TPATSG Chapter Snippet- Kiss

     Elaine was a deer, trembling before the bow of a hunter. Paralyzed by fear, she couldn't run; she couldn't tear herself away from him. He drew her closer and closer to him, and she was forced to obey his compelling. Her body became as still and stiff as Death himself, even as she felt his warm hand snake up her back. No, no no! was all she could think. Please, this can't be happening! Edric's hand reached the back of her neck, and her head snapped back involuntarily as she momentarily lost all the sensation in her body. His other arm whipped around and caught her before she crumpled, pressing her body to his. She quivered like a hare before the fox. Her head was still locked in place, staring into his moss-on-oak eyes. He didn't blink, and she couldn't drop her gaze. She opened her mouth to protest, but he slammed his soft lips into hers before she could speak.
     A tsunami of rapture collided with her soul. Her bright eyes stayed open for half a second in shock before she surrendered to the unfettered ecstasy of his honeyed lips on hers. Consummate euphoria took over as she surrendered to the bliss.
Reality struck like a bolt to the heart. The doe met her death in the hunter's hands as her glass dome of elation crumbled away from her. He never loved her, and never could. She broke away from his grasp and drilled him with eyes of ice-cold fury. The color drained from her body. This isn't real, her eyes screamed, this isn't real, and it never will be! How dare you? She drew upon all the strength in her arm and slapped the confused look off of his face. "How could you!?" she hissed through a throat numbed with rage.
     He stared at her for a moment in shock. Her took in the soft tremble of her lip, how her nostrils flared with every breath. Her eyes had changed yet again to that cold metallic grey. Her hands clenched, forming snowy peaks on her knuckles. He had hurt her, severely. A painful red mark blossomed on his cheek. The tiniest bit of blood snaked its way out of an opening where her fingernails tore his soft face. This was nothing compared to the damage he had done with one simple kiss. His eyes narrowed as the stinging sensation registered with him.
     Anger.
     Shock.
     Pain.
     Disorder.
     How dare she strike him? Who was she to raise a hand to royal birth when he had simply indulged her most basic desire?
     Anger.
     Shock.
     Pain.
     Disorder.
     Why would he do such a thing? What harm had she ever done him that deserved this retribution? Were her affections simply sport to him?
     Why had she done it? He thought she loved him.
     Why had he done it? She'd done nothing but love him.
     "Elaine—"
     "I'm not sorry," she said with a cracking voice. For once in her life, she managed to maintain eye contact with him. "You're terrible, Edric, for doing this to me. You should rot in hell for this." She exhaled a cold, trembling breath. Why, in God's name, would you kiss me? Tell me, you arrogant peacock!"
     "Enough. You will not address me like that, Elaine. I thought you had some sense of propriety." His voice, as well as his eyes, was cold and flat.
     "Why did you do it?"
     "I don't know, Elaine! Maybe I'm lonely! Maybe I just felt like it!" He had no rational explanation, anyway. "God, in heaven, woman, why are you acting like I just stabbed you in the back?"
     "Because you may as well have! Do you love me, Edric?" her chilled irises burned holes in his head.
     "We've discussed this. You know—"
"Do you love me, Edric?"
     "I'm not going to answer that—" He couldn't tell her the truth… he couldn't bring himself to do it.
     "Edric, for once in your life be truthful with me!"
     "Elaine, you know we can't be together." He felt as if he were treading across a rope stretched taught above a sea of burning sulfur.
     "Edric, just tell me. Tell me! If you do not love me than I can go on with my life in peace, knowing that there is no hope. If you say that you do not, and cannot ever love me, then that will end this misery that you put me in. But know that lies won't save me from heartache. They hurt even more so than the brutal truth."
     "What do you want from me, Elaine!? You wouldn't let us be together, even if I did love you! Why would I want to destroy you like that?"
     "Why are you toying with me!?"
     "Why are you behaving so irrationally?" He was losing his patience with this foolish girl.
     "Quit dodging my questions!" It was a simple question. Why couldn't he just tell her?
     "Elaine…" his voice trailed off.
     "Just tell me! For God's sake Edric, tell me! You've said before that I was like family to you, that if circumstances change— had been different— that you could love me. Circumstances are different now, Edric, and you had no right to kiss me like that. Not unless you have some latent feeling for me. Or is this just another of your tricks? Has the game really become that dull for you?"
     "Elaine, oh God in heaven help me, sometimes I wish we would have never met. No, wait that's not what I mean… this has all gotten so complicated! Life would have been some much simpler if… but no, no, that simply isn't possible… Elaine, you have to understand one thing. I could never love you. Never" The truth slipped from his mouth like an eel. But was it really the truth? "Elaine…"
She held up a hand to him. Something within Elaine fractured the tiniest bit.