The fair Lucrezia Borgia leaned on her balcony rail, waiting. She was searching the horizon for Alfonso. Days ago, she would have been combing the distance for her brother Juan, but she had concluded he was off, away from home. Now, she leapt in place as she thought of her dear husband. The wind whipped her hair past her pearly neck, and she breathed in the scent of Rome. The air seemed to freshen her very skin within moments.

Two hands grasped her waist, and she was about to scream, but one of the hands left her waist to cup over her mouth. Her heart was thudding in her chest, and she slowly turned around to come face to face with none other than her favorite brother, Cesare, who was slightly amused. His hand left her mouth to cradle her neck and he sheepishly apologized for scaring her. "How were you able to enter? My chambers were locked, brother." Lucrezia breathed. A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "I have my ways, dearest." Lucrezia's eyes widened. "You would be smart not to do so again." she warned. At that, he let out a loud laugh and swiftly kissed her forehead. Lucrezia chuckled and turned around, to where she was facing out onto her balcony. She leaned into her brother's strong frame, resting her arms on his hands, which once again formed a vice around her waist. He pressed his face into the back of her head, and quietly hummed a lullaby as the two stared out into the setting sun.

Giving her hair a final kiss, he bent down to her delicate ear. "The evening meal is ready. Come eat with me." his breath tickled her ear, and she giggled out of control, squirming out of his grasp and darting back into her room. Grinning wickedly, Cesare stepped in after her, and closed the balcony doors. All around him, darkness came. Not a single candle was lit. It was him, and Lucrezia, in a dangerous game of hide and seek.

Cesare held his breath, like a predator trying to detect it's prey. He heard faint huffs of excited breaths... under the sheets. Silently making his way to the edge of Lucrezia's bed, he felt his way with his fingers to where he waited in complete darkness. Waiting. Waiting...

Lucrezia felt a slight itch on her ankle. That devil-sent itch! Slowly reaching her hand down to her foot, her fingers were just on the edge of the disturbance...

Cesare pounced.

(Author's note: This is based on SHOWTIME's Tv series The Borgias)