The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 122

Day 8:
Colorado Springs
Opening Ceremony Warrior Games

Volleyball Games
Hosting Post-Party at The Golden Bee

"You know I can feel you..." Maddie's eyes slid to the side to glance at him, a smile bright on her face as they finished dressing for the morning.

"Feel me?" Harry lifted his eyebrows; adjusting his shirt. "I'm all the way across the room."

"I can feel you watching me," she smiled, stepping into her shoes.

"Well that certainly cannot be a rarity," he finished his adjustments and flashed her his smile. "I watch you all the time."

"Oh?" Maddie chuckled, smoothing out her skirt; finished and ready to go. "Does my security team know about you?"

"They do," Harry nodded. "They aren't worried. I'm a low level threat apparently."

"Apparently." Maddie repeated as he moved in on her; looking her over.

"They are secure in the knowledge that you could take me down quite easily."

"With my stunning abilities to immobilize?"

"With your stunning..." His eyes snapped up from her legs to her eyes with a spark. "Mind."

"I bet," Maddie rolled her eyes as a happy laughter settled between them.

"Madeline," Harry's hands settled on her arms, his eyes searching her face more seriously.

"Henry," she held his gaze.

"How are you this morning?"

"I'm wonderful," her face was bright and open and sincere and Harry caught that. Nodding; feeling relief. "I am fine this morning Harry. Last night was just...a moment. And it's passed. I'm refreshed and ready to take down these next two days with aplomb and style."

"Aplomb and style?" He smirked.

"Well...have you seen my shoes?" Maddie's smile pulled wide as they both shifted from the moment; seamless and together.

"Those are excellent shoes." His voice was so full of sarcasm, Maddie could almost feel it.

"They are." She arched an eyebrow. "I'm good. I promise."

"Right," he dipped to kiss her; taking her word. "Come on love. We have an Opening Ceremony to attend."

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The remainder of the day went by without a hitch and anyone watching; in person or via the media, would see what Maddie felt—relaxed, proud, and so incredibly pleased to be where she was.

At the Opening Ceremony, Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder, along with Missy Franklin and Harry lit the torch while Maddie stood at attention with the others on stage. She smiled for cameras, she shook hands, she slipped very easily into the mix around her. And Harry, keeping an eye on her even when he was working, could see that she was, in fact, doing much better than she had been the night before; back in full swing—with the sass and grace that came with her. So he breathed relief and continued on with his day.

And it was a beautiful day.

Maddie met many people; soldiers, families, supporters. She met organizers and even a few fans; offering a wave and a slight giggle at the return of the Team Maddie shirts. The weather was perfect and the events were alive with excitement. Of course, none was as exciting as when Harry was pulled to the floor to play with the Volleyball Team. Maddie cheered with the crowd as he pulled on his team shirt and tossed her a wink before he took to the floor. And there was no denying how unbelievably sexy that man was—Maddie could feel her stomach stir for him as he moved. But she pulled it together and she watched with enthusiasm as he played; handing the photographers some amazing and hilarious photos of the Duchess reacting to the play on the floor. And later, once the game was over, she threw her arms around her husband's sweaty neck and kissed him in celebration before moving to congratulate the rest of the team.

It was a beautiful day; well spent and well documented and before they had even returned to their hotel room to change and ready for the party they were hosting at The Golden Bee, pictures of the Duchess kissing the Duke were all over the media; print and online. And Maddie could already see the smirk on Ella's face as she viewed them. But she didn't care. She was finishing up these last two days of their tour just as she had spent all of the others before; working hard, playing hard, and incredibly in love with her husband.

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"Harry..." Maddie called to him as they moved around their suite; dressing for their night out. Though they would still be working—almost always working—it was much more relaxed and casual. Harry, for sure, felt more at home with fellow soldiers, giving the night a more personable feel. And Maddie was feeling the adrenaline high that came with such a great day; the natural lift that came with watching Harry do his thing.

"Mmm?" He slipped his watch on his wrist; showered and dressed and ready for a relaxing night. He looked great; fresh and clean and though the image of him sweaty in fatigues would be burned in her mind forever, this image was warm and natural and made her want to cuddle close. "Maddie?" He smiled at her half-dazed expression.

