Into The Dark by R. Cronin (ebook e reader txt) 📕

because he cleared his throat and said "No need to be embarrassed, I get that you are in pain and I'm sorry. I'll be done wrapping it in a moment." He quickly finished wrapping my ankle and he made me some tea and told me to rest.
I sipped my tea as he sat down on a creaky chair at his desk. We didn't say anything and the silence started to bother me. I started to look about me and I could tell this situation was getting awkward. I didn't know what to say, so thank god he said something first. "So, what's you're name any way?" he asked while putting his feet up on the desk. "Rae," I answered. "Do you remember anything before you got here?" He smiled slightly. "Um....I just remember falling, and then a lot of darkness. Then you coming and me hitting you with that stick. I'm sorry by the way." We laughed at the same time. I did feel bad that I had hit him. But yet again, I did also think he was a rapist or something of that nature. "Yea well, it's no big deal. I've been through worse." He chuckled. Worse? Is that supposed to be funny? I took a deep breath and didn't say anything.
This was so insanely awkward! I didn't know what the heck I was doing! I felt like such a little girl. Guess it didn't exactly matter now. He turned his face so that it showed a huge welt on the side if his face. I gasped nearly dropping my tea. I set it down, Xander was looking at me confused. I slowly got up from the bed and limped over to him. He set his feet on the ground and watched me approach. My heart raced as I lifted my hand to touch his face.

* Xander *
She got up from the bed and came over to me. All I could do was stare at her as she did. She took a deep breath in and lifted her hand to my face, gently touching the welt that formed on my face after she hit me. "You're face," was all she said. I closed my eyes and put my hand over hers where she had it on my face. She exhaled a short ragged breath. I gazed up at her, her expression pained and guilty about what happened. But I didn't care, it wasn't her fault. She was scared and alone. I understood where she was coming from. "I'm sorry," she whispered. I almost didn't hear her it was such a soft whisper. "It-it's ok, I'll be alright," I managed to whisper. She was so beautiful, and up close her feature were far more breathtaking. She was a small framed girl, with long flowing dark brown hair reaching her mid back. She was a little pale skinned, with gorgeous almost grey looking eyes. They were big though, and her lashes were so long. She had plump rosey lips, oh those lips!
I swear everything about her was beautiful. The way she held herself, the way she cared. Her fingers felt like they were burning my skin, even though they were barely touching me. She let out a small sigh of frustration, like she was angry at herself for doing what she did. "No need to be mad at yourself," I said, "I would do the same if a stranger randomly tried helping me without notice." She laughed at that. It was light and sweet. I looked up into her eyes and smiled. I just wanted to stand up and pull her to me, closing the space between us, but I didn't. She let out another sigh and let her hand fall to her side, just then one of the guards came in.
"Your highness, the hunters are leaving soon," He bowed. "Yes Gilberto I know, thank you."He bowed once more and exited my tent. Rae looked at me with one eyebrow raised, "Your highness?"
"Um...yea...I'm sort of the Prince of this land..." Rae then went wide eyed and took a few steps back. "Oh no..." She started to put her shoes on, cursing under her breath and limping. "I really need to go now, my ankle feels much better thank you," she lied. "No please! Why must you leave?" I pleaded. She was about to leave as I grabbed her hand. I Cannot Leave

* Rae *

"Are you crazy?" I yelled, "What is your problem?! Let me go you ass!" I was furious! A PRINCE!? SERIOUSLY!? Can this get any worse? "Wait, just hear me out," he said. I glared at him and sat down. "You have five minutes. He let out a sigh of relief. I crossed my arms and continued to glare at him. "Yes, I'm the prince here. But so what? I'm still a normal human being. I take care of myself and don't need protection or help! I don't use those guards out there! They only tag along because my mother's crazy! Why does it matter to you anyway?" he question. "When were you going to tell me? Hmm?" I asked changing the subject. "You never asked so I didn't say anything. What's so bad about that?" I scoffed at him. And to think i thought he was cute! Right now he disgusted me. "I really need to go now. I need to figure out how to get home." I said. I really needed to get away from him, from all this madness.
"You can't leave, your ankle isn't healed and you'll either get hurt out in the forest or freeze to death. But hey, that's your choice." He smirked. I honestly wanted to go up to him and slap him hard across the face. It took me all I had not too. He told me I had to stay with him unless I'd rather sleep with one of the guards or huntsman. I tried to protest but eventually gave in.There was only one bed, but it was big so I could sleep as far away as possible from him. He gave me one of his nightshirts and I made him go outside so I could change. He came back into the tent and changed without even telling me. I just sat there, stupified, starring at him. His body, oh my god! He was tan and muscular and had a great six pack. He then noticed me staring and chuckled saying "Quite drooling, it's unladylike." I quickly shot my hand up to my mouth to see if it was true, it wasn't. The bastard tricked me! I cursed at him under my breath as I got into bed.
I rolled over with my back facing him. I was going to ignore him the whole time until I could walk on my foot right again. Xander moved close to me and and quickly whispered sexily in my ear "Goodnight Rae." His warm breath hit my neck and gave me chills. I bit my lip and and rolled over, my face an inch or two away from his and whispered, "Oh, goodnight to you too." With a devilish smile and a wink before rolling over again. Two can play at this game.

This is kind of how it went for a couple of days. Us not talking, and if we did we faught. I stayed in the tent most of the time since my ankle hurt and i still had to share a bed with Xander. Ick. I had gotten to know more about him though, so our angry tensions loosened a little bit. It actually was starting to be more better than bad.

 

Desires

I woke with a arm firm around my waist and my head on something that definitely not a pillow. I lifted me head and looked at Xander, he was still asleep. I grummbled and got out of bed. I ended up waking him , but didn't notice (or care) until I took off his nightshirt and was in nothing but my underwear. I half turned around before I noticed Xander and screamed, dashing for my shirt. He was propped up on one elbow, resting his hand on hid head when he said "In for a show are we? And the day hasn't even started yet, goody!" He grinned and then yawned, getting up and changing as well. "For your information you jackass, I was NOT giving you a show! And thank god i'll be able to leave today." I spit back at him. I then put weight on my left ankle and cried out in pain as I fell to the ground. Xander was half naked but can rushing to my aid anyway. "Are you alright?" he asked. He looked worried.
I looked at him confused. "Y-yes I'm alright. Now get off me! And get dressed!" I huffed. His facial expression turned from concerned to annoyed in about a split second and he just got up and left me there on the floor and left the tent. I crawled over to the bed and laid back down on it, I had gotten back into Xander's night shirt. He came back into the tent in pants, his hair gleaming and wet. "I see you haven't changed yet," he said. "I see you have," I said back. He rolled his eyes at me and walked over to his side table putting a necklace on. It was a metal chain with a wooden bear paw on it. Must be sentimental or something, I thought to myself. He still had failed to put a shirt on and I couldn't help but stare. After a few moments I snapped out of it and decided to make a little joke. I entwined my fingers together and rested them behind my head. I then said to him in my most alluring sexy voice, "In for a show are we?" He looked over and I winked at him, grinning wryly. This was going to be so fun.

* Xander *
After she had said "In for a show are we?" in a really sexy voice, I knew she was joking. But still, it was sexy. So I decided to have a bit of fun myself. "Yes actually, and my pants were about to come off. Care to see?" I said back the same way she did. She pursed her lips for a