The prince and the player - pt 2

It didn't matter to me anyway, I told myself as I stood there frozen. Not long after he left, the loudest alarm I'd ever heard pierced my ears. It seemed sure to fill every corner of even such an estate as this one, which might have been at least half the size of Rosa.

Next came the panicking and the screaming as people rushed to exit the house and the mansion descended into chaos. The stranger burst back into the room. A hoodie pulled over his head, he grabbed my hand and said, "Time to go," before breaking into a run with me in tow.

"What the hell is happening now?" I yelled in frustration.

"It's all perfectly alright. A mere ruse to get you out," he yelled back over all the other screaming voices and the blaring alarm.

"What is it with you people? Are none of you sane?"

"Afraid not." He laughed and as we rounded a corner, he pulled out his cell phone and yelled into it, "Jesse my man. Ready the car."

My calves were to me the only thing louder than the screams of panic. We seemed to have been running for hours by the time we made it back to a car the stranger had waiting. That is to say I assumed it was his. I honestly didn't think I could rule anything out at this point. The driver, a slim looking young man dressed in a formal black suit, got out of the car and bowed.

"Your Highness."

I did a double take. "Your Highness?"

My mouth dropped open.

I looked between the two men in disbelief. The prince's crooked grin made him look even more mischievous as he bowed the most elegant bow I had ever seen in my life. "At your service, my princess."

The driver bowed too. "My Lady."

"Well, we'd best be off," said the prince, taking advantage of my shock and bundling me into the backseat before jumping in right next to me. "Jesse, let's make like the wind and be gone."

I reacted a moment too late. When I tried to open the door, I found it locked, and the car had already started moving.

A few moments later, Jesse was speeding to the gates of one of the biggest estates in Caines. He was sweating profusely, as though we were running from the mob.

"Your Highness?" I spat the words out as though they were an insult, glaring at the prince.

"Please, it's Aaron to you. I should think we might be on a first name basis. We are engaged, you know, Zo."

Again, he winked at me in a way that was starting to annoy me.

"I am not your fiancée. I will not be bullied into marrying... Well, you."

"Okay," he shrugged. "Unlock the doors, Jesse."

I watched Jesse roll his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Yes, Your Highness."

"Okay? Just like that?" I breathed out heavily.

Even him agreeing with me was annoying.

"Zoey, my love, I have no need to bully any woman into doing anything. They just naturally fall for my charms," the prince said calmly.

We were perhaps two minutes away from leaving the estate, with dozens of armed men on our heels when Bart stepped out in front of the gates.

"Oh, boy. Well, that complicates matters," said Jesse, looking for all the world like he might beg the prince to let him stop, if he thought the prince would actually let him.

"Bart," I said the name under my breath, not knowing whether I would be relieved to have him intercept us or if I would rather take my chances with the daring prince.

"Your Highness, please," Jesse pleaded, so nervous that he stepped on the gas instead of slowing down.

"Is he going to pull over?" I tapped Jesse's shoulder, myself now getting nervous. "Why aren't you pulling over?"

We were rapidly closing in on Bart, but he made no effort to move, gave no indication that he would as he stood tall with his arms folded and his eyes ever calm. Too calm.

"You are just too cute." The prince chuckled.

"What?" I said, breathless.

"Would you like Jesse to stop?" Prince Aaron asked, watching me squirm and delighting in it.

"What, what do you mean? Of course he should stop," I said, looking at Aaron like he was a madman.

Prince Aaron inched closer, until very little separated his lips from mine. My crazed eyes became subdued, hypnotised as my heart rate climbed.

"Are you sure?" he breathed onto my lips, the words soft and velvety.

He ran a finger along my burning cheek, his eyes on my lips as he watched them part.

"If you're found like this with me, there'll be no discussion about it. You'll definitely be stuck with me. Are you really, really sure, princess?"