The Rise Of A Queen

Chapter 2: Three Blissful Years

A R A B E L L A ' S P.O.V

"Happy anniversary, my gorgeous wife." I grinned to myself as Hardin kissed down my neck, his fingers already starting to undo the dress that had taken a good ten minutes to fit into too.

"Happy anniversary, my handsome husband." Gently prying his hands off the laces of my corset, I quickly turned and shoved him back onto the bed.

"Mhh, baby you're getting a little dominant." I smiled, enjoying the suddenly surge of confidence as I climbed onto his lap and pushed him down against the bed.

My hormones were raging, the sudden need to strip him bare and ride him hard was taking over my every thought. I needed him now.

Hiking my dress up over my waist, I bunched the material to the side, letting the skirt trail down the bed, whilst I yanked out the pins holding my hair up.

Like a waterfall, my black tresses cascaded down, and I leaned forward, wrapping the two of us into a black cocoon. With my lips merely an inch away from Hardin's, I whispered the one thing I knew would drive him crazy.

"Are you ready for me?" He groaned, gripping a fistful of my hair as he slammed his rough lips against mine. A frenzy began, the two of fighting to rip the other's clothes off but of course his were to no avail.

When I had finally stripped off his shirt, I began to tug down his zipper, just imagining the way his hard c**k would desecrate my wet p***y.

"f**k Hardin, I need you so bad. So f*****g bad baby," Shoving my thong aside, he plunged two fingers inside of me, quickly changing it to three. I started to rock back and forth again this fingers, soaking up the slow pace which constructed perfectly with the rapid way in which he rubbed my clit.

I could feel my o****m coming faster than ever before and just I was about to let rip and scream out his name as he brought me to pure ecstasy...a knock sounded on the door.

Fuck noooooo.

I stopped, Hardin stopped and my o****m quickly vanished, just like that. "That better not be f*****g Walter." Hardin grumbled, gently picking me up and setting me down on the bed as he opened the door.

"Rowan?" I perked up, and immediately rushed to the door. My red haired friend came barrelling in, ignoring Hardin's bare chest and my flushed cheeks.

"This came today. A letter from Lilia." I beamed, snatching the letter. It had been so long since we had last spoken, and now that she lived towards the coast, I hadn't seen her in years.

"Thank you Rowan, is that all?" Hardin politely inquired, but I knew from the way he clutched the door that he couldn't wait to r****h me as soon as she left.

"No, happy anniversary and also, the advisors want to see you. Huxley arranged a meeting."

Uh, Huxley. He was a horrible power scheming man who tried to wrap Hardin around his greedy finger. If it was up to us, he would have been gone ages ago but he's old money, meaning we couldn't kick him out without severe backlash.

"Tell them, it's my anniversary and I plan to spend it with my wife." Smiling down at me, he snaked an arm around my waist and tugged me forward, so I could feel the lustful heat radiating off him.

A whole day dedicated just to us. Perfect.

"I know but...they insisted. I'm just a maid your highness," Rowan was just a maid and I hated that. She was one of the most intellectual and bravest maids I knew which was why I promoted her to be my personal maid, but really it was just an excuse to talk.

I could dress myself.

Hardin's expression softened. "I know Rowan, I'm sorry, and please remember to call me Hardin. You're friends with my wife, therefore a friend to me."

She bowed dramatically. "Of course Hardin, I'll be back Ari," I shot her a grin, before she left.

"What's in the letter?" Instead of responding, I savagely ripped the brown envelope open. The contents inside came flying free. I picked up the white letter inside, whilst Hardin grabbed the photograph for himself.

"Lilia wishes us a happy anniversary..." My eyes scanned her messy scrawling. "Teddy got a new cat, and she's sorry she couldn't make it to the party. She sends her love to us."

Harding thrust the photo into my face. "Look it's Teddy." Her son Teddy was now a messy toddler, with chubbiest cheeks you had ever seen.

"Aw, he's so cute."

"Our babies will be cuter." My heart almost stopped, as I turned to my smirking husband.

"Babies?" We had discussed children before but it had always been that someday we would have them and then Hardin would quickly dismiss the topic. Never had he instigated a conversation about them.

"Of course, I'm never going to be able to keep my hands off you so it's only natural we have at least five children." My eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"Five?" I couldn't even imagine what that would do to my poor v****a.

"Fine six," It seemed as though my husband was content on ruining one of his favourite parts of my body. Noticing my clear look of panic, he pecked my lips and chuckled. "I'm kidding baby, we can have as many as you want."

Even though I was smiling in his warm embrace, I couldn't help but think about the surprise I had planned for him tonight. Was it really fate?

"I have to go, you know how Huxley gets." I pulled away so he could continue dressing. I anxiously gnawed on my fingernails, unaware that I was actually doing it.

