Prompt from 87WW moonlit picnic on the roof or in another secluded area. Thank you for sending yet another great one.

Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for being my beta!

Princess Serena swept into the library and made her way to Darien. "Sorry I'm late for my math lesson. My mother insisted that I be fitted for a gown for the spring ball." She sat down with perfect posture and opened her book. "I apologize for wasting your time."

"You're three minutes late, and you're the princess. It's not a problem." Six months ago, Darien had been offered a job as a private teacher/tutor for the Princess. He was offered a lot of money, but that wasn't what caused him to say yes. The top doctor of the nation came to him at med school and asked him personally. He was thrilled to be recognized and asked by him. Darien made sure that he didn't disappoint him.

She smiled at him and spoke, "Of course. It's as you say." She sighed internally only. She had perfected that. She wanted one person around her to say what they thought. It was exhausting being the perfect princess all of the time. Secretly, she wanted to scream. She would have been on time if she had run, but 'A lady never runs in the halls'. Actually, she'd discovered over the years that there's a lot a lady doesn't do.

She prepared for her lesson from Darien. She pulled out her notebook, calculator, and pen and then hid away her heart. It began beating for him four months ago. He was always kind to her and patient. He was also incredibly hot. She had begun wondering what he'd look like with no shirt on. She bet he had a bunch of sexy muscles hidden away under his suit. She wanted to lick them.

Darien explained the math problems to her and tried, like always, to figure her out. She was beautiful, everyone knew that. Yet after six months, he knew nothing more about her. He wondered if she ever had an original thought or if she just parroted back everything people told her. He was sad that her mother had created a beautiful talking doll.

She finished up her lesson that day and headed out to her next appointment. Her mother expected her to help prepare for the ball. Eventually, she would take over handling the preparations. She was bitter over that. She was expected to choose what her mother would prefer. She would take it over, and it still would be a reflection of her mother.

Later that night, she slipped her guard like usual and snuck out of her room out onto the palace grounds. She made her way to the hedgerows so she could hide from prying eyes. She pulled off her shoes and ran barefoot through the grass. In her mind, she pretended she was escaping and running off to find her own adventure.

She stepped around a corner and ran straight into someone, falling down. She darted up off the ground, and in a complete panic, she took off running. She was going to be caught outside. Then she'd be more heavily guarded, and she'd never slip away for her evening walks again. She needed this time, it kept her sane. She ran as fast as she could, and then she felt the person tackle her, tumbling them to the ground.

Darien was glad he was able to catch the intruder. She was petite, but who knew what she was doing there. He pinned her to the ground and pulled his head back to look at her face. He hoped his eyes were deceiving him. "Princess Serena?"

She looked up at Darien, and her heart rate picked up even more. He was laying on top of her with his body pressed into hers. She wanted him to move his hand and caress her breasts. She felt her nipples pebble. She nodded, "It's me."

Darien leapt up off of her and backed up bowing. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness. I didn't know you'd be out here."

She rolled her eyes. "It's not your fault. Don't apologize. I snuck out and then was dumb enough to get caught." She stood, "You may take me to the guards. They'll appreciate your vigilance, and you'll be properly rewarded."

"I'll be rewarded for tackling you instead of the intruder I thought I was after?"

"No, I'm not supposed to sneak out. I'll be more carefully watched, and you'll be rewarded for returning me to the safety of the palace." She brushed off her dress and muttered, "Back to my beautiful cage." She then forced a smile and looked up at him. "I'm ready when you are."

"Wait, you snuck out? You?"

"Yes, I did."

"That's all you have to say? No explanation?"

She dug her fingernails into her palms to try to keep herself from crying. She didn't know what to say or if her voice would wobble, so she stayed quiet.

"The perfect princess sneaks out? That's hard to believe. Are you meeting a boy out here?"

She shook her head, "I promise you that I'm not. I was just…" She dug her nails in even harder.

He looked down and noticed her hands. "What are you doing? Stop, that has to hurt." He grabbed her hands to try to stop her.

"I was trained to do this."

"To injure yourself?!" He was outraged.

