Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Pixelberry and I claim no ownership over them. Enjoy!
Despite the tense encounter at dinner, Liam and Drake soon went off on their fishing trip. Riley was in her room reading when she heard a gentle tap on her door.
“Can I come in?” A hushed voice asked.
“Of course. Come on in, Liv.”
Olivia came in and sat down on the end of the bed. She nervously ran a hand over the comforter, smoothing out invisible wrinkles with an unsteady touch. She was quiet, gnawing on the inside of her cheek.
“Is something wrong, Olivia?” Riley finally asked.
“Do you think I’ll make a good queen? Do you think Liam picked me because he might have loved me and thought I’d be a decent queen? Not because you said no, and not because he broke of his engagement with Madeline?” Olivia looked up at Riley with glistening eyes. She’d been crying, and from the looks of it, she had been since dinner. Olivia tried hiding her red, splotchy face under makeup, but her fair skin gave her away. “Do you think he sees me as someone who can rule and make him proud?”
“I do, Olivia. You might have to tone it down on the doom and gloom a little, but I think people will appreciate your determination and loyalty, to the country and to its king. I know the only thing you love more than Cordonia is Liam. You kind of balance him out. He’s definitely kingly. He always portrays confidence and control. His heart can get him in trouble sometimes, though. Most of the people he deals with he’s known his whole life, but the only thing that makes me nervous is he can be too trusting. I think that’s where you’ll make a good queen. A good partner. You cut through the bullshit. You won’t let him get away with anything you don’t think is safe or smart, and you certainly won’t let people bully you. Olivia Nevrakis shouldn’t doubt herself. Don’t get into your own head, Liv. You just need some time to get a feel for it. You’ll be good for Liam and Cordonia. I have faith in you.”
“I hope that’s true.” Olivia fidgeted with the hem of her dress. “So, it must be kind of weird knowing about me and Drake now, huh?”
“I… have questions. Number one is how, and number two, is that why you hate each other? Did he break your heart or something?”
Olivia scoffed at her last sentence.
“No, Drake Walker was never given the opportunity to break my heart. We were at some gala. Who knows which one. There’re so many of those damn things, it’s hard to keep up. I was about 19, so 6 years ago. I remember that much only because it was the first time I’d been able to drink at a function. Anyways, I had a little too much. I was acting like an embarrassing mess. Liam made Drake take me up to a room as to not further make a fool of myself. Drake was almost just as bad, so maybe Liam was trying to do both of us a favor. Drake and Maxwell were having some kind of drinking contest. Maxwell was beyond drunk and Drake wasn’t faring his usual wellness. So Drake took me upstairs and put me to bed. From what I remember, which to say is not much, it was all my doing. I came on to him. Liam has been flirting with some noble girl all night and I was jealous. I figured if he did care about me, sleeping with Drake would get to him. It didn’t. After tonight, I’m not even sure Liam knew. He does now, of course. If he’s upset, he’d never show it. Plus, he slept with you before Drake did. It’d be kind of hypocritical, wouldn’t it?” Olivia glanced at Riley, who was staring back at her. Olivia looked away, uncomfortable under Riley’s eye. “And no, that’s not why we hate each other. Our whole childhood was spent fighting for Liam’s attention. Drake had Leo on his side, so I always ended up being the odd one out because I was a girl. They’d go fight pretend battles and I couldn’t come because I was a lady. Rather, a duchess. I always found that funny, you know. I could have killed all three of them with my bare hands, but somehow it was me being a girl that stopped them. Maybe they were afraid I would kill them. At least Drake, anyways.” She chuckled. “Even so, I’d like to make amends with him. He’s my fiancé’s best friend above all else. We’ll be around each other a lot, I’m sure. I’ve grown to consider you a friend as well.” Olivia looked at Riley once again, who had a warm smile planted on her face.
“Me too, Olivia. Us sluts of the palace of Cordonia have to stick together.” Riley joked.
Olivia laughed for the first time all day.
“Thank you, Riley. I’m… feeling a lot better, actually. I know I seem like a lot to deal with, but I’ve always had to be. An orphaned child with no family, no heir, no duke. I needed people to fear me so I wasn’t vulnerable. Now that I have Liam on my side, I can be taken seriously. Instead of leading with fear, I can lead by example. And, also, probably still some fear.” She gave a sharp-toothed grin.
“I have no doubt people will still tremble before the Scarlet Duchess.” Riley rested a hand on her shoulder.
