A Royal Match - Chapter 8 (Patreon)

“It’s a big deal though.” 

Weiss hummed at the statement while Ruby played with her hair, following the conversation and paying close attention to the feeling of Ruby’s hand.  As far as she was concerned, there was nothing more relaxing than lounging on the sofa in her room while Ruby played with her hair.  She could lay here for hours if time permitted.  Often, it didn’t, but today she was lucky.  Either because Whitley was busy or he’d yet to track them down, she didn’t know.  All she knew was that they’d had the past couple of hours to themselves.

Sometimes, she couldn’t escape the strangeness of this situation.  Sometimes, she wondered if she was even allowed to like the person she was supposed to marry for the sole reason of becoming the Queen of Atlas.  Was she allowed to develop such strong feelings for the person she’d had no say in choosing?  Was she allowed to care so deeply for someone she had to marry if she had any hope of changing Atlas for the better?

It seemed so unlikely, so implausible, that surely it wasn’t.  But that’s what happened, and her feelings grew by the day.  Every moment they spent together...every smile, laugh, touch, and kiss they shared...only made her fall harder for the breath of fresh air she’d never realized she lacked.  She could spend every day with Ruby.  She wanted to spend every day with Ruby.

“It’s the biggest event we hold all year,” she explained after Ruby’s hand paused for a little too long.  “The wealthiest and most powerful citizens in Atlas will be here.”

“To celebrate winter?” Ruby asked, and Weiss hummed again - partially because Ruby had returned to playing with her hair.

“It’s our longest season.  Snow is what makes Atlas...Atlas.”  After savoring their shared warmth for a few seconds, she craned her neck to look up at Ruby.  “Are you excited?” 

“Um...more nervous...” 

“Because so many people will be here?” 

“That, and I haven’t danced in a long time.” 

Weiss smiled at the admission - because she loved that Ruby felt secure enough to admit insecurities like that, but also because it was unimaginably adorable that the graceful Princess of Vale was nervous about dancing, of all things.

“Let’s fix that.”  As much as Weiss didn’t want to leave their intimate moment behind, she felt so confident another was just around the corner that she stood and pulled Ruby to her feet.  

“I’ll lead,” she said while setting one hand on Ruby’s waist and raising her other for Ruby to place her palm on top of.  She couldn’t remember the last time she danced either, but that thought faded away when she took a step backward and Ruby stepped forward to match.  Then she stepped left, and Ruby followed.  Forward, and Ruby stepped back.  Turned to the side, and Ruby responded in kind.

“Not too shabby, Ruby Rose,” Weiss teased as a smile inevitably appeared on her lips.  “Who taught you to dance?” 

“Some really strict teacher.”  Smiling at the memory, Ruby spun when Weiss prompted her.  Twirling her arm around Ruby was a little difficult when Ruby was taller than her, but she stood on her tiptoes to make it work.  

“Must have been quite some teacher,” she replied once Ruby spun back to her.  “That, or you’re a natural.” 

When Ruby giggled at what was probably a true statement, Weiss smiled and moved closer - close enough that she felt the heat emanating from Ruby’s skin.  At this proximity, a single hesitation or misstep would result in them knocking into each other or stepping on each other’s feet, but that didn’t happen.  Somehow, Ruby sensed where Weiss would lead them before she even moved that direction.  Either excellent intuition, excellent reflexes, or...excellent chemistry.

With every day that passed, she believed more and more that the latter was true.  What else explained the energy flowing between them?  The sense of closeness and intimacy they shared?  There was no music, but it didn’t matter - they were perfectly in tune with each other instead.

“Will you dance with me tomorrow?” 

“Exclusively,” she answered without hesitation.  Ruby smiled at the response, but then her smile faded to something more uncertain.  

“Do you think I’ll have to dance with your brother too?” 

Weiss frowned at the question, but she couldn’t imagine a scenario where Whitley wouldn’t demand a dance with their ‘guest’ princess.  He would want to show off.  He would want everyone to see him and Ruby together, especially since their father would be present.  

“Possibly,” she admitted, knowing that she might not be able to win that argument.  “But I’ll be there for you right before and right after.” 

The promise made Ruby smile again, which filled Weiss with more of the light, bubbly feeling she hadn’t been able to escape ever since Ruby returned from Vale.  

Over the past couple of weeks, their relationship had dramatically changed, and Weiss didn’t say that just because they were kissing now.  Although that certainly played a big role, it was more than that.  They were growing closer.  They were confiding in each other more and more.  One day, possibly one day soon, she would know all of Ruby’s secrets, and Ruby would know hers.

“Think we can dance like this?” Ruby asked before spinning Weiss around, wrapping her arms around Weiss’ stomach, and nuzzling into her neck.

“Maybe not at the party…”  

With Ruby’s light giggle brushing across her ear, Weiss smiled, set her hands over Ruby’s, and leaned back into the embrace.  While the two of them gently swayed to their own music, content to just be together, a sigh slipped through her lips.

“It’s nice though,” she admitted, only for a shiver to run down her spine when Ruby breathed a soft “mhmm” into her ear.  Desire instantly appeared in her chest, but she did her best to clamp down on her never-ending hunger for Ruby’s affection.  But that turned out to be an impossible task, especially when Ruby followed up with a soft, remarkably gentle kiss to Weiss’ ear. 

