Fireside Games (Part One)

Author’s Note: Another follow-up in the Our Own Kind of Fairtytale series, this 2 part story takes place during Drake and Emma’s rustic cabin honeymoon.  This first part is mostly fun and fluffy (with a hint of heat), incorporating a fic prompt from @lazychic28 for #18 “I think it’s adorable how easily you blush.”  This also includes a long-overdue reference to a bearded Drake – and you’re welcome. 😂

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Emma sat on the porch swing, gently rocking back and forth as she looked out over the horizon.  It was just before dusk, the sun beginning to drop in the sky casting a glow over the trees and mountaintops.  It was so peaceful here, away from the drama of court and responsibilities in Valtoria.  Here it was just them . . .

It was day 4 of their week-long honeymoon at the cabin retreat in the mountains.  They had enjoyed long, unstructured days of hiking the mountain terrain, lounging in the cabin and countless hours tangled up in the sheets enjoying true honeymoon bliss.

The couple had just returned from a 5 mile hike through the rugged trails.  Emma had jumped in the luxurious shower for a quick rinse while Drake had put away their hiking gear, and now she was enjoying the view from the porch while Drake took his turn cleaning himself up.  While Emma had never been much of a hiker, she enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere and watching her athletic new husband thrive in his element.  As they walked, he told her stories of the camping trips and hikes he’d taken as a boy with his father.  He explained the various types on indigenous plants and instructed her how to determine which tracks belonged to which type of animal.  Although the flora and fauna were not normally her cup of tea, Emma was smitten with Drake’s enthusiasm and was beginning to look forward to their daily hikes.

She heard the click of the screen door as it opened and Drake peeked through.  He stood in the doorframe, wearing only jeans slung low on his hips as he toweled his dark hair dry after his shower.  His clean-shaven face from the wedding a week before had been replaced by a scruffy beard after several lazy days at the cabin that did not include shaving on the itinerary.  She could smell the musky scent of his soap waft towards her in the breeze, a fragrance that felt so wonderfully familiar to her but never ceased to intoxicate her senses.  She admired this beautiful man smiling at her, still able to give her butterflies in her stomach with only a glance after over a year of knowing each other.

“Hey you.”  He muttered, sauntering over to the swing to place quick kiss to her forehead.  “What do you want to do tonight?”  He stood back to gaze at her, towel draped around his bare shoulders.  ”Do you want to go up to the resort clubhouse for dinner?”

Emma smirked at his suggestion, knowing very well he’d prefer to NOT dine in the resort’s upscale restaurant with the other posh guests.  Of course, he always made it a point to offer for her benefit.  “Do you really want to eat up there again with all those uppity people?  Last time we tried it ended up being more of a public appearance than a quiet romantic dinner.”  She raised her eyebrows in amusement.  “I think we should stay here.  I can make a picnic and we can spread out on the floor in the living room and just hang out.  I’m pretty tired from the hike anyway and don’t feel like getting dolled up just for dinner.”

He eyed up and down her body, marveling at how beautiful she looked in her natural state.  Of course he’d always thought his now-wife was gorgeous, especially dressed to the nines in elegant gowns with her hair and makeup done.  But what he really enjoyed was seeing her like this … in a loose sweatshirt over leggings, her long chestnut hair still damp from the shower and her bare face slightly flushed from their exercise earlier.  This was sight few ever got to see, the real Emma underneath her public persona.

“Deal.  You get the food while I set up the fire.”  He winked at her before turning to go back into the cabin.

Emma stood up and stretched, savoring one last look at the view from the porch before meandering into the cabin.  She started setting up for a casual indoor picnic, moving the coffee table to clear a space in the middle of the living room then finding a worn quilt to spread across the floor.  She proceeded to the kitchen where she started preparing a platter of various types of cheese, crackers, cured meats and fruits.  She found a serving tray in one of the cabinets to carry the platter and added a carafe of water with two small tumblers.  She had just set it in the middle of their picnic blanket when Drake walked in carrying an armful of wood for the fireplace.  He set it next to the hearth and leaned down to stack a few pieces inside it before striking a match to ignite the kindling.  She appreciated his masculine form as he focused on the task at hand, looking like quite the laid-back mountain man with his rugged beard and a plaid shirt that he hadn’t even bothered to button up all the way.  She couldn’t fight the sly grin that spread across her lips.

