~ * ~ * ~
The sun shone brightly through the window slit of the apartment as Rafian opened his eyes. Using his right hand, he began to stroke the long strands of hair flowing from Rienne’s sleeping head as she purred warmly into his chest. She was in a deep sleep and her arms clutched his body tightly, as if allowing him no chance of escape.
He could not explain how they had come here or why they had made love as opposed to dueling, but he knew that for the first time in years, he felt at peace. Rienne was an amazing woman who made love as passionately as she fought. She was so good, in fact, that those little pictures of “happily ever after” danced around in his mind as he caressed her hair, ignoring everything else in the world.
Her large brown eyes opened, and she was awake. Lying still for a few moments as if to gather her thoughts, she sighed, smiling, and said, “Good morning.”
Still caressing the mane of his lioness, Rafian replied, “That it is, indeed. Did you sleep well?”
Rienne thought for a second or two and then said, “The best sleep I’ve had in a very long time.”
She then sat up, the sheets falling away, which made Rafian wonder how they had managed to go from trying to kill each other to waking up relaxed, as if they had each other’s backs.
“What time is it?” she asked suddenly, turning towards him.
“Too early for you to leave,” he replied and pulled her back down onto the bed.
The time ticked away as the lovers explored each others’ bodies as well as minds. Rafian learned that he had somehow found himself in the arms of a high-ranking baroness of Veece, and Rienne realized that her lover was the most notorious leader of the resistance movement. They laughed at this interesting turn of affairs, but it was Rafian who suggested a proposition.
“Why don’t we let them think we are dead and run away together?” he asked as he examined the scar on her cheek that he had dealt her so long ago.
Holding his hands and staring into his eyes, Rienne replied, “This is crazy, but do you think it would work? People in OUR positions? There would be investigations, and if discovered, I fear the worst punishment for us both.”
She paused before finishing in a hushed voice, “Not to mention, disgrace.”
It was true, of course, especially the latter half. The last thing Rafian wanted to do was bring shame on himself or his cause. The resistance would be scarred by a scandal such as this. But for all that he had given up for them, he laughed at the thought.
“We belong together, we both know it. I’ve been without direction and knowledge of who I am for a very long time, Rienne. Being here with you is the first time I have slowed down in over two years.” He looked away from her and then continued. “We don’t have much time; I cannot sit here and play the game of courtship with you. Given the circumstances, I think you know what I am saying.”
Rienne was smiling. Her eyes, once locked into Rafian’s, seemed bashful suddenly, and she began to blush. “This is so crazy. How do you propose we do this?”
Squeezing her palms, Rafian replied, “You just stay beautiful and attend to your duties. I will find a way to come to you.”