I lay perfectly still, not wanting to disturb the decor. I keep my breath shallow so as to move my chest and stomach as little as possible. My hair is fanned out above my head with tiny pink flowers placed here and there to add color to my dark auburn locks. I can feel the velvet under my bare skin and I fight the urge to wiggle against it. I can see the chandelier centered above me, the candles have burned down about a quarter of the way. He should be here soon. My temperature rises and I can feel it heat up the honey that covers my body. It starts to drip down my sides and between my legs. I think to myself, he best hurry or all the fruit will have slid right off me, leaving me completely exposed. It feels like hours though I know its only minutes. I start to drift to sleep when I hear the door slowly open, followed by two pairs of heavy booted feet.
"My Lord, What is this?" I hear a smooth deep voice.
"A gift for you." I hear my fathers voice. "For saving, not only my lands, but my only son."
"Really this is not necessary. I was..."
"Hush now, Sir William, you've done a great service to me and my people. It is only fitting that I reward you properly."
"My Lord, I don't understand."
"You have saved the next Lord of High Plains, there is no greater service you could have rendered to me and for that you deserve the greatest of honors. The fruits of my lands and the fruits of my loins." There was a long pause. I can only imagine what this Sir William was thinking. "Sir William this is my daughter, Adara. She is yours."
I dared to tilt my head ever so slightly to better see the scene that played out in the room. My fathers back was to me, both his hands clasped behind him. Sir William stood a dozen or more paces away from my father, near the door. I could hardly make him out in the low candle light. He was taller then my father by at least a foot, dark hair and broad shoulders.
He found his voice, "My Lord, I can not except this. It is to much."
"No amount of gold in the world could thank you for the service you have done me. You saved my son from death and for that I give to you that which is more valuable then gold." Father starts walking towards the door. Sir William turns to follow.
"My Lord, please, this is to much."
"No, it is not enough. If I had two daughters I would give them both to you, but alas I only have the one. Do not worry she will be enough I think. Go now, enjoy." Father leaves closing the door behind him, leaving Sir William alone with me.
I tilt my head back to looking straight at the celling, my eyes opened just enough to see between my lashes. I hear his footsteps as he gets closer. I can feel his eyes on me and can just barely see his face. He's looking at me, starting at my hair then traveling to my face then my neck. His gaze quickly moves past my breast and torso and slows again on my legs and feet.
I can only imagine what he see. A young girl in her early twenties naked as the day she was born, covered head to toe in honey and fruit. Every fruit you could imagine intermingled with flowers of all colors. I'm sure it was an odd, but pleasing site to behold.
I saw his head bow. "What do I do know?" he whispered.
"Eat." I did not even recognize my own voice as I spoke. "Eat and enjoy your reward."
His head snapped up, his eyes meeting mine. They were green, like the morning fields in spring. I smiled a little to see them widen in surprise.
"What?" He said the word slow and deep.
"I am your reward. You are meant to enjoy it...enjoy me."
"I can't..." he began and his voice trailed off.
"Why not? It is not wrong for you to be rewarded for your deeds." I tilt my head up to look at him better. He is well built. Tall with a muscular physic. Dark wavy, black hair cut short. His face so serious and thoughtful. A man of honor and courage.
"It is wrong for you to pay to the price of that reward."
"Not if I choose it." I laid my head back down. "You saved my brother, for that I give myself to you. Please enjoy your reward." I closed my eyes.
I sensed him stepping closer though he made no sound. "Why would you choose such a thing?"