Knowing the meaning behind his words, her face turned red like a tomato. As if he could get away with it, he started peeling off the thin sheet of fabric off of her in slow motion. She shook her head immediately and looked at the window, outside where his man was already preparing for departure to go to his estate. It was not the time for them to be leisurely fooling around. She knew the man had already been away from his estate longer than he should be. The fact she was keeping him away would only make it seem more that she was being inconsiderate.
The man chuckled as he had successfully already peeled off a part of the sheet while her attention was directed somewhere else, he had exposed her chest in full view. The man leaned in playfully, kissing her neck, shoulder and arms one at a time.
He was determined to get her attention back, his desire for her to look at him didn't go unnoticed, immediately her cheeks turned red, flushed from his playful attacks. What have I done to deserve this man?
Out of nowhere, his expression changes into solemnity. Like a flick of a finger, his eyes became sharp as if he was suddenly a different person. Elena flinched out of unconscious reflex. The man held her hands, his eyes looking at her for a moment, kissing it as he lowered his gaze.
"Elinor."
His low voice became clear and firm as if he was speaking with certainty. Yet, he did not seem to be aware that he just spoke the name of another woman. Like a painful slap on the face, his whispered name froze her in conflict. It felt like a whole minute lasted longer than expected that the air, though only for a second, had completely become heavy. Only for a minute, when she finally met his eyes again, it had returned to his normal gaze, filled with longing and passion. Unable to shake the high strung of anxiety clouded above her head, she looked away immediately, her heart jumping out and dropping from a high peak.
"Princess?"
"L-let me put these on."
Elena quickly grabbed the tunic in panic, she bit her lips fully aware that she couldn't stop her hands from trembling, fruitlessly wishing at least for the man to not notice. She stood up in resistance to the paralyzing anxiety that was building inside of her, forgetting that the man's hand was still on hold of hers.
"What's wrong, Princess?"
The man stood up, unaware of the turmoil he just created for her. Elena only bit her lips, forcibly smiling to hide her dismay from him calling another woman's name. It's not his fault, she told herself. She had brought this upon herself. She knew the later consequences of her choice, yet for a momentary happiness she went along with the game. The game she knew to be a losing one since the beginning-- this man is really in love with someone else.
"Did I do something wrong, Princess?"
The man pulled her hands gently, seeking for their eyes to meet. But, Elena was evasive, only looking at the other cheek, making sure to not meet his gaze. So, with no choice, the man cupped her cheeks, unabling her to look away from him. With stern eyes, he asked her, "what is it, Princess?"
Her upset heart must have been visible to him as it reflects in her trembling eyes. Yet, this man was not even aware of what he had done to her. She didn't want to show the bottle of her intangible insecurities, realizing her nearsighted vulnerability towards the woman of his heart.
"Didn't we agree, we will call each other by name? Should I address my husband as Sir Knight instead?"
She couldn't be truthful, all she could do was push her painful feeling away into the depths of her being, making sure it would never be touched or mentioned to him. It was upsetting to hear someone else's name from his lips, yet she couldn't blame him for it because it was his subconsciousness that was calling for her.
Elena looked at the man, her eyes blur with deceit. There was no way she was going to let him know what she was thinking or feeling. There was no need for this man to know-- the man grabbed her hands before she could get away, quickly wrapping his hands around her slim waist delicately, His warmth quickly spread over to her as both their bodies twisted, distance between them enclosed. Elena's eyes widened by surprise, not expecting the man would do something like that. His blue blue eyes smiled as he met hers.
"W-what a-are you doing, Sir?!"
The man chuckled darkly as if there was a slight bitterness from the corner of his lips and brought his face closer, his nose touching her nose, closing his eyes with full intent to kiss her, then his hot breath touched her lips.
"Elena, before you go… Can I ask for a kiss?"
Her heart squeezed as butterflies came flooding inside her stomach. How can this man do that? Her pale cheeks blushed quickly as if blood came rushing through her head all at once. The man held her in his little finger, driving her crazy. With brows furrowed in self hate, she questioned why she was unable to control the excitement of being in his arms after just experiencing a sudden heartbreak. It was as if he just took away all insecurities she had as he held her and called for her name.
"Sir Knight, stop playing with my heart…"
The words slipped without her realizing. Yet, before the rest of the words came out, the man took the tunic away from her hands, placing her previously occupied hands to his cheeks and kissing her very lightly.
It felt like a spell was put into her lips.
"Johan. I prefer you call me that… Elena. "
Her pale green eyes softened and blurred, momentarily lost for a moment as the man peeled off the rest of the thin blanket, dropping it to the floor and groping her chest as he scooped her off the floor.
Elena was brought against the wall, her hands naturally wrapped around his neck as her bare back exposed and rubbed against the cold solid walls. Her legs instinctively engulfed the man's hardened waist while his hands, on her buttock, supported her upper body. The man slightly bit his lips, looking at her with fascination as their forehead touched. A spark of heat from darkness flickered on the man's eyes.
"I am a simple man. I don't have many things I desire… but, I wonder why my desire for you is just too overwhelming?"
The man kissed her again, this time it was a little longer as if desperately wanting to be loved, making her want to fall for him deeper. As he held her in his arms, he pressed his lips to her neck.
"Hnngh---"
Their kisses have become sloppy as if both of them were inexperienced while their body tightened, wanting to get closer to each other, yet not being able to for they have reached their closest limit.
"Captain."
A large deep voice quickly interrupted from the other side of the thin wooden door. The room suddenly felt so small and narrowed upon hearing someone from the outside. Elena quickly pushed Johan away, her eyes swung toward the door in an instant and as her face immediately reddened from embarrassment, realizing that the man must have heard her escaping moan from the outside.
The young leader, Johan, looked at her sighed as if annoyed.
"What?"
His voice was cold as he responded.
"We need to leave now…"