Ella woke to a light tap on her shoulder. She groaned, shifting further into the warm body that lay next to her.
“Ella,” a boy whispered. “Wakey wakey.”
She felt his hand slowly rub her arm through the blanket that covered her. His body smelled like fresh soap and leaves in the spring. The warmth from him soaked into her, making her icy veins heat with something she couldn’t name.
What time it was, Ella didn’t know. What day it was, she didn’t know that either, but she didn’t care. She was warm, comfy, and relaxed. This never happened...
Barely, Ella felt Blake sooth all fear with his strokes and touches, and she didn’t want to move.
“Come on,” he said softly. “Wake up.”
“I’m awake....” She worried that her words slurred, it was like her lips were paralyzed with exhaustion.
“How are you feeling?” Blake wondered.
Ella snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. “I feel better....”
“Better enough to go back to the castle...?” he said.
“I... guess...” she murmured groggily. “What is this place anyway...?”
“This cabin is my hideout,” Blake stated. “My getaway. It’s where I go when I’m stressed or at least free.”
“Oh....” Ella’s tone became apologetic. “I’m sorry that I barged in here... I hope I didn’t ruin it for you or something....”
“No, you didn’t.” He chuckled. “In fact, I was going to show it to you anyway. I wanted you to know that you have a safe space as well.”
Ella looked up into his dark green gaze. The stars illuminated his features, and she could see all the beautiful angles on his face. She just couldn’t help but touch them. Run her fingers on them. And Blake just closed his eyes, letting her.
His lashes cast gorgeous shadows on his cheekbones, and Ella couldn’t stop staring...
When he gazed down at her, he looked at her with something in his eyes... Something no one had ever looked at her with... She was a light... a beauty... and she could see herself reflected in his pupils.
If you can really read my mind, Ella thought, then tell me that I can trust you... Tell me that you won’t leave me to deal with this on my own... Tell me that you’re not going to hurt me later... Tell me that you love me... forever... and that you trust me as well...
“We should go back to the castle.” Blake broke the silence, and he stood up, leaving her alone in the small bed.
Ella watched him go to the coat rack and clip his cloak around his neck.
Confusion swirled around her mind, and she stood up, doing the same as he did and pulling the hood over head after buttoning it around her neck.
Wait... did he not read her mind...? Was he not going to promise that...? Was there some kind of rule where there were times mind readers couldn’t focus...?
Blake opened the front door, and rain splashed onto the porch, sending streams of water to run off the edges while thunder crackled across the grey sky.
“You coming...?” Blake was staring at her. There was something in his eyes... Something he was hiding from her... Ella’s brows drew together at this realization.
He waved his hand in front of her eyes. “Ella...?”
“Oh... sorry....” She walked past him out to the pouring rain, the water bleeding through her cloak as she blinked it off her lashes.
Ella started walking as Blake locked up the cabin behind her, and she felt her dress sticking to her skin, the humid air sending chills down her spine.
She only made it into a group of trees when something caught her waist.
Ella gasped as she was shoved against a tree. She felt panic rise in her veins before she realized Blake was in front of her, placing one hand on each side of her head.
At first, she was scared, worried that he turned and was going to hurt her...
But his eyes gave him away... Green... but a burn of something in them... She was proven right when he spoke, his face inches from hers.
“You can trust me,” Blake whispered in a soft tone, responding to her thoughts before. “I promise that I’ll be by your side every step of the way. I will never leave you to do this on your own. I trust you, Princess. You’re the only one I fully trust.”
“You do...?” Ella whispered, unable to grasp what was happening currently. But… did he… love… her…?
“I love you,” he promised. “And I will love you forever... Even when I die I’ll love you.”
Tears built in Ella’s eyes, and she tried to hide her expression when Blake caught ahold of her chin, tilting it up to his gaze.
She just stared at him, feeling him gently run his thumb along her bottom lip, making her go insane with all the emotions that tumbled through her at the moment.
He just continued this gesture, creating a fire inside her... It burned her veins with acid and she wanted him to stop... To just get it over with...
And his voice entered her mind. Kiss you now?
Ella nodded, closing her eyes as Blake got closer, his lips mere centimeters away from hers. She tried waiting patiently, but he was purposely making her go insane, and she couldn’t take it anymore.
