Hi everyone! Two days ago was my birthday! It was a great day and with all of the birthday celebration I've been busy and haven't been able to write a great chapter. This is basically an awkward filler chapter, so I'm sorry. I just really wanted to publish something...Thank you to everyone who reviewed my previous chapters. I deeply appreciate each response and would love any feedback you all can give. Thanks!
I awoke to the sound of rustling. Sitting up and blearily glancing around the room, I saw Maxon slip out of bed to get ready for the day.
"Hey," I mumbled, adjusting to the light filtering through our window as Maxon drew the blinds.
"Hi beautiful!" Maxon smiled and leaned down on the bed to kiss me. "How did you sleep?"
"Very soundly," I replied, shaking my head. "After yesterday's workout, nothing in the world could wake me up!" Maxon chuckled and hugged me. I drank in his warm scent with a hint of cologne. I climbed out of the covers and started to wrap my legs around him, burying my nose in his strong shoulder.
"Ow!" I shrieked, clutching my hip and pulling away sharply.
"What's wrong?" Maxon asked and I saw him tense. "Did I do something? I'm so sorry, America, what is it?"
"Oh," I sighed, rubbing my leg. "I am so sore!" I complained, laughing. Maxon slumped in relief that he hadn't hurt me. I sat in the butterfly position on the bed and relaxed into the stretch, letting my hips warm up.
"Massage?" Maxon asked, knowing me too well. I nodded with pleasure and turned so my back was facing him, still in the butterfly. His thumbs gently massaged my shoulders as I rolled my head. He moved down to my back, making me sit up straight. I felt hard knots loosen as Maxon's hands opened them. He skillfully reached down for my hips, massaging them and making every place he touched feel hot and tingly.
"Aah," I said with pleasure, fully leaning down into the butterfly stretch, feeling much better. I rolled around so I was facing him and just stared dreamily into his eyes. He was only in his boxers with a bare chest.
You are the most gorgeous man alive, I thought, marveling at his smoothly chiseled abs.
"Oh really?" Maxon raised his eyebrows, chuckling. God, did I just say that out loud? I blushed hot pink and shifted awkwardly. "I must say, you are the most gorgeous woman alive." He leaned in and bridged the space between us with a long kiss. His soft lips brushed against mine and then he put his hand on my back and pulled me in close, never moving his mouth from mine. Sometimes, when words got the best of us, actions filled in that space. With a kiss, Maxon was expressing that he loved me, he wanted me, I should stop worrying, and all my embarrassment evaporated instantly.
After breakfast, I invited Marlee to hang out with me and have a spa day. She and Carter had moved into the palace immediately after Maxon became King, and they were the first couple to have no caste at all. We were hoping to introduce the idea and start merging castes together soon after I was coronated and we were married.
"Hi Marlee!" I ran up to my friend and embraced her.
"America! I'm so happy for you and Maxon. The two of you are such a cute couple," she gushed.
"Thanks, Marlee," I said. "Why don't we go get changed so we can have a nice spa day?''
"Totally," my best friend nodded enthusiastically.
After getting changed into bathing suits, we headed down to the indoor pool. After having a nice time swimming around in the warm water, we took a dip in the hot tubs. There were three different temperatures, so we tried each. The first one wasn't nearly hot enough.
"This couldn't even be called a hot tub!" I laughed, swirling the lukewarm water with my index finger. "It's only a few degrees warmer than the pool." Marlee giggled, agreeing with me.
The second tub was pretty hot. I felt a burning sensation crawl up my spine as I stepped in, and I tingled for a few moments before getting accustomed to the new temperature.
"This is pretty nice," Marlee said, sinking into the Jacuzzi.
"I would agree. It's hot but it doesn't burn once you get used to it." After relaxing in the second hot tub, Marlee and I climbed into the third. At 104.5 degrees, it was really hot.
"Ouch!" Marlee squealed as she dipped her foot in.
"Yikes! This is way too hot!" We settled for the second tub and just gossiped for fifteen minutes. I had really missed Marlee and was so happy to be able to be open about our friendship and not keeping it a secret, like when she was hiding at the palace. The hot water was really opening up my muscles, so my soreness completely dissipated.
After hanging out in the Jacuzzi, Marlee and I stepped into the sauna. For a few moments, the moist, hot air surrounded me and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I'd never been in a sauna before.
"You're breathing too shallow," Marlee whispered. "Take deep breaths through your stomach. Don't panic."
I breathed in slowly and felt the air seep into my lungs. I was starting to sweat already, and felt uncomfortable and humid.
"Let's go," I told Marlee, and she nodded. Outside, I took huge breaths, loving how easy it was to inhale. "Phew! That was intense," I said, shaking my head.
"You definitely have to get used to it before it's actually relaxing," Marlee said. We sat by the main pool and just let our legs dangle into the water. After a while of easy conversation, it was time for us to go up for lunch.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Marlee and I got manicures after lunch. Though I hated asking to be pampered with something like getting my nails done, Marlee insisted, telling me I needed to let myself relax more often.
Maxon didn't come to dinner because he was at a meeting discussing the Southern Rebels. Marlee stayed with me to eat but then had to go sort something out, so I was left alone after dinner. I wandered up to my suite and just read a book in my bed, trying to pass the time and hoping Maxon would come up soon. At ten o'clock, my fiancé still hadn't returned, and I had to go to sleep.
I laid in my bed, feeling satisfied with the day. Hanging out with Marlee had made me in a lighter mood, and I felt recharged from her constant enthusiasm. However, sleep just wouldn't take me. After rolling around in my bed for half an hour, I knew what was missing. Maxon.
Sighing, I got out of bed and crept into his suite through the door in my room that connected to his. He still wasn't around. I threw off the covers of his perfectly-made bed, sprayed some of his familiar cologne on my pillow, and felt a hundred times more comfortable. I fell asleep within minutes, dreaming of Maxon and the comfort he brought me. A few months ago, I'd been able to go right to sleep on a mattress as hard as a rock. Now, even the softest mattress wouldn't make me tired. All I needed was Maxon.