The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 7

Naledi turned to look around. And there he was, looking overwhelmingly powerful and slightly menacing. His big, tall frame relaxed against the fridge as if he had no care in the world. He stared at her, daring her to make a move. If she ran again he’ll pounce. His relaxed stance was a ruse, Naledi noticed, he was alert, ready for anything.

Tension grew as they stared at each other. It was sensual, intoxicating. Yes, it felt like he was reaching into her soul. Naledi breathed, schooling her features hoping to shut him out. Her stomach quivered and her breath hitched in her throat. She looked down, hoping he will go away.

“So this is what you do. You run when life happens,” he said moving towards her. “You ran out on me twice. I don’t think that’s fair, do you?”

Naledi saw the tops of his shoes as he came to stand in front of her. She was shaking inside, and she didn’t know whether it was from fear or the excitement he provoked within her by his nearness. The shaking intensified into something warm and erotic as he invaded her space. She felt pulled towards him by an invisible magnetic field that thrummed between them.

This is crazy, Naledi thought folding her arms over her breasts in defence. But she knew she was in more trouble than she wanted to admit.

“Do you think it’s fair? You embarrassed the prince of Ga-Tloung in front of hundreds of people,” he said calmly as though he dealt with such situation every day.

Anthony looked at her, his eyes taking in her beautiful face. She was something special, he thought to himself.

And now he remembered who she was.

And why he couldn’t remember her before. He had seen her only once, during Mogale and Lesedi’s wedding. Even then she had disappeared long before he could see her clearly.

His eyes made another sweep of her form from head to bottom. She had forgotten to take out the beads that had dangled in her hair as she danced. Anthony itched to play with them as he pulled on her hair to kiss her deep and thorough

Naledi held her breath waiting for whatever punishment will befall her for walking out on a prince and embarrassing him. She couldn’t even look at him. A tense moment passed between them.

“I’m not going to beg you to be my wife.” His voice roughened, and became deep. He was talking to her gently, with patience as if he’s known her for a very long time. Naledi felt the intimacy of the moment, and his soothing, deep voice to her core. She took a deep steadying breath. Desire racked havoc within her.

“Then don’t,” Naledi said her voice a whisper. Her insides trembled, as her body blazed hotter with need for him. Naledi swallowed her reaction to him. He couldn’t know how he affected her. She bit her lips nervously. She desperately wanted him to leave, but she didn’t know how to say it. She couldn’t very well chase him out of his own kitchen. She worked for his family. For him.

Anthony heard the plea in her voice. She didn’t want him there. He could feel it. She just didn’t have the guts to tell him to leave. She saw him as a prince, and not the simple man he believed himself to be.

Abruptly, he turned away from her at that thought.

He’s complicated a simple situation, and hurt two innocent women. The other sat on a stage waiting for him to choose her, and he had…how was he going to face his father after this mess?

Anthony shook his head.

His brother had married for his people, and so could he. His shoulders tensed when he felt the burden of being a prince. He was a prince first and a man last, Anthony thought.

Her rejection unexpectedly hurt.

He took a step away from her, his mind reeling. What was happening to him?

Anthony thought of the innocent, intriguing and beautiful woman behind him. She had captured him like no other woman. And he was walking away from her. A hot burning started again in his chest, tightening his stomach as he took another step away from her. It felt like he was leaving a piece of himself behind.

Impossible! He couldn’t fall for a woman that quick. Or could he? He didn’t know.

He hardly knew her. But he felt…

Abruptly he stopped, turned to her and bridged the distance between them. His whole body trembled with need.

Naledi felt the heat of his fingers beneath her chin, softly coming to her cheek to stroke softly. Her stomach quivered. And she suppressed the moan that was bent on escaping her lips at his simple touch.

Naledi held her breath as their eyes met. For a full minute he said nothing – he just stared at her. He smoothed the tension around her lips with his fingers, and saw the tell-tale tremble she was trying very hard to hide.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Anthony asked not really wanting her answer, because he could feel it too. The recognition and the overwhelming need to possess her. Kiss her senseless. And make her his.

He could hardly breathe because of it. There was something between them, luring them together. A strong magnetic pull. It was mysterious in its power. And it became intense when they came too close to each other.

Anthony was falling for her, and hard.

Desire surged in his veins strong and undeniable. He leaned close to her, breathing in her intoxicating scent – it was a blend of some flowers.

I want you – three little words he wished he could say hovered on his tongue.

But he couldn’t drag her into the mess he had impulsively created. They were from different worlds, where his wants and needs didn’t matter.

“Goodbye, Naledi,” he said placing a quick kiss to her lips, and then left as quickly as he had come.

Naledi trembled inside as the warmth of his lips lingered long after he’d gone. He’d somehow found a way to brand her his with his simple searing kiss. Bracing her hands on the counter she took deep steadying breaths. This was an interlude in her life that she knew will last forever. No other man would match him. Of course, they wouldn’t. He was a prince.

And she’d said no.

Naledi closed her eyes knowing it was for the best. It couldn’t have been real anyway, she consoled herself as she went back to her work.