Chapter Thirty Four

Chapter Thirty Four
Zen’s POV
What?
I stared at Princess for what felt like an eternity trying to process what she said. What did she mean she ‘accepted’ me? Was she saying that she didn’t think I was a monster? Or maybe that she didn’t care that I was a monster? Maybe she had Stockholm Syndrome or some shit. Maybe I actually did break her. She was still kneeling in front of me, but her hands were now squeezing mine almost painfully. This wasn’t like the cigarettes from before. This was a much bigger deal.
I furrowed my brow, before leaning forward and trying to coax her into standing up. I didn’t deserve to have her bowing in front of me. She was stubborn, though, and just kept shaking her beautiful tear-stained cheeks until I gave up.
“Elizabeth, stand up.” I begged weakly, my throat still hoarse from crying. She placed both of her hands firmly on my thighs, gripping my pants in her fists.
“I’m not moving, Zen, until you accept my acceptance of you.” What the literal fuck?
“That doesn’t make any sense. Get up and go back to bed. I think you’re tired.”
“I’m not tired. And I’m not crazy, either. I know you see yourself as a killer, Zen, but that’s just not true. I’ve never seen you that way, and I still don’t. Even after everything you’ve said, I still accept you.” Silent tears graced her red cheeks and I wanted to wipe them away, but my mind was still whirling over what she was saying.
“Don’t be stupid. I am a killer, Elizabeth. I’ve got so much blood on my hands that it’s not fucking funny. Do you not believe me?” I didn’t understand why she couldn’t see me for what I really was. I admitted it openly, but she still wasn’t getting it.
“I know that you’ve killed people, Zen.” She stated angrily.
“Well then what the fuck are you saying? You aren’t making any damn sense!” I shouted back at her.
“I’m saying that it doesn’t change how I feel!”
“What the literal fuck are you talking about?!”
“I still love you, Zen!” She damn near shrieked. The silence of the room afterwards was thick, suffocating me while I rolled her words over in my head. Did she just say she loved me? Why isn’t she saying anything? Why isn’t she correcting herself? She was just staring at me with a determined look on her face.
“You don’t mean that.” I finally muttered, shaking my head.
“Yes, I do. I didn’t realize it until I said it, but I do.”
“That’s crazy.”
“I know that it is. To be frank, our whole relationship so far has been crazy. But I meant it, Zen, and there’s nothing you can do to-“
Without a second thought, my knees hit the floor, my hands gripping the sides of her face while my mouth sought hers like an oasis in the desert. She gasped into my mouth as I pulled her against my body and her hands snaked around my waist.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I whispered against her lips before taking them again. My tongue dancing with hers made my heart beat even faster than I thought possible.
“I love you.” She answered between breaths, matter-of-factly.
“Shut up.” I groaned, capturing her lips again. I loved hearing those words out of her mouth, but I still wasn’t convinced that she knew what they meant. Fuck, I didn’t even know what they meant. They had fluttered in and out of my mind earlier too, but I got rid of the thought as quick as it flew in. I had never loved or been loved by anyone before. It was completely uncharted territory.
Thankfully, she didn’t say it again that night. After a wonderful make out session, she walked me back to the master bedroom where she tucked herself into my arm and fell asleep within minutes. I, of course, was wide awake for another hour contemplating what she said to me. This was not how I expected this to go. Once again, Elizabeth had surprised me.
The next morning, I was awoken by Elizabeth’s cucumber melon scented hair tickling my nose. My eyes slowly blinked open, taking in the weight pressed up against me. Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw Elizabeth hovering above me with her wild hair framing her face in the most adorable and sexy way. She blinked at me, her bright blue eyes searching my face.
“Good morning, Princess.” I groaned, stretching beneath her.
“Good morning.” She whispered back, her voice laced with confusion.
“What’s the matter, baby?” I asked, pulling her up and arranging her so that she was straddling me while I lay flat against the mattress. My fingers traced circles on the outer sides of both thighs.
“I was just watching you sleep. You were talking.” Talking?
“What did I say?” I questioned. I had never been told that I talk in my sleep before, so I was pretty damn curious. She completely ignored my question though.
“I didn’t expect you to sleep in this long.” Sleep in? I don’t ‘sleep in.’ I furrowed my brow before leaning up on my elbows to glance at the clock.
10:42 am. What the fuck?