Rosie fumbled with the keys in the lock. It wasn’t every day she had a princess breathing heavily into her neck when she entered her and Paige’s tiny flat. But after Olivia’s declaration of love, there was no way they’d waste time walking all the way to the manor house. Their place was hardly fit for royalty, but it would have to do. The way Olivia was pressing her weight against Rosie’s back, she didn’t think the princess minded where they ended up — as long as it was private and had a bed in it.

Of course, once inside, Cher was waiting for them, breaking the sexy mood.

“Goodness, what a cutie.” Olivia crouched down and scratched Cher behind the ears.

“Don’t waste all your affection on the cat.” Rosie locked the door behind them.

“I’ll try,” Olivia said, but she’d already scooped Cher into her arms.

Cher’s purr was so loud, Rosie could hear it from where she stood. “I’m going to text Paige. Tell her not to expect me back in the pub tonight.” And not to come home too early.

“Hello, Miss Fluff,” Olivia said to Cher, not responding to what Rosie had just said.

As soon as Rosie had finished texting her sister, she went to stand in front of Olivia, hands on her hips. “Excuse me, but how am I supposed to take your heartfelt declaration of love seriously when you’re so loose with your affections? You seem to fall in love at the drop of a hat — or the purr of a cat.”

“Sorry.” Olivia smiled sheepishly. “I think I’m the only cat person in my family. The Charltons are more exclusive dog lovers.”

“Yes, well, I know Cher is adorable, but, you know.” Rosie batted her lashes.

“Your cat’s called Cher?” Olivia burst into a giggle.

“Paige chose the name.” Olivia shook her head. “It can’t really be explained.”

“Bye, Cher.” Olivia finally put the cat down. She took a step closer to Rosie. “Is this more to your liking?”

“Much.”

They were still standing in the small hallway. Olivia didn’t seem to have much eye for her surroundings. She fixed her green gaze on Rosie.

An arrow of lust burrowed its way through Rosie. It was time they finished what they’d started on that bench. She grabbed Olivia by the hand again, as she’d done when she’d walked off the stage earlier, and, this time, led her to her bedroom.

Rosie hadn’t exactly been expecting company, so her bed was unmade, and there was a pile of clothes on a chair in the corner.

“Don’t mind the mess,” she whispered. “I’m only a commoner.”

“You’re my commoner now.” Olivia pushed the door shut behind them and pressed Rosie against it.

“Oh,” Rosie said. “Is that how it’s going to be?”

Olivia paused and scanned her face for an instant, then she curved her lips into a slow smile. “This… is how it’s going to be.” She slanted forward and gently kissed Rosie on the mouth.

Rosie drank in the scent of Olivia, her very presence. The miracle of her turning up after Rosie believed all had been lost. And now here they stood. Olivia’s toned body pressing into hers. The princess’s lips on hers.

When they broke from their kiss, Rosie couldn’t help but smile.

“What’s so funny?” Olivia asked, mirroring Rosie’s smile.

“Last time we did this, I didn’t know who you were yet. I didn’t know you were a princess.”

“I tried to tell you.” Olivia spread Rosie legs with her knee. “But you were too delicious and distracting that night.”

“Oh sure, blame it on me.” Rosie sank her teeth into her bottom lip.

“Allow me to make it up to you.” Olivia narrowed her eyes and leaned in again. Her tongue darted between Rosie’s lips. Rosie pushed her hands into Olivia’s curls. She looked so much more scrumptious out of her princess garb, with her hair wild and her face free of makeup.

Rosie would very much like for Olivia to make things up to her all night. She had no idea what the future would bring, but she had a clear inkling of what tonight would be like.

Olivia’s knee pressed a little harder into her and Rosie pushed herself against it. She lowered her hands from Olivia’s head to her top, wanting to get it off her — desperate to clasp eyes on her spectacular shoulders again.

Olivia gave her a helping hand and leaned backwards long enough for Rosie to hoist her blouse over her head. Even though she’d seen Olivia like this before, the effect of seeing her naked body again seemed to have amplified. Maybe because everything was different now. Rosie was different, too. Meeting Olivia — Charlie — had changed her.

Olivia tugged at Rosie’s T-shirt and Rosie lifted up her arms, wriggling so that Olivia could remove it.

“You’re so beautiful,” Olivia whispered. “I missed you.” Olivia came at her with such hunger in her eyes, Rosie had no choice but to believe every word she said. There were no more lies between them, no more omissions of truth. The heaviness of heart that had weighed her down since their confrontation in the cafe’s kitchen, had lifted the moment Rosie had realised it was Olivia singing on the stage at the Dog & Duck. Singing for her. Now, she felt as light as air. Like a new version of herself. The version that was about to take a princess to bed.

Rosie had met Olivia when she was pretending not to be a princess. No matter what happened, that would always be part of their history. But so would this.

Olivia ran the back of her fingers over Rosie’s belly, making her shiver. In response, Rosie traced her fingertips over Olivia’s naked biceps. She could look at those wonders of arms for days. How could they be so perfectly shaped?

Rosie lifted her glance back to Olivia’s eyes. Her green gaze was as wild and riotous as her hair. Rosie wasn’t sure she’d ever encountered such desire staring back at her, mirroring her own so perfectly.

“God, I missed you too,” Rosie said on a sigh, before melding her lips to Olivia’s again.

Things moved fast then. They fidgeted with the buttons and zippers of their jeans, hurried out of their shoes, and tumbled onto the bed, clad only in underwear.

“I dreamed of this so many nights,” Olivia said, staring down at Rosie. “Of you.”

