Page 40 of The Princess and the Demon

“It’s ok you don’t have to,” he says finally, turning away from me.

I reach out, grasping his hand as he attempts to stalk away. “I want to,” I say quickly.

Amon stops, turning slowly to look down at my hand in his. I let him go, clearing my throat as I step back. “I mean, I would like that...I think.” I frown at my own words, clasping my hands in front of me tightly.

“I’ll… see what I can put together for us.”

His words are soft as he turns again, pausing before walking back to the castle.

I let out the breath I’d been holding, slumping.

“You idiot,” I curse myself as I follow behind him.

13

AMON

Iwas barely keeping myself in check. My skin tingled at Elora’s nearness, and I had begun to tremble internally. I refused to walk away from her, and instead put her from my mind as I walked her through learning the use of a bow.

It didn’t help.

When I had wrapped my arm around her middle from behind it had taken every bit of strength I had not to groan when her hips brushed my thighs.

The scent of her had enveloped me and all I felt was her.

I hadn’t intended to ask her to have lunch with me. The words came out like vomit. I cringe inwardly as I stalk down the corridor. I can hear Elora’s shoes against the stone rushing to catch up to me.

“Hey!” She says. I can hear the swishing of her skirts as she lifts them. “You know, you’ve got way longer legs than I do.”

I slow my pace, glancing at her quickly. Her cheeks are flushed, and it makes the freckles on her nose stand out more. I growl.

Elora looks down worriedly, chewing at her bottom lip. The sight makes me want to push her up against the cold stone and see just how chewable her bottom lip actually is.

I shake my head and shove a hand through my hair, sighing.

We manage to make it to the kitchen without me losing my grip, and I duck inside to snap at a couple of lesser. Elora enters behind me cautiously as the lesser scurry from the room.

“What was that?” she asks as she glances back and forth. “I thought I saw someone.”

I wave a hand dismissively. “Just a couple of lesser.”

Elora frowns but doesn’t push the subject.

I move about throwing open cupboards and cooler boxes. After a few false starts, Elora giggles and moves to open a cooler box, peering inside.

She pulls out a basket of cheese wheels and a few strips of dried meat. I watch as she sets the items on the large table in the center of the kitchen, pulling out a small wheel of cheese and breaking it into smaller pieces.

I’m mesmerized by her, and don’t realize I’m staring until she glances up at me. She does a quick double take, blushing and lowering her head.

“Don’t hide,” I growl.

She worries at her lower lip again and I clench my fists against my sides, reveling in the feel of my claws digging into my palms.

“Can you grab that loaf of bread behind you?” she asks softly.

I turn behind me, not too keen on taking my eyes off her, and grab the loaf of bread I hadn’t seen a few moments before.

I hand it to her, and she reaches out. Our fingertips brush and the electric shock that runs between us leaves me breathless.

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