Rose of royalty

XV

Ugh why's it so bright it's giving me a headache, I woke up putting my arm over my eyes and turning on my side seeing Harrison asleep. I stared at him confused as to why we were sleeping in the same bed until remembered the events of yesterday and last night, I peered into his face seeing how peaceful he looked sleeping as he held me in his arms. It was so warm and so comfy, "Cath" Harrison mumbled in his sleep and I snuggled into him feeling his arms tighten around me. I hissed a little in pain and I guess that woke him up because he looked frightened, "oh my god I'm sorry did I hurt you?" He asked in a panic and I only smiled at him placing my hand on his cheek.

"No not at all" I whispered denying the pain I still had, "Catherine" he said firmly as he moved his face closer. "You didn't" I said looking down avoiding eye contact with him, "don't make me try and get an answer out of you" He said with a cheeky grin as he moved on top of me. "I doubt you could" I said giving him a mischievous grin to which he was about to wipe off my face. "You don't think I can?" he asked as he kissed my cheek, "You can keep dreaming" I said as I moved my hand down his abs making him shiver. He intertwined his fingers with mine as he placed a soft kiss on my lips and pulled away getting off the bed making his way to the bathroom to get ready.

I laid on my side facing the bathroom door, I didn't have anything to do today so I was able to relax and heal from my injuries. Pulling the covers up to my shoulders feeling the warmth of the blankets, "going back to bed?" Harrison asked as he emerged from the bathroom dressed in jeans and a plain white dress shirt as he fixed his sleeves. "Well I'm useless doing tasks injured" I said as he crawled onto the bed placing his hand beneath my chin cupping it as he placed a quick kiss on my lips. "Well I have business to do today" He said as he brushed his thumb over my bottom lip, "What kind of business?" I asked and he looked at me nervously. "Oh" I said and he looked at me raising an eyebrow, "Oh?" he repeated as I turned around, so my face was turned away from him.

I heard a single sigh followed by the closing of the door, I sat up on the edge of the bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. Turning on the tap and letting the water run warm as I wet a face wash and wiped my face washing the natural oils off my face. I rubbed the soap in my hands seeing the bubbles foam up as I rubbed them on my face cleaning it. I rinsed off and dried my face as well as my hands feeling more freshened up then when I woke up. I went back in the room crouching down beneath the bed retrieving the suitcase I had bought from back home, I grabbed a light baby blue sundress and a set of black laced panties and a bra. I got dress and braided my hair in a fishtail braid resting it over my right shoulder. I glanced at the clock on the wall seeing it was now 9am.

Had I been in bed for that long?, I didn't sleep too well last night and I still felt sore. I sat on my bed holding my phone unlocking it browsing through the apps. Absently I went into my messages seeing a message from my mum in all capitals, i dialled her number giving her a ring and she picked up but she sounded very worried which was a foreign reaction to me from her. I reassured her I was okay now and that my injuries weren't so bad, I asked how she was and she told me she was now in rehab getting help over her drug and alcohol usage. "Mum I know who you are" I said and she sucked in a deep breath, "so you know the line of the family?" She asked. "Yes mum I know a little bit of it and some sort of murder involving Irene Ryhill" I explained, "what do you know about that?" She asked as if she knew nothing. "Mum stop acting like you don't know" I said feeling a hint of frustration bubbling up inside of me at how casual she was acting.

"Okay darling what did you read?" She asked and I could tell with the tone of her voice she sounded defeated. "Who's Ernest?" I asked and she shuddered over the phone, "listen sweetheart stay away from him he's a horrible man and messed up, he's presumed dead but no one knows" she explained as she stuttered her words. Why did she sound scared was he that bad god how bad was he, "mum will I ever be able to go back to work?" I asked and she sighed. "Not for a while sweetie" she said and I groaned, "how am I meant to earn money Mum because I can't take the money Harrison offered" I said all in one go as fast as I could talk. "Mum I'm going to visit uncle James in the hospital" i said desperate to get off the phone and leave my mum to going to her activeis to keep her occupied and away from thinking of a relapse.

