Chapter 26: Forbidden Fruit

It was not long before I heard the leaves crunched behind me as I sat there on on the forest floor, on
my knees, crying my heart out- telling me that someone was behind me.

Thinking that it was Kristoff, I didn't turn around and neither removed my hands from my face which
was soaked with my tears and probably all red.

"Go away, Kristoff.

Leave me alone."

"It would be hard for him to do so, when he is not here."

His deep voice slid over me like a warm blanket as I sat there on my knees, frozen.

My heart started beating furiously and I wanted to run away, to hide from him or to stand up and slap
his stupidly beautiful face.

"Go away."

I hissed out.

1 His footsteps drew closer and then his cinnamon scent engulfed as I felt him come close.

A moment later, rough fingers curled around my wrists and he pulled my hands down.

I didn't want to open my eyes but when I felt his fingers wiping my cheeks off the tears, my eyelids
fluttered open and I saw him crouching low in front of me looking so handsome with his dark grey eyes
that resembled a rainy sky locked on me.

"Why are you here?"



I asked him, my voice threadbare with tears.

"I saw you crying."

"And? Why would it matter to you?"

I demanded pushing his hands away.

I stumbled to my feet and said, "I am just a little girl, right?"

I turned around from him then, unable to look at him any longer as all I could think about was how I
longed to have him see me as something more than just a little girl, to have his arms around me and
tell me that I mattered.

But for the second time his strong fingers wrapped around my arm as he stopped me from taking
another step away from him.

"Release me."

I said through clenched teeth trying hard to control my emotions, to not yell at him for not loving me
back.

"Elsa—"

"Why don't you go back to that woman you were with? She is your type, right?"

I felt my heart squeezing painfully as I said the words, "Go back to her.

Don't worry about me, I understand that I'm just a little girl, a daughter of a servant in your home, not
someone you'd ever be with."

1 He let out a curse and then he was in front of me, his hands cupping my face.



"You think it's your fucking financial status that's stopping me?"

"What else could it be? I am the poor girl from the wrong side of the town.

You would rather help me, avenge me, than date me!"

I pushed at his chest, the stupid tears once again coming down in rivulets.

"I am not good enough for you.

Not rich enough.

Not beautiful enough.

Just not enough! Just a little girl that you think has a crush on you!"

With a curse and a deep growl Kristian slammed his fist into the nearest tree trunk.

I gasped and then cried out when hit it not just once but twice before I caught his hand and stopped
him.

He dropped his hand and I saw how his already bruised knuckles that hadn't healed completely, once
again split up and started to bleed.

"What did you do!"

I snatched his hand up and looked down at the mess he had made of his hand.

His uninjured hand came to cup the side of my face and with his thumb he tilted my chin up so he could
look into my eyes.

He said, "Little girl,"



I stiffened.

He brushed his thumb on my bottom lip and said, "You think that you are not enough… But, nothing
could be farther from the truth.

Or the opposite.

Since the moment I have talked to you I can't get enough of you.

You are the first ray of sunshine in my dark and miserable life.

It's not you, little girl… You are everything that I want but can't have.

It's the fûcking joke the man upstairs is playing with me by sending you here.

You are the apple and I am so fûcking hungry every time I look at you…"

"Kristian…"

"Shh…"

He leaned closer, his fingers swiping under my eyes as he said, "Can't you see it?"

He didn't wait for me to answer as he continued, "I am so much older than you.

We can't, little girl.

Even if I wanted to, I can't do this to you.

It would ruin your life.

People will talk about you and your character.



They would make your life hell and I would have to kill every single one of them because of it."

His fingers shook on my cheek as he said, "And besides all that, you don't deserve a man like me.

A man who would bring his darkness and demons with him.

You are like a fucking sun and I don't want to eclipse your light."

1 "Doesn't it matter to you what I want?"

I asked, grabbing his wrist and holding his palm to my cheek.

"I don't care about anything.

I just want to be with you."

He shook his head but I didn't give him a chance to speak as I said, "I don't care what people will say, I
don't care how it will look.

I don't care about your darkness and your demons, all I care about is you.

I want to be the one to bring you light, I want to sit with you and share your darkness.

And I want to be with you so I could fight your demons with you.

I want you."

"You are so innocent, my little girl.

And I don't want to be the one who ruins you."

"What about what I want!"



I yelled.

I grabbed his neck and pulled him close, our lips just mere inches away from each other's.

I said, "Kristian, please…"

I didn't know what to say to convince him.

"I love you…"

His jaw clenched and his lips pressed in a thin line as he gritted out, "You don't know what you are
talking about."

"I love you enough that I'm throwing caution to the wind, that I don't care about the repercussions and if
you want me too you'd do the same."

He closed his eyes as if it pained him.

He said, "You are forbidden fûcking fruit, little girl.

Why are you not understanding it?"

I stood back from him, feeling my heart aching as I said, "If that's what you would rather do.

If you want to stay away from me then I will remain away from you.

I know you've been intentionally keeping your distance, you don't have to do that.

This is your house and you shouldn't be not able to go to your shed or walk in your forest because of
me.



You don't have to worry about coming across me as now I will make sure you don't have to see me
unless it can't be helped."

I turned away from him.

My feet felt heavy with dozens of weights as I started walking.

"Will you wait?"

I paused but didn't turn around as I asked, "For what?"

"For me."

"I don't understand."

He moved and came closer.

"You can't always be forbidden."

I swallowed, goosebumps rising on my arms as the meaning behind his words registered.

"Do you mean—"

I shook my head and asked, "Will you?"

I felt his forehead dropping on my shoulder and he whispered in a deep breath, "Forever."

2 My heart gave a joyful squeeze and I asked, "You won't ignore me anymore?"

"I never ignored you, little girl.

Like I said, you are the sun and I'm a mere planet revolving around you."



"We can continue our midnight walks?"

"Yes."

"Our conversation and alone time in the shed?"

"Yes."

"Will you hold my hand?".

"If you want."

"I do."

Strong and rough fingers slid against my palm, weaved through my small fingers and curled into a fist.

I licked my lips, my stomach tense with nerves as I asked, "Will you… Will you kiss me?"

He pulled our hands up and I felt his lips pressing against the back of my hand.

"I didn't mean that."

I heard him let out a shaky breath.

"We can't."

"It's just a kiss."

"It wouldn't be."

"Please…"

"Little girl…"



I turned around and it put us in half embrace because he was so close.

I looked up at him and said, "I won't ask for anything else, Kristian.

Please."

He believed my lie and gave into my demands.

He kissed me like he couldn't get enough and I kissed him back the way any girl would do when she
got the man she loved.

With abandonment and desperation that I couldn't contain.

With adoration, that I didn't hide.


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