Oh my goodness thanks for all the love! You guys make me want to write all day. I'm going to try to update at least once a day so keep checking back!
She woke to the feeling of his arm wrapped around her midriff and his breath on the back of her neck.
She tried to fight the smile that played at her lips. She knew he was asleep, but even so she did not want to give him the satisfaction.
She closed her eyes again, trying to stay in the peaceful bliss of the moment for as long as possible. There were too many things she would have to face once she got up.
Knock knock knock
Her eyes shot open at the sound of three sharp raps on her door.
Someone jiggled the handle.
She shot up like a rocket.
"Lenny you in there?" Liams voice called from the hallway.
"Shit. Shit shit shit!" she cursed in a whisper as she shoved Jasper hard multiple times.
"Jesus Len." He groaned as he sat up.
"Get up!" She whisper-screamed at him, quickly getting out of bed.
"Just a minute!" She called to her brother while scrambling to find clothes. "I uh, just got out of the shower!"
She only had on a bra and panties so she grabbed a dressing robe and slipped it on.
Jasper, only in his boxer-briefs, moved to the edge of the bed, grabbed his pants and started to pull them on a leg at a time.
She tied the waist sash of her robe roughly. "Get in the closet."
"Seriously," he said incredulously.
"Get. In. The closet!"
He rolled his eyes but did as she said, opening the secret entrance and ducking into the room. She quickly gathered all his pieces of clothing.
He gave her a look that clearly said This is ridiculous he's going to figure it out. She just threw his clothes in his face and shut the fake armoire.
She did a once over of the room before hurrying over to the door. She swung it open and raised her eyebrows at the prince.
"My dear brother what is it that brings you here at this god forsaken hour?"
He chuckled, "Its 10 am"
She frowned, "Really?"
"Really." He mused.
"Huh," She rarely slept past eight. "anyway, why are you here?"
"Do you know where Jasper is?" He asked, "I can't find him and he's not answering his phone."
"Nope. Haven't seen him." she replied coolly.
He would have believed her but something behind her caught his eye.
He stared her down. She should know better than to try to lie to him.
"Weird, he's just sort of dissappeared."
"He's been known to do that." she replied impatiently, hoping to wrap up the conversation.
"True." He concuded, letting her think she was safe, "Oh well, Mind if I use your loo? I drank way too much tea this morning."
She froze. "Um, ya know, the toilets broken."
"Really?" He asked. Obviously unfooled.
"Yeah, something wrong with the pipes, no running water."
"Huh." He said puzzledly. "So how'd you shower?"
She froze. "Hm?"
"You said you just got out of the shower"
She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She couldn't find the words to dig her self out of that one.
He smiled triumphantly and turned to leave having recieved the answer to his question.
"Tell Jasper to check his voicemail." He called behind him.
"How? I dont know where he is!" She yelled after him.
"You missed his tie." He informed her before rounding a corner and dissappearing out of sight.
She whirled around to scan her room before eyeing her vanity which had a rather obvious black tie hanging off the mirror. "dammit."
She shut the door and relocked it. She turned back towards her room and nearly jumped out of her skin. Jasper lay on her bed scrolling through his phone like he'd been there the whole time.
"Don't do that!" She scolded him.
He smirked but didn't look up from the screen. She walked over to the vanity and picked up his tie.
"Looks like Hill got the job." He announced as he pocketed his phone and stood from the bed. He walked toward her.
"I'm not surprised." She sighed, leaning against the vanity, "I suppose Hagrid is already on his way."
"Hill had conditions for taking the job." He said, arriving in front of her and grabbing her waist to pull her against him, "One them was that I be transferred back to you."
She looked at him in disbelief.
"Something about not trusting anyone else with your protection." He smirked, "Your mother told him it's only if you agree, but given last night I said you were on board."
She smacked him lightly for that comment, "What about Liam?"
"Hill somehow managed to wrangle Marcus back into his old job. He'll be arriving within the hour."
She huffed and shook her head. She should have known James would be ten steps ahead of her, he always was.
His phone buzzed. He looked annoyed but pulled it out and checked it.
She sighed, "Let me guess, you have to be somewhere very important very quickly."
"Mandatory security-wide breifing in 15 minutes."
She groaned and dropped her head against his chest. She knew the day would be a whirlwind in the wake of the previous days events. "Any update on Pryce?" She mumbled into his shirt.
"Still critical, but stable."
She looked back up at him, "Can you ask James about Phe? I know we sent a jet for her but I'm still worried."
He nodded and kissed her forehead before releasing her and stepping away to pick his jacket up off the bed.
"I should be back by noon but I'll text you if anything changes." He said heading towards the door, "Oh and were still on lockdown so don't leave the palace."
She followed after him, "I know what lockdown means Jasper."
He stopped in the hallway just outside, "Really? because I seem to remember breaking a certain someone out of here during the last one."
"And I seem to remember it wasn't my idea," She said leaning against the door frame.
His eyes narrowed at her, "Just stay in the palace, ok Len?" He said before kissing her breifly and turning to walk away.
"Hypocrite" She scoffed.
"Love you too." He called behind him before slipping into the tunnel passageway.
"Cheeky bastard," she muttered under her breath as she shut the door.
She decided to shower and wash the feeling of sex off her body. Not that it was a bad feeling, just not one she preferred to face her mother with. The queen had an uncanny sixth sense about things like that. Growing up under her roof and trying to keep any sort of secret was like playing go fish against an expert poker player.
She wasn't in any hurry so she took her time, letting the water fall over her longer than necessary. When she finally decided she was done she exited the shower and dried herself off before grabbing a robe. She blow-dried her hair and loosely curled it before putting on some make-up. She kept it relatively natural with a light smoky eye and nude lip. Content with her reflection, she entered her closet to get dressed. She settled on a pair of leather leggings and a soft oversized grey sweater. She obviously wasn't going anywhere so she kept it casual. She slipped on her white converse sneakers and exited the closet.
She grabbed her phone off the bed to check her texts.
Ophelia will be landing at 1 pm.
She checked the time. 11:05. Two hours to wait.
She left her room and made her way toward her mother's quarters. She eventually found her in her study at her desk, intently scribbling on royal parchment.
"Good morning, Eleanor. How did you sleep?" The queen greeted, not looking up from the letter she was writing.
"Fine, thanks." she said, plopping down in the chair across from her mum.
Her mother expertly folded the piece of paper before slipping it into an envelope and sealing it with deep red wax. She placed it on a stack of similar letters and looked at her daughter.
"I hear Mr. Frost is returning to your detail." She said with a slight smile, not trying very hard to conceal her amusement.
She just had to bring that up. "Yes he is and if you sleep with him this time I may test the limits of my diplomatic immunity. Tell me does it cover matricide?"
Her mother sighed, "Always the comedienne, Eleanor."
"Well some one has to make up for your sunny disposition." She said with a obviously false smile.
Her stomach growled. "Well, this has been a nice chat but I need food." She said before standing to leave.
"Eat something with fat in it. Your getting too thin, it's unattractive."
"Yes, my queen!" she said dramatically, curtsying for effect.
Helena rolled her eyes and Eleanor smirked as she turned to leave. Annoying her mother was one of her greatest joys in life.
"Eleanor," the queen called after her.
The princess paused at the door and looked back at her mother.
"I'm happy that you've chosen love." She smiled warmly at her daughter.
Eleanor smiled back. "Thanks, mum." She said sincerely before exiting and closing the door behind her.