Crow smiled, pressing a few more kisses to Penelope’s neck when she said she didn’t have any guard shifts that day. It seemed all too perfect to the viceroy. After being forced to sneak around the other nobles in the castle for so long, he couldn’t wait to take a whole day to be with her without interruption. As long as they stayed away from anyone who might try to take up their attention, he had high hopes that they would be able to get away with spending so much time together. His heart fluttered eagerly in his chest as he expected that this day was going to be quite a bit more enjoyable compared to the last two weeks.

He met Penelope’s lips with rivaling passion when she kissed him again, resting his hands on her hips to pull her close to himself. As he did, he felt her arms slip around his neck, and he shivered, finding her touch especially electrifying after going so long without it. He was quick to press more kisses to her cheek and jaw when she pulled back to tell him that she still had to meet with the Lenz’s at some point that day. “Let them wait,” he murmured breathily, nipping at her ear. “I’m sure they’ll be fine without you for a little while…”

Feeling playful, Crow tugged the knight over to the bed and pushed her down onto it, meeting her lips in another kiss as he did so. Breakfast had already started, so he knew they didn’t have time to get away with anything more than they were doing now—at least, not without skipping a meal—but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have a little fun with her. Who knew when they would get another chance like this, after all? He was going to take advantage of the privacy while it lasted.

Shifting to hover over her, the viceroy worked his way from Penelope’s mouth down to the base of her neck, where he pulled back just enough that his lips brushed against her skin. “So, where do you think we should go to get away from everyone?” he asked softly, a smile playing on the corner of his mouth as he teased her. His right hand trailed sensually down the length of her side while he spoke, only to stop at her waist as he looked up to meet her gaze. “I’m sure we’ll just be bothered if we stay in the castle… It might be easier just to sneak out and meet up someplace where no one will find us. Is there any spot you know of where we could get away?”