Summary: Riley makes one more stop for the night after breaking off her engagement with Maxwell
Riley was stopped by a guard outside the door to the royal chambers. “Good evening your Grace. Or should I say good morning. Can I help you?” He eyed her up and down suspiciously. She hadn’t even bothered getting dressed before she left Maxwell’s room.
“I know it’s late, but I need to see Liam.” Riley replied.
The guard, Leon, crossed his arms. “I cannot let you in without permission. The King did not mention you would be stopping by.”
“Leon, please. It’s important. I wouldn’t be coming to him in the middle of the night if it wasn’t. Can you go tell him I’m here?“
“I’m sure he’s sleeping your grace.”
“You can wake him up for me, he won’t mind, I promise. If he gets upset with you, I’ll take the blame. Can you please, for me?” Riley batted her eyelashes and smiled coyly.
Leon sighed and shook his head. “As you wish, your grace.” Riley didn’t know what it what is was about Cordonian men, but they couldn’t seem to say no to her, and she wasn’t above using it to her advantage when needed. Leon emerged only a minute or two later and Liam was right behind him.
Liam had been sleeping in nothing but boxer briefs, the waist set low on his hip bones, highlighting his chisled v-line. His hair was messy in a way the begged her to run her hands through it. The sight of him was enough to forget her troubles, at least for the moment. “Riley, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?”
She was no longer crying but she was certain he noticed her tear-stained cheeks and red-rimmed, blood-shot eyes. “No…I mean yes, um….it’s complicated. Can I come in?”
Liam appeared taken aback. He likely had a million questions, but asked nothing more. “Oh, yes, come in. Leon, thank you. You may return to your duties.
The pair sat on either end of a chaise lounge, Liam’s brows furrowed with concern. “Various scenarios keep running through my head, Riley, but none of them explain what you would be doing here, with me, at this time of night only hours before your wedding. Care to enlighten me?”
“Where to start?” Riley took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “So, that night in Vegas-”
“Was a mistake, I know,” Liam interjected. His countenance was somber and there was pain in his eyes. “I take it you’ve come to tell me I need to let go, to stop hoping you’ll change your mind. I’m sorry I said what I said and did what I did. It was just you and me, and in the moment, I got carried away.”
“Liam, do you honestly think I would be waking you up in the middle of the night to tell you that?
“Oh, no, I suppose not. Please, continue.” Liam’s features relaxed slightly, but he still appeared uncertain.
Riley wrung her hands together nervously. “As I was saying, being with you in Vegas was incredible. I tried to tell myself spending one more night with you was what I needed to get you out of my system, but it had the opposite effect. I wanted to think it was just physical, but our connection was, no is, so much deeper than that. As much as I love Maxwell, what I have with him pales in comparison to what I have with you.”
“So what are you saying exactly?” Did he not understand or did he just want to hear her say it?
“I broke off my engagement with Maxwell, Liam,” Riley replied. “We aren’t getting married tomorrow. I can’t marry him when I’m still in love with you.” She hadn’t planned to go there right away, but it was true and she needed him to know.
Liam shook his head in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
“I said I love you, Liam, and I choose you. It was always you, and I’m so sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. I never meant to hurt anyone, and I hope it isn’t too late for us.”
A warm smile radiated across Liam’s face. He leaned in closer, cradling Riley’s face in his hands and locking eyes with her. “I love you Riley Brooks, just as much today as the day I proposed. I feel like this is a dream to good to be true.”
“Let me show you that it’s real.” Riley closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. The kiss started out tender and sweet. She savored the taste of scotch still on his lips, the familiar scent of his cologne. She ran her hands up and down the taut muscles of his back while caressed her cheek. Liam moved his hands around the back of her head, tangling them in her hair and kissing her harder with passion and need. Their tongue’s danced together as they pressed their bodies close, melting into one another.
Liam pulled away breathless, his expression growing serious once again. “Wait. I need to know you are sure about this and that you won’t feel differently tomorrow. If you leave me again, it will break me. I want you more than anything, but I need to know this is for real.”
“I have never been surer of anything, Liam. I know it seems sudden, but like I said, it was always you. With the uncertainty of everything, I was just to scared to face it…until now. I want to spend forever with you.”
Liam’s face lit up at her admission. “That’s all I needed to hear.” Liam stood up and brought Riley with him, carrying her over to the bed and gently laying her head on the pillows. “I’m going to make you feel how much I love you.”
