Chapter 4 - Diane

She couldn't believe this was happening.

King's hand on her hip pushed her shirt up slightly and Diane let out a shaky breath as his fingers explored her skin. She fisted her hands in his shirt as his lips crashed against her neck. Much like he had last night, he started just below her ear trailing down towards her shoulder. This time, when he got to the junction, he sucked. Hard.

"Ah!" Diane couldn't help the gasp that escaped her. "H-Harlequin!" She moaned loudly.

He pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. "I don't think you know what you're asking me," he gruffed out, his tone sending pleasant shivers down her spine.

"Believe me, I do," Diane responded.

She had been thinking about it all damn day. How she was suppose to deny the obvious attraction she had to the man and how she had never noticed him sooner. As King often liked to tell her, she went for what she wanted. And Diane wanted him. That was more than enough for her to try and pursue this. If she didn't, she'd regret it and Diane didn't like to regret things. That paired with Elizabeth and Elaine's advice egged her on.

"I don't know what to do," Diane had told them after a few drinks. She was in the middle of explaining her torment to the two of them. "I've never wanted someone so bad before."

"So go for it!" Elaine had given her a bright smile. She was more open to the topic then Diane had thought she would be. The brunette was, in all intent and purposes, talking about sleeping with the girl's older brother. "I've been waiting for you to do this for years!"

"Jump your brother?" Diane had to tease the woman.

Elaine flushed and Elizabeth giggled. "That is NOT what I meant!" She had squeaked out, clearly embarrassed. "I just meant you guys getting together! I knew since we were kids that you two were meant to be!"

She had rolled her amethyst eyes. "Why did no one tell me that?"

"We did," both women had immediately responded.

"But everyone's always said that! How was I supposed to know they actually meant it?" Diane had defended with a huff. "And who's to say he even thinks of me the same way?"

Elizabeth and Elaine had shared a look. The blonde took a drink while Elizabeth had taken her time to think of an explanation. "I honestly thought the two of you would have started dating after his girlfriend and him split. That was right after you came to college ya know?"

She hadn't ever put that together actually. Diane's brow had furrowed. "So because I came to school, King broke it off with the girl he'd been dating for almost two years?... Why does that make me feel bad?"

"It was her decision, actually. She broke up with him."

Diane's eyes had widened. "Really?" She had never heard that.

"It was pretty mutual though, wasn't it?" Elaine had chimed in.

Elizabeth nodded. "So she said. But if you ask King, he'll says it was her. He just didn't fight her much when she brought it up."

Her head had spun with the new information. Why hadn't she ever thought of that before now? Why didn't anyone ever bring that to her attention before now? Why didn't Harlequin ever tell me? She couldn't help but think.

"What were they like together?" Diane had found herself asking. She quickly tacked on, "I only ever saw them out together a few times."

Elizabeth had hummed as she tried to recall. "They were a rather cute couple. I actually met King because of her, ya know? It seems so odd looking back. I'm not really sure when I became closer friends with him then with her." The silverette shook her head, "uh, anyway. King had always been very kind to me and nothing but a gentleman to her. But when the two of you joined school, he… changed almost? He was more, open and more comfortable with himself. If I hadn't known him so well before, I wouldn't have noticed the difference. He was more relaxed. He's the reason I met Meliodas and all of you."

"I'd forgotten all about that," Elaine sighed wistfully. "My brother the matchmaker," she snickered. "I met Ban because of him too."

"Something he still moans and groans about," Elizabeth laughed lightly. "I never thought of King as unhappy with her, I think he actually was very happy. But things were just different when you two showed up."

"Oh," Diane responded simply. She hadn't been sure what she was expecting. But she wasn't much a fan of hearing King was happy with another woman besides herself.

"That, right there!" Elaine had cried excitedly, leaning over the table to poke her cheek. Diane wasn't sure the blonde's smile could get any wider. "You're jealous!"

"I am NOT!" She had denied quickly.

