Crushing Desire by April Dawn

stunning, and the strokes of the knife could hardly be seen in the carved surface. The set must have taken its maker weeks to carve the base alone. Joshua drew two wooden boxes from the bottom of the large box and placed the chessboard back inside. He opened the first box of pieces. The black side featured a black haired king and queen, moss covered castles, and a dark knight on a shadowy mare. The impressive detail and beauty of the set stole Reena’s breath. She touched the intricate folds of the bishop’s robes and marveled at the deep age lines in his face.
    The light side of the chess set was extraordinary. The white knight’s horse reared on its hind legs, while the knight held his sword aloft. The small figurine of the handsome king was divine, his visage quite like Joshua’s. The hair on the small figure of the queen was golden, and the eyes shimmered with a combination of blue and grey. Reena could see how the queen would remind him of her. The full breasts and hips were covered demurely with a flowing gown that swept out to form the base for the piece. Even the coloring seemed to match hers. There was a hint of pink in the bared skin that matched hers. The odd combination of socially undesirable features didn’t seem so unappealing when she observed the figure, in fact, she seemed quite beautiful. Reena couldn’t help but wonder if Joshua too found the statuette beautiful and perhaps, by extension, Reena herself.
    “Oh, it’s lovely. It must have taken a long while to finish.”
    Joshua studied her as she examined the set, making her skin tingle under his attentive gaze. The strange heat that she saw in his eyes made her want to move closer. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, nibbling on it.
    “You see why she reminds me of you?” Their fingers touched as he took the figure from her. “Lovely,” he said so quietly that Reena wasn’t sure she’d heard him.

Her eyes met his, and he tenderly placed the queen next to her king. Her fingers were still warm from where his had touched hers. The heat of his body against her arm, even with a hands width between them, had her fanning herself.
    The story of Emily and her husband popped into her head. The kiss that Emily had taken had been the start of their courtship. Squeezing her hands into rigid fists, she stared into his eyes for a moment, her breathing erratic as she gathered her nerve. Her hands shot out and grasped his greatcoat, pulling him toward her. Pursed lips, though aiming for his, missed and bumped instead into his nose. The sudden impact of her body against his knocked Joshua from the tree trunk, and his bottom landed on the ground.
    “What the…?” he asked from his spot on the ground, his eyes wide.
      “I-I-I’m sorry.” Reena jumped up. “I should go.” She hurried toward the house before he could see her tearing eyes.
    Reena ran straight for her room and her bed. Once there, she threw herself on top of the pillowy surface.
    “Oh you fool!” She beat her breast with a fist. “Silly, stupid fool!” Burying her face in her hands, she ignored the sound of Emily’s quiet entry.
    “Was it really that bad?” Emily’s brows came together.
    “Why am I such a fool, Emily? Why can’t I give up on these ridiculous notions?”
    “What happened, dear one?”
    Reena sat up, dragging a soft pillow with her. “I kissed him… Or at least I tried.” She told her of what happened, Emily winced, and Reena buried her face in her pillow.
    “What did he say?”
    “What do you think he said?” Reena asked, her voice muffled by the pillow for a moment before she lifted her countenance to meet Emily’s yet again. “He was furious and dumbfounded that I had dared to do such a thing. I knew it was a mistake,” she admitted, twisting the pillow in her hands. “I just couldn’t stop myself…”
    Emily sat next to her, arm around her shoulder. “It’s all right.”
    “How is it all right?” Reena slammed the pillow on the bed,