The Cursed Pharaoh's Bride

Chapter XXXIII

Carolina

“You know, I have no problem with you staying my bedroom,” Elijah says while lying on my bed, lazily watching me organize my school supplies in the new desk that was just recently added to my room. 

I give him a pointed look. “This is the fifth time you’ve said that,” I reply. 

Elijah just gives me a sloppy grin. “Sorry,” he says, though he doesn’t sound very apologetic. “I just don’t see why you insisted on staying in a guest room when you know you’ll end up moving into my room anyways.” 

He gives me a pout. Despite his nearly irresistibly cute expression, I manage to roll my eyes at him. “I was hoping you’d learned by now that I like to take things slow,” I sigh. 

“I’m impatient, love, you know that,” he whines. 

I can’t help but laugh at his antics. I’ve noticed lately that he gets so childish and frustrated when he doesn’t get what he wants. But I think that’s only because he knows he couldn’t force me to do something even if he wanted to. “That’s why I don’t indulge you so you learn to be more patient,” I giggle as I join him on my bed. He immediately pulls me to his side. I lean my head on his chest as I look up at him. “You know what they say about what comes to those that wait,” I coo as I run my fingers up and down his chest and abdomen. 

Elijah lets out a few incoherent grumbles before pulling me closer to him and burying his head in my hair. I can feel him place a tender kiss on the top of my head, which makes me melt. 

“I literally moved in last night. And I missed school today just to finish unpacking. At least let me fully get settled before I decide to move into your bed,” I try to reason. Emphasis on “try” because instead of responding, Elijah just rolls us over so he’s now straddling me. He buries his head into the crook of my neck and starts leaving a trail of butterfly kisses. 

I don’t stop the soft moan that escapes my lips and that only seems to encourage him to start nipping and sucking on my skin. “Don’t try to distract me,” I groan, “You won’t change my mind this way.” 

He freezes for a moment and pulls away to look me in the eye. His bright blue eyes are darkened with lust and frustration. I gently cup his face with my hands and his eyes close automatically at my touch. 

“Don’t you enjoy being with me like this?” He whispers as his large, warm hands slide under my shirt, setting my skin on fire. 

“I do,” I admit. “But that’s not the issue.” 

“Then what is? Let me fix it,” he insists as he gives me an intense look. I lean my head upwards and place a gentle kiss on his lips. 

“Well...one thing that’s bothered me is the idea of us being soulmates,” I start. Elijah’s expression immediately becomes alert and bewildered. His once calm demeanor starts to turn sour and I can feel fear seeping in through our connection. 

“Is the fact that we’re soulmates means that I’m forced to be with you, no matter what?” I ask. 

“What? No!” He immediately snaps in anger. His anger subsides almost instantly and his face starts to soften. “Well, technically, yes? Is that how you feel?” 

“I don’t,” I respond. “I feel comfortable around you now, and I’ve always been attracted to you. But how do I know my attraction isn’t getting in the way of me falling for the person you are?” 

Elijah looks at me wide eyed. He’s silent for a minute before pulling away from me and moving to a sitting position. “If you’re worried about compatibility, don’t. We’re soulmates so we’re meant to get along and be happy together,” he says lowly. 

Is he joking? Does he actually believe that I would be satisfied with that answer? I feel anger start to bubble inside my chest. “And you just blindly believe that without trying to figure that out on your own. Just because we’re soulmates, everything is just supposed to magically work out?” I snap as I sit up to face him. 

“Not magically per se but we’ll be able to make things work,” he snaps back, “You’re a gift to me from the gods, Carolina. And when you’re given a gift, you don’t question it.” 

“That’s the problem, you don’t question it. You don’t even try to investigate. I’m just some new toy the gods gave you that you could use whenever you feel like it!” I yell. 

Hurt flashes through Elijah’s eyes and I regret what I said almost instantly. “Is that how you think I see you?” He asks. 

“I was hoping it wasn’t,” I whisper. 

Elijah’s eyes harden and he looks away from me, his face now devoid of emotions. “Well, it’s not. But if you have your doubts then maybe it’s best that we don’t share a bed,” he says coldly before getting off my bed and stomping towards my door. 

“No, wait,” I plead as I throw myself at his back, wrapping my arms around his waist. Elijah stops, his hand just barely grazing the doorknob. 

“Who are you to believe that I am so immature that I would let you go while still being so angry with me?” I ask as I press myself to his stiff back. Elijah’s angry and ragged breathing starts to calm down. 

“This is why we need to make sure. We’ve gotten closer, yes, but I can’t help but feel like we still have ideas about each other that might not be...accurate. Since you’ve met me, you’ve idealized me. Since I’ve met you, I’ve demonized you. And we still have a long way to go before we get past that. 

“I take things slow because I want to fall in love with you, Elijah. I don’t want to share a bed with you or go further in our physical relationship so I know I’m choosing you because of you, not because you’re a great kisser,” I explain. “That is, if I have a choice.”

Elijah lets out a sigh before loosening the grip of my arms from his sides. He turns around and pulls me into him so we are fully embracing. “The gods knew to bless me with an intelligent queen. And to think I was willing to marry you without fully knowing that,” he mutters. “You do have a choice. I don’t like to admit it, but just because you’re a gift to me doesn’t mean you have to make things easy for me, and it doesn’t mean I have to choose to be with you either. 

“I just felt so grateful. You gave me life again,” he whispers. He leans down and presses a tender kiss on my forehead. “I want to show you how much I appreciate you,” he whispers as he places another sweet kiss on my lips. “It’s even fair to say that at this point, I’m only falling deeper in lov-“ 

I pull away from him slightly, shaking my head. “I know you’re getting there faster than me. But can you please accept that I’m not there yet,” I plead. 

Elijah just lets out another sigh. He moves to pull away from me but before he can, I cup his face and place an intense kiss on his lips, pouring out the feelings I know I’m developing for him but can’t bring myself to say out loud just yet. Once I pull away, he’s left with a small smile on his lips. 

“I suppose if I’ve waited thousands of years, I can handle a few more days,” he reasons. Days? More like weeks. Maybe even months. But, for now, he doesn’t need to know that. 

“Are you still mad at me?” I ask. 

“I wasn’t mad at you,” he says. “Just a little frustrated.” 

“In that case, I’d hate to see you very frustrated,” I joke. The feeling of a chuckle rumbling through his body fills my body with bliss. 

“If you’re no longer upset, would you mind helping me with something?” I ask. 

“Anything, my love,” he says. 

“Can you help me learn how to use magic?”