After their kiss, things returned to what their version of normal had become, an easy pattern he'd come to cherish. They hadn't kissed again since that night, at least not like that one. Sometimes before she leaves for the night to return to her own shared quarters she'd press a kiss to his cheek, too close and too far from his lips. Other nights when she fell asleep curled up in what he'd silently dubbed as her chair, Caspian would kiss the top of her cheek before tossing a blanket over her and retreating to his own room for the night. Those nights he couldn't decide if it was better or worse to have her so close, yet so very far, he thought that the chair couldn't be comfortable but she was gone by the morning and he couldn't bring himself to ask her to just join him in bed.

Still though, he'd gotten a taste of her, and like a man possessed or drunk he wanted more. All of her if she'd let him have her. But he tampered down the firing burning behind his ribcage, it wouldn't do to frighten her with his advances, she could very quickly decide that they were unwelcomed. He wondered what she would do if he took it upon himself to make the first move, since thus far she had been the one leading their dance. In his mind she'd welcome him exceedingly willingly, but reality was so different from fantasy. Even his treacherous mind showed him what could happen if his advances were unwelcomed, and he shuddered at the very thought of losing her when he'd only just found her.

Not for the first time he wondered if there was another way to bring up the conversation he so desperately wanted to have with her. He looked around the room desperately hoping for some sort of idea to strike, he internal clock telling him that she would arrive soon, and he did not want to spend another night sitting across from her, her foot rubbing against his leg his eyes on whatever assignment he hand in front of him but his mind a thousand miles away, the object of his thoughts mere feet.

His bookshelf caught his eye, his personal library housed a mix of all sorts of novels, from academic to fairytale and anything in between. A select few that were hidden behind his least favourite school books were the ones that he snuck out of the library many years ago once he'd hit puberty. He had questions that turned his face red at the mere thought of asking his professor so he turned to books. The library had a surprisingly stocked selection of intimate stories and poetry. But he hadn't given them a second thought before now. He wondered what her reaction would be, would she take the hint for what it was or would she just assume he was trying to expand her literary horizons? There was only one way to find out, he thought to himself as he rose from his chair to fetch a book and place it on the table in front of her seat before returning to his.

And not a moment too soon, a soft click sounds and the secret door swings inward, she always does that he notices. She takes a moment to peer inside the study as if to ensure no one but him is in there before she enters. When she does she approaches his side and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, before she slips away he catches her fingers in his and brings them to his mouth pressing a kiss to the back of her hand, she paused a flush rising on her cheeks as she smiled. So far so good then, Caspian thought as her fingers grazed his cheek before she went to her seat.

"Good mood tonight then?" She teased settling into her seat.

"Very much." He responded, shifting in his seat as she took the book in her hands, placing it on her lap, he was thankful that the cover of the book did not betray its contents.

"Any particular reason?"

"None, how was your day?"

"Boring as usual, repetitive, although my roommate continues to pester me about my late nights."

"Your roommate," he repeats, "Steph?"

She nodded, surprised that he remembered, "The one and only, though I don't know why she's so concerned, I can count on one hand the number of nights she spends in our room. I hardly ever saw her when she and Bruno first started courting."

The comparison makes the fire in Capsian's chest burn a bit more, "She cares about you. It's good to have someone like that looking after you." he said instead of what was really on his mind.

"I suppose it's not all bad." she responded with a small grin sinking into her seat a bit more, "Don't you have some studying to do?"

He grinned at her teasing, but she was correct. He did need to study, if only enough to memorise the basics to avoid a lecture on responsibility.

They lapsed into their comfortable silence easily, only broken when she turned a page or when his pencil scratched noisily across the paper, and Capsian enjoyed every moment of it. The almost domesticity of it, for as much as Alessandra distracted him, set his blood on fire. She also grounded him, gave him something to look forward to every night, her presence forced him to be more concentrated lest his eyes continuously stray to her.

It gets later and Caspian wonders if his plan had failed. She hadn't moved since she started reading aside from a few stretches, her foot didn't stop its journey up and down his leg either. So perhaps his second thoughts were correct, she found the book to be just another literary choice.

No sooner did the thought cross his mind, did she then surprise him. Her foot, which normally stayed stroking his calf, strayed higher, brushing the inside of his knee before following the trail back down. He never would have thought that such a simple movement could cause such a stir in his trousers.

