CHAPTER 8

Pamilerin felt as if she was floating. She just had the most romantic dinner date ever, but what does she expect from a man like Alexander after all, besides he is not an ordinary man. Joy radiates all over her, she eased the door open, and finds her parent still up, pretending to be engrossed with the news.

"Hey baby girl you are back! Trust you had a great time" her mother asked, turning to face her.

"Yes I did, mum, thank you," Pamilerin sighed in defeat. It was no use trying to hide things from her parents. Taking her seat opposite them. "I need to talk to both of you. Dad, can I have your attention please? Thank you. As you know I went out on a date with the King tonight, and yes there is something going on between us, but we are taking things slow and I hope you won't put pressure on me" giving her mother a pointed look, at the last statement.

"It's alright, dear, your mother and I will support your decision. We just want you to be happy," David told her.

"Thank you, now you can go back to pretending to be watching the news, when you were actually waiting for me. I too will go to my room to freshen up and call it a night" rising from the sofa smiling sardonically at them.

"You know us too well. Good night dear"

"Good night mother" leaving them both in the living room, certain her parents will go to their room the moment she leaves. It always amused her, the way they acted with each other.

Pamilerin was just wiping her make-up away with a facial wipe when her phone rang. She checked the caller ID and discovered that it was Alexander. Her heart skips a bit when she saw his number.

"Hello your Highness" she mutters, sounding breathless.

"Hello Pamilerin, how are you?" His voice rumbles.

"I'm fine, thank you for dinner, I had a great time" she whispered.

"I'm glad you did, and I enjoyed your company as well, we will do it soon again. He promised. "Do take care of yourself and sleep well"

Pamilerin continues to stare at her phone with a goofy smile on her face, long after the call has ended. She wished he can just continue talking to her, she loves hearing his voice. The way it always sounded gruff and deep. She giggled to herself. "God help me, but I can't stop thinking about him," she muttered. She traced her lips with her finger slowly, thinking of the kiss they shared before she left him. It was so intense like the rest. Pamilerin was certain that Alexander will be a passionate lover, he will be intense like everything he does.

A shiver course through her at the thought of him as a lover. She wonders if he will be patient with her as a lover, if he discovers she is not experienced.

~*~

Time definitely flies when you are having a good time. Pamilerin has never being so pampered and loved like Alexander was doing to her. Every day was one surprise after another. She protested, telling him not to buy her gifts, but he simply waved her off with a smile. His kisses still made her toes to curl, weakening her resolve to wait any time he kissed and caressed her.

It was obvious now to everybody that they were an item, but she was past caring. It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong. Besides he was still a man, despite being king. He had laid her fears to rest when she told him she did not want the paparazzi to find out about them just yet. Alexander agreed. He didn't want his business to be all over the news either.

It had been a month and some days, since they had started seeing each other, and Pamilerin was certain that she was in love with Alexander. She had never felt this way before about any man. One touch, one glance from him caused her heart to flutter and made her stutter. She couldn't seem to help herself around him.

Pamilerin was even more surprised when Alexander invites her parents over for dinner. "I have to meet your parents at some point, why not now?" he said, when she asked him. It was all so surreal to her, but her parents didn't seem to be so surprised about it. Over the weeks she had gotten closer to Adebayo and found his company soothing. It feels good to have a friend someone she can talk to. She is not the type that keeps friends, the only close friend she has—Tricia has travelled out of the country the minute they graduated. Though they keep in touch via mails and chats. The others were just acquaintances.

The dinner with her parents went smoothly than she anticipated, what she did not see coming was the ring. A part of her felt it was too soon, it wasn't like he had said the three little words to her, but he showed her he cared in every little thing he did for her. She couldn't bring herself to say no to him when she knew it was no use pretending she didn't love him. And she did, with every fibre of her being. She nodded and muttered her consent, smiling amidst the cheers and clapping of her parents and Adebayo, who was present at the cosy dinner.

