From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

and I’m a Royyal Guard, but all things considered, I would hope that yyou
and I are friends.”
“We are.” And we were.
His hand flattened against myy cheek, and a sigh shuddered through
him. “And I’m not…I’m not being a good friend or guard right now. I’m
not…” His hand slid, and his fingers curled around the nape of myy neck
for a few seconds before he slipped his hand awayy. “I reallyy should get yyou
back to yyour room. It’s getting late.”
I exhaled raggedlyy. “It is.”
He was going to take me back—to that room where I was the Maiden,
the Chosen. Back to where I wasn’t Poppyy but a shadow of a person who
wasn’t allowed to experience, need, live, or want. I would no longer be
who he saw.
“Hawke?” I whispered, myy heart crashing like thunder. “Kiss me.
Please.”