Author's Notes:

Hello, Faithful Readers and to those of you who are new to my stories, Welcome! Come inside, take a seat.

This new storyline focuses on a problem that creeps into Maxon's and America's blissful marriage. Realistically, no marriage is perfect but can something seeming so innocent cause a major rift between our favorite couple? This issue will test the lines between loyalty and friendship. How will Maxon and America handle this? Will their marriage fall apart or will they come together in one Sweet Surrender? Follow this latest tale to find out!

WARNING!This story is rated for (MA) only! This chapter contains graphic sexual content and language. If you do not like to read this sort of story/genre or are easily offended please go read something else. You have been WARNED! To all others, please proceed and...

Enjoy!

~Sweetwaterspice

Sweet Surrender

Chapter One

~Maxon

The early morning rays seeped through the curtain of the balcony door, urging me to wake from a sweet slumber to greet another day. It would be busy today and I wasn't looking forward to it. My agenda was already crammed with meetings and paperwork, budget talks and debates over social issues. I sighed wishing it was a day off instead. I could spend it alone with America, maybe on a picnic or just a day in bed. As inviting as those thoughts were, I knew there was no way I could pull it off, not today. I had to go to work. I sighed once more.

That sigh though, turned into a smile feeling the naked body of my wife, snuggled tight against me. And what a body it was. This body, so warm and so pleasurable, an exquisite form of mounds and curves; a body I had the privilege of enjoying in the most intimate ways. A body that drove me mad every time we made love and that even now, as she slept, sparked a morning's hunger, my manhood beginning to swell against her bare bottom. I raised a brow. It would be the perfect way to start my busy day.

I slid my open palm over to her flat stomach, feeling the slow rise and fall of her breath. Her hair always smelled so good, her skin always so silken soft. I took a deep breath behind her ear, inhaling the faint scent of her perfumed skin and hair. My lips brushed over her shoulder, kissing her softly as my hand now roamed over her hip, pushing the sheets down to caress her shapely, outer thigh.

It didn't take much for America to get me up. It was so damn easy for her it was rather shameful. Some days, all she had to do was give me that look with those bewitching blue eyes; that silent, telling look that spoke of heat and want and need and I was ready to go. Our sex life was extremely active and more than satisfying. This certainly didn't come as a surprise to me. After all, she had this powerful effect on me since the days of the Selection. Truth be told, she had been the only one out of all 35 to have stirred that deep ache inside my trousers and had I been bolder, I would've made love to her on several occasions. Had I known the pleasure she would bring, I might have, all things considered.

Nibbling on her earlobe, kissing behind her ear was a favored stimuli that, now in my experience, never failed to bring her to life. And as I laid several feathered kisses on her at this very moment, aiming to wake my beautiful queen, wishing to revel in her luscious sex first thing this morning, I knew I would be rewarded with the same result - damn great sex. I nudged her bottom with my semi-hardened cock as my desire increased. She stirred, moaning a little as if that move breathed a different life into her. Damn, that sent a flow of blood straight to my appendage and I felt myself increase in size instantly.

Feeling her body come alive was like an adrenaline shot coursing my own body. The hand I had planted on her hip, slipped between those firm thighs, feeling her damp. She gave a little whimper, opening herself to my touch. My middle finger gently rubbed her clit and the feel of that little button against my digit made me smile a wicked smile for I knew how much she loved it when I touched her like this.

"Maaaxon," she whispered, trying to catch a breath. Her hand reached back to cup my face. I turned my lips into her hand, kissing her palm.

"Yes, love."

"Don't…don't stop… please…don't," she gasped as I applied a little more pressure.

"I'm not, baby," I assured, and was captivated by the look of pure ecstasy on her face. I kissed her bare shoulder as I ran my fingers along her slicked entrance, encouraging her body to prepare itself for copulation. She responded to my touch as I felt her hips press against my hand. I didn't need much encouragement. Her back arched when I slipped my touch inside of her; one finger, then a second. I whispered naughty little words to her as my fingers drowned in the sweet nectar of her growing need for me. I loved hearing her as I pleasured her, my fingers diving deeper, stroking her soft walls, the intense heat she gave off alerting me to her readiness.

America pulled my head down, stifling her moans with my mouth, tongue and lips waltzing together in an ardent kiss. It was a full, passionate kiss, one that left me almost breathless.

"Take me," she whispered, salaciously, her blue eyes, now opened and pleading. "Take me, Maxon."

And so, I did.

America kissed my damp chest once I rolled off, breaking our connection. She rested her head there, my chest rising and falling as I regained my breath, our bodies limp from lust-filled indulgence.

"You are…amazing," she smiled against my chest, and closed her lips over one of my nipples.

