Dominant Prince’s Foreign Bride

Tables turned

Ziva glared at the prince, she will never pass on her opportunity to speak her mind. “You have been granted the power to rule this beautiful country, the responsibility to advance human kind but you would rather use that power to use and exploit women for your own selfish desires. It’s despicable,” she said, unable to hide disgust in her voice.

Laura opened her eyes wide, too shocked by her friend’s words while Oscar looked at his friend, wondering what his next move would be. This was definitely nothing the prince was used to.

“The women you speak off come to me willingly, that’s not exploiting them. You might be wondering why they do, I am willing to give you a demonstration,” Prince Richard responded mischievously, finding Ziva’s irritated look cute.

“You are the heir to the throne, they are your subjects. Your title alone prevents any mutual relationship. The lines are blurred between willing and obligated,” Ziva responded. She knew that she ought to stop but she had already started, she might as well speak her mind.

“That’s a very scary theory you are presenting, My Lady. Fortunately, there is no basis for it,” Prince Richard said dismissively, his attitude making Ziva angrier.

“It’s human nature to want to impress and serve their leaders, even if it’s with their bodies, but it’s the leaders responsibility to never exploit that weakness and be the ones serving the people instead,” she said, not backing down.

“What makes you think I’m not serving them, My Lady? I have not heard any complaints, have you?” he asked mischievously, smiling at her. His biggest achievement was successfully providing free, quality education, mentorship and job opportunities to the underprivileged but he was too humble to tell her that.

Ziva looked back at him, expressionless. She was just waisting her time with him.

Prince Richard realised that his opponent was no longer willing to engage him and turned to Laura. “The storm is bad, it is dangerous for us to drive back to Caper, do you mind sharing the shelter with us?” he asked charmingly as if the conversation with Ziva never even happened.

“Off course you may, Your Majesty, but I am afraid we only have three sleeping bags,” Laura responded, relieved that the prince did not sound upset after being very harshly criticised.

“That’s okay, we should be able to share and keep each other warm,” he responded mischievously before winking at his friend whose eyes has been glued on Laura since they walked in.

Ziva rolled her eyes before getting up from the chair. “So typical,” she thought to herself before picking one sleeping bag, got in and zipped herself up.

“I guess that means we now have two sleeping bags. Do you two think you could rekindle the old flame and share one bag?” Prince Richard asked mischievously, making Laura blush.

“Off course,” Oscar responded eagerly. “I promise I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” he added, making Laura blush more. They had not seen each other in ten years but to Laura, besides being sexier and more charming, Oscar had not changed a bit and she could not stop blushing.

Prince Richard laughed, picking up the other sleeping bag and getting inside. “Whatever you do, be discrete and don’t forget that we are right here,” he teased.

Ziva was drifting off to sleep when she heard a knock on the door. She peeped out of her sleeping bag and realised that everyone was sound asleep. She was about to ignore the knock when she heard a female voice calling. She jumped out and immediately felt the chilling cold hitting her. She tiptoed passed Prince Richard then Laura and Oscar who were cozily cuddled up in one bag. “There definitely is a story here,” she thought to herself. Opening the door she saw a young woman carrying a baby, her clothes dripping with water. The cold wind from the outside came rushing in, making her shiver.

“Oh my goodness, you must be freezing, come in,” she said, letting her in and closing the door again.

“Tha…thank you. My na..name is Lola,” the woman said, her teeth shuttering with cold.

“I’m Ziva. Poor thing, there’s a bathroom at the back, you must take off those drenched clothes. Here, take my jacket and put it on your baby, I will find you something dry to wear,” Ziva said, taking off her jacket without a second thought.

Prince Richard, who was woken up by Ziva’s movements but pretended to be asleep was surprised by the obvious change in her tone. The cold critical woman he spoke to earlier was all welcoming and warm to a total stranger. She was even offering the stranger her jacket in this freezing night.

“Tha..nk you so much,” Lola said, grateful.

Ziva watched her walk to the bathroom before approaching the person she never thought she would ask help from.

“Hello,” she whispered, shaking Prince Richard.

“Mmhm,” he responded, pretending to be waking up.

“I need your help,” she confessed.

“You need my help, really?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes, really.“

“Are you freezing or you want to experience the famous Richie magic?” he asked mischievously and intentionally pushing her buttons.