She cleared her throat at long last, closing the book and placing it on the table. "I wasn't aware that there were such," she paused, "Enlightening stories out there."

"There everywhere," he responded, his voice sounding breathless even to his own ears and she stood and came around the table that separated them, "If you know where to look."

"And I'm sure you know where all sorts of intimate writings are contained."

Lion's mane, must she pur the word 'intimate' like that? "I am quite skilled at finding things."

She was by his side now, turned her bottom resting on the edge of his desk next to where he sat, her legs being blocked by her skirt pressed against the side of his. "You know, I've spent the past few nights wondering where I now stood with you."

"You have?" He asked blood rushing in his ears.

She nodded, "But I should've known that you would have been too foolish to ask me outright."

"I didn't want to pressure you." He responded honestly. "Or make you uncomfortable."

"Caspian," she sighed like she was speaking to a child, "I assure you that if you ever did anything to make me feel uncomfortable, I'd tell you, and I trust you to stop."

"I would."

"Then don't be afraid to ask me for anything," she leaned down close to him, her face aligned with his, "Or take it."

Caspian attempts to swallow his dry tongue, "I don't wish to cause you discomfort or-" She silenced him again, pressing her fingers to his lips with a soft smile on her face.

"Caspian," her fingers slid to his chin gently encouraging tugging him to stand before her as he leaned into her touch, "Not only do I think you incapable of causing me discomfort," she teased as he moved closer to her nearly between her legs, "Unless I ask of course," his breath shuddered out of him, "But I told you after that night, anytime you want me, I'm yours."

That's what did it for him, he leaned in closing the short distance between attacking her mouth with his. Because what he did could not be described as kissing, but she returned it with fervour. He steps forward fully between her legs pressing his body against hers, her hands held the sides of his neck until they didn't and she slid them down along his sides, over his waist and around his back pulling closer still, if such a thing were possible, her tongue never ceasing in its assault on his mouth. His hands went to her waist, sliding up beneath her ribs feeling her heartbeat. Fast against his palms and nearly matching the rhythm of his own.

His hands slid lower, down her side and over her hips until he caught her legs, lifting her to set her on the table. The position pulled the bottom of her dress up, the front of his pants meeting the apex of her thighs, a choked sound caught in his throat when the heat of her met him. He wants to apologize, and she might already know that by the way she sucks his tongue into her mouth, a curse might have slipped out instead as any semblance of self control he may have been grappling with disappears as he throws his arms around her. Pulling her off the table and into his arms a second before he returns to his seat placing her in his lap.

She pulled away, gasping at the change and his lips are on her neck before he could think better of it, because for once he stopped thinking, his mind and senses being utterly consumed by her. The taste of her skin on his tongue, the smell of her hair before she tossed it over her other shoulder to give him better access, the sound of her gasps, the feel of her beneath his hands, even if she was hidden by the layers of clothing, and if he opened his eyes he'd be treated to the sight of her indulging in the pleasure he gave her.

The first roll of her hips against his was accidental, he jerked and she froze on top of him, the second time she did it was experimental, the third time her core rocks against his length and his hands grasp her bottom tight to help guide her. Her hands glide into his hair, burying in the strands and tug, pulling his head back so that she could attach her lips to the pulse point beneath his jaw. Her hips don't stop their movement on top of his as she finds a rhythm she likes, he moves from beneath her, hoping to help guide her but finds himself on the losing side of the battle rather quickly.

He tries for her name, but it comes out in a deep groan between the assault on his neck and the havoc her hips are wrecking on his, the slide of her quick but smooth over his length, as unpracticed as he but tenacious all the same. She breaks away with a gasp and somehow he knows she must be close. She leans her forehead against his grinding down with purpose as he tries to hold on until she meets her end first. It comes when she shudders on top of him, on the final grind of her hips he breaks. He's not unfamiliar with the relief that comes with his finish, but he wasn't prepared for the way his body sagged into the chair following his first and so far only release he's shared with another person.

She relaxes on top of him, settling further onto his lap, absently his hands move up to her back rubbing soft almost chaste circles over her dress as they both work to catch their breath.

