A loud banging on the door, as if the world was ending, woke him from his slumber, staring confused out in the darkroom. The only light sources were the full moon shining behind the thin curtains and the small trace of a yellow glow shining from under the door. A shadow of someone standing impatiently on the other side of it made the light seem to move as well. Whoever it was tried opening the locked door by twisting the doorknob, before slamming their fist at the wood again.

“Give me strength,” he groaned, leaping out of his bed and rushing towards the door before the person on the other side decided to break it down and wake up the whole kingdom. His hip slammed into the corner of the table while passing it. A mumbling curse fell over the room, as he ignored the pain and grabbed the heavy key in the door.

While turning it in the keyhole, the hammering on the door subsided, as the locking mechanism moved. “This better be …” His annoyed and hissing voice died as he cracked the door open, ready to scold the one that had disturbed him in the middle of the bloody night. “… Important.” His angry voice had turned confused.

The candlelight inside the lantern flickered violently as the hooded person pushed themselves into the door, forcing their body past his. A gust of cold air from outside the workshop followed inside. “Close the door,” their hoarse voice muttered, barely audible.

“Why?” he asked, but closed it either way, as he studied the tense posture. Something was wrong. He could see the outline of the shoulders shaking under the hooded cloak. “What are you doing here?” The question came out harsher than he had meant for it to be.

The other person did not answer, just stood there in the middle of his cramped room, as if not certain what to do with themselves. The lantern swinging from the pale hand, grabbing the handle tight as if their life depended on it.

“You should not be here,” he said quietly, almost apologetic. “Let me walk you ho–”

“No!” A pair of green eyes met his, glittering as emeralds in the flickering light from the lantern. Streams of tears glistened on the cheeks.

He took a step forward. “Cornelia … What happened?” His words were demanding, but soft.

She shook her head, pressing her lips together to stop them from shaking. “Nothing happened.”

“Liar,” he mumbled and gave her an attempt at a crooked smile. “You just happened to be going for a moonlight walk and decided to pay me and your old stomping grounds a friendly visit? Should you not be at home in your own bed, getting a good night’s sleep before …” He bit his own tongue to silence the words that sounded more and more bitter as he went on, as the pain on her face cut into his heart. “I am sorry.”

“No, you are not,” she whispered.

He sighed. “No, I guess not.” His eyes studied the worn floorboards.

She sniffed. “But I am.” Cornelia took a step towards him but hesitated. “I made a mistake.” Her lowered voice sounded wounded.

An eerie feeling took a hold of him, as he studied her face again. “What did he do?”

Cornelia shook her head again. “It is not about what he did or did not do.”

“Then what …”

“He’s not you.” She looked away and bit her lower lip, clearly regretting her words. “Forget it.” Cornelia hurried past him before he could react.

Caleb unfroze and grabbed her arm before she could open the door. “Wait, what?” He looked confused at her, as if not sure if he had heard her words correctly. His brown eyes searched her face for answers. “What do you mean, he’s not me?”

She finally looked up at him again, her eyes watering once more. “Sometimes you can be really slow, Caleb.”

He blinked. “You made it very clear that …”

“I know what I said,” she hissed angrily. “But sometimes words are just words, to protect oneself from the real truth.”

“Which is,” he demanded, still not sure if this meant what he thought it meant. What he was hoping it meant.

A trembling sigh went through her before she answered. “That I need you.”

Caleb stared at her, not knowing if she again was toying with him or not – it wouldn’t be the first time tormenting him with unsaid half-truths. “For what, exactly?” Part of him regretted asking when she showed signs of giving up. Instead of turning her back to him again and walking out the door, she hung the lantern on the hook by the doorframe.

“Everything,” she whispered and leaned towards him. Her cold hands brushed up against his bare chest, making him shiver.

“Cornelia, this is not …”

“Wise? Sane?” Her fingers traced his muscles, downwards.

Caleb grabbed her wrists before she reached his briefs, where his protruding erection betrayed him. “Safe.”

“I do not care.” Her gaze landed on his lips. “We cannot go on like this, pretending.”

Hearing his own thoughts come out of her soft lips made his heart skip a beating. Caleb searched her face as if he still couldn’t wrap his mind around her words; if they were really what she felt.

Cornelia freed her arms from his grasp and took a step backwards, as she lowered the hood and opened the cloak. Her thin nightgown beneath was revealed. The dark shadows of her nipples under the white linen caught his eyes. Instinct made him look downwards, getting a glimpse of the dark outline between her thighs. Goosebumps made his skin tingle, as he tried to look away – she could just as easily have worn nothing. As if she had heard his thoughts, she started undoing the laces in the front of the gown.

“Stop,” Caleb croaked, trying to hold on to the last of his sanity.

“Is that what you really want?” Cornelia’s voice was barely a whisper.

