Chapter 39 - Carnal

Eleanor yanked her hand out of Arthur’s when they approached the cell that Rowan was in. He was exactly where she thought, in the dungeons under the castle. It was fully dark outside and hallways were lit with torches. The smell of the dank cells and stale breath had Eleanor cringing when the door was opened. But she'd smelled worse.

Her stomach turned with worry as Arthur led her past the rows of cells. Most of them were empty. What if Rowan was hurt.?He was only in here for a day, but the Prince was not the most patient person and could have done something to him. If only she had thought about coming to him earlier.

Rowan was leaning against the wall of the cell when they approached him. From what she could see, he was ok, but his head was hanging down and his body slumped. Slowly, he lifted his head to them and that was when Eleanor saw his uninjured face.

“Thank goodness,” she exhaled. “Are you ok?”

The gladiator looked at her then shifted his eyes to the Prince, and then back to her. His eyebrows scrunched. “What are you doing here?” His voice was rough and Eleanor kicked herself for finding it attractive at a moment like this.

“I’ve come to rescue you, obviously. Open the door.” She directed her attention to Arthur who was watching them with a displeased expression.

The Prince sighed, and grabbed onto a ring of keys that was attached to his hip. Eleanor didn't notice that before. He shuffled through them for a moment before picking one key and unlocking the door with it.

Rowan’s cell had water settled in the back, causing the nauseating smell of the dungeons to get worse, but she still went in to help him to his feet. “You’re not hurt are you?”

“I’m not.”

Eleanor had her hands under his arms and pulled him up from the floor. She straightened his clothes and dusted them off. “I’m sorry I took so long. It took a while for me to think of a way to get you out.”

Rowan’s eyes looked glazed over, droopy, like he wasn’t fully aware of what was going on. His body stood tall and he spoke normally. It was only his face that gave away how he was feeling. Her hands remained on his arms and he gently placed his on her hips.

The gladiator sent the Prince a sharp look. “How?”

Eleanor was not sure if he would react well if she told him that she went to his guild and then came here to offer herself to the Prince, so she smiled and said, “It’s a long story.”

Rowan was still staring at her, his lips parted and then his hands gripped her hips tighter. Eleanor was about to ask Rowan if something was wrong, when he pulled her against him. Her eyes widened but she didn’t get enough time to express her shock because a second later he was kissing her. Aggressively, passionately, possessively.

One of his hands left her waist and slid up her neck, tangling with the hair at the back of her head and angling it up towards him. His other arm wrapped around Eleanor and pulled her against him so tightly that her feet were nearly off the ground.

Eleanor’s abdomen exploded with heat and she quickly gripped his back as she kissed him. Finally. Finally, he kissed her again. Every cell in her body hummed with energy. She could feel the kiss down to her toes. Her scalp tingled with the way his lips moved against hers.

She could not help the moan that escaped when he dragged his tongue against her lower lip and then claimed the inside of her mouth. His actions were rough, borderline animalistic. And Eleanor loved it. He wanted her. He wanted her in a fierce dominant kind of way. Rowan was practically devouring her.

A shiver went through her when he gently let go of her hair, his hand then finding purchase on her cheek. He gently rubbed her hip with his thumb and the kiss descended from something carnal to something delicate. The passion remained but he kissed her slower. It was as if he had a million things to say to her and could only express it like this.

She kissed him back with the same vigor although it was hard for her to keep up. This was only her second time kissing someone.

Slowly Rowan pulled away. Their lips still touching and breaths mingling. They were both breathing heavily, and when they made eye contact, Eleanor’s face burst into flames.

Rowan looked down at her lips and then kissed her briefly again. Eleanor felt herself getting dizzy. “You…”

But the moment was quickly snatched from them when the Prince loudly cleared his throat, cutting off Rowan. He walked into the cell and roughly pulled Eleanor away from him, dragging her outside of the cell. Once again, moment ruined.

“What the hell are you doing?” Rowan demanded, walking after them.

“You’re free to go, commoner, you have no more business here. Or with her.” Arthur said, his grip on her arm tightening.

The gladiator towered over the Prince. He had quickly turned back into his usual threatening self. “What nonsense are you spouting?” He reached to grab Eleanor but the Prince pulled her back.

“Eleanor is my fiance now. You are no longer of any use.”

Rowan’s shocked eyes turned to her. “What is he talking about?” he demanded, the roughness of his voice causing it to come out way harsher then he probably meant.

Eleanor felt guilty. But it was the only way to get him out. Never in her life would she have thought that she would sacrifice her freedom for someone else. And a commoner no less. But the thought of losing him to the Prince was too much. Well, at least he kissed her again, so she could hold onto that, because Eleanor saw some dark days ahead of her.

“Exactly what he means. You’re no longer my fiance Rowan. Sorry it had to end like this, but it was the only way.” Every word hurt to say. She regretted nothing. It was too late to anyway.

“Eleanor, you can’t do this. It’s not like I can’t handle being in a cell. You’re being foolish, right now. Go back home. I’ll handle this.” It was the first time Eleanor heard him sounding desperate. She almost laughed.

“It’s too late for that.” she gave him a sad smile before the Prince cut in.

“Yes it is too late. Guards!” Arthur shouted.

Within a few seconds there were five guards behind Rowan. Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat when they grabbed onto him.

“Get this man off the property. And make sure I never have to see his face again.” Arthur said with disdain.

“Eleanor.” Rowan tried to stand his ground against the men but they were too strong and managed to break his footing.

She smiled at him. A real genuine smile. She was using her status to do something for the less fortunate. She could say that she's done her noble deed for her lifetime.