"You sooo are~!" Elaine had teased. King was right, his little sister was spending way too much time with Ban.

Diane had given her the dirtiest glare she could muster. To bad Elaine already seemed well on her way to being buzzed. Which meant the blonde didn't care one bit where normally she'd be sputtering out an apology. She didn't even get a chance to form a response before the silverette spoke up.

"There's an easy way to fix this," Elizabeth had joined in with a sly smirk. "Just don't leave with another guy, and King won't leave with a girl."

"You don't know that." The brunette had shot back, only adding to the evidence of her being jealous.

Both women rolled their eyes. Diane had flushed, sinking lower into her chair. There was no way in hell she'd be able to let King leave with another woman tonight. That was for damn sure. Just thinking of his past relationship was tying her stomach up in knots. How hadn't she felt all this before? Maybe I have? She had thought as one particular memory came to mind. The time when King had come back home for Thanksgiving his first semester of college. She held down a groan.

It seemed so obvious now.

"Why don't you just ignore other guys tonight, and see where that takes you?" Elizabeth had suggested as Diane drowned her sorrows in ale. "And no more drinks for you at this bar!"

They honestly probably hadn't expected her to take it to this level, but they should have known it was a possibility. Elizabeth at the very least. Like she friend had pointed out this morning, Diane and King had always been pretty touchy feely. To take the leap from friendly to intimate wasn't much of a line to cross for them.

Her hands moved from his shirt to the back of his neck. "Do you have any idea how-how hot you made me last night, Harlequin? How close I was to kissing you? To taking your offer? I thought of you when I was with that guy. It was your hands on me, the thought of you that I came too." She took a shaky breath as she recalled last night, her blood heating up from the memories and King's actions now. "I don't want to just imagine you. I want you."

His lips locked with hers.

Diane moaned, tangling her hands in his hair. The hand he had on the wall came down to rest on her hip. Both hands trailing down her shorts to her bare thighs. He lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he pressed her back against the wall. She gasped at the feeling of him between her legs. His tongue slipped into her mouth, tasting her and she groaned. Grounding her hips against his.

She was so hot.

Too hot.

They needed to get out of here.

"H-Harlequin," she attempted against his lips. He moved his attention to her neck so she could speak. Her focus muddled when his lips latched onto the sensitive spot. "Oh god, we-we need to leave."

"Why?" His husky tone against her neck sent shivers down her spine. "Don't want me to take you in the hall at your favorite club? Pretty sure we passed by a closet."

He was teasing. She knew he was. And yet she couldn't fight the excited thrill of doing something like that out in the open with him. "Not tonight," she settled with answering.

King's breath came out heavy against her neck. Hot. He angled his head so he could stare into her eyes. Her thighs tightened around his waist at the want she saw, the want she knew she reflected. He smirked. "I may have to hold you to that."

She bite the inside of her lip, narrowing her eyes at him. Diane grounded into him again. His grip on her thighs tightened. "Stop that."

"Stop what?" His smirk didn't falter as his hands moved to grip her rear. She gasped as he pushed their hips together. "You're the one who didn't say no."

"I said, not tonight. And if you keep this up, it will be." She licked her lips, unable to stop herself from continuing to grind against him. Diane used her hold on his neck to pull him closer so she could whisper in his ear. "I don't want our first time to be in a hallway."

She could feel his adam's apple bob. "Then you probably need to get down. We won't make it to the car if I have to carry you like this."

Diane hummed, rather liking the idea of the composed King losing control because of her. She circled her hips and nipped at his ear. "Not up for the challenge?"

"You're playing a dangerous game, Diane." He stared into her eyes, a mixture of lust and amusement. She really liked that look.

She couldn't help but smile. "I'm with you, think I'll be okay." She winked at him.

"Glad you have so much faith in me," he mumbled as he rolled his eyes. He gave her rear one last squeeze, causing her to jump at the unexpected touch. He smirked, letting her back down to the ground. "Sure you don't wanna go back to drinking with the others?" His voice was light, so contradicting to the low tone he'd been using.

