A/N: Happy New Year!

RPOV

I awoke this morning to the sound of men below my window. I sat on my window-seat, looking down at them and smiling. They were hard at work on their workshop. I saw my brother take a running jump and land further than anyone else. The Knights applauded and Lancelot recorded Jacob's accomplishment in his book.

Then I saw Jasper.

He was absolutely breathtaking. His tunic was off due to his heated body temperature. He was running through the obstacle in an undershirt and his tight pants. His shirt was sticking to his body due to sweat and I could see every muscle and curve of his chest and arms.

Was it bad that a sweaty man was so sexy?

I watched in awe as he did a somersault mid-jump and landed flat on his feet. Then he took off and ran behind a bush. The bush was closer to me and I could see him better.

Beads of sweat were running down his face and neck and a few dripped from his hair. As I was frozen in my spot, I watched him wipe some of the sweat away and tugged on his soaked shirt.

I'd tug it right off.

I shook my head. I have been having so many unladylike thoughts about him lately. Thoughts about what he looks like under his tunic, thoughts about feeling his body pressed against mine. Thoughts that make my lady parts sing.

I'm becoming a harlot.

And his touch…amazing! I could still feel his hands on me from yesterday. He had come to my room and we spent much of the evening talking. Around ten, he said he needed to get to bed so he was rested for today. I rose from my seat to get the door for him and he grabbed my hand and yanked me down onto his lap. I yelped at the movement and he quickly quieted me with his lips on mine. I kissed him back and my hands wound into his hair. I ran my fingers through his blond locks and he growled against my lips, clearly enjoying what I was doing.

The kiss was passionate and desperate. It was as though he wanted to devour me. And I would have let him.

I opened my mouth slightly to give him permission and his tongue found mine hungrily. We played a game with each other as we tried to be impossibly closer. His hand left mine and slowly worked its way up my corset, stopping below my left breast. He broke the kiss and moved to nibble my neck.

"You have no idea what you do to me, Rose."

I smiled and continued running my hands through his hair. His head dipped lower and he began kissing my collarbone and the hollow of my throat before trailing downwards.

"J-Jasper?" I whispered. His mouth reached the top of my right breast and he was fluttering kisses there. Our corsets made our breasts stick out more than I would like them to. I wasn't that big and it gave a false illusion.

"Yes, my lady?" he said against my skin. His warm breath caused goose bumps and I shuddered slightly. My hands moved from his head and rested at the base of his neck.

"We should stop," I said quietly. I didn't want to, but I couldn't get caught up in sex. I didn't want to lose my reputation.

"We should," he agreed, pressing his lips against my cleavage firmly. His right hand moved to support me from behind and he pulled me impossibly closer. I was about to speak again when he moved his head to the area in between my breasts. His slow, torturous movements and his mouth on me made me lose all comprehension.

My head slowly fell back and I arched my back towards him as he continued to pepper my exposed skin with kisses. I knew I was in danger of losing myself, but I found I didn't care. He was awaking things in me that I didn't know existed. I had no idea that women could have these intense feelings or that we grew wet in certain areas. But I knew at that moment, I was soaked.

I moaned slightly as he trailed kisses back up, swiping his tongue in the hollow of my throat and continuing upwards. He kissed my chin and bypassed my mouth. I chuckled as he kissed the tip of my nose, both cheeks, my eyelids and my forehead.

"I feel I'm forgetting something," he said with a smirk. "Any idea what that could be?"

Finding feeling in my hand, I brought one finger to my lips and tapped it gently. His blue eyes sparkled brightly. "Oh, that's right!" he said. "Silly me." Before I had time to react, he kissed me greedily, passionately. I groaned into his mouth when he wrapped both arms around me, keeping me pressed firmly against him. I could feel something hard pressing against my lady parts, but at the moment I was too busy to care.

He didn't leave my room until dawn.

I smiled at the memory of last night and came back into the present. The workshop was wrapping up for the day. Jacob was twirling his sword above his head, trying to impress a child that was watching him about ten feet away. The boy was odd; I had never seen him before. He sat on one of the concrete walls, his eyes glued on my brother in fascination.

