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 now their families thought that they were moving too fast. “You’re too young,” his father had said. As long as she showed up two months from now to marry him, Bart didn't care. A 20 year old man had never been as sure that he wanted to marry someone as Bart was that he wanted to marry CC.
"Ouch," he heard her whisper under her breath.
As much as Bart liked watching her, he loved going to her even more. She already had the band—aid out by the time he got to her. He looked into her face as he took it from her and put it on her newly pricked finger.
"I can take care of my own needle pricks you know,” she complained, ghost of a smile on her face.
"I know, Caroline," he said, bending over to pick her up.
Caroline.
Her name out of his mouth made her putty in his hands. He knew it and she knew he knew. It made her furious. His saying her name undoubtedly meant he was going to make her do something she didn't want to and she would allow it, because really there was nothing he wanted to do with her that she didn't want to do with him.
"Time for bed, you're exhausted. You can pick it back up tomorrow," he said, taking the unfinished dress from her.
"I'm not sleepy," she protested with a yawn, her arms wrapping around his neck as she snuggled up against his chest and her eyes fell closed.
"Right, of course not," he said, as he carried her out of the office.
Bart took CC to the room next to her office. He had turned it into a bedroom for her to take naps in when she had a show coming up and didn't have time to go home. It was one of many attempts at getting her to come back to work. He probably should have gotten her something bigger than a ¾ bed. CC ended up spending quite a lot of time at the fashion house after James and Zoey's coronation. Being at the palace all the time was still too hard for her back then and she didn't want to put Bart's parents out. Besides, she liked the effort he'd put into the place. It was cozy, she'd told him.
She clung to him as he tried to lay her down.
"Stay," she whispered, kissing his cheek.
Bart swallowed. She'd been especially clingy the last few nights, insisting he stay with her. There was this unspoken agreement between them that nothing beyond kissing would happen until they got married, so he didn’t usually stay the night. He loved her and wanted her to be happy and comfortable, but damn she was driving him crazy.
Ever since the first time he saw it, the uncertainty in her eyes, it was like CC no longer wanted what he thought they agreed upon. She was finally getting back to basics and that pleased him, but now there was this. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Did they need to talk about it? But he didn't want to embarrass either of them.
He couldn't go there with her. Not while that persistent look of uncertainty left him so confused about what was going on in her head. Bart needed to find a way to make that look go away before they could consummate their love.
The moment she asked him to stay, he knew it was coming. Just like the previous two nights, she was straddling him and her warm touch alongside her eager mouth told the story of her intent. He restrained himself, giving her free reign as he fought to not to explore beyond her mouth. For all the good it did him. Tonight her fingers weren’t satisfied with feeling the buff chest, broad shoulders and rock hard core that hid under his shirt all day. As evidenced by the way she locked eyes with him, bit the corner of her lip as her shirt accompanied her arms up above her head, tonight CC wanted more.
Bart gulped as he watched her shirt hit the floor. What was he supposed to do with her shirtless and on top of him, threatening to take off more as she kissed her way down his body? The last two nights he'd managed to get her to fizzle out while spooning her and she'd fallen asleep in his arms. He’d hoped he had deterred her. Instead having caught on, CC only became emboldened. She already had them both half naked. His fingers dancing to the tune of her melody up her back, heading for her bra. Stop. Tell her they needed to talk. He wanted to, he really did, but all his willpower went into not flipping them over and tearing the rest of her clothes off. "I love you," she said, innocent eyes staring down into his. The hot air from her lips mixed with his as he felt the bra he didn't know he had unclasped gave way under his fingers. Fuck. He was going to stop now, wasn't he? Her lips pulled up into a smile as she pulled the zipper of her shorts down. He found himself helping her
