A/N: Sorry for the long wait in between updates. I really wanted to finish my other story (which you all should check out) before I continued on with this one. hope you enjoy!

*THIS IS RATED M FOR MATURE/GRAPHIC CONTENT PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT KIND OF STUFF*

Maxon's Pov*

Don't get me wrong, I love my wife. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have never experienced so much joy since I met her. But, sometimes, America was a bit more a devil than an angel. This was the perfect example. She purposely got me all excited then left me. That woman had the nerve to leave me while my dick was hard and she barely even touched it! I paced in the parlor that I guided us into and then sat down. I was at least waiting for this painful erection to die down, but I wasn't sure it was ever going to.

Looking back on what happened, I should have known this was going to happen. She pulled me out of breakfast. And when I challenged her slightly, she gave me the most devious smile with that beautiful evil laugh. I should have seen the trap before it started, but of course I was feeling cocky. It's like she said I would stab myself, I disagreed but then played with the knives she laid out on the table, inevitably stabbing myself. I was most definitely thinking with the wrong head when she pulled me away. I cursed myself for falling for her trap. Who knows how long it will take to calm myself down enough to rejoin breakfast?

My stomach growled, ready to devour just about anything. I couldn't just sit here and let myself starve. I told my dick to fuck off, shoved my hands in my pockets to conceal the bulge, and went to finish eating. When I opened the door, I expected to see my lovely wife eating her breakfast with her family, but she wasn't there. America was a big fan of the food, she said so since day one, but she left a full plate of barely touched food sitting there. I sat down, leaning to May, who ate her food silently.

"May, my dear, do you know where your sister went?" I asked her.

She nods to me, "She said she was going to be in the Women's Room. Why do you ask?"

"I'm just worried. She has never been one to leave the food." As the words stop coming out of my mouth, a maid comes by with a tray. She picks up the food and coffee. She also gives me a note from America. I thank her, and she rushes away.

The note reads: Maxon,

Payback is amazing, isn't it? Are you enjoying breakfast with my family as much as I was earlier? I really hope so. I love you, my dear.

Your love, America

Again, don't get me wrong, I love my wife. But she is straight from Hell sometimes and this was most definitely one of those times. I chuckle at the note, while it is rather taunting, it is quite hilarious.

"What are you laughing at, King Maxon?" Magda askes me.

"Your daughter." I continue to chuckle.

"What did she do this time?"

"Oh, nothing serious. You don't have to punish her at all, don't worry." I wink to her.

I lean over to May, "Do you think you could do me a favor, my dear?"

She blushes, "Sure, what do you need?"

"Could you go to the Women's Room for me and tell America that I said that she is very funny and that I can hide this very easily, but she won't be able to hide her embarrassment later?"

"That is an odd request, but yes I can do that." She gets up from the table, already done with her food and also eager to fill my request. She walks to the Women's Room.

I hate putting May in the middle of this. I really do, but America made me hard and left so I will count it as part of the playful game that I forced us into. I continued to eat, making small talk with Kota. America was right, he is an ass. He wouldn't shut up about himself even though he was talking to the King! I was appalled by him, but he is America's family so I tried to be nice even though it was very hard.

I was just about finished with my coffee when May came back. She came over to me, fiddling with the blue belt that wrapped around her pink dress.

She came over to me and leaned on the edge of the table.

"What is it, my dear?"

"America asked if that was a challenge."

"Tell her it can be if she would like it to be. Next time, though, you don't have to report back to me. There is no need when I'll be by very soon."

"Alright."

"Thank you, May. I really appreciate it." I grab her hand and kiss it lightly.

Her face fills with red, "Of course, King Maxon."

She practically skips out of the room. I remember America telling me about her. She said she adored her, and I see why. She is a cute kid. I have to say she is growing on me more and more. I finished my meal, most of the Singer's had also finished. James and Kenna took Astra out to put her down for a nap and Kota left when May came back, probably because the attention wasn't on him. It was just Magda, Gerad, and me. I stood up and walked over to Magda, "Would you like me to walk you to the Women's Room?"

She nodded, "That would be lovely. Gerad, why don't you go play in the garden. I'm sure Maxon will play soccer with you."

He just nodded and ran off. I helped Magda up and walked with her. She grabbed on to my arm respectfully and we began the rather short journey to the Women's Room.

"What did she do that had you laughing, Your Majesty?"

"She…" I chuckle again, "She and I are playing a game of who can embarrass who more. She attempted to get pay back for the little joke I pulled earlier about our events last night."

She laughed, "America has always been rather sensitive about that stuff. I hate to pry, but was the pay back any good?"

"It was okay. She almost got me in a situation, but she could have done better. You could tell it was on the fly type of work."

"You'll get her back, don't worry. She probably deserves it!" Magda admitted, laughing slightly.

