A Wicked Game [The Crown Saga II] (Under Editing)

Hollow Kisses

Merely a kiss. Seriously?

"Caiden," I said, forcing a fake chuckle across my lips as I wrapped my arms around myself. I didn't want him to think I was being cross because his relationship with the others hurt me. "I don't think you realize what a kiss can be for a girl. Piper felt special when she told us about your date and—"

"That was also the intention," he mumbled, unfastening his cape to toss it across the back of a chair as if the room had heated.

I raised my head to catch his elusive gaze. "Excuse me, but let me attempt to rephrase what I meant: a kiss—like the one Piper described—represents intimacy and desire, both of which I would argue are pretty damn personal—especially in a game like this."

He sighed deeply again, still not brave enough to face me and acknowledge the point I needed to make him understand. "It's not like I shoved my tongue down her throat, Willow."

I took a step back, stunned by the repulsiveness of his statement. "I-I'm sorry," he added as if regretting the words he couldn't take back, "but I think you may be exaggerating your concept of intimacy and desire."

A knot threatened to clog my throat, and my eyes stung from holding back the searing tears. I hated how his words affected me, but they did.

I'd come to know more faces of Caiden's complex personality than I'd originally intended, but I would've never dared imagine this side of him existed. Caiden wasn't Knox, but that attitude made the boundary appear much less defined than before.

I refrained from commenting on his disturbing remark and rushed past him, scarcely avoiding his rigid body before moving toward the exit. My fingers pulled the crystal from beneath my layers and pressed it against the wooden framework to unlock the door. Nothing happened.

"Come on," I growled, pressing my palm harder against the door to force it open. Still, nothing.

"Why can't I unlock the door?" I shouted without looking at him, infuriated by his nerve to bring me to a place I couldn't escape.

"Will," he sighed, slowly approaching me, well-knowing that I couldn't leave without his help.

"Don't call me that!" I hissed, disgusted at hearing my casual nickname from the mouth that had been around. I grabbed the door handle and twisted it, but the thing still wouldn't budge.

"Willow," he said instead to meet my demands. "Why does my relationship with the suitors affect you so much?"

My body shuddered in repulsion when he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Don't touch me," I said through clenched teeth.

My breath lodged in my throat when Caiden pressed his marked hand against the door, unlocking it without a fight.

I twisted the handle without hesitation, refusing to give him the attention he so obviously craved, and the door opened. A small celebratory smile lightly tugged the corners of my mouth. I hadn't expected it to be so easy, but I didn't complain.

A surprised gasp escaped me when the door slammed back into its frame. Of course, escaping wouldn't be as easy as that.

I took a deep breath to gather whatever rational thought I could muster. "I know you're going to be my king in a few years, Caiden, but even a king shouldn't be excused for the lack of manners," I said through clenched teeth.

"I couldn't care less about my status as a golden descendant right now, Will, but I'm not letting you leave until you explain what upsets you," he whispered behind me, making my eyes widen in disbelief.

He'd never behaved like this before. I'd heard his stern voice during my private lessons, but never with this suggestion of frustration.

Caiden may not have deserved my wrath, but the fire blazed hot within me, and I wasn't sure how to extinguish it. I had no right to be upset over something that didn't concern me, but putting a lid on my feelings wasn't easy either.