by Alex Tryst

Feedback: Drop me a line if you’d like at alextryst@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © June, 2009 by Alex Tryst. All Rights Reserved.

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That weekend Layla was flown up to D.C. to visit her girlfriend. Spring was starting to descend upon the city with nature decorating it in pastel colors. The princess wanted to go to the country estate that weekend, so they could have some privacy. Even though the palace was large enough, she felt her mothers were intruding on their private time with their concern for her well-being.

When Layla landed at the airport, the princess was there waiting for her in a limousine that would take them to the country. They cuddled in the car and enjoyed the passing scenery until they arrived upon which the staff greeted them pleasantly.

“Your highness, in light of your temporary condition, would you prefer to be in a room on the first floor?” the butler inquired.

“Yes, I think that is a wise idea. I cannot manage stairs quite yet,” she replied with a smile.

“Very well. Ms. Stone, shall I prepare your room close to the princess’s?”

“Thank you but only one room is necessary,” she answered.

He nodded at them and then went to retrieve the bags as they went into the house. “It is amazing how many obstacles I realize I face in getting around my own homes now that am in this chair,” she mentioned.

“You won’t be in it forever. You’ve already made improvements just since being home.”

“I feel like I have, but I would like to be more stable. My upper body lost a lot of strength in the hospital, so it is harder for me to hold myself up on my arms.”

“I’m confident you will be back to your old self soon. Now what shall we do with our Friday evening? Perhaps dinner and a movie,” Layla suggested, changing the subject. She wasn’t comfortable lingering on the subject of her girlfriend’s condition too long, as she was still trying to get accustomed to it.

“That sounds nice. Let us see what they have made for dinner.”

Layla walked next to Anastasia as the princess rolled her chair toward the dining areas. The redhead’s spirits were good for the most part, but Layla could sense some of the frustration of not being able to be herself under the joking façade. She knew she had to be the stronger of the two of them during this process, even though she had her own concerns about Anastasia’s progress. She longed in her private intimate thoughts for that woman she had met the previous summer, who had the flawless body to match the perfect smile. Now neither was quite the same. While it did not sway her feelings toward her girlfriend, she was not used to the differences yet and still fantasized about the woman Anastasia’s used to be, even though she knew there was a possibility she would never see that particular woman again.

After dinner the two of the adjourned to their room to watch a movie in bed. Layla always felt safe and content in the heir’s arms whenever they were around her, and that night was no exception. Reclining with her head on Anastasia’s chest, she took in the feel of her girlfriend. Her left hand gently roamed under the hem of her t-shirt to her stomach. The definition she had back in the summer was gone, having been replaced with some extra weight due to her inactivity. The blonde’s fingers traced over the scars on Anastasia’s side from her war injuries. The doctors had taken great care to stitch her wounds closed carefully, but the lines were still slightly raised from the rest of her skin.

“What are you thinking about?” Anastasia asked after a moment, feeling the inquisitive touch to her skin. She had never felt insecure about her body before, but the newness of her injuries made her feel less confident than usual. When Layla touched her, she couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking.

“Your scars feel like they have improved some more,” she answered, propping up on her elbow. She pushed down the covers around them to her girlfriend’s waist and then pushed up the t-shirt to look at them closer. Some redness still remained, but overall they looked to be healing well.

They looked at each other for a moment. The redhead cracked a small grin. “You know what happens when you touch me like that,” she said. “My heart starts to pound and I feel like I can barely breathe.”

“Let me see,” she said with a little smile of her own, pushing the shirt higher over her chest. Anastasia’s heart was visibly pounding under her breast. She slipped her hand up onto it to feel the heartbeat.

Anastasia gasped at the gesture. Women hardly ever touched her intimately in the past, and it certainly came as a surprise to her given her current condition. All her conquests were so passive, allowing the princess full access, but they never reciprocated, and at the time Anastasia never cared. Even Layla had not ever touched her that way except in the hospital when she was checking her heartbeat, but the touch just then made her respond in a way she never had as the tip hardened in response. Just then she needed to be touched to be assured. She looked up at Layla as her breathing became uneven.

