(Not edited)
~Perrie's Pov ~
"You are my fairy godmother," I said as Jesy held up a pair of heels that perfectly matched my dress (picture above) she'd found for me.
"And next week, I'm taking you shopping." She wagged her finger like I was in trouble.
"Ugh." I flopped back on her bed and pulled a pillow over my head. "I just went shopping."
"You should have thought of that before you started banging Her Royal Hotness."
I stuck my tongue out at her but couldn't keep a goofy grin from sliding onto my face.
"Do you want me to get that?" Jesy asked,I stared at her quizzically. "The buzzer!"
"You're half-naked. I'll get it." I jumped from the bed and headed to the hall. Hitting the button, I braced myself, still convinced that my next encounter with a reporter was just around the corner.
"Delivery for Miss Edwards."
I hesitated. There was no reason to suspect that anything was up, but all it would take was one time to get burned. Then the perfect solution occurred to me.
"She's not home," I lied. "You can leave it with Ms. Hathaway in Apartment 1. She's the landlord."
"Thanks, miss." The delivery guy didn't seem to think this was odd or push his case, which meant I was probably being paranoid. He was just a delivery guy after all, but I knew it was okay to be cautious.
I debated going down and retrieving the package for a few minutes before I finally went back into Jesy's bedroom to discover steam pouring from the bathroom. Poking my head in, I discovered her busily plucking her eyebrows while the shower water heated up.
"What was it?" she asked.
"A delivery."
"Ohhhh!"
"I had them leave it with Jane."
Jesy blinked at this revelation and then continued her pursuit of errant eyebrow hairs. "That's smart. We should probably do that with all our packages from now on."
I nodded as I digested her words. From now on. Because things were going to be different after today.
"So tell me Pez. What is Jade really like in bed?" Jesy asked as she washed her face. "After reading the article, I get the feeling that you left out some details."
"You should get in the shower," I said, skirting the question. The only way it was going to stay a secret was if I kept it to myself, which meant keeping it from "everyone, even my best friend.
"Go get your package," Jesy ordered.
I darted downstairs, knowing that we had less than an hour to get ready. It occurred to me about halfway down that I might have to say something to Jesy about hogging the shower, but then I shrugged it off. It wouldn't take me that long to get ready and I'd done most of my necessary primping before starting work today.
Knocking quietly on Jane's door, I realised I was still unsure I really wanted her to answer. But answer she did. Today she was clad in a summery dress that billowed around her in a riot of colors. Despite her age, she looked like a love child, and I half-expected her to say she was on her way to a Beatles concert.
"Oh Perrie, darling!" She welcomed me with a kiss to the cheek. "I have a package for you."
"I know," I admitted sheepishly. "I asked them to leave it down here. There's been some more...articles and I wasn't sure if it was a real delivery man."
"Well, he didn't ask a thing about you. In fact, he didn't look like a delivery man,"
"more like a...oh, police officer," she said as she paced over to the table in her living room.
"Maybe a security guard?" I asked.
"Yes, more like that, dear." Jane thrust an envelope toward me and my heart skipped a beat as I took it. It was a letter, hand-addressed to me, bearing no postage. I turned it over, anxious to see if there was a return address. There wasn't, but it was stamped with a glossy red wax seal that bore a dragon.
"That looks like a love letter," Jane remarked.
I didn't have to open it to know it was, just as I knew it was from Jade. "I think you're right."
"From Princess Jade?" Jane guessed.
I blushed. I wasn't sure why it hadn't occurred to me that she would have heard about my relationship to Jade, but it still surprised me. Mostly because I hadn't put my guard up as I had with all the others. "I think so."
"This is much classier than those little snippets on the phone." Jane moved to pour tea into two cups on the table and then offered one to me.
If anyone else had offered me tea after admitting they knew about the most recent tabloid fodder involving my personal life, I would have run screaming. But there was something about Jane that I trusted. For one, Jesy trusted her, but more than that, Jane struck me as a kindred spirit. I couldn't explain it, but I implicitly trusted her. I took a seat and accepted the cup.
"How are you holding up?" she asked.
"Surprisingly well." I took a sip of tea, wondering how much Jesy had told her about my past.
"I can't imagine what it's like to have your personal life selling papers." Jane shook her head, taking a slow sip from her own cup. "There have always been scandals, my dear. But in this day and age with all the computers and smart phones and Wi-Fi, everyone knows about everything. It's impossible to keep things quiet. Let me tell you, there would be a number of royal families just ruined if they'd lived in this day and age. After all, illicit romances have been around forever."
I choked on my drink, burning my tongue in the process. "Illicit romances?"
"Well, there was Harold who had to abdicate his position...what was it? Thirty years ago. Fell in love with a girl from France. Not royal."
"I didn't think they cared if you were royal anymore," I said in a small voice. The truth was I didn't know. But it was the twenty-first century for fuck's sake, there couldn't be a huge number of royal suitors available to meet and marry.
"That was ages ago," she said, waving it off. "I think they were more upset that she was from France. Bad blood there."
"And what about me?"
Jane sat down her cup and I saw her jaw tighten. "Sadly, I'm not sure They are ready for a wonderful girl like you Perrie."
She patted my hand comfortingly. "But can I give you a bit of advice?"
I nodded, desperate for even a scrap of hope if she had one.
"Fuck 'em. The whole lot," she said.
"Those phone messages or whatever they were, they might not have been Shakespeare, but Jade sounds like a women who's willing to put their lovers needs first."
This time when I choked on my tea, it was from laughter. Embarrassed, giggly, girlish laughter and I didn't care.
