Chapter Twelve

When I see him dating the other girls, something in me hurts. I don't know where, but somewhere around my chest. Or is it my heart? I'm not sure. All I know is that I don't like seeing him with the others, holding hands, wispering, laughing. Although I've never seen him kiss another girl yet. But then again, our kisses were secret, and I don't think anybody saw the second one. Well I hope so.

So when I get a small note on my room flour, slipped under my door, saying that he was going to pick me up at noon for a picnic date, I can't do anything else but smile from ear to ear. Finally! Our second "public" date! I can't wait.

I'm waiting for the next moment when more of my walls are going to fall down. But something in me says to wait, and not let them tumble down all at once. I still have no idea why, because part of me wants to let him completly in. Why am I so confused?

My maids help me pick the cuttest pastel pink day dress with a pair of white flats they made for me – yep, they don't only make the dresses, but the shoes, too! – and Tabatha styles my hair in a half bun, most of my hair falling down my back. My make-up is natural and light, and I feel pretty. No, not pretty: beautiful! I'm ready.

At twelve o'clock, he knocks on my door. I already dismissed my wonderful maids, so I open then door.

"Hello, Miss Aby." He kisses the back of my hand, a smile on his lips. "Are you ready?"

I curtsy. "Yes I am, Your Highness."

"It's 'Adam'. How many times do I have to tell you that?" A small smirk appears on his handsome face.

He takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine. This makes me feel weird and all warm in my belly, like if a fire was just lit up there. I hope the heat is not going up to my cheeks. We walk in a peacfull silence to the back doors that lead to the gardens. There, on a chair, is a checkered red and white blanket – calssic... – and a basket full of good things.

He takes all that in his free arm and leads us towards the woods.

"There's a small meadow, behind those trees. We'll be very confortable there."

"Okay... Are there going to be cameras and photographers?"

"Um yeah, in the beggining. I let them stay for five minutes, then they're to run for their lives if they want to keep their job here." He says with a laugh. I laugh with him. Poor photographers!

We continue walking a few yeards, and then, sure enough, there's a beautiful meadow there, with wild flowers and butterflies everywere. Even in my stomac. I see cameras clicking here and there, and before I know it, Adam has put everything on the ground and is kissing me, right in front of the cameras! What on earth is he doing!

But his kiss is so eager, yet gentle; I can't help my self kissing him back. The heat, this time, is comming front the soles of my feet and climbing all the way up and I can feel it tingling everywhere, even in my cheeks. He has his arms around me and holds me close. I hear clicking from everywhere. And when finally we break appart, he is smiling at me. It's a kind of smile I haven't seen before: content.

From the corner of my eyes, I see photographers going away. One more click, and they're all gone.

He lets go of me and and starts preparing the picnic. I spread the blanket and we sit there. He takes out the food. There are sandwiches, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, strawberries diped in chocolate, cupcakes, and Champagne. We eat and drink.

"So," he says, lying down and proping himself on his elbow, facing me. "You want to get to know me, right?"

"Yes, I do.".

"Okay then. Ask me questions, and I'll try to answer without thinking to much about the answers."

"All right!" I want to start with easy questions. "Bow or tie?"

"Tie. Definetly tie, it's easier to knot", he says with a laugh. He lies down on his back, facing the sky.

"Green or blue?"

"Blue."

"Blondes or brunettes?"

"Ah man! Why not 'blondes or black haired'? I would have known the answer to that..."

"Just answer the question."

"Fine. Brunettes."

"Summer or winter?"

"Spring?"

"Nope, wrong answer." I say with a laugh.

"All right, all right! Summer."

"Star gazing or cloud gazing?"

"What? Is this even a thing?"

"Oh yes it is!... wait! You've never done any of these things?"

"No. I guess I don't have the time for that, being the future King and all."

I look at the sky. Small white clouds are scattered throughout the blue summer sky. "Okay, well then, this is a good day to start cloud gazing."I lie down next to him and look for an easy one. "See that cloud over there?" I point on the right. "It looks like a bunny."

"Hey, yeah! You're right! This is pretty amazing..."

"Now your turn."

"Okay, uhm... that one! It looks like a cloud, doesn't it?"

"Hahaha. Very funny. That's against the rules!" I burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay." He seems to analyse the sky. "That one, over the bunny: it looks like a unicorn!"

"Yeah! I see it, too!"

"All right, now my turn to ask questions. An easy one: flats or heels?"

"Heels. I mean, I think they're much more elegant. But flats if I have to chose what to wear."

"Pants or dresses?"

"Dresses."

"Blue or green?"

"Turquoise?"

"U-hu. Answer the question, Aby." He says with a smile.

"Green."

"Hand-kissing" he says kissing the back of my hand, "or cheek kissing?" leaning close, kissing my cheek. "Or even french kissing?" And he goes and does just that.

He slips a hand under my back and the other is going through my hair. I don't know what is happening, but I let him kiss me. At least the cameras are gone, now. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back.

He backs off a little, looking at me straight in the eyes.

Those eyes!

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever lied eyes upon, you know that?"

I blush hard. I don't know where all this is going to take us. There is something in his eyes I haven't seen before: a hunger. An insatiable hunger for something more. Part of me is wanting for more, too. But the other part of me says 'Run!'. I don't know what is happening.

Suddenly I feel him gripping my wrists and pinning them down on the ground on each side of my head, one knee on each side of my hips.

"Ow, Adam, you're hurting me." I say in a hushed tone, trying to hide my fear.

"Nonsense, love. You're going to love this." He starts kissing my cheek, and going down to my neck, still pinning my arms down. He then goes even lower, following the dress' neckline, licking my skin. I scream, and do only one thing I can think about right know.

I knee him in the groin as hard as I can. I don't care if he's the Prince. He yelpes and immediatly let go of my arms, holding his Royal Jewals and moaning. I quickly excerpt myself from under him and run. Run for my life towards the palace.