Chapter 16

In Bulma's opinion breakfast the next day was going rather well. She had arrived early and managed to snag the seat next to Vegeta which had been in high demand since all those saiyan women had begun living in the palace a few months ago. Goku was stuffing his face as usual, Tomara was sending her regular morning growl her way and Vegeta was attempting to eat his food as eloquently as possible whilst simultaneously dodging stray pieces of food that were flying out of Goku's plate. So basically everything was normal. She kept her fingers crossed that everything would stay that way until breakfast was over or at least until she could manage to escape without looking suspicious.

"So son, I am looking forward to seeing your mate tonight at the ball" the King said eyeing his son carefully. Bulma sighed. It seemed that things were just not meant to go as smoothly as she had hoped.

"Hm" Vegeta grunted in response his attention still on the plate of food in front of him.

"I'm sure she must be beautiful" the King continued.

"Hm"

"And talented too" the King pushed.

"Hm"

"Probably a very strong warrior" the King edged trying to get his son to respond.

Vegeta shoved another spoonful of food in his mouth.

"With long flowing black hair and-" the King started.

"Dammit Father what do you want?!" Vegeta shouted slamming his spoon on the table finally having enough of his father's probing.

"Alright Vegeta I'm going to be frank because Kami knows that no other method will work with you. Have you or have you not chosen a mate as yet?" the King asked sternly.

At his question all conversation at the table immediately dropped. Everyone looked at Vegeta expectantly waiting for his response. Vegeta matched his father's stare.

"I have"

Bulma heard a collective gasp from around the table. Mainly from the direction where the saiyan females were sitting. Opposite her Goku's face broke out into a wide grin and he immediately went back to stuffing his face with whatever he could get his hands on.

The King let a small smile grace his face. "Oh fantastic! Took you long enough boy! So who is she?" he asked curiously.

"You've already met her before. She works in the palace" Vegeta responded vaguely.

"Oh have I now? Let's see there aren't many female saiyan warriors who work in the palace so it should be easy to limit it down to a few" the King said thoughtfully tapping his finger against his chin and closing his eyes in concentration.

Bulma stiffened suddenly at his mention of a female saiyan warrior. Of course that is who the King would think Vegeta would choose as his mate. At that moment a thought just struck her. What would the King do to her once he found out Vegeta had chosen her? He had no idea it was temporary. Would he be so angry that he would fire her from her position as head scientist removing her from everything she has ever worked for? Or would he in his blind rage try to dispose of her...permanently. At this last thought Bulma felt herself go pale, a sick feeling entering her stomach. She really did not think this through properly.

Vegeta felt Bulma stiffen beside him. A quick glance to the side and he saw that she had turned deathly pale. Figures she would freak out at a time like this. That's when he noticed her clenched hand siting on the table. A smirk crossed his face as an idea came to his mind. Time to put the plan into action. Glancing at his father he saw that his eyes were closed as he still tried to figure out who Vegeta had chosen as a mate. Perfect. That way only those who he needed to see what he was about to do would get to see it.

Slowly Vegeta lifted his hand and encased Bulma's fist in his own much larger hand. At his touch he felt Bulma stiffen. No calm down woman make this seem natural he urged her willing his thoughts to flow through to her. She quickly turned towards him meeting his gaze. At the new angle of her face he leaned towards her until his cheek brushed against her own. Leaning a little further he whispered in her ear "Stay calm woman I'll handle this." At his words and his fingers gently rubbing against her knuckles Bulma felt herself relax. Feeling Bulma start to calm down he tilted his head and moved down slightly to nuzzle his nose behind her ear his cheek rubbing against her jaw as he did so.

At this new closeness to her, Vegeta subconsciously inhaled her scent. God did she smell good. He would never tire of that smell. Reluctantly pulling himself away from her neck he brushed his cheek against her own one last time. Damn her skin was so soft and delicate. Would the rest of her be as intoxicating? What would it feel like to run his hands across her flat stomach, her toned thighs, her curved back? He wanted to feel her body pressed against his own. He wanted to feel every inch of her against him. On impulse he slowly pressed his lips against her cheek for a quick kiss. At the contact a sharp jolt went through him and pulled somewhere below his navel. It was completely unexpected, his heartbeat picking up suddenly.

Lingering longer than he should have, slowly he pulled himself back and smirked slightly at her. Bulma smirked back, a strange glint in her eyes, and pulled their hands under the table as his father opened his eyes once more.

