Page 33 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"My name is Forest Morgan-"

"Look at me," I demand, her eyes hyper focused on the ground, her jaw clenched with strain.

Slowly pulling her chin up, her eyes barely lock with mine, her focus anywhere but here.

"Say it, Forest-"

Moving with great precision, she forces her body onto mine, her hands pressed against my chest, forcing me back down onto the bed. Straddling my hips, she keeps me down with all her strength, shoving me out of her mind, her teeth gleaming in the light of the moon. Lowering her head inches away from mine, she scans my face up and down, as if she is taking a mental note of what I look like in this position. Still held back by the sheer force of her Hold, I draw a shaky breath, taking in her scent, something warm and comforting clung to her despite the position she has me in now.

"Stay the fuck out of my head," she seethes. "You should know better than to creep inside my mind," she snaps, her face flushed with heat.

Feeling immense satisfaction with her being this close, despite the anger she seems to be forcing onto me, I let a smile creep along my lips, not feeding into the string of bullshit she has tried to throw onto me.

"Why don't you let me go and we can handle this more appropriately?" I question, ready to tear off that horrid cloak and tie her to this bed.

"You think I wanted a reunion?" she questions, nothing but malice touching her tone. "You think I want your touch?" she pushes, doing her best to hit me where it hurts.

Unlucky for her, she has given me nine months to grovel in my pain.

Now? Now, all I have is the drive to bring her home.

"I'd say you worked awfully hard to ensure I can't touch you," I hiss. "Why would that be, Forest Flower?" I push, forcing my head close to feel her breath. "Does yourfatherbelieve in this little act?" I smile. "Or should I scream out for the others in this house, and see how you act when Kaiden is looking you in the eyes-"

"You need to stop looking for me, Xavier," she mutters, her voice breaking.

There you are.

How long can you pursue this little act.

"Then you'll have to kill me," I smirk, laying my head back down. "You don't love me, should be simple enough," I sigh, throwing her words from that night back at her.

Finally getting a reaction out of her that signifies something other than hate, her head shakes once more, her body gravitating closer.

"Don't tempt me," she hisses.

"You really think I believe you came all of this way to warn me to stop looking?" I question, now the one shaking my head. "Go feed that bullshit to Elyon, not me," I push. "You knew I'd see past all of this didn't you? You wanted me to see past all of this... You wanted to see me-"

"No-"

"Liar."

Pulling something free from her side, the cold pressure of the tip of a blade touches my neck, her mouth inches away from my ear. Shakily holding the dagger, she keeps me as still as she possibly can, her voice low and slow.

"I have been gracious. Xavier," she whispers. "Try anything-"

Turning my head, I let the blade nick me, forcing my lips onto hers, her words caught in her throat, her Hold faltering immediately.

Cupping the back of her head once I have control, I force the knife away from her hand, letting it clatter to the floor, my body weight becoming my ally. Using my leg to push her off of me, it is now her back meeting the mattress. Her hands bracing her lower body, stopping my body weight from fully being able to lean on her. Ready to turn away from the kiss, something wet touches my cheeks, her eyes leaking a stream of tears. Keeping her pinned with my body, I pull away from the kiss, half expecting her to Winnow far away from here. Breathing violently, her tears coat both of our cheeks, her eyes wide, as if this is the first time she has allowed herself emotion in nine months.

"Look me in the eyes, Forest," I warn. "And tell me that you do not love me," I push, grabbing her chin to get her to stay focused on me.

Watching her lip wobble, all I want to do is hold her close and never let her go.

"I'm trying," she sobs. "I'm trying to protect-"

Her voice trails off, the mask of cold returning.

No, not with me.

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