"Baby," Hardin pulled my hand away from my mouth, making me realise that I was doing it again. "Are you nervous about tonight?"

Fuck, how did he know?

"About the party?" He clarified and I quickly nodded. Thank god my husband was clueless sometimes.

"Yes, just a little I want it to the perfect." Sliding his jacket on, his pressed a light kiss to my temple. "If you're there, it will be."

He left, only to pop his head back in. The smirk I had come to adore made an appearance. "If this night doesn't end with me buried deep inside of you, I'm going to be very disappointed."

Before I could even think of a response, he was gone, leaving me and his surprise all alone.

***

My day was spent thanking everyone for their congratulations, and sorting through the mass of presents we had been sent from all over the world.

Delphine couldn't make it, so in her place she sent me an antique vase from the time of the Pharaohs and a vibrator with a note saying, you need this girl because there is no way Hardy is able to satisfy you with his sausage fingers.

I laughed, quickly stashing it away when one of the guards came into the room. Little did she know how well her friend satisfies me.

At six I decided to get ready, letting Rowan help me into the specially designed ball gown I had made by Celine. It was almost an exact replica of the dress I wore when we first met, however it had a layer of fine shimmering skin with a deep v neck.

My breasts were covered in sapphires and diamonds, glitter donning my entire body. Black tendrils were curled and pinned to my head in an elaborate updo, with my makeup flawlessly executed.

A thick layer of eyeliner lay on top of a coating of blue eyeshadow, mixed with hues of white and glitter. My lips were glossed, but otherwise left their natural rosy colour and my feet were stuffed inside a pair of glass heels that were way too tight.

They would have if my ankles hadn't swollen over night.

"You look beautiful," Rowan complimented as I forced in my diamond earrings.

"I f*****g hate these." I muttered, wincing as I let them both dangle from my red lobes.

Diamonds were heavy. Too heavy.

"I know but apparently your last appearance wasn't flashy enough."

"It was a benefit for a charity, I wasn't trying to impress people with my jewels. God, why do I have so many jewels?" She laughed, helping me up from my chaise.

"Ready for your party?" I snorted.

"I'm actually looking forward to this one, I mean it's our party. Our celebration. Three years of marriage, wow. Time flies by past." My hand unconsciously over my stomach , but I drop it the moment I catch Rowan staring.

"Baby, you ready?" Hardin couldn't have come at a better time, and I practically ran to the door, stumbling in my stupid heels.

I latched onto the handle and yanked it open. "Baby, hey." Glancing back at Rowan, she gave me a knowing look but I quickly averted my eyes, promptly ignoring her.

"Rowan, we will see you downstairs. I've cleared your shift so you can attended the party." I looked up at my husband in surprise.

"Oh, wow your majesty that is too kind."

"Hardin," He corrected, causing her cheeks to flame.

"Hardin." She repeated, her eyes fixed firmly on him. I wasn't jealous, I mean I was aware of the effect my husband had on other people but it didn't mean I didn't become uncomfortable.

Clearing my throat, Rowan quickly left the room whilst my husband remained oblivious. As usual. "You're gorgeous," He nudged my cheek with his nose, planting firm kisses down my neck.

"I know." Spinning around, I smashed my lips again this, pushing him up against the wall. His tie was curled around my wrist, and I tugged on it hard, almost choking him but letting up just in time.

Pulling back, he pressed his forehead against mine, his arms settling on my waist. "That was so f*****g hot."

"Just a little preview of what's to come tonight." I licked up his neck, gently biting down on his ear. "Spoiler, it's going to be you."

With a satisfied smirk, I pulled back and walked out the room, leaving my husband completely breathless.

***

"Presenting your royal highnesses, King Hardin and Queen Arabella." We were greeted with a booming applause, diplomats, royals and politicians swarming the entire room.

Hardin wrapped his arm around my waist, guiding me to the dance floor. It was custom that we take the first dance and as always it made me a little nervous.

"Relax baby, it's just us. Remember?" Closing my eyes, I rest my chin on his shoulder, as he gently swayed us to the music.

The song that played during our first dance was drifting around the room, filling the air with the ambient sound. "I wanted to recreate the night we met." I whispered, watching as his eyes scanned the room.

"Blue. My favourite colour." He chuckled. "I was such a jerk to you that night."

"Nothing's changed. It's just that now...you're my jerk." Grinning my husband lowered his head, letting our lips mingle under the soft spotlight.

After our dance, Hardin was swept away by a group of stodgy old men with moustaches so I took refuge with my best friends. Rory was as stunning as ever, her petite figure donned in an ivory dress whilst Flo was wearing a vibrant orange.

Xander and Flicker had wished me congratulations before disappearing somehow, probably to have s*x.

