Chapter 65 Chapter Sixty-five

Chapter 65 Chapter Sixty-five
Ivy fluttered about her room in excitement. Today was Friday and Fridays were always special. She sat in front of her vanity, applying a little bit of powder and some pink lipgloss. Her platinum blonde hair flowed in waves down her back. She didn't bother styling it. He said he liked her hair better when it was unbound. He. The stranger she had seen watching her in her garden one night. She also knew he liked red so she wore one of her short red inner gowns.

One of her personal maids, Freya, entered the room. “My Lady the king and queen request your presence.”
She felt a jolt of surprise. Why would her parents want to see her now? Night was almost upon them. They never called at this hour unless it was important. And she looked too dressed up to just be getting ready to sleep. They would ask questions. She pursed her lips in annoyance.

“Thank you. I'll be there shortly.”

Freya bowed and left. Ivy stared at herself in the mirror. She wouldn't change her outfit. If her parents asked, she was just going to take a walk in the gardens. She made her way to the King and Queen's chambers, her heart thumping in her chest. They were already having dinner when she entered.

“Mom? Dad? You requested to see me. What's wrong?” She said by way of greeting.

“Why do you assume something would be wrong?” Her mother, Queen Adeline asked.

“Because you never call me at this hour. Except it can't wait.”

“You're right, it can't,” Her father, King Lucien said. They both looked ordinary in their sleeping clothes, stripped of their ceremonial robes. A stranger wouldn't even believe these two were the monarchs of Diamond Ridge.

“You're going to marry.”

Ivy stilled, her eyes widening. “What?”

“You've come of age which means it's time for me to announce you as my heir. A Queen needs a King.”

“He'll be King consort.” She bristled. “And I'm not ready.”

“You're nearly twenty,” her mother said. “Now is as good a time as any.”

“It's not going to be immediately of course but we've found someone.”

She paled. “Dad…”

“He's from Lumin Bay, the son of one of our regular customers. I'm sure you'll like him.”

Ivy didn't think so. Her heart already belonged to another.
“Please dear, don't argue with us on this. It's the best decision for you.”

She said nothing, just stormed out and ran back to her room, willing her tears not to fall. Freya was there, dressing her bed.

“Get out.” Ivy said.

“My Lady?”

“Now. And I do not want to be disturbed.” She said scowling. Freya, frightened, did as she was told and Ivy locked the door promptly. It was already dark outside. Her stranger would be here soon.

She cleaned her tears and brushed her hair once more, wanting to look good again for him. Her room had a second exit that was unguarded and usually locked until recently. The maids used it sometimes. It was there she used to leave her room and sneak to the royal gardens.

A few guards were here but she knew how to bypass them, moving between the hedges and trees. She usually met the stranger in a secluded place in the gardens, slightly enclosed by a ring of willow trees, a place that was built for privacy. Only members of the royal family were allowed to use it but as far as she knew her parents hardly ever even used it.

Ivy sat on the low marble daybed that was softened by cushions, waiting. He would come anytime soon now.
The thought of marriage nagged at her. She'd always known this would come. It was what was expected of princesses and that had not bothered her until she'd met her stranger. The dark haired stranger with red eyes she couldn't stop thinking about ever since she'd laid eyes on him.

As if summoned from her thoughts, he appeared, like he emerged from the darkness. It appalled her every time he did it. It was like he could melt into shadows. He smirked as he sauntered towards her and Ivy felt her heart stutter. He was the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on. She looked up at him as he stood before her, hand on her chin.

“You're here,” she said, a little breathless.

“Exceptional observational skills, princess,” he said.

“Everytime I come here, a part of me doesn't think you'll show up. Sometimes I don't even think you're real.” She could be hallucinating, a coping mechanism triggered by being locked up in the castle for too long.

He chuckled, sitting down beside her and parting her hair to the side and exposing her neck. “Oh, I am very much real.”

