The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) (19 page)

“I’m glad you weren’t hurt,” she whispered.

He laughed softly.  “Julianna, the only way he
could hurt anyone would be if someone tripped on the punch he’s carelessly
wasted.  Speaking of which, I seem to remember your requesting some.”

“I think I’d rather skip it now.”

Grinning, he snapped his fingers to materialize a
sparkling glass.  “You were saying, my lady?” he asked, handing it to her.

“Would a thank you be enough?” she asked softly.

He didn’t reply, but kissed her hand, apparently
satisfied.

*****

The triumphant duelist took great pride in
leading his lady to the floor among the other couples again, earning several
smiles of admiration, rather than mere stares.  Even so, when the music changed
to a slower dance, he escaped with his companion to a secluded corner hidden by
a velvet curtain, just beside a window where they could see the stars as they
danced.

“Poor Daffordshire,” laughed Julianna.  “I doubt
the other ladies will easily forget his unexpected singeing by the fireplace,
nor his unflattering attitude as he stormed out with his friends.”

Dominick shook his head nonchalantly.  “
Poor
Daffy created his own trouble when he sought to claim you again.  And if any of
his other friends decide to pull the same thing, I’ll deal with them
similarly.”

“You seem to be a fairly capable fencer.”

“I was an attentive learner with a good teacher,”
he replied.  “It is a talent which comes in handy sometimes where I’m from.”

Julianna caught onto the obvious.  “And where is
that?”

Sighing once with a smile, he shook his head. 
“I’ll tell you later, at a more appropriate time.”

Nodding once in resignation, her eyes brightened
moments later.  “Could you teach me how to fence like that?”

Dominick’s eyes twinkled with amused admiration. 
“Eager to rout Sir Daffy on your own, are you?”  She shrugged, but smiled at
the inspired notion.  “All right, I’ll teach you,” he agreed.  “But even so,
allow me to deal with your unwanted suitors.  It takes a while to master a
sword.”

Gazing up at him with a smile, she shook her head
curiously.  “Is there anything you can’t do?”

He thought for a moment and then smiled.  “I
can’t seem to get you out of my mind,” he replied softly.  Not expecting his
reply, she blushed becomingly, while his arm at her waist hugged her closer. 
“You look absolutely beautiful tonight.”  Before she could blush again,
Julianna leaned her head against his shoulder, hugging him too.

All the while, she was conscious of how
comfortable she felt in Dominick’s arms, even when his hand loosely began to
stroke her back.  With closed eyes she smiled, as he pressed several kisses
against her cheek, just before brushing her long hair back to kiss her neck.

“Dominick...” she whispered.  “You shouldn’t.”

“You labeled me part rogue, remember?” he
murmured, moving his hand towards her rapidly beating heart.

“Yes, but...”  She broke off as he lightly
caressed her sensitive breast, unable to prevent her body’s warm response to
his gentle touch.  Fortunately, they were in complete solitude from the rest,
but even so...

Chuckling softly at her sudden silence, he moved
his hand to her waist instead, adding just as quietly, “You’re right, my lady. 
This isn’t exactly an appropriate place for the type of slow dancing I’d like
to teach you.”

“There’s another kind?” she breathed.

Smiling lazily, Dominick’s eyes darkened with
passion.  “Yes,” he replied, kissing her cheek again, while he slowly pulled
her tighter against him.  “It’s similar to this, but a bit closer... and
without the hindrance of our current attire.”  Feeling the evidence of his
desire, while blushing at the implication, Julianna was unable to turn away as
he cupped her face with his free hand.  “Surely you’re not surprised that I
want you.  I have ever since I first set eyes on you.”

Clasping his hand, she nodded.  “I’m flattered,”
she replied softly.  “And in truth, I can’t deny I’ve been attracted to you
from the start as well.”  She gave the hint of a smirk.  “But I suppose that’s
not news to you either.”

