The Thrill Of It All

The Choices In Life

Maldonia Palace – 4 ½ days later…

Tiana kept her grip tight around Naveen's hand as more servants curiously eyed the beautiful woman accompanying their prince. She couldn't wait to get to his room; the constant staring reminded her of back home whenever the Montreuil clan had a public get together that involved the most elite coloureds in the city of New Orleans.

It was quite intimidating.

"Here is my room." Naveen opened the doors.

"And who is this ravishing creature you're easing to your room, son?"

Both Naveen and Tiana turned to see King Kabir approaching them. Tiana already knew he had to be Naveen's father because of his arrogant stance and the fact that he looked exactly like the prince plus twenty years. He somewhat reminded her of how Jacques would behave around others, very proud and over confident.

"This woman…" Naveen corrected. "...is name Tiana Montreuil. Tiana, this is my father. Kabir—

"I got this, son." Kabir interrupted him by taking Tiana's hand, bringing her over to him. "I'm Kabir, the king of Maldonia."

"Nice to meet you King—

"Let us not be formal…call me Kabir." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Kabir." She smiled, quickly realizing that this older gentleman actually reminded her of Derek.

He slipped a hand on her lower back. "Why don't I take you on a tour around the palace?"

Naveen stood with his mouth agape. His father was always competitive when it came to women even with him. "Father, Tiana and I already have plans…" He brought her back over to him, standing in front of her protectively. "Where is mother? You know, your wife?"

"That woman is somewhere getting a massage." He answered, not caring about the woman's whereabouts. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Where in the United States are you from?" He asked Tiana.

"New Orleans." She answered.

"A Southern Belle…I've heard that the most beautiful women there reside there. Perhaps I should prepare a trip out there and see if I am correct." He winked at her.

"Where's Kanad?" Naveen asked, annoyed.

"Your brother is with his tutor. Are you trying to get rid of me?" He had a twinkle in his eyes, still looking Tiana's direction.

"Yes." Naveen answered.

The king let out a booming laugh. "I'll leave but I expect you two at dinner."

"We'll be there." Naveen said. "Come on Tiana."

Kabir took Tiana's hand and kissed it. "It was a pleasure to meet such beauty."

"It was nice to meet you." Tiana had to be polite to the man, despite him being a flirt. But that wasn't any of her concern; what caught her interest was the brother Naveen never spoke about with her.

"I thought you were an only child." She said, walking into the room.

"I am." Naveen locked the doors. "Through my parents. Kanad is my half-brother."

She raised an eyebrow. "Half-brother?"

"My mother wanted another son but didn't want to have to deal with pregnancy and weight gain so she adopted one of my father's concubine's sons."

Tiana almost choked. "Concubines? What?"

"We have concubines here." Naveen admitted. "But know that I'm not interested in any of them."

She sat on the bed stool. "Concubines…" Did she make the right decision in leaving with him?

"Don't get upset over this, Tiana," Naveen said reassuringly. "Once I'm king I will throw them out."

She shot him another look. "Once you're king?"

"My father is stepping down at the end of the year to hand me the throne."

She blinked. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

He shrugged. "I never really thought about it."

"So when you do become king what does that make me?"

"My queen." He smiled at her. "If you still you'll have me."

"But what about the concubines and illegitimate siblings you have?" She asked.

"They're provided for. My father knows I have no interest in keeping concubines around."

"And your mother doesn't care about this? I know that I should be the last person to say this because Jacques had plenty of other women but he wasn't…irresponsible enough to have children outside of our marriage."

"My mother is perfectly fine with it. She has her men and he has his women. I on the other hand am too selfish to share anyone with you." He helped her up and walked her over to his bed.

She rested her hand on her tummy. "How are we going to announce the news about you brining home a married pregnant woman?"

"First, you're no longer married to the bastard if you left him and second, we'll announce the pregnancy during dinner." Naveen explained to her. "Are you hungry?"

"A little."

Naveen opened the door to see guards standing outside his door. He requested a servant and within a minute one came in. An attractive young woman walked into the room.

"Good day your majesty." She curtsied. "How may I serve you?"

Tiana noticed the lustful gaze the woman gave Naveen and felt a bit envious.

"Tell cook to think of his best in Maldonian delicacy. I want to introduce Tiana to the best we have to offer."

The servant woman grew jealous at how Naveen was adoringly looking at Tiana but didn't show it. "Very well your majesty. Would you like some wine?"

"Yes."

"You're favourite?"

He shrugged. "Why not."

She nodded before leaving.

