#i thought it would smell boozier i guess. it seemed boozier to me in the store. but at home it's like ACK OH GOD CHRIST FRUIT

[c0rpseductor]

HOLY SHIT THEY HAVE A SMELL CALLED VAMPIRE BLOOD. i checked it out and it seems like, very sweet fruity floral unforch. not for me. i've TRIED very fruity sweet bright smells before but i just don't like them very much. someone described this one as smelling like red hi c which like. delicious but i don't really want to smell like red corn syrup drink

i like stuff that has a kind of warm or dark vibe and sort of dry. like sandalwood. i guess apparently musk because that's the bottom note in my current favorite? and this has patchouli in it too which i like. i'm okay with something fruity if it has an acidic scent maybe but not if it's super sweet. i want to smell like an antique that has lived in someone's drawer for a really long time, but sexy, and this is what my favorite smell does for me. do you understand

[pug-bitch]

That’s not why I’m staying (5)

Getting too cocky

Book: The Royal Romance, Book 2

Pairing: Drake Walker x Amara Suarez

Rating: some foul language, some extremely suggestive, and a VERY steamy scene. This is absolutely NOT appropriate for people under 18.

Word count: about 4,000

Notes: This picks up pretty much where we left off, during the first day at the cabin, starting with Amara’s POV.

*****

‘You ok?’ Amara asks, staring at her brother-in-law.

Michael nods. ‘Of course. What a beautiful property,’ he says, gesturing at the backyard.

Amara smiles and points him towards the lemon tree in the back. They are on a mission: Drake wants to make lemonade, and Amara is excited to put liquor in it. She’ll worry about a potential drinking problem later; for now, life is literally giving her lemons.

They pick the fruit in silence. She can tell Michael is pensive, but as always, he hides it under layers of positivity and pragmatism.

He sighs. ‘Well, there is one thing,’ he adds. Amara perks up, hoping that he will open up. He continues, ‘I feel bad for taking up the master bedroom. Max and Hana should have it, it’s meant for two people.’

Amara rolls her eyes. ‘Michael. Relax. Max likes Savannah’s room, she’s his close friend, and the room has a lot of pictures and memorabilia. It’s comfortable. Don’t worry.’

He nods and continues picking lemons, starting up some small talk. As much as Amara loves to have him around, as if everything were normal and as if they were not the guests of a freaking kingdom, she cannot believe he is being so coy right now.

Regardless, it feels good to have him back. He’s always been a worrywart, and he is definitely showing his true colors.

Amara sighs. ‘You know that everyone wants you here right?’

Michael smiles shyly. ‘Thanks for saying this. Um, can I ask you something?’ He says tentatively as he plays with a lemon.

Amara nods. ‘Course.’

‘Why did Drake’s sister leave? I mean, I know the basic story, Max filled me in, but… I mean, I guess it just makes me really sad. The idea that Drake didn’t even know he had a nephew.’

Amara catches herself playing with a lemon, too. She nods pensively. ‘Yeah.’ She pauses. ‘Well, at least he didn’t know the kid existed, so that’s a solid excuse for not being in his life.’ She wishes she hadn’t said that. But the words are gone. Ugh, she thinks, if only she could take them back and not reopen the wound.

‘Look at me,’ Michael says softly. When she doesn’t, he repeats, ‘Look at me, Amara.’ She complies. ‘You have PTSD. You needed to heal, first. Plus, you were present. Always sending cards and gifts, and FaceTiming often. You didn’t drop off the face of the Earth.’ He smiles. ‘You’re a good aunt and Callie adores you. She will be so happy to spend more time with you, you can’t even imagine.’

Amara wipes a lone tear off her cheek, and rolls her eyes. ‘Alright, I didn’t mean to make this about me. Classic Amara, huh?’ She jokes. ‘Sorry. I guess some topics are still sore.’ She pauses. ‘So, um… Savannah.’

Amara fills the gaps in Savannah’s story for Michael, who listens with wide eyes. ‘Shit,’ he says. ‘Max did tell me not to tell anyone, but I didn’t realize not even Bertrand knows.’

