“
Princess?” He nods, his gaze lingering on my eyes, then my lips. He licks his and draws his lip ring into his mouth to play with it with his tongue. “Princess,” he says slowly. “You couldn’t be further from the truth,” I say. He has me pegged all wrong. “I doubt it.” He looks at me for a minute too long. My stomach flips. Suddenly, I hear the crash of boots stomping through the woods. I look up and see my dad walking toward us, a scowl on his face, and he has the hatchet in his hand. Pete immediately crosses his hands in front of his lap and steps away from me. “Go help with dinner,” Dad snaps at me. He glares at Pete. “Yes, sir,” I say. I take the sticks Pete has in his arms and smile at him. “See you later,” I whisper. “Don’t go,” he whispers back. “Who’s going to protect my nuts?” “Princesses don’t do that.” I grin at him and walk away.
”
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