“I should probably check in with the staff and see that the estate is running smoothly. I’ll see you tomorrow Riley. Thanks again.” Olivia stood and started to leave. She only made it half way to the door before Riley leapt up and ran in front of her, throwing her arms around Olivia.
“Ew, what are you doing? Was touching my shoulder not enough physical contact for you?” Olivia snapped.
“If you want to be true friends, you’ll have to accept my hugs, Liv.”
Olivia relaxed slightly under Riley’s arms and awkwardly patted her on the back.
“I supposed if it’s good enough for Liam, I can live with it.”
Riley unwrapped herself from her and Olivia strutted out of the room.
Riley was asleep by the time Drake and Liam returned from their trip. Drake tried to come in as quietly as possible but accidentally tripped on the rug underneath the sofa that sat in front of the room. He tried to catch himself on the furniture which caused it to scrape loudly against the hardwood.
“Who’s there? You’ll never take me alive!” Riley shot up and yelled, still half asleep.
“Easy Johnson! It’s just me.” Drake whispered loudly. “You’re gonna have a guard running in here if you keep barkin’ like that.”
“Oh my god.” Riley breathed heavily. “If an assassin wasn’t going to kill me, this heart attack just might.” She flopped back onto the pillows.
“Sorry, babe. I was trying to be stealthy.” He replied, taking off his shoes, his pants, then his shirt.
“For a Kings Guard, you aren’t doing a very good job.”
“Former Kings Guard.” He corrected her as he climbed into bed.
“Right.” She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.
“Actually, that’s one of the things Liam and I talked about tonight. He asked if I’d come back on.” Drake ran his hands down his face, resting them on his chin.
“What did you say?” Riley rolled towards him, her face inches from his.
“Said I’d have to think about it. Talk it over with you. It’s a dangerous job, Johnson. I’m not going to bullshit you. My dad died doing it. But then you have people like Bastien who’ve been here for damn near 30 years and have made it this far.”
“I talked to him last night after everyone went to bed. When I was downstairs drinking tea, he came into the kitchen. He asked me to reconsider leaving Cordonia, too. Why is he trying so hard to make us stay? I mean, I get why he wants you to stay. You’re his best friend. Me? I’m not really important, especially since I’m not a duchess anymore.” Riley hated lying to him, but a half truth was better than the full truth right now. Her stomach churned as she replayed last night in her head. Maybe it had been a mistake. Her thoughts were broken by the sound of Drake’s voice.
“Honestly, he’s under a lot of stress right now. More than normal. His father died, his home was attacked twice, he had to fire his best friend, he’s been thrust into a media circus of people asking about the attacks plus his ended engagement plus his new engagement. Liam has a strong façade, but I can see he’s starting to crack. Most reigns aren’t started with so much damn turmoil. He just wants people close to him, people he trusts, around right now. I talked to Olivia on my way in. She’s doing the best she can to help him. Luckily, she’s known him since we were kids, so she can comfort him in ways she always has. She’s actually not so bad, I guess.” Drake took a deep breath and shrugged.
“She came in here and talked to me, too. She asked if I thought she’d make a good queen. I said she would, and I meant that. Seeing her with Liam this morning made me realize she has potential. She just needs to find her footing.”
“You know, there might be a way we can have the best of both worlds.” Drake pulled Riley to his chest, gently stroking her back.
“What do you mean?” She furrowed her brows against him.
“Well, if we talked to Liam, you could probably be a duchess again. If you were, we could stay close. I’ve been to Valtoria before. They have excellent hiking trails. Me and my dad went camping there a few times. There’s a lot of mountains and open fields. It’s a beautiful estate.”
“Like Texas?” Riley looked at him.
“Kind of, yeah. We could make it our own home. We could go to Texas whenever we wanted. I could help out around the grounds. Keep myself busy out in the fresh air.”
“We’d have people that do that, you know.”
“I know, but it’d make me feel better to do some myself. Keep myself grounded. I always hated how little nobility can care for themselves. Hell, you saw Tariq. The man had only been on his own a few weeks and he was beside himself. Becoming a duke would be a small price to pay to be your husband, but I’d gladly do it to make you my wife. The only thing I want is you and me, forever. As long as I have you by my side, we can navigate whatever comes our way together no matter where we are.”
Riley scooted herself up the bed and placed a gently kiss on Drake’s lips. He wrapped his arm tighter around her, groaning as he leaned into her.
