Pure Intentions? Chapter 9
A/N: Hi guys. I noticed it's been a while since I've updated this story. It is not abandoned, but I'm taking my time updating this one as my other story, Hellcat, is coming to an end. Hope you enjoy this update.
In the following month, Prince Adam spend his days with his father arranging his itinerary for the Royal Eternian Tour. He-Man was needed several times against skirmishes with Skeletor and Count Marzo, as well as to save Eternians from naturally occurring disasters that sometimes plagued their home planet. Teela had faithfully accompanied him to those excursions her demeanor always professional, but everyone they interacted with commented about the change in the dynamics of their relationship.
She refused to talk to him as He-Man. Transformed as his alter ego, Adam had tried to speak with her on several occasions to give her closure, but she always refused his attempts. The opposite was true when she faced him as his true self. Surprisingly, she took the announcement that she would be accompanying him on this tour very well. She actually seemed excited to be leaving the Palace, something he couldn't understand as typically Teela hated being away from her duties at the Palace for too long.
This morning, he had send her a formal request to meet with him. Anxiously, he waited for her arrival knowing that she would explode when she received the missive. Hearing a soft knock on the inner door to his office, Prince Adam called for the guest to enter.
His office manager, opened the door to inform him that Teela arrived; however, she pushed by him yelling, "What's the meaning of this Adam?", as she walked into his office. Clutched in her outstretched hand, she held the missive he send her along with a purse filled with gold coins.
"Have a seat, Teela", the Prince answered her, his tone very formal. Pointing to a chair opposite his desk he waited until she sat before going to his own chair and sitting down.
Looking at the proffered chair Teela contemplated arguing against taking a seat; however, decided against it as she was experiencing her monthly cycle. Sitting where directed, she crossed her legs at the knees, fingers drumming impatiently on the chair's arm as she breathed through a particular terrible cramp. When Adam didn't immediately answer her, she stared pointedly at him as she stated "Well."
Shrugging his shoulders, Prince Adam addressed his bodyguard, "You need new clothes Teela."
"What's wrong with the clothes I have?", she asked.
"I already explained to you, when we are away we will be participating in many social functions." "You need to be presentable."
"I'm always presentable, Your Highness. "In my uniform!", she threw back at him using air quotes with her fingers when she uttered the word 'presentable'.
"Teela, you will not be wearing your uniform to balls, soiree's, the theater, and other functions you'll be accompanying me to", the Prince stated reminding her of all the activities planned for their attendance during the Tour.
"I'm your bodyguard Adam." "I don't need to be dressed up to do my job!", she argued.
"Teela, the choice is yours", he said dismissively. "Use the money to buy new civilian clothing, or I'll buy them for you", he threatened.
"You wouldn't?!", she objected.
"See if I don't", he challenged.
"Why?", she asked softly.
"Teela, we had this discussion already", the Prince answered her.
"I don't understand, all these years my uniform has been sufficient clothing for all the functions we attend together." "What's so special about this trip, that I need new clothes?", she asked.
"I don't want you standing out as my bodyguard." "Think of it as if you are doing your job, but undercover", he offered as an excuse to why he wanted her dressed up. The truth was he loved seeing her in dresses, a fact that he couldn't just divulge to her.
"Adam, everyone knows who I am", she responded.
"They do; however, on this trip you'll also be representing my mother." "I think it'll show more respect to those we are visiting if you were dressed formally", he stated knowing that Teela would do anything for his mother.
Thinking that he won this argument with his last response, Prince Adam was shocked to hear her rejoinder.
"I don't have to come at all, Your Highness."
"You're coming Teela", he said with finality as he grabbed her by the arm and threw her out of his office.
His actions shocked the flame-haired captain. Since the night in the kitchen when Teela teased him with the ice cream cone, Adam had started acting differently toward her and his father. Gone was the meek submissive person everyone associated as a coward. In his stead, a man with purpose appeared. Adam was proving to be a confident leader, able to handle the many pressures that came with his position. Teela even admired the almost forceful tones he often took with her, proving that he was 'man' enough to deal with her difficult temperament.
Calling his stylist, Prince Adam informed him that he will need magazines of fashionable women's clothing to be delivered to his office as soon as possible. If Teela won't buy the clothes he wanted her to wear, he would order them for her.
