Room at Flounders (Robyn, S'Lon private)

[S'Lon]

S'Lon looked at Robyn and gestured for her to precede him into the room. Closing the door behind them, he turned and looked at her. Which is when he realised the mistake that he had made. For behind her and dominating the room was of course the bed.

[Robyn Meiers]

As S'lon turned to look at Robyn, he saw that she was standing at the side of the bed, touching the delicate lace tablecloth that festooned the bedside table. Her eyes were amazed at the sight of the pretty room, and she looked around with absolute awe at the delicate and pretty things that surrounded her.

Robyn turned to look at S'lon and her grin was pure delight. She chuckled in amazement as she looked around the room.

I 'ave got to say, I 'ave never seen nowhere as pretty as this place! her voice mirrored the excitement on her face An I 'ave been in a LOT of 'otel rooms in me time.... She chuckled then, and shook her head almost immediately I'm only pullin' yer leg. Me uncle didn't 'ire me out, 'e kept me for 'imself. Well, sometimes 'e did but only to people 'e knew an' owed favours to or who 'e wanted to owe a favour to 'im like, you know?

She looked at S'lon, then, with an expression that showed exactly what she was thinking, which was that he probably did not know, not right now, anyhow.

Robyn looked around again, and then she burst into another grin. She could no longer resist it, she had been trying so hard to hold it back because she knew that he was serious, but she simply couldn't.

Robyn ran at the bed, and jumped onto it. Not in the way that S'lon was perhaps worried about, but rather she jumped and tucked her legs up at her knees, so that when she landed, she was standing up on the bed.

Then she jumped, letting out a squeal of delight as the soft mattress allowed her to use the bed as a trampoline. She jumped up and down four or five times, not heeding either the minute nature of her clothing or the realities of gravity on said clothing. After four or five times, however, she jumped nimbly back down, landing with a natural grace that stemmed from her rather unique upbringing.

Sorry she tried to sound serious, but her green eyes twinkled with the light of mischief you eva had somethin' that you just couldn't resist? She sat down on the bed then, patting the bit of the bed that was next to her should he want to sit down as well.

Look, S'lon, I know we needs to talk,but it's simple enuff, innit? she asked, her voice gentle now, and showing the kindness she felt towards him. She was very fond of S'lon, and she couldn't express how grateful she was to him, so she wanted this to be as easy for him as it could.

At the end of the day, look, it comes down to one question, yeah? she asked, looking at him seriously now wot do you want? Cos you bought me fair an' square an' all. I belong to ya now, an' wotever you want to do wiv me is fine. I'm 'appy to be 'ere an' I'm 'appy to do wotever you want. Just... I don't wanna be on me own. I've never been on me own, see, an' I don't like it, and I like you. I wanna stay wiv you, if you'll let me, cos you're the nicest person I've eva met. I wanna be wiv ya, if you'll 'ave me, cos you make me feel special.... but at the end of the day, you know, it's up to you. You own me..

She said the last with no bitterness, no regret. She seemed, if anything, exactly as she said she was. Happy with that situation

[S'Lon]

Robyns obvious pleasure in the room did much to reassure S'Lon who a few moments before had been sure that he had made a major mistake. Wanting a private space to talk to Robyn in he had not thought through what he was doing. Bringing her straight to a bedroom could have sent all the wrong signals and put him straight into the category of the other men she had known only interested in her body. Not that I’m not interested in her body he admitted to himself, but he didn’t want her to think it was the reason he had been interested in her and he was afraid to bring the subject up or do anything that would make her think it was the reason.

Her smile relaxed him and the joke though it touched a raw point in his nerves made him more comfortable but what she did next made his jaw drop and his eyes bulge. He spluttered in amazement for a moment and finally a small smile grew on his lips for he couldn’t remain serious while she was so obviously enjoying herself.

An inner part of him however stayed very much on guard for she was so important to him that he dared not offend her and so risk losing her. He suspected that she might test him and so he was determined to remain cautious, and so averted his eyes from the bouncing flesh that was revealed by the outfit she was wearing – it was after all designed to be revealing and that was just when walking.

When she finally stopped bouncing and it was safe to look at her again, she patted the bed next to her and he nodded and started to remove the walking armoury that he was carrying and dropped the arm guards, sai and mesh shirt into a neat pile by the wall. Then he walked over and sat next to her but leaving an arms length between them, not just so that he wasn’t too close but also so that he could sit back and see her.

