Wow at all the inspiration that the royal wedding has supplied to me. Unfortunately, life had other ideas in the form of a motorcycle wreck involving my husband. He'll live (if I don't kill him in the next two months that he is crippled) but it is going to take up some of my time as he is in a cast and must stay off his left leg indefinitely. So please be patient as I find the time to devote to y'all.

EPOV will hopefully be next chapter but Bella is a wordy little bitch.

The American Princess Chapter 15

BPOV

His hand is firmly on my waist and his head dips just low enough for his breath to wash over my ear and subsequently, my neck. "I promise to be as quick as I can with this."

I turn my head minutely to where our lips are millimeters from each other. "I'll be fine," I murmur. One side of his mouth lifts in that smirk that I adore before he straightens up as we approach his family. He has duties to attend to. Duties I now intend to fully support. He must stand in a line with the others and 'receive' their guests. Not quite sure how that works but judging from the look on the king's face, I won't be received as warmly as everyone else.

"Edward," he says, his voice devoid of any emotion. He completely looks through me as if I'm not even here.

"Father."

Then it's a battle of wills as they have some sort of royal staring contest which thankfully is broken by the queen.

"We have quests arriving and I will not have you acting out of sorts. Carlisle, smile. Edward, please come and stand next to me."

They do as told with no complaining.

"Bella, you look lovely. This might take just a little while but a few yards that way are some benches, so you don't have to stand while waiting for Edward."

I excuse myself and wander away, taking note of the bench but looking around curiously at the garden which looks vastly different than it did the last time I visited the grounds.

There are different flowers all varying in colors and size. Several water fountains have been added along with white chairs and marble curved benches. There are three very long blue and white striped tent-like buildings with columns holding them up. There are several tables standing on red carpets. The tables contain what looks like food and drink. It's a very high end set up.

I aimlessly walk around as the grounds fill up with people dressed much like me. They look at me, their eyes filled with curiosity, but no one speaks.

I fit in, but I don't fit in.

Story of my life.

I settle down on the bench that Esme originally pointed out and wait patiently. Suddenly a shadow appears above me and I look up eagerly for my prince, a smile gracing my face. It leaves as quickly as it appears and I immediately school my features into a look of bored disinterest.

"Oh, it's you. I see they let any old riff raff in here," I greet my unwanted guest.

James leers down at me in that way of his that always gives me the creeps.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you."

"I'm a guest of Edward's," I shrug.

"He, too, will get tired of you."

I stand up, my heels allowing me height I don't normally possess, but it's enough to have an inch or two on him.

"Well, now, that implies you've had me. And we both know that isn't true, Lord Farquaad," I taunt, using the nickname that sends him into a flying rage. The last time I called him that was the night that is tabloid fodder to this day.

His entire demeaner changes. Gone is the smarmy jackass and in his place is my harasser. Fists clenched, lips pursed, body rigid. His eyes flame with hatred towards me.

"You just can't stand that I wasn't a member of your casting couch. Unfortunately for you, your stature suggests that you may be lacking in a certain area," I look down in the general direction of his crotch. "Don't want no short, short man…" I quietly sing while keeping my regal smile.

He takes a menacing step closer but blood red fingernails curl around his arm. They are attached to another unwelcome face this evening.

"Lady Kathryn," I acknowledge her evenly. We lock eyes, a move reminiscent to Carlisle and Edward earlier.

She sneers. I smile.

"I love your outfit,' I compliment her.

She preens for a moment for she just can't help herself.

"That shade of desperation looks perfect on you."

Her eyes narrow and for the second time, I feel like someone might strike me tonight.

"Is everything alright here?"

I internally sigh in relief. Finally.

"Edward," I greet, happily.

I lean my mouth close to his ear, much like he did to me. It's oddly intimate, which is what I was going for. "How did it go?"

"As well as can be expected." He smiles warmly at me then ever the consummate gentlemen, he looks to our company.

"Kathryn." A tightening of his jaw. "James." His hand tightens on my waist. "I'm sorry but I have many people to introduce my date to. Have a lovely time."

He then places my hand in the crook of his elbow and leads me away.

