The Love He Stole

Uninvited Attraction

Sam and Lily began planning their wedding over dinner in his study. He said that they should probably get to know each other a little better before saying I do, to which Lily could actually agree. She sat across from him at a small round table in the corner of his study. Between them were silver platters of roasted chicken, various fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and bread and a bottle of wine.

Samuel asked about her upbringing and she talked about her mother, how she was her best friend and the necklace she had received as a gift from her on her eighteenth birthday. And then she told him how she died shortly after and his smile faded away.

“I’m so sorry, Lily. What happened?”

“It was breast cancer. She didn’t catch it until it was too late and by then… it had spread throughout her bloodstream.” Lily’s eyes glazed over but she fought the tears away.

“What is cancer?” he asked with concern.

“Well, it’s when a tumor made of malignant cells forms and it takes over your body…to put it simply,” she said. He reached out and grabbed her hand and she felt her cheeks heat up. She pulled her hand away instinctively and looked down. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away as well.

“And what about your father,” he asked.

“He’s not in my life anymore either. He got another woman pregnant when I was still a kid and my mom left him.”

“Oh…” he looked sorry for her. Lily wanted to change the conversation away from herself so she asked about his father whom she noticed was not present at the feast last night.

“Well, he died a little over a year ago. I think his heart gave out. But, he was a good man, taught me how to swing a sword, hunt for boar, and to be his successor. I just wish he had stuck around a little while longer,” Samuel said. There was a look of sadness in his eyes and Lily realized that they had their grief in common, despite their vast differences.

“He was always so patient and accepting of me, unlike my mother. Though I suppose she did have a good reason,” he said.

“What reason is that?”

“Ahem…well, I…” He looked down, clearly embarrassed, but forced a laugh.

“You can tell me, you know. I’ll be gone in a year anyway,” Lily winked at him. He chuckled.

“Alright, well, I used to be a bit of a…a rake before my father died.” He took a long sip of wine and peeked at Lily over the rim of his glass, and she wondered if he was searching for her approval deep down. She giggled.

“What are you laughing at,” he said, now laughing himself.

“A rake?! People love using gardening tools to describe unsavory behavior.”

“Well, I did plow my way through most of the neighboring villages,” he smirked, popping a piece of bread into his mouth.

“Oh my god, Sam!” She burst out laughing, but a small part of her was intrigued. Stop it, she told herself.

“So if you’ve got a field you need tending…” he said, giving her a suggestive smirk. Her jaw dropped and she threw her bread at him. Samuel was starting to slur his words a little from all the wine.

“You’re too much,” she giggled at him.

“So I’ve been told.” He winked at her. “But, um, yes. My mother was right. Being so…unsavory as you call it, made it difficult to find a wife. And so, now you’re here.”

“So, no one here wanted to marry you so you thought ‘hmm let me get one whose father I haven't pissed off,’ is that right?” she teased.

“Well, Damien said we’d be perfect for each other…that prick,” Samuel scoffed, gulping down the last of his wine. “Clearly, he only considered my physical needs and nothing about yours. Not to mention emotional and…”

“Wait, what? Your physical needs?”

“Well, yeah… he knows me. And what I like in a woman,” he asserted, raising an eyebrow and grinning. “But he also did a ritual thing to examine my mind and scan the universe for my perfect match… and he got you. So maybe all my mind cares about is a nice a**.”

She nearly knocked over her wine glass and began to feel restless and hot. She had a sudden urge to get out of there. Her feelings were swirling like a tornado of confusion. On one hand, he was honest and charming, but also completely ruthless and promiscuous. She thought if she stayed in this room, she might do or say something she’d regret. She finished her wine glass and stood up, she only had one glass tonight so she wasn’t drunk like at last night's feast.

“I, um, I should probably head to bed now,” she said, nervously smiling at him. He rose to his feet.

“I’m sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?” he quavered, seeming to sober up a little.

“Uh N-no… it’s just been a lot today, deciding to stay and planning a wedding. I just… I need some alone time now to…process everything.”

He looked a little disappointed but also like he understood. He offered to walk her back to her room and she reluctantly accepted. He took her there at once but paused at her door.

“I’ll send for one of your lady’s maids to get you ready for bed,” he said.

“Thank you… my lord,” she said with a silly smile.

“I want you to know… that I truly am happy you agreed to marry me. You’re doing me a huge favor and I really appreciate it.”

He gently smiled at her and she blushed against her will. He took a step closer, grabbing her hand and softly kissed her knuckles, shocking her with tingles of electricity. He turned and walked back toward his study door, looking back at her as his hand gripped the doorknob.

“Goodnight, my lady.”

“Goodnight, Samuel,” she softly said back to him and he opened the door and disappeared. She hurried into her own room, her breath wildly out of control as panic set in.

Oh no. She was feeling things she had never felt before and tried to convince herself it was the wine. That’s it. I’m just drunk. But she wasn’t drunk, she was only slightly buzzed and she couldn’t stop seeing his handsome face in her mind.

She paced around the room aimlessly, thinking about the tests she’d be missing tomorrow but also Samuel’s lips. His lips look so soft. She groaned in frustration. Why is my mind betraying me like this?! I am not like this. Lily was driving herself crazy with her l**t and emotions. Just then, Poppy came in to help her get undressed for bed. She was so happy to see Poppy.

“Oh, Poppy! Can I talk to you?” She ran up to her frantically, scaring the girl.

“Of course, my lady. What’s the matter,” she said, her brows furrowing and mouth slightly agape.

“If I say something to you, you won’t tell Samuel or anyone else, right?”

“Of course, my lady. Unless you are in danger of some kind.”

“I am in danger… but not physically. Oh, it’s awful,” Lily said with melodrama.

“My lady, please calm down and tell me what is bothering you.”

Lily pulled Poppy by the hand to sit on her couch. Poppy was taken aback by her behavior but went along with it. Lily told her all about her night, their agreement, and Samuel’s flirting and how she could not, under any circumstances, have feelings for him. Poppy couldn’t help but giggle at her with a big smile.

“My lady… isn’t this a good thing?”

“No! I need to be able to leave a year from now.”

“It sounds like you’re scared you might change your mind… not that you won’t have a choice, my lady. But as long as it’s your choice, what is the problem?” Poppy nervously smiled at Lily and she calmed down.

“You’re right… That’s terrifying,” Lily moaned.

Poppy laughed at Lily for being so dramatic. And Lily eventually laughed too.

“I’m sorry for laughing at you, my lady,” the lady’s maid said, looking down at her hands in shame.

“No…it’s alright. I enjoyed talking with you. Do you think maybe we could be friends ,” Lily asked, with a bright hope in her eyes. Poppy happily nodded and grabbed her hand.

“I would very much like that, my lady. Most noble ladies are not as nice as yourself.”

“Well, I’m not really a noble lady. Or not yet anyway. But I promise to never act that way towards you. Thank you for talking to me. And you really can just call me Lily, you know. I won’t tell Samuel,” Lily said, gently squeezing Poppy’s hand and patting it with her other. Poppy smiled.

“Okay, but only when it’s just us. I don’t want the other lady’s maids saying anything to my lord. He can be quite a stickler at times. Now…let’s get you ready for bed.”

After Poppy helped her out of her gown and washed her face, they said goodnight to each other. Lily felt a warmth in her heart that had been missing since her mom passed away. Companionship and connection, something she thought she’d never let in again. And as she lay in bed, waiting for the dreams to carry her away, an image kept intruding into her mind. She was cold with sweat, wondering what Samuel looked like n***d.