Amara nods. ‘Right. Please, keep it to yourself. We’re so close to finding her, we can’t compromise that.’

‘I get it. For what it’s worth, it makes even more sense,’ he adds.

Amara frowns. ‘What does?’

He smiles. ‘You and Drake. The shared trauma, the shared guilt. You know. Different, but the same.’

Amara lets out a sad chuckle. ‘You mean, we both have sibling issues?’

Michael snorts. ‘No. I mean you both feel guilty for things you have nothing to feel guilty for.’

Amara takes a deep breath and finally lets go of her lemon. ‘Alright, we have enough of these yellow bastards,’ she exclaims. ‘Let’s join the others.’

As they approach the house, they see the silhouettes of Max and Hana, both gathered around Drake, who is visibly showing them something. As soon as Hana sees Amara and Michael, the three of them stop and come to the door to greet them.

‘How’s the pre-lemonade looking?’ Hana asks over enthusiastically.

Amara frowns suspiciously. ‘Pretty good. Let’s get to it.’

*****

Drake wipes his hands on a kitchen towel, and brings them to his nose. He just loves the smell of lemons. They remind him of summers here, in the cabin, when his mom made lemonade for the family, which his dad spiked with whiskey for himself.

He got lucky earlier, not getting caught by Amara. What possessed him to show it to Max and Hana? He’s getting too cocky. He’s making plans. He knows he can’t help it, but he should really be more discreet. The weight of the small object in the back pocket of his jeans is bothering him. Luckily, his shirt covers the small bump.

Amara joins him in the kitchen, all smiles. Still, he can tell she’s suspicious. ‘Hey Walker,’ she whispers. ‘Can I turn your lemonade into something boozier, please?’

He chuckles. ‘Have at it, Suarez. I’ll be right back, I need to go upstairs for a second.’

Before she can say anything, he climbs up the stairs as fast as he can, rushes to his bedroom, and places the small box back where it belongs, in the hidden compartment of his bedside table. Now he can breathe.

He sits on his bed for a minute, just the time to catch his breath. Calm down, he thinks. We have two days in the cabin, away from all the drama at court. But then… Then, it all starts over. They need to pretend again. Go to Rome, talk to Liam as if nothing had happened… That’s not the best plan, but it can’t be the worst either. Right? God, he can’t wait until they’re out in the open. But only if they do this right, without rocking the boat too much.

‘Are you ok?’ Amara asks, peeking her head in the bedroom.

Drake’s face perks up. ‘Yeah. Just...thinking.’ He pats the spot next to him, gesturing for her to sit on the bed.

She smiles and closes the door behind her. She plops down on the bed next to him and strokes his hair gently. ‘You seem pensive.’

He smiles. ‘Not really. Just enjoying my time here with you.’

She nods. ‘Me too. Wanna come back downstairs?’

Drake makes a disappointed face. It’s rare enough to be alone with Amara during the day. Before all the leaks and scandals, they would often sneak away to a bathroom and Amara would kiss him until he was breathless. Then she would hike up her dress, and he’d sit her up on the sink… Just the thought of it makes his jeans feel tight.

Amara catches it right away. Without a word, she captures his lips in hers, and kisses him as deeply as she can. Drake promptly presses his chest against hers, almost feeling her heartbeat. He moves fast, soon he’s lying her down on the bed and he’s on top of her. Her legs are around his waist, pulling him closer. He feels as though his jeans are going to explode. ‘Fuck, Suarez,’ he whispers against her kiss. He can feel her smile on her lips.

Just like before—not even that long ago if he thinks about it—, just like when they were sneaking around in the palace, her little sundress is hiked up. He runs his hand over her panties. They’re already wet. She moans. ‘Drake…’ she whispers.

Her moans embolden him. Drake pulls her panties to the side, drawing another short breath from Amara’s mouth, and places one finger right at her entrance. She bucks her hips.

