he crooned, tugging at the ribbon holding Ellie's dress in place.
Paul growled, leaping to his feet and stormed across the parlour. He shoved Ezra hard in his chest, knocking the vampire to the floor. "Don't fucking touch her," Paul spat angrily as Ellie rose to her feet, her eyes silently pleading with Paul to calm down.
"Hey, what the hells your problem?" Ezra scowled, rising to his feet before rounding on Paul in challenge.
"You're my problem asshole, can't you see she doesn't want your hands on her?"
"I didn't hear her say that, besides it's what she's here for, she's a concubine not a royal. She's a glorified whore, I don't see why you're getting so heated about it. You make out like she hasn't fucked half the palace guard," Ezra scoffed.
"Shut your fucking mouth," Paul warned, fighting with the urge to phase, the urge growing stronger when he noticed the tears in Ellie's eyes.
"And if I don't?" Ezra arched his brow.
"Keep talking and you'll find out asshole."
"Paul he's not worth it – return to your post, you don't want to anger the king on what's supposed to be a joyous day," Ellie bargained, gently catching Paul's wrist.
"Listen to the whore Paul, you wouldn't want to anger the king for the sake of defending such gutter-filth. Run a-long and don't worry, I promise I won't touch her, after all, I don't really need to when she's on her knees," Ezra grinned.
A deafening roar ripped from Paul's throat as he leapt at his former friend, the force of his attack sending the two of them rocketing towards the nearest wall. Ezra's back collided with the hard stone followed by the back of his neck and Paul relished in the satisfying crack of his skull as a shower of crumbing stone rained down on them. He grabbed Ezra by the scruff of his neck and slammed him face first to the floor as the sound of panicked shouts echoed around him but he couldn't focus on anything other than avenging the women it was quickly dawning on him that he loved.
"Paul!" a familiar voice hollered as he felt himself being ripped away from the growling immortal beneath him. "What the hell are you doing?!" Dwayne's face came into view as the haze of his fury started to clear.
"The man's lost his mind!" Ezra yelled, spitting a mouthful of blood.
"Fuck you," Paul scowled, shaking off his friends hands.
"Look-" Dwayne shook Paul by his shoulder's, "-whatever your gripe is with each other, I suggest you leave it for another day and return to your posts, if anyone and I mean anyone ruins this day for David and Ophelia, I will personally throw them in the dungeons," he warned.
Paul glanced over at Ellie who was looking back at him, her misty eyes flickering with concern. "Fine," he murmured before turning his back and storming out of the room.
Ophelia's eyes drifted from the flickering burnt-sienna flames of the campfire that danced and swayed, licking at the night sky, to the large expense of still, serene midnight black water of the lake a few feet away. The same lake that she'd sat with the king three months ago when it had been a striking azure blue. The same lake where she'd started to realise just how deep her affection for the handsome immortal king ran. The silvery light of the moon reflected on the glass-like surface of the water, creating a hauntingly beautiful ghostly sheen. Ophelia peered up at the dark night sky and found herself once again mesmerised by the vivid inky black canvas interspersed with hues of both indigo and violet and the stars that glittered gold and twinkled in full-view.
"It's so beautiful," she gushed, unable to tear her eyes away from the night sky.
"It pales in comparison to your beauty starlight," David countered.
Ophelia lowered her gaze to find David observing her with a look of adulation and her stomach fluttered as she smiled back at him shyly. "What's that look for?" she quirked her eyebrow.
"I-" David paused, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he seemed to be searching for the right words, "-Ophelia there's something I've been meaning to ask you..."
"There is? What is it you wanted to ask?" she smiled, tilting her head curiously.
David looked deep into her eyes, the action so intense that she swore he could see into her very soul. His beautiful crystal blue orbs flickered with warmth and affection and Ophelia wondered if he saw that very same warmth and affection reflected in her own eyes. She observed the king as he slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his cloak, producing a small, black velvet box and her heart pounded in anticipation. Was it an engagement ring? Was he going to ask her to marry him? Was her apparent destiny finally going to become reality?
Ophelia's eyes widened when the king cautiously flipped open the lid and she stared down at the most beautiful ring she'd ever set eyes on. The ring itself was made up of a delicate, vintage white gold band with tiny diamonds nestled either side of a large, solitaire cut ruby with the gold surrounding the stone intricately filigreed.
"It was my mother's-" he smiled sadly, "-I know this is what she'd have wanted and I know that she'd have loved you had she still been alive."
Ophelia swallowed around the lump in her throat.
"Ophelia though I apologise for how our relationship started, I can never regret the choices I made that night as those choices led to this very moment-" he smiled, "-you've turned my whole world upside down in the most pleasurably ways. You pulled me out of the darkness and showed me that there can still be light. You were the only one who was able to melt the icy cage around my heart and remind me what it is to live, rather than to merely exist..."
Ophelia felt her eyes begin to brim with tears of happiness, a happiness she'd never felt before until she'd met David.
David sighed, exhaling a light chuckle. "I've never been great with words-"
Ophelia giggled, eliciting a gorgeous smile.
"-And even if I was, there aren't enough words to describe how I feel about you. I guess what I'm trying and perhaps epically failing to do here is-" the king tentatively removed the ring from it's plush velvet cushion and reached for her hand, the pad of his thumb tenderly stroking her knuckles, "-Ophelia will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he asked, his blue eyes flashing with insecurity.
Ophelia's cheeks ached from the force of her smile as happy tears trickled down her cheeks. "Yes," she nodded, wiping her leaking eyes with the back of her free hand.
"Yes?" David grinned.