"Get out," she’d said, taking one look at his greek god—like body and apparently deciding she was going to pass. She sat down at her dresser and took in her new hairdo. And as she did, so did he. His mouth went dry, jaw dropped to the floor. She was wearing a knee length, violet dress. On her feet she wore classical black high heels. Aaron had always had a thing for black heels. Everything came together with a charming diamond necklace to subtly draw attention to her rack, which ladies and gentlemen, was also fantastic. And then of course there was the new haircut. Gone was the girl next door. There was no ponytail today and probably wouldn't be for a while. The way the chin length haircut framed her face made it look like red hair was invented for her. Wait, did she just tell him to get out? Aaron promptly slipped out of the bed and went to stand behind her, making sure she got a good look in the mirror. She looked, of course she did, she ran her eyes all the way down his body, sur
2017, September 5th The last three months had been exactly what Bart needed. Satis Est was beautiful, diverting and lively. They always had something going on, from feasts to street festivals and balls, the party seemed to be non stop. Bart was happy for his friend. In the last three months he watched as Ethan charmed his way into Diane’s heart. They were a completely different couple and even Aria was slowly letting go of her reservations. Bart was on his way to Ethan’s room to check on him. He was late for combat training and despite his goofy, childish demeanour, in the three months that Bart had been here, that had never happened before. Just as Bart was about to open the door and dump a jug of water over Ethan’s lazy ass, the door opened and out walked Diane and Ethan. She blushed and curtsied. “Good morning, Lord Bart,” she said, looking down before disappearing down the hallway hastily. “Good morning, Your Highness,” he called after h
2019, December 6th CC held her head up high as she walked towards Troy's chambers, already knowing that she was about to do something she was going to regret. That she was about to make a deal with the prince of darkness. But her father had already shut her down and she was out of options. CC had to go and get Bart. Bring him back from the clutches of the vixen he couldn’t seem to stay away from. And once she had, she was going to sit him down so that they could talk. Caroline Condor wasn’t about to end up like her brothers. She was second fiddle to no one. Troy was sitting at his desk, attentively typing away on his laptop when CC walked in. Unceremonious as ever, she placed herself decidedly in front of him, slamming the laptop closed. Troy’s sexy brown eyes met hers as she brought her face down to the level of his. He grinned. “Have you had a change of heart, my dear princess?” Troy asked in that voice that was between sultry and charm, the one she h
2017, September 6th Prince Troy arrived the next evening with a man in tow, but she was not at his side. Aria had been anxiously awaiting their arrival, not knowing how she would face her rival. The wound was fresh. She meant to avoid this woman, to not go down for dinner tonight, but now it seems her anxiety had been for nothing. The prince’s anxiety, however, persisted as he was welcomed into the castle walls. “Forgive me everyone, I am afraid I cannot stay for dinner after all. I only came to offer a greeting, apologize in person and beg that you allow me to reschedule,” said Prince Troy. Diane went to her brother and hugged him. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Prince’s Troy’s face softened and he smiled at his sister, kissing her cheek. “You look well Di. I am very glad to see it. It’s nothing to concern yourself with. My fiancee’s… a bit of a loose cannon. It seems she and her brother gave Duke Dormer over here
2019, December 6th The ride back to the palace was completely quiet. She didn’t fight him, kissed him as eagerly as he did her, needed it as much as he did, held on just as hard. But when it was over, it was well and truly over. Aria sat as far as possible from him in the SUV, practically hugging the door. Whatever was wrong between them was still very much wrong. The walls were all the way back up. She was safe now though and once they got back to the palace, he would have time to figure it out, whatever it was, and find a way to fix it. Aaron took Aria back to his room when they got back to the palace. He wanted to stay with her a little longer, talk to her, just be with her. “So now what, Your Highness? Are we going to pick up where we left off in the middle of the road?” she asked, popping one of the buttons of his shirt. Of course. This is why she didn’t argue, didn’t protest, came with him so readily. She didn’t want to let him in, at least
2017, October 7th There was some mystery keeping Troy from taking Caroline and Aaron to that castle. After making such a fuss about taking her over there and her making nice on the first night, he seemed to have decided against them meeting after all. They had already been in the country for a month for goodness sake. All the cancelled dinners and brunches, it must be intentional and CC wanted to know why. Today was the same. Aaron was already being driven past the castle’s gates when he got the call. “Brunch is off. Get out of there,” said Prince Troy, ending the call abruptly. “Good morning to you too,” said Aaron, sticking his phone back into his pocket. He was just about to tell the driver to head on back out when he saw her. Those flames going down her back were unmistakable. He got out of the car and followed after her. When she came into view again she was pulling her shirt up and over her head. Aaron watched as the fabric lifted and revealed her
