“Sleep, Princess.”
Gods above. He must see me as a whore, boasting about my experiences while he took the moral high ground.
“How old are you?”
“I don’t think I’ll answer that.”
“Sainte, how–”
“I’m not a dog, Elspeth. Don’t expect me to act like one.”
Oh, that stung.
I frowned and flopped back down, sulking. This wasn’t how I expected the conversation to go. I meant to tease and flirt, not belittle him or end up feeling guilty.
“It was just kisses,” I mumbled into the pillow, curling away from him.
How could one man’s words make me feel so small?
“What was that?”
I lifted my face. “It was just a few kisses!” I snapped, then dropped back down with a thud.
“Ah,” Sainte sighed, shifting to embrace me from behind. “Did you enjoy them?”
I resisted his advance, kicking at him. “If you must know—no!” I spat.
His laughter filled the room before he ensnared me with his leg, anchoring me to the mattress. “I left you in one of the most vile cities, and all you have to show for it is a few kisses?”
“Are you doubting my seductive capabilities?!” I fought with renewed vigor, struggling to free myself from his hold.
“Not at all! In fact, I distinctly remember a certain sixteenth birthday–”
“Don’t you dare!” I managed a kick to his thigh, shoving his hips from mine, creating valuable space.
“The tugs on my tunic… The press of your hips against my—oh probably my knees at that age–”
“My head was to your chest!”
“Ah, my thighs, then. Yes, I have every faith in your art of seduction.”
Part of me was thrilled at his recollection, while the other seethed with irritation at his jest. I had meticulously planned that day for months, brimming with confidence in my allure, convinced he’d notice my blossoming curves. I believed he came because he cared, because he wanted my happiness…
And my happiness was intertwined with him.
“That’s not funny,” I snarled, driving my elbow into his chest.
He wheezed at the force, and I wrestled myself loose from his grasp. He chuckled, leaving me to simmer on the opposite side of the bed. I found a semblance of safety in the scant handspan that separated us.
“I didn’t think it was,” he said, a smile lingering in his tone as he shifted onto his back.
I sniffed. “You’re poking fun at it. I assure you, I was quite serious at the time.”
“As was I.” A moment of silence settled before he continued, “I was serious when I told you I couldn’t bring you with me.”
The teenage girl inside me flinched at the memory. “That hurt.”
“I know.”
