The Sudden Pull

Elyse's heart skipped a beat, fear clawing at her chest. Had she gone too far? Any husband would burn with shame at the thought of a wife cheating while he fought on blood-soaked battlefields.

She pressed her back against the cold stone wall, its chill seeping through her gown, steadying her shaking hands. Moments passed like eternity as Elyse's heart raced.

Finally, Leroy turned, his golden mask catching the moonlight, and walked silently toward the ballroom.

Elyse's knees gave out. He said nothing and did nothing, but she could only breathe after he left. She slid down the wall, her silk skirts crumpling around her. For a heartbeat, she'd felt like a dead woman, his quiet steps more chilling than any roar.

The fear faded fast. Of course, he wouldn't hurt me. A small, sharp smile curved her lips.

She'd planted the seed of doubt in Leroy's mind, and it would fester. Lorraine had given him no heir. Rumors swirled around her like dark clouds. Leroy's fame was rising as he was a prince with a throne in his grasp. Lorraine was a weight pulling him down. If he was smart, if he craved power, he'd see Elyse was the better choice.

Elyse stood, smoothing her gown, her heart steady now. She'd done enough tonight.

-----

Sylvia folded the cloth rags neatly, her fingers careful but her mind heavy. It was that time of the month for the Princess. Even after the Prince's recent night with her, it wouldn't matter. No child will come this month.

Maybe never.

With a sigh, Sylvia tucked the rags away and stepped into the hallway. She had to prepare the Princess's pain medication. Lorraine hid her pain well, but the Prince forcing her to attend the ball had cut deep. She'd want to leave soon, and Sylvia would make sure everything was ready.

She turned a corner, her thoughts spinning, when a strong hand yanked her into the shadows beneath the stairway. Panic surged, her breath catching, but before she could cry out, she was pinned against the wall. Her cheek pressed against the smooth, paneled wood. A familiar scent hit her, calming her down immediately. Leather, ink, and cedar… Aldric.

His rough yet gentle hand lifted her skirt, desire thick in the air, while his other hand teased her womanhood with knowing skill. Sylvia's palms flattened against the wood, her breath quickening as warmth spread through her. His lips grazed her ear, nibbling softly, sending tingles down her spine. Her eyes fluttered shut.

His fingers moved expertly, stoking a fire in her core. She felt his hardness press against her back, firm and demanding. Without thinking, she crossed her legs, guiding him between her thighs. He thrust slowly, teasing her sensitive spots, his towering frame swallowing her in shadow.

His hand slid over hers, fingers locking together as he pressed her harder against the wall. His kisses trailed from her ear to her cheek, hot and urgent, his breath brushing her skin. A quiet moan slipped from her lips as he rubbed against her, the friction sparking waves of pleasure.

"Allow me to put it in, Sylvia…" His deep voice rumbled in her ear, raw with want. "Just the tip, at least?" His words carried a boyish plea beneath the hunger. His lips hovered near hers, their breaths mixing.

Sylvia's eyes snapped open, the spell breaking like ice cracking. She exhaled hard, the heat fading.

Aldric felt the shift. "Just tried to feel your pulse," Aldric murmured, his voice low as he rubbed her again, reigniting the spark.

Her body responded, aching for him, aching for more, but her mind screamed no. She wanted him, yes, but not the risk. Not a child. Not after the nightmare of her past marriage. She melted in his embrace.

Aldric finished, his release warm on her thighs. Sylvia leaned against the wall, her face flushed, her chest heaving. He knelt before her, wiping her clean with a gentleness that clashed with their wild moment. 

Sylvia yanked her skirt down, her fingers shaking as she pressed the fabric against her thighs. Aldric always tried to be gentle, to honor her limits, even though their stolen moments spat in the face of respectability and the law. What they did was dangerous, a secret that could destroy them both. But he was a man, flesh and blood, and she craved the heat he sparked in her.

Only that. Nothing deeper. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

"Do not do this again," Sylvia said, her voice low and firm, slicing through the thick air. This was the first time he'd dragged her into the dark without a word, without her say. His hands, his closeness… she'd liked it. She even loved the proective way he held her.

And that… that scared her.

It couldn't happen again. Not like that. "I decide when. I decide where," she snapped, her words sharp and cold. "I am not your whore to grab whenever you want."

Aldric stood slowly, his eyes locking onto hers, heavy with a sadness that twisted her insides. "I know I am the whore," he said, his voice soft but raw, like a wound laid bare.

The weight of his gaze pinned her, daring her to look back. Sylvia turned her head, refusing to meet those eyes. His pain clawed at her, but she wouldn't bend.

"You broke our rules," she said, her tone hard, though her chest ached with something she wouldn't name.

Aldric let out a heavy sigh, the sound thick with frustration. That damned agreement, their pact to keep this hidden, to let her control it all. No kisses on the lips, no emotional attachment, no… love…

He hated it and wanted to burn it to ash. He loved her. He had always admired her quiet strength. He shouldn't have agreed to that agreement just to be close to her.

"Marry me," he said, his voice steady, his eyes blazing with a resolve that wouldn't break. He'd asked before, too many times, and she'd shoved him away every time. But he wouldn't stop.

Not yet.

Maybe this was the day she'd change her mind.