Chapter Eleven
1178 Words
Kate's POV
After a long moment of consideration, I decided to head toward Marcus's room.
I couldn't stop laughing to myself as I thought about everything that had happened during dinner. Somehow, the whole evening was amusing.
His mother is really desperate to marry him off, I thought with a smile.
Then again... he's not exactly getting any younger.
I quietly slipped out of my room and gently closed the door behind me.
The hallway was unusually quiet. Everyone seemed to have retired for the night earlier than I expected. I walked down the corridor, trying not to make a sound.
As I passed one of the rooms opposite mine, I paused.
I wonder who stays there.
Before I could take another step, I walked straight into someone.
"Ouch..."
Strong hands caught me before I could lose my balance.
"Are you okay?" a calm voice asked.
I looked up and found myself staring at Colonel Sergeant Major Frank "Tank" Morrison.
Embarrassed, I quickly stepped away from him.
"I'm fine," I murmured, lowering my eyes.
"You should keep your head up," he said kindly. "Marcus should've taught you that already."
I immediately lifted my gaze.
"That's better," he said with a smile before gently patting my shoulder. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sir."
He walked past me without asking where I was going.
That's surprising, I thought.
I continued toward the Master's Residence, the private quarters Leah had told me belonged only to Marcus.
As I approached, two soldiers stood guard outside the entrance.
For a second, I wondered if they would stop me.
To my surprise, they stepped aside the moment I arrived, silently allowing me to enter.
Not bad, I thought with a grin.
I nodded politely to the soldiers stationed inside before quietly making my way to Marcus's bedroom.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly pushed the door open.
The sight that greeted me made me freeze.
Marcus was sitting on the floor with his back facing me.
His shoulders trembled slightly.
He was crying.
I never expected a soldier like him to cry.
I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"So... soldiers cry too?" I finally said, leaning against the doorframe.
He didn't turn around. He simply remained where he was.
This must be embarrassing for him, I thought.
I didn't want to make him feel any worse.
My eyes landed on a bottle of water sitting on the table. I walked over, poured some into a glass, and turned back to him. His back was still facing me.
I quietly held the glass out.
"Here," I said softly.
He turned around. His eyes were red and swollen, but I pretended not to notice.
"Thank you," he replied, accepting the glass.
For a few moments, silence filled the room as he drank the water. When he finished, he walked past me and settled into the chair behind his desk.
I wasn't about to let the moment pass.
"Who is she?" I asked, turning to face him.
He remained silent.
"I don't know who she is," I continued, pulling a chair closer and sitting down, "but anyone who could make a man like you cry doesn't deserve you."
To my surprise, he laughed.
He looked so handsome when he smiled. I wondered why he didn't do it more often.
He caught me staring, and I quickly looked away.
"You weren't supposed to be here," he said, fixing his eyes on me.
"Well... I'm here." I shrugged playfully. "And don't worry. I won't tell anyone I caught the mighty Colonel crying."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"About dinner tonight..." I began.
"Forget it," he interrupted in his usual commanding tone.
I studied him quietly.
Could this really be because of the woman who left him?
"So... is that why you won't let your mother have grandchildren?" I asked.
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
"She's just desperate," he answered, leaning back in his chair.
"What do you expect?" I replied. "She's getting older, and she wants to see her son build a family. You're her only hope of seeing grandchildren."
I understood that feeling.
My father had taught me what it meant to wish for someone's happiness while you were still alive to witness it.
"So you're taking her side?" he asked.
"Don't give me that look," I teased. "I just watched you cry. I have the upper hand."
He frowned.
"You're impossible."
"I'll keep your secret," I said, "but only on one condition."
I had given it a lot of thought.
Staying here wasn't really a burden anymore.
It was protection.
I knew the danger waiting for me outside these walls, and I had nowhere else to go.
He looked at me with curiosity.
"And what would that condition be?"
"You stop treating me like I'm worthless... and you promise to keep me safe."
For a brief moment, surprise flashed across his face.
Silence settled between us.
Finally, he nodded.
"Okay. Deal."
I wasn't surprised.
"But I have one condition too, Kitty," he said as he slowly rose to his feet.
I watched him walk toward me until he stopped directly in front of my chair. He gently turned it so I was facing him completely.
"Tell me how you got that scar on your back."
My entire body tensed.
I wasn't ready to tell anyone.
Especially not him.
I quickly looked away, desperately searching for a lie.
"I told you... it was just an accident."
"And you know you're terrible at lying," he interrupted.
He was right.
I'd always been a terrible liar.
Ever since I was ten.
I sighed.
"It's really nothing, Marcus."
I stood to leave.
Before I could take a step, Marcus gently pushed me back into the chair.
His strength surprised me.
He leaned closer, his eyes never leaving mine.
I knew I should have pushed him away.
Instead...
His lips met mine.
The kiss was slow, gentle, and unexpectedly tender.
A strange warmth spread through every part of me.
Even though Devin had been my first kiss...
This felt completely different.
When he finally pulled away, I could only stare at him.
My mind struggled to process what had just happened.
A felt faint smile curved at the corner of his lips before he turned and walked back to his desk as though nothing unusual had happened.
The silence between us became almost unbearable.
Just then, the door opened behind me.
I turned to find one of the soldiers standing at attention.
"Escort her back to her room," Marcus ordered before looking at me once more.
"Goodnight, Little Kitty."
His voice was calm... almost gentle.
I couldn't even find the words to reply.
Why wasn't I saying anything?
And why did he look so completely unaffected by what had just happened?
I simply nodded and walked toward the door. I could hear the soldier following closely behind me.
But he wasn't what occupied my thoughts.
There was only one thing on my mind.
I had just kissed Colonel Marcus Steele.
- Writer
