I Choose All of You

Chapter Twenty-One

"This is cute and all, but there are less messy ways of getting me to notice you, Sarah," Jeremiah laughed. His blue eyes were full of charm and amusement. I stood in front of him, wishing to disappear. I could still feel some flour on my face, and I watched it cloud around me when I moved.

"Oh really? I was hoping flour would be one of your biggest turn ons. Maybe I read it somewhere? A rumor maybe?"

Prince Jeremiah took a step closer to me and narrowed his eyes, "Don't believe everything you hear, sweetheart. It's better to find out in person."

I took a shaky step back. My body hit a closed door, and I rubbed the back of my head.

Jeremiah laughed as I turned red, "You seemed to have more fun this evening, than I did."

"Was your date that terrible?"

"How about you clean yourself up, and I will tell you all about it. I want to see your face." I shook my head and turned away from him, to hide my smile, "Okay but stay out here. I'll be quick."

Before he could answer, I slammed the door in his face and ran to my bathroom. I peeled my dress off and threw it in the tub. I turned on the sink and splashed water all over myself and face. When I looked in the mirror, I almost screamed at my reflection. Dear God, a living human actually saw me existing like this. Yikes. Embarrassing. I used the hand towel to dry myself, and I grabbed some mascara. I applied it quickly and shook my hair out. Some flour clouds formed and I cursed under my breath. Can't keep the Prince waiting for long.

Finally I settled on a simple baby pink slip dress and a matching sweater. I threw my hair up into a messy ponytail. My reflection looks good enough to me. Grabbing my slippers, I opened my door to a Jeremiah-less view. Did he give up waiting?

Quietly I walked down the long hallway to the staircase. Sure enough, familiar blonde locks bounced below me. The Prince's eyes glistened up at me, while I approached him.

I took his outstretched hand, "Isn't this against the rules or something?"

"Rules? I wasn't aware there were rules! Even if I was aware, I wouldn't mind breaking them. Especially if that meant I got to spend time with you," Jeremiah remarked. I looked up at him and his smile grew. He then led me, through the courtyard, and to the garden.

We walked side by side. The air was calm. This was the first time Jeremiah and I got to be alone, since that night at the Ball. His expression looked at ease and he strolled next to me, hands clasped behind his back.

"My date was boring," Jeremiah broke the silence.

I hummed in response.

"She was a bit of a chatter box. Now, don't get me wrong. I love a woman with ideas, but it got to a point I don't even think she knew what she was talking about. So the only way I could get her to shut up, was to kiss her."

I stopped in my tracks and my eyes grew big, "You kissed her?"

Jeremiah stopped walking too and turned to face me with an amused expression, "Well, yes. It's works every time."

"So you just got her to stop talking by kissing her. How does that even work? Like you just grabbed her, mid speech, and pressed your lips to hers or..?"

The air suddenly felt hot and sweaty. I took a quick deep breath and noticed Jeremiah standing incredibly close to me now. He wrapped his arm around me and placed his hand softly on my lower back, pressing our bodies together. My breathing hitched in my throat. My mind was suddenly full of a million thoughts and yet, none at all. My heart beat faster. Every urge in my body told me to look up at him, but I couldn't break my gaze from the ground below me. This is terrifying. What's going on with me?