He shook his head with a smile.  “Especially not
after our time in the garden, finding we shared similar feelings.  If morning
hadn’t intervened when it did, there’s no doubt in my mind what would have
followed.”

Julianna blushed again, but only for a moment. 
“And if it had?” she began softly.  “Would I have ever seen you again?”

“You really need to ask me that?” he nearly
laughed.  At the serious look she gave him, Dominick’s own expression sobered
with a long pause.  “Well, it’s true I didn’t know you as well then as I do
now, but…”

“I think I understand,” she whispered
regretfully.

“Really?” he murmured.  “I don’t believe you do. 
I was about to say, I had every intention to see you again, regardless. 
Julianna, do you know how many days I thought of you during the time I spent
away from you initially?”  She could only shake her head.  “I’d estimate it
comes to about two months.”

“Oh, don’t be silly.  No one remembers a dream
companion that long.”

His expression became thoughtful.  “You did,” he
reminded her softly.  “Or do you often chase after strangers by the name of
Dominick?”

Sensing amusement rather than ridicule in his
words, Julianna smiled.  “I suppose you have a point.”

“It’s much more than that now,” he continued. 
“In the past, I’ve never involved myself with any married woman, since even as
a rogue, I have my limits.  But with you, even when I was angry over your
supposed husband, I found I still wanted to continue seeing you.  You have no
idea how grateful I was to find you’re not married after all.”  His arms swept
her against him gently.  “Julianna, at first, I returned in order to clear you
from my thoughts, but instead my own logic trapped me with the reverse.  My
feelings for you have only grown stronger.”

“That much, I
do
understand,” she
replied, stroking his cheek before she thought.  Dominick raised one surprised
eyebrow.  “Surely
you
don’t think I freely kiss just
any
dream men I come across?”  Her eyes twinkled mischievously.  “And you being a
chivalrous
knight.”

“You labeled me a rogue first,” laughed Dominick,
“and rogues have more fun.”  Leaning closer to prove this, his mouth claimed
hers with a fiery kiss that could have set the curtains ablaze.  Julianna
nearly melted in his arms, murmuring softly as he pulled back to meet her
gaze.  “Do you mind this knight of yours being a rogue on occasion?”

She smiled up at him tenderly, saying in a whisper,
“I’ve become very fond of that rogue.  Especially since he insists on
protecting me from every disaster one can dream up.”

“My lady, I’d always protect you, at any cost.”

“Then does this mean you won’t leave me forever
as you said earlier, my dream knight?”

Dominick gave a low chuckle at her words.  “Dream
knight?”

She shrugged with a slight pout.  “Well, you once
said that a knight in shining armor was a bit too unusual these days, and I
suppose that’s true, since you might feel stifled by clanky armor.”

“Mmmm, true enough,” he murmured against her
cheek.  “You might not like it either though, since it’s probably rather
uncomfortable for fragile soft-skinned damsels to be hugged by iron-clad
knights.”

Julianna sneered once at his appraisal of
damsels, before she caught the teasing glint in his eyes.  “Since you often act
like a knight in my dreams, that title seems appropriate.”

“Fair enough, my sweet lady.  And as to your
earlier question, I have no intention of leaving you.  Not forever, and not
this night.”

The desire in his eyes kindled similarly in
Julianna’s heart, prompting her to encircle her arms about his neck.  “I’m
glad, Dominick,” she whispered.  “After all, you haven’t yet shown me that
other version of slow dancing.”

He smiled slowly.  “I know of a quieter place
where I could, if you’d care to leave this most fascinating gathering a bit
early.”

“I’ll make the sacrifice,” she agreed before she
thought.

What was this between them that affected her
beyond reason? she wondered afterwards.  Would she be the same way if she
didn’t know this to be dream?  Dominick didn’t give her long to ponder,
sweeping her up in his arms as if she weighed no more than a child.

