Sick of it

I love you to the moon and back.

—Sam McBratney

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

She had defied the King.

But that wasn't what scared her the most. No—she was afraid because of how good it felt to defy him and to see that shocked expression mixed with a little bit of amusement on his face. It made her feel powerful even though this feeling was unique to her, she felt the spike of adrenaline as she stared back into his predator eyes with only a bit of nervousness.

"I guess we have something in common now," he muttered and nuzzled his nose against her bare collarbone, dragging it to her shoulder and burying his head in her hair, and relaxing his body against hers.

Eva felt her body tense under his touch but as he didn't move for a while, she let down her guard and felt her shoulders drop in partial surrender.

"How long are you going to torture me?" he asked, moving his head back to look at her and Eva thoughtfully stared at his face, trying to figure out what he meant.

How the hell was she tormenting him! It was the entire opposite in their situation, he was busy seducing her instead!

"I don't know what you mean," she replied.

"I know you're scared Birdie," he spoke with a resigned sigh and Eva felt her insides clench at his words. He knew her better than she knew herself because she had been rejecting that fact ever since she came here. "But I want you to let go and fall. Trust me."

Leaning his head so that their foreheads touched, he stared deeply into her amber orbs with his eyes shining like stars in the midnight sky.

"I promise I'll catch you."

Eva released the breath that she had been holding in for so long. The urge to let go was so strong that she shut her eyes for a moment to resist it. She wanted it so much. For someone to support her and be there to care for her but the fear of being betrayed and of being left alone was too great.

She wasn't sure of herself.

"I-"

"Let me show you what you haven't seen yet. Let me make you feel. And if I ever end up making a mistake, I ask you to forgive me and it will be up to you to leave or stay. Just give me some time to let you trust me."

Eva held her breath once again, wondering how to answer his request. Request it was, not an order. She could see his desperation in those blackened eyes, people might call him a monster, but if all monsters were so affectionate, then she might be falling for a devil then.

Before she could answer him back, a knock was heard on the door but he didn't back away and Eva felt a sense of panic engulf her body.

"There's someone at the door." she said but Theo seemed oblivious about it as if no one was standing on the other side.

"You haven't given me your answer yet," he observed and Eva gulped hesitantly, not knowing what to say.

She was freed from the obligation of answering back when the knock was repeated a second time, startling her out of her daze.

Whoever was behind that door, she would give him a big hug when she got out.

Her behind was starting to ache from the hardness of the table and she slid across from him, hoping to jump off the table and escape without his interference.

The King had other plans in his sly mind as his arms went to the hands that lay beside her. Holding her down with her wrists, he smirked and spoke loud enough for the person outside to hear, "Come in."

Eva shook her head, her eyes widening in reluctance. She didn't want anybody to see them like this and get the wrong idea. She would be so embarrassed that looking the maids in the eye would become a hurdle hard to overcome.

Theo looked like he was enjoying her condition more than he should have. The way she squirmed under his gaze, worrying what people would think of her. He wanted her to trust him, that whoever let rumors about her get out, wouldn't live to see the next day no matter how hard they tried to escape.

A maid stepped inside and caught sight of them, her cheeks blushing a furious red as her eyes quickly lowered themselves to the ground automatically.

"What is it?" Theo asked, feeling frustrated at the unwanted interruption but pleased at seeing how tense Birdie was in front of him.

"Y-Your M-Majesty, Advisor L-Leon has told to me inform you t-that there is a crisis in c-court and your presence is n-needed." the girl stuttered out, stumbling through her words and Eva felt pity for her.

This King was a sadist who liked to torture people. Well, he wouldn't be seeing her submit to him anytime soon!

Eva smiled encouragingly at the maid, grabbing Theo's hand in hers. A look of surprise flashed through his eyes and for a moment, his grip on the table loosened. A second was all she needed for her to duck under his arms and approach the maid who was starting to tremble under his gaze.

"Thank you for informing the King, I'm certain he is pleased," spoke Eva and the maid looked up in shock before awkwardly bowing and exiting the room, trying not to look like she was going to run away in fear.

Eva breathed out in relief, proud of the way she had handled the situation as best as she could have.

All her relief however dissipated into thin air, when she felt a slightly cold hand grab her wrist and pull her back. She forgot how to breathe for a minute when his soft eyes looked into hers and he gazed at her as if she was the light he had always been searching for.

She wanted to touch him as he had when he took care of her when her back was injured. Wants to see those long fingers enclose her own. Eva felt so desperate for touch that she was confused that she hadn't realized it before.

Her hands twitched to reach out as Theo's inky eyes darkened to smoke. Eva felt frozen with want and uncertainty. His face soaked up the orange of the firelight; shadows making strange shapes over his sharp cheekbones and the bridge of his nose, and Eva wanted to kiss him.

She broke their gaze.

It took stores of strength she wasn't aware she had, and Theo moved away with what looked like relief and a little despair. But when Eva touched his hand softly with her fingers, his pupils dilated with something lovely and subtle and tenuous, and Eva wanted to see it again and again.

Until she gets sick of it, which she knew she would never.