The blonde felt the change in the princess as the tension-laden moment lingered. She hadn’t intended for her touch to be so sexual, but seeing and feeling the reaction made her own body respond in a new way. She wanted to touch her even more. Without words between them, her hand closed around the curvature and squeezed ever so slightly. Anastasia’s back arched as she moaned at the move, which just encouraged Layla further.

“Does that feel good?” she whispered doing it a second time.

“Yes,” she replied breathlessly.

Layla looked down at her girlfriend’s bare chest and thought back to the only time Anastasia ever touched her that intimately. It was the last night they were together before Anastasia left for her tour. They had never been so close, nor had Layla ever felt such physical pleasure as the way the princess caressed and kissed her. Just then she wondered if she could make her girlfriend feel that way. She had never even tried to initiate something between them, but looking into blue eyes just then, she knew her advance would be welcomed. Slowly leaned down Layla hovered over Anastasia’s stomach for a moment before finally dropping a light kiss onto her skin.

“Oh, God,” the princess moaned, instantly threading a hand through long blonde hair to cup the back of it.

Encouraged by the response, Layla repeated the gesture as her hand softly began to caress over her torso. Within mere moments the sounds coming from above her head began to increase, and she realized Anastasia really was enjoying the attention. “Does that feel good?” she asked again as her mouth inched its way along her side kissing her scars to the underside of her breast.

“Yes. Please, Layla,” she called.

Feeling confidence surge through her at the plea, she moved her mouth over the heir’s breast and hovered for a moment until Anastasia pressed herself upward for the touch. Both of them moaned as Layla kissed the crest softly at first before taking her first taste. Anastasia had never felt something that incredible against her own body. No woman had ever kissed her there, and even though she had never even thought about Layla doing so, as she felt it, she knew she never wanted the touch to cease. Even more she wanted it to increase, so she managed to pull her girlfriend’s small body on top of hers, so they would be touching all over.

Layla gasped when she felt her thigh brush against the apex of her girlfriend’s. It was rapidly warming and growing damp as Anastasia’s breathing came in harder pants. Propping herself up on both arms above the princess’s body, Layla gazed down into blue eyes. She truly wanted more, and it appeared her girlfriend did as well, so she took action to slip the t-shirt from Anastasia’s body. The princess allowed her to do so and returned the favor, leaving them both bare from the waist up. Immediately the blonde lowered herself to kiss her girlfriend on the mouth, allowing their forms to brush together.

Each of them groaned at the feeling as Anastasia’s hands splayed across the blonde’s back. “God, you are so beautiful,” the redhead whispered.

“So are you,” she replied softly as their hands began to caress each other as they kissed deeply.

The comment made Anastasia’s heart palpitate even harder. As much as she wanted to take control of the situation between them, she knew she lacked the grace to flip them over and reverse positions due to her legs. Besides she did wonder what might happen if she allowed her girlfriend free reign over their intimacy. Quickly her body realized Layla was intent on giving her pleasure as the blonde’s toned thigh rubbed against the seam of her sleeping shorts.

“God, yes,” she called as Layla kissed her along the neck and hands continued to caress her breasts.

Layla didn’t think about what was happening between them as she focused on how wonderful it felt to touch her girlfriend after their long abstinence. Things had been so tentative been them in certain respects, mainly out of concern for the heir’s injuries, but the need to connect with each other outweighed everything else in that moment. They carried on in their make out session for quiet awhile until Layla felt shudders start to fill the frame beneath hers that corresponded with the princess calling her name at increasing volume. With concern she tried to withdraw, but the princess kept her trapped in place.

“Please do not… stop,” she panted before shrill escaped her, and her body fell limply into the mattress. It continued to jerk a little as Anastasia took sporadic breaths.

The flood that she suddenly felt against her thigh made her realize what had just happened. She had never intended that, and for a moment she felt guilty, but the look on her girlfriend’s face of pure delight made her feel conflicted. She had never really considered how far was appropriate for them to really go once the moment had overtaken them, and even though they had not had sex, the intimacy of what had taken place was not lost on her.

A few moments passed in silence as Anastasia calmed. She gave a gentle smile up at her girlfriend. “Well, I guess it is good to know that something down there works,” she teased.

“Are you all right?” the blonde softly asked.

“I am wonderful. Are you all right?” she inquired seeing the conflicting emotions clearly on Layla’s face.

“I’m so sorry for what just happened,” she profusely apologized.