Ella grabbed Blake’s shirt and reeled him toward her, clashing their lips together.
He smiled against her, attempting to tease her, but she laced her fingers through his hair to make him stay in place, hoping that he wouldn’t let go... Not ever...
Blake slipped her lower lip into his mouth, gently nibbling her skin.
Ella let out a satisfied whimper, holding onto him as he continued to make her go mad.
He brushed kisses across her cheekbone and when he made it to her ear, he gently bit the lobe.
It was when he spoke, that his voice was low and husky... and Ella had never imagined it to make her insides catch flame like they did. “Isabella Magaroth...” Blake murmured, “I love you. Do you love me?”
His breath warmed her skin, his body burning hers with the heat of a thousand suns, and Ella didn’t feel a single sting of shock.
“Yes,” she said, unable to grasp a single emotion or feeling... She was burning with him... but the rain was freezing her as well... “Yes!”
Ella wrapped her legs around his waist as Blake pressed her to him, planting kisses down her neck, to her shoulder as she tried to hold back a moan.
“Do you want this?” he said softly. “If you don’t, tell me to stop.”
Ella didn’t know what she wanted. Everything in her life, the abuse, the pain and sorrow, all of it vanished with his heat. The reasoning... the part of her who was terrified... that vanished as well, and she found herself nodding. “Yes....”
“Tell me to stop now...” he said, “I won’t be able to if you don’t want this, Ella....”
“I want it....” She found herself shivering. Was it the rain or was it with desire? She couldn’t tell. She was burning inside, and he was driving her mad with all this hesitancy.
Blake nuzzled his face in her hair, mouthing every part of her neck as she shivered harder. And he went back up to her ear again. “Are you cold?”
There was something in his tone... Something dark... but it didn’t scare her in the slightest... it made her bite his neck.
Bite. His. Neck.
All the sudden, his wings sprouted from his back, catching Ella off guard and she flinched, burrowing her head in his shoulder.
Blake held her to him, attempting comfort. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Was she scared about that? Maybe a little part of her was... but there was a feeling nagging inside her... It was afraid that Ivy or Olivia would catch them... It made her jumpy and paranoid... but she really didn’t care...
This was Blake... her Blake... and she wanted to see his true self even if it terrified her.
He was her guardian Angel... He would never hurt her, right?
“Don’t look down.” He said that as if he knew she was afraid of heights... Well, he could read minds... so he probably did.
When Blake lifted off the ground, Ella pressed into him, tightening her legs around his waist as she felt the world falling under her.
“Relax,” he said softly. “You’re safe with me.”
Ella felt the wind blow against her as Blake flew across the sky, but the icy rain that patted on her skin was drowned out by his body heat.
They were only airborne for ten seconds, and Ella lifted her head as Blake landed on the balcony outside of his bedroom.
Her red hair stuck to her face, clothes clinging onto her body as he carried her inside his room.
Gently, he set her on the bed, pressing kisses to her temple, across her cheek bone, down her neck, and she let out a whimper, tugging on his shirt.
“Give it time,” he responded.
Ella felt her insides dancing, burning as he continued to press his flaming lips to her arms, heating up the cold skin until she felt she was boiling. And she let out another whine, pulling on his shirt.
Blake chuckled against her wrist. “You’re very impatient, Princess.”
“Why are you being so cruel?” Ella complained.
He only rolled his eyes. “Alright. Fine.”
Blake rolled over her, pressing his hands on each side of her head. He then straddled her hips, unclipping the cloak from her sternum, and letting the wet fabric rest under her.
When he looked up, he studied her gaze for a minute, and he leaned down onto his elbows, pressing his mouth to hers before he spoke.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised. “Never. I’ll never hurt you.”
“I know,” Ella responded. “It’s just... I don’t know... That you’re... a demon...? Please don’t take offense to that!” she added quickly. “I just... am afraid that you’ll get carried away... and make me bleed... like bite... or scratch... or something....”
“Princess,” he whispered, letting his thumb wipe away some water from her cheek, “I love you.”
“I know. I’m not saying that—”
“Let me finish,” Blake interrupted softly. “I love you. I would never hurt you, Sweetheart. And I mean never. If you want me to swear an oath to it, I will.”