I felt like a stud at her compliment. "You keep doing that, and you'll be in for it again," I told her, my voice low and raspy. I wasn't teasing.

"Promise?" came the devilish reply.

"Most definitely."

"I wouldn't mind, you know…you are quite irresistible." Her hand took hold of my now softened penis and shifting over said to it, "I love you." She planted a kiss on it.

I laughed. I was more than pleased with myself that I could gratify her so well since on quite a few days America had an unquenchable thirst for sex.

"Do you have to go to work today?" she pouted, laying another soft kiss between my pecs as her fingers caressed my abdomen. That gave me chills.

"I'm sorry, darling. I had considered not, though."

"What's there to consider? Spending all day in boring meetings or here in bed with me. I'm by far much more exciting."

And tempting. I chuckled at her attempt to persuade. "I won't argue with that. I would spend all day in bed with you if I could." My fingers tickled her back as I told her I wouldn't be able to reschedule my agenda, no matter how much I wanted. I sighed again, thinking about the day ahead.

"I'll come to your office for lunch. I hate it when you have such long, tedious days. I miss you terribly."

Slipping my hand into her hair, I smiled. "I'd like that."

America leaned into my lips and tugged on the bottom with her teeth. "But lunch is sooo many hours away."

I felt her body recharge. Her kisses left a trail that started from my lips over to my chest again and I felt her tongue and breath between my pecs. Her magical hand surveyed my torso and perused over to the top of one thigh. America had a knack for getting her way and she was doing a damn good job at it right now. She moaned against my chest, wrapping her lips about one nipple and then the other; the tip of her wet tongue circling about the dark patch. She had been warned once.

I smiled at her as she moved, swinging her leg to straddle me, leaning her delicious body over mine, the globes of her breasts pressed sensually between us. My hands caressed her back, toned legs and ass.

"Mmmm…you make me shiver in all the right places," she moaned, kissing my lips again, her fingers gripping the pillow on either side of my head as she swayed her bottom against my region.

"You're not behaving yourself, Mrs. Schreave." She was insistent, I'd give her that. And she was able to engage me once again, as her tongue asked for entrance. We kissed softly.

"I know…what I want, Mr. Schreave. You." Her eyes were fired in lust.

"Good Lord," I moaned, grabbing hold of the back of her head and crushing my mouth against hers. I couldn't resist her! This woman was like a cat on a hot tin roof! Her bottom squirmed against my manhood, bringing me back to life right away. Thank heaven I had damn good stamina. Seizing her hips firmly, I looked at her with a final warning which she absolutely ignored.

"You're gonna give it to me?"

"Oh yeah,…I'm definitely gonna give it to you." I smirked, rubbing my resurrected dick against her wetness. She moaned.

I don't think she realized what hit her once I filled her whole in one deep thrust. She let out a high pitched yelp, and as she adjusted to me, gave me a very naughty smile. But this time, I wasn't relinquishing control. I pulled her down to me, wrapping my arms tight around her body, my upward thrusts were deep and hard. She tried to ease up but I pulled her back down on me. She groaned and squealed into the pillow, and I felt her claw at the sheets on the bed. I moved one hand over to her ass, feeling the vibrations of my thrusts against her as the other arm still held her firmly in place. I was giving her exactly what she wanted and I would be damned if I was going to leave this room with her not completely satisfied. Her cries of pleasure were like a fuel that begged me for more and I groaned my own delight as the sweetness of her walls tightened around me.

The charged slap of our hips as they clashed filled our space and I heard her rattle off a couple of four-letter words once I hit her core again and again and again. "God, I love you! I love you, Maxon!" she cried, her fingers now fisting the pillow. She was in full orgasm, her rippling walls trembling around me. I captured her taut nipple in my mouth, the hand on her ass, now on her breast, holding her mound as I bit softly down on her tender nub. America let out one final frenzied cry which brought me to an incredible climax of my own as I unloaded deep inside her for the second time.

She gasped and heaved into my neck, and I felt her trembling.

"Are you alright, darling?" I chuckled in her ear.

She didn't respond right away. Her ragged breaths brushed against my skin. Her chest heaved, and still attempting to catch her breath, she lifted her head, brushing back her red hair from her face.

"Oh my God!" she cried. "That was fucking amazing!"

The grin on my face was wide and proud. "Anytime, darling." I kissed her forehead. Better to avoid the lips for now, I thought.

America collapsed on top of me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. "God, you're amazing."

"We're amazing."

"Yes, we are," she uttered, lazily.

Soon, her body relaxed. I was certain I could spend all day holding her like this. America was everything I had dreamed of. She was perfect. Our life was perfect. What could possibly go wrong?