Aria was out in the courtyard, sparring with the men from The King’s Guard. She wasn’t pulling any punches and they were learning that it was in their best interest that they didn’t either. She needed to clear her head after her run in with CC, after last night, after what she woke up to this morning. Her brain was about to implode. When Aria woke up that morning, she wasn’t sure which was worse: the killer headache or waking up in his arms. He looked so peaceful, so angelic, harmless even, when he was asleep. How was he somehow more lethal asleep than awake? He looked like a man you could give your heart to without reservation and it terrified her. She never should’ve stayed last night. No clothes came off, but something did, something much more important. Aaron Condor was not king consort material. She needed to leave that room. Aria had the thought and it was like he’d read her mind. His arms tightened around her. “Stay a little longer,&r
2020, February 14th (Warlanda) She walked through the doors of the softly lit restaurant and Aaron's fear that he'd made a mistake was confirmed. Of course Troy wasn't letting Aria show up tonight. What kind of dumbass would he have to be to let this happen? What kind of dumbass was Aaron for letting her talk him into this? For still wanting to see an engaged woman whose wedding had to happen by the end of March? "Troy sends his regards," said Emily, taking the seat across from him. Emily put the ring box down in front of him. Aaron just looked at it. The bloody thing was obviously cursed. "She really did want to come Ron, but Troy's just not-" "Since when are you two such besties?" Aaron asked, draining the glass in front of him. "I guess things are better now that you're not in the picture. I'm even allowed to come to the wedding now." "Well whoop de doo for you." He got up, threw a few bills down onto the table and was about to walk out when she took his hand and stopped h
2020, February, 14th Had she noticed that he went a little nuts when she left the bed without him? That his mind went right back to the night that she and Ethan were taken from him? Because he knew she was already awake, had been for a while, but she didn't try to move, stayed perfectly still in his arms. Troy appreciated these little kindnesses, but how long could they live like this? She didn't look unhappy. In fact Aria had told him a million times now that her home was with him and Ethan, not in a castle, not in Sartis Est or Warlanda, not anywhere but in his arms. He wasn't the same though. Troy didn't know if he could make the woman he loved happy anymore. They hadn't laughed together since Dean died. Her ministers were finally falling in line since his coronation and the official announcement of their engagement, but the deadline for them presenting themselves in Sartis Est as husband and wife was coming up. Her rigid country still demanded he be her official king consort by th
2020, January 11th “You know it’s not that simple, Troy. The House of Dormer worked really hard to give you this shot to take Warlanda. You know Madz won’t just let you leave,” said Nathan, backing Emily and Troy back into the chapel. He had neither the patience nor the time for this shit. Troy walked right up to Nathan, took his hand and the gun he held in it and pressed the muzzle up to his forehead. “Are you ready to kill me Nathan? Are you ready to die? Because one of those two things is going to happen tonight if you don’t get the fuck out of my way.” He’d made promises, told her he would come for her and Troy would be damned if he wasn’t doing at least this much for her. There was no point to any of it without her anyway. He didn’t care if he lived or died as long as he could save her, as long as Dean died. Emily lifted her dress and pulled the gun strapped to her thigh. Nathan’s eyes travelled up her silky smooth leg all the way up her thigh and he let out a forced breath, gri
31st November, 2019 Eyes on me, just me, he seemed to be telling her as he watched her official coronation happen. Aria kept flashing back to the moment Troy had taken the crown, her crown and put it on her head while they were still on the battlefield. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty" and in that moment she understood that this was bigger than her, than her vendetta against Dean. How had he done it? Troy had gotten her to take back her order to crush Warlanda with a few simple actions and two words. And a look. It was the eyes that had sealed the deal, been her undoing. When he looked at her Aria was sure he could get her to do just about anything no matter how much it hurt, no matter how angry she was. She'd been nervous about dressing up and attending a formal coronation and rightfully so. Even as he watched her now, as they watched her now, there were people in that very throne room who wanted her dead. They'd have to go through him before they got to her though. Just like he'
