Uncharted - A My Sweet Prince Novel (2)

Return to Reality

"Lina, I need a partner!" Alvah calls, breaking the spell we are under. I pull away from Chezem abruptly, giving him a sad smile, and swim over to Alvah.

"Just watch what you grab," I tell him, shaking a finger at him. Asaka is still reigning supreme, but I'm determined. She is barely wet and that won't do. Everyone else has taken a dunk, but her and Lambert, who hasn't set foot in the water.

Alvah helps me up onto his shoulders, and I take a deep breath. I see Chezem out of the corner of my eyes, watching me, his mouth set in a tight line. I pat Alvah's head. "Ready to take her down?" he asks me.

I laugh. "We can sure try."

Melchiorre calls the start and Alvah hurries in. Asaka and I push and pull, grabbing at each other. We stay locked in battle for several minutes, but I see her eyes slide to the side, toward Chezem, who has finally made his way out of the water. I take the moment and grab her leg, throwing it over Jun's shoulder as I give a hard shove to her shoulder. Her balance compromised, she is unable to right herself and I taste sweet victory as her head goes under the water.

Alvah yells in victory and holds his hand up to me for a high five. And then he unceremoniously throws me off his shoulders and into the water. A startled cry passes through my lips before my head goes under. I come up gasping for air, glaring at him. I splash water in his direction. "Traitor!" I chasten, though there is no anger behind it. He grins sheepishly.

Click.

It is my only warning before Melchiorre grabs me around the waist and tosses me effortlessly into the air. He catches me in his arms, bridal style, and grins roguishly. "Congratulations on the win, my lady," he says, seemingly having no intention of putting me down. He carries me like that straight out of the water and places me on my towel beside Chezem, who is deep into his book.

Rather than bother him, I grab my own and we sit like that for some time, both reading our own novels. I don't know if he does the same, but every few paragraphs my eyes slide over to him for a moment before returning to the words on the page.

***

The ride back to the palace is considerably worse. Everyone is wet and boisterous - even Lambert, who eventually got dragged into the water. Chezem remains quiet, but silently, about halfway back to the palace, I feel his hand brush my thigh and I glance at him. He is not looking at me, but I think I can see the faintest smile on his lips.

We all pile out of the car and into the palace, everyone in a good mood. We all go our separate ways, presumably to get cleaned up and changed, but I hang back with Chezem. When we are alone, I turn to face him. "What is this?" I ask, motioning between the two of us.

He tilts his head to the side. "This?" he asks.

"Yes," I say quietly. "What is going on between us? Is there an us? Is that was this is?" I wave my hands to encompass the area around us. "We barely know each other, but I want to know you more. But...I worry. You are a prince and I am definitely not a princess, not to mention the baggage I come with. Is this just...just a heat of the moment thing? Or...or...I don't know. I just don't know what we are."

Chezem is quiet for an agonizingly long moment. He reached up slowly and lifts my chin. "I like you," he says bluntly. "Lina, you are beautiful and smart and sweet and funny. Yes, you have baggage, but so do I. You look at me and see a person first, not just a prince with a lot of money. If you need it, I will give you space, but I want more with you, Lina. A relationship, dates, many more kisses." He sighs and drops his hand. "If you do not wish to stay, I will be saddened, but I will also understand. However, if you choose to stay, I will be most happy. Even to have you as just a friend would be a pleasure, though let me be plain - I want more than that. I will respect your choice if you do not want that with me but-"

I silenced him with a finger to his lips. "Okay," I say softly. "I haven't told Asaka yet, but I think...I think I want to stay. She was right - we did promise to raise our babies together. And even in this short amount of time, this place feels like home. You feel like home." I am surprised to find that I am not embarrassed by my admission. "Let's just...pump the brakes a little," I whisper. "At this rate all the inappropriate jokes won't be jokes anymore."

Chezem clears his throat. "I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable with my personal admission at the beach," he says softly. "You know you are safe with me, even if I am feeling...amorous." He rubs the back of his neck. "If we get to that point, I assure you, it will be your choice. I will not try to sway your opinion or coax you into anything." He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my fingertips gently.

I smile. "Thank you," I say. "Even just hearing you say that eases my mind in a way I didn't know it needed to be eased." I take a deep breath. "Come on," I urge. "Let's stop lurking in doorways. You still need to practice the wedding dance." I pull him down the hallways to the ballroom where we go over the dance again and again in our soaking wet swim suits, leaving little puddles wherever we linger.

Pump the brakes, I think to myself. We definitely need to slow down before I find myself in love much too quickly. Before I find myself in his bed. The thought disturbs me only because I have not been with a man in that regard since my attack. But if there was just one person in the world that I thought I could give myself to, it was this man in my arms, laughing every time he steps on my toes.