I opened my eyes to be met by the piercing rays of the sun. But not just that, I was in his arms. He looked so peaceful, I just wanted to watch him like that. This position with him didn't feel so bad after all.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer." He opened his eyes and I was met with the most beautiful set of eyes. They were brown and warm and so welcoming. I raised my head from his chest and looked at him while he spoke.
"Good morning to you too."
"Good morning babe." Babe? How do I feel about babe? I'm not sure.
"What are we doing Arthur?"
"Everything we've always wanted to do." He brought his lips to mine and all doubt vanished. I could taste his love for me and I just wanted to stay here forever.
"Well, when you put it that way..."
"While I would love to stay in bed with you, we both need to be up. We have the launch in about four hours."
"I don't want you to go," I said as I held onto his torso like a body pillow.
"Toria, you still have me for an hour or so, let's start the day with breakfast."
"Who starts the day with food?"
"Someone who didn't eat dinner and spent all their energy satisfying their new girlfriend's needs in bed, all through the night." He did have a point there. It was a crazy night. I picked up my phone and wow! The press was having a frenzy with us.
"Arthur, check your phone."
"I'd honestly rather not. If it's not the press, it's my family wondering where I was all night long and why I didn't answer my phone."
"A royal match made in Buckingham Palace." I read directly from one of the headlines that appeared on my screen. "Royal body language expert, Lauren Headley, saw sexual tension between Prince Arthur and Princess Victoria during an interview with David Holland."
"Well, she wasn't wrong about that." Why is he joking about this?! "Look, they can all say what they want, I don't care. All I care about right now is us. Don't let them ruin this moment for us."
"Ok. But you're going to need to answer your phone eventually, it could be important."
"Not as important as you. Let's go make breakfast." I was not ready to get up so Arthur had to carry my half-naked body out of bed. He managed to get me to wear his shirt while he walked around in his shirtless glory. We were just there, making breakfast and enjoying our honeymoon period when guess what...there was a knock on the door.
Arthur got to the door before I did and when he opened it, I was shocked.
"Grandmother," I said surprised. My grandmother staring at a shirtless Arthur and a half-naked me was not the way I thought my day would begin. We let her in and then we both went to put on some actual clothes before returning to her. She just sat there, looking at us like kids who got caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
"Victoria, Prince Arthur, would any one of you mind telling me what's going on here?" Her voice was calm, so she wasn't upset. I think she's just shocked.
"Your Majesty, Victoria and I are a couple. And against our better judgements, we got carried away." His boldness surprised me. I would've been mute.
"Victoria, is this what you want? Is he the reason why you moved here?"
"He's not grandma. I came here because I needed my space. He just happened to happen. And yes, right now, this is what I want." I intertwined our hands and I looked out for what her reaction would be.
"You're not a child. Arthur is at a point where his relationships are expected to lead to marriage, can you handle that pressure?"
"I'm willing to try."
"Ok. I'm guessing this new relationship is the reason for the new foundation?"
"Not. Arthur and I started working on that before anything happened. The foundation is strictly based on pushing the agendas forward."
"Well, it's a good one. I was impressed when I heard about it. Good job kids."
"So you're not angry?"
"No. I have never seen you this happy and if he makes you happy, then it's fine by me. Although, this is not just kids playing around right?" That's a good question. A good one.
"It's not. I'm sorry Your Majesty, but I have to leave now. I have a lot to do at the Palace and then I have the launch."
"Sense of duty, that's good. I suppose I'll be seeing you at the ball?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Ok. I have to leave too, so I'll leave you to it. Victoria, stay safe and stay good. I'll see you at the ball." She got up and left us there. She had always been so brief in her words. She would come, say the necessary, then leave.
"Well, that was not awkward," Arthur said sarcastically.
"Yeah. I don't want you to leave, do you have to?" I wrapped my hands around his waist, tugging on his jacket.
"Would you care to explain to my family why I never came home or returned their calls?"
"Nope."
"Exactly. I'll be back in two hours to pick you up for the launch, ok?"
"Ok." He gave me a quick kiss and dashed out of the apartment. I had nothing to do so I went over to George's place after a shower.
"Tori, I was just about to have breakfast, please join me." The last time I ate steak that George cooked, I ended up throwing up. But it's breakfast, how bad could it be?
"Ok." He had fruits, eggs, croissants and tea. I served myself and we sat on his balcony for breakfast.
"So, I saw your interview with Arthur last night. It's a good cause."
"Yeah. I'm just glad that I got involved in something so meaningful."