“Why? I am not.”

“We shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why not? We did not have sex.”

“Yeah but you still…” She couldn’t even finish her sentence, dropping eye contact.

“Layla, look at me.” Cupping her face in her hands, she brought their gazes back together. “I want you to know something important. You are the first to touch me like that. No other woman has ever dared try, and I wanted you to. It felt amazing.”

“I’m the only one?” she asked in confusion.

Anastasia nodded. “The women in my life have always been so submissive. None of them have ever gone after what they want and have let me set the pace. You are different. You have had control of the intimacy between us from the beginning. No one has ever touched me like that, and I want you to be the only one that ever does.”

Blonde brows furrowed in thought. “I know you have been with other women. How is that even possible?”

“I have had sex with many women, Layla. I have also had quite a bit of sex with myself,” she joked with a smile. “The point is no one has ever returned the favor. You are the first woman to ever touch me.”

“I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t a woman want to touch you?”

“Why have you waited this long to touch me?”

She shrugged. “You’re the princess, and I just want you to be pleased.”

“That is probably what most women would say. They do not even contemplate that I could be pleased by them touching me. They are so focused on allowing me to touch them however I want, and quite frankly the thought never occurred to me either until just now.” She paused. “I liked it when you touched me, Layla. I needed you to touch me to feel closer to you right now, and I want you to touch me a whole lot more when the time is right.”

“I just don’t know what happened just now. I got carried away.”

“It is fine. I assure you. You have made me incredibly happy, but I do not want you to regret this moment between us. We will not have sex until we get married. I promised you that a long time ago, and I am telling you again now. Please do not be upset. You have given me a great gift, and I do not regret it.”

She nodded. Putting her head down on her girlfriend’s naked chest, she sighed. “I love you, Stasia. I want to be with you forever.”

The princess smiled at the comment, for it made her surer of her own desires to propose the following day. “And I want to be with you forever.”

The next day the couple stayed around the castle since Anastasia’s abilities were limited. Nevertheless, both of them were content just to be in each other’s company. That night after dinner they went into the library. As they cuddled on the sofa and listened to music, Anastasia could tell her girlfriend still had some lingering issues over the previous night, but she hoped she could put all that to rest with what she was about to ask her.

“I wanted to talk to you about something important,” the princess quietly said.

“Okay.”

Gently she nudged the blonde off her shoulder. Even though it was difficult for her, Anastasia struggled to get down on her knees in front of her girlfriend. “I wanted to talk to you about us. My life is so much better for having you in it, and I could not imagine my life without you, Layla. You have brought out the best in me, and you have made me a true believer in Christ. When I was at war, my priorities in life became apparent. I am the crowned princess, and one day I will be the queen of this country if God sees fit to allow me to live that long, and that is extremely important to me, but I cannot do it alone. I need a special kind of woman to sit beside me and to help me be the best woman I can be. In the time we have known each other, I have come to realize you are that woman. God has given me a precious gift in you, and I am thankful for that. I would like to further honor that gift, Layla. I want to return to you all you have given me and so much more. I want to spend my life trying to be worthy of the greatest thing that has ever happened to me if you will let me. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me, Layla?” she quietly asked, pulling the ring box from her pocket. Popping it open, she turned it toward her girlfriend, so she could see it.

Layla felt her heart racing as she looked down at Anastasia on the floor in front of her. Her gaze flitted over to the ring for a moment, and her eyes grew wide at the size of the center diamond and the others surrounding it. It was the largest set of stones she had ever seen in her life. She knew this moment was coming between them at some point, but she felt totally unprepared for how it would actually make her feel to receive such a proposal. “I’m speechless,” she whispered after a lengthy pause.

“I hope in a good way,” Anastasia tried to joke, but she was growing nervous when she didn’t get an immediate response.

“That is the most incredible ring I’ve ever seen.”

“I am glad you like it. Now will you accept it?” she questioned, sensing some hesitation on Layla’s part, which made her even more nervous.

“Anastasia, I love you, and I have thought about this a great deal since the hospital. I do want to marry you. I really do, but I have some concerns about accepting right now,” she softly said.

“Like what?” she asked, closing the box and putting it on the cushion next to them.

“Here. Come sit next to me. I know that’s not comfortable for you,” Layla said, helping her girlfriend back onto the couch.