“I can feel you staring at me, Mrs. Walker.”  Drake smirked as he gave her a sideways glance, causing her cheeks to redden.  His tone was serious but she sensed his playful undertone.  She lived for his snarky teasing.  I think it’s adorable how easily you blush.

Emma cleared her throat, trying to brush off the fact that she had just gotten caught blatantly gawking at her husband.  “Just observing the most efficient fire-building techniques from the expert himself.”  She walked over and leaned down to give him a small peck on the forehead.  “Looks pretty good to me.  Come, sit . . . I’ve made us a charcuterie platter to snack on.”  She plopped down on the floor with her legs criss-crossed and poured them both a glass of water.  Drake scooted back from the fireplace and then spread out on the quilt, lying on his side propped up on his elbow.  Emma handed him the glass of water, despite his scowl.  “Nuh-uh, Walker . . . You need to hydrate after that hike.”

“Whiskey is made from water.”

“Nice try.  Not until you drink that whole glass.”  She took a long sip of from her own glass.  “And then, I will take a glass too.  In fact bring the whole bottle.”

Drake quirked his eyebrow at her request.  “Really, the whole bottle?”  He downed his own glass in three large gulps.  “Now I’m intrigued.  Are you trying to take advantage of me tonight, Woman?”  He jumped up from the floor and ventured over to the bar cart near the dining table.

She chuckled.  “As if you need much persuading.”  She called to him as he carried the three-quarters-full bottle back to their haven on the floor.  “I was actually thinking we could play a little game.  I tend to have good luck with you during drinking games.”  She smiled mishceviously as they both reflected on the night during the Engagement Tour when she’d gotten him to admit he’d had scandalous thoughts of her in bed.  His confirmation had excited her . . . knowing that he had been thinking of her just as she had been thinking of him.

“I’m game if you are.”  He eyed her suspiciously as he filled her empty glass with the dark, smoky liquor before his own.  “What did you have in mind?”  His gaze never left hers as he took a draw from his glass.

“How about Flip Sip or Strip?”  Her eyes twinkled in the firelight.  ”Ever heard of it?”

“Can’t say that I have . . . It must be an American game.  How do you play?”

“Do you have a coin we can use?”  Emma reached out her hand to him.  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a coin, giving her a quizzical look as he placed it in her palm.  “We take turns flipping the coin, the other person calling heads or tails.  If the person calling it is wrong, they have to drink and try again.  If they’re wrong twice, they have to strip a piece of clothing.  Got it?”

“So you’re basically trying to get me drunk and naked, Warner?”

“Maaaaayyyybbeeeee . . . and it’s Walker now, remember?”  Her heart skipped a beat at the sparkle in his eye when she reminded him of her married name.  God I will never get tired of the way he looks at me.  She straightened up and poised herself for the first coin flip.  “Okay, you call it first.  One . . two . . three!”

”Tails!”  Drake blurted out as the coin sailed in the air and plopped to the quilt . . . heads up.  “Hmmph!  I don’t like where this is going.”  He took a deep gulp from his glass, emptying it’s contents before reaching for the bottle again.  “Okay, again.”

One . . two . . three!”

The game continued on for many more rounds.  Thank goodness Drake had kept on his boots and socks when they started the game or else he would have been naked twice over.  Emma was still well-clad, only having removed her leggings thus far in a one-time double miss.  The whiskey bottle was nearing the bottom, both husband and wife approaching giggly, inebriated conditions.  Drake frowned as he swirled the small amount of liquid remaining in the bottle.  “What now?”  

