Chapter 11
Eleven
FRIEDRICH
I show Aurelia around the portion of the palace playing host to the evening’s festivities, doing my best to keep my hands off her, but that tight little dress is begging me to grab onto her perfectly curved waist. As much as I want to take her into a deserted room—and there are plenty on this floor to be certain—it’s almost time to hide away for the night.
I just need a moment of her.
Pulling Aurelia into one of the empty sitting rooms near the back of the palace, her captivating eyes widen as I pin her against the door with my hips.
She lets out a delicate, breathy moan as my cock presses into her pelvis.
I’ve been sporting a semi all afternoon thinking about her, and now witnessing her in this figure-hugging dress is absolute torture.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” I groan as I press gentle sucking kisses along the pulse in her neck. Her only response is a strangled hum, and my cock twitches in appreciation.
“I have a task for you later tonight.”
“What’s that, my prince?” she murmurs as I continue peppering her exposed skin with kisses.
“You say you’ve never done anything sexual with anyone before.”
“Yeah,” she breathes.
“I want you to be prepared for what I’m going to do to you on Sunday.”
She moans a little louder when I carefully suck at the sensitive spot where her neck and collarbone meet, and I’m nearly at full attention now.
Christ, it’s been so long since I’ve just taken my time with someone.
Kissing is usually low on the to-do list when I do get the chance to get off.
I’ve forgotten how fun the buildup can be.
Feeling Aurelia’s skin erupt in goosebumps under my fingertips, hearing her breathing change as her need spikes, the deep ache in my groin as my cock begs for more.
Fuck, it’s intoxicating.
My lips ghost over the curve of her ear, and she shudders. “I want you to touch yourself,” I whisper.
There’s a hitch in her breath, and I know she’s thinking way too hard about this. I don’t want to scare her, but I also need her to be comfortable with me touching her when the time comes.
“Can you do that for me, Aurelia?”
She’s silent for a moment, but she’s still rolling her hips against mine on pure instinct.
I want to drag her to one of the small sofas in the middle of the room and plant her on my lap.
I want to guide her in rubbing herself off on my straining erection.
I want to see her come undone while she dry humps me like we’re naughty teenagers.
If I do that, though, I’m sure I won’t be able to get through this night.
“I’ll try,” she finally stutters.
“Good girl.” I place a quick kiss on her sealed lips, not pushing for more, and I really need to get going.
But first, I have to procure snacks for my evening of covert observation. I drag myself away from her and adjust my dick in my pants, willing it to come to heel. Aurelia’s eyes are hooded, hazy with lust as she keeps her gaze fixed on me.
“Come, mi’ lady.”
I place her hand back on my arm and lead her away from the temptation of privacy and towards the dining room. My cousin accosts me at the door to the kitchen, where wait staff in tails bustle in and out with trays of canapes and cocktail snacks.
“No pressure, eh, Fritz?”
“Actually, Trix, doing my best to forget all about it.”
Aurelia stays behind and to the side of me. Trixie eyes her over my shoulder. I should have talked to Trixie about this sooner, but we’ve both been rather busy, and I can think of no one better to guide Aurelia through her first court function.
“With food and alcohol?” my cousin asks as I snag a plate off the tray of a passing waiter.
“Ah, good, Miles made it with the booze, then?” His job, as always, is to provide the libations for the night. “And I suppose you’re here to intimidate any poor woman who dares wear the wrong shoes.”
“I’m sorry, but that Grecian heiress had it coming. Wearing flats with open toes to my birthday party.” She makes a gagging face.
I raid a few assorted hors d’oeuvres as more trays pass. “You made her cry, and I had to deal with the fallout.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, yes, a trip to Greece must have been such a drag.”
“Terribly so. And now I must ask a favor of you for putting me through it.” I wave Aurelia forward, and Beatrix raises an eyebrow.
“Bringing a date to your own bachelorette survey?”
I give her a pointed glare. “No, this is Aurelia. She works for the Maiers. She’s not my date, but I did invite her.”
“Mm-hm,” my cousin hums.
“I thought you might watch after her; this is her first royal engagement.”
Trixie gives her a calculating once-over, and I can feel Aurelia’s back straighten under the scrutiny.
“She doesn’t appear to need looking after.”
“You know what I mean, Trix. Introduce her to people and help her get acclimatized to how these events go.” I’m throwing a lot at Aurelia, and I pray she’s up to the challenge. She hasn’t shrunk under my cousin’s inspection, and that gives me hope.
