Thanks for all your reviews! You Rock!

Here's the next chapter - sorry rather short… maybe I will update on Sunday another short one :D

HAVE FUN and R&R

When I woke it was still completely dark in my room, I needed a moment to understand where I was, because the surroundings were still very unknown to me. But when I realized where I was I smiled, relieved that this hadn't been a dream.

I shortly wondered what time it was, as I didn't feel tired anymore. The fire to my right wasn't burning, there was just a soft glow coming from it. I sat up and thought a moment about what to do. At home I usually read when I couldn't sleep, so maybe I should do the same.

Carefully I climbed out of the huge bed and lit the candle on my nightstand. With the candle in my hand I walked over to my chest and looked inside. I had already read all of these books and with the thought in the back of my head, that there was a huge library not far from my room, I couldn't force myself to reread one of the books. So instead of a book, I pulled my dark blue dressing gown out of the chest. I put it on and left my room, on bare feet. I snuck through the corridor as quietly as possible, I didn't want to wake anyone.

I couldn't keep myself from smiling when I finally reached the library. With a little effort I opened the big door and slipped into the room. What surprised me was the fact that there was a fire burning in the fireplace and half a dozen candles were lit.

"Why are you up already?" I heard a familiar voice and turned to look at Henry who sat in an armchair near the window.

"I couldn't sleep anymore and you?" I replied and walked over to where he sat.

"Me neither, how did you sleep?"

"Very good!" I answered, taking the seat in front of him.

"That's good, so what did my mother want to tell you?" he asked interested and leaned a little closer to me, so that his arms were resting on his knees while he looked at me with those intense blue eyes of his.

"My father obviously thinks that I don't want to marry you for the right reasons. He thinks I only agreed to do it, because of my mother's influence and your title. He told your mother of his concern and she told me."

"She doesn't believe him, does she?" Henry asked, looking alarmed. That made me smile, because I had felt the same way after Joana had told me.

"No. She just wanted to tell me, so I can talk to my father and convince him otherwise."

"Good." Henry smiled and sounded relieved.

For a short moment we were both silent until he started to talk again.

"You look pretty." he smiled and I blushed, realizing just now what I was wearing. Immediately I pulled my dressing gown closer around me, which made Henry laugh.

"No need to blush. I really mean it. You look very pretty, besides, we are going to be married in a matter of weeks, so it isn't all that inappropriate to see you like this." He was right, but still, I felt rather insecure under his gaze.

"I can't help it when you look at me like that." I answered honestly and was sure that my cheeks were fiery red by now.

"I like that!" Henry said and placed his hand on my cheek, his thumb softly stroking my skin.

"Really?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Of course. It shows just how wrong your father is and that we are getting married for the only reason that counts."

And again he was right, how could I be interested in his title or his money, when he was so wonderful and made me feel like a completely different person? Like someone who was wanted, someone who had finally found a place where she belonged.

"You are right!" I smiled at him and could picture myself as his wife and how I longed for that moment.

"Of course I am." he chuckled, which made me smile. I had expected that answer.

"I love it, when you smile like this." he said and brushed a strand of loose hair out of my face.

"I can't help it, when I'm with you!" I answered honestly and blushed dark crimson. Usually I couldn't talk about my feelings, but with Henry it was really easy. Though most of the time I realized what I had said ridht after I said it, which meant it was too late to think about it some more.

"That's good…" he replied with a smile, though there was something in his eyes I couldn't quite name. Before I had more time to think about it, he leaned closer to me and kissed me. I froze for a short moment, before my heart started to race in my chest

and I kissed him back. I had never been kissed before and it was more amazing than anything I had ever felt before. The kiss was so tender and loving that, for a moment, it took my breath away. Carefully I placed my hands on his shoulders which felt hard under my fingers and enjoyed the shockwaves running through my body. When he slowly ended the kiss, I couldn't keep myself from sighing disappointed. I would have liked to kiss him some more. I blushed dark crimson for that wish.

Henry leaned his forehead against mine and I could see that he was slightly out of breath, just as I.

"Wasn't that very inappropriate?" I finally asked with a small smile, remembering Henry's words from the day in my room.

"I think so." he agreed with a smile and immediately continued: "But it would have killed me if I waited any longer!" If possible I blushed even darker.

Yai, a kiss, what do you think? Sweet or ewwww?