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Being a royal of Achroite was never an easy fit.
Things like peace and self control have become part of Mathias nature since a very young age.
The importance of protecting citizens through law was imbued in him.
A heavy responsibility he carried the burden alone.
Mathias was used to being impeccably controlled.
A soldier of his own country.
To stand and protect.
Nothing could bother him unnecessarily.
Nothing but the only bed standing at the center of the room.
An awkwardness crept on his heart as he turned to look at her friend.
She was a noble from Rhodolite on a leisure trip to Achroite to deepen her culture, something he himself encouraged.
Like the art exhibition they went to visit that afternoon, minding nothing for the weather that forecast a light snow to fall in the evening.
Mathias thought that they would have been at the castle by sundown, but he didn’t take into account the passionate tour she would have got into around the bookstore of the building.
A soft sigh rolling from her lips pulled him out of his reveries as his grey eyes focused once more on the yellow and orange blankets covering what was a single bed.
“It seems to be quite the issue.”
In reality Mathias. felt stuck between his rational mind and his more irrational heart.
A more comfortable place to be would have been a simple barn rather than that conspicuously little room.
Too little.
Too warm.
Too …
In brief words more adapt to couples than to mere friends.
Mathias could feel Lizzy's presence as she was standing next to him, staring at him with her innocent eyes and her adorable smile.
“Don’t worry Prince Mathias, I can easily see if they have a sofa or an armchair available to add here.”
“I can not get you to do that. You will take the bed and I will sleep elsewhere.”
“I appreciate the thought but …”
“No, but. It would go against my principles and the rules of the Asbrink family to show such discourtesy.”
“Here we aren’t at court. I won’t sue you if you break the rules.”
There was laughter in her words but he was adamant about following rules with no compromise to his values.
“You may not but I will do it in your stead.”
“Mat.”
Oh her sweet voice whispering his name, his head could run to such wild places if he let it be.
“Lizzy”
His tone stern as she heard it only in trials.
“Prepare for the night. I will go ask the innkeeper if he has another room.”
“Really you shouldn’t we could share …”
“We may not but I appreciate the thought.”
“Thank you Mat.”
A smile on his lips the prince closed the door behind his back
His heart clamoring loudly all the way though the narrow corridors as he walked to the front desk.
His mind was going places and his heart didn’t helped, it beat loudly in his chest making him feel dizzy.
Oh how it would have been sweet to be a couple with her.
To partake in the kind of deed couples did in bed.
Madness.
Pure madness.
Mathias knew he had to find a good girl.
Preferably a demure one.
But he couldn’t help but be attracted to her.
No matter, she was a low noble.
Or that she was a spitfire arguing with him.
He loved her.
That realization struck him in the heat, stealing air from his lungs.
Making something complex, something that used to be so simple as sharing a bed.
Oh how much he wished to be a commoner sometimes and enjoy simple things without the heavy burden of expectation heaving on his shoulder.
To stand as equal to her without making her feel inadequate.
He sighed softly at the desk there was no one, his fingers tapped on its counter hoping to clear his mind but in vain.
Finally after what felt like hours the couple who ran the inn came to greet him, at each word he exchanged with the two shame crept up more and more on his face.
By the time he bid them a goodnight his cheeks were on fire.
Mindlessly Mathias walked back to his room, rolling his thumbs as he replayed what he would have told her in his mind over and over.
But the moment he opened the door all the words he wanted to say melted on his tongue like ice under a summer sun.
Lizzy was wearing a nightie covered only by a light dressing gown.
So light, it flowed around her legs. hiding her curves from sight but giving him a hint through the light fabric.
“I … um …"
He tripped on his words more than once, so much he asked if she wasn’t getting tired of him blabbering on.
“I spoke with the owners …”
A quietness before the snow fell in the room, chilling him to the core.
Her gaze was warm like a flame melting his frosting embarrassment.
“They have no sofa nor armchair to lend.”
“Well I expected it.”
“How so ?”
“Winter makes Achroite a popular spot for tourists with all the markets and the lights so I guessed most inns of the city are full.”
“I think.”
Mathias gulped down his pride and humiliation as he dragged the words on his tongue, like a chained monster he hesitated to set free.
“We should share a bed.”
His confession fell like a stone in a lake cracking the thin surface of ice protecting it.
He dreamed a lot about sharing a bed, and maybe even body heat, with a woman … but in a proper setting with a rightful engagement.
Not at the cost of making her only female friend uncomfortable.
“For me it’s not an issue but if for you it is I will see to find a suitable place to spend the night.” Guilt and shame overcame him as the flood of words rolled from his lips.
Lizzy cheeks were like ripe strawberries he wanted nothing more than to kiss.
The shyness in the casual gesture of tightening her dressing gown around herself made wild ideas pop up in his mind, setting his heart racing.
To dispel that improper rush of desire Mathias shook his head.
His grey eyes fixed on her own lips, so red and tempting to be kissed curled in a pout.
Mathias stretched his fingers in the gloves only to curl them in fist and show them in his pockets.
“It is alright Mathias don’t worry.”
A smile appeared on her lips lighting up her features.
If he thought she was cute he had to rephrase it.
She was beautiful.
More than anyone else he has ever seen.
But most importantly he didn’t care what others thought of her.
Because she was beautiful to him.
By the time they finished getting ready for bed not a single phrase was spoken between them.
Mathias could perceive Lizzy shyness though as she rubbed her feet together under the covers.
He on the other hand was dealing with his heart beating like crazy in his chest.
A glance behind him was his undoing.
Her red cheeks.
Her luscious lips.
Her soft hair cascading around her beautiful face.
