by Tawny Amaya
Unfortunately, that had been the only time we had been alone together, his personal assistant coming in to inform me of the rules of a coronation. I liked Karen immensely, even though she had been tasked to tell me that I could not, under any circumstances, approach the newly crowned king in public.
Unless that is, he and I were to make anything official with an engagement.
It had been a downer of all sorts, our lives as we knew it, together, now changed drastically. No more dates, no more public appearances, no more car rides. No, I was destined to only see Erik behind closed doors.
But I had pushed all that aside and focused on his very important day, knowing that we could get through this.
If he still wanted us to, that is.
Jeanie and I reached Erik’s suite, and I knocked on the door, giving the guards posted out front a tiny wave. They had seen me come in and out so much over the last two days that they were not surprised, giving me a nod instead before resuming their blank stares. The door opened, and Karen’s face greeted me, happiness oozing from her as she ushered me in. “I’m so glad you are here. He’s so nervous though he swears he’s not. Maybe you can give him a little boost.”
“I’ll try my best,” I said, crossing the living room and knocking on the bedroom door. “Erik? It’s Carrie.”
The door opened immediately, and I was pulled inside, the door shutting behind me before Erik pressed me against the wood and kissed me hard. “God I’ve missed you,” he said, his breath warm on my cheek. “You look good enough to eat, I swear.”
I pushed at his chest, making him step back before he wrinkled my dress. My breath caught as I took in his military uniform, thinking that he couldn’t possibly get any hotter than he was at that moment.
I had never seen him like this before.
“What?”
My gaze slid to his face, seeing the anxiety in his gorgeous eyes. “You look great, I mean just like a king.”
He arched a brow. “Is that why you pushed me away then?”
I stuck out my tongue, attempting to lighten the mood and settle both our nerves. “Of course not. I didn’t want you to ruin my dress.”
A grin teased his lips, and I pressed my hand to his shaven cheek. “You are going to do fine, Erik. You’ve been practicing for this moment your entire life. Your father could not be prouder.”
“I’m sorry,” he blurted out. “The picture. It wasn’t what it seemed, I swear it.”
I gave him a soft smile, wondering why he would think about me at such a pivotal time in his life. Sure, I had seen the picture plastered all over the internet of Monique climbing into his private car, the headlines sending the media into a tizzy that maybe the romance was over with his American girlfriend.
But I hadn’t believed any of them. After a talk with Jeanie of course. She had reminded me that I was the one in this palace, not her. I was the one that had experienced some of the best times of my life with Erik, not her.
Most of all, I was the one in love with the prince.
Not her.
So, I had pulled up my big girl panties and waited for him to bring it up. As he was doing at the most inopportune time, yet the best time to show that Erik truly cared about me. “It’s fine,” I said, pressing a finger to his lips. “I know you wouldn’t do something like that. They are just looking for a reason to ruin your day.”
“Our day,” he corrected, pressing his lips to my finger. “This is much more than me, Carrie. I hope you know that.”
I dropped my hand, feeling flustered. The intensity in his eyes, well, they had my innards twisting in knots. “As long as you don’t trip, you should be fine.”
He chuckled and took my hand in his. I could feel him tremble as I looked into his eyes, interlacing our fingers together. “Carrie,” he said softly. “I want to talk to you about something.”
“O-okay,” I said, my voice breaking a bit. What was he going to say? Was he about to snuff this relationship? Was he about to shock the hell out of me? Why was he looking so nervous at the moment?
The door opened behind us, and Karen stuck her head in, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry, but it’s time your majesty.”
Erik blew out a breath and released my hand, giving me a slight grin. “I’m sorry. It looks like I will have to postpone.”
I cleared my throat, forcing every sort of emotion back down in its small box in my brain. There were bigger things at the moment. “Good luck your majesty.”
He leaned close, his aftershave doing some delicious things to my lower half. “We will continue this later, Carrie, I assure you.” He then brushed his lips over my cheek. “And you will pay for that comment, my lady.”
I shivered as he brushed past me, not just because of his veiled threat of later.
No, I was much more intrigued on what he was going to talk to me about.
Chapter 16: Erik
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Lords and Ladies, may I present his Majesty, King Eric of Maltan!”
I sucked in a breath as I looked out over the crowd in the great hall, some of the nerves now turning into jubilation. I was now king. I was responsible for the people not only gathered here but the entire country.
It was a tall order to even fathom at the moment.
Gripping the scepter tightly in my right hand, I felt the weight of the ceremonial crown on my head, the heaviness of the robes around my shoulders and knew there would never be another moment like this.
This was what I had been groomed to do, and I was going to give it my all.
Karen came forward, tears reflecting in her eyes as she motioned for me to follow her down the dais and toward the back hallway, where I was quickly divested of the ceremonial garb, giving me an opportunity to take a few sips of water in the process. “Well done your majesty,” she said as she handed me my suit coat. “We are moving all your guests to the ballroom for the royal gala. You are not required to speak this evening.”
“Thank you, Karen,” I answered as my father came into the room, a huge smile on his face. “Are you happy for me or happy that you don’t have to wear that any longer?”
