The Alpha and His Cursed Princess

Chapter 25

Amelia was relieved when he left although the big floor seemed to echo emptily without his vibrant presence. After she had eaten an excellent meal brought by Brain she explored the bookshelves in the room and combined the functions in the library and media area, strangely delighted to find several well-read books she had enjoyed too. He had a good collection of poetry and travel journal which she found were very interesting and was planning to tell him to lend it to her for a few days. But she couldn't settle and although she was tired enough to feel drowsy it took her a long time to go to sleep.

She did not manage it until she heard sounds that indicated Archie had returned.

When she took a glance at her watch she realized it was still eleven in the night. Noises of the traffic floated up to the room and the distant clamor of a siren, a squeal of brakes from the street outside

Was just like all other cities. she thought wearily and to take her mind off wondering whether Archie had really intended to kiss her she tried to imagine what she had heard about the mountain kingdom where he lived.

She tried to distract herself but her willful memory kept returning to those electrifying moments when he had touched her mouth dreamily she recalled the look on his face the charged intensity about him that had awakened her equal response.

Archie had actually wanted to kiss her and she knew it. So why had he pulled back? He was experienced she knew that because she had seen him with many beautiful princesses of other kingdoms and also models and actresses. But he had read the signals  she was giving  clearly enough to know that she wouldn't slap his face but he stormed out of the room.

Perhaps he had decided it was too soon which was amazingly considerate of him. And he was quite correct. However, they had a fortnight ahead of them to find out more about each other.

Smiling happily she turned over closed her eyes and drifted  into a deep sleep and woke up to a morning as crisp and welcoming as a beautiful warm day. After showering and pulling on a pair of shorts and a blue T-shirt which went with her the color of her eyes she opened the curtains and gazed out at the radiant sky beaming over the city it looked so beautiful.

Amelia opened the door of the balcony that led out and a little exclamation of surprise and pleasant came out of her mouth  as she looked at the beautiful red and yellow orchids and she bent down to  smell it.

“ A beautiful orchid just like you.”

Archie’s voice brought her back to reality and she looked up but in the process hurt her neck.

“ Are you all right?” A second later his hands closed around her arms trying to massage it.

Feeling a little embarrassed Amelia would have liked nothing more than to rest her head in his well-maintained broad chest and hold him tightly. “My head just tilted a little don’t worry. And I am fine thank you. I just looked up abruptly.”

Archie looked at her, a faint smile curving his mouth. For a moment Amelia thought her heart had stopped beating.

Hastily, so conscious of his hands on her skin that her thoughts dissolved under a heady burst of sensation, she finished. “And probably a bit drunk on the orchid’s scent. Do you know from where these orchids were brought?’

“No, but I can ask Brain and tell you.” He sounded abstracted but he stepped back and when she looked at him she saw his eyes had narrowed. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thank you and how was your business meeting ?”

“It was alright. Nothing special about meetings of course.” Archie wanted to tell her exactly how he had spent the night thinking about her.

Meaningless stuff, Amelia thought, caught in a bubble of stillness. She was babbling and he wasn’t listening to her words.

They were too close to each other and her heart began to race. Banishing her fear, she lifted her hand to touch his cheek.