She had been running since 6:00 in the morning and now it was
almost 9:00. Most people wouldn't be able to endure it that long, as for her,
she was used to it.
She had one of those bodies that women would die to have and men
would die to touch. Her whole body expressed equilibrium of tone about her. Her
hair was her pride; a nice sun golden color that rode on like waves of the
ocean, always flowing.
Her baby blue eyes sparkled when she spotted a nearby bench; she
felt like her calves would tear apart if she didn't sit down soon. With a heavy
sigh and set determination, she ran up to it, sat down, and lay each arm on
each leg as she bent her head down to catch her breath.
"Tired?" She heard a deep voice say; she turned to the
voice to see who had greeted her. She really hadn't wanted to be bothered
today, but when she turned, deep midnight blue eyes had made her lose thought.
Something about them made her shiver slightly; she didn't like this feeling.
She decided to attempt to turn him off by pretending she didn't know English.
"What...um...how you say...no English." She assumed that
she played that off rather well since she had already had the French accent.
She was certain he would see her predicament and leave her alone; her accent
was clear as day.
He smiled at her, a smile that both scared and warmed her at the
same time. He thought he understood what she was going through, and decided to
ease her heart by speaking French to her.
"I'm sorry, didn't realize you didn't speak English. My name
is Darien Wales. And you are?" she was intrigued by his knowledge of the
language and decided to answer him.
"Selene Gustof." She said softly as she sat up in her
seat.
"So, you visiting from Canada, Selene?"
"France." She replied.
"Wow, you came a long way. How long have you been here?"
"Three days." Se answered softly.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but aren't you a little
cold?" He looked in her eyes, something familiar...
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Well...it's in the middle of December and you're wearing
a...well you're not wearing much." He stated flatly as he glanced over the
white tights and sports bra she was adorning.
"Well, I am kind of used to it." She turned away,
silence following her thereafter.
"Do you need someone to show you around?" He brooded.
"I mean, I could if you want."
"I'd loved too, but my schedule is very…complicated."
She thought of her 3-year-old son who was at that house at that very moment
with a baby-sitter.
"Well, if you ever need anything, a friend, a ride...a
date" He added smugly "Here's my card, just give me a call." She
took the card gratefully, believing somehow that he was someone she could
trust, and arose from her seat. It simply had a name and a number on it.
"Thank-you Mr...Wales is it?" she asked.
"Darien Wales, but please do just call me Darien." She
smiled and jogged away. He continued to look in the direction she parted from
until another voice interrupted him.
"Quite a vision of beauty, if I may say so myself, and
someone seems to be smitten by her presence, your highness." A man with a deep voice, who was standing by
commented.
"Yes, she is a vision of perfection" Darien replied.
"Yet another mistress to be added to your highness's
collection?" There was no reply but Darien knew what he was implying; he
was quiet the ladies man after all. "Your highness, if I may ask,"
The man began but was cut off.
"You wonder why I was not my persistent, charming self,
Malachite?" He arched his brow with a sardonic grin. Malachite smiled as
he sat down next to him and nodded in response.
"You ever have this feeling of déjà vu? I don't know...she
seemed familiar to me, as if, I have met her before...odd things is that she
kinda reminds me of that wench I met in England two years ago as well. I want
to find out more about her." Darien chose to hide his complete motive from
him, he hadn't wanted him to know that his true reason for being preoccupied
was that she was the first woman who laid eyes on him and didn't have any
affect. For some strange reason he felt this compelling feeling to have to know
why; granted he had to admit to himself that not every woman who met him fell
head over heels...but still...there was something inside of him that just
wanted to know her, drew him to her even.
Of course, Malachite merely arched an eyebrow in response. He knew
how Darien normally operated; he usually didn't waste anytime, if he wanted he
usually had the women in his bed within one to two days.
"As strange as this may seem...would you like me to investigate
further?" Malachite sighed as he sat next to his long time comrade.
"No...no thank you, I could do that myself," He said flatly.
"And will you stop lurking around me like some secret service man! For
goodness sake, I'm trying to not look like someone important and you're not
helping at all...don't call me your highness in informal surroundings, you know
that just annoys me!" He grumbled. "Stupid ass royal guards always
embarrassing me in public...acting like they're some kind man on a mission..."
He muttered to himself before facing a laughing Malachite. "You're my childhood
friend! Act like it!"