"Sorry," she shook her head and smiled sweetly. "Would you mind holding my lip gloss tonight?" She held up a tube. "My dress doesn't have pockets and..."

"Sure," he held out his hand. "Give it here."

"Thank you," she pressed a kiss to his cheek as he took the tube from her, slipping it in his pocket; such a natural, easy act of a husband. Maddie watched him for a moment, taking him in as he finished up.

A knock at their door told them it was time to go.

"That's us," Harry looked up to Maddie as she slipped back in the bathroom. "Madeline?"

"On my way," she called and then, just as quickly, reappeared; bright rosy cheeks and a smile.

"Fantastic," Harry reached for the door handle as Maddie breezed across the room.

"Just one more thing..." She was a bit short of breath as she smiled up at him; eyes flashing something he couldn't quite pin. "I was wondering if you might be able to hold onto these for me." She held out her hand. Without looking down, Harry smirked and held out his.

"Sure."

"Thank you." And then, as she dropped a soft ball of fabric in his hand, she stepped past him and out the door. "Thomas. Libby." Her voice was bright and perky and Harry—Harry was frozen inside their room.

Because there, in his hand, were Maddie's black lace panties.

"Harry?" Maddie turned to him; smiling wide. "Are you coming?" And Harry's eyes snapped up, his fingers closing over his wife's panties.

His wife's panties.

His eyes met hers and honest to God, he couldn't find his fucking voice for anything. He cleared his throat and nodded. His eyes met hers and Maddie knew in an instant; she had rattled him. Her un-rattle-able husband was sufficiently rattled. He almost always had the upper-hand on her but in this one, small instance, she had him.

And she couldn't help the heat of victory that pulsed in her veins.

With one hand, he pulled their door shut and with the other, he stuffed the small, the so fucking small, slip of fabric into his pocket and he followed as the group moved through the halls. Pulling together what was left of his wits, what was left of his survival instincts, he glanced around; taking in faces, reactions. Nobody seemed to be the wiser, nobody seemed to know.

Except for her.

His wife. Though she was smiling sweetly, though her bubbly exterior was well honed, carrying on conversation as they moved, he could see the excitement in her eyes, the extra beat in her step. She had him. And she fucking knew it. Clearly she was back in full swing. Maybe this was her way of letting him know that. Or maybe this was her way to mess with him on the most basic level possible.

Harry shook his head, a deep chuckle trapped in his chest. Yes. She had him. Her panties were in his pocket. Not on her.

Fuck. His eyes traveled to her; the soft yellow fabric of her dress swishing as she kept up with the quick clip of the group.

She was wearing nothing under that dress. Nothing; her underwear were in his pocket. And Harry instantly felt hot; his pants felt tighter.

Yes. She had him. And, as the doors to the elevator opened and the group filed in, her eyes slid to his and the kinked twist of her lips was her tell. She was loving this.

From that moment on, Maddie's panties were burning a hole in Harry's pocket; the knowledge of them there, of them not on her, branded in his mind. It put a twist on absolutely everything.

The way she moved through the lobby.

The way she smiled at the on-lookers, offering a wave.

His mind couldn't sort it out; which part threw him the most. Was it that he had her panties tucked into his pocket? Was it that she was right there in front of him, going about business, without any on? Was it that his sweet, lovely wife had handed him what was possibly the biggest shock he had received up until that point? Jesus. He didn't know.

He was completely torn.

Until they stepped into The Golden Bee and the introductions began. And then he stood there, smile in place and watched as his wife stepped forward; meeting the men and women he had played with that afternoon. He watched as men, soldiers, bowed their heads to The Duchess. He caught the way they looked at her, the way their hands held onto her fingers. They were a tad star struck—he got that. It happened to the best of them and, under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have fazed him at all. He had been there more than once, he had seen peoples' reactions to her.

But there she was; smiling back, congratulating them on their win, asking the kinds of questions that made her so very good at this—and her panties were in her pocket. A soft, almost indiscernible groan came from his throat and he shook his head; biting at the inside of his cheek. She was absolutely messing with his mind.

Maddie, hearing his groan, glanced back at him, looking him over with a smug sort of expression on her face. And when her eyes landed on his, her breath sucked in.

