Page 80 of Quest for her Knights
“Darling.” I sniffle as Blaze’s warm hand continues to try and soothe me. “Will you come out from under there and talk to me?”
“No. I live here now.”
He chuckles before moving to lie down behind me, he moves my body so I’m facing him then shoves his head under the pillow beside mine.
“Hi,” he whispers.
“You’re not supposed to be under here,” I tell him. “This is a boy-free zone.”
“I’m not a boy, I’m a man.”
“Well, either way, this is only for emotional women who want to cry in peace.” His amused eyes turn sad and he snakes a hand up between us. He rubs his thumb over my cheeks, trying to wipe the wet tears away.
He doesn’t say anything and I sniffle.
“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he pleads.
“Why are all men in this world so confusing?”
“Do I confuse you, darling?”
I groan and turn my face into the mattress. “You’re one of the worst!”
“Why?” He pushes my hair away from the side of my face and I tilt my head back to him.
“This. Right here.” I point a finger at his hand on my face as I frown at him. “Why are you doing that?”
“You don’t like it?”
“Blaze…” I groan, squeezing my eyes shut tight. “You are infuriating!”
“I can stop.”
“Don’t you get it? I don’t want you to stop. I don’t want any of you four to ever stop. That’s the problem.” His eyes turn pitying, so I turn back to the mattress again and groan. “Don’t look at me like that. Do you know how messed up this whole situation is? I’m being forced to pretend to be a princess and marry men I have no interest in. If I weren’t being forced to only marry lords, I bet I could find some decent, normal guys who actuallywantto be with me. I could ditch my princess status and live amongst the people.”
I feel Blaze move closer, his body touching mine. His hand threads through the hair at the side of my head as he tilts my head away from the mattress so I have to look at him.
We’re so close, our noses almost touch as he whispers, “If the kings and queen weren’t forcing you to marry lords, you wouldn’t be given the chance to meet anyone else.”
“W-what do you mean?” I stammer as I try to decipher his expression.
“I’d snatch you up in a heartbeat.” My chest aches with a need to be closer to him and my breath hitches with hope. I lick my lips and his eyes trace the movement.
“You want me?” I whisper, afraid if we speak too loud it will break the connection between us.
“You have no idea.”
“I think I do,” I whisper as I lean towards him, begging for his lips to touch mine.
“Blaze?”
“Yes, darling?”
“Kiss me?”
His brows pinch, pain written all over his face as he closes his eyes. “Elora… I can’t.”
I pull back, like I’ve been slapped in the face. Tears roll down my cheeks as I sniffle. “Why are you doing this to me?”
