The silent stare between them lingered for a long moment before Quinn finally broke it, stepping closer until their faces were mere inches apart.
He gently placed his left hand on her neck, drawing her nearer. His gaze lingered on her lips before meeting her eyes once more.
"Getting you intoxicated was intentional. Now, I have the opportunity to kiss you. Don't you think it's fitting?" He murmured softly. Belle, half-drunk and struggling to steady herself, absently rested her hand on his face and smiled. "You are quite handsome," she said dreamily.
"I am well aware," Quinn responded with a smirk.
"May I kiss you, Belle?" He asked, his voice low as their lips hovered close. He could no longer resist her allure, she was as captivating as the day he had first met her. He knew denial would serve no purpose.
Belle smiled faintly and nodded, her restraint slipping under the influence of her unspoken desires.
"No, Belle. I want more than a nod. I want your voice, calling for me," he insisted, his grip on her neck firm yet gentle, his eyes locking deeply with hers.
After a tense moment of silence, Belle softly replied, "Yes, Quinn. Kiss me."
"Very well, my lady," he whispered, leaning in to claim her lips. But just as he was about to kiss her, a loud noise from inside the room interrupted them. Quinn chuckled knowingly.
"He always manages to arrive at the most inconvenient times," Quinn muttered, irritated by the disruption. Hissing softly in annoyance, he swept Belle into his arms and carried her back into the room.
"Quinn!" Hezekiah's voice thundered, his eyes blazing as he took in the sight of his woman in another man's arms, clearly intoxicated. His fury was palpable, his gaze deadly, and it seemed as though he might unleash his wrath on everyone present.
"Relax, we hadn't reached that part yet," Quinn said nonchalantly, fully aware that Hezekiah would not attack him while Belle was in his arms. Taking full advantage of the moment, he smirked, knowing he was provoking him further.
"You dare drug my woman and lay your hands upon her! How dare you?!" Hezekiah's voice was sharp with rage as his fists clenched, his restraint barely holding him back from unleashing his fury. Yet, the sight of Belle kept him from losing control entirely.
"Hand her over," Hezekiah demanded, stretching out his arms. But Quinn, unbothered, tightened his hold on Belle, refusing to release her.
"She came here of her own will, Your Majesty. And as for the wine, she drank it despite my warnings. Why place the blame on me?" Quinn replied, feigning innocence with a smirk. Hezekiah, however, was no fool and saw through his act with ease.
"Do not take me for a fool, Quinn. This was your scheme all along, to intoxicate her, to touch her, and to provoke me into abandoning her. Am I not correct?" Hezekiah's words, sharp and calculated, seemed to peel away every layer of Quinn's plan.
Quinn's lips curled into an amused smile. "You never fail to entertain me, Hezekiah. But this? This was merely a test, for both you and her. The true game has yet to begin," he said, his tone taunting.
Acknowledging his temporary loss, Quinn strode forward, his movements deliberate, and gently handed Belle over to Hezekiah.
"Let her rest in her chambers tonight, she is far too intoxicated to make any decisions for herself," Quinn remarked. Yet Hezekiah, puzzled by Quinn's unexpected concern, dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand and exited the room without a word.
"You pride yourself on understanding others, Kia, but do you truly comprehend what she desires?" Quinn muttered softly after them, turning his back as well. Hezekiah was perceptive, yes, but his preoccupation with discerning immediate thoughts often blinded him to the real truths.
The truth, however bitter it may be, was not Quinn's concern. Their deal was set, and he had no intention of backing from it.
---
On the day of the bullfighting competition, the arena was packed beyond capacity, a result of the rumors that had swept across the kingdom about the identity of the man set to challenge the bull. The audience buzzed with anticipation, many had heard tales of the kingdom's celebrated general, who was also a Duke, but few had witnessed his prowess firsthand.
People from every corner of the land had gathered, eager to see this legendary Duke face the champion bull in combat.
"Fortunately, I had the foresight to make reservations using the king's seal. I suspected it would come to this," Aurora said smugly, seated alongside Mia and Belle. She waved their tickets triumphantly before them. Aurora had anticipated the crowd and prepared accordingly.
"That was a clever move. But is the Duke truly so admired?" Belle asked, astonished by the sheer number of people who had come to see Quinn. While she knew he was well-liked, particularly among women, she hadn't imagined his admirers were spread across the entire kingdom.
"Are you unaware? Wherever his name is uttered, none dare oppose the authority he commands. He once risked his own life to save that of a mere child, disregarding his own safety entirely," Aurora began, sharing tales of Quinn's gallantry.
"He did?" Belle asked in astonishment, genuinely stunned to hear of such an act. For so long, she had believed she knew everything about him, that there was no secret he had kept from her. Yet this revelation shook her to her core.
Aurora was just about to continue her story when a sudden commotion erupted from the crowd, their attention drawn to a figure in the arena's center.
It was Quinn.
He was clad in nothing but a cloth tied at his waist, leaving his chest bare, a sight that sent waves of adoration rippling through the female spectators.
"What a show-off," Belle muttered under her breath, clearing her throat hastily as she realized what she had just said aloud. Thankfully, the deafening noise from the crowd shielded her words from Aurora and Mia, sparing her from their assumptions. Jealousy? No, she thought. She didn't care in the least if he stood there stark naked.
But then, an unexpected silence fell over the crowd. All eyes turned toward her.
"That is my woman," Quinn declared, his voice ringing out over the hushed audience. Belle's eyes met his as the weight of his words settled over her.