Chapter 5 - King

Is this real?

He couldn't help the thought as he glanced down at the head of soft brown hair. Diane's hair. King glanced around the room. Diane's room. They were in bed. Diane's bed.

"Holy fucking shit," King cursed lowly, running his free hand down his face. The other was curled around her waist.

They slept together.

After years of King fighting his feelings for the woman in his arms, they'd slept together.

"It's to early in the morning for you to be mumbling to yourself," Diane's quiet voice broke through his downward spiral. She pressed herself closer to him, her breasts grazing against his bare chest. King hadn't even realized they were till naked from last night. His blood began pumping as her fingers began to roam. "Freaking out about last night?"

She knew him too well.

"Freak out isn't exactly the right phrase…" he mumbled, burying his face into her hair. He inhaled deeply, enjoying her scent. His fingers tapped an uneasy rhythm against her bare hip.

Diane hummed, leg intertwining with his. "Scared?"

He had no idea how to put his feelings into words. He was scared, she was right in that observation. But she was probably thinking of it in a different way then he was. He was scared of her rejection. That last night was a one night thing. That their friendship would change. That she wouldn't want to see him ever again. The list of his fears went on.

"Harlequin," she whispered his name, hand cupping his cheek. He met her gaze. Admired her tousled hair, her slightly flushed cheeks, the hickies on her neck, her amethyst eyes, so clear and bright. He committed it all to memory. "You worry too much."

And then she kissed him.

King responded a half second later. The kiss was slower than most they'd shared last night. Not nearly as urgent. But the passion was still there. More like the kiss he'd given her when he told her, it's enough… for now.

When they parted, she gave him a soft smile. "I told you last night, one of two things is going to happen here. Do you remember?"

Of course he remembered. How could he forget?

"We either start a relationship or…" he trailed off, heat coursing through his veins, blood pumping south.

"Or?" Diane prompted, sly smile replacing her soft reassuring one. Her hand trailed down his stomach.

King flipped her on her back. "Or we fuck each others brains out." He pressed his hips to hers. Diane moaned as her hands gripped his shoulders tightly. "We could just combine those two options…?" He suggested cautiously as he moved down her body stopping just below her navel.

She withered beneath him, obviously wanting him to continue his path. "You know better then anyone my lack of experiences with relationships Harlequin…" She paused, hands reaching for him and lifting his face so she could look in his eyes. "But I do wanna try. If it's with you. I think we could do it and crush the shit out of being a couple!" She grinned widely.

Warmth overtook him even as he laughed about her competitive attitude.

Of course Diane would sum up a relationship as something they could win. Maybe she was right, King couldn't say for sure. His only relationship had been with a nice girl named Jericho. They had dated in the two years before Diane started college. At the time when she called it off, he had been confused, and hurt but probably not as much as he should have been. A few years ago he had run into her on one of their nights out and asked what happened between them, they'd left on fairly good terms after all.

Jericho had smiled and merely gestured towards the dancing Diane. "I never stood a chance. I knew it the moment you introduced us that she had your heart."

King had scowled, asking, "how? I didn't even know then."

She had rolled her eyes even as a sad smile crossed her lips. "So you finally figured it out?" King had blushed at realizing his slip up and what he had unknowingly confessed to. She had laughed. "It was the way you looked at her, how you two interacted. I knew you were best friends, but… I never realized how much you were holding back in our relationship until I saw how you were with her, so comfortable, so carefree. You were never quite like that with me."

"I'm sorry I was so blind…" he had apologized. "I hope I didn't hurt you."

"Well sure, at first it hurt and I was upset. It was hard not to be. I really liked you," Jericho had smiled at him sweetly, tucking a piece of her lavender hair behind her ear. This girl had been his first everything. King had really liked her too. Still did. But she wasn't Diane. "I was actually really jealous and I hated feeling like that. Besides what I thought, you guys weren't actually doing anything wrong and if I would have asked you to stop hanging out with her-"

"I wouldn't have listened." King had finished for her.

She nodded. "And then we wouldn't have been together anyway. Because you would pick her friendship over any relationship."

They had sat in companionable silence for a minute or two as King processed her words.

"Does she know?" Jericho had asked curiously, not looking at him but the beautiful brunette out on the dance floor with Elizabeth and Elaine.