My brother has an admirer.

I noticed Edward had left the group and Lancelot was finishing things up, recording the final times of some of the men. I scanned the crowd for Jasper. He walked over to a bucket of water that was placed for the men. I laughed loudly when he picked it up and dumped the whole thing over him in an attempt to cool down. His blond hair formed a helmet around his head and his clothes clung tighter than I've ever seen him. Because of that, I was drawn to the area in his pants. I gasped at what I saw and looked away, embarrassed. I shouldn't be ogling the Knights like that; it wasn't ladylike.

Imagine trying to fit THAT into something delicate like me.

"Rosalie!" I scolded myself. I couldn't help it. Sir Jasper brought out desires in me that I didn't know existed. He was so sweet and charming, yet so dominating. I knew he cared about my reputation, but he was also growing impatient at waiting.

Yet, he is the one making you wait.

A flash of red caught my eye and I looked to the source. Victoria. She placed a kiss on her husband's cheek and motioned for him to take a shower. He laughed and headed for the Knights' door, leaving her standing behind and watching him.

Then she turned and headed for Jasper.

Oh bloody Hell.

I pressed myself against the window as I saw her approach him. His back was to me so I couldn't read his reaction. I really wished that we could open the windows but the King has ordered them locked at all times due to the last attack.

He had knelt down to retrieve his things and when he stood up, Victoria was pressing herself against him. I watched in horror as she ran her hands through his wet hair. I didn't see him pull away so I began banging on the window.

Smirking at her victory, she wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled herself close, whispering something in his ear. Her breasts were inches from his face.

That did it. I began yelling and flew to the door, ready to show that bitch that he was mine. I flung the door open and was greeted by Edward.

"Whoa," he said, holding up his hands. "Where's the fire?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I have to get to Jasper. Victoria is trying to sink her claws into him." I tried to push past him, but Edward grabbed my wrist firmly.

"You are not going out looking like that." He gestured downwards.

I followed his gaze and my cheeks flamed. I was still in my nightdress. It was unusual for me to be in it for so long, but I was distracted this morning. So much so, apparently, that I was going to start a fight in nothing but this. While the Knights would be amused, the Queen wouldn't be. Nor Jacob.

"I'm sorry," I said, pulling back. Edward released my wrist and nodded. He looked embarrassed and I gently pat his cheek. I've known Edward for so long I'm like a sister to him. I knew there was nothing sexual in his look. He was looking at me the way a brother looks at his sister.

"I'll be out in a minute," I said. He ran a hand through his hair. I chuckled softly and closed the door. I dressed quickly, leaving my hair down. I kept an eye on the garden below. Jasper had left, but Victoria was still there, picking flowers out of the Queen's special patch.

The Queen hears about that and she's a dead woman.

I opened the door and was greeted with Edward's smiling face. I gestured for him to come inside.

"Now, what was all this about Victoria and Jasper?" He sat down on the edge of my bed and watched me intently. I moved to the window seat and tucked a foot under me.

"I saw her run her hand through his wet hair. He didn't pull away. Then she whispered something in his ear, raising herself up so her breasts were in his face." I growled at the thought.

He shook his head. "And you think he was receptive?"

"He didn't pull away."

He can't hurt me like that. Not Jazz.

Edward sighed and stood up. He came over and sat by me, taking my hand in his. "Rose, you are like a sister to me. We can tell each other secrets and we trust one another, right?"

I nodded, wondering what he was getting at.

"Okay, well I have something to tell you. But you cannot act like you know. If so, I'll be in deep shit."

I laughed at the gentleman cursing. It seemed to be such a contradiction. "You have my word," I said.

He took a deep breath and his green eyes showed worry. "Sir Jasper is in love with you."

Time stopped as his words registered. They echoed in my head over and over: "Sir Jasper is in love with you," "Sir Jasper is in love with you."

A smile spread across my face. "Really?" I said quietly. He nodded.

"He's wanted to tell you, but the timing's never been right. He planned it a week or so ago, but then we were attacked. And ever since then, the King has been running us Knights ragged with things to do so he hasn't had a free moment."

