3 comments/ 17229 views/ 15 favorites Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 01 By: MissLanae "You wanted to see me, Father?" Rene asked as she respectfully inclined her head. "Yes, I did my daughter," he began. "I have had many days to consider the dilemma that I stand faced with..." He paused. The look on his face told her she was not going to like his decision. "And?" She prodded him, holding her head a little higher as she braced herself for his answer. "And I have spoken with the king of Spain. You will-" "No!" She interrupted. "No, please Father! Do not send me away! I have done noth-" "Hold your tongue!" He scolded, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. "You will not raise your voice at me, child. I will not have this preposterousness. Is that clear?" "Yes, Father," she answered quietly as she lowered her head. She appeared subdued, but there was a furious storm raging within her. "As I was saying," he continued, leaning back in his ornate chair, "I have arranged for you to marry the prince of Spain in three fortnights-" "Three fortnights!" She interrupted again, her eyes burning with anger. "But Father, please. I do not wish-" "Silence!" He shouted, rising from his throne. "It is decided! I will have no more of these outbursts. You will marry the prince regardless of what you wish. The desires of an eighteen year old girl have no pertinence to my political agenda." She dropped her gaze and her shoulders slumped. "I am sorry, my child," he soothed, walking forward to place his hands on those very shoulders. "I cannot afford a war with Spain. A union between our kingdoms is the only placation I can provide." Reaching for her chin, he tipped her face up to see her deep brown eyes. He watched helplessly as they turned to cold stones of resentment. Taking two steps back to evade his reach, she began to cry. "Mother would not have sent me away." She turned and ran from the room, startling the guards as she burst through the doors. He stood, crestfallen, wishing for guidance from his wife that would not come. Now he had lost his daughter too. She knew she had hurt him. She was glad. He needed to remember what it felt like to be in pain. Tears streamed down her face as she ran through the stone halls. She nearly fell twice, not holding her dress high enough for the speed at which she was traveling. All thought in her head had ceased but one. Escape. She had to escape. This could not be her life. As she loped through the never-ending passageways of the castle, fear engulfed her. She thought for a short moment of a fleeing animal when it knows it's running for its life. Reaching her private chamber, she hurriedly shut the door and slumped down onto the floor. She had not even noticed that her handmaiden, Brianne, was in the midst of her cleaning. The young woman looked up as her nurse, and only friend, approached her. "Oh, Brianne," she sobbed. "It's hopeless. My father commands me to marry the prince of Spain. He refuses to listen to reason. I do not w-want to... I c-cannot... I..." Her stutters quickly turned to senseless weeping and she buried her head in her hands. She could not put into words how powerless she felt in her own home. Never in her life had she felt more dejected. "Princess," consoled Brianne. "Surely it will all turn out for the best. His majesty only desires what is best for you." "No," she interrupted. "He desires to do what is best for his beloved kingdom." Her voice dripped with disgust as she realized the full gravity of the situation. She had become a pawn in her father's game of chess with the surrounding countries. Well, she may seem a mere pawn to him, but she had her mother's spirit: the spirit of a queen. "Ready the horses." The words came out so strong and clear, they startled Brianne. As the princess rose purposefully from the floor, the handmaid became frightened. "But my lady, your father commands you-" "I do not give a damn what my father commands. I will not live that life." She turned to peer out the window, catching the final glimpse of the sun as it disappeared behind the jagged horizon. "We are leaving, Brianne. Tonight." "W-we are l-leaving?" Brianne was fumbling with her apron as she tried to grasp the princess's plan. "But Rene, where will we go?" The princess turned back from the window, her mind stalling for a moment. It was so uncommon for Brianne to use her name. She thought it to be improper, given her stature, regardless of Rene's preference of her to do so. "We will head north," she replied. "Anywhere is better than here." She paused, her battle plan once more unfolding in her mind. "Please go and tell my father you have drawn me a bath and I will not be joining him for supper. I will gather my things. Collect yours on your return if you wish to accompany me. Bring only what you can fit into a saddle bag." Brianne nodded at each of these orders and turned to leave. "Oh, and one more thing, Brianne: fetch my breeches and my bow." ****************************************************************** The horses were nearly lame when they stopped to make camp. It was twilight and the stars were starting to sparkle. Rene and Brianne had traveled nearly a day and a half without rest. But now, they were in dire need of it. As Brianne tied and watered the horses, Rene reached for her bow and quiver of arrows. "Make a deep pit for a fire," she instructed. "I do not want us found easily. I will return with something to eat." "Yes ma'am," Brianne nodded. "I will see if there are any herbs nearby for gathering." "Very well, but don't stray far from the horses. There are wolves in these woods," she warned. And with that she walked off, disappearing into the darkness. Taking a deep breath of the cool mountain air calmed the young princess. She had expected much more difficulty in their getaway; but aside from a necessary derailment around one of her father's blockades, she was pleased with their progress. And now with her bow in hand, she felt at ease. As a child, her mother had taken her to the courtyards to teach her to shoot. Then, it had merely been for fun. Women were not allowed to compete in the archery games. Holding a bow always reminded her of her mother. It had been nearly 10 years since she had passed. Following the queen's untimely death, Rene shunned the sport. It was too painful for her to stir up the memories of the mother she missed so much. However, as the princess grew older, she longed to shoot again but quickly became bored with the target range. After that, she would venture out into the forest surrounding the village in search of small game. She would bring her kills back to the kitchen, where the cooks prepared them for meals. Her father never knew where all the extra meat came from, but he never once complained. Being in the woods sometimes felt more like home to Rene than the lavish palace did. She did not have to be a princess. She did not have to dress up or be proper. She could be whoever she wanted to be; she could be herself. There was no one to tell her where she needed to go, for she could go wherever she pleased. The princess relished the freedom of the open space and the clean, fresh air. There was a rustle on her left. Without any hesitation, she froze with her bow poised at the ready. A large hare bound from the bushes nearby. It was hit in mid-hop by an arrow, and fell dead instantly. Rene did not like to see anything or anyone suffer. She would never forget how her mother slowly became sick and the life faded from her eyes. When she began to hunt, Rene vowed she would never let an animal die a slow death. It was better to be precise and quick. As she collected the hare and cleaned her arrow, a soft mew from behind her made her smile. "Hello, Leon," she giggled as she turned around. Tracking ten feet behind her was a lynx, a long-time shadow of hers. They had been together for nearly five years. He began following her in the woods a few months after she started hunting. Leon was very young then, his mother probably killed for her pelt. It made him quite easy for Rene to train. Camaraderie quickly developed and has deepened ever since. He must have been following her as she fled. "I think you are a little out of your hunting range, my friend." She knelt down and held out her hand. The large housecat bounded up to her, rubbing his head on her palm. He let out another mew, a little louder and looked at her expectantly. "Been too busy tailing me to catch your lunch, have you?" she asked as she scratched behind Leon's black-tipped ears. "Well, you're going to have to be patient because this is all I have." She showed him the rabbit before she stuffed it in her rucksack. He sniffed at it, but turned away. His favorite was squirrel. Or duck if it was cooked. His domestication had made him picky. Rene laughed again as she tossed her sack over her shoulder. Leon was already on his feet and a good five yards in front of her by the time she grabbed another arrow. This was his job. He acted as the eyes and ears of their team operation; she provided the precision kills. Together, they were a deadly combination. They quietly made their way through the dark forest, both of them searching for any sign of life. The pads of Leon's paws quieted his tracking and Rene did her best to be light on her feet. Copying the idea from her feline friend, Rene used deerskin to sole her boots. It provided a tremendous advantage in stealth. Suddenly, Leon stopped. His keen ears were focusing on something that was making an awful lot of ruckus nearby. The lynx slowly turned around to mew at Rene. That was her cue as to what she was hunting. If it was a small animal, Leon would go in first to flush it out. If he looked at her to proceed ahead of him, it was more than he could handle. Good, she thought. We've found dinner. She clicked her tongue twice and Leon padded softly to her flank. Quiet as could be, Rene advanced on her unknown prey. In reality, she probably could have run up to the creature before it even heard her coming with all the noise it was making. She was surprised the wolves were not upon it already. A few more steps gave Rene her first glimpse of the loud animal, a wild boar rooting around a bush. That explains the all racket, she thought with a devilish grin. She straightened her stance, readied her bow, and just as the unsuspecting swine raised its head, let the arrow fly. It let out a quick squeal, then everything went silent. Leon bounded up to the kill, which was usually a surefire sign that it was indeed dead. He seemed so happy with the onset of a meal that he sat down on top of the hog and waited for Rene to catch up. She smiled as she saw him seated proudly atop her kill. If he were human, he'd have said he brought it down himself. Rene laughed at her joke and patted Leon's head. He quickly jumped down and went to lie under the bush the boar had been rooting in. Rene rolled the carcass over and tied its legs. She thanked herself for not venturing any further than this, for the hog would be a challenge to carry back to Brianne at their camp. Throwing her bow across her back, she hoisted the mammal over her shoulders and whistled to Leon. He trotted beside her; an added spring in his step knowing that he was going to have a full stomach. Struggling a bit with the added weight, Rene's pace was slow but steady. Despite her tall frame, she did not have much muscle power. She prayed to the heavens that she found their camp soon. For once, her prayers were answered as the small glow of a fire shone in their path. "Brianne, it's me!" Rene called ahead. The last thing she wanted to do was startle her friend while she was alone in the woods. "My god, Rene!" Brianne scolded as Rene stepped into the firelight. "I was beginning to worry! What on earth took you so long?" "I was a little weighed down," Rene joked as she dropped the boar next to the pit. "And I ran into a friend of mine." Rene whistled to Leon again, who cautiously approached her. He had never met any other human beside herself and his head was bowed in intimidation. "Oh," Brianne gasped as the shy cat padded up to Rene. He looked at her uncertainly as Brianne knelt down and held out her hand. "You must be Leon," she said quietly, catching his attention with the sound of his name. "I've heard a lot about you." The lynx continued eyeing Brianne, but did not approach her. Rene laughed at his shyness and made her way to the horses. Leon followed her every move, not straying more than a few inches from her leg. Once she retrieved a sack of salted duck from the saddlebags of her horse, Rene called to Brianne. "Here," she said, tossing the small package. "Offer him a piece of this." Brianne caught the bag of meat and sat on the ground. Leon's nose was working overtime when he discovered who held his favorite treat. He looked at Rene as she pet him reassuringly and nodded her head in Brianne's direction. Little by little, Leon began to make his way over towards the newcomer. He soon found himself face to face with Brianne. His eyes darted from hers to the piece of duck and back. Ever so slowly, he took the slab of poultry from her hand. Leon took a couple steps back and glanced at Rene before devouring his prize. But after doing so, he was quick to take another. When he was offered his fifth piece of duck, there was no hesitation to be found as he gingerly took it from Brianne's hand. She reached out to pat his head, and after a moment he arched up to meet it letting out a small mew of gratitude. Leon bounded up to Rene and rubbed against her legs as he purred. He seemed quite proud of making a new friend. Brianne giggled as she got up and untied the boar's legs. She made quick work of gutting the animal and making a spit to roast it over the low fire. She then skinned the hare and made an herb stew with some wild potatoes. It didn't take long before the hog was succulent and the three of them had a large, overdue meal. Leon was not keen on the rabbit stew, but had a hearty helping of the boar. In no time at all, they had stripped the animal of all its flesh. What was not eaten was salted and bagged. Leon curled up in Rene's makeshift bed, having slept with her on many occasions when she simply did not feel like going back to the castle. It felt strange, and somewhat sad to know that this time she had left it forever. Brianne seemed to be coping well so far, despite her lack of riding experience. Rene tried to help her as much as she could; but as a princess, there were many things she never learned to do. Nevertheless, she was confident that together, they could make it work. Rene stoked the fire and cuddled up to the little lion in her blankets. With her arms wrapped around Leon and her bow within reach, she quickly fell asleep beneath the glittering heavens. ****************************************************************** The single snap of a twig jarred Rene to consciousness. She remained perfectly still as she woke, her ears vying for the slightest sounds. Leon's eyes flashed open and he twisted his head behind him just as Rene heard them too. Footsteps. She knew she only had seconds as she rolled for her bow and jumped to her feet. She closed her eyes and aimed for the sound of boots in the leaves. Trusting her instinct, she released her arrow and listened for it to hit its mark. "Bloody hell!" a man hollered and Rene's eyes flew open in shock. The accent was unmistakably English. And he was handsome, very handsome. He stood frozen with his hands in the air. A foot more to his right and he would have had an arrow in his neck. As he began to walk forward and lower his hands, Rene grabbed another arrow and drew back her bowstring in warning. Immediately, the man withdrew his step and raised his hands once more. "Who are you?" Rene demanded, her French accent lingering in her voice. She was surprised she was able to recall the teachings from her mother so quickly. The queen insisted her daughter be fluent in Spanish, Italian and English. The man seemed impressed at the quick turn of tongue and his green eyes twinkled with curiosity. His lips curved into a smirk and he lowered his hands as he answered. "I am Blake. May I have the pleasure of your name?" His voice sent a shiver though Rene's body and she momentarily lost her concentration. She could easily lose herself in his deep emerald eyes. "No, you may not," she said firmly after regaining her composure. "You will leave now if you value your life." She tried to glare at him, but it was very difficult when he was looking at her like that. He began to step forward again, and was unconcerned when Rene once again readied her weapon. "Stay back!" she warned. "I'll shoot!" "If you were going to kill me, you would have done so by now." He continued to walk closer and for the first time, Rene looked towards Brianne. There was another man coming up behind her ready to attack. Without hesitating, Rene sent an arrow towards the second intruder, narrowly missing his chest as he dove behind a tree. Before she could turn around, she found herself tackled by the attractive Englishman. Blake wrenched the bow from her hand and pinned her to the ground. "Release me! How dare you attack us!" she yelled. "You have no idea of the consequences of your actions!" She twisted her head to look towards Brianne; she was being held by the second man but still on her feet. Her captor was darker haired than Blake, and seemed to enjoy watching his partner strain to keep the princess down. This infuriated Rene and with one more strong twist, she was facing Blake as they wrestled on the hard ground. "Let us go!" she demanded once more. "I have gold, it is yours. Take what valuables you wish, though you will find we do not have many." "We are not here to rob you, Princess," Blake replied, slightly laughing in Rene's face as her mouth dropped open in shock. "We were hired to retrieve you. I am your new personal body guard." He flashed her a dazzling smile but renewed his grip as her face hardened. "My personal guard?" she spat in disgust while vigorously trying to free herself. "I do not need protecting or retrieval! Now I command you to remove your hands from me or my father shall here of this!" She tried yet again to wriggle her way out of his grip but it only tightened. "Your father was the one who hired us," Blake said as he held her down easily. "You are coming with me whether you like it or not. The level of difficulty is entirely your choice." With a sigh of exasperation, she lay still beneath him with her lips pursed in defeat. She knew she had no chance overthrowing him and freeing Brianne. Tears began to well in her eyes as she comprehended the conditions of her surrender. She would have to face the wrath of her father, and she would have to marry the prince of Spain. There was no escape now. Slowly, Blake lessened his grip on Rene's arms but looked at her expecting retaliation. When she showed no signs of it, he rolled off of her and offered her his hand to help her to her feet. She smacked it away and found herself enraged once more as yet another smile danced on his face. She now wished she had smacked more than his hand as she rose from the dirt. After brushing off her breeches, she stood with her arms crossed directing a glower at Blake. He met her gaze easily, his lips still slightly curved. Eventually, Rene looked away to Brianne who was still being held by the arm. "I suggest you tell your bootlicker to release my handmaid," Rene said sharply. "Bootlicker?" the dark-haired man objected. "You have no right to-" "By all means," interrupted the princess as she took a large step towards him, "continue to patronize me about what is and is not my right." When he looked to speak again she added, "I would hate to be given a reason to defend myself. Again." Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 01 "Do as she says, Alexander," Blake chimed in. "They are cooperating." It was not difficult to see his amusement. "For now," Alexander murmured, tipping off Rene that her work-in-progress plans were not unexpected. Alexander let go of Brianne's arm and she quickly distanced herself from him. Still furious with the turn of events, Rene glared in Blake's direction. Once again he merely smiled and turned away, headed towards the horses. "What do you think you are doing?" Rene demanded as Blake reached for the saddlebag. It held the remains of the boar and the mix matched scraps they managed to smuggle out of the castle's kitchen. "Well, I was going to get us all something to eat," he replied, "if that's alright with you, my lady." He turned back to face her as one side of his mouth curled upward. Rene nodded as felt herself begin to blush, and she quickly averted her eyes. He made her feel like a child with that smile. And yet, something in his eyes made her long for more. More of what, though, she wasn't sure. She would need to control both mind and body to have a chance at outsmarting him. Brianne caught her eye, interrupting her thoughts. There were so many expressions being sent through that single look from her best friend. They ranged from sorrow at their plight, to asking permission to help with breakfast. Rene managed a reassuring smile that she was okay. Brianne nodded and immediately began helping with their meal. Without thinking, Rene found herself watching Blake as he masterfully stoked the fire in the pit and skewered the remains of the boar for reheating. Looking up, she met Alexander's eyes. They narrowed as he slightly cocked his head as if trying to figure her out. She raised her chin and met his stare, as would be expected of royalty. "Would you like to accompany me as I fetch our horses?" Blake asked Rene, startling her. They had gone minutes without speaking, and she had found herself slightly comforted by the sounds of the forest as its inhabitants rose to greet the morning. "Are you sure that's wise?" Alexander asked. "What if she tries to escape?" "She is not a common fool, Alex," Blake said coolly. "But it would be wise for you to call me sir." He looked at his comrade knowingly. "I am your commander now, cousin." "Yes...sir," Alex conceded with a pause. "Much better. Now, shall we?" he directed at Rene. She nodded and he led the way from their campsite. For a while, the only sounds were those of crunching leaves beneath their boots. More than once, Rene glanced at her bodyguard but could not force herself to break the silence. Fortunately, he spoke first. "You seem well accustomed to the woods." "I am," she answered plainly. "And why is that?" he prodded. "Is this your attempt at small talk?" she snapped. "Perhaps," he laughed. "Or perhaps I'm merely curious why a princess is comfortable wearing men's attire." She stopped suddenly and he raised an eyebrow, taking in the full spectrum of her fashion choice. Rene watched his eyes slowly travel all the way to her boots then shoot back up to meet her own. "Perhaps," she began, mocking his word choice, "I deemed it appropriate." She raised her chin and began walking again. She was acutely aware of how tight her pants were but did not attempt to quell the swaying of her hips. Smirking to himself this time, Blake hurried after her. "I know you must be angry with me," he sighed, "but surely you realize your plan would not have succeeded." "I had to try," she retorted bitterly. "There are better ways to solve your problem than running away, Princess." "What would you know about my problem?" The anger was rising in her voice already. "Only that I would feel as you do. Betrayed. Used. Helpless." Blake looked down at her as they walked. She tried to keep from reacting to his words but it was difficult. He had hit it right on the nose. "But that's no reason to give up hope." "Hope for what? That my father will change his mind? There is no hope for that." Her voice broke as she finished and she dropped her head for fear that she would cry. "Hope that fate has a plan for you. You must trust in that knowledge." They were nearing the horses now, their reins tied to the low branch of a tree. "Fate always has a grand design," he concluded with a smile. "Someday, you will have a happily ever after." "Happily ever after," she mused, turning away. "That is something only found in children's tales. I have no use for 'happily ever after' now." Her tone was somber, almost brokenhearted. Reassuringly, Blake rested his large hand upon her shoulder as they approached the nearest horse. Rene looked to his face once more. He said nothing; but his sparkling green eyes told a story so beautiful, she found herself encouraged. Pink flooded her cheeks yet again and she quickly busied herself by untying the chestnut gelding. This time when Blake offered his hand, she took it and gracefully climbed into the saddle. Blake jumped on the other horse, his signature smile gleaming in the morning light. Though Rene did not want to admit it, he looked quite dashing astride the stallion. She smiled slightly as he rode up beside her. "You should smile more often, Princess. It suits you," he complimented. "Thank you," she replied as her smile grew, "and you can call me Rene." "Rene," he admired. "That's a lovely name," he flattered again earning another smile. "Well, Rene; shall we?" "Yes, let's." They maneuvered the horses onto the path back to the small camp. How could it be that a man she just met, her guardian no less, could raise her spirits when they were so near to the grave? And as they made their way back to the castle to meet the impatient fury of the king, would he continue to do so? Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 02 Quietly, Rene rose from her bed. She crawled to where Brianne was sleeping soundly and covered her mouth. The handmaid was startled from her sleep but stilled when she saw Rene's face in the firelight. The princess raised a single finger to her lips as she removed her hand from her friend's mouth. Brianne nodded and silently rose from her bed; she didn't need to be told twice. It was now or never. Rene grabbed a hunting knife from her saddle bag and began to walk stealthily towards the two sleeping men. If she let them live, they would find her. She had to do it, right? She knelt down with the knife at the ready. Her guard was slumped up against a tree, having fallen asleep while trying to keep watch. Even in his sleep, a smile grazed his lips. She held the knife to his throat, ready to do what was necessary for her survival. With a deep breath and a hardened heart, she tightened her grip on the dagger. Brianne turned away, not wanting to watch, but knowing what had to be done. The princess pressed the blade against his skin, sucking in her breath and closing her eyes. She sighed. Pulling the weapon from his jugular, she looked at his face. She couldn't do it. He had been kind to her, understood her when no one else did. She simply couldn't take his life to save her own. She would have to outsmart him. In a moment of rage, she stabbed the blade into the ground near his thigh and stood. Brianne smiled reassuringly as she mounted her horse. As Rene climbed into the saddle of her own, a new plan was forming in her mind. Rene signaled for Brianne to start ahead, and waited for the sound of the horses' hooves to abate. With a final glance to her would be palace guards, she followed her friend into the stillness of the shadows. Brianne was waiting in a grove of trees about a furlong away from the fire. Rene rode up beside her and sighed with relief. The hard part was behind them, but now she had to have her wits about her. Brianne started her mare forward but Rene called for her to pause. "Wait; I want to take the horses for a few miles then abandon them and continue on foot. They will be able to track the hoof prints." She could tell Brianne was not thrilled with this plan, and frankly, neither was she. But it was time to tough it out if she wanted to escape the reach of her father. Then she kicked her horse into a canter, Brianne at her flank. When they were at least a half mile from the camp, she whistled into the night. Within a minute, Leon was running alongside her mare. Rene slowed for a moment to scoop him up and held him to her chest. This was not his favorite means of travel; but since he was already out of breath from tailing the horses, he was content to ride in her lap. They continued for a few more miles before Rene called for them to stop. The dawn was beginning to stretch over the earth and the guards would be tracking them soon, if they were not already. Rene jumped down from her horse and pulled the saddlebag onto her shoulder. Brianne followed her lead, rearranging the bag of her mare to fit on her back. Rene patted her loyal mount on the neck; then with a tear in her eye, she smacked her hindquarters as hard as she could. The mare reared and took to the horizon, her fellow horse following suit. Rene and Brianne stood for a moment, watching as they rode off into the distance then turned to make haste of their own. The set off at a steady pace in a different direction, now heading east to dissuade the men behind them. Neither of them spoke for hours. By dusk, they had reached the edge of the mountains. It would be a difficult trek from here on out. Brianne looked worriedly at the peaks above them, and Rene caught her wide-eyed stare. "There's a pass with a village not far from here. I can hunt for meat and hides to trade. We will be able to acquire new supplies and horses to make our way over the mountains. We can do this, Brianne. We have to." "I have complete faith in you, my lady. It is my own resilience I doubt." "Brianne," the princess began, "if I didn't think you could do this, I would never have asked you to accompany me. But we are in this together, and together we will stay. I am no longer a princess, nor are you my lady in waiting. You are my sister now. Nothing and no one will come between us and our future. Not even a king. I could never have gotten this far without you." Brianne smiled at this and began to cry as Rene rushed her with a hug. "I've never had a sister before." "Well, you do now," Rene replied, wiping a tear from her own eye. Then she pulled an arrow from her back and pricked her finger. "Rene!" Brianne gasped. "What are you doing?" "Making us sisters before God," she responded lightly. Brianne then held out her own palm and Rene gently pressed the arrowhead into her fingertip. She winced at the slight pain then looked into Rene's eyes. She had never seen them so full of joy and determination. Rene returned her arrow to her quiver and pressed her bloodied finger to Brianne's. "By God we are servants, by blood we are family, by bond we are sisters, now and forevermore." Rene smiled as she finished her vow and the newly formed sisters embraced each other once again. When Rene released her, Brianne had to excuse herself to control her tears; and Rene decided that here was as good as anywhere to camp for the night. Leon was already curled near the trunk of what could be a 100-year-old oak tree. When Brianne came back, she began to dig a pit for a fire but Rene stopped her. "Let's not build a fire tonight. I fear it would lead them right to us." Brianne nodded and returned the displaced earth. "We will have to lie close to each other for warmth," Rene continued. "It looks like Leon has picked a good spot already." The two girls sat on either side of the lynx, who quickly climbed into Rene's lap. They snuggled together but without the comfort of a fire, they lay awake for a long while before they were finally able to succumb to their weariness. A warm vibration was pressing into Rene's chest as she slowly pried herself from her slumber. Groggily, she recognized the weight of Leon on her legs. He was growling. It was a deep, menacing sound Rene had only heard once before; and it could only mean one thing: wolves. Adrenaline pumped through her veins and her eyes flew open in fear. She could see them, just beyond the next tree. Their eyes flaring red and their teeth shining like the devil's smile in the light of the full moon. The low rumbling of their growls was coming from all around, ominous and forbidding. They were surrounded. As slowly as she could, Rene reached behind her small feline guardian to rouse Brianne. She lightly shook her arm until Brianne moaned a complaint. "Brianne, wake up." "Hmm? What? What is it?" Brianne mumbled hazily. "Climb," the princess demanded. Brianne opened her eyes at the tone in Rene's voice. She could tell they were in trouble. It took her all of a second to see the creatures looming in the shadows. She let out a spine-chilling scream and the wolves snarled in response. "No!" Rene cried, "Climb! Now!" and she pushed her sister up onto the nearest low branch. As soon as Brianne was out of reach, the four-legged demons howled their assault. They needed one to be singled out, and now Rene was a perfect target. Leon hissed in retreat and began to scale the elder oak. Rene lunged for her saddle bag to grab her long-blade hunting knife. The knife! She had left it at the camp! How could she be so foolish! The predators were closing in, their ranks in attack formation. She hastily snatched her bow and sent an arrow at the alpha male. It ducked just in time, smiling wickedly at her failure. He was the largest wolf she had ever seen; his paws the size of saucers, his shoulders at her hips. She had an arrow at the ready, and waited for the first strike. From the right, a young female yipped and lunged for her heel, but caught the arrow in the chest. With a yelp, she fell to the ground in pain. Another barked from the left. He attempted a zigzag to confuse her, but Rene hit him square in the side, puncturing his lungs. Wolves were smart, calculating. This was their prized tactic: confuse the prey with assaults from multiple directions and tire out its defense. The alpha sent two more young members in single attacks as if he knew she only had a limited amount of arrows. Regardless of whether the leader of the pack knew this or not, Rene's supply of arrows was dwindling. She would not have enough to kill them all. She reached behind her, feeling for a branch, a rock, anything she could use as a weapon. Her fingers fumbled upon a jagged stone and grasped it firmly, drawing blood from her palm. The alpha raised his head at the scent of her weakness, then barked to his right. The beta male stalked forward at the command of his captain. Nearly as tall but not as muscular as the alpha, the second in command was still a force to be reckoned with. He was coming in for the kill. Rene put her back to the tree and waited, patient and vigilant for him to pounce. It all happened in a split second, the wolf's eyes contracted and his jaw relaxed, he pushed off with his hind legs aiming for Rene's neck. She leapt aside with a screech and pulled the stone from behind her, bringing it down on the back of the wolf's head as he crashed into the tree. Without a sound, he fell to the ground at her feet, dead. The wolves behind the alpha ceased their attack. She had just killed the lead assassin of the pack. But the alpha was not deterred. With a vicious snarl he stepped forward and raised himself to his full height. He was a monster unlike Rene had ever seen. Her eyes widened in terror as the hell hound before her barred his fangs, eager to rip into her tender flesh. Frozen with fear, she didn't hear the sound of them rushing towards her in the dark; she didn't hear them yelling for her to run. The alpha lunged and caught her arm as she barely covered her face in time. A terrified scream came from above. On the wings of an angel, he was there. A flash of silver severed the head of Rene's attacker and she slumped to the ground. Her saviors danced gracefully with their arms in hand, slashing the bodies of the enemy with every move. Battlement sounds cascaded from every direction, drowning her ears in waves of death. She couldn't breathe. The men had charged into the midst of the pack, scattering their ranks and sending them into panic. Without the leadership from the alpha and beta, it was chaos. Some of the older members were attacking the newcomers, but most of the pack had fled at the death of their leader. With a final stab of his sword, Alexander vanquished the final retaliator. Unceremoniously, he pulled the saber from the carcass with a gratifying slice through flesh and bone. His chest was heaving from exertion and dripping with the blood of the slaughtered animals. Blake quickly threw down his sword and removed his soiled armor. He knelt beside the princess and gingerly pulled her injured arm towards him. The bite was deep and gushing blood, but it was far enough above the wrist that she would live. He tore the arm of his undershirt and tied it tightly above her elbow. She looked at him uncomprehendingly, her face going pale. He cradled her head in his hand and called to his cousin; he was helping Brianne out of the oak tree as she shook and wept uncontrollably. "Alex, find a willow. Cut through the outer bark until it is soft and white. Remove thin layers of this inner bark, wrap it in a damp cloth and make haste on your return." Immediately, Alex ventured into the twilight. Then Blake turned to Rene. "Keep your eyes on me," he instructed. "All will be well. Just keep your eyes on me." He caressed her cheek in a vain attempt to keep her awake but she was quickly losing consciousness. She had lost a lot of blood. "I know you're in shock, Brianne, but I need you to build a fire. We have to keep her warm so her blood can replenish." Brianne nodded mutely and began digging a pit to shield the fire from the chilling wind coming down from the mountains. Rene focused all her energy on the brilliant pair of eyes that glinted from above. But, eventually, the darkness overtook her. ****************************************************************** "Maybe we should take her to the village," she heard Brianne say. "We can't risk them recognizing her," replied a man at her side, fiddling with her arm. It hurt, but not as much as she remembered. "We are on the outskirts of the kingdom, the villagers may feel outside the law." "All the more reason to keep moving before they stumble upon us," another man chimed. "We can't move her like this. She needs rest. She's in no state to travel," Brianne objected. "We aren't protected here," the second man retorted. "Enough," commanded the first man as he finished wrapping her injured arm. Slowly, Rene willed her eyes to open and she stared for a moment at her guard as her knelt beside her. His vivid green eyes were filled with concern and his brow was lined in rapt concentration. Blake looked at Rene and his face softened upon seeing her eyes. "It's about time you waked. We were all beginning to worry." He sat beside her, supporting her with his arm as she sat up. He grabbed his water flask with his other hand and gently placed the opening at her lips. She was dehydrated and tried to take long pulling gulps, but he only allowed her a small amount. "Easy," he soothed. "Too much, too fast will do you no good, Princess." "You came for us," she managed to whisper. "Of course we did. Besides, you forgot this," he teased, holding up her hunting knife. She laughed at that and began to cough heavily. He pulled her up to his chest to ease her breathing. He was unbelievably warm and the smell of his skin mixed with the earth was enticing. She relished in the warmth of his body even after her coughing fit subsided. When he released her, the warm air felt like a chilling winter's breath. Before she could shiver, he wrapped her tightly in a blanket earning a smile from her tired lips. Brianne stooped beside her with a tray of meat and greens. Rene smiled graciously and began to indulge herself, slowly though, when she remembered Blake's caution. "How long did I sleep?" she inquired to no one in particular. "A day and a half," replied Blake as he packed the saddlebag nearest to him. "We were supposed to be concluding our return today. I'm afraid we must get on our way," he added solemnly, noting the princess's face. She looked around the camp to avoid his gaze. The horses they had taken were tied beside the stallion and gelding brought by her guards. They must not have run as far as she hoped. The bodies of the wolves were piled some distance from the camp, what was left of them that is. They had been skinned for their