Chapter 27

Maksim and Ella arrived at school the next day to an audience of jealous glares and adoring eyes. Everyone in the school parking lot stopped doing whatever they were to stare at the couple as Maksim held the car door for Ella.

"The cats out of the bag," Cleo said as she climbed out of the back seat.

Ella turned to her with a small smile as they all walked towards the school building. She wished she could hide somehow behind Maksim or even Cleo. As every eye watched her, Ella suddenly didn't know what to do with her hands or where to look. She felt as if she was under a giant microscope with the brightest spotlight following her.

"Are you okay?" Maksim asked as he took her hand into his.

Ella nodded her head as she moved closer to him. In her mind, she had thought being inside the school building would feel less exposing, but there was no change. Ella stared at her open locker, forgetting what she needed as she was hyper aware of people staring at her.

For the first time in his life, Maksim felt agitated with being a public figure. Usually he was unbothered by the stares and the spectators. But as he looked at the world through Ella's eyes, he realized just how uncomfortable it could be. He watched his mate hesitate at her lockers for a while before he pushed off the wall he had been leaning against and shielded her from everyone.

Ella lifted her gaze slowly and smiled, "Thank you."

"You will get used to it baby," Maksim said as he bent down and kissed the top of her head. He was about to lift her face and plant a kiss on her lips when someone cleared their throat behind him. Maksim took a step aside to reveal Gwen.

"You two are just so cute," she said with her hands over her heart. "I got so emotional watching the announcement yesterday. Ella, you looked beautiful and Max, ugh, you always look perfect."

"Thanks," Maksim said as he put his arm around Ella's waist and pulled her closer. "And it's Maksim, by the way."

"Oh right!" Gwen playfully smacked her forehead. "Silly me. Anyways, Ella are you free this weekend? My friends and I are going skiing and we would love for you to come. Of course, Maksim is invited to."

"Skiing?" Ella scrunched up her nose. "I'm sorry, I can't ski."

"You can still come. It'll be so much fun. There's horseback riding, ice fishing, ice climbing."

"Thank you, Gwen but I don't think I can," Ella declined politely. "We have plans."

"Oh," Gwen frowned. "That's okay. Maybe next time."

"Sure."

"Okay, see you in class guys."

Ella released the breaths he was holding as Gwen bounced away to her group of friends waiting by the end of the hallway. She leaned into Maksim as he rubbed her back.

"I think that was the most she ever spoke to me," Ella said. "We barely spike in the three years that I have been here and now she wanted to invite me to go skiing with her?"

"Like Cleo said, the cat is out of the bag. Don't be too surprised by the whole school suddenly pretending to be your best friend," Maksim laughed.

"Eh," Ella shrugged. "Maybe she thought since she was so close to you I would be part of the deal too."

"I'm not close to her," Maksim said in confusion.

Ella gave him a deadpan stare before she started to pull her books out of her locker.

"Hey Gwen, let me borrow a pencil. I think I'll keep this one," Ella mocked Maksim's voice causing him to burst into laughter. He tried to wrap her in his arms but she bumped him away with her hips.

"Go ask Gwen for cuddles."

"Baby," Maksim hooked his arm around her waist from behind and lowered his lips to her ear.

Ella tried to push his hands away but he held her like a python.

"Max, everyone is looking," Ella said as she looked at people through the hair that had fallen loose around her face.

"Let them," Maksim kissed her ear before releasing her. "You're very cute when you are jealous, baby girl."

"Baby girl?"

"Yeah, baby girl."

"Stop calling me that," Ella laughed. "It sounds weird."

"What do you want me to call you then? Sweet pea, baby beans, tangerine?"

"None of those," Ella scrunched up her nose in dislike.

"Baby cakes? Bunny? Tinkerbell?" Maksim paused. "I actually like Tinkerbell."

"No, Maksim," Ella rolled her eyes as she began to walk towards the library.

After several minutes when Ella and Maksim had settled at a back table in the library and began their work, Ella thought Maksim had given up on the name hunt. But she was so wrong. When she was trying to work through a math problem, Ella felt Maksim lean towards her and whisper in her ear.

"Sweet butt?"

"Ew, no," Ella whispered.

"Peaches?"

"No."

"Jelly beans? Love muffin?"

"Are you hungry? Is that why you are trying to name me after food?"

"That would imply I want to eat you?" Maksim smirked. "Well I mean......"

"Oh my god," Ella gasped as she pushed Maksim away from her as hard as she could.

"Relax, kitten," Maksim laughed as the librarian squashed them. He lowered his voice and leaned closer to his mate once more, "I was saying there are myths about wolves eating little girls in the woods. What were you thinking?"

Maksim knew exactly what Ella was thinking. He just liked to tease her and watch her cheeks turn red as a riding hood. And she did not disappoint. Her cheeks began to glow with the blush. Maksim reached out and brushed his knuckles over it. He was almost afraid he would burn himself.

Ella dropped her gaze and looked away. She tried to focus on her work over and over but her mind kept turning back to the handsome boy next to her. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and hid her face from Maksim, but she knew he was still laughing at her.

Maksim was truly having too much fun. He purposefully brushed his leg against her, making her squirm. Or when she tried to move away he would stretch his long arms and pull her chair back towards him.

"Kitty cat? Chica? Mon Cherie?"

"Max, please stop," Ella begged.

Maksim did not listen. For the rest of the day, he tortured Ella with names at the most randomest times. Even when she tried to get away from him, he would blow up her phone with texts.

"My fair lady? Buttercup? Lolita? Peanut?"

"How ironic," Ella rolled her eyes as she packed her bag at the end of the day.

"I thought so too,'" Maksim laughed. "What about blondie? Or apple butter?"

"Is that even a thing?" Ella asked as they began to move towards the parking lot to wait for Cleo.

"Not sure, but it sounds delicious," Maksim shrugged. "I think I really like Tinkerbell. I mean you have the hair an-"

Before Maksim could finish, Ella had turned to face him at the bottom of the stairwell she took a step forward and placed her index finger in the middle of his chest and pushed him black slowly until she had him against the wall.

Ella smiled and batted her lashes as she watched Maksim's pupils dilate. With her finger on him and her eyes pinning him to the wall, he was totally under her control. Ella had no idea that made her do that, but she suddenly felt very powerful and dangerous.

Maksim's eyes grew dark as Ella leaned against him. Her thighs grazed over his as her eyes dropped to his lips.

"Baby," she said, her voice sexy and low.

"Yes?" Maksim raised his hand and rested them in her waist.

"I want you to call me baby," Ella said. "I like baby."

Maksim's hands on her waist tightened as she reached up and kissed the corner of his bottom lip. He leaned in for more but she pulled away and skipped down the stairs leaving the prince in a daze behind her.

_________________________

In honor of the celebration going on all over town after the announcement, Mavi and Owen decided to host a small dinner for the new mates. Maksim begged them to keep the guest list to only family but Mavi insisted some people just had to be invited. Ella was still uncomfortable saying no to the Queen and it ended up being her that convinced Maksim to let his mother invite whoever she wanted.

So once again, after school, Ella found herself sitting in her chair as the beauty team worked on her. But unlike last time, Maksim was right by her side. He laid on her bed scrolling through his phone as Ella watched him in the mirror. Every now and then he would look up and give her a smile that made her heart stop.

"I think the green dress is a bit too long," Layla said as she held up the gown for Ella to see. "But we can get a different set of heels and hem the bottom real quick."

Maksim lifted his eyes from his phone as the woman spoke to his mate. He watched Ella ponder about what to do as she eyed the dress on the hanger. She wasn't a fan, but she was much too polite to say anything.

"Layla," Maksim butt in. "Do you have anything in pink?"

Ella looked over at him from her chair. Maksim put his phone down and waited for his answer.

"Yes," Layla said. "There is one."

"Good. Please show me. Ella looks best in shades of pink."

The makeup artist smiled as Elal blushed from her mate's compliment.

Layla gave a nod before she disappeared into the closet and pulled out a pale pink dress. Maksim smiled as Ella's eyes lit up instantly.

The mermaid style dress was the lightest shade of pink Ella had ever seen. It reminded her of cotton candy. It was a plane dress. It shouldn't have been impressive at all. But it was.

Around the waist was a two inch wide crimson red ribbon that tied into a bow in the center with two long tails. It made the whole dress look eternal and like a dream.

"This is it," Maksim said.

"Yes," Ella nodded her head in excitement. "I love it."

Seeing the smile on her face made Maksim lose his breath. He grew impatient as he waited for Ella to change into the dress. But Layla nagged him and reminded him that he too had to dress for the dinner. He couldn't show up with Ella in that dress while he wore blue jeans and a t-shirt.

Reluctantly, Maksim stumbled into his room and picked up the suit Layla had laid out for him. He showered and dressed all the while thinking about how Ella might look in her dress. He was giddy with excitement as he adjusted his tie and knocked on her door.

Like a heavenly vision, the double doors opened and Ella stepped out to meet her mate. Maksim became starstruck as he watched her do a twirl for him.

"What do you think?" Ella asked.

Maksim was speechless. The dress hugged her in all the right places. Her curves were a work of art as she placed her hands on her narrow waist and shook her hips, waiting for him to speak.

Maksim didn't know if he could. His wolf was starting to rumble low in his chest as his eyes moved over Ella. She had no idea the thoughts that were going through his mind as she did her little dance and laughed.

And that ribbon. Fuck, that ribbon.

It directed Maksim's eyes right to her hips. She was a beautiful present, all wrapped up for him in cotton candy pink with a red ribbon.

"Max?" Ella frowned when he didn't answer her. "Should I change?"

"Absolutely not," Maksim said breathlessly. "I want you to neve take that dress off but at the same time I don't want anyone seeing you in that dress."

Ella's cheeks grew warm as she bit down on her bottom lip. She ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck.

"Do you like it?" She asked.

"I love it."

"You have very good taste."

"Only when it comes to you," Maksim ran his nose along the edge of Ella's face.

"Should we head down?"

"Do we have to?"

"We promised."

Maksim sighed, "Fine."

He pulled back and took Ella's hand. But before he could take the first step, Ella pulled him back.

"Your hair is messy," she said as she began to run her hand through it.

Maksim lowered his head and let Ella fix him up. He couldn't stop smiling as he lifted his gaze and saw the level of concentration in her eyes. She fussed with a stubborn piece of hair until she finally got it to sit the way she wanted it too.

"There," Ella said. "Perfect, your majesty."

"Thank you, baby."

The dinner was a long and tiring affair. Ella and Maksim greeted all the guests along with his parents at the door as waitresses stood behind them with glasses of champagne. The simple scent reminded Ella just how drastically her life had changed.

Just a few months ago she was one of those champagne baring girls. As Ella looked over her shoulder, she noticed one of the young waitresses admiring her. A new and unexpected feeling started to bubble up inside her like the flute of champagne.

She was a symbol of hope now. People all over the world were looking at her and feeling like they too could make their fairytales come true. Ella was the bridge they all needed to know existed. She was a simple girl from a small town who was set on a course to become the new Queen of a powerful empire. She was the embodiment of the phrase anything can possible.

Before Maksim diverted Ella's attention back to the guests in front of them, Ella gave the waitress an encouraging smile.

"Are you okay, my love?" Maksim checked in on her as he kissed her cheek.

"Yes," Ella nodded as she leaned in closer to her mate. "I'm good."

As the night drew out, Ella followed Mavi's lead and socialized with the guests. She wasn't sure what to say at first, but once Mavi gave her the advice to keep people talking about themselves, conversation became much easier. She was glad she was making progress but it was hard to focus when Maksim wasn't beside her.

Ever so often, someone would pull them away to meet the guests and the couple would get separated. They would end up on opposite ends of the room, always searing the crowd for each other. All night, they did a strange dance of being pulled apart and then finding their way back to each other like magnets.

Maksim was starting to lose his patience. He wanted to be beside Ella. he was getting tired of seeing her from afar and watching her dance with other men. The only solace he had was when Ella's eyes would search for him until she caught him looking right at her.

"Mackey," Mavi's voice pulled her son out of his trance as he stood by the edge of the dance floor watching his mate dance with an old man.

"Yes," Maksim looked at his mother.

"There is something I wanted to ask you," Mavi said. "I noticed I had a few events planned in New York right after Christmas. I know you and Ella are thinking about going there next fall so I was wondering if maybe you two will be willing to fill in for me."

"After Christmas?" Maksim asked. "How soon after Christmas?"

"You would have to be in New York by December 27th."

"When would we be back?"

"January 5."

"We would miss New Years with you guys,"

"I know, my love," Mavi rubbed his arm. "But it would mean so much to me if you went. And I think Elal would really enjoy it."

"Enjoy what?" Ella asked as she walked up to them.

Maksim held out his arm and Ella immediately walked into his embrace.

"Mom wants to know if we would be willing to take her place for some events in New York next week."

"New York?" Ella's eyes lit up.

"Yes," Maksim nodded. "We would have to leave the 27th and be back by January 5th."

"New Years in New York City?" Ella's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning, which reminded Maksim he had to pick out a good gift for her. After all, it was their first Christmas together.

"I knew you would love it," Mavi squeezed Ella's hand. "Convince Maksim for me, sweetheart."

"Can we go?" Ella immediately turned to her mate. She started to pout and bat her lashes at him.

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes!" Ella nodded her head.

"Okay," Maksim smiled. "We'll go."

"Thank you so much. You just saved my life!" Mavi threw her arm around Ella and kissed her cheek. "I'll go tell Owen we can book our trip to Fiji. Oh I'm so excited!"

"Wait wait wait," Maksim stopped his mother. "You mean to tell me we're going to be stuck doing your work while you and dad are relaxing in Fiji?"

"Oh relax yourself," Mavi rolled her eyes. "You'll have Ella all to yourself in New York for over a week. I think we both got a pretty good deal out of this."

"You're right," Maksim nodded in agreement. "Let me know if there are any other trips you want us to fill in for you."

Mavi laughed as she hurried off to find her husband. Ella watched her with a smile on her face until Maksim wrapped his arm around her waist and started to steer her out of the ball room.

'Where are we going?" Ella asked as she looked over her shoulder to make sure Mavi or Owen wasn't looking at them in disapproval.

"I'm stealing you," Maksim said. "If I see another old man dance with you, I am going to lose my mind."

Ella began to laugh as Maksim snuck her out of the party. She felt excitement paint over her face as she followed him and they slipped out the doors. Maksim had a firm grip on Ella's hand as he led her down the empty halls towards the greenhouse.

"What are we doing here?" Ella whispered as she followed Maksim through the doors and into the dark indoor oasis.

"They won't look for us here," Maksim said, smirking. "They'll check our rooms first and then the rest of the floors."

"Won't Paws get mad if we mess up his plants?"

"Don't worry," Maksim shook his head. "He won't mind."

The greenhouse lights were all turned off. The only thing illuminating the structure were the Christmas lights hanging outside the glass frames. Maksim and Ella hurried farther into the private forest like field mice. Ella's giggles dance with the leaves and the flowers as the sweet scent of ripe fruits filled the air.

"Stay here," Maksim said as they came to a small clearing surrounded by tubs of Jasmine and hibiscus.

"Where are you going?" Ella wondered as he walked away and started to look around in the dark.

"Paws leaves his ipod in here," Maksim said as he checked the little table and the tool boxes. He searched through the containers until he found what he was looking for. With a smile on his face, Maksim started to scroll through the songs. When he found the right one, he looked up at his mate standing and watching him with curiosity.

"La vie en rose," Maksim said as he hit play. "One of my favorites."

A smile broke out on Ella's lips as a soft jazz started to play over the small speakers on the table. The smile changed into laughter as Maksim bowed in front of her and asked her for a dance.

Ella placed her hand in his and took a step forward. One of Maksim's hands caressed her waist as he held her hand with the other. Together they began to sway with the music as the trumpets and the piano played on.

Maksim danced Ella around the small clearing. He twirled her out and then back before dipping her over his arm. Ella laughed as she enjoyed every second of it.

"Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast," Maksim sang along with the words.

Ella's heart started to flutter like hurricane winds as she moved with him through the song. Her laughter slowly died down as Maksim sang and she started to notice how beautiful his eyes looked in the twinkling lights.

"When you kiss me heaven sighs, and though I close my eyes," Maksim smiled staring into Ella's beautiful eyes. "I see la vie en rose....."

