The Heir and her Guard

Chapter 14

Max's heart leapt, but her usual confidence immediately found it's way back into her body, allowing it to deal with her urges.

She leaned in, one hand on her cheek and the other still on Jane's hand as their lips met. She smiled at the tiny sound Jane made, and her fingertips slowly went up to her soft hair. The Princess' free hand went to rest on Max's strong shoulders, and she was now certain of one thing.

Jane didn't want to be with anyone else, this is why she never took a romantic liking to any of the bachelors. Max is the one she wants.

Max was close to melting in Jane's touch, close to finally allowing her heart to do what it's yearned for, for multiple weeks now. She reluctantly pulled away to get air and she felt Jane chasing after her lips. She smiled but as she slowly opened her eyes realisation hit her.

She had just kissed her.

Immediately she pulled her hands away, and Jane looked at her with confused eyes.

"I shouldn't have done that." Max said, reaching her hand up to touch her lips. "I shouldn't have done that." She repeated, in complete shock.
"What are you saying?" Jane asked, an amused smile on her face.
"I shouldn't have kissed you." She answered, scrambling onto her feet quickly.

Jane's smile faded, and she looked up as Max panicked. "What?"
"I've got to get back." She murmured, holding her head in her hand as she began walking back the way they came.
"What- no, Max." Jane said, grabbing her other hand before she got too far.
"Let me go Jane." Max replied, not daring to turn to face her.

"Not until you tell me what is going on." She said, still confused.
"I shouldn't have kissed you, okay?! Why did you say- just let me go!" Max shouted, frustrated.
"I thought... I wanted-" Jane tried to explain, doubting her thoughts.
"You must've thought wrong. Now please, let me go back." She sighed.

"No Max, stop running away!" The princess said, standing up.
"It's late, don't you understand we must get back?!"
"We're not going back, because if we do, you'll avoid me until you can't any longer! I'm not doing that again."
"Please Jane. My head's hurting." She pleaded.

"Why did you kiss me if you didn't want to?" Jane asked, upset.
"I've drunk too much, okay? My thoughts are all messed up."
"So what, you're drunk? That's your excuse?"
"It's not an excuse, it's the truth."

"You aren't completely black out drunk, you're can still walk fine, talk fine-"
"What's your point?" Max sighed.
"What I'm saying is, you can think fine too."
"Clearly not-"
"I know you can. You thought of what to do, I saw it in your eyes. You knew what you were doing."

"Jane-"
"No! You knew what you were doing, and you did it. And now you regret it, and are going to run away. Am I wrong?"
"Princess-"
"You're just gonna run back to the palace, and avoid me like you did not even a week before. You don't think of how it affects me, do you? I thought you wanted to kiss me!"
"I can't do this right now."

"Fine." Jane said, letting go of her hand. "You can go."
"Jane-" Max tried, knowing she was upset.
"You wanted to leave so desperately. So go!"

The guard took a step towards Jane, but she just stepped back.

"I wanted to kiss you." She confessed.
"Just go Max."
"I've wanted to for a long time."
"Max." Jane warned.
"I'm jealous whenever one of those desperate men put their hands on you." Max said, slowly put surely making her way closer. "I'm jealous when they flirt to you so publicly. I'm jealous just watching them look at you, like you're some prize to be won. As if you're something they can own."

She was less than 3 feet away, and Jane couldn't step back anymore, a dark forest was behind her. But she also didn't want to.

"You're my best friend Jane. There's nothing I love more than being with you. Even being in the same room as you makes my heart beat faster than it could anywhere else."

"Then... then why were you going to leave?" The princess asked quietly.
Max sighed, feeling ashamed of herself. "Love scares me. You must remember my parents. They weren't happy together let alone in love. I didn't have an idea of what it was, or how it was supposed to make you feel. I didn't know how you knew you were in love, I wasn't even sure if love was real at some point." She chuckled.

"It's as if there's a fear there. It burns intolerably into my fingertips, crawling up my hands and into my eyes. It leaves me not knowing what to say or how to act. I stumble over my words and sometimes my own feet if I'm not careful. My heart feels like it's going to burst through my ribcage, and I just want to leave my aching body to melt with you." Max rambled.

"So why can't you?" Jane asked desperately.
Max reached out to hold her hands in her own. "If you couldn't tell already, I couldn't help but fall hopelessly in love with you Princess."
The Princess looked up at her, tears in her eyes. "What makes you think I don't feel the same way? I was the one who asked you to kiss me. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want you to."
"You can't feel the same way Jane. You need to be with someone royal. A Prince or a King. I'm neither nor will I ever be."
"But-"
"You just can't. Your parents have already made their decision and no matter how difficult it is, I need you to follow through, okay?"

"I can't Max. Why would I marry someone else when I only want to be with you?"
Max's heart lit up, but soon fell as she realised their love could never become a reality. "It's impossible for us to be together."
"I can make it possible. I'll do everything I can-"
"Jane-"
"You heard me say I'm not going to marry anyone I don't love. I only love you, I shall not marry anyone else." She answered firmly.
"The feeling will soon fade, I'm sure of it. Look, soon you're going to meet the final batch of bachelors, and you're going to fall in love with one of them."

Jane shook her head, "I won't. I'm sure of it. But it's getting late, and we should head back."
Max sighed, releasing her hands as she looked at her with unsure eyes. "Okay."