“If anyone can be a duke and stay the same grumpy commoner on the inside, it’s you.” She smiled against him, the vibrations from the words tickling his lips.
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be, Johnson.” His mouth found hers again, sending a tingle through Riley’s body.
“What do you want to be right now?”
“Truthfully?” He dipped his head down to kiss her neck.
“Mmhmm.” She hummed.
Drake kissed down to her collarbone, running his tongue along it.
“Inside you.” He whispered heatedly.
“Oh yeah?” She ran a hand through his dark hair, lightly grasping it as he made his way to her breasts.
“Always.” He breathed against her chest.
“Well what are you waiting for?” She giggled.
In response, Drake rolled her over, hovering over top of her. He leaned down kissed her in a way that made her excited for him between her thighs. She ran her hands down his muscular back, her fingertips leaving dips in his warm skin. He reached down and pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor. He looked down her body, drinking it in. She was perfect, the way her tiny frame fit snuggly beneath him. The way her hip bones protruded slightly from her waist. Her nipples peaked through a sheer light blue bralette she had on, her matching panties resting between the two of them. She drove him wild. He felt like a teenage boy every time she touched him. He could barely contain himself around her. He’d never felt like this with anyone else. In fact, he could have cared less before her. But with Riley, he always wanted her. She was like a breath of fresh air to a drowning man. After today’s events, he was gasping for her. He wanted her to know that no matter who had her before, she was his now.
He ran a hand down her stomach, moving lower to the fabric between her legs. He ran a finger across it, feeling the garments already starting to become damp for him.
“Seems like I’m not the only one who’s ready.” He smiled slyly at her.
Riley reached between them and slid her hand under the band of his boxers, grabbing his length with her small fingers.
“I guess not.” She returned his smile with one of her own as she began moving up and down his shaft.
Drake pushed her panties aside and slid a thick finger into her, curling it to hit all the right places as he moved. Her walls tightened around him. Her own movements began to get sloppy and uncoordinated as he sent waves of heat through her.
“Trouble concentrating?” He asked mockingly.
“No.” She licked her lips and redirected her attention to him, moving again in smooth, controlled strokes.
Drake slipped another finger inside her, causing her to take in a small gasp and arch against him involuntarily. Within seconds, she started losing her pace again, consumed by his touch.
“Because it seems like you’re having some trouble concentrating, Johnson.”
“You’re a little distracting, but if you’re going to break me, you’ll have to do better than that, Walker.”
“Is that a challenge?” Drake moved his fingers deep inside of her, causing her to nearly explode.
“Maybe.” She said breathlessly.
In an instant, Drake moved down the length of her body. He rested between her legs, using his shoulders to nudge them, guiding them up around him. He nipped at her inner thighs, never losing his pace as he worked inside her. Her walls clenched around his fingers as his mouth moved closer to between her legs. He placed his tongue against her most sensitive spot, pushing her dangerously close to the edge. He moved achingly slow around her. She steadied herself, slowing her breathing. Drake hated being teased but he hated losing even more. She was going to use it to her advantage tonight.
“That all you got, babe?” She looked down at him. His eyes narrowed at her.
“Challenge accepted.”
He pushed his fingers in as much as her body would allow. He curled them inside her and moved them quickly. She was in his mouth once again, and he moved around her at a near frantic pace. She tried to hang on as long as she could, but it soon became too much. Her body trembled as she saw stars, a powerful orgasm exploding inside her. Once he felt her reach her peak, he began moving much more slowly, allowing her to come down from her high.
“Fuck, Drake.” She said quietly between quick breaths.
“So, did I win?” Drake asked in a snarky tone as he removed himself from her and gently sank into the pillows next to her still shaking body, wiping his hand on his boxers.
“If I knew that’s how every challenge would end, I’d do it more often.” She chuckled.
“You’re always challenging, Johnson. That’s why I love you.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and laid on his back, an arm under his head while the other rested on his stomach.
“That’s it?” She rolled over and looked at him questioningly.
“Was that not enough for you?” He smiled as he closed his eyes.
“No, it was. I just figured you’d want in on it, too.”
“Nah, that’s alright. Sometimes it’s just about you, sweetheart.” He reached over and ran a hand through her hair.
“I’ll get you next time.” Riley scooted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Deal.” He kissed the top of her head and they quickly drifted off into a much-needed sleep.