The feeling made a soft, wanting sigh slip through Weiss’ lips, which Ruby must have heard or sensed like she typically did.  Because, rather than settle back into the embrace, she pressed another kiss to Weiss’ ear with similar results.

Actually, with hungrier results, as Weiss tilted her head to make her ear even more accessible to Ruby’s lips.  Fortunately for her, Ruby was always willing to oblige her silent overtures for more.

Hugging Weiss closer, Ruby pressed repeated kisses to her ear, making her tightly grasp Ruby’s hands in the process.  Her skin was already growing hotter, but her wanton desire burst forth when she felt Ruby’s tongue brush her earlobe before teeth lightly bit down on the soft skin near her earrings.  

If the room hadn’t been so quiet, her soft moan might have gone unnoticed.  But Ruby noticed, and the sound spurred her even further - her lips and tongue exploring everywhere while the sound of her breathing set Weiss on edge.  

“Ruby…” she got out, finding herself already breathless and in desperate need for more.  More kisses, more touching, more everything.

Finally lifting her hands from Ruby’s, she spun around and captured Ruby’s lips with her own.  That kiss started off greedy and only grew more so as their tongues swirled together and their hands began exploring in earnest.

By now, the soft, smooth skin of Ruby’s stomach was familiar to her.  As were the lines of her back, and the silky outline of her bra.  But Weiss wanted more than that, and her racing heart spurred her on.  She knew that Ruby wanted her too - she felt it in the way Ruby kissed her and always pulled her closer - but she also knew that something held them back.

Whether due to their uncertain future or the desire to move one step at a time, they’d yet to fully give in.  Weiss felt ready at the same time she didn’t, and Ruby must feel the same.

Which might be why Ruby made a soft noise before finally breaking away from the kiss.  The blush on her cheeks was reflected on Weiss’, who felt the heat emanating from her face and could hardly hear over her racing heart.

“We definitely shouldn’t do that at the party,” she murmured, and felt some of her embarrassment lift when Ruby laughed.

“Afterwards, maybe?”  

“Maybe.”  Though Weiss tried to sound noncommittal, she knew it was all but assured to happen if they found another moment alone together.  Maybe Ruby could sneak to her room after?  That was almost guaranteed to...move them even further forward...but what was she waiting for?  The longer they waited, the bigger deal it became.  If they both wanted to…

But she didn’t want to mess anything up right now.  Especially when there was still the issue of Whitley, Atlas, and the marriage...

“I’ve been wondering…” Ruby asked while reaching down to hold Weiss’ hands.  “What made you guys choose me?” 

“We didn’t, really.  Winter did.” 

“She was just...going around looking for people to marry one of you?” 

“Not exactly.”  Sensing Ruby’s confusion, Weiss sighed and decided it was past time for Ruby to know the reason why she was here.  

“One of Atlas’ oldest rules is that a king or queen must be married before they take the throne.  With Winter’s status as disinherited and my father’s ailing health, we might have to crown a new ruler any day now.  That comes down to me and Whitley - whoever’s married at the time gets the throne.”

“Oh...so basically...you have to marry me so you can become queen instead of your brother.” 

“Exactly.”  

As soon as the word left Weiss’ lips, she knew it was a mistake.  The hurt in Ruby’s eyes confirmed as much.  “Wait,” she tried to backtrack, but Ruby had already pulled away.  “That’s not what I meant -”

“I get it,” Ruby replied with a forced smile.  “And that makes sense.  That makes...more sense.” 

“No, Ruby -”  

Weiss tried to reach out to her and explain in more detail, but Ruby walked over to the door and opened it.  “I’ll see you tomorrow for the ball,” she muttered towards the floor before stepping into the hall and pulling the door closed behind her.

Stunned by the turn of events, Weiss stood frozen in her room and couldn’t decide what to do.  Part of her wanted to chase after Ruby and force her to listen to an explanation, at the risk of causing a commotion for everyone, and possibly Whitley, to see.  Another part of her had absolutely no idea what she could say without making it worse.

That wasn’t what she meant.  It was, but it wasn’t.  When they first met, she had to keep Ruby’s attention or risk losing Atlas to Whitley, but she hadn’t thought about that in quite some time.  That wasn’t why she kissed Ruby the way she did or spent time with Ruby the way she did.  She did that because she wanted to.  Because her feelings for Ruby were far greater than she’d ever expected them to be - the pain in her heart confirmed as much.

But she just hurt Ruby by being so careless with her words, and it was probably one of the worst things she’d ever done.  

Sitting on the sofa, she put her head in her hands and felt the first of many tears sting at her eyes.  She wished she didn’t have to worry about Whitley at every turn.  She wished she could chase after Ruby and make a scene without worrying about what he might do with that information.  Most importantly, she wished that she’d phrased her response in a way that made her true feelings clear.  She wished that she could explain to Ruby that the throne of Atlas hadn’t convinced her to feel this way - her heart convinced her to feel this way.

She just needed to explain...she could explain.  The next time she saw Ruby, she would explain that Atlas had nothing to do with the way she felt.  But...would Ruby even believe her?  Or would Ruby think that she would say anything just to keep the crown from her brother?