Beatrix sighs. “You know I can’t resist a redhead, Fritz. Of course, I’m always glad to play host to any woman you deem worth your time.”
Aurelia blushes at that but doesn’t back down. “Princess Beatrix,” she says with a curtsy. “Prince Friedrich has told me so much about you.”
“All lies, I’m sure.”
“Oh, complete fabrications to paint him as the angel of the family,” Aurelia drawls.
They both fall into a fit of giggles.
“I think I like this one, Fritz. She’s not a simpering fool mooning over your position.”
I huff in mock derision, but Trixie couldn’t be more right. I feel my shoulders relax knowing I’m leaving Aurelia in capable hands. Even though it physically pains me when she steps away from me and goes to my cousin’s side.
“Now, I’m off to find my friend with the numbing juice. Try not to get more phone numbers than Claus tonight, you know how he hates it when you show him up.” Trixie had left this year’s Independence Day celebration with two women, and my brother still sulks about it.
“I thought you all weren’t allowed to mingle tonight?”
“We’re not, but where there are women, Claus will find a way.”
“Hm, cheers to that then.” She holds up an empty hand and frowns, then grabs Aurelia’s arm and links their elbows together.
“Right, let’s find a drink, shall we, darling?
” she says to the woman on her arm. “Ta-ta.” My cousin waggles her fingers at me, then turns to chat with Aurelia as they stride away.
I allow myself one last indulgence and admire the way the high heels make Aurelia’s incredible ass look all the more mouthwatering as she disappears. I shake my head to clear it, adjust my trousers once more, and make my way upstairs.
Miles is already waiting at a small table in the darkened mezzanine. He hands me a glass of whiskey as I set down the plate stacked high with finger foods and take the chair opposite him, facing out across the ballroom.
“To the beginning of the end, brother.” He taps his glass to mine. “Somewhere behind those doors is the future Mrs. Friedrich Elijah Maxime blah blah and so on.”
I snort before sipping tonight’s procurement.
Leave it to Miles’s perfect taste in whiskey to pick just the right bottle for the mood.
This one has quite the spice to it and only a touch of sweetness.
We sit in near silence as we wait for the first arrivals.
Slowly, ladies begin trickling into the ballroom.
The invitation only specified cocktail attire, and it’s always interesting to see how such a broad dress code is interpreted.
I recognize the princess from Sweden, lovely in a classic black sheath dress, her blonde hair pulled in an artfully loose bun at the back of her head.
The daughter of a British Viscount opted for bold with a hot pink number that is a bit shorter than many would consider proper for the palace.
A woman I don’t recognize sparkles as she steps into the ballroom, the beading of her high-necked gown too intricately detailed to decipher from my elevated position.
I watch the early invitees mix and mingle, but it is difficult to hear much of what is said from the mezzanine.
The door behind us opens and shuts nearly soundlessly. I turn to see my sisters sliding chairs up to the table.
“What are you two doing?” I hiss. “We’re not supposed to be present for this part.”
“That was supposed to include you, too,” my youngest sister, Lorelei, retorts.
“Besides, we got tired of looking at the dresses on TV and wanted to scope out our future sister-in-law for ourselves.” Anneliese cranes her neck to try to catch a better glimpse at the women below.
She turns to Lorelei. “Did you see that one that just came in? What an appalling shade of orange! Is it hunting season?”
They both giggle, and I shoot them my best stern big brother glare.
“Come on, Fritz,” Liesel teases. “You can’t tell me some of these dresses aren’t hideous.”
“Seriously,” adds my youngest sibling. “Mother has incredible taste, you can’t allow someone like that,” she points to a woman with an impossibly high updo, “assume her place in court.”
“No one is replacing Mother,” Claus whispers from the doorway.
“Christ! Not you too,” I groan.
“Not to worry, brother, I’m just here to peruse the rejects.” He reaches between our sisters and grabs the whiskey bottle from the table, taking a heavy gulp straight from the bottle.
“Uh, excuse you,” Miles demands, taking the bottle from him and refilling our glasses.
“Relax. The alcohol kills the germs on contact.”
“Actually, the concern is no one invited any of you to partake in our indulgences.” I shield the plate of pilfered hors d’oeuvres from Lorelei’s reach.
Claus stretches over the top of my arm and snatches a few snacks. “For someone who is about to be drowning in pussy, you sure are a grouch.”
I choke, and Lorelei breathes a quiet ew.
“Really, Claus?” I chide. “In front of our sisters?”