You know better babe, you know better babe!1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lp01vZyIx
Than to hold me just, hold me just like that1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszZ7bKsz6D
"It Will Come Back" - Hozier
It’s late. The lights of the city still twinkle just as brightly as they did hours earlier when you had met King Liam up in the Eiffel Tower. You feel distressed about it all. It is overwhelming. No matter how hard you have tried you haven’t brought up the fact that your heart isn’t his, and hasn’t been for quite some time.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh6rrFCmtZ
You feel like you are doing a grave injustice to him as well as everyone else. As much as you are still put off with Bertrand, he and Maxwell are the only semblance of family you’ve had during this whole ordeal. Leaving court abruptly would only make things more difficult on them, even if you’re instinct is to run. Not only can you not stand the thought of letting down House Beaumont, but leaving Liam in Madeleine’s clutches would make you feel even worse. It feels like a no-win situation.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR5ElDcQqK
“You’re awfully quiet tonight.” Drake says, breaking the silence that you haven’t realized has stretched so long.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRgFdlFwdR
You glance up at him, noting the small crease between his eyebrows that has started appearing more often, at least since the moment Tariq had accosted you in your room in Applewood Manor during the social season.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj7Wbg6qLF
“Just trying to mentally prepare myself for tomorrow.” You reply. It isn’t a lie entirely. You are dreading having to face Bastien about what he did. Part of you doesn’t want to know why he had roped Penelope into hiring the photographer. You’re not sure you can handle that truth or seeing Drake upset that someone he explicitly trusted had betrayed him.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6R7EozsV2
Drake squeezes your hand gently. “I know that feeling…” He trails off, his gaze moving towards something off to the side of you. You follow his gaze.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlazdibVENS
“Is that a river?”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf70pp9vmUv
He nods and shifts his focus back to you. “In the summer, they set up ‘beaches’ along it.” Drake brings his hands up, your fingers still laced together, to do air quotes around the word beaches.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcZ3lxChxm
“You’re lying…” You bump your shoulder against his playfully.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhOKSwDb8T
A mischievous grin spreads across his lips. “Don’t believe me?” He stops walking, looking both ways before pulling you across the street with a light jog. “Then I’ll show you.” You can’t help but notice the change in his demeanor. His playfulness is enough to lift your own spirits as you pick up the pace to keep up with him.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ixdJo24VR
“Is this just a clever ploy to lure me to the water so it is easier to dump my body?” You tease.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfU0MTCBsN
“Way to ruin the surprise, Romanov.” He chuckles.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm1Sv4hsf8
In no time, you can see a strip of lights and what looks like giant cement sandboxes just below them. You are so focused on the river coming into view that you haven’t noticed your pace slowing down.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5CL21Jfoj
“Getting tired already? I swear I just saw a snail pass us.” Drake dramatically looks down at the sidewalk ahead as if he has spotted one.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4yoXU4Wi0
“There are live snails here? It must have made a jailbreak.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGysefPjWnp
“They are very talented.” He teases. “That should be testament to just how slow you are walking.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehtJB1uAiI
You roll your eyes. “I’m going to make you eat your words if you don’t stop. I bet I can make it up there before you.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMWPUJkTIC
“That sounds like a challenge.” He grins down at you. Without another word you release his hand, bump him hard with your hip, and take off running.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItxlv0NWKk
“Cheater!” Drake calls out before sprinting in your direction.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIK26WuweO
You can hear his footsteps growing closer and closer to you. You don’t dare to look back. You refuse to chance falling or losing speed by turning to look at him. It’s no use. You see him catch up beside you from your peripheral. You pump your legs faster. You can feel your lungs burning in protest as you reach one of the makeshift beaches. Drake pulls out in front of you and in a desperate attempt to not let him beat you you leap up to tackle him.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7h7gfWV6B
“Oof!” Drake losses balance and topples onto the soft sand with you. You let out a loud laugh as he rolls you both across it. You can’t stop the bout of laughter as you manage to pin him underneath of you.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOyYx9R3aa
“I win!” You say triumphantly. Your hands grasp both of his wrists above his head, your legs straddled around his middle as you sit back on his stomach to hold him down.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRbBmqOpe9
“Oh, is that how we are playing this?” He replies with a smirk as he twists his hips and tries to use his legs to buck you off. You quickly release his wrists and grab the front of his shirt to steady yourself. Drake’s smirk widens as he abruptly sits up with you still settled on top of him.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfEDaUAQOE
You refuse to let him win. “Nice try… ‘A’ for effort.” You wrap your arms and legs around him, clinging to him in hopes that he won’t be able to do much more to knock you off him. It is a flawed plan given he is so much larger than you, but you aren’t one to admit defeat so easily.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgiPyUm0Ze
“You are impossible.” Drake says teasingly as his eyes find yours. All at once you become very aware of your position. You are both breathing heavily from the physical exertion of the race. The way he looks at you should be a sin causing something dark deep down in the most intimate parts of you to writhe around restlessly.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iGOyz0648
His hands slowly trail up the sides of your legs and settle onto your hips. Part of you swears you can feel his excitement beneath you. You shift your hips, allowing them to roll into his to sate your curiosity. The feeling of him against you is enough to make you dizzy. It clouds your every sense and all you can feel is him. All you can see is the darkening of his gaze. All you can hear is his sharp inhale as his hips move of their own volition into yours and his grip on your hips tighten.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD0PMOl6xK
You long for more, you have for a long time. You want to show him just how much you want him—how much you need him. You can’t recall any time someone has made you feel this way. Everything makes perfect sense in these stolen moments. For the first time, you believe the clichéd saying ‘home is where the heart is’ because right in this very moment that is exactly where you are—home.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehmJqAXEbj
“You don’t know how much I want you right now.” He whispers as he leans in to press his lips to yours, one hand moving to tangle in your hair as the other trails up the back of your shirt, fingers splaying against your lower back to pull you harder against him…
Author’s Note: First and foremost, you guys are amazing! You have no idea how much every single one of you brighten my day with your comments, messages, and support! It means the world to me and I can’t thank you guys enough for making this so much fun to write! Okay, I think I’m done being sappy… for now.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiFaC5NzO5
I hope you enjoyed this issue! I’m going to try not to leave you guys hanging too long on the next issue. Hopefully, I get my shit together and don’t procrastinate with my Real Life duties so I can get another installment out quickly!
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