pelts and what valuable meat they had was stripped from the bone. In a nearby tree, a man's shirt was hanging from the branches. After a moment, the princess realized it was the shirt she had been wearing when she was attacked. Someone probably tried to rinse the blood from it, but most of it was stained a light reddish brown. Her stomach turned, and for the first time she looked at her left arm. It was bandaged tightly, but the skin she could see was purple and swollen. She lifted it and turned it over, barely flinching at the pain. The shirt she was wearing was not her own; it was a man's shirt, but much larger than what she was used to. When she looked to Blake, he had already begun to answer her unspoken questions. "I had a spare shirt for myself, so your handmaiden changed you and washed your own shirt," he explained. "I covered the bite in willow bark infused with bearberry juice. It will help with the pain and swelling, though it may make you a bit dizzy. I have Wormwood here if you begin to feel feverish. But I got the willow in time, thanks to Alex for his speed." "I owe you both my life." Rene looked to Blake's younger companion. For once, it seemed he didn't have a retort. On the contrary, he looked rather bashful as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Blake gave me strict instructions," he muttered diffidently. "I was just following orders." "I'm grateful you did," Rene said with a smile. Alexander shuffled his feet and wiped his hands on his breeches, obviously uncomfortable with the appreciation. "Yes, well you are awake now. I will gather water for our journey, shall I?" But without waiting for his commander's approval, he snatched the flasks and paraded into the forest mumbling to himself. Blake burst into a fit of laughter and had to sit down again next to the diminishing fire. Rene and Brianne briefly shared a smile before Brianne busied herself with packing, a slight pink flushing her cheek. Rene grinned knowingly and giggled as she watched Blake continue to be overcome with amusement. He was leaning on one arm while propping the other on his up bent leg; his head was thrown back in joy as he laughed into the sky. It was a blissful, carefree sound that Rene could not help but take pleasure in. She found herself smiling even more as she watched him ride out the hilarity. "I have never," Blake began between laughs, "seen him so discomfited in his life!" He touched his chin in thought, smiling as he looked at the princess. "You must have really hit a nerve, my lady!" "So it seems," she giggled. "I do believe I will need to thank him more often." She returned Blake's brilliant smile, watching his grow as he pushed himself up from the dirt. "I look forward to it," he conferred. "But he makes a valid point: we need to get moving." With that, he began to collect the mismatched items and store them into their packs. When Alex returned with their flasks full of water, he made no eye contact with any of his company. Instead, he gathered his things and shoved them brusquely into his rucksack. Rene felt odd merely watching them as they disbanded their camp, but she did not attempt to raise herself until they had completely finished. Blake rushed to her aid, surprising her when he scooped her up into his arms. Rene wrapped her own arms around his neck as a precaution, but quickly realized she needn't any. His step was unfaltering as he cradled her with every stride. Rene looked up into his face as a flood of unwavering trust washed over her, making her grateful she was in his secure embrace. Had she been on her feet, she probably would have fallen to her knees in weakness. This man was not the enemy. This man was her guardian. She was wrong to have run from him and silently vowed that she would not attempt to do so again. As he placed her gently in the saddle, she managed a small smile and wrapped the blanket snugly around her shoulders. Without a word, Blake tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and brushed his thumb across her cheek. Even amidst her torrent of emotions, Rene felt a twinge of shyness and sucked in a quick breath. He smiled tenderly as he dropped his hand then mounted his stallion in one fluid motion. Alexander was already leading his horse forward and they were on their way. Rene was dizzy as Blake predicted and allowed her horse to follow the others without command. Suddenly, she whistled shrilly. An equally loud mew came from behind and she stopped her horse. Her lynx was cowering behind a tree, looking at her the as a child looks at their mother when they've had a nightmare. "Oh Leon," she called softly. "Come here, it's okay." She held out her arms and he covered the distance in three leaps, bounding up into her embrace with a pitiful cry. She coddled him lovingly. As if he knew what she was thinking, Blake reached into his pack and pulled out a sack of meat from their lunch. He rode up alongside her and held out the small package. Leon pressed himself as close as he could to her body as she took the meat. Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 02 "Thank you," she said as she untied the meal. Leon purred loudly as he devoured every morsel. "Brianne said he was a pet of yours," Blake began, "but he wouldn't come within 10 feet of us. Wouldn't even eat the scraps we left out for him." "That sounds about right," Rene replied as she stroked the cat. "He won't eat anything unless he killed it himself or it comes from your hand." "And I thought I was a picky eater," Blake chuckled, holding out a palm to Leon. Unlike his meeting with Brianne, Leon immediately rubbed against Blake. It was as if he had been waiting for Rene's permission to accept him. Both Blake and Rene smiled as the lynx looked back and forth for each of them to show him affection. After a few minutes, Leon curled up against Rene and fell asleep from exhaustion. ****************************************************************** Despite their slow start, they were able to make it back to the castle by the end of the third day. Rene made them circle around to the back entrance of the grounds to avoid a scene in the marketplace. Her cheeriness had fallen away the closer they got to the palace; and now that she was home, fear engulfed her. She knew her father's fury would be horrendous but stall as she may, the confrontation was eminent. Her head was bowed timidly as she led the way from the stables through the servants entrance. The staff greeted her with words of praise and sorrow but they fell on empty ears. The princess they knew and loved would soon be gone forever, killed by the hand of her father in the name of holy matrimony. A bitter taste filled her mouth at that thought; she was unaware she had been biting her lip. The princess quickly wiped the blood from her mouth and stopped at the first station of guards. "Please inform His Majesty, that I have returned with his daughter," Blake commanded the troops at the door. "We will wash and join him for supper." The two men saluted him then turned on their heels and walked away. "If I may, my lady," Brianne inquired hesitantly, "I will wash up in my own chamber?" Rene nodded at her request and Brianne squeezed her shoulder comfortingly as she passed. Blake placed his hand in the small of her back, and she begrudgingly led them towards her chambers. Once they arrived, Alexander walked into the double room opposite of Rene's. It had been empty for some time, but must be where the king had instructed them to stay. Blake opened the door for her and she led the way into her quarters. Rene was not surprised when he stepped in behind her. There was no way he was letting her out of his sight now. This made her smile slightly. He knows that much about me, at least, she thought as she made her way to her wardrobe. Opening the doors, she pulled a dress from the very back. It was mostly black with accents of red and silver throughout its details. She was making a statement: she had not worn this dress since her mother's wake. It was a symbol of loss and death, and she sincerely hoped her father noticed that she had saved it for this precise moment. This had been her intent for the gown ever since her father made mention of his plan. Her seamstress had suggested she use the gown for scrap, but Rene had insisted it be altered to fit her much more mature frame. This is how she wanted her father to remember her: in painful mourning. Rene laid the ornate gown on her bed as someone knocked on the door. Blake and Alexander exchanged posts, and she excused herself to her bathroom to wash. After her bath, Rene dried her hair with a towel and ran a brush through her tangled tresses. With delicate fingers, she braided and twisted her rich, brown hair into an elegant bun. Once she was satisfied, she donned her towel and cracked open the door to her suite. "Alex?" "No. It's me." "Oh," she muttered, suddenly very shy. "Blake, will you hand me my gown?" "Of course." She could her hear his boots on the stone floor and before long, he handed her the garment through the small opening. She took it and quickly wished Brianne had not gone to her own chamber: the dress needed tied in the back. Sighing, she emerged from the bath using her hands to hold the top up. "I need you to help me tie this," she said plainly, trying to keep her voice as steady as possible. He raised his head as he sat by her private fireplace. When he rose, she couldn't help but gawk at his changed appearance. He had drastically altered his look from head to toe; now he came across more like a suitor than a bodyguard. His boots were polished with silver rivets up the side that matched the buttons on his coal black jacket. There was a red sash fastened over the front that draped behind him like a cape. It billowed behind him as he walked with a confidence beyond his stature. The collar of his undershirt was crisp and white in contrast to his golden skin. It had never occurred to Rene how oddly tan he was for an Englishman. The stubble that had been growing upon his cheek was now cleanly shaven and his dark but lightly golden hair was still damp from his wash. She delighted in how naturally his wavy, brown locks played around his eyes. God, his eyes! They were so mesmerizing to her. This was not the first time she had found herself caught in his gaze, unable to look away. He was standing in front of her now, one side of his mouth curving upwards into an proud smirk as she took in every aspect of him. She hadn't remembered him being that much taller than her, and she was not short by any means. "I clean up well, do I not?" She blushed and smiled, revolving so he could tie the back of her gown. "I was merely comparing the differences; but yes, you do look rather presentable." She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see him grin but he was already concentrating on her open backed dress. Before she could instruct him, she felt his large hands near her waist. He aptly began to work the laces into an intricate weave, tightening the bodice as he worked his way up. Rene could feel his warm breath upon her back and she shivered at the sensation. With one final tug, Blake twisted the satin strings into graceful bow at the top of her gown. "There," he said, stepping back to look at his handiwork. "That's about the best I can do." "Thank you," Rene replied, walking to her mirror. "It looks perfect." "So do you, my lady." Rene looked at his eyes then, blushing when she saw the utmost sincerity. "Thank you," she said again. "This is the first time you've actually looked like a princess." "This is the first time you haven't looked like a bodyguard," she mocked playfully. "Well ma'am, I'm not just your bodyguard." He paused, gauging her reaction. "Oh?" She wasn't sure what to expect. "I'm a knight," he revealed, bowing graciously, "for your service and protection, your highness." She gasped, both awestruck and enlightened. This explained so much; his cousin being of lesser rank, his uncanny skill with a blade, his chivalrous behavior, his exquisite attire. She was surprised she had not put it together sooner, but found herself blessing the fact that they had gotten to know each other at such an informal level. Determined to not let this truth change their building relationship, she knelt to touch his face. He gradually raised his vibrant green eyes to meet her own deep chocolate ones. They were swirling with confusion and intrigue as he had not expected this outcome. "I'm honored," she cooed. "But Blake?" "Yes?" "Never call me 'your highness' again." He chuckled, dropping his gaze for a moment. When he looked back up, the jade of his eyes sparkled with admiration and a bit of something else; she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Before she could deliberate much more, there was a knock at the door. "That'll be Alexander. We mustn't keep your father waiting." "Of course. We wouldn't want him to think us rude." Blake laughed aloud before calling to his fellow guard outside. "Anon, Alex! We come!" He stood, helping the princess rise as he did so. Walking over to her dresser, he opened the glass box that held her crown. He delicately removed the diadem and returned to her side. "May I?" Rene looked dotingly into his eyes and smiled her reply. "Now you are ready to stare down a king." The smile of the princess grew to a remarkable size at this sentiment, for now she knew he was on her side. Rene held her head a little higher as she walked to the door, to her impending doom, with her guardian knight following in her graceful wake. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks to everyone that read and voted for my first post! Sorry, no sex yet but it's REALLY important for me to develop these characters in the first book ;) ;) Trust me when I say I've got a HUGE plan! Thanks again and don't forget to vote!! Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 03 The magnificent doors to the dining room were closed with a palace guard posted on each side. Without command, the sentinels granted them access with a double-door entry. The usual grand table that could fit upwards of 20 people had been removed. A smaller, much more personal table sat in its place, set for four. The king was facing the entrance as it opened. He watched silently as his daughter and her body guards entered the great hall. With a wave of his hands, the sentries pulled the doors closed with the echo of a prison cell. Rene heard a faint click that made her shudder. They were locked in. The princess jumped at the light pressure of Blake's hand at her back, beckoning her forward. She obeyed and sat in the chair opposite the king as the knight pulled it out for her. She dared not look at her father yet and kept her eyes down as her protectors removed their jackets and sat on either side. The silence was so loud to her ears, she nearly screamed when her father clapped his hands. Servants appeared within seconds, carrying trays of food from the kitchen. They set the first course in front of the diners and wordlessly left the room. The king picked up his fork and without a sound, began his meal. Blake and Alex shared a look of concern and confusion before they followed suit. The princess didn't move. This was not like her father. He was never silent. Normally, he would be screaming at her as loudly as he could and throwing anything within reach. His lack of consistency was probably the most frightening thing he could have done. Her entire world was suspended in silence. A small touch to her foot made her jump in her chair, but her father appeared not to have noticed. Alexander was barely touching his food, but Blake had nearly finished his. He was piercing the princess with his green eyes as if commanding her to move, to eat, to calm herself. He prodded his head in the air at her tray, and she willed herself to pick up her fork. After what could have been centuries, she took a bite and tried to chew. It felt like leather in her mouth, and it made her stomach churn. Blake tried to smile encouragingly and turned back to his own plate. The king picked up his platter and set it on the floor. The servants bustled out, placed the main course down for the guests and retreated back to the kitchen. They were smart to take cover; the tension in the room was mounting and would soon boil over. Rene was beginning to shake, unable to stand the anxiety that was sizzling in the air. She attempted to eat the meat and bread before her, but every bite felt burdened in the deafening stillness. Her father finished his meal, again placing his tray on the ground. He leisurely placed his hands on the table and interlaced his fingers. His dark eyes were scrutinizing his daughter as she tried to retain her composure. Wickedly, a smile grazed his lips and he broke the calm before the storm. When he spoke, Rene dropped her fork and it clattered to the cold floor. Her guards stopped eating straight away and leaned back in their chairs. "So, you wish to get my attention, do you?" He rose from his chair, circling the table like a lion stalking its prey, and continued his speech without a response. "First you directly disobey me, and I must resort to sending your new details to fetch you. Second, you deliberately disregard what is deemed proper by appearing before me dressed as you are. Then, as if you had not done enough, you disrespect me at my own table by refusing to eat in my presence!" Each of his words cut into Rene like a knife and hardened her heart. This is what she had expected. As his voice rose, she prepared herself for the coming onslaught. "Do you have any explanation for your grotesque actions against me?" When Rene didn't answer, he rounded on her as she sat bowing her head. Grabbing the arms of her chair, he twisted it so she faced him as he towered above her. Both Blake and Alex stiffened in their seats, obviously uncomfortable at the proceedings. "How dare you defy me! How dare you dishonor my name! You are unfit for royal blood!" He grabbed the back of her seat and shook it as he held her face to face with him. His face was turning red with rage and he clinched his jaw. She remained stoic, even as fear began to creep into her veins and the king yelled uncomprehendingly at her face. She began to panic; her breathing became sporadic. Never in her life had she been more afraid of her father than she was right now; she had never seen him this furious. As much as she wanted to scream at him, to curse him, she was now held in his fiery gaze in utter fear. She mustered as much strength as she could and returned his glare with tears in her eyes. She would not let him break her. "Guards!" he yelled suddenly, and the doors to the dining hall flew open. Rene gasped as Brianne was crudely pulled into the room by two officers. "If silence is your only answer then so be it," the king spat maliciously. "Bind her!" Brianne began to cry hysterically as the men tied her hands. They stretched her arms out and held her face against the wall. She was going to be whipped. "No!" Rene cried, rising to her feet. "No, please!" The king roughly pushed her to the ground, and the guards at the table stood in unison. This had gone far enough. "No, please!" Rene begged again from the floor at her father's feet, tears pouring from her eyes. "I made her go! It was me! Punish me!" "Be still!" the king roared, reaching out his hand for the whip. "If you will not hear by words, you will see by action! I refuse to have my own flesh and blood question my orders!" "No, no! Don't!" Rene sobbed as she rose from the stone floor. Her father did not heed her cry. He raised the whip and Rene grabbed his arm. He had lost all sense in his lust for power and retribution. Rene screamed in agony as he gripped her injured arm with a deadly force and shoved her to the ground once more. "Your majesty!" Blake bellowed, rushing to her side, "Stop this madness!" Again, the king did not hear and again he rose the whip to strike the defenseless handmaid. With a deafening crack, he let it fly and Brianne screamed as it cut through the flesh on her back. The king made to strike her again but Alexander jumped in the way at last second. The whip wrapped around his arm, leaving