Kuzana yawned. It was 8 o'clock exactly and she was still sleepy.
"Mistress Kuzana." Came a cool voice.
"What is it, Joshuan?" She asked her servant and lover.
"Your sister is waiting in the courtyard for your lesson. Best not to keep her waiting." Joshuan said as he pulled off her covers and started to dress her.
She enjoyed the feel of his hands on her, they made her feel safe and warm.
"Mmm," she sighed.
He put his lips right to her ear, "You better get up, or there'll be dire consequences."
She shivered. "Is that a promise?" She asked coyly.
He smirked and kissed her neck, making his way down to her stomach. "Maybe we'll have fun some other time." He breathed.
She groaned. "Why can't we have funnow?"
He chuckled. "Because you are expected somewhere and I don't want to make you late."
She sighed and pulled on her cloak. It was the traditional cloak of queens. Meant only for past, present, and future queens of the Land Buried in the Clouds.
He held out his hand and together they walked down the path until they reached the the imperial Castle. It was the castle in which her father and the rest of the royal family lived.
"This is as far as I go." He gave her a weak smile and she returned it. He was the only one who'd ever seen her smile.
"Wow." His breath caught. "You have the most amazing smile I've ever seen."
She laughed her silvery laugh and his heart soared. He wondered how someone so full of life and happiness could have such a dark past.
"I'll see you at sundown." She leaned in and kissed him.
"And not a moment later." He said as she started walking towards the castle.
He watched as her bright and sweet smile faded into her emotionless mask once again. It gave him such pain when she became like that. She wouldn't speak unless spoken to, she wouldn't eat or do anything unless she was aloud. It made him sick to his very core when she told him she had to be married.
(Flashback)
"Kuzana," he moaned when she sucked on his adams-apple. He lowered his face so their lips were only centimeters apart.
"You want these lips?" She teased, drawing back a little.
"Hell yes." He whispered as he leaned in further. Just as he was going to kiss her lips, she turned away.
She giggled when he kissed her cheek.
He tried again with the same result.
"Dammit Kuzana, hold still." He said as he grabbed her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
She pulled away and stood by the window.
"I'm sorry I pulled you into this." She said after a while.
"What?" He askedincredulously.
"We can't do this. We can't do us." She whispered the last part.
He came over and wrapped his arms around her torso.
"Why?" Was all he asked.
She sighed and turned to face him.
"Because I'm promised to be married." She whispered back.
He nodded and held her close.
"Then we'll make the best of what time we have left." He said and he started to hum.
(End Flashback)
This was going to be hell, and he knew it.