He couldn’t answer. He could never tell her what he really wanted – and she knew that perfectly well. “It does not matter what I want; you are getting married. In the morning.”

“It is not morning yet.”

A shudder of desire went through him, as she uttered the words. “Cornelia, you know that is not how this works. You are promised to another man!”

Her lips trembled, as she raised her hands to touch him again. “Not willingly.”

Caleb grabbed her arms, shaking her so blond strands of hair came loose from the long braid on her back. “He’s the king!” He held his breath as he calmed down. “You are going to be a queen.”

“I do not want to be the queen, and I do not want a kingdom!” Her voice was low but angry.

“It’s a little too late to …”

“I want you.” She stared up at his face, her voice soft as a summer’s breeze.

He blinked. “Do not say things like that.”

“I want you,” Cornelia repeated. “I want you, and only you. I know you want me too.” Her eyes wandered down to the bulge in his briefs.

Caleb shook his head, unable to speak. He swallowed, his Adam's apple moving up and down. He tried to find the right words, to stop her from making any mistakes. “It’s not safe,” he said again, wetting his lips. “If he finds out that you …”

“I do not care,” she hissed, a pinkish blush creeping up her neck.

“But I do!” His sudden growling voice made her jump. “I care,” he continued with hopelessness in his words. “I have always cared.”

Cornelia’s chest moved as if she held in a sob. “I know.” She closed her eyes. “And I am sorry that I did not tell you how much I love you, before all this.”

There it was. The words he had been dreaming about for years – fantasizing about in the darkest hours. But it was too late now, it was … “To hell with it,” he blurted out, mostly to himself, before grabbing a hold of her and pressing her up against the door. His lips found her mouth, his tongue forcible parting her own lips. A soft moan sent vibrations through her body, making him ache even more.

Her breasts heaved as he reluctantly broke the kiss. His eyes landed on her lips, now swollen from the violent kiss. Caleb bent his neck again, planting a careful kiss on her lower lip. A voice in the back of his head tried to reason with him, but all he really could hear was the pulse from his beating heart, wanting more.

“Caleb,” she whispered, pressing herself against his erection.

He groaned, not recognizing his own sounds. It was as if someone else had taken control over his body, this wasn’t him. Or was it? Oh, who the hell cares, he thought feverish, kissing her neck. Who cared if they finally let go, that they fulfilled their desires towards each other. Who bloody cared if they … The king … The king will care. Caleb freed himself from Cornelia, cursing through his teeth – not certain if he was cursing her, the king, or himself.

She pushed herself from the door, crashing into him again. Her arms wrapped around him as if she was scared that he would disappear. Her lips traced the outline of his jaw, down to his collarbone. Her warm breath worked its way down his skin, tickling as it followed the curled hairs forming a stripe down from his belly button.

As if in a trance, Caleb watched her kneel before him as she was undoing his briefs. He grabbed her hair, as he felt her breath dangerously close to his exposed manhood – not exactly knowing what to do. Cornelia looked up at him, watched him snap after air as her fingers closed around him and gently squeezed. Her eyes, her beautiful green eyes, were looking at him, enjoying what she saw as she moved her hand and pulled back his foreskin.

She kissed him on the head, and Caleb was certain he was about to die, as his knees started shaking. A moan escaped him when her mouth covered him and her wet tongue started twirling around his hard member. Instinct had made him pull her head closer, and she willingly and happily complied with the movements. The intense feeling of getting closer and closer to a quick release made Caleb pull her head away. Threads of saliva dangled between the tip of his penis and her parted lips. Her dazed eyes met his, questioning if she had done something wrong. He dragged her on her feet again and lifted her up in his arms.

A little gasp left her as he sat her down on the table close by. The moonlight shining through the window behind her made her hair look like strands of silver. Caleb couldn’t resist it. He loosened her thick braid, letting all of her long, shining hair flow around her shoulders and back. Cornelia smiled, almost shy, as she calmed her fingers through his own dark, shoulder-length hair.

His hand found its way up her gown, his eyes drinking in the sight of her anticipating his touch as she spread her legs. God, she is dripping wet, he thought aroused, while inserting a finger inside her. She moaned and moved her hips, as to beg him for more. He felt her muscles contract, as her eyes glazed over by pleasure from the second finger penetrating her. Caleb leaned forward, finding one nipple and pushing his tongue against it through the thin fabric, making a wet spot over the erected nipple.

Her shaking fingers tried to undo her laces again, pulling at them and huffing annoyed, as his fingers massaged her gently. “Rip it,” she demanded hoarsely, begging him with her eyes. A satisfied gasp left her as he removed his hand from her wet vagina and ripped the gown upwards from the base of the skirt. The only thing holding the fabric together now was the laces. With careful hands, Caleb untied the last knot while watching hypnotised as the rest of her bare skin was exposed. Cornelia laid slowly down on her back. The silvery moonlight landed on her skin, as her blond hair curled around her head. She lifted her legs and used her feet to drag his open briefs all the way down.