"Where does this leave us?" She asked after a long moment of silence, she was resting on top of him, her chest along his so much that he could feel every breath that filled her lungs, unconsciously matching her movements until they rose and fell in sync.

"I'm not sure," he answered honestly before raising his hands to smooth back her hair so he could look her in the eye, "But I would like to know you more, better than most anyone. If you'll have me."

"I want that too," she said nodding, "But perhaps we shouldn't."

"I won't let anything happen to you." He said instantly, one hand coming to cup the back of her neck.

"It's not me I'm worried about." She confesses softly.

He sighs, "Let's worry about that another day." She nodded, leaning her forehead against his for a moment before kissing him again.

Alessandra went to bed alone later that night but with a warmth blooming in her chest and a dampness between her legs and cooling on her undershift. She wasn't unfamiliar with her own arousal, but what she shared with Caspian was new to her. She'd heard her fellow maids speak about finishes, and being with a man. Though from what she heard the finish usually happened after the full act had taken place. She hadn't heard of anything like what she'd shared with Caspian.

The next morning Alessandra went through the motions of her morning routine, keeping her expression neutral when Tamara pulled Caspian's dirty clothes and teased that the Prince may have found himself a late night partner. She pulled the basket full of dirty clothes into arms and noticed that the front of the trousers were darker than they ought to be. That meant that at some point after Caspian peeled himself out of his chair once she'd left last night he'd tried to wash them, considering how he'd nearly fallen asleep leaning onto her chest after they'd finished last night, she was surprised that he was able to do anything other than fall into bed. Still, it was a nice gesture.

The rest of the day continues as usual for her. She did notice the missing few maids when she took her lunch and heard something about a sickness going around. She took her lunch in the courtyard alone since Steph took hers the hour before.

At least she was alone. "Fancy a bit of company?" A deep voice questioned and she looked up glaring against the sun to be met with Bruno's hulking form.

"Not at all," she said, tucking her skirts up under her legs to give him room beside her. He plopped down beside her, the chainmail on his body clinking with every move he made.

"I heard about your change in position," he said after a long moment of silence, "You enjoying it?"

"Well enough, certainly a drastic change from the kitchens. The hours are better at least. "

Bruno's smiles always looked so menacing to her, it was probably a product of his general size and occupation that stripped him of every little bit of joy. But Alessandra knew him well enough to know that his smile/sneer was as genuine as it came.

She didn't spend a lot of time with Bruno without Steph present, but it was a nice change. Bruno was quiet by nature, the conversation was very simple, mostly discussing things around the castle, their respective jobs and of course the one person they had in common. She liked watching the change in Bruno when he talks about her. He seems lighter, slightly more carefree when he talks about their time together. She decides that she quite likes the look of adoration on his face.

Sometime after they had finished their lunch, empty cloths pushed aside, Alessandra reached up, pushing her hair back off her shoulders and tying it back. Bruno was far too observant to not notice, his eyes zeroed in on her neck, while she chatted on about Professor Cornelieus' study. He should have felt bad about tuning her out but he had other things in his mind.

When she finished that story she paused for a moment, before she continued on into another story he cut in.

"Have ourselves a late night have we Les?" She looked at him in adorable confusion so he gestured to his own neck, the spot just above his collarbone. She reached up to her own neck flinching when she found the spot he was referring to. "I suppose someone should have told you they can be a bit sensitive the next day." He told her through his laughter.

"There wasn't really time." She huffed, letting her hair down against effectively hiding the bruise that was sucked into her neck.

"Les," his amused smile shrunk, "I trust that whoever did that," he cleared his throat working to keep his temper in check, "It was an agreement from both sides."

"What?" She snapped looking at him, then she looked at the growing anger on his face, and realized what he was asking, "What? No, I mean yes, no. It was." She stammered holding out her hands as if to calm a wild animal. "I'm just embarrassed that you had to see that."

"Be thankful that it's me and not My Steph," Alessandra always admired how he called Steph, 'His' Steph when he wasn't using her full name, "She would hardly be as understanding as I."

"You're telling me, I've lived with her for years before you came around you know."

"I do apologize for taking so much of her time."

"It's alright, I've quite enjoyed being alone."

"Doesn't look like you've been too alone to me." he teased and Alessandra decided she liked Bruno better when he was brooding, "Tell me though, was it the nobleman."

