CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 31

“Have I mentioned that I like your bedroom?” Elin asked.

Elin was lying on Ingrid’s chest in her bed, and Ingrid’s arm was around her, playing with Elin’s hair as they both stared at the ceiling.

“No, but I doubt that’s true; it’s pretty standard. I have one picture on the wall, and I bought it at a cheap store down the street.”

“But it’s a pretty flower,” Elin said, snuggling in closer and running her fingertips over Ingrid’s stomach.

“It’s an orchid,” Ingrid replied, laughing a little at her. “I can’t keep a real orchid alive, so I bought that.”

“Why not?”

“I forget to water plants. Sarah Anne has forbidden me from having any in the apartment since I’ve basically killed a bunch through my neglect,” Ingrid explained. “Probably a good thing I don’t want to have kids, huh? I don’t think you water them specifically, but there’s this whole feeding thing and then getting them off to school that I’m not sure I could handle.”

“I think you also have to give them water, though, Ingrid. It’s just in a cup,” Elin teased.

Ingrid smiled and said, “So… you’re staying over tonight.”

“Is that still okay?” Elin asked.

“Yes, it’s very okay,” Ingrid said, kissing her forehead. “Where’s security, though?”

“They told me they’d be okay,” Elin replied, shrugging. “I think they’re just working in shifts in the hallway.”

“I bet my neighbors will be happy to have to show their IDs when they want to come and go.”

“Should I leave?” Elin asked, sitting up a little. “I don’t want to cause them–”

“Lie back down,” Ingrid told her, pulling Elin playfully back where she was, on her chest. “You’re staying. They can deal with it for the night.”

Elin laughed but cuddled back against Ingrid.

“It can’t be a regular thing, though,” Ingrid added a second later. “Or they’ll get suspicious. They’ll start talking and asking questions.”

“Well, you could always come back to work for the palace. We’d at least have an excuse to be seen together,” Elin replied.

“Elin…”

“I was kidding. Well, I was half-kidding.”

“Tell me,” Ingrid requested softly.

“I think I have to let Markus go,” Elin said.

“Why?”

“He’s still talking to other people about what I should do instead of talking to me about it, and his advice is usually the opposite of what I want to do or what I think is actually right. My monarchy will be different from my father’s, and I don’t think he understands that.”

“You know I can’t actually–”

“I know.” Elin laughed a little. “It was just wishful thinking.”

“Well, I can’t be your official secretary anymore, but I can advise you in a different capacity.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“As your girlfriend, Elin,” Ingrid replied.

Elin didn’t say anything for a long moment, so Ingrid worried she’d spoken out of turn.

“I can both feel and hear your heart racing right now,” Elin spoke finally.

“I just asked the Queen to be my girlfriend,” Ingrid replied. “And she hasn’t exactly responded positively yet, so I’m kind of scared I might have spoken too soon.”

Elin looked up at her and said, “You know I don’t want anyone else.”

“I know. But I thought we should have the title, too.” Ingrid ran her hand through Elin’s hair.

Elin closed her eyes for a second and said, “I’d really like that.”

“You would?”

“You know this means that someday – and probably, soon – I’ll introduce you to the country, right?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And you’re really sure, Ingrid? You’re sure you want this and everything that comes with it? I mean, I’m lying in bed with you, and we should be thinking about watching a movie or something, but we’re talking about my private secretary and the country.”

“I’ll happily watch a movie with you or talk about the monarchy, Elin. I’ve told you before, and I mean it: I want all of you.” Ingrid heard the front door opening and added, “Sarah’s home.”

“That sucks. I was about to make out with you,” Elin replied, smiling at her.

“You can still do that. She knows you’re here; she’ll leave us alone.”

“Okay… I know you’re in there, and you might be having sex right now, but I just wanted you to know I was home. And if you are having sex, maybe you could keep it down since my room is right next door!” Sarah yelled.

“I’m getting my own place,” Ingrid muttered. “I am too old for this.”

Elin laughed before she leaned down and kissed her.

“Let’s just go out there. It’s still early. I can make you a coffee with two sugars. I saw you have decaf.”

“I don’t want to go out there; I want to stay in here,” Ingrid told her, pulling Elin down on top of herself and running her hands over Elin’s shirt. “Elin, I want…”

“What?” Elin asked, her eyes darkening.

“You know what,” Ingrid replied.

She watched Elin swallow.

“I want that, too,” Elin said.

“But not tonight,” Ingrid guessed.

“Your sister will be sleeping in the next room.”

“I know,” Ingrid grunted. “We can go to the palace.”

“I brought the whole security team, and they made arrangements.”

“I am definitely getting my own place.”

Elin leaned down and kissed her quickly.

“Don’t bother. You can just move into the palace with me,” she offered.

“Wait… What?” Ingrid asked, shocked by that comment.

“I thought you said you liked when I was cool and confident,” Elin smirked at her, straddling her hips.

“Oh, I do,” Ingrid replied, running her hands up and down Elin’s sides now under her shirt. “But you can’t do that while you’re on top of me if we’re not going to have sex tonight.”

Elin blushed a deep red and said, “But we… we will, though, right? When we can get some… real privacy, we’ll do that?”

“Elin!” Ingrid laughed. “How do you go from basically asking me to move in with you to not being able to say the word ‘sex?’”

“I’m going to get ready for bed,” Elin said to Ingrid.

“Okay. I’ll be in soon,” Ingrid replied.

Elin kissed her before she stood, and Ingrid watched her walk into the bedroom to, likely, change into pajamas.

“So?” Sarah asked.

“So, what?” Ingrid asked back.

“I mean, how was it?”

“How was what?” Ingrid asked.

“Sex, Ingrid. How was it?”

“Sarah, I’m not going to talk to you about this.”

“You did with Britt.”

“No, you berated me until I confirmed that our sex was good but nothing to write home about.”

“So, pretend I’m berating you now.” The woman scooted over on their sofa.

“We didn’t. We haven’t yet.”

“What? I stayed later at work to give you two time.”

“This isn’t university where I want to squeeze in a quickie before my roommate gets home, Sarah,” Ingrid stated in a harsher tone than she’d meant.

“Oh, okay. Sorry. I–”

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“How did you mean it?”

“I just meant that I want it to be special when we do that.”

“I get that,” Sarah replied.

“But it’s hard. I live here with you. She lives in a palace, and only some of them know we’re together, so there’s–”

“Together? It’s official now?”

Ingrid smiled before confirming, “Yes, it’s official. We’re together.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“Like I want to make love with my girlfriend.”

“Who is the Queen of Norway,” Sarah said.

“Who is Elin – this gorgeous, clumsy, and confident contradiction, who I’m totally crazy about.”

“Obviously,” Sarah teased. “Do you want me to stay with a friend tonight? I can call–”

“No, I’m not kicking you out of your house, Sarah. Besides, I don’t think she’s ready yet.”

“No?”

“No, she still can’t even say the word ‘sex’ around me. It’s really cute,” Ingrid replied.

“She can’t say ‘sex?’”

“No. I was her secretary for three years; I think she’s still adjusting to us being more than that.”

“Well, if she can’t say it, you guys probably shouldn’t be having it.”

“I’m working on it,” Ingrid replied. “But tonight, I will be perfectly happy just falling asleep next to her.” She stood up and walked toward her room. “Do not drink all the tea I just bought; it’s for her.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Sarah joked as she laughed. “Wait. If you two end up getting married, am I going to have to call you Queen Consort?”

“I think the correct title would be Her Royal Highness,” Elin answered that question instead, emerging from the bedroom in her pajamas. “And I’m going to brush my teeth.” She kissed Ingrid on the cheek.