Page 13 of Stolen Princess

His jaw locks, and his green eyes grow darker. His fists ball up at his sides, and I press the knife in a little deeper until I practically hit his sternum. He doesn’t even flinch, and I’m waiting for it. For him to hit me or overpower me.

His gaze drops to the knife and the bloodstain that’s growing bigger by the second. Why isn’t he fighting back? Why isn’t he attacking me?

“If you expect me to keep you safe, I’ll need my knife. And my gun.”

“I’ll think about that, but I’ll likely keep at least one as insurance.”

His eyes dance about my face, and he reaches up, brushing some of my hair back and tucking it behind my ear. It startles me, and my breath catches, especially as his fingertips glide along my cheek. No one has ever touched me before other than my mother, and she’s not exactly affectionate. Certainly not like this. Not so… intimately. My cheeks warm, and I don’t like it.

His hand drops, and he takes a step back. With it, the breath I was holding empties from my lungs. “When would we leave?”

That catches me off guard. I expected more of a fight. More resistance. It doesn’t make sense that he’d give in so quickly, but I don’t question it either.

Something akin to hope blossoms in my stomach. “Tomorrow, after my mother goes.”

“Why don’t you go on your own?”

I laugh a little because that’s almost funny. “I’ve never been out in the world. I have no ID, no transportation, and I need someone who knows what they’re doing to make sure that if my mother is right, the worst doesn’t happen. I may not be worldly, but I’m not stupid. I’ve thought this through.”

“You’re a little too fearless for someone so afraid of the outside world.”

That’s not true at all. I’m not fearless. I’m desperate. There’s a massive difference. I’m terrified of everything, and I’m exhausted by being this way. That’s what this is. This is a breaking point. A rock bottom. But if he thinks he’s getting my truths, he’s got another thing coming. He must realize this because he presses on.

“If I say no, you’re stuck here,” he challenges.

I wave the knife in the air. “If you say no, you’ll never get your gun or necklace, and I’ll leave you locked in here and let my mother handle you.”

A twisted smirk curls up his lips. “You’re extorting me.”

“Absolutely,” I agree without a hint of remorse or hesitation.

“Not so innocent are you, pretty girl?”

I grip the shoulder of his shirt and press the knife back to his chest without going as deep as I did before. “Do we have a deal?”

“Do I have any other choice?”

“No.” I smile, unable to contain this giddiness welling up within me.

His eyes widen ever so slightly, and his lips part before he clears his throat. “All right. I guess we have a deal. One question. How do you expect to hide me from your mother?”

“She never comes up here. Her room is on the first floor, and that’s where she stays.”

He laughs. “I get to sleep up here?”

I narrow my eyes. “Unless you want me to put you in her room.”

His eyebrows bounce. “Oh, I’d much prefer to sleep with you.”

I snort and twist my wrist so it drags the knife along his chest a little. He finally winces, and I like that. It makes me feel powerful for once. “Who said you were sleeping with me? I’m going to tie you up in here.”

“Well, there goes that dream. Shame that is.”

“What?” My eyes widen, and I draw back, releasing his shirt that bears the crinkle and stretch of my fist. “Why would you say that?”

He steps into me, his hand doing that sweep on my cheek again. “Do you know what sex is, darlin’?”

A blush flames up my cheeks, and I step back out of his touch until I’m at the door, the knife pointed straight at him. “I’m not that naïve. I know what sex is. I also know what rape is.”