Chapter 54: Taste of You

[Carnelia].

"Who's there?" I call out as I open the door.

Leon is standing in the hall, his face red, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath.

How long had he been standing there? Did he see me? Dear gods, did he hear me?

Flushing with anger and shame I shout, "What do you want?"

He jumps at the sound of my voice, his nostrils flaring like a wild animal's as his eyes flash bright green, like swirling mirrors of light.

"This," he growls as he pulls me into him, claiming my mouth with his teeth and his tongue as he pushes me up against the door. "Mine," he kisses me again, his hands carefully placed on either side of my cheeks as he traps me with his body, his mouth exploring mine as his hardness presses into my thigh through his trousers.

"Leon," I gasp, not sure what to think or feel. "What are you doing?"

"Showing you how..." he kisses my chin, my ear, "...desperately..." His mouth moves down to my neck, "...much I want you."

He bites a line down my neck and I shiver with want. Damn, it feels so good. Each time his mouth touches my skin it sends electric pulses throughout my body, just like before while we sat around the fire. Just the simple sensation of his hands along my skin as they move down my back is enough to cry out with need.

"Leon, please stop," I beg. I've never done anything like this with anyone before. Master Jove kept me away from the type of men who would demand this of a serving girl and I never took any lovers. I want him, but I also am terrified of my desire. The burning I feel deep within as he touches me makes me feel hot and hard and soft all at the same time.

And I don't even like this damn bard.

"Get off me, damn it!" I shout one last time as his mouth makes its way past the front of my chemise, his tongue dangerously close to my nipple.

He gives it a quick lick and my knees buckle.

"Dear gods," I moan as he starts to suckle. I no longer care if I like him or not. I never want my body to stop feeling so good. Grabbing a fistful of his hair in both my hands I pull him into me, loving the magic he nibbles and sucks both of my nipples at the same time with one hand he squeezes my breasts together while the other hand wanders ever lower, moving very close to my lower lips.

This feels amazing. Every part of me craves his touch, the tingles are almost too much to bear, traveling along my body as he discovers every inch of it.

Why did I want him to stop again?

His fingers separate my lower lips and I freeze.

"Leon," my voice is measured and in control. "Stop."

"Carnelia..." he moans.

Who?

I see a streak of light flash across the sky as a beautiful dragon explodes into light. I see a man, no a dragon, rage as a beast of fire, crushing everything in his path.

I see a girl, a sad girl, dressed like a princess, falling from a tower.

Now she is a queen, a sad queen in a castle of glass surrounded by darkness but bathed in light, her children sick and dying.

"Carnelia," a voice says and I turn. A tall and handsome figure looks at me with love, his green and gold eyes swirling.

No.

None of these images are real.

These are images from a dream, a life from another time maybe. None of them are me.

"No," I push him off of me, shaking away the addictive sensation of his touch. "Stop."

He leans forward again, his body just as hungry for mine as I am for his.

Maybe in a different world, we could be fated lovers, beating the odds. But in this world, we are just two humans, one servant and one bard who is secretly lord.

I can't let this happen. I won't fall into this trap. A man like him only wants a girl like me for one thing, and it isn't love or commitment.

"I said stop!" I push him again and he shoots back as if I were a person twice my size with five times the strength. He hits the wall with a crash. I rush over, stunned at my strength.

"Are you okay," I reach forward only to have him clasp my arm firmly and pull me towards him again. "Mine," he says again. "Mate."

"How dare you!" I shout, pulling back swiftly as his face falls forward, hitting the floor with a smack. "You watched me in here during a private moment. I am guessing you must have liked the show!"

"I didn't. I came to..."

"You came to force yourself on me!" I scream so loud the walls seem to vibrate. "And then you call me by some other woman's name!" He slowly rises, his hand on his head as he winces. "And you're drunk!"

I push him back out into the hall. "Get the hell out of here! I'm not some blow-by for some fancy rich minstrel looking for a good time! You get what you want from me and then you'll toss me aside," I cry, tears running down my cheeks as I swear a thousand curses at his feet.

"Millicent, I never meant to...It's just you feel so good and..."

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I slap him hard across the face. "You bastard! I never want you anywhere near me again!"

He stands there, his hand on his face. "Oh gods, Millicent." He looks away. "What have I done? I am so..."

"I don't need your apologies," I snarl, my teeth gnashing. "I need you to leave me the hell alone. We are going to be traveling together tomorrow, but only until we find this dragon and bring home the treasure, or find nothing and I receive your sister's reward for my effort. We are nothing more than business partners, Leon."

"I see," he backs away slowly. "I'll leave you to your rest."

Head downcast, he leaves without another word.

The morning came too soon. I couldn't sleep, not after how my night had started. I spent the rest of the night thinking of the feeling of our bodies pressed together and wondering what it would feel like skin to skin. When the sun did start to shine through my windows, I knew there was no use trying to sleep, so I lay there and found release before getting ready for my day.

Donning my most practical new dress, I cinch it down with a wide leather belt and head downstairs to meet Leon. He is chatting with his sister in a fine mood, smiling and laughing in the sunlight as they sit and eat breakfast.

They both look up at the same time and I am startled by their regal beauty. They both have skin as smooth and pale as starlight, the same high cheekbones, and cunning eyes, large and shaped like almonds. While Leon's hair is a scraggly brown that sits atop his head in waves while Ana's hair is ink-black and falls like a curtain they still share a striking resemblance.

"Why are they so pretty?" I mumble quietly to myself, looking down and feeling disappointed at my appearance. "These royals are all so stunning. I bet her children look like gods." Pausing on the steps I am overwhelmed by the thought of what his children will look like one day and I see a flash of faces dance before my eyes. Sweet children with large blonde hair, tan skin, and eyes that swirl green.

"No, they are mostly annoying teenagers, " Ana takes a swig of tea and I can see by the way she smiles as she sips that she must have heard everything I just said. "Orson is handsome like his father, of course, so I expect some might think he looks godlike but to me, he'll always be my little boy."

Shoot. I wonder if Leon heard me too.

"Leon doesn't have any children," she smirks, "Yet. But I have a feeling he's going to settle down soon."

"Not likely, " he stands. "I haven't found anyone who wants to settle down with a lowly country bard like myself."

His sister taps him on the shoulder and shakes her head sadly, communicating something to him with her eyes that makes him stand a bit straighter.

"Are you ready to go," he holds his hand out like a gentleman, like a lord, offering it to me as I descend the last steps.

"Yes," I ignore his hand and push past him. "Which way to the horses?"

His sister sighs as she hands us the maps and the provisions she has made for us.

She comes out to the stables with us as we load our gear to give us a few instructions. "Stick to the roads and stay close together when in town," she advises. "While traveling through the forest, keep an eye out for bandits, and oh," she throws me a bag of coins. "Try not to spend this too freely. It'll draw too much attention."

I nod, as I pull out a handful of coins which I place in Leon's outstretched hand while I hide the rest in a hidden pocket on the inside of my skirt. Thieves might hear them jingle, but they will be out of sight and hard to reach.

"Good luck," she wishes us well, waving as we head towards the road. "I hope you both find what you are looking for."

"Me too," I reply softly under my breath, no longer sure of what that might be as I watch Leon ride in front of me, a familiar tug pulling at my heart.