Given that Liam had already been on an engagement tour, for the next few days the palace was abuzz with talk about where they went next from here. Surely another one would be excessive, but Liam didn’t want to deny Olivia anything because he’d been engaged once before. They pondered ideas and decided on a Unity Tour. With the attack on the palace and the whirlwind political romance they’d both been thrust into, it seemed like the most efficient way to take care of business on both ends. The first stop was Fydelia: Madeline’s estate. They all quickly packed their bags, except Riley and Drake, who sat in their room staring at half full luggage.
“We can either go back to Texas, or we can go on this Unity Tour.” Riley threw a pair of jeans in her bag before turning to Drake. “What do you think we should do?”
“Hell, I don’t know Johnson.” He ran a hand through his hair and sat on the edge of the bed. “Part of me really wants to avoid anymore courtly bullshit. We already went through an insane engagement tour…”
“Yeah, but that engagement tour is where you fell in love with me.” Riley winked at him.
“I was already in love with you, Johnson.” He smiled at her, a pink flush reaching his cheeks. “The engagement tour was just an excuse to stay close to you. Plus help you clear your name. This time, there’s nothing that really necessitates us being there.”
“Except Liam. He could probably use the support.” Riley said sympathetically. “It’ll give us a chance to talk to him about me coming back as a duchess, too. If you still want that, that is.”
“I guess you’re right.” He sighed.
They finished packing their bags and met everyone downstairs. A few minutes later, a fleet of limos pulled up to take them to Madeline’s. The group started breaking apart to find their limo before Drake stepped up to Liam, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Hey, Li. Mind if Johnson and I catch a ride with you and Liv? We wanted to discuss some stuff with you.”
“Certainly. Come on.” Liam led the three of them into the limo and they all found their seats.
They were headed for Fydelia as they began talking about the future.
“I know I had given up my place as duchess, but with everything that has happened, you can’t have people bailing on you now. Luckily the public didn’t know about the offer, nor my abdication, so there’s still time to set it right. My decision to abdicate my position was a hasty, selfish one. I just got caught up in the moment once I got the taste of freedom. Drake and I talked about it and if you’ll have me, I’d like to return to the kingdom, and resume my place in Valtoria.”
Liam’s eyes lit up as she spoke. His best friends would be staying here, with him.
“I’d love nothing more than to appoint you as duchess, Lady Riley. I’m glad you reconsidered my offer. Valtoria will be lucky to have you.”
“Thank you, Liam.” Riley smiled at him.
“I’m guessing if you’re going to be with Lady Riley at Valtoria, that means you won’t be joining me as a member of the Guard again?” Liam turned to Drake.
“I figured when Johnson and I got married, we’d both be in Valtoria. I’d still be close and be around. I don’t want to desert you when things are such a fucked-up mess. Plus, I’m not sure a duke can be a Guard, can he?”
“Always the knight in shining armor, Drake?” Olivia quipped.
“Sure, something like that.” Drake rolled his eyes at her.
“Well I suppose if I can’t have you on my security team, having you still close is just as well.” Liam gave a half smile. “We’ll announce our newest duchess when we go to Lythikos in a few days.”
“Sounds good.” Riley sank back into her seat. “So, when do I get to see my fancy duchy?”
“In due time, love.” Liam answered. The three of them whipped their heads around, staring at Liam. He cleared his throat and corrected himself. “In due time, Lady Riley.”
A look of defeat crossed Olivia’s face. Drake leaned back next to Riley, his expression unreadable. They spent the rest of the ride in silence. Liam still loved her. They all knew it. Liam was struggling that it wasn’t her sitting next to him going on this damned tour. It should be her, but it wasn’t. He was usually much more careful, much more diplomatic. He always held his cards close to his chest, but he was slipping. He knew he needed to be more careful. The kingdom couldn’t doubt his marriage to Olivia. The monarchy couldn’t suffer another blow to its reputation. The kingdom would start to have doubts in its leaders, and he just couldn’t bare the thought. His father had died so Liam could rule. He couldn’t let that be for naught. He sat up in his seat as they pulled up to Madeline’s estate.
“We’re here. Let’s go greet our hosts.” Liam reached out to grab Olivia’s hand, but she flinched at the touch. He gave her an apologetic smile and Olivia slipped her hand reluctantly into his.
They walked into a beautifully decorated ballroom. Riley quickly noticed there were very few other guests. Certainly, they were scared after the attack on the palace. The nobles that were there were from lesser known houses. Liam tensed his jaw as he scanned the room.
