The Royal Heir - Dancing with my eyes closed

Go on then

A/N - Okay. This is a big chapter (in both senses of the word) and it has not one but two absolutely gorgeous art scenes. The first by the ever amazing @artbyainna, and the second by the fantastic @rose_f_genius - who ran a competition for writers to submit a scene, and her favourite scene would win some art inspired by it! And yeah, I won, and I couldn't be more thrilled with my beautiful prize! Thank you again Rose!Chapter also contains some NSFW content towards the end.

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So we're now a week on from the non-date and my close call in the study. I've pulled myself together and told myself on an hourly basis that this is just a silly little crush, it'll pass, and I obviously need to get out more. And, I've had a thought on how to make that happen. I'm pondering on the execution of that idea while me and Bella are playing with some cool wooden jigsaws in the drawing room on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

"Daddy. More!" Bella raps her plastic cup on the table. Aw, another new word!

"You want more drink, Bella bean! Sure, I'll whizz off and fill this up for you." I rustle her hair, she giggles. "Now, listen, I want at least three of these puzzles finished by the time I get back!" I know for a fact there'll be more pieces on the floor than the table on my return, but I dream big.

She nods obediently, as I head down the corridor towards the family kitchen. But mmmm, there's a heavenly aroma wafting towards me. I had lunch not so long ago, so in theory I shouldn't be hungry, but ohhhhh, now I am. Hungry for whatever's in the kitchen...

...Tommy's in the kitchen. Oh wow, he's cooking! Looks like some sort of cooked breakfast?

"Hey," he says, not looking up at me, his attention fully on a sausage in a frying pan. Gulp.

I smile, and sit down at the table, where I see there is one place setting made up. "You got enough for me too?"

He shakes his head. "You already had breakfast. And lunch by now, I'm guessing?"

"Yeah, and now I'm heartbroken!"

He laughs, and I shoot him a wink as he turns back to look at me. "Don't be. It's just a bit of bacon and a few eggs."

"And a big sausage. Don't undersell yourself, Tommy."

Now he's laughing again, but he can't look at me anymore.

"So you gonna make this again tomorrow?"

"Probably not," he says, now frying the eggs. "Think I'll put my usual order into the main kitchen tomorrow. Just fancied a fryup today. We worked up an appetite earlier, didn't we?"

We totally did. Which is why I had a big lunch just now. But if I'd only known this was going to be on offer..

I've been working out most days, and Tommy joins me at weekends. He's good with the usual time on Saturdays, but we're going for a later time tomorrow at his request. I don't mind, it's much more fun with someone to chat to. A good summary of life overall, actually. We hang out pretty much every other night, gaming or watching a movie or just having a drink together. And when we're not hanging out, sometimes I know what he's up to, sometimes I don't. Which is fine. I like that he retains an element of mystery.

I realise I'm still holding Bella's juice cup. She'll be coming through to find me soon if I don't wrap this up. But I'm loving this aroma and... oh wait, this would be a great time to ask him about Friday!

I get to my feet, and head to the fridge to fill it up. "So, what are you doing on Friday?"

Tommy shrugs. "Haven't decided yet."