Diane was already pulling him out of the hall, back past the bathrooms and out to the main bar area. "Oh hell no. We're going back to my place," she told him over her shoulder. She wanted him and the car ride back to her apartment would already be too long of a wait.

He chuckled at her impatience. The sound warmed her in a different kind of way then his hands and lips on her had. She didn't think much of it. Diane had always loved King's laugh. She loved everything about him. Just another reason why she was so mad at herself for taking so long to get to this point. There was no one but him that she could honestly say she loved everything about.

The cool, crisp air of winter greeted them as they stepped out of the club. King took the lead towards a parked taxi. "Thank god," Daine mumbled.

The ginger gave her an amused glance over his shoulder. "Eager?"

"You have no idea," She told him provocatively.

He snorted. "Trust me, I do." He leaned into the open passenger window of the cab, probably telling the driver directions before opening the door for her. He took her hand, helping her into the car and quickly followed her in.

"Well aren't you a gentlemen?" She purred as she linked her arm through his, making sure to pull herself close so her breasts brushed against him. "I'm a little sad we didn't get to dance again tonight."

His hand made itself at home on the inside of her thigh. King leaned in and whispered, "I'll take you dancing whenever you want. But tonight, I have something else in mind." His hand trailed closer to her center, only stopping when he reached the hem of her shorts.

Diane swallowed down a moan. Her legs parted slightly, hoping King would continue his path. His fingers ghosted underneath the denim. She buried her face in his neck and mumbled, "can this cab go any faster?"

"So impatient," he murmured as he started slow sensual circles between her exposed skin and under her shorts. "You don't live that far away."

She kissed his neck, muttering, "five min, twenty, it's all too far."

King hummed in agreement. "If we weren't in a cab, I don't think I'd be able to wait either."

Her thighs tightened again. "In the back of your car? Harlequin, you dog." She whispered in his ear and she could feel him smile against her cheek.

"Wouldn't be the first time you've sat in my lap in the backseat, Diane."

She recalled a few times off the top of her head and shuddered. "God, how are we only doing this now?" Her hand rested on his thigh purposefully. "We've been in so many," she licked her lips, "delicate situations like that. How hasn't this happened before?" She glanced at the bulge she knew his oversize shirt was hiding.

"That's - "

The cap jolted to a stop. King quickly threw open the door, offering Diane a hand to help her out. He kept his hold on her as he leaned into the window and paid the driver. Business done, the cab drove away. Diane yanked King towards her apartment complex. Her heart hammering in her chest, excitement coursing through her veins. For the second time that day, she was glad to be on the bottom floor.

As soon as they were in the safety of her apartment, she pushed King against the wall. Her hands roamed his chest, fiddling with the buttons of his shirt as their lips moved together. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him.

"Harlequin," she whined as her hands become smothered by her own breasts. She nipped at his neck in playful retaliation. "My hands!"

"What about them?"

"They're stuck!"

"Maybe your boobs are too big."

She bit his neck lightly.

"Ow!"

"You would be the first person to complain," she scowled up at him, surprised to find only a smile on his face. "What?"

"I never said I was complaining." He licked his lips, one hand moving from her back to trail up her arm and across her exposed collarbone. Diane lifted her heels up, hoping to get his hand to go lower. He complied, fingers brushing just the tops of her breasts, she shuddered. "I've never had any complaints about you." His voice was soft and she knew he meant what he said. King didn't say things he didn't mean.

She blushed, unable to deny the warmth going through her again. "Stop being so sweet."

He chuckled. "Can't help it." His amber eyes stared into hers and his adam's apple bobbed.

"Let's go to the bedroom." Diane took a step back, his arm around her falling to his side. She grabbed his hand above her chest, dragging it down across them before letting them settle down by their hips. She lead the way to her room, kicking off her shoes as she went. King stumbled slightly and she giggled, figuring he was doing the same.

