24:We all have choices

~Laith~

I snailed forward. Closing the gap that separated me and Prince Caelan. The man was relentless in his pursuit to have me that it was getting on my nerves. I playfully enclosed my hands around his neck.

An attempt to provoke him. To have him push me away so I can get rid of him once and for all.

Prince Caelan is big on keeping me his sweet little secret. So if I were to kiss him right here, in a public place, where anyone can see us. He is sure to retreat back and never bother me again.

"Is this what you want? " I tested him. He tensed at my closeness to him but didn't make a move to back away. I wasn't satisfied with his reaction. I wanted to push further, to show the prince that he wasn't capable of embracing his desires.

I glanced deeply into his eyes. Inching my body closer to his, so close that his breath ghosts over my skin. For the first time, his touch wasn't lingering or wavering on mine. He was here, close and letting me hold him as I wanted.

My heart missed a beat. I wasn't used to this. Used to him letting me have my way. This is the man who has broken my heart over and again because of his cowardice.

Yet, here he was giving in to me. My emotions got the better of me. What was supposed to be a test to get the second prince to leave me alone? Started going off course and becoming real.

I gulped. Swallowing the lump in my throat. My eyes trailed down from his right eye to his lip and his left eye. I was searching for doubt in his eyes. An excuse he might use to push me away if I get my hopes up and make a move. Unfortunately, there wasn't any. Prince Caelan stood still watching me as I watched him.

The moment swept me off my feet. It warmed my heart to have him look at me and see me. For a blink of a moment, It felt like he understood the beat of my heart.

I closed the gap between our lips and pressed my lips on his. I pushed my face back an inch and closed my eyes. Fear trailed down my backbone. Scared he was going to push me away and reject me as he had done hundreds of times before.

Prince Caelan's hand gently wrapped around my waist. His touch on my skin ignited a warm flame in my heart. He was making a move that went to prove that I was worth holding.

I opened my eyes and stared firmly at him. My heart and mind were confused by his actions. Unable to process the fact that Caelan embraced me back. I got lost in his eyes.

Focused on the dark desires of my heart coming true. My world was spinning around. His eyes held sincerity and desire for me too. He had me wrapped around his finger and strangely I didn't mind.

Captivated by his ability to hold me and not just ghost over my skin. I pulled his face to mine and kissed him. Pouring all the joy and grief I got from him into the kiss.

The kiss started innocent but it got heated by the second. Prince Caelan squeezed my waist and kissed me back. The grief in my heart came undone. The warm sensation from the kiss was freeing.

Tears of joy flowed down my shut eyes. I deepened the kiss, giving in to my suppressed desires. Letting loose and making use of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The prince was warmer than I expected.

He nibbled on my lower lip before proceeding to my upper lip. His tongue moved steadily like a pro. His tongue played around my mouth, tasting every corner greedily. I sank into him and let him take me to the clouds.

Floating in a cloud of love. I forgot about my pain. All it took was one sincere move from him to erase all the hurt that he did. I knew that I was fooling my heart by letting him sweep me off the floor. But I couldn't help it. Even though it was only a moment that he was reaching out his hand, I was willing to take it because it was his.

Prince Caelan broke the kiss. We both panted for breath, he leaned his nose against mine. His eyes gazed deeply at me. His eyes are full of endless desires and lust.

"I love you, " I subconsciously let out in between my breaths. Prince Caelan blinked. His eyes opened wide, thunderstruck by my confession.

His hands dropped. Caelan stepped back. He nervously scratched the back of his neck. His eyes wandered anywhere but at me.

I stared at his reaction in panic. The clouds that held me while I was in his arms were coming undone. I was falling yet Prince Caelan couldn't see it.

"You lo.. You love me too, right?" my voice broke. Prince Caelan dropped his head, unable to confirm or deny my inquiry.

"I have to go," he excused himself. "I have to meet Princess Zakishi."

Her name on his lips broke my fantasies and brought me back to reality. It was so easy for him to break my heart and the sad part is that I happily let him do it.

"Why am I always your second option?" I asked my senses returning to me. "Why would you kiss me back if you were going to throw me away like some discardable trash?"

"I have no choice, " Prince Caelan shot his eyes at me. Tears welled up in my eyes at his choice of words.

"We all have choices, Caelan. You choose to feed the ones that lead you away from me, " I answered back. "And it's fine because I'm done waiting for you. "

I turned on my heels to head inside. Prince Caelan stretched forth his hand to stop me. However, he didn't dare touch me. We were back to where we were before. The pieces he put back together, shattered.

The life and the love I was holding on to so tightly were scattered in a thousand pieces on the floor. They pricked at the soles of my feet when I walked. I removed the feet that were stopping the closing door of my past from closing shut. I accepted the fact that Prince Caelan and I aren't made for each other.

My feet froze on the floor. A panicked beat crept into my heart as I took in my environment. Turning my focus away from Prince Caelan allowed me to feel everything else around and I caught a familiar smokey scent in the air. The irregular non-existent heartbeat of someone I knew.

I veered my head around and cast my gaze at the spot where the scent was wafting from. My heart was stuck in my throat as I watched Prince Zephirin's retreating purple robes. My heart dropped and stopped beating.