"A thousand times yes!" she beamed, squealing girlishly when David swept her into his arms, peppering her face with playful kisses before setting her back on her feet. Her heart fluttered as the king slipped the ring onto her ring finger, his face lit up in a triumphant smile.
"I love you Ophelia," he smiled, kissing the back of her hand.
"I love you too David," she grinned, excitedly leaping into his arms once again eliciting an amused chuckle.
"Leof?" Ellie spoke softly as she entered Paul's chambers, finding the unusually brooding immortal slumped on his bed, toying with a heavy silver lighter. Paul's head lifted, his pale blue eyes flashing with anxiety, an emotion that wasn't regularly in Paul's repertoire.
"If you've come here to break-up with me then save your energy, I don't need the speech, I get it..." he murmured, tossing the lighter he was toying with onto his night-stand with a defeated sigh.
"Why would you think I came here to end our union leof?" Ellie frowned, her chest tightening at the thought of no longer having the mischievous immortal as a permanent fixture in her life.
"Because I know how much you hate violence and me kicking the shit out of Ezra was kinda the opposite of that," he replied.
"Though I do genuinely avoid confrontation and turn away from scenes of violence, I can't help but feel touched by what you did-" Ellie countered, moving to stand beside the bed, "-you defended me leof, no-ones ever come to my defence before..."
"I wasn't gonna let him touch you and no way in hell was I gonna let him talk about you like that. You're not a whore, your not worthless, your-" Paul exhaled, "-your perfect..." he murmured, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
Ellie smiled feeling her heart flood with the warmth of affection. She clambered onto the bed, kneeling between Paul's spread legs, cupping his jaw in the palm of her hands. "Paul your actions have only served to confirm what I've been feeling for months now."
"What do you mean? What do you feel?" he arched his brow in question.
"That I love you leof, you and only you," Ellie smiled, feeling her cheeks heat.
Paul broke out in a beaming smile, his expressive eyes dancing with happiness. "I love you too Elle," he confessed.
"You do?" Ellie's eyes widened, chewing her bottom lip.
"Truly, madly, deeply baby," he drawled, drawing her into a slow, passionate kiss.
Ophelia padded into the bathroom, the heady, sweet perfumed scent of vanilla, almond milk and honeysuckle lingering pleasingly in the air. She stared down at the steaming bath, skimming the tips of her fingers over the mound of fragrant bubbles, breathing in the saccharine perfume of the water with a smile. She heard the muted click of the bathroom door and turned to find the king behind her, wearing a mischievous smirk on his handsome face.
"Hi," he drawled, slinking over to where she stood by the edge of the bath.
"Hey," she beamed, draping her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. "Wanna join me?" she chewed her lip seductively, peering up at him through her lashes.
"As torturously tempting as that offer is my love, I actually have something I need to attend to," David sighed, brushing a stray curl behind her ear.
"You too?-" she pouted, "-where is everyone? It's like a ghost town in here – how's a girl supposed to show off the rock on her finger if there's no-one around to see it?"
David chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Patience my love, everything will become clear in good time."
Ophelia arched her brow suspiciously. "What are you planning?" she interrogated.
"Nothing beloved," he grinned, kissing her forehead.
"Now, how about you make use of the water before it runs cold," the king gestured to the invitingly bubbly water.
"I don't think I can get out of this dress without help and Ellie's incognito," Ophelia shrugged.
"Then allow me..." the king crooned in a dreamy articulated drawl that hooked a direct line to her libido as he slowly turned her in his arms. Deft fingers worked the ribbon ties on her corset eliciting a sensual shiver that ran the length of her spine when his fingertips grazed her bare skin. Ophelia bit her lip against the giddy flutter in her stomach when the same deft fingers danced over her shoulder's while soft, yet firm dominant lips sought her neck as he slid her dress down her arms, guiding it down the length of her waist and over her hips. She stepped out of the puddle of heavy fabric by her feet and sank against a firm, broad chest as strong arms wrapped around her middle, drawling her in.
Ophelia sucked in a sharp intake of air when warm hands grazed maddeningly lightly across her stomach, travelling the slender, curved path of her waist before rounding over her ribs to cup her breasts. A low moan escaped her when his thumbs brushed over her pebbled buds at the same time those insatiable lips nipped the juncture of her neck and shoulder. His lips continued their teasing caress of her shoulders as he unclasped her bra, guiding the straps down the length of her arms, letting it join her dress pooled by her feet. A familiar ache settled between her thighs when torturous fingers begin to tug and tease the waistband of her knickers, sliding the lacy material down her thighs before coming to an abrupt stop at her ankles.
"Enjoy my love," the king breathed against her ear, gently biting her lobe. Ophelia watched in a haze of pent up lust as he strolled out of the bathroom, shooting her a wink when he reached the door. She giggled, playfully sticking out her tongue earning a deep chuckle, the sound of his laughter fading as he pulled the door closed behind him. She exhaled a frustrated breath as she stared at the pile of discarded clothes by her feet before shaking off the remaining ripples of arousal making her skin tingle and between her thighs throb. Lured by the sugary sweet scent of the water, Ophelia climbed into the bath, humming contently as she sank into the blissfully warm water becoming encompassed by the perfumed bubbles as she leant her head back, the cool marble a stark contrast to her flushed skin.
She smiled to herself as she ran the tips of her fingers over a mound of perfumed bubbles by her hip, marvelling at how they dissolved, vanishing with even the faintest of caresses. She swallowed, her bottom lip finding its way between her teeth as her mind wandered to her king and thoughts of how she herself so easily melted beneath his tender, often teasingly torturous caress. She lifted her hand out of the water and a beaming smile lit up her face as her eyes landed on the beautiful vintage ring nestled firmly on her ring finger.
