Chapter 4. Confusing Women (1)

[December 3rd, 2019. Caines, Terres Somnia]

CC’s birthday was coming up. She had only recently started getting her dress ready for her birthday and planning for the next fashion show. Bart was glad to see it. The queen’s absence finally seemed to be weighing on her less. CC even applied for fashion school next year.

Bart liked watching his fiancée. Shortly after they got engaged, he got himself a too comfortable bean bag chair that he placed in her office. When he dropped by and she complained that she didn’t need a babysitter, he swore that he just needed somewhere to study. And he did study. He got through tons of material during his time at the fashion house. Did it take him twice as long as usual because he spent half of the time watching her work? Yes, but she didn’t need to know that.

It might not seem sensible that it pleased him so much just to watch her, but then there was a time when he would have given anything just to lay eyes on her. A time when they were forbidden. Even now their families thought that they were moving too fast. “You’re too young,” his father had said. As long as she showed up two months from now to marry him, Bart didn’t care. A 20-year-old man had never been as sure that he wanted to marry someone as Bart was that he wanted to marry CC.

“Ouch,” he heard her whisper under her breath.

As much as Bart liked watching her, he loved going to her even more. She already had the band aid out by the time he got to her. He looked into her face as he took it from her and put it on her newly pricked finger.

“I can take care of my own needle pricks you know,” she complained, ghost of a smile on her face.

“I know Caroline,” he said, bending over to pick her up.

Caroline.

Her name out of his mouth made her putty in his hands. He knew it and she knew he knew. It made her furious. His saying her name undoubtedly meant he was going to make her do something she didn’t want to and she would allow it, because really there was nothing he wanted to do with her that she didn’t want to do with him.

“Time for bed, you’re exhausted. You can pick it back up tomorrow,” he said, taking the unfinished dress from her.

“I’m not sleepy,” she protested with a yawn, her arms wrapping around his neck as she snuggled up against his chest and her eyes fell closed.

“Right, of course not,” he said, as he carried her out of the office.

Bart took CC to the room next to her office. He had turned it into a bedroom for her to take naps in when she had a show coming up and didn’t have time to go home. It was one of many attempts at getting her to come back to work. He probably should have gotten her something bigger than a ¾ bed. CC ended up spending quite a lot of time at the fashion house after James and Zoey’s coronation. Being at the palace all the time was still too hard for her back then and she didn’t want to put Bart’s parents out. Besides, she liked the effort he’d put into the place. It was cosy, she’d told him.

She clung to him as he tried to lay her down.

“Stay,” she whispered, kissing his cheek.

Bart swallowed. She’d been especially clingy the last few nights, insisting he stay with her. There was this unspoken agreement between them that nothing beyond kissing would happen until they got married, so he didn’t usually stay the night. He loved her and wanted her to be happy and comfortable, but damn she was driving him crazy.

Ever since the first time he saw it, the uncertainty in her eyes, it was like CC no longer wanted what he thought they agreed upon. She was finally getting back to basics and that pleased him, but now there was this. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Did they need to talk about it? But he didn’t want to embarrass either of them.

He couldn’t go there with her. Not while that persistent look of uncertainty left him so confused about what was going on in her head. Bart needed to find a way to make that look go away before they could consummate their love.

The moment she asked him to stay, he knew it was coming. Just like the previous two nights, she was straddling him and her warm touch alongside her eager mouth told the story of her intent. He restrained himself, giving her free reign as he fought to not to explore beyond her mouth. For all the good it did him. Tonight her fingers weren’t satisfied with feeling out the buff chest, broad shoulders and rock-hard core that hid under his shirt all day. As evidenced by the way she locked eyes with him, bit the corner of her lip as her shirt accompanied her arms up above her head, tonight CC wanted more.

Bart gulped as he watched her shirt hit the floor. What was he supposed to do with her shirtless and on top of him, threatening to take off more as she kissed her way down his body? The last two nights he’d managed to get her to fizzle out while spooning her and she’d fallen asleep in his arms. He’d hoped he had deterred her. Instead having caught on, CC only became emboldened. She already had them both half naked. His fingers dancing to the tune of her melody up her back, heading for her bra.

Stop. Tell her they needed to talk. He wanted to, he really did, but all his willpower went into not flipping them over and tearing the rest of her clothes off.

“I love you,” she said, innocent eyes staring down into his.

The hot air from her lips mixed with his as he felt the bra he didn’t know he had unclasped give way under his fingers.

Fuck.

He was going to stop now, wasn’t he?