"No, to control myself. I'm always in control. That is what a princess is expected to be. I've learned to conform from a very young age. This was a trick I learned when I was six."

"What does the pain do?"

"Keep me from crying."

"You weren't allowed to cry when you were six?!"

She laughed at him and covered her mouth in horror. She kept slipping and showing emotion.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "What if I don't turn you in? What if you tell me the truth, and I forget I saw you out here?"

She took the chance that he was telling the truth. "I wasn't allowed to show any feelings since I was six. I have to always appear perfectly content and pleasant. I sneak out to run barefoot through the grass and be myself for a little bit each day." She looked at him in desperation. "Please don't tell. I won't be able to sneak out again."

"You're forced to hide who you are?"

"I'm a princess. Of course I am."

"I promise I won't tell. Your secret's safe with me."

"Thank you."

The next day, she arrived on time for her lesson, and he looked at her oddly. She asked, "What? Please don't tell me you're changing your mind."

"No, but you can't wander around alone. If something happens to you, and I knew about your sneaking out, I'd feel awful. I will meet you outside tonight and keep an eye on you."

She nodded, "I guess it's only fair. I assume you expect me to act like a princess though." She sighed.

"No, be yourself. I'd prefer to get to know the real you."

That night, she snuck out and was incredibly nervous. She didn't fully trust that he wouldn't tell someone about her, but she risked it anyway. When she arrived in the garden, he was standing there and ushered her into a copse of trees.

She stepped into them, and at the center, was an opening with a picnic blanket and a fabulous view of the moon.

He said, "I figured this was as good a place as any to hide from the guards."

She sat and smiled up at him. She found a picnic basket filled with sweets. She pulled out some chocolates and ate them. "This is perfect."

They met at the picnic blanket every night that week. She found it made the highlight of her day even better. She loved sneaking out and talking with him. He always brought her chocolates to eat. It was perfect, and so was he.

Then one night as they stared up at the full moon, Darien found himself overcome by her. He needed to touch her, so he offered to rub her shoulders. She had been in a long meeting that day, so he used it as an excuse.

He began massaging her back, and she let out a moan. "That feels so good. A little lower please."

Fuck. Bad idea. That sent his hormones into overdrive. He'd quickly been falling for her that week, and he was incredibly attracted to her. He complied and rubbed lower on her back.

He almost moaned out loud when she shifted and lay down on her stomach in front of him. He kept massaging her, and he kept rubbing lower onto her side by her breasts. He rubbed her and felt the edge of her plump breasts. She moaned, and he chanced massaging a little further down and touching more side boob. He was so hard now.

She moaned again and whispered, "If… if you want to, you can touch them." He froze. He couldn't believe his ears. She blushed and said, "I… sorry. I shouldn't have-"

Her sentence died on her lips when he reached underneath her with both hands and grabbed her breasts. He held them firmly in his hands and moaned.

She sat up and boldly sat on his lap. She put her back to his front, placed his hands back on her breasts, and leaned her head back on his shoulder. He grasped her breasts, and she moaned.

Darien whispered into her ear, "Your boobs are amazing, Princess. Do you like this?"

She nodded and grew even wetter. He had spent the whole week asking her questions and discovering what she liked. He was the first person to really want to hear what her opinions and feelings were. It made her feel seen for the first time. The fact that the man she loved was asking her what she liked sexually drove her almost wild. "It feels so good. I would like it better if you were touching me more though."

He started breathing heavily. "I want that too." He slid his hands underneath the top of her dress and beneath her bra. "Your skin is so soft."

"That feels so good. Darien, please take off my dress. I want you to touch me more. So much more. I love you." Slipped out. Her whole world slammed to a halt, and his hands flew out from under her dress. She spun around and faced him. She was terrified. She stood and took off running.

Darien tackled her again and wrestled her to the ground. He pinned her and held her down. His hands then went to the zipper on her dress, and he fought against her squirming. "Stop! Stop trying to get away from me! I'm going to strip this dress off you, pin you to the ground, and bring you pleasure. Please stop fighting me. I love you too!" The fight went right out of her, and she rolled onto her stomach. He unzipped her dress, pulled it off of her, and tossed it to the side. "You're so incredibly sexy." He then pulled off her panties and took off her bra. He then lifted her up and took her over to the picnic blanket and laid her down. "Spread your legs for me. I want to taste you for dessert."