Yes, she was messing with him. She had intended to.

But that dark, deep fire in his eyes, that slanted smile of his—she knew. This was far from over; far from a game-set-match victory. And—had she been wearing any—her panties would have been wet with anticipation. But she wasn't. They were in her husband's pocket.

And her breath caught in her throat as her cheeks flushed. For a split second she second guessed her decision; wondering if it wasn't going to throw her off her game more than it was going to throw him—wondering if this very private secret they now shared wasn't going to keep her from having a normal conversation.

And then she took a deep breath and pulled her eyes from him. Her back straightened and she felt...bold.

With everything in her, she forced her mind to snap back to the moment; turning to the next of the introductions with that shining smile and quick mind. She had to be patient and remain focused and remember—this was exactly how she wanted this to go.

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Hours later, there were still a few handfuls of servicemen and women at the bar and Maddie and Harry were at a table with two of the men who had completed the Walking With the Wounded trek to the North Pole that Harry had been a part of. Sergeant Steve Young and his now wife Emma and Private Jaco Van Gass had joined them and in that moment, Maddie and Emma were laughing at the tales the men were telling of the other.

"Now you're gearing up to go in April?" Steve looked to Maddie.

"Yes," she nodded with a smile. "I'm very excited."

"Have you started the training yet?" Jaco reached for his drink.

"No," she shook her head with a knowing smirk. "I'll pick it up when we get back to London after the trip is over."

"Yes," Harry chuckled and looked to the two men. "Would you tell her she's going to need to start running?"

"Aye, Harry..." Maddie groaned.

"That she's going to need the endurance and the energy and..." Harry rattled off a list as Maddie rolled her eyes at him.

"Says the man who made it, what was it, four days?" Steve offered; grinning into his drink at Harry's surprise.

"Oh!" Maddie clapped her hands together as Harry turned narrowed eyes to his fellow soldier.

"Sorry?" Harry's hand moved to his chest in mock pain and hurt. "I had to return to London."

"Of course," Jaco smirked amidst the laughter at the table.

"Come on," Harry met his eyes. "You know I would have been there if I could have." The two men shared a silent communication that was born of camaraderie, of a shared understanding and it made Maddie's smile stretch.

"Yes," Steve nodded, allowing a moment of seriousness. "We do know that."

"Okay," Harry's smile flashed and he eased back.

"Of course," Steve's eyes flashed to Maddie sympathetically. "We were spared two weeks of your snoring."

The laughter erupted at the table once more. And Maddie could see the shift in Harry. She could see how much more at ease he was with Steve and Jaco, how himself he felt. And it made her so happy to see him that way.

"So," Jaco turned his enchanting smile to Maddie. "Are you going to do the entire trek?"

"I am," Maddie nodded, her hand finding Harry's leg under the table. "I'm incredibly lucky that this was really the first thing to hit my schedule so now other things are scheduling around the trek, instead of the other way around." Harry's hand found hers and squeezed. "I'm very much looking forward to it."

"Well, we'll all have to get together after you return and swap notes," he tossed out the suggestion before he even thought about who he was talking to. But before he could take it back or apologize for being so presumptuous, Maddie was rushing ahead.

"Absolutely!" She nodded excitedly. "I would really like that. Do we know how to get ahold of you?"

"I don't know," Jaco smiled at the look on her face while Steve laughed at the look on Harry's. "But I can give you my number."

"That would be perfect."

"Hold on," Harry's hand held up in good-natured fun; moving into Jaco's line of vision. "You're giving my wife your phone number?"

"It would appear that way, yes," Jaco nodded, flashing a smile at the Duchess.

"I'm right here!" Harry held his hands up as the rest of the table laughed.

"I'm sorry, are you jealous?" Steve mocked him good heartedly.

"A little bit," Harry nodded, waving a hand to Jaco. "Have you seen him? My wife's a sucker for good looking soldiers, in case you haven't noticed." Harry winked and they laughed.

"Oh come on Captain," Maddie's hand slid up his leg to his pocket, patting the bulge the contents made with a smug grin. "You know better."

"Oh?" He turned knowing eyes to her, his mind snapping instantly to their shared secret, his blood warming. "You're killing me here Madeline."

