The living room of my private dorm is bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, its rays filtering through the ornate stained-glass windows and casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the plush carpet.
Rolo sits across from me on a velvet-upholstered couch, her posture rigid despite the comfortable surroundings. Her crimson eyes dart around the room, taking in the opulent decor with a mixture of awe and unease.
Between us stands a delicate crystal table, upon which rests a decanter of deep red wine and two gleaming goblets.
A servant dressed in the livery of the Warbringer household moves silently around the room, anticipating our needs with an almost supernatural efficiency. Her presence is unobtrusive yet reassuring, a reminder of the world of privilege and protocol that surrounds us.
I watch as Rolo lifts her goblet to her lips, her movements quick and almost frantic. She tips her head back, downing the wine in one long gulp. The muscles in her throat work as she swallows, and I find myself mesmerized by the graceful line of her neck.
As she lowers the empty goblet, I catch a glimpse of her perfectly toned abs, visible through the gap in her training gear. The sight sends a jolt of electricity through my body, stirring memories of our mysterious midnight encounter.
I finish my own glass at a more leisurely pace, savoring the rich, complex flavors of the wine. With a subtle gesture, I motion for the servant to refill our glasses. The crystal decanter tinkles softly against the rim of the goblets as she pours, the sound unnaturally loud in the tension-filled room.
"You don't have to be so nervous, Rolo," I say, my voice gentle and reassuring. I offer her a warm smile, hoping to put her at ease.
Rolo's cheeks flush a deep scarlet. She fidgets with the stem of her newly filled goblet, her eyes fixed on the swirling liquid within.
"I've... I've never drunk alone with a boy before," she admits. Her crimson eyes flick up to meet mine for a brief moment before darting away again as if the eye contact is too intense to maintain.
Slowly, deliberately, I rise from my seat and cross the short distance between us. Her crimson eyes widen as I settle beside her on the couch, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from her body. The scent of her fills my nostrils, a heady mixture of leather and sweat. It's intoxicating.
"Rolo," I say softly, my voice low and intimate in the quiet room, "we don't have to play any games, do we?"
She gulps audibly, her throat bobbing with the motion. Her voice trembling with a mixture of anticipation and fear. "What... what do you mean?"
I turn my head slightly, catching the eye of the servant who has been hovering discreetly in the corner. With a subtle nod, I dismiss her. She bows deeply, then glides silently from the room, closing the heavy door behind her with a soft click.
As the sound of the servant's footsteps fades away, the tension in the room seems to thicken. Rolo's breathing quickens, her chest rising and falling rapidly beneath her training gear.
Gently, I reach out and cup her chin with my hand, turning her face towards mine.
"That was you last night, wasn't it?" I ask.
Rolo's face drains of color, her already pale skin turning almost ghostly white. Her lips part in shock, but no sound comes out. For a moment, she looks like a deer caught in headlights, frozen in place by my words.
Finally, she manages to stammer out a response, her voice shaky and filled with disbelief. "You... you knew about it?"
I lean in close. "I can see right through you, Rolo," I murmur, my breath ghosting across her lips.
Rolo goes completely still, her body rigid with tension. She opens her mouth to speak, but before she can utter a word, I cut her off.
"I loved it," I say, my voice filled with raw honesty and barely contained desire.
I lean in closer, my heart pounding in my chest. "Rolo," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion, "I wish to be in a relationship with you. My heart hasn't stopped beating since I last saw you."
Her crimson eyes widen, confusion etched across her features. "Huh?" she stammers, her face flushing an even deeper shade of red. She seems lost, overwhelmed by my sudden declaration.
Without hesitation, I close the remaining distance between us, capturing her lips with mine. Her eyes grow impossibly wider for a moment, surprise evident in her gaze. But then, slowly, they flutter closed as she melts into the kiss.
The kiss is different from our passionate encounter the night before. Where that had been all fire and urgency, this is softer, more tentative. Rolo's lips are warm and pliant against mine, but there's an uncertainty to her movements that wasn't there before.
Her hands hover awkwardly at her sides as if she's unsure where to put them. When she finally brings them up to rest on my shoulders, her touch is feather-light, almost timid.
I deepen the kiss, gently coaxing her lips apart. She responds eagerly, if a bit clumsily. Her tongue meets mine hesitantly, the movements lacking the fluid grace I remember from our midnight tryst. There's a charming awkwardness to it all, a stark contrast to the confident seductress who had visited me in the dark.
As we part for air, I can't help but smile at the sight before me. Rolo's face is flushed. Her crimson eyes are hazy with a mixture of desire and bewilderment as if she can't quite believe what's happening.
A thought strikes me as I gaze at her flustered expression. The mask she wore that night must have given her a boost of confidence, allowing her to act out her deepest desires without fear of judgment. Without it, she seems more vulnerable, more real.
I find myself utterly charmed by this softer side of Rolo. The slight trembling of her hands, the way she bites her lower lip nervously, the uncertain flicker in her crimson eyes, it's all endearingly human, a far cry from the almost supernatural grace she displayed during our midnight encounter.
"You're adorable," I murmur, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of her raven hair behind her ear. My fingers linger on her cheek, tracing the curve of her jaw.
"Don't... don't say that," she mumbles. There's a vulnerability in her tone that tugs at my heartstrings.
