Lust Next Door - S01 E31

Story 4 months ago

Lust Next Door - S01 E31

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 31

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Gray's POV

Bad attitude. Snotty. Rebellious. Wild. Untamable.

All words flown around the palace through whispers about Princess Celeste.

Insufferable. Bratty. Vain. Conceited. Self-satisfied. Harlot.

All of the staff in Foxglove palace dreaded the day they might have to tend to her.

And she was to be wed soon, to a prince in a neighboring kingdom, arranged of course.

No one believed anyone would willingly tie the knot with Celeste. Even despite her devastating beauty, it was wasted on a scowl and ugly tongue.

I for one, was thankful I found myself thrown into action most of the time.

My talent put me on the front lines, defending the palace instead of holed up in its walls. I was top in my platoon, and excelled during my apprenticeship.

Surpassed my mentor within weeks.

Naturally, I quickly found myself leading my own platoon, half the age of the people I was leading.

My armor clad body glistened under the stained glass windows, chinked and clanged as I ascended the stairs towards the thrown room.

The king and queen had summoned me, why? I was clueless.

I recounted all my recent endeavors as I neared the room, raking my brain for any reason I'd get punished or reprimanded.

The night at the pub got a little crazy last week, but I was careful and not in uniform. And my platoon was all in great shape, following orders and not making me look like a fool.

I was lucky to get a good bunch.

So it couldn't be that.

I shook my head and let out a sigh as I reached the large mahogany doors, craved with intricate details and polished with a waxy shine.

I truly had no god damn clue why they needed to speak to me. But I was about to find out.

"Jameson, Lee." I said to the two men standing guard at either side of the door. They saluted me back, eyes flicking to the cords that tied under my arm, highlighting my high rank.

I had to suppress a smirk at their envious gaze, they looked practically green.

They knew better than to comment, every knight in the palace had some remark about my age and rank, but all were wise enough to keep their mouths closed to me.

Wordlessly, they pulled open the heavy doors in unison, opening the royals to me in all the shinning glory.

I walked to the entrance, ignoring the nervous tinge in my chest as I took off my helmet and advanced toward their cool gaze.

I had no clue how Princess Celeste turned out so attractive, not that I've seen her, but I heard of her beauty. Her parents lacked any sort of looks that it made people wonder if Queen Cornelia found her way into the milkman's quarters when conceiving the princess.

I bit my tongue to hold back a snicker. Once I was at the steps to their thrones, I took a deep bow, holding my helmet under my arm as I swept low to the ground before them.

Head bowed every so gracefully to them, the picture of obedience and honor.

I rolled my eyes to myself, truthfully, I thought the royal family was nothing but a corrupt system based on control. They did nothing but sit on their asses and leave their dirty dishes for others to wash and put away.

Once I raised and stood up straight and tall, holding their prideful gazes, I spoke.

"You're majesties, how can I be of assistance today?"

The queen sat regally disconnected from the conversation, doing her part of not caring and scowling at the room.

I'm convinced the deep wrinkles in her face were from her chronic glare.

"Grand Cross Anderson. I'm sure you're confused as to why you've been summoned." King Rossar spoke in a lax tone, carelessly looking at the gems in his staff as if this whole conversation bored him.

It pissed me off, how was he going to interrupt my time, and then act like I was the only that called this idiotic meeting.

It took everything in me not to draw my sword and slice his head off. But my issues were with him, not this kingdom, and if I killed our king we'd be wiped off the map in seconds.

So instead I sighed and leveled my hard gaze at him, "I am, your highness."

He nodded, his bald head flashing from under his large crown, "Well, I'm here to inform you that there's been a slight change."

"Change?" I didn't like where this was going, clutching my fists tightly from where they were folded behind my back.

"Yes, I've had a shift in priorities." The king sighed, "Commander Dean will be taking over your platoon for the time being, you're needed elsewhere at the moment."

"Elsewhere. Elsewhere where? My platoon won't listen to anyone else but me, there aren't any wars or fronts I need to be in. So where is this elsewhere." I tried my best, but my edge leaked irritation into my tone, making the king furrow dangerous and bushy brows at me.

"You're correct, Grand Cross." He nearly growled at me, making me shift into a tighter stance and force an obedient nod out.

Oh how I loathed that man.

"But, Officer Sean was....well let's just say disbanded...from his post guarding the princess. The job has proven difficult for most of my knights, and it's left me with one option. You."

My eyes winded as the realization dawned on me. My worst nightmare was being realized.

Officer Sean was a Knight 1st class, newly assigned to guard the princess at all times after she drove off her last one. And sure enough, now he was gone too.

That's what she did, drove these men mad till they couldn't handle it any longer. They'd snap on her, refuse to go back, and end up kicked out of knighthood all together.

She was bad news, a headache, basically a death sentence.