Except for last night, my brain told me. That would have been a good opportunity; why did he pass it up?

"Then why didn't he pull away from Victoria?" I asked.

"He is a Knight and a gentleman. It is against the code of chivalry to show displeasure with a lady. He may not have pulled back when she touched him, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it. But since you couldn't hear anything, he may have likely told her to not do it again."

That made sense. Princess Alice sometimes ran her hand through Jacob's hair and although his eyes told a different story, he didn't pull away. I knew that he didn't feel the same way about her that she did towards him, but to deny the Princess was treason.

"I understand," I said and squeezed his hand. He smiled at me, green eyes shining. "Trust me, Rose. All he thinks about is you."

I grinned widely at that. "Thank you for telling me, Edward. And I promise I won't let on."

"Good," he said and stood up. He held out his hand to me and I took it, standing up. I walked him to the door. "By the way, who was that little boy sitting on the wall watching Jacob?"

Edward shrugged. "I have never seen him before. Jake didn't know either. We assumed it was the son of one of the staff. But no one has spoken of having a son lately."

Odd.

"Strangest thing about him though," Edward continued, "was his eyes."

I cocked my head to the side. "Eyes?"

He nodded. "They were a golden color, much like Morgan Le Fay's." He stopped as the wheels went around in his head. "Maybe it's her boy."

"Could be, but I've never heard Morgan talk about a husband or children." I liked the King's sister, but didn't believe for a second that she was a witch. I thought she was slightly insane. Problem was, she had Alice believing she had powers too. That had to be stopped.

"Besides, I don't think he would have traveled from Avalon alone, do you?"

Edward shrugged. "Well, whoever the boy was, he was quite intrigued with Jacob." Edward crossed the threshold and turned to me. "Lady Rosalie, it's been a pleasure."

I curtsied and bowed my head. "Same, Sir Edward. Please let my brother know that I wish to see him after he has cleaned up."

He bowed and clicked his heels together. "Will do." After straightening up, he turned and walked off.

I closed my door and leaned against it, trying to make sense of what I just learned. Sir Jasper loves me. He LOVES me. That explains why he wants to wait, yet why it's so difficult for him. He doesn't want to destroy my virtue, yet must enjoy kissing me.

I have often wondered if that was true, if I did to him what he did to me. I was so naïve when it came to things like this. Women were not taught about sex in today's time. We expected the man to know and we would follow along. While the Knights received accolades for scoring with women, those women were humiliated and treated like harlots. We could be branded an "adulterer" and forced to leave the area. It was such a sexist time.

"Screw it," I said. "I'm going to learn what I can so I can be prepared." I was never one to go along with society. I hated corsets and side-saddles. I wanted to ride astride, my hair blowing in the wind and free my breasts from the enclosure they were trapped in. I wanted to serve the Queen freely, without worrying that what I do will reflect back on her. I wanted to be free.

I walked to my vanity and pulled my hair up, exposing my neck. It was a risky move, but I didn't care. I wanted to see Jasper's face when he saw my neck ready and available for him. Maybe I can convince him to sneak off to the rose garden with me and he can suck on my neck some more.

I touched the spot where the mark used to lay. It didn't last long, unfortunately. My brother made sure I covered it up when out in public. I didn't miss Sir Jasper's eyes fly to my neck when he saw me. He seemed relieved that I hid it. This way, it was a secret between the two of us. Well, between the three of us thanks to my meddling brother.

Maybe that will change today.

I fastened the last clip in my hair and added some perfume. I naturally smelled like roses, but I always took the opportunity to enhance it. I sprayed lightly and then turned and sprayed the room. Although I enjoy Edward's company, he was sweaty like the other men and the stench remained.

Satisfied with how I looked, I stood and left the room.

I was not blind to the looks I received from the men as I passed them. Several whistled under their breath and others just stared. I smiled at the attention. I was often referred to rivaling Queen Guinevere for her beauty. While it was unacceptable to think that any woman was more beautiful than her, I secretly agreed.

Guinevere's got nothing on me.

I only hoped Sir Jasper agreed.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think. Those who do will receive a preview of chapter 13.