As she spoke he watched the line of her jaw and her lips and in truth some of what she said escaped him, though he hoped that he caught the gist of it.

He leaned forward and took her hand again, marvelling anew at the softness of her skin and the warmth of it against his. ”One question?” He replied when she was finished. ”The only reason I am here now is that I had hoped to have you with me. I hope that you would want to stay with me too, but to be honest I can’t imagine why you would. So, if you want to know what I want then its quite simply that – that you stay with me.”

He looked into her eyes and decided not to put it off any longer. The pain would be less if she left him now than if he allowed himself to get used to her presence with him. ”Its easy for you to say that you want to be with me, because you perhaps feel some obligation to me and perhaps you think it might be difficult to run away from me. So I’ll make it harder for you.” Carefully he shut down his emotions and his face went cold as he prepared to do perhaps the most difficult thing he had ever done before.

Slowly he reached inside his shirt and drew out her papers. He held them for a moment and considered keeping them, but gave in to his better nature and held them out to her. ”There, take them. If you burn the slave papers in the fireplace there, it will leave you with your visa.” He waited for her to take them and continued, ”that’s it – you are free and obliged to nobody other than yourself. I’ll give you some money and you can make a start for yourself.” He sat back and waited for her reaction dreading what it would be.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn looked at him and laughed in pure delight at the look on his face as he watched her bounce, or rather, didn't watch her bounce. Then, as he sat a distance away from her, she frowned slightly, and looked askance at him, as she wondered why he did not seem to wish to sit close to her. Still, she decided, that was small stuff in comparison, so maybe he simply wanted to remain focused whilst they talked.

So she asked her question and then she listened as he answered. As he pulled out her papers her eyes widened and she stood up, suddenly, backing away from him quickly.

Her green eyes looked at him in absolute confusion, her face deepening into a frown and her eyes flitting around from one side of the room to another.

Freedom? But.... but what is he doing? I can't be free.... she thought, her mind reeling from the shock. She clasped her hands to her stomach as she felt as though someone had punched her square in the solar plexus, the wind had left her and she gasped for breath as she fought to regain some semblance of control.

Oh... oh that.... she said, backing away, this time into the bedside table that she had so admired but moments before. The small water bowl that sat on it crashed to the floor, spilling its contents all over the floor and smashing into a thousand pieces as it did so, but Robyn was oblivious.

Why? she asked, and then she started to cry. These were not a few tears, she sobbed as though her heart was broken.

I don't understand she gasped between sobs. I thought you said that you wasn't tellin' him the truth. Why don't you want me... I thought that you LIKED me! she almost yelled at him, the tears pouring down her face as she felt her stomach contract in anguish.

I thought you said I didn't do nuthink wrong! she sobbed, backing away more. I wanna be with you. I want you to... I want you to want me... why wont' you want me? the last bit should have been a scream, she knew that, but she felt all the fight go from her and she fell to the floor, crumpling onto the legs that had moments before bounced onto the bed in such delight. She wanted to ask him something else, she wanted him to explain to her why he was doing this, but she couldn't.

All she could do was sob. And that is what she did, uncontrollably. She buried her head into her hands and she sobbed as though her heart was breaking. She simply did not understand what was going on and she couldn't take it any more.

As S'lon heard it, as he saw her rock herself back and forth, sobbing, he could make out one phrase repeated over and over again, through the sobbing. Her long red hair clung to her face and her bent head meant that her eyes were not visible, but he could just make out the mumbling sound...

I thought you wanted me...I'll be good....I thought you... I thought.... you wanted...me .. I'll... I'll be good...

[S'Lon]

Robyns reaction shocked S'Lon to the core for he had expected her to be pleased. His jaw dropped and as she backed into the table he half rose. His mouth worked soundlessly in denial to her words and he reached towards her with the hand that was not holding her papers.

Her tears ripped into his soul and he couldn’t believe that he had caused her pain again and so soon. As she dropped to the floor, the damning papers fell unnoticed from his nerveless fingers and floated down onto the bed.