When the water became tepid and no longer tolerable, Ophelia wrapped her toe around the silver chain of the plug, tugging it free from the plug hole, filling the room with loud glugging gurgles as the water disappeared in a miniature whirlpool down the drain. She towelled herself dry, slipping into her favourite crimson silk robe and padded into the bedroom, leaving her hair to fall in damp chocolate waves over her shoulders.
Lost in her own thoughts, Ophelia almost screamed when she lifted her head and found she wasn't alone. "Ellie!" she gasped, clutching her hand over her heart. "You scared the shit out of me," she exhaled unsteadily.
"My apologies my lady, I didn't mean to startle you-" Ellie frowned guiltily, her lilac coloured eyes lowering with abashment, "-I should of made my presence known, I didn't think... I-" she flustered, nervously ringing her hands.
"-Hey it's OK Ellie, don't worry about it-" Ophelia assured her with a smile, "-I was wondering where you'd gotten to, I haven't seen you all day," she frowned, observing her lady in waiting curiously as she noticed the slight flush of her cheeks and the way her mouth curved up in a dreamy smile.
"My apologies but the king requested I perform additional duties today-" she explained vaguely, "-are you done bathing? The king has requested I prepare you."
"Prepare me? I'm not a Christmas turkey," Ophelia playfully rolled her eyes eliciting light laughter from her lady in waiting.
"Quite right my lady," Ellie smiled.
"What exactly do you need to prepare me for?" Ophelia arched her brow inquisitively though deep down she couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with the ring on her finger.
"I'm not at liberty to tell you," Ellie smirked, her eyes drifting to Ophelia's left hand and her smirk morphed into a beaming smile. "Oh my! It's so beautiful!" she gushed, lifting Ophelia's hand to get a better look at the extravagant jewellery.
"It belonged to David's mother-" Ophelia beamed, "-I still can't believe it's actually happening..."
"You were made for each other Ophelia, you were destined to be his majesty's queen," Ellie countered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so happy for you - you deserve happiness after all you've endured."
"Stop... you'll make me emotional-" Ophelia shook her head, squeezing Ellie's delicate wrists, "-so, this preparation, I assume it involves a ridiculously extravagant dress?"
"Of course," Ellie grinned.
Ophelia stared at herself in the mirror, completely awestruck by the reflection staring back at her. Ellie had pinned her hair up into a high bun, each side propped and held in place by two identically dazzling diamanté hair combs shaped like two intricate angel wings. The fae woman had worked magic as always with her make-up, contouring and powdering her pale complexion until there remained no trace of the lingering dark circles born of sleepless nights. The colour of her eyes had been accentuated by a complementary blending of rose pink and glittery silver eyeshadow and lashes of mascara. Her eyebrows had been primped and preened to perfection while her lips were plumped by a slick of vivid cranberry coloured lipstick.
Her eyes drifted from her flawless face to the equally flawlessly stunning dress. The dress the king had, had customised was form-fitting and clung to her waist, draping perfectly over her curves. The silken fabric felt luxurious against her skin while it seemed to shimmer between a deep crimson to an almost rich plum in the light. The sleeves of the dress came to her wrists, hugging her arms perfectly while the bodice was adorned with swirling patterns of gold thread with a heart-shaped neckline that showed just a glimpse of cleavage and a skirt that brushed over her feet. Ellie conjured a pearly crystal and with a muted pop, a pair of glittery silver heeled pumps appeared by the foot of the bed.
"Is everything to your approval my lady?" Ellie queried as Ophelia continued to gawp at herself in the mirror.
"I don't even look like me," she frowned, her fingers brushing her meticulously made-up face.
"No, you look like the High Queen of the Underworld," Ellie smiled beatifically and Ophelia felt the corners of her mouth turn up in the ghost of a smile.
His queen...
His wife...
A knock on the chamber doors stole Ophelia's attention away from her reflection and she called out for the visitor to enter, grinning when her personal guard wandered into the room. "I hear congratulations are in order?" Paul smiled, holding his arms out in offering.
Ophelia squealed in delight and barrelled into Paul's arms, giggling when he swept her off her feet and spun her in a fast circle. "How did you know?" she asked breathlessly when Paul finally set her back onto her feet.
"Old blue eyes couldn't contain his happiness – sickening really," Paul teased as Ophelia noticed his eyes drift toward Ellie, his pale blue orbs flickering with affection as a soft smile played on his lips. She glanced over her shoulder to find an equally affectionate look in Ellie's eyes, her cheeks flushed pink.
"OK-" Ophelia planted her hands on her hips, "-just what the hell is going on with you two and don't you dare lie to me," she warned light-heartedly.
"Nothing," Paul shrugged though his mischievous grin told another story.
"You do realise I have the power to throw the both of you in the dungeons for refusing the orders of the future queen?" Ophelia arched her brow.
"Oh so now you're a queen," Paul prodded her ribs, eliciting a giggle.
"I wish you'd throw Ezra in the dungeons," Ellie murmured so quietly that she almost didn't hear her.
"Ezra? What did he do and what has it got to do with the two of you?" Ophelia frowned, confused.
Paul's eyes flashed with anger. "Nothing I can't handle - this is your day, forget about that asshole."
"I don't want to forget about it, it's clearly upset not only Ellie but you as well. You're two of my best friends, I wouldn't be stood here right now if it wasn't for the two of you so you better tell me just what the hell Ezra did or I'll go speak to him and find out for myself," Ophelia stated resolutely.
Paul sighed, running a hand through his hair as Ellie moved to stand by his side. "My lady, both myself and Paul have been courting for the past three months and as of now, you're the only one who knows," Ellie was the first to speak.
