Longing

Life went on for Tyr Anasazi. The next two weeks after the party was full of schmoozing with high-level diplomats at the conference. He was able to procure all the money and support that his father had sent him to procure. But the lovely Ms. Shaveed was never far from his thoughts. In the month since he'd met her, she haunted his dreams, she was with him when he showered and shaved. And his nights… Well, his nights were…

"What's the matter, baby?" Shantelle asked, rubbing herself against him to entice him to round three. The man smiled at the idea. This African-American beauty was all curves and compliance. She had smooth, supple skin just begging for suckling, and a pair of tits that begged for the same. But fucking Shantelle… again… wasn't going to get him any closer to figuring out the mystery of Alandra. Besides, he was getting bored of his conquests lately. Maybe he needed a challenge. With this thought in mind, he stood up and started gathering her clothes. It was his hotel room after all.

"You need to go. I have an early morning."

"When will I see you again?" She asked, sliding into her dress and stepping into her shoes. Her hair was a lost cause. Tyr fixed her with a stern look.

"Don't. Just don't, Shantelle. This was fun. Let's not end it on a sour note." He looked at her and sighed. She had the look of a woman who was going to make a scene.

"I want-" She never got a chance to finish her sentence. He pressed on the right bundle of nerves near her neck and she passed out. Catching her, the prince sighed again and dragged her limp body to the door.

"Aietani bihadha min ajili," he told his guards, dumping the unconscious woman into their arms. Hazma sighed and accepted her purse and Spring jacket. By the time the woman came around, she would be in a cab headed for her apartment. These American women… They were like that, looking past the honor of royalty to the dollar signs and notoriety beyond. The man could see why his prince was attracted to them, they were so different from the women back home. But at the same time, it made them troublesome and hard to deal with once the pleasure was done. A few had even come crawling back, looking to scam their way into royalty by baring a child of royal blood. (Take care of this for me)

Hazma smiled at this as he finished giving instructions to the cabbie about the girl in the back seat of his vehicle. His Lord had a vasectomy on reaching manhood at the age of twelve. He did it to prevent such occurrences as bastard children. Since the process is reversible, he felt no need to explain himself to anyone. He still wore condoms when asked and acted as if it were a possibility, but the minute a woman demanded marriage because she was carrying his baby, he demanded a paternity test to prove them wrong. The bodyguard had a feeling that this would be the case with Miss Shantelle. His prince was made for more than this.

Tyr, unaware of his bodyguards' thoughts on the matter, sat up at his computer, researching the elusive Miss Shaveed. What he found was fascinating. Here was a woman who might actually be worthy of bearing his name and children. She was old-fashioned enough for his parents' tastes, yet his brief interaction with her said that she was fun enough for him. Deciding to surprise her at her place of business tomorrow - or more accurately, later today - he closed down his computer and crawled into sheets that still smelled like his latest conquest.

He showered and dressed carefully for his meeting with the woman. Remembering her discomfort with flirting, he opted to forego the usual flowers or jewelry. Instead, he got a French Vanilla Cappuccino for her since one of her posts said that it was her favorite afternoon drink for a quick pick-me-up. It was funny to him that he was actually nervous as he made his way to Myers & Myers to see her. He hadn't been nervous for a date since he was a boy. At almost 31 years old, he was no longer a boy. Yet she made him feel like one, forcing him to adjust his sexual techniques to suit her needs. This thought almost had him command his bodyguards to turn the car around, but he decided to go through with it.

"I'd like to speak to Ms. Shaveed," he told her secretary later that afternoon.

"I'm sorry. But Ms. Shaveed is preparing for her court appearance tomorrow and has asked not to be disturbed." She looked regretful at this and pulled up the woman's schedule. "Perhaps I could book you in for an appointment on Monday? The man looked embarrassed at the earnest offer from the older woman.

"This isn't business related, madam," he admitted.

