"Pay him no heed," Hezekiah said gently, offering Belle a warm smile to comfort her.
"No, he is right. You must claim me, so people like him will not dare to look down on me again," she replied, feigning indifference. Yet, unbeknownst to them, a certain someone with sharp ears overheard her words and smirked to himself.
"I would be glad to witness that," Quinn murmured under his breath as he continued on his way.
---
Later that night, Belle managed to convince the guards to grant her two hours of solitude. While Hezekiah was understanding and agreed to her request, she knew his men were still keeping watch from a distance. Still, it was better than having them follow her every move.
Roaming through the garden, she sighed, her gaze drifting to the moon. Its glow reminded her of that perilous night in the cave. The full moon had made them vulnerable in ways she couldn't forget. If her calculations were right, there shouldn't be another full moon for another month.
She couldn't help but wonder how he had endured it, if he truly had. It was a painful ordeal, one she wouldn't wish upon anyone. Yet, what puzzled her most was his avoidance since that night. Was he upset that she pushed him away? Or had he finally grown tired of pestering her?
Though she should have welcomed his absence, she found herself unsettled by it. What was his reason for the sudden distance? She, of all people, had the right to be angry for he had endangered her life. So why was he the one acting withdrawn?
Frustrated, Belle kicked at the air and groaned aloud. It annoyed her to no end that he occupied her thoughts so persistently. She knew she wouldn't find peace unless she confronted him or discovered the reason behind his behavior.
She glanced toward the exit of the garden and pressed a hand to her forehead. Should she confront him, or simply treat him as if he didn't exist? The conflicting thoughts whirled in her mind, leaving her at a loss.
Clenching her fists, she exhaled deeply and took a step toward the exit. After a brief hesitation, she quickened her pace, heading in the direction of his room.
When she reached the door, she paused for a few moments, gathering her resolve. Finally, she knocked. There was no response. She knocked again, but still nothing. Just as she was about to give up and leave, the door suddenly flung open, and she was yanked inside.
The door shut behind her, and she found herself pressed against his chest, gasping in shock.
"What a pleasant surprise," he murmured near her ear, his voice low and teasing.
She whipped her head up, her breath unsteady, only to find herself staring at his bare chest. His skin glistened, damp with water, and it struck her that he had likely been in the midst of a bath.
Her heart raced, and she swallowed hard, unable to form a single word. Why, of all times, did she choose this moment to confront him?
Forcing herself not to glance downward, Belle swallowed hard and said, "I will come back once you have finished your shower." Then she turned to leave, but before she could take a step, he pulled her into a firm embrace.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he drew her close, his lips brushing against the curve of her neck.
"Quinn! Don't," she pleaded, her voice shaking as she tried to push him away.
"I am naked under the towel wrapped around my waist," he whispered into her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "Moving right now might be the worst thing you could do." He inhaled deeply, as though her scent was something he craved.
"But you are wet…and naked," she stammered, feeling the dampness of his body pressing against her through her thin nightgown. The light fabric offered little protection from the heat radiating off him.
"What about this?" He murmured, grinding himself against her. Her breath hitched as the sensation jolted through her, igniting a fire she couldn't control.
"Please stop," she begged, her voice barely audible, her resolve crumbling under the weight of his touch. He was so hard and huge that her mind betrayed her, imagining things she knew she shouldn't.
"I know you miss this," he said with a low chuckle, his lips brushing her ear. He continued his movements, pushing her closer to the edge of self-control.
Unable to endure it any longer, Belle forced herself to turn around and face him. "You have been avoiding me for days, and now you are flirting with me as if nothing happened," she snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and confusion.
His playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Isn't that what you wanted? For me to stay away from you?" He asked, taking a step back.
"I don't want you to pester me, but I didn't ask you to avoid me entirely. Why have you been avoiding me?" She pressed, her frustration boiling over.
He raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "I never realized avoiding you would have such an effect. Now I feel bad," he said, feigning remorse.
Belle scoffed, refusing to be swayed by his act. "You are annoying," she muttered, reaching for the doorknob to leave.
Before she could escape, he scooped her up effortlessly, ignoring her protests as she smacked his back. "What are you doing? Put me down, Quinn!" She demanded, anger lacing her voice.
Carrying her to the couch, he gently set her down and straightened up. "You came all this way already. Let's not waste the opportunity," he said with a mischievous grin before walking to his desk to retrieve a glass of wine.
Returning to her side, he extended the glass. "It's not alcoholic this time. You can drink it," he assured her.
She hesitated, the memory of the other night still fresh, but eventually accepted the glass.
Sitting beside her, he studied her intently. "The truce might get bloody if things don't go our way. Do you really need to come along?" He asked, his tone unusually soft, almost as if he cared.
She raised an eyebrow, her suspicion evident. "Was that why you looked down on me earlier?"
He leaned back, his gaze steady. "Bringing you along without an official title is foolish. You will become a target the moment he announces you tomorrow. Things won't be the same after that."
His words carried a genuine concern that almost made her falter, but she quickly pushed it aside. "You say that, yet you endangered my life by declaring me your woman in front of an angry crowd." She countered, her voice sharp with accusation.