Once in her room, Diane hopped onto the bed. She bit her lip and motioned for him to join her. King shuffled to her bed, scowling as he almost lost his footing in a pair of her underwear. He pulled them off his foot, quirking a brow at her.

"Really, Diane?" He glanced at the plain boyshorts before tossing them into the nearby hamper. His eyes looked at the floor, littered with clothes. "This place is a mess."

"The only two people who are ever in my room is you and Elizabeth, Harlequin," she rolled her eyes. "Are you not going to join me because my room is a little messy?"

"A little? You have shit everywhere." He frowned, eyes wandering over her floor. They stopped on one particular pile for a little too long.

A sly smirk settled on her lips. "Stop looking at my panites, Harlequin. I promise the ones I'm wearing are much better."

King's gaze snapped to her. His jaw slacked for a moment and then he tackled her back onto the bed.

"Eep!" Diane squeaked, not expecting the reaction. His one hand was on her hip, fingers dipping below her denim shorts. The other was by her head, supporting his weight as he hovered over her. He positioned one of his legs between hers, pressing his knee against her. She gasped in surprise.

"Anything on you is better," he grumbled, his hand gliding across her skin to mess with the button of her shorts, teasing her.

She arched her back, pressing herself closer to his knee. "I don't know, I think these will look better on the floor."

King smirked, "guess we'll just have to see." He undid the button of her shorts, slowly pulling down the zipper. His finger trailed back up the newly exposed area and Diane's hand flew up to squeeze his shoulders. "Navy, huh?" He mumbled continuing his path up, pushing her shirt up as he went and settling in between her breasts, exposing her matching bra. A low growl came from him.

Diane bit the inside of her cheek to keep from moaning at the sound. "I know that n-navy is one of your f-favoirte colors." She tugged at the buttons of his navy shirt, finally finishing her earlier task and pushing it off his shoulders leaving him in a simple white tee he wore underneath. "And green. And I even wore those sn-sneakers you got me for my last birthday." His not so subtle effort of trying to get her to wear more sensible footwear.

"Trying to impress me Diane?"

She nodded.

"It's not like you to think so far ahead," he leaned back on his legs, using both hands to pull up her shirt. "You really wanted this, huh?" He sounded… nervous almost.

She sat up, lifting her arms so he could remove her crop top. "I told you I did," she looked into his eyes as soon as her shirt was off. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since last night you know?" She drug him forward into a searing kiss.

King laid her back down, not breaking their contact. His hands roamed her skin, her own dipping underneath his shirt to the run across his stomach. When her fingers came to play with his belt, he interrupted their kiss.

"Diane," his hand stopped hers. "Wait."

"What is it?" She didn't continue her task but she didn't pull her hand away either, keeping a firm grip on the worn leather.

"Are you sure?" His adam's apple bobbed with his uncertainty.

She couldn't understand it. "You want to have this conversation now?" She emphasized her point by tugging his hips forward.

He looked away from her, put didn't move back. "Better now than in the morning," he grumbled. "I… I don't want you to regret this."

"Harlequin." He kept his gaze from hers. She growled, grabbing his face in her hands and forcing him to look her in the eye. "I will not regret this. No matter what may happen tomorrow, you and I will always be best friends. Us having sex, won't change that."

"Pretty sure there's been plenty of books and movies that disagree with you," he objected, but that damn sexy uptick of his lips was there.

"Fuck the movies and books. Those people aren't us. If we start a relationship, cool. I'd be game for that."

His eyes widened at her surprising statement.

She couldn't blame him. Diane had never really been in a relationship since she left highschool. Even then the only time she had a boyfriend was in the the two years King hadn't been there. She just never wanted one since she started college. Looking back, maybe it was because she had King by her side again.

But now, she couldn't imagine anyone better than him to start one with.

"If we just end up fucking each others brains out for awhile and then decide differently. I know we'll be okay." She'd be more than okay with that.

