This is a mistake. It’s a horrible, horrible mistake and he can’t stop himself from leaning into it. He is so young and so foolish and she is beautiful and wild and unattainable. She has the kind of qualities that both drive him away and pull him in; she has the kind of face he could dream about for years. He feels his heart thundering in his chest and his face hardens, brows drawing together, mouth pulled tight. He wishes that she would just leave already. He wishes that she would be gone so that he could breathe again.
But she doesn’t go.
She stays, pauses, and answers his hoarse question.
Her first answer stops his breath for a second and he bites the inside of his cheek until it bleeds, until he can taste the copper on his tongue and spreading throughout his mouth. It would be enough to undo him, but she does not stop with that. She continues and before he knows it, he’s taking a step toward her.
Restraint be damned, he thinks.
Let himself be damned.
“I see someone beautiful,” he says, because it’s obvious, but the shallow words feel weak on his tongue and his face almost turns with disgust. “And you’d think that’s what makes me want you but it’s not that. It’s the fact that you run an entire damn land and never even thought to mention it. It’s the fire in your eyes and the way it’s so fucking clear that you’re the smartest person in the room but would never admit it.” He laughs and it’s almost a bitter sound. “It’s the fact that you’d as soon slit my throat as kiss me.”
Another step toward her and something subtle changes on his face—maybe it’s surrender to the undertow or maybe it’s giving up or maybe it’s something else entirely but it changes him. “You’re a mystery that I can’t figure out and I’ve thought about it a lot, Kensa.” Another step and he moves painfully slow even though he can feel the tension like a rope ready to snap in his chest. “I want to keep trying.”
And then he reaches down, letting his teeth bite at the corner of her mouth and then claiming it.
BRIGADE
when I was a man I thought it ended when I knew love's perfect ache
but my peace has always depended on all the ashes in my wake
@[Kensa]