Caleb knew by the sight of her that he wouldn’t last long. He needed this to last; he needed it so badly, even though it hurt him to wait – every pulse was like torture. His gaze caressed her breasts, going down and studying the triangular shape of hair. He touched her again, painfully slow, hearing her ragged breath as she shivered. Caleb knelt on the hard floorboard, looking straight at her secret, pink area underneath the dark, curly hairs. He parted the hairs, exposing her even more. Her tender skin was glistening with transparent fluid, a drop slowly working its way down from the lips.

The sound coming from Cornelia as he licked her sent a jolt of hunger through him. He looked up at her while continuing more eagerly, watching shadows dance on her skin as her ribcage expanded and receded for every breath she took. Her hand flew at him, grabbing him by the hair, while the other squeezed her breast. She whimpered, whispering his name. He answered by sticking his fingers inside of her while continuing licking the little, pink ball right above her opening. The wet sound of his fingers sliding in and out mixed with her moans. Caleb could feel his own heavy breathing heat up his face, as he buried his mouth over her soft and now swollen area.

Cornelia gasped, before holding her breath while shaking. Her muscles contracted around his fingers, the pink ball under his tongue pulsating. She pulled his hair, forcing him to stand up again. Her shaking legs locked themselves at his waist. Caleb wanted to take her, hard and without mercy. He knew that she could see the thoughts and desires on his face.

“Don’t make me beg,” she warned, though those words themselves were begging. “I need you, Caleb. All of y–” The word turned silent as she felt him penetrating her slowly. She grimaced, as if in pain, but wouldn’t let him retreat when he tried to.

His confused and worried face looked down at her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and moved her hips towards him. “I will never forgive you if you stop now.”

Slowly he continued, watching as her face soften into pleasure again. It was difficult to keep control; trying to be as careful as possible and making himself last longer. Cornelia was getting restless, writhing under him on the table. He couldn’t wait any longer, he needed to do it faster, wilder. He grabbed her waist and thrust himself hard into her. Her back arched, as she let out a loud moan. Caleb repeated the movement, making sure to take a second between each thrust. Until he couldn’t control himself anymore. He laid his torso on top of hers, making the wood beneath her creak from the weight and the rhythm that quickened. The table was thumping into the wall.

Cornelia was getting louder as he thrust harder into her, faster. Caleb covered her mouth with his, feeling her arms around his neck to keep him close. A muffled scream followed a second wave through her body. Caleb cursed as he could feel himself dangerously close to finishing as well when she clenched every muscle inside of her. He didn’t want to, but his body didn’t listen. He broke free from her legs and pulled out just in time, shaking violently as he ejaculated on top of her belly. His throbbing penis glistened because of her fluids – partly darkened from the smeared blood that had mixed in.

She had closed her eyes, her face satisfied and peaceful. If it hadn’t been for her heavy breathing still, he would have been afraid of her having died. To be honest, he wasn’t quite sure if he was still alive. “Did I hurt you?” he whispered regretfully.

A pair of green, happy eyes met his. “I am perfectly fine,” she whispered back, stroking her fingers up his arm.

The realization of what they had just done hit him hard. He swallowed and closed his eyes. What would happen now, after this betrayal? He had deflowered her; the king would most certainly notice that when he was going to … Jealousy filled him, making him clench his teeth together.

“Caleb?”

Her soft voice made him open his eyes again. “Leave with me,” he said. “Tonight, before sunrise. Let us burn the forge down, make it look like an accident, and travel far away.”

Cornelia studied his stern face. “On one condition.” When he nodded, she smiled. “Never hold back on me, ever again.”

His grave demeanour turned into confusion, before breaking into a smile and a sudden laugh. Caleb bent down again and kissed her deeply. “I solemnly swear; I will always make you scream with pleasure.” He bit her lower lip teasingly. “One more thing.”

She nodded. “Name your price.”

“That you will be mine, and mine alone.”

Cornelia smiled. “I have always been yours, and will continue to be so, blacksmith.”

A couple of hours later they found themselves up in the mountains, watching the smoke rise up towards the dark, blue sky, where the first stripe of turquoise in the east was growing. Caleb studied the flames of his smith grow; hoping the clues they had left behind would fool everyone, thinking they were dead and buried under the rubble. At least it would keep all of them busy long enough for him and Cornelia to escape and start their new life somewhere else, together.

“Any regrets?” Her anxious voice woke him up from staring at the city far, far away.

Caleb turned towards her, smiling as he took in the sight of her in his own clothes. Her short hair sticking out from the old hat. He shook his head.

“Good,” she said, biting her lips. “Because I really need you … Again.”

This time Caleb didn’t hesitate at all.