And now she understood why he had wanted to change their position. Their faces were almost the same level and he could kiss her while their bodies were so deeply linked. She also found that she could move against him and hold on to him much easier this way.
His arm went around her hips and he lifted and lowered her, until she was moaning loudly, helplessly, not caring anymore about the outside world, not about the moon, not about the stars, only about his body and what he did to her with it.
She heard him sigh her name against her mouth, before he fiercely claimed it once more.
Suddenly she needed air.
She threw back her head and cried out, when an impact of pleasure, so strong she thought it would throw her to the ground, hit her. There was nothing she could do but lean forward against his shoulder, whimpering and gasping desperately.
When it had passed, she lifted her head and somehow her mind felt clearer.
Francesco was still breathing heavily, still moving forcefully.
Without pulling out of her this time, he laid her back onto the ground.
She knew that what had just happened to her would still have to happen to him and it still felt so wonderful the way his manhood went back and forth in long and rhythmic strides. She was swiftly losing the clarity she had gathered shortly after her climax.
He moaned with every move, then he stopped and a shudder went through him, he closed his eyes, made two more strong strokes, shuddered again and with a sigh he emptied himself inside of her.
He put his head down next to hers. "My sweet Lady Of The Lake, I don't care if you don't love me… But I will love you, no matter what you say."
***
Flora awoke when a sunbeam fell into her eyes. She stretched her wonderfully heavy limbs and nuzzled against Francesco under the bedlinen.
At some point later in the night they had finally transferred their love-making to his bedroom for reasons of practicality. A mattress was so much more comfortable than the hard earth.
In between their more passionate episodes they had whispered to one another. He had told her about his time in England and she had told him, well, about her time in England too, because until now, England had been the only place she had ever been.
They had also reviewed their first encounters and Flora had been a little angry to find out that he only had only fallen for her in the opera house, whereas she had been on fire since their very first meeting by the lake. But when she had found that he had kept her scarf under his pillow, she had forgiven him and rewarded him generously.
Alas, after a last act of love making, which took place when the sun was slowly rising outside, they had drifted into sleep.
"Good Morning, orchid eyes." His deep voice created goose-bumps on her skin.
"Good Morning, Altezza." She turned towards him and they kissed for a long time.
"I think they will miss me over at Palazzo Sforza", Flora sniggered. "I hope they won't worry too much."
"We'll send them a letter right away," Francesco replied and smiled. "And then I believe you will have to convert and be a catholic."
She laid one leg over one of his and dropped little kisses on his chest. "Me? A catholic? Why should I need to become a catholic?"
He snorted derisively. "All the Karlsburgs are catholics."
"I'm not a Karlsburg…"
He put his hand under her chin and made her look at him. "No, but you will be."
"I… What?" Flora sat up.
"When we are married, of course."
"Married?"
"Yes, well did you think I was not going to marry you after this?"
She shook her head. "No. It had been decided that I should be your mistress, not your wife! What made you change your mind?"
"Really, Flora, I never meant it. You must know that. It just pleased me to know that you would still give yourself to me, even if there was no prospect of marriage to you."
Her mouth dropped open. "You tested me?"
Francesco rolled his eyes. "Of course not, I merely wished to see if—"
"You tested me!"
"My furious little flower, you look so pretty when your eyes are shining like this…"
"Don't try your Italian tricks on me!" She shrieked, then she said more silently to herself, "I can't believe it…"
"Oh, come on, Flora," the Prince sat up as well, reaching for her, but she pulled back.
"I'm not a villain, girl, I won't compromise a young lady and not do the right thing, and I told you I love you, I want you! And you will be a princess. Everybody gets what they want and—"
"NO!" Quickly as a snake Flora had wriggled herself out of the bed. She found her nightgown and pulled it over her head.