"I got in a fight with Ezra," Paul sighed.
"As in a physical fight?" she asked for clarification.
"Yes my lady, it was lucky Dwayne arrived when he did to break it up..." Ellie clarified.
"But why?" the future queen frowned.
"Because that son of a bitch was putting his hands on my girl and wouldn't back off when he could clearly see she was uncomfortable, then when I challenged him about it, the asshole started cussing her out, calling her a whore and gutter filth and other absolute bullshit. Do you really think I'm gonna stand there and let Sargent dipshit insult the woman I love?" Paul narrated heatedly and Ophelia's eyes widened.
"Did you just say the woman you love?"
"Yeah..." Paul swallowed, averting his eyes shyly.
"Oh..." Ophelia clasped her hands over her heart as she tried to reign in the scream of joy she felt rising in her chest at the thought of her two of her favourite people in love. She managed to calm herself down by focusing on what Paul had said had caused the fight and her joy turned into burning anger.
"That son of a bitch, how dare he speak about you like that!" she raged on Ellie's behalf.
"My lady it's OK-" Ellie started to protest but Ophelia cut her off, raising her hand.
"-No, it's not OK Ellie, you don't deserve to be spoken to like that, what he said is disgusting."
"Right?" Paul scowled, drawing Ellie into his side and kissed her crown.
"Leave it with me, his behaviour won't go unchallenged," Ophelia assured her friend with a smile.
"My lady I-"
"-The queen's word is final," Ophelia cut her off.
"Great, that's all we need – another tyrant," Paul joked eliciting a huff of laughter as she embraced the couple, silently vowing to give Ezra a piece of her mind once she'd finished with whatever it was the king had in store for her.
Ophelia stood outside the heavy mahogany doors nervously fussing with the skirt of her dress with one hand while the other fussed with her hair. She glanced at Paul who gave her a knowing smile as he reached for the polished brass handle. The door slowly swung open and she tentatively stepped forward, pausing a few feet inside the hall with her mouth agape – it looked nothing like the ballroom she'd been in only a few hours earlier.
The ballroom had been decorated in lavish streamers of the royal colours with what looked to be glittering golden stars suspended in mid-air, no doubt held in place by magic. A huge platinum replica of the kingdom's emblem took pride of place on the wall between the two central windows, it's intricate design wrapped in snow-white fairy lights while thick black candles circled it's base, their flames flickering and dancing in the inviting light. Pushed up against the walls were large, plush satin cushions in shades of crimson, emerald green and lush, deep purple where lavishly dressed strangers, royals and familiar faces lounged, huddled in intimate conversation. Smartly dressed palace staff flitted around the room offering crystal glasses of champagne and canapés while on the opposite end of the ballroom was a sprawling table laden with delicious looking food and sweet treats.
"You look beautiful Ophelia," a familiar rumbling voice crooned from behind her as a warm palm pressed lightly against the small of her back eliciting a pleasurable shiver.
Ophelia's breath caught in her throat as she slowly turned to face the immortal king in all his ethereal beauty. His hair was charmingly mussed, his crystal blue eyes lined with black kohl which only deemed to make their colour stand out further. Her eyes drifted from his handsome face to his body which was clad in a silk shirt that was a reflection of the same shimmering crimson/plum as her dress, the shirt regally buttoned to the collar with his silver pendant of the kingdom's emblem resting against his chest. His bottom half was clad in the usual leather trousers and black military-style boots, the tight material giving a subtle glimpse of his muscular thighs.
"You look nice," Ophelia swallowed dumbly, her mouth feeling overly dry as nerves made her stomach flutter.
David's lips quirked in an amused smile, his crystal blue eyes dancing with mirth. "Most gracious of you my queen," he drawled with a chuckle.
Laurent chose that moment to approach, a golden tray laden with glasses of fizzing champagne balanced in the palm of his hand. David plucked two of the sparkling crystal glasses from the tray with a grateful assent of his head, handing one to Ophelia with a charming smile. "Thank you," she blushed, feeling far too exposed beneath his piercing gaze. He still had that same mesmerising affect on her as he did the day that they met.
Could he feel the warmth spreading throughout her body as thoughts of being his wife and his queen swam through her head? Could he feel just how much he meant to her, how all the words in the world were not enough to describe her love for him?
Ophelia averted her eyes, taking a delicate sip of her champagne. "How you managed to hide this from me is a mystery," she smiled, looking around the room in awe once again, her smile fading when she spotted Ezra on the opposite side of the hall talking to a group of palace guards.
"Do you like it?" David asked, taking her hand in his.
"Like it? I love it," she gushed, her cheeks flushing as she observed David lift her hand, his thumb grazing the ring decorating her finger with a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Come my love, allow me to show you off a little," he grinned wolfishly, propelling her in the direction of two familiar faces – King Drake and King Solomon.
Ophelia slipped into the hollow alcove at the back of the dais which was hidden out of sight by not only the high-backed thrones but the obsidian stone that curved outward. She could feel her face was flushed not only from the seemingly never-ending supply of champagne and elven wine but also from the way being on David's arm made her feel. In a room full of stunningly beautiful women, David made her feel like the only one his eyes could see. The way his fingers grazed her arm or the small of her back while they made idle chit-chat and received congratulations from his fellow royals and other guests made her skin tingle as liquid fire pulsed through her veins.
So far she'd managed not to say anything foolish and had also somehow managed to remember all that Alexandria had taught her thus far though she did find herself stumbling over her words every so often, so awestruck at being pooled amongst such powerful rulers. She tried her best to ignore the sinister voice lurking in the back of her mind whispering cruel notions about her not belonging, the same voice that took a hold of her on her second night at the palace. The voice sneered that she was inferior, inadequate, an untalented, breakable human in a room full of immortal, magical, powerful beings.
