Taming the Demon

That night Raven crawled into her cold bed, begrudgingly wishing the man who'd set fire to her soul was there to stoke it. I shouldn't long for him . She knew that, or imagine what hidden pleasures that sharp tongue of his had in store for her. Nothing good could come of those guilty, lustful thoughts, demanding her attention as they refused her sleep. Even as her body felt exhausted, that unsatisfied hunger grew restless inside her. Like an empty belly that craved to be full.

She could still feel the phantom pressure of his body as it pressed against her. The firm muscles hidden beneath the fine fabric of his doublet, and the whispers of his lips brushing over her throat. Where a brilliant pain still throbbed at the crook of her neck, where he'd sunk his teeth into her.

Azar's Blood, think of something else... Raven sighed in frustration, remembering his sinful touch inside her. It took her breath away, a thrilling possessive gesture that made her hot with desire and resentment all at once.

It was hard to forget, though she tried, almost longing for the virginal nights where she laid alone in her marriage bed. Where nothing but indifference ever took place.

Eventually, a shallow sleep took her. Raven's head filled with vivid, subliminal longings of Damian taking her completely against her chamber door. The fear and excitement culminating into one enthralling passion, so delicious, she could practically taste the wine and her own honey on his lips.

"Wake up, my lady," Came Cass's abrupt tone, breaking her dreamscape.

Raven's eyes squinted as she recoiled from the sunlight flooding over her bed. Surely part of her punishment for the previous night's behavior. A dull pounding throbbed in her head, a reminder of all the wine she drank. She still remained exhausted, as sleep hardly took its hold. Not with her body so eager and with no one to dispel such carnal need.

"The prince requests your presence for an early dinner this day."

"Oh?" was all she said, sitting up and looking over her crumpled shift, lightly damp with sweat.

"Indeed." A smile flashed on her maid's face briefly. "And I am to join you, to assure there is no compromising conduct. In other words, no funny business."

"I can assure thee, the prince is not that funny," she sighed. "Not like that ."

Cass gave her a smug smile, going to work and placed down a breakfast tray. "Apparently, he's funny enough to get his father's attention," she remarked. "I was not the only one who noticed your absence last night."

Raven said nothing as she took a desperate drink of water and reminded herself, The first lie always wins. "Perhaps I require a closer guard?"

"Aye, and I will see to it. The last thing you want is to end up like my poor mother," she added and began considering how to make her disheveled mistress presentable, something that was usually not such an undertaking. However, this day would prove more difficult: her hair a tangled mess, and her eyes ringed with lost sleep. There was also the matter of the translucent bruising along her throat. "Dear God, you let him get the better of you," Cass mused, silently happy for the reinforcements.

It was about an hour before the three dull witted blondes arrived. Naturally, they were tardy.

"If punctuality were a virtue, you would all—oh, that's right," Cass remarked with a chilly jest.

"Virtue is akin to a balloon; one small prick and t'is undone," Rose said dryly. "What's the use?"

"Says the lady clandestine for a nunnery," Cassandra mocked.