Moon Princess

40

~ Amaris Laurier Pov ~

As I lay on my bed, I felt a deep sense of weakness and starvation wash over me. The grumbling of my empty stomach echoed through the room, reminding me of the fact that I hadn't had a proper meal all day. The tears that had dried on my cheeks left stains on my face, making me look disheveled and in a terrible state.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps outside the door and before I knew it, the door opened, and Sam walked in. He carried a plate of food and set it down on the bedside table beside me. He turned towards me, his expression serious and determined.

" You need to eat, I won't let you waste away like this, " Sam said sternly, his voice leaving no room for argument. I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of exhaustion press down on me. I sat up, glaring at Sam, trying to hide the desperation I felt.

I looked at the plate of food in front of me and then back at Sam. I was so hungry, but I couldn't bring myself to eat anything that he had given me. I knew that Sam was trying to control me by offering me food and I couldn't let that happen.

" I'm not hungry, " I lied, even though my stomach was begging for food. I didn't want to give in to Sam's manipulation and I wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of seeing me succumb to his tactics.

As I sat beside him, I could feel the hunger in my eyes, yet I was determined to resist. But he was not having any of it. With a smirk on his face, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Despite my efforts to push him away, he held me firmly in place.

" Don't lie to me, " he said. " I can see the hunger in your eyes. Now eat. "

I shot him an irritated look, but he merely chuckled, amused by my defiance. He lifted the spoon and brought it towards my lips, urging me to open my mouth. I shook my head in refusal, but he was relentless. Sighing, he placed the spoon back on the plate and looked at me with a smirk.

Before I could react, he lifted me off the bed and onto his lap, holding me firmly in place. I tried to stand up, but he weighed me down easily.

" You jerk, I hate you, " I muttered.

" I love you too, " he replied with a grin.

Despite my annoyance, the aroma of the food was too much to resist. He fed me spoonful by spoonful, rubbing circles on my skin as he did so. The tingles that ran through my body made me want to laugh, but I held back and savored the flavors. He continued to feed me until I had eaten every last bite. After I had finished, he handed me a glass of water and watched as I drank it greedily.

" Feeling better? " He asked, petting my head. I nodded, and he took a tissue to wipe my lips. His touch was light and gentle, sending shivers down my spine.

Despite the warmth of the moment, I couldn't forget his previous actions. I looked away from him, folding my arms across my chest as I did so. He had fed me, but that didn't mean I had forgotten his sin.

" Amaris, my dear, please understand that my intentions are purely for your well-being. The sight of you in distress is unbearable for me. I simply cannot bear to see you this way, " he whispered softly as he tried to reach for my hand.

" Sam, let me go. This suffocating hold you have on me is too much to bear, " I implored him, withdrawing my hand from his grasp.

" I cannot, my love. You belong to me, and I must protect you at all costs. You are mine, and I will never let you go, " he said with an intensity that betrayed his obsession.

" Sam, you're killing me with your possessiveness. I need air. I need to breathe, " I pleaded, desperately seeking a way out.

" I apologize, my love. I cannot change the depth of my feelings for you. I love you more than anything in this world, " he said with a steadfast conviction.

" But that's not love, Sam. It's an unhealthy obsession. Can't you see that? " I asked him, trying to reason with him. However, he simply glared at me.

" I cannot help how I feel. You are the one who brings life to my world. I cannot imagine living without you, " he said softly, his eyes gazing into mine.

" Sam, please listen to me. We don't have many memories together to hold onto. Let me go before it's too late. You will find someone better than me, " I said, my voice filled with sorrow. The look in his eyes changed, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

" I do not wish to reject you, Amaris. I want you to be my mate, " he said firmly.

" Sam, I don't want this. I don't want to be tied to you for the rest of my life. I want to be free, " I cried, my voice trembling.

" You are not free, Amaris. You are mine, and you will always be mine, " he declared, his frustration evident in his tone.

" No, I'm not. Please, let me go. I can't be with you, " I begged him again, but his hard gaze remained unchanged.

" I will never let you go. You belong to me, " he said stubbornly.

" Fine, then rot in hell, " I yelled, my frustration boiling over.

" If that is what you truly desire, then so be it, " he said, and my heart ached at his words.

As I lay there, trying to catch some much-needed sleep, I felt my heart racing and my breathing become shallow. I was struggling to calm myself down after the tense encounter with him. Despite my attempts to distance myself from him, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that was slowly creeping in.

Suddenly, I felt the bed dip beside me as he snaked his arms around me, trying to cuddle me close. I instinctively moved away from him, but he only held on tighter, pulling me into his embrace. I could feel the heat of his breath on my neck as he whispered,

 "You're mine, never forget that." His words sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't tell if it was fear or desire that was causing my body to react this way.

I lay stiff in his arms, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to make sense of my feelings. He claimed me many times before, but this time felt different. The hardness of his muscles pressed against me, and the heat of his breath was making me dizzy. He could feel my rigid body, but instead of letting go, he pulled me even closer, patting me in a comforting gesture.

Eventually, I surrendered to sleep, letting it wash over me and take me away from the tumultuous thoughts running through my mind.