Her heart would not stop beating, fire raced in her blood as she thought of him licking honey off of her skin. She thought back of how close they have always been and how long he has been in her life. Why did she have to develop feelings for him now? Why couldn't she see him before Su-won betrayed her and her father? Although, he was sarcastic, she could not deny that he was handsome, strong, and loyal. His mouth on skin flashed through his head once again as she laid down on her cot but piercing blue eyes flashed through her mind. Sitting up, she glanced at Yun who was sleeping next her. Moving quietly so she wouldn't wake him, she left the tent. She glanced at the sleeping form of Hak and the Dragons outside around the tent protecting her and Yun. She smiled before moving out into the wilderness to try to get her mind straight.

As she wandered through the trees, she moved until she was away from the campsite. Once alone, she leaned against a tree as she tried to keep her heart and body under control. She could suddenly sense him and she knew he was close. Of course he had followed her, he was her bodyguard and he took it very seriously. She felt safe with him around her but she also felt on guard and nervous. She thought back to the past few years since her father was murdered by Su-won. Silly things such as her hair and clothing no longer held any interest to her but instead she was worried and fought for her people.

"Princess." He said with a gentle question in his voice as he approached her.

She looked up as the object of her thoughts moved closer to her. His piercing blue eyes, messy black hair that hung down around his chiseled face, his broad shoulders and sexy body. Sexy? Yona glanced to the side, as she was sure her face flushed but she hoped it was dark enough he couldn't see it. He would tease her and never let her live it down.

At her silence and reaction to his nearness, he reached down to touch her face, most likely to ensure she wasn't ill.

"Don't touch me!" She hissed as she flinched back from him. If he touched her, she would want him more and there was no telling what she would do or say. She saw Hak flinch back from her as though she slapped him.

"I'm sorry, Hak" She said as she tried to smile at him but her heart was beating too quickly making it hard for her to think.

Hak look at her with concern. He had loved her since childhood but he felt as though something in her changed towards him. Part of him hated Jaeha for making him realize it but it was something he always knew and would have to deal with regardless. She would never have feelings for him and he needed to keep his under control. He still couldn't believe that he licked honey off of her skin and he slammed her against the wall trying to keep her safe. He breathed out and realized he had to get away from her in order to ensure he kept her safe from him.

"I'll just be over there" he said with no infliction to his inner turmoil and pointed to some random spot. He turned away but stopped as he felt her hand come up to grip his overcoat. He paused and looked down at her but all he could see was the crimson hair as her face was bowed hiding her expression.

"Something you needed or did you just grab me for fun." He said with his normal sarcastic wit.

"Hak" She whispered. When he had turned to move away something in her snapped and she reached out to grab him. At his comment, she felt her cheeks match her hair but she didn't know what to say or do. She just didn't know if she could continue acting as though they were only friends. Her mind flashed back to a few years ago when she said she loved him when he protected her as part of a ruse. She wondered if it was true that she did love him at the time. Her feelings of love have definitely grown as he tried so hard to protect her and had almost died several times in the process. She would never forgot as he crushed her to him multiple times and she could feel his strength and his rock hard body. Despite his strength, he was always gentle with her, never holding her too tight

She kept her hand on him as she moved closer to him. Her friend, her body guard, a man who wasn't afraid to pick her up, slam her against the wall, who was gentle with her after her father was murdered but who was also unyielding when he needed to be.

He remained quiet as he watched her, uncertain and hopeful at the same time. She always kept him off guard and he never knew what was going through that beautiful head of hers but recently, he tried to limit how much alone time he spent with her. He didn't want to overstep his bounds and he could still hear her yell stop it as he ran his tongue slowly over her hand. His heart beat quickly as he felt her hand on his clothes but he pushed any thoughts of kissing or touching her aside. No, he was her bodyguard and that was all.

"Princess." Yona glanced up into his face, his wary blue eyes not quite meeting hers, his body tense. She had no idea what to say or how to initiate her emotions towards Hak plus she was afraid that she would lose him or he would tease her mercilessly.

Yona stared up into his face and after a second, his gaze moved and met hers. She gasped as she stared into his blue eyes, her heart beating quickly.

"Hak." She whispered, a blush on her face as she stared up into his beloved face. She had no idea when her feelings turned towards love but she only knew they have and that she didn't want to only be a friend anymore. She wanted more, she had to try something.

