Chapter 4 The not so accidental Kiss?

The minute Jo saw James walk away from Lily with a smirk on his face she knew something was up.

          "James I know that look."

          "Jo it was not what you think ... I was ... I was asking Miss Evans if she wanted to go riding with me tomorrow."

          "Uh huh and there is life on Pluto. get real James. you were planning something, If you hurt Lily I swear to Merlin that you won't live to see your first born son. Besides Mother told me that Sirius, Remus, and you saved her life and her friends' lives too at school. Jamie that has to mean something." Jo was the only one besides their mother who ever called him Jamie. That wiped the smirk off of his face.

          "Jo, You are my twin and I love you so much but butt out. Now let's go eat. I'm starved." he took her by the arm and they walked over to the Buffet line and waited to get their food.

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The next morning Lily awoke to the sound of her alarm clock. She groaned. Last night was the best night of her life. She felt for the first time in her adult life happy her friends blackedmailed her to participate in the Gameshow. After she dressed she hurried down to  the Palace stables. Somewhere in the shadows she could hear Prince James talking to a horse.

          "Good morning to you too, Hercules. Are you ready to go for our ride this morning? I know I am. Come on let's get Diablo too because we have a companion this morning." He said to the horse.

          'Does he ever talk back Your Highness?" she asked quietly  making him jump sightly.

          "Miss Evans! Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again. You scared the living daylights out of me! Not yet he hasn't. Here take Herc while I get your horse." he said handing over the reins to Lily. he left to go to the back of the stables. Hercules nuzzled Lily's neck making her laugh.

          "Hello there Hercules, it's nice to meet you too. Here have a carrot." She said giving the gelding a piece of carrot she had in her pockets." she could here the prince mutter "Traitor." to the the horse she was holding as he came forward with the most beautiful young stallion she had ever seen.

          "This Miss Evans is Diablo. "He will be your mount. But I warn you not to make a sudden move. Approach him..."
          "I know how to handle stallions Sire. I grew up with horses. But I have a question... Why give me such a jittery horse?"

          "Wha- You grew up with horses? I- um- I knew that it was in your history the studio sent when you won the game." he said trying not to look and sound stunned. She silently laughed knowing that there was no history. She grinned up at him.

          "Really Sire, now take your horse and warm him up I will be out with Diablo in 20 minutes." he departed muttering something about 'it's not working!' and a 'Damnation!'

          "Ok Diablo lets get to work huh sweetie?" she asked the horse. Taking the saddle off she laid it aside. She  picked up a brush and started brushing the horses mane.

~~~~

Hercules was grazing Contented on some hay when Lily and Diablo emerged. James looked at the woman riding astride the once violent horse.

          "Wha... How did... How?" James asked stunned.

          "All it took was a good rub down and a few carrots and apples. And maybe a little Evans Family Secret Touch." she said as the Prince flung himself on to Hercules back. They set off into the rising sun side by side. Suddenly a snake slithered across Hercules's path startling him into frenzied gallop. Lily saw for a split second the look of horror on Prince James's face before the frightened horse sprinted in the other direction away from the palace and toward a forest. Lily spurred Diablo in the direction of where the prince and his horse. She found Hercules grazing on some grass next to a fallen Prince James. She jumped down and ran over to where James lay.

          "James? James Oh James are you alright? JAMES! Speak to me! Oh Merlin if you are hurt The Royal Family will never forgive me. Please don't be hurt. I know what you tried to do. You wanted to get rid of me because you are afraid that something will come to be of what you feel deep in your heart. Don't worry James I feel that too." She whispered as she knelt next to him and said the last part to him as she brushed away hair from his forehead. his eyes fluttered open.

          "What did you say, Lily? Why am I laying on the ground? The last thing I remember is the snake scaring the bejesus out of Herc. Lily why are there tears falling down your face?" he asked sitting up slowly.

          "Are you hurt? Are there any broken bones? Merlin's Beard Ja-Your Highness you and that horse of yours scared the Hell out of me!" Lily said avoiding his question. She looked away. He smiled.

          "Lily, I am fine how about you are you ok. I mean emotionally. God Damn it All to Hell. Look at me, Lily." She did and started to laugh.

          "I knew it you care. Are you sure you are ok?" He frowned.

          " I'm fine Miss Evans. Who said I care? Huh? Let me guess Jo?" she laughed

          "No your face did Sire. It gave you away. I know we have only known each other for a day but..." she stopped when he kissed her. Her eyes widened.

          " You're right I do care. You came after me unlike some women I know. Those women would start screaming for help. Thank you for making me see the light. You were right I was trying to make you leave but I dont want to do that now. I don't want a soul to know about this. By this I mean our kiss and us. Lily... I ... want to get to know you better as you. Not the Winner of A Little Taste of Royalty. We have three weeks so what do you say to morning rides together and staying here until... um... say noon then we go back to being not so close... Don't give me that face like you don't have a Fricken clue what I'm saying. I know you are smarter than that. Lilabelle just do this for me... Please?"

          " Your Highness..."

          "My name is James, Lily get it right. If I promise to call you Lily,  will you promise to call me James?"

          "Alright S-James I promise don't you think that we should meet somewhere... say a secret meeting place? We dont want to keep appearing together do we? We dont want people to suspect us. And what about our friends?

          "Oh they will be busy all day I made sure of that. Damnation Jo was right."

          "What do you mean?"

          "She said that if I made an attempt at getting to know you I would like you." He laughed. "She also said that basically you would be good for me. You are right about a meeting place a little ways from here there is a perfect place its a small spring that only my sisters and the dukes and I know about. we could meet there. Or I could sneak into your room at two which would you prefer?"

          "Really well James be reasonable. My room of course." she laughed at the look on his face. "I was joking James, I am not that big of a prude. I do know how to make a joke."

          "You would rather I meet you in your room do you well that can be arranged Miss Lily." He stood up and grabbed her around the waist and whirled her around in little circles. She squealed with laughter. when they stopped she said breathless.

          "We better get back it's almost 9:00."     

          "Right as always Miss Lily." they got on their horses and started back toward the palace. " Lily do you remember all the times I ignored at school?"

          "How could I forget? I liked you sooooo much. But I was just  perfect Prefect and you were just Gryffindor's bad boy. You got so many detentions from me it wasn 't funny. Then we became Head Boy and Girl 7th year and had to spend time together. I think that made me like you more. It was scary."

          "Whoa hold the Floo powder. You had a crush on me? During school?"

          "Like Bree would say you bet your broomsticks it did. Gee James you catch on fast." He looked at her as they reached the stables.

          "I will be damned to the dark side. I had no idea. Look there's Moony and Catie. Act like we hate each other. Damnation Miss Evans  why the hell did you have to fall off Diablo after that snake came across his path. You know what I told you about stallions."

          "Well Sire Why give me such a untrainable horse. For Merlins sake. Why not a Mare or Gelding. Something tame unlike the mount you gave me I never want to ride with you again." Lily hopped off Diablo and  handed James the reigns then ran to the Palace.

          "Nice acting my Miss Lily. Nice acting indeed." James whispered to Lily's back.

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I will be Damned to the Darkside. Ha Classic. Well what do you think? Tell me Tell me I want to know. Well I have class now so i will update after.

P.s Thanks all who reviewed next chapter i will comment each review.