Her fingers curled on the pillow.
Mathias fretted over sliding his gaze back to the wall in front of him, paying close attention to the furniture standing between the wall and the bed.
How wonderful would it have been to turn around and slide his fingers on her face brushing away her rebel locks.
Pressing his thumb gently on her lips while his other hand settled on her smooth waist savoring the skin underneath.
A groan slipped from his tongue.
One he hoped she hadn’t heard.
A soft moan from her part sent a pang of need in his nether region.
A surge of need aroused in him.
One he promptly suppressed, closing his fist.
Control.
Duty.
Mantra that although useful were now mere empty words to his body set on fire by desire.
Finally when the tide of need washed away he began breathing again.
Through a storm of doubts and wishes finally they drifted off to sleep.
At a certain point during the night Lizzy began to shiver.
Her teeth chatting awoke him.
Waiting not a moment Mathias turned around.
Mathias' eyes looked around the room frantically.
The blankets in the drawers were already all on the bed
The flame in the fireplace crackled half convinced.
It would have been a bother to call the servants to bring more blankets or more wood.
Fighting against his instinct of gentlemen Mathias turned around to wrap his arms around her form.
His lips brushing ever so softly on her forehead as Lizzy snuggled up better in his arms.
Seeing a smile return to her face was the biggest reward he could ask for.
He needed nothing more when he was with her.
He needed to not fake it when he was with her.
Darkness stir and awaken imagination.
Something he learned to keep at bay from a young age.
At least until she snowed in his life like a perfect snowflake gracefully landing on his hand.
With his love keeping him warm he drifted off to sleep once more.
Lizzy woke up before him.
A moment of panic surged in her as he felt his muscular arms wrapped around hers
An icy feeling setting on her veins melted by the warm feeling of his warm body clinging to her.
They still had clothes.
Thankfully her wild dream was just that.
A dream.
An impossible one at that.
Mathias was a prince destined to be king.
She was a low noble whose advantageous marriage would have been decided by her parents to make her household proud.
Something Lizzy understood the importance of.
That was the only thing that she shared with Mathias.
He too had the duty to pursue an advantageous marriage.
An alliance useful to his own Kingdom.
A sigh rolled from her lips she fretted over to smother in the softness of the pillow
Lizzy wanted to pull away.
She really did.
But Mathias' warmth beckoned her closer.
Closer than what was appropriate.
Closer than etiquette ruled.
A little fleeting dream of what she wished for but could not obtain.
To avoid making him feel even more self conscious she curled back in his embrace enjoying that moment of wildness before the heavy cape of duty was set once more around their shoulders.
Mathias woke up first blinking rapidly to get used to the bright sun entering from the window.
His gaze crinkled with affection and unspoken tenderness as his fingers moved to adjust a rebel lock away from her pretty face.
Lizzy was vivid, bubbly like a summer soon breaking through the thick clouds of a winter evening.
His arms tightened around her, a sigh flew from his lips.
How he wished for that to be real.
How he wished for him to be free.
A desire that was destined to remain no more than a mirage.
A spot of sun among the snow.
Warm.
Bright.
Unreachable for someone like him whose destiny was chosen before his own birth
Raised to carry the heavy cape of royalty from a young age.
Rules imbued on him.
Ruled he felt right.
Yet he wished to follow his heart for once.
To be free for real and pursue love like everyone in his country was able to do.
But him.
-Protect the virtuous.
That is his mantra and his reason to live.
His duty entwined with his role.
A role he didn’t wish to flee away from.
But that became so heavy after she appeared in his country setting disarray in his strictly tidied life.
A bittersweet smile on his lips he leaned to brush his lips on her forehead.
In that moment her eyes cracked open, stealing the air from his lungs.
She wasn’t a robber yet she stole his heart without even asking, even better without even trying.
“Good morning Lizzy.”
“Good morning Mathias.”
They looked really like a couple in that moment
If only that moment could have become reality he would have been the happiest person on earth.
In a rush of freedom Lizzy entwined her fingers with his own in the blanket taking delight in his warmth seeping from him, making her heart roll in her chest.
A moment of eternity forever engraved in their memory.
At least until the maid of the inn didn’t knock at their door
Sir, Lady, are you awake ?
Yes thank you
Breakfast is ready
Give us a minute
That us lingered in the air as they got ready for the morning.
Impossible though was to shake away the lingering warmth of his body from her own, the sensation of his hand around her own still make Lizzy fingers clench in yearn as they moved to button up her clothes
A wanton sigh left her lips as she put on her makeup, yearning for her lips to fell his own at least once.
Maybe more.
Maybe even in other parts.
A wild desire she brushed away, adjusting her hair for the day, stealing glances to the bathroom door where he closed to prepare, leaving her all the privacy of the whole room.
It was madness.
Pure madness.
How his heart continued to race in his rib cage, useless all the water he splashed on his face
Mathias could not forget her warm breath, nor the way her soft body curled around his own.
He suppressed a low groan as his fingers clenched his clothes, a rush of desire risked to overcome him.
Composing himself he straightened his necktie shaking his head to dispel his thoughts.
The mask of the perfect prince once more in place he stepped away from the bathroom.
It was impossible to run away from his feelings but he did his best to keep them at bay as he lent his arm to her.
Lizzy hand wrapped around it with a cheerfulness Mathias recognized as her most attractive trait.
They were the very picture of composure as they walked to the common room to enjoy their meal, glancing through each other like a lovely couple, unable to hide their emotions.
Their table was so little their legs kept brushing together, a blush soon rose to their cheeks, setting their heart on a race, something they ignored diving in the earthy meal gazing at one another with a smile.