“Well, this is no surprise.” Liam remarked. “No one wants to be seen supporting the monarchy right now. They’re afraid they’ll be targeted next.”
“Let’s go make some rounds, dear. Say hello to the ones brave enough to come. If the whole rest of the court wants to be cowards, let them be.” She placed a hand on Liam’s forearm and he rested a hand on hers.
“You’re right. We’ll catch up with the rest of you later.” He nodded at Riley, Drake, Bertrand, Maxwell and Hana and went off to greet the nobles that mingled around appetizers.
“Well this is…” Hana paused, “Sad.”
“Like Liam said, it’s not a surprise.” Drake shrugged. “It happens after every attack. When the Guard was securing the docks after the attack on the yacht, the whole court fled and didn’t come back for weeks. They’ll come around eventually. They kind of have to.”
“So, are you here playing security guard?” Maxwell asked.
“Nah, not today. Today I resume my role of commoner best friend to the king.”
Madeline disrupted the conversation as she sauntered up, drink in hand.
“Welcome to Fydelia. We’re happy to have you all here in support of the crown.” Madeline said in her most diplomatic voice.
“You don’t have to do that here.” Riley gave her a rueful smile.
“Do what, Lady Riley?” She gave a grin, though it didn’t quite meet her eyes.
“Be a good host. It’s a beautiful event, but the circumstances aren’t exactly the best.”
“Indeed.” Madeline gave a brief glance towards Liam and Olivia before catching herself, redirecting her attention to the group in front of her. “At any rate, please enjoy the party. There will be plenty to eat and drink, I’m sure.” She downed her glass of champagne and glided to the other side of the room.
The rest of the evening went on without disruption. Riley and Drake mingled among the guests, shaking hands and engaging in small talk. Drake became increasingly uncomfortable. Riley watched him readjust his tie over and over, losing count at 16.
“You okay, babe?” Riley rubbed giant circles on Drakes back. He gave her a thankful smile.
“Yeah, I just hate all this. Plus, I keep looking around, keeping an eye on things. I probably look suspicious as hell.” He chuckled.
“Hard to take the Kings Guard out of you, aye?”
“Something like that. I’m sure everyone else here is doing the same thing.”
“There’s a fleet of security here, Drake. Between Liam’s forces and Fydelia’s, it’d have to be a pretty serious siege to get anywhere near this place.”
“They always find a way, Johnson.” Drake smoothed down his tie.
“Comforting as always.” She said condescendingly, rolling her eyes at his statement.
“Listen, I’m just trying to keep you safe.” Drake snapped at her.
“I know, babe.” She eyed him apologetically, grabbing two glasses of champagne and handing one to Drake. “Here, drown your sorrows.”
Drake drank the fizzy liquid down in on gulp.
“I can do you one better.” Drake sat his glass down and grabbed her hand. He led her out of the ballroom and down a long, empty hallway. He took her through the kitchen and down a spiral staircase into a wine cellar.
“How did you even know this was here?” She asked as she settled into a luxurious leather chair.
“When you’re working security, you scout out every room at an event. I know about every nook and cranny of this place. Most likely any other estate we visit, too. How do you think I knew about all the secret places I snuck you off to in the thick of gala’s and courtly events?”
“Well I guess your knowledge has it’s perks.”
“It sure does.” Drake ran his fingers over century old bottles of wine before stopping. “Here we go.”
He pulled out a bottle of scotch, the amber liquid sloshing in the bottle as he grabbed two empty glasses and took a seat next to Riley.
“No whiskey?” She teased.
“No whiskey in here, but this is a damn good runner up. I know Duke Karlington has it imported from his duchy. This bottle probably costs more than my entire wardrobe.” He opened the bottle and poured them each a drink.
“What, denim shirts don’t sell for a few thousand a pop?”
“Ha ha, Johnson.” He pushed a half-filled glass towards her.
She took a sip, enjoying the warmth as it coated her throat.
“It’s nice to have a second alone, not that there’s many people to avoid up there.”
“Yeah. But still, I enjoy these moments with you, just the two of us. It’s what keeps me going.” He brought his drink to his lips.
“They keep us going.”
