Chapter 23: Admitted to desiring her
Regaining her senses, Belle’s eyes widened in shock as she recognized the intruder, and she instinctively recoiled, clutching the duvet to her chest in an attempt to shield herself.
"I knew you would be pleased to see me," he said, settling on the edge of the bed with a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"What are you doing here? How did you enter my room? I definitely locked the door," she demanded, glaring at him, her heart racing from the violation of her privacy.
"Someone left the window open," he said casually, gesturing toward it. Belle hissed in frustration, cursing herself for instructing the handmaiden to leave the windows open. Why had she left it open tonight of all nights, when he happened to be lurking about?
"You didn’t come," he remarked when she said nothing.
"I never promised to come. Besides, I am the King’s woman. What would it look like for me to be seen with another man in such a private place? As I mentioned, there are countless ways to..." she began, attempting to rise from the bed, only for him to suddenly grasp her leg, forcing her back down, and hovering over her.
"Quinn, let me go now! We could be caught!" she cried, struggling against his weight, her voice trembling with both fear and anger. He pinned her legs beneath his and held her hands firmly above her head.
His eyes traced her body slowly, moving from her neck to her chest, and a wicked smirk crossed his face as he noticed her nipples, now visible beneath the thin fabric of her nightgown. He felt a surge of triumph as he saw she wore no underwear.
"How delightful it is to see you without anything beneath that gown," he murmured, his gaze sweeping over her body as he let it linger lower, coming to a halt as he stared at her exposed core.