Alanna curled in her sheets with the window open so that she could see the stars. Faithful had went off to meet with one of his many lady loves, leaving her alone in the early summer heat. Kicking her legs free of the covers, she sighed and rolled over, pounding her pillow behind her head.
I'm never going to get to sleep if I don't stop thinking about him.
Him. Her heart thrilled and a shiver ran down her spine. Thinking of the traitor who had died by her hand yet who walked amongst her friends and family in the palace as alive as anyone just born. She closed her eyes only to open them once more to stare at her door. The brass doorknob was turning slowly.
Rolling onto her side she reached for Lightning. Sliding the sword out of its scabbard silently, she gripped it's jeweled hilt, watching the door open to admit a tall man into the shadows of her room cast by the light from her open window.
"Jonathan?" she whispered thinking it might be her former lover and knight-master.
"No."
The Prince's cousin pulled back the hood that covered his brown black hair and his teeth flashed in the light from the fireplace as he continued into the room. The man should be dead, she killed him, he shouldn't be looking so alive and healthy. He shouldn't be looking at her with eyes that held a dangerous promise that made the breath catch in her throat.
"Lioness.. Alanna.. I liked you better as Alan, personally." His smile was wicked as he shut and locked the door behind him. "But I can make do with Alanna."
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Her hands felt numb with nervousness, and she couldn't help but be aware that she was wearing very little in the way of clothing or bed covers either. She licked her lips and sat up awkwardly on her bed as Roger of Conté paced closer to her bed, shedding the dark robe that he was wearing to reveal the tan skin of his chest and shoulders and dark pair of pants.
She dropped Lightning with a ringing clatter as she sat up, pushing herself back onto the bed until her back touched the wall.
"What are you doing?" She hissed, angry that she had let her guard down because of her warring feelings.
"What I know that you want me to, Lioness." He grasped one of her ankles in one overly hot hand and jerked her closer to the edge of the bed where he was now kneeling. His other hand went behind her neck and pulled her face to his in a scorching kiss, her breath caught in her throat as her body responded to his brazen touches. Her ankle and neck burned while the rest of her skin prickled with a feeling of electricity, his lips touches hers were a brand and while they punished her, his eyes hungrily fed upon her stark momentary helplessness.
Alanna sat up in bed with a gasp, her sheets soaked with sweat. Alone in her room, she let a breath out with a whoosh, and laid back onto her bed with a thump.
Just a dream.. thank the Gods.