a ring of blood on his freshly pressed shirt. He twisted his hand around the weapon and wrenched it from the king's hand. Alexander's eyes were dark with fury as the king reprimanded him. "If you challenge me, you will receive the same treatment, ignorant scum!" He had quite literally gone insane with rage. Any humanity he had left seemed to have been erased when his daughter intentionally fled from him. "This woman did not wrong you by following your daughter's orders," Alex began, his voice deadly and commanding, "and I will not stand by as innocents suffer. I made an oath to uphold justice when I made an oath to this sword. I take orders from God but not from you." He wrapped up the whip and threw it on the ground then turned to the guards behind him. They made no attempt to stop him as he released Brianne from the ropes. His body radiated strength and brawn as he pulled her up into his arms. Her sobs were muffled as she buried her head in his shoulder. He kicked open the doors to the hall and left without a backward glance. "I hate you," Rene breathed as tears trickled down her face and dripped from her chin. The crazed ruler turned to his daughter as she lay on the floor. Blake was kneeling behind her but was helpless to protect her as the king kicked her in the chest with the heel of his boot. She gasped as the air rushed from her lungs and she struggled to breathe. Blake's strong arms were around her in an instant and he pressed her body into his chest as he stood. The king was already at the dining table and with one swift movement, he tipped it on its side with a dreadful crash. Suddenly, he became disturbingly calm and began to leave. "I want that wretch out of my sight and on her way to Spain tomorrow." Without bothering to look at his daughter or apologize for his uncivilized behaviors, the king walked chauvinistically from the grand room. Blake was shaking as he carried Rene through the stone halls, his brisk steps echoing in warning to all those ahead of him. His breaths were jagged and labored but not from the young girl in his arms. The princess he had been charged to protect clung to him for security in a world that was crumbling down around her. Everything he had been told about this foreign ruler was a lie. This so called king was an utter barbarian. Blake was unsurprised when they were greeted by four guards flanking each of the entries to their rooms. The statement was clear: further defiance would not be tolerated. "Open it," Blake ordered. His command was executed immediately, and he listened as they locked the door behind them. Flexing his jaw in absolute anger, he carried Rene to her bed. Blake placed her gently in its middle and she tried to cease her tears, but he could tell she was in a lot of pain. Sighing, he turned to retrieve his herbs from his room but the princess called out to him. "Please, don't leave me." Her voice was weak and he turned back to her when he made his reply. "I'll return in a moment. Don't worry, Rene. I will protect you." He exited quietly and Rene felt greatly comforted. It was the first time he had used her name since the day they met. Blake entered his chamber and sucked in his breath. Brianne was lying face down on one of the beds, a bloody gash in her back. The fresh wound was surrounded with scars from previous whippings. She appeared to be asleep but pain was still etched on her face. Alexander was cleaning her injury with a warm rag and though his dark eyes were full of anger, his touch was surprisingly soft. He glanced up as his commander entered the room but didn't say a word. They didn't need to; everything that needed said was sent through a single determined look between them. Bound by the oath they had taken as knights, this handmaid was now part of their charge. Even if they king had not commanded they leave tomorrow, they would have. There would not be a chance for another show like the one at dinner. They were going to get both of the girls out of this castle at first light. Blake gathered the herbs he needed and set some aside for Alexander and Brianne. "Give her this in a cup of tea with some honey." He gave Alexander a small handful of leaves. "It's lemon balm and will help her sleep." His cousin nodded and diligently continued his work, his nearly black curls falling in front of his face. Blake left the room quietly, and Alexander roused Brianne. Her face showed no expression when she woke. There was a sadness that crept from her deep blue eyes; it stated matter-of-factly that she was used to this kind of treatment. It made his blood boil. Controlling his anger, he coaxed her to sit up. When she held up the front of her dress with her hands, he wanted to shout in rage. The ropes that had bound her wrist had been so tight on this fragile woman that they were already bruising. Alexander quickly tied her dress in a loose knot so he could examine her hands. Brianne made no sound as he turned each of her wrists over in his large callused hands. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner. It won't happen again," Alex said as he massaged her hands to return the feeling. She remained mute and only nodded her reply. Brianne was completely crestfallen. Her father had beaten and whipped her before he sold her to the palace when she was seven. It was nothing new to her. But that didn't mean the abuse didn't sting her spirit every time she was struck. She had simply learned to live with it as a painful, inevitable part of her life. Alex walked to the door and sent the guard on an errand then turned to survey the young maid. She was still holding her dress as she stared blankly at the floor. What an unfortunate soul. Sighing, Alexander sat next to her on the bed. He had an unexplainable desire to comfort this woman, something he had never excelled at in the past. Generally, he didn't do much that was above and beyond his call to duty; and though he reasoned that this fragile girl fell well within those boundaries, something said he was making excuses. He had not needed to stop the king, but he had. He had definitely not need to risk his own neck in doing so, but he had. It was almost an instinct that demanded he put an end to this woman's suffering. But he was stubborn. Anyone that told him what to do instantly annoyed him, even if it was his own better judgment talking. However, the need to console her was overwhelming and relentless. Sighing once more, he laid his arm across her shoulders. With hardly any hesitation, Brianne threw herself into his chest and began to sob. He wrapped his muscular arms around her and held her tightly as tears cascaded down her face. He didn't know what to say; neither did she. But Alex was as much content to hold her in his embrace as Brianne was willing to let him. Finally, her weeping began to subside and Alexander lessened his hug. He was thankful when there was a knock at the door, and he rose quickly to answer it. He returned with a handful of Brianne's things, his jacket from the dining hall and a pitcher of tea. He set the container on the table and dropped her clothes into the chair beside it. "We should retire. It will be a long day tomorrow." Brianne rose from the bed, collected her nightgown, and went to the on suite bathroom to change. Alexander quickly removed his own clothes, replacing his bloodied white shirt with a fresh black one with short sleeves. Tying his undershorts, he sat down in a chair next to the fireplace. He poured two cups of tea and added the lemon balm to one. He turned in his chair when he heard the bathroom door open, and what he saw nearly made him drop his tea. Brianne was in her nightgown; and though it was severely modest, Alexander could still see every curve of her frame. Warmth spread through his body like a flame through parched fields. The sensation ignited his passionate side; she was unlike any other woman he had ever seen. He took a drink of the hot tea, but it only added fuel to the fire. She was devastatingly beautiful. Her hair was bright as the sun and her deep blue eyes captivated him more than the starry sky. It was a striking complementary, but these opposites blended in perfect harmony. The body he thought was frail was not frail at all. A lean pair of athletic arms continued seamlessly into a set of strong but slender shoulders; and her lower legs were toned like a runner's. She was perfection in his opinion. How had he not noticed before? Her eyes stared warily at the ground and a rosy pink could be seen in her cheeks. She had no idea what she was doing to him. When he had first met her, she had been determined and resourceful. Now she was self conscious, insecure, and in pain. That last made him want to roar in irritation, the very thought of someone hurting her sent a rush of possessiveness into his veins. No one would ever hurt her again; he would personally see to it. Regaining his composure as well as his stubbornness, Alex stood and offered her a cup of tea. Brianne took it with a quick thanks and began to sip lightly. He downed his in one gulp and made to put out the candles lighting the room. When only the fire from the hearth remained, he turned down his sheets. Alex watched as Brianne placed her cup on the table and walked to the other side of his bed. Without a word or look to him, she crawled under the blankets and nuzzled into her pillow. Smiling slightly to himself, Alexander situated himself beneath the covers and eased his arm around the girl beside him. Brianne stiffened at first but then eagerly snuggled against his warm, muscular body. Alex coiled his arm around her shoulder, being mindful of her painful back. "Thank you," she breathed, "for everything." "You're welcome," he said after a moment and gently kissed her flaxen hair, something he would never usually do. He felt a smile bless her lips as she lay her head upon his bulky chest. They were a comfort to each other and both fell into a long overdue sleep. ****************************************************************** Rene was sitting on the edge of her four-poster bed, clutching her ribs where her father had kicked her. She looked up as Blake reentered her room, her eyes swollen from her tears. He knelt before her and took her arm in his large hands. Very carefully, he rolled up her sleeve to examine her bite. She had left it bandaged in her bath, but her father's forceful grip had made it bleed again. Trying not to shake with his own rage, Blake removed the wrappings around her arm. He threw the bloodied cloth aside and washed the injured area. Then he began to mash the bearberries he had left. Rene watched in fascination as this knight masterfully soaked the willow bark in the berry juice and placed it on her wound. She flinched at the first contact against her skin, not expecting it to feel warm and tingly, but then immediately began to feel relief. "Thank you," she whispered as he twisted a fresh dressing around her forearm. "If I had known it was going to be like this, I would have never brought you home." He kept his eyes on his task, but his voice allowed some of his anger to seep through. He delicately wrapped her limb like a present; and after he tied it off at the top, he gazed into her red, weepy eyes. "Why did you not confide in me? If I known how he would hurt you, we would have kept you safe." His emerald eyes filled with guilt as he looked up at the princess. "He'd never struck me before. I never thought he could despise me so much." A tear fell from her eye and Blake tenderly wiped it from her cheek. She pressed her face into his hand, soaking up the much needed comfort. "I cannot see how anyone could fail to love you, my lady. You have a spirit unlike I have ever seen." She smiled then, and he kissed her forehead as he rose. It made her head spin and warmth radiated from the spot where his lips touched her skin. He drew her head to his chest in a protective embrace and she willingly wrapped her arms around his middle. Again, she found herself reveling in his warmth and his scent. He felt like he had been laying in the grass letting the sun kiss his skin for hours. Now after his bath, he had a faint spicy aroma all his own that made Rene's mouth water. It was masculine and foreign, yet calming like the smell of the forest after a much needed rain. She loved the way his hands curved perfectly to her face and his arms seemed made to cradle her slender body. Her daydream was interrupted when there was a loud knock at the door. Blake released her to answer it; and once again, she found the air much cooler than before. Her knight exchanged a quick word with the palace guard and took his jacket when it was offered to him. Sighing, he tossed it over the back of one of her chairs. "I should look at your side," he stated as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair. He motioned for her to turn around so he could untie her dress. Shivering as his fingers danced across her creamy skin, she held her top as it became loose. She grabbed her nightgown from her wardrobe and excused herself to the bathroom to change. She felt more confident after washing the tears from her face but became shy as she surveyed her attire in her bathroom mirror. Her lacey, satin nightgown hung to her knees, had a deep v-shaped neckline and a rich cabernet coloring. Never before had a man seen her in so little clothing, and definitely not a man as handsome as Blake. The mere thought of him seeing her so scantly clad made her body tingle with a strange chilling warmth. Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 03 She took a deep breath as she walked out, catching Blake in the midst of removing his trousers. She blushed and promptly made to hang her dress in her wardrobe to avoid staring at his tight, tan behind. After removing her tiara, she undid her hair and her dark brown locks fell in waves over her shoulders. She held her breath as she turned around, praying that Blake had now donned some kind of clothing, or praying that he hadn't. She wasn't sure which she preferred and that made her blush even more. He was standing with his back to her as he tied his undergarments. They were loose and short but somewhat pant-like, probably an English fad. With a fluttering heart, she sat on the bed once more. He turned around as he removed his shirt, smiling when he saw Rene's wide-eyed stare. He threw the shirt on top of the chair with his other garments, never letting his eyes leave hers. As he sauntered towards the bed, her eyes traveled up and down his nearly naked body. She had seen men in the village that worked shirtless but never up this close. 'Handsome' seemed far too plain a description for the man that made his way towards her. He could easily rival both the world's greatest warrior and heaven's most beautiful angel. His tan skin glinted oddly in the candlelight as though part of the sun was contained within him. He had broad shoulders and very muscular arms, no wonder he had been able to carry her so easily. Rene's eyes moved of their own accord, pausing at his perfectly sculpted chest before they continued downward. She had never seen a man's abdominal muscles so defined when he was at rest. This man embodied power. Her hand twitched with the sudden urge to reach out and touch him. She stopped herself at the last moment, but the desire to run her long fingers across his warm skin did not abate. Blake stood directly in front of her now. She firmly stared at his feet but slowly her eyes began to wander up his firm claves to his solid thighs. He was pure lean muscle everywhere she looked. Without thinking, she glanced at his undergarments. Her mouth dropped open in shock and she sucked in her breath. Regaining her self-control, Rene forced herself to look up into his face. He was smiling like he usually did, one side curved up a little higher than the other. His cheekbones were well defined and matched his chiseled jaw line flawlessly. The green of his eyes looked much darker now that his brow held them in shadows. It made him look a bit devil-may-care and yet his eyes sparkled with satisfaction. He was thoroughly enjoying the way she eyed him greedily. His pupils had been large and attentive as he watched Rene look over his uncovered body. Something deep within him growled to be released, but he pushed it back down. Blake knew he was pushing the limits. He had only known this girl a week, hardly knew anything about her. She was a princess that was being forced to sacrifice her life for her kingdom. He was her protector and protect her he would. It was just an overwhelm sense of protection that he was feeling, that's all. But then again, she was so beautiful. Her porcelain skin stood in contrast to her brunette hair as it trailed down her back and across her chest. When she looked up at him with those big brown eyes, his breath caught in his chest. There was a golden ring around her irises that glimmered in the low light from the candles and brought out the lighter tones in her hair. A fair pink rushed to her cheeks, coloring her pale face. Her full, pouting lips were slightly parted as she breathed shallowly. Blake ran his large fingers through her hair and imagined what it would be like to kiss those plump, pink lips in a moment of unrestrained passion. She trembled at his touch and leaned into him as he stroked her cheek dreamily. Shaking his head at his own weakness and frustration, he spoke a bit more commanding than he intended. "Lie down on the bed and pull the covers up to your waist." She jumped at the sound of his voice. In comparison to his gentle touch, it was extremely gruff. Rene pushed herself back onto the bed and pulled the blankets up over her legs. Blake's chest was heaving as he walked to the side of the bed and sat facing her. His hands seemed to quiver as he reached beneath the blankets on either side of her body to grab her nightgown. Rene progressively arched her back as Blake slowly pulled the sleek fabric off of her legs, over her stomach and let it pool on her breasts. Their eyes met for a minuscule moment and their breathing became heavy. Finally, Blake gritted his teeth and forced himself to look down at Rene's now exposed middle. He nearly cursed out loud and his fists clenched instinctively. Yes, there was a bruise; and a large one at that. It would probably grow and darken over the next few days, which was saying a lot because it was already the size of his palm. The spot where the heel dug in was clearly visible and he prayed there wasn't a broken rib. Rene lay still and silent as he examined her painful side. Once again, his eyes were scrutinizing her with the concentration of a well-trained physician. Her labored breaths continued the more he looked at her body. He had been careful not to touch her skin when he pulled up her gown and he was not touching her now. With a sudden onset of chills, she realized she was shivering with anticipation. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted to feel his strong hands on her skin. She wanted him to hold her and not let go. She had to be going crazy. This man was her bodyguard! She was leaving tomorrow to marry the Prince of Spain! This was madness and it had to stop. She was playing with fire. Fire. Oh god, his fingers felt like fire when they touched her skin. Blake looked to her face for a moment before he applied a gentle pressure on her side. She winced, but remained tacit. He soothed the pain by laying his hand across the large bruise. Blake had strong, hard-working hands and there was a delicious roughness to them. With both of his hands around her waist, his fingers could nearly touch in the back. It made Rene feel extremely small and venerable; she was caught in a explosion of unfamiliar emotions now. Her earlier resolution was gone. Blake made her feel warm and beautiful and desired. It dawned on her that desire had been what she'd seen in his eyes before and a thick heat began to radiate from within her core. It spread across her skin, making it oversensitive to his touch. She wanted him. Blake didn't look into her eyes, but she could see it; he wanted her too. His voice was much softer when he spoke this time and there was a certain huskiness to it. "I think you'll be fine. No broken bones at least." He swallowed firmly as he pulled her night gown down over her stomach. The flimsy garment showcased her large breasts perfectly, allowing him to leisurely trace their curvature with his eyes. He swiftly stood and made to put out the candles. It was going to be a long torturous night if he let himself think like that. Rene watched as he ran his fingers through his hair as a habit of his frustration. Blake was resisting what he felt as hard as he could, and she knew she needed to do the same. But she didn't know if she was strong enough to withstand him when both her body and mind screamed at her to do the exact opposite. "Will you stay?" she asked as he stoked the fireplace one more time. "Only if you wish me to, Princess." "I do." "Then yes, I will stay." He extinguished the last candle on the bedside table and looked at her seriously. Without another word he turned down the blanket on his side of the bed and clambered in beside her. She smiled at him, her eyes glowing with gratitude and longing. With a sigh, she rolled over on her side and hugged her pillow. Rene instantly recognized that she would much rather have her arms around his heated body and had to stifle a moan at that thought. But regardless of the relationship with her father, she had a duty to the people. If she was going to proceed as her father wished, not because he wanted her to but because she had to; she might as well do it with what dignity and grace she could muster. She resentfully forced herself to fall asleep without another look to the knight in bed beside her; but once she did, he was a reassuring presence in her dreams. Blake laid awake until her breathing steadied and her body relaxed. Then he carefully wrapped his arm around her tiny waist and pulled her close. She was so soft, so warm and so sweet. He laid his head next to hers, inhaling the scent of her freshly washed hair. The overwhelming fragrances of vanilla and jasmine filled his senses and he was lost in a scent that was uniquely hers. Blake smiled to himself in his forbidden moment of indulgence. When he kissed the back of her head, the silkiness of her thick hair tantalized his lips and made him revel in all that she was. Signing in resignation, he allowed himself to fall asleep with his strong and capable arms around the most beautiful girl he had ever held. Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 04 Alexander was irritated when he woke. The sun had not yet risen and there was a tingly sensation in his right arm that refused to stop paining. Growling slightly, he turned to shake the sleep out of his limb but stopped as soon as he saw her. Sleeping soundly, Brianne was curled up like a kitten in the curve of his arm. Her golden hair was tousled from sleep and hung like a curtain in front of her face. Even as she slept; her cheeks held a shy, rosy pink that shimmered within her tanned skin. Her slim, crimson lips pouted as though they feared they were in trouble. Last night, she had baffled him. After her torture, Brianne had barely taken the time to cope with the trauma of the event. He had thought her to be frail and in need of constant protection until he gawked at the strength in her small body. Even as he looked at her now, he found himself at a loss for thought. Alex allowed himself to smile as he tenderly stroked the hair from her face. Dawn was fast approaching and he knew he ought to rise to prepare for their journey to Spain. And yet, this sleeping maid on his arm was keeping him from doing so. With all the other women who had shared his bed, he had not hesitated to wake them and send them on their way. He had better things to do than wait for them to awake. But he could not seem to do so with Brianne; he could watch her sleep forever and a day. He smiled again and pulled her close to his chest. Bowing his head, Alex kissed her forehead and laid back on his pillow with a sigh. In her sleep, Brianne responded to his touch. The hand she had held close to her side snaked up his stomach to lay on his chest. Even through his shirt, her tiny fingers felt like flames on a candle, licking at his skin. He sucked in a breath to control his emotions as they began to writhe deep within him. As though her unconscious knew what he desired, Brianne’s knee twisted between his legs and brushed heavily against the inside of his thigh. He felt himself growing beneath the sheets as his breathing and heart rate quickened. When Brianne made a small whimper in her sleep, it nearly sent him over the edge of the abyss. What was she doing to him? He was never this easily aroused by a woman, let alone one that was asleep and completely unknowing of her affect on him. With a deep breath to calm himself, Alex grasped her hand on his chest and closed his eyes, begging the passion to desist. Her hand returned a light pressure and she nuzzled her face into his neck. He wanted to curse her for stirring him like this but he found himself craving more of her tantalizing touch. With a soft, contented moan Brianne’s body relaxed against Alex and he sighed again. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted her, and now her body was laying claim upon his own. But this was not the right place or the right time. She had been hurt badly the night before; and as soon as the sun rose, they were to be on their way to Spain. However, his body had a different plan in mind and he had little will power to restrain it. Ever so slowly, Alex rolled onto his side, cradling Brianne in his arms. She let out a small hum and snuggled back into his chest. Alex chuckled then. When she was awake, she was very shy. But in her sleep, she was practically the opposite. Looking down into her face, he found himself staring at her lips. He pulled his hand from her tiny waist and caressed her cheek, running his calloused thumb along the bone that defined it. Brianne nuzzled her face into his palm as she breathed deeply. Alex lowered his head to hers and buried his face in her golden hair. He had rarely been this frustrated in himself. Sucking in an irritated breath was a bad idea; Brianne’s scent flooded his senses, sending another surge of passion through his body. She smelled like fresh baked bread and honey with a smidgeon of wildflowers on the breeze. Alexander couldn’t help himself as he planted a kiss on her neck. Her head rolled slightly to the side, baring her neck to him. He could tell she was in that dreamy state right before waking when your body is oversensitive to its surroundings. Smiling to himself again, he kissed her neck once more, this time just below her ear. He suckled lightly on her earlobe before he swept her jaw with his lips. Next, he kissed her cheek then danced around up to her forehead, increasing his kisses as he went. He was intent on kissing her awake and started down the opposite side of Brianne’s face. Alex lingered with his lips by her eye, then on her cheek before she turned her head again. He responded to her unconscious invitation by sampling the sweet skin beneath her jawbone and running his fingers through her hair. Brianne moaned faintly and suddenly her hands were working their way around his body. Alexander stopped his assault on her neckline to look into her sleepy eyes. He smiled when he saw how dark they were, even as she tried to blink away the grogginess. “Good morning,” he said, his voice rich and husky from the good night’s sleep, a smirk creeping across his face. She only smiled her reply but reached up to run her hand through his dark curls. Brianne cocked her head as she twirled his hair between her fingers. “Do you wake up every woman of yours like this?” Her own voice was soft and sultry to his ears, coursing the fervor through his veins as he lay beside her. The deep blue of her eyes pierced his hazel ones with the heat from a raging fire, strong and wild. “Only the women that look like you, my lady,” he returned. There was an unpredictable passion consuming them both and Alex liked it. He kissed her neck again, lighter this time, teasing her as she fought off her sleepiness. “Which is to say ‘many,’ no doubt.” “On the contrary,” he paused to kiss her ear, earning a delightful shudder, “you are the first. It seems you have me at a disadvantage, Miss Brianne. You could ask for the moon and I would give my life to fetch it for you.” Alex realized as he said it, surprising himself, that he was being wholly truthful. He would do anything and everything for this woman. He had to be going stir crazy in this castle. Alexander was not the only one taken aback with his statement. Brianne pulled his face from her neck and saw the honesty reflected in his eyes. Swallowing deeply, she had no response to his words. Her already rosy cheeks flushed to a deep pink as she dropped her gaze. She was not used to this kind of a sentiment from a man of his stature and did not know what to make of it. As a house maid in this particular kingdom, it was well within her range of duties to have to provide favors to the men in arms or married men whilst they visited and were away from their wives. Despite Rene’s utmost insistence that her father put an end to this barbaric and demeaning practice, Brianne and the other maids of the castle continued to be the objects of wayfaring men’s desires. Kindness was not generally their most prominent quality. But she could see it there, in the hazel eyes before her, and she felt it in her heart. Alexander embodied something she had not seen in a man before; and the more she tried to put a name to it, the more it slipped away. Compassion, empathy, virtue. Call it what you will, the result remained the same. She had never met a man like him. He was different. Maybe different was just what she needed. It had been a long time since Brianne had trusted a man, but she had decided days ago that Alex and his cousin could be trusted with the protection of the princess, as well as her own. She did not blame either of them for what happened last night, for that was well out of their control. But now, against her head’s better judgment, her heart was saying he could be trusted for more than just her welfare. It was a strange feeling, but suddenly she decided to act on it. Brianne looked back up to Alex and held a finger to his lips just as he began to speak. She smiled as a look of confusion fluttered across his face right before she worked her hands into his hair and pressed her lips to his. Alexander’s confusion didn’t last long. He hardly had time to think before his hands and his lips moved of their own accord. Putting his hand around her waist, he pulled her close and twisted his other hand into her hair. His mind was racing; but for the moment, the entirety of his concentration was focused upon her. Her lips, her scent, her body against his. It was overwhelming. Their lips were frantically trying to taste and suckle every inch they could reach. He could feel Brianne’s hot little hands running through his hair and over his shoulders in a frenzy to ride the whirlwind of sensations. Suddenly it was too much. In a matter of seconds, Alex broke their kiss, gasping for breath, and rolled his body so Brianne was lying underneath him as he propped himself above her. He was breathing heavily; it was an attempt to control himself and his passions. Brianne was startled by the quick turnover and her breaths came in quick spurts as well. Her nightgown was askew and tangled with the covers. Swallowing deeply, she pulled her legs out from under the covers. Alexander’s eyes traveled from her face to her chest as it heaved slowly. Brianne caught his attention by taking his hand as it lay on her hip. She gradually moved it down her thigh until he could touch the hem of her nightgown. Alex had watched her hand and his as they slid enticingly down her leg, surprised and intrigued by her eagerness. As he grabbed the bottom of her gown, she released his hand and hers began to shake. At an excruciatingly slow pace, Alex began to pull her nightdress inch by inch over her thigh. Yet, as curious and awestruck as he was, he forced himself to look at her face. When he did, he immediately pulled his hand to a halt. Her eyes were not filled with passion or fire anymore. The playfulness he had seen earlier was gone. Instead, it was replaced by fear and pain and a hollow emptiness that made his heart ache. He would have been considered a fool to not know how a maid of her age and beauty was treated by the men of this country. However, her plight must have been worse than he had imagined. But in reference with the whipping last night, maybe he was wrong to not have foreseen the worst sooner. He realized she expected him to take what he saw fit as a means of thanks for saving her the night before. So before he could ask, she was offering the only thing she knew she could. But he would never dream of using any woman in the way he had heard they did. With a slight growl at his enlightenment, Alex slowly pulled his hand from her thigh. Brianne did little to hide the shock on her face as Alex cupped it in his large hand. With as much gentleness as he could muster, Alex kissed her soft pouting lips. He tenderly caressed her cheek in his hand and moved his lips softly against hers. He could sense her bewilderment at the unusual turn of events. But despite her puzzlement, she began to respond to his kiss. Brianne’s hands were still shaking as she slowly skimmed them across his back. It created a slight tickling that forced Alex to cease his gentle persuasion upon her lips. He shivered as he sucked in a breath, lightly laughing at his weakness. This time when he looked into her eyes, he saw a completely different story. Along with her confusion, he could see a glimmer of hope and utmost appreciation. His earlier thought of her frailty returned to him and he thanked his self control for kicking in when it did. Alex’s smile, a rarity until this radiant beam of light came into his life, made another appearance as he leaned in to kiss her again. Ready for it this time, Brianne instantly began to move her lips against his. Without an ounce of haste, Alex began to run his fingers through her golden hair even as his mouth worked diligently against her own. Breaking their kiss once more, Alex sighed. Then he kissed her forehead and laid down on his side, still cradling her in his arms. Brianne snuggled against his warm, hard body then suddenly planted a small kiss of gratitude on his lips. With a sheepish smile, she settled herself against his chest again. “Try and get some more sleep,” Alex whispered as he stroked her locks of sunshine. “It’s going to be a long journey to Spain.” He felt her sigh, and resented to following his own advice. Ignoring the throbbing in his groin as best he could, he dozed off into a light slumber. ****************************************************************** The sun was peeking through the drapes on the windows in the princess’s bed chamber. She stubbornly clenched her eyes and turned her head to evade rays’ prying fingers. Rene was wrapped in a very tight, very warm blanket and she was not eager to start the day. After all, she still had to pack...for something. Her befuddled brain was trying to put the pieces together. Where was she going exactly and why was she leaving? Despite her desperate attempts to return to sleep, Rene’s eyes snapped open. She ignored the blinding light as her memory of the previous evening came flooding back to focus. She quite literally gasped as she remembered everything from the incident in the dining hall to Blake carrying her back to her room. Rene’s breathing calmed; she was not wrapped in a blanket after all. Blake was lying sound asleep and snoring softly. He had encased the princess in his powerful arms. The embrace was protective and caring, albeit somewhat possessive; but it soothed the young girl as she lay beside him. The knight’s dazzling smile was subdued as he slumbered, without a care to the world around him. For a moment, Rene allowed herself to soak up his warmth and cherish his shielding presence. But as it always does, the cruel knowledge of reality stopped her daydreaming in its tracks. Sighing, the princess frowned as she tried to pry his arms away from her body so she could rise. However, even in his sleep, his body held three times the strength of her own. She wriggled around to face her bodyguard as he held her close to his body. Instantly, it reminded her of the day they met; wrestling in the leaves, his playful grin as he kept her beneath him with absolute ease. Rene smiled. “Blake,” she whispered, “it’s morning.” But his breathy snore droned on. “Blake,” she said a little louder. “Wake up.” She twisted a hand between them to touch his face, patting him a bit on the cheek. When he still didn’t awake, Rene puckered her lips and leaned close to him. She kept her hand tucked around his jaw and very softly, blew on his face. To her delight, he distorted his features and wrinkled his nose. Finally coming to consciousness, he opened his eyes and smiled sleepily. Instead of releasing her, his hug intensified. “What a dream you are to wake up to, my lady.” Rene smiled and withdrew her hand from his face. He caught it at the last moment and placed a tender kiss upon her slender fingers. She blushed, biting her lips to lessen her smile only to find that she couldn’t hide it in her eyes. Blake’s own smile grew and he squeezed her hand. “Did you sleep well?” he asked her. “Very much so, thank you.” She wasn’t lying. Last night was the first time in a week or so that she had slept through the entire night. Since her escape, she had only been worrying about her safety and Brianne’s; they had no choice but to be constantly on guard. But with Blake beside her, she didn’t feel like she had to. She knew, even as she slept that he was there to protect and guard her. The only dreams that filled her head were of happier days and joyful times to come. Rene’s breath caught in her lungs as she remembered that there were no happy days in store for her. Blake saw the gloom return to her eyes and tipped her chin so they lay nose to nose. With a comforting smile, he stroked her cheek. “What do you say we get some fresh air before packing your life away?” He nodded to her balcony and swiftly rose from her bed. Rene had to swallow as she took in his nearly naked body again. Blake walked over to her wardrobe and retrieved her robe. As he held it out to her, Rene tried to raise herself up but quickly laid back down, flinching. Blake immediately set the robe aside and walked around the bed. Just as he had done the night before, he shimmied his hands beneath the blankets and pulled Rene’s nightgown up. Bracing himself for the worst, he looked at her ribs. The spot was greatly swollen, and colored with deep blues and purples. In the place where the heel made impact, it was nearly black. “It’s bad, isn’t it?” she asked, never taking her eyes from his. He looked up to her, a scowl on his face. “It is not good,” he told her, “but by the end of today it should be at it’s worst. I expect it will stop swelling after tonight.” He walked across the room to his things and pulled his pants on. When he returned, he leaned over her on the bed and grabbed her plush robe. Blake held it up, hiding his face so she could get up from the bed without exposing herself to him. Rene sucked in a breath and forced her body to sit up. She groaned at the pain and in a flash, Blake had her wrapped in the robe. With one arm around her waist and the other held out for her hand, Blake helped the princess stand up and walk to the balcony. The air was crisp and cool but it felt welcome to both of them. Rene sat down on the bench, with Blake’s assistance, and looked to her bodyguard. Years of reading people in her father’s court told her that he had asked her out here for a reason. Blake met her stare and chuckled slightly to himself as he spoke. “I can see now, nothing gets past you that easily.” “Not generally,” she replied with half a smile. He took one of her hands in his and looked at her seriously. “I want you to tell me what’s truly troubling you.” Rene raised her chin stubbornly like she always did when someone started a conversation she didn’t want to have. But Blake was sharp too. He noticed the miniscule movement and continued prodding her. “I can understand why you would want to be free of your father. I do not blame you for that. But I can tell there has been something else on your mind. Will you not confide in me what it is?” He locked his green eyes on her face, and for a moment the princess was lost in them again, lost in the green of the forest on a perfect summer’s day. Then she sighed. He was right of course. There had been something bothering her. “What did my father hire you to do?” This question obviously caught Blake by surprise but he answered it nonetheless. “I arrived here the morning after you had left. My original assignment was to deliver you to Spain. But of course, that changed when I had to track you down first.” Blake looked to her to see if this answered her question but apparently, it did not suffice. “So you are to escort me to Spain and then your duties are concluded?” She kept her gaze down. Rene knew if he saw her eyes he would be able to see all of the fear and worry within them as well. “Under your father’s command, yes.” Blake did not like thinking about a time when he would not be in charge of her protection; but more so, a time when he would not be with her. He fought the anger that surged through his body and focused instead on her face as she lifted her head. “I want you to stay with me in Spain. I want you to keep me safe.” Rene’s voice was unwavering as she made this statement. But despite Blake’s utter joy at the announcement, he remained confused. “Why would you need me to stay with you there? The prince will surely have his own bodyguards for you once-“ “I don’t want his guards,” she interrupted. She gripped his hand tightly and looked into his eyes. “I’ve heard things, things about the prince of Spain. I know I shouldn’t give heed to rumor and gossip, but I’m scared. I don’t want to be at his mercy or at his dispense. I am terrified that my nightmares will become reality and I will be helpless to stop him.” Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 04 All of this information bombarded Blake with questions of his own. Where was she hearing things? What had she heard? Was her father aware of this? ‘What if’s’ rampaged through his consciousness. When he had asked her what had been on her mind, never had he imagined this. Blake was snapped out of his inner turmoil by her voice, soft and pleading. “Please,” she whispered as a tear ran down her cheek. “I only ask that you stay just long enough to know for sure. Please, Blake. You are the only one I trust.” Her voice broke as another teardrop rolled from her eye. Blake pulled her into his arms, just as he had done many times before. But this time it felt different. This was the first time she had openly asked for his protection. She said she trusted him to protect her, that she wanted him to be there with her. There was no smile on his face now, only determination. He braced his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her. “I will stay with you as long as you want me to, even if it shall be forever.” The princess attempted a feeble smile even as her tears sparkled in her eyes. With both of his hands, Blake wiped her face. “But before we lose our heads to foreign rumors, I think we had best be on our way. Don’t you agree?” Rene nodded and sniffled to stop her tears. She was not one to cry often; but when she did, it didn’t last long. Pulling the robe tight around her, she stood and walked back into her quarters. Her side ached in protest but she did not heed to its pain. The knight sat with his arm resting on the balcony edge for quite some time. If the rumors were true, would he be doing the princess any favors? Was it possible that he and Alex were performing a great disservice to both of the girls? Say for a moment the gossips were right, would his cousin and himself be able to get their charges out of the reach of both France and Spain? But then, if they did; would they have set the storm for war in motion? Blake sighed and ran his fingers through his tangled hair. He was frustrated and worried, confused and slightly aroused. It made for a combination that had him a bit on edge. But he knew in time, the truth would come to light. ****************************************************************** The horse stable was unusually quiet for a day in midmorning. Normally, the stable hands would be mucking the stalls, replacing the straw, and exercising the castle’s prized horses. But not this day. There was a different feel in the barn today. Solemn and suicidal, yet somehow serene. The servants had prepared seven horses for what the king called “the wedding party,” though most of them had deemed “the funeral party” a bit more appropriate. When the princess had entered the stable, the crowd before her bowed low. With a nod of her head, the princess acknowledged them and walked purposefully to her blue roan mare. She had always loved that horse, born the spring after her mother died. Her multi-tone coat transitioned perfectly into black on her face, hooves, mane and tail. In Rene’s eyes, she was a perfect amalgamation of her mother, herself, and her future. Amidst her mind’s wandering, a wrinkled hand reached out to help her up into the saddle. Acel had already been working in the stables for many years when the princess was born; and when it had come time for her to learn to ride, he was the one that taught her. He was a man of few words, something Rene had always liked him for. She took his hand and smiled. It would be the last time she smiled in her home. She mounted her mare with admirable agility and patted Acel’s hand. Tears filled his wrinkle wrapped blue eyes and his lip quivered like a tiny babe. After he withdrew his hand and his step, Rene’s smile faded. She looked at her companions atop their steeds. Blake, Brianne, Alexander; each with a pack-horse tethered to their saddles. Rene raised her chin and nudged her roan into a slow walk. Blake was surprised to see the princess so calm. He had expected her to spurn her horse into a full gallop and leave her home behind in a cloud of rolling dust and thundering hooves. Once again, he found himself admiring her for her keen and subtle use of symbolism. Rene led the caravan to the inner ward. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth and began to sing. It was a haunting folk melody her mother had taught her before she died. Commonly sung by soldiers as they went away to war, the notes were solemn and steady. Rene’s voice was rich and full of resonance; it echoed perfectly against the castle’s inner curtain walls. She deliberately paced her horse with the rhythm of the chilling notes as she paraded through the courtyard, her breathing guided by the rise and fall of the words on her lips. Every soul fell silent listening to her as she sang her bittersweet adieu: O! Sweet birds of song, Take my voice with thee. Where I go I need it not, Now my fate does burden me. Will you find my love, Sing to none but she? I take her heart along Over mountain, vale, and sea. O! Sweet birds of song, Where’er you may be, Will you let my voice be heard, Now I face my destiny? May God’s will be done, Nay, I will not flee. I must leave thee now to die. O! Sweet birds, sing songs of me. At her conclusion, they had reached the castle’s gates and Rene urged her horse to pick up the pace. Not a single person stirred or spoke as they left. Blake moved his horse to take the lead as the group emerged from the confines of the castle’s walls. From behind, the enchanting tune was reborn upon the wind. The people in the ward, both noble and servant, were returning Rene’s farewell. It’s despairing tenor spilled out of the castle and trickled down through the waking village. All of the common folk stopped their chores to watch them pass; some even picked up on the song. But when they reached the edge, they were met again with deafening silence. This time it was truly goodbye. ****************************************************************** Hey everybody! Thank you SO much for putting up with the delay. I promise I will try to never ever EVER do that again because I know how agonizing it is. As always, I love reading your comments and VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! XOXO ~ Miss Lanae Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 05 He rushed her quickly, attempting to restrain her arms. She twisted and blocked his right hand but unknowingly fell into the clutches of his left. He easily lifted her off the ground and began to walk away with his bulging bicep secured around her tiny waist. She soon discovered that kicking and clawing made no difference so she relaxed in his stronghold, waiting for an opportunity to present itself. As he shifted her position on his shoulder, she twisted slightly and brought her knee up to his face. He stumbled as he dodged her pointed knee and she quickly rolled from his grip. She landed with a muffled thud on the leafy ground, jumping to her feet. But when she turned to run, he grasped her apron and spun her around, pinning her to his hard and chiseled body. She pounded on his chest with her hands; then suddenly he began to laugh. Stopping her assault, she looked up at him incredulously as his laughter rang through the air for the fifth time that afternoon. "What is so humorous this time?" Rene tired to cross her arms in irritation but it was impossible when he was holding her so possessively. She settled for a deep frown instead, remaining stiff in his arms even as they softened and relaxed around her slender frame. She couldn't stand him laughing at her. Especially when he looked at her like he was now. The corner of his mouth had teased itself into a smirk, his lips were slightly pursed as they held back the laughter tickling his tongue. His eyes gleamed with genuine amusement, but at the same time an intense purpose glimmered deep within. The skin around his emerald eyes tightened as he squinted, thinking deeply to himself for a moment. Enlightened, Blake glanced down at her scowling face and couldn't stop the growing grin upon his own. He released his grip around her waist and laid his large hand on her shoulder. "Is that as hard as you can hit?" he asked, trying to appear serious despite the mischievous twinkle in his eye. "So what if it is?" She squirmed under his hand's gentle pressure, uncomfortable with the intensity in his gaze. "Then we have a lot of work to do." His unrepentant bluntness sent shockwaves to her core. How dare he! She stood utterly bewildered as he began to walk away shaking his head and mumbling quietly with laughter still dancing on his breath. Suddenly she trotted after him, furiously tugging the strings to the apron tied over her breeches and tossing it to the ground. "Why? What do you mean?" She rooted herself before him with all the authority she could muster, demanding an answer. Her jaw was set in a determined line. Her eyes glittered angrily, refracting the sunlight as it shown through the trees. Most people would have been intimidated; Blake only smiled and gently pushed her aside. "I don't know what good it will do to teach you how to defend yourself when your hardest strike merely tickles me," he chuckled. "I'm sorry, but I can't work miracles." He continued on his way, leaving her gaping in his wake. The rage that had been bubbling inside Rene all day finally boiled over. Squaring her shoulders, she stomped behind him and grabbed his arm forcefully. She pulled him to a stop and blocked his path once more. "I've- had- enough!" She punctuated each word with a powerful double-handed push to his chest, the final one so hard, he staggered back a foot. "Aha! That's what I've been searching for!" Blake exclaimed. "Let's try this again, shall we?" She nearly snarled at him, teeth bared like a cornered cat, as she funneled all of her fiery temper and struck him in the stomach. He stumbled back again with a broad smile widening across his face, impressed that she had attacked first. Then Blake crossed the distance between them in a single stride and crushed her in his arms once more. She howled in frustration, frantically striking and pushing against him in every way she could. "Think, Rene! Have a plan! What can you use?" Blake's voice boomed in her ear, snapping her back into focus. Still furious, she was shocked to find herself thinking back to her earlier instructions. What could she use? Her arms were pinned, but her legs were still free. A plan came to her quickly and she hoped that this time it would be enough to put her one step ahead of him. First, she dropped her weight forcing him to hold her up and kicked at his knee, making him sway. Next, she twisted and threw her body into his elbow, breaking his hold. Finally, she smacked his face hard as she kicked herself away from him. But when spinning out of his reach, she tripped on her discarded apron and fell to the ground, making him lose his footing as well. She rolled in the crisp leaves into a defendable position just like he'd drilled her and raised her arm over her face, ready for anything. Anything but what she saw. Blake was sitting on the ground where he had fallen; a red mark was already beginning to show on his face, but he was smiling broadly and applauding. When he spoke his voice resonated with pride, success, and lingering amusement. "Very well done! I knew all along you had it in you, I just had to find a way to make you realize it on your own. You're really quite stubborn, you know that, my lady?" Rene sat up slowly, still somewhat unsure of what just occurred. He planned this? She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again as she followed what he had done. Dropping her head with her revelation, she began to smile. This was by far the smartest man she had ever met. "I had to give you a reason to want to fight back," Blake explained, noting her silence. "Making you frustrated at me was the only thing I could think of... Have I angered you?" He was cautious, afraid he had taken it too far. The last thing he wanted to do was actually make her mad at him. He'd been trying so hard the past few days to earn the trust she had bestowed in him. Nothing in the world was worth jeopardizing that. But now, it was his turn to be surprised. She looked up, a smile gleaming on her face. "No, you have not," Rene answered cheerfully. "On the contrary, I'm rather impressed by your reasoning. So the power I felt when I was angry..." "Is the same strength you need to use to defend yourself," he finished for her. "If you continue like that, I'll need to have Alexander defend me against you!" Rene giggled as she lay on the ground, charmed by Blake's blatant comedy. Though she wasn't going to admit it out loud, she was actually quite proud of herself. As far as she was concerned, she had accomplished a great deal today and it had put her in a wonderful mood. They both laughed as they sat among the fragrant, crunchy leaves; then Blake rose and offered her his hand. She took it graciously and they began walking towards their camp where they had left Alex and Brianne that morning. For a long while, they walked in silence enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's company. It was Rene who spoke first. She had come to realize that she barely knew anything about him. And for some reason, that made her sad. Lately she'd had a deep desire to learn about him and his past, to study the smooth movements of his body, to memorize his chiseled face and those brilliant green eyes that took her breath away with just one glance. She smiled just thinking of his smile and glinting eyes a few moments before, then thought to herself that now was as good a time as any. "Blake, I'm curious. Why did you become a knight?" "It was along time ago, I was just a boy," he said solemnly, his gaze shifting from far off in the distance to the ground beneath his feet. She looked up at him expectantly and he continued, if a bit reluctantly. "Alex and I were hunting with our grandfather. We heard the screaming in the distance but by the time we had returned, most of our village had been killed in an ambush by Celts. Our entire family was dead." Rene gasped in shock, but Blake went on with his tale. "Alex's father, elder brother, and my father lay slain from defending our home, axes still in their hands. My aunt had tried to run, but she didn't make it to the next house before they caught her. Both our mothers had been molested and brutalized. My baby sister had been beaten to death as she lay in the new crib my father had built. "They hadn't come for our meat or crops, nor the hides from our kills to keep warm. A freshly butchered cow was left untouched, and the deer skins were still hanging on the fence. Nearly all of the weapons used by the villagers were laying within arms reach of their bodies. "As far as we could tell, they had attacked for no reason other than they had become bored and were looking to bloody their blades. It was merely a massacre for their violent enjoyment. Alexander and I both vowed then as young boys with a newly broadened view on the world that we would see an end to such cruelty and never stand aside whilst there was pain and suffering." "I'm so sorry, Blake," Rene whispered as the shock of his childhood tragedy began to sink in. A pang echoed in her heart for his bravery in reliving it just now. "I did not intend to upset you." "It's no matter. It was many years ago." He gave her a comforting smile, but it never reached his eyes. They remained captives of the past, hazy with the ghosts of the family trapped in his memory. "After our grandfather died, we held true. Taught ourselves to fight and we found a brotherhood of knights that took us as pages. It's been a long road, but I was knighted before the royal court last spring. And Alex will be eligible for his knighthood after this winter when he turns 20." "Your family would be proud to see how far you've come. You should be proud, too." She laid her hand upon his arm affectionately, once again amazed by the amount of warmth he held within his skin. As she ran her hand down to his wrist, she could feel his pulse jump and race beneath her fingertips. She told herself she probably imagined his swift intake of breath. "We are," he spoke softly, "but we have further yet to go." Blake smiled, swallowed the lump that had gone to his throat at her touch, and put his arm around her shoulders. "There's always a beautiful damsel that needs rescuing. Even if I did manage to teach her how to save herself," he added, trying to lighten the mood even as his eyes burned with an emerald fire. But Rene looked up at him, color fading from her face, and slowed to a stop. She began to speak, but dropped her head unsure of what to say. She felt ridiculous. He saw the sea of worries swirling in her eyes again and as he turned to face her, she wrapped her arms around his middle. Blake affectionately returned the embrace and laid his head upon her own. He reveled in the warm silkiness of her hair against his cheek, in the sweet scent flowing from the strands that enticed him beyond measure. "I'm sorry. I feel so foolish for letting myself worry the way that I am," she said shakily. "But I grew up seeing first hand how cruel my father had become, and now I fear for what awaits me. I'm terrified I won't be able to escape the prince if he is what they say." She choked back tears again, feeling even more unreasonable than a moment before. If she didn't stop crying all the time, he was going to think she was a helpless lunatic. He tightened his arms around her, slowly caressing her back as if to dissuade her from those very thoughts. His hand found the back of her neck and began a calming massage. "I shall always be there to protect you, Rene. You have my word. If he is truly the monster that rumor has painted him to be, I will find a way to keep you safe." "You truly mean that?" She gazed up at him, moisture pooling, glistening in her eyes. Trust welled up inside her until she felt she'd be overrun with it. A single tear fell onto her cheek but Blake wiped it away with his thumb, a gesture of tenderness and