Why would David want her as his queen when there was an abundance of beautiful, magical, powerful woman? Woman who were equally as enchanting and bewitching as the king himself. What did she have? She was an orphaned nerd with no particularly special talents and an affinity for getting overly emotional.
Ophelia sighed, slumping against the cool stone as she nibbled on a generously iced sugar cookie. "I could do with a time out myself, these affairs can be so tedious," David stepped into the small space, his powerful presence seeming to suck all the air from her lungs. "Are you alright starlight?" he asked, cocking his head as his hand cupped her cheek, the warmth of his palm bleeding beneath her skin, deepening the flushed colouring of her cheeks.
"Yeah, I guess I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed," she smiled coyly, meeting his soft gaze.
"Are you sure that's all it is?" he pressed, closing the space between them, his arms snaking around her hips. The intoxicating scent of him flooded her senses making her feel light-headed as her throat worked, her tongue yearning to voice her fears while her head told her to keep her mouth shut.
She didn't want him to think of her as weak, weak wasn't worthy of the majesty and power of the immortal king...
"Talk to me Ophelia..." he coaxed, ghosting his lips over her jaw.
"I'm just having a wobble," she sighed.
"Why?"
"I feel inferior David, being here amongst all these powerful immortals and magical creatures makes me realise how human I am, how flawed and talentless I am..." she blurted, averting her eyes out of shame.
"Ophelia you are far from merely human-" David crooned, tilting her chin with a slender finger, forcing her to look him in the eyes, "-you're beautiful, intelligent, brave, caring, feisty, loyal and soft-hearted to name a few. My blood now runs in your veins beloved, your soul is not meant for the constraints of everyday life beyond the veil. You belong here with me where you can flourish and bloom into the being that you were destined to be. You're my immortal Ophelia, my soul to take, my heart never to break..."
"I am?" she whispered, uncertain.
"Yes my love, you are," he smiled, drawing her into a slow, tender kiss. "Now, I was actually serious about needing a time out," he smirked.
"You can't leave your own party David," Ophelia laughed, looping her arms around his neck, toying with his hair.
"Not literally perhaps but a man can dream, no?" he bit his lip hotly, his eyes roaming her face before dropping to the neckline of her dress. "Indulge me my queen... imagine we've finally escaped this tedious affair, I escort you back to our chambers and we're feeling in the mood-"
"-For dancing?" she joked.
David barked a laugh, playfully pushing her up against the wall, his solid body pinning her. God the weight of him against her was glorious...
"Not quite beloved. I was meaning more on the lines of in the mood for love..." he drawled, drawing her into a succession of sensual, lingering kisses.
"Imagine we've just stumbled into the bedroom, clothes are flying in every direction, hands are wandering, lips are teasing… I throw you onto the bed and I tell you that I can't wait to be inside you… what would you say in reply Ophelia?"
She chewed on her bottom lip feeling heat pool low in her stomach as she felt herself grow wet at the thought of his hardness buried deep in her aching, wet heat. "I'd tell you that the thought of feeling you buried deep inside me is making me wet…" she replied, her confidence growing as she observed his eyes darken with lust.
"I pin you beneath me, caressing your mouth-watering curves until I reach the warm, wet spot between your thighs. I slowly slide your knickers to the side and your honey sweet nectar trickles between my fingers. I ask, is this all for me?"
Holy shit…
Ophelia was getting so turned on from the sound of his deep, articulated voice describing in explicit detail what he'd do to her that she could feel any iota of shyness she may have previously harboured fade until all that was left was a deep-rooted desire. "Mmhmm… how do I taste your majesty?" she purred.
"Indescribable," David groaned, crushing her lips in a hungry kiss as he nudged her throbbing apex with the rock-hard bulge straining against his trousers.
"You're so hard…" Ophelia whispered breathlessly.
"Hard because I want you baby," he breathed.
"It feels so good, so hard… you're making me hard…" Ophelia murmured, realising seconds later what she'd said and the two of them burst into a fit of laughter.
"Do tell me my love, what part of you exactly am I making hard?" David teased, his eyebrow quirked as Ophelia giggled, covering her face with her hands.
"You should get back to the party before someone comes looking for you," she sighed, reluctantly pushing him back.
David allowed her to lead him, stepping back with an unimpressed grimace. "I may need a second," he smirked and Ophelia felt her cheeks flush, her eyes automatically drifting to the sizeable bulge straining against the constraints of his trousers.
"Where beyond the veil do you hail from my lady?" King Drake inquired, draining the last dregs of the mead sloshing against the sides of his glass.
"I'm originally from England but I moved to California shortly before I met Da- I mean the king," she flustered, feeling her cheeks heat in reaction to her obvious error.
King Drake smirked, shaking his head in amusement. "Don't worry, I won't tell him if you don't," the youthful king chuckled, grabbing another tumbler of mead from a passing server.
"You won't tell who, what?" King Solomon sidled up alongside them, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"I won't tell his majesty that the queen dared to call him by name in front of another royal," Drake grinned as Ophelia's blush deepened.
"Oh dear-" Solomon tutted, "-that kind of behaviour just won't suffice my lady, such mistakes must be punished," he grinned wickedly.
"Though I doubt the kind of punishment you receive is one you wouldn't want to receive again, am I right?" Drake teased.
"I'm sure she errs purposely just to elicit such punishments," Solomon added and Ophelia gawped at the two royals incredulously.
"What are you two miscreants telling my future wife?" the kings voice sounded from behind her and her stomach fluttered in response.