"No, I didn't think it was. But Alandra uses her appointment book for all of her appointments. And if it's in her schedule, she'll keep the appointment." This last she said forcefully, emphasizing it, and that confused him at first. Then he really thought about it. Someone as timid as Alandra might be tempted to skip out on a date with him. This was probably the best way for him to guarantee an audience with his love.

His love?

Shaking off this Freudian slip, he agreed to a half-hour appointment with her Monday night at 7:30.

"Should I take this coffee to her when she is available?" The light-skinned woman asked slyly. Tyr Anasazi found his cheeks heating up.

"I would appreciate that. I just want her to know that I've been paying attention." Passing over the paper cup as if it was made of fine china, he suddenly felt nervous under that knowing blue-eyed stare. "I will return on Monday. Until then…" He kissed her hand and exited the office. Getting on the elevator, he was surprised to be addressed by one of the two older men already inside of the conveyance.

"Do you have business with Ms. Shaveed? I saw you coming out of her office just now. I was unaware of-"

"No, sir. I simply came to visit and caught her at a bad time." Again he was having that jittery feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"That's right. Alandra often secludes herself before court appearances. A good practice," his questioner nodded in approval along with the other man in the elevator. "So, am I to understand that Ms. Shaveed now has a suitor?"

He opened his mouth to say 'nothing so serious' and was surprised to hear a terse 'yes, sir' fall out instead. The men nodded again.

"Tread carefully, Mr. Anasazi. Ms. Shaveed is precious to us," the other man said quietly. "She is a good woman with a bright future ahead of her. A serious prospect, not an afternoon delight."

"I don't recall giving my name," Tyr said angrily, his back up at being called out by these two strangers. The elevator doors opened up to the lobby just then and all three men exited. The first man addressed him once more.

"You didn't have to. Your reputation precedes you. I would give some serious thought to your intentions before deciding if you want to keep that Monday appointment with her. Here is her card with the number to her office should you need to cancel." With that ominous statement hanging in the air, the two men left the building, Tyr fuming as he stood frozen in the luxuriously furnished lobby. Who the hell were those bastards? How did they know about him and his reputation so fast? And how the hell did they know that he planned to meet up with her Monday evening? Furious - and feeling something he may have even called mortification - the Crown Prince of Alibhai made his way to his car.

"There's no way I'll be warned off by some meddling old men," he muttered as the vehicle pulled away from the curb.

"Is everything alright, my Lord?" Omar asked curiously. His prince looked angry enough to chew metal and spit nails. He'd never seen the young man so furious. But it was more than that. The man looked caught; as if someone had called him out on something personal. "Did things not go well with your new lady friend?"

Something about this question seemed to disturb the prince.

"The lady was not available today. I have scheduled a meeting with her Monday evening."

"Oh! Then why-"

"And then I was accosted by two of her work associates on the way out of the building," he said angrily. "It seems that my reputation precedes me enough that they felt the need to warn me away from her."

"Well… You have quite a reputation, your Majesty. If you intend to treat this one like all the others and she happens to have protective men in her life, I do not blame them for attempting to prevent such a tragedy."

"'A tragedy', Omar? You make dating me sound like a bad idea. No one has ever complained about sharing my company." He ignored the small hurt his bodyguard's words had caused. He'd always considered himself to be a great lover of women, rather like Don Juan DeMarco of legend. Apparently, there was a price for such a public image.

Omar, oblivious to the hurt he was causing his liege as he laid out the reality of his situation, laughed heartily. "My prince! You are known as a superb lover of the casual fling. Longevity is not mentioned in the same sentence as your name. This Shaveed woman? She is the definition of 'commitment'. She does not date, even casually, and has never been associated with anyone long-term either. I understand that you are looking for a challenge, but this is not the one with which to do it. She is all wrong for your 'light and fun' reputation." Everyone in the car roared with laughter except for the prince, who looked decidedly put out. "Unless… Unless my prince has found someone who makes him long for longevity?"

Tyr couldn't answer, choosing silence for his companion during the ride back to the hotel. That was the most telling statement of all.