Her Tattered Prince

Chapter 5

Kingston was exhausted from the long ride. The discomfort due to the absence of a saddle and padding was no longer a huge worry for him. He was already used to riding the horse bareback.

This was the life he chose and he decided to make the best of it no matter how tough it could be. They had just finished rounding the herd and were driving them back to the kraals for the night.

He could use a bath, but he had to wait until morning since it was getting dark. A trip to the river for a cold swim would be welcomed.

He adjusted the riffle that was strapped across his chest. The sling was biting into his skin. The flimsy torn t-shirt was not of any use to cushion the strap.

His three companions were equally tired. It seemed the herd wandered far out.

His horse broke into a trot to ride in front ahead. Suddenly as he rounded a bend, he could not believe what he was seeing.

He made out a figure far off, it was waving frantically, from a distance it was a female and definitely not someone from around. That could mean one thing, a newspaper reporter! His stomach churned at the thought of being exposed. With anger boiling inside him, he applied pressure to the horse by squeezing with his calves and heels and the horse responded with a gallop, increasing its speed. Fury clouded his judgement.

Katlo screamed at the rider and the horse as they were heading her direction at a speed and it seemed there was no intention of stopping. She cowered and covered her head, arms flailing.

The horse instead of stopping circled her. When it finally came to a halt, she peeked at the rider who jumped down with a stony expression on his face.

       Without any warning he snatched her basket and emptied the contents on to the sand. He proceeded to do the same with her back pack. She was retreating in fear as he advanced towards her, the menace in his voice freaking her out.

“Give it to me” He demanded.

She was not going to wait to be told the second time. She quickly tore it off her back and threw it to him.

       After rummaging through her bag and found nothing like cameras or gadgets that would suggest otherwise about her, he took a closer look at her.

For the first time he took notice of how frightened she looked, her face was puffy and had dried up tears. His look travelled down to her feet. She was barefooted, her boots were by the side of the road. She looked young and could be around eighteen years of age.

His heart broke at the sight of open flesh wounds on her feet. He felt like a scumbag. He took off his riffle and lowered it to the ground.

Katlo was terrified when she saw his demeanour change, she glared at him. She was past caring, she had been through so much ordeal that she hoped if he was going to kill her it was better than her body feeding wild animals.

She raised her head in deviance.

“Why did you chuck out my items, was it necessary?”

       That snapped him into action, he knelt down and started picking and putting back her stuff. He truly felt like an i***t.

       “There are no valuables except snacks and a radio, you can have anything you want” She retorted

       “What was I supposed to think” a young girl in the middle of nowhere, alone is a cause for concern.

       She shook her head in disbelief. “A simple apology would be a good start you know?”

       He stood up and shook of the sand from his hands, “I’m sorry, I honestly overreacted and thought the worst”

“I still do not understand how I could be a danger to you”

He ignored her statement and extended his hand in a peace gesture which she ignored.

“What are you doing here anyway? I’m Kingston”

       “Well Kingston, congratulations, I peed my pants”

He looked down in embarrassment and she smirked at his discomfort.

When he looked up and saw the smile on her face, he realised how beautiful she was, despite the red puffy eyes and her disarray.

       She studied him as well and realised he was handsome. His physique was defined like a sculpture. His worn out t-shirt did nothing to conceal his torso, all muscles and cut.

She reprimanded herself at the way her thoughts were wondering. What was wrong with her, finding a herdboy attractive? But still she had to admit he was well proportioned and dishy. He could be around twenty-two years or so about.

“I need to understand a lot of things, you can start by telling me what you are doing here alone”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Don’t tell me you have never heard of the national service…”

It dawned to him, suddenly he felt even more stupid.

“Oh yes, we heard that there will be new participants but I thought that the participants arrived three if not four days ago”

“It still does not answer what you are doing here, you have wandered far off don’t you think? With those blisters and wounds, I doubt if you will make it”

“That reminds me, let me have a look at your feet.” He sank down and signalled her to join him on the soft sand.

She allowed him to look at her feet. He gently lifted them up, one at a time as he examined the open blisters. The flap of skin had been removed leaving ugly pink wounds.

He winced at the sight of them. The sand would make matters worse as the feet would sink, the sand rubbing and irritating the wounds more.

She should not be walking with them uncovered. They needed dressing.

He stood up and scooped her into his arms.

“You will have to ride with me.” He swung her up on to the horse with ease.

The nerve of this guy, he did not even prepare her so that she could calm her nerves. She had never been on a horse before. She took deep slow rhythmical breathes. Eyes closed, she breathed in through the nose and out through her mouth.

When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her, amusement written all over his face. He handed her the basket and she strapped the backpack in front of her. She realised that he had shoved her boots on to the bag. 

The riffle sling was placed over his shoulder across the chest, placing the rifle at the back with the barrel tip pointing upwards.

He mounted behind her.

She felt uncomfortable at the closeness of their bodies. His solid chest was pressed against her back. His inner thighs burning her where they were in contact with hers.

His arms were in clear view for her. He was holding the reins and is hands were large but lean with long fingers, not rough looking as she anticipated. It seemed he did not grow up doing intense labour work. Heck! They were a beautiful pair of hands for a guy.

He was too close for comfort, every shift of his weight made her more aware of him. He radiated masculine strength and his male body odour was pleasant and tantalising. His sandalwood smell was making it difficult for her to focus. He definitely had good genes.

His smell was overpowering her, making her feel things she did not want to admit.

Kingston was having a hard time concentrating as well. She was between his thighs, her soft bottom pressing unto him. Her small frame fitting perfectly into him, she seemed fragile. He involuntarily tightened his arms around her, pressing her deeper into his body.

A warm feeling spread to his entire body causing a stir and he reacted instantly. The feeling in his loins caused him to shift.

He was stunned at his reaction. He blamed it on being alone for a long time.

Katlo had to admit to herself that it felt good and natural to be enveloped by him. She relaxed and leaned against him sighing in contentment.  

When she felt him stir, she could not help but smile at the effect she was having on him as well. She felt his hardness pressing on to her backside.

She closed her eyes and savoured the moment.