‘Take off your pants,’ she says softly. She doesn’t need to tell him twice. Within a split second, pants are off. So are his boxers. As soon as his cock is out in the open, Amara places her hand around it, and strokes it up and down. Drake feels his heartbeat accelerate. He slides her sundress straps down, until he can see her aroused nipples. He can’t help but groan at the sight. His tongue teases one, then the other.

Amara starts to show her impatience. Her hips buck more and more under Drake’s weight. She pulls him closer and closer, until the tip of his cock is right at her entrance. ‘Fuck me, babe,’ she whispers in his ear, making him even harder. ‘Please. I need you.’

He can’t argue with that. Slowly, he pushes his cock inside Amara. Her breath gets shorter with every inch of his length. God, it feels good to be inside her. It always has.

*****

Maxwell looks at the family portrait in the living room. What the fuck happened to his friendship with Sav? How could she not trust him for all this time? Sure, he was the only one still in touch with her, but she lied to him this whole time. He shrugs it off, because he has to, for now. At least out of all of it, he was able to be close with Drake again.

Maxwell sees Michael get up from the lawn chair next to Hana, and come back inside the house. ‘Hey,’ he smiles.

Max smiles back. ‘Hey. I’m gonna mix the drinks, we should have some.’

‘Sounds great. Hana and I were just chatting, what are you up to?’ He says, glancing at the Walker family photo on the wall.

Max smiles nervously. ‘Um, just reflecting on my life and friendships.’

‘Oh. Well, don’t worry. You’ll see Savannah soon. Amara’s very good at finding people, you know.’

‘Yeah, I trust her, no problem. Where are you headed?’ He asks as he notices Michael moving towards the staircase.

‘Just upstairs, need my charger.’

Maxwell holds up one finger and rushes to the coffee table where he left his, and hands it to Michael. ‘There you go,’ he says with a smile. ‘No need for a European adapter with mine.’

Michael takes it, brushing Maxwell’s hand almost imperceptibly. ‘Thanks, Max.’

Phew, he thinks. Nothing more awkward than going upstairs and hearing your sister-in-law bone. Maxwell has interrupted Drake and Amara too many times already, he doesn’t wish that on Michael.

‘Hey Max?’ Michael asks sheepishly as he plugs in his phone.

‘Yeah?’

‘Sorry if I’m overstepping, but… was there anything between you and Savannah?’

Max smiles. Somehow, it makes him feel good that Michael would wonder about that. ‘No. Just friends, for as long as I can remember. Never anything more.’

Michael’s smile could light up the room. ‘Ok.’

Maxwell heads to the kitchen, and grabs the lemonade container. He notices that his hand is shaking. Come on, he thinks. He should know better than to get excited about such a little thing. A detail, really.

Which, added on to other details, makes up a mound of details.

Still, he’s gotta calm down.

A giggle resounds upstairs as Drake’s room door flings open, and the two lovebirds rush downstairs. Maxwell makes eye contact with Hana, who playfully rolls her eyes. ‘Oh my God,’ she mouths.

Maxwell chuckles. ‘Hey guys,’ he says emphatically. ‘We didn’t even notice you were gone. What’s up?’

Amara takes a deep breath. ‘Oh, nothing,’ she lies poorly. ‘I’m gonna make the drinks.’

‘One step ahead of you, babe,’ Maxwell says as he stirs the pitcher. ‘Kentucky lemonade coming up!’

*****

Michael sits out in one of the lawn chairs again, enjoying the Cordonia sun. Drake and Hana left a little bit ago to go grocery shopping for some steaks and veggies for dinner, so he’s home with only Amara and Maxwell. Amara is on her iPad, visibly doing some research on that Tariq guy and his whereabouts, while Max is in the kitchen putting a coffee tray together for the three of them.

Michael could get used to this life. Not that he doesn’t miss his daughter and his family in general, of course he does. But this friendship circle has been doing a lot for his morale. They’re all so fucking supportive, even scary Olivia is a fierce advocate for her friends.

‘Coffee time!’

