Royal Arrangement

II

Annie

"I'm going to change in the bathroom. Stay here." 

Oh god. I am so screwed.

I am so fired. 

Good job Annie! It only took you two months to get fired. I watch the mysterious man disappear through the bathroom door to the left. I'm so nervous that when he closes it, I jump. My heart races at one hundred miles and hour and my face is still hot. In that moment I make an instant decision. 

I run. 

I grab my maids cart and quickly push it the hell out of there. I don't want to face the mysterious man when he comes out of the bathroom. I'm mortified. I'm completely embarrassed.

I'm.... fired. 

Oh great! 

As I run out of the suite, I don't even bother shutting the door. When I'm finally safe back in the main hall I stop to catch my breath. I think back to that man. He was so handsome and... terrifying. Completely terrifying. His dark eyes bore into my soul but his body and his... 

No! Don't go there! I need to forget about him. He's going to fire me anyway. It doesn't matter if he looked incredibly hot. 

Because he did. 

I look around again and take my phone out of my apron. 

Me: ALINE HELP WHERE ARE YOU WE NEED TO TALK EMERGENCY 

I'm shaking so much that my fingers fumble with the buttons and I have to retype my text a few times. Almost immediately, Aline texts back. 

Aline: OMG WHAT HAPPENED

I try to find the right way to describe what just happened and realize it isn't a conversation to have in text.

Me: Meet me in the staff room. Now. 

I put my phone away and practically run through the castle to the staff room. I don't want to run into Mr. Shower again and I'm sure that by now he's looking for me. I don't want to see his face again. I just want the termination notice to show up in the mail like a normal situation or maybe be told by my employer.

When I got there Aline practically jumps down my throat. She's nervously playing with her red hair and her green eyes are filled with concern and curiosity. "Annie! Oh my god. You ok, yes? What is the problem?" Her Verilian accent was sharp. 

I sigh. "No! I'm freaking out! I just walked in on a really hot almost naked guy in the West Wing and now I'm going crazy because I'm obviously going to be fired but I need this job because... what?" I'm rambling, but I stop when I see the look of absolute horror and shock on Aline's face. "I know, I know. I'm fired." 

"No." 

"What? Of course I am."

She grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eyes. "Annie! No!" 

"Aline? What? Tell me?" Now I demand to know why she's freaking out. 

"Annie! Do you know who is staying in the West Wing?" Her stare is intense and she is dead serious. Now I feel like I had done something more wrong than walking in on an almost naked guy.

"Oh I don't know, some stuck up noble? What does it even matter? I'm fired anyway!" 

"Prince Daniel is staying in the West Wing!" She shakes my shoulders more violently than a slip of a girl like her should be able to. "Annie! Oh my god! He's so hot! You saw everything, yes?" Aline's clearly excited. Prince Daniel is gorgeous and he's a celebrity in Verilia. He's also a player and a scandal in itself, Aline explained to me once. I don't much about the guy, but what I was told was that he slept with one hundred women and supposedly beat his ex girlfriend. It was never proven or taken to court, but there were rumors. He's hot s**t and he knows it. 

He's also Mr. Shower. The man who I saw nearly naked. 

Oh s**t! I'm no fired, I'm dead!

My face flushes. "I..uh... he was in only a towel." 

Aline screams. "Tell. Me. Everything." 

I explain it all, telling Aline how I got to where I got and what happened after. She has a lot of questions about the man who I now know as Prince Daniel. She has even more questions about the "royal package". I'm mortified. Not only had I neglected to follow protocol, but I walked in on the most important person in Verilia. I should've known better and I sure as hell should've knocked. Without this job, I have to return to America, but the worst part is how Aline and her mother would be disappointed. They're counting on me to do this job and I failed them. After I was done explaining, Aline was extremely worked up. She was excited for some reason. The Prince was some celebrity and I didn't understand it. To be honest, he seemed like an ass. 

"Aline, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to get fired." I can't help but apologize.

"No! No! It's okay. This is good yes? You met Prince Daniel. Not many are as fortunate." She's so excited and keeps shaking my shoulders and screaming. It reminds me of a teenage girl meeting some pop idol. Apparently, in Verilia, Prince Daniel has a fan girl following. 