"My king, surely you cannot be considering I am to be her guard? I am needed on the field, you know as well as I do that none of the men in this castle have my skills and experience." I reasoned, panic rushing up around me, causing my words to fall out more aggressively than I would've liked.

"Oh I'm aware, that's precisely why I want you." His smug smile dripped in haughty purple, flaunting his power on his face.

I could feel my breathing quicken with anger, the grip on my helmet so intense I knew I'd have a couple more dents in it.

There wasn't much I could do, I couldn't argue, couldn't refuse.

"My highness, if I might offer my advice-"

"You might not." King Rossar boomed, irritation carrying his voice to echo throughout the large room and cascade down on everyone.

I stilled and sucked my pride down in one big gulp, my hardened look still set on my displeased face. But I remained silent.

"You are to go to my daughters room right after this conversation and stand post at all times. I don't want your advice, or petty insight. My word is law Grand Cross, you're puny medals and cords mean nothing to this." He slammed his fist down on the arm of his throne before pointing to the glistening crown on his head. "I will accept no more of your disrespect. Do you understand?"

All I could muster was a nod, but I bore my gaze deep into him.

"Good then." He settled back in his chair, straightening his fur lined cape, "she's become increasingly more defiant since she's become betrothed. I need you to keep a keen eye on her. Are we clear?"

Again, I nodded, "Of course your majesty. I bid you good day." I wasn't shy to let my sharp anger leak jagged edges in my words.

I bowed, then turned on my heels to take my leave.

Making my way to the princesses quarters.

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Celeste's POV

"Another toy to play with." I shrugged while my lady's maid, Dasha, combed a thick brush through my hair.

"Princess-"

"Dasha you know you can just call me Celeste. No need for formalities, I hate being called that."

"Right, well Celeste. If I might, this is the Grand Cross that's replacing Officer Sean. Not just some regular knight." She spoke, her voice dripping in concern.

I could help but chuckle, no man dressed in shiny metal would intimidate me. No man would be spared from me. Title or not.

"Doesn't matter what he's called. He's still a man, and men crumble to me." A wicked smile slipped across my full lips, my hair falling in flush black tendrils around my exposed shoulder.

Dasha bit a nervous lip in the mirror, "let's change the subject my lady. How about your wedding? It's in a month and the palaces seamstress have come to me with sample wedding fabr-"

"Don't change it to that." I begged, nausea already filling my throat at the mention of it.

"Right! I'm sorry Celeste." Dasha mumbled, pity and guilt plaguing her face in a cacophony of sadness for bringing it up.

It made my heart twist, I turned around in my lavish chair. My large gown cascaded down me in layers of red chiffon and silk.

"Don't feel bad, you are just inquiring about your job. I understand Dasha." I spoke gently, with an easy smile this time. Letting masks drop fro her.

The older women perked up a bit and offered a soft smile, "you look lovely in this new dress my lady."

Much better topic, I thought.

"Thank you, I had the seamstress make it extra form fitting around my bustier, serves a dual purpose." I said with a toothy grin, standing up I cupped under my breasts and pushed them up comically.

Dasha laughed and stepped back a bit to take in the whole dress. It truly was a sight, sewed like a glove on to my body. Highlighting my small waist and round hips, my breasts elevated up.

"And what's that?"

"Well, one, piss off my parents for looking positively provocative. And two. Give my new guard a wave of desire he's forbidden from having." I giggled and narrowed fox like eyes at her, doing a twirl to let the red fabric wash around the floor in tendrils of feathery crimsons. "Oh how dishonorable it is for a knight to lust for his royals." I mocked as I spun.

"My lady do be careful!" Dasha said but I kept spinning, enjoying the way my cold room looked warped around my cyclone vision.

Flashes of color, my room a familiar new array of spinning scenes. I liked how I felt feathery on my feet, light and airy as each step made me spin a little faster. I laughed, the dizziness rocking my light steps but pressed on, my room spinning so quickly it looked like blurs of itself.

I loved how it felt like teleportation, like the spinning might teleport me out of this palace. Somewhere freer.

Suddenly the dizziness captured my feet, slipping them on the marbled floor, I crashed into my vanity in a fit of giggles. Sending combs and compacts flying to the floor.

Dasha gasped and ran up to me but in an instant my door flung open, metals sounded like jingles as they clanged together. And even though I had stopped, the world continued to spin around as if desperately trying to complete my teleport.

It would just have to wait.

I groaned as strong cool arms wrapped around me, bringing me up on to my unsteady feet easily, as if I was just another feather.

I couldn't see very clearly, but I knew that the cold metal feel wasn't from Dasha's frail embrace.

"Augh." I groaned and winced my eyes closed in order to gain my vision back.

"Are you alright Princess?" A low deep voice rumbled close to me.

Now I was certain that it wasn't Dasha.

I blinked a few times, narrowing my brows together as the face before me grew clearer.

