The heavy blanket of sleep fell away, and slowly Rhosyn became aware of the slight throb in her muscles—the cold, spent ache of them. With a half-hum—half-groan—images of last night came flooding back and heat rose to her cheeks.
A breath down her neck, skimming her exposed chest and suddenly she was wide awake. A firm body pressed against her back, arms wrapped around her and a steady, sure pattern of a chest rising and falling.
She caught him watching her and the flush in her cheeks deepened.
"How'd you sleep?" he asked, a new ritual.
The little space between them, shrunk her. Which only pushed her more against him as she shied. His fingers tangled in one of hers, slowly stroking along its surface, preventing her from seeking the anxious comfort of picking at her fingers.
The problem wasn't that she regretted it—definitely not. The problem was that she admitted that she wanted it, and she couldn't take that back. Didn't know how.
"Fine," she said. And meant it.
It was the first time that she'd slept so deep—so sure and safe. Something quiet and rebellious whispered it was because of him, wrapped around her—and she tried not to like it.
A knowing smile slipped across his lips and she followed it invested.
Rhosyn shifted, so her back pressed against the bed, all the better to see his face. Her heart travelled through the mattress, a happy hum and she tried to ignore it.
Leoric's fingers brushed the length of her jaw, unhurried as he studied her eyes. His thumb stroked her cheek and Rhosyn became all too aware of embarrassment clung to them.
A brow quirked up, lopsided. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Instantly thoughts rushed up—mouths and skin—and by the way Leoric's eyes darkened slightly he knew it. Rhosyn swallowed them down and braved the blush burning her face.
His face dipped closer to hers. His breath washed over her—cedar and spice.
Rhosyn's breath hitched. Heart stuttered. Then—
"Breakfast," he murmured—and the wickedness in his eyes turned boyish.
Rhosyn narrowed her eyes at him as he straightened.
Warmth all but disappeared when he slipped from the bed and Rhosyn watched him a little too closely as he pulled on his trousers. Remembering the hard planes of his back. The way her nails had left small, sinful marks. Only to shake off the memory before it could shift anything more uneasy in her.
He peeked over his shoulder as if knowing she'd stare, something still playful and keen in his eyes and she wondered if he'd bridge the space again.
He didn't.
Instead, Leoric travelled further away. Probably trying to resist—she hoped.
Rhosyn sat up, searching the floor for her dress—anything at this point—and catching Leoric staring at her. Rapture interest set in storm grey eyes and she felt the morning chill prickle her skin.
He took a step toward her and—
"Someone's spilt wine outside—" Kaly paused in the doorway, eyes tracking from Leoric's half naked form to Rhosyn's very nude one.
Everyone went still. Thoughts almost loud enough to be heard and Rhosyn was sure hers was the loudest.
In less than a second, without missing a beat, Kaly turned. "...it can wait. I'm sure it was just Valric like usual—"
"Good morning, Kaly," Leoric's voice paused her retreat. "Is Valric awake?" he asked and Rhosyn ignored the conversation as she buried herself in the duvet, doing her best to locate anything to wear.
"Even the bears are awake by now, Your Grace. And it's winter," Kaly replied, sarcasm laced over the words.
Light poured through the large windows, and sure enough, it was almost noon...
"I take that as a yes," he soldiered on, completely ignoring the tone in Kaly's words and Rhosyn recalled all the times he'd done the same with her.
"The office, Your Grace." The maid dipped in a simple curtsy, pulling the door closed behind her as Leoric turned toward Rhosyn.
She was sure she caught a sly smile slipping across the maid's face before she ducked out. But she couldn't be sure. Leoric all but dominated her attention, and her eyes roamed the definition of his muscles again.
"Come." He held out a hand. "I want to introduce you to someone."
Rhosyn hesitated, trying to read the look in his eyes. But he'd always been hard to predict—to understand. Then again, he'd always been a few steps ahead, and up until now, they'd been playing two different games.
So maybe she wasn't losing... Just not winning the game that mattered.
And then there were games that were played in teams.
She placed her hand in his, and let him lead her.