Warning: This chapter contains scenes of a sexual nature. Reader discretion is advised.

The following evening, I knocked on Richard's door at seven o'clock as usual. I had not seen him all day as he had been spending it with his family, so when I entered, I wished him "Happy Birthday," sincerely this time. He thanked me just as sincerely and gestured for me to sit with him. As I did so, I placed the tied green handkerchief on the table.

"What is this?" Richard asked, a grin spreading across his features and his eyes sparkling.

"A gift," I smiled back, although my stomach was starting to tie itself in knots over whether this had been a good idea.

"Thank you," he said, untying the handkerchief and finding the small wooden deer inside. He turned it over in his hands. "I have never seen such a pretty ornament. Where did you get it?"

"I made it," I told him.

He looked genuinely surprised.

"You made this?" he asked. "It's beautiful Sebastian. I love it. You are more talented than I realised." He paused. "I think this should go where I will see it every day."

I felt a blush washing over me, as he positioned the deer on the mantlepiece above his hearth next to an ornately carved clock, but he continued talking anyway.

"Talking of your talents, there is something I would like to request of you tonight," he said, turning and walking back towards me with a lopsided smile and a raised brow. "Something I have wanted for a long time."

I was not entirely sure what his intentions were, but given his past behaviour and his facial expression, I took an educated guess.

"I have already made it quite clear where the boundaries are, Richard," I replied, standing up defensively as he came closer.

Richard laughed.

"I was not thinking about that, but I am exceptionally pleased to find out that you were." His eyes drifted slowly down towards my feet and back up again, which gave me goosebumps that I tried to ignore. He took a minute to compose himself. "I was actually hoping to hear you play your flute, since I have not had the pleasure yet."

"My flute?" I repeated, wanting to make sure I had heard him properly. I had not been expecting such a request. He just nodded. "Shall I fetch it now?" I asked.

"Assuming you would be comfortable playing it for me," he said.

And so, some five minutes later, I found myself playing for him. Tunes that I had learned before arriving at the castle, mixed with tunes that I had learned since I had taken residence here.

Richard enthused over my playing, and I was happy that he seemed to enjoy it. Eventually I took the flute back to my room and returned to Richard's.

"I am pleased I had the opportunity to hear you play," he said. "Thank you for obliging me."

"I like playing," I replied. "I don't have much call for an audience."

"Then we should do this more often," he suggested. "In the meantime, I have something for you."

Richard brought out two large slices of lemon cake, with a silver fork on the side of each plate. I recognised the yellow icing from the buffet of the previous day.

"I managed to pilfer these from the kitchen," he winked. "I suspect you did not get an opportunity to try the cake yesterday, and I wanted to share some with you."

"I have not had lemon cake in a very long time," I said. "Thank you, Richard."

I broke the icing with the fork, which slid through the rest. The cake was moist and just the right combination of sweet and sour and melted on my tongue.

"That is good cake," I said through another mouthful.

"It really is," agreed Richard through a similar mouthful. "I nearly forgot the wine," I added, standing to fetch a bottle and two glasses. "Sebastian, can I offer you some to drink with your cake? It will compliment it better than water."

I finished my mouthful before answering.

"No, thank you," I politely declined.

"Sebastian, it is a special occasion!" exclaimed Richard. "And I would conjecture that your reasons for refusing my wine are no longer valid."

"How so?" I asked.

"It is my suspicion, that you tend to avoid alcohol in case you reveal something of yourself," he said, pondering as he spoke. "Initially, I think, because of your predilections. And after your confession of those, perhaps you had concerns about revealing your feelings for me, which you have now admitted. So, I put it to you that there is nothing more to disclose." Richard paused and searched my face. "And what now? It is conceivable perhaps you think you may embarrass yourself somehow. And I would ask you, can you make any more a fool of yourself than I have made of me? What more is there of Sebastian that I have not yet seen? It cannot be worse than what you have seen of the man before you." Richard gestured to himself as he spoke the last of his words.

Everything he said was true. I could not deny any of it. He saw it written on my face.

"One glass?" he continued when I did not respond. "Your decision of course."

I had denied him much of what he had privately asked of me on other occasions. This was something that he appeared to want – a compromise that I could give him on his birthday.

"One glass," I agreed. As he poured the rich red wine into a glass for me, I added, "But none of your wooing."

"I cannot guarantee that," he said brightly. "And so, the risk falls to you."

With that, he raised his glass toward me, before proposing a toast to friendship. I wished him a happy birthday once more, and we agreed on the prospect of playing poker after we had finished our wine and cake.

Four large glasses of wine and many rounds of poker later, I was unsure how Richard had persuaded me past the one glass I had originally agreed upon. I was convinced Richard had consumed more than I had, but I had not tallied how much more. My body was not used to alcohol and I had become tipsy, slightly giggly and I certainly did not have the 'poker face' I had hoped for when we agreed to play. Thankfully, I was not disadvantaged by this, as Richard's countenance also left much to be desired.

