AN: Sorry for the long wait. I've been busy with my book release. ARC signups are live and available to everyone. If you'd like to read Motor Girl before it releases then head to my Tumblr or Insta (OG) for the link!

If Serenity had not spent the day exhausting herself in rapture with Endymion, then sleep would have been impossible. The pain of separation kept her awake in the transport, and she was thankful that her guard remained silent. Once in her room and stripped of her 'wedding' clothes, Serenity fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Dawn woke her, bursting out of her bed and dressing in a hurry. She hadn't a plan in her head, but Serenity's thoughts were on Endymion and how to return to his arms. It caused her heart to sink into the fiery pit in her belly when she was met with her guard at the door. Serenity hadn't come up with a means to see Endymion yet, but any plan was dashed with the four of them circling in tightly.

"Good morning, highness. Shall we have some breakfast?" Makoto cooed with a forced tone.

"After all," Rei growled, wrapping an arm aggressively around Serenity's, "you must be famished from yesterday's activities!"

None of them laughed, pushing her along towards the hall and breakfast with her mother. Serenity didn't pull away, taking in their tension and anger as part of her punishment. However, she had no regrets. Their anger only enraged Serenity in return; her friends were against her? It was her life and happiness.

With these thoughts, she turned her chin upward and acted every bit the spoiled princess so many claimed she was. So many years, Serenity had heard the rumors about her. As well as the jealousy of her station and the many that loved her. How they would laugh now; her friends(the guards that were the cause of most of the rumors) couldn't be farther from loving.

They had been swiftly moving, but they halted harshly once the door appeared before them. Mina turned to Serenity and grabbed her hard. "You will maintain your composure, Princess. Or all will be lost."

That was all the warning they gave her before opening the doors. Her mother sat, waiting for her so breakfast would be served. However, across from the Queen, Endymion got to his feet. His grin was soft, but it still made Serenity's knees weak. Now she understood the words of caution, but they were too little too late, looking at the floor to hide her smile. Serenity had to pinch the back of her hand hard to get the smile off her lips. Now serious, she sat next to her mother across from the man she loved.

It was a good thing Endymion's legs were so long, finding his foot once he sat again with hers. Even with the wide table between them, Serenity's ankle rubbed against Endymion's calf, and she felt instantly calm. The grin on Endymion's face slipped away, but Serenity could still see it in his eyes, the dark color a little brighter than when she first met him.

"As I was just saying to the Prince, he is visiting us a lot these days. Have the two of you formed an attachment?"

Serenity glanced between her mother and her lover, asking him for an answer. Endymion cleared his throat and set his silverware down. "Yes, your majesty, Serenity and I have an attachment."

"That's good," Serenity nearly choked on her juice, "such close neighbors, it's best that we get along. Don't you agree, Serenity?"

She nodded in silence, knowing her cheeks were a deep red. Endymion knocked her leg with his, getting her attention back to him. He gently shook his head at her. Not that she was considering telling her mother what she'd done last night, but Serenity did consider correcting her mother. The Queen thought Serenity was merely friends with the Prince of Earth.

"With us nearly on top of each other," the Queen continued, and Serenity turned purple, "if there was ever an issue then we should help each other. I have always hoped for an alliance between our kingdoms…."

"I hope for the same, your Majesty," Endymion offered earnestly, keeping his eyes on Serenity's mother.

But the Queen turned all her attention to her daughter with a smile, "my Serenity is beautiful, is she not?" Endymion gave agreement as his response, but the Queen continued. "As much as it pains me to let you go, it is time to release you into society."

"But…mother…."

Endymion knocked her leg again and silenced her gently while her mother cooed back at her, "I know your aversions, but there is no putting it off any longer."

Serenity wasn't sure what to do. The man she'd given herself to sat across from her in silence on the subject. Shouldn't he speak up? Say something about the two of them? At least mention his interest in her….