A tipsy Emma giggled as she pounced up from the floor on her knees.  “Now . . . “ she started, raising her glass in the air in a toast, “the Duchess decrees a new game!”  She settled back on her heels as she took another sip of the dark amber liquid.  “Let’s play Truth or Lie.”

“Uh, that’s a new one for me as well, Em.  You Americans have a lot of drinking games.”

Emma rolled her eyes.  “Yes, well, that’s the whole point of your freshman year of college.  Lots of drinking and partying.  You Euros don’t feel the need to go crazy because there’s barely a drinking age over here.”  Now it was Drake’s turn to roll his eyes.  She laughed at his annoyed expression.  “Okay, the game is simple.  You take turns making a statement, and the other one guesses if it’s a truth or a lie.  If they guess wrong, they drink.  If they guess right, the other player drinks.  Fair?”

“You forget I’ve grown up around lying, brown-nosing nobles trying to kiss up to the Crown.  I can detect a lie a kilometer away.”  Drake grinned at the thought of a game he could actually win.  “You’re on.”

Emma loved when he challenged her, firing up her competitive nature.  “Okay, you first then.”  

Drake leaned his head back as he stroked his chin while he contemplated his first statement.  “I didn’t like you when I first met you.  I thought you were pushy, overly energetic and a crown-chaser.”  He set his sights on her, studying her reaction to his statement.  

She inhaled sharply at his statement.  “Ouch.  Well based on the way you acted during my first few weeks here, I’d have to say that’s a truth.”  She raised her glass to her lips and took a small sip.  “But I’m glad you eventually changed your mind.”

“Actually, it’s only a half-truth.”  His eyes bored into hers, the playful stare from earlier replaced with one of hunger and sincerety.  He began speaking in a low, husky voice.  “Yes, I thought all those things.  And I knew you were here for Liam.  But, to be honest, I was mesmerized by you.  I tried to fight it, but pretty soon I found myself looking for opportunities to be near you.  So yes, I acted like I hated you because I was mad at myself for wanting you.”  He lifted the tumbler to his lips and took a long, slow drink, eyes never leaving hers.

Emma sat in silence, mulling over his confession with a fluttering feeling in her stomach.  She stared aimlessly into eyes, unsure of how to respond.  Oh my, what door did I just open with this game….

Drake spoke first.  “Ahem … your turn.”  He motioned nonchalantly to her with his glass.  

She looked down at her glass, playing with the drops accumulated around the rim.  “Well, speaking of first impressions … I was actually attracted to you right off the bat.”  She raised her eyes back to his, entranced in his severe gaze.  ”And I think I mentioned that to you on our plane trip to Cordonia.  But you never seemed to give me the time of day … until you finally let down your guard.”  She smiled faintly.  “It hurts to think of all the time we wasted.”  

With that he was up on his knees and leaned over her.  He raised one hand to stroke her cheek gently.  “We have have the rest of our lives to make up for lost time.”  He bent down and placed one gentle kiss to her lips, fingers tugging her hair away from her face.

She kissed him back, suddenly very sober mentally but alsocompletely intoxicated.  She moved her lips against his until he pulled away, trailing rough wet kisses across her jaw and down her neck.  She wriggled against the coarseness of his beard, tickling and enticing her with a different sensation than she was used to.  “Mmmm … I have another truth for you.”

“Oh yeah?” He asked as he continued to nuzzle down to her collarbone.  “What’s that?”  He nipped at her shoulder, eliciting a soft moan from her.

She grabbed his face between her hands and focused his face in front of her, stroking her thumbs down the rough stubble on his cheeks.  “Yeah …  I’m really digging this beard. I like this rugged look on you.”  She smirked devilishly as his lips turned up at the corners.

”Well what the Mrs. likes, the Mrs. shall get.”  Drake’s eyes darkened as he leaned in again, this time gently nudging her to the floor as his mouth found the sensitive spot behind her ear.  She writhed beneath him, hands tangled in his hair as his mouth wandered down her body.  “Now let’s see if this beard has any other uses, Wife.”

To be continued …

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