Her Royal Bodyguard Read online

  Erin, less confident than Alexandra, undid her shirt and took it off cautiously, placing it down. She stood in her sports bra, feeling self conscious as she hurried to put on the clothes from Alexandra.

  “Oh, you look amazing! I just knew that jacket would suit you!” Alexandra lit up with excitement. I know you don’t really wear make up, but please let me do make up for you?”

  Erin succumbed to the make up; a live doll for Alexandra to play with. Alexandra’s fingers in her hair, her face inches from Erin’s own as she concentrated on doing make up. An hour later, Alexandra had made them both up and straightened Erin’s hair. Erin barely recognised herself with heavy kohl liner round her eyes. Alexandra had some hair and make up skills that were wasted on a Princess. She finished and was proud of her work. Erin looked at them both together in the mirror, they looked like rock stars.

  “Give me one compromise, please wear your GPS wristband. You don’t have to turn it on unless anything happens, but I just need a backup plan.” It was a terrible back up plan, as far as security of such a high profile individual goes, everything about the plan for the night was risky as hell, but Alexandra seemed to be enjoying it, she seemed more alive than Erin had ever seen her and Erin couldn’t help just wanting to please her.

  “Ok, if you insist.” Alexandra’s dark eyes flashed.

  The next step was to smuggle her out of the palace and grounds. Alexandra produced the keys to one of her own Range Rovers. She rarely drove herself, but she was perfectly capable of driving. Erin headed out of their rooms onto the communal corridor to take a look around. It was 8pm, all was quiet. She went back for Alexandra and they both hurried to the fire exit where they could get outside quickly. They got out to the garages without being caught. They were like naughty schoolchildren as they ran to Alexandra’s Range Rover which she had made sure had been left out ready for her.

  “I think once we are out of the palace grounds we should get a taxi.” Erin said. “To turn up in a taxi will be the most discreet way. We don’t want to be seen getting out of a vehicle like this.”

  They drove towards security on the palace gates. The good news is it is easier to get out of the palace than to get in. They pulled up towards the barrier and Alexandra raised a hand to the guard and smiled. God only knows who he thought was in that Range Rover but he raised the barrier and let them out. They were free in the city for the night. Erin felt exposed without any form of back up. She had worn her weapon underneath her leather jacket, just in case, the polymer body of her Glock cold against her skin. Alexandra was buoyed with confidence in Erin, but Erin knew that no bodyguard is effective alone. No bodyguard works alone without even a driver. She would be foolish to think she could offer any reasonable protection. If she had to defend them, she was limited as to what she could do.

  They parked a few streets away and walked on the street together as they waited for a taxi.

  “I’m excited Erin. I feel so free.” Alexandra smiled as they walked. “Thank you so much for this. It is the greatest gift anyone could give me. I haven’t been anywhere without security in my whole life. Well, I’m not without security, I have you. But, I feel so free. Thank you.”

  “You are welcome! I hope Soho lives up to your hopes!” Erin waved down a black London cab and it pulled over for them, they got in the back and sat next to each other. Alexandra’s slim thighs in black denim, so close to Erin’s own thighs. Erin’s thighs longer and so much more muscular than Alexandra’s. It began to feel like a date. A night out. Not like work. Erin’s mind flew between desire for Alexandra and desire to keep her safe. Scanning for danger, scanning her body and her face.

  They pulled up in Soho, the heart of the London underbelly, and as they stepped out onto the street Alexandra stood mesmerised, taking it all in. The hustle of the people on the streets, pavements busy with tables and chairs, with front of house staff trying to draw people in to their businesses. Erin knew their biggest risk was not so much being recognised, but being pickpocketed or mugged. She walked glued close to Alexandra, ready to defend her at any moment. Alexandra wandered aimlessly.

  “This place is amazing Erin. There is such a life to it. Such a heartbeat. Can we go in this bar?” Alexandra took her arm and dragged her into the first bar with a rainbow flag hanging proudly outside of it.

  Saturday night was busy and suddenly the people up close pressed in the busy bar seemed to surprise Alexandra.