A week later, Teela woke up to insistent knocking on her door. Opening it, she stared in awe at the many palace staff lined outside her bedroom door. Each person was holding several bags and boxes in their outstretched hands. Looking down the line, she saw that Prince Adam was last on line, a smug smile on his lush lips.
She couldn't believe it. He actually went ahead with his threat. Shaking her head, she stepped away from her door giving the servants room to enter her bedroom. An hour later, she stood back looking at all the new clothes in her walk-in closet. Adam over did it. He ordered garments for every and any occasion. Walking among the garment pieces, Teela ran her hand through the colorful apparel admiring the formal gowns, day dresses, riding outfits, swimwear, shoes, purses, hats, and even lingerie he had ordered. She had to admit, her Prince had outstanding taste in women's fashion. She wasn't surprised that she loved all the pieces. He knew her very well, she realized. She also didn't need to try anything on, already knowing they probably all fit her like a glove.
Running a hand through her hair, Teela let out the breath she was holding. She didn't know if she should be angry or laugh at his antics.
Opening a secret compartment in her closet, she looked at all the clothes she had already bought on her own. Now she had way too many garment pieces. There was no way she could wear all of these outfits even if she changed five times a day. The difference between the clothing she bought and those delivered by the Prince was that hers were all sensible loose fitting clothing whereas his choices were all skin tight. Hers would enable her to fight if the occasion called for it, his would doll her up like a 'trophy wife'.
She would have to ensure that her maid only packed those pieces that Teela wanted. Looking at a sparkling off the shoulder, emerald-green crepe trumpet gown Teela decided that this one was definitely coming with them as it was beyond exquisite.
The two of them would be embarking for the tour in two days time. Dialing her maid, she informed her that she wanted her to start packing. A month away from the Palace would give Teela plenty of time to sort out her feelings about this 'new' Adam. Deep in her subconscious, she acknowledged that since his eighteen birthday Adam must have been covering his true personality. If her suspicions were correct and he was He-Man, she wondered why he never fought by her side.
Dressing for the day, Teela left her room shaking her head ruefully at her predicament. She could tell, 'He-Man' was exasperated at her constant refusal to speak with him. She wondered how much she could push him and why 'Adam' never tried talking to her instead. Teela didn't change the way she acted around the Prince in the hopes to keep her suspicions to herself. She planned on confronting him with them as soon as she had definitive proof. She just didn't know how she could go about getting that.
Teela thought about using seduction to get her answers. She now knew that Adam was beyond a doubt attracted to her as a woman, as she recalled his body's reaction to her ministrations with the ice cream cone. He definitely interpreted her actions as if she was performing oral sex, his body's sexual excitement clearly evident through his pants. Thinking of him in a state of arousal, rapidly quickened her own breath. In the weeks since his birthday, Teela admitted to herself that she was more attracted to Adam than she ever was to He-Man, despite not yet seeing him naked. Her imagination played wild tricks on her, making her wonder about the feel and taste of him.
Reaching her office, Teela closed her eyes willing herself to stop thinking about the Prince as an object of sexual desire. She couldn't let her feelings get in the way of business. She still had to ensure his protection, even more so now that they would be away from the Palace. Her father had always advised the guards , not to mix business with pleasure as it may cloud their judgments. Teela realized that was exactly what she had done since becoming intimate with He-Man. Duncan had made several comments to her regarding this issue since the night of the ball. If her suspicions were true, she wondered what her father would have to say if he ever found out that she, for all intent purposes, was the Prince's mistress.
And that's exactly what she was, given that they were not courting. This fact brought her so much despair and guilt which is why she refused to allow 'He-Man' to give her closure.
Once all of the items he bought for Teela were delivered and arranged in her closet, Prince Adam met with his bodyguard's maid, commanding her to only pack the new items he bought for the Captain. Adam knew has was being paranoid, but knowing Teela well, he was sure that she would try to convince her maid to leave the clothes behind out of spite. He needed these clothes to come with them, as he wanted her dressed to the nines for all the excursions he planned on them to attend.
Adam had already made up his mind that he would use the time during this Tour to court Teela. Off course, he didn't share that bit of information with her. Rather, he would be doing it in secret, her parents the only ones aware of his true intentions. Teela had once told him he was very charming. He would use that to his benefit.
