And They All Fell Down

Chapter Four

Their lips danced in perfect harmony and she felt one of his hands on her cheek and the other on the small of her back. Her eyes were closed and she felt herself allow a moan to escape into his mouth. She quickly realized what she was doing and she pushed him away and covered her mouth with her hand. 

"Lavinia...." His lips were red and his face was flushed and she imagined hers looked similar. She could hardly catch her breath and she took a step back and he took one step foreword. 

"No!," she reached out a hand in protest, "We can't!" 

"We did..." 

"Do you know what this is? Do you know what could happen to us if my husband finds out?" 

"I know damn well what this is, Lavinia! I have known what these thoughts were since the moment I first saw you. Treason! Treasonous thoughts about a beautiful woman that I can never have." 

He took a step closer and wrapped his arm around her waist and her chest pressed firm against his, "Let me know what your lips taste like before they have my head." He pulled her face closer to his and his tongue slipped into her mouth. His breath was hot and needy and Lavinia gave into her feelings and ran her fingers through his thick, brown hair. She met the motions of his tongue with her own and felt her body take over her mind but then images of a horrible future flash before her eyes. His head being cut off with a single strike of an axe. Her imprisonment for treason until her husband sees fit to end her torment and take her head as well. 

She pushes him away once more, "No! No! This is all wrong! We have had wine and we got caught up with the moment but I am a Queen and this cannot be!" 

She rushed for the door but he takes her hand and holds in tightly, "Please..." 

She pulled her hand back with force, "If you value your life in any way...you will stay away from me!" 

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A week had gone by and he had not seen her face. He remembered her lips so vividly as if he had only tasted them yesterday. She ran off from him and that was the last time he had laid eyes on her. He had been all around the castle and saw her nowhere. It was not something he could ask other about, as he didn't want to raise suspicion. He had looked down at the garden every morning and did not see her reading a book. He had gone to the tea room and had not seen her with her ladies, nor had he seen her in the dining room. 

The entire castle was buzzing in anticipation for the party to celebrate the King's birthday. He held a rather extravagant party every year, so much so that Christopher knew of them as did most of Europe. He couldn't handle the servants running around and the gossiping of the noble girls who spend their time at court searching for a husband. He found his way outside in the cold weather, a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. He felt the cold touch his skin like a dagger but he took a deep breath in and hoped it would wash away his worries. He looked over and saw Sophia walking from the stables with her riding cloak on and the hood pulled up. 

"Sophia!" He ran towards her and she stopped in her tracks and she looked down at the footprints she had left in the snow. 

She bowed her head, "My Lord?"

"Where were you off to with weather such as this?" 

"My brother lives in the village and I visit him once a week." 

"That is so thoughtful of you. Is he older or younger than you?" 

"Older, my Lord." 

"Why does he never present himself at court?"