Forbidden

18| Forbidden

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Forbidden

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Chapter 18: Forbidden (Ronan's POV)

The next morning I woke up already feeling groggy because I barely slept last night. I was way too aware of her half-naked presence beside me and I felt way too tense. She felt the same way, but at some point, she dozed off. Her body relaxed and her breathing evened out. Then she moved in her sleep. Moved closer to me. Her legs were touching mine, her arm was touching mine, she was practically lying against me. I willed myself to act like nothing was different than usual and go to sleep. 

Except when I woke up this morning, she was still sleeping with her body tangled up with mine. The shirt that I had tied around her waist had slipped off at some point and was hanging from the bed. I blinked, staring at her face, turning my head to look at her. 

She hummed, mumbling something in her sleep while frowning before shifting closer. I looked down where my arm was secured around her waist, holding her close to me. 

My breath hitched in my throat and I thought to pull myself away from her but my body apparently didn't catch that signal from my brain. 

A hole through the curtain made light shine right on her face. She whined, shifting uncomfortably, and I found myself putting a hand up, blocking the sunlight for her. She let out a breath and then her body stiffened. She opened her eyes, peeking up at me. 

"Morning," I smirked. 

She closed her eyes and took a breath before quickly scooting away, clutching the covers to her chest before turning around, her back facing me. "That didn't happen and I'm still sleeping," she mumbled. 

I scooted closer to her, lying on my stomach. "Sorry to disappoint, Princess, but it did happen. It happened all night." She pulled the covers over her head and I bit back a chuckle, glancing at the time on my watch before pulling it onto my wrist. "We should get going. I'll change first." I got out of bed, grabbing my clothes from yesterday, and went into the bathroom, taking out two new travel-size toothbrushes and one toothpaste, leaving one on the counter for her. 

I brushed my teeth and splashed water on my face before getting dressed, noticing her dress still hanging on the back of the door. I walked out and found her sitting up in bed, looking around the room, still in a sleepy fog. "You should get dressed," I said, fixing the sleeves of my button-up while standing beside her. 

She looked up at me, putting her hair back in a ponytail. "Don't look," she warned. 

"I won't." I rolled my eyes. I really won't. I have to remember, no matter how close I am to getting what I secretly crave from Princess Grace Roslyn Grimaldi, I'll never actually be allowed to take what I want. 

She got out of bed, holding my gaze while she brushed past me and headed for the bathroom. I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. She didn't expect it so she stumbled a little, colliding with me. "What?" she huffed. 

"Do you get nightmares?" 

She blinked in surprise, taken aback by my question. "What?" 

"Do you get nightmares, Princess?" 

"Why are you asking me that?" 

"Because you slept pretty restlessly. And you were whimpering in your sleep. Maybe even—"