The Royal Contract

His lips were soft but intense as they pressed hard against her skin. His hands gently held her close but just enough to create friction against their bodies.

Was she dreaming? Of course, not.

She basked at the feeling of his lips along her jawline and down to her neckline. She did not want it to stop. However, he suddenly halted, pressing his forehead against hers as they both caught their breaths.

“We are here.” He breathlessly whispered against her skin as he held himself and finally pulled away. He took a few bills from his pocket and handed them to the driver.

He could feel that both of them wanted more, but he believed he had to control himself around her. She was right. They had to talk first.

“Where is here?” Amelia hesitantly asked as she fixed her hair and straightened her clothes while looking at the imposing building outside the window.

.....

She was also slightly embarrassed at how she was behaving around him. She had barely settled beside him. She was already ready to jump him. But that was not supposed to happen since she was here to see him discuss their situation.

“My home.” Evan took the liberty of bringing her into his apartment. This way, they could talk privately about their situation without interruption.

After a few minutes, he was escorting her in the elevator, both silent with their thoughts. Nobody said anything as both waited for the lift to bring them to the top floor.

If a pin should accidentally drop on the metallic floor, she was sure to hear it vibrate in the small confinement. A few minutes later, they exited the elevator and entered a luxurious apartment.

“You have a nice home.” Her eyes roamed around the room, fascinated by the unusual decorations. It was spacious for just one man, but what could she expect? He could afford it.

However, she did not doubt that it was a haven for a bachelor like him with its minimalist style and the pattern of monochromatic colors that painted the room.

But what could she envision of a guy who never had a steady woman in his life, except for his grandmother, who lived miles away? Could she dare believe that she would become the only woman in his life?

She hoped so. It was the precise reason she was here now in the first place.

“I have a good decorator.” He spoke to her, standing behind the kitchen counter. He was no gourmet chef but could whip up a quick meal. She did say she was hungry.

He took off his jacket and tie and rolled up his sleeve. Then, he poured both of them a cup of coffee. “But I don’t think that is what you came here to talk about.” Then, he continued with the process of making them a cold sandwich.

“Yes, of course, you are right,” Amelia answered as she watched him move around the kitchen. Although, she could not say that he was the cleanest worker in the kitchen, judging from his workstation.

Still, she found her mind drifting to her unwanted thoughts, having her naughty imaginations about him. Truthfully, she currently pictured him naked with only an apron blocking her view.

“I know you are hungry, but you should wipe your lips. I think you are drooling.” He teasingly said as he handed her the sandwich he had just finished preparing.

He watched her ogling him. He knew she had always been prim and proper. Even if she had feelings for him, she would never be the first to admit it.

“Well, I am starving.” She quickly looked away, slightly embarrassed to be caught staring this time. She took a bite of the sandwich, feeling satisfaction in her stomach. She was not kidding about lacking sustenance.

At the same time, she was using this time to gather her wits and courage to proceed with her next move. What was her next move? It was clear she had not thought of that thoroughly.

“You know I am happy you decided to visit me unexpectedly.” Evan ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to piece this puzzle before him. “But should I be concerned?”

He did not want to jump to any conclusion and believed she was here because she had forgiven him. But a man could dream. Still, he tried to read what she might be thinking.

But one thing he learned from his dealings with women. They could be fickle-minded, and he doubted Amelia would be so different. So, he could never trust his instinct when it came to her.

She was silent for a few seconds, nibbling on her sandwich. She could not blame him. In a way, she did kidnap him and had asked him to drop everything for her. Now, he deserved some explanation.

“No, I don’t think so.” Amelia dropped the small sandwich on its plate and wiped her hands clean. Then, she faced him. “I am here because I...” Suddenly she felt her lips had gone dry.

Her tongue automatically licked her lips, but it was not lost on her how his eyes did not miss the small action. She could see how her every movement affected him.

“Because what?” Evan could not keep up with the suspense, feeling frustrated to touch her. He wanted to savor those lips and continue what they had already started a while ago at the cab. “What do you want from me?”

He moved closer, leaning over until his fingers touched the bottom of her chin. Then, he carefully tilted her head until she looked directly into his eyes.

“I want you.” There she finally said it. But she was far from over, confessing her feelings for him. She was only beginning.

In her world, a girl was not supposed to be the hero but should remain the damsel in distress, waiting to be rescued by a courageous and noble man. But in this modern age, that belief had rendered obsolete.

Although she grew up believing that typical bias against the female population, she could not accept that absurdity anymore. Today, she was fighting for equality and her chance to make the first move.