A Tale of Fur and Flesh by Unknown Page B

her
front.  “I apologize for the charade downstairs,” he began.  “You know all
about inter-kingdom politics.  The Ambassador insisted we imprison his
assailant.  As far as he knows, we have.” 
    “I knew it!” Allerleirauh replied, planting kiss
after kiss against King Aelwyn’s soft cheeks.  “I knew you could not imprison
me, even if I have done wrong.  From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I
knew you would be my saviour.” 
    As she gazed into the warm pools of his eyes,  a
tender affinity overtook her.  Aelwyn set her down on the bed.  “You said you
were a Northerner,” the king began.  “I can’t help wondering why, then, you
speak with a Southern accent.”
    Lally swallowed hard, chuckling nervously.  “Southern
accent?  I…”  She chuckled again, tossing her hair behind her shoulders in
hopes of drawing the king’s attention down to her cleavage.  Against the white
of her skin, her brilliant dress sparkled like diamonds.
    For a brief moment, the king appeared distracted.  He
recovered too soon.  “Yes.  Your speech is pointed and refined.”
    How to explain her formal diction?  “I was schooled
by a Southern tutor.”  Excellent excuse!   Allerleirauh slid closer to
King Aelwyn on the bed, placing a tempting hand on his thigh.  How badly she
desired to kiss his plump pink lips!
    “I see,” he replied with a sly grin.  “Well, your
tutor must have told you a great deal about Princess Lally of the South.  Is
that why you went to the extreme of smacking a foreign dignitary in defence of
her honour?”
    “No, no, no.  I know nothing of this Princess Lally,”
Allerleirauh replied without reflection.  Why, then, had she punched the
Ambassador?  “I was offended in a general sense by that horrid man’s
assertion.  Perhaps I ought not assault your guests, King Aelwyn, but he made
my blood boil.”  Lally could not bear to repeat the words, or even reflect upon
them.  The very thought made her ill.
    “I understand,” said the king, placing an arm around
Allerleirauh’s bare shoulders.  The heat emanating from his body drew her
close.  She felt at home in his arms.  Before now, Lally’s only desire in
relation to men was dominance over them.  What she felt for the king was so
very different.  This was love, it had to be.  What else could cause a person’s
stomach to quake, mind to reel, and heart to tremble all at once?
    “When I first heard the rumour about Princess Lally’s
troubles, I felt the same way,” King Aelwyn continued.  “Outraged, angered,
protective of the young woman.  In fact, when I first received intelligence
suggesting King Galyn wanted to wed his own daughter, I didn’t believe it could
be true.  But my most reliable sources in the South were all telling me the
same thing. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief any longer.  That’s when I sent
troops to the South to take control of the Kingdom.  Galyn fled to his
chambers, ordering his councillor, Offal, out of prison to take the reigns. 
Offal conceded on condition the king remained incarcerated within his private
room where he couldn’t harm anyone but himself.  Since Princess Lally’s
whereabouts remain unknown, it’s possible she might return home.  If she does,
she’ll be safe.”
    A gush of warmth flooded Lally’s breast as her sides
trembled with eager affection.  Aelwyn was not aware he had met Princess Lally,
and still he cared enough to save her from her wretched lot.  What a perfect
man!  When Aelwyn gazed down at Allerleirauh nestled against his strong chest,
she saw herself melting into a puddle of desire on the marble floor.  She had
kissed him one time before, but that seemed different.  Lally was always the
kisser, the seductress, the temptress.  She wanted King Aelwyn to kissed her.
    His warm gaze shone over her.  Aelwyn leaned down
until his soft, full lips met hers.  The heat of his body consumed Allerleirauh
like fire.  Their tongues coiled in