He quirked a brow, definitely amused at her words. "You always have such a way with words, Di." King shook his head, hand ducking underneath her, fingers pressing against her spine. Diane moaned, eyes sliding shut for a second. "If I'd known this would be your response, I may have tried this years ago."

"Why didn't you?"

"Diane…" He trailed off, searching her eyes for something she couldn't place. "You're really important to me.."

Her brows furrowed, confused. "And you're really important to me. What does that have to do with us not doing this years ago?"

King ducked his head against her shoulder. "I was scared. Still am, actually. I didn't want this to be a one time thing. I care about you too much and if this… if that's what this is going to be... We should stop. Now."

She inhaled sharply, surprised by his sudden conviction.

"I'd call a cab, and honestly probably pretend that this never happened."

Tears pricked at her eyes. "You could do that?"

"... no," he admitted against her throat. He placed a soft kiss to her neck. "But I'd try. Because knowing that we were so close and that you didn't… that this is something different for you, then me…" He lifts his head, studying her face, as if committing the moment to memory.

"Harlequin," she placed a hand on his cheek. "Stop thinking so much… alright?" She gave him a small smile. "I want you, you want me. We care so much about each other… isn't that enough?"

His eyes closed as he lifted his hand to hold hers in place and he leaned into her touch. "Yeah. It's enough… " She barely heard him whisper, "for now."

King then pressed their lips back together, starting off slow, sensual. Diane wanted to melt at the emotion behind it. She wasn't sure anyone had ever kissed her with so much held back passion. And there was passion, just beneath the surface of it. He was holding back. She didn't like that. Before she got the chance to yell at him for doing such a thing, his tongue slipped past her lips. She parted them, surprised by the sensation, finding it contradicting to what he had been doing moments ago.

She tilted her head to the side, allowing King to explore her mouth more fully. His hand on her back slide up her spine. Experienced fingers undid the fastening of her bra in one flick of his wrist. Diane gasped and he smiled, effectively breaking their kiss momentarily.

"If just undoing your bra has you gasping, I don't think you're going to last very long, Diane," he mumbled teasingly against her lips and she couldn't help but shudder.

"Shut up," she grumbled back, using the opportunity to dive into his mouth. He hummed in response, tongue moving pleasurably against her own.

She wiggled out of her bra, King taking it and tossing it on the floor. He pressed his knee against her core again and Diane circled it with her hips. He broke their lip lock to trail kisses down her neck. One of his hands grasped her breast and she cried out as he rolled her nipple with his thumb. His mouth continued down, taking the other mound into his warm mouth. Diane was overtaken by his ministrations, moaning and writhing beneath his touch.

"Harlequin," she breathed heavily. "Please."

He left her breast with a soft nip to speak to her, both hands now moving against her chest. "Tell me what you want, Diane." His mouth moved over to the other breast. Hand trailing down to her denim shorts and underneath her ass. She groaned loudly as he used his hold to push her core even more against him.

Her hands fisted in his shirt. "Too many clothes. Off." She told him in short breaths.

"Then take them off," he mumbled against her.

She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, forcing his mouth to leave her as she pulled it over his head. Immediately her fingers went to discover the new skin. King had never been the most sculpted, but he had lean muscle and it fit him far better. She couldn't imagine him anyway else. Diane licked her lips and glanced up at him with hooded eyes. He was looking down at her, gaze taking in her own bare form. She blushed at the utter admiration in his eyes and distracted herself with undoing his belt.

He noticed her struggling and chuckled. She huffed up at him. King smiled, hands joining hers at his buckle and easily undoing it. Diane pulled it out of the loops, mad that she couldn't get the thing on her own. She glared at the thing for a few seconds before it and her hands were pinned above her head.

"Plans for the belt?" King asked her with a quirked brow, hand tightening on hers meaningfully.