"I leave you alone for a few minutes and the wolves descend."

"That was more than a few minutes. I was bored out of my mind," I laugh.

"I know, I'm sorry. It comes with the territory, I'm afraid."

"I know. I'm joking. I'm used to waiting around on set in between scenes. Next time, I'm bringing one of my smutty books."

"Oh, I can see the headlines now. 'Princess of Porn'," he laughs.

I smile gently, "I'm no princess."

"Just as well, it's really boring."

"The clothes are pretty nice though."

He looks at me. "While I think you look very lovely tonight, I much prefer the dress you wore the night we met."

I swear to God, the things this man says that turns me into marshmallow fluff.

"Oh, and why's that?"

He leads me to a secluded bench, surrounded by vegetation and not directly in the line of sight of anyone. It reminds me of that night. We sit, and I wait for him to speak.

"It was you. This dress is not you. You're all covered, not a hair out of place."

I shrug. "It's an appropriate outfit."

He shakes his head and reaches down for my… feet?

"Um…"

"Shhh." He takes my shoes off, rubbing first my left then my right, before placing them back on the thick soft grass. "Is that better?"

"Yes," I whisper because… swoon.

"Can I ask you a question?"

I look over at him as he studiously looks anywhere other than me. "Sure. Lay it on me."

"Well, that's kind of the topic at hand."

"I'm not following."

"Why haven't you tried to kiss me?"

I do a double take. "Excuse me? Why haven't you tried to kiss me?" I shoot back to him.

"I kissed you first, so I thought I'd leave the next move up to you."

"I'm pretty sure we have never had that conversation."

"Well, I figured it was implied."

Then it dawns on me and I laugh. "Look, Prince Charming. I get that you are used to women throwing themselves at you, but I'm not like other women. I cherish communication above all else when it comes to relationships or whatever the hell this is."

"So, you're saying…"

"I'm saying that if you want to kiss me, then kiss me. You might not have realized this but I kind of dig you."

"You 'dig' me?"

His confusion is so freaking adorable.

"I'm interested in you," I interpret.

"Oh, well yeah, I knew that. You're still here despite my massive attempts to muddle this up."

I just smile and make a mental note to google 'muddle' later tonight. I'm pretty positive it means 'fuck up'.

"Don't get too cocky there, Charming. I do tend to be a masochist in situations like this."

He makes a choking noise and turns to me sharply. "You're into that?" He whispers.

"Into what?" I ask as I rack my brain for what shocking information I have apparently just divulged.

"That Fifty Shades stuff?"

What?!

Oh!

I slap my hand over my mouth to stifle my obnoxious sounding laughter complete with snorting.

He's a little red in the face when I compose myself enough to talk.

"Oh, that's just perfectly priceless. To answer your question, not really. I simply meant that I don't always know what is good for me and when to leave well enough alone. Secondly, what do you know about Fifty?"

He's blushing. "Have you read them?" I ask.

"No, I have not! I've seen the movie by accident."

And I'm snorting again. This time he is laughing with me, his eyes all twinkling and happy. "Don't you ever tell another soul."

"How do you watch a whole movie by accident?"

"Never you mind. We were talking about kissing not… that."

I lean closer to him and bat my eyelashes slowly. "But kissing can lead to… that."

He visibly swallows, and I lean back to my original position. "Anyway, I don't have an aversion to kissing you, just so you know."

He shakes his head as if to clear it, a smirk planted on his lips. And now, he leans closer until his cheek skims mine and his lips are back to my ear again.

I've never heard of an ear guy, but stranger things have happened, I guess.

"What if I told you that I wanted to kiss you, right here?"

A tilt of my head. "I'd say, go for it, if you are so inclined, Your Highness."

His eyes are locked with mine now as we are face to face. A tilt here and a tilt there and then…

My world tilts ever so slightly off its axis as his lips meet mine for only the second time. Yet, it feels so familiar. The tingles and the gentle shockwaves. The ragged breathing and the languid movement of your tongues.

And for the first time since this hairbrained situation started, I begin to wonder how I'm ever gonna give him up.