"Yeah, and he's going to fire me." 

Aline waves her hand, dismissing my concerns. "So? You can find other job. You met the Prince, this is worth drinks!" Se smiles widely. I can't help but feeling a bit better. 

A moment later we're interrupted by one of the head maids. She yells at us in Verilian, Aline doesn't need to translate, I understand the basics. Before we part she gives me a comforting squeeze and tells me all will be well and that we will meet for drinks later. Talking with Aline definitely makes me feel a little better, but I'm still embarrassed and upset. I can't believe I went and got myself fired. And it's now a hundred times worse now that I know I walked in on the prince of the whole damn country when he was half naked.

I try my best to concentrate on the rest of my work while I can still do it. I stay the hell away from the West Wing and keep my head down. I don't need to make anymore waves, and trust me, I made enough for the whole Atlantic Ocean already. 

I wheel my cart and continue to vacuum the fancy red and white carpets but I simply can't shake my thoughts. I really do love this job and I need it. I'm angry at myself for losing it so carelessly. What I wouldn't do to go back in time and knock on that damn door. All of my problems would disappear.

Well, not all of them. 

I'm still broke. 

About an hour into my second shift, a younger boy approaches me. His blue eyes are bright and his face is youthful. I assume he's some type of squire, but I'm not sure since I really am not acquainted with the ways of the royal hierarchy. "Are you Miss Shaw?" His voice is quiet and polite. 

I smile warmly at him. "Yes?" 

"His Royal Highness Prince Daniel Windsor wishes to see you Miss." Those words nearly make my heart stop. I don't want to see him. My breathing quickens. 

"O-oh? He does?" My tongue feels heavy in my mouth and I can speak. I am screwed. I am going to be fired. No, maybe instead I'll be executed for treason or something. Oh god, I don't want to die! "Right now?"

The boy nods. "Yes Miss. Immediately. Follow me." I go to grab the cart when he shakes his head. "Don't worry Miss Shaw, someone will take care of that. Come with me." 

I have no choice but to follow him down the hall and through the castle. I feel like I'm being lead to the executioner, which if my original nightmarish thoughts were correct, wouldn't be far off. Oh f**k I really messed up and now I'm going to die. "Um... by any chance do you know what this is about?" I ask quietly.

He shakes his head. "No, I'm sorry Miss. His Royal Highness just called you to summons. I know nothing of the reason." 

Shit. 

I know the reason. 

He walks me through the doors to the West Wing and my heart begins to race. "Here we are Miss Shaw. This is where I must take my leave. Go ahead, right through those doors." With that, the boy leaves me alone. The last thing I want to do is see his face, even if it's stupidly handsome. 

The cocky bastard. 

I hesitate outside the door for a moment. What's the point of knocking if I'm fired anyway? There are no repercussions to my actions because I'm already fired or even dead. Literally nothing worse could happen.

I open the door. "Ah, Miss Shaw. Come join me. Would you like a drink?" Daniel was smirking and leaning on the counter with a glass in his hand. He brought the amber liquid up to his lips.

I raise a brow and awkwardly shuffle into the suite, closing the door behind me. "No thank you, Your Highness." 

He grins, showing perfect white teeth and stares me down. His dark eyes unsettle me and I feel my skin erupt in goosebumps. "Ah, so you do know who I am?" He reaches under the counter and pours me a glass of scotch anyway. I frown. I need to remain sober. 

I answer by narrowing my eyes. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" I ask incredulously. 

There's a look in his eyes that I can't quite place as he continues to smile at me from across the counter. He brings the glass up to his lips again. Oh those lips. So perfect, I want to brush my fingers over them and take them in my mouth, feel them between my thighs... oh my god. No. Get your mind out of the gutter. This man, this hot man, is going to fire you and maybe even have you executed. He ignores my jab and laughs. "I see you still have no manners, Annie." 

I snort. Okay. This man is an asshole. "Well, what more do I have to lose?" 

Oh what the hell? Why not drink? I pick up the glass in a mock toast and then take a sip. The liquid burns its way down my throat and settles in my belly. 

Nope. Not doing that again. 

