XLII

XLII

Electricity ran through my body when Prince Alexander poured my back and neck with kisses. His lips travelled in different spaces of my skin just to wake me up. He thrived, though.

My lids flew open with a deadly gaze toward him. I did not need to say that we did that last night - I lost count in three so I had no freaking idea how many times we did it again and again - and here he was for a repeat performance.

It had been three days since we got married. We stayed mostly in bed, I mean, in the island. Our honeymoon was really fantastic and I could not imagine until now that we did extreme things (if you know what I mean).

Maybe, Prince Alexander lost his patience for the last couple of months. I had played hard to get so I was now receiving the consequence, which I pleasurably getting. He did not waste any minute, as the result, we did it where and when he decided to do it. Anytime. Anywhere.

I blushed when I remembered how we did it in the shower room and on the couch in the living room. Those times were extraordinary yet quite flustering. I could not imagine I was able to do that.

He chuckled and whispered to my ear, "Still blushing eh? Get used to it."

For the second time, I gave him a deadly gaze, "I'm not blushing! I'm just thinking of ... something."

He laughed in my ear. His arms around me became tighter, "I like that kind of thinking. Wanna try?"

I slapped his bared chest, "Shut up! It's not what you're thinking."

"Really?" he moved his hand up and down on my waist, "By the way, although I don't like it, you need to return in the palace later this day."

I furrowed my eyebrow, "Only me? How about you?"

He sighed, "I need to go to New York City and arrange the project for the Christmas. I want you there, but I need to protect you. If people in that place see us together, there is no second thought that they will think about you and me dating."

"Why?" Although I did not want to go in the spotlight and erase my privacy, it was still questionable why he wanted to hide me. "Are you embarrassed that we are together?"

Prince Alexander frowned as if I told him that I forgot the date of our wedding day, "Duh? We're not dating. We're already married, remember? I don't want them to think that you're one of those short term relationships I have. I'll name you soon, but not now. We need to settle first."

I finally released the breath I was holding before he told me his answer. I just nodded, hard to think what respond I should say.

"Victoria will meet you at London's airport. She promised that she'll be with you while I'm in the US," he said while playing the blanket in his fingers.

"Okay," I simply replied.

"Shirley, I think you should see the city before we face our world again," he sat up and I followed him, "Buy souvenirs and things you want."

I teased, "Thank goodness, you finally get tired."

"I'm just only thinking you, but if you only want to stay here - which I have no protest at - it's absolutely fine with me," he smirked and touched my cheek.

I swatted his hand, "We can continue it in the palace, you know," I winked that made him groan.

Before he could grab me, I stood immediately with the blanket covering me, and ran to the walk-in closet. I locked the door. I heard his chuckle and grunt at the same time.

---

Christmas day was coming, but it seemed like it was still summer in this place named Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan in the country of the Philippines. The sun was warm, yet not sticky. I loved it.

The locals were so much approachable and they could not remove their smiles when they were asking what we wanted. There were also people here who came from different countries, buying things from one store to another.

As usual, Alexander wore his sunglasses and hat to hide his identity. Even though, we were in an Asian country, the United Kingdom's monarchy was still popular here. People might recognize him. One click in their cameras and posted it in social media might reveal our secret.

I was busy looking at the bracelets made by the natives when he wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned closer. "You like them?" he said.

I nodded and inspected the beads which were formed from a wood. It was not the usual stone beads I used to see, a wood were more creative.

"I want this," I gave a peso bill to the vendor. I held Prince Alexander left hand and put the bracelet around his wrist. "As what I thought, it gives a complexion to your skin."

"How did you know about complexion?" he asked while I got the change from the vendor.

"Just an instinct," I muttered and pulled him to another store.

I bought two different hats for myself, but the prince kept on insisting that he should buy this for me. Without further argument, I let him pay the price. We bought more souvenirs and I was thinking if I should buy something for Katherine since she was from this country.

Alexander bought a painting for Clarissa. The painting was a beautiful view at the top of a high place where the whole city could be viewed. It was as beautiful as it was in reality.

We entered a local restaurant which served Filipino dishes. I tried an Asian food before. It was called canton or Chinese noodles. It was amazing, but a little pricy so I had never got a chance to eat it again.

We sat in the farthest corner of the restaurant. Once we settled down, a young woman walked to us and gave two books which served as menu.

I read every dish, but I was not familiar with any of it. Prince Alexander might think the same, so he said to the waitress, "May we order all?"

I stared at him, shocked. "I think we can choose at least five. We can't eat all."

He did not mind me at all, as though I had not said anything. "Serve us two dishes at a time. We'll try all. What is the best partner of these foods?"

I did not know if the woman - I saw the name was Jamie in her name tag - recognized the prince or she was just being charming to him. "Rice, sir," she answered and I rolled my eyes when she batted her eyelashes, "You can also try buko juice as your drink."

"Okay," he smiled flirtatiously, "Sounds amazing." I wanted to spike his eyes at that moment. I hated to see him still flirting with the ladies. He caught me looking at him as if I could burn houses through my gaze. He raised his hands defensively, "I'm not doing bad."

"I might end up ripping your eyes off your head if you keep on staring at women like that," I gritted my teeth in irritation.

"Hey," he reached my hand that was on the top of my table, "You really have no idea how I watch you."

I crinkled my face, "How?"

His smile was a triumph. His green eyes sparkled like a sun in the middle of the noon. "I look at you as if there is nothing surrounds me but you. Like a sky, wherever I go, I still see it. Even though we are thousand miles apart, I could still see you."

"That's nice," blood crept through my face, and I felt suddenly hot.

Before our conversation went to another area, which would be happened once we got back on the island, the waitress came to our table, bringing a tray with two plates of unfamiliar dishes, two plates of rice and two green cylinder things that I discovered were buko juice.

After she put the foods on our table, she stayed for a while. Watching Prince Alexander, then me and back again.

"Surely, you will have perfect children," she stated, "They're so lucky to have parents that owned good genes." She grinned and pointed to the plate in front of me, "That is Sinigang, it is made with tamarind, various vegetables and pork. While the other one," the plate in front of Alexander, "That is Adobo. It's made of soy sauce, vinegar and chicken. Enjoy your food."

Hearing her made the production of my saliva more intense. So, I did not wait for Alexander, I tasted the sour soup and it was incredibly more delicious than what I expected.

"This is awesome!" I exclaimed tasting it more.

He held my hand again that made me look directly in his eyes, "This is only the start, Shirley. I will give you everything more than you think."

(A/N: I'm so sorry that my update is so delayed! I know you're all annoyed because of ages gap of each chapter. I was too busy with my internship that I got tired in the end of my shifts, so it's hard for me to write a chapter. But, don't worry, my internship will end tomorrow! Yes, but I'm not still sure if my update will be consistent because I'm going to enjoy the rest of the summer before classes will start again. However, I have a good news! This is a back to back chapters update so stay tune! Bye! GOD bless :))