Containment Of Secrets

Chapter 22

(Saige's point of view) 

I stand cautiously a few feet away from him. I did not know how to approach him. He was a prince after all. One wrong move, and I could be falling into some traps set up all around the room.

"I don't bite." He says chuckling.

"Sorry, I just...I just don't want to disrespect you in any way. I know your status."

"Did I invite all Wilachia's citizens to this room?"

I dropped my head quickly. The floor had suddenly become very interesting. "No, sir. I was invited."

"Hmm?"

I look up to meet his alluring eyes. He studies me from head to toe. "No, sir. I was invited. It's just you and I in this room."

"You are quite an interesting character. More colorful than some of the bland females I have met in my lifetime."

"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment, or as constructive criticism?"

"Take it as you want it to be meant."

"Will do."

"Well, what do you think I meant by it?" He asks, his eyes light up with mischief.

"Why should I tell you, what your mind has made up about me?"

"You think I have already finalized what I think of you?"

"It would only be logical."

"What if I want to get to know you better before I make my mind up?"

"There's no point really, I am leaving today. Your security guard told me you wanted to see me."

"Yes. I wanted to see who was sending the flowers, but now I see you were the one who came to my aid in the wreck. I am truly grateful for you being there, you said you were leaving?"

"Yes. I live in the States. I was simply here for vacation."

"I should have known from the accent."

I place a hand against my lips to hide the embarrassment that ran through me. "I....Americans have accents?"

He seems amused by my shock. "Yes, I guess we all do technically. It quite fascinates me when you all speak."

"Should I give directions or something, will that pique your interest?" I tease. He gives me a half smile and replies, "Ahh, the flower girl has humor, does she have a name as well?"

"Saige, my name is Saige Masters." I say, with a small smile. I drop into a low curtsy. He seems to be quite satisfied with my introduction. He then replies, "My name is Abel Decker, but I'm sure you already knew that. Tell me, what made you so persistent to help?"

"I wanted to help. It's just in my nature."

"Did you expect something from me?"

"No. I am someone who believes that an act of kindness is the greatest thing mankind can do, but so little have."

"Good answer, but why are you so far away from me? Why did you not introduce yourself upon laying your eyes on me?

I run my hand through my hair. "I didn't think it would be appropriate for me to be right at your bedside."

"Come closer." He tells me. I step closer. He shakes his head and speaks up, "I want you within arm's reach, don't make me bring you over here myself." I finally take the last few remaining steps between him and I. He reaches out to me, placing a hand on my arm. He sends immediate chills down my spine. A flourish of excitement bursts throughout my body.

His eyes moved to my arm, examining the effect he had on me. His eyes slowly move back up to mine. He releases my arm after studying me once more. I clasped my hands in front of me as I stood by his bedside. Within a second, he had pulled me down toward him by my lower back. I gasp in surprise, throwing my hands out against the wall to catch myself. I now hover over him.

"Your guard is not as high as I thought it was." He states.

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough. The way your skin reacts to me, to the way your lips are slightly parted now." He then releases me slowly before sitting up casually as if nothing happened.

"What waits for you at home, Saige?"

"I live with my mother. In addition, I work as a nurse aide at the local hospital."

"Do you consider both of those things very important?"

"Yes, both serve important purposes in my life."

"Do you ever want other things besides that?"

"I try not to focus too hard on the future. I try to savor the present. If not, I will regret not living in the moment when I had the chance."

Silence falls within the room. I keep my eyes focused on anything, but him. He would gaze at me and then look away. He must have known I was the nervous type. He kept training his look upon me. It must have been a tactic of some sort. Whatever it was, he was not going to accomplish whatever he set out to do. He finally speaks up.

"You keep refusing to meet my gaze. Why is that Saige? I might be a prince, but I am still your equal in God's eyes. Is that it? Do you believe that despite the fact we are divided up by social classes, I cannot be on your same wavelength of understanding?"

"No."

"No, what?"

"No, that is not it. I believe we are equal to one another, despite the social classes man has taken time to create to make us feel inferior to one another. Now, if you are done partaking in the antics of a gossiping hen, then I must go." I turn to leave when he starts to speak.

"I am not some gossiping hen. I just wanted to see who you are, but I can tell you are not the open book that I tend to read most often. You are definitely different from most, Ms. Masters. It was nice to put a name behind those flowers, but I must admit you are not the best at parting from one."

I forgot my nervousness quickly as I stepped forward. I go right back toward his bedside as he now leans forward. He stares at me as if I was the greatest sight he had ever seen. I don't know how he did it, but he had my blood boiling.

He leans closer, raising up slightly. He stares into my eyes before looking towards my lips. He then switches his gaze back to my eyes. I find myself leaning a bit closer to him, but not too much. He reaches out, grabbing my arms. The goosebumps returned quickly as our faces came closer and closer. I could feel the faint warmth of his breath against my cheek. I licked my lips absentmindedly as we grew closer. I set my hands on either side of his shoulders. My once anger dissolves into sudden eagerness. The need to release all the tension building within my body from this moment was increasing.

He swallows hard before looking at me, "You have to go." He then releases me. I let go of his shoulders feeling a twinge of upset and anger. A part of me wanted him to carry out his motive. I step away from him. Not once looking back as I left the room.