“You know, I’ve watched these people for damn near 10 years. I mean, really watched them. All their conversations are so superficial. Not that I cared what they were even talking about, but it made me dislike the nobility even more. They don’t know what they’re missing. These moments. The moments in between the treaties and the tax talk. Those are the ones that matter. How soul crushing must it be to go through the motions of living instead of just being alive. Hell, even when you’re friends with fellow diplomats you have to watch what you say. At any moment your ally can become an enemy. That’s got to be a lonely fucking life.”
“Why do you think I clung on to Max and Hana so much? I felt like they were my only friends here.”
“You weren’t friendly with me, Johnson?” He hid a grin behind his glass.
“I was too friendly with you. I was friendly with you in a pool hall. I was friendly with you in an Italian restaurant and a shitty Parisian dive bar. I was friendly with you in the Beaumont study. I was even friendly with you in my train car. I think we were plenty friendly, Drake Walker.”
“Too true.” He admitted.
“Think we could sneak off somewhere more secluded tonight and get friendly?”
“Does your sex drive ever stop?”
“Not when you’re around.”
“Man, married life is going to be exhausting.” He closed his eyes and laid his head back.
“Are you honestly complaining? I know it’s all part of the charm, but someone could hand you a million dollars and you’d be mad it wasn’t a million and one.”
“Hell no! Absolutely not. It had almost been a year the first time you and I got together. I’m just stating facts.”
“Just think of it this way: we’re practicing for making all those little lords and ladies.”
“You ready for all that sass, Johnson? All our scowling faces when we have to get up in the morning?”
“I think I can manage.”
Drake sat forward and leaned closer to her.
“Let me paint you a picture,” he arched his hand through the air, “it’s 5 in the morning. We have some courtly breakfast at 7am. You try to wake me up, I roll over and groan, swatting your hand away. You roll your eyes and get up. You go to the first kids room and try to wake them up. They look at you and immediately start wailing. You back away slowly. You go to the next kids room. You place a gentle hand on them and give ‘em a little jostle. They say with sleepy little eyes ‘I hate this. Nobles are boring. The guards won’t even let me play with their tasers.’ They fling their cover off and stand up before dramatically flopping on the floor. The last child will be a spitting image of their mother: easily awoken, but a total mess in the morning. It takes you forever to get them all ready. I half-dressed chase a little boy trying to tie his tie, my face bunched in frustration. We end up late because the first two refused to get up until the last minute and you spent 45 minutes taming the last child’s hair. None of their socks match.”
“’None of their socks match.’” Riley laughed.
“That’s what you took away from all that?” He shook his head at her, smiling.
“Well with any luck they’ll have two nice outfits like their father and we’ll quickly learn how to get ready in 20 minutes flat.”
“Do you insist on being so plucky about every situation?”
“Do you insist on being such a Debbie Downer?”
“Just trying to keep the balance.”
“We’ll be good parents. Don’t worry. Plus, we’ll have people to help up.”
“My kids won’t be raised by servants, Rye.”
“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying we’ll have help. No different than if we simply had a nanny. We’ll have more time to enjoy doing fun things with them if we have help with the more tedious things.”
“Yeah but the tedious things are what makes a person. Just because we’ll be nobility doesn’t mean I want my kids to be spoiled brats. My kids will know how to fend for themselves.”
Riley knew how Drake grew up, not much different from herself, but she didn’t think their kids being raised royally would be that big of an issue. Riley had started becoming so used to the finer things that she didn’t really think about how much it might bother Drake to have children born into nobility unlike themselves.
“We have time to work out parenting styles. For now, let’s just get a jump on the practicing.”
Riley hopped up from her seat and playfully straddled Drake. His lips curved upward as he rested his hands on her hips.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit scandalous to get hot and heavy in the wine cellar of a former queen-to-be?”
“When has a little scandal ever stopped us?” She leaned in and kissed him.
“Mmm… I suppose that’s true.” He slid his hand into her hair, pulling her mouth to his once again.
“Little Blossom?” Maxwell called from the hall outside the cellar. He rounded the corner before Drake and Riley could move. “Oh!” He covered his eyes. “Hey Little Blossom. And… er… Big… Blossom?”
“Don’t ever call me that again.” Drake replied starkly as Riley removed herself from his lap and took her original seat.
“What’s up, Max?” She took a sip of her scotch.
“We’re all getting ready to head out. Considering you’re about 20 percent of this party, you should probably get back up there and say your goodbyes. Wouldn’t want to start a ground war by slighting the host.”
“Right.” Drake stood, draining his glass, and offered Rylie his arm. “My lady?”