"N-no!" Diane's face reddened, picking up on his subtle hint. A sly smirk formed on his lips and she changed the topic before he could say anything else. "Are you going to take off my shorts sometime tonight, Harlequin?"

"That is part of my plan, yes, Di."

Her skin flushed all over at hearing him use her old nickname. He released her hands and tugged at her shorts. Diane lifted her hips, wiggling out of the tight clothing. When she noticed he'd left her underwear on, she frowned.

"I meant them too."

He hummed, hands running over her navy lace cheeksters. "I wanted to make sure which one was better."

Her brows furrowed together.

"Whether these," he hooked a finger underneath her panties and tugged lightly at them, "look better on you. Or the floor." His tongue swept across his lips, a predatory spark in his eyes. "Turn around."

Diane bit her lip at the look and did as she was told, rising up onto her knees and shifting so her back was to him. His hands roamed her backside and she squeezed her thighs together. King wrapped an arm around her waist, forcing her to sit in his lap. His harden membered pressed between them, she couldn't help but move against him.

One of his hands kneaded her breast. The other dipped down beneath the cloth. Diane gasped and he groaned as two of his fingers split her already slick folds, his thumb brushing against her nub. She moaned as he worked against her, throwing her head back as he slipped two fingers inside her. "H-Harlequin!" Her hips circled against his hands, wanting more.

King kissed her neck, his hand on her breast moving expertly as well as the one he had against her lower half. His lips began sucking and nipping at the base of her throat. The sensations were quickly becoming to much for her.

Diane screamed as the familiar euphoric feeling coursed through her, King's diligent fingers working against her as she rode it out. She slumped back against him and he slowly pulled his hand out of her, resting it on her thigh. Diane shuddered at the wetness that clung to his digits. He pressed another soft kiss to her neck and she let out a content sigh as she laced their fingers together.

"Told you, that you wouldn't last long," he mumbled against her ear.

She squeezed her thighs together, still sensitive from her orgasm brought to her at the hands of her best friend. "You're always right, Harlequin." He hummed, his free arm wrapping around her waist pressing her against him.

Diane wiggled and he groaned. A sly smile settled on her features as she glanced over her shoulder at him. "Lay back."

King gulped, but did as she commanded, releasing her and laying down. Diane pulled his pants off, tossing the denim on the floor. She palmed him through his boxers and he hissed. Her smirk grew as he stared at her with lust filled eyes.

She rubbed her hand up and down as she bit her lip. "Now… how should I get you back for teasing me, hmm?"

"Wasn't teasing," he responded huskily, amber eyes boring into her own, sending pleasant shivers down Diane's spine. "An observation."

"It's annoying sometimes," she told him as she put her hand down his boxers, gripping him firmly.

"W-what is?" He asked even as his eyes closed.

She studied his face, relishing in his expressions as she stroked him. She leaned over him and whispered, "How well you know me."

He moaned as her thumb brushed over the top of his head, spreading the natural lubricant down him. "I-is it.. So bad?" He struggled to speak. Diane liked that. King always had a quick tongue, a smart man. To leave him gasping for breath? Heat was rapidly pooling between her thighs again.

"Not at all," Diane purred. "I can only imagine how great the sex will be after a few more times if you're this good now."

The next thing she knew, she was on her back. She blinked up at him, surprised he could move her so quickly. He kissed her deeply, her hand still on his shaft loosening its hold as she got lost in the kiss. King kissed down her body, nipping gently at her hip bones before ripping her underwear down her legs. Diane followed his lead and reached to pull down his boxers.

Both moaned as their hips pressed against each other.

"Fuck," King swore as he coated himself in her.

"Oh Harlequin," Diane groaned before latching herself onto his shoulder and sucking. She pulled back, taking his face in her hands. "I need you. NOW."

He nodded, hips shifting back and then slowly pushing into her. Each of them moaning as he sat for a few seconds before rocking against her. Diane brought her hips up to meet his, quickly finding his rhythm. She gasped as he gripped her breast roughly, his mouth dropping to engulf the other. His tongue swirled her nipple and she bucked helplessly against him forcing his mouth away.

