The Prince and Me

Chapter 9

The charity event was amazing.

William introduced me to the children and told them that I had helped make all of this happen. For not really liking kids, I grew attached to most of them as the came so see me throughout our time being there to give me hugs and show me how much they liked their box.

All of the adults were currently in the kitchen, having small snacks, or sitting around and talking.

I was standing awkwardly by the punch bowl, holding my cup in my hands and watching William as he stood with his brother, talking to the headmistress of the orphanage across the room.

"He's quite a looker, isn't he?" I hear beside me.

I jump and look beside me, placing a hand over my chest as my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

The woman standing there laughs and looks at me, her brown eyes seeming to smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

I shake my head, letting out a small chuckle. "No, you're fine. Uhm, I'm sorry. Who were you talking about?" I ask.

Her red lips pull back into a smile and she gestures to the princes. "Why, Prince William of course. It must be amazing working for a man like that. I honestly don't think that I could keep my hands to myself."

I blush, looking over at William and seeing him glance over at us, his eyes flicking from the woman to my right and then back to me before biting his lip.

"He is one heck of a man. Too bad that he's taken. A model, I hear. Apparently she's been seen in the Vogue tabloids and even on a few Victoria's Secret Angels runway. Absolutely gorgeous, the two." she continues.

I blink, looking away from William and glancing at the woman. "He's seeing someone?"

She nods, "Yeah, has been for a few months."

I swallow hard, my hand gripping the cup until it cracks, sending punch slashing all over the front of my dress and jacket.

"Oh!" the woman exclaims, jumping back.

I gasp and quickly set the cup on the table behind me, grabbing napkins and trying to wipe the punch off frantically.

"'s**t. s**t. s**t. Shit." I mutter, scrubbing at my dress.

The woman comes over and taps my shoulder. "Honey, you've caused a little scene. How about you head to the bathroom and try and get that cleaned up?" she suggests.

I nod and smile small at her. "Thank you. And I'm sorry for the mess."

She shrugs it off and I make my way out of the kitchen, avoiding the stares from the princes and their men along with the staff of the orphanage as I walk quickly to the bathrooms.

Once in there, I set my purse down on the counter and sigh, gripping the edge of the sink and I take a deep breath.

Does he have a girlfriend? What the actual hell?

I run a hand through my hair and look up as the door opens and William pops his head in. "Rhett, are you in here?"

I watch as he comes in and he looks at me, his brows furrowing some. "Hey.  I saw what happened. I just wanted to make sure you're alright." he says, meeting my eyes in the mirror.

Scoffing, I turn on the water and grab some paper towels. "Right. Well, I'm fine. You can go now." I snap.

William raises and brow and steps closer to me, his front almost touching my back. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head and take off my jacket, wetting the towel and dabbing the stains on my jacket. "Nothing. I shouldn't even care."

He licks his lips and touches my elbow carefully, looking at me in the mirror once more. "Rhett, please. What happened back there?"

I clench my fist as his skin touches mine, the contact sending a pleasurable shock throughout my entire body and I turn around to face him.

I realize just how close we are and I meet his eyes before looking down at our shoes. "You have a girlfriend. Don't you?" I ask quietly.

William sighs quietly and looks down at me, slowly dragging his fingertips along my bare arm.

"Is that why you're upset? Because of her? It doesn't change anything, Rhett." he says quietly.

 "But it does!" I exclaim, ripping my arm away and stepping away from him. "You have a girlfriend and you and I slept together! You cheated on her and you used me and it's sick, William. It's sick how you're doing this."

William freezes, his eyes hardening as he glares at me. "I'm not a cheater, Rhett. Sophia and I broke up before you and I happened. That night, actually. That's why I was at the damn pub in the first place. I'm not that kind of man."

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair and then rubbing my arms together.

"Why are you so upset about that anyway? You said it yourself, you don't want me in any way besides our friendship. So why are you upset?" He demands.

Now it's my turn to freeze. Why the hell am I so upset?

"I-I don't know," I mutter.

William steps forward, his hands coming up to cup my cheeks as he tilts my head up and our eyes meet.

"'Perhaps you want more? Do you feel anything between us? The sparks when we touch, the pull when we see each other?" he asks, his voice dropping low and husky ad his gaze drops down to my lips.

I swallow hard, biting my lip. "I do. I do feel it. But I don't want to rush into something I'm not ready for."

William nods and leans forward, his soft lips grazing my forehead before he rests his head against mine. "I understand. I do. And I want to get to know you more, to know you better. Everything that you'll let me. One step at a time."

I nod and William steps back, then looks down at my dress and scrunches up his face. "Oh, darling. That dress is ruined."

I punch his arm and turn around, grabbing more paper towels and scrubbing furiously as he laughs at me.