Aria and Troy showed up arm in arm an hour later. Emily had breakfast served outside, watching them closely. This was not the man she had dinner with only three nights ago. Say what you will about him, he was absolutely taken with her. Either that or he was faking it really well and she’d underestimated him yet again. If the former, her cousin really must be something in the sack. Hell if they weren’t family, Emily would be considering doing her at this point. “Aren’t you two getting on well?” Emily observed. Perhaps it was less apparent because of the stupid smile on his face and the doting way that Troy was looking at Aria, but he was watching the other Maine too. She seemed agitated, frustrated. Emily kept raising a cup to her lips, only to set it back down again without drinking from it. Had she already found something? And if she did, why wasn’t she sharing with the rest of the class? That was after all why she’d brought them out here, wasn’t it? Not that he
2017, October 10th Returning home a disappointed man that morning after Adele was a no show, Aaron Condor was about to be a shocked man too. Henry and King Edward, the king of Warlanda, were in a video conference call with Troy and CC. “I’m afraid that with the appearance of Prince Dean in Sartis Est, a union between our countries at this time will not be feasible. I fear for Caroline’s safety,” said Troy. CC gave Troy a confused look. “What are you doing?” “Unfortunately, your fears may be justified,” said King Edward. “Your brother’s amassed quite the following. There are talks of a rogue army. I’m afraid of what he’ll do if he can’t bring Diane home.” “If it pleases Your Majesties, I would like to send Caroline back to Caines, at least until the matter has been resolved,” said Troy, refusing to look at CC. “Absolutely not!” CC exclaimed. “What she means is put us on a plane,” said Aaron, throwing CC a stern look as he entered the room. “I’m not going! Not while-”
Meanwhile, inside the warehouse Dean and Diane were sitting down to a talk. He was losing patience with her. She’d apparently changed her mind about leaving after all. “Di, things are already in motion here. I won’t be able to get you out again,” Dean said, restraining himself. “I know,” she smiled. “But Troy’s right. Ethan’s here and I don’t want to be without him and there’s no reason we can’t discuss living in Warlanda after the wedding.” Troy, fucking Troy! Of course he’d gotten into her head, undone all the work and effort Dean had put in over the last few days. No matter how much Diane adored Dean, she respected Troy. It was no wonder. The kid was quick witted. He saw things other people didn’t, paid attention and maneuvered accordingly. It wasn’t just that he collected information in a way most people couldn’t, it was the way he used it once he had it. Troy was a born leader, a soldier. Someone who saw Dean coming more times than he liked, including this time. Dean was si
As Diane and Ethan approached them, Aaron took Adele’s arm. “You, me, talk. Now,” Aaron said too loudly, the ringing from the gunfire still doing a number on his ears. “Is this about this morning? I was kind of busy,” she said, knowing that this was not about this morning. Aaron wanted to know what she was doing at Ethan’s side. She didn’t know how it happened, but until today Aaron and Ethan hadn’t met again since that day at the club when Ethan introduced himself as her brother. Aria was putting it off, prolonging the inevitable. She liked not being a princess to him, liked feeling like she was in control of things. That he only knew and saw as much of her as she would allow. Because the truth was she was living a fantasy. This thing between them was never going to be serious, certainly not for him. He’d probably forgotten the names of women he’d spent more time with than her. What’s in name, right? “Who are you Adele?” Just then, Ethan came up to them and threw his arm a
2017, June 4th(Caines, Terres Somnia)Another insufferable ball.The excuse for it?It was his birthday.Lord Bartholomew Arden would rather be sitting in his room preparing for midterms. Duke Arden took Bart around the room to meet with the nobles in attendance. Their dealings with the Arden House were drilled into Bart's head. As though Bart weren't already aware of them all. He would have given many things to not have to endure this night.Grievances aside, there was one thing Bart looked forward to about tonight. He might get to see Caroline. Things between their families were still very unstable. Bart hadn't seen CC since the last time she came home from boarding school.Unknown to King Henry, electing to spend the year abroad was step one in shunning his wishes for her. She intended to attend fashion school next year.Bart didn't know if his birthday was a good enough reason to bring her home right before midterms.Relief washed over Bart as his mother approached with a friend i
Caroline (CC) Condor was halfway through clearing the lower level of the Arden ballroom. As she steadily made her way to the stairs, he came out of nowhere. He was in front of her before she knew it. She tried to sidestep him, the way she had every man who tried to ask her to dance up until now. However, this one was not to be turned away. This man was a prince.He bowed gracefully for her and she gave a quick curtsy, before trying to escape again.“Prince—” he began.“I know who you are,” she said hastily, stopping in her tracks.The prince smiled.“A woman after my own heart. No introductions needed then, Princess Caroline,” he said, bowing once more. He held out a hand to her. “However, I wouldn’t say no to a dance.”Five minutes passed, then ten and Bart finally admitted to himself that he was waiting for her to show up. Why hadn’t she reached him yet? His curiosity getting the better of him, he turned back around and wished he hadn't. It was a waking nightmare. The kind where she