I realize then how she must see me, a prince, a Warbringer, someone she's probably been taught to fear. In this world of reversed gender roles, I probably seem like some sort of mendom figure to her, someone that want's to play with a woman and turn them into my toy.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
I take her hand in mine, marveling at the calluses that speak of years of weapons training. "Would you like to take this night upstairs?" I ask, my voice gentle but filled with hope.
"I... I really shouldn't," she stammers, her voice shaking. Her hand trembles in mine, and I can feel the rapid beating of her pulse where our wrists touch.
I squeeze her hand gently, trying to convey reassurance through the simple gesture. "I'd really like to," I admit, my voice low and earnest. "If you're holding back for my sake, please don't."
Rolo's eyes look as though they're processing many thoughts. Her crimson irises dart back and forth rapidly, like data scrolling across a screen. The intensity in her gaze is almost palpable, a whirlwind of emotions flickering across her face in rapid succession, desire, fear, excitement, uncertainty. Her brow furrows deeply, creating little creases that dance across her forehead.
After a while, she begins to look like an overheated computer. Her cheeks flush an even deeper red. Beads of sweat form on her brow, and I can almost imagine steam rising from her ears. Her breathing becomes shallow and rapid, her chest rising and falling in quick, uneven bursts.
Finally, she speaks, her voice strained and hesitant. "Can we just start out dating first?"
I nod, trying to mask my disappointment with understanding. "Of course," I say softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
I feel a pang of regret, a hollow ache in my chest at the thought of not being able to explore our physical connection further tonight. But it's quickly overshadowed by a warmth that spreads through me at the thought of dating Rolo, of getting to know her better, of building something real and lasting.
Still, I can't help but notice the hunger in her eyes. Her crimson gaze rakes over me, lingering on my lips, my neck, the exposed skin where my shirt collar falls open. There's a primal desire there, barely contained beneath the surface of her hesitation.
"You're sure, though?" I ask, my voice low and sultry. "You can do whatever you want to me."
Rolo groans a deep, guttural sound that seems to come from somewhere primal within her. Her crimson eyes flash with a mixture of desire and frustration as she gently but firmly pushes me away. The warmth of her hand lingers on my chest for a moment before she withdraws it, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake.
She rises from the chaise lounge with fluid grace, her movements a stark reminder of the strength and agility hidden beneath her nervous exterior.
"Gods, I'd love to take you up on that," Rolo says, her voice husky and thick with barely restrained passion. She runs a hand through her hair, the simple gesture somehow both vulnerable and sensual. "But I want to get to know each other before we cross that bridge together."
She takes a deep breath, visibly composing herself. When she turns back to me, there's a softness in her gaze that makes my heart skip a beat. Rolo reaches out, taking my hand in hers. With exquisite gentleness, she brings my hand to her lips, placing a feather-light kiss on the back of it.
"I look forward to getting to know you better," she murmurs against my skin, her breath sending shivers down my spine.
I can't help the smirk that tugs at the corners of my lips, a heady combination of disappointment and excitement coursing through me. "I'm serious," I say, my voice low and teasing. "Anything you want, even freaky shit."
Rolo chokes on my repeated proposition. She coughs, trying to regain her composure, but I can see the way her pupils dilate, the slight quickening of her breath.
She takes a deep breath, steadying herself. "Tomorrow," Rolo says, her voice a mix of excitement and nervousness, "let's go out to dinner."
A smile spreads across my face, warmth blooming in my chest. "I'd love that," I reply, my voice soft with genuine affection.
I rise from the lounge, the velvet upholstery whispering against my clothes as I stand. The room seems to pulse with unspoken tension, the air thick with the promise of what's to come.
"But," I say, taking a step closer to Rolo, "I would at least like a kiss goodbye."
Rolo hesitates for a moment. Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, she leans in. Her lips meet mine in a gentle, tentative kiss. It's soft and sweet.
My hands move of their own accord, coming up to cradle her face. My fingers tangle in her silky raven hair, still slightly damp from her earlier training.
As if sparked by my touch, the kiss deepens. What started as a gentle goodbye transforms into something more passionate, more urgent. Rolo's lips part slightly, and I take the invitation, my tongue exploring the warmth of her mouth.
She responds with equal fervor, her strong hands gripping my hips, pulling me closer. The hard planes of her body press against mine, and I can feel the rapid beating of her heart echoing my own.
When we finally separate, both of us are breathless. Rolo's cheeks are flushed. Her crimson eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and delight.
A smile plays at the corners of her mouth as she looks at me. "You are something else, Prince Elwin."
With a final lingering look, Rolo takes her leave. She moves with the fluid grace of a trained warrior, yet there's a new lightness to her step. As she reaches the door, she turns back, offering me a smile that's both shy and radiant.
*****
[Rolo's POV]
I step outside Elwin's dorm, the cool night air a welcome relief against my flushed skin. The campus is quiet at this hour, the pathways lit by softly glowing lanterns that cast long shadows across the manicured lawns. As I start walking back to my dorm room, I can feel an uncomfortable dampness between my thighs. My cheeks burn with a mixture of embarrassment and lingering desire.
"I can't believe Elwin saw me egging Diana's window with Lydia last night and fell in love with me for it," I mutter to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. "What a strange man."
"I really hope he keeps it a secret."