Page 46 of Brutal Knight

"Yes Tati. I told you," he growled out, "you need anything, you tie that ribbon on your windowsill."

"Even if it's only because I'm lonely?"

"Especiallyif it's because you're lonely. You think I don't want to talk to you, too?" He reached forward, his thumb brushing across my cheek, and I stared up in awe at this man.

He could talk to anyone in the world, and he wanted to talk tome.

His fingers traced down my face to my neck, then settled on the end of my braid, softly tugging on it like he'd always done when we were kids. "I always want to talk to you. If I could have anything in the world, I would spend all my days talking to you."

There was a sudden lump in my throat. "Really?"

"Yes." He slid my ribbon from my hair and shoved it into his pocket, "this belongs to me now." He gave me a sharp gaze, as if he expected me to take it back.

“You can have it.”

“All your ribbons belong to me, okay, Tatiana?” He didn’t break eye contact, and he jut his chin out, his fingers tightening around my loosened braid. “They are mine, and no one else’s, do you understand?"

I nodded, still staring up at him in awe. "Okay."

"Good."

I licked my lips, finding the nerve to ask him what I came here for. "Knight? Are you ever going to get married?"

His nostrils flared, his eyebrows furrowing. "Why would you ask me that?"

All my courage suddenly evaporated. "What?"

He looked away, his hand falling to his lap, a furious look on his face. "My answer is no. I'm never getting married."

"Why not?" The lump in my throat grew bigger, and the hope I'd had in coming here died in my chest.

"If marriage is anything like my parents’, I'm never going to do that.” He peered at me. "Why are you asking me that? I'm only fourteen."

"I'm just wondering." I swallowed hard, standing up. The large room suddenly felt small and constricting. “I’ve got to go."

He stood up, taking my arm, his tone turning soft. "Don't go. Not yet. Stay the night with me."

"My parents will kill me." It was a lie. My parents didn’t care where I was, but I couldn't be here with him anymore tonight.

I needed to shore up my defenses for what was coming, and staying with him would only make it that much harder.

“Don’t go.” His fingers threaded through my braid, undoing it until my hair was spread out over my shoulder. A cool breeze flowed through the room, ruffling it. “Stay." He cupped my jaw, staring at my lips. “Please, Tati.”

My mouth was suddenly dry.Didn't Knight know that I would give him anything he asked?

I couldn’t say no to him. It would be like the rising tide trying to force itself back into the sea.

“Okay,” I whispered, and the light from the moon swirled around us like starlight. His eyes were still on my lips and I held my breath, hoping, wanting,wishing. His hand moved down to my shoulder, his fingers pressing into it, pulling me closer.

And then his crooked smile was back and he was leaning down until his lips were pressing against mine and I was floating in a sea of stars. His kiss was soft and perfect and I couldn’t breathe. His fingers were back in my hair, pulling and tugging softly as his lips caressed mine. I was warm and fuzzy and my knees were weak.

I clasped onto him to hold myself up, but he wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me towards the bed, still kissing me. "We'll just kiss a little. I swear I won't ask for much more tonight.”

I didn't tell him Iwantedhim to ask for more.

Instead, I nodded, sinking onto the mattress with him, plummeting into whatever this would be…falling head over heels for him. He wouldn’t save me from my fate but at least I could have this one moment, this one night.

Because, for Knight, I would give anything he asked.

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