458 A Goodbye?
Was he hiding? Declan stared at her with so many emotions in his eyes that he was sure did not exist in a demon that only knew depravity.
“What will I hide?” he asked with a laugh that sounded colder when she frowned.
“Then what happened here?” she asked after a pause as she looked at the charred building when he scoffed.
“The waiter was being rude and my mind was already a mess. I apologize but it just… happened!” he said with a sigh but she did not feel the guilt or regret in his voice.
“You mean.. You did this because you had an argument with a waiter?” The look of disbelief could not be any clear on her face but he feigned ignorance as he nodded his head.
“You could have just killed him. That is your style. You are not flashy to burn the whole building because of one person. Hazel is like that..!” she said with a nod making him speechless.
He had thought that she would be angry, appalled, confirming the fact that he was a monster that could not be trusted.
“You do not know me yet. As I said, I did it but no one was killed. Everyone left the building safely and I am ready to pay for all the expenses and compensation.” he offered when the men following the knight, the owner of the building nodded and came forward.
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“Ha! These are humans. Are you trying to price their life?” For some reason, she felt anger bubbling in her chest.
.....
He was trying to hide and there could only be one person crazy enough to burn such a large building that is full of humans.. Eve! But why was he protecting her?
“No! That is not true. This gentleman is right. No one was killed in the accident. I do not know why but when we were trying to run away, i felt that the accident happened in a very slow motion and the fire spread very slowly so that we all could run away easily even when it had started suddenly and covered the whole building at once. As if someone increased our speed or slowed the time.
It may sound foolish but no one is hurt and I am ready to go with compensation.” he came forward and looked at thek knights and Anne who gritted her teeth.
Declan took out a bag full of gold coins and passed it to the man who weighed it in his hands and his face filled with joy and relief as he left from there with a smile.
“Since there is no complaint. We can not take him with us.” said the knights as they looked at Anne with an awkward look.
Everyone knew that Hazel adored this woman and they did not want to go against such a woman but.. They could not go against law too.
“Leave then!” she said in an annoyed look but did not create trouble for them.
They were happy to oblige and left before she needed to ask again.
“Why are you saving her?” she asked when they both were alone. She was still staring at his face with a cold look on her face.
Her eyes were accusing them when his face hardened. He walked closer to her until there was only an inch left between them.
The smell of alcohol wafted into her nose and his soft breath caressed her skin.
“Why do you care? Did you not say that you will not keep any relationship with me? If i did not know any better, i would have thought that you are feeling jealous.”
“......” she paused when he looked at his eyes turning darker and turned to leave but he held her wrist and pulled her back to look at him.
“I love you Anne and I am already apologizing to you. If you want to punish me, then I am ready for it too but please.. Stop playing with my emotions. It is making me crazy and a crazy person can do anything.” he warned when her eyes flickered.
She tried to jerk him away but his grip was only together on her hands.
No. It had not been. He felt a stir of discomfort, too deep and unreachable to analyze, but strong enough to make him wish to push it away, or twist it into some more palatable emotion.
He pulled his hand free of hers and tipped up her chin. As he leaned down, her calm fractured; she tried to jerk away.
He gripped her arms ungently to hold her in place. The kiss was a lesson: she had no hope against a stronger opponent.
She smelled of lavender and soap, and her mouth was warm . . . She tried to clamp it shut. He bit her lower lip, then used her indrawn breath to push inside. Her tongue was startled, clumsy. Her shock tasted like barley and hops—some drinks at the tavern.
She quivered, a full-bodied tremor, as though in an icy wind. Resentment, hatred, could feel so much like bashfulness. He stroked deeper. Has anyone ever kissed her before? Her rigid grip on his shoulders, an impotent attempt to push him away, suddenly relaxed. For one moment, he felt the curiosity in her lips—fragile, groping, as easily ruined as encouraged.
Then she sagged, becoming a boneless burden in his arms. He was kissing clay.
He eased back, his triumph oddly hollow. He cupped her cheek, stroking to goad her. Her skin was impossibly soft.
Her cheeks felt hot. She was blushing. But she lifted her chin and stared him in the eyes. “Do you feel like a villain?” she asked. “Or do you require more?”
He flinched.
Was that how all she sees her now? Then the choice was clear.
“No, take it as a goodbye kiss from an ex lover. Since you hate me that much I did not find a reason to stay here and force you all the time. I am giving you the freedom and peace you desire.”