His sleep was restless…
Lucas turned several times in his bed as he slept, a moan of displeasure escaped his lips. By the day, his nights became much more undesirable--sleep came only after a nightlong struggle. Even still, his dreams were filled with things he didn't understand...
1400 A.D.
He held a quill in between his fingers. He, Luca, son of Daniel and Karen, was a common man by every standard. He worked thoroughly on the land of Nobleman Sawyer for the modest home over his head. At nightfall, although, Luca wrote for himself--with quill and pen in hand, by candlelight…for writing was his only escape within these cruel lands…
His hands, still covered in soot by the day's labor, stained the thin parchment on which he wrote.
"I dream of thee, my love," he whispered, reading over his night's work, "Your golden locks and mine fingers locked in a lover's knot. Your impeccable angel's mouth, pressed against mine for all eternity…"
He stopped and sighed. No. He mustn't think of such things. For this was Rome. And in Rome, he was the peasant and she was far above his station. There would be no happy ending...no eternity. He ripped the parchment for daring to write such foolishness.
Just then, there was a small rap at his door.
Luca lifted his head and put down his quill. He walked towards the door and slowly opened it at head's width.
And there she stood. The vision of beauty before his very eyes…
Peyton, daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth Sawyer--the very Noble family whom Luca worked for.
She stood still in the moonlight, like the statue Aphrodite of Melos, a vision before his eyes. Her golden curls were collected and held back with strings of pearl as her tunica billowed in the night's breeze.
He stood there, motionless for a moment, just breathing in the mere sight of her before reality set in. He quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her into his house.
As the door closed, their mouth's met in a searing, urgent kiss. Her hands caressed his face as she murmured his name over and over.
"Luca…Luca…"
His mind was dizzy with her presence. Dear God, he loved her, how could this even begin to be accepted…?
Her hands tore at his tunic, desperately wanting to fill his warm, golden skin.
In return, his began to unravel her shawl and tunica, carefully but quickly removing the clips in the process.
Peyton, losing her patience, ripped the pearls from her head, letting her ringlets fall loose around her face.
She wrapped her arms around Luca. "Ti Amo," she said desperately as she fell on his bed. "I love you…I'm missing you more each day…"
Oh, how he longed all day to hear these words--how they made his heart soar, yet pained him all the same…
He stared at her, lying beneath him in all her glory and splendor…he watched how her eyes darkened when he entered her. He listened to how her voice became lighter, more urgent as they moved together as one. Her nails scored his back as her lips sought his, sucking…teasing…
Peyton woke with a start. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead and she struggled to regulate her breathing. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She put her hand over it and shook her head. Her moved her fingers over her mouth…she could still feel his kiss…
Lucas laid still in bed, his hands tucked behind his head. He stared at the ceiling, unable to grasp one coherent thought from his head. He could still feel her kiss lingering on his mouth…
He would not sleep anymore tonight…