“Both,” my father laughed, clasping me into a hug. “I am so proud of you. You will make a fine king.”
“I will never be you,” I replied honestly as he stepped back. “But I hope I can live up to the expectation.”
“I have no doubts,” my father said, reaching into his suit pocket and producing the ring that had been in our family for generations. “This is yours now.”
I reached out for the heavy gold piece, sliding it on my finger, the clear blue stone flickering in the light. It was one of the many traditions between kings of Maltan, one that I would pass to my heir one day. My throat grew tight as the enormity of the day started to weigh on my shoulders. I was the king, not my father. I was going to be the one that the country looked toward for help, for support in the years to come.
“There’s the panic,” my father chuckled, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry Erik. We have all had it from time to time. Choose your council wisely and trust your instincts and all will be well.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and nodded, clenching my hand into a fist. There would be a great deal that would happen in the upcoming week, with the appointment of my own council and settling into the new duties I would now be responsible for, but tonight, I wanted to forget it all. Clapping my hand on my father’s shoulder, I gave him a hearty squeeze. “Let’s go enjoy the festivities.”
We made our way to the ballroom, my father stepping through the doorway first, so I could be announced with the same pomp and circumstance that my father had come into for years. The entire ballroom was packed, clapping erupting as I stepped into the space, immediately surrounded by the influential men of our fair country, all vying for a chance to be on the council. It was a perk of sorts for the king to surround himself with his own trusted advisors and I had already drafted a list of a good mixture that some would no doubt frown up
on.
But I didn’t care. We were ushering into a new era of rule here, and I was willing to shake some shit up to do what was right for the country.
Looking over their heads, I spotted Carrie in the midst of the crowd, with Jeanie standing at her side, both having an engaging conversation with each other, not caring that the king was in the room. It warmed my heart to think that to her, I was just another guy and I wanted to touch her so badly I could taste it. Earlier, I nearly had done exactly what I had wanted to do for a long time now and had we not been interrupted, well, this party would be more than just celebrating my ascension to the throne.
But we weren’t allowed to talk, much less touch. Rules dictated that unless. A thought popped into my head and my lips curved in a smile as I thought about the rules. The hell with the rules. I was the damn king now, and I could change the rules, no matter how old they were.
Ignoring the people around me, I nodded to my father as I pushed my way toward Carrie, to the woman that had captured my heart the moment she had talked me off the ledge in the elevator in New York. I loved the hell out of her, and it was time that I told her.
Rules or no rules.
Chapter 17: Carrie
“Don’t look now, but he’s coming this way.”
I took a sip of my champagne, rolling my eyes as Jeanie’s started to bug out of her head. “I told you that you shouldn’t have slept with him! I mean couldn’t you just appease him until we are wheels up in a few days?”
“Not him,” Jeanie said under her breath, her eyes still focused over my head. “Erik. He’s coming this way.”
I swallowed and placed my glass on the table beside us, wondering what on earth Erik was going to do once he passed by. Would he give me a look that would lead to the promise of tomorrow or would he ignore me, reminding me of the deep chasm that was between us now? Either way, I would have to keep my hands to myself. That had been drilled into my head far too much.
“Carrie.”
I turned at the sound of his voice, my heart doing a pitter patter against my chest as I looked at the new king. Erik was still there in front of me, but there was a challenge in his eyes, one that I was certain would be there to stay. I was so unbelievably proud of him and wanted nothing more than to pull him into my arms and kiss him until we were both coming up for air.
But I wasn’t allowed to, and he wasn’t even allowed to be speaking to me. “Your majesty,” I said, dropping into a curtsy. “Congratulations.”
He reached out with his hand. “Come on, dance with me.”
“Erik,” I hissed as people started to look our way. “What are you doing?”
He grinned, and my knees weakened. “I’m breaking the rules and making up my own. Dance with me, please.”
I bit my lip, feeling Jeanie prod me with her elbow. Why was he doing this? He couldn’t start his reign as a rule breaker! “Come on Carrie,” he coaxed. “Don’t stand up a king. It’s bad for our image.”
I burst into laughter. There was the Erik I loved. “Fine but it’s your crown.”
“I’ll survive,” he chuckled, pulling me out onto the dance floor and into his arms. “Besides, everyone else can go hang themselves. I only wish to spend time with you.”
“Careful,” I warned as he spun me around to the tune of the music. “Word might get out that you have a favorite. Can’t be good for your image.”
He leaned close, and I ceased to breathe. “I love you.”
I stumbled against him as his words cut through me like a knife. “W-what?” Surely, I hadn’t heard him right.
The smile on his face melted into something tender, something that any girl could only hope to see in their lifetime. “I said I love you. You have made me feel much more than just a member of the royal family. You humble me, Carrie, and push me to think of my life, of myself as something more than just the crown.”
“Erik,” I whispered, tears clogging my throat. “I-I love you too.”
“Whew,” he answered, his eyes twinkling. Despite what was going on around us, I felt like there was just the two of us, my heart overflowing the happiness. “Now all I have to do is give you a reason to stay.”