  Erin took the lead, took her hand, felt it warm in her own and lead Alexandra to an upstairs bar. It was quieter. There was a balcony overlooking the downstairs area. Alexandra was like a child in a sweet shop, watching everything as though in a trance.

  “Can I have a cocktail here?” Alexandra asked.

  “Sure,” replied Erin. “It might not be as good as you are used to though.”

  “Surprise me.”

  Alexandra pushed a bundle of immaculately pressed bank notes into Erin’s hand.

  “Please use this to pay for everything tonight.”

  Erin wanted to argue. Her pride wanted to argue, but she didn’t. She took the money and went to the bar. No further than five feet from Alexandra and with one eye on her the whole time.

  She returned with cocktails for them both. She made sure her own was non alcoholic. Alexandra was delighted with the sweet taste on her tongue. Her face lit up as Erin handed the vibrant red drink to her. Erin couldn’t help noticing Alexandra’s lips tight around the straw.

  “I can’t believe I am actually in Soho. It’s like the heart of the London gay scene right?” asked Alexandra.

  Erin smiled at her childlike enthusiasm. “Sure is!” responded Erin.

  “Do you come here often?” asked Alexandra.

  Erin laughed. “Is that a chat up line?”

  Alexandra laughed, her eyes bright behind the contact lenses.

  “I mean, I literally just meant, you must come here all the time. It is such a magical place.” She sipped her cocktail thoughtfully.

  Erin had never thought of Soho as magical. When she had been here with her friends, fun nights often ended in dirty kebabs and staggering around trying to find the night bus home. Looking at Soho through Alexandra’s eyes was refreshing. She felt the risqué vibe of the streets. She felt the beating heart of the small village nestled inside a big city.

  “Not so much, I mean now and again, but I’m no party animal.”

  Alexandra finished her cocktail and grabbed Erin’s arm dragging her down the stairs and out of the bar.

  She walked ahead of Erin along the street, fascinated by everything.

  “A tattoo shop. I had no idea late night tattoos was a thing! I could get one!” The princess was dangerous in her excitement.

  “Wow! Er, no.. You definitely can’t! Can you imagine if anyone found out?”

  Alexandra’s face was up close to the tattoo shop window as she saw a woman inside getting tattooed. She opened the door and went in.

  “Excuse me, I was just wondering if you would mind if we watched?”

  The tattooist, a big guy in his 40s, his bald head covered in tattoos, barely looked up. “If the lady doesn’t mind,” he grunted.

  The ‘lady’ was more of a girl and looked barely old enough to be out without an adult accompanying her. “Sure, I don’t mind.”

  The girl was leaning forwards on a purpose built chair, her whole back exposed as he worked on an intricate Tiger on her back. Erin watched Alexandra’s eyes as they followed every movement. His tattoo machine, it’s tiny needles, dipped in the ink pots and then onto her skin. Into her skin. Marking her indelibly for life. A cloth in his other hand wiping away excess ink and revealing the art he was creating.

  It was such an intimate procedure to watch. Alexandra was fixated, and Erin found herself mesmerised too. Sitting in this seedy tattoo shop watching the artist at work. And he was a true artist. Erin had perhaps never really appreciated what tattooing involved. She felt like she was seeing the world through new eyes seeing everything
alongside Alexandra, as though for the first time. Erin forgot for a moment, who she was there with, what her role was. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to be sitting there with this woman, safe in the cocoon of bright lights in this tiny shop. The buzzing of the needles in the tattoo machine, a rhythmic hum.

  Alexandra’s no doubt expensive wig was so convincing. The long dark hair looking like part of her. Her eyes, heavily lined in black liner were curiously dark and unnatural in appearance in the bright lights. The one thing for sure is she looked absolutely nothing like the Princess that the people knew and loved.

  Minutes passed as they sat there. Next to each other. Curiously close.

  Then Alexandra prepared to leave. She left a couple of £20 notes on the side as they left.

  “Thank you so much for letting us join you. Your Tiger is beautiful.”

  There was little response and no break in the work as Alexandra and Erin were back in the hustle of the street.

