Flashback:
Have you ever seen Bridgerton? Yes all that 1800s ballroom, dancing, royals conversing, etc etc. Yeah well, would you believe that sh!t still happened? Maybe not in the exact same way. “Coming out” parties still happened but they were… different. There was still an expectation to marry into the same caliber - alongside an expectation that the Queen had to approve of any arrangement. But, it wasn’t necessarily required. That being said, here Jess was in her hotel room getting ready - wearing a dress picked out by a stylist for the Pierce family. Anna was wearing a white ball gown adorned with a white crystal mask and had already left with their parents. Daniel had also already left alongside his parents. Jess, however, was slightly late due to her plane arriving a bit later… and maybe messing around with Dorian in town. In any case, she found herself alone in her room putting on a simple peach ballgown which she honestly preferred compared to her sisters - simply for it being… well… breathable. Walking outside, Jess knocked on the door on the other side of the hall. Her family had the entire floor of the hotel booked meaning all penthouses were filled with her, Anna, her parents, and Dan’s family - each with their own suite. And this one… well, it was Dorian’s - though honestly, the two would probably just end up sharing a room and watching movies or sneaking out till daylight. “I swear it takes longer for you to get ready than me. PUT THE HAIR GEL DOWN DORI we have placesss to beeeeee,” Jess yelled through the door as she put her mask on, smiling at the dork when he emerged in a suit that actually looked really damn good on him. “Wow… I…you know… I really thought you were going to make a statement and come naked,” Jess joked, hiding her previous surprise at him actually looking formal for once before walking into his room with her bag of extra clothes because hell if she was going to stay in this dress the whole night. “Mind zipping me up?” Jess asked the man who honestly looked like a grump with his own mask on. She smiled, fixing her earrings as she zipped the top part of her dress before jumping on the bed. “Do I have to?” she heard the man asking - pointing towards his mask and a laugh met Jess’ lips “Oh get over it you only have to do it for the next few minutes. Welcome to my world where this is an annual occasion along with the dozens of other events I have to do this sh!t with,” Jess stated. It wasn’t long until the two made their way to the limo downstairs before heading to the ballroom at the palace which… honestly was exactly how anyone would have expected a royal ball to be. People dancing, women gossiping, little appetizers being walked around which - hold up we need to go on a tangent. Okay. WHY THE HELL ARE THOSE APPETIZERS SO DAMN SMALL? Do they think women don’t need food. THEY NEED FOOD. That’s usually why Jess ended up sneaking into the kitchen and making herself a sandwich which always garnered looks from the head staff but what could she say? Many of her close friends had been made with the lower staff due to just that reason.
“Welcome Dorian… to the world of intrigue, blisters on your feet, and hours of talking to people who don’t know how to hold a conversation without talking about those damn Americans or being racist in one way or another,” Jess laughed, wrapping her hands in his as she pulled him inside - walking first to her parents to make her presence known and introduce them to her date which really was just a way to make sure the other royals didn’t spend the evening making her dance with the hundreds of eligible bachelors. Though a quick introduction, it was… slightly awkward and more formal than one would expect a conversation with one’s parents. But that was just it… for people who let their 8-year-old daughter disappear into a country where they weren’t… they just… weren’t in her life much. So this… this awkward conversation was really it. The epitome of her relationship with her parents was the 1 minute conversation she had with them introducing Dorian. Which honestly went a little like:
Mr. Pierce: “Well aren’t you a dashing young man,”
Dorian: “I… it’s really nice to meet you Mr. Pierce”
Mr. Pierce: “And you… Love… make sure to remind me to talk to the Prime Minister about the new proposition for the Enhancement bill.”
Mrs. Pierce: “Of course… Jessica dear, please make sure you go talk to the dutchess of Abelqureie she wanted to talk to you,”
Yep that was her parents… always more concerned with work than they were with their daughters. Oh well… that’s why she had brought Dorian. For entertainment. “Okay Dori. 10 bucks that the lady in the purple will ask you for your title the minute you walk near her, and 50 bucks if you tell her you’re a prince of a made-up country and end up convincing her of it,” Jess laughed cheekily. There was slight competitiveness in her tone as she looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow, egging him on. Did he do it? He have a valiant effort at convincing the woman that he was from the Kingdom of Mesopotamia and it was honestly hilarious watching him do so. Especially as the women turned towards Jess to ask her who she was and Jess, of course, told the women she was the secretary from Mesopotamia to make sure the prince was okay on his journey here.