affection. "On my honor, no matter what I must do, no harm will come to you as long as I am here. This I promise you." "Thank you," she cooed. She nuzzled into his warm chest, greedily soaking up the heat from his body. Butterflies flitted from her head to her stomach as he gently kissed her atop her brunette crown. "You're most kindly welcome, as always." With one last little squeeze he released her, and they began walking again, one arm still wrapped around the other. The autumn breeze rippled through the woods and Rene shivered. For the greater part of the day, her adrenaline had kept her warm. But now, the sun was sinking below the horizon and the chilly fall night would soon be upon them. They reached the camp to find Alex and Brianne sitting close to the roaring fire, deep in conversation. "So here I am, trying to get the poor calf away from this distraught cow; and Blake is attempting to distract the cow, to little avail. Our grandfather is sitting on the pen fence laughing at our failure, when suddenly the calf starts bellowing!" Alex animated, his hands gesturing wildly. Brianne was clearly entranced by his tale, hanging onto his every word, her face wide with rapture. "Are you telling her of the stillborn calf that wasn't stillborn?" Blake asked with a slight laugh. Alex seemed not to have noticed their approach but nodded enthusiastically, sporting an abnormal smile as he and Brianne sat within inches of each other. "That's a good one!" Blake encouraged. "Go on," Brianne prodded with eager delight. She laid her hand to his muscular thigh, once more gaining his undivided attention. "So the calf starts calling for its mother," Alex continued, "which of course makes her even more infuriated. I lay the calf back on the bed of straw and make for the fence. Blake was already on the other side when I hopped over. But oh no, that didn't stop the cow. "She burst through the pen and chased after us! We ran for over half a mile before she stopped her pursuit. We had neighbors calling us the cow-boys for years! Grandfather never did let us live that down. He'd always find a way to bring it up every so often." Both of the girls were giggling at his vivid childhood story. "Every time we had to milk that cow, we would draw straws, and somehow I always got the short straw!" Alex finished. "That's because I had two short straws and I always made you choose first," Blake chuckled as he laid more wood on the fire. Alex's face went blank and then he began to hoot and holler even harder than before. Rene and Brianne held on to each other for support, and the hard day melted away as the whole group laughed in unison. Once their amusement died down, Brianne rose to finish their supper. Rene watched as Brianne slowly trailed her fingers across Alex's back. Her hand lingered on his shoulder for a moment, and he smiled at her sheepishly. He had been nothing but stoic and arrogant for many days and now there was a definite change. Making a mental note to ask Brianne in the morning, Rene enjoyed the warmth of the fire letting it relax her tired muscles. Throughout their dinner as Rene kept seeing Brianne and Alex catch each other's eyes, she couldn't help but smile. His demeanor had softened immensely since they left the castle one week ago, and it seemed like Brianne had a great deal to do with it. That thought made her happy; it had been a long time since Brianne had met a man that treated her decently. Rene was always trying to protect her from the rogue men that would visit the castle. It was nice to see someone else willing to protect her as well. "Something on your mind?" Blake asked, stirring Rene from her thoughts. She looked up, somewhat embarrassed that she had barely touched her food. "No. I mean yes. I was just..." she paused, searching for a plausible reply, "reminiscing I guess." She picked at the fowl on her plate, quickly discovering she was actually quite hungry after the day's physical exertions. Blake grinned as he dropped another slab on her dish. She smiled her thanks and continued to devour the flavorful hen. After they had all eaten their fill, they continued to sit around the fire telling stories and laughing into the cool night air. Alex broke out a small flask of mead and passed it around. Rene took a few small sips, but mead had never been her fancy; she contorted her face unpleasantly. Blake chuckled as she shook her head in distaste, then offered it politely to Brianne. He had expected her decline, the surprise showing on his face as she accepted it rather willingly. Brianne was used to its bitter aftertaste and took a healthy swig. Both Blake and Alexander laughed when she did, praising her between their goodhearted snickers. Not long before midnight, Leon paraded into the camp, a freshly killed squirrel hanging from his mouth. He plopped down between Blake and Rene, rubbing on each of their arms before eating his dinner. He demanded more attention when he had finished, and they took turns stroking his thick fur. More than once, their hands met; and Rene felt her cheeks grow warm and rosy. She smiled sweetly when their eyes met for the third time in a minute, the blush renewed within her skin. Blake grinned mischievously; and try as she may, she was helpless to turn away from his gaze. Alex pulled them back to reality as he spoke from across the fire. "How did the training go?" Rene's face flushed even more, remembering how Blake had purposely belittled her until she snapped. She looked at him again, and they both burst out laughing. "Well, it was slow going at first. I honestly think she was afraid she was going to hurt me," Blake answered. "But once I made her livid, there was some definite progress." "Progress meaning?" Brianne nudged. "Let's just say he was ready to call in reinforcements," Rene returned proudly, a smile gleaming on her face. Alexander raised his eyebrow at Blake; it was obvious he thought she was exaggerating. "She's a wildcat when she's angry. Consider it a warning," he lowered his gaze and looked pointedly at Alex. They all started laughing again, the mead warming their bodies, relaxing away their troubles. "Sounds like you had better keep yourself in check, almost-knight," Brianne teased, rubbing his shoulders playfully. "Ha, ha, ha," Alexander appeased, everyone else in an uproar once more. He took the joke in good humor, trying to tickle Brianne as she pushed away from him with a playful giggle. She waved goodnight and brushed aside the flap to the tent she and Alex had claimed as their own. At first, Rene had found it somewhat odd that she and Brianne had wordlessly decided to share tents with the men instead of each other. But as the nights grew colder, her awkwardness was replaced with gratitude for Blake's radiating warmth. She couldn't deny it any longer: she liked having his arms around her. At night, she relished the sound of his strong heart beating in his chest; the melodic rise and fall of his breathing. In the few short days since they had left the castle she had always called home, she had become accustomed to his comforting presence; he chased away the nightmares that haunted her past and her future. More than once, she had caught herself longing for what she knew she could never have. It was not her fate. She was doomed to be the Queen of Spain, condemned to bear the prince's children to continue the royal line, and damned to never have what she wanted again. She would have only what she was told she could have. Moving from one stone prison of rules to another made no difference; her decision-making days would soon be over. But despite the gloom that hung over her once pleasant dreams, she intended to enjoy every single moment until she said "I do." Rene watched silently as Alex bid his goodnight and joined Brianne in their makeshift bed. She heard their hushed voices, speaking what she hoped were words of growing fondness. A smile spread across her weary face as she sighed. Rene was unsurprised when she felt Blake's large and calloused hand cradle her own. Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 05 "We ought to call it a night as well. You've had a very long day," he whispered as he gently pulled her to her feet. He was right; she could feel her strength fading and knew she would sleep soundly that night. Rene allowed him to lead her to their tent where he then left her to undress while he stoked the fire one last time. Blake returned a moment too soon, catching a glimpse of Rene's slight frame in the darkened tent before she slipped into her warmest sleeping gown. Her back was still bruised, wrapping around from the painfully larger bruise on her front. Blake still had to calm himself when he thought of the dreadful dinner with the king; but in the same, he could not help but cherish that morning after. It was the first time he awoke to her beautiful face just inches from his own. "My apologies, my lady," he said, retreating out of sight and quickly averting his eyes to distract himself from his fantasy. This daydream in particular was becoming ever more frequent as their journey progressed. Her slim, feminine figure called to him in a way he never thought to be possible. "There is no need to apologize," she stated simply. "I trust you. Besides, I'm decent now anyways." She smiled, turning around their short camp of a room. For once, she was glad of the dim lighting because he couldn't see the blush that had reddened her cheeks once more. "Your side looks to be fading a bit. Are you sure you're not in pain?" he ventured as he ducked through the flap. "Blake, if I can't handle the pain you will be the first to know. But I refuse to coddle myself. My arm is nearly healed, thanks to you; and as you pointed out, my chest is mending as well. I must learn to cope without the help of your herbs." The smile never left her lips while she spoke because, honestly, she took pleasure in his concern for her. And as tempting as it was for her to dull the aches with his medicine, Rene needed to wean herself off of them. She did not want her last weeks of freedom to be filled with fuzzy memories. Blake smiled half-heartedly. He knew from the training session earlier that she was lying, that she was still having fits of throbbing in her chest as well as her scarred arm. But he knew her well enough now that he relented his persistence. Sitting on the blanket covered ground, he removed his boots and set them outside the tent before buttoning it up. Darkness surrounded them, the only light came from the dwindling fire as it shown through the thick covering. Rene crawled between the layers of wool, shivering in the chilly air. Blake began to unbutton his shirt, his physique silhouetted by the firelight behind him. Tossing it to the side, he undid the front of his trousers and let them fall slowly to the ground. Rene was transfixed by the sight of his naked body bathed in the light of a fire that was so often reflected within him. Her breathing became heavy. A blazing warmth grew within her own body radiating from her middle. She couldn't help herself as she took in every inch of the God-like warrior that stood before her. Her eyes traveled over his flesh, pausing in places that made her breath catch. His shoulders were broad, strong and sturdy. The blades of them had rippled the muscles in his upper back when he'd removed his clothing a moment before and chills had traveled up her spine, escalating her body's excitement. Even with his back to her in the poorly lit tent, she could see each hard muscle move beneath his tanned skin and she longed to feel them under her fingers. She felt herself blush as she let her gaze linger on his buttocks. Thinking back to their first night in the castle made the warmth in her belly continue to spread. Even then, she had relished the feel of him sleeping soundly beside her, cherished the protection that his arms offered her; and her feelings had only continued to grow. Many times during their sparring, she had found herself wishing to feel his hands caress her skin; to feel his strong, heavy body atop her as he layered her skin with passionate kisses. It had made it very difficult to push him off of her when all she really wanted to do was pull him closer. Her dreams had now become daydreams, distracting her from her life as it spiraled into a nightmare. Blake was everything she had ever wanted and everything she could not have. It just wasn't fair. Turning away from her ever-growing temptation, she snuggled deeper into the covers. Unbeknownst he was being marveled at, Blake made no haste to don his undergarments. He was deep in thought, trying to cool his growing need for that which he should not want. It was becoming increasingly difficult every day he spent getting to know her and even more so every night he spent with her wrapped in his arms. He knew he needed to fasten a strong leash on his inner beast; but curse the heavens, he wished he had no need to. There was something about her, something he couldn't manage to put his finger on, that made her irresistible to him. She was strong-willed and stubborn, confident in herself. Yet there were moments when her vulnerability was so overwhelming, even to him, that he could no longer resist the urge to comfort her. And she was so devastatingly beautiful. She had no idea what she could do to him without even trying. A flip of her hair to get it out of her face could distract him, the sway of her hips as she shifted her weight could destroy him. The way she had patiently rubbed the tips of her fingers together as she waited for him to attack had nearly sent him over the edge, and he had no idea why. He felt like a young squire again, wishing and dreaming of women that were way out of his league. The irony of that statement hit him like a horse. He obviously hadn't changed much. Finally calming his hunger, Blake pulled on and tied his short breeches before clambering into bed next to Rene. The princess shivered again at his touch, her entire body quaking with desire. She sucked in her breath as his hand slid across her stomach with agonizing slowness. A lustful whimper escaped her lips when his hand momentarily dipped below her belly button. Rene silently reprimanded herself for her weakness but could not stop the yearning that was mounting with each passing moment. She sucked her lip between her teeth in a feeble attempt to qualm its quivering. Blake propped himself up on his elbow, his other arm still draped around Rene. Slowly, she turned to look at him. "Are you alright? You're trembling." Even without seeing him, Rene could envision the same lines of concern she'd seen before etched upon his face. For one brief instant, she considered the truth. Oh how she wished she could tell him! She wanted him. She wanted him with every fiber of her being. And she could see in his eyes that he wanted her too! Fate truly has a cruel sense of humor, she thought to herself. "I'm just cold," she answered plainly, turning away from him once more. That was the wrong thing to say. Blake sighed and snuggled his solid, half-naked body close to hers. His body was warmer than any fire, except perhaps the one kindling within her own. Rene could feel his breath upon her neck, smell the sweet spices from the mead. She knew he wasn't quite ready for sleep because his breathing wasn't yet steady. It seemed quickened like her own. Suddenly brazened, Rene began to pull her hand from her side. Little by little, she traced the muscles on his forearm making her way to the hand he had sprawled across her abdomen. Her palm lingered atop his wrist before her dainty fingers leisurely stretched between each of his. Rene curled her digits beneath his hand while her thumb lazily traced circles on the back. Blake's breathing came in spurts. She was barely touching him and yet she had the whole of his attention acutely focused. Her soft skin felt like velvet running across the hard-working roughness on his palms. His entire body was attuned to her every movement. The thin fabric of his breeches soon became tight and confining against his body as he fought to keep control. The pace of their ragged breathing matched time perfectly and soon the hand across her stomach began to draw circles of its own. He contracted and relaxed his fingers in the rhythm she had set: slow, sensual, seductive. The tugging on her nightgown caused a tantalizing ripple from the place where his fingers sketched their imaginary lines. Rene closed her eyes to the sensation. She longed for his hands upon her bare skin again. Nothing could compare to the torture she was feeling now. If only their duties did not separate them from each other! Rene's inner fury fueled her courage again; this time she turned his hand over in her much smaller one. His hands fascinated her. How could such a gentle man have such strong hands? Then, how could such a strong man use his hands so gently? It was a beautiful antithesis. Rene looked down at their interlaced fingertips and a deep pining grew within her. She had always seen the peasants walk through the village hand-in-hand with bright smiles on their faces. She envied them. The princess was returned to her senses when Blake's hand began to explore hers in turn. He skimmed his fingers over and around her own, barely touching her at all. The thin veil of air between their skin was even more tormenting; to be so close yet still apart was too much for Rene. She grasped Blake's hand firmly, willing him to cease. Sighed loudly, Blake exhaled into her thick hair. Rene shivered at the breeze on her neck from his breath, and she turned her body towards him again. Lifting herself, she looked down upon his hazy outline. His hand instinctively cradled the delicate curvature of her back, tenderly caressing her spine from top to bottom. Every nerve in her body begged, pleaded to be touched by him. In contrast to his soothing hands, she could feel his body tensing in anticipation. She knew he wanted her desperately, the evidence of his desire was pressing against her thigh, solid and pulsing with heat. Her whole body felt on fire, every inch writhing in delicious flames. She had to be going crazy. There was no sense to what she was preparing to do. She took a deep breath. "I want you to kiss me." Her voice was soft and tender, a sweet sultriness had taken the place of her typical timbre. Blake said nothing. A million emotions filtered through him in a matter of seconds. Shock followed immediately with relief. Exuberance. A twinge of fear. He slowly raised his hand to run his fingers through her smooth, chocolate waves. She melded her head to his palm, delighting in its perfect contour, in the radiant warmth. Blake placed one hand firmly at the base of her neck and the other in the small of her back. In one quick decision, he rolled the pair of them. Rene gasped, her breasts rising and falling more quickly down. He was now suspended above her, his hand still wrapped in her hair, his arm still clutched around her body. She reached for his face, for the lightly golden locks that fell loosely around his masculine features. She loved the way the curls wrapped themselves lovingly around her fingers, a honeyed possession of her hand. Blake could see the dim light shimmering in her eye, and he smiled. The same untamed hunger he possessed was reflected in her dark, sexy eyes. Untangling his fingers from her silken strands, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. Rene's lips parted, beckoning to his own. His eyes locked on her mouth, her lips so full and pink and unimaginably kissable. For a moment time stood still. They were the only two people in existence. Surely this is what dreams were made of. Inch by inch, Blake advanced towards the woman he'd dreamt of kissing since the minute he laid eyes on her. She had caught him by surprise when she shot an arrow so near to its mark. He smiled again. There were few people in the world that could surprise him, let alone a princess. Their mead-sweetened breath mingled between them as he hovered mere millimeters from her lips. Blast! She was a princess. He, a knight. He was taking her to meet her betrothed, the Prince of Spain. Curse it all! Blake removed his hand from her