Falling for Royalty

Chapter Seven

As I eat, I glance at him from the corner of my eye and smile to myself as he stretches out his legs in front of him and leans back on his hands, head back, looking at the sky. I laugh at the normality of the gesture, and he looks at me, one eyebrow raised. "You look funny." I say, answering the oncoming question.

"Is something on my face?" He asks and smiles as he brushes hair out of his eyes and wipes his hands across his face.

"No, there is nothing on your face. You just don't look like your arrogant and stuck up self right now. You're always so serious looking and stiff, to see you loosen up makes you look kinda funny."

He chuckles. "Gee, thanks. I'm glad I look funny, but you, you actually have something on your face." He sits up and leans toward me, rubbing his finger over a spot on my chin. He looks down, slightly, into my eyes.

"You're staring at me you know."

He grins, a toothy grin. "I know." He slides his fingers above my chin and traces the outline of my lips.

I stare at him and watch as his fingers move over my lips, across my cheekbones, and under my ears, holding the sides of my face. "Why?"

"Because you're beautiful and its not everyday you meet someone as remarkable, intelligent, rebellious, and, well, different as you. You're not the stereotypical girl."

"Good, that's what I was trying to accomplish." We sit there silently as my nerves begin jumping around. I was getting uncomfortable and I felt my heart speed up as he inched closer, his breath tickling the tiny hairs on my cheeks. We were close enough that I could smell a hint of mint on his breath.

For half a second, I think he is gonna kiss me, heck, he probably thought he was gonna kiss me, but he just whispers ever so softly, "Kiss me..."

I stare at him in disbelief. Seriously! I felt anger boil inside of me. I back away and stand up, muscles tensed with fury. "The Prince wants, the Prince gets. Right? Isn't that the way its always been for you? Well guess what, you can't order me around. I am not your property and you don't own me."

He sits there, staring at me as I clench and unclench my fists before I walk away, shaking my head. I hear the blanket rustle under the shuffle of his feet as he stands. "Stay...please." I stop and stand there, my back turned to him. "Please stay."

I turn around to face him, arms crossed. "Why? So you can try to control me? I am not a mindless robot."

He laughs, an obnoxious laugh that is like ha ha, like you're a lesser being than them. "Oh, I know. You're the exact opposite. An open-minded, rather lively person." He draws out lively as if it were a threat. After seeing the look on my face, which was also being used in a threatening way, he waves his hands in front of him frantically. "But don't get me wrong, honesty isn't a bad thing, but too much honesty is..." He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Too much honesty is a cruel weapon used to destroy armies. Even the ones with high self confidence. It breaks down walls and can pierce through even the strongest armor."

I place one hand on my hip and raise my eyebrows. "What are you implying?" He struggles to form words but is unsuccessful and I almost laugh at his discomfort. "Lost for words? That must be a first."

After thinking through his choice of words, he deliberately changes the subject. "So will you stay, please?"

I gently bite my lip in thought. "Hmm...the Prince is asking please. That's a rare occurrence, so because you said please, I'll stay."

He smiles and I hear him breathe a sigh of relief. He begins laughing as he sits back on the checkered blanket and leans back on his elbows, looking at the now dark sky full of twinkling little stars. "I never thought I would plead for something."