"Milady!"
I woke abruptly to the dulcet tones of Lydia's voice. My eyes sprung open wide and I groaned, unhappy to be disturbed from the comfort of my bed and Vilkas's embrace.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" I grumbled, trying to bury my face back into my pillow.
"Yes, but I did not expect to find you in here with company," she retorted snidely. "What will Vilkas or Farkas think?"
"I can't speak for my brother, but I am more than happy with the company she is keeping," Vilkas smirked, raising his head over my left shoulder.
"Oh!" Lydia gasped in surprise, turning around to give us some privacy. "You must excuse me. I thought you were perhaps someone else."
"Hmm," he murmured, nuzzling my ear. "Wonder who she thought I might have been?"
"Enough outta you," I growled, rolling over to playfully nip him lightly on the lip. Gathering the blanket around me, I crawled out of the massive bed, leaving him naked and gazing at my backside. I snagged his now-dry breeches off the back of a chair and tossed them to him. He caught them in midair and grinned wickedly at me as he slid off the side of the bed. I watched him bend over to put his pants on and bit my lip until I almost drew blood. Great Talos, what a view! A part of me, the part deep down inside between my legs, begged me to send Lydia from the room and spend the day abed with that glorious behind. My brain, on the other hand, screamed reasons not to stay in bed all day. Duty, Sex, Ulfric, Vilkas.
I sighed and gave in to the rational side of my brain.
"Oh my," Lydia gasped beside me, catching sight of Vilkas half-nude, his rock-hard chest lit up by the morning rays sneaking through the stained-glass window.
"You should see Farkas," I whispered to her out of the corner of my mouth.
"Milady, I don't know if my heart could handle that," she murmured back.
I laughed aloud, drawing Vilkas's attention. He frowned in confusion at my outburst. I tossed him his shirt and watched with heated eyes as he slipped it over his head and covered his beautiful chest.
"My clothing, Lydia," I commanded. She turned away from Vilkas's show, opened the closet, and pulled out a pale-green embroidered dress. I dropped the furs to my feet, and Vilkas's eyes darkened at my sudden nudity. I watched him watching me and felt a flutter of arousal. I lifted my arms as Lydia helped me slide the dress over my head. Lydia's quick hands soon had my dress in place and covering all the necessary bits of anatomy, though not by much; the neckline plunged low on my torso, damn near baring my breasts to the world. On the plus side, the dress went completely to the floor and had a belt for me to strap my dagger at my waist. Once everything was strapped into place, Lydia stepped back from me and appraised my overall look.
"Do you think I will pass the nobles' inspections?" I asked her, my eyes never leaving Vilkas's face. His eyes grew so dark that if Lydia was not in my chambers, I knew he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off me, nor mine off him.
"You look breathtaking, my love," he said hoarsely.
Lydia agreed. "Oh, my Thane, Jorleif asked me to pass on a message and remind you of your fitting just after this morning's meal. The dress must be ready for tonight."
I sighed dramatically but nodded to her. "Perhaps while I am being fitted, we could have them make you a matching ensemble."
"That is most unnecessary, my Thane. I was just going to stop in one of the local shops and find something suitable for the celebration."
"Nonsense. If I am having a dress made by Jarl Ulfric, it is only fair that you have one as well," I declared.
"Ach lass, you sounded like a real noblewoman there," Vilkas drawled.
"Really?" I asked excitedly as Lydia and Vilkas nodded. "Good, that is exactly how I want it to come across to Ulfric when I bring it up to him."
A smile broke out across Lydia's face, "Clever, milady."
"Well 'tis only fitting he should pay for it anyway. It's not like I asked for this celebration in my honor. Back when I was a young girl growing up in my home village, all our mothers would gather together and sew dresses for all the young ladies, thus providing one new dress for every girl at least once a year. It was a way to help out those who didn't have anything and to unite us as a village."
"You've rarely spoken of your home before," Lydia said softly. "Especially so fondly."
"Oh," I said dismissively, "it's nothing, just a small town of no consequence."
"Humph, that's what you always say," Lydia frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.
I grinned mischievously at her. "Mayhap one day, I'll have revealed enough clues for you to figure it out. Until then…" I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.
She muttered in frustration and Vilkas chuckled deeply, drawing my attention to him.
"As for you…I have no idea what I am going to do with you," I pondered, nibbling on my bottom lip.
"Well lass," he said, grinning wickedly as he snagged my waist with his long fingers and drew me against him. His shirt dipped low at his neck, cutting a sharp line down his chest. I planted my palms against the hard muscles, caressing the skin softly under my fingertips. "You could just keep me in here, and I will suffer the moments I can't be around you. I doubt our would-be king would want me following you around like a star-struck youngling, anyway."
I sighed deeply and rested my head on his shoulder. This is why I liked him so much. He understood the whole situation without me having to explain it. He knew the politics I had to maneuver through. If Farkas was here, he wouldn't have grasped the situation so quickly, and he quite possibly wouldn't have cared about the politics. Wait…Farkas!
I pulled back abruptly from Vilkas, looking him straight in the face. "Why is it that just you are here? Why did Farkas not follow as well?"
Vilkas' eyes widened. "Well…it's simple, actually…"
My door slamming open interrupted his answer. Jarl Ulfric entered my chambers, accompanied by Jorleif and several soldiers. Lydia dropped to one knee, and Vilkas and I froze, staring at our unwanted company.
For the love of Talos, had no one ever heard of knocking?
