YENA I got so relaxed in my lavender-scented bubble bath that I could’ve fallen asleep in there.I’d picked up a design book from the school bookstore last time I was on campus, and I’d been enjoying it. But tonight it was putting me to sleep. I decided to let myself get into bed early. Nolan said he’d be working for just a couple hours, but that was probably a lie anyway.Not an intentional lie. He was just always running at least an hour later than he planned. And if he wanted to wake me up when he got to bed, he could. He probably wouldn’t, though. I passed out pretty quickly and slept for most of the night.When I woke up it was dark, and Nolan was asleep beside me. I might have laid there for hours. Just thinking. I didn’t look at my phone to check the time. I didn’t want to move at all, because Nolan would wake up if I did.So I stayed very still, lost in my thoughts. Watching the silhouette of my husband’s big chest rising
NOLAN “The party tomorrow is very important,” Luna said. Nolan nodded. “You can use some good publicity,” she continued. “And not any more of that secret altruism nonsense. We need an image of you looking like a proper prince, and we need it in the minds of the public as soon as possible.” “I understand,” Nolan said. “Do you?” Luna arched one of her dark, thick eyebrows at him. That was a question that did not invite an answer. Nolan scooted to the edge of the couch and rested his elbows on his knees, putting his hands in a lazy sort of prayer position. “I have invited some associates of your father to the party,” she continued. “People that you could stand to get on your side.” Nolan nodded again. “The time is now to establish allies. Everywhere that you can.” “I agree,” Nolan said, feeling some relief. Finally, she was acknowledging the impending conflict. “These associates…?” Nolan asked, letting Luna fill
YENA Nolan let his eyes flutter closed again and we made out slowly while he started waking up. His breath was hot, and his kisses were sloppy. He kept one hand on my thigh and used the other one to lazily push away my hair, which was falling all around his face.I leaned in to kiss his ear and whispered, “Happy birthday.” He answered with a small smile and a contented moan. Then he had me on my back. I think I yelped, just out of surprise. I’d forgotten how quickly Nolan could rouse from dead sleep.He let out an enormous exhale that seemed to rush around the room like a blast of wind as he slid his big, hard dick inside me.I gasped, taking in a huge breath of his heat and his scent.“I missed you,” Nolan said sleepily.“I’m right here,” I replied. “Where were you all night?” he mumbled, his voice quiet and a little bit whiny.I couldn’t answer right away. I tried to catch my breath between the little jolts of pleasure that were lighting me up with every
He thought he might be able catch Yena if he looked for her in their rooms or her studio early in the afternoon.But the double doors of her studio were locked. He heard voices from within, and decided not to knock and disturb her.In their bedroom, Nolan found the surprise she had left waiting for him. And a note. Not a fancy card. Just a tiny scrap of paper pinned to the button closure on the pocket of his new suit jacket. The suit was incredible. Nolan could hardly wait to try it on. He ran his hand along the fabric and smiled at the soft feel of it. He pulled out the pin and the paper. Unfolded it.Happy Birthday, the note read. Remember. I’m Yours. Yena#YENA I got ready in my studio. I’d made a gown for myself to wear to the party this week, using leftover fabric from Nolan’s suit. It was a black satin dress, with an emerald silk accent that showed under a split in the skirt. Of course, the deaconess insisted on helping me
NOLAN Yena took a step back, interrupting the rhythm of their slow dance, and looked around. They were at the center of the dance floor. The crowd had filled it up around them. “Okay,” she said slowly. Her voice was quiet under the sounds of the music and the lively party. Nolan pulled her close to him again. “Is this the best place to tell it to me?” she asked, sounding nervous. Nolan’s heart was racing. It was the first time in a while that he was hearing Kent’s voice, articulate and clear as a bell, loud in his mind. Saying, It’s almost too late! You fucking COWARD! Nolan felt like his chest might explode if he did not tell Yena he loved her, before the two of them left this spot on the dance floor. “Yes,” he said.His hands trembled slightly.Pressing his mouth to her ear, he told her, “I love you, Yena.”It was easier to get it out without looking into her eyes.She put her hand to his cheek, though, and
NOLAN The prince took the emerald green handkerchief out of the breast pocket of his jacket and folded it into a tight ball. He pressed it into Yena’s mouth, and she kept it there. Then he touched her again, softly. She moaned a little, though it was muted with her teeth clenched over the wad of silky fabric. Nolan shook his head and shushed her again. Her face moved into what would have been a smile, if she were not gagged. “You will be silent,” he said sternly into her ear. “And you will like it.” Her eyes rolled back a little and fluttered closed. She panted, breathing through her nose, and started to shiver. Nolan moved Yena’s panties to the side and slipped his middle finger inside of her, and curled all his other fingers into her skin. “Look at me,” he demanded, and Yena opened her eyes. “Now,” he said, pulsing his finger in and out of her. Carefully.Her shoulders flew back against the wall behind her, and he
Gina either didn’t notice me until I was right in front of her, blocking her path, or she was pretending like she didn’t. “Excuse me,” I said loudly when she tried to side-step me. Finally, she stopped in her tracks. “Oh, my!” Gina said when she finally met my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Yena, I didn’t recognize you.” I raised an eyebrow at her. It was a strangely informal way to greet me. Calling me by my first name. “We haven’t actually met,” I said. “Right, right,” Gina responded. “I just meant, you know, your face is everywhere in the news and such. I thought I’d recognize you when I saw you tonight, but you look so different, with all the makeup.” I had nothing to say to that. “Do you care to introduce yourself to me?” I said to her in the most royal way I could manage. “Oh,” Gina said breathily. “Sorry, it just seems like you know who I am already! I’m sure Nolan must have told you I was coming tonight.”
NOLAN Nolan’s eyes darted around the ballroom. There were so many important people here. And press reporters with cameras. Gina was baiting Yena. She had been telling the princess lies to rile her up. Trying to get Yena angry in public, to embarrass her. Nolan put his hand to Yena’s cheek. She did not flinch but gave him a sharp look that made him pull away. “Just take it from her,” Yena said. “She won’t leave you alone until you do.” Nolan nodded and turned to his ex. “Gina, I’ll take your gift and say thank you, but then I must ask you to please leave. You were not invited here. Neither my wife nor I appreciate your presence here.” Gina flashed him a smile. She held out the little box and Nolan took it. He was about to slip it into his pocket, but then Gina said, “Wait, will you just open it please?” “Fine,” Nolan said. He popped the lid off and saw that there was a watch inside. “It’s imported,” Gina told him. “F