Barbed Black Rose

Chapter One

Anís lounged on her bed staring out of the window, her mind devoured by ifs, buts and maybes. The moons silver light illuminated the trees and rooftops across the street and she found herself smiling at the almost ethereal view. Four rose cards rested softly atop a plush velveteen pillow beside her on the desk. Her fingers would skitter across their surface, taking strength from them then drifted back to her hair to twist and twirl.

Anís had found herself smiling a lot more recently. Maybe it was the arrival of her Rhode Knights or the coming summer but either way her spirits felt lifted. It was highly possible it was her Knights that were causing her recent elation. Her knights… She closed her eyes and let memories of them overcome her. The days at school, furious blushes, accidental appearances… Those Stolen kisses.

All of her Knights were special to her in their own ways. They all saw her as a princess and protected her thus, loved her so dearly. She didn't know what to do with that knowledge, with the love she felt every day. All four had a need for affection, almost a desperate craving.

Turning onto her stomach Anís plucked all four cards from the table and fanned them out on the pillow. She could feel her breath bouncing back off of them, warm and minted. It was like a secret kiss, one that was all hers, one no one else would ever know. A blush spread along her face and her cheek touched their chilled surface, cooling the heated blood spreading through her.

She didn't know how she felt about her knights, except that they were all special to her and that she'd had enough kisses to last her a lifetime. Her blood quickened at the thought. She could still feel lips on hers if the memory came to mind.

"What can I do? I love all of you."

The admission cut though the silence in the room. She'd shocked herself by finally admitting it aloud, even alone. The blush spread down her neck and left her feeling feverish. The urge to press her lips to the chill of her Knights cards became nigh undeniable, her teeth held her lip and her body shook from the sudden unaddressed need. Maybe she needed them more than they needed her.

Her body shuffled onto her back, her hands bringing the cards to her chest. Her heart was thumping wildly now, the cards lifting with each beat. Her head lolled from side to side, a kind of euphoria pressing down on her. She had never been in love before and didn't know how it could make her feel. She reasoned that it felt like a welcome fever. The heat in her cheeks, the chuffed breaths and the clenching chest were possible symptoms. Maybe she should go to the doctor? A short giggle escaped her lips. It felt weird, almost unnatural.

A sudden dizziness weighed on her, her heated body felt surprisingly heavy. She felt a heavy heartbeat beside her own, whispering of a larger framed body, rustling of sheets. Wide rose pink eyes bored into the ceiling as she forced her shaking body to lie still as she mentally assessed everything. This new heartbeat wasn't hers and there was no one else in her bed. It was strong, hot and fast. Stuttering? A face ghosted through her mind. Mutsuki… Mutsuki's sleeping face? Her grip tightened on the cards.

"Mutsuki..?" Her voice cracked in confusion as his face solidified in her mind. Mutsuki was laid with his sleek dark hair caressing a small black pillow. His hands were twisted in the sheets, his eyes squeezed shut. He appeared to be asleep and in the grip of a strong dream. She watched a drop of sweat travel beneath his shirt collar and his pointed teeth dig into his bottom lip. Her body warmed as if preparing itself while his body shuddered and twisted. A breath puffed from between his lips followed by a short rumbling groan. The sound made her heart twist. Was he in pain? Scared? His body twisted and arched, blood seeping from a small wound in his lip.

Lightly bloodied lips moved, softly whispering seductively pleading nonsense. Anís felt heat gathering between her legs. She watched as Mutsuki's discomfort increased quickly, sweat starting to bead on his skin. A gasp left her parted lips as the sleeping Dark Stalker lifted a trembling hand and slid it beneath the band of his loose pants.

"Anís…Hnn…"

A jolt shot through Anis's body and the steamy image quickly dissipated. She shot up in bed, the cards scattering around her. Heart heavy, breath hard her eyes swung around the room guiltily. She felt like she'd just witnessed something thrilling yet perverse.

Her heart still thumping, she swooped up his card and smoothed out the crease she made while clutching it. The card felt warm to her and his face flashed through her mind. Her black rose knight… She wondered what he was dreaming about. A-And why he whispered her name. Was she in danger in his dream? It didn't sound like it…

She scooped up the rest and put them back in their place, on the pillow beside her alarm clock, before turning on her side and yanking her duvet up to her chin. She flicked off her bedside lamp and let herself drift off… But that whisper of his still lazily fluttered through her mind, disrupting and distorting her dreams.