CC and Bart were trading outright glares now. It seemed she didn’t appreciate his dancing with another woman either. Bart didn’t like how CC was looking at him. Or did he? Maybe he liked it a lot. He wasn’t sure. She was getting into his head and he was having trouble focusing on the woman in his arms.Aria Maine had been slighted once too many times tonight. It was one thing for The Casanova of Casanova to ditch her for her cousin on the dance floor. Being danced with by a man who was gawking at another woman was something else altogether. She was a damn knock out and she bloody well knew it. Feeling somehow like she knew this man, what with Ethan talking about him nonstop, she felt she could do it. So she did. She pulled Bart’s distracted head down to her and kissed his cheek.Even Bartholomew couldn’t not look. Her amber eyes demanded attention as he towered over her. When next he laid eyes on CC, he had to do a double take, they both did.“Wow, you guys are liberal about what happe
December 3rd, 2019(Caines, Terres Somnia)CC's birthday was coming up. She had only recently started getting her dress ready for her birthday and planning for the next fashion show. Bart was glad to see it. The queen's absence finally seemed to be weighing on her less. CC even applied for fashion school next year. Bart liked watching his fiancee. Shortly after they got engaged, he got himself a very comfortable bean bag chair that he placed in her office. When he dropped by and she complained that she didn't need a babysitter, he swore that he just needed somewhere to study. And he did study. He got through tons of material during his time at the fashion house. Did it take him twice as long as usual because he spent half of the time watching her work? Yes, but she didn't need to know that. It might not seem sensible that it pleased him so much just to watch her, but then there was a time when he would have given anything just to lay eyes on her. A time when they were forbidden. Even
As Diane and Ethan approached them, Aaron took Adele’s arm. “You, me, talk. Now,” Aaron said too loudly, the ringing from the gunfire still doing a number on his ears. “Is this about this morning? I was kind of busy,” she said, knowing that this was not about this morning. Aaron wanted to know what she was doing at Ethan’s side. She didn’t know how it happened, but until today Aaron and Ethan hadn’t met again since that day at the club when Ethan introduced himself as her brother. Aria was putting it off, prolonging the inevitable. She liked not being a princess to him, liked feeling like she was in control of things. That he only knew and saw as much of her as she would allow. Because the truth was she was living a fantasy. This thing between them was never going to be serious, certainly not for him. He’d probably forgotten the names of women he’d spent more time with than her. What’s in name, right? “Who are you Adele?” Just then, Ethan came up to them and threw his arm a
Meanwhile, inside the warehouse Dean and Diane were sitting down to a talk. He was losing patience with her. She’d apparently changed her mind about leaving after all. “Di, things are already in motion here. I won’t be able to get you out again,” Dean said, restraining himself. “I know,” she smiled. “But Troy’s right. Ethan’s here and I don’t want to be without him and there’s no reason we can’t discuss living in Warlanda after the wedding.” Troy, fucking Troy! Of course he’d gotten into her head, undone all the work and effort Dean had put in over the last few days. No matter how much Diane adored Dean, she respected Troy. It was no wonder. The kid was quick witted. He saw things other people didn’t, paid attention and maneuvered accordingly. It wasn’t just that he collected information in a way most people couldn’t, it was the way he used it once he had it. Troy was a born leader, a soldier. Someone who saw Dean coming more times than he liked, including this time. Dean was si
2017, October 10th Returning home a disappointed man that morning after Adele was a no show, Aaron Condor was about to be a shocked man too. Henry and King Edward, the king of Warlanda, were in a video conference call with Troy and CC. “I’m afraid that with the appearance of Prince Dean in Sartis Est, a union between our countries at this time will not be feasible. I fear for Caroline’s safety,” said Troy. CC gave Troy a confused look. “What are you doing?” “Unfortunately, your fears may be justified,” said King Edward. “Your brother’s amassed quite the following. There are talks of a rogue army. I’m afraid of what he’ll do if he can’t bring Diane home.” “If it pleases Your Majesties, I would like to send Caroline back to Caines, at least until the matter has been resolved,” said Troy, refusing to look at CC. “Absolutely not!” CC exclaimed. “What she means is put us on a plane,” said Aaron, throwing CC a stern look as he entered the room. “I’m not going! Not while-”
