STORY EXCERPT

“Music and laughter make such a lovely symphony, don’t they, Eugenia?”

Eugenia smiled over at her sister, whose comment echoed exactly her own thoughts. They were floating, unseen, in the corner of the music room. The family had gathered for an impromptu celebration in honor of the just announced engagement of Princess Rachel of Boisdemer to Peter Jones. Michael, Rachel’s oldest brother, had chosen a selection of light rock music to play on the sound system while Alex had ordered champagne.

“Indeed they do. I must say, I’m feeling better than I have in a long, long time.”

“It’s because that nice young Peter Jones said he believed in us, and we didn’t even have to suggest it to him.”

Eugenia narrowed her eyes as she observed Alex and Hannah, who both pretended not to be ignoring each other.

“Well, Gwendolyn, two down and two to go, though I must say if our plan doesn’t work with those older ones I don’t know what we’ll do! Perhaps this is why we usually provide our services only for the young.”

“Oh, piffle.”

Gwendolyn’s uncharacteristic response startled her sister.

“Piffle?” Eugenia asked, sounding out the word carefully.

“Yes, piffle. These two are more deserving of our help than most of those coquettes and do-nothings we aided in the past.” Then she sighed. “Although they are proving to be quite a challenge.”

“They are indeed.” Eugenia then focused her attention on the king’s eldest daughter, Sophie. Her bearing was regal, her long black hair fashioned in an elegant chignon. Even as a child, Eugenia remembered fondly, Princess Sophie had been dainty and lady-like, always the proper princess. And those traits had only grown over the years. Her Highness never left her suite without being perfectly turned out. She was the epitome of a well-bred gentlewoman. Before her elder brother had married, she’d proven herself a talented chatelaine in managing the royal household, too.

“She deserves to be a Queen,” Eugenia said aloud.

“Hannah?”

“Well yes, of course Hannah. But I was thinking of Sophie. It’s just too bad that there are no Crown Princes available.”

“But Eugenia, you know that’s not so! As a matter of fact, one is arriving in a few days. He’s one of Philip’s groomsmen.”

“Him? Oh, no, he’ll never do for our Sophie. No, never.”

“But Eugenia,” Gwendolyn opened her hands and a book appeared. “Look, see? It’s even written down, right here in the Book!”

Eugenia scowled as she gave the Book only a passing glance. “To use your word, Gwendolyn, piffle. That one certainly doesn’t deserve to even be in the same room as our Sophie. Why, the very idea!”

“I rather like him, myself. He’s a good boy.”

“A good boy? That one is a rake-hell and a wastrel, if ever I saw one.”

Eugenia turned her attention back to the party. Seeing the two betrothed couples so obviously in love lifted her spirits. Sparing another glance at the older couple, she returned to contemplating Sophie.  She folded her arms, her resolve strong. Her Sophie would be a Queen. It would just take a little creativity. Everything would turn out to be a happily-ever-after for everyone, if it took every ounce of magic she possessed.

// // // // // // // // // // // // // // //

“I don’t remember Queen Liana that well, little one, but I do remember thinking that she seemed...untouchable.”

Sophie understood that Stephan was again trying to take their relationship to a more personal level. She couldn’t give him the kind of commitment a normal woman might, but in conversation, at least, she could give him intimacy.

“She was. She never hugged me. She never saw the need, and although I never tried, I always sensed that if I had ever thrown my arms around her, she would have recoiled.”

“Some people show their love in different ways, Sophie. It doesn’t mean they don’t feel the emotion.”

“That’s what Hannah said.” Thinking about her new stepmother lifted her spirits, and she turned to Stephan. “Now there’s a lady who invites hugs.”

“So do you.”

Before she could disabuse him of that notion, his arms were around her, pulling her flush against him. It was easy to slide her hands up his chest to slink around his neck.

“It’s not me, it’s you.” When Stephan held her, she felt safe, cherished and connected. He stirred her senses and heated her blood until she felt like she was melting inside. Until him, these were feelings she’d never experienced, so she knew the source of them had to be him.

There was no reason to resist the temptation that washed through her, so she didn’t. Rising up on her toes, she kissed him.

The firestorm ignited again, and Sophie let it take her. With tongue and lips and teeth she set out to consume him completely. His groans, and the clutching and caressing of his hands fuelled her need. Leaving his lips, she sampled the flavor of his neck and chest. Pleased, she noticed that his nipples peaked just like hers did when suckled. The reaction spurred her on. Nuzzling his chest, the light dusting of hair there caressed like the finest velvet. His taste was different here than in his kiss. Salty and rich, she discovered a flavor she’d been missing all her life. She wanted more. She wanted every scrap of him she could have.

Easing to her knees, she fumbled at the opening of his pants, unbuttoning and then unzipping them with trembling fingers. And when his penis sprang free, she captured it in her hand. Instinct guided her as she used her tongue in a long, questing lick. Then she opened her mouth and took him in.

His cock was hard, yet the skin was soft and smooth and tasted good. And hot, it was so hot. As she moved her mouth on him, sliding him in and out, she played her tongue along his length, sucking lightly.

“My God!”

His epithet told her he liked her mouth on him. Nothing was more important in that moment but that she please him. He’d given her so much more than she’d ever thought to know. When she was with him like this, when she was kissing him, touching him, when he had his hands flexing in her hair or reaching down her back to pull the shirt she wore off her, she felt free. Free and alive and powerful in a way she would have sworn was beyond her reach.

“Enough!”

Oh, his hands were strong as he whipped his shirt off her. She felt his trembling as he urged her onto her back on the floor, followed her down and loomed over her.

“No one has ever made me lose control as you have done. You drive me out of my mind with pleasure. Now, it is my turn.”

When he slipped down her body, she had no idea what he was about to do. Then he hooked his hands under her knees, lifted and spread her legs, and settled between them with his head nearly even with her mons.

The first touch of his tongue on her soft folds was electrifying. A cry escaped her lips, her hips jerked toward him.