"Your Majesty, I would like to be considered," Endymion mumbled suddenly.

When Serenity looked up, staring at her half-empty plate as if it would speak, Endymion's cheeks were pink, and his breath was rushed. It reminded her of when they made love; only his cheeks were red when they did that. He refused to look at Serenity, keeping his severe glare on the Queen.

Her mother took a moment to collect herself, straightening in her seat to look Endymion dead on. "I…appreciate your interest. But there is no way your father or your people would support it…."

"I'll make them," Endymion spat, showing his lack of conversing skills.

The admirable pink had drained from Endymion's face, and now he looked like the man that had chased her down yesterday—dark and brooding. "Until then, I will arrange suitors that can back their claims of alliance with their kingdoms."

Breakfast was spent in tight silence, and Serenity felt the breath caught in her chest release once the Queen finished. She pushed away, but when Serenity didn't follow immediately, her mother left with a heavy pat on Serenity's shoulder. They would be having a conversation later, and Serenity feared what it would entail.

Looking around, the only guards in the room belonged to the Moon. "Where are your men?"

"They're somewhere around," Endymion offered vaguely, "is there somewhere we can be alone here?"

He whispered the last part, and Serenity pushed quickly from the table, her eyes dancing to the guards around them. Once the table was no longer between them, Serenity took Endymion's hand and led him the rest of the way. They didn't stop until the rose he gifted her was before them. Guards were near but not in sight.

They were as alone as they could get outside a bedroom.

Serenity kept hold of Endymion's hand as she spun around and into him, jumping up on her toes as she wrapped her free arm around his neck. Even though stunned, Endymion still ducked his head to meet her lips, quickly wrapping his free arm around her waist. Their fingers and lips threaded together, clutching one another tightly. With his arm around her middle and his lips pressing into hers hard, Serenity found herself bent back by Endymion's lust. She twisted her head to the side, allowing him more access as she opened her mouth to his.

It wasn't long before he placed her hand with the other around his neck, his newly freed hand going down to her backside. Pulling them upright, Endymion lifted Serenity off her feet, holding her off the ground by her waist and bottom. He backed up until there was nowhere to go, gravity shifting as they fell to the hard surface of a bench.

Endymion grunted but otherwise showed no strain or stopping. So neither did Serenity, splitting her legs around him and digging her fingers into his silky strands. She could feel the cooler air on her knees but cared not. Serenity only cared about the man under her, meeting his tongue with hers in matched affection.

The trip down her neck, smelling the scent of Endymion's hair deeply, Serenity's thoughts wandered to her worries. "What are we going to do, Endymion? My mother is going to enter me into a marriage alliance any day now."

"We will continue as planned," he spoke against her skin, "you will be mine forever, Serenity."

"What about your father and people?"

Endymion tilted back; his hand on the back of her neck was so large his fingers brushed her jaw. "I will handle them."

"Endy."

He smirked at her nickname for him and pulled her abruptly up to his mouth. But he didn't kiss her. Instead, he spoke against her lips, and Serenity's eyes closed reflexively to the sensation. "Don't worry about it; I can handle anything that comes my way." She was his puppet; Serenity would believe anything Endymion said with her pressed to him and his arms around her like this. "I got you to love me. Anything else will be easy."

She should never have believed him. Endymion's honeyed words echoed in her head for the week he'd been gone. Meanwhile, the Lunar Kingdom was in a tisy thanks to her coming out into society. Yet another ball to attend; this one promised to yield at least one suitor for the Moon Princess. And there was no word from the Earth as far as attendance or interest.

Serenity didn't doubt Endymion; she was sure he loved her. She questioned his kingdom. They hated the Lunars and would never accept one as their Queen. Not even if Endymion was the second born.

It had been so long since she'd been in Endymion's stare Serenity felt close to falling apart. And it must have shown, Mina loudly sighing as they sat in the garden, taking care of her rose. "If I take you to see him, will you stop whimpering?"