That was the thing with her and Dorian - no matter the occasion, the dress code, anything - the two could still… have fun. Make the damn most of it. Perhaps she had… told a little white lie about how long they’d be there but she was having a fun time with him. Jess frowned as he told her he was going to use the loo and sighed. “Leaving me alone to the vultures huh? Fine FINE go ahead Prince DeLoughrey,” Jess stated jokingly before navigating the party herself for a bit. Though when she heard someone screeching “Jessica, Jess is that you,” A sigh left her lips knowing it was that very Dutchess that her parents had told her to see. A woman who had been trying to set her or her sister up with her nephew since birth. So instead of turning around, Jess walked towards a blonde man nearby and smiled - acting as if she had no idea who that Jessica person was. “Do me a favor and pretend like we’re talking about something extremely important please,” Jess whispered, seeing the man raise his eyebrow in confusion at her request. “Hell… just,” Jess muttered, taking his hand and bringing the man towards the dance floor as she put her hand in his to dance. Honestly, Jess didn’t know who half the people in the room were with their masks. And no - this wasn’t some Cinderella moment where Jess couldn’t recognize people she knew. But the simple fact was that there was just so many people she didn’t know so it wouldn’t even matter. “Avoiding someone?” Jess heard the man asked and she threw him a cheeky smile. “Avoiding half the people here, which is where the masks come in handy because although I might be able to tell who I’m avoiding despite the masks, I think I have the advantage in the sense that I can just pretend I’m not the person they’re looking for,” Jess revealed. There were very rare occasions where Jess had genuinely good conversations with people, and that short dance - she honestly did have a good one with the man. Though after the dance she simply shot him a grin, thanked him for the impromptu dance, and disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. Because sometimes… a good conversation with a stranger should just stay like that - a memory of the past.
In any case, she found herself finding Dorian a few moments later and punched the man in his arm. “That’s for leaving me to the vultures,” Jess frowned, though seeing the time she knew it had been far after she had promised they’d be there. “I do think it’s time for us to make our leave, my good sir,” Jess added and for the rest of the night, Jess and Dorian painted the town red, blue, orange, and any other color one could think of. He truly was her favorite person and forever would be.
End Of Flashback
“You were the best person, Prince of Mesopotamia,” Jess laughed, kissing his forehead with the memory of them jumping on random beds hitting her mind, and getting yelled at to leave the store. “You think they still remember that they practically banned us a decade ago? Or will the acclaim of you being a famous football player make up for it?” Jess questioned, “… but I do agree, we do need to go back soon and… also… go buy some baby decorations,” Jessica muttered, a soft frown meeting her lips for a second as she remembered to the room she decorated so long ago, though took it out of her mind. Dorian didn’t need to know all the details of what had happened at least… not now. She leaned her head against his own when he added that he’d be there through anything and simply nodded. “Yes…” she nodded with his statement of having both one day.
Jess had tried - really damn hard. It had been a long ass time since she won one of these bets and it was about time she got her winning streak back. Okay that was bull - if anyone had a streak, it was Dorian. But she could at least break his. But God was that hard. She let out a gasp as he pulled the towel off of her and quickly pinned her to the bed. Let’s get one thing straight - Jess liked being on top. She liked control so this honestly as a rare occasion… mostly. If Dorian wanted they both knew he had the strength to stay on top, but usually he let her do what she wanted. But now… god was this frustrating. Jess let out another moan as his lips went down her neck, the urge to pull him closer or start pulling his pants off hitting her but with his hand pinning her and the impending bet she knew she couldn’t. So instead, Jess allowed her legs to wrap around his as he kissed her neck, attempting to gain any sense of friction between their two bodies. He knew what he was doing was working, she had to give him that - and the girl found herself biting her lip as she found him playing with his belt. Though… that’s when she heard it - his tantalizing words.
RUDE.
The girl gulped, looking away trying to gain some composure. Nope… she needed to bloody win. Closing her eyes, Jess looked back at him before getting up. “You… could stop… but then,” Jess started, letting her hand meet his face as she pulled him in for a kiss, before bringing her lips down his chest and lower. Though as she reached where his zipper was, Jess stopped, leaning back against the bed. “if you stop, we’re both left high and dry… so let me turn the question back to you love, what will it be? Because I’m more than happy to pleasure myself right here in front of you… while screaming your name because we both know my mind works wonders with memories and I have… quite a depository when it comes to us having sex,” Jess stated. Despite her words showing a front of strength, she knew it would only take a little push for that resolve to fall apart… she was just hoping she could get his to fall apart first.
@astxrism
@Littlefeets - Masked stranger = Kai