"You are most definitely right. She does deserve it, Mrs. Singer." I stopped outside the door.

Magda released my arm, "Do whatever it takes without hurting her to get revenge." She winked at me.

"Of course. Thank you, Mrs. Singer."

She nods to me, then walks in. America catches my eye from inside the room. She is hunched over some papers by the piano I had them put in there for her. Even when she works, she is beautiful. I have to stop myself from just barging in, grabbing her, and taking her back upstairs with me. I wait for a maid to waltz by.

After about 5 minutes, I recognized one of America's maids, Mary, walking by carrying fabrics. She was just about to enter the Women's Room, "Mary, darling, would you deliver a message to Queen America for me?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. What would you like me to say to the Queen?"

"Tell her I'm tugging my ear in the garden with Gerad."

"Of course, Your Majesty. Anything else?"

"No, thank you, Mary."

She curtsies and enters the room. I walk over to the garden where Gerad is playing with a soccer ball. The guards are watching closely, making sure that he doesn't get hurt. I take off my suit jacket and roll up the sleeves of the white button up shirt and take off the yellow tie.

"Mind if I join you?" I ask walking over to him.

"Of course not." He kicks the ball to me. I kicked it back. We play like this for a little bit. Kicking the ball between us, only running off when one of us doesn't kick it in time and it rolls past us. He talks to me about his dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, his eyes are lit up as he talks. He is so hopeful, so young. I remember when I was hopeful, now it is just stressful. I looked away from Gerad because I saw a flash of red hair from the corner of my eye. The same red hair that my wife has. I looked at the door, there she was. Her shoes were off and she had pulled her hair into a low pony, retying the ribbon by the nape of her neck. She was gorgeous. She joined us out in the garden. She kissed Gerad's head and then kissed my lips. I melted into the kiss. She pulled away too soon. Gerad kicked her the ball, she kicked it to me.

"We should ask a question or something that we have to answer before we kick the ball back. Make it a little less… stiff between us." I suggest.

Gerad nods, he is on board. America gives me a disapproving glare, but then says, "Okay. Why don't you start, Maxon?"

I kicked the ball to Gerad, "What has been your favorite thing about the palace since you got here?"

"The garden. It's outside and there is tons of space, not as stuffy as being inside," Well, he is very much like America. Maybe he thinks the palace is a cage as well. He kicks the ball back to me, "What do you like about my sister?"

I laugh, "She is my perfect match but yet my complete opposite. She is… everything to me."

Both Gerad and America fake vomit. I roll my eyes. The ball goes rolling towards America, "What do you like about me?"

"Right now," She raises her eyebrows, laughing slightly, "Absolutely nothing. No, but actually, I think what you said is pretty accurate. You are my perfect match but yet my exact opposite. I like that about you. You keep me grounded without being uprooted yourself."

She kicks the ball to Gerad, "What do you like about Maxon, bud?"

"He plays with me. That's pretty cool." He kicks the ball back to me, "What did she do that made you laugh at breakfast?"

I see the heat rise in America's cheeks from where I am. I hide my blush by ducking my head down, looking at my shoes.

"That made you laugh, Maxon?" She was upset, but it was playful. I could tell.

"She wrote me a note. It was… taunting me about something I did earlier." I huffed, "And, yes, I laughed. You are cute when you're mad."

"You won't think that later…" She mumbles just loud enough for me to hear it.

I kicked the ball to her, "Do you know how much I love you?"

She blushes and laughs, "I feel like I'm going to find out, aren't I?"

I nod. I run the short way across the garden and my lips crash into hers. I love the way her lips feel against mine. She smiles under my lips. We stop when we hear Gerad making gagging sounds. Her slim body pulls away from mine.

She hits him lightly, "You've seen worse than two people kiss before."

"Maybe I have, but you're my sister!" He runs off, taking the ball with him.

"Now that I have you alone…" I whisper in her ear. My arms snake around her waist, pulling her into my chest. Her body relaxed into mine.

She spins around to face me, "Now that you have me alone, Your Royal Husbandess, would you like to discuss the challenge you presented to me through May before we have to go to work?"

"I would. I'm surprised that you came up with a good idea. The last one you had was saying yes to me when we got engaged."

We start to walk to get her shoes.

"You are very funny. I am dying of laughter." The sarcasm drips off of her voice, "I'm pretty sure I had a good idea last night, too, but whatever you want to believe."

I stand and watch her put on her shoes. They slide onto her feet effortlessly, when she rejoins me she is about 3 inches taller, and she is just as beautiful.

I laugh, "Well, for context, your other ideas before saying yes to me and last night have been terrible."

"Not all of them!" She hits my chest, starting our usual path around the garden, "I have had good ideas before."

"Name one good idea that didn't end in disaster."