"Who else would it be?"

So she wasn't going to tell him? That was fine. He liked a challenge, "You ever been out onto the training grounds?"

"I try not to," she responded confused at the sudden turn in conversation, "It's not on my schedule or on any of my normal paths."

He nodded, that much he could understand, "Well can get quite warm out most days, some of the men even remove a few layers despite the fact that they're removing protection."

"Good to know?" she told him, now even more confused. Where exactly was he going with this?

"On the rare occasion a certain prince joins us," he told her, pretending not to notice how she blanched, "Along with his uncle of course, something about seeing his troops' preparedness first hand." Alessandra was quiet so he continued, "Today Caspian, Prince Caspian," he corrected, "Engaged in a few mock battles himself, and to my surprise even a noble such as him isn't invincible to the heat of the day. I trust that I don't need to finish the story?"

"You're observant." she pointed out in lieu of an actual response, hating the way her voice shook and the fact that she could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

"One of my finer qualities."

"So what happens now?" she asked quietly.

"Now you be careful," he said, easily making her eyes snap to his in shock, "Lovemarks on a prince are none too rare, in fact they're encouraged praised even, but I only know you well enough to put the pieces together. You don't want to risk someone higher than me finding out."

"Are you going to tell Steph?"

"No, you are." he shot back. "Perhaps she could teach you to hide them." he teased and was happy to see a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"Shouldn't you be telling me that it's wrong? That I shouldn't be seeing him?"

"I'm not your father Lessy, I'm your friend. And as long as you're safe and he is as much of a gentleman as he makes himself out to be, I won't try and stop you."

It was probably the first time she ever hugged Bruno, that was why he flinched before a massive hand came up and patted her back a few times.

"Thank you."

Later that day, she'd finished her rounds and was on her way back to her rooms when she was stopped by Vonya, she was the head maid of the kitchens and one of the older maids in the castle. There was never a clear answer for just how long she'd been in the castle but it was long enough to be a force that was respectfully feared amoung almost all of the other maids.

"There you are." she huffed like she'd been searching for Alessandra for hours, perhaps she had been.

"How can I help you?" Alessandra asked with as much respect as she could muster when all she wanted to do was go back to her quarters, perhaps take a cold bath and spend the rest of the evening with Caspian.

"I need you to work the private dining hall tonight." she said shortly, already steering Alessandra toward the second floors kitchen.

"What?" she asked, masking her gasp of shock but could do nothing to hide how pale she'd gotten.

"Half the girl's are out sick so the rest of you need to serve double duty," she paused taking in Alessandra's ashen face, "You better not be coming down with anything."

"No, I'm not I just, I can't work the dining hall," she stammered out, hoping against all hope that her tone didn't betray how panicked she felt.

"Why not?"

"I'm, I'm not trained."

"Your roommate will tell you the basics on your way up, it's not that hard to figure out you're a smart girl." The rare compliment fell of deaf ears since she couldn't hear anything past the roaring in hers. A thousand thoughts tumbled around in her mind. She'd heard horror stories of Miraz's treatment of the girls in the private dining room, very little of Lady Prunaprismia, neither aiding her husband nor defending her fellow woman. But it was neither of them she worried about.

What if Caspian was there? What if Miraz or his wife, or Lion help her, Steph saw the bruises on his neck and hers. What if someone put the pieces together like Bruno did? She'd be without her head by morning.

She didn't have any more excuses beyond that so she was steered into the kitchen with a small gaggle of maids and cooks that she was only familiar with in passing. Seeing Steph made her both relieved and increased her anxiety. As usual Steph was more than delighted to see her.

"This is so exciting," she gushed fussing over Alessandra's appearance since after all they'd be serving what remained of the royal family.

She tried to maintain a happy face and force a more positive thought to the front of her mind. At least five out of seven days in the week she brought Caspian's dinner with him when she joined him in his room. So there was a high possibility that he wouldn't even be there, so she only had to contend with Miraz and his wife. It seemed easy enough.

Adjusted her cap to ensure that it was sitting properly on her head since she had a habit of not doing that. Seconds later she smoothed her hands down Alessandra's arms, her eyes zeroing on her neck in an instant. Unlike Bruno though, her gaze filled with glee instead of suspicion.

