DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of The Royals characters, however I own some original characters that you'll get to know them one by one.

Hi everyone

I just updated Hypnotic and if you're a Hypnotic reader you know what I'm about to say. If you're not: A. Read it! B. I'm sorry but I'm going to get emotional!

It's been seven months since I updated this story. And I'm sorry that my stupid life got in the way of me writing fanfic and communicating with you. I'm not here promising that I'll be back soon and update asap but I will say that I will finish this story and any other Royals fanfic. I hope you all stay with me until we finish what we started.

Thank you for being patient. And thank you for reviewing and messaging me to keep writing. I love you all.

And... HERE WE GO:

Chapter 20_Don't Let Me Drown

Eleanor downed her second shot of tequila with a stifled groan and ordered another one. She had been waiting for him all day. She could barely sleep last night and from the moment she was up and out of her room, her eyes were searching for him. So stupid. Like he was going to jump in front of her.

She had lunch with her parents and hung out with Liam for a while before she left for her usual club. She figured he wasn't going to show up so she deleted her tweet on the way. And she had finally convinced her mother that she didn't need six security details following her around so she was only going out with one. And currently she was sitting at the bar like a loser with her detail sitting a few seats away from her.

She had completely lost hope of him showing up. She couldn't believe she was so naïve. Her life wasn't a rom-com, it was more like a ridiculous horror movie. She chuckled at her stupid joke and drank her next shot as she heard her detail ask loudly: "Where do you think you're going?"

She rolled her eyes as she was sure there was another guy who had the courage to ask her to dance. But as she turned her head, her breath caught in her throat. Jasper was grinning from ear to ear behind her detail and Eleanor felt the world around her disappear. It was only him and his smile.

But as her security stood up to remove him from the scene, she rushed: "It's alright. Let him in." Her bodyguard gave her a suspicious look but kept quiet as he let Jasper walk towards the Princess. He ordered a shot of tequila after he noticed her drink and asked her casually: "Do you want anything to drink?" Eleanor shook her head, not wanting to waste another moment with him talking about stupid drinks.

He sat down next to her and whispered: "You look pretty." She stared at him, his calm demeanor caught her off guard, but she managed to say: "Thanks. You look good too." Her eyes drifted to his bulging arms sticking out of his shirt and she gulped uncontrollably. Jasper noticed and smirked before drinking his shot.

His lips oh so close to her burning face, he drawled: "Looks like I've been summoned again, Princess…" Eleanor looked away, her heart beating faster than usual, and asked: "Did you expect it?" And Jasper, in a moment of truth, murmured: "No."

Eleanor wanted to say something but nothing came to mind. Thankfully, Jasper leaned in a bit more and asked: "Can we go somewhere private? I don't want to be pictured near you in case…" He trailed off but Eleanor knew what he meant. In case Carter saw them pictured together.

She nodded in understanding and said: "Wait a second." She walked to her detail and after a heated conversation, she walked back and ordered: "Follow me." Jasper paid for his drink and followed the Princess out the back door until they were in an alley behind the club.

They both leaned against the wall facing each other, neither of them saying a word. Eleanor wanted to kiss him so bad and she tried to distract herself but Jasper particularly staring at her lips was not helping. He started after noticing Eleanor watching him, breaking his calm façade: "I've missed you…"

Eleanor cursed him in her mind before pulling his face down and catching his lips with her own. He didn't miss a beat as he pulled her petite body as close as possible, his hands locking around her waist. The kiss was passionate and rough, all that she was feeling for him, and she pulled away too soon for both their liking.

She let out breathlessly: "I guess that shows how much I've missed you too…" Jasper smirked and kissed her forehead, an act so pure they both felt their hearts melt a bit. They stayed like that, Eleanor wrapped in his arms, until their breathing returned to normal.

She asked what was on her mind the whole day: "What took you so long?" Jasper chuckled and answered: "I did want to come to you as soon as I saw your tweet but I figured I would surprise you. More fun, eh?"

Eleanor narrowed her eyes and smacked his chest before sighing: "I thought you wouldn't show." Jasper whispered: "I wouldn't dare, Lenny. What the Princess wants, the Princess gets. Am I right?" Eleanor giggled light headedly before locking her arms around his neck, pulling his face close, so she could whisper: "And the Princess wants you…"

He managed to barely let out before putting his lips on hers: "Fuck, you're killing me…" Eleanor deepened the kiss blissfully and couldn't believe how much energy was rushing through her veins. She had never felt more powerful or more alive than that moment. It was scary.