Maxwell’s voice has a soothing effect on him. Weird, since his spoken word is in a constant state of excitement, but somehow it makes Michael feel instantly better.

‘Thanks, Max,’ Michael says as he sits up a bit. Before he can do anything, Maxwell is already pouring his coffee for him, black with a spoonful of sugar.

‘Amara, sweetie,’ Max interrupts her research, ‘there’s no fresh milk, they’re going to get some at the store, but I did find some creamer for you.’

Amara smiles. ‘You’re the best.’ She grabs the cup that Max is handing to her. ‘I could get used to this,’ she adds.

Michael chuckles. Yup, he thinks. ‘This is such a lovely cabin, honestly.’

Max nods as he sits down on the chair next to him. ‘Oh definitely. It was a lot more barebones before, especially outside. But after Jackson—Drake’s dad—passed and his mom moved back to Texas, well I guess Drake took matters in his own hands and started to make this more liveable. Planted more trees, revamped the grilling station… Oh, and he made the garage.’

Michael’s eyes widen. ‘He...made it? Like, from scratch?’

Max nods. ‘Yeah. He’s handy like that.’ He opens his mouth to tell a joke but shakes his head and visibly decides against it. It makes Michael smile.

Amara closes up her iPad. ‘He definitely loved building stuff. I gotta admit, that first week when we did the barn raising? I had a lot of trouble focusing on my own barn duties.’

Max chuckles. ‘Oh, shirtless Drake got to you? Yeah, that’s part of the barn raising experience. We’re all basically there to look at him get shit done.’

Michael laughs. ‘I mean, even Jorge Suarez described him as ‘handsome’ after seeing him on FaceTime for like two minutes, so…’

‘In a winter coat!’ Amara adds.

Max shrugs. ‘There is no limit to the power of our very own Cordonian hunk.’

Michael laughs wholeheartedly and notices his phone vibrating. ‘Oh! Shit, I forgot Callie’s goodnight call,’ he gasps. ‘Jorge is calling, and I may have had one Kentucky lemonade too many.’

Maxwell laughs. ‘That’s ok! Answer him! He’ll be happy to see you’re having fun, trust me.’

Michael presses the button. ‘Hi Jorge!’

‘Mikey!’ His father-in-law says sweetly. ‘How are you, sweetheart?’

Michael sits a bit more upright and pretends to be sober. ‘Great, look, I’m outside with Amara.’

‘Hey Papi,’ she smiles brightly. ‘Wish you were here, look how sunny it is!’

‘Wow,’ Jorge says as he’s walking towards Callie’s bedroom. ‘Look at this space! Callie, you want to say hi to Daddy and Auntie?’

‘YAY!!!!!!!’ They hear Callie cheer from the background.

Maxwell whispers, ‘I like her energy already.’

Michael smiles. ‘Hey baby, did you have a good day?’

Callie grabs the phone and puts it way too close to her big smile. She looks so Suarez that Michael can barely handle it. ‘Daddy! We went to the zoo!’

‘You did??’ Michael gasps.

‘Yeah. Auntie Amara, are you here?’

Amara peeks her head in the frame. ‘Yes, sweetie, right here. What did you see at the zoo?’

Callie takes a deep breath. ‘I saw a zebra, a lion, a tiger, a penguin, a peacock, a tapir, ummmmmm….’

Michael smiles broadly. ‘You know, I saw peacocks too, the other day. So did Auntie.’

Callie’s eyes are as wide as saucers. ‘No way! Where?’

Amara laughs. ‘We saw peacocks, and sheep, and also a sweet little goat named Bradley Cooper.’

Callie gasps. ‘Wow. Do. You live in a zoo?’

Michael laughs. ‘Almost, baby. Our friend Maxwell loooooves animals, just like you.’

Callie sighs. ‘He sounds cool.’

‘He is,’ Michael adds quickly. ‘He’s right here, say hi, Maxwell!’

Maxwell waves excitedly, a wide smile on his lips. ‘Hi kiddo! You’re so lucky you got to see all those animals, I love zebras!’