Hak met and was held by the violet eyes of the Princess. His heart beat faster as she moved to grip his sleeve and he could see the stark want in her eyes.

"Princess…I…" he started but he wasn't sure what to say. He had tried to kiss her before but she butted heads with him, literally. He smiled slightly at the memory but frowned as he seemed rooted the spot. Light glinted off her crimson hair and lit up her violet eyes. He couldn't move to save his life.

"Yona. When it is just us two, I want you to call me by my name." She saw his eyes widen as they have so many times when she said something like that to him. She moved her hand to grip the front of his robe as she stared up determinedly into his face. She could do this.

"Princess, do you really want this?" He asked quietly as suddenly Yona felt him grab her hand and twirl her around until her back was against a tree and he leaned towards her, his weight against her as he leaned on an elbow above her head. It took her a second to raise her eyes to Hak's face. His expression was guarded but he had a smirk on his face. He reached down to grip her chin, keeping her face still "Maybe if you were a sexier, I would consider it." He said as he gave her a smile and he went to stand back but froze as her hand came up to grip his robe again. He flashed back to when he tried leaving her with the Wind Clan that she said to stay by her side forever. His heartbeat was fast then and it was beating faster now as she stared up into his eyes.

"I may not be sexy but that doesn't matter. I want you, Hak."

He blinked at the admission, his smile growing as he leaned down closer to her, trying to stay aloof. "Oh you do huh? What is that supposed to mean?"

She blushed but her eyes lit up with more determination as she raised her head and pushed her lips against his.

Hak was trying to get a rise out of her so she would get angry and return with some type of retort letting him back away but she refused too do as he wanted. He felt fire rush into his veins as her inexperienced lips met his. They were soft, inexperienced and chapped but they were hers. The woman whom he has loved for so long was kissing him. He hands found her way to her hips as he continued to kiss her, never truly giving into this desire as he was unsure if he could control himself.

Yona gasped as he deepened the kiss and she could feel his hands on her hips. She moved her hands to wrap around his neck and bring him closer to her. His hands moved from her hips to one around her back and another to between her shoulder blades pushing her closer to him. She moaned as she tightened her arms around his neck trying to get as close as to him as possible.

She felt herself being pushed back gently and she opened her eyes and met Hak's brilliant blue eyes. She gasped as they had darkened to a navy blue so dark they almost looked black with the desire, need and want clear in them.

"Hak." She whispered as she reached a hand to his cheek but he moved to grip her hand.

"Princess…what was that?"

She blushed but firmly met his eyes, "A kiss, obviously." She said as she rolled her eyes but gripped his hand.

Hak could see what she wanted in her eyes. He closed for a second in order to try to calm his blood but also to try to erase the look of desire and passion in her face. Her violet eyes that took up the majority of her face stared deeply into his navy blue eyes. He breathed in deeply, opened his eyes and took a few steps back.

"Princess.."

"Yona!" She interrupted, her eyes narrowing with a face of determination.

"Princess." He said again more firmly as he crossed her arms.

She narrowed her eyes as she glared up at him. She took a step closer to him and saw him warily watch her and step back. She kept following him until he backed up into a tree. He looked behind him at the tree and by the time he turned back she had closed the distance.

Putting a hand to his head, he ran it through his messy hair. He needed to get away now before he did something he regretted.

"Do you not feel it, Hak? Do you not feel anything for me?" She asked quietly as she looked down.

"Princess..I do but I am a commoner. You need to save yourself for when you claim the throne…" he broke off as he glanced down and met her eyes. Fire burned in them as she stared at him. "Why are you so angry?" He asked after a moment as he could feel the angry waves washing off of her

"So that's what you think of me? That I would…you know..do things with you and then marry someone else?" Her voice was quiet with anger as she stared daggers at him.

"I didn't meant it that way but you are a Princess and you will need to marry a Prince."

"I will marry who I choose, Hak. No one will be able to make me do anything I don't want to do again. That time has passed." She reached out and placed a hand on his chest. "You don't have to protect me all time."

"It is my duty to protect you, Princess even if it is to protect you from me."