"My deal," I said, shuffling the cards and dealing them out. We were both still laughing a little from something, but I could not remember what. I picked up my two starting cards to find I had a pair of queens, so I excitedly raised the stakes before we even saw the next cards.

"What?" asked Richard cheerfully when he saw my bet. "You must be bluffing."

I tried not to flinch and look impassive, which was quite difficult given that I felt like giggling for no reason again.

"Your bet," I managed, pointing at the wooden chips we were using for betting.

"What are you hiding there?" he asked, reaching for my cards, but I saw his hand coming and moved mine upwards out of his way, spluttering out a chuckle at his playful antics.

Unfortunately, his hand shot out further than he intended, and he knocked over my wine glass in the process. As the deep red liquid spilled from the glass and onto my shirt, I instinctively staggered back and stood up, dripping.

Richard was still laughing, and I also found it amusing, despite now being wet and my shirt stained.

"I am so sorry," the prince slurred slightly as he grabbed a rag from a nearby stash. He brought it over and started using it to mop up the excess spillage from the table. He grabbed another rag and patted my shirt with it. "What an absolute fool I am! I hope this stain can be removed."

I was slightly wobbly, so he held me steady by placing his other hand just above my hip. The intimate contact stopped me chuckling with a sharp intake of breath and a burst of electricity that shivered through me.

Richard must have noticed my change in demeanour because he too stopped laughing, and the patting of my shirt slowed down considerably, the mood shifting. He looked up into my eyes, and then stood up so that we drew level with each other. The arm that held onto my hip slid slowly round to my back, and the other hand, with the rag now dropped, started undoing the topmost buttons of my shirt. My pulse raced through my ears and electricity buzzed through my core as I felt the tips of his fingers brush against the top of my chest.

"We should probably get you out of these wet clothes," Richard purred, his mouth moving closer to mine and his hand reaching for the third button of my shirt. I wanted so badly for him to continue, but one of us needed to be sensible, and I appeared to be the most sober. I mustered together all my willpower and grabbed his wrist gently and moved it away from my buttons. His mouth was dangerously close to mine, so I turned my head slightly to the left, away from his. Our breathing was heavy and synchronised. Richard's nose landed against my cheek and I felt his forehead fall lightly against my temple.

"I think now is the right time for bed," I whispered reluctantly. How easy it would be to cave to this man, but I had to consider where it could lead.

Richard's second arm wrapped round me such that I was now caught in a full embrace. I felt his forehead lift as he kissed my cheek. My eyes fluttered closed as more electricity flooded my system and I gulped back my desires.

"Bed? I think that is a most excellent plan," he hummed, pressing himself against me.

I wanted so much to give him what he wanted. What we both wanted. But I had to resist.

"I meant alone, Richard," I replied quietly but firmly, standing my ground, not moving an inch, save for opening my eyes again.

He loosened his grip but did not completely let go. I could still feel his breath on my cheek.

"Of course," he conceded. The hurt in his voice was evident and it filled me with guilt. "Before you go, there is nothing I would treasure more for my birthday, than a kiss goodnight from you. But I will understand if you decline."

My heart was hammering in my chest. Torn between upholding the law and my desire to give into the temptation before me, I turned my head slightly to the right, so that I was facing Richard again. His mouth was less than an inch from mine, and I hesitated there, wondering whether I was about to make the right decision. His proximity was excruciatingly intoxicating, and even more so in my current state.

I pressed my lips against his and held them there, savouring the way it set my body aflame, before pulling back and ending the kiss.

"Good night, Richard," I murmured, retreating from his arms and slipping through the door, closing it quietly behind me.

Back in my room, I found it impossible to shake what that kiss had done to me. Even after undressing and splashing my face with cold water, I could still feel the impact of it. I knew I would not be able to sleep until the physical effects had diminished, and even then, the emotional side may keep me awake. Still, I needed to deal with one problem at a time.

I grabbed a rag from near the sink and lay naked on my bed, exasperated at the state I was in. I stared down my body at the source of my frustration, but it felt like it just looked back at me in anticipation.

Giving in to its silent demands, I took it assertively in my hand. It felt good to know relief was on its way.

My head sunk back into the pillow and I let my hand take control – it knew instinctively what I needed. I let my mind wander to thoughts of 'what if.' What if I had let Richard undo that third button, and then the fourth? What if I had not turned away when he moved to kiss me? My eyes scrunched up as my imagination took me to places where Richard's hands and lips were all over me. I fantasised that I could feel his hand on me rather than my own, and the tension built. I wondered whether Richard, only a few doors away, was thinking of me in the same way as I was thinking of him. All these visions blurred together in my mind as sweet relief coursed through every part of me.

As I came down from my high, I pondered whether my feelings for the prince were getting out of control, and for how much longer I'd be able to resist his advances.