"I wanted to stop by to say congratulations when you got back but apparently, you had company." He was looking at me with knowing eyes. He knew but he wanted me to say it.
"Company?" I play this game well.
"Cut the crap, Tori. You're sleeping with Arthur?"
"Maybe...."
"Stop hiding it! You like him.." He was so happy. It was almost as if he had wanted this all along.
"Yeah. It's complicated."
"He spent the night with you, and wanted to stay for breakfast? He never does that with anyone. He never sleeps outside the Palace except when he's here or out of town and he doesn't stay for breakfast. He likes you."
"How did you hear our conversations?"
"I'm your neighbour. The walls are really thin."
"Well, I like him but we're taking things slow."
"Sex on the first night of being together isn't slow. But I'm not judging, just be careful. There are a lot of people who would do anything to be you, so watch your back." I stayed quiet after he spoke. He's right though, I have a target on my back now. But life is a risk, and this is one I'm willing to take. We talked for a while and he even helped me pick out my outfit for the launch. I looked good, really good.
He stayed with me until Arthur arrived. We were watching TV and there was a knock on the door.
"Hey babe." He lowered his head and kissed me He was gone for two hours and I missed him like hell. Seriously, we've been together for just a day?
"I missed you." My arms were around his neck..his arms were around my waist...our faces were inches away...we were in our moment. I don't think he even knows that George is here.
"Two hours Toria, I never pegged you as the clingy type."
"I'm not clingy."
"Maybe not, but you are for me. Don't worry, I like you just the way you are. You look beautiful babe."
"Thank you. Come in, I'll get my bag and we'll go." I led him into the apartment and that's when he noticed George.
"George...I didn't know that you were here." I laughed awkwardly and left them there. I couldn't hear their conversation from the room but by the time I returned with my bag, George was gone.
"Where's George?"
"He had to leave. Speaking of which, we have to leave so we won't be late."
"Ok." He led me out with his hands on my lower back. The drive to the venue was interesting. We talked about a couple of things, there was momentary silence but that never lasted. We got to the venue and it was packed. People were held back by security and barricades but everyone was just as anxious as we were. Arthur and I walked and stopped right where the ribbon was. Speech time. We don't have something practiced or rehearsed but we'll be fine.
"Thank you, all of you for being here today." Arthur started I knew this was my cue to continue.
"Today, Prince Arthur and I launch the first joint Danish and British Royala, a non-profit organisation that supports a cause so dear to all our hearts."
"Bullying is a major societal vice all around the world and today, we're making the first of many more moves to try and curb the effects of it on our young ones."
"Without the cooperation of the people, this place is just a building. We need your help to fully maximise the resources of this organisation."
"And because of that, we'll do our part by cutting the ribbon."
"We expect you to do your part and help us help you."
"We can't do this alone."
"We won't do this alone. And how are we so sure?"
"Because every one of you came here today. It shows great respect for this cause."
"We won't take up any more of your time, let's get to work." Arthur was given the scissors but he gave it to me instead.
"This means more to you. It's sentimental." I whispered closely to him.
"And now, you mean the most to me. The press is probably wondering why we haven't cut the ribbon yet, so please." Did I also mention that he's an absolute gentleman?! I smiled and cut the ribbon. As it divided, the crowd went wild. Arthur led me into the building and it was beautiful. It was colourful and it had anti-bullying quotes all over the walls, it was something.
"Wow. You did all this?" I asked as we walked around the building.
"Well, it was my idea, but the contractors did everything. You know, this was my first chance to support a cause I care about."
"And you did good. Good." He looked at me for a while and then smiled.
"It's hard not being able to touch you or hold you outside Toria, it's really hard." He said lowly.
"I know and I understand. But it's just until we're both ready to make it public. And I know you are but I just need our relationship to be over a day."
"So tomorrow?"
"Tell you what, we make it through the first month with fighting, then we'll tell the press."
"Deal." We continued mingling with people and soon enough, we were done. Now, it was just Arthur and I. The building was empty. "Come, I have something to show you." We entered the elevator and went to the highest floor. We walked down the hall until we got to a wide double door. He opened the door and it wasn't just my office, it was our office.
"Arthur, it's beautiful." My desk was black wood. And it had beautiful Calla Roses in a vase on it. It had a red notepad on it and it was really...thoughtful.
"Just like you." He moved towards me wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into him. We were impossibly close to each other.
"Arthur..."
"Tell me what you want Toria." He was placing kisses on my neck as he tugged on the zip of my gown.
"Right now, all I want is you." I felt him smile against my skin as he quickly unzipped my gown and watched it fall to create a puddle on the floor.
"I'm at your service."