The Royal Romance - The Valtoria Diaries

No jurisdiction

Olivia was the last one of the group to bed on Christmas Eve. Of course the lovebirds had gone up first, sickeningly chasing each other up the stairs with their mutt in tow before ten. No doubt they'd be the last ones up tomorrow as well. She'd made sure to accommodate them in a far corner of the keep so as not to nauseate her other guests with their persistent friskiness. It was a wonder Jen wasn't pregnant yet.

Rick had said his goodnights at around eleven. At this time, Drake had just poured another whisky. Hana had seemed strangely determined to stay up until he'd finished it, and he wasn't in a rush. Olivia liked to think that Hana was paranoid about leaving her and Drake alone together. Whether Hana had got to know about their little bit of fun last month, Olivia wasn't sure. But it confirmed one thing, that the whole Hana and Rick thing had crashed and burned. Good.

When they all called it a night just before midnight, Olivia headed for her room and readied herself for bed. She found this whole thing so frustrating. Rick was just across the corridor; easily accessible and frustratingly seducible. She'd seen the looks he'd been throwing her over the last couple of days. It made a refreshing change from the incessant pining over Jen, which finally seemed to have ceased. But she had principles. She was waiting for him to come to her, when he was ready.

The whole Drake thing had been a bit of a disappointment all round. Frankly, she'd remembered him being a little more capable, although that was a little while ago and of course she'd had a number of utopian experiences with his best friend to draw on since then. She'd thought the frustration inside him might have intensified things, but it had seemingly just shortened the whole sorry episode. Or had that been the alcohol? Probably a combination.

But the real disappointment was the fact that there'd been no explosion between Rick and Drake as a result. Rick didn't seem to be displaying any signs of bitterness or jealousy towards his friend. He either didn't know, or he didn't care.

She just wanted him to care.

She got into bed and checked her weapons were in their usual places under the mattress and in the drawer, placing her emergency dagger on her bedside unit.

She sank into the mattress, and it wasn't long before thoughts of Rick's muscled body, considerable package and flawless technique flickered through her mind, making her draw her hands in a specific direction. Just knowing how exasperatingly close he was made it all the more intense as she writhed and sighed with pleasure, capturing the memory of their last encounter at the palace, remembering the things he said and the way he held her as she....

There was a gentle tap at the door.

Fuck. Olivia sat bolt upright, reaching for the dagger on her bedside with her other hand. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Olivia."

Confused, she took a moment to get her breath back, released the dagger, wiped her other hand on the bed and stood up, pulling her nightdress into place. She made her way to the door and let him in.

"Not interrupting anything, I hope?"

She hoped she didn't look too flushed. "Other than my beauty sleep?"

"Olivia, I heard you come up, so I know you've only just retired. I thought we might benefit from a.. discreet chat." He was only wearing pyjama bottoms.

She huffed. "Well, you'd better come in."

He sat down on the bed, she leant against the door, scoping him out.

"So what is this, you thought you'd play Santa or something? I told you, we don't welcome him here." She gestured to her bedside dagger. "We fight him."

Rick chuckled. "That wasn't my intention. I just wanted to speak to you. In private. We haven't had the opportunity."

Smart. She'd deliberately been avoiding having to spend any time alone with him, making sure there had always been someone else about. "I didn't invite you here to get private time with you, Your Majesty."

"That might not be so, but I feel the need to establish where we currently stand. I can't continue with this evasiveness." He sighed, putting his hands together. "Listen, Olivia, I know we've had a... tumultuous relationship across recent months. I appreciate you giving me time to work things out. And... I know about what happened between you and Drake. He told me."

"When?"

"A few days ago. Drake, Hana and I went to investigate the keep dungeon, and while Hana was exploring, he and I were reconnecting. Things have been a little difficult between us recently."

"I can imagine. Don't think he took too kindly to you perving all over his precious Hana."

Rick looked taken aback. "I'm sorry?"

She laughed. He might be the King, but he wasn't as all-knowing and all-seeing as he liked to think he was. "Don't tell me I'm wrong."

"He wasn't happy about the way I'd handled things, no. I'm sure his concern came as a mutual friend rather than anything more."

"You think that if you like, Rick. I had similar concerns."

"And I understand that, Olivia. Drake and I have spoken and we have come to the conclusion that your seduction of him might have been a retributive ploy to, well.. make me jealous."

She didn't have an answer for that, because it was the truth. She just looked at him.

"You didn't need to do that. You know how I feel about you."

"Do I?" She walked towards where he sat. "As I recall, the last time we spoke, you told me you were fond of me. Are you fond of me, Rick? Is that how you feel about me? And if not, how do I know.."

But somehow his lips were on hers, and his hands were on her back, pulling off her nightdress. She wasn't going to protest, and she soon wrapped her naked legs around him, so that her toes touched behind him, and leaned back as he banqueted on her breasts.

When he finally pulled away, she looked intensely into his eyes. "You might be the King, but you have no jurisdiction over me. I'm in charge here. You know that."

His face wore no expression. "I know that."

"Good. Then lose the pyjama bottoms."

She released her vice-like grip long enough for him to comply, then returned, letting their bodies connect, knowing he would provide the inevitable release that her earlier thoughts of him had triggered.