“You really mean that?” Ella felt her own eyes glittering. “That you would make an oath?”
“Yes,” he promised. “Yes, of course. I would hate myself if I hurt you.”
She blinked, then looked down to his chest, quietly slipping her hands under the hem of his shirt. Gently, she lifted it over his head, and Blake threw it to the floor.
Ella stared at him for a moment, eyes wide with surprise. He definitely spent hours lifting weights and exercising. His body had rock hard abs and strong biceps that bulged out of his tan skin... No wonder he could hold himself over Ella without hurting her.
“Your turn?” Blake tilted his head to the side innocently.
“What if you don’t like me?” Ella whispered, suddenly wrapping her arms around herself as if she were embarrassed.
He left an assuring kiss on her cheek. “I’m sure you’re beautiful.”
Ella felt Blake unzip her dress from behind her back, pulling it down when she caught his wrists, panting. “Wait....”
“Are you okay?” he asked softly. “Do you not want this?”
“No...” Ella said. “I do... but... I’m scared....”
He gave her a soft smile, letting her hold his wrists so she could be given back some of her control. “What are you afraid of, Princess?”
“That... that... I... shouldn’t be doing this... What if I get punished later...? What if my stepmother gets angry and hurts me…? What if...” she dropped her voice below a whisper, “you leave me...?”
Blake leaned down, nuzzling his face in her neck as he gently nibbled the sensitive skin. Ella sucked in a breath, letting go of his wrists and grabbing onto his shoulders.
He smiled against her, taking the opportunity to let his hands skim down her arms, to the straps on her shoulders. When he started sliding the dress down, he felt her tense.
“It’s okay,” he murmured. “You’re okay, Princess.”
And he continued, letting the dress fall, and all that separated her from him was thin cotton underwear.
Ella’s eyes were shaded over with concern as Blake lifted his head and looked down at her.
He sucked in a long breath, making her tense.
It was a long moment before he spoke. “You’re so beautiful...” he let out, eyes glistening as he looked at her. Every scar, every freckle was exposed to him, and he looked at her like she was a gorgeous diamond.
“I...” Ella whispered, “I am...?”
“Look at you,” he said in astonishment. “You’re stunning.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
Blake looked in her eyes now. “Why would I lie about that?” He stared down at the thin cotton that wrapped around her waist, the last shield from him. “Can I?”
She nodded, and he took off the last articles of clothing both of them had, glancing at her every time, making sure she wasn’t afraid.
Both of them were bare now... Skin on skin... And Ella knew... that she had never been this close to someone in her entire life... That she would be under the Prince’s gaze... that someone like him wanted her... loved her...
Blake skimmed his hands down her sides, making her nails bite into his shoulders.
The burning... it was coming back... The desperate need for warmth... Ella felt bitterly cold... Like she was consumed in ice, and she pulled him down to her, and sucked in a breath as he started.
“You okay?” he whispered gently.
A nod.
And she wrapped her legs around his waist, desperate to get close. To drown in his fresh scent. To melt in his warmth.
Ella felt something new consume her... An emotion that lit like a flame... It was a mixture of anger, confusion, fear, and loss, and now it was being consumed with a high desire... and she couldn’t stop it from growing brighter.
With every touch... every kiss... every stroke... it became unbearable... and she felt like she was going to explode like a grassland that had a single ember drop onto it... It burned... but it didn’t hurt...
Brighter...
Ella felt her vision glow.
Stronger...
Her skin started burning.
Unbearable...
A light burst through the entire room, making Blake hold onto her as she burned like a flaming star... And she nuzzled her face into his neck as she muffled a cry, unable to grasp what was happening to her...
Faintly, she could hear him whispering. “It’s okay... It’s okay, Sweetheart... You’re okay....”
And then it was gone... and she relaxed into the bed, panting, unable to move as exhaustion overcame the desire.
“You’re safe, don’t worry.” Blake rolled off her and pulled her to him as she fell asleep in his arms, breathing softly in his chest. “I promise I’ll keep you safe, Princess…” he whispered as he pulled a blanket over her bare skin, lightly caressing her back in long, slow strokes.
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