She rocked backwards and forwards on the floor, her sobs wracking him as much as her. His eyes misted and he leapt forward kneeling before her, reaching tentatively forward and touching her on the shoulder. ”Robyn, no, Robyn” he said and as he felt the shudders wrack through her, the tears ran down his cheeks too.

He held her shoulders for a moment then moved in closer and gently picked her up and carried her back to the bed. Sitting down and crushing some of the papers scattered thereon he sat Robyn down on his lap and wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

”Hush now, don’t worry” he said and squeezed her again. Freeing his right hand he brushed the hair back off her face and kissed her on her brow. I don’t want you to leave, how many times do I have to repeat myself? He asked her. ”But what I want is for you to stay with me because you want to, and not because you feel obliged to.” He felt so wretched that he had hurt her yet again and his cursed his clumsiness and lack of understanding of people. The stresses of the brightening and the knife in his heart proved too much and he ducked his head against her.

He drew her closely against her, hugging her with both arms and the tears ran down his face as he held her and hoped that her tears would stop.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn felt his arms wrap around her shoulder, and then she felt him carry her to the bed. Then she felt him hold her close to him, seating her on his lap and she curled into him like a child. As he spoke to her, her sobs calmed, and as she felt him stroke her hair and kiss her forehead she widened her eyes in surprise once more.

But... but I fought that you wanted me to leave? I dun wanna leave, S'lon. I dun wanna..... I wanna be wiv you, not anywhere else. I dun care about them papers, I really don't.

She felt him hug her close against him and her eyes widened in surprise at the intensity of his reaction. She lifted her hand up, and put it against his cheek once more.

I wanna be wiv you. I dun care bout nuffin else. Not a thing. But... but you gotta understand I *am* a slave. An' if I'm not yers then I'm someone else's and I dun wanna be that. I wanna be wiv you, and if you free me.... well, I won't know what to do wiv it, but if you free me then I'll *still* wanna be wiv you.

She ran her hand down his cheek, caressing it gently and wiping away his tears.

I wanna be wiv you. Please don't send me away... she whispered, gently. I dunno wot it is that I'm feelin' right now, but I know I ain't never felt it before an' I don't wanna risk losing it, not for nuffink. I know that I'm not any good, and I know that you can do much better, but I wanna be wiv ya. So I don't care about them papers, I really don't. I just wanna be wiv ya..... is that ok?

She looked at him, her teary face earnest and worried. She was honestly terrified that he might leave her, that he might not want to be with her. After all, why would a man like him want to be with her?

[S'Lon]

S'Lon felt her sobs stop and her hand touch his cheek once more. Her body lay curled against him and he was reassured as he listened to her words. Finally he accepted that she was going to stay with him for now, and that was all he could ask. As for the future, no one knew what that held and they would meet its challenges as they occurred.

Much cheered and feeling drained by this final outburst of emotions he looked into he face and studied those green eyes that had fascinated and captivated him since their first meeting. ”Thanks,” he said simply and sighed as he felt a weight lift from his chest and he took a deep breath. Closing his eyes for a moment he felt calmer, opening them again, he looked at her again and raising his hand gently wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips, enjoying the feel of her skin.

”OK, I want you to be with me too, and if that means that you want to stay owned by me then I’ll not force you to change.” He smiled a small smile at her that quirked slightly at one end and hugged her again. He didn’t understand why it was so important to her, but perhaps it was just a shock and she would come round to the idea eventually.

Although he had imagined holding her before, those images had been quickly suppressed and he certainly had not expected to be able to touch her for a long time. Holding her this closely and looking into her face at such close range was something beyond his wildest expectations and now the urgency of the moment had passed he was reluctant to change. As he held her for longer and looked into her face, his smile broadened.

”Stay with me then, and consider that a command from your owner.” He leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead again. ”My second command is that the fact that you are my slave is just between us and its something no one else is to know. I will keep your papers, but you will carry your visa for sometimes you will need it as you move around the city.” He kept to himself his certainty that she couldn’t be a slave since she had a visa but he wasn’t going to argue with her and risk upsetting her again. As far as anyone else was concerned she was free, and if they had a private secret where she insisted on being his slave then he couldn’t argue.

”Now, if that is settled, does that make you feel better?” he asked and wondered what could possibly happen next.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn curled herself into him, laying her head against his chest and feeling the steady patter of his heart beating as she did so. She closed her eyes for a second, until her spoke, then she looked up at him once more, her emerald eyes watching him closely. She had grown very fond of looking into his blue eyes, and as he spoke to her, she watched those eyes, trying to gauge the emotions in them.