"... no. I… don't want her to." She had opened her mouth to protest but he had cut her off. "I don't want to lose what we have because I want to much from her."

She had shook her head. Standing on her tiptoes, she leaned up to plant a kiss to his cheek. King's eyes had widened at the small action. "It's okay for you to be selfish sometimes, King. See you around."

King pushed the memory aside as he lifted himself back to Diane and kissed her deeply. "Diane," he whispered as he pulled back, "be my girlfriend."

A light blush formed on her cheeks and she giggled. "Is that a question or a demand, Harlequin?" She teased.

"Yes."

She reached her lips up to brush his. "Well, that's my answer either way I suppose. Yes, Harlequin. I will be your girlfriend."

"R-Really?" He could hardly believe it.

"Yes, you dork!" She rolled her eyes. Her defense when she was embarrassed. "Where'd that confidence go?"

A giddy smile overtook him. "Confidence, huh? I can do that." He dropped back down her body, hands gripping her thighs as he stopped just above her lower half.

"H-harlequin! What are you doing?"

"Treating my girlfriend," he smirked up at her.

She flushed, "s-stop looking at me like that!"

"Like what?" He kept eye contact with her as he pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh.

"Like, like," she moaned tossing her head back. He paused, waiting for her to look back at him. Diane bit her lip, "like you're going to eat me."

His smirk only grew.

He dipped his tongue between her folds and she groaned, hands digging in his air. He sucked and stroked her nub with his tongue. King just couldn't get enough of the sounds she was making. Every moan, every breathe, every gasp of his name from her lips. These sounds would be exclusively his for as long as she'd have him and he had every intention of hearing them as often as he could.

She cried his name as she came. Her body went limp and he pressed a soft kiss to her thigh, taking joy in the way she shuddered. He trailed kisses up to her lips. Diane opened her mouth, tangling their tongues together. He pulled back and smiled down at her.

"I feel I should warn you, Diane. I'm rather selfish in the bedroom."

Her cheeks heated up deliciously at his statement, just as he expected. "I find that hard to believe," she mumbled, hands roaming his back, "given what you just did."

He licked his lips, enjoying the lingering taste, before letting a smirk shine through. Diane's brow furrowed and he leaned in to whisper, "that was more for me then you. I like hearing you gasping and moaning and writhing underneath me. Screaming my name as I pleasure you."

"Harlequin," Diane gasped, hands squeezing at his shoulders.

"Hmmm just like that." He ran his hand along the inside of her thigh. Her breathing picked up and he smirked against her ear.

She pushed against his shoulder forcing him into his back. She straddled his hips and King stared up at her in awe. He still could hardly believe he was able to see her like this. He ran his hands up her side, grazing her breast before settling on her hips, urging her to rock against him.

Diane compiled, a devious grin on her lips. "Maybe I should warn you Harlequin. I'm selfish too. And there are a few things I like."

He quirked a brow at her. She said nothing else, catching his lips in a deep kiss. Much like he had, she began trailing kisses down his body. His eyes widened as she looked up at him with hooded eyes. She licked her lips provocatively and King followed the movement. Her tongue ran the length of him and he hissed. Diane hummed, pleased with his reaction.

"See," she lifted her head up to look at him with lust filled eyes. Her hand wrapped around him and began stroking. He groaned, head dipping back. "I like leaving you a sputtering mess. Putty in my hands."

He tried to choke out a response, but only managed a hiss as she took him in her mouth. She pressed her tongue on the underside of him as she bobbed up and down a few times before leaving him with a pop.

"Hmmmm just like that," she hummed, mimicking his earlier words, as she crawled back on top of him. King gazed at her, completely transfixed. Diane leaned over him, rubbing her chest against his as she said. "You aren't the only one who can play this game. And I'll have you know Harlequin," she took his ear in between her teeth before she purred, "I don't lose."

Kings hands grabbed her rear firmly and she gasped. Pulling back to look at him in surprise. "Don't think losing is a possibility for either us, Diane." He lifted her hips up and then slammed into her.

"Ah!" Diane shouted in surprise.