He leans forward over the counter until his face is just inches from my own. I feel my face flush. He's so close. "I can tell you right now Annie, you have much more to gain." 

I feel his warm breath on my lips and I'm tempted to lean in and taste them. They look so soft, so perfect. Instead, I focus on his attitude. 

Does he think I'm going to spread my legs for him? The nerve! Although, a part of me definitely wants to and this part is larger than I'm willing to admit, but this man is an ass. A confident ass. "Oh really? And what do I have to gain, Your Highness?" 

I don't think it's possible for him to lean any closer, but he does. His lips are so close, it's like he's about to kiss me. He lingers in my personal space for a few seconds, looking into my eyes, and then pulls away and straightens his jacket. I'm so focused on his face that I didn't notice earlier that he was wearing a fancy suit with a navy blue tie. It's a far cry from the towel earlier and he looks even hotter, if that's even possible. "I have a proposal for you." 

I lean forward, a smile playing on my lips. "There's nothing you have that I want." 

He grins and runs a hand through his raven hair. "Oh really? How about your job?" 

My jaw nearly hits the floor. "Oh, so now you're blackmailing me? Now who has the lack of manners? Aren't you supposed to be a gentleman?" I glare at him. I don't want my job, not anymore, but I have to admit that I need it. I need it to provide for myself and for Aline's family. He has me cornered. 

He leans forward again. "I'm no gentleman, Miss Shaw." Those eyes. Those dark eyes. They keep my in place when I want nothing more than to run. He clears his throat. "Like I said, I have a proposal for you," Prince Daniel reaches into his suit and pulls out a yellow folder. "You are foreign so you are blissfully unaware of my dire situation, which makes you perfect for the job." 

I eye the folder suspiciously. "What job?" 

He opens the folder and slides a contract across the island until it sits in front of me. "If you are unaware, I am this country's sole heir to the throne. I am serious about the crown, but my father is going to give it to my younger brother Michael. I do not have the best reputation." 

I snort. "You got that right, Buddy." 

He doesn't respond and I keep my gaze locked on his, trying to decode his meaning. "What does that have to do with me?" 

"Oh Annie, it has everything to do with you." He muses, like he's talking to an ignorant child. "You see, I need a wife and children to show I'm serious about becoming King and you need money to support your friend and your family back home." 

I'm staring to figure out what he wants, but decide to play dumb anyway. "And?" 

His smile widens, but it's a dark smile, like a fallen angel. "And, this leads me to my proposal. If you agree to become my wife for one year and provide me with an heir, I will pay you one million dollars."

~~~

Daniel

My little American stands there, her bright blue eyes wide and her plump lips slightly parted. I can't even begin to tell you what I want to do with those lips. She's absolutely dumbfounded, as I expected her to be. When she says nothing, I point down at the contract. "Its all lined up here," I pull a pen out of my pocket and offer it to her. "All you have to do is sign." 

Her eyes narrow. "I'm not signing anything." 

I can't help but smirk. Oh, she will sign it. She will become my fake wife and we will have so much fun. "You will sign it. Because you have no other choice."

She crosses her arms over her chest and stares me down. Feisty, I like it. "You're an asshole." She seethes.

Ah, another infraction to add to my already growing list.

Not knocking on my door.

Disobeying my order to stay outside my door while I changed.

And now, calling me an asshole.

This is going to be fun. 

I pause in a moment of mock thought. "Perhaps, but I do know one thing." I lean in closer and I hear her breath catch in her throat as I close the gap between us. She's responsive. I like it. I don't give her time for a quick retort. I need to solidify this. "You will sign this contract, become my wife, and give me an heir."

She raises a brow and leans closer, her pink lips inches away from my own. f**k. She's tempting me. "Or what?" She speaks in a seductive whisper. 

You little minx. 

I smile darkly. "Or you'll lose more than your job. I'll have you deported and your friend fired." Might as well lay everything down. 

Her face twists into one of anger and for a moment, I think she’s going to reach across the counter and slap me. Her eyes are more than expressive and I can read her like an open book. My little American is angry. She's weighing her options. I knew she wouldn't care about her job, she's already proven me right, but her friend? She could never forgive herself if her friend lost her job because of her and we both know it. "So, what'll it be, princess?" I wiggle the pen in my fingers and offer it to her again, a triumphant grin on my face. I have won.

And she knows it. 

She snatches it from my hand. "Fine, But I have conditions." 

I nod. "Go, on."

"I've seen the tabloids, I know of your reputation. During this marriage, you will not make a fool of me. There will be no infidelity, especially if you're going to be f*****g me without a condom."

I grin. That doesn't seem like a problem. I doubt I'll tire of her before the year's up anyway. "Done."

"I want my own room."

I shake my head. "No. Maids are nosy, as you are aware of. We must sleep in the same bed." She wrinkles up her nose and I laugh. "Trust me, I'm not looking forward to it either. I don't let women sleep in my own bed. Is that a deal breaker?" I ask, knowing she has no choice but to sign my contract.

"No," Annie says through gritted teeth. "At the end of this arrangement, I don't want you to drag my name through the mud."

"Done." I would never do that anyway. Besides, the media will automatically blame me anyways, I know they'll fall in love with her. "Anything else?"

"You're an ass."

"I'm well aware." I place my hand on the contract. "Ready to become my wife?" Among other things. 

She scowls and briefly flips through the multiple page contract before signing her name on the dotted line.

Annalise Fern Shaw. In pretty cursive letters. 

She doesn't even bother to read it, and that pleases me. She'll have no idea what was coming next then and that excites me more than anything else. I'm about to get what I want and there's no sweeter victory. I grab the contract and flip to the page I knew we're about to need then walk over to the bed and sit down at the foot. "Come here." 

She walks to me with eyes the size of saucers. She's got the wrong idea and as much as I want to f**k her, I'm not going to. She needs to be punished. She stops a few feet in front of me and smooths out the black skirt of her uniform nervously. Her cheeks are flushed.

My lips quirk. She's turned on. 

Soon. I tell myself. Soon.

I reach into my jacket and hand her the contract again. There's confusion in her eyes. "You know, you should really read things before you sign them, Annie." I point to the middle of the page. As she reads her eyes widen comically. 

Annalise Shaw will obey Prince Daniel Windsor for the duration of the agreement. Any violations of the rules laid about below will result in swift punishment as Prince Daniel Windsor sees fit:

1. Annalise will not swear.

2. Annalise will be respectful to The Prince at all times and to any other member of the Nobility while out in public.

3. Annalise will never go anywhere without letting The Prince know of her whereabouts and intentions.

4. Annalise will take no other lovers during the duration of this agreement.

5. Annalise will obey any wishes The Prince commands.

6. Annalise will call The Prince Sir or Master while being punished. 

She looks up at me with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. I can see it in her eyes. "You're a kinky bastard, aren't you?" 

I grin. "You just broke rules number one, two, and six." I reach out and grab the contract from her and place it safely in my jacket. "Now, let's get going because we have to be at a social gathering later." 

I pat my lap. She stares down at my hands, shakes her head and takes a step back. She clearly understands what my intentions are, yet she asks a question anyway. "What? What are you doing?" Her voice is strung with the type of panic I love to hear. 