As he told her that he wanted her to stay with him, she smiled. The smile that she gave him was gentle and soft, her head moving slightly as she nuzzled herself into his embrace. SHe nodded at him, showing that she understood what he said to her.

Yeah she said quietly, It makes me feel better. It's just... an I know that this is rich, really rich coming from me, but I don't.... I didn't know what to believe. See, there's what you said to Jacob, about me bein' like a corpse, an I thought you didn't want me, an' then you said you did, an' then you said I 'ad to go, gave me my papers an' all.. an' I just didn't know. I know it's daft, S'lon, an' I'm sorry I over - reacted, but I jus'.... I don't know if I can explain it to you, really.

She sat up then, sliding herself on to his lap so that she was face to face with him, putting her hands in his, unwilling to let him go, it seemed.

Her face frowned in concentration as she considered what she was trying to say.

I'm not very good at this, you know she whispered An' I'm not very good wiv words. I've never been clever, never. So I 'ope you'll forgive me if this doesn't quite come out right, ok?

She looked at him, searching his blue eyes for a moment, then she leaned forward and kissed him. She let her right hand move up, to his dark hair. Her left hand stayed in his, though. She let her right arm wrap around him and she pulled herself close against him as she kissed him. She was terrified that he wouldn't respond, that he might push her away, but she knew what she felt.

So she lifted herself up, slightly, pressing herself against him as she kissed him, passionately. She closed her eyes, willing him to react, to respond to her.

Whether he did or not, she kissed him gently and slowly, passion emanating from her. throughout her life she had kissed many men, some women, but she had never kissed anyone like she kissed S'lon then. For the first time in her life, she kissed someone solely because she wanted to. And by the gods, she realised as she did it, she really wanted to! She kissed him deeply, leaving no doubt at all about how she felt. She wanted to be with him, and she wanted him to want her back. So she kissed him with all the emotions that she felt, all the feelings that had been building up inside her since that first meeting.

After a few moments, she pulled away, her head reeling from the impetuousness of what she had just done.

I'm sorry.... she murmered, I shouldn't 'ave done that.. it isn't fair to you. I'm sorry. You don't want me like that, an I shouldn't 'ave... I'm sorry... She looked around, her long red hair once again falling in front of her face, covering it.

Which was probably just as well, she looked as startled as a rabbit caught in the path of a fast moving carriage. She wasn't sure how he'd react, but she knew she'd gone too far....

[S'Lon]

S'Lon nodded as she spoke and wished that he was able to put it onto words as well as she had done. I wish I could be more careful about what I say he thought wondering if perhaps his words were too harsh and wishing again that he had more experience of talking to women on an emotional level.

She shifted round in his lap so that he could see directly into those green eyes that seemed to smoulder at him, though they were perhaps not looking their best being somewhat red rimmed from the tears, but it did not detract at all from the beauty of her face in his opinion. He felt her fingertips slide across his hands, the light touch electrifying the skin beneath. Then they were holding his hands and he gripped them lightly but firmly in return.

A frown creased her forehead and he cocked his head slightly waiting to see what she intended to say. It seemed to be serious, although she seemed to want to stay with him it was clear from her repositioning in his lap followed by the frown that she wanted to say something… He listened as she spoke and a frown creased his forehead, mirroring the one that had been on hers and braced himself not to react until she had finished whatever it was that she wanted to say.

She seemed to look right through his eyes and into his soul but even so he was completely unprepared for her next action and he stiffened in surprise as he felt the soft touch of her lips on his. He felt her hand leave his left hand and then it was running lightly through his hair. He eyes widened, then half closed as the sheer pleasure of the touch shot though him, relaxing out the stiffness the shock had caused. Then her body was pressing against his and he responded automatically squeezing her hand with his right hand while his left arm curled round the taut curve of the small of her back and slid upwards pressing her tighter against him.

Her lips were so soft and moist against his as they gently pressed against his that time seemed to slow and his eyes lost focus as his whole world narrowed down to the touch of her body against his. The kiss seemed to last forever, getting better all the time, though how was beyond his comprehension and as their lips moved together and her soft yet surprisingly firