I Want You Naked All Day

Ralph cleared his throat nervously and instinctively stepped back from Vera, fearing she might perceive him as clingy. Yet, he found himself unable to resist her mesmerizing black eyes. What if he discovered Vera was only using him? Would his love for her remain unchanged?

"Vera, it's true that I've always desired the throne," he confessed, breaking the tense silence between them.

Vera responded with a seductive smile, fluttering her eyelashes in a way that drew Ralph in despite his reservations.

"But what if the throne was yours? You're more suited for that role," Vera teased, causing Ralph's heart to race with anticipation and uncertainty.

"I thought you fancied His Highness," Ralph asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"It's sad when the person you've always loved doesn't see your affection," Vera replied, her face reflecting a mix of sorrow and resignation. She started walking away, and Ralph trailed after her, pondering the deeper meaning behind her words.

"Ralph, can I visit your chamber whenever I'm bored?" Vera asked with a coy smile, her lips curling in a way that was hard for Ralph to resist. He nodded, captivated by her charm.

"Vera—" Ralph began to speak, but was cut off by a familiar voice.

"It seems the first prince is keeping company with His Highness's consort," Sirius remarked with disdain, eyeing Vera critically from head to toe.

"I was looking for you, but I was told you were out," Sirius continued, his gaze fixed on Ralph's face.

"You should have waited for me in my chamber," Ralph scolded him.

"Who knew my brother would be out here talking to one of His Highness's people?" Sirius retorted sharply. He was never one to hold back his opinions or appear timid.

"I am not 'His Highness's people'," Vera interjected quickly, her voice tinged with frustration, which earned a scoff from Sirius.

"If she's not one of His Highness's people, then who is she? You must have considered my brother after His Highness fancies someone else," Sirius stated with a furrowed brow.

Before Vera could defend herself, Ralph intervened. "You may go, Vera. I'll expect you whenever you choose."

Vera nodded silently, hiding her inner anger at Sirius's words, and left, leaving Ralph and Sirius alone. Ralph's gaze followed her until Sirius interrupted him.

"She's clearly just using you for attention. Can't you see that?" Sirius remarked.

"Enough, Sirius. Did you find what I asked for?" Ralph redirected the conversation.

Sirius rolled his eyes before pulling a brown paper scroll from his pocket and handing it over to Ralph.

Ralph opened it immediately and was struck by the familiarity of the woman in the picture.

"If I may ask, why are you so concerned about the woman Scarlet brought?" Sirius inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Ralph stared at the picture, his curiosity piqued, before responding, "She looks incredibly familiar, especially her eyes—they seem to burn with fury."

"You are just over thinking probably some rest could calm you down or spending the night with your wife could h-" Sirius said and Ralph slammed the scroll shut, shutting Sirius up. 

He gave the scroll to Sirius and said "Send some private agent to find out about her identity," 

Sirius reluctantly collected the scroll before turning around to leave only to stop in his tract by Ralph voice "and find her family identity,"

Sirius stomped out leaving Ralph to his thought alone.

*****

Scarlet paced at the entrance of Jareth chamber in deep thought as she held the tray of ointment. She was contemplating whether she should go inside or wait outside for him. She wondered if his hand was alright.

With deep breath she opened the door and entered shutting the door behind slowly. 

"Jareth" she called out as she kept walking towards the door that was slightly open at her left hand side. As she peaked into the dressing room, she got the shock of her life.

Jareth eunuch stood in front of him as he helped him in removing his robe that was stained with the tea.

Sensing someone at the door, Jareth turned to find Scarlet standing there, her eyes wide as she held a tray of ointment.

Scarlet blinked, then shook her head. What were they doing? She questioned herself, but quickly reasoned that it was nothing more than assisting Jareth with changing his clothes, a task Ilvia had helped her with in the past.

"Stop overthinking, Kayla," she scolded herself internally.

The eunuch bowed respectfully and took three steps back to leave.

"Are you just going to stand there and not assist me?" Jareth asked, prompting Scarlet to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Are you not going to apply the ointment for me?" Jareth clarified, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

Scarlet, her legs trembling slightly, approached where Jareth stood. She took the ointment from the tray and began applying it, blowing softly on it as she worked.

"It's amusing how you claim to believe I'm a devil and yet you've brought this," Jareth remarked, his smile still in place.

Focused on applying the ointment and blowing gently on the scar, Scarlet paused when she saw the wound beginning to heal. She looked up in surprise at Jareth, noticing his skin returning to its normal appearance.

Scarlet could hardly believe how quickly Jareth seemed to heal. Could his demon be fully awakened?

"I'm used to it, Scarlet. I don't feel pain, but..." Jareth paused and picked up a bandage from the tray.

"This will do, but being non-human doesn't mean I don't deserve your care," Jareth said, handing the bandage to Scarlet.

"I know, Jareth, and you already have it," Scarlet replied, taking the bandage from him and beginning to wrap it around his hand. Reflecting on what she had read in the script, she felt pity for Jareth. He must have yearned for love and care from his parents, but they hadn't stayed to see him grow into the handsome man he was now.

Scarlet gently caressed the bandage, her gaze lifting to Jareth's well-built physique. Her cheeks reddened and her senses heightened as she noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt, giving her a more revealing view than that night they had spent together.

She swallowed hard, her mind involuntarily assessing his muscles—was it his biceps or triceps? She bit her lip, scolding herself internally. "Damn it."

"Wifey, aren't you going to help me put on clothes? Don't forget I'm injured," Jareth teased, breaking her reverie.

"No, I want you naked all day," Scarlet muttered to herself, hoping he hadn't heard her playful thought. To her relief, he didn't react; perhaps, for once, he hadn't caught her inner musings. She felt oddly fortunate.

"What are you waiting for, Wifey?" he asked again, turning his back to her. Scarlet's eyes were drawn to a large dragon tattoo etched across his shoulder.

Unconsciously, Scarlet reached out and trailed her fingers across his back. There was an inexplicable pull she couldn't resist, something that weakened her both physically and spiritually. It was the first time she had seen the tattoo, and she wondered, "Has he always have it?"

She must not have noticed it before. The dragon held a captivating mix of beauty, mystery, and pain—something that seemed to echo deep within Jareth's soul.

Scarlet murmured, her fingers still tracing the lines of the tattoo on his back.

"I was born with it; it's a part of me, Wifey," Jareth replied, masking any pain he might have felt.

Scarlet understood more than Jareth might have realized. Not the fact that if Jareth had possibly drawn it at his back which he had not done, must have being painful, but the fact that the dragon seemed to be desperate and in pain from what remained unknown to her.

"Help me with my clothes, Wifey, and stop staring," Jareth said with a playful smile.

Scarlet obeyed, thinking she was finished, until Jareth added, "I need to remove my trousers, Wifey."

Scarlet blinked in surprise, her eyes wide and cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

"You should help me dress, Wifey. I look forward to that look every day," Jareth teased, finding amusement in her flustered state.

Scarlet fanned herself with her hand, trying to cool the heat in her cheeks, which had turned crimson.

"Your highness—" the eunuch rushed in and said, his voice trembling.

"There's a problem, Your Highness," he continued, interrupting Jareth.

"What is it?" Jareth asked, annoyed by the sudden interruption.

"Ilvia, the empress consort's maidservant, and Prince Riley are having a—"