Her cries quickly became moans of pleasure as she moved against him. Each sound she made spurred King closer and closer to the edge. Determined to take her there with him, he pressed a finger against her bundle of nerves. Diane shuddered in response, a heady whimper leaving her. He moved against her, faster and faster urging her to topple over the edge he was soon approaching.

They came together. Diane collapsed again on his chest. King slowly pulled out of her but made no other movement to get her off him. He liked her weight against him. It reminded him this was real and not a dream. His breathing was heavy and raged. He was pleased to note that hers wasn't any better.

"Whoa…" she whispered.

He gulped. "Yeah."

Not much else was said and he was almost asleep again when he heard a persistent buzzing. It stopped after a few buzzes before starting again. Diane groaned.

"Make it stop." She pleaded, digging her face into his neck.

It went again.

"Is that your phone, or mine?" King wasn't even sure where his phone had ended up. Hopefully it was still in his pants pocket along with his keys and wallet.

Diane signed. "Mine I think." She pushed off him with a disgruntled huff and left the bed. She didn't even bother dressing, searching around the room for her phone.

King shifted on his side to watch her. Completely mesmerized. But he couldn't help but notice her fruitless efforts. He smirked. "Told you your room was messy."

"You're the one who threw my shorts!" She shot him a glare over her shoulder. "Ah!" She beamed, holding up the phone in victory.

King allowed his eyes to roam shamelessly over her body.

"Stop that."

He brought his eyes to hers. "Stop what?"

"Staring at me like that," she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. A blush on her cheeks.

"Don't walk around naked." He replied with a shrug of his shoulders and a small smile. The fact that she was shy at this point was extremely endearing.

Her phone went off again and she cringed. "Uh oh."

"Uh oh?" He quirked a brow.

"Apparently we caused a small panic last night with our disappearing act." She informed him as she crawled back into bed and scrolled through her phone.

This time her phone rang.

"Better answer it." He advised, seeing who it was.

She made a face but did as he suggested. "Hello."

"Diane!" Both of them cringed. "Where the hell have you been?!"

"Relax, Elizabeth. I'm at home." The brunette rolled her eyes, cuddling back against King's side.

"Thank goodness! Have you heard from King? We haven't heard from him either. Not since your guys fight."

Diane nibbled her lip anxiously. "Uh… well..." She looked up at him, wondering how she should answer. She muffled the phone in the blankets. "Do I tell her?" She whispered.

He only thought it over for a second before nodding. "May as well, they'll find out sooner probably than later."

She swallowed, nervous. Not that he could blame her. He wasn't to keen on the idea of informing anyone about them at this point. They were likely to get shit from all parties. He pressed a kiss to her lips and he was pleased to see her relax.

She spoke into the phone. "Uh actually King's fine. He's, uh… here..."

Silence.

"No…. way…." He barely heard Elizabeth. "Are you kidding?!" The girl practically squealed, forcing both of them away from the phone. "It happened? It finally happened?! Oh my god! Diane! Tell me everything!"

Diane's face was warm against his skin. He knew she had to be blushing. "One thing at a time, Elizabeth," the girl responded, glancing up at him. Her face was definitely red but… she had a soft smile on her face.

A phone buzzed again.

King scowled as he realized he was now getting a call. With a heavy sigh he untangled himself from Diane, she huffed in displeasure but didn't say anything else to him, speaking to Elizabeth. He threw on his boxers and jeans, glad to note everything seemed to be in his pockets, his phone included. A frown overtook his features as he saw who was calling. He was half tempted to just ignore it.

"Better answer it," Diane sang from the bed with an evil grin. Payback her expression told him. "Sorry, talking to King." Another scream from the other end and Diane wincing. King snickered and she glared at him. He walked to the bed, kissed her forehead and left the room, lifting his phone to let her know he was going to answer.

At least his call wouldn't consist of screaming.

"Hello."

"Dude!" He flinched at the shouted expression. So apparently he was wrong. "Are you kidding me right now? Are you fucking kidding me?!"

King sighed heavily. "Well, good morning to you too, Meliodas."

"Cut the bull shit King! What happened?!"

"You could just listen to Diane and Elizabeth. I know they're probably having this same conversation," he grumbled, eyes flicking back to Diane's room. He couldn't help but smile.

