Derrière Dust-Up

Mei Meili sat up straight on the prince's back, like she'd received an electric shock. She held herself at arms' length from his shoulders so that her chest hovered a few inches off his back.

"I'm sorry," she said stiffly, overcome with embarrassment. "I had no idea that was happening. I won't do it again, I promise."

"It's not a problem," he assured her. "Please continue. It's a sweet agony for me. I just don't want to see you doing the same on any other man's back. Ever. Again. Period."

Her weird upright sitting position was now unbalancing him.

"I can't carry you like that little fox," he said matter-of-factly. "You're too precarious sitting back there like that. Just lean forward again. I promise I won't take advantage of you, quite the opposite in fact, it will be you taking advantage of me."

"No. I definitely can't lean forward now you've said those things," she said, her face still burning with embarrassment.