Deciding to see what Adora was doing, he left his office in search for his twin. He found her in the stall, tending to Spirit. Turning to him, the Princess waved him over. Walking toward her, he wondered if Teela had talked with his sister about the Tour.
"Hi, Sis." "How was your ride?", he asked her, noticing that her boots were dirty signifying she just got back from riding her stallion.
"Wonderful, I keep forgetting about the beautiful meadows nearby." "You should have come with us", the blonde Princess stated.
"I would have loved to", Adam answered.
"So, I noticed that your special delivery for Teela arrived today", Adora stated peevishly. "Did she accept?", she asked curiously.
Shaking his head in the negative, Prince Adam picked up a brush, dragging it through Spirits already shiny white coat. The horse nickered its pleasure at his brushing , but then sharply nudged the Prince's shoulder.
"Whoa, boy." "What's the matter?", Adam asked his sister's companion, as he rubbed his shoulder.
"You are going about this all wrong, Your Highness", the horse advised him.
Startled the Prince looked at his sister, who stood there shrugging her shoulders a sly smile playing on her lips. Adam understood that Adora had spoken to Spirit about his predicament. Deciding to listen to the horse's counsel, Prince Adam indicated for him to continue.
"You can't buy your lady love's affection, Adam." "You must show her what she means to you", Spirit advised.
"Who said anything about buying her affection", he censored. "All I did was make a point, that she will be dressed appropriately for this tour."
"Oh Adam, you are so dense", Adora yelled.
Looking at her and wondering what she meant, the Prince waited for his sister to continue. However, when she didn't he cleared his throat to get her attention.
Peering at him over her shoulder, Adora sighed, walked over to a bale of hay, and plopped down on it. Patting the space next to her, she waited until her 'older' brother joined her. Once he did, she dropped her head to rest it on his shoulder.
Caressing her cheek the Prince asked, "Why am I dense, Sis?"
"You have no idea how to earn a woman's love, do you?", she threw at him.
"Adora, all I did was buy Teela some clothing."
"You call that some?" "Adam you practically bought out all of the stores surrounding the Palace", she responded exasperated.
"Why are you angered about this?", he asked.
"Teela is a self-made woman." "She'll probably hate you for buying her all of these clothes." "And plus, you know how she loathes all this royal protocol." "If the two of you do marry, I have a feeling she'll be sitting next to you on the Throne her laser blaster in one hand, her cobra staff in the other", his sister projected.
"I'm aware that Teela prefers cargo pants and her uniform." "I only bought her the clothes to prove a point", Adam advocated for himself.
"And what would that be?", his sister asked quirking her eyebrows.
"That I'm not a push over." "If I didn't buy the clothes, she would win."
"So this is a competition of willpower?", he was asked, "or is it your way to ascertain your authority over her?"
"Geesh Adora, you make me sound like a chauvinistic pig", he said sheepishly.
"Well, that's how I would interpret your actions", she said jabbing her finger into his side.
"So you wouldn't be happy if Sea Hawk bought you an entire new wardrobe?", he asked with a smile.
"No Adam, I would not be." "Teela and I are alike in so many ways." "If this bothers me, I can only imagine the names she has called you by now", the Princess stated as she stood.
"So what do I do?", Adam asked.
"Now you ask me?"
"It's never too late", he responded guiltily.
"I take it you want to woo her?", Adora asked.
"I know how to woo her", he answered with a shrug. "I'll have to act like He-Man while looking like Adam in order to entice her and that's something we both know I can't do."
"No Adam, just be yourself." "Teela will easily fall in love with you, if you act like your natural self." "Mayhap when the two of you are away, be yourself and let nature take its course", she advised.
Looking at his sister who was quickly proving to be the wiser among them, Adam nodded his head. She was right, he wanted Teela loving his true self.
"So, do you think I should return all of the clothes?", he asked.
"Then what would she wear?", Adora queried.
Shrugging his shoulders, he waited for a suggestion from her. Clasping her hands with excitement, Adora exclaimed "Go shopping with her."
"You mean like actually go to stores with her?", Prince Adam asked.
"Yes." "Make a day out of it." Hugging her brother she stated, "Let it be your first date." Rising she walked over to Spirit who was quietly following their conversation. Re-saddling him, she turned him to face her brother uttering "But let her pay for the clothes!", as she mounted her companion and rode out of the Royal Stalls.