“That lookshard,Mr. Evergreen,” I commented. “You must be very skilled with your hands to handle this sword all day.”
“Hard, does it?” he asked. He narrowed his eyes minutely. “I’d say you’re correct, Your Highness. It’s hard most days lately.”
“No one puts in the effort like our Evergreen,” Sam said, beaming proudly. “He’s devoted.”
“Aye,” I said. “I can see that. Though I wonder, should he be out in the open like this? Look at him, Sam. He’ssoakedin sweat.”
“Soaked?” Cyrus asked. His jaw worked.
Sam nodded. “Oi, he is, isn’t he?” He checked over him. “He’s positively drenched.”
“Oh, yes, Your Highness,” I agreed. “Mr. Evergreen isvery wet,”I said.“Do you think he might get others wet, too?”
The Prince shrugged, confused. “I…I don’t know about that; I think he just needs a bath.”
Cyrus didn’t like my game. He swallowed a smirk and clicked his tongue. It wasn’t long before the Prince was called away for some excuse to see Lady Agatha, and when we said farewell and he was gone, my Sword followed me into the library and shut the door with the utmost careful precision. His gaze was unyielding as he moved toward me and pushed my skirt up on either side.
“You temptress,” he muttered. “I should becrossthat you would tease me in front of him like that.”
I giggled. He planted me firmly on the desk, diligently caressing the outer parts of my thighs.
“How can I resist?” I asked. “All I think about is you teasing me. It’s only polite that we should share the torment.”
He knelt, kissing the inside of one leg, then the other. “The torment is already mutual, love. You don’t have to add to it.”
I exhaled. “That feels good,” I said. My hand slid into his hair. “C-Cyrus. If you can swing a blade, can you make love to me?” I asked.
He looked up, caressing my knee, dragging my body closer to his hips as he stood. He said, “Princess, if you were any other woman in the world, I’d have been inside you the moment we passed through that door.”
“But I’m so distraught like this. Please? Is that what you want? Me to ask? To beg?”
“Let me rephrase myself,” he said.
“I can’t take it anymore.”
A laugh passed through his nose loud enough to hear as he exhaled.“Darling, there is no one that I… Icare formore deeply than I care for you.”
“Then show me,” I ordered. “If it does not hurt.” I felt his wound over his shirt. “Show me how much you care for me.”
He shut his eyes, obviously affected in the same way I was. “...I will make love to you, I promise. But not like this.”
“What?”
The door opened suddenly, and we leaped apart, but he could not get too far given our position. My heart raced, even as I realized it was Jocelyn.
With a sharp, “Oh!” she spun to face the door. A hand shot up to shield herself from the sight. “My apologies, Miss Svana,” she said. Then she tried not to laugh. “It’s um.” She said something else, but in his attempt to ease the tension, Cyrus spoke over her, accidentally. They looked at each other, then he looked at me.
“We were discussing books,” he said.
Josie curtsied. “Lovely. Miss Svana loves books.” There was an awkward pause. “…Your Highness, we must ready you for the dance.”
Evergreen stepped back another step, then smoothed his sleeves.
“What dance?” I asked.
“The Masquerade,” he said.
“The… The Masquerade is tonight?” I asked. “Tonight, tonight?”
