wolf;

        She didn’t expect him to be gentle.         His demeanor screamed rough to her.

        No. She didn’t expect him to be gentle.

               A brow raised.

                               ”Kiss that means nothing then, Ser.”

           Dark locks brushed against her shoulders            as she turned away from him, back to her basket and flowers.

                         A light groan of annoyance slipped past the man's                          lips   as  he  watched  the  woman  turn  from   him.                           Denial was a concept  that he had  met before; but                          not oft & from a particular woman.                                                             Thus, he did not submit to his hotheaded temper,                                                             for he'd have to treat this woman with uttermost                                                             respect. She was given to him by her father, but                                                             she was no item --- what she ought to be was his equal.                          In a moment of thoughtlessness he reached out,                          taking hold of a pale, snowy white hand, forcing                          the girl to at least give him thought.                                                                                                    ❝ There is no action, no words that could ever mean nothing. ❞                          By the gods, she should know this, that every                          action was & had always been controlled by                          fate,  everything,  even a kiss, could play its                          part in the way of life.

The kiss surprised her, stole the breath from her lungs. When she was able to breathe one more, she pressed her fingers to her lips softly. “What was that for?”

                    His kiss seemed all too rough against the                     woman's,  harsh  but  sweetened  all  the                      same.

                                         And you’ll pay the price

                                             Of ℓσѕιηg what’s

       {➳} —- "I'll not allow it — not so easily… even with the pain it brings.” Pale eyes lifted to his face. Hollow’d were they, more troubled than she could ever recall. “… ‘tis hard to make-war with enemies one cannot  s e e.”

                        ❝ I hide from no one.                               I have no reason to. ❞

                        ❝ I had not expected                              to see you here. ❞

                      ❝ I do not hide from you, Rollo. ❞

       {➳} —- "Of late, I have had a tumultuous heart. What cure is there for such a deep-rooted  a c h e ?”