Chapter 2
Ben Finn's POV:
I followed Grace toward one of the only buildings in the fort, letting my eyes wander lower as I watched her sway in front of me. She was positively breathtaking, but I knew she might just blow my head off if I said so at the moment, she was right miffed at me. Couldn't she get it through that pretty little head that I didn't do anything bad?
My eyes adjusted to the darker light of the brigade's armory as she turned to me from closing the door. She crossed her arms and gave me a look of anger, she was gorgeous even when she was pissed. I raised an eyebrow as she stalked toward me, before shoving me against the far wall and pinning my hands on either side of my head.
Under other circumstances this would have been enough for a great moment, but I felt myself beginning to return the glare she gave me "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I raised my voice slightly, staring at her dead on. I'm not gonna lie, one of my many faults is how quickly I seem to get into fights, not exactly a gift.
"Giving you what you deserve you bloody buggar!" She slapped me across the face and I growled under my breath at the pain, holding a hand to the painful sensation. Despite the sting now occupying my cheek I was surprise to hear this royal use such insults, I expected something much more pristine from her.
"What in the blazes was that for?!" Both our voices were rising as we stood across from each other, gazes locked. She backed up slightly as I retorted to her little slap, I would bet money she'd never been spoken to like that before, but I have to give her credit: She was quick to regain her stoney glare and retaliate.
"What do you think, you daft bloke? Why did I wake up without a shirt in your bed last night?" Her voice had softened, but held the same intensity as her eyes. She was keeping her voice down as not to let the men know what we were talking about, and I did the same.
"I couldn't just let you wander into the dark now could I? The men would have happily picked you up and used you in ways you wouldn't have appreciated in the morning" I huffed, lowering my brow as a flicker of confusion came to the Princess's face before she regained a look of rage and annoyance. It was true though, the soldiers were good men, but not even a saint could resist Grace, so I surprised me when I found the will to not do what anyone else would.
"Like you didn't try to do just that" her small nose twitched in the beginnings of a sneer, and I mentally kicked myself for finding it so adorable.
I let out a laugh at her accusation "If anything you threw yourself at me, I remember having to fight you to keep your pants on" her eyes narrowed and I knew she didn't believe me, so I carried on "You called me 'fetching' more than once, love"
Sudden realization was all too apparent on her face and I knew I'd won our little argument. To my surprise though, she didn't give in and her glare quickly returned. Her back straightened and she sized me up before those soft grey-green eyes met mine, ready to get back to the argument with new tactics.
"You could've brought me to Walter" she hissed "He would've taken care of me"
"I'm pretty sure that would have made drunk you rather upset, and I didn't need a crying and wasted Princess"
She breathed out through her nose loudly, clenching her fists tightly with each small movement "I'd sooner be happy to bed a hobbe"
"Well I'm not a hobbe now am I?" Not my best move, I admit, but I couldn't help a cheeky grin spread across my face. She let out a groan and turned on her heel, storming back out the door.
I saw her stopped by Walter outside the door and after a moment of conversation his eyes flicked to me with growing unhappiness. I wasn't in the least bit scared when talking to the Princess, but I was now uneasy as the large man strode into the building and shut the door behind him, I knew how protective he was of Grace.
"What the hell were you doing last night Ben?" He was getting impatient and I knew it, but a smile found its way to me despite how upset Walter was.
"She couldn't keep her hands off me old man, but I promise I didn't do the same" he was comforted by my words and sighed, glad he believed the truth. He sat in a chair beside one of the tables that was scattered with weapons, leaning on the table with one hand as I slid into a chair across from him.
"You know she won't forget this?" His eyes met mine with an almost pitied look, like I was gonna regret my actions. I nodded "Good, because she'll be awfully angry at you for Avo knows how long"
I smirked "Well I'm a rather charming soldier" he let out a chuckle as he shook his head and stood, causing my smile to grow "Maybe I can change that"
