The Viper and The Wolf

Chapter 5

Sansa woke slowly, everything coming back to her in fuzzy pieces. She yawned, stretching before she remembered where she was and, more importantly, who was beside her. The second weight on the bed to her left. The added warmth beneath the sheets. The slow, steady breathing of the man who was her new husband.

Sansa suddenly froze, staring up at the canopy with a pounding heart as she tried to keep her own breathing silent. But the even rhythm of his breathing convinced her that he was still sleeping deeply. Moving slowly, Sansa turned her head and her eyes took in the man next to her.

Oberyn was asleep on his stomach with the white sheets covering him from the waist down with his head turned, facing her. Sansa suddenly felt the confidence to scoot closer until her head was on the edge of her pillow. She couldn't help but admire how handsome Oberyn was as he slept, his hair disturbed from moving throughout the night. But his olive skin was glowing toward her. It teased her almost, trying to reel her in with the temptation to touch. Oberyn had touched her, why not she touch him?

Her curiosity dominated over her fear as she lifted her right hand to very carefully and very gently brush her fingers over his shoulder blade. His skin was softer than she would have thought and she smiled. Her mind tried to firmly tell her that that was all she needed and all she was going to get. But her hand didn't obey her.

Sansa carefully and joyously traced light patterns from his left shoulder to his right, then trailed down his spine to the small of his back until she reached the sheets. She lifted herself off further from the bed and she smiled softly. She could feel his muscles under the softness of his skin, even going as far as to place her hand flat on his back, taking in the heat his body gave off. She took it in, knowing this was the closest thing she would ever get to intimacy with a man.

Sansa felt a bolt of fear strike through her body when a soft sigh came from the man she was touching. She immediately pulled her hand away from his back, burying her hands under her head.

"Mm, don't stop now, sweetling," Oberyn groaned as he slowly woke up.

Sansa was horrified at the realization that he could have been awake the entire time she was touching him. She watched him open his brown eyes, seeing them sparkle the moment of opening. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I-I didn't mean to wake you."

Oberyn grunted and propped himself on his arms, still on his stomach as he stretched his muscles a moment. Sansa felt her cheeks burn as she watched his muscles move in that way and he turned his head to gaze at her. He was still hazy with sleep as he leaned down on his right arm.

"There are worse ways to be woken. Trust me." He said, reaching out to gently take her hand in his. Sansa swallowed as he lifted her hand to kiss her fingers. "Did you sleep well?"

Sansa nodded in return. "I did. Did you, my prince?"

"I did." Oberyn smiled at her. "It is when I'm lonely that I do not sleep at all."

That did not surprise Sansa. Whether it be Ellaria or someone else who caught his eye. She still didn't know how she felt about marrying such a man. She was not going to expect the same treatment he gave Ellaria or anyone else. Sometime soon she will no longer be married to him and will be reunited with her brother. She frowned at the realization she would possibly never see him again once she returned to Winterfell. They would soon go their separate ways.

"What is it, Sansa?" Oberyn asked as he leaned closer.

"What?" Sansa asked as she was knocked back to reality. She hated that she was growing so fond of him so quickly. His soft and smooth accent. His warm brown eyes. The way he kept her close protectively. Whatever she was feeling toward him she could not let it distract her. Love didn't exist in her mind anymore. And there was no love there between them.