"Today's the day." Alexis grins at me and I nod excitedly.

"I know." I smile, full of pride. "Everything will change today."

River hugs me from behind. "All because of you, my queen."

"You guys are such goals!"

"I'm gonna go gag, be right back!"

"Whose stomach just growled? Oh, wait, it's mine."

"Wait! Don't move! I need to take a picture!"

I chuckle at my friends before facing River. He stares down at me with the utmost respect and love. His hands circle around my waist while mine hold on to his neck.

"I..." I laugh softly at myself. It's my second year as a member of The Blue Assassins yet I still can't fully control myself around River. He continues to have an effect on me, as always.

How could he not affect me when only three days ago we... Not now, Blair! Focus!

But, as he speaks hoarsely, I discover that I have an effect on him also. "What is it, my queen? Are you nervous about today?"

"No, no." I shake my head and he narrows his eyes at me. "Well...maybe a little."

"Why are you nervous? You're doing something great, something that should've been done a very long time ago."

I sigh, nodding. "I know but... What if they disagree with me? With our decision?"

"Then I'll show them the door." River shrugs nonchalantly, making me laugh.

"Would you really?"

"Of course." He nods.

I kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you. I really do love you."

"I love you, my queen." River hugs me tightly before whispering: "But I'm sure it won't come to that. Everyone adores you here and they respect all of your decisions."

"Hey, this is our decision. I can't do this all on my own."

"Yes, our decision." He smiles and I sigh as I pull away from him.

"Okay. I'm ready to do this." I say, regarding everyone with confidence. They cheer and give me lots of encouragement.

"You go, Glen Coco!" Sam whoops and I laugh.

"Thanks. See you all in the cafeteria in fifteen."

Cody quirks an eyebrow at me. "Minutes, right?"

"Yes, Cody. Fifteen minutes." I shake my head, chuckling.

"Oh, good." Drake comments. "I'm hungry so I wouldn't survive anything higher than minutes."

"Come on, foodie." Alexis shouts and they exit my room.

"Well...I guess that leaves the two of us." River smirks seductively.

Uh-oh. Resist, Blair, resist!

He steps forward, I step back. He steps forward again, I step back again.

Soon enough, he pins me to the wall and leans dangerously close to my face. My breath hitches as he gazes into my eyes.

"We need to be in the cafeteria in fifteen minutes, River." I whisper but he doesn't move.

"I know."

His lips briefly touch mine before titling upward. He leaves a small kiss above my mouth, below my nose. I shiver involuntarily

"River." I murmur. "We have to go."

He responded with a kiss on my jaw. I close my eyes, feeling his lips trail across my entire jaw.

I bite my lip. "We should really go..."

His lips depart from my jaw, making my eyes open. A smirk forms on his face.

"Notice how you went from we need, to we have, to we should."

His voice is so rough and tempting. Ugh, stupid hormones. They're such traitors.

"Now..." River stares at my lips, his hands tracing my curves on my sides. "We could delay this announcement for an hour."

His hands suddenly grip my thighs. "Or two."

Resist! Resist, you weak girl! Re– oh, forget it.

I pull him forward and he crashes his lips on mine. Almost instantly, I feel the excitement of that night three days ago, longing for a repeat. When I tug on his bottom lip, a growl escapes from him.

River pulls out his phone and hands it to me. "Text Alexis about the delay."

"Okay." I breathe out, slowly typing the words. He distracts me multiple times by his touch.

Finally, I hand his phone back. "It's done."

"Good." River mutters, throwing his phone at a pillow on the ground. I laugh when he picks me up and lays me down on my bed. His arms stay beside my sides as he hovers over me.

With a grin, he leans down and kisses me. Our tongues collide in wet and warm paradise. Never have I ever met someone who actually made every part of my body electric.

We take off our shirts and let our eyes roam each other. He stares at my chest while I stare at his abs.

What a beautiful eight pack. I could just kiss and– oh, have mercy on me and my weak self.

As I start to caress his abdomen, I feel his hands touch places that no other person would touch without a good slap from yours truly. Thankfully, it was only River, who has unlimited access to me.

His hands slowly move lower, as do mine. And at the moment...we both have the same thought something.

"Delay for three hours?" I suggest and he grins. River hands me his phone again.

He kisses my neck and continues to kiss my body, going downwards. A soft moan leaves my mouth, making him smile up at me. "Make that three hours and a half."

•••

After three hours and a half later, we were in the cafeteria with all of the members in front of us.

"Hello, Assassins." River starts, holding my hand as I stand beside him.

Everyone mutters a respectful: "Hello, Leader."

"We are here today because my wife and I have discussed some major changes in our organization. She has many brilliant ideas that I agree and accept." He smiles at them. "Hopefully, you will too. I'll let her explain the rest before any questions."

River gives me a supportive kiss on the forehead before I stand in front of the microphone.

I take a deep breath and smile. "Hello, everyone. As you've just heard, I've had many ideas and I'd like to make them into a reality."

They nod silently in reply. River takes my hand and squeezes it lightly. I squeeze back before continuing.

"This organization is known for assassination, something that is not encouraged at all. Assassination is something for criminals, not people like us. So, we should stop the assassinations and simply catch the people instead."

A smile appears on my face when I notice most of them leaning in, their interest piqued. "Then, we'd hand them over to the authorities and have them put in prison. If they do not cooperate, we give them a warning. They continue to be uncooperative? We may kill them, only if it is completely necessary."

I notice some of them don't seem very happy about it. "Come on, guys, think about it. As assassins, we're all villains. I'm giving you all a chance to become heroes!"

More people seem to like the idea. "That's not the only idea I have, though. Here's another one."

I continue talking about my ideas as they listen intently. There's my idea for leaving the property for reasons unrelated to missions. Another about women being able to drink The Age Water and others for extreme healing purposes.

The Age Water idea has to be allowed since I have to drink that water everyday now. Or else the poison will come back. It isn't too bad, though. It tastes like regular water.

The best part is: River and I will age at the same time.

An entire hour and forty minutes passes until I finish my speech. Everyone claps for me, happy with my ideas.

"Good job, my queen. No door-showing from me was needed!" River says and I chuckle.

"I'm relieved." I smile at him.

He suddenly groans. "The bad news is...now we have to complete all of these ideas."

"It's okay, River." I put my hands around his neck and his hands go to my waist instinctively. "We have all the time in the world."

"Yes, we do, my queen." River grins. "Yes, we do."

And once again, he collides our lips with the same burning passion...as always.