Callie chuckles. ‘Zebras are so much cooler than horses, right?’

‘You got that right. A lot more stylish.’

Callie nods seriously. ‘Yes, more stylish.’

Michael’s cheeks hurt from smiling. ‘Alright baby, say goodnight to Auntie and to Max, alright? It’s past your bedtime. I love you, my little peanut.’

‘I love you Daddy, and I love you Auntie, and I love you Bradley Cooper,’ Callie says in one breath.

‘Babe, Bradley Cooper is the goat,’ Michael corrects her, ‘our friend is Max.’

Callie laughs. ‘Uh oh, sorry, I mixed them up!’

Amara whispers, ‘Let the child express herself, if she loves Bradley Cooper, she needs to let it out. I love you sweetie, sleep well! Bye Papi, love you!’

Michael rolls his eyes. ‘You Suarezes are the weirdest birds ever,’ he jokes. ‘Max, you’re a natural with her, she was drinking your words!’

Max smiles broadly. ‘I mean, the kid has excellent taste.’

Amara chuckles. ‘Imagine Liv talking to a child. Imagine how scared this little peanut would be if Liv tucked her in like ‘Goodnight, make sure you hide a dagger under your pillow so the tooth fairy doesn’t steal your teeth’ or some shit.’

Maxwell lets out a cackle. ‘OMG that’s exactly what she would say. Did anyone hear from her, by the way?’

‘Yeah,’ Amara responds, ‘she’s in a love bubble with Rashad, they went on an overnight trip to Croatia, because he had a business meeting. She’ll be back tomorrow night.’

Max inhales sharply. ‘Oh! We should have a mini-Bash tomorrow night, and invite Liv! And Bertrand! A last Cordonian night for Michael.’

Michael smiles sadly. Only two nights here and he has to leave. ‘That would be awesome.’

*****

Hana hops in the passenger seat and buckles up. Drake starts his Jeep and exits the parking lot.

‘Thanks for your help,’ he says. ‘It was fun to shop with you!’

Hana smiles. ‘Of course! I had fun, too.’ She pauses. ‘Drake,’ she asks hesitantly, ‘are you alright?’

He turns to her and smiles kindly. ‘Yeah. Thanks. I’m, um… a little nervous about what I showed you and Max earlier. Not that I plan to do anything about it now, but um…’

Hana nods understandingly. ‘I get it. Just saying it out loud is nerve-racking. But relax. You have nothing to worry about.’

Drake takes a deep breath. ‘God, I hope you’re right. I’ve never, ever even thought of anything like that, but as you know, Amara kinda changed my whole life.’

‘Aww, Drake. You guys are such an inspiration!’

Drake snorts. ‘Well, wait until they crucify us in the press, or Liam beheads me or something.’

Hana shakes her head. ‘Drake, stop. You have to. You don’t need anyone’s approval, and everything will be alright. You just have to hold off until after the tour. Ok?’

He nods silently. Hana sighs. She can’t stand seeing her friends so nervous.

She continues. ‘Drake, listen to me. Liv, Bertrand, Max and I are all in your corner. We’ll get through the fucking tour together. We’ll find Tariq, we’ll find Savannah, we’ll find anyone we want, and then we’ll make sure you and Amara can live your lives. Ok?’

Drake smiles, earnestly this time. ‘Holy shit Hana, I don’t think I’ll ever stop smiling when I hear you swear.’

Hana blushes. ‘Well, you better fucking get used to it, Drake.’

*****

Leo walks into his brother’s study. Good lord, he thinks, Liam looks like shit. He’s a lot paler than usual, which is saying a lot. His eyes come with bags so huge he couldn’t use them as carry-ons.

‘Hey little bro,’ he says as he throws himself on the sofa. ‘You look terrible.’

Liam blinks hard, peeling his eyes off the computer screen. ‘Hey Leo. Sorry, I need to finish this email to the Greek Embassy. We need to finalize those treaties as soon as we get back from tour.’