He pressed a kiss to her neck, inhaling her scent. Ivy bit her lip, knowing what was coming and it excited her. He always did this when he wanted to get intimate with her. She pressed her lips to his, unable to wait. Her stranger pushed her back against the daybed, getting on top of her with a practiced ease. They had done this many times before but she got a thrill every time.

He was her first and the night she gave her virginity to him had been one of her happiest. It felt right even though it was forbidden. If her parents saw her now…
Ivy was tired. Tired of the expectations. Tired of the rules. She parted her legs wider for him, letting him feel how wet and ready she was. His red eyes gleamed, heated as he thrust a finger into her.

“You're eager tonight. Good. I like that.”

She watched, transfixed, eyes hooded, as he unbuckled his trousers, discarding them and brought his cock out. The sheer size of it made her gulp. Ivy had never seen another man other than him but she knew they didn't all come that way. Her stranger was different. She watched as he stroked himself, watched as the tip leaked precum.

He leaned closer and she felt the tip of his cock, prodding her. “You ready?” He rasped. She nodded, lips slightly parted. He didn't waste anymore time, pushing into her, going all the way in. She cried out, back arching.

“Quiet. You wouldn't want anyone to hear us now.”

Ivy swallowed, trying to muffle her sounds.

“Good girl.”

She felt the praise in her lower belly, heat pooling there. Her stranger gave her another slow, torturous thrust, making her feel every inch of him against her walls. He hooked both of her legs on his shoulder, allowing him to go even deeper. Ivy whimpered, clenching hard around him.

“Fuck,” he grunted “Keep doing that and I won't last.”

His pace increased, slamming into her and hitting that sweet secret spot she sometimes explored at night. He placed his hand there now, stroking with two fingers she bucked.

“You're going to come around me. Got that?” His voice was husky in her ear. She clenched again. He flicked over her clit repeatedly even as he pounded into her.

“Mhm…please…” she moaned, her eyes near rolling to the back of her head, as she felt her pleasure nearing its peak.

Her stranger thrust into her one more time before she came with a loud cry. He kissed her to swallow her sounds. She spasmed around him, causing him to groan repeatedly against her lips.

“Fuck that feels so good,” he murmured thickly.

He took hold of her thighs, spreading them even wider and pushing her back against him, using her like one of those she spied a guard using once. His head was thrown back, ecstasy marring his handsome features. With one last stroke, he came with a loud groan, his cock pulsing deep in her.

“Fuuuck,”

Her stranger pulled out and Ivy felt empty. She wished he would stay longer.

He sat on his haunches, his smirk back in place. “You're amazing, princess.”
She felt heat crawl up her neck.

“You can call me Ivy, you know.”

He shook his head, smiling.

“Will you never tell me your name?” She pressed. The first time she'd asked he said, “Call me whatever you want” Ivy didn't want to. She needed a name to moan when she touched herself at night.

“Names aren't important. As long as I can call you mine.”

Her face fell. “My parents say I'm going to marry. They've already picked out a suitor. A wealthy merchant’s son.” She said bitterly. “I don't want to marry him.”

“Then don't,” he said like he had no care in the world.

“It's not that simple. I have a duty to this kingdom. You wouldn't know about that. You're…what do you even do?”

He only gave a lopsided grin, ignoring her question yet again. He stood from the daybed and put his trousers back on. Ivy watched him and it irked her how little he spoke about himself. For all she knew he could have been sent to kill her. No. If he wanted to kill her he would've done that already.

“What do you want?” She asked.

She saw the smile he tried to hide. “You.”

“Other than that.”

“My intentions are pure, princess. I'm not going to hurt you or your family.”
He gave her a small kiss on the forehead. “Bye for now.”

And just like that he was gone, disappearing into the shadows. She walked back to her room, sulkily, feeling worse than when she had come. She sat in front of her mirror. Her lipstick was smudged and her hair needed another brushing. Ivy was left questioning if anything that happened in the last hour was even real. She knew it was though, if the dried cum between her legs was any indication.

There was something else too. Something that appeared every night she was with him but every time she tried to recall how she got it,
her brain went all foggy.

Two small marks on her neck, just above the hollow of her throat. Like something had bitten her.