Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 42: I am hard

Chapter 42: I am hard

Terrified, she screamed, twisting around to check on him. "Pull over, we need to remove the arrow," she insisted, her voice trembling with urgency.

Instead of stopping, he tightened his grip on her waist and urged the horse to move faster. "It’s just an arrow. We don’t have to stop. I am fine," he assured her, his tone casual despite the obvious pain.

Belle’s worry deepened, and frustration flickered in her chest. How could he dismiss his own injury so easily? What if he fainted mid-ride? Wouldn’t that be far more dangerous than stopping?

"But..." she started, then bit her lip, realizing it was pointless to argue. She resigned herself to waiting until they reached their destination, silently stewing in her concern.

"We won’t be heading back now," Quinn relayed, a teasing lilt in his voice. "You might have to be separated from your husband for a while."

Even in pain, he couldn’t help but joke, and Belle rolled her eyes. He always masked his vulnerability with humor, refusing to admit when he needed help.

"Whatever," she muttered, crossing her arms as silence stretched between them.

When they entered a dense forest, her unease returned. "Where are we going?" She asked, her voice tinged with fear as she glanced at the shadowy trees surrounding them.

"Relax," he said, leaning closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I am not like those cowardly horny bastards. I don’t need a secluded area to have you all to myself, and you know it."

His whispered words sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. The warmth of his lips brushing her ear unsettled her, but not because she feared him. Instead, she feared her own reaction, worried she might lose control as she had before.

"So why are we here?" She managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckled, his tone playful. "I want to eat you," he teased, causing her to jump in her seat.

Her reaction made him laugh outright, the sound rich and unbothered. She still couldn’t handle his naughty humor, and for some reason, that pleased him. Her innocence was something he wanted to protect...no, something he selfishly wanted to claim for himself.

"Geez! What have you been doing with Kia for the past year?" He asked, shaking his head in mock disapproval.

"None of your business," she shot back, her tone huffy, earning a smirk from him.

"If you ever need a side piece after marrying him, just know I will be here. My body is all yours," he flirted, his grin wicked.

Belle ignored him entirely, staring straight ahead as if his words hadn’t fazed her. Her indifference only encouraged his mischievous streak.

"Ugh, we are here," he finally announced.

Lost in her thoughts, Belle hadn’t even noticed their arrival. Her mouth fell open in astonishment as she took in the breathtaking scenery before her.

"Come on," Quinn said, already dismounting and offering his hand to help her down.

Distracted, she reached for him without looking, her hand slipping. The next thing she knew, she was tumbling forward, dragging them both to the ground with her on top.

"Ah!" She winced, pushing herself up slightly. When her eyes met his, she froze.

His gaze, dark and unreadable, locked onto hers. She found herself mesmerized by the depth of his obsidian eyes, trying to decipher what thoughts might be running through his mind, oblivious to the effect her closeness had on him.

"For someone who acts like she doesn’t care, you sure care a lot," he remarked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Clearing her throat, Belle attempted to stand, but Quinn’s arms circled her waist, pulling her back down and causing her to collide firmly with his chest.

"Quinn!" She exclaimed, faint memories of the countless times she had called his name flitting through her mind. At this rate, his name might as well become her favorite word. Since his return to her life, everything had been louder, more chaotic, and undeniably more adventurous.

"No one’s here," he teased, his tone playful. "You can look at me all you want. I won’t tell."

Annoyed, she smacked his chest, and he groaned dramatically, clutching at the spot as if in pain.

"I am sorry! Does it hurt? What about the arr..." She trailed off mid-sentence, her eyes widening in confusion. The arrow that had pierced his back was gone.

She stared at him, her bewilderment evident. "What happened to the arrow? I heard it, saw it—it was real!"

"Oh, that," he said casually, shrugging. "I pulled it out along the way. I told you it wasn’t serious."

She mouthed an incredulous *oh*, lowering her head as a wave of embarrassment crept over her.

After a moment of silence, Quinn tilted her chin up gently, his voice soft yet deliberate as he called her name. "Belle."

She raised an eyebrow at him, her confusion evident.

"I am hard," he muttered unexpectedly, his lips curving into a wicked grin.

The statement earned him a swift smack on the head. Startled, he released her, giving her the opportunity to bolt.

"Jerk!" She muttered under her breath, stomping off toward the ocean. Yet, despite her annoyance, a small smile tugged at her lips as she neared the water. Strangely, the sight of the vast blue expanse brought a sense of peace—a peculiar feeling of déjà vu, as though she were finally home. For a fleeting moment, she wished she could stay there forever.

Quinn chuckled, watching her retreat, before rising to his feet and following her.

As she glanced to her left, a small but charming cabin caught her eye. Her curiosity piqued, and she began moving toward it, but Quinn quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"That’s off-limits," he said firmly. "Why not stick to the ocean instead?"

Belle narrowed her eyes at him, suspicion bubbling. "Is that cabin yours?"

"What do you think?" He replied, a mischievous smirk on his lips. "Though I might have to kill you now that you have discovered my hideout. Can’t have you spilling my secrets."

She scoffed, turning her back on the cabin. "I don’t care about your hideout. You are the one who brought me here, remember?"

He grinned, leaning closer. "So, should we pick up where we left off?"

Belle, already anticipating his next move, dodged as he reached for her waist. A triumphant laugh escaped her when she evaded him.

"Well, someone’s gotten clever," he commented, his eyes narrowing. Without warning, he lunged toward her, sparking a playful chase along the shore.