"Oh we were just regaling her majesty with tales of your misspent youth chasing tail and pissing over the side of the palace bridge, drunk on mead and high on contraband weed," Drake grinned, flashing his sharp teeth.
"Are you sure you're not misremembering events your majesty? I do believe you may be referring to your own youth, perhaps you lost track of your memories for a moment," Ophelia countered brazenly, a sudden bout of confidence flooding through her, no doubt brought on by the copious amounts of champagne.
Both David and Solomon barked a laugh while Drake stared at her dumbfounded before he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Feisty, I approve-" he smiled, "-come Solomon, I do believe I've found us two willing participants in a night of debauchery," the roguish king gestured to two auburn haired concubines openly fawning in their direction.
"Duty calls your majesties," Solomon bowed with a smirk before the duo sauntered in the concubines directions.
"My queen comes to my defence, how can I repay such a favour?" David drawled, his eyes blazing the fire of desire.
"I'm sure I can think of something," Ophelia retorted flirtatiously earning a wicked grin in return.
"Of that I have no doubt my queen – I assure you that when I finally get my hands on you, I'm going to make you forget your own name," David breathed, his lips ghosting the sensitive spot behind her ear.
"I'm sure you'll remind me when you're moaning it your majesty," she countered seductively.
David exhaled sharply. "You're making me uncomfortably hard," he murmured, his voice low.
"You're making me uncomfortably wet..." she whispered.
"Ophelia..." he exhaled, his eyes flashing hungrily.
"Your majesty," someone hollered from across the hall, the spark of electricity between them fading to a dull hum.
"You should go..." she smiled, her fingers grazing his knuckles.
"Seductress," he murmured with a pout as she watched him weave his way through the sea of merry revellers.
The party was starting to wind down and Paul was admittedly feeling the effects of the copious amount of alcohol he'd thrown back as the evening turned into night. He'd been watching Ellie from the across the ballroom, his eyes roaming her lithe body as she spun and twirled around the dance floor with her friends, the sound of her laughter making his chest feel warm. He drained the last of the blood pooling at the bottom of his glass before pushing himself away from the wall, making a bee-line for Ellie.
Paul caught Ellie's hand as she spun in his direction and pulled her towards the doors. Once in the corridor he bustled her into the closest alcove and pushed her back against the wall. "Paul, what are you doing?" Ellie giggled, draping her arms over his shoulders, her face flushed from Elven wine, her breath sweetly perfumed.
"I'm trying to find out what's under this dress," he crooned, trailing his tongue the length of her neck as his hand slid the skirt of her dress up her thighs, bunching the satin material around her hips.
"Leof you know intimately what's under my dress," Ellie countered, her breath hitching when his fingers teased the crotch of her silk knickers.
"Why do you think I want it so badly," he drawled, sucking her bottom lip, coaxing her into a hot, wet kiss as his fingers slid inside her knickers. Ellie moaned, her moans of pleasure muted by his hungry kiss as his fingers inched inside her dripping wet heat. "I love you Ellie, I love you so fucking much," Paul murmured as he covered her face and neck in kisses while his fingers stroked her inner walls.
"I love you too leof," she swallowed breathlessly.
"Ahem..."
Paul's head snapped up, whipping back to glance over his shoulder to find Dwayne stood with his arms folded over his chest, his brow arched curiously. Paul quickly straightened himself out, shielding Ellie with his body while she regained her composure. He could feel the evidence of her desire starting to dry on his fingers and he had to stifle the urge to taste her.
"So this is why you were beating ten shades of shit out of Ezra earlier, you were marking your territory?" Dwayne broke the awkward silence that hung over the three of them.
"It's part of it," Paul rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Right," Dwayne nodded, his mouth curving up in an amused smirk. "You two might wanna go somewhere more private, the king might be in a good mood but I doubt finding the queen's personal guard and her lady in waiting screwing in the corridor is going to keep it that way."
The doors to the ballroom opened and a sea of bodies spilled out into the corridor, the sound of laughter, drunken singing and celebratory cheers echoing around the walls. "Ellie!" Ophelia beckoned for her lady in waiting with a smile.
"Come to my room when you're done," Paul murmured as Ellie passed, playfully swatting her ass, eliciting a girlish giggle.
"So how long has this been going on exactly?" Dwayne questioned, catching sight of the king with a beaming smile on his face as Drake and Solomon ribbed him, no doubt teasing him about his impending marriage.
"We've been fooling around for awhile but we made it official around three months ago... I honestly didn't think it would work out but-"
"-You love her." Dwayne finished his sentence.
"Yeah, I really do man," Paul nodded and Dwayne grinned, ruffling his hair.
"Are you sure I don't look slutty?" Ophelia asked nervously, her fingers tracing the curve of her waist as she studied herself in the mirror. She'd decided to give the king his own surprise and enlisted the help of Ellie to find her something sexy and a little less demure for the bedroom. Ellie had plied her with an intricately designed black lace basque that pushed up her breasts and cinched in her waist, accentuating her figure. The basque also worked as a built-in suspender belt to which Ellie had supplied a pair of black thigh-high stockings along with a matching garter and lacy French knickers.
"Isn't that the point?" Ellie countered over her shoulder as she decorated the bed with rose petals.
"Well yeah but I'm the future queen, surely there are rules about dressing slutty?" she frowned, setting Paul's borrowed boombox on the vanity.
"In public yes but in the bedroom you are free to do as you wish my lady," Ellie shrugged, covering her mouth with a giggle when a stray hiccup made her chest hitch.
"You're drunk," Ophelia laughed, shaking her head in amusement.
"Perhaps a little," Ellie grinned.