Serenity hadn't noticed, but the red hot glare on Mina's face told Serenity she'd been doing it for a while now. "Yes, of course. But…what about the others? And my mother?"

"We will only go for a little while, and I'll have the others cover for us. But we must leave now; the morning is already gone, and we must be back before nightfall."

Now giddy, Serenity struggled to sit still. The transport driver kept glancing at the pair of ladies, but they kept their eyes elsewhere. Mina hoped they wouldn't draw too much attention, but that seemed impossible.

Once they broke Earth's atmosphere, Mina leaned into Serenity's ear. "I made arrangements with the Prince's guard. I will take you to where he is waiting for you."

Serenity had hoped to surprise Endymion, but she supposed this was better. And this way, she could avoid the dark and oppressive Earth palace.

The end of the dense forest Mina guided Serenity through was in sight, and the warrior stayed back. Serenity peered through to the sunlit field where Endymion paced. He wore a plain tunic and slacks but still took her breath away. She might not have surprised him with her visit, but she could still sneak up on him.

Seeing Endymion again had her feeling silly, ducking behind trees as she got close enough to be seen. Endymion's head jerked towards her direction, looking but not seeing, and a giggle escaped. His frown turned to a grin, and Endymion began to play back.

She swung around, pressing her back to the trunk of another tree, and listened. Endymion's hurried breath left in excited pants, making Serenity's heart quake. "I've waited a week, and you wish to make me wait more? That's dangerous, Serenity."

Heat filled her belly, and her thighs twitched. The threat Endymion sent her way had the effect Serenity was sure he intended.

A twig snapped under a heavy foot, alerting Serenity of Endymion's nearness. Instead of running again, she sprung out at him. He caught her, and they fell to the ground. Endymion wasted no more time, rolling them over and pressing Serenity into the soft grass under them.

He held himself over her, looking down as if memorizing her face again. Serenity reached up, brushing his cheek to assure him she was truly there. "I hope I'm worth the wait?"

Endymion leaned into her touch, twisting his face to brush his lips along her wrist. It made her shiver under him even as the sun's heat made her sweat. But then he suddenly stopped, his dark blue eyes severe as he stared into hers. "I would wait lifetimes to be with you, Serenity."

She showed him her feelings were the same, sitting up as much as possible to press her lips solidly to his. It had been days since their day of lovemaking, both of them shaking as they rubbed and removed clothing from one another. With most of their clothes still on, Endymion slowly entered Serenity. She cried out as if her first time. But the pain was from their separation, feeling it in her soul as they moved together.

Serenity held him tightly long after they finished, wishing never to be apart again. But if that were possible, then they would be married already.

Endymion gently began to pull away, but he didn't go far, holding himself over her to play with wild sprigs of her hair. The fear in his eyes told her the answer, but she asked anyway. "How are things going with your father? Have you made any headway on an alliance?"

He slowly shook his head, and her heart fell, "it will take more time, but I'll convince him."

"And your people?"

"An alliance with Lunar is good for everyone on Earth. They may not like it, but they will see it soon enough. Marrying you will benefit Earth greatly." Serenity turned away from him, but Endymion cupped her cheek and turned her back, "that is not why I want you…."

"I know. But I fear it's not enough for the King or Earthians."

"I just need more time…."

"There's a ball in two days. And I'm sure you know its purpose. Earth hasn't responded to the invitation."

Endymion sweetly and shortly kissed her, hovering and sending hot breath over her face, "I will be there."

"But…."

"Wait for me. I will be there, and we will be together."

She had no other options because Serenity wanted no one other than Endymion. And no other would have her since she was already Endymion's. Endymion kissed her skin, creating more space as he removed more of her dress. She had no choice; her heart and body belonged to Endymion, relaxing into his hold as he slowly and gently made love to her again.

Serenity's only fear was that they would have to wait a lifetime to be together.

AN: I mean...we all know how this ends...