Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume One

by Mickie B. Ashling

  “Let’s at least wait until your man has come and gone with our snacks.”

  “Good point,” I said, reluctantly pushing off him.

  And just then, there was a faint knock on the bedroom door, and Snow sprang to life, barking her head off.

  “Shit!” Errol exclaimed. “We forgot to warn him about the dog.”

  The cacophony coming from the bedroom increased as Eric entered the suite and Snow’s barking escalated. Before we could get out of the tub to restore order, the bathroom door slammed open, and Eric rushed in with Snow fast on his heels.

  Errol bellowed at his dog, but her momentum was too great, and she ended up slipping on the marble and sliding into the bathtub with a horrendous splash. Eric watched in horror as water overflowed, and he tried to get out of the way, but he also slipped and landed on his knees, dropping the tray laden with slices of apples and oranges, and three types of cheese. Snow took one look at the bounty and managed to get out of the tub using my thighs for leverage.

  Eric looked like he wanted to die, and I couldn’t really blame him, but the humor of the situation surpassed any irritation I might have normally felt. Seeing the big wet dog gobbling up the food without an ounce of remorse made me crack up, and Errol joined in, shoulders shaking with glee.

  “Your Highness,” Eric began. “I’m so sorry.”

  I waved away his apology. “I should have warned you about the dog. No harm done. Have them clean up this mess and do something with Snow. She’ll need a long walk after all the food she’s inhaled.”

  “Will she come with me?” Eric asked apprehensively.

  I turned toward Errol. “What do you think?”

  “Aye, she’ll go, but put her on a leash, or you’ll lose her.”

  “Yes, sir,” Eric replied, getting to his feet and straightening his clothes. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Ignoring Snow, who was licking up the last of the soft cheese, I turned to Errol. “Your dog is a menace.”

  Errol chuckled. “She’s so cute, though. It’s hard to stay angry when she looks at me with so much trust.”

  “You’re a big softie,” I accused. “You’ll probably be this lenient with our child.”

  “I’ll let you be the bad guy,” he replied. “You’re used to issuing orders and being imperial.”

  “As my consort, you’ll speak for me at all times,” I reminded him. “I hope and expect you to be firm when it’s necessary.”

  “Don’t worry,” Errol said, lip quirking. “I’ll be firm when it counts.”

  My gaze dropped to his groin, and I could see he was proving his point most effectively. “What is it about my commanding voice that turns you on?”

  “I’m not sure, but I like it.”

  Sliding over to his side of the tub, I placed my hand over his heart and began twisting his damp chest hair around my fingers. “As soon as they clean this room, we’ll pick up where we left off.”

  “Count on it,” he said gruffly.

  Eric walked in with two footmen, armed with mops and buckets, bringing up the rear. Snow’s red leash and collar dangled from Eric’s hand, and when she didn’t lunge, he fastened the restraint around her neck, murmuring good girl in a shaky voice. Meanwhile, the footmen made short order of the mess.

  “Make sure you dry Snow off before taking her outside,” Errol said. “I don’t want her to catch cold.”

  “Yes, sir,” Eric said, tugging on Snow’s leash. She didn’t budge, looking in her master’s direction instead.

  “Go with the nice man.” Errol ordered.

  She wagged her tail and followed Eric out of the bathroom.

  “I don’t know about you,” Errol commented, “but I’m ready to get out of this tub.”

  “I think you’re right. My bed is nice and comfortable, and more importantly, it’s dry.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Eric had redeemed himself by setting up a new tray of fruit and cheese in the living room, along with bottles of water and the good whiskey that so appealed to Errol. I poured generously and we decided to finish our drinks on the sofa before heading to bed. Both of us had shrugged on thick terrycloth robes and, with drinks in hand, sat back to enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasted.

  “I hope Eric wears your dog out so she falls asleep when they return.”

  “She’ll be fine. I expect he’ll leave her out here if your bedroom door is closed, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m so done with interruptions.”

  “Right?”