"You're lacking your normal bit this morning King!" Meliodas pointed out with an easy tone. If they would have been in the same room, King was sure he'd be smiling. "That good, huh?" The man on the other end continued.

The ginger kept smiling. "Yeah." He said simply.

"Man, you even sound dazed. No worries buddy. This isn't a dream."

King laughed despite himself. He ran a hand through his hair. "Am I… really so obvious?"

"Yes." Meliodas responded immediately. "Now, what the hell happened?"

"Details will be better coming from Diane and Elizabeth's conversation," he tried to dissuade his friend once again.

"I wanna hear it from you."

"Well, I followed her after she ran and, uh… things escalated kinda quickly after that," King rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he sat down on the couch.

"Yeah, no shit!" Meliodas laughed. "I figured something like that musta happened. Elizabeth and Elaine were worried but I told them you guys were fine. You were together after all."

"She wanted to know why I hit him and compared the situation to how upset I get with Elaine," King frowned at the reminder. "I told her it definitely wasn't that and then she said I had to be jealous or she was like a sister to me."

"Way to give two extremes, Diane," the blonde murmured quietly on the other end of the phone. He raised his voice, "so you told her you were jealous then?"

"Yep."

"And then you just ended up back at her place?"

"Pretty much."

"Huh… you shoulda just done this years ago, ya know?" Meliodas hummed.

He sighed heavily leaning his head on the back of the couch to look up at the ceiling. "I know. But that doesn't matter anymore. We're together now, that's what counts."

"Look at you Mr. Optimistic," his friend joked heartily. "Hard to believe just yesterday you were so down in the dumps!" King had to agree. "Hey, we should all get together and celebrate! Sunday Funday, right?"

"Hell no," he immediately rebutted with a frown. "I don't wanna see anyone but her for the rest of the day."

"Hey, wait-"

King hung up.

"Meliodas?"

He rolled his eyes as he lifted his head to look at her, "Yep, he-," his voice stopped as he caught sight of her.

She was wearing his button up shirt from last night. The material pulled tight against her chest. The buttons, unable to be done all the way up, stopped just underneath her breasts and allowed him a jaw-dropping sight of her cleavage. His shirt ran high on her thighs, granting him a glorious view of her legs as well. Her hair curled in odd ways from both sleeping and their bedroom activities.

She was stunning.

And King found himself more than just a little breathless.

Diane giggled, drawing his ogling back up to her smug little smirk and her eyes. Those amethyst pools his favorite feature. Always so expressive. Happiness, paired with just a little bit of mischief, shone within them.

"Like something ya see Harlequin?" She teased with a wink.

"Yes." He answered instantly. He gulped and looked away, "I uh-" He stopped himself from explaining any further.

No, he thought.

He could actually tell her what he thinking now. He didn't need to hide how attractive he thought she was. Not anymore. She took a step towards him and his gaze followed her. His words, or lack of, had only seemed to make her even more playful, now undoing another button as she slowly made her way to the couch.

"What was that?" She goaded, fingers toying with the button that would display her navel. "If you want something, you gotta say it."

"Come here." He mumbled as he held a hand out for her. She took it with a sly smile as she straddled his hips. Diane intertwined their fingers, forcing his hand on the back of the couch. His other wrapped around her waist.

"What did, Meliodas want?" Her free hand roamed his chest as she placed a kiss to his neck.

"Same as Elizabeth I'm guessing." He began toying with the hem of her, his, shirt. Pushing it up and tracing her skin. "Our friends are so nosy."

Diane hummed moving her lips moved up his neck. "They were your friends first." She reminded him as she nipped at his ear. Her hips began circling his.

Their lips met and just as they were about to continue this morning's activities, King's phone rang again. He ignored it. Diane had other ideas.

"It's Elaine."

"Damnit. I told you, nosy," King groaned grabbing the phone from her. "The whole lot of them."

"Put me on speaker," his little sister demanded as soon as he answered. He did as told with a roll of his eyes. "Congrats you two!" Elaine chirped merrily. "I won't say much past that except… Have fun telling Mom, Dad and Mrs. Taylor!" She giggled before hanging up.

King's jaw slacked and Diane's eyes were blown wide.

"Shit," they cursed together.