When Vegeta turned away from Bulma to his father the first thing he noticed was the shocked expressions surrounding him. The saiyan females had their mouths hanging open in absolute disbelief, Chi Chi who was initially pouring juice for Kakarot was pouring the entire pitcher into an overflowing cup, his mother's eyes were wider than the saucer which held her breakfast in front of her and Kakarot had even stopped eating accidentally rubbing a sausage coated with ketchup across his face.

Vegeta's smirk deepened at the expressions around him. He watched as Kakarot broke out into a grin that was really unbecoming of a saiyan warrior and his mother looked like she was about to have an aneurysm trying to stop herself coming over to hug him.

"Oh could it be Brussel or maybe Olive? They both work in the palace training areas and are quite strong and beautiful" the King said thoughtfully.

"Try again Father" Vegeta smirked as he gently eased Bulma's fingers out of a fist and entwined his fingers with hers under the table.

He was never going to guess it right.

After breakfast Vegeta escorted Bulma back to his quarters so she could get ready for the ball in the evening. Personally he would rather be off training instead of being her escort. However she insisted because according to her apparently her life was in danger. Something about the female saiyans looking more dangerous than usual, Kakarot's hug being able to cut off her oxygen flow and Chi Chi's new cast iron frying pan that was especially hard. Kami that woman was too dramatic sometimes.

Bulma's mind was in complete disarray. Vegeta's little stunt had thrown her off balance. She enjoyed the feel of him and his breath against her skin a bit too much more than she should have. That sudden kiss really took her for surprise. Sure it was just a peck on the cheek, but she could not just ignore the jolt of electricity that shot through her at the contact. She wondered if Vegeta had felt it too or maybe it was just her own reaction due to her new found feelings for him. Whatever it was it was dangerous, and she knew she should not have enjoyed the feel of it much as she had.

But what had really messed with her mind was the fact that after his little show he continued to hold and caress her hand under the table. No one could see what their hands were doing under the table so there was really no need for him to do what he did. The way his fingers intertwined with hers and the way he ran the pads of his fingers gently over her knuckles felt a bit too intimate for what was necessary. Why did he do what he did? Is it possible that he enjoyed the feel of her as much as she enjoyed the feel of him? Bulma was smart enough not to dwell on false hopes. But a girl could dream once in a while right?

Vegeta eyed the woman walking next to him lost in her own thoughts. He wouldn't blame her. He gave her enough to think about to last a lifetime. Vegeta wasn't stupid, he knew what he did. He just couldn't help himself though. It is completely unlike him to act so dangerously without thinking things through first. He was starting to think that it was her scent that made him lose all sense of reason. After he had inhaled her scent thoughts that would not have ordinarily entered his mind started bombarding him and taking over his senses. He wanted to do things to her in that moment regardless of the consequences. Now he was certain he knew why scenting played such a major role in the saiyan mating process. If a saiyan found a compatible scent it would have the effect of heightening the senses and boosting the hormones. It caused him to kiss her. Sure it was nothing dramatic but still it was something he had not planned on doing. The jolt of electricity that followed was equally surprising. He couldn't help but imagine the feelings he would experience if he had to go further with her. Had Bulma felt it too or was it just him? Honestly his pride wanted her to at least feel something from their encounter. He couldn't have been the only one so thrown off balance by what had happened between them.

Aside from the kiss, for some reason he couldn't bring his hand to leave hers under the table. The feel of her skin against his just felt so right and he couldn't stop running his hands over hers. He knew it was inappropriate. Hell it was probably beyond inappropriate. But after the feeling of her so close to him only minutes before he couldn't make himself withdraw from her. It made him once again wonder what the rest of her skin would feel like. Would it be as smooth and soft as that on the back of her hand? His thoughts were driving him crazy. He had to control himself before he did something stupid. As of right now she was not his. He couldn't hold her, feel her in the ways he wanted to and he would respect that distance between them. He was not like that scar faced idiot. He wouldn't force her into anything she didn't want. However it did make him curious that not once did Bulma try to pull her hand away from his. She even reciprocated and flexed her fingers to grant him easier access. She was fully within her right to pull away if she wanted to. No one could see what was happening under the table. But it did make him wonder if she was enjoying the feel of him as much as he was of her.

Soon they reached the door to Vegeta's quarters. Vegeta turned to face her.

"Alright woman I am going to train. The dress fitters should already be in there" he said nodding to the door. "I'll arrange for lunch to be brought to you. I'll meet you in the afternoon when I return to get ready for tonight" Vegeta waved at her turning around and making his way towards the training rooms.

Bulma sighed to herself. Sometimes it just wasn't fair how quick it was for guys to get ready for events like these. All they had to do was throw on a fancy suit (or in Vegeta's case armour) and comb their hair if even. She wished she could have gone to the labs today. Suddenly feeling quite nervous she turned towards the door not knowing what was waiting for her inside.