A couple stumbled out the back door giggling and kissing and Jasper pulled away quickly. He mentally thanked God since the alley was dark and the couple didn't notice them. He looked back at the breathless Lenny and whispered: "Let's go to my flat."

Eleanor nodded without thinking and they rushed back inside before exiting once again. Jasper led her to his modest car and drove away. Eleanor felt another wave of rush hitting her body as she looked at him driving around and the cold air of the night prickled her skin.

She almost didn't notice what neighborhood he was driving towards until they had reached his home. He got out quickly and opened the door for her, making her roll her eyes with a smile. Jasper looked around carefully and ushered her inside the building.

Eleanor thought of all the ways she would make him crazy in the night ahead as he looked for his keys. Jasper noticed her predatory gaze and smirked in response before finally opening the door and letting her in. Eleanor took in the small flat as Jasper walked to the kitchen shouting: "I know it's not the palace but make yourself comfortable, Princess."

Eleanor sat down on one of the couches, admiring the paintings hung on the wall in front of her. Jasper never struck her as an artsy person but she didn't know him fully and it showed. He came back with a bottle of wine and two glasses and he sat down next to her pouring.

Eleanor took the glass from him and clicked it with his own before drinking. Thank God for the wine, she told herself, as her nerves were slowly calming down. She asked: "Do you live alone or with Kyle?" Jasper leaned back and answered: "Alone. Kyle still lives with my mom and Steve."

Eleanor let out: "I miss him." Jasper chuckled and said: "I miss him too and I haven't seen him since…" Eleanor watched as he looked away, embarrassed and upset, and she put her hand on his thigh. Jasper sipped a bit more and continued: "They both left for Italy. They were supposed to come back when things were a bit calm but I haven't heard from them."

Eleanor didn't know what to say. She wanted to reassure him that Kyle and their psychotic brother was safe but she couldn't possibly say that. She drank the rest of her glass quickly, hoping for a courage to forget their complicated history.

Jasper, ever so observant, noticed her reaction and whispered: "I'm sorry… I just… You're the only one I can talk to about this." Eleanor nodded but still kept quiet. She went to lift her hand off him but Jasper swiftly held it in his own.

Eleanor looked up at him, wanting to forget about everything else and throw herself at him, but something wasn't right. So she looked down and fiddled with his fingers and Jasper started: "I've been a wreck since that night..."

Eleanor knew which night he was referring to. How could she forget? And how they said goodbye the morning after. He went on: "I tried to let you go, truly let you go. I shut out the whole world and just focused on work. I even took down your poster."

Eleanor's head shot up and she asked: "My poster?" Jasper explained quickly: "It wasn't creepy or anything but after your interview, your posters were sold everywhere. And I got one. And I hung it in my bedroom." He waited for her reaction but she only burst into laughter. Jasper joined in as well and squeezed her hand.

Eleanor asked after they both fell quiet: "So did it work?" Jasper shrugged and said: "To a point. I heard your name once and I couldn't help but look you up." Eleanor felt her heart beat faster as she was sure he had seen her get dragged in the papers for being a whore, again.

Jasper was looking into her eyes as he let out: "I knew you were different. I felt it. I dared to think… But I convinced myself that I was wrong. I wanted to forget you but your tweet, it came at the right moment. I can't…" He shook his head and drank a bit before saying: "I can't believe it but you and I, we have a connection, Princess…"

Eleanor gulped, knowing how true his words were, and she set her glass down. Her courage was present due to alcohol and she let out things she wished weren't true: "I can't think about anyone else. I can't be with anyone else. I can't touch anyone else. All I want is you, Jasper…"

Jasper blinked a few times as the woman of his dreams were saying things he wouldn't dream of. He put his glass down as well and pulled her face close to him but Eleanor ordered: "Wait." Jasper froze and she whispered: "It scares me... How much I want you. How much I'm willing to risk. I just…"

Eleanor stared into his eyes and he could sense her hesitation. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe again. He took her hand and kissed it gently before Jasper asking: "What can I do?" Eleanor let out, tired of fighting his attraction: "Just don't let me drown…"