She moaned and spread her legs for him. She almost chuckled. That was one of the things she was told a lady doesn't do. His eyes dilated, and he swallowed, making his Adam's apple bob up and down. His brain caught up with his desires. He had the princess naked, her legs were spread wide for him, and he was staring at her pink wet pussy.

Serena was growing impatient. Darien was staring at her, and if it wasn't for the lust in his eyes, she would have been embarrassed. She slid her hand over her breast, down over her stomach, and slid her fingers between her folds. She lightly pinched her clit, and she let out a sultry moan.

Darien watched her begin to pleasure herself, and then she moaned. He gave her a heated look. "Fuck, what an incredible sight. Don't stop." He unzipped his pants to ease the strain created by his cock. He then watched her touch herself and bring herself to orgasm. He grabbed her fingers and licked them clean. "Delicious. I want to taste you some more." He then lowered his head between her thighs to lick and suck on her cunt and play with her clit. She orgasmed again and was panting out harshly.

She looked him in the eyes and said, "Make love to me."

He sighed, "Not in the grass on a sheet. You deserve more than that."

"Not on a blanket under the full moon? I think that sounds romantic." She countered.

"A bed would be so much better." He sighed. "We'll have to wait."

She nodded, "I… I could sneak into your room. Would you like that?"

"You can?"

"I know this palace and all of the hidden passageways. I can."

He gathered her clothes and handed them to her. "Get dressed, and meet me in my room. I'll go find condoms from someone."

"I'm on the pill. We don't need them. Unless you've had a lot of-"

He placed his finger over her lips. "No condom then. I'm a virgin too." He smirked, "Thank goodness. I want to feel you on my cock without a condom. I heard it's incredible."

She laughed. "I'll meet you there."

Darien walked back to his room through the palace. He was seen leaving, so he wanted to be seen returning. He made it to his suite of rooms and walked in to find Serena already naked and laying spread on his bed.

"Fuck, you look so hot. I love you, but shit. Right now, all I can think of is what a hot piece of ass you are. Sorry."

"Don't you apologize. I want you to take your shirt off. I've had a fantasy of licking your sexy muscles."

He removed his shirt, and she groaned. "You're hiding so many muscles under your shirt. Get naked, and get over here."

He stripped the rest of the way and joined her on his bed. She pressed him down on his back and licked his nipple and his pectoral muscle. "You taste so good." She then licked his other nipple and nipped his chest. "So fucking sexy." She ran her hands over his six pack. "I didn't know real men actually got these." She then kissed them and sucked on them. "You look like an Adonis." She looked at his huge cock. "That's supposed to fit in me? It's huge!"

He rolled her onto her back and hovered over her. "Has anything we've done not worked out yet? I have a feeling we will fit together just fine. Plus, I like the idea of stretching you and you being able to feel me still tomorrow. Let's see if all of your princess training can keep you from walking funny after I fuck you so good."

She moaned. "It's on. Do your worst." She smirked.

He ran his fingers through the folds of her pussy. "Good girl. You're wet for me." He then looked her in the eyes, "You're sure?" She nodded, and he lined himself up with her and thrust into her. She winced and then nodded. He then began thrusting into her. "See, I fit. You're so tight on my cock. It feels so fucking good." He raised himself up on his hands and watched as he drove himself into her. "You have no idea how good you feel." He heard her moaning and cursing. "The princess has a dirty mouth."

She moaned out in pleasure. "I'll suck you off, and you'll see how dirty my mouth is." She arched her back and encouraged him to go faster. "Yes! Right there! Fuck me right like that!"

He pounded into her, and they both came hard together. He then collapsed next to her. He pulled her close and held her, "You're so precious. I love you so much. You can't believe how much I love you, darling."

She smiled over at him and rested on his shoulder. "I love you too. I'll find a way for us to be together." She paused nervously, "Wait, do you even want that?"

He put his finger under her chin and raised it. "I want forever with you." He then kissed her passionately.

