𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 || 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Chapter 22

It wasn't long after we talked that Brienne fell asleep. Snoring softly as she rest against her tree, I smiled as I gazed into the dwindling fire. She had joined all of the others who I heard snoring in their tents. I felt eyes on me then and slowly, I glanced up. Jaime's emerald gaze bored into me and I felt my cheeks grow hot.

"It's not very gentlemanly to stare at a young lady," I teased him, squirming uncomfortably.

He smirked and leaned his head back against the tree behind him.

"I don't think nobles exist out here," he countered and I smiled in response, nodding.

"That's true, I suppose. Everything seems to be different out here. Things that once mattered - fine clothing and food, etiquette, class rankings... None of that matters out here..." I said, trailing off as my eyes met his again in the darkness.

"What does still matter then, Joan?" he asked, catching me off guard at his question.

I furrowed my eyebrows and shrugged before picking myself up off the ground. Joining him on the other side, I sat down in the cool dirt.

"Family...and friends..." I said, my chocolate-brown eyes flicking to his, "There's not a lot I really care about other than those things..."

He smiled slightly, a genuine smile.

"Not anything at all? Not anyone?" he pressed me.

I almost laughed, shaking my head.

"What are you on about, Jaime Lannister?" I shot back, grinning.

He shrugged, turning to face me.

"I just think maybe you should broaden your horizons... Don't shut out everything,"

"I'm not... I just... I feel like I've changed so much... Grief changed me," I said and it was my turn to shrug, "I'm not the same girl you met in King's Landing..."

He nodded slowly in understanding, his dirty blond hair falling in his face.

"That's very true. You've grown up quite a bit..." he said and glancing over at him, I noticed he had moved a bit closer.

His cheek rested against the bark of the tree and I twisted to face him, mimicking his actions.

"I am different now," I admitted.

I could feel his warm breath on my face now as we spoke quietly in the dark of the night. My heart pounded in my chest as I gazed into those beautiful emerald eyes.

"How so?" he asked softly.

Swallowing down the lump that had formed in my throat, I continued.

"I take chances now." I said.

I did something then that was so uncharacteristic, it shocked me to my core. I pressed my lips to Jaime's and kissed him. For a second, I was worried he wouldn't kiss me back - that I'd made a grave mistake. But then he did. He actually kissed me back. His lips were soft as they glided across mine.

My hands tangled themselves in the strands of his shaggy blond hair and his hand went to my waist. Long slender fingers pulled me flush against him as he kissed me. He was so gentle, it surprised me. I hadn't expected the famous Kingslayer to be so soft and gentle but he was. He tasted like paradise. Like a forbidden paradise.

It wasn't right and I shouldn't be kissing him this way but all I could feel was his hand on my back, all I could taste was his lips on mine. His beard brushed against my skin roughly but I ignored it, too lost in our passionate kiss. In that moment, that one blissful moment, he was my everything. He was all that mattered.

Note: The moment everyone has been waiting on FINALLY happened!! lol :D I hope you guys liked it! :)