Thread: The Royal Consort! (Jack Stalker and Nymphaea)

Keira walked, her movements almost silent save the soft sound of her delicate heels gracing the tile floors, their dark marbling pattern contrasting sharply against the soft pale white of her dress. It had been an exceptionally boring trip that had left her feeling caged and tethered, her entire body wishing desperately to find some sort of way to relieve the tension she had seemed to acquired over the years. Delicate fingers worried the ring that graced her hand, the symbolism behind the diamond promising a life with her fianc, a man who barely seemed to register her existence despite his insistence that she travel with him on every business venture or social gathering that his lucrative job and name required of him. Often he used her as a form of decoration, a talking piece at dinners, his beautiful bride to be that he had graciously proposed to after a few years of dating. To say she loathed being his delicate trophy was an understatement. Keira would sit there for hours, listening to him boast and speak about her as if she wasn't there, as though she was merely a piece of property he had gathered and set upon a mantle, dusting occasionally and using as a centerpiece for conversation, nothing more. Keira wasn't disillusioned enough to believe in the trite concepts of love, though she had enough experience to at least expect some level of passion, a modicum of fire, and yet? Everything between them physically left her feeling dissatisfied and craving more. She found herself frustrated to the point of exhaustion, left wondering as to why she had ever even entertained the idea of accepting his marriage proposal, though the sharp disapproving glares of her parents quickly came to mind and she knew to leave him would be to risk disownment and shame being thrown at her from her family. Their marriage was more for a sake of family relations between titles, her father having struck a deal with his, and to ensure that the positive nature of their endeavors continued? The union of their eldest son and her had been arranged. Within a year's courtship the man her parents had forced her to be with had bought a ring and a date had been set a date that Keira dreaded with every fiber of her being. It was rare she escaped her fiancs grasp, and for a single blessed evening she had managed to do just that. It was an event that was catered around the presence of a visiting dignitary, a member of the royal family from a distant country. Her fianc had been elected to go as a show of good will and for opportunities of networking which had blessedly kept his attentions for the better part of the night. It was how she had ended alone, wandering idly with a drink in hand. It was a beautiful casino, the gentle buzz of the crowd enough to entertain though she was disinclined to engage in any true conversation or seek any true connections. Keira remained aloof, ignoring the eyes that seemed to follow her, the years of idle flattering dripping off of the tongues of those intrigued by her looks having taught her to pay little heed to the attentions she gathered though tonighttonight there was one gaze that had her breath catching in her throat when she had noticed. The man of the hour, Christopher Hemmingway, had been staring at her blatantly for several minutes. Of course he was still slightly engaged by those around him, occasionally answering what were undoubtedly boring questions if his lack of interest was anything to go off of, though the sharp stormy gaze that seemed to catch her up had her heart quickening in a way that it hadnt done in the last year she had been sworn to her fianc. In a moment her mind wandered, thoughts fantasizing about how it would feel to have all that intent focus on her when they were alone, to feel that powerful frame cornering her against a wall, those broad hands slipping over her body possessively in a way that only a man with that level of confidence and air of power would know how to do. With a huff of bitter laughter she returned to her wandering, knowing that she would be resigned to her fate with her passionless fianc who seemed more content with using her as a show piece and keeping her in a gilded cage while he consorted with an array of whores and affairs and that such day dreams were fruitless and would only serve to further her frustrations. An hour or so later Keira decided it would be best to head back to her room, entirely certain that her beloved fianc had found the interests of another woman to slack some of his lust with. She was shocked when as she started for the elevator she was cut off by a man in dark clothing. Within minutes she found herself being escorted into an elevator, her heart pounding hard enough that she could feel it in her chest, her eyes lifted to watch as the numbers of the floors slowly ticked away above the doors, the soft clich music of the elevator car playing in the silence as she stood quietly next to the man who had extended the invitation on behalf of his employer for her to visit the penthouse suite. When the elevator finally stopped, having reached the highest floor, the doors slid open and she glanced quietly back at the aide who merely nodded to the large double doors at the end of the hall, saying nothing more to her as she quietly stepped out. It was how she had ended up here, worrying her engagement ring quietly between her slender fingers as her slight form walked down the hall, the delicate fabric of her dress swirling around her legs, her loose brown hair framing her delicate features and softly swaying about her shoulders. When she finally reached the doors Keira paused, her eyes studying it curiously for a moment as she debated her decision to accept the offer. It had been a daring move, a bold move. Her fiancs indiscretions with other women were expected, accepted, the idea of his supposed beloved future wife conducting herself in such a way would not be so forgiven so easily, would not be viewed as permissible. Her hand rose, knocking delicately on the door, listening quietly as steady and sure movements behind it approached before it was opened, the doorway was impossibly filled with the form of Christopher Hemmingway. To say she was shocked to see him standing there in the flesh would be a lie even though she had known from the aides instruction who it was that was requiring her presence. At his gentle ushering she stepped inside reaching out to close her fingers around the stem of the champagne flute he offered. She listened to him as he spoke, noting the dark eyes and lustful way his gaze swept over her, feeling her heart quicken again as she turned to take in the spacious living quarters he was occupying. Of course I know who you are, she responded lightly, for a moment a glimmer of the woman she used to be shining through as she glanced at him over her shoulder with an arched brow though it was short lived, and had been carefully reconcealed before turning to face him again. And while I have some ideas as to why it is that you called me up here, I do feel though that it is my obligation to let you know that I am notan available woman, Keira said with a brief shake of her head as she set down the offered champagne on a nearby table, hating that it was true and how even though her deepest desires were crying out for her to shirk the duty and honor her family cloaked her with she was certain she couldn't. I apologize if you were misled or misinformed about my status.