A short time later, she sighed and sat up. "I have to go. I can't be caught in your bed." She kissed him. "No matter how much I want to stay with you, my love."

Darien smiled at her. "Maybe tomorrow we can meet here instead of the garden."

"Sounds perfect. I have a book I found. I'd love to try some things from it." She gave him a heated look.

"You're just perfect."

She dressed and left. Darien buried his head in sheets so he could smell her. He smiled and fell asleep.

Darien was harshly woken up by being wrenched out of bed and dragged to the floor. He was pressed hard onto his stomach by two men and held there. To his horror, he saw the Queen.

She said, "Check the sheets. Is there blood?"

He heard someone reply, "Yes, Your Highness."

The Queen replied, "Good. It took you long enough to bed her." She looked at the man by the bed, "Cut up the sheets like he kept it as a trophy."

Darien squirmed and was forced back down. "What are you doing?!"

"Using you to break my daughter's heart and keep her in line." She smirked, "After all, you tricked her into loving you, took her virginity, and then left her. And since she's on birth control, she won't be pregnant with your bastard."

"I didn't trick her!"

"She won't know that. All she'll know is that she gave you her heart and body and then you left. Her heart will be shattered." She laughed at Darien. "I wanted her to marry Lord Carie. Now she will. Thank you for helping me make it possible."

"He's old enough to be her father!"

"He's powerful. With him as her husband, I'll get more political power. He's willing to take her after she's given herself to another man. And now, she'll go to him without complaint." She looked at her guards. "Make him disappear. Don't forget to pack all of his things. Make it look like he left on purpose. Also, don't forget he has things in the library." She then swept out of the room.

Darien was devastated. The Queen was going to make sure Serena believed he used her. That he claimed her virginity as some sort of sick trophy and left. He loved her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and now he was going to be used to further control her and strip away who she was. He heard men packing his things. He didn't care that he heard things breaking. His heart was destroyed.

He was roughly drug through the hall, down through the dungeons, and out the door into the woods. The guards stopped abruptly. He heard a bunch of noise, and he was dropped to the ground.

He rolled on his back and quickly got up. He turned and faced Dr. Billings, the man who had gotten him the job. He then looked around, and all of the guards were unconscious.

"What's going on?"

"I shot them with tranquilizer darts. They'll be out for a while." He grabbed Darien's arm and pulled him away from the palace.

Darien yanked his arm out of his hold. "Thanks for the help, but I have to go back. They're going to make Serena think I used her for sex and left. I can't let them do that!"

Dr. Billings smiled and looked behind Darien. "How do you think I got involved?"

Darien turned and looked behind him. Serena stood there smirking at him. She said, "Do you really think I'd have believed you left me?"

He was wild eyed, "Maybe."

"Idiot, I knew you weren't lying to me." She walked up to him. "On top of that, there's a benefit to knowing the secret passageways. I overheard what my mother was plotting tonight. Run away with me. Dr. Billings can get us new identification in another country. You can go to med school there, and we can marry."

"But… Don't you want to be a princess? You are one."

She rolled her eyes, "We spent a lot of time talking under the moonlight. What about being a princess do I actually like?"

Darien pulled her to him and kissed her on the mouth hard. "Not a damn thing. Marry me. Run away with me, and be my wife. You'll never regret it."

"I thought you'd never ask." She looked at Dr. Billings, "Do you have a way out of here for us?"

He bowed, "You, I serve always. I do. And, I will have papers made for both of you. Vow you love each other until death."

Darien looked into her eyes and said, "I'm yours completely. I won't be parted from you until death. You are my everything."

Serena wiped a tear away. "Death is the only thing that can part us. I believe in us and our love. Nothing can come between us. You're everything to me."

Dr. Billings smiled, "Good, your new identities will list you as husband and wife. I'm proud to witness your marriage." He showed them to the vehicle that took them to a private jet that got them out of the country.

On their one year wedding anniversary, Darien removed the blindfold from Serena and smiled at her reaction. He'd set up a moonlit picnic with candles. She looked at him and said, "This was the beginning that led to our happy ending."