"My beautiful lady," Wyatt gushed, sweeping Rory into his arms for yet another kiss. The two had been together ever since Hardin and I married and honestly I loved it. My best friends were in love, and happy.

What more could a girl ask for?

"Happy anniversary Ari," I raised my virgin cocktail in response. It was my anniversary and somehow I was spending more time with my friends than my actual husband.

Being a royal really sucks sometimes.

"Yes, happy anniversary." I rolled my eyes, fighting the urge to gag when Prince Marcellus came into view. Normally girl swoon at the mere sight of him, and one actually fainted when she saw his pearly whites.

Me though, I wished the guy would drop dead. He had this sick notion that I would somehow be into cheating on my husband with the likes of himself.

I mean seriously, loyalty means nothing to the guy.

"Marcellus, I didn't know you were invited." Because I explicitly made sure you weren't.

His arms dropped onto my waist and lingered there for a little while. "Oh, my invite on must have gotten lost in the mail I'm sure but I have really long connections so don't worry, I heard." Looking over at Flo, I pleaded with my eyes, begging her to save me.

"Sorry about that." I grimaced, downing the rest of my drink but choked when he grabbed my ass.

"Okay," Flo quickly pulled my drink away and then yanked me towards her. "You still have the Lords to meet and then the toast...we have got to get you ready,"

I faked a smile, giving Marcellus my apologies, before we go the hell out of there. "He was horrible."

"Completely inappropriate, I mean he grabbed my ass at my own anniversary party, and I can't do anything because we have the same title."

"Which sucks because, of course you have a gorgeous ass that anybody would be lucky to squeeze, but not without your permission." She emptied her fifth glass of champagne and set it down. "I think I should kick him in the balls."

Laughing I tugged her back. "No you should not. You're drunk." She almost collapsed in my arms but I managed to steady her. "You're right, I should f**k Daniel instead."

Before I could even speak, she was already gone. I chuckled to myself, grabbing a chocolate covered strawberry.

Daniel was her fiancé, and I honestly approved of. I could feel it in my bones that he would make her an honest woman someday, and someday Wyatt would with Rory.

I should be completely grateful and happy with my life, I'm rich, the Queen of Dahlia and married to the man I love who just happens to be the hottest guy in the whole kingdom.

Yet, something is missing. Some days I wonder what a simple life would be like, one where there's no scheming advisors, constant meetings and duties that I have to fufill.

I should feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Hardin chose me and I chose him but...I didn't choose the crown.

The moon looked huge and enticing, almost drawing me out into the peaceful night. I set down my strawberry and walked out into the gardens. The dahlias planted for our anniversary were in full bloom, their flowers staring straight up at the sky which was filled with a myriad of sparkling stars.

"The stars always were our thing." I almost jumped out of my skin. Hardin smirked and strolled over to me, his hands shoved into his pockets.

I glanced up at the cloudless black canvas before me. "Yeah, they are." Looking over my shoulder at him, I bit my lip. "I missed you."

A deep laughter erupted from his chest. "Baby...we've only been separated for a couple of hours."

"On our anniversary. I get lonely sometimes." I shrugged, shivering slightly as he ran his cold hands up my arms.

"Me too, I miss you baby. I'm sorry about all these stupid meetings and as an anniversary present I promise to spend more time with you." I blushed as he pressed the lightest kiss onto my nose.

"So, that's my present?" He always had tricks up his sleeve so when he pulled out a satin box I wasn't surprised. Undoing the lace ribbon, I flipped it open to reveal a stunning pair of earrings. Tiny, light, droplet earrings.

"How did you know I hate chunky earrings that make it feel like my ears are falling off?"

"Because I know everything about my Queen," I giggled as he pressed a chaste kiss onto my lips.

"I have your present too."

"Is it a new tie? Or a pair of cufflinks? A pretty watch?..."

"Stop!" I chuckled, swatting his chest and causing him to laugh too. Once our laughter had subsided, I gripped his hands, smiling at the rough feel of them.

"What is it then?" He murmured softly, eyes fixated on my curls that were coming loose.

"It's actually coming in nine months so...you'll have to wait." For an intelligent man, it took him a while to register what I meant.

"You're pregnant?" I nodded, laughing with tears pricking my eyes, as he swept me into the air and started planting kisses all over my face.

"You beautiful beautiful woman, you...you're going to have my baby,"

"We're going to parents. You're going to be a daddy." He sunk to his knees almost immediately and gripped my waist, pressing a soft kiss onto my stomach.

"I'm going to be the best father you could possibly have, little one." And suddenly, my life just got a whole lot better.

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A/N: So baby Hararabella is on its way!!!

What do you think it is? Boy or girl??

Thoughts on their anniversary??