  “I have never seen so many lesbians.” Alexandra said as they walked.

  “How do you know they are lesbians?” Erin challenged.

  Alexandra smiled. “Yes, you are right. I shouldn’t judge. Nobody ever really knows by looking. But they are just so cool. Their haircuts, their clothes, their tattoos and piercings. I feel so plain. They look so exotic.”

  “I assure you, they probably aren’t that exotic,” Erin laughed, “and you are anything but plain.”

  Out in the street, Alexandra spotted a sex shop and ran across the road to it. It’s neon sign literally drawing her in like a moth to a flame.

  A wide eyed Alexandra, “I have literally always wanted to go in one of these shops. Can we go in? Please?”

  Erin reasoned that they were probably much safer in places although there was a somewhat questionable security guard on the door. They headed down the stairs into the basement shop and Erin laughed as Alexandra picked up a huge black dildo. “What on earth is this? Surely it is too big for anyone?”

  “I mean, I think this range is targeted at gay men. How about this one?” Erin picked up another of the big black toys, this one in the shape of an arm and fist.

  “Oh my god. Let me see it.” Alexandra took it and weighed it in her hand. “I just can’t believe it.”

  Erin picked up another dildo, a carefully carved nun or something similar. They both just laughed.

  “Surely not,” said Alexandra.

  “Oh, this is just the tip of the iceberg.” Erin knew damn well what the shop was likely to contain and she found herself enjoying experiencing it all with Alexandra.

  They headed to a couple more bars and the evening got busier. The princess was wide eyed throughout and somehow completely anonymous. Even Erin would have struggled to recognise her if she hadn’t known.

  They went to a crowded girls only bar. It was underground and dimly lit. A fit dancer in her underwear danced on a pole. Erin found herself pushed close to Alexandra, there just wasn’t enough space for anything else. Her heart raced and the atmosphere between them felt electric. Alexandra brushed against her and Erin felt it everywhere.

  “Let’s dance.” Alexandra took her hand and pulled her into the dancefloor. Erin had never been much of a dancer but found herself swept away with Alexandra’s enthusiasm. The deep pulse of the music took them to another world. Alexandra’s strangely dark eyes promised another world.

  A tall woman with a too cool haircut danced closely behind Alexandra, her eyes predatory up and down Alexandra’s body. Alexandra danced with her, her eyes slightly unsure but enjoying the attention until the tall woman put her hands on Alexandras hips and pulled her in. Alexandra about jumped out of her skin. Not used to the unwanted attentions of strangers. Alexandra was clearly horrified that this touching without consent was something that happened in clubs. Her eyes looked momentarily panicked and sought the safety of Erin.

  “She’s with me,” Erin said confidently and with an air of ownership and pulled Alexandra back towards her.

  The tall woman put her hands up and accepted defeat easily.

  “Sorry, mate.” Erin saw her mouth an apology.

  Safe enough so far, thought Erin.

  Alexandra clung to Erin for a few seconds too long. She clung to the safety of Erin and everything that Erin was to her. Without her usual heels on, the top of her dark wig reached Erin’s chin. She felt the Princess’s face close against her breast, just for that moment and it was overwhelming.

  They pulled apart and danced again to the music. Alexandra staying closer this time and avoiding eye contact with other women. The intensity building between them was not lost on either woman.

  As they left the bar and went back out to the street where they could hear each other again, Alexandra enthused about the bar.

  “What an incredible place. I’ve never been anywhere like that. All those women. All those women just like us. Do they normally just touch people like that? Is that a normal thing?”

  “Pretty normal, yeah,” Erin sighed. “It is a bar on a Saturday night. People drinking and dancing. These things just happen really. It doesn’t make it okay, but it happens a lot. At least she backed away when I stepped in.”

  Alexandra looked to her and took in Erin’s height and strong shoulders. Their eyes met.

  “Thank you for saving me.”

  “Anytime,” replied Erin, not realising how soon her words might be tested.

  11

  Erin and Alexandra headed out of Soho’s hustle trying to find a taxi that was available. It was a busy night and black cabs drove past but they were already occupied.

