The Summer King and His Winter Bride-Chapter 21: At Midnight

The moon rose casting its silver light through the large windows of the winter palace, at this time the corridors were silent and Queen Caroline moved gently, her quiet footsteps padded over the floors. The light from the lamp she carried flickered its soft yellow glow illuminating the carved ancient pillars of the palace.

A slight movement made her freeze in place.

King Casimir stepped forward revealing himself beneath the grand staircase, the golden embroidery on his black waist coat catching the glow of the candlelight.

"You move light as a feather," he murmured.

"And you haunt corners of this castle, should I be concerned?" Caroline asked.

"Perhaps I am ensuring you feel my presence wherever you may be," he replied smugly.

"Or you could be searching this place for something of value or simply be familiarizing yourself with these corridors though why remains a mystery," she concluded.

"Of value is you, familiarizing, yes I fear I could get lost here." He replied quietly.

"You should be asleep at this hour." She said holding his gaze steadily.

"So should you." He remarked drawing closer to where she stood.

A gust of cold wind blew so strongly it snuffed out the candle’s flame, inside Caroline’s lamp.

Casimir took off his bracelet in front of her and in ancient tongue commanded the lamp to be lit with fire. Then he quickly put it back on after the candle was lit.

"You took of the bracelet," she remarked wearily.

"Only to help you," he said steadily.

He gently held her hands as another cold gust of wind engulfed them.

His touch was warm and comforting and she felt the heat of his touch on her hands.

"You do not trust easily," he observed.

"Should I?" she questioned gently.

"If we are to be married then yes," he replied sincerely.

"After we are married then," she murmured as a soft promise.

"It must begin now dearest," he countered slowly.

"I expect to see frost but I only see a fire in your eyes, interesting." He mused.

Caroline exhaled slowly. "You burn so brightly, I wonder if you ever tire of the heat."

"Not when I know it brings me closer to pulling down your walls and revealing you." Casimir said his lips curving into a smile.

The little flame wavered in her lamp and her heart fluttered but she did not step away from him.

He brought the palms of her hand to rest on his chest where his heart beat.

She felt his pulse beneath his waistcoat and she stilled, nervous and curious.

"I wonder if you fear being burned by the fire or fear being exposed melting under its heat." He challenged softly his mouth mere inches from her.

"If I did," she whispered, "what would you do about it?"

"Then I would coax you darling to be brave and fear nothing, for I believe you can put out the harshest and hottest flame." He replied a smile forming on his handsome face.

A coaxing and a challenge she thought.

He stood so close to her and she felt the heat radiating off him and the scent of spices and cedarwood.

"If I did meet your fire with my frost?" She continued breathless, "what would you do?"

"Reward you for your courage," he said and swooping down to kiss her lips.

His lips tested her, teased her and tasted like something forbidden. As his mouth gently moved against hers she felt he was trying to convince her that what he felt for her ran deeper, coaxing her to trust him.

She could not pull away as she responded by moving her lips against his.

The light from the candle wavered and flickered wildly, as her free hand tightened its hold on the lapels of his waistcoat, holding him for a moment before finally breaking away, breathless.

Casimir gazed down at her his fingers brushing against her cheek.

"Do not leave me in the cold." He whispered, as he felt she took something precious away from him.

"I do not want to get burned," she whispered in return.

A slow smile spread across his lips.

"But darling that’s what I am trying to tell you, you cannot burn. You only melt." He murmured before walking away from her and returning to his chambers.

She felt the warmth of his touch leave her wanting more.

That was what she was truly afraid of more than anything the desire to want more to be vulnerable in his arms.

Was it wrong she thought that she wanted to protect herself till they were married at least?