Rosie couldn’t speak. A wave of happiness crashed over her — the kind of joy she’d believed was no longer in the cards for her. But this woman had made it possible, had unlocked something in her.

Olivia kissed her again, and the touch of her naked skin against Rosie’s made her pulse pick up speed. The hardness of her muscles underneath that satin-like skin was playing tricks with Rosie’s mind.

Even though she hadn’t allowed herself to feel it, not if she could help it, Rosie had missed Olivia too. She’d missed her intense stare when she listened to Rosie, and the kindness on her face when she looked at her — a kindness that had been sorely lacking in any portrait of Olivia in the newspapers.

But it wasn’t Princess Olivia in bed with her, not the princess the world thought they knew. Because hidden underneath the glossy veneer of royalty, was Charlie. Rosie had fallen for Charlie and Charlie would always be a part of Olivia — of them.

Rosie couldn’t wait any longer. She reached for the fastening of Olivia’s bra and undid it. Olivia manoeuvred out of it and threw the garment into the semi-darkness of the room.

Olivia traced a fingertip over the cups of Rosie’s bra. Rosie’s nipples rose to meet her caress. They hardened, pushing against the fabric, needing release. Slowly, Olivia peeled down one cup, and freed a breast from its fabric prison. Olivia slanted forwards and licked Rosie’s nipple before taking it into her mouth.

Pleasure burst open between Rosie’s legs, unleashing the full extent of her desire. She wanted Olivia all over her, wanted to feel all of her. So much want, so much need. Rosie’d never experienced the likes of it.

Olivia repeated the process with Rosie’s other nipple and doubled the anticipation coursing through her veins. When she retreated, Olivia looked Rosie in the eye as she removed her bra, tossing it behind her with the same nonchalance she had disposed of her own.

Rosie took the opportunity to push Olivia onto her back and kiss a trail from her lips, along her neck, to her breasts. She cupped them in her hands and feasted on Olivia’s nipples as the pressure between her legs grew.

Rosie paused her exploration of Olivia’s body to cast a glance at her face. Olivia’s eyes sparked with lust, giving Rosie the confidence to continue on her path. She kissed Olivia’s belly, dipping her tongue into her belly button, before plunging down.

She trailed her tongue just above the waistband of Olivia’s boy shorts, then lifted it a fraction to plant one teasing kiss on her curly hair there.

Olivia’s fingertips pushed into the flesh of Rosie’s shoulders and she relished the touch. It spurred her on to continue downwards. Over the fabric of her underwear, she planted wet kisses on Olivia’s lower lips. Olivia’s hips rocked up and Rosie got the message loud and clear.

She rose and slid Olivia’s shorts off her, baring her. Olivia reached for Rosie’s behind and started to pull down her undies. Someone was impatient.

“I want you,” Olivia said, her voice ragged.

Rosie got rid of her underwear and shuffled closer to Olivia. Olivia grabbed her by the hips and moved underneath Rosie, pulling her down. Rosie’s clit pulsed as Olivia’s hot breath tickled her sex.

When Rosie looked down, Olivia was spread out before her. A tingle of lust started at the base of her spine and travelled all the way up. Rosie lowered her head. She wanted Olivia to feel the same delicious sensation of hot breath between her legs.

But the sweet hotness of Olivia’s breath was already being replaced by a different kind of heat. Wet and insistent, Olivia’s tongue swept over Rosie’s pussy and Rosie had to use all her strength to not crash through her arms.

At the same time, the gush of desire engulfing her encouraged her to mirror Olivia’s actions. She hunkered all the way down and pressed her lips against Olivia’s sex. She inhaled her and as Olivia’s tongue swept over her, Rosie gave into her own desire to do the same. She slid her tongue between Olivia’s lips and sucked Olivia’s clit into her mouth.

The simultaneous sensation of feeling Olivia’s tongue while her own was tasting all of Olivia’s goodness proved too much for Rosie’s flimsy stamina. She’d wanted Olivia all over her — and now she had her. All her wants and needs were being met — and then some.

Rosie tried to give as good as she was getting, even as she felt the beginnings of her climax take root deep inside of her. That delicious warmth travelled to the surface, until it burst out of her. Olivia’s one hand was clasped around her thigh while the other… Oh, a finger at her entrance. Olivia slid it deep inside of Rosie while her tongue flicked over her clit.

“Oh god,” Rosie moaned. There was no stopping this any longer — and why would she want to stop it anyway? She’d waited for her princess long enough.

An orgasm ripped through her like a shooting star. She did crash through her arms then, her cheek falling onto Olivia’s belly. Olivia’s finger kept moving inside her, her tongue swiping back and forth. However this princess didn’t seem to get satisfaction from delivering only one climax — maybe princesses had higher standards than most.

Rosie clenched her hands around Olivia’s strong thighs, bracing herself as yet another wave of pleasure washed over her. She lay panting on Olivia’s belly, giving herself totally up to her.

When she came to, Rosie could barely shuffle off of Olivia’s body. It was Olivia who manoeuvred from underneath her and crawled up to her, then cradled her in her arms.

“Jesus Christ,” Rosie said. “You didn’t give me any chance.”

“You’ll get plenty of chances.” Olivia held Rosie tight to her chest.

Rosie could hear her heart thumping wildly.

“I might not have been in the army, but I have a code of honour too.” Rosie kissed the curve of Olivia’s upper arm before freeing herself from her embrace and pushing her down.

“I have zero objections,” Olivia said, a wide grin on her face.

“Good.” Rosie kissed Olivia on the lips, then made her way down again, adamant that her second attempt at pleasing the princess would not be so easily thwarted.