“What can I give you that would allow you to say yes?” Anastasia inquired. “Just tell me what you need, and you can have it.”

“When I think about my future life, I do see you in it, Stasia. Furthermore, I see us married. I do. Don’t doubt that. I just have another dream as well that I want to fulfill first. I need to finish school. I have two semesters left of college after this one, and it would mean the world to me to be able to finish.”

“Whatever you need. I would never stand in the way of your dreams of an education. I am a patient woman, and you are worth that wait. We will get married after you graduate.”

“There are other things.”

“Tell me.”

“As much as I want the world to know that we belong to each other, I understand why you have kept me away from the public spotlight. It would be impossible to have a life if I’m known as your fiancée. Could we continue to keep this a secret until I graduate, so I can have some normalcy?”

The princess nodded. “Absolutely, sweetheart. I want you to enjoy your anonymity as long as you can.”

Layla smiled at the woman who held her heart. “The last thing might be the hardest part.”

“Nothing is too hard if it pleases you.”

The blonde cupped her girlfriend’s cheek in her hand. “My faith is the cornerstone of my life, and because it’s my foundation, I have to practice it daily by studying and worshipping. I have to have that. I can’t forgo any of that simply because I’m your wife. I can’t be that symbol of separation of church and state that your family seems to think is necessary.”

“Of course. I understand. You just tell me where you want to go to services, and I will see to it that you have the proper access and security to do so at all times. I do not want you to give up your faith. It was has made you uniquely different from every other woman I have ever known. I would never wish to squelch that.”

“But I need my spouse to believe it and practice it as much as I do. I want you to go to church services with me every week as your schedule allows. It is important to me to have a spouse who lives their faith. I know you feel an obligation to keep church and state separated from your role as the princess. I respect that and know that’s what’s right for the country, but I feel like you can do that while still attending services. Why does that have to preclude you from worshiping the God you have found, the one you claim saved you?”

Anastasia nodded. “If that is what it takes to win you, I am willing to go to church for you. I do believe in God, but I need the people to understand that this is a personal part of my life and will not have undue influence on my decisions as a leader. Are those your only concerns?” She nodded. Anastasia smiled at her and opened the ring box a second time. “So will you marry me then?” she inquired again.

Layla smiled brightly as she pulled her girlfriend into a hug and kiss. “Yes, a thousand times yes.”

“I love you, sweetheart. Allow me to put this ring on you,” she said, taking it from the box and slipping it on her fiancée’s left ring finger.

“It’s absolutely beautiful, Stasia. Thank you. I love you so much.”

“Thank you for making me the happiest and luckiest woman in the world.”

“I’m the lucky one,” she said. Together they looked at the ring for a moment through their interlaced fingers before she continued, “You know I can’t take this ring back to school.”

“I know, but you can wear it while we are together.”

As they curled up on the sofa once again, they kissed for several minutes before the blonde softly gazed at her fiancée. “I think we should retire to bed,” she whispered.

“You have no objections from me if that is what you desire.”

“You know, I’ve thought about last night quite a bit today but now it has new context in light of what we just decided,” she softly said. A smile played at the corners of her lips. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how much I liked it and want to do it again.”

“I would like that very much, but I know you had some lingering doubts about the appropriateness of it all. I am glad to see that has been resolved.”

“It wasn’t like we had sex. We were just getting closer to each other, and I want to be close to you right now.”

“I want that too. Come on,” she said, sliding over to her wheelchair and getting into it. “I will give you a ride if you want.”

Layla laughed as the redhead pulled her down into her lap. Together they made their way out into the hallway and down the hall to their room. Once there Layla went into the bathroom first to change for bed while the princess maneuvered her chair into the corner of the room and stood up on her crutches. Even though she struggled across the room, she knew it was more important than ever to regain the use of her legs. She was determined to give her fiancée a completely healthy spouse. Layla deserved the woman she used to be in physical strength, and she was resolute to walk unassisted down the aisle and dance with her bride at their wedding. Even though it was still a long way off, it gave her a new goal to keep her motivated.

When the blonde was finished, Anastasia took her own turn in the bathroom before returning to the bedroom. Layla was already in bed giving her a supportive smile as she slowly walked with her crutches across the room. When she was finally in bed and they both were laying on their sides looking at each other, Layla didn’t hesitate to learn over and kiss Anastasia.

