My Red Queen |Red Queen fanfic|

Cat and Mouse

Mare

Sometimes in the midst of all the curveballs, life throws your way, you forget to have fun. Not just physical stimulation but genuine fun that leaves butterflies in your belly. Those wonderful nervous jitters one might get when in the presence of someone they have feelings for. My boy king has a way of manipulating my emotions in ways I cannot explain. Not just his ability to make me swoon over him, he brings out the happier side of me. The me that makes me feel like a kid again.
While deep in my thoughts, gingerly tiptoeing across the palace hallway, I peek over my shoulder in search of him. Taking small bites of what remains of my pancake, smiling like a kid in a candy store.
Butterscotch pancakes, get out of here!
My man is the best!

Oops, Mare, we are hiding. This is no time to be fangirling over pancakes. Okay, just a few more hallways and I'll be outside. Just make it outside.
"Baby? Where are you honeybuns?" A teasingly mischievous voice fills the silence around me.
Not today Satan
I sprint at full speed, dodging maids and guards all while evading Maven's advances.
"Your highness, are you alright?"
No time
"Lady Barrow!"
I blew right past him, inadvertently knocking the poor lad to the ground.

"Sorry sir, I- I gotta blast" I breathed heavily.

God, I need to hit them
—————————— Maven—————————
"Oh, my back! I'm getting too old for this sh-"
"Windham, I apologize for the head-on collision. But it appears I am missing a fair maiden".

I gave my grumpy advisor a hand back to his feet. Quickly he fidgets with his uniform, smoothing our wrinkles muttering obscenities under that bushy mustache of his. I bite back the pit of laughter threatening to erupt when his whiskers waved uncontrollably.

"Your highness, a king mustn't engage in such childish fair. What would our guest think?"

That boy is so in love and I'm happy for him?

"His majesty is still a seventeen-year-old boy who is playing a game of cat and mouse with his beautiful girlfriend and will go back to being a boring stick in the mud when she accepts my apology" I argued.

He softens his expression. Giving me a tender smile. "My boy, what I wouldn't give to play games".

He pats my shoulder before dusting off his bum and exiting the room.

"Oh and your highness, her majesty was headed towards the garden" .

You can't hide from me baby

————————————————————————

Mare

Finally, I made outside.

Tucked away behind a growing apple tree, snickering excitedly, my eyes dart back and forth. Maven came into view, quickly looking over the area. I had to shush myself to keep from laughing. He disappeared in the opposite direction. Finally, the coast is clear!

"Whew, that was close," I said loudly.

"Not close enough".

Before I could react I had his arms wrapped around my midsection, lifting off the ground and spinning me in circles. I laughed a deep hearty laugh as happy tears pricked my eyes.

"Uh oh babe looks like I win" he kissed my head.

I still couldn't answer him, I was laughing too hard.

"Now, how about you give me a victory kiss, hmm?" He grinned.

"Never!" I cheered.

He turned me around so that I was facing him.
"Never? Tsk tsk tsk, wrong answer". With that, he tickled me relentlessly, bargaining that he'd stop if I would just kiss him.

"Maven, st- stop, I can't take it" I gasped.

"Just one little kiss, right here", he points to his lips, "gimmie a kiss woman!"

"Nooo" I giggled, scrambling out of his grasp.

He pulled me back into his arms, this time putting his full body weight on me. Leaning his head down into the crook of my neck, gently swaying us side to side.

I could die a happy woman, being here in his arms

He placed his hand just above my hips, rubbing tiny circles into my sides.

Uh, curse my sore hips

"I need a victory slash apology kiss babe or I might just curl up and die without your lips" he whined.

I turned around to face him, "fine, fine you big cry baby".

Before I could reach up on my tippy toes, Maven had swung me to the side, dipping me back while gently holding me still. With a devilish grin, he leans down and kisses me. Hungrily and lovingly. I felt his heart beating beneath my fingertips.

"You won this round Maven Calore".