“Just close your eyes then, sweetheart,” he told
her softly.  “I’ll take us there immediately.  As long as you’re sure it’s what
you want.”

Shutting her eyes with a smile of consent, she
leaned against him.  “Teleport away.”

*****

“Honey, we’re home,” Dominick said cheerfully,
hugging his arm about Julianna’s waist.  As she opened her eyes, they widened
considerably upon seeing the stately white castle before her, easily several
stories high, and gleaming in the moonlight.  “A bit speechless now, love?”

Speechless indeed!
she thought, glancing about in wonder with an
absent nod, barely noticing when he set her on her feet again.  She was even
more surprised at the title he’d called her, although nonetheless pleased.

“I thought you might be interested to see the
exterior before I brought you inside,” he explained, gesturing towards the
archway of the open door.

Taking his hand, Julianna was newly amazed at the
modern way the castle was organized inside.  Her eyes lit up at the winding
stone staircase reaching towards the upstairs rooms, the steps covered by white
velvet carpet.

“Where does that lead?”

“A few miscellaneous rooms, and… Julianna, wait!”

Laughing, she’d already broken free to race
towards the staircase, doing fairly well considering the heavy train of the
dress she carried as she ran up the steps.  Just as highspiritedly, Dominick
chased after his swift companion, taking the steps two at a time to catch her
easily.

She squealed as she felt his arms encompass her
at the very top, lifting her from the floor to carry her easily.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“No doubt keeping you from finding trouble as
usual,” he chuckled, walking down a hallway to nod towards one of the many
doors.  “Since you’ve interrupted my plans for a tour of this place, I suppose
we’ll have to postpone them, and start with the last room I meant to show you.”

The door swung open of its own accord.  Julianna
glanced within and gasped.  The room was filled with beautiful furniture and
items.

Setting her on her feet, he gestured about the
room.  “A few comfortable chairs for us by the window, so we might gaze out over
the beach and ocean while we talk.  And over there, a doorway to a hidden
library, where you can find all the romance and science fiction novels your
heart desires.”

Julianna remained speechless as he went on to
mention a chest of jewels in the corner, a wardrobe filled with beautiful
gowns—as well as casual attire for when she wished it—and minor descriptions of
the other rooms in the castle that he’d show her later.  Even if this dream
could only be for the moment, it was wonderful to feel so cared for by someone
she felt similarly about, and she intended to etch it in her memory forever.

Not that her memories towards dreams hadn’t
improved lately anyway!

“And of course, a comfortable place to rest,” he
added, kissing her quickly as he nodded towards the nearby four poster bed.

As she ran her hand along the velvety blanket,
Julianna smiled with pleasure, glancing up at the elaborate canopy overhead.  A
thin veil surrounded the bed on all sides, making it seem as if the beautifully
carved wooden structure was separated from the world.

In a way, thanks to the dream-state, this was
true for them too.

Finally, she turned to her silent companion.

“But why did you do all this?” she asked softly. 
“Surely it won’t always be here when I dream every night.”

“Ah, but it shall, my dear lady,” Dominick said
reassuringly.  “Though you might be elsewhere in the dream-state, you can
usually return here at your request.  Merely concentrate, and you should be
teleported hence.  As to why I created this for you, consider it a gift for
becoming a most special part of my life.  I hope it meets with your approval.”

“Oh, yes,” she replied enthusiastically, reaching
forward to hug him.  “It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and I’ll
return here often.”

“I had hoped you would.” he replied knowingly.

Kissing the top of her head as he embraced her,
Dominick felt immensely pleased by her reaction, especially since he’d never
conjured up something like this for anyone else.  Sometimes he’d changed the
backgrounds, but he’d never felt the desire to set the illusions in their
minds, although his special powers could help make this possible.  Hopefully
the brief forgetfulness of his powers wouldn’t keep occurring—no doubt brought
on by the pleasant distraction of his enjoyable companion—so he could more
easily keep them from the nightmare scenes they’d experienced.