Freya went straight into her room, her mind in a mess. This wasn’t how she wanted her relationship with Rowan to go. She had clearly come to Eridor because... because...
"Freya!" Her father’s voice jolted her back to reality.
Louis carried a tray of food with a smile on his face. "I made food for you. Here, go ahead and eat in your room."
Freya took the plate, realizing that her father must have heard about what happened the previous night since it had become a case in the royal court.
"Pa, I-"
Louis shook his head, stopping her from saying anything. "You don’t have to explain. It’s okay. I understand why you didn’t come to me first. There was little I could have done to help. Rowan was the best option."
Freya looked down at the food on the plate, then raised her eyes to look at her father. She hadn’t noticed it before, but her father was starting to age. It was evident in the roughness of his hands and his hair, now entirely gray.
"Pa... I’m sorry for always making you worry."
"You don’t need to be sorry," Louis smiled. "I’m happy to see you’re growing up fine, just like others. I was worried you’d be different because your mother wasn’t here to teach you some things you should know as a lady."
Louis sighed. "Freya, also try to be nice to Rowan. He’s been nothing but good to you and me. Even if you don’t like him, be nice to him."
Freya cleared her throat, holding the plate tightly. "I should go inside now, Pa. Take some rest, and don’t work too hard." She turned and entered her room.
She was beginning to worry about the feelings she was having for Rowan. It wasn’t because she loved him; she wouldn’t call it love. All she wanted was for him to touch her and ease the feeling she felt below her stomach. Freya didn’t know why she thought that only Rowan could do that for her.
Placing the plate of food on her table, she removed her gown, now wearing her smaller inner garment, when she heard a soft knock on her door.
"Who is it?" There was no response. Thinking it was her father, Freya walked to the door. "Pa, I told you I’m fine. I don’t need to be nice to-Rowan?"
Rowan stood in front of the door with a grin on his face. After seeing the fire burning in the girl’s eyes, he couldn’t just let her go like that. He needed to show her exactly what she was missing by not letting him have her. Even if it meant playing dirty, he was going to do it.
"What are you doing here?" Freya asked, using her hand to cover her bare shoulder.
Rowan’s eyes moved from the flimsy dress she was wearing up to her eyes. Then he raised his hand, holding a towel. "I came to bathe. My bathroom is not fixed yet, remember?" Though it was all a lie since the Crown Prince later had the servants fix the bathroom, Freya didn’t know that.
"And you want to bathe here?" Freya asked, and Rowan nodded with an innocent look. "B-but... how did you bathe last night?"
Rowan took a step forward, and Freya moved back, which allowed him to enter the room and lock the door with a soft click that made Freya’s heart jump.
"How did you know I had my bath last night?"
Freya touched her neck. "I mean after what ha-" She paused, realizing that they hadn’t discussed what she saw. Bringing it up now was going to be a bad idea.
"You can use the bathroom," she said, clearing her throat and going to sit on her bed as if she didn’t care.
Rowan’s lips pulled up, but he didn’t smile. Walking towards the bathroom, he removed his shirt and quickly poured water over his body.
Freya, who was pretending to be busy with her food, swallowed hard when she heard the water hit the bathroom floor, letting her know that Rowan was now bathing. She pinned her eyes on her plate, trying not to look elsewhere. Freya didn’t know why, but it felt as though the room had suddenly become very hot. She stood up from her bed, going to open the curtains so the morning breeze could rush inside.
As she passed the bathroom, she could still hear the sound of dripping water, but she didn’t dare to turn, despite the urge to look. When she reached the big curtain, she tried to push it to the side, but it was too heavy for her, so she had to stand on her toes.
"Let me help you," Rowan’s voice came from behind. Without waiting for Freya to reply, he stood behind her and pushed the curtain to the side.
Freya quickly turned, and when she did, she was torn between being grateful for witnessing such beauty and feeling guilty because it fueled the heat that coursed through her veins. Seeing Rowan shirtless and covered in water gave her body a strange feeling.
"Y-you didn’t have to..." Freya stuttered, her eyes fixated on the small nipples on Rowan’s chest. For some reason, Freya felt like putting her lips on them.
Rowan let out a low hum, making his chest vibrate. He knew the girl was already burning with desire for him to touch her and finally hold her. "What you saw... did you enjoy it?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
"Hm?" Freya asked, raising her face to look at Rowan.
Rowan smirked, raising Freya’s hand and placing it on his chest. He asked again, "What you saw me doing with that woman... do you want it?"
The young girl turned her face away, avoiding his gaze. Freya felt a familiar heat building up between her legs.
"Look at me and say the word... beg me to give you the release your body craves," Rowan’s words were more like a command, his grin growing wider as he pushed her chin forward with his large palm. His free hand mindlessly reached for the small rope in front of Freya’s dress.
Freya’s breath hitched when Rowan’s fingers grazed her breast. She squeezed her legs together again. Her toes curled, and she wanted him. But she didn’t want to look like an easy girl; after rejecting him in front of everyone, admitting that her body now craved him felt shameless.
"Why should I?" she replied, her voice firm. "It’s men who beg women, not the other way around." Freya tried to maintain the last bit of her dignity.
Rowan chuckled, shaking his head. "Not in your case. I offered it to you the first time, and you rejected it. If you want it now, you’ll have to earn it. You’ll have to beg me to really take you." His hand that was on the rope slowly moved down, and with ease, he slipped it inside her dress, cupping her breast with his large palm.
"Wha-" Before Freya could retort, he leaned forward and captured her lips with his mouth. The kiss was rough and filled with passion, his tongue claiming Freya’s as he stole the girl’s breath while his hand pressed her delicate nipples.
Freya, not knowing what to do with her hands, held Rowan closely. With her eyes closed, she let herself go with the kiss.
When Rowan pulled back, his eyes were even darker than usual. His black hair fell over his face as he moved his lips close to Freya’s neck, giving her a small bite that made her wince before he squeezed her breast one more time.
"There... that is just a taste. You have until tomorrow night to give me an answer. Otherwise, I’ll take it that you don’t actually want me... but I know you do, Freya... I know you want me to take you... Quit living in denial." Rowan’s low voice fell on Freya’s ears, causing her to shudder helplessly at the sound of his voice.
With a small smile, he pecked her on her lips. "The clock is ticking, bunny. Don’t keep me waiting," he said, grabbing his shirt and leaving the room.
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