A SEA BETWEEN

Chapter 16: The return home

NOTE:

This chapter was meant to be posted earlier this week, but my laptop CRASHED and guess what I lost.. The concept for this chapter with 2500 words. In that version, Draco chases Mara in the castle as she bolts away from him and in that process they encounter Theo and Dante, confusedly staring after them. Theo asks Dante if they should not interfere, but Dante says they don't until Mara and Draco pass them a second time, this time running from the opposite side of the castle and Dante yells after them that they are being 'ridiculously' childish. Draco tells him to SHUT up and that point Dante has had it and orders Theo to both grab Mara and Draco and force them, kind of, to confess what they feel.

But since it would take too much to rewrite that scene I have decided to go with the quicker option, hence the following you're about to read. Do let me know if you would want that scene to occur for it would be fun to try and write it again.

I am trying to pick up the pace and head to part two, presumably around chapter 18, where I'll continue with where I left off in the first (Dante's wedding). I have started to read the Bridgerton novels which made me aware of the fact that I forgot to write about Mara having stockings and other things on, which was custom for that time, when she and Draco did it on the beach but... can't change that now.

Finally, I time jumped to a couple of centuries later since I wrote about the paper and the picture so sorry for the confusion. I know that press junkets were not a thing back then but hey since I am taking historical liberties might as well go ahead with it..

I am in a rush to head out so sorry for shite grammar as always I must likely do some editing after.

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She just stared there thinking she had misunderstood again. She must have. There was no other way; he couldn't have said what he had just said, and Mara's eyes blinked in confusion as her mind spun.

"P.. Pardon me" she uttered all the while staring at him in disbelief. He looked at her intently as he stepped forward, forcing her to take one back.

"Did I stutter?" he asked upon which she swallowed a lump in her throat. It had no effect on her current disposition though fore it felt like someone had cut off the circulation in her lungs and she couldn't breathe. He quirked an eyebrow at her; not understanding why she was acting so surprised. Draco had made it known the last time that he wanted to sleep with her again so why was she acting so shocked?

"We talked about this." he said with a quirked eyebrow and getting closer once more but this time stilling in front of her.

"No, we didn't." Mara shook her head and only God knows why she wouldn't move away from her anymore, perhaps she wanted to convey that she wasn't affected by his presence even though she clearly was.

"Yes, we did. I asked you if there would be another time remember? -". Draco reminded her with a mischievous glance in his eyes.

"Yes, but I never c-confirmed anything", Mara exclaimed with a shaky voice.

"You could confirm now" Draco retorted, and Mara's face went bright red which he found impossibly endearing.

"You okay? You are looking... a bit... flushed "he taunted with a smile.

"I... I am fine..." she ans wered while glaring at him for mocking her before internally trying to come up with what she should answer as her mind went blank. Draco decided it was time to be frank about what he wanted. As a prince he was used to getting his way, of course. Who would dare to say no to him but with Mara he wasn't so sure? In fact, he was positive she was going to deny him today, but he had to try for the truth was... by God did he want to make love to her again. If she had let him, he would have thrown her on the bed, and they'd be naked by now and she would have been under him.