She pulled herself up, sitting in his lap and grasping at his back in an attempt to ground herself. One thrust had them falling over, King now laying on his back. Immediately his hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements to which Diane eagerly complied. Not once did they stop. Not until both of them were moaning and groaning and she was so close to the edge. She finally screamed his name as she came undone, his release following right after.

Diane collapsed on top of him, her head resting just below his chin as she tried to catch her breath. King's arms wrapped around her and she felt oddly complete. It was so different compared to any other encounters she had before. The only person who could even hold a candle to how King made her feel, would have been her one and only boyfriend, Arthur. And even those experiences were miles behind this one. Emotion threatened to overtake her. Diane quickly stuffed it down. No way could she get this sentimental so early on. King would be sure to laugh if she did.

Though… with how he was acting before… maybe not.

Slowly she removed herself from King, rolling off to on to her side. His breathing was already slowing, as if he was almost asleep. He moved an arm around her waist, pulling her back gently against his chest and she smiled softly. Those amber eyes she adored wouldn't be able to see her from this angle so she didn't have to worry about him seeing her, trying to figure her out. Diane linked their fingers together and sighed, content. Her mind was buzzing happily, the combination of everything tonight giving her a different kind of high then she'd just experienced. Tonight had almost been perfect, except one detail.

Her gaze flickered to their joined hands and she frowned. Bringing it up to her eyes level to inspect the raw skin, she shot him an accusing glare over her shoulder. To her annoyance, his eyes were still closed. Diane pressed her shoulder back into his chest in an attempt to wake him.

"What?" He gruffed, voice tired, sleep had probably only been seconds from his grasp.

Diane only felt slightly guilty for waking him. She had to know. "Why did you hit him…?" Her gaze went back to his injured hand.

He pulled her closer to him. Fingers removing themselves from hers to press against her middle. "You know why. Guy was an ass… had it coming," he grumbled his response into her hair.

Diane frowned, unsatisfied with the answer. "Harlequin…"

He sighed heavily, removing his face from her hair so she could hear him better. "He was bragging about you, and he touched you that morning."

"King-" she used his nickname, but stopped as his arm tightened around her.

"Not that way. When you were trying to leave," he clarified and she could feel him shake his head. "No one should think they can control you like that. If you want nothing to do with them, they need to listen... Fuckin' idiots."

An affectionate smile took over her face. She didn't even bother to hide it.

"Myself included," he whispered barely loud enough to hear.

"That's never going to happen!" She insisted immediately. "I'll never send you away, Harlequin."

"Good," he hummed, obviously satisfied with her answer. "Cause I'm never leaving this bed."

The brunette giggled, shifting in his hold and pushing him on his back so she could rest on his chest. She placed a quick kiss to his lips. "Goodnight Harlequin."

"Goodnight, Diane."

Diane drifted into a peaceful slumber, in the arms of her best friend. King.

A/N: What a roller coaster of a chapter, am I right? XD We dip into Diane's mind here and find her not nearly as conflicted as King has been. Which, to me, isn't surprising. This is a girl who goes for what she wants and likes to live her life with no regrets. It was a little tricky trying to show that while she had zero qualms about taking King home, she was still a little unsure of her feelings. She knows she loves the guy and she has for years. She just hasn't realized that it's shifted to more yet.

Now I think that Diane is actually the first one who thinks she may have deeper feelings (back when she's without King in high school) but when King comes back with news of a girlfriend she... well she doesn't think on the feelings anymore and moves on. She doesn't ever revisit these feelings and that's part of the reason why she touches King so much. Her repressed conscious seeking him out while she downright ignores the "why" behind it. ORRRR I'm just thinking way to deeply into the characters XD

Anyway, thank you to everyone who is reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! You guys are the best! And thank you so much for giving this little universe a chance! See ya next chapter!