"We'll discuss that later." She said with a grin.

Alessandra tried to mimic it but she was sure hers came off as more of a grimace, but Steph didn't comment on it because it was time to go to work. As Vonya said Steph briefed her on their way through the maid's passage. She would serve Miraz since she was there longer and Alessandra would serve Caspian, just her luck. They'd split serving Lady Prunaprismia, the rules were fairly simple to follow, 'Keep your head down', 'Don't speak unless spoken to (highly unlikely)', and arguably most important, 'Don't drop their food'.

In theory it all sounded easy enough, however a peek out into the dining hall reveals Caspian sitting as princely as ever, back ramrod straight and looking as uncomfortable as she felt in that moment. She knew he didn't have the best relationship with his uncle, it never went beyond that of acquaintances at best, nothing like the familial relationship that should have existed between an uncle and his nephew. Especially with the shared loss between them, one that was rumoured to be caused by Miraz himself, but of course that was never confirmed. It was also no secret that Miraz wanted the throne, and Caspian was all that stood between him and getting it.

She wanted to warn him that she was there, it wouldn't do to have his reaction be seen by everyone when she stepped out. But she couldn't exactly call out his name in warning, so she coughed, quiet enough that it was barely a clearing of her throat that Steph didn't think twice about, so neither should Lord Miraz or his Lady, she only hoped Caspian heard and it was enough of a warning before the door opened.

Caspian heard a cough, it was so soft barely there but it sent a chill up the back of his neck. It sounded like his- but it couldn't be. She never served the dining hall, and she would have told him beforehand and had that been the case he would have made himself scarce from dinner. It wouldn't have been the first time nor would it be the last, but if he was to maintain a somewhat cordial relationship with his uncle and aunt-in-law he had to join them at mealtimes every so often. And apparently he picked the one evening where Alessandra had reassigned, temporarily he assumed since he'd heard whispered going around the castle of a sickness amoung the maids and stablehands.

He schooled his face into a practiced neutral expression when the door opened and hers matched, the maid with her was one he recognized, she was always here and with a start he was able to identify her as Steph.

And as luck would have it, she'd be serving him tonight, he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, for one it kept him far away from his uncle, however it meant he had to suffer through her being so close yet so very far away. He tried his hardest not to look at her, but try as he might his eyes kept drifting to the corner where she and Steph stood, a table of drinks between them. How had he never noticed that the maids stood so directly in his line of sight? Probably because he never had reason to.

He was always cautious about sharing meals with his uncle, an unfounded fear of being poisoned made him unable to stomach his meal most times. For once, maybe the only time he could be assured that there would be no poison in his food since Alessandra was serving him, it still felt heavy on his tongue. He made pleasant conversation with his uncle, as was expected of him as he tried to eat as quickly to get out of there as quickly as possible for both their sakes.

Alessandra didn't care for castle politics the best of times, the few times they've come up in discussion in the kitchens or late at night in their bedrooms she didn't join in. But she followed along the conversation enough to understand the basics of how it worked. Miraz's vicious impediments and Capsian's clipped responses sounded like it could be another language to her uncouth ears.

Caspian told her once that his uncle often turned to violence to secure what he wanted when it came to politics while he himself did not care for negotiations, violence was typically his last resort. But it shocked her how cavalier and almost excited Miraz was about the prospect of war on the horizon. He also wasn't shy about wanting Caspian gone so that he could ascend the throne.

She could see Caspian's temper rising with each not so veiled threat from his uncle, his wife, Lady Prunaprismia didn't step in to make him stop but she didn't join him either, her gaze focused solely on her plate.

She wanted to move with him, but her feet were stuck rooted to their spot, technically she wasn't supposed to be looking at them anyways. But with how heated the conversation had gotten she wasn't the only member of staff gawking. She thought she might faint when she saw Caspian stomping towards her, a second later logic caught up to her as she realized she was standing next to the main exit doors.

But Caspian was steps away and knowing him as intimately as she now did made her body react to his, he passed her and though he did not reach for her physically it was as if her body and soul reacted for her before she could stop it, and her finger lifted reaching for him. As the heat of him passed by her side she could swear that his did as well and brushed ever so faintly against hers. She froze when she looked up and met the shocked eyes of her roommate.