"Entering the Selection. If I didn't do that you would've ended up with Kriss, which we both know would have ended in disaster."

"Okay, so you have one, but you told me that you didn't even want to enter."

"But I did anyway."

"But it wasn't your idea. So you don't have one. Try again."

"Asking about Halloween. Does that count?"

"It didn't end in the most favorable way did it?"

"Well no, but that wasn't technically my fault. The dance and costumes were my idea. And that worked out pretty great. I loved it, seeing you with my dad…" Her voice catches in her throat.

I break the formality of her arm wrapped in mine. She needs me to comfort her, so I pull her into my body for a hug.

"I remember when we were dancing together at the Halloween dance, after you told me what was going to happen, he gave me a knowing look. A look that said I was alright and that we were alright, you know?"

I nod against her, my voice hums in her hair, "I know, America, I know. I saw that look."

I held her for a moment longer. She pulls away from me, wiping her eyes dry, "Sorry about that. So improper of me."

"Sylvia isn't here, so who cares? It's just me, America."

"I know." she sniffles, "Her princess training taught me better than that, though."

I chuckle a little, "I guess it did, but, yes. You have had a good idea. I stand corrected."

She laughs, "Did you learn nothing from last night?"

We begin to walk again. "What do you mean?"

"You cannot tell me you already forgot! The game Marlee had us play?"

"Oh… and the question Carter asked about who was right?"

"Yes!" Her smile returned to her face. Just the way she should look when she's with me, happy.

"Sorry that I forgot. I was too focused on trying to get you alone last night…"

I don't even have to look at her to know that her cheeks must be a bright red color, "Speaking of getting people alone, we still need to talk about this challenge you proposed."

"Right, we are in a war, per say."

"Right, this war that you started by using my mother against me!"

"And you continued by getting me all hot for you and then leaving me!"

"I did do that," she beamed, "How was that for you?"

"Painful. Incredibly painful. I must have stood there for 5 minutes just waiting for something to happen, and nothing happened."

"Well, something must have happened if you received my note."

"I shoved my hands in my pockets and went back to eat. I was still hungry."

"So you just… let it pass?"

"It did once I started talking to Kota."

"Yea…" She cringed, "He has that effect on people."

"No kidding."

"So this challenge… what embarrassment are you talking about?"

"Well, you might just have to wait and see. We still have a full day to get through. A day in which your family is still going to be staying with us and we have the Report tonight, as well..."

"Don't embarrass me infront of the entire country, Maxon! And if you say anything naughty to May or Gerad, I will personally smack you."

"I figured you would. I won't do anything that might scar them for life. Are James, Kenna, and Kota all fair game?"

"I would rather you not. I would rather save face from them."

"Whatever you wish, my dear."

She smacked my arm playfully, "You like to see me mad don't you?"

"I told you it's cute."

"Have you forgotten all of the countless times when I was mad during the Selection and you didn't think that was so cute?"

"I have." I admitted, "But looking back on it…"

"You are ridiculous, Maxon."

"As are you, America."

She smacked my arm again, pulling away from me slightly, "Oh, my dear Maxon, when will you learn…?"

"I already know everything I need to know about you, America. You are a firecracker, and I love every part of that fiery side of you."

I pulled her back into me. Her body rested against my chest. I kissed her cheek and down her neck. My lips lightly sucked on the sweet spot where her jaw meets her ear. She moans lightly. I kiss her ear, lightly nibbling. I spin her around in my arms, her lips already meet mine. I push her into me, my hands resting on the small of her back. My tongue asks for entrance into her mouth, her lips part willingly. Her hands run through the back of my hair. My hands go lower, landing on her perfect ass. She doesn't stop me, so I squeeze, she moans into my mouth. She pulls away from me, "We shouldn't… not in the garden…"

"Don't cock block me again." I whine.

"Maxon. We are adults, we shouldn't do this out here. Not now, at least."

I pout, "But… it's just us out here. We can do whatever we want. We run this country, remember?"

"I know. But my family…"

"Isn't leaving until after the Report. We can enjoy ourselves a little bit. They will still be here when we are done. Don't you want to have a little fun, baby?"

"Not now. It can wait. We can wait. Self-control, Maxon."

"Baby, it's just us out here. Nobody would see if we had sex out here. It's our garden. Our palace. And it would be the best sex we've ever had, doesn't that sound… fantastic?"

She was about to respond when her jaw dropped down to her feet. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers and her cheeks started to turn the most vivid shade of bright red, matching her fiery locks. I know that what I said isn't what made her react like that, so what was it? I turned around to see what gave her that reaction. Low and behold, Magda Singer stands behind me with her arms crossed against her chest and her face looks eerily similar to America's. Well, shit. I know that America and I are about to get ripped to shreds by Magda Singer.