He hadn't even thought about telling their parents yet. Telling their friends would be nothing compared to that. King's parents and Diane's mom hadn't been very subtle in their attempts of telling the two they should date over the years. See not subtle at all, because really, they outright told them on numerous occasions to just 'get together' already. It had been really bad after Jericho had ended their relationship. His parents had liked her, sure, but they had only met her a few times where they knew Diane for years.

That one line his mother had spoken when she had first found out King was dating back then hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Well, I look forward to meeting the second girl to catch my little boy's heart." He had known from her tone exactly what she was going to say next. He had tried to stop her but of course his mother wouldn't be dissuaded as she continued with, "the first girl of course being little Miss Taylor."

He hated it when his parents were right. They were never going to live this down.

"My mom's gunna flip." He grumbled as he dropped his head against Diane's collar bone, arms wrapping around her waist.

"You think mine's going to be any better?" Diane argued as she buried her face in his neck. "Oh gosh," her hands squeezed his shoulders, "we're going to have to see them in a few weeks for Christmas! I'm not ready for that!"

Christmas was a time their families usually spent together. Diane had no family near by besides her mother, Matrona, and King's family was in another state so they didn't see each other often. It wasn't long after Diane started hanging out with him and Elaine that Mrs. Kingsworth, Nora, King's mom, took it upon herself to invite the two over for Christmas. It was a lasting tradition that King never really minded until now.

"Me either. My mom's probably going to dance around the room when she hears."

"Can we just skip Christmas this year?"

He snorted out a chuckle. "It'll be a miracle if they don't find out before that. Besides," he pulled back and smiled gently, unsure if he even wanted to say this, "it may be kind of nice to not have to deny things now."

Diane pursed her lips. "Just how long have you been lying to me, Harlequin?"

"Uh," he shifted anxiously, hoping Diane would get off his lap so he could try to make an escape. No such luck. "Lying is such a strong word…"

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. When did you realize?"

"It's not that important… is it?" King glanced away, apprehensive.

This was not a safe topic anymore. He shouldn't have brought it up. Hell, he shouldn't have even answered Elaine's call. He'd be blissfully tangled up in Diane right now if he would have ignored it. But noooo he just had to answer and talk about Christmas and how nice it would be not to have to refuse his feelings now.

Yeah. He's an idiot.

Diane was suspiciously quiet so he dragged his gaze back to her. His best friend's expression was contemplative. She sighed heavily and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for making you wait so long." She muttered against his neck.

"It's not your fault I'm an idiot, Diane." He assured her as he rubbed a hand against her back. "I could have said something years ago, ya know? This is all my own doing."

She said nothing more on the topic, instead pushing off him and making her way to the kitchen. "Suppose I should make some breakfast huh?"

King made a face. At both her suggestion of cooking and her changing the subject. It didn't really matter he supposed. It would probably come up again later. They could worry about it then if need be. He followed her to the kitchen, keeping a careful eye on what she was doing.

"When's the last time you cooked breakfast?" He asked, already fearing he knew the answer.

She shot him a half hearted scowl over her shoulder. "With you," Diane turned her attention back to the pans, "but I'm sure I've got it this time."

He groaned and she slapped him with a dish towel.

The last time Diane had attempted cooking was a few months ago. It had been an eventful night that actually ended up with King back at her place. The beautiful brunette had been extra clingy that night and wanted nothing to do with anyone else. It was just the two of them and while Diane got far crazier than normal, King was mostly sober. Needless to say when he tried to drop her off at her apartment, she refused to let him leave. He had given in without much prompting. He was a sucker for her pouty face. Plus he didn't feel right leaving her alone when she was in such a state.

So, like a gentlemen, he walked her up to her apartment. Diane had beelined for the fridge, telling him to start a movie while she got another drink. King had quickly scrambled after her. He reached the kitchen first, handing her a water instead. She had scowled but drank it anyway. King started a pizza and then walked Diane to her room. Knowing exactly where everything was, even in the mess, he grabbed her sweatpants and a t shirt. He instructed for her to change out of her skin tight dress and he had barely made it out before she started stripping. He managed to get food and another bottle of water in her before she passed out.

The next morning, she attempted to make him breakfast as a thank you.

She had burned everything.