Leo throws his hands up. ‘Alright, whatever you say.’

Liam types furiously for a few minutes. ‘Done. What is it?’

Leo’s eyes widen. Jeez, he’s on edge. He can’t blame him, though. That’s what fucking Madeleine does to you. It’s like electrocution, and not in a good way. ‘Nothing, just checking on you, kid. How’s life before the tour?’

Liam sighs. ‘It’s fine.’ He lowers his voice. ‘Honestly Leo, I can’t wait for it to be over. Whether it means I end up marrying her, or we find enough dirt on her that we can disqualify her… I don’t know, I just want the spotlight to be gone. You know what I mean?’

Sadly, he does. ‘Yes. Definitely. But don’t worry. We’ll find a way to prove that she is an evil bitch.’

Liam nods, a sad look still on his face. ‘Yeah, but...prove to whom? I can’t help but think Father is involved. I mean, in all those schemes. So, who do we prove it to?’

Leo sighs. Yeah, that’s a new one. Not very surprising, but still new. ‘Well, the press would be happy to unmask Madeleine, that’s for sure. And if Father won’t listen, there’s always Regina.’

‘Madeleine’s aunt, you mean?’

Leo grimaces. ‘Shit. You’re right.’ He pauses. ‘Liam, we’ll find a way. Ok?’

Liam remains silent, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

‘Li? Want me to call Drake?’

Liam shakes his head. ‘No. I bumped into him yesterday, we talked, it helped. Besides, he’s not in town. He said he’d be going to his family’s cabin until the Tour.’

*****

‘Come on, Kiara, focus!’ Madeleine exclaims, annoyed.

‘Désolée,’ Kiara responds anxiously, untwisting the cord of the hair straightener.

‘If you burn me, I swear, I’m demoting you,’ Madeleine adds.

Kiara nods, silent. Madeleine wishes she had a more competent maid of honor, but none of the other women fits the bill either.

Could she have an actual hair stylist help her pick a hairstyle for the first day of tour? Sure. But what’s the fun in that?

She looks at Kiara’s work, which is no different from the past three styles she had her do on her. She grimaces. ‘No,’ she says sharply, ‘too straight. You gotta give it a little wave.’

She needs to be perfect on the first day of tour. Reporters will be there to send them off and she will give a statement. They need to love her. They need to see her as the perfect fit for a Queen. They need to see her for who she is.

*****

‘Drake OMG, it was so good,’ Max exclaims, rubbing his stomach. ‘How do you cook the perfect steak?’ Drake opens his mouth to answer, but Maxwell holds up his hand and says, ‘No no, it was a rhetorical question, I don’t want to know. Keep this beautiful mystery.’

Drake chuckles. ‘Well I’m glad you liked it. Team effort, Hana’s vegetables were awesome.’

Hana smiles. ‘I had fun cooking with you. I learned how to cook with my mom, but you’re a lot more relaxed in the kitchen than she is, for sure.’

Amara looks at her friends with a certain bliss, although in the back of her mind is the constant thought that this state of happiness is bound to end as soon as the tour starts.

She gets up to put some dishes away and, as she starts soaking them in the sink, notices a faint light coming their way. She walks briskly to the front door and sees two headlights, getting closer and closer.

A black SUV, similar to the ones used by the King’s Guard.

She can’t see who it is, the lights are too bright —why the hell are they using high beams when it’s not even completely dark outside?— but she knows it’s not good news.

‘Hey guys,’ she peeks her head through the back door where the others are still dining, ‘someone’s coming, please get the door, I need to move my stuff.’

Before she can think, or even hear anyone’s response, she climbs the stairs two by two, grabs her bags and her toiletries from Drake’s room and transfers them all to Michael’s. Her heart is racing as she hears a strong knock on the door. She rushes back down the stairs and joins the others who are now in the kitchen, while Drake goes to get the door.

‘Oh, hi,’ Drake says in a surprised tone.

‘Hey bro,’ Leo says casually. ‘I brought whiskey.’

*****

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