Olivia couldn't sleep. She knew it wouldn't change anymore, but she still wanted to check the diary. It was right under her, but she couldn't risk it just yet. She understood he had already read it, but it still felt like an invasion of privacy for her to show it to Adarian. She lay stiffly on her back. She could hear him breathing and was too conscious of him being in the same bed. She turned her back to him, but then thought how vulnerable that made her. She couldn't see if he were to move.
She knew he wouldn't do anything, but for a split second his face when she walked out of the bathing room popped into her head. His eyes looked like he wanted to light her on fire. She sighed and turned to face him. It was better to face whatever made her insecure.
He was already facing her. His eyes were shining from the moonlight pouring in the window. Startled, she sat up. The moonlight showed through her clothes outlining her body.
Adarian quickly grabbed the blankets and tackled her with them. He looked at her with a strained face, "don't move." He had heard her toss and turn and her breathing. He didn't expect her presence in his bed to bother him that much. It didn't bother him that first night. But... after seeing her in that night dress earlier he didn't know how he was going to pass this night not thinking about it. And now she sat up in the moonlight like that igniting his imagination once more.
After he covered her with the blanket, he rolled back to his side. His voice went deep and horse, "Sleep now. Don't move anymore."
She stayed still this time unable to move a muscle. As she lay there not moving, she fell asleep. He listened to her breathing deepen and relax. 'Finally!' He thought. He had a hard time calming down his body with the outline of hers in his head, but listening to her breathe he was able to calm down. Now he was able to rest. He closed his eyes and slept.
...
...
The next morning Olivia was shaken awake by Adarian. In the night at some point she had clung onto the pillows, getting very close to him. His heart had almost jumped out of his chest. He didn't sleep well at all, and seeing her peaceful sleeping face annoyed him. Now he would have a busy day, and she had caused him to lose sleep.
She didn't know he had put off his work for the evening to get to know her better. He was also in the middle of planning their upcoming wedding. So he had to double down and work hard today. He still hadn't hired a bridal training teacher for Olivia, and he needed one who could also give her royal training. But now he knew he couldn't hire someone right away either. Olivia knew nothing of the world. Literally nothing. She wasn't even from this world. She would have to learn quickly, and he would need someone he could trust to teach her.
He had to think of it while working today. The sooner he hired someone to teach her, then the sooner they could actually be married. There were some traditions that she needed to learn, and she needed to learn some history. She had said her world was futuristic. Did she know the history of her old world? He wondered what she meant. Were there things that she knew that the people here didn't know? She was embarrassed to hold hands, but didn't seem embarrassed at all when she had walked out of the Bathing room half dressed.
"Time to get up," he said. He had gotten his clothes ready and had disappeared into the wardrobe. He brought out a dress. It was one of her simple looking day dresses. "Wear this one for now."
"Good morning, Olivia said as she rubbed her eyes. She seemed to remember something and started to look around.
Olivia lost her robe somewhere and was looking for it. She was sure she had laid it on the foot of the bed, when she had gone to bed last night. Now it wasn't there.
Adarian saw her looking and digging around the bed like a lost little animal. Then he noticed her robe was not on the hook next to the bed. He was going to walk to her side of the bed, but then he saw it on the floor at the end of the bed. He bent down and picked it up for her.
"Is this what you're looking for?" he asked as he held it up.
"Yes," Olivia said relieved. She held her hand out like she was going to catch a basketball subconsciously.
He looked at her confused. He had the inclination that she wanted him to throw it at her. She really wasn't expecting that of him was she?
He walked over to her side of the bed, and held it out for her to slip her arms into. "Here," he said, slightly turning and closing his eyes so she wouldn't feel too embarrassed.
She had expected him to throw it to her. The last time she had a roommate, they threw things to each other all the time. It was a conditioned response. So when he brought the robe over to help her into it, she remembered the status that this body had. She was a lady.
She pouted, but still stood and allowed him to help her put on the robe. Once her arms were all the way through, Adarian shocked her by wrapping his arms around her. "Ah!" She cried out as she realized what he had done.
"Don't move," his husky voice whispered into her ear.
'Why does he have to sound so seductive!?' Olivia didn't move a muscle.
He had peeked at her when he helped her with the robe on. It made him remember yesterday when she came out of the bath, and yesterday when the moon shone through her clothes. He had to stand still for a moment, and if she was going to make him suffer like this, then she would have to stay still because of it. He couldn't just suffer alone after all. Not when it was her fault.
He ushered her into the wardrobe, and had her put on what he had chosen. But her voice soon called out to him. "Your- A- Adarian," She almost called him your majesty again.
He smiled as he said from the other side of the door. "What is it?"
"I need help," Olivia said. Adarian may have thought he picked out something simple. But this dress still required help from a maid. The maids who were not yet used to having a lady in the house would not approach this part of the castle for a while yet. He was not going to let Olivia leave his side until he knew she was safe, and that she understood the world around her.
"Are you sure?" he asked. Living with a wife he couldn't touch was hard. But he needed her to trust him before they consummate their marriage. He was going to keep her forever, she just didn't know it yet. He cleared his throat. "The maids wont come this morning. I'll have to help you for now. Will that be ok?" He could have called for them. They would have happily rushed over to help. He wasn't going to tell that to Olivia.
She came out blushing and showed him what pieces needed to be tied. As far as she was concerned she was fully dressed already. But his ideas were different from her and she knew it. It made her embarrassed to ask for help with her clothing as a fully grown adult. "We don't wear so many layers where I come from," she explained with a red face.
Adarian didn't ask her to elaborate as helped her tie the last pieces. It was true. She wouldn't have been able to reach.
...
...
Olivia sat at Adarians side for Hours now. At least it felt like hours. Had it been hours? She was bored out of her mind!! He just sat there doing paperwork and looking over forms and budgets. He worked at a steady pace, but more papers just kept being brought in.
She could tell the people who delivered the paperwork were uncomfortable with her presence. As were the people who came in to seek a short audience with him. All she did was sit there. She didn't want to bother him with too many questions, so she just sat there. Bored. What was this? Bring your Olivia to work day? Why?
She didn't understand this man at all. Why did he have her just sitting there at his side doing nothing?
Olivia would sigh every once in a while, she almost felt like groaning out of boredom. If she were doing paperwork, or reading a book it would be different. But she was literally doing nothing! She gave up. She just stared at him because she had literally nothing better to do. He didn't notice at first. But as her eyes stayed focused on him, he began to blush a bit at the ears. He was really handsome. She hadn't expected him to blush. It was nice.
He cleared his throat, and she slightly wondered if some honey lemon would help him with this issue he seemed to have. He sat up straight and looked at her. "Like what you see?"
"Mmhm," she nodded. "You're handsome." He almost choked on his spit. Did she have to actually say it?