Maxon's PoV

"You will be leaving at ten o'clock exactly tomorrow for Clermont with Lady Celeste. Exactly a week from then you will arrive back to the castle and leave with Lady Elise. One week later you will come back for Lady Kriss and finally Lady America."

I'm sitting in yet another meeting. This one however interests me, which is rare. It has been one week since America has been back and she is her perfect, normal self. She continuously insists that she's fine but I still check on her every night.

I've gone on a single date with Kriss since she's been back and only because of my father. The entire time she was apologizing for her behavior and saying that she hopes to win back my trust. It's nice hearing that from someone other than America.

The rest of the meeting is details of my trips. It finally ends and I go straight to America's room. I missed dinner because my meeting ran long so I want to check in on her.

When I get to her door I knock twice before the door opens to reveal America, standing in a blue, as usual, dress.

"Hey," She says giving me a hug before standing back so I can come in. "Where were you at dinner? I was worried."

"Sorry," I say. "A meeting ran late."

"As usual," She mutters.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," I say pulling her into another hug. She slips her arms around my torso as mine go around her shoulders. "But it was actually a good meeting."

She pulls back and looks up at me. "Really? You actually enjoyed a meeting?"

I laugh. "Well this one is about taking trips to your provinces."

Her mouth drops. "Really? We still get to do that?" She grins.

"Well originally no," I say. "My father thought it was too dangerous but I knew you'd want to see your family after what happened with your father so we had a... discussion."

She smiles even bigger, if that's possible, and pulls herself against me again. "Thank you," She says, her voice muffled by my shirt. Suddenly she pulls back. "Discussion? He didn't… please don't say he-"

I cut her off quickly. "I'm fine America, don't worry."

She smiles. "Good."

The first thing I realize when I wake up is today I'm leaving for Clermont with Celeste. I change quickly because we'll be leaving soon and I want to say goodbye to America in private before we do.

I walk quickly to her room and knock once before opening the door a crack and saying, "Are you decent?"

"Just a minute!" She calls and I can hear the laugh in her voice. "Okay!"

I walk in to find her sitting in front of a mirror putting on some kind of makeup . She's wearing a ligt blue dress that doesn't go farther than her knees.

She stands and turns to look at me. "Hey."

"Hi," I laugh pulling her into a hug. "Sleep well?"

"Amazing," She sighs. "That is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in."

I laugh. "Good."

"So how can I help you?"She asks pulling back from our hug.

I almost immediately miss the feeling of her body against mine. "I came to say goodbye," I sigh.

Her smile drops almost immediately. "What? Goodbye? You aren't sending me-"

"No!" I yell and she jumps a bit. "Sorry," I say taking her hand and leading her to the bed. "No, I'm not sending you home, never. I meant I'm leaving with Celeste this morning."

"Oh," She says. "Okay."

I can see she's disappointed so I say, "It's only a week. I'll see you for a little bit before I leave with Elise and then before Kriss and then I get you all to myself for a week."

She smile. "Good." Then she pulls me closer and presses a kiss to my lips. Just as I start to kiss her back she pulls away and I groan.

"Don't do that!" She just laughs. It's like she doesn't realize the effect she has on me.

"Sorry. I want to do that too but don't you have to leave soon?"

"No," I mumble and press my lips to hers again. After a second she kissed back and my hands go to her lower back as hers go to my hair. I pull her closer to me and kiss her harder before trailing down to her neck. Her nose nuzzles into my hair and I sigh. I meet her lips with mine again and pull her ontop of me. Her arms go around my neck and her legs wrap around my waist. I stand, not breaking the kiss and press her back to the wall. She moans as her feet hit the ground and I slip my tongue into her mouth.

She kisses me harder and pulls my head closer to hers. I pick her up again, still without breaking the kiss and lay her back on the bed, resting on my elbows over her. She breaks the kiss and her nose travels along my jaw until her lips meet my neck. She starts kissing a sensitive spot on my neck and I fail to contain a moan. She rolls us over so she's on top of me and I start nibbling on the tip of her ear. She moans and bucks her hips against mine, earning a moan from me. As her lips meet mine again my hands squeeze her waist hard. She pulls me up see we're sitting and starts to run her hands over my chest. My lips travel down her neck and she starts to nibble on my ear. I groan her name and she starts working on the buttons of my jacket, pushing it off my shoulders. Then she works on the buttons of my shirt and I pull it off. Her hands go back to my hair and mine go to the zipper of her dress. I undo the zipper and let my hands run over her smooth back. She moans my name as I kiss the corner of her mouth and make my way down to her neck. I burry my head in her neck and let my hands trail up her sides. Her dress has slipped slightly seeing as I undid the back and it had no straps.

"We…. need to… stop," She moans, her breath coming out in gasps. "People will… wonder."

I pull back and rest my forehead against hers. "I'm going to miss you so much," I mumble.

She smiles and rests her head against my bare chest. "I love you," Is her reply.

"I love you too," I say.

She groans. "You need to go, it's almost ten."

I nod. "You're right."

I stand, pulling her with me, and slip on my shirt, buttoning it up. America reaches behind her to do up her dress zipper but I motion for her to turn around. She does as I say and I zip up her dress. I grab my jacket and pull it on before turning to her. She's smoothing down her knotted hair.

I offer her my arm. "The Elite will see me off."

She smiles and takes my arm. We make our way down to the front foyer and find everyone but Kriss there.

"Where's-" I start but am cut off.

"I'm here!" Kriss says, hurrying down the hallway. "Sorry I'm late."

So I say my goodbyes to my parents and the elite who follow us out to the car waiting. Celeste and I get in and as we drive away everyone starts to go inside. Everyone but America who smiles and waves.

This is going to be a long week.