Well here goes nothing she thought as she pushed the door open and made her way inside.

It's not real, it's just pretend. It's just pretend.

Bulma didn't want to admit it but she felt like a princess.

And she liked it more than she should have.

Looking at herself hesitantly in the mirror she saw a beautiful woman gazing back at her. She wasn't used to this. She was used to being covered in grease, wearing baggy clothes, her hair a mess. But the woman staring back at her was a woman dressed for the heavens. The dress fitters really knew what they were doing. Currently she was wearing a royal blue dress that hugged her in all the right places. The low neckline left much to the imagination showing a hint of cleavage without being too revealing. The dress hugged her breasts snuggly and flowed gracefully down to the ground. Turning around to admire the back of the dress in the mirror, she eyed the revealing back hesitantly. The dress criss crossed across her back with thin straps, exposing her delicate shoulder blades and smooth skin. She blushed slightly. Bulma knew that she was a beautiful woman and a few years ago she would have flaunted that freely. However ever since the incident with Yamcha she had always been a bit more nervous to show more skin than necessary. Sighing to herself she decided to suck it up. She was doing this for Vegeta and there was no way she was going to chicken out now.

The dress fitters had insisted that she had to wear a royal blue dress to match with Vegeta's armour. Apparently the royal blue symbolised his position as prince and her position as his mate. Once he took the throne as King, he would inherit his father's blood red cape and armour. Thinking of Vegeta made her glance at the clock next to the dresser. The dress fitters had left a little while ago so Vegeta should be coming back to get ready soon. They had laid out his armour and cape on the bed for him to get changed into.

Bulma blushed slightly as she eyed the armour on the bed. Damn she could see Vegeta looking very handsome in that get up.

As she stared at the armor on the bed, Bulma heard the door slide open behind her with some foot steps entering the room. Not expecting silence, she turned around to see who had arrived.

She was met with the sight of Vegeta who was standing stock still and staring at her with an intensity she had rarely seen before. His dark eyes were burning with some unknown power and he was slowly roving them across her body as he took in the sight of her.

Suddenly feeling nervous from his reaction, she cleared her throat slightly to get his attention.

At the noise, Vegeta's eyes shot up to meet hers and she was momentarily taken aback by the raw desire and hunger she saw there.

"So, uh what do you think?" She said nervously adjusting the strap of her dress.

Vegeta continued to stare at her and then suddenly shook his head as wake himself from a daze.

"Fine. I'm just going to change in the bathroom" he said gruffly.

At that Vegeta grabbed his armor from the bed and stormed into the adjoining bathroom slamming the door behind him.

Okay so I think I can take that as "You look pretty damn fine" Bulma thought smiling to herself.

As soon as Vegeta shut the door, he leaned his back against it roughly letting out the breath of air he was holding in.

Holy shit I'm screwed.

Bulma looked absolutely beautiful in that dress. The dress fitters had really known what they were doing that's for sure.

She looked exactly how he imagined his queen we would be. Beauty, strength and intelligence were just radiating from her and Vegeta had thought for a moment that he was just going to lose all rational thought and claim her right there.

No, he had to calm himself down. This was all pretend. He can't go losing control of himself and ruin the promise he made to her. He will respect her and treat her properly during this entire scam of a relationship. He will not lose his pride as the Saiyan Prince just because she looked so damn good.

Shaking his head, he roughly pulled off his training gear and hopped into the shower, hoping the cold water will help to calm him down.

Bulma slipped on her shoes once she heard the shower go off. She knew Vegeta wouldn't take too long to get ready and pull on his armor. Glancing at the clock she saw that they only had half an hour to make their appearance in the throne room.

Her back turned towards the bathroom door, she heard Vegeta emerge.

"We're gonna be la-" Bulma started but suddenly lost her voice as she saw Vegeta in the bathroom door.

He was wearing his royal blue armor that hugged all his muscles in exactly the right places. The chest plate was adorned with gold threading which highlighted his strength and made her want to run her hands over him. The usual spandex pants were replaced with well fitted suit pants that showed his powerful legs and highlighted his narrow waist.

Bulma felt her mouth turn dry at the sight of him and completely didn't notice that he had stopped fiddling with his sleeves and had looked at her after she stopped mid-sentence.

"See something you like woman?" He smirked at her.

Bulma felt all her blood rush to her face and stuttered out a weak "pffft nooooooooo".

Cocking an eyebrow at her he stalked towards her and held out his arm for her to take.

"Time to let the show begin" he smirked at her devilishly.