And to the rest of the table, he absolutely could have meant her back and forth with Jaco or the fact that she was laughing at his snoring or that he was only able to spend four days on the trek. But they both knew exactly what he was talking about and it made Maddie's stomach clench.

"I know," she offered a slight wink before she took a breath and adjusted purposefully in her seat; uncrossing and re-crossing her legs.

"God," Harry groaned and pulled his eyes from hers, forcing them not to focus on exactly where his mind was focused. He raised his hand to signal for their waiter. "I think I need another drink. Care for another round?" He looked to their guests and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long night.

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The end of their night came late. After miles of laughter and rounds of drinks, Maddie and Harry made their way back towards their room. The reception at The Golden Bee had been a perfect way to cap off their last night of their tour. They had one day left, one interview and then they were free for a few days. And spending this time with fellow soldiers, with men who had shared an experience with Harry that he would always look at so fondly had been a perfect cap. Harry had been "one of the guys" for the night and Maddie had simply been his wife.

As they moved towards the end of their day, they moved into their usual routine; slinking closer to the other, shutting it all down. The elevator ride to their floor was quiet, Thomas running through their call time the next morning, their short list of events, and by the time they reached their room, they had finished business. Saying good-bye to staff, the Security team took leave to their part of the suite and Maddie and Harry, hazy from the late hour, from their drinks, from the laughter, moved to their room; Harry leading the way.

"I'm so sleepy..." Maddie yawned, walking in past him as he held the door for her. "I can't wait to crawl into..."

"Hold on," Harry's hand at her waist stalled Maddie as she stepped into their room. Harry shut the door behind her and she could feel the heat from his eyes; from his gaze. And it all came rushing back to her. Though her lips tugged up at that memory, she forced her face calm, steadied her stance.

"Everything okay?" She kept her voice sweet.

"No," he shook his head, his chuckle deep and low as he stepped around her; standing in front of her.

"No?" She smiled and met his eyes. And that was her demise; the deep, dark fire there told her just what she had known would be there—just what she had intended to find when she slipped her panties into his hand.

"No," he repeated, stepping closer to her; her instincts moving her a step back, closer to the door. "You see. I've had this..." His fingers pulled the small slip of silky material from his pocket, letting it hang between them. "I've had this in my pocket all night."

"Oh?" She gulped and tried for innocent. "Black lace. Interesting choice." There was a tip in her voice, an uplift that drew him closer; half a step in and she took half a step back—finding the door with a small oomph.

"Yes," he nodded; his eyes shifted to the soft fabric hanging from his fingers and he moved closer. "You know, I'm a trained officer in the British Army."

"A Captain," she breathed; her chest rising and falling. "I know."

"Trained to think on my feet..." He took a small, half step forward.

"Yeah?" She could feel the heat from his body.

"To react quickly, to handle the unexpected..." One more step and she was pinned; her chest to his.

"Mmm?" Her lips pressed together in effort to keep the moan in her mouth. The way he was watching her, the way he was speaking; she needed that door behind her for support.

"And I've had years..." He chuckled, moving his left hand to the door, right beside her head; her panties still wrapped in his fingers. "Years of putting a smile to the world..."

"Well sure," she shrugged, her voice wavering just a bit.

"But tonight," he shook his head, his other hand moving low on her hip. "Tonight you just about brought all of that training..." His fingers at her hip began to pull at the flowy material of her dress; bringing the skirt slowly higher and higher. "All of those years of practice..." He leaned in, his nose nudging hers as his eyes locked with hers; heavy and dark and she nearly lost it. "...almost came crashing to the ground."

"Oh..." She breathed as his fingers reached the hem of her skirt; her leg bare just below his hand as he stalled.

"And I've just been wondering," he pressed a soft, too light, kiss to her lips. "I've been dying to know..." His hand slipped up under the bunched fabric, releasing it so that his hand fell hot and firm against her bare thigh.

"What?" She gulped at her dry throat; daring to put her voice into this heated exchange. "What have you been dying to know?"