“Neither, I need your jacket and we have to share your sleeping bag,” she explained and fought the edge to wipe the smug on his face.

He laughed, no longer pretending to be sleepy. The woman who in many words called him an as* hole just over an hour ago now needed his help.

“There’s a woman and her baby who are freezing. I need warm stuff for them,” she explained, not caring if he found her amusing.

“Why must I freeze?” he asked, amused. He would be dammed if he made this easy for her.

“They are your people, you id*ot! You get to redeem yourself,” she said firmly not understanding why she has to remind him of that.

He chuckled, this woman really had problems biting her tongue. “So, I must be the one freezing?” he asked again.

“Don’t be a cry baby and give me your jacket,” Ziva instructed, almost forceful.

Prince Richard shook his head “You are a bully, a beautiful bully,” he said, sitting up and taking off his jacked. He cursed inside when the cold hit his now exposed skin. It was really cold, he wondered how she was managing walking around without her jacket.

“Thank you,” she said, taking his jacket and disappeared to the bathroom to give Lola who was so grateful for dry warm clothes. Because she had a short stature and slim, Prince Richard’s jacket fitted her like a dress, the warmest dress she ever wore. After giving Lola and her baby her sleeping bag and ensuring that they were comfortable, Ziva now had another predicament. It was really cold, she had no choice but request to share the sleeping bag with the man whose behaviour she found despicable. Given her reaction earlier when he suggested that they all share, she was certain that he won’t make it easy for her. She sighed and swallowed her pride. “Can we please share your sleeping bag, Your Majesty?” she asked softly, caring more about self preservation than her pride.

“Sure, get in,” he responded with a grin and turned to sleep on one side to make room for her. Ziva was surprised, she expected the worst or at least the ‘I told you so’ moment. Already shivering uncontrollable, she slipped in and faced away from him. She was grateful for the warmth and his body heat, something she would never tell the pompous man she was sharing with.

“Don’t touch me,” she instructed when his arm rested over her.

“Where do you suppose I place my arm, My Lady?” he asked, amused, his warm breath touching the back of her neck and side of her face.

She swallowed her saliva, with them sleeping sideways, there was no where else he could place his arm and sleep comfortable. “Fine, just don’t fiddle,” she conceded.

“I wasn’t planning to, unless you want me to, My Lady,” he said mischievously before pulling her closer to him.

Ziva clenched her teeth and swallowed her words. She was certain that he was pulling her to him on purpose to get her to object and decided not to give him that satisfaction.

“Tell me what you like about my beautiful country so far?” he asked, his voice too close to her ear.

“Do we have to talk?” she responded, not interested in any small talk with him but soon felt bad about it. Besides him stealing their donors, he has not been unpleasant to her and even agreed to give away his jacket and sharing the sleeping bag with her. “The people are really welcoming and friendly, the weather was the best until now,” she added.

“That is a very superficial review of my country, My Lady. You have not explored Leap at all, have you?” he said. From her statement he could tell that Ziva had not even seen their famous tourist attraction site or experienced their hospitality.

“I have been busy,” she confessed. She has been fully focused on helping Laura with the blood bank since the day she landed in Leap.

“You know what they say about all work and no play,” he said charmingly.

“That’s an excuse for lazy people,” she objected. She believed that a project should be done and dusted before you take any form of break.

“I wouldn’t want to be your employee, you sound like a slave driver,” he teased. Ziva sounded like a typical workaholic but he was not surprised. For her to be an expert consulted by other countries at her age would have required a lot of work and discipline.

“I am not!” she objected and sounded very defensive for her own liking.

“If you say so,” he responded, amused. “Let me show you around my country,” he suggested.

She shook her head “No, thank you.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“I don’t like you nor do I want be spotted or associated with you in anyway,” she confessed what he already knew but somehow found very interesting.

“You don’t have to like me, I will be your tour guide,” he suggested, pushing his luck. Ziva was definitely not easily impressed.

“No and goodnight, Your Majesty,” she said decisively and closed her eyes.

“Call me Richie,” he said.

“I will stick with, Your Majesty.”

“That means you love and respect me,” he teased, certain that she will object.

“It may also mean I tolerate you,” she responded.

