Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Fiona
Before the Duke can force a kiss onto me, he is suddenly ripped away from me in the blink of an eye, making my eyes widen with surprise. The Duke is thrown straight to the ground, the sound is enough to make me wince because it is so loud and scary that it makes my stomach churn at the thought that something worse could come from it.
The man standing above the Duke is dressed all in black, his body muscular and it is not hard to see that he is ripped. His eyes are dark and blazing, enough that it makes my stomach churn when it looks like he could end up devouring someone whole. His hair is a bit of a mess, like he has run his fingers through his hair multiple times.
I don’t know who he is.
“How dare you touch me?” The Duke yells at him, and I realize that he is bleeding from his nose, “Do you realize who I am? I don’t know why a commoner like yourself realizes that you’re touching me! You’re going to get in big trouble.”
“I don’t know who you think you are but trying to force a kiss onto the Princess is something that would piss off the king.” The man responds, folding his arms across his chest, “And let me remind you that King Robert does not like you and he has made it very clear that he would have your head if you ended up really trying to force yourself onto her.”
I see the fear in the Duke’s eyes and that is shocking to myself because I didn’t know that dad doesn’t like him. I guess it doesn’t surprise me because it is pretty obvious that the Duke just craves power, and he was going to try to use me to do so. I hate that he did this to me, and it makes me wonder what is going to come from it.
I don’t know what I’m going to do about this.
“I suggest you leave me alone and you don’t approach me ever again.” I finally speak up, gaining the courage because I don’t want to get dragged into this mess anymore, “it upsets me that you did this, Duke Steven, and you should have treated me with a lot more respect. Unfortunately, because of YOU, I’m going to have to say that this is NEVER going to work out between us.”
I’m putting my foot down and my rescuer gives me a look that tells me that he is proud of me. It makes me smile because I do quite like the fact that I am sticking up for myself and I’m not going to let myself be run over. I can’t believe that this had happened to me, and I wish that it could have been a lot different, but it looks like it’s not going to end up working out.
I just hope and pray that I can do a lot more.
I long to be close to my rescuer though.
The Duke jumped to his feet, and I thought that he was going to scream at us, but he must have decided that it is not worth his time. He storms off, probably realizing that this would end up biting him in the butt if this turned around and did a lot worse for him. It upsets me that this even happened, and I wish that I could have done a lot more.
“Thank you.” I tell my rescuer, holding out my hand to him, “My name is Fiona. What is yours?”
He turns around to face me and I notice immediately how he is towering over me, looking down at me like he is going to end up devouring me if given the chance. Just the sight of him is enough to send a shiver down my spine and although I have never met him before, I feel the connection before I even knew what it was. I don’t know what is going to happen here, but I find myself feeling closer to him.
I need to be closer.
I want to be next to him.
I don’t want to let him go.
“My name is Lucian.” He introduces himself, his voice so deep and husky that it sends a shiver down my spine, “I am your personal bodyguard. I’m sorry that we have not officially met, I thought it would be better for me to stick to the sidelines. I didn’t want to scare you.”
“I am not scared of you.” I assure him finally, smiling up at him because it does feel like I’m so close to him, “and I don’t want you to ever think that I would be scared of you. I’m sorry that you might have thought that I felt that way but I’m just hoping for a lot more from you. I hope that we can figure out where you will be here to protect me.”
I’m flirting a little bit before I even realized I was doing it. I wished to be closer to him, nervously gnawing on my bottom lip as I’m tempted to get much closer. I have no idea what he is going to do to me but it’s like nothing I have ever experienced before. I feel like he is trying to look right through me, but I don’t know what is going to come from it.
“Are you okay?” I whisper huskily, moving a little closer, “You are looking at me weirdly.”
His lips curve into a small smile and he reaches out to me. His fingers lightly brush against my cheek, sending an electric current through my body that is enough to make me feel like I’m going to go wild. I don’t know what is going to happen next, but the temptation is high enough for me to long for a lot more.
I need all of it.
I need him.
I want him.
I don’t know why I want him like this but it’s a desire burning inside of me that is tempted to do a lot more. I have no idea what is going to come from it but as I move closer, it’s like I am being drawn to him. He looks down at me, a weird look on his face but I have no clue what I’m going to say or even do. I don’t know if he is even wants this or feeling the same way.
Lifting my hands, I place them on his chest, and I slowly lean up on my tippy toes, brushing my lips against his. He stiffens almost immediately, my heart pounding in my chest as I feel the temptation of a lot more, but I have no clue what is going to come from it. It makes my stomach churn as I feel the sparks and the pull, tempted to do a lot more but I have no clue what is going to happen here. It’s scary because I have never felt this way before but it’s also like something else that I have ever dreamed about.
I want all of him.
“You’re my mate.” I finally conclude, peeking up at him because I don’t know what to say, “How… I don’t understand how this happened. How am I your fated mate?”
“I don’t know.” He grumbles, but he doesn’t seem too upset about it, “but truthfully, I’m okay with it. I like the fact that you’re my fated mate and I wish that I could do a lot more for you. Truthfully, I think that this whole thing might end up being a bit more dangerous since I’m not of royalty, but do you want me? Do you not care that I am your fated mate?”
I should care because I have no idea if dad is going to accept it. As much as I love him, he is a bit stubborn when it comes to relationships, and he makes it quite known when he is not so accepting of something. I wish that I could do a lot more at this moment and how it could end up biting me in the butt, but I truthfully don’t think that he cares so much. When he looks at me, it’s like he is just trying to give me whatever I need and nothing else.
“You’re so beautiful.” He tells me softly, cupping my face in his hands, “and I’m not going to give you up. If you reject me, I will accept it, but I will not be happy about it. I want to make sure that you are safe and that is all that I want to do for you. Do you understand that?”
I don’t know what I’m going to do but I’m trying to do everything that I can to make it the right way. I should say no, but I just move closer, wrapping my arms around him as I feel safe and happy. I want to do a lot more, but I have no clue what is going to happen here.
I guess that I have decided to pick my mate and I’m not going to dare change my mind.