"If the presence of these..." He pulled her panties closer to her cheek. "In my pocket really meant that there was an absence..." And then with a slow, torturous movement, his hand under her dress slid across her thigh to her center; finding her completely exposed and unbelievably aroused. His voice was low and labored as his fingers slid into realization. "God...Madeline." His eyes fell closed, his forehead pressing to hers as he let it sink in; as his lungs pulled in his breath.

Maddie stood completely still, her eyes watching him closely, her heart pounding in her throat, and every nerve in her body focusing on her center, where his fingers rested; firm and solid. "Harry..." She whispered and his eyes opened.

And the intensity she saw there, the unfiltered lust brought a surge of desire through her body and when Harry moved, his lips pressing against hers as his body was pressing against her, she gasped at the feeling. Harry, taking advantage of the moment, pushed his tongue into her mouth, seeking with fervor. Finding her tongue, he ran hot, firm strokes with his.

And then his fingers moved against her; mimicking the way his tongue was moving in her mouth. And it was all happening so fast and so heated that Maddie could barely react. She could barely process it; barely wrap her mind around it. She groaned against his mouth, her hands moving to his chest as her body slumped, weakened by what he was doing to her, by the way he was doing it to her and she thought for a moment she just might fall. But he was having none of that.

"Oh no," he shook his head, his lips pulling from hers with a smile; swollen and pink and his eyes locked with hers. His hand moved to her cheek, pressing her black lace panties to the warm skin there as he held her face in his palm. "Do you have any idea what you did to me tonight? Slipping these in my hand so casually..." His thumb moved over her pouty lips as he took a shuddery breath. "Do you have any idea..." His eyebrows lifted and Maddie, feeling brave and emboldened by the way he was pressed against her, the way he was looking at her, pulled together her wits and let her hands fall, running down his chest, over his stomach and past his belt buckle.

And her eyes never left his as her fingers wrapped around the hard, stiff bulge she found there. Her lips tugged up at the corners and she nodded; slowly, methodically and in a breathy voice she answered. "Yes." And, feeling her own lust wash over her, she parted her lips and never breaking eye contact, she sucked his thumb into her mouth.

And it was Harry's turn to weaken, Harry's turn to catch his breath, to slump at the knees. And he did; he wavered, momentarily shaken by the feel of her mouth wrapped around his thumb, the way her tongue licked heat onto his skin. He wavered.

But only for a second.

His hand pulled his thumb from her mouth and in an instant, his mouth covered hers. And as his lips worked against hers, as his tongue invaded her warm, wet mouth, his fingers pressed into her slick, wet core; fast and deep and the groan that came from within her was primal and needy and if Harry hadn't been battling this long drawn out foreplay she had initiated, that would have absolutely done him in.

Maddie was quick, and ready and the buildup had been exhausting; the entire night dipping in and out of a place where all she wanted to do was push him up against the wall and have her way with him. Her hands moved to his belt buckle and the fumbling she had been met with the day before had disappeared. As his fingers stroked against her, she slid the belt from his buckle, handled the button and the zipper and with a sigh of satisfaction, she had him in her grasp.

"Fuck," Harry groaned as she stroked him; a fire burning in his belly, an ache for her that had been teased out all night. God, he wanted her. And from the way her hips were arching against his hand, he had no doubt she wanted him just as much.

Harry was quick too; with one hand he pulled hers from his pants and with the other, he pulled his fingers from her. Though Maddie groaned a protest, he continued on; capturing her wrists in his hands he was fast and nimble and before she could blink twice, he had wrapped those tiny black lace panties around her wrists; binding them together and pinning them over her head against the door.

"Yes..." She breathed, her bottom lip pulling into her teeth as she smiled; surprised and aroused and unable to do anything but what his body was making her do. His face tipped to hers, kissing her deeply. With one handing holding hers in place, the other slid down her arm; a trail of heat fell from his fingers as they moved along her side and he stepped forward into the opening gate of her hips and she could feel him hard and warm against the soft, thin fabric of her dress and it made her moan in want.

And though he was half tempted to tease her, half tempted to drive her as mad as she had driven him this entire night, he really didn't have it in him to delay this any longer. Pushing her hands against the door with one hand, he bunched her skirt up with the other and without any more deliberation, he lifted her leg to his hip and pushed into her; swift and deep and causing the both of them to gasp out for breath.