It wasn't feminine at all, quite the opposite. A rigid, sternly set face stared back at me, slightly brown stubble decorated his chiseled jaw. I follow his face up, noticing his full but scared lips. Up further and I saw an angular nose, dark brown eyes, with long wistful lashes. Thick, Light brown brows were there to push his eyes down in a stone like look of concern. And finally I saw the tufts of dirty blonde hair, spilling out in sandy waves from his iron helmet.

Handsome, startlingly handsome, was my first coherent thought.

My eyes then whipped over to Dasha, she was staring at the large man as well, eyes wide with so many emotions I couldn't place what she was thinking.

"My lady, are you hurt?" He asked again, a bit more forceful as he held the entirety of my weight.

Finally, the cliche 'damsel in distress' situation dawned on me.

I was no damsel, and I was in no distress.

I lunged out of his arms and stumbled back on my unsteady feet. Taking a minute to stand up fully straight and glare daggers at the man.

"I am quite alright. I don't remember summoning you into my chambers?" I spat out venomously at the broad man, fully taking in the sheer size of him now that I was standing back.

He was massive, and scary looking, even with dusty blond hair. He was muscular, and tall, and definitely the Grand Cross. My guard.

I could tell before he even opened his mouth.

"Princess, I heard a crash along with your lady's maid gasp. I had reason enough to enter, it's my duty now as-"

"My guard. Oh trust me, Grand Cross, I could tell by how dreadful I feel right now." I glared, crossing my arms around under my breasts.

He stared at me, I could tell he was forcing his expression to remain in a cold neutral expression instead of a glare that matched mine.

As we stared off, his gaze broke from mine for a millisecond. Raking down my body in quick but careful observation, when they returned to mine, a fiery spark was ignited there. He let the scowl he was hiding win his features.

I smirked.

"Then I'm glad I didn't have to waste my time explaining it to you. If you're alright. I'll be at my post outside your door. My lady." His words rivaled mine in spiteful malice.

Dripping with anger.

The way he said 'my lady' and looked at me immediately stifled me. How dare he speak to me such a way.

I turned to Dasha who looked as if she wanted to disappear, staring at us with wide eyes and pursed lips, quiet as a mouse.

"Dash, Would you mind stepping out of the room, this knight here has lost his fucking mind."

Dasha didn't need any more convincing, she turned quickly and dashed to the door. The minute the cedar slammed shut, I whipped my head to his.

That's when I caught his eyes roaming all over my body, taking in all the curves I wasn't allowed to show, tracing the line of my empire waist, watching how my large breasts pressed above and defined my cleavage. In the instant I looked away, his eyes were observing, taking all of me in, undressing me under his intense stare.

"What's your name." I said advancing slowly to him, the beautiful red silks of my dress tickling my legs underneath.

"Grand Cross Anderson." He replied cooly, arms folded behind his back, standing straight, just the spitting image of honor and royal obedience. Or at least he would've been, if it weren't for his hard set face. I could see right past it, see right into his anger and hatred.

And people thought I had a bad attitude.

"No. You're first name." A vixen grin spread across my lips while I put a hand on my defined hip.

"That's unprofessional, I cannot give you my first name my lady." He stood firmly rooted in his professional stance.

A rod stuck right up his back, he was good, not squirming. Not nearly as nervous as most of the guards I encountered.

He'd be fun.

I sauntered up to him, now taking in his body covered in impressive metals and steels. I ran my nail across his chest plate, before flicking my narrowed gaze to his again. He was looking down at me through a thin sideways glare, permanent stone lipped frown, and red burning passion in his eyes.

"I don't care what you think or feel about professionalism. You serve me, correct?" I whispered dangerously low as I circled him like a vulture, walking around his back. I took my time to take in him in, a shame I was about to break this man, he was drop dead gorgeous.

I had half the mind to demand him to take off his armor so I could see what lied beneath. It was tempting, but I had a game to play here.

"Yes, My princess." He groaned out as I rounded him, now in line of his piercing sight as I faced him, I grabbed the top of his chest plate and yanked him down to my level.

He sneered at me as I held his armor down, he could easily over power me physically, but he wouldn't, because I had an impalpable power over him, I was royal.

I smirked right in his face, getting close, he stared into my eyes now not letting any hatred hide under his professionalism. He glared at him as I giggled, our breaths mingling with heated feelings, our lips dangerously close as I toyed with him. His gaze flicked down to my smirking lips, before returning to my gaze.

Heat spread through my body quickly, which surprised me. I had to gulp, my smile faltering for only a moment.

I could smell his spiced bourbon and cedar scent, it filled my nose like a toxin, made my body hot. He oozed sex, power, and if I didn't hold such a strong front. If I didn't practice this act daily, I might've crumbled right then and there under his narrowed stone gaze.

That idea only made me more angry.

"What. Is. Your. Name." I spat out.

He replied evenly, his words dark and set in a growl, "Gray."

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