  Swallowing the last of his drink in a few gulps, Errol put down his empty glass and reached for me. “Bed?”

  I nodded and got up to follow him to the room. Now that this was finally happening, I was a little nervous. Sex between us had been great so far, and this next round would probably be fantastic, which meant Errol would be sated and worn out. If Mama were to be believed, he’d be uncomfortable and unable to get any rest. Was I going to put my future in the hands of some dumb pebble, or forge ahead regardless of the outcome?

  Chapter Ten

  ERROL

  Weeks of anticipation, interrupted by stretches of confusion were about to end as we stared at each other while getting ready for bed. Everything I’d said and done since receiving Bash’s invitation had been leading up to this moment, and now that it was finally here, I was nervous.

  We stood at the foot of the four-poster, still in our robes, hesitant to make the first move. Bash’s cheeks were flushed in patches—communicating his own level of stress—highlighting the perfection of his pale skin. He slipped off his robe and let it puddle at his feet. The blush spread down to his neck and bloomed over his smooth chest. The outward manifestation of his fears calmed me more than anything else this evening. I was the one who’d been chosen to embark on this wondrous journey, the commoner elevated to royal status, and Bash seemed more apprehensive than me.

  Stepping closer, I pushed back the golden strands that tumbled around his face, tucking the silky locks around a reddened ear. When I brushed his moistened lips with my thumb, his mouth parted and his tongue darted out, tasting my skin in a sensual sweep that went straight to my cock. I searched the blue depths to see if there was any trace of doubt, but his pupils were blown, the desire was unmistakable. A light brush of his lips against mine tipped the scale, and our energy shifted from a slow crawl to full throttle.

  He wrapped his arms around my neck, never taking his mouth off mine, and as our teeth clicked and tongues probed, I backed onto the bed and fell on a pile of throw pillows. My robe was discarded in short order, and I tucked my hands behind my head and spread my legs, inviting Bash to take charge.

  He crawled toward me, pausing to rake my chest hair with his fingernails before he reached for my cock. My breathing stuttered when he cupped my balls with one hand and encircled my shaft with the other. Playfully brushing my pubes, he tickled under my scrotum while keeping an eye on me to watch my reaction. He slid his forefinger toward my hole, teasing the sensitive furl, and moving away just as quickly. I might have let out a disappointed moan because he bit his lower lip, concentrating on repeating the move that elicited such a fine reaction.

  Breathlessly, he asked, “You like ass play, big guy?”

  “Aye,” was all I could muster as I squirmed beneath his touch.

  “Me too,” he confided. “I can’t wait until you fuck me.”

  And just like that, I was done letting him drive the cab.

  Flipping him onto his back, I fumbled for the packet of lube I saw in the silver bowl by the bed, and diligently prepared him before I positioned my cockhead at his entrance.

  Looking him right in the eyes, I growled. “Ready, love?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Bash sucked in a sharp breath when I pierced him, but he didn’t stop me. Encouraged, I kissed him deeply before continuing, angling for that secret spot deep inside him, the one that would shatter him into a million pieces. We hadn’t exchanged stats on th
e men in our past, and I wasn’t particularly interested, but I was determined to make this night memorable and give him the ride of his life. He submitted wordlessly, clutching my biceps and meeting each stroke with an upward thrust. As the momentum increased, words began tumbling out of his mouth—harder, faster, please, deeper—urging me on as I took my pleasure.

  Our breathing grew more ragged, our hips moving involuntarily against each other. I grasped his cock and began a long, slow pump. His hand joined mine and we began working his shaft while I continued to rock in and out of his deliciously tight hole. He tensed, and his irises looked like shards of lapis lazuli before he erupted in a pulsating gush between us. Feeling his warm cum smeared on our bellies made me lose my stride, and all good intentions to prolong this session for as long as possible evaporated in a spectacular orgasm. My roar was commensurate with the exhilaration that suffused my entire being.