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to punish you." I smooth out the fabric on my thighs and motion her closer. "Now, are you going to obey me, or I am I going to have to pull you over my lap like a naughty little girl?"

With a flushed face she crosses her arms over her chest and speaks in a proud voice. "You are not spanking me." Aw. How adorable.

"You think so?" I raise a brow. 

She raises her chin defiantly. "I won't let you." 

I chuckle. "Trust me. You don't have a choice. Now, come here." I infuse steel into my command.

Her lips tighten, like she's weighing her options, and then she lowers her gaze and walks close to me until she's standing between my legs. Her long blonde hair shields her face from my view. Nope, I won't have that. 

I push it away from her face and cup her chin between my thumb and forefinger, forcing her eyes to stare into mine. She looks scared and angry. "Good girl." I praise, knowing she'll need a bit of encouragement. "Come here. On my lap." Annie does what she's told reluctantly and slowly makes her way over my thighs. She lays her face in the mattress, hiding her shame. I lock my leg over hers to keep her in place. I know she's going to struggle. 

And struggle she does, when I lift up her skirt and begin to pull down her black panties that are hiding underneath she begins to thrash and squirm. f**k. She's so sexy. "Hey! What are you doing?"

I keep a firm grip around her waist and stroke her ass with my palm. She stills and her breathing quickens in anticipation. I answer her question by bringing my hand down hard on her defenseless ass. "Does this answer your question?" 

She cries out. "What the f**k! Hey, that hurt!" 

I stare down at the pretty pink hand print across her right cheek and feel my pants tighten. "It's supposed to hurt. Naughty girls are always spanked on the bare." I bring my palm down again, this time on her left cheek. She cries out and curses me again. 

I see we have a long way to go. 

"f**k. You."

"The longer you continue to curse, the longer this punishment will be. " 

I chose wisely. I knew Annie would be fun. She's feisty and she's got that spirit that I love every minute of.

I don't answer the rest of her curses after I warn her. Instead, I fall into a swift rhythm. Right, left, right, left. Soon her curses turn to gasps and then muffled whimpers as she presses her face into the mattress. I stop the punishment and rub her heated, sore, flesh. "Are you ready to talk?" 

I feel her stiffen beneath me. She's clearly battling with herself. Her ass is already a beautiful shade of pink and yet she continues to deliberately disobey me. "Go to hell." She says through clenched teeth. 

I can't help but smile. My little American has fire. I start spanking again and she begins to thrash and struggle. "No! Please! Stop!" She whines as she tries to avoid my punishing blows. "I'm sorry! Please!" 

I smooth my palm over her firm globes. "Do you know why you are being punished, Annie?" 

She lets out a small sob. "Because you're sadistic!" 

"Is that really your answer?" I places my hand on her right cheek and squeeze the punished flesh in warning.

Annie whimpers and shakes her head. "No... I'm being p-punished for breaking your rules." 

I smile triumphantly and if she saw it, she would've slapped me. "What else?" 

"F-for not k-knocking." I squeeze a little harder in warning and she squeaks. "A-and for running!" She rushes out. 

"Correct." I start to rub some of the pain away in reward for her answers. "Now, we are almost done here My Little American, but I won't hesitate to warm your ass in the future. Do you understand?" 

"Yes." Her voice is small. 

"Yes, What?" I prompt. 

She pauses for a moment to think, wondering what I want from her, until she remembers. "Yes...sir."

I prefer Master, but we'll get there eventually. 

"Good girl." I raise my palm and fall back into the same rhythm as before. I feel the heat radiating off her flesh. Her ass is a dark shade of pink when I'm satisfied with this part of her punishment. 

When I begin to spank her American thighs, she starts to protest. "I'm sorry! Please! I'm sorry!" Annie continues to cry and plead as I finish turning her creamy pale thighs from white to pink. Satisfied, I lift her up and sit her on my lap. She winces as her punished behind makes contact with my thighs. I expect her to jump off me, scream in my face, hit me even, but she does none of those things. No, what My Little American does next shocks me. 

She flings her arms around my neck and sobs into my chest. "I-I'm sorry! I'm s-sorry your h-Highness!" 

This was the last thing I expected but I welcome it and begin rubbing circles in her back and stroking her hair as she sobs. "Shh... shh... it's alright Little American.. all is forgiven..." She sniffles and hiccups. Damn, she's f*****g adorable.

We sit like that for a while until her breathing slows and her crying is reduced to quiet sniffles. She slowly unwraps her hands from around my neck. "I'm sorry..." She starts to move off my lap and I wrap my arms around her tightly. I'm not going to let her get up, not yet. I want to hold on to her, to never let her go. I want to keep her in my arms, savor her warmth, stroke her hair and plant soft kisses on her nose and forehead. 

And that confuses the hell out of me. 

I don't do this sort of thing. I don't do romance. And I sure as hell don't do love. 

"Annie?"

She looks up at me. f**k. She's so beautiful with her bright blue eyes glistening with tears. 

"Call me Daniel."

She nods once I let her go. She gets off my lap quickly and pulls up her panties and smooths out her skirt with a wince that does nothing but excite me. Just like that, she turns on her heels and darts for the bathroom. She closes the door behind her and locks it, leaving me sitting stunned on the bed.