The huge diamond ring winked at her, sparkling on her finger as she stares at it. Tricia almost tore her ear drum with her scream of excitement on the phone after she told her, promising to come for her wedding to meet her Prince Charming. "Though this time it was a King Charming," she added naughtily.

Life is good what could go wrong for her. The intercom buzz, brought her out of her reverie. "Your Highness?" She insisted on being formal with him when they were outside, but alone she agreed to use his given name.

"See me in my office" he sounded a bit curt and strained.

"On my way" she straightened her green skirt suit, worried a bit at how he sounded on the phone, and saunters out of the office. She knocked on his door and pushed it open when he called out for her to enter. "Your highness" she said, closing the door behind her. He gestured to their now favourite sofa in the corner, letting Pamilerin know it was a personal matter, not official.

She smiled nervously at him, "what is it Alexander?"

"I'm afraid we have a slight problem" he told her, worry line etched on his face, as he sat beside her.

Alexander waited for her to face him, before he continues, "Though it depends on the way you see it" he explained, seeing the confusion in her eyes.

"What's the issue?" She could not fathom anything off her mind.

"I know we agreed to wait a few months before we got married, but I'm afraid that can't happen because the council of chiefs has given me an ultimatum. They say I must set a wedding date in just a month—"

"What! A month to get married? But that's too short—I mean I'm still getting used to being engaged to you. Now marriage this soon?" she asked, eyes widening like a deer caught in the headlights. This was moving too fast, she couldn't seem to find her feet.

"That is why I said it depends on the way you see it. I may be the King but they are my council of chiefs which means they too have rights in making decision, especially when it comes to my marital status. If I don't comply, they have the right to organize a selection process for the woman that will be my queen, and I must choose out of the women they provide," he said, locking his gaze with hers dead on.

"But—but that's crazy!"

"I know, but it's not that bad, dear. We will get married sooner or later—"

"But this is sooner" she protests.

"I thought we wanted each other? What's the big deal with getting married in a month's time? Besides, you don't have to do anything other than make yourself available, darling." He drew her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her head soothingly.

"It's just too soon" she murmurs, resolve getting weaker by the minute as he kissed her nape, moving to her earlobe, his lips seek out hers, kissing her lustrous lips, silencing any protest that she may want to voice out. "Hmmm—wait, I can't think clearly when you do that—"

"You overthink things, dearie. Besides, do you want me to choose another woman over you?" He sought her lips again.

"Fine I guess we are getting married sooner than later then, will have to tell my parents of the change" she mutters, surrendering to his kisses and caress.

"Good, do that and arrangement will start as soon as possible" pressing a quick kiss on her lips, before rising, going back to his seat. "You can go home early today, the driver will drop you." Any form of desire he showered a moment ago gone. He is back to his formidable self again.

"Alright then" she conceded. Pamilerin is not sure she can do much again anyway, his announcement and kisses has left her a bit disoriented, something that seems to happen often, while he still goes about his business like nothing happened. She wonders how he stays in control while she is left wanting more. "I will allow you to work"

Alexander gave her a wide smile, watching her retreating form. He made a call on his mobile the minute she left his office. "Hello, it's done, make the arrangement," he said without preamble.

"It will be done your highness" the voice replied.

Alexander sighs, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm. What he told Pamilerin was not entirely the truth. He just said it to move their wedding plans closer, so that nobody will suspect anything. He could not allow his chiefs to start the selection process because Pamilerin would not be able to participate in it, which meant he would be choosing another woman who may eventually end up giving him trouble when it came to satisfying her sexually. But with Pamilerin it easy to tame and control her sexual urges.

He will do everything to retain his inheritance, no one will take it from him just because his sexual prowess is in doubt at the moment. So if he has to resort to trickery to have what he wants he will do it, besides the doctors have assured him that since he has start to feel some stirring in his genitals, it is possible for him to be fully himself again. But till then he will manage his situation.