Liam settled in next to her and traced a hand up her thigh, over her smooth, silky robe and up to her breast. Riley felt a lingering sensation from the ghost of his touch, a trail of tingling nerve endings warming her whole body. He cupped her breasts with both hands through the cool fabric and traced the lightest of circles over her nipples which formed a stiff peaks under his languid touch. She sucked in a breath as electrical currents shot straight to her core. He settled between her legs and pulled at the belt of her robe opening it up like she was a gift. He kissed her mouth hungrily, working his way to her pink buds and down to her center. He stopped and slipped two fingers between her folds. “God Riley, you are so wet already.”
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. I need you Liam.” His digits inside made her ache for more. He continued to pump in and out, curving his fingers to hit her g-spot, bringing her closer to release each time. He ducked his head down and hovered right where she wanted him. She bucked her hips to meet his mouth, the warm, wet sensation of his tongue washing over her.
Liam chuckled, looking up to meet her eyes. “A little impatient, aren’t we?” Riley didn’t respond but instead pushed his head back down. Liam obeyed her wordless command and worked her clit with his mouth, sucking gently and swirling his tongue around as her pressure built.
“Oh, Liam, more,” Riley moaned as she approached her peak. Her breaths quickened as his fingers and mouth moved together in synchronization. Her whole body tensed and she screamed his name as the waves of pleasure rippled through her.
As soon as she got her bearings, Riley directed Liam to lie back so she could return the favor. She kissed her way down his chest and continued lower. She removed his boxer briefs and his hard shaft sprung free. She grabbed the base and took as much of him as she could handle in her mouth. She tasted salty bead of pre-cum that emerged as her lips and tongue suctioned around the head. “Mmm,” she hummed, the vibrations causing guttural sounds to emanate from Liam’s throat and his cock to twitch.
Liam reached down to pull Riley off. “If you don’t stop, I’m not going to last, and I’d much rather cum inside you. Liam spun Riley onto her back and hooked her ankles over his shoulder. He guided himself between her legs and she gasped as he pushed past her entrance, stretching her walls around him. “This pussy is mine now, and only mine.”
“Yes my King, I’m all yours.” Liam growled and thrust in harder and faster and another orgasm suddenly overtook her. “Fuck, Liam!” she cried out as she contracted around him. “You feel so good.”
“You are too fucking sexy. I can’t wait any longer.” Liam rocked his hips against her faster and faster until he spilled his cum insider her.
Liam took minute to catch his breath before getting out of bed. “Wait here,” he instructed as he went to gather a warm towel from the bathroom to clean her up. He laid beside her, brushing a wisp of hair out of her eyes. “Riley, my love, I can’t even put into words how elated I am to have you back in my life. I will never take another day with you for granted.” Liam opened a drawer in his bedside table and pulled out a familiar box. “I’m going to take a chance that I’ll get the answer I hope for this time. “Riley Brooks, will you marry me?”
It was completely unexpected, but it felt right. “Yes, Liam, absolutely yes! I cannot wait to be your wife.” Liam slid the ring on her finger, and she hadn’t had another thought about Maxwell until then, when Liam’s ring covered the indent in her finger where Maxwell’s ring had just been. A sadness came over her in a moment that should have been nothing but happy. She took the ring off and held it in her hand. “I will marry you Liam, but I can’t wear this until the news about my broken engagement is released to the public. It wouldn’t look right if I was already wearing another man’s ring. As it is, I have no idea how we are going to be able to spin this to save face.
Liam took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her ring finger. “I completely understand…Although, I may have an idea…if you are willing that is. But first, let’s get some rest and we can discuss details the morning.”
*****
“By the power vested in me by the Kingdom of Cordonia, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Regina proclaimed. “May this blessed union be sealed with a kiss.” Liam cupped Riley’s face and Kissed her tenderly. They turned to face the crowd and joyfully walked down the aisle as the newly married King and Queen of Cordonia.
Earlier that morning, Liam had worked with Madeleine to prepare a statement for the press. Only those close to Liam and Riley were informed of the plan. Immediately following the wedding, Madeleine held a press conference and explained Riley and Maxwell had faked their engagement due to security threats. She reported it had always been the plan for Liam and Riley to wed. The citizens of Cordonia were so overjoyed by the royal wedding, and knowing the attacks that had already occurred, they didn’t even think to question it. Liam told Maxwell he understood if he didn’t want to attend the wedding, but Maxwell reasoned that although he didn’t want to be there now, he knew there would be a point in the future when things would be better again, and he didn’t want to regret missing out.
Riley’s wedding was the happiest day of her life, but she did not neglect to keep a space in her heart to grieve for Maxwell. What they had was real, even if it wasn’t what Riley needed it to be. She vowed to do whatever she could to ensure his happiness as soon as he was ready to let her in again.