Hot, wet hands grabbed me, pulling at me, and I startled awake to find Prince Daire holding my naked body.. so I did what any girl in my position would have done.. I punched him in the nose!
"Damn it! Stop hitting me woman!"
"Put me down NOW!"
Dodging my punches and kicks he threw me on his king sized bed, landing on top of me, using his body weight to keep me still, his hands holding my arms still, above my head.
"Sophia, calm down and I'll let you go."
"Listen buddy, I don't care if you're the king of the whole freaking world, let go of me now!"
I tried to buck and fight my way free but my strength was no match for his and it infuriated me. I suddenly froze in alarm when I felt a hardness pressing against my thigh.
"Are you turned on?!"
Shrieking, I redoubled my efforts to break free, and though his ears turned a telltale red of embarrassment, he didn't move to release me.
"You're being ridiculous Sophia, stop now or I'll make you."
I relaxed my body as best I could and when he was least expecting it I lurched forward, banging my head against his with a satisfying crack. In his moment of disorientation I sprang into action, leaping from the bed and charging towards the bathroom, the only door with a key.
Flinging the door closed behind me, I turned to engage the lock only to see Prince Daire in the doorway, his face dark with fury.
Without giving him a chance to grab be again, and forgetting for the moment my nakedness, I launched myself at him, kicking and hissing and scratching and biting, determined to get free.
"Sophia, YOU WERE ASLEEP IN THE BATH!"
His shouts finally registered with me and I faltered slightly in confusion. Eyeing me warily, Daire reached for the bathrobe on the back of the door and passed it to me.
"I told you it wasn't safe for you to be alone.. you were exhausted. I was calling you and when you didn't answer I found you asleep with the water just below your nose. If you'd been alone in your room you would have drowned."
Hastily shrugging into the robe, I paled at how close to death I had come once again, before cringing in shame at how I had attacked my saviour.
"I'm so sorry, I was naked and you had a-"
I paused, searching for the right words.. what was the most appropriate way to tell a Prince he was a pervert?
"You had a.. you know.. you were.. hard.. what was I supposed to think?"
"If you think I would be so overcome with desire for you that I'd force you then you do me a disservice and think far too highly of yourself."
I snorted in a most unladylike manor, though I knew he was right in that I had judged him harshly.
"Prince Daire, I may have lost my memories but my vision is just fine.. Sophia is crazy gorgeous so I think I think just highly enough!"
Daire's lips were pressed in a hard line but when I said that they tilted into a cunning half smile.
"My dear Princess, let's recall how you have treated your Crown Prince today.. firstly you refused to bow to me, then you threatened me - more than once, you threw your shoe at me, you punched me, you generally fought me and now you insult me. What do you think your punishment should be?"
When he put it like that it didn't sound great, but I had been defending myself! Smiling sheepishly, I gestured in the direction of the exit.
"While you think about that I'll just be on my way."
Ignoring his raised brows at my cheekiness, I went to move past him when his hand came down and gripped my chin, forcing my face up so we were eye to eye.
"Hmm, when I was a child.. if I were hurt I would be kissed better."
Lowering his head to mine, I put my hand on his chest to halt him.
"Yeah.. I'm not giving up my first kiss to a guy who wishes I was dead. Goodnight.. thanks for not letting me drown."
Brushing past him, I left his room, my head held high.