Page 105 of Torin and the Princess

“I ken, tis cold here.” He struggled and breathed heavily, twisting, pushing to get one side of the cloak up and over my shoulder.

“Och, that is all I can do.”

I nodded. “It’s okay, that helps.”

“And, Princess, I believe ye are mistaken, tis not winter,thisfeels like a Scottish summer.”

I chuckled, through my tears. “Are you trying to make me feel better?”

“Aye, so ye winna be frightened.”

I looked at his face and in the dim light of the moon I could see his puffy eye, a fat lip pushed through his beard. His head drooped from pain.

I said, “I’m sorry you’re so hurt.”

He chuckled. “Och nae, Princess, I hae sworn tae protect ye, I am the one who ought tae be apologizing. If Master Cooper were here he would be callin’ intae question m’capabilities as yer protector.”

“What does he think happened? Did we just disappear?”

“Aye, something like that. Dost ye think he believes me now?”

I sighed. “Maybe, finally.” I added, “They both must be so worried.”

He leaned a bit, lowering his shoulder, “Ye can put yer head on m’shoulder.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder and whispered, “Are you serious, you really think I’m a princess?”

His voice was low and rumbling, comforting in the darkness, vibrating my ear against his warm shoulder. “Aye, Mistress Lexi, I ken ye are.”

We sat in the quiet. I sniffled occasionally, trying to calm down my crying from before.

He finally asked, very low, “Dost ye believe me?”

I whispered, “No… but... I don’t know. I’m so mad at you. I was happy...”

“I ken.”

“Now I am kidnapped by some evil medieval guys, who knows where, and I might never get to go home again.”

I exhaled. “This is so bleak.”

“Tis nae, ye daena ken me verra well, Prin— I mean, Mistress Lexi, but I winna rest until ye are home.”

I adjusted my face on his shoulder, a little like nuzzling in.

Then he tentatively put his head against mine, then it grew heavy.

There was an intimacy to his cheek on my hair. It warmed me.

I nestled my head against his shoulder. Then I raised my chin and nuzzled against the side of his face, his warm beard, and then I kissed him, his warm breath on my lips, my lips parting and for a second we were kissing deeply, desperately, but then he pulled his mouth from mine, and very close, his voice a low rumbling against my skin. “Nae, I canna, Princess.”

I put my forehead against his chin and in the darkness between us I said, “I’m sorry, I’m just scared, my adrenaline was pumping, I don’t know why I did that.”

“Ye hate me and yet ye kissed me.”

“I’m sorry, I think I needed your closeness.”

He nodded against my forehead. “Aye, I feel it as well, but we canna, ye are a Princess and I...” His lips brushed my skin. “I am yer devoted Torin, but I am beneath ye, I canna take liberties with ye when ye are weak and frightened, I am nae a scoundrel.”

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