Dearest Evelyn

-chapter 29-

I awoke with an odd chill about my body. My weary eyes begrudgingly opened- if a bit torpidly, and an unfamiliar sight greeted me. It was a wall- as uneventful and boring as it may sound, but it wasn’t my wall. Then my brain took in the red decorations. I remembered now. I was in the suite.

I sat up and looked around, marveling at how wonderful the decorations looked in the morning light compared to the candle light at night. I noticed my bare arms. I looked down. I gasped with the sight of my uncovered body- save the bed sheet, standing stark and naked in the cool morning air. Small goosebumps rose on my flesh from where I was exposed.

A knot formed in my stomach as I remembered the events from last night. The still-full vial on the bedside table only reminded me more. It hadn’t been as extravagant as my daunting dreams of Hector- but who was I to judge?

I was afraid to look to my side, but sure enough, my head slowly made its way left. The sight of his bare back made me take in a sharp twang of breath. It was as beautiful as ever, and my finger found the impulse to reach out and stroke the small bumps of his spine.

He stirred immediately, looking over his shoulder at me with the most cherubic look I had ever seen on his face. He was godly. It only made me wonder more how I ended up with such a seraph.

“I didn’t realize you were awake.” He smiled.

I nodded, unsure how to speak. But then I remembered my naked flesh, and I quickly drew up the covers around me, my eyes widening and my face dropping.

This amused him. “What?” he asked, turning over to face me. He had a small, leather-bound book in his hand. It had no title.

I changed the subject. “What’re you reading?”

“Poetry.”

I nodded again, still clutching the covers about me.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me seeing you?” he smirked. “Are you forgetting what happened last night?”

“No,” I snapped. Then I stopped. I couldn’t think of anything else snippy enough to say. Why was I acting this way? Surely the wine didn’t go to my head last night. My eyes wandered down to a small dark stain in the middle of the sheets. My blood.

My eyes slowly re-met his.

“Evelyn . . .” he whispered. “Why are you acting this way?”

My mouth only gaped.

He raised an eyebrow.

“I . . . I-I- it’s- I’m just . . . dazed. That’s all.” I managed.

I felt a bit of relief when he broke out into a huge smile. He pulled me towards him, despite my awkward position, and I immediately felt his warm flesh against me. I wrapped my arm around his torso, pressing my body tightly to his. He was far warmer than the blankets, and my very cold skin was happy to have heat from his.

He chuckled softly in my ear and kissed my temple. “I love you, Eve.”

“I love you too.” I mumbled against his skin. I pressed my cheek to his chest.

A sudden, flustered rap at the door made me jump, hitting my head upon Gwin’s chin and causing him to wince as his teeth sank into his tongue.

“Miss Evelyn, Sir Gwindire!” a small, female voice came to us from the door. “Princess Joanna requests both of your presences at once! Formal dress isn’t necessary; she says it is most urgent!”

I looked to Gwin, who was rubbing his jaw.

“Sorry.” I mumbled, kissing his chin.

“It’s fine.” He stood, and my eyes were immediately drawn to the definitions of his manhood. I was a little distracted by it- and he had to call my name several times before I snapped to.