Hours later the couple held each other in silence. “I wish I didn’t have to go back to school tomorrow.”

“I know. I feel the same way, but the semester is almost over, and you will have your whole summer free.”

“That’s true.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I thought I would just go back to volunteering at the hospital at home and singing in the choir.”

“What if you did not go home over the summer? What if you came here and stayed with me instead?”

“I couldn’t possibly. What would I tell my parents? They don’t even know I’ve been sneaking away over the weekends to come see you. I haven’t even told them we were seeing each other. They made it quite clear that they wouldn’t accept that.”

“Why do you need your parents’ permission? You are the woman that flew half way around the world to see me for twenty-four hours in a hospital without their permission.”

“I’d do it again even if it was for only ten minutes.”

“They obviously do not wish to accept you as you are, but this is your life, Layla. You just accepted my proposal to become my wife. How do you think they will react to that?”

“They are going to be extremely unhappy about that. I’m afraid of what they might do, but I won’t live without you.”

“Then you should stay with me over the summer.”

“And how would you propose to pass that off? The media would notice me staying at your house for the entire summer, and what would I even do? We couldn’t go to a lot of places together, and you have your own responsibilities.”

“What would you want to do? I am sure we could get you something worthwhile. Name your interest, and I will get you a summer job doing whatever you want. Just think about it. If your parents are going to be upset with this news, it might be better for you if you have some distance from them. I could easily get you a place to stay other than my house or the palace, so it would be less obvious, and if you are just hanging out with my sisters and me, we could pass that off easily. Even more, you could bring Hannah with you, and I would put the two of you up somewhere, so you would not be alone. With you and Hannah both spending time with my sisters and me, the media may be a little interested, but they would not suspect anything too unusual. After all, we all have friends outside of the palace walls and get photographed with them all the time. Having both of you together would definitely help temper any suspicions. Just think about it. You and Hannah could do whatever you want, go wherever you want, and all of your expenses would be paid. It would be the ultimate summer vacation,” she enticed with a smile.

“Let me think about it and then talk to Hannah. Having her here would be great. I’m going to have to tell my parents, though. It’s one thing to sneak up here on the weekends but quite another to lie to them about where I’m spending an entire summer or the fact that we’re in a relationship. I have to tell them, and it’s not going to be easy.”

“Do you want me to be with you when you do? I would be happy to be there.”

“It’s probably better if you aren’t, but thank you for offering. It’s going to get ugly, and they’re probably going to throw me out of the house,” she said softly.

“Your home is with me now. As soon as you put on my ring, you became a member of the royal family, and you will always have my protection. Do not worry about paying for school or where you are going to live. I will provide all that. I promised it to you awhile back, but I owe it to you now as my future wife.”

The blonde nodded. “Thank you. I know that you will take care of me. I just hate the idea of possibly losing my parents. They’re all I’ve had for so long.”

“Now you have me, and I promise you will never want for anything.”

“Except their acceptance,” she whispered. “I’m not sure that’ll ever come.”

“You never know. They may come to accept this part of you in time. If nothing else they owe you respect as the future queen of this country, and I will ensure you get that respect.”

Layla shook her head. “Respect isn’t enough. Their acceptance would mean the world to me, and it hurts to know that I’ll never get it.”

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” Anastasia whispered consolingly.

When the princess returned to the palace the next afternoon, her parents were there to greet her. “Well? How did it go? Do we have a new family member?” Alexa asked curiously.

Anastasia nodded her head. “I did ask her, and she said yes, but you were right, Mother. She needs more time. She wants to finish school first and keep our relationship quiet until then. I agreed with her wishes, so the ring goes back in the safe for the time being. In the meantime I have a new goal, which is to walk unaided down that aisle and to dance with my beautiful bride at our wedding.”

“Nothing like a little motivation. We are happy for you, Stasia, even if your desire is delayed a bit.”

“She will be so appreciative of your respect for her dreams, sweetie,” Lauren added. “It will pass before you know it.”

Anastasia nodded. “It is a long time to wait, but I am determined to do it. I will not be dissuaded.”

“Nor should you. We think you made the right choice,” Lauren said.

Continued in Chapter 10

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