face, clenching it as he dismally pounded the padding beneath them. He lay his forehead against her own, his eyes scrunched shut to the logic he did not want to hear. But he could not deny it. "Rene," he began, "we cannot... I..." The words would not form the way he wanted. His internal struggle played in his voice, making it strained yet deep and alluring. He sighed again and planted a single kiss upon her forehead. When he tried to pull away from her, she held him steady. "Blake-" she whispered. "No, Rene," he interrupted firmly. "I'm sorry. We should sleep." He left no room for negotiation with his tone. He knew he had ended their conversation impolitely, mostly out of frustration for the mix of opinion in his head. What was he doing? Leading her on? They could not be together. It was impossible, forbidden. So why was he acting the way he was around her? It had to end. He had to be the one to end it. She deserved better. Without another word, he retracted his body from hers. Biting his tongue against the relentless yearning to touch her again, he rolled so his back lay facing her. His arms felt empty. His skin felt cold. It felt wrong. Every inch of his body screamed in protest. But he had made his choice, not that he had much of one. Rene lay still for a moment, still trying to take in what just happened. When he had pulled his arms away, she chilled instantly. He had almost kissed her, hadn't he? Why did he stop? She had been about to ask when he turned his back. The finality of that action could not be mistaken. She had been wrong, foolish, blind. He didn't want her. Pursing her lips, a visual habit of her utmost displeasure; Rene turned her back to him as well. She allowed a single tear to roll from her eye before wiping it away. But the flow would not stop, and for the first time in a long time, she cried herself to sleep. As Blake lay listening to her quiet weeping, he mentally kicked himself. Maybe he was mistaken, maybe there was some room for hope. But he had his duty. Surely, it was better this way. He had never been so torn between love and honor in his life. Haunted by the irreparable damage he may have caused, Blake slowly drifted into a disturbed sleep. ****************************************************************** Blake and Rene had been too lost in their respective thoughts to pay any heed to the quiet rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs. Alexander signaled silence with a devilish grin, a heap of blankets dangling from his arms. He took hold of Brianne's hand and led her far into the wood. Quietly as they could, they left the dwindling light of the fire behind. When they reached a small clearing by a stream, Alex threw the mass of bedding on the ground and pulled Brianne close to his body. He lifted her off her feet and began to spin in tight circles. His balance was flawless. Soon, Brianne began to laugh and she stretched out her arms. It felt like she was flying. He had done the impossible and given her wings. Alex slowed to a stop and lowered Brianne to her feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling sweetly as she looked up into his moonlit face. Earlier that day when Blake and Rene were busy training, Alex spent time asking Brianne about her life. He was eager to know everything about this woman. But if someone were to ask him why he was so curious, he knew he would have no logical response. He learned her mother had died giving childbirth when she was five; and the baby girl had died as well. That's when her father started drinking, and two years later he sold her to the palace to settle his debt. She had a brother three years older, but she hadn't seen him since she was bartered. Rene was less than a year older than she; and when she arrived in the castle, they instantly became friends. They had been together ever since and Rene had always been more like the sister she never had. All in all, she had had a rough life, and Alexander intended to lessen her burden if he could. He knew what it was like to lose loved ones as a child. It is a nightmare that never goes away. But to have lived most of her life with no family at all, save the princess, that was a lonely existence he would not have wished on anyone. And looking into her midnight blue eyes, it nearly shattered him to even consider. Brianne stood a head shorter than Alex, but she liked how he towered over her and held her protectively. It seemed that he had taken it upon himself to protect her, just as Blake had with the princess. She liked the sound of that. She'd never had anyone to care for her before. Especially not anyone like Alex; strong, honest, honorable, handsome beyond her wildest dreams. Her smile widened. Alex returned her grin and brought his hand to her face. He ran his fingers through her shining blonde hair and kissed her tenderly. The feel of his lips on hers was electrifying. No one else had ever made him feel the way she did. He had stolen kisses from her every night, every morning, every moment he could. Already, he was addicted to the sweet taste of her soft flesh. He had yet to ask for anything more, and neither had she. But kissing her made everything feel right in the world. When he was with her, he forgot about his pain and was left only with the pleasant memories of his past. He cherished that about being with her, determined to never take it for granted. She was his angel, the saving grace he never knew he needed. Breaking their kiss, he peered down at her face. It was a well-lit autumn night, the moon and stars gleaming brightly. The twinkling of the heavens refracted in her eyes, and the moonlight shining on her hair created a perfect halo. "You are so beautiful," he whispered, his breath rising in the air between them. She smiled shyly and dropped her gaze. The sincerity in his voice had once again taken her by surprise. Her arms were still raised about his neck, and she twirled a finger in his hair as she returned his fiery gaze. "Thank you," she replied timidly as she continued to toy with his curls. Brianne slid her other hand down across his shoulder to rest on his rigid chest right above his heart. Though the temperature was dropping, with his body against her own she felt no chill from the cold. She rose on her tiptoes to reach his lips. His arms tightened around her slender frame and their kiss intensified. Alex moved his tongue against the press of her lips, finally requesting what he had torturously denied himself. He was met with no resistance. Brianne's shyness quickly faded, leaving only passion in its place. She gladly opened her mouth to his quiet demand, eager for more. Their tongues danced in a rhythm all their own, their hands frantically trying to bring their bodies closer together. Brianne moaned into his mouth as he devoured her; no one had ever kissed her like this, and she never wanted him to stop. She clung to his shoulders, infuriated when she had to pull away gasping for air. His chest heaved as he sucked in the cool night. Alex kissed her quickly and released her, turning to the pile of blankets on the ground. He laid them out on the soft grass and took off the belt that housed his sword. He dropped it, letting it clatter to lay in the grass, and sat upon the covers. Quickly untying his boots, he pulled them off and tossed them aside. He began to rise again, but he found himself frozen as he looked up at Brianne. She had removed her apron and was now slowly untying the back of her dress. Alex could see where it was loosening, beginning to fully release her to him. He swallowed, hard. When she looked at him with those crystal blue eyes, holding her dress to her bosom with one hand; he couldn't stop the audible moan that escaped him. Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 05 Alex rose slowly and approached her with cat-like agility, his hazel eyes honed on his prize. He slid his large hands up her arms, over her shoulders, and turned her around. Brianne leaned into his touch, delighting in his body and the feel of his hands. He took her hand from her breast, and she let go of her dress. Like a gentle breeze, the fabric brushed lovingly against her skin as it fell to her feet. The temperature of the air ravaged her naked body, but it only aroused her more. Now, she was even more sensitive to the heat in Alexander's palms. Alex skimmed the skin of her stomach with his fingertips, lazily dragging them up and down her sides. He left a trail of goose bumps behind and Brianne shivered with the sensation. She arched her back, pushing her round bottom into his pelvis and earning a groan. She could feel the bulge in his breeches, and she lustfully pressed harder against it. Never had she been filled with such a feeling, such desire for a man to touch her light honey-colored skin. Every man she'd ever met brought only fear and pain to her life. Until him. Alex. He tipped her head to the side and covered her shoulder, her neck with fiery kisses. Even as he did so, his hand shimmied up to cup her breast. A fire ignited within her body, enflamed by the tough of his hands. Brianne whimpered, sucking on her lower lip, then raised an arm to allow him better access. She stretched her hand back to cradle his head, lightly encouraging him as his lips lay siege upon her bare skin. Brianne gasped as Alex palmed the soft weight in his hands. She trembled as he traced tiny circles around the rigid, pink peaks. Alex released his mouth from her neck, leaving it to suckle on her ear. A delicious hum resonated from her throat and he felt her arch against his body again. He looked over her shoulder to her breasts in his hands as he toyed with them. They were of perfect size, comfortably filling his hands completely. He smiled devilishly as he pinched and rolled her hard nipples between his forefingers and thumbs. She writhed with pleasure as he held her in his grasp, her hands raking the back of his neck with her fingernails. She was lost to his touch and could only beg for more. Standing on her tiptoes and pressing the full weight of her body against him, she let herself succumb to the feelings she had been holding back for far too long. As Alex massaged her round orbs of flesh, Brianne felt an unfamiliar heat begin to grow within her. She had never felt like this with a man. It was unbelievable! This is what it was supposed to be like. This is what she had been missing! "Alex," she moaned as he continued to coax her passion. He pulled a hand from her breast and it ventured between her legs. His fingers slid between her folds easily, and he found himself immensely satisfied to know he had caused such arousal. She cried out into the night, wild abandon overcoming her body. He slipped a digit into her slick, wet heat as she called out his name. Her breaths turned to moans as he expertly took her to the edge of a fiery chasm. Before long, Brianne threw back her head in ecstasy, her body clenching tightly around his finger. Alex held her weight as she came down from her high then effortlessly scooped her up into his arms. He laid her gently on the blankets, admiring every feminine curve of her naked silhouette. He leaned down and kissed her, mating his tongue with hers. She surprised him by returning his advance with equal vigor. Brianne's breathing was deep and heavy when he freed her lips, but she was not tired. For the first time in her 18 years, she felt truly alive. Moisture dripped down her athletic legs. The breeze chilled it upon her skin and she felt herself beginning to yearn for his touch already. For the first time ever, she wanted this. She wanted him. She had been right - he was different, and that small acknowledgement to herself now enthralled her. She raised her hands to untie the top of his tunic then let her hands travel down his chest with agonizing patience. When she reached the bottom, she raised herself so she could slide the shirt over his head. Their lips met again; a short, fleeting peck interrupted by the pull of the fabric between them. As Brianne lay back down, she tossed aside his shirt and caressed his newly exposed skin. She was awestruck at the strength in his body, the amount of muscle in his arms and torso was astounding. He was nearly twice her size and much more powerful, but he continued to treat her like a rare, delicate flower. Brianne ran her hands from his bulging pecks down his abdomen, smiling when she reached the hard, smooth ripples on his stomach. As her courage mounted, she looked up to his face. His eyes were nearly black, his equally dark curls framing his chiseled features. His lips were slightly parted, begging to sup again on her tender skin. She smiled as she surveyed his masculine face, then deftly unbuttoned his trousers and slipped her hand inside. Alex gasped at the quick change of pace, baring his teeth in a sinful grin. He would have never expected Brianne to be so bold. But he was certainly glad she was. There was something truly gratifying about a woman that knew what she wanted in bed. He grit his teeth in a predator's smile, preparing to savor the treasure he had found. In her hand, Brianne felt his pulsing member jump at her touch. She slowly wrapped her fingers around it, shocked at its thickness. No matter how she tried, she could not make her fingertips touch. The glorious heat began to rise again, arousal pooling between her legs in keen anticipation. She tenderly rubbed her thumb around the tip, noting the droplets already forming there as well. Continuing her slow but steady pace, she set the rest of her hand into motion. Tugging, pushing, stroking, pulling; each movement with the same concentrated rate. Alex groaned audibly above her. Suddenly, he dropped most of his body weight upon her, unable to bare it any long. He was hardly supporting himself as he engulfed her mouth with his and encased her shoulders with his bulky arms. Brianne moaned into his mouth, lightly squeezing her hand in response. He tangled his hands in her tousled hair, frenzied by her very existence. Chest-to-chest, devouring each other was no longer enough. Even Brianne removed her hand to pull him closer. She wanted more. Brianne broke their kiss and pushed casually against his chest. Alex extended and locked his arms; his body was already glistening with a light sweat. As he loomed above her, a demon of the night, she could see his self control waning like the moon. She took him in her hand again, this time guiding him to her entrance. In a daze, Alexander watched as she steered his engorged manhood with a tantalizing, determined force. With one last sense of honor, he grabbed her wrist and supported all of his weight with one arm. "Brianne, are you sure this is what you want?" His voice was thick as his eyes pierced her own. More than anything else, he did not want her to think he was like all the others that had deliberately hurt her. He saw something flicker within the depths of her eyes as she positioned his swollen tip between her pink lips and pushed upward with her hips. As soon as he slipped within her flaming heat, his resolve was lost. Alex rebalanced himself and thrust lightly earning a delightful moan from Brianne that he gladly returned. Her body was wet and welcoming, so unbelievably hot for him. It was as though his entire body had erupted in flame, enveloping everything in sight. He moved with a deliberate slowness, wanting to bring her absolute bliss after all the terrible experiences she'd had in her past. He wanted to wipe away the memory of anyone who had ever hurt her. Soon, he found himself unable to look away as he stretched her toned body to its limits. She was a picture of pure passion, a moment in time that he would never forget. Brianne's bottom lip was trapped between her teeth, her head lolling to the side. Her shimmering golden hair perfectly framed the satisfied pleasure etched on her face. She had wrapped both her arms around his, much like a snake does to a branch and she moved in rhythm against him. Her full breasts bounced delightfully each time he pushed a little further. A tiny whimper escaped her lips as he withdrew his throbbing shaft just to slowly, teasingly reenter her hot little body. He had her literally squirming in pleasure, just the way he wanted. Brianne was nearly in shock, unable to believe the rapture racing through her very veins, her entire existence. Every inch of him felt incredible. The consuming fire that had built within her before was quickly filling her once more. Twisting her arms further up his biceps, she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down to her. Their lips met, the heat of the moment overtaking them both. Alex increased his pace and Brianne matched him perfectly. She broke their kiss gasping for air, gasping his name as he pushed deeper and deeper into her eager cavern. Each of them had their arms wrapped tightly around the other, their bodies slick with arousal and sweat. With each plunge of his thick body, Alex could feel himself being driven dangerously close to edge. He bared his teeth against the mounting pressure in his abdomen. She was gasping, begging, pleading beneath him. Her nails raked the skin on his back driving him closer to oblivion. He couldn't stop himself; he kissed her for all she was worth and buried himself in her depths. She moaned against his mouth as he thrust once, twice, then three times and exploded within her. Suddenly she felt nothing and then everything at once. Crying out his name to the stars, she arched into his body as the heat spread like lava through her limbs. She clung to him as her muscles clenched sporadically around his velvet shaft, milking him of every last drop. Alex unleashed his mouth upon her neck as she rode out her climatic high. He lathed again on her ear and she purred with contentment. She twisted her fingers in his damp curls and pulled his face up so she could see his eyes. The hazel rings were like kindling coals, molten gold. The fire had been extinguished for the time being, but the raging desire and heat remained. She smiled wearily as she stroked his face, her long lashes fluttering against exhaustion. Alex held her face in his hands and kissed her leisurely. When he withdrew his body from hers, she groaned with displeasure. He smiled against her lips and moved a hand to cup her swollen breast. A small whimper rose in her throat; she was helpless to resist his touch. Breaking their kiss, Alex chuckled quietly even as he tugged and traced the still hard nipple between his fingers. "Don't fret, love," he whispered seductively in her ear. "There will be many more nights of pleasure in store for you." To make his point he bent to kiss her breast; a light, teasing temptation. He pulled the succulent nub into his mouth and flicked it with his tongue. The other breast was once again under siege by his hand, pinching, pulling, massaging her oversensitive flesh. Brianne smiled even as she writhed beneath him, shivering at his expert touch. He slid his hand up to the nape of her neck and kissed her lips tenderly once more. Reaching across her stomach, Alex grabbed the remain blankets and pulled them atop their sweat-coated bodies. Brianne snuggled into the space between his arm and chest, undeterred by the moisture shimmering on their skin in the light of the full moon. The beat of his heart quickly lulled her into a comfortable slumber and her body relaxed in his affectionate embrace. Alex knew sleep would come quickly to them both after their mutual exertions. He smiled to himself as he committed the entire account to memory. Kissing her on the forehead, he silently drifted off to sleep with a dreamy contentment lined on his face. *********** If you're reading this, THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME!! I just couldn't make myself be happy with this chapter until now. I dearly hope it was worth waiting for, but in any case, I apologize from every corner of my heart. Stay tuned for Chapter 6: The Prince. I promise to not be so picky in the future installments, and absolutely no more car accidents for me!! As always, I LOVE reading your comments and feedback. It literally makes my day and keeps me going. If you liked it, don't forget to vote!! XOXO Miss Lanae