Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

"You do that," she grumbled, almost sounding content. "Along with attempted murder.".

"Noted," I told her, smiling into her hair, breathing in a scent that belonged to her alone a softly sweet blend of lavender, fury, and barely-contained violence. It was the perfect fit.

For a long, precarious moment, we didn't stir. The moonlight struggled around us, as if reluctant to shatter our fragile ceasefire. I idly wondered how many relationships started this way: shattered china, teleportation mishaps, and near-miss murders.

"Can we have an agreement," I whispered, drawing her in, "that from here on out, romantic moves won't include possibly lethal objects?"

Enara leaned back, brows raised to me in one of those narrowed glances of pretended outrage. "Where's the romance in that?"

"Ah, my error. Clearly, nothing is more romantic than head trauma."

She snorted softly, a hand drifting lightly across my shoulder, her fingers making lazy patterns. It was such a small motion, almost unconscious, yet it caused a jolt of unanticipated shivering in me. She caught the reaction in me and raised an eyebrow, a twitch at the edge of her mouth.

"What?" she asked, amusement creeping into her voice. "Don't tell me the infamous Liria Silverthorn, scourge of kingdoms, is ticklish?"

"Absolutely not," I lied, moving ever so slightly away.

"Liar," she drew in tightly, fingers tapping over my ribs, exploring.

I jerked away, grinding hard on a cry. "Betrayal," I growled theatrically. "Once more."

She grinned wickedly, her eyes flashing. "An eye for an eye, consider it."

"For what?" I protested, catching her wrists and pulling her gently against me, heart pounding far too fast for my pride to claim.

"For everything," she whispered softly, the humor dissipating to reveal something deeper, something more intimate. Her fingers relaxed against my chest, palm pressed flat over my heartbeat, as if to reassure herself I actually was here, not some heartless illusion of loneliness and regret.

"Fair," I breathed, my eyes locking on hers, the air between us filling with all the unspoken things.

"We don't have to talk about everything tonight," we don't have to talk about everything tonight

"Oh, thank the gods," she released on a mock-relieved breath, smiling again. "Because if I had to unpack our emotional garbage right now, I would spontaneously combust."

I smiled softly, leaning in until our foreheads just touched together. "Let's not do that. I'm rather enjoying you in one piece."

She blushed softly, a pale color creeping into her cheeks. "You're impossible."

"You've already mentioned that," I reminded her in a low, teasing voice.

"And I'll probably just keep on saying it," she replied, voice trembling a little. Her eyes softened, vulnerable and brutally honest. "Because it's true."

Her gaze flicked briefly to my lips, and suddenly I was achingly aware of each beat of my heart, every breath I took, every quiet sound the leaves made rustling around us. The night itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see which of us would break.

"May I kiss you again?" I breathed, suddenly shy, suddenly afraid that she would disappear if I blinked too fiercely.

"You'd better," she spoke softly.

This one was more intentional, sweeter, slower. We brushed our lips together hesitantly at first, cautious and guarded, as if not quite sure whether to anticipate ambush. But then caution gave way to belief, and I could feel her exhale into me, her fingers uncoiling through my hair, pulling me close. My arms tightened around her waist, holding her close until there was barely any room at all between us, no room for confusion or for loss.

The world dissolved into warmth and gentle pressure, a tangle of sensations and breathed promises. Her lips moved gently on mine, inviting, enticing, deeper with the kiss until breathing was a distant, afterthought.

When at last we broke apart, puffing erratically, Enara leaned heavily against me, forehead in the curve of my neck, voice muffled against my skin.

"You know," she breathed, both out of breath and smug-sounding, "you kiss quite well for one who devotes half her time to making diplomatic faux pas."

"Everyone needs a hobby," I retorted lightly, tracing lazy circles down her lower back. "Do you want me to take up embroidery?"

She smiled softly, a soft humming against my chest. "Not really. You'd probably start stabbing people with the needles."

"Only if they deserved it."

Her eyes looked up again, face softening into something achingly gentle. "You're awful."

"But you like me anyway," I said quietly, not quite a question.

Her eyes met mine steadily, vulnerability flashing just below the surface. "Despite my better judgment, yes."

I ran my thumb lightly across the shape of her cheekbone, stunned at how quickly the class had shifted from resentment and ire to something fragile and hopeful, something promising.

"I won't flee again, Enara. However tempting exile becomes. You have my word."

She looked at me seriously, fingers drawing idle patterns against my collarbone. "I'll remind you of it."

"Please do," I breathed, pulling her close again, relishing the warmth of her body against mine.

She sighed contentedly, lids fluttering closed. We stood there for several minutes, wrapped in each other's arms beneath a blanket of stars. She finally shifted, raising her head once again, eyes glinting with sudden playfulness.

"You know," she said, "I did kidnap you tonight. Technically."

"I noticed," I had said dryly. "The blunt force trauma was a subtle hint."

She smiled sweetly. "If anyone asks, you enjoyed it."

"Immensely," I lied, simulating seriousness. "I'll write reviews of your abduction technique."

"Good," she breathed, bending her head enticingly. "Perhaps I'll abduct you again sometime."

"I'd look forward to it," I whispered, leaning in again.

Here, our kiss became deeper all of a sudden, and we nurtured a flame that neither of us tried to reign in. Her fingers slid under my shirt, fingers tracing sparks along the length of my spine. I breathed softly, holding her against the trunk of a nearby tree, racing heart, pounding pulse. Her fingers closed, holding me impossibly close, as if determined to wipe away all doubt, all fear, all lingering regret.

Time slowed to a crawl, each breath a stolen moment, each kiss a vow of silence. Caution slowly relinquished, giving way to frantic strokes, whispered laughter, and an overwhelming sense of somehow finally being exactly where we needed to be.

We finally settled side by side on the plush grass beneath the trees' silver-leafed canopies, fingers entwined, hearts hammering.

"We should return soon," Enara whispered, voice heavy with sorrow.

"Perhaps," I replied lazily, not moving to shift. "Or we can just remain here forever. Run away, begin anew."

She smiled gently. "You'd be bored."

"True," I allowed. "But I think I could manage, if you came with me."

She glared at me sidelong, face softening into gentle seriousness. "Liria?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for coming back," she whispered. "Even if you nearly killed all of us. Even if you're infuriating."

I squeezed her hand gently. "You're welcome. And…I'm sorry."

She smiled gently, shaking her head. "I know. That's enough for now."

We lay in silence for a few moments, listening to the babbling brook and rustling leaves.

Finally, Enara sighed dramatically, sitting up and stretching. "Come on, villainess. Time to face reality."

I groaned dramatically. "Do we have to?"

She grinned, eyes gleaming wickedly. "Unless you'd like explaining this little after-hours tryst to Daena."

I shivered theatrically, rising hastily. "Right, reality it is."

She smiled, offering me her hand. "Good girl."

I groaned fondly, taking her hand and pulling her into a long kiss.

"I'll never tire of that," she whispered, smiling warmly.

"Good," I murmured, resting my forehead against hers. "Because you're stuck with me now."

She laughed again, curling her fingers around mine tenderly. "Somehow, I think I'll cope."