He laughed, Ziva was definitely the most outspoken and challenging woman he ever interacted with.

In the morning, Laura and Oscar were the first to wake up. They were shocked to find Lola and her baby in Ziva’s sleeping bag but flabbergasted to find Ziva and Prince Richard fast asleep in one sleeping bag in each other’s arms.

Ziva opened her eyes and was terrified to find herself laying on Prince Richard’s chest with his arms around her. It was worse when she met Laura and Oscar’s eyes staring curiously at her.

She was about to move and untangle herself from Prince Richard’s arms he when opened his eyes. “Good morning, Beautiful,” he said charmingly, holding her tighter.

“Let go of me!”she exclaimed pushing him away but found herself right on top of him.

“You do realise that we spent the whole night like this, right?” he asked, amused by her reaction. “We make really good sleep mates, you and I,” he added. Ziva had fallen asleep as soon as they stopped talking. She had turned and tossed unable to find a comfortable position. With her turning none stop, he ended up laying on his back allowing her to rest her head on his chest, a position he also found very comfortable.

Ziva got off quickly, her reaction making Prince Richard, Laura and Oscar laugh.

“Were you two so warm that you even took off your jackets?” Oscar asked mischievously.

“She bullied me off my jacket under the pretence that the Lady over there and her baby were freezing. I think she wanted to be closer to my skin,” Prince Richard said, intentionally provoking Ziva who rolled her eyes and did not bother objecting. Lola on the other side was terrified to find out that Ziva bullied the Prince off his jacket. She went on her knees horrified. “ Forgive me, Your Majesty. I had no idea that the jacket was yours,” she said, shaking.

Prince Richard cursed under his breath, he did not realise that Lola would take his words serious. “That was a joke, My Lady. I gave you the jacket willingly,” he said, flashing her his breathtaking smile.

“Really? I mean, thank you, Your Majesty,” Lola said blushing. Her friends would never believe that she slept in the same container with the prince and even wore his jacket.

Prince Richard laughed “Yes, really and you are most welcomed,” he said charmingly, melting Lola on the spot.

Ziva shook her head wondering what was with the Leap women and their prince. The man was handsome and charming but so were many other man out there.

Lola stood up and went to Ziva to find out where she hung her and her baby’s clothes so she could change back to them and give the prince his jacket back.

“Your clothes won’t be dry, you will have to leave with what you have on,” Ziva suggested. Although the sun was coming up, it was still a bit cold and Lola would definitely get sick if she wore wet clothing after freezing last night.

Lola opened her eyes wide, shocked that she would suggest such a thing. “I can’t take His Majesty’s jacket!” she exclaimed.

“Yes you can and you will,” Ziva insisted.

Lola closed and opened her mouth, speechless. Judging by her voice and bold suggestions, Ziva was definitely not from Leap.

“You may keep the jacket, My Lady. Your saviour here has promised to reimburse me abundantly for it,” he said charmingly winking at Lola who giggled. The prince was known for attracting a lot of women to his bed. Lola was certain that Ziva was the next lucky one, judging by how the prince was looking at her. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I will cherish this gift forever and thank you Lady Ziva for your kindness,” Lola said, truly grateful before leaving with her baby.

“So, where would you like your tour guide to take you first, My Lady?” Prince Richard asked, turning his attention to Ziva. Laura and Oscar exchanged curious looks, the prince was offering to be a tour guide to a woman who clearly and openly had very strong opinions about him.

Ziva shook her head “I am not going anywhere with you,” she said decisively.

“You can’t take back your word now, My Lady,” he said with a sulking tone, acting all wronged.

“I never gave you my word on anything.”

“You did when you gave away my jacket, used my body heat to get warm and my chest as your pillow or was that you using your irresistible woman power to use and exploit me?” he asked with the same tone she used on him.

Ziva looked back at him speechless. He was using her words against her when they did not even apply on the situation.

“Speechless now, My Lady? Don’t you think your responsibility is to ensure that you use that power to serve me instead of exploiting?” he asked with a serious tone, sounding like she did when she accused him of the same offence yesterday.

“You can’t be serious!” Ziva exclaimed.

Prince Richard laughed at her reaction before turning to Oscar “We should head out now friend before they start worrying about us back home. We will definitely meet again, Ladies,” he said with certainty.