A Fairy Tale for Big Girls – 17. chapter

When he loosened the chain in the morning and stroked her calf, she jerked away from him. He looked at her in surprise, only to be met with her smile, her lips forcibly pressed together, her wrinkled nose, and little sparks of mischief in her eyes.

“Don’t scare me,” he smiled too and stepped closer for a kiss.

She stopped him with her palms against his chest.

“Why? Wouldn’t that serve you right?”

He did not answer. He merely returned to his side of the bed and threw his clothes on. While Lili dressed, he stood and watched her.

“You fell asleep on me yesterday,” he remarked.

“So what?” she snapped. “Surely you can survive a single day without it!”

Mark ran the tip of his tongue along his upper teeth and smirked.

She pretended not to notice and, ready by then, walked to the door.

“Are we going?”

Without answering, he crossed the room slowly toward her. By the time she noticed the strange look in his eyes, he was already there.

“Don’t you dare,” she warned, raising a finger.

He grabbed her and pinned her against the door. Hastily, he lifted her skirt and stepped between her legs.

“Mark, no, they’re waiting for us!” she cried.

He filled her mouth with his tongue and quickly unfastened his trousers. He did not stop kissing her. Lili began to cooperate unusually quickly. He lifted her small body, waited until she wrapped her thighs around his hips, and entered her…

“You’re insane,” she said, still breathing hard as she straightened her dress.

“About you,” he said, kissing her while fastening his trousers.

He planted another kiss on her cheek and opened the door.

When they sat at the table, Martin studied them both. Lili was flushed, Mark smiled contentedly as he chose his food.

“How was yesterday?” Martin began the social conversation.

“Fantastic,” Mark replied, taking Lili’s hand from where it rested on the table with a loving look. She returned his smile.

“So she didn’t run off on you,” Martin teased.

“That won’t happen again,” Mark answered with confidence and released Lili’s hand to eat.

“Oh!” Lili exclaimed with a playful, challenging smile. “Funny, I didn’t know that! You’re awfully sure of yourself,” she teased him playfully.

“If I truly wished it, I could put an end to that very quickly,” he replied, smiling.

She narrowed her eyes.

“How?”

He gave her a brazen grin.

“I would have you swear to love, honor, and obey me.”

Martin realized that this obvious proposal of marriage did not actually surprise him. He only watched Lili freeze as Mark added,

“You would be a beautiful queen.”

“Well,” Martin interrupted, “Lili could not actually be queen. The highest title we could grant her, in the event of your marriage, would be duchess.”

Lili finally took a breath and smiled.

“Mark, I will not marry you,” she said, considering her word final, and looked around at the dishes on the table.

Mark lifted a plate of grapes and handed it to her.

“Unless some piece of information from you makes you a free person, you are still my property. You will do as I want.”

Lili took the plate and set it before her.

“You cannot force me to say yes before a priest,” she said seriously.

Martin wisely fell silent and watched as the air between them thickened.

“You would be surprised how persuasive I can be,” Mark answered with confidence, now without a smile.

“I will not marry you. You will not force me,” Lili growled, stressing every word.

Mark realized with immense irritation that the captive thief had not only refused the king’s offer of marriage, but was also behaving particularly insolently. Angrily, he turned his gaze back to his food and warned,

“Lili, watch your tone.”

For him, the matter was closed.

For Lili, it was not. Anger rose into her face, and she clenched both hands into fists.

“I will not watch my tone,” she raised her voice.

Mark turned to her slowly, in disbelief, and Martin whispered,

“Lili, please, for your own sake, stop!”

“I will not!” she shouted, loud enough that several guests turned their heads toward her.

All expression vanished from Mark’s face. He straightened his back, lifted his head, and fixed his gaze straight ahead.

“You will not do as you please!” Lili shouted, gripping the edge of the table.

Mark realized what she wanted to do and, without moving at all, quietly growled,

“Don’t you dare stand up.”

At that moment, Lili shot to her feet.

“I will get up whenever I want!” she screamed furiously.

A deathly silence fell over the hall. Every head turned toward the main table. Mark took his fork with a stone face.

“You will not do as you please!” Lili shouted again.

Mark calmly placed a bite in his mouth and found the eyes of two guards, who, just like everyone else, were staring at him and waiting to see what he would do. Looking at them, he gave a slight nod toward Lili. Both men immediately moved toward her.

Lili turned first to them, then back to Mark.

“You cannot be serious! Don’t you dare set your guards on me!” she sounded hysterical.

By then, the armored men had reached her. Each grabbed her by one wrist and under the arm.

“You arrogant bastard!” the insult rang through the hall.

The muscles in Mark’s jaw shifted as he clenched his teeth.

Slowly, he set his fork down and picked up his napkin. He pressed it lightly to his lips a few times, set it down, and stood. Everyone present immediately rose as well, and Mark headed for the exit. Passing Lili, he did not look at her. With his head still held high, he gestured to the men, who immediately moved and dragged Lili a few steps behind him, all the way to his room.