Kissing You

They collected his bodyguards from the kitchen and found that they'd obviously had a more fun night than he and his woman had. They were laughing at something Ceeta said and looked generally relaxed.

"Oh, Protectora. ¿Fue realmente tan malo?" Ceeta asked compassionately, hugging his woman close. Tyr was shocked to see tears forming in the younger woman's eyes. Up until then, Tyr would have thought that she was perfectly fine with what happened at the dinner table. (Oh, Protectress. Was it really that bad?)

"No one is willing to give him a chance, Mama Ceeta," she whimpered, hugging the life out of the woman. "They all think I've lost my mind." Leticia lifted her head and wiped her tears away with her thumbs before smiling at her warmly.

"Then they aren't seeing what's right in front of their stubborn faces, are they?" she said softly and hugged the distraught woman again. "Oh, Protectora, things have a way of working themselves out. And you have a powerful Advocate in your corner. Just pray on it and keep it moving. They'll figure it out eventually. They love you and they're not completely stupid." The two women shared a laugh at that. "It's plain to see that this young man loves you. Give it time and they will see." (Protectress)

"Thanks, Mama Ceeta," Landi sniffled. She wiped her face with the napkin Leticia handed to her and smiled bravely. "Let's go, guys. It's late."

Tyr and his bodyguards followed the woman with worried frowns on their faces. The older woman couldn't help her laughter.

"You men… Looking at my Protectora as if she were a bomb set to go off! She's fine. She just needed to cry a little about having her judgment questioned so thoroughly tonight." (Protectress)

"Thank you for the reassurance, Mama Ceeta," Tyr said with a half bow. The woman laughed again and bowed back.

"Remember how you feel right now, my Prince. That indignance and anger, it's nothing to what you'll feel after talking with her actual family. She'll need you even more after that confrontation. No matter what, do not forget that you are a good man and how much you love her. That will help you get through it. Good night gentlemen." The men met Landi at the car, her mask back in place.

"Ready?" she asked brightly. Tyr hugged her tightly, angered by her fine tremors. She was still pretending. He opened her door and maneuvered her back toward it.

"We will get through this together, Alhamia. Don't you worry bout a thing." She gave a watery giggle before sliding into the open door. He stood for a minute, watching her. Her eyes were wet, but she was refusing to cry. His wounded warrior. He leaned in and caressed her cheek tenderly before closing the door and getting in the car on the other side. Everyone buckled in and they were on their way. Tyr spent the ride holding his lady tightly until her trembling subsided. (Protectress)

"I… I really am stronger than this," Landi apologized. "I just-"

"Shh… Hush, my love. I've got you." She didn't say anything else, and soon dropped off to dreamland.

"I'm glad you're so serious about this woman, my Lord," Hazma murmured so as not to wake the woman.

"She's… She is precious to me," he told the man. After that, the ride was silent.

… …

When they reached her apartment, the couple was sleeping peacefully. Omar was reluctant to wake them, they looked so sweet together. He took a picture before reaching back to shake his prince awake.

"I'm sorry, my Lord, but we've reached-"

"I'm home?" Alandra asked around a yawn and a stretch.

"Yes, my Lady," Omar said to see how she reacted.

"My Lady'?" she said, scrunching her nose adorably. "Tyr's sister isn't around here. I'm not royalty."

"Yet," he said emphatically. At her confused look, he explained with a smile. "If my lord has taken an interest in you, it's only a matter of time before we're required to call you by that title. Best get used to it."

"But… but-"

"It's alright, Landi," Tyr came to her rescue. "Come on. It's time for bed." He helped her out of the car, supporting her when she leaned against him to stretch.

"Goodnight, gentlemen," she said tiredly. She walked away from him without another word and that bothered Tyr.

"Where are you going, Sweetling?" he asked, grabbing her arm lightly. She turned to face him and he was surprised to see anger in her gaze.

"Do we have to revisit this conversation, Tyr? I am not going to sleep with you! Goodnight! I have a very long walk up the stairs to my apartment and I'm very tired. I don't have time to-"

"What are you talking about, Alhamia? I'm not trying to have sex with you. You're always so skittish around the end of our dates." He smiled at her and she immediately looked guilty.

"I'm sorry, Tyr. You… You just make me so nervous. I…" The man wrapped her in his arms, smiling as she relaxed against him.

"Now, what is this about walking up the stairs?"

"The elevators stop working at nine. It's no big deal." The prince frowned but decided to let it go. Instead, he lifted her face out of his chest and smiled down at her. "I'm not going to hurt you, baby."

"I… I know. I just… Okay, I want to tell you a story that may explain why I'm so skittish about sex. Grace Callaghan was a good friend of mine in high school. She started seeing Brad Dickson during her Senior year. He was a major hottie and known for being a playa, but he gave all that up for her. His personality changed overnight; suddenly he was sweet and kind. They really seemed to hit it off even though their reputations were very opposite. This went on for months, an entire semester. He took her to the Winter Formal and she gave herself to him afterward. Then he publicly collected his money from his friends, because he'd bet them that she would 'give it up' by the end of the semester 'like any other bitch'.

"Grace was humiliated. It was her first time and, according to her, it was awful. She left school mid-semester just to get away from the jeers from Brad and his buddies. He reverted back to his bad-boy ways and tormented her until he was able to drive her out of the school. I was only a Junior so I couldn't really help her like I wanted to. I never heard from her again, but the last I heard of her, she'd had Brad's baby and that…" Here she had to take a calming breath, "Brad was appealing Grace's lawsuit proving that he was the father and therefore owed back child support." She looked at him nakedly, her expressive brown eyes large and vulnerable. "He hurt her so badly. And I never lost the guilt that I was one of the people encouraging her to trust him." She nodded when his eyes widened. "I was a different person back in school. I didn't sleep with anyone, but I didn't see anything wrong with it back then. Grace's experience changed everything for me. New York is a big place, but I don't want to do anything that will force me to move away to escape the stares and humiliation. And I would never humiliate my family by having a child out of wedlock. I-"

He covered her plump lips with his, unable to stand the misery radiating off of her. The kiss wasn't passionate or lustful. This was an expression of comfort, something very new for the man. He wrapped his arms around her, offering compassion and tender sympathy for what her friend had gone through. When he was finished devastating her senses, she looked punch-drunk, a dreamy smile plastered all over her face.

"I don't believe in pathetic games like that," he reassured her. "Time will prove my words true and time I've got." Her smile was like sunshine; he couldn't get enough of it.

"You have time for me?" she asked playfully.

"I have all the time in the world for you, little one," he whispered against her ear. "Get some sleep, Alandra. I'll be back to work out with you at seven in the morning."

"I'll be ready," she said happily, pulling away from him. "Goodnight, Tyr."

"Goodnight, Alhamia," he replied, kissing her forehead before letting her go. (Protectress)