Aria and Troy showed up arm in arm an hour later. Emily had breakfast served outside, watching them closely. This was not the man she had dinner with only three nights ago. Say what you will about him, he was absolutely taken with her. Either that or he was faking it really well and she’d underestimated him yet again. If the former, her cousin really must be something in the sack. Hell if they weren’t family, Emily would be considering doing her at this point. “Aren’t you two getting on well?” Emily observed. Perhaps it was less apparent because of the stupid smile on his face and the doting way that Troy was looking at Aria, but he was watching the other Maine too. She seemed agitated, frustrated. Emily kept raising a cup to her lips, only to set it back down again without drinking from it. Had she already found something? And if she did, why wasn’t she sharing with the rest of the class? That was after all why she’d brought them out here, wasn’t it? Not that he
Back at the Maine residence the following morning, Emily had just opened her gates to her uninvited guest. "Where are they? Where is she?" Aaron asked. “Hello to you too,” said Emily, closing the door. “And I have no idea where they are. I was stood up.” Aaron sat down and threw his head into his hands, then got back up and started for the door. He must really be drunk. He was listening to Henry and doing stupid shit. What was he going to do even if he did find her? His mind was a mess. He’d probably just push her further into Troy’s arms, not that he imagined she needed help with that at this point. They’d spent the night together, heaven knows where. Troy didn’t strike Aaron as the kind of guy to drag his feet on this kind of thing. “Hey come on, you look like you’re drunk out of your mind. Sit down. Have some water or something.” He walked back into the house, went straight for the kitchen and started opening cabinets until he found the vodka, opened the bottle and started
2019, December 8th & 9th Things didn’t go well for Aria after she and Troy started their little poker tournament. He was absolutely merciless. His teaching style was more throwing you in the deep end than letting you have floaties. He didn’t stop her from taking her clothes off either. Never one to back down from a fight, she could hardly say no. She had been the one to start it after all. It didn’t take very long before she didn’t have a stitch on. As he watched her underwear drop, Troy felt that he had definitely better leave now. He had to give it to her, she had guts. Too much for his liking just then. He walked over to her, taking her in, appreciating the toned body he wasn't going to let himself have just yet. Troy was a gentleman in the truest sense or at least he wanted to be, was trying to be. No matter how sure he was he was walking into a trap, he couldn't make himself stop going to her. Her tricks weren't wrapped up in deceit. She'd let him know exactly what was going t
“You can have as many dates as you want,” he said, pulling the straps of her dress down and kissing her shoulders, fondling her breasts through the dress. “As long as I can keep touching you, keep seeing you.”Adele sat up. She’d been lost to his touch a moment ago, but now she was looking at him with fear in her eyes. Once she’d been prepared for, once she was okay with. Maybe that made her a cliche, but he was the hottest, most alluring man she’d ever laid eyes on and she wanted him. But now he was saying things like as many dates as you want and it was going straight to her heart.“Shit!” she said, jumping to her feet. “Date is over.”“Wait, what?”“Remember that ball I told you about? I have to go.”She pulled her straps back in place and started running through the castle and back down the hill. Aria hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. A second absence from an official royal engagement would be noticed, especially this time. Etha
“Not sure if that’s going to do you any good, but hey, chivalry and all that,” he said, taking the place in. “You don’t happen to have dry clothes in your mystery bag, do you?” But she had already opened the bag and it was lying on the floor empty. Aaron picked it up and threw it over his shoulder. He’d lost track of her while taking in the castle, wondering what it looked like when it was first built. “This is really what you wanted to see today?” he asked, as he wandered around looking for her. “Yes,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to come here and see this place. I think it’s absolutely breathtaking.” A melody filled the castle’s empty walls, heartbreakingly loving and soothing. As he seeked it out, the melody turned passionate, fierce, unforgiving like a dance between a man and a woman desperately in love, drowning in it. Aaron picked up the pace, really looking for her now. “I’m sure it was something in its day, but now it’s-” He stopped short, finally laying eyes on h
2017, October 9th Aaron was lying in the middle of a field of flowers on a hill that offered a view of ruins of a castle. They had been headed that way, were still he thought, only he didn't want to ruin the moment. He liked having her so close, liked watching his fingers go up and down her body without her protesting. She'd even let him drag his fingers through her silky, long flames like he'd always wanted to. This was not what he should be doing, not at all, but when Adele showed up this morning declaring that there was peace at the castle after all and asked him out on a date, he was so flabbergasted that he ended up just watching her, letting her drag him along wherever she wanted. "It turns out Duke Dormer was meeting with Diane to relay messages from her brother Dean to her. The royal palace is hosting a ball to welcome the so called Prince of Wars, Prince Dean, tonight. Also, now that that's settled, want to go out with me?" she'd said all in one breath. Aaron grinned, ze