Maddie laughed; a slight, muffled sound that told of her satisfaction, of her relief at finally having him inside of her. Harry turned a smile to her, the same intimate look they had been sharing the entire night and then, as he began to move against her, his mouth moved to her neck.

"Yes..." She breathed, her head tipping back against the door as Harry's lips moved over her skin; his tongue teasing, his teeth nipping. His hands holding her steady at her hip and over her head as he thrust every ounce of pent up want he had been holding onto that night.

It felt raw and heavy and a bit rough. But his lips were soft on her and even the hands that held her in place were warm and loving and the way he was driving into her was bringing her so close to that eminent explosion.

But Harry wanted more. He wanted to be closer, he wanted her wrapped all the way around him, he wanted her to be able to touch him, to be able to hold on to him as he held onto her. And then, in a move that surprised Maddie, he released her still bound hands and moved both of his to the backs of her thighs. As he lifted her off the ground, she grinned and let her arms fall around his neck; wrists still tied in her panties circling around him as her legs circled around his waist.

And he sank deeper.

"Oh God yes..." Maddie moaned, lifting her hands, together, into his hair. This new angle, this new tilt, brought him in contact with every spot she had and as he pressed her back against the door, she knew it wasn't going to be long.

"Oh Maddie..." He groaned into her mouth, now captured with his; his hand between her back and the door as he pressed into her over and over and over.

"Yes..." She nodded, her fingers tugging at his hair, her breath coming up shallow and ragged and...

"Maddie..." He warned, his hand clutching at her bare ass with tight fingers. He was close, too close and he needed her to join him before it was too late.

"Harry..." She arched out against him and he knew. His hand slid from behind her back, moving around to her chest and he pulled at the fabric there; pulling her breast from her bra, from her dress. His mouth left hers and pulled her pert nipple into his teeth and with one soft bite and one firm suck, Maddie was there. "Oh!" She gasped; her head tipping back. "Yes..." She breathed; her hands clutching to him, holding him closer and tighter and... "Harry!"

"Fuck," he groaned. "Maddie...I can't."

Her whole body clenched around him.

His entire world pulsed up into her.

And that buildup she had started, that tease she had initiated when she had dropped those black lace panties, still wrapped around her wrists, into his lap—came to a fiery, sweaty, beautiful end there against that door.

Harry's breath was hot against her skin, her chest was rising and falling as they both fought for air.

"Oh my God..." Maddie laughed, light and airy and winded.

"I know," he nodded, pulling his lips from her skin and straightening up. He looked down at her then as everything about their interaction softened. Pulling her from the door, he gathered her into his arms; taking on her weight. His hands were smooth against her as his arms wrapped around her, hugging her to him. "You okay?" He smiled sweetly.

"Mmm..." Maddie nodded, snuggling closer to him. "I'm better than okay. In fact..." She raised her arms and pulled the black lacy fabric from around her wrists. "I think I'm going to have to hand these off to you more often." With a wide smile, she pulled her panties onto his head like a hat and wrapped her arms around his neck; kissing his upturned lips. "There we go."

"Ha!" Harry laughed, shaking his head as he moved them away from the door, into their room. "I don't think I could make it through another day with these..." His eyes rolled up to his head with a grin. "In my pocket. But God..." He shook his head at her again. "God I love how your mind works."

"Yeah?" She lifted her eyebrows.

"Yeah," he kissed her and then, with a groan from him and a moan from her; he slipped himself from her body and sat her on her feet.

"Booo..." Maddie's lip stuck out slightly as he stepped from her; righting himself.

"Sorry love," he chuckled. "But I'm going to shower and get ready for bed. I'm exhausted and our last day is tomorrow."

"Fair enough. Here..." She reached up to his head to retrieve the panties and, as her hand moved from him, he snatched it in his and kissed the inside of her wrist. She smiled wider and watched as he dropped her hand, as he moved towards their bathroom. With a satisfied sigh and a deep breath, she tossed the black lacy panties into the air and caught them in her hand.

"Madeline?" His voice called to her from the bathroom.

"Captain?" She called back.

"Join me in the shower?"

And though she bit her lip and giggled; playing coy for only a split second, she tossed her panties to the ground and hurried after his voice; peeling clothes from her body as she moved