The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 16

Anthony stood still and let warm water run down his body, hopefully to wash away the sweet intoxicating scent that had found a home on his skin. It was a blend of exotic flowers and something uniquely her. No matter what he tried he could still smell her, as if he’d breathed her into his soul.

He could still taste her too. Her kiss so sweet on his lips.

Anthony groaned in frustration as his body reacted to the memory of them in her bed. The heated kisses, and soft caresses. He had been on her like he wanted to possess her, breathe her in and consume. He’d been like a teenage boy besotted with a girl for the very first time.

And she had been responsive, matching him on every level, inviting him into her arms as if she’ll never let go. She was like a dream, the woman he never thought he would find or have.

And when she had whispered his name, Anthony felt his c**k grow painfully hard. Pinning his hands on the tiled wall in front of him, he resisted the edge to wrap his hand around his distended member and bring himself to a quick release.

No, he couldn’t. He knew if he started he will never finish.

He wanted her too much.

And the less he thought about her the better – if he thought about her in a s****l context it will be like touching her all over again. And he couldn’t have that.

He was having a hard time forgetting what they had done in her room as it was. It had been the hottest moment of his life. How was he supposed to marry another woman after experiencing that? Anthony asked himself.

“She’s not mine to have,” Anthony thought in answer as the water drummed over his head. His voice echoed in his ears and he hoped he’d be able to obey his own advice this time. He turned the water off and reached for a towel hanging outside the shower stall.

Stepping out he avoided the vanity mirror on the opposite wall. He wasn’t ready to face the lies he was telling himself just yet. Maybe in a couple of months when his mind had settled on the idea of following his father’s command.

Anthony walked into his walk in closet just off the bathroom to get dressed.

His house was an old warehouse he had developed into a residence. It was one of many he had found around the city of Pretoria, developed into high-end resident homes and then sold off.

His mind turned to his work. Now that he was back, he was going to immerse himself in his work. What happened in the village will eventually become a distant memory.

He better call his brother about that zoning problem they’ve been experience, Anthony thought as he put on sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Now, work was something he could easily focus on and deal with. Not the other stuff. With work his mind wasn’t ruled by emotions and other things that clouded his judgement.

Anthony walked into his bedroom in search of his phone. The room was done in dark colours that were clean and precise. Everything was set in its place and straightened out. Anthony liked it when his surroundings were uncluttered and efficient, because it felt less personal and unemotional.

He found it on his bed where he had thrown it when he had arrived that afternoon. He was tired from his long drive from the village but he couldn’t bring himself to sleep even though he hadn’t slept for more than twenty four hours.

Anthony stopped abruptly, he’s spoken to Mogale just yesterday. And he'd been off to his honeymoon. Anthony debated calling him. But it didn’t hurt to check on him. He decided to call him in the morning.

Anthony gasped as another thought occurred to him. He’s known Naledi for only twenty four hours. And he was already acting like some love sick puppy.

How was this possible?

Anthony shook his head as he walked into the other section of the house. The open plan design of the house was very simple and crude that it still retained its rustic and industrial feel.

He walked into his kitchen to find Mogale helping himself to his coffee.

“I knew I’ll find you here.” His brother said pouring hot water into a mug, and then sat down at the kitchen table.

“It’s my house what did you expect?” Anthony asked. He placed his phone on the table. There was no need to call his brother after all. It seemed he was bound to speak to him anyway, Anthony thought as he moved to the cupboard to get himself a cup.

“Shouldn’t you be at home right about now,” Mogale sipped his coffee staring at him. Anthony knew nothing went past his brother. He was there in his house for a reason. Well, he’d made a mess of the dance. Why wouldn’t he be at the house? Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of their reign.

“I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn’t you be on your honeymoon right about now? Isn't late?” Anthony asked coming to sit down opposite his brother at the kitchen table.

“Father called.”

“Of course he did.” Anthony got up, and went to rummage in the fridge for something to eat. He didn’t want to talk to his brother about his father or about what happened at the village. In fact all he wanted to do was forget everything that’s happened.

“Tell me about her,” when Mogale’s voice reached him, Anthony didn’t move for a minute. He didn’t expect that from his brother. He stood there not sure what he was asking him.

“She’s fine, beautiful. An all-round princess. You’re going to like her if she agrees to marry me,” Anthony said choosing the safest answer he could think of.

Mogale was silent for a while that Anthony closed the fridge to stare at him.

“So you’re going ahead with it,” Mogale asked staring at him in the eyes. Most people said they looked alike, but Anthony knew they were as different as day from night. His brother was more kingly, while he was a shadow of him.

He never minded that until now. Anthony could feel his brother’s disapproval coming to him in waves.

“You did the same thing. Why is it any different when I do it?” anger simmered within Anthony. What was wrong with everyone? He was doing exactly what his father wished. Didn’t that count for something?

“How is it the same thing?”

“Come on Mogale, father chose Lesedi for you.”

“Yes, dad did choose Lesedi for me, but it wasn’t the way you think. I wanted her I just didn’t know how to get her yet. And as fate will have it everything worked out.”

Anthony stared at Mogale for a while. He turned to the fridge again. He opened it and didn’t move. His heart ached in his chest.

“Well, you were the lucky one.” He slammed the door shut, suddenly not hungry anymore. “I plan to marry Gauta. She’ll be perfect.”

“You don’t mean that, brother.” Mogale said as if he could see into his mind. “There has to be something that can be done. Please tell me about her.”

“Why?”

“Because you chose her. There has to be a reason why you did that. Anthony you don’t do anything without thinking it through. I should know, I’m your brother. Tell me about her.”

Anthony stood still. He stared at his brother, knowing very well what he wanted, but he couldn’t give it to him.

“I can’t,” he said his voice turning rough from the lump that had formed in his throat. He couldn’t talk about her. She wasn’t ever going to be his. And he wasn’t one to dwell on the negative in his life. Life goes on, he’d learned that when his mother died and his father moved on to other women who had no business being in their lives.

“So you think marrying this other girl will make everything okay. I can tell by just looking at you that this is not something that you want.”

“It doesn’t matter what I want, I am a prince. You of all people know what that means.”

Mogale stared at him, and Anthony noticed the moment he decided to let the subject go. He looked down and took a sip of his coffee.

“Tell me about the zoning problem, I want my hotel up and running by next year.” Anthony moved closer to the kitchen table. It was time to get back to business.