“Erik,” I started for another reason as he released me, the music halting immediately as the king did something quite unorthodox. He dropped to one knee in the middle of the dance floor. “What are you doing?”
Reaching into his pocket, he held up a box to me. “I’m giving you a reason to stay.”
Tears crowded my eyes as I realized he was proposing to me. The king of Maltan is asking me to be his queen, just a girl from the city with no royal blood, no ties to any political or monetary things that could help his reign.
He just wanted me.
“I’ve waited to do this for a while now,” he said, opening the box. “But it seems like we keep getting interrupted I’ve decided to pick my own time to do so. Carrie Wallace, will you consent to be my wife, my queen, the mother of my children?”
Gasps went up around us both as I stared down at the diamond nestled against the black velvet, a tear escaping down my cheek. “A-are you sure?”
He nodded, looking up at me. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my entire life. I would give up my crown if it meant for you to be my wife.”
“Oh, please don’t do that,” I choked out, launching myself at him. He caught me easily and pulled me against his body, pressing a kiss against my neck. “What do you say?” he asked. “Are we just causing a scene, or can I go down in history as a successful rule breaker?”
“Yes,” I sobbed, not caring that tears were messing up my makeup, pressing my face into his uniform. “I will marry you.”
Applause broke out around us as Erik pulled away to slide the ring on my finger, pressing a kiss right above it. “This was my mother’s,” he said softly, bowing over it. “I hope it brings us the same happiness.”
I looked at him, my eyes shining with happiness that I could barely contain. “I have no doubt it will.”
***
One week later, I followed Jeanie out to the tarmac, where the private jet was primed and ready to depart back to New York.
But this time it would only be taking one of us.
She handed off her bag to the flight attendant and turned toward me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I really do not want to leave.”
“Don’t,” I urged, feeling the loss already. “Erik said he could have someone pack up the apartment for us. You can stay here and never go back.”
Jeanie gave me a small smile, sliding her sunglasses on so I wouldn’t see her eyes. “Won’t you miss it at all Carrie?”
I nodded, knowing I would be lying to say that I wouldn’t. “Of course. I’m going to miss the city, the hotel, everything.”
“But you are happy here,” she finished for me. “And you should be. Erik is a doll, and he loves you very much. God, I can’t believe that my best friend will be queen someday. That has to look good on some sort of resume.”
I laughed, already missing her even though she had yet to leave. “Please hurry back. I need for you to hurry back.”
“Maybe I will come with your parents in another month,” Jeanie replied with a sigh. “I mean it will take me that long to pack up your shit.”
I reached out and pulled her into a hug, the tears flowing down my cheeks. “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t, you have been the best friend any girl could ask for.”
“I love you too,” she replied, patting me on the back. “Keep the fort down here. Tell Liam I will be back as soon as I can.”
“I will,” I answered as she released me and walked up the steps into the jet, not even looking back. I blew out a breath and turned back to the car, wishing she wasn’t going at all. The last week had been crazy enough settling into the role of the king’s fiancée. Jeanie was the only link to my former life, though she clearly had enjoyed the perks of being the future queen’s bestie.
Now I had an entirely new wardrobe, a fabulou
s ring, and my own personal assistant. My suite was still available should I get mad at the king, but I spent most of the time in Erik’s. We had recently started talking about remodeling the family suite to make way for whatever the future brought.
Oh, and I had the king of Maltan in my bed.
The door was opened as soon as I approached it and I slid into the cool interior, my heart heavy as I watched Jeanie’s jet start down the runway, gliding into the air and taking my best friend back to the states.
“Everything good?”
I turned and looked at Erik, who was watching me for any signs of major meltdown. Last night I had cried on his shoulder to the point that he had gone to the kitchen and gotten that carton of ice cream. “No, I’m fine. I’m just, I’m going to miss her.”
He handed me his handkerchief, and I wiped my eyes as the car started back to the palace. “I know this is difficult for you Carrie. Are you certain you did not want to accompany her?”
I looked over at him, surprise filtering through my body. “You would let me go?”
He nodded, a tender smile on his face. “Of course, I would if it made you happy to do so. With a hundred guards as an escort and a laptop so you could skype me every waking second of the day, but yes I would let you go if you really wanted to.”
I laughed, my body warming at his attempt at a jest. It was one of the many reasons I loved this man. “No, I don’t want to go. I couldn’t leave you for more than a day, tops.”
“Good,” he said, capturing my hand in his, rubbing his thumb over the ring on my finger, the one that he had put there. Our engagement had turned the gala on its ear, and while there were some that questioned the king’s choice in a bride, I was accepted for the most part.
It did help that the former king touted my wonderful abilities and how much I loved his son.
I couldn’t believe, still, how much I loved the man beside me. I had given up everything for this relationship, and it had paid off big time. I woke up every morning next to him and went to bed every night with him at my side. Erik, not wishing to keep anything from me, included me in all his plans for the future and I was quickly learning and falling in love with this country that I would someday help rule. My life had taken such a massive turn the last month, and it was hard to believe that it had only been a month ago when I had touched down on that very tarmac I was just standing on, my thoughts full of trepidation of where this relationship was going to end up at.