"OK I think we're done here," she smiled, smoothing the bedsheets before lowering herself to perch on the end of the bed to await the kings arrival, her heart racing in anticipation. "Thanks Ellie, enjoy the rest of your night."
"You too my lady," Ellie winked before vanishing into thin-air.
It wasn't long before she heard the sound of footsteps in the corridor outside and a pulsing ache settled between her thighs, her skin felt hot and tingly and her arousal was through the roof. "Ophelia?" David's voice called out as the doors to the chambers opened.
"In the bedroom," she called back, her breath catching in her throat from the sheer intensity of David's stare as he froze in the archway. His eyes were dark and stormy with lust and she immediately felt the lace of her underwear grow damp with desire. David stepped into the bedroom and stood in the middle of the room, beckoning her with his finger. She rose and sauntered over to where he stood, putting a little extra sass in her step as she did so.
"You've been breaking the rules again my queen," David drawled, trailing his finger down her chest, teasing between her cleavage.
Ophelia's breath hitched. "I have?" she smirked, her own fingers dancing over the buttons of his shirt.
"I overheard your conversation with Drake – I told you not to call me by name in front of other royals," he crooned and she bit her bottom lip between her teeth, splaying her hands against his chest when his shirt fell open.
"Maybe I wanted to be punished," she purred pushing his shirt over his shoulders.
David whipped his shirt off and tossed it to the floor, his hands snaking their way down to her ass and she exhaled a shaky breath when he squeezed the soft flesh between his fingers. "You're playing with fire Ophelia, you really don't know what you're doing to me right now..." he exclaimed, walking her back towards the bed.
"I have some idea..." she smirked, grazing her hand over the bulge in his trousers. David groaned, his fingers digging into her ass as his lips sought her neck and collarbone. Ophelia shuddered, the feel of his soft, warm lips ghosting her bare skin glorious. Before she got carried away, she turned him so that his back was towards the bed and gently pushed him down to sit. She left him perched on the end of the bed, feeling his eyes tracking her every move as she sauntered over to the vanity, her fingers brushing the buttons on the borrowed boombox. Ophelia hit play and doubled back to where David still remained sitting, his eyes flickering with curiosity.
"Enjoy..." she breathed against his ear, loving the way he shuddered.
She'd never done anything like what she was about to do before but the way the king was staring at her had her confidence rocketing, though the copious amount of champagne and elven wine she'd drank at the party probably helped more than a little...
With a wicked smirk, Ophelia stood before the king, bowing forward so that her head was now level with his crotch as she set her hands on his knees, curving her fingers around his kneecaps. She stared deeply into his hungry blue eyes as she begun to sway her body to the rhythm of the music, starting with her hips before letting her ass drop down to just above the floor. In her squatting position, she slowly slid her arms forward, sliding them up the length of his thighs, rounding her fingers as they inched forward, mere centimetres from the bulge straining against his trousers.
With her hands splayed in front of her, she pulled her body along the inside of his thighs as she lifted herself from the ground. Her head was just below his jaw and she bit her bottom lip, peering up into his desire darkened, blue eyes. Her eyes drifted from the obvious bulge in his pants, back up to the fire burning in his eyes and rather than biting her lip, this time, she slowly ran her tongue over her lips, watching him bite his own lustfully in return. Ophelia used her hands to create pressure against his erection, balancing her body from the inside of his thighs. She pushed her breasts up against his lower abdomen, slowly slithering her way up his body, making sure she took her time, teasing him and riling him up further.
Ophelia set her chin in the crook of his neck, gently nuzzling him, exhaling a soft moan as her lips ghosted his skin, smirking when David groaned, his fists gripping the sheets. She pushed herself up a little further, purring in his ear - "I want you so badly my king"- and nipped at his earlobe. She could feel his erection pushing against her hands that were still resting on his crotch and between her thighs ached, the thin lace of her knickers soaking wet. Ophelia ran her hands up his body while her knee pushed against his crotch as she wound her body into an upright position, making sure her knee constantly, gently brushed against his erection.
Ophelia stepped back, snaking her body seductively to the right before repeating the movements while moving to the left. She raised her hands above her head, teasing them through her hair before smoothing them over her breasts and down the length of her winding body. She placed her hands on each of his shoulders, bracing herself as she straddled his thighs, his trousers and the thin lace of her underwear the only thing separating them. Using her hands on his shoulders to push herself up, she thrust her hips back down, his erection brushing deliciously against her crotch, sending tingles of pleasure rocketing through her. She repeated the movements, moving further down with each motion. The way his bulge was grazing her crotch was making between her legs ache with need, stoking the flames of the fire already raging inside her.
David cupped her breasts, this thumbs grazing her peaked buds and she moaned, biting her lip as she ground herself up against him. She met his gaze once more to find his eyes hooded with lust, the fire of desire turning his irises a darker shade of blue, so much so that they could almost be mistaken for black. She removed his hands from her breasts as she stepped back onto her feet. David seemed reluctant to release her but his curiosity at where this was going must have gotten the better of him for his hands fell back to his side, watching her intensely. She turned and pressed her ass against his bulging erection and he grabbed her hips, groaning and pulling her back against him as she moved her ass over his crotch; up and down, side to side, looking back at him every now and again over her shoulder, biting her lip and arching her brow.
The king groaned, his lips ghosting her shoulders and spine, making her shiver. "You drive me to the brink of insanity my queen..." he crooned as his fingers dug into the flesh of her hips when she moved her ass harder over his throbbing erection. She could feel the heat of him through the thin material of her underwear and she could also feel that she was dripping wet. David slid his hand between her thighs and she gasped when his deft fingers traced her lust drenched folds. "You're so wet Ophelia..." he drawled, his fingers inching closer to her sensitive bud.