She felt anger and frustration boil inside of her. She understood why he was trying to protect her but she refused to allow it to stand in her path blocking her from being with the one she loved. She also refused to push Hak into doing something he wasn't ready for or something he didn't want to do. She sighed and placed a hand on his chest over his heart. She gasped as she could feel his heart pounding. She never would have guessed it based off his face and voice but there was no doubt that she affected him. She moved closer to him as her hand slipped inside of his robes so she could feel his heart without the burden of his robes.

"Princess…" Hak whispered as she started moving her hand over his chest. She started moved the robe out of her way, push it off his shoulders so she could touch all of him. He couldn't push her away although he knew he should as he felt her hands gliding over him. His heart wouldn't stop pounding as she touched him intimately.

Yona doesn't know why she reached out and touched him but she couldn't stop. His skin was smooth and hot with raised ridges of scars that he earned in battle. She glanced up at his face and paused her exploration. His eyes were half lidded, his hands clenched at his sides, his jaw clenched but desire was starkly visible in his blue eyes. He was fighting it because he was trying to do what's best for her. She could feel the muscles in his chest, but she could also feel him trembling as he tried to hold himself in check. If she didn't love him before, she would have fallen him right then. He would clearly deny himself what he wanted because he put her first.

Hak breathed in and moved his hands once again to her hips. He wasn't sure if he wanted to move her away or closer to him.

"Take off you clothes." Yona whispered.

His eyes widened as he glanced at her eyes to see if she was joking but the look in her eyes told him that she was serious.

"Princess…I" She reached up and kissed him, her hands moving to his back, caressing, touching and squeezing. He felt like she was burning and branding him with her touch. He groaned and kissed her passionately, his tongue finding it's way into her mouth when she gasped. Yona could not stop moving. She was panting, moaning, her hands gripping his back, her nails digging into his skin as she tried to push him as close to her as possible. Molten lava was flowing through her veins pulsing at the center of her. She wanted him with every breath in her body. He responded more this time, his tongue tasting her as she responded in kind, following his head. She realized that his caution was cracking. His hands gripped her hips tightly, moving her as close to him as possible.

She knew deep in heart that she wanted to be with him forever. She knew he was worried that she would have choose another man because she was a Princess but she would never choose another man. She only wanted Hak! She had to push him back eventually so she could breathe, her breath coming out heavily in pants.

He moved back a step and laid his head against Yona's. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it was about to leap out of his chest and desire was overcoming his good sense. He was starting to lose his determination and his control. He wanted this with every part of his being and although he was tired of resisting, he knew it was what was best for her.

"Prin.."

"Yona!"

He sighed and smiled slightly at her although she couldn't see it. "Princess….what are you doing?"

She pushed him away gently until she could look up in his eyes. 'Ever since you licked my hand, I can't get you out of my head. I want you in everyway, Hak!' flashed through her head but she couldn't say that because he would tease her. "Hak.." She said gently as she moved her hands to once again grip his robes. One side was off his shoulder and she could see his chest as the moonlight shown down outlining his body.

"You're affected too!" She said almost sounding accusingly.

"Affected or not, it is not my place to act on my feelings."

Yona's head came up, staring in his face. "Feelings?"

Hak sighed and glance down at her violet eyes before blurting out "I…like you but it doesn't matter."

Yona blinked, her heart racing with excitement. "Hak…I…"

He shook his head. "You don't have to say anything in response. I don't expect anything and since I am a commoner, we cannot do anything else." He reached down and gently kissed her on the cheek but as he moved away, she gripped his robe, moved her head and kissed him again as passionately as he had kissed her. His mouth moved gently over hers, trying to tamper the kiss before trying to move back but she moved her arms around his neck trying to prolong kissing him. She wanted to put into the kiss what she couldn't say out loud and she wanted him to feel how much she wanted him. It wasn't until she was panting again that she pulled away. She blinked in surprise as she realized he was panting heavily too, his hands clenched at his sides, his head bowed, his beautiful blue eyes close and his body trembling. He was holding himself back. She wish that she knew more about men and she could say something that would get through to him regarding their status and positions and that none of it mattered to her. She only wanted him.

He reached up and gently removed her arms from his neck before stepping around the tree then running full ahead towards the lake and jumping in. Yona watched him shocked. She could feel tears in her eyes as she felt even more confused and needy than before but now she felt rejected. Before she could get truly down, she thought of him panting, his blue eyes blazing with desire and need and slowly smiled to herself. Hak was affected by their kissing and for now that was enough.