“Felt good to me,” I mutter as we turn the corner.
She chuckles and guides me to the courtyard where the torture happens.
“I’m just going to put it out there and say there is no way in hell I’m doing burpees today.” I’m not in the mood to jump up and down after the orgasm Keller just gave me. Things are still . . . sensitive down there. “My fragile lady bones can’t handle them.”
“Don’t pull that fragile lady bone stuff on me. Might work with Keller, but not with me.” She tugs my arm. “Come on.”
Ugh, nothing gets by her.
We head down the stairs, past the great hall, and with every corner we turn and long hallway we walk down, I make sure to say good morning to all the staff. I’m slowly learning their names, but it’s taking me longer than I care to admit. Stombly, the large and ornate palace, has so much history within the walls that it takes a considerable staff to keep it running.
When we make it through the arched corridor to the courtyard, shrouded in beautifully manicured shrubbery and covered by a domed glass ceiling, I notice the workout setup.
Jump rope.
Foam boxes.
Dumbbells.
Yoga mats.
Ugh.
“Lara,” I groan, the need to pout and stomp my foot at the forefront of my mind.
She laughs and nudges my shoulder. “Trust me, one day you’ll be grateful I’ve pushed you this hard. Now, let’s get to our warm-up. You have a meeting today you can’t miss.”
* * *
“Are you limping?”Keller asks as we head toward the sitting room for our meeting with Theo, Katla, and the wedding planner.
I grip his hand and hold on to him for stability. “You try going through Lara’s sadistic torture with a sensitive clit and attempt to walk in heels after.” I pause and take a deep breath. “If I ever become queen, this mandatory thirty-minute health thing is over.”
“It’s good for you, Lilly.”
I glance up at him and give him my most stern of looks. It does nothing to him. All he does is pull me closer.
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
“About the wedding planning? Why would I be nervous? It’s a wedding. We have to pick out flowers and a cake and a dress. Doesn’t seem like a big deal.”
“Maybe for the average person, but for the future queen of Torskethorpe, so much more goes into our special day.”
“I mean, sure . . . I’m going to have to wave a lot, but that’s notthatbig of a deal.”
“Are you really going into this that naïvely?”
“Well, you know, the uptight, headstrong clod who trained me didn’t get to the chapter on royal weddings.” I smile lovingly up at him.
“Watch it,” he says sternly, although it’s a fake stern.
“What are you going to do?” I ask, growing closer so I can whisper. “Spank me?”
“Lilly,” he warns, causing me to smirk. I love pressing his buttons. Nothing is more satisfying than watching my stodgy, by-the-book fiancé grow irritated from my natural inclination to disobey him every chance I get.
Before we reach the red room where we’re meeting everyone, Keller turns toward me and grips my shoulders so I look him in the eyes. “I don’t believe I need to mention this, but just in case, since you’ve been slipping recently, you’re to portray yourself with a sense of decorum in there.”
I roll my eyes. “Honestly, Keller. You act like I’m some sort of rabid dog about to drag my hindquarters all over the two-hundred-year-old rug. I know when to joke and when to be serious.”