2019, July 1st Dear Diary He came to see me today, was right in front of me and then he just wasn’t. Why did I run from him like I bloody always do? So what if I was a bloody mess? He wanted to see me or at least I thought he did and I wanted to see him. What did it matter how I looked? The way he watched me, seeked me out as he followed me up to my room, he looked absolutely desperate. Should I have gone after him? I did try to find him as soon as the shock of him having left just as abruptly as he showed up wore off, but he was already gone. He’d returned home to Terres Somnia almost immediately after departing from Sartis Est. He is on a plane even as I write this. Maybe it was just as well we didn’t meet after all. What if he only came to break my heart? What if he only came to tell me that he’d moved on after all? Even if that was what he came to say though, my stupid heart wants to hear it, wants to hear him. Should I call? Is there enough of me left to call? But he chose to lea
2017, October 12th They had already boarded the plane and were preparing for take off when Aaron turned to Emily and said, "Make sure she gets home in one piece! I'm sorry, I just can't leave yet." CC was in a daze and he probably wouldn't have left if Emily wasn't on the plane too. It was the way Adele said goodbye, the look on her face, like she didn't expect to see him again, that sent him running back the way they'd come, right back to her. Henry would survive one more night without him. His lips were on hers before she could register that he had picked her up, that he was holding her again. "What do you think you're doing?!" she yelled. "I just didn't like how sad you looked. Couldn't help myself. It's not like there's anything I can do in Terres Somnia tonight," he said, pulling her mouth to his and kissing her again. He felt her body relax, grow comfortable and then she kissed him like he was used to, like nothing else mattered, including that they were still in the middle of a
(Terres Somnia) “Come on. It’s been a while and with the rain cloud you have over both of our heads now, we could both use the distraction,” Troy said, taking her hand and walking her out of Ethan’s nursery. Aria gave him an apologetic look and a quick kiss, before sitting down across from him to the chess board he had laid out. “Want to make things a little interesting?” she asked. Troy gave her a suspicious look. “Interesting how?” When Troy sat down with her that first time to teach her how to play, he never could have imagined the situation that he was in now. That prim and proper Queen Aria Maine would strip him bare in a strip chess tournament. “So you haven’t played in a while huh?” "I can't help it if you're slipping, Troy," she grinned. She walked circles around his naked form in her bra and skirt, surveying him the way he had her that night in the hotel. Troy returned her grin, liked how happy she looked. He grabbed her when she came around again. “Peep show’s over, my queen
2019, August 7th (Sartis Est) With the arrival of Prince Troy Pierce in Sartis Est, its castle and its queen seemed to slowly, cautiously, come back to life. Aria was a quick study. She became a worthy chess opponent almost overnight and ended up winning as many games as Troy did. "Checkmate," she said proudly. Troy raised an eyebrow to her well deserved grin. "It's the jet lag," he assured her. "Sure it is.” The constant smiling Troy was still getting used to. It was restricted to them playing chess though, which was starting to get to him because it turned out he needed to see it as much as she needed a reason to do it. So even though chess was their ultimate favorite and he was annoyed at how good she'd gotten seemingly overnight, he allowed her to drag him into simpler board games like Conquest and Battleship, just so he could see her smile a little longer. They were living in a fantasy world of sorts. Almost as soon as Troy got to Sartis Est the war came to a grinding halt. There
2019, December 27th He wanted to be that guy for her tonight. The one who waited patiently for her, like he always did. But waiting had always been his problem as it turned out. Bart was done waiting. "The wedding's off," said CC the moment he entered the room. He was watching her pack furiously methodically, like she did everything. Bart was a fool. She was threatening to leave him and he was just as in love with watching her as always anyway. He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. She yanked them away from her waist and went back to packing. He took her hands in his, pressed his front up her back, put his lips up to her ear and whispered, "You should get angry more. You're absolutely beautiful when you're mad." She whipped around, hurt, sad, mad eyes glaring back at him. "You like this?" she asked, her tone accusing. "Maybe you should tell more women you're in love with them! That's sure to get you more responses like this out of me!" Those eyes were like daggers to the hea