Missing Year AU

"Why do you always have to leave so quickly afterwards?"

She scoffed, throwing him an incredulous look over her shoulder before bending to take her dress from the stone floor. "What reason is there to stay?" and then, because Merlin forbid she leave him unscathed for asking something so reasonable, she turns with luxurious velvet covering her chest - he knows not why for he's mapped and savoured every inch of her glorious body already - and a mock pout on her pretty lips before asking, "to cuddle?"

"You are insufferable," he replied with a shake of his head and frustration colouring his tone.

"And yet you seemingly wish me to remain in your company."

"I like talking with you," he shrugged, "when you're not trying to set me alight with your words alone. Is that such a terrible thing?"

She rolled her dark eyes as she stepped into her dress and began sliding it up her bare body, forgoing her corset and underthings for the short walk back to her chambers. No one would see her at this hour, propriety mattered not. "Don't pretend we're friends, Thief."

"I wouldn't deign to label us as something so uncomplicated, Your Majesty," he replied without missing a beat, pulling her razor sharp gaze to his as he continued steadily, "because we both know that we are far more than just 'friends'."

She stood with her lips parted and eyes wide, still in mid-dress as he merely rolled onto his side and closed his eyes with sheets gathered at his hips.

"Do close the door as you rush out of here."