"Alright darling be safe" she said before hanging up and I stood up from the bed feeling a sting of pain making me scream catching the attention of Tamika as she came running to the door. "My lady I heard you scream what's wrong?" She asked with concern, "nothing it just hurt standing" i said hissing as I tried to adjust my footing. "Can I get you anything to help my lady?" She asked coming forward and I held my hand up, "no I'll be okay" i said and she came by my side anyways putting my arm over her shoulder. "I'm fine" i said stubbornly and she shook her head helping me leave my room, "you need to start being open to help" Tamika said and I didn't protest because she was right. "I wanna go and read in the garden" i said and Tamika looked behind us in the direction of my room, "my lady I don't mean to pry but does the royal highness know about your family?" She asked. "No he doesn't" I said not wanting to reveal to much and get her mixed up in all this.

Later that day I was still sitting in the garden reading and Tamika had bought me out lunch and drinks. I hadn't heard from Harrison since this morning and I wasn't worrying about him that was until I saw a man stumbling holding his side and blood was on his hand. I got up limping over getting closer watching them and as I got closer I saw it was Harrison. I ran a best I could wrapping my arm around his middle and his arm over my shoulder, "come on" I said and I took him up to my room. I helped him sit on the nearest chair and found some medical supplies I knew Tamika had stored to clean my own wounds.

"I think it's time you be honest" i said as i unbuttoned his shirt and peeled it open so I could clean up the surrounding blood so I could see the wound. I checked him over and saw and exit wound so the bullet wasn't inside him, I cleaned the wound thoroughly with hydro peroxide carefully whilst Harrison winced and squirmed in pain. Occasionally curses as he dug his nails into the arm of the chair, "fuck that hurts" he breathed as he threw his head back. I dipped a piece of paper towel into some Vaseline and layered a non stick bandage before wrapping a compression bandage around his mid section. I wet a face washer with cold water placing it over his forehead. "Take off that bloody shirt" i said and he moved his good arm and I helped him take it off leaving him shirtless, he placed his hand on his forehead over the towel squeezing the towel. I watched the water droplets run down his face to his neck and travelling down his stomach.

"Harrison tell me what's going on" i said as i watched his wound and adjusted the bandage, "You know I'm part of the Quentin royal family" he said and I nodded without saying anything, "well no one would suspect the crown Prince is part of the of the mafia" he said and I wasn't shocked since overhearing him on a phone call. "How long?" I asked and he looked down shamefully, "since 16" he said and I hesitated to hug him knowing he had an open wound. "Thanks for telling me" I said and he didn't say another word. I moved a stray hair away from his face and removed the towel placing it on his cheek trying to cool him down, "looks like I'm not going to the hospital no more" I said and he looked at me with a tired expression. "Why?" He asked in a whisper and I cleaned up the supplies, "I can visit my uncle another day and I want to spend time going through the files" i said as i made my way to the bathroom. "Catherine!" Harrison called out and i rolled my eyes, "what is it?" I called back to him as I put away the supplies.

"I need help" he said and I came out of the bathroom seeing Harrison had moved himself to the bed. "What with?" I asked and he looked down at his trousers, i snickered and he narrowed his eyes at me. "Take them off yourself" i said and he tried but winced, "but it hurts trying to do it" he complained and I gave in going to help him undo his belt and pull his trousers off leaving him in his boxers. I looked up seeing a small grin playing on his lips but I had a better idea, I looped my fingers on the band of his boxers and pulled at them slightly letting the elastic snap on his thigh making him groan. "What do you think you're doing miss?" He asked as he breathed heavily.

I didn't answer him I just traced my finger along his inner thigh ignoring his pleads to know what I was doing and begging me not to tease him. "Catherine" he said almost whining as I dragged my nail.

"Harrison uncle Oliver said you'd be here in Scotland, w-what the hell!" I females voice yelled.