Two Choices

Twenty Nine ~ Nikolaos

I woke up the next morning, conflicted with my actions. 

I've used sex to punish women many times before, but I feel guilty about doing it to Elizabeth. Seeing the look on her face after I was finished broke me. 

All I wanted to do was scoop her into my arms and apologize immediately. 

It took every ounce of control to walk away from her and make my way downstairs. 

Imagine my surprise when I took her home, only to hear her begging for her life.

"Good morning," I hear her sweet voice ringing in my ear.

"Good morning, princess. How'd you sleep?" I ask, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close to me.

Her leg is wrapped around my torso, and her face is nuzzled into the crook of my neck. 

I can spend every morning waking up to her beautiful face. Looking into her eyes makes the guilt return, though. 

Flashes of her pained face forever burned into my mind. 

I scowl, knowing that I have caused her pain. I'll never be able to do something like that again to her.

"What's wrong?" she asks softly, looking up into my eyes.

"Are you hungry?" I reply, clearly ignoring her question.

Not waiting for her reply, I got out of bed, helping her up along with me. 

I drag her into the kitchen, where a spread is already laid out for us. I watch as she eats, swaying her body in happiness, which makes me chuckle. 

She glares at me, then returns to her phone, shoving her mouth full of food.

"Why are you laughing at me?" She asks, putting her phone down.

"You resemble a chipmunk rather than a princess, sweetheart," I reply, full belly laughing now.

She picks up a biscuit and acts like she's going to throw it at me. 

Surely she won't be that stupid, although she has that fire hidden in her, always wanting to escape out of that pretty mouth.

Great, now I have images of Elizabeth on her knees in front of me.

"Elizabeth, don't even think about it," I warn, trying to sound stern through the laughter.

"Are you scared the biscuit will hurt the big, bad beast?" She taunts.

"Try it and see what happens," I smirk.

"A princess would never think about hurting anyone." She replies, delicately putting the biscuit down, and getting up from her chair to make her way towards me.

I watch as she sways her hips with each step. She flips her hair over her shoulder and looks at me through hooded eyes. 

If she isn't careful, I'll eat something other than toast for breakfast. 

She smiles as she walks behind me, noticing now that something's missing from the table. 

There's an empty spot by the strawberries. I've been too busy looking at her to remember what it is.

"Chipmunks, on the other hand, love to cause a little mischief." She laughs evilly, smearing whipped cream on my face and running away.

"You can run, but you can't hide, baby." I laugh, wiping the cream off my face, and getting up from my chair.

I love the chase, even more when I have a prize at the finish line. 

I walk through the house, careful to be light on my feet and to create less noise. I clear each room, one by one, like I've done many times before.