"Lovers like that are hard to come by. My second husband was a grand giver in that sense." Jane winked at me and I caught a flash of Jesy in the gesture. Maybe that's why I felt so comfortable around Jane, even when the subject matter was uncomfortable. It was more like looking into the future than talking to a stranger.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Enjoy yourself," she said, "and remember your heart."
I stood and placed my cup in the sink. "Remember not to let it get broken?"
"Remember to take chances with it," Jane said as she saw me to the door. "Otherwise, what's the point of having one?"
I thought about that as I climbed the stairs back to my apartment. Being with Jade was dangerous, like taking a leap into the unknown. But maybe that was just what I needed.
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My fingers trembled as I broke the envelope's seal, spotting the words "for your eyes only" scrawled across the bottom. I stood against my bedroom door, my heart pounding, unsure what to expect. The letter was penned on a thin sheet of elegant cream stationary with bold strokes, and although I'd never seen Jade's handwriting, I instinctively knew it was her's.
Perrie,
I know I've scared you. I have no right to ask you to be with me. There are risks, more than I've let on about, but I can't release you. I'm afraid that even if you tried to run now I wouldn't let you go. I crave your body. The touch of your skin, The sweet silk of your thighs against my face and the taste of you on my lips. Even as I warn you away from me, know that you are mine and I protect what is mine. Even from myself.
~ Jade
I ran my fingers over her name, a smile tugging on my lips. Her words left me aroused and perplexed. It was nearly a love letter, the first I'd ever received and yet its romance was tainted with her self-doubt. The self-doubt I wished I could wash away. If only I could show her past sins were behind us, but I feared doing so might lead us down a treacherous path.
A shiver ran unbidden up my neck at the thought of Jade in control of my body. How could I want that and be scared at the same time? It didn't make any sense. Of course, nothing about our relationship was rational.
Could I follow her into the darkness to save her? I wasn't sure.
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Jade picked me up at the door an hour later, which was a surprise since she usually sent Lauren to bring me quietly out the back. Since Jesy had already confirmed that there were reporters outside, I let her get the door while I took a moment to focus on my breathing, willing calm to overtake my body.
That calm vanished the moment Jesy opened the door. Instead my breath hitched at the sight of her dressed in a classic black suit tailored to her perfect body.
Jade carried a dozen red roses that popped against the black backdrop of her jacket, the scarlet providing a direct contrast to the darkness while still emanating a fierce sensuality.
"It's nice to meet you your highness," Jesy said, breaking the silence. She stepped aside and Jade strode into our flat, her eyes never leaving mine.
Finally, she tore her gaze from me and extended her hand to Jesy. "Please call me Jade. You must be Jessica."
Jesy looked torn between accepted her hand and curtseying. Thankfully, she took her cue, nodding as though this was a normal introduction. "Are you looking forward to this evening Jade?"
"Yes," she answered, although her response was too stiff to be believable. "That is, I'm looking forward to the company."
Jesy gave her an approving look, her eyes darting to me. "Excuse me a moment."
As soon as she left the room, Jade stepped forward and handed me the flowers.
"I thought you didn't do romance," I teased.
"Consider that a consolation prize," she said. "If you're going to put up with my family for the evening, you deserve a reward."
I considered this as I searched the cupboard for a vase. Of course, her family would be there. I'd been so obsessed with the idea that we were about to make our relationship public in a big way that I hadn't really thought about meeting her entire family.
Jade moved behind me, gripping my hips. "Don't think about them."
"That's easier said than done," I whispered. "I barely know what's going on between us and now I'm going to meet your family."
"It's not a big deal. Just remember that if they're jerks it's because of me and not you," she reassured me. But as she spoke, her grip on me tightened.
"That doesn't really make me feel better." They were going to judge me.
"Don't think about it my love," she softly said, pulling me against her. "Right now, I want you to think about what I'm going to do to you in that dress."
Despite my anxiety, this brought a smile to my lips. "I don't know how I'm supposed to concentrate with you looking like that."
"She does look fantastic, doesn't she?" Jesy flitted back into the kitchen. She didn't bat an eyelash to find us pressed close together even though she had to have heard what Jade said to me.
Jade murmured her agreement, and Jesy swept past us. She reached to the highest shelf and retrieved a vase. News that her family was going to be there tonight had distracted me from my search. "Here. Oh wait!"
Jesy whirled around and grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby drawer.
"Sorry!" She clipped a rose from its stem. It was in full bloom, its petals spread into velvet leaves. Jesy tucked the beautiful blossom into the loosely pinned hair above my ear.
"Perfect," Jade said with approval. Lust glinted in her eyes, and it made my knees weak.
"I need to go. My fiancé will be downstairs." Jesy air-kissed my cheek. "See you there!"
I breathed a sigh of relief and waved her off. Of course, I would have Jesy there, and no matter what happened she would have my back. While I hoped I didn't need an escape plan, if I did, I couldn't do better than Jesy.
"Shall we?" Jade crooked her arm, and I took it. "If we don't get going, I'm going to spread you across the kitchen counter."
Yes, please. I bit my lip in attempt to cover my excitement.
Jade groaned, her eyes flashing darkly, and shook her head. "Let's get to the car before we miss the party, Miss Edwards."
"Lead the way your highness."
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Hey guys
I'm sorry I know you's were probably expecting me to write this chapter about the ball but I decided not to but I still hope you like it because I know it's boring but I've been out all day and I just got home from the movies and I'm so tired and don't have enough energy to write more.
But anyway I saw batman vs superman and it was so awesome! Has anyone else seen it?
Thank you guys for reading!
See you next update