  A lone drunk man approached them, his gait slightly wobbly, his voice slightly slurred.

  “Lesbians,” he proclaimed. “Are you two lesbians?”

  “Ignore him and keep walking.” Erin directed Alexandra as they kept moving.

  “I love lesbians,” he continued as he turned and walked with them. “Especially ones that look like you two. I like her. The little dark one. What is your name?”

  Erin was on edge and suddenly felt very exposed. Suddenly very aware she had no back up. The man was old enough to know better, old enough to behave like an adult, but it was amazing how often straight men behaved like this when they saw lesbians.

  “How do lesbians have sex? Really though? It is a serious question… stop ignoring me.”

  Alexandra started to look concerned as Erin increased their pace. He increased his pace to keep with them.

  “Seriously though. Which one of you is the man? It’s you isn’t it? You, the tall one. I bet you wear the strap on. Does little darkie like it or does she want a real man?”

  “Listen to me!!” he shouted as they neared a main road.

  Suddenly he lurched and lunged towards Alexandra grabbing at her body. He caught her hair and her wig came off in his hands. He looked surprised and grabbed again for her. Erin responded swiftly and brutally. The heel of her hand smashed straight into his nose and he screamed as the impact hit him. Angered, he let go of Alexandra and turned on Erin swinging his fist towards her. She blocked his flailing arm and struck him swiftly with her elbow and then followed it with her knee sharply up into his groin. He crumpled to the ground immediately wailing in pain and bloodied all over his face. People started to come out of the nearest bar to see what was happening. A car pulled over. Erin grabbed Alexandra who was standing stupefied.

  “Run.”

  Alexandra didn’t move.

  “RUN.” Erin grabbed her hand and pulled her. She knew there was no way they could be caught there. Anyone coming too close now would recognise Alexandra for sure without the wig on. They ran down the streets into the rabbit warren of Soho rounding corners as fast as Erin could drag her, then into a dark alleyway and a shop doorway. Adrenaline coursed through them both as Erin slammed the Princess into the doorway to hide for a second. To catch their breath; to make a plan.

  And suddenly Alexandra was pushed against the wall and Erin was so close to her and her
breath was ragged. Erin’s eyes were on high alert and her heart was beating out of her chest. Alexandra took hold of Erin’s leather jacket and pulled Erin’s strong body in towards her.

  Erin paused, shocked for a second as Alexandra looked up to her inches from her face.

  “Kiss me,” she said breathily. Erin paused again looking at Alexandra’s beautiful face, the curiously dark eyes flooded with desire and her own ashy hair slicked back. Her collarbone prominent in the dark.

  “Kiss me,” repeated Alexandra and Erin couldn’t fight her own lust any longer. She pushed Alexandra back against the wall and leant down and kissed her like nothing else mattered. Like they were the only two people in the world. Like nothing that had just happened had just happened. Like Alexandra wasn’t the future Queen of England. Her tongue pushed into Alexandra’s mouth and Alexandra hungrily responded. Alexandra kissed her back like Erin was water in a desert. And she was. In a way. Alexandra had spent her life in the desert.

  Erin woke up suddenly and pulled away. Suddenly reminded of the her job and their situation.

  “Hold on,” she said. “We need to get out of here. I need to get you out of here.” She slipped her phone out of her pocket and within seconds she had ordered an Uber.

  “Four minutes it says.” She watched the image of the car on the map on her screen. Needed to focus on something practical. Something that wasn’t Alexandra and the fact she had just kissed her. Just kissed the Princess. Was she insane? Erin felt lust coursing through her body and pooling between her legs. She couldn’t look at Alexandra. She looked out of their doorway for people, for possible danger. She looked to her phone at the Uber app.

  “Nearly here,” she said and she took Alexandra’s hand leading her out on the street to meet the car. Her eyes darted up and down the street. The street was safe. They weren’t followed. She opened the door and put the Princess safely inside and then walked around the car and got in herself. She sat in the dark back seat and closed her eyes momentarily and sighed as the car began to head back to where they had left their Range Rover.