Chapter Fourteen - Tristan
Waking up next to Ella, I felt a strange sort of happiness I had never quite felt before. This woman was amazing. Last night had been amazing. The way she had felt, the way it had felt to be inside her, the way she had looked, the sounds she’d made, it had all been more than I’d been expecting. I wanted to spend all day doing nothing but discovering new ways to fuck her, to make her come, to make her cry my name in that tone of voice, to hear her beg me for more.
I couldn’t, unfortunately, because I had a lunch to attend for the visiting diplomats from three oceanfront countries we were hoping to establish trade relationships with. I hated to spend my last day with Ella away from her. After today, she’d be gone, and I was already dreading her leaving. She stirred beside me in bed and smiled up at me when her eyes opened, and all I could think was that I wanted to keep her, wanted her to be mine forever.
“Good morning,” she said. Her voice was all soft and scratchy from sleep. I thought spending the day without her would be a waste and shame.
“Good morning,” I replied, reaching down to tuck her hair behind her ears, unable to resist touching her. “Your trial ends today. I am attending an official lunch, and you are coming with me.”
“Is that part of the trial?” she asked, sitting up a little. She was naked under the covers, and they shifted low as she moved, exposing her breasts to me.
“It is now,” I said, allowing my eyes to linger on her breasts before bringing them back up to her face.
“Last night,” she began, biting her lip at me. She trailed off and shook her head, her eyes on me, tracing my skin, my muscles. I reached a hand out and put it behind her neck, hearing her gasp and holding her close for a minute.
“I told you,” I said, “you are going to remember me.”
“I know I am,” she said, still sounding a little out of breath. I trailed my hand down her back, tracing my fingers down her spine, feeling her shudder. I had to get out of bed before I got carried away.
“Meet me in two hours. Fiona will help you get ready,” I said, squeezing her ass with my hand before getting up and throwing her my most charming smile. She smiled back at me, pulling the covers up a little around herself when I got out of bed. She looked so at home in my bed, like she belonged there.
I left her to get ready and went to shower and get dressed. I wasn’t looking forward to today’s lunch, although events like this were better than standard meetings. I disliked the old-fashioned formality of it all, the manners and customs required to have a simple conversation. I was good at it, forceful when I had to be and polite when things were going well, but I didn’t care for it. At least today, though, I would have Ella by my side.
I met her in the formal dining room. I was talking to the head of catering services and I heard her before I saw her, the soft click of her heels on the floor. I turned and stared at her, taking in her appearance. She was wearing a soft yellow dress, modest enough for a diplomatic day lunch but still stunning on her, hugging her chest and her hips. Her hair was braided around her head like a crown and she was wearing pearls around her neck. She looked every inch the part. She was perfect.
She introduced herself to the catering staff and all the other servants in the room as I watched her. The guests arrived before I had a chance to really talk to her again, but she slid up to my side, holding my arm to greet them like she had done this before. She talked to every guest, laughing at their jokes, asking questions, wanting to hear all about their countries and customs. She was acting like an ideal hostess. Like a lady of the court should. It was more than I had been expecting, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to see the ocean, tell me all about it,” she said to an older, overweight man from a very wealthy country.
“You must come see it! You and Prince Tristan. We have a large manor home for visiting royalty with the most exquisite ocean views!” the old man said, his hand on her arm like they were old friends.
“That’s so kind of you. I’m sure that as our countries strengthen our friendship, we’ll have many occasions to visit,” she said. He beamed at her and began to tell a long story about fishing boats. Ella laughed at all the right places as if she had sat through all the same etiquette and diplomacy lessons I’d taken.
“Is she your fiancée?” a woman asked, approaching me as I was watching Ella. I shook my head and looked at the stranger. Her name badge said she was the staff assistant to a diplomat’s office.
“Not quite,” I said, not wanting to explain Ladorian customs and the festival to a stranger.
“You haven’t taken your eyes off her all afternoon,” the woman said, “and I can see why. Pretty and smart, she’s a delight. You should keep her around.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” I said. Normally, I’d have been annoyed at a stranger being so invasive and familiar with me, but part of me wanted to talk about Ella with anyone who would listen. I’d never felt anything like it. Never known anyone like Ella at all.
I wanted us together. I hadn’t thought the festival would actually bring me a woman I wanted to marry, but watching Ella, I knew it had.
The afternoon went by quickly, and with great success. It looked very promising that we would secure those trade deals, and I couldn’t help but think Ella was largely responsible. With the trial ending, I decided I had to tell her about my Facebook profile. She deserved to know everything.