  We must have passed out, because when my eyelids fluttered open, I was lying on my back, and my prince was curled up like a bug on the other side of the mattress. I was prepared to get up and make the short walk to the bathroom for a washcloth when I realized I’d already been wiped down. The image of Bash cleaning our combined mess before falling asleep elevated him in my eyes and bolstered my decision to become his consort. He might be a demanding royal in the presence of others, but between us, at our most intimate, we were equals. All worries ceased as I realized Bash would do whatever was necessary to make our union work.

  I hoped to catch a few hours of sleep before life intruded by way of doctors and contracts, but something was poking me on my backside. Had I fallen asleep on the tube of lubricant? I rolled over to check and didn’t see anything. The bottom sheet was askew, not surprising considering the moves we’d undertaken earlier, so I got out of bed and tucked in the corners as best as possible. My side was completely smooth, and although Bash’s wasn’t, he didn’t seem in the least bit perturbed, so there was no point in disturbing him.

  Already up, I decided to check on Snow. She was fast asleep in her makeshift bed but lifted her head and gave out a jaw-cracking yawn before going back to sleep. I was pleased she hadn’t paid a price for ingesting all that fruit and cheese earlier. I shut our door gently, went to the bathroom to take a piss, and crawled back into bed.

  And was miserable.

  The annoying bump on my backside persisted despite all my previous efforts. Huffing in irritation, I got up and inspected the mattress. You could bounce a penny off the perfectly stretched fitted sheet. I was certain it was made of the finest Egyptian cotton, with an outrageously high thread count, a lot better than anything I’d ever owned, and yet…the bloody thing was as comfortable as a sackcloth. I made a mental note to speak with Bash in the morning.

  I tried a few more times and finally gave up. Grabbing my pillow, I crept out of the room and headed for the sofa. It felt like a cloud after that lumpy mess and I was asleep within minutes. When I woke up, Bash was sitting cross-legged on the floor with tears trickling down his cheeks. I blinked several times, trying to get my bearings. Was he upset because I wasn’t in his arms? I had to set him straight. Sitting up, I scrubbed my face with my hands and shook my head to clear the cobwebs.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Everything is right,” he said, wiping his tears with his sleeve. “Things couldn’t be any better. I’m assuming you’re here because you hated the bed.”

  I felt like an ingrate, but I refused to lie. “Aye, I’ve slept better on the floor in my studio.”

  He burst out laughing, which confused me even more. And to make matters worse, the door opened and Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra, walked in with Prince Emile and his retinue trailing behind her. Jaysus! These people had no regard for personal boundaries. How was I supposed to observe protocol, and bow in a courtly fashion, when I was sitting on the sofa with nothing but a sheet covering my morning wood?

  “Um, Bash,” I whispered, giving him a dirty look. “Ye ken I need a minute to get dressed.”

  He howled with laughter, and I stared, wondering what I’d missed.

  “Please don’t get up on our regard,” the Princess said in a delighted voice as I stared up at her helplessly.

  “I couldn’t even if I wanted to.”

  Everyone in the room was smiling from ear to ear, and I was beginning to think these people had lost their collective minds. Was I marrying into a family of lunatics? I turned to Bash. His tears were gone, and in their place was a lovesick expression usually reserved for the morning after a night of successful lovemaking. This was to be expected, not the tears I’d seen a few minutes ago.

  Out of sorts, I snapped, “Are you planning to share the joke, or will you leave me in suspense?”

  Bash nodded. Turning to the small group, he commanded, “Please, leave us so Errol can dress.”

  “I’m hungry and we need to get business out of the way before I can have my breakfast,” Prince Emile demanded.

  “We’ll join you in the dining room shortly.”

  “See that you do,” the Prince ordered on his way out.

  “What the hell is going on?” I asked, throwing off the sheet. My cock slapped against my belly and Bash smiled.

  “Way more than I realized,” he said gleefully.

  “Don’t get any ideas,” I grumbled, heading toward the bathroom. Bash and Snow trailed behind me, and after I finished my business and wrapped a towel around my waist, I demanded answers. “Are you going to tell me what just happened out there?”

  “Can it wait?”

