Her Weakness

Chapter 32

After I agreed to a date, we were both so happy that we kissed without fear of getting caught. We only took a break when we heard Octavia's startled gasp. I pulled away to see both Clarke and her best friend had scarlet cheeks. Octavia cleared her throat and walked back out.

I rested my forehead against Clarke's and grinned like a fool. She pecked my lips again and held out her hand. I took it and she helped me down.

She led me to her room and kissed me gently one more time before saying, "I'll be back. Wait for me?"

I felt cheesy, but I still said what my heart told me, "Always."

It has been hours since then. I still have that smile on my face, but for once I refuse to hide my emotions. I occupy myself by reading some old yellow books she has on a shelf. There's one that looks untouched that I have never heard of. Something about many of shades of a color... I thought it would be an academic book I flip through it and flush, tossing it on the shelf. Why would anyone like such a book?

I am still blushing when Clarke returns. She pulls me up, taking great care not to cause me pain, and presses her lips against mine.

"What's wrong?" She asks when she pulls back to see my face.

"There was a book I thought was about colors and it was..." I shudder, unable to finish the thought.

Clarke studies me for a moment as though searching her memory for the book I speak of before bursting out laughing. "You picked up..." She giggles, not finishing her sentence.

"Who would read that horrid thing?"

"It was popular many years ago. I caught my mother reading it once and confiscated it. I was too disgusted to let her continue to read it once I realized what it was about."

Clarke shakes her head lightly and stands up. She truly is a gentlewoman; she helps me up once again. She leads me out the door.

"Where are we going?" I take her hand.

"To our date."

I am suddenly nervous. I have never been on a date before. I have messed up so many things in my life and our relationship is one I would prefer not to. Clarke, being the observant woman she is, notices my nerves.

"Don't worry," she kisses my cheek.

We are outside and her people notice her affectionate gesture and stare at us. I ignore their skeptical gazes and calm down at her words.

She takes me out of their encampment into a hidden cave in the woods. I recognize it from my soldiers' stories of it.

"You know this place?" She questions.

"It is a place where my warriors take their partners to have... privacy."

Clarke nods, amused at my discomfort at the fact. Not that I would not like to touch Clarke, I just do not want to move too fast and scare her away. Plus, I have never done anything like that before.

She leads me in and I stifle a gasp. There are candles everywhere and a clear space in the middle where there is food.

"Caught it myself," Clarke says proudly.

"This is extraordinary. Who knew that Clarke Griffin is a romantic?" I tease, pressing my lips to her cheek like she did to me moments before.

"I just read too much, Commander." She pauses and her eyes brighten. She goes over to the cleared space and picks up a tiny device. "Look what I found! It's an iPod or something. It plays music!" She presses a button and slow music streams out of it. Clarke holds out her hand once again. "Dance with me."

I shuffle my feet, feeling awkward and embarrassed. "I do not know how to dance. We usually just drink to celebrate our victories."

"That's okay. I don't really know how to dance, either. We can fail miserably together."

I take her hand and she pulls me in close. I recall something I read in one of her books earlier, "I read something about dancing."

"Really? Teach me."

It sounds oddly sensual and I swallow nervously before moving our limbs around until we are in the "waltzing" position. Her head rests on my shoulder and she sighs contently.

We sway and I cannot help the words that escape my lips. "I love you, Clarke."

She takes her head off of my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. I mentally prepare myself for rejection.

To my surprise, she says "I love you too, Lexa."