Tiana laughed a little. "She seems smitten with you."

"They all are." Naveen smirked, holding her in his arms. "You want to lie down?"

Tiana saw the lust in his eyes and as much as she wanted to feel all of him her body was still exhausted. She's never been in this position with Naveen before and hoped he would understand. "I'd like rest."

He climbed on the bed and pressed his lips onto hers. "I can't believe that you're here." His kisses moved to her neck and that was when she realized that her body wasn't as exhausted as it pressed against his.

Tiana moaned accepting his kisses and strong body on hers. She wrapped her arms over his shoulders while capturing his mouth to hers. And just as she was about to wrap her legs around his waist he broke the kiss.

"But I know how exhausted you must be." Naveen caressed her cheek.

"Huh?" She opened her eyes, staring dumbfounded at him. "What?"

He laughed. "We'll continue this after dinner which is in several hours. I would like for us to eat and rest up a bit. How does that sound?"

She smiled. "I'd like that."

Perhaps it was for the best that they continue later. If it were Jacques he would've already been thrusting in and out of her but Naveen was so much different from her estranged husband, and she knew right then and there that she made the right choice in leaving him after all.

()()()()

Later that evening and after a change of clothes Naveen and Tiana were seated in the royal evening room with the rest of the royal family. Tiana first noticed a young boy who looked between six or seven picking his at nose and the next was a beautiful middle aged woman wearing the gaudiest jewelry she's ever seen, Kabir was nowhere to be seen.

Queen Nagina eyed Tiana carefully. "You're very young and beautiful …where did my husband find you?"

"She's with me, mother." Naveen confirmed.

The woman wrinkled her nose. "Oh so how long are you keeping her here?" The woman smiled at Tiana. "My son is very much like his father. Always with a woman in his presence."

"Gossiping about your husband behind his back I see." Kabir walked in the room. "Good evening everyone."

"Good evening."

Nagina rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised that this young girl belongs to Naveen. With your infatuation with young girls lately thought she was yours."

Kabir smirked, taking his seat at the head of the table. "She would've been mine if I took that trip instead of Naveen."

"Yes, pretend that we're not in the room." Naveen said with sarcasm.

Nagina leaned over to Tiana. "Don't get too comfortable, my dear. My son is quite the womanizer"

"Why would I have my own wife out of the palace?" He challenged his mother.

The royal family including Tiana shockingly looked Naveen's direction.

Kanad pulled his finger out of his nose. "You're married?"

Kabir began laughing. "I knew you wouldn't be dumb enough to get rid of this creature anytime soon."

"She's not a creature and just to add in more great news…," He decided to add the icing to the cake. "…you're going to be grandparents!"

Nagina gasped. Kabir pulled out a travel humidor.

"Atta boy Naveen!" He handed the prince a cigar and winked at Tiana. "You chose to marry and impregnate a beautiful trophy and I must say that you've done a magnificent job with your chose. She will breed us strong heirs."

Naveen frowned. "She isn't a horse, father."

"Oh you know what I meant!" Kabir chuckled. "Her hips are perfect for pushing out many children for you unlike your mother whose narrow hip almost killed you on your own birth."

Nagina rolled her eyes. "You were very fond on my narrow hips when you married me."

Kabir glared her way. "Before I found out what a cold-hearted you are—

Naveen was embarrassed. The last thing he wanted Tiana to see was his parents juvenile fights. "Faldi faldonza."

Tiana could only shake her head as the couple kept at it.

()()()()

Right after dinner Tiana returned to Naveen's chambers while he spoke alone with his parents on the announcements he made a couple hours earlier. Since the news broke out servants have been coming to her almost non-stop asking if she was comfortable, hungry, and thirsty. One of the maids even asked if she needed help going to the bathroom. Tiana had to beg the women not to return to the room just so that she could rest which ended up failing miserably due to her dreams being about Jacques killing her.

Naveen came in during the middle of the night to see his 'wife' still up reading one of the many books he had in his room. She looked beautiful with her hair down and wearing one of the night gowns he had his valets pick up at one of the many boutique shops in the kingdom. "You do know that all of my books are in Maldonia."

"I was aware." She closed the book

"Couldn't sleep?" He got on the bed.

She sighed. "It's hard falling asleep when your servants are constantly at the door."

"I'll change that in the morning." He said, smiling.

Tiana returned the smile. "So how did everything go?"

"My father is pleased. My mother is somewhere drinking…" He shrugged his shoulders. "We're going to make the announcement to the country tomorrow…oh, and right before the announcement we will be speaking with my legal team to assist you with your divorce."

