Pure Intentions? Chapter 16

A/N: To the guest reviewer who wrote: ."That turned from 'suggestive spooning' to 'platonic cuddle pile'", you had me rolling on the floor with your comment.

Teela awoke with a strange sensation. She felt cocooned in all directions. Slowly lifting her eyelids, she took in her surroundings. With wakefulness came the realization that she was pressed firmly up against a warm body, a second warmth pressing down on her head. Attempting to turn her head, she noticed that she couldn't move. Her long unbound hair was trapped underneath a massive shoulder. Returning her head back to its original position thus alleviating the pain of her hair being pulled, Teela became aware of something long and hard pressing on the inside of her thigh. Shock reverberated through her system when she realized what it was . Fully opening her eyes, she noticed that she was sleeping on top of Prince Adam her leg draped over his waist, his manhood at full attention underneath her thigh.

Groaning at her predicament she wondered how she could withdraw from his embrace without awakening him. Teela wanted to be out of the bed before he woke up and realized he had 'morning wood'. Wondering if he was having an erotic dream that lead to his state of apparent arousal, Teela's curiosity grew. Staring at his profile, she took in his pronounced high cheek bones, jutting chin, full lips, and his cologne from last night. Her gaze once again landing on his lips, she wondered how they would feel pressed up against hers. She was enthralled by the feel of him lying next to her. Inwardly, she admitted that despite the cramped confines of the bed, last night afforded her the most pleasant sleep she had in a very long time.

Continuing to stare at Adam while he slept, she contemplated the noticeable difference in his personality since his birthday ball. Prince Adam had matured drastically in the last two months. Teela recognized that she was quickly falling for this version of him. If she wasn't careful, particularly if she continued to wake up in his arms, Teela knew there would be no turning back for her. She vowed not to give in to the temptation which was her prince because she would undoubtedly get hurt again. Teela could not forget that one of the reasons he was engaging in this tour was to find a wife. There was also the fact that she still suspected he was He-Man, which angered her because if he was her lover, it meant that he deprived her of waking up in his arms in such a manner for the last five years. Teela accepted that had she known the two were one man, she probably would have been sneaking into Adam's rooms at night.

Her thoughts were like a slap in the face. She had to remove herself from his embrace right now. The longer she remained next to him the weaker her resolve against him. As she contemplated how to remove her hair from beneath his arm she felt him stir. Hoping that he wouldn't open his eyes, Teela gave a silent thanks to the Ancients when she felt him shifting his arm. His movements freeing her tresses, Teela quickly pushed herself upwards to sit on the bed. Looking down, she noticed that Adam continued sleeping. Swiftly, she jumped out of the bed and made a beeline for the privy.

Running the shower water, Teela let the room fill up with steam before entering the shower. Relaxing under the stream of hot water, Teela cursed at her predicament. She had to do something about their living arrangement as she knew that if she continued sharing a bedroom with him for the next month, she would become totally undone.

Finishing with her shower, Teela rapidly dressed and returned to the bedroom. Looking over at the bed she noticed that both Orko and Adam were still sleeping. However, Cringer was wide awake. Holding a finger over her mouth to indicate that she didn't want him to speak, Teela grabbed her laser pistol and staff attaching both to her utility belt. On silent feet she exited the bedroom making her way toward the dining room for some much needed coffee.

That day, Adam and Teela didn't see each other. Teela had a packed schedule with the Captain of the Morainian guards as they were to scope out a stadium for an equestrian event set to occur the next day. The Morainian Royal Family along with Adam would be taking a tour outside of the Palace, visiting the surrounding neighborhoods before arriving at the arena. Adam was scheduled to attend summit meetings all day with King Moraias. They wouldn't even be meeting for dinner as Teela wouldn't be returning back to the Palace until well past the dinner hour.

Entrusting Adam to Prince Esker's bodyguards, Teela left the Palace with their Captain. Captain Radcliff was a man in his early thirties with long brown hair, a full mustache, and piercing green eyes. He was tall and athletically built, but not as tall as Prince Adam. Radcliff and Teela had attended military academy together, back when she was in a relationship with Malek. She knew that Radcliff was attracted to her; however, he respected her choice and never made a pass at her. Teela wondered if his feelings were still the same.

On the way to the stadium, they kept up an easy conversation, Radcliff informing her of his marriage and the birth of his first born. Laughingly, he told her that at one point he had envisioned her as his wife. However, upon his station at Morainia he quickly realized that they could only be friends. Teela admitted that she always admired him but her heart both then and now belonged to another man. With easy camaraderie they completed their mission. Late at night they returned to the Palace, hungry and bone weary from the cold. Spring was still a long way away this up north on the planet.

Returning to her room, Teela decided she would phone in to her father to update him with how the tour was going thus far. Opening the door to the suite, she stood stunned on the precipice. Someone had ordered dinner for her. Strewn around the room were lit white aromatic candles in different sizes. Walking in, she turned around staring at the suite's transformation. Someone had decorated the room for a very intimate dinner. Walking back into the hallway, Teela double checked the suite number ensuring she had entered the right one. Sure enough this was her room. Going back inside, she walked toward the small round dinner table set in the middle of the room. On the table was a vase of the most beautiful bouquet of red roses she had ever seen. Bending over them she sniffed the fragrant flowers enjoying their lovely scent. As she straightened she noticed a card. Intrigued she picked up the missive, opened the enveloped, and pulled out the note. After reading it, Teela clutched the note to her heart.

Caught up in preparing for the Tour, Teela forgot what day today was. However, the person who did this for her, didn't. The person who painstakingly arranged for this intimate setting remembered that today was Teela's birthday.

Adam did this for her. As always, he never forgot her special day. It didn't matter that they were miles away from home, she was out riding all day to ensure his safety, and he was cooped up in board meetings all day. Somehow her Prince found a way to make today special for her. Placing the card back onto the table, Teela turned and slammed full force into a hard chest. Instantly, she felt strong arms grasping her as they stabilized her before quickly letting go.

"Happy birthday, Teela", she heard the Prince of Eternia state.

Looking up into his smiling blue eyes, Teela took in that he was dressed for a romantic dinner. She felt so out of place standing there in her dirty fatigues, strands of her hair standing on end as they came loose from her braid.

"Adam", she answered. "You did this for me?", she asked the words fleeing her mouth before she had a chance to censor them. She already knew this was his doing as the card stated this fact.

Lowering his head to hers he quickly kissed the tip of her nose, engaging in an act of intimacy she always welcomed from him from the time they were children. "I didn't forget today is your birthday", he stated as he produced his gift.

Rapidly blinking her eyelids, Teela stared dumbstruck at the box he was handing her. 'He got me a gift and arranged for this special dinner all for me?', she thought. She couldn't believe it. No one had ever done anything so special for her in her entire life. Unused to these acts of love, Teela didn't know how to react. All the years of proper etiquette training kicking in she shyly stated, "Thank you Adam."

"You are welcome", he replied with an easy smile. "Would you like for me to serve you?", he asked while pointing to the set table.

Looking between them, Teela took in how inappropriately dressed she was for this evening. Smiling at him she answered, "I'd like to freshen up before we eat, if that's okay."

"Off course, Tee", he answered as he stepped out of her way.

Entering the bathroom, Teela stumbled when she noticed that the bathroom was decorated in a similar fashion as the bedroom. The bathtub was already filled with water, bubbles rising to its rim, red rose petals floating on the surface. Adam must have definitely known when she returned to the palace and rushed back to their suite to set this all up. Teela was speechless. Turning to close the door, she clipped her hair atop her head as she simultaneously stripped off her fatigues before slowly submerging herself into the fragrant warm water.

Not wanting to keep him waiting as it was already way pass dinner time, Teela quickly bathed and rinsed her body. When she attempted to leave the bathtub, she realized her faux pas. In her haste to freshen up, she forgot to grab new clothes. Securely wrapping a towel around her body, Teela slowly opened the bathroom door to call out to Adam to ask him to bring her some clothes, but as she put her hand on the doorknob, she made contact with a hanger with clothes on it.

Looking up, she saw Adam sitting on the bed looking in her direction a silly smile on his face. Indicating the clothes with his chin he stated, "I hope you don't mind, but I picked out something for you to wear when I noticed you went into the bathroom with nothing to change into."

Again shocked at his very thoughtful actions, Teela removed the hanger off the doorknob and brought the clothes into the bathroom. Adam had picked out a dark blue two-piece dress for her to wear with matching shoes. Going to a drawer in the privy, Teela chose some undergarments to wear underneath. Quickly dressing, she looked in the mirror noticing her unruly hair. Deciding, she couldn't really do anything to it now, she removed all the hairpins turned her head upside and tossed it around a few times. Flipping back upright, she smoothed her hair over her shoulders.

Finally ready, she opened the bathroom door a huge smile on her lips ready for her special birthday dinner with the Prince of Eternia. Walking out of the privy, Teela stood motionless in the room as she came to the realization that the room was barren. Looking left and right, Teela did not see Adam anywhere.

Where could he have disappeared to. Walking to the bed, she sat on it continuing to wonder at his sudden absence. As she sat on the bed, her gaze fell on the gift box he had presented to her. Next to it, she saw another card. Picking it up, she noticed that it was the same one that he had left for her with the flowers. On its back he had written a second message. It read, 'I'm sorry Teela, but I just remembered I had something important to do.'

Off course he did. This was typical Adam. Anger like she never experienced before overcame her. How dare he leave at a moment like this. Here she was dressed to the nines, ready to dine with the man who had captured her heart, and he just vanished into thin air.

Well she was hungry. At this point, she didn't care if he had eaten or not. She would not wait for him, that would teach him right to tease her and then leave her hanging. Her decision made, Teela approached the table serving herself of the various foods and then taking her plate to sit in front of the roaring fireplace. Alone on her twenty-seventh birthday looking splendid in an outfit fit for a queen, Teela Captain of the Eternian Royal Guard ate her meal as she contemplated where Adam could have gone.