  “Hell, no. Were they checking to make sure I took your maidenhead? If so, they’re barking up the wrong tree. You’re no more a virgin than I am.”

  Bash giggled. “That’s not it.”

  “What then?”

  “Mama is a witch.”

  Flummoxed, I asked for clarification. “Why would you say such a thing about your own mother?”

  Bash reached for my hand and gently led me back to the living room. He picked up the phone and asked Eric to bring us some coffee and take Snow outside for a walk. All this while I was sitting on the sofa, still wrapped in a towel, wondering if I’d woken up in some alternate universe. I bit my tongue to keep the tirade from spewing out of my mouth, but by the time Eric and Snow departed, I was ready to explode with unanswered questions.

  “It’s like this,” Bash said, sinking down beside me. “I insisted on a love match.”

  “Aye,” I nodded. “It’s what you deserve.”

  He went on to explain how his wish to choose a partner, rather than settle for an arranged marriage, had germinated into a plan concocted by his mother and seconded by the Prince. I could feel the bile rising up from my gut, accompanied by blinding fury.

  “You mean to tell me she used magic to make me fall for you?” I shouted.

  “No.” Bash paled and scooted back. “Nothing like that, Errol. I was given free rein from start to finish, but there was a small caveat Mama insisted upon to make sure I was making the right choice.”

  “And what the devil might that be?”

  After he explained, I headed straight for the bedroom and lifted the mattress, so I could see the evidence of his mother’s chicanery for myself.

  “See?” Bash said when I snatched a pebble no bigger than a piece of snot in my hands.

  “Aye, all too clearly. What would you have done if I’d slept like a babe in your arms? Discarded me like a piece of garbage and tried again?”

  “I would have lied,” Bash declared boldly. “There’s no way in hell I’m giving you up now that I’ve found you. I love you, Errol.”

  Placated, I soaked in the words, and my anger vanished as quickly as it emerged.

  “Say that again.”

  “I love you,” Bash said, a little louder this time. “You’re the one I want.”

  “No doubts whatsoever?”

  “None.”

  “Well then….”

  “You’ll stay?” he asked hopefully.
>
  I nodded, and he rushed forward with a cry of relief.

  After we pledged our love and commitment in the filthiest way possible, we showered and made our way downstairs. Arm in arm, we walked into the dining room, and I studied the faces of Bash’s family looking at me expectantly.

  “Is everything all right?” Princess Alexandra asked.

  “Fine, Mama. Errol knows about the pebble and is ready to proceed.”

  “Excellent,” Prince Emile stated.

  “Hold on,” I said, leaning forward. “I have a few ground rules of my own.”

  “You’re hardly in a position to make demands,” Prince Emile stated.

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” I countered. “Without me, you’ve got diddly.”

  Bash snickered.

  “Let’s hear them,” the Prince said, looking at me askance.

  “No. More. Magic.”

  “You have my assurance,” Prince Emile said. “I’m not a proponent of witchcraft.”

  Princess Alexandra waved him off with a disgusted, “Pish posh.”

  Clearing my throat, I added, “I rule my household.”

  The Prince and Princess let out startled gasps.

  “What Errol means to say—”

  “You don’t need to explain,” I said, cutting Bash off.

  “But we’re the royal family,” Mama interjected. “You can’t tell us what to do.”

  “No, but I will not be subjected to your demands in my own home. If you wish to visit, you’ll need an appointment like anyone else. I won’t have you barging in whenever you’re in the mood.”

  “Point taken,” the Prince conceded.

  “I demand a new mattress.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” Princess Alexandra agreed. “Although there’s nothing wrong with the one you have.”

  “It’s tainted,” I reminded her.

  She sighed. “Very well.”

  “We’re going on a three-week honeymoon before starting the in vitro process,” Bash added. “That’s a deal breaker.”

  “We’ve waited long enough for a grandchild,” Prince Emile thundered.

  “Three more weeks won’t kill you,” Bash retorted. “We want some private time before the doctors get their hands on us.”