Ophelia turned herself to face him, teasing him with a slow, sensual kiss. "I want to taste myself on your lips..." she whispered, tracing his bottom lip with her thumb.
David's eyes flashed hotly while a sly smirk curved the corners of his mouth. "My queen, I'm going to make you wet the bed..." he breathed, flipping her onto her back. He straddled her body, drawing her into a hungry kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth while his teeth bit her bottom lip in a way that made her whimper. Her fingers became tangled in his hair and she hummed with pleasure as the kiss reached new, bordering on violent heights.
She moaned and palmed the sheets when her king yanked down the lacy, padded cups of her basque, covering her breasts with his hungry mouth. He sucked her peaked bud, his tongue drawing seductive patterns across her sensitive flesh while he teased the other breast between his fingers. David grazed his lips down the length of her stomach and dropped to his knees between her thighs and Ophelia's breath hitched when he teased his tongue over her underwear, tugging at the lacy material with his teeth.
He raised one leg, slowly unclipping her stocking while ghosting his lips over the arch of her feet as he teasingly rolled the silky, nylon fabric down the length of her legs before repeating the process. She propped herself up on her hands, obediently lifting her hips when David hooked his fingers beneath the band of her underwear, guiding them over her hips and thighs before tugging them impatiently over her feet. She observed him hungrily as he kissed his way between her thighs, his eyes trained on hers as he ran his tongue over her slick slit, twirling his tongue over her pulsing bundle of nerves.
A low moan tumbled from her parted lips as her head dropped back against her shoulders when he buried his tongue inside her, drinking in her desire. Ophelia collapsed against the mattress, her back arching when his edacious lips covered her throbbing bud and slid two fingers inside her, expertly stroking her g-spot. She panted and writhed against the silk sheet, her heels digging into the mattress when the king's sensual ministrations became faster, harder and more insistent. She whimpered as her body was propelled further up the bed from the way she was pushing on her heels, unable to process such unfathomable pleasure. However the king didn't relent in his ravenous pursuit and he followed her movements, using one hand to pin her hips and still her movements. She could feel a familiar pressure building with speed and her legs began to tremble.
"Oh David..." she moaned, unable to hold back her cries of rapture. When the pressure became almost unbearable, her body erupted and she literally screamed from the sheer euphoria she felt wash over her while a gush of something warm and wet coated her thighs, staining the expensive sheets beneath her.
Ophelia panted, every muscle in her body quivering as she tried to catch her breath. Just as the stars obscuring her vision cleared, David towered over her, his mouth and bare chest covered in the remnants of her desire. "I haven't finished with you yet," he smirked, pulling her upright before pushing her back against the pillows. He covered her mouth in a kiss so hot, it took her breath away and she moaned against into his mouth, smoothing her hands across his damp chest.
David brushed his fingers over her lips and she could feel they were still wet and sticky with her slick. Ophelia drew her tongue over his fingers and hummed, smirking when the kings eyes darkened further, a low growl rumbling in his chest. He gripped her hips, entering her in one deep, forceful thrust and she cried out with pleasure, her cries muted by a hard, unforgiving kiss.
David rolled his hips, driving himself hard and deep, right to the hilt, leaving her whimpering and arching in ecstasy. He sent her over the edge again and again, leaving her no time to catch her breath. "Harder..." she moaned, her fingers digging into the flesh of his back. The king gripped the headboard with one hand and held his weight with the other, the heel of his hand digging into the pillow beside her head as he used the headboard as leverage, working himself into her hard, fast and deliciously deep.
The king panted, groaning as his body began to tremble. She squeezed her walls around him and he jerked in response. "Ophelia..." he moaned, his hand slipping from the headboard as his muscles trembled. She could feel him pulsing inside her, filling her with his hot, sticky seed.
The king slumped against the pillows, the dampness of the sheets cool against his bare calves. Ophelia sighed, draping herself over his chest, her feather soft curls tickling his jaw. David tenderly stroked her hair and kissed her crown. "Are you alright my love?" he murmured, still floating in post-orgasmic bliss.
"Mmhmm..." Ophelia replied dreamily and he chuckled, entwining his fingers with hers as he held their joined hands against his chest. After a brief silence his queen raised her head and her warm, emerald green eyes locked on his, seeming to flicker with curiosity.
"Is there something you wish to say starlight?" he smiled, brushing a stray curl from her eyes.
"Do you have any fantasies?" she asked coyly, toying with his hair.
"Is this a general fantasy or a sexual fantasy?"
"Sexual..."
"Why, is my queen offering to make my deepest desires come true?" he smirked wickedly, earning an equally impish smirk in return.
"Maybe..." she shrugged.
The king chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Are you sure you really wish to know?"
"Yeah..." Ophelia nodded, kissing his chest.
"A queen doesn't say yeah she says yes," he grinned, mocking Alexandria's clipped tone and Ophelia burst out with laughter. David chuckled, kissing her jaw. "I actually have two. The first is for my queen to straddle my face while I bring her to her peak-" he grinned when Ophelia blushed, "-and the second is that I wish for my queen to pleasure herself while I observe..."
"You want to watch me masturbate?" Ophelia asked for clarification.
"Yes," he bit his bottom lip lustfully.
"Oh..." she chewed on her lower lip, the flush of heat colouring her cheeks darkening slightly.
"What about you starlight, do you have any fantasies?" he countered curiously.
"No, you satisfy me completely," she smiled, peering up at him through her lush, thick lashes, her beautiful emerald green eyes sparkling with affection.
"How sweet you are Ophelia," he smiled, kissing her forehead lovingly. "I honestly do love you."
"I love you too David," she beamed, beckoning him towards her invitingly swollen lips.