Page 46 of Forgotten Fate
Elias’s voice broke the silence. “We can take advantage of the free breakfast tomorrow, then head to the shops to look for supplies once they open,” he said.
“What are you doing?”
Elias stopped laying out his blanket and looked up at me. “Making my bed.”
“There is already a bed in here,” I retorted, gesturing behind me.
“I don’t mind sleeping on the floor so you can get the bed,” he replied.
“Elias. Neither of us have slept on, let alone evenseena bed inweeks. I am not going to let you sleep on the hard floor.”
He glanced at the bed then at me again. “What do you propose we do then?”
I sighed. “If we can sleep in a small cave barely big enough for both of us in a rainstorm, I think we can share a bed for one night.” He was making this more difficult than it needed to be.
Elias furrowed his brows. “Are you… comfortable with that?” he asked.
What man denies sharing a bed with a beautiful woman, especially aprincess, because he doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable? He truly was a gentleman.
“It was my idea, wasn’t it?” I answered. Gods, itwasmy idea. A few weeks ago, when I was a princess imprisoned in her own castle, I would have never done something like this. Perhaps it was the alcohol talking. Or perhaps I was changing.
Elias looked down at his small blanket on the floor – his poor excuse for a bed – then back up at the soft mattress I was perched on. I watched him contemplate his decision. Maybe he wasn’t worried about my comfort. Maybehewas the one who felt uncomfortable. I frowned, wondering what I could have done to make him feel that way. He watched me intently for a moment before speaking.
“Alright, Princess,” he said in a husky voice. “If it eases your guilt, I will sleep in the bed with you.”
I cleared my throat. “Good,” was all I could think to say, even though butterflies began to flutter in my stomach. Nerves were starting to emerge, no longer numbed by the alcohol, as the man I had feelings for approached the bed.
My head spun, but my heart spun even faster. I slid back and laid myself down on the bed. The second my head hit the pillow, a sigh escaped my lips. It felt like bliss. I rolled over to my side and soaked in the comfort of the mattress. I felt Elias come up behind me andlie down on the bed. I turned my head to see him lying on his back, his hands crossed behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. A small moan escaped him as well, and he smiled.
“Shit,” he laughed. “Thisisnice, isn’t it?”
I stifled a small giggle and he met my eyes. All at once, we both burst into laughter. I don’t know if it was from the deep fatigue we both suffered, if it was the booze still running through me, or if the situation was really that amusing, but neither of us could control our thundering laughter.
Suddenly, we heard four distinct knocks coming from below us. Elias and I both froze. “Quiet up there!” an elderly sounding female voice shrieked. “Some of us are trying to sleep!”
Okay, so maybe notallMonuvians were friendly.
I tried to stifle my laughter, but as I looked at Elias and we made eye contact once again, neither of us could hold it in any longer. We both burst into another fit of cackles. I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to mute the noise, but failed. And Elias’s laugh was so genuine and so pure, I found it contagious. I was entranced by it, even, as it lit my soul from within.
The old woman thudded on her ceiling once more, and I had to bury my face into Elias’s shoulder to keep from laughing even harder. Soon, we finally began to quiet down.
I took a deep breath in and out, then slowly raised my head to find that Elias’s face was only inches from my own. His gaze met mine and held that stare for a long moment. Too long. Elias, for only a split second, glanced down at my lips then back at my eyes. That tiny shift caused an arousing heat to fill my center, and I swore Elias’s eyes filled with the same hunger as mine. I pleaded in my head for him to inch himself closer, for him to touch me. For our mouths to make contact.
He didn’t move. Didn’t answer my silent plea for his touch. So Ireached my hand up and gently brushed my fingers against his cheek, hot sparks flooding my fingertips. His breathing staggered and his pupils dilated slightly. In our close proximity, I thought I could even feel him harden under his pants.
Before I could look down to confirm, Elias turned the other way and shot out of bed so quickly, I couldn’t comprehend the movement. He ran a hand through his dark hair and cleared his throat.
“You can’t…” he began before stopping himself. I gulped. “You can’t do that to me,” he finished in a guttural voice.
The sudden shock of his missing body, and the cold air that took its place, created a lump in my throat. Had I done something wrong?
“Do what?” I asked quietly, nerves building.
He turned his head to look at me, and I swore his eyes flashed like light reflected in them. Perhaps it was the light of the full moon shining through the window. “You’re drunk, Aura,” he argued. “It’s not fair to you.”
“I’m not drunk,” I debated him. Although, I wasn’t quite sure that was true. My head was still spinning more than I would like to admit.
“I’m going to see if I can find you a glass of water, and something to eat.” He dragged his fingers through his hair once again and let out a long breath through his nose. “I’ll be back soon,” he said, and I watched him walk out the bedroom door and listened as his footsteps slowly faded down the stairs.