As the words came out of Maksim's lips the two stopped swaying to the music. The scent of jasmine in the air around them and the lights above them conspired in secrecy as the lovers let their souls rise to their eyes.

Ella's breath hitched in her throat as Maksim lifted his hand and ran his thumb over her cheek. She leaned in, feeling an invisible force push her. Maksim's eyes dropped to Ella's lips. He took the last step forward and kissed her softly.

Ella felt her knees grow weak from how sensually Maksim worshiped her lips. He placed his hands on either side of her face as he took his lip to memorize the moment in which they stood. She started to crave him more and more as new and frightening thoughts started to form in her head making her cheeks blush.

Suddenly, without any warning, the large automatic sprinkler system overhead started to rain down on them. Ella gasped as the cool water ran down her spin.

"Shit!" Maksim said as he looked up. "I forgot about this stupid thing. I'm sorry sorry, Give me a second. I'll go turn it o-"

Maksim tried to walk to the front of the greenhouse to find the control board, but Ella striped him. He froze as he grabbed his arm.

"Don't," Ella said in the dark as water ran down her body soaking her dress.

Maksim blinked against the rain as his eyes watched her. Ella let go of his arm and stood under the water. She lifted her face and smiled as the splashes of water cooled her burning skin.

Maksim became enchanted by her. He stood frozen as his suit soaked up the rain. But he couldn't care less. His eyes were fixed on his mate.

In the dark, the water continued to fall as the music played and Ella slowly twirl like a dancer in a snow globe. The fabric of her dress clung to her body in ways that were starting to drive Maksim crazy. He couldn't stop staring as her chest rose and fell. The water droplets slid down her delicate neck and disappeared underneath the neckline of her dress. Maksim watched them with envy. He was about to look away when Ella lowered her head and looked into his eyes.

No one could explain what happened next. One second Maksim was watching the water droplets on Ella's lips and the next second she was running towards him and throwing her arms around his neck.

Maksim caught her in his arms as their lips collided in innocent lust. Ella parted her lips as his tongue slipped into her mouth and teased her. She pulled him closer until every one of her soft curves was molded against his hard body. Even then he wasn't close enough.

Maksim let his hands slip from Ella's back down to her plump butt. He heard her moan as his hands started to roam over her and cup her round cheeks.

Ella took a break from his lips to breath but she used the time to strip Maksim's suit jacket off. He pulled his arms out and tossed the thing to the side as Ella grabbed his time and brought him back to her lips.

A hot burning need started to grow between Ella's legs. She didn't know what it was or how to stop it but something told her she needed to take Maksim's tie off.

Without releasing his lips, Ella's hands frantically undid the black tie around Maksim's neck and flung it over her shoulder. She grabbed his free collar and pulled herself closer.

Maksim's hands were on a field trip. Encouraged by Ella's moans he moved his palms along her curved and up to her chest. Releasing her lips and giving her a second to breath, Maksim started to suck off the water on Ella's neck and chest. Her hands gripped his hair as her head rolled back and she moaned. She felt his hands fall over her breast as a thrill ran down her spine all the way to the spot between her legs.

She wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted his hands all over.

"Baby," Ella moaned into his ear giving him the push he was seeking.

Maksim's hand squeezed Ell's breast as she buried her face in his hair and started to kiss his ear. He was about to move back to her lips when the sky above them erupted into fireworks. Ella pulled back and looked up at the night sky.

Brilliant colors exploded in multiple designs as the loud sounds made Ella's heart shake. With each explosion, the sky lit up. Ella looked down from the heavens to her mate's eyes. As Maksim watched the fireworks in the sprinkler's rain, they reflected perfectly in his dark eyes.

Watching him Ella's heart grew heavy with the realization that he was all hers. Overwhelmed with the feeling, the rain, and the fireworks, Ella jumped back into showering Maksim with kisses.

Maksim happily cooperated with his mate as she let him explore her body in a blind test. He kissed her through the firework show as his hands ran over her body, touching and squeezing as he pleased. Even with the thundering sounds of the fireworks outside, Ella's moans were all Maksim could hear. 

So I notice you guys never comment when I write like intimate parts or make out scenes lol Just curious as to why :p Am I not doing it right? 

Also what was your favorite part?