The Cottage 2

You hear him breathing rapidly as he moves closer to your lips. Your eyes close involuntarily. You lose all control. You want to smell him, eat him, crawl inside his skin. Your lips touch and you're intoxicated by him. You feel his undeniable power and presence. His lips are feather light on yours, as if he wants to taste you first. Then he kisses you gently, like he's asking for permission. Suddenly, the truth hits you.

(He's betrothed!! What am I doing??)

"Stop!" He jumps back as if he was slapped through the face.

"Sire....forgive me but you're betrothed to Princess Catherine? We can't....we can't...."

"Lady Winters, it's me that should apologize. I shouldn't have done it. I was in the wrong here. Could you ever forgive me?" You look in his eyes. They're filled with passion and regret.

"Sire, why did you bring me here?" He turns around and starts to pace up and down, looking down on the floor.

"Ever since that night on the balcony. Your words possessed me. Every time I'm near you, I want to be even closer. I go to my chamber at night and I fall asleep thinking of you. When I arrive at an event, the first thing I'm looking for is you. You've mesmerized me..."

You swallow hard. You feel the passion in his words. The same passion you felt for him only a few moments ago.

"But, Sire, you're betrothed? You'll have to forgive me" You bow and start walking towards the door.

"I know but, Lady Winters, it's not what you think-" He tries to talk to you but you're already out the door. You get on your horse and you feel the sting of tears threatening you. He runs out of the cabin but you're already on your way.

"Lady Winters, please!!"

"Forgive me, Sire!!"

You see the hurt in his eyes but you know what the punishment is for getting between the King and a betrothed. Your horse gallop as fast as he can and you can't seem to get the Kings face out of your head. The hurt in his eyes, the touch of his lips, the raw attraction between you. Tears fall unintentional down your cheeks. You don't know where you are or how far you've gone but you stop in the middle of the forest. You get off your horse and sit on the snowy soft ground.

(God....he's perfect in every way. His gentle, caring nature entices me the most.....god, his lips...his touch...I can't, not, have him. I want him more than anything...but I can't)

"Lady Winters!" You hear the hurried steps of the King in the snow as you see him approaching you. His face is filled with concern and he quickly helps you up.

"Are you okay, Lady Winters? Why are you sitting in the snow?"

"I'm fine, your Highness. Please, I shouldn't be with you right now" He looks at your face and see the tears on your cheeks. He then suddenly stands up straight.

"Forgive me, milady. It seems my presence has brought you even more sorrow. I'll leave at once"

He turns around and gets on his horse. You want to say that the tears are not because of his presence but because of the affection you have for him. You want to stop him and pick up where you left off but you know that you'll be living in a world that can't exist. He gallops away on his horse. You get on your horse and make your way to your house. You avoid all contact with everyone and run to your bedroom, locking the door.

(What am I going to do? How will I be able to ever look at the King again? What about Lord Jackson? He must be worried?)

"Stacey!" There's a knock on the door. "Come in"

"You called mam?"

"Yes, could you please send a note to Kendra in the hunting party and tell her, I'll meet her at the banquet tonight?"

"Right away mam" She closes the door and leaves you for the rest of the afternoon. She knows by now when to fiddle and when not too. You lay on your bed most of the afternoon thinking of how you going to handle the King and what you want. It's clear that you have strong feelings for him. He'll probably be there tonight even though he's not known to be there.

(I'll just get dress and act as if nothing happened. I'll be fine and I'll focus on someone that can be mine....Lord Jackson. He's a good man)

You get dressed. This will get Lord Jackson attention. You get into the carriage and arrives at the banquet. You arrive and the banquet is already in full swing.

Kendra comes walking up to you "Where have you been?? Why did you leave?" You hug her and sigh. "It's such a long story but what I can say is, it's got to do with the King" Kendra's hand goes to her mouth. She gasps. "Well that explains it"

"Explains what?"

"I guess you didn't hear, the King announced that he will be leaving for America tonight"

"What? Why is he leaving? Did he say?"

"No, but Lord Harrison said he stormed in this afternoon and said he had some business to attend to in North America" It feels as if your heart just burst in your ribcage.

(Why? Why do you feel this way? You decided it's over and Lord Jackson is the one for you? Just shake the feeling and go on. It can never happen)

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You're shaking" You notice that your hands are shaking. Lord Jackson approaches "Lady Winters" He takes your hand and kisses it.

"I looked for you after the hunting but I couldn't find you?"

"Oh, I was just getting lost in the scenery and.....didn't notice the time, forgive me, my Lord"

"No need to apologize. I understand how you could get lost in the beauty of the snow"

"Thank you my Lord"

"Would you like to dance, milady"

"That will be fine, my Lord" You walk down to the dance floor, and then you remember the time you danced with the King. His touch on you was light but protective and those lips...

(How can I miss something I don't even know of...He said that I hypnotized him but maybe....he hypnotized me?)

You dance with Lord Jackson. Then the crowd stop dancing. The people stop dancing. They all turn towards the door and bow. You bow but you're afraid to look up. You gather the courage and look up...