It wasn't Meliodas-level bad cooking, but it had still been pretty bad.

"Just watch and be in awe of me!" Diane huffed, lifting her nose to the air. "I'll show you!"

"I'm already in awe of you and," he wrapped his arms around her from behind, nudging her ear with his nose, "I can see plenty."

She leaned back against him even as she protested. "Smooth talking isn't going to save you now, Mr. Kingsworth." She scolded, twisting her head just enough to smirk at him.

"Damn." He smiled anyways. Something about the way his last name sounded coming off her lips sent a pleasant thrill through his body.

"Now," she bumped him back, "either help me or go away."

"I'll help."

They crawled into bed after eating, deciding to get a few more hours of sleep before doing anything else. It wasn't long before King's thoughts began to wander.

Who was to say if they would last forever. He hoped they would, but King was going to do his best to be happy with what they had now. Because Diane's words last night were far truer than she'd probably realized.

We care so much about each other… isn't that enough for now?

Diane sighed heavily, momentarily distracting him from his thoughts. He smiled as she curled more around him in her sleep. Her mouth slightly open, she'd probably end up drooling on him. And he was weirdly okay with that.

All he had ever wanted these past years was to be with this woman in every sense of the word. He loved her and she loved him. They knew each other better than anyone else possibly could. Always would. Their relationship wouldn't change, he knew that now. The only thing that changed was them having sex. They had always held hands and hugged. Things people would normally reserve for couples, they had always done.

They were just official now.

"Harlequin," Diane rubbed her nose sleepily against him. "Stop thinking. Sleep." Her hand ran down his face.

He chuckled lightly, grabbing the assaulting hand and kissing it. "Sorry," he mumbled into her palm, "just a lot to process."

"Not really," she opened her eyes, trying to fight sleep. "I think this is what was always going to happen. You're my best friend. Now we're just doing what people always thought we were doing anyway."

"And that is?"

"Dating." She shifted the top half of her body to rest on his, her chin on his chest. A smirk tugged at her lips. "And having sex."

"That is true," he hummed, a finger tracing against her spine.

"Think anyone will be surprised when we tell them?"

"Na, they've seen this coming for years. Besides, they probably already know by know. God knows Meliodas and Elizabeth can't keep secrets. And you know Elaine just as well as I do."

She laughed, shaking her head. "True. Though, guess I'm to blame for it taking years."

"No, you aren't," he quickly argued, shaking his head at her downfallen expression. "I already told you, It isn't your fault that I fell in love with you and did nothing about it."

She snorted. "Well, who's to say I woulda been ready then anyways. I'm more than ready to do this with you now, Harlequin." She smiled sweetly at him, pressing a kiss to his lips. "Everything happens for a reason, right?"

He supposed that was true. Perhaps neither of them would have been ready for a relationship when King realized his feelings four years ago. Maybe everything that happened was leading them up to this point.

"I've always loved you, ya know?" She pinked lightly. "I just never realized what that meant. We love each other. Always have. Always will. No matter what."

King pulled her in for a kiss. "You got that right, Di."

No, maybe this wouldn't last forever, but her words gave him hope. They loved each other. Always have. Always will. No matter what.

And that was more than enough for him.

END

A/N: And that's a wrap folks. 5 chapters and almost... 30k words.. Whoa. That's a lot. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this little story! It was a freaking blast to write and honestly... I actually have a lot of words written for a prequel. Like how King and Diane got to this point. It would start with King going to college and meeting Jericho, Meliodas, Ban, Elizabeth. Of course we would get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Kingsworth as well as Mrs. Taylor (Harlequin Kingsworth and Diane Taylor are their full names in case you didn't get that XD). Writing their parents has been quite fun so far haha. Now, while I do have quite a bit written, I'm not sure if I should publish it or not.

If it's something you guys are interested in seeing, let me know! If you're also curious about what may happen in events AFTER mattress, let me know that too! I have one particular scene that I've been playing with, for when they have to tell their parents, but nothing solid.

As always, thank you guys SO MUCH for reading my work. It means the world to me that anyone takes the time out of their day to read something I wrote. Thank you for the reviews, favs, and follows. Hopefully this is a story that you guys will read again and again. I look forward to hearing from you :)

Luv~