Tiana sighed again.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I feel as if I have no say in any of this."

"You do." Naveen said. "You will be speaking with the attorneys and if there's anything you disagree with you can always speak up."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to think about any of that right now."

"I understand." He kissed her on the forehead. "I promise you that once we're done with all these political announcements I will take us away to my home in Giodonia. It's more peaceful and my staff there isn't as crazy."

"Peace," Tiana smiled at that thought. "I look forward to when that finally happens."

The telephone ringing interrupted her fantasy. Naveen answered it.

"Speaking."

"There is a call from the United States your majesty, a man by the name of James Pe—

"Connect him." Naveen said looking at Tiana. "It's your father."

Tiana's eyes lit up. "I would like to speak to him."

"Hello? Naveen?" James said.

"Yes, it's me."

"I'd like to speak with my daughter."

Naveen handed Tiana the phone.

"Daddy?"

"Babycakes! How is Maldonia holding up for ya?"

"It's all right." Tiana noticed her father sounding shaken up. "Is everything okay over there?"

"No…" James cleared his throat. "Tiana, it's your mother."

Tiana listened on and gasped, resting her hand on her chest. "Oh no…"

()()()()

4 ½ days earlier…

Jacques stormed into his estate infuriated that his wife didn't wait for him in the car back in the French Quarter.

"Florence!"

Florence ran out of the den with a duster in her hand. "Yes Jacques?"

"Where the hell is Tiana?"

"I thought she was with you?"

He shook his head. "Tiana, get your ass down here woman!"

"She isn't here!"

"What do you mean she isn't here?'

"I was just upstairs cleaning your room not too long ago." Florence explained.

He balled his fists as his temper was beyond infuriated.

A knock was heard at the door. Florence passed her boss to open it, seeing Eudora.

"Is Jacques here?" She asked, out of breath.

"Yes, he's—

"Jacques you have to stop Tiana!" Eudora ran into the home. "She's leaving the country as we speak."

Jacques was shocked at what he just heard. "How is she leaving the country?"

"My husband was helping Naveen with this plan…ugh…Tiana left with this man, Naveen is his name." Eudora was still out of breath. "I tried talking her out of spending time with him—

"That selfish bitch!" Jacques cut her off. "I let her get away with fucking the man but she will never leave me! Where did this man take her?"

"To his country I forgot what it was called."

Jacques exhaled and waited until his temper somewhat subsided before resting a hand on the middle aged woman's shoulder. "You did well Eudora. Thank you for looking out for me."

"You're a good man Jacques. You don't deserve this." She said.

"Like hell I don't." Jacques went over to the telephone, dialing out. "Florence, take care of Eudora. I have some business manners to handle."

Travis answered. "Hello this is the residence of—

"It's me Travis."

"Oh hello Jacques. How may I help you?"

"I need to know where your little business partner lives."

"I have plenty of business partners." The ginger hair man said.

"The one who just left."

"Oh! Naveen! He's from Maldonia, why?"

"Have you been there?"

"Yes, it's a very small kingdom but very powerful as it has a lot of the resources that's needed in our country. His father is the king there."

"I see." Jacques scratched is chin. "That's all I need to know."

Eudora saw the sadistic look on her son-in-law's face and grew concern for her daughter. "Please don't hurt Tiana. She is carrying your child."

"You need not to be concerned about my wife, Eudora." He smiled at her. "But I do need one more favour from you. Follow me." He headed up the stairs.

Eudora followed until she reached a room that looked like an office. She remembered this room very well from when Jacques' grandfather would bring her in whenever they needed more privacy for their…flirtation. She smiled at the memory of the older gentleman caressing her younger cheek before taking his lips to hers. Though they never went further than kissing, she somewhat regretted not choosing him when he proposed. She loved James with all of her heart but this could've all been hers.

Jacques caught the woman reminiscing and smirked. "My grandfather must've been one hell of a lover."

Eudora shook her head, laughing a little. "He was kind. Now why did you need me in here?"

He pointed the hand gun in her direction. "If Tiana thinks she's going to get away from me." He put his hand on the trigger. "Then she'll be expecting a lot of bloodshed in her family."

Eudora gasped. "Jacques what are you doing?"

Jacques smirked. "You mentioned your husband taking part of my wife leaving with this other man correct?"

"Yes, but…" She gasped again. "You're not gonna kill him are you?"

"No," he shook his head. "I'm going to kill you." He pulled the trigger.

()()()()