Page 128 of Ascending

“I want you to touch me again,” Elizabeth requested.

Palmer’s eyes went wide, and she nodded.

???

“Why do I feel like we’re teenagers and we’re going to get caught?” Palmer asked.

“I have no idea,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m kind of in charge here, so no one’s going to get us in trouble.”

The door to the small elevator opened, depositing them back into the theater they’d left behind hours earlier. Elizabeth flopped down onto the sofa, pulling Palmer down on top of her.

“Oh. I thought we were coming back down here because we weredonehaving sex for now,” Palmer said, settling between Elizabeth’s thighs.

“We can still make out, can’t we?” she asked. “Start a new movie and kiss all the way through it? I’m kind of addicted to your lips now.”

“Just now?” Palmer teased, leaning over Elizabeth to kiss her lips.

“No, I think I’ve been addicted to your lips since I saw the picture of you Rebecca showed me before we even met.”

“Oh, yeah?” Palmer said. “Wait.” She pulled back. “She showed you a picture of me?”

“I told you, I did my research,” Elizabeth replied, kissing Palmer’s neck. “That included a picture. You were very cute.”

“I was?”

“Yes, you were. Still are,” she added.

Palmer stared down at her and, after a long moment, said, “We should just go back to your room the usual way, babe. We can make sure the door is locked and just make love all night.”

“I wish that were possible, but they’d have to interrupt me when–”

“Majesty,” Rebecca said, entering the theater without knocking.

Palmer shot up and off Elizabeth instantly, moving to stand.

“I was just…” Palmer began nervously. “I mean, we weren’t doing–”

“Rebecca, what is it?” Elizabeth interrupted her adorable girlfriend, sitting up on the sofa.

“Ma’am, haven’t you been watching?”

“Watching what?” Elizabeth asked. “Oh, the vote? Is there an update?”

“Ma’am, it’s after seven. The polls were closed at six. The votes have been tallied and confirmed.”

In that moment, Elizabeth second-guessed every decision she’d made since becoming Queen. Well, she second-guessed every decision other than Palmer. Of their relationship, Elizabeth had no regrets; nothing to second-guess. Had she made the right decision? Would her father, her grandfather, or her great-grandfather want to disown her for even thinking about putting their inheritance, as well as her own, to a vote? Would they support it, given the circumstances? Elizabeth glanced over at Palmer, who sat back down beside her, taking her hand and entwining their fingers.

“What is it?” Elizabeth asked.

“Majesty, the vote was seventy-two percent,” Rebecca said.

“Okay… Seventy-two percent, which way?” Palmer asked only after a moment, likely noticing that Elizabeth wasn’t able to ask the question herself.

Rebecca smiled softly and said, “Long live Queen Antonia I.”

Elizabeth’s eyes went wide, and she asked, “Rebecca, what–”

“Your Majesty, your country voted tokeepthe monarchy.” Rebecca’s smile widened.