~Harrison

I checked my pocket watch as I walked down the main floor. I had finished getting His Majesty readied for the day and now had some time before further duties called and decided to make my way to the stables. A new foal had been born last night and I wanted to check on the colt before long. Staff was busy with cleaning duties and I was greeted along the way with respectful nods and cheerful greetings. I stopped to admire the painting on the wall, recently added, of His Majesty and Queen America. It brought a smile to my face. I knew how happy they were and although no marriage was perfect, they seemed to be made for each other.

But a certain conversation caught my ears, shifting my attention from the portrait to the opened door of the room I stood near by.

"It is absolutely improper for her to be carrying on like that with another man!" said the female voice of a maid. "I would never think of Queen Amberly to be so familiar with any other male who was not King Clarkson or family. It's shameful."

"Scandalous," agreed her counterpart as she dusted the mantle. "And it seems like it's every afternoon they're together."

"I know! It's near indecent. I heard they were from the same province in Carolina. Grew up almost neighbor-like," informed the other to her companion.

"Poor King Maxon. I wonder…"

The gruff sound of disapproval I uttered broke up the gossip mongers as I stood in the doorway across the chattering maids, clearing my throat to bring this conversation to a quick end.

Seeing the king's personal valet's scathing frown, which I wore, not only abruptly ended the conversation but shamed the two female servants whose faces were now beet red.

"I would hope this little gossip would not be anything that may cost you your position in the palace, ladies," I said, walking into the room, hands behind my back. "For I am certain that any matter referring to their Majesties private lives is none of your concern."

"We didn't mean no harm by it, Mr. Harrison," declared one of the maids as they stood at attention with eyes glued to their shoes.

I scoffed. "Nothing good ever comes of gossip. Gossip is for idle minds and idle hands. Perhaps you're not busy enough in your duties that we may need to reassign you to the kitchen staff?" I knew to many of the servants, if not all, the kitchen was viewed to be almost a death stroke.

The other gasped. "No, sir, Mr. Harrison, sir!" Her eyes were wide and filled with fright.

"I would remind you, that you are privileged to have a place under King Maxon's roof and it would be fitting for you to remember to be grateful for it and that such a privilege can also be easily stripped away which I can certainly arrange with Mrs. LaFontaine if you'd like me to."

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Harrison," replied the first maid, sheepishly.

Of course these troublemakers would deem it unnecessary. Mrs. LaFontaine, being the Head Maid, had no patience for this sort of behavior.

"We were just…talking," followed the second, twisting her hands.

"I would recommend you do less of that and tend faithfully to your duties, understood?"

"Yes, sir," the response was unanimous.

I straightened my jacket and turned to leave the room. I've always hated gossip and especially anything having to do with the Royal family. I wasn't sure if I should bring this to King Maxon's attention. After thinking of it as I made my way to the stables, I decided I wouldn't. No need to worry the King over such trivial matters.

~Maxon

"Did you have a fabulous morning?" America asked as she greeted me with a kiss, setting a picnic basket down on my desk.

"I did, until I came to work," I stood from my chair immediately gathering her to me by her waist.

"Maaaxon, behave yourself," she giggled, feeling my kisses on her neck.

"You smell lovely. What's for lunch?"

"Not me, if that's what you're thinking," she scolded, jokingly, her hands resting on my shoulders.

"Well, that's unfortunate," I whispered, in her ear.

"We better stop before we find ourselves in…an uncompromising position, Your Majesty."

"I like uncompromising positions."

"Oh, you, rascal!" she swatted my arm softly. "In your office? Really, Maxon! We can't afford to have someone barge in on us. I mean, seriously. That's just wicked."

"Mmm…I like the sound of that," I said, and I found myself holding the mounds of her bottom as my tongue soon found hers.

"Maaaxon," she breathed against my lips, "We…shouldn't…Mmmm…oooh…"

I had to admit, the thought of throwing America unto my desk and making love to her had been a fantasy of mine and I wondered just how far she would let me get. So not responding to her protest I slowly turned her into the desk, her bottom pressing on the edge. My kisses traveled down the column of her throat soon dipping into her cleavage and I felt her hand slip into my hair.

"Maxon, we're su..supposed to be…h-having, Oh God,…lunch."

"Who needs food when I have you, my, darling," I uttered between kisses on her delicate flesh.

"You're not being fair."

"Fair?" I asked, my palms kneading her breasts through the material of her dress.

"You know I…I can't…resist you," she replied between labored breaths as my hands and lips worked to expose the tempting mounds of her breasts.

"So what's unfair about that?"

"Maxon! Good Lord! We have to show some restraint," she whispered, throatily. "Someone could walk in. And if you don't behave yourself, I'll have to put you on a time out."

"What the hell is that?!" I asked, sardonically as my face surfaced from deep within her cleavage.

"Think about it," she smirked, and pried herself away from my hold, fixing the top to her dress.

I had a vicious hard on and I felt, to be honest, a little…frustrated.

"Oh, don't look so disappointed. We can continue this later," she smiled as she set out the contents of the basket on the nearby coffee table.

"That's fine, but how is that helping me now?" I nodded at the bulge in my pants.

"Oh! Did I do that?" she feigned surprise and winked.

I adjusted my crotch and sat next to her. "Maybe next time you should wear a habit."

She laughed. "A habit?! Really, Maxon. I'm sorry. There isn't anything saintly about me, you know."

"Don't I know it!" I kissed the side of her head.

At least lunch would get my mind off my delectable wife. So I hoped.

"So, what do you have planned after lunch?" I asked her, snatching an apple out of the basket. America set out the plates, unwrapping sandwiches from butcher paper – turkey and provolone with all the fixings on freshly baked squaw bread.

"I don't know," she shrugged, grabbing the tongs from the basket as she dished a garden salad on my plate. "I'm thinking I'll spend some time in the Women's Room practicing a few pieces on the piano. Maybe do some reading. And I believe Mom and May are supposed to visit today."

"Well, give them both a kiss from me," I said, chomping on the apple.

"I will. And, perhaps – I'm going to take a walk out in the gardens. It's such a beautiful day out."

I shook my head disapprovingly. "You know I don't like you outdoors especially with the Southern rebels still causing problems."

"Oh, I'll be fine. Aspen will be with me."

My jaw tightened as I finished chewing the bit of apple in my mouth. I threw the rest back into the basket. I rested both elbows on my knees and I stretched my neck to one side, then the other, trying to release the sudden tension I felt. I couldn't help the uneasiness that crept through me like a thick, growing vine wrapping itself around my heart, squeezing me tight, as thoughts of my wife spending time alone with her ex-boyfriend blazed my mind.

I had noticed that these walks had become all too frequent, almost daily and I didn't like it.

"I thought we'd talked about this, America," I broached the subject.

"Talked about what?" she asked, gathering the utensils from the basket.

"The walks. You know how I feel."

"It's just a walk Maxon. I like being outside and since you're busy…Aspen volunteered."

"Officer Leger," I corrected, my brows crinkled as I looked at her.

"You're not going to start that again, are you?"

I didn't like the tone I was getting. It made me feel as if what we had spoken about was of little concern to her, trivial almost.

"And obviously it's not done with, is it?"

America nudged by arms off my legs, placing a napkin on my lap. "We are not talking about this right now." Her tone was irritated but I didn't care.

"We shouldn't be talking about it at all, America. I've already told you, I didn't like it."

"What is the problem, Maxon? Don't tell me you're jealous? I've explained to you there's no reason for you to feel jealous."

"It's not just that," I started as she handed me my plate.

"Eat," she commanded, as she unfolded a napkin on her lap.

I set the plate back on the table, suddenly lacking an appetite. "It's not just that, America. Of course I'm going to feel…a little…jealous," I was embarrassed to admit, but I couldn't help my feelings. My wife was damn hot. "But, you two had at one point, feelings for each other." Like did she really expect me to forget they had dated in secret for two years?

"And what is that supposed to mean? That you don't trust me now?"

I sighed inwardly. She pulled out the trust card. I didn't want to water down my words so I came out with it.

"Not you. But I sure as hell don't trust him!"

"Oh stop it!"

"Why can't you have another guard or guards join you on your walk? We have a heap of them. I could assign a couple to you. Maybe Avery or Hector. Why does it have to be Leger?"

"He's my friend!" she cried.

"And I'm your husband!"

"Maxon, I don't like your tone," she stiffened.

My tone?! MY TONE?! I felt as if my top was about to blow. "You haven't heard a word of what I've said, America," I uttered, trying to keep myself from exploding.

"So what am I supposed to do, Maxon? Ignore my friend? Not talk to him ever again? Just to please you? Because you're, you're jealous?!"

"I never said you couldn't be friends! You're taking things out of context," I replied gruffly.

"Am I?" she stood, balling up her napkin and throwing it down on the table. "Need I remind you whose bed I get into every night?" she glared down at me. "Yours, Maxon! Maybe you should think about that!"

"Where are you going?" I demanded as she stormed across the room to the door.

"To the Women's Room!" she opened the door and slammed it shut behind her.

I slumped back into the couch, already feeling the beginning of a horrible headache.

And that is the way lunch ended.

Okay Lovelies, what did you think of this chapter? What do you think will happen next? You know what to do now ~ post a review, PM, fave or follow! Share your thoughts! I love to hear from you all.

**The Author's Notes section in my story "At Last" has been archived and is no longer available.

Stay tuned for Chapter Two...coming soon!