Part 6

Elizabeth panicked. This was never a part of the deal, she thought desperately. But this dark, brooding man had done a wondrous thing in protecting her from the Duke, so it is only fair, she reasoned with herself. But only a very quick, impersonal kiss.

"Okay," she said, then watched, amazed, as his face descended towards her until they were only a hair's breadth apart and she could feel his breath on her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips touched hers, and all the advice she had given herself disappeared as she kissed him back.

Her hands reached up to tangle in his hair as his large hands spanned her waist, pulling her closer. Elizabeth opened her mouth to his, deepening the kiss, when his tongue brushed her lips.

After what felt like hours later, but could have been no more than a few minutes, they separated. Elizabeth dropped her head to Michael's chest as she tried to get her breathing under control. Nothing had ever felt that wonderful, but she couldn't think about that. It had only happened because she was rewarding him for helping her. She could never let it happen again, or she would be in serious danger of falling in love, and would never allow that to happen.

It was only when she raised her head, that Elizabeth realised that the ballroom was deathly silent. Not a soul was dancing, too intrigued and astounded by the display of affection between the princess and her 'fiance'.

Red with embarrassment, Elizabeth grasped Michael's hand and pulled him towards the large French doors that led off the ballroom and out into the balmy night.

"How could I have let that happen?" Michael listened as Elizabeth scolded herself as she paced along the terrace.

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep at it." Michael called from his spot, perched against a wall.

She stopped to glare at him, before sinking onto a garden bench with a groan. "I cannot believe I allowed such a public display."

"At least this way nobody will doubt our affection towards each other." He was enjoying goading her. His mood had improved considerably, and he knew it was because of those short minutes he had spent exploring her sweet mouth.

"But … but I let you kiss me! In the middle of a ballroom. With my parents watching! Arrrrrggggghhhhhh." She threw her hands in the air and jumped up to keep pacing.

"Are you angry because people saw it, or because you enjoyed it?" His casual slouch belying the tension in his body as he awaited her answer.

Elizabeth halted, and Michael watched as a deep blush flooded her cheeks. "You have no right to ask me that. I am Princess Elizabeth."

"I know who you are," his voice was quiet but deadly as he slowly approached her, his movements suggesting he was stalking his prey, "and I have every right, sweetheart, seeing as I am your fiance."

"That's not the point." Elizabeth raised her chin in defiance, but the quiver in her voice belied her true state of mind.

"I think it very much is the point." He was so close that Elizabeth took an involuntary step backwards and Michael followed her.

"N-no, it isn't." Step by step backwards until she felt a pillar supporting her back. "I hired you to play my fiance, but that doesn't mean you can know everything about me," Elizabeth whispered so nobody else could hear.

"Maybe I want to know everything about you," his lips brushed her ear and a shiver raced down her spine, "and I know how to find out what I want to know."

Elizabeth was distracted from her train of thought by the lips feathering down her neck, but she forced herself to speak, "And how do you do that, Sir?"

He kissed the corner of her mouth. "That's for me to know." he kissed the side of her mouth. "And for you to enjoy."

He was going to kiss her. Elizabeth knew she should stop him, but she didn't want to. She sighed when his lips touched hers, and she lifted her arms to circle his neck, her fingers threading through his thick, soft hair.

~~~~~~~~~~

Michael had never felt a need such as this. He was drowning in the sweet innocence that was Elizabeth. She made him want to be a better, kinder man. His lips left hers to feather soft kisses down her neck. His tongue teased the hollow at the base of her throat, eliciting a sharp gasp from the woman pressed so intimately against him.

"S-sir, you should not be doing this."

"Why not?" he breathed against her skin. "You are enjoying it, are you not?"

"It is not right. You are being too intimate." Her small hands rose to press against his chest, trying to push him away. "You must stop before somebody discovers us."

"Anyone who found us like this would just think we're very much in love," he said between kisses, "and isn't that the illusion you're trying to create."

She felt a sharp pain stab through her as his words forced her to remember that this was all just an act. None of it was real. He was only playing a part. "Please stop," She whispered under her breath, not wanting to draw any attention to them.

He drew away reluctantly, but remained close to her, invading her personal space. "What does her 'Royal Highness' wish of me now. Your wish is my command."

Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment, but would not let him stare her down. "We'll go back inside and we'll dance together so everybody can see how very much in love we are," She said, tossing his words back at him.

Bowing low he swept out his arm. "As the lady such desires." And he led her back onto the dance floor.

The rest of the night passed quickly and without further incident, as they danced, wrapped in each other's arms.

Elizabeth was disappointed when the evening eventually came to an end.

"Shall I escort the lady to her chambers?" He secretly hoped she would let him. He was surprised to discover that he wanted to spend as much time as possible in her presence. She bewitched him.

"No. People might think things."

"Let them think whatever they wish," he said arrogantly.

"I am afraid I must refuse. It would not be proper."

"As you wish. When shall I be needed next?"

"Be at the palace tomorrow morning. We shall go out into the villages."

"Anything for you, my darling."

She breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was being reasonably agreeable.

"But, before I leave, I must insist on a goodnight kiss, if we are to be separated for such a very long period of time." His voice rose slightly, attracting the attention of couples dancing nearby. She could hardly refuse with everybody watching her. They might believe them not in love if she refused. And without waiting for an answer, he made a grand show of dipping her low and kissing her.

Her heart started to beat wildly as strange emotions flooded her body. All too soon it was over and he released her gently. She glanced around at the startled faces of those who had witnessed the kiss, which was most of the ballroom, and cursed herself for letting the kiss go for so long and being far too intimate.

"Goodnight," she whispered, and turning, fled from the ballroom directly to her bedchambers. One thought echoed constantly through her mind, /It is going to be a very long week./

END PART 6