Unbroken

Chapter 21

"Excuse me." I said to Phillip then exited the room. Grant was walking swiftly away from me so I had to run to see where he was going. He went inside a room slamming the door behind him in my face. Using my shoulder I shoved through directly behind him and nearly crashed into him. 

"What is your problem?" I asked him. He whirled around to face me his emotions unguarded in his eyes for just a moment. I could see anger, hate, sadness, and pain.

"How can you marry him Rose?" Grant asked.

"What? Grant that was the point of us coming here. You knew that."

He nodded his head vigorously and paced back and forth in front of me. "Yes I knew that." He growled. "What I didn't know was that things would change...I would change."

I waited for a moment while he cooled down before I took the bait and asked "How did you change?"

He stopped pacing and looked me in the eyes before he continued. "I used to hate royalty. I wanted nothing to do with them. The only reason I agreed to take you through the forest was because my aunt spoke so highly of you." I waited for him to continue. "My aunt was right. You are different."

"No matter how different I am I still don't have a choice Grant."

"A choice? There's always a choice. When your mother said marry this hideous Duke did you say 'yes, your Highness'? No, you chose to leave. That was you, your decision. When Ruben and Tarra told you to kill me did you listen to them then? No, you didn't. It was your choice to not kill me. You listened to your heart and to your instincts. And now Luther is gone, Ruben is gone. You don't have to run to Philip to avoid a marriage with Luther."

"What are you asking of me Grant?"

He took a step towards me and I stood rooted to the ground. He reached for me and laid the back of his hand over my heart. "I'm asking you to listen. Listen to your heart and hear what it's telling you. You've done it before and you need to do it now."

I wasn't having a hard time hearing my heart. It started pounding the instant that he took a step towards me. And when he touched me it took off like a running horse. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks because I was sure he could feel the affect he had on me. 

"Listen to my heart, or listen to yours?" I asked as I laid my palm on his chest above his heart. 

"You can't tell me that you don't feel the same way that I do." 

All he had to do was touch me and I melted like a fool. I took a step backwards breaking our connection and it helped me to be able to actually think. "It doesn't matter how I feel. It's my mother she.." I started but I was interrupted.

Grant rushed forward and his arms grabbed me. A sound of surprise almost escaped me but it was crushed when his mouth was on mine and his lips were assaulting mine. He took a few steps and I didn't resist. I felt the cool wall press against my back as the kiss continued. My arms wrapped around his neck of their own accord while my fingers reached up for the hair that I had wanted to touch for so long. The surprisingly soft curls wrapped around my fingers.
He broke the connection and I already wanted more. I tried to pull him back but he managed to stay away. He didn't release me from his arms. We didn't step away from the wall.

"Now, you tell me that didn't matter. Try to lie to me and tell me that you didn't feel anything." He said with a growl. I met his eyes and saw fire there and I had to look away before I got burned.

"Grant, I have to do what my mother would want me to do." I whispered looking down avoiding his eyes like the coward I was.

"When have you ever cared for your mothers decisions?" He asked and I couldn't answer. "When has your mother ever cared about what happens to you? Or made a decision with your best interest in mind?" 

"She cares about me."

"How?" He asked and I felt his arms leaving my waist. It felt cold when he pulled away from me. He knew that there wasn't an answer for his question. My mother hadn't ever cared about what happened to me and I knew that more than anyone. The arranged marriage with that ridiculous man had just been more proof of that fact.

"Rose, I have feelings for you. I care about what happens to you I will protect you and keep you safe." There were tears welling up in my eyes. "I will never make decisions for you." The tears were threatening to spill over. Right here less than six inches away from me was the best thing that had ever happened to me. He was within arms reach. All I would have to do was say yes and he would be mine forever. We would be on the adventure of the lifetime. This man who could make my heart race with one single look. This man who could set me on fire with one touch. I knew that I loved him. I remembered our conversation so long ago when he said that he didn't believe in love. Something in him had changed and he was different. He wasn't cold and harsh like he wanted me to believe. The real Grant was here right in front of me. 

I was a fool. 

"Grant, I can't." I whimpered and the tears fell. They cascaded down my cheeks like a hot waterfall. When I looked up to his eyes I could see hurt. Plain unguarded hurt and it nearly killed me because I was the one who had put it there.

"Alright Rose." He said then kissed me again. This kiss was cold. It wasn't like the one before that had burned into my heart. My tears wet his face. When he pulled away I felt myself break. When he walked out of the room I felt myself shatter.

I walked to his window and I could see a door open below. It was Grant. He walked out of the castle and out of my life forever. Without one backwards glance he disappeared into the edge of the forest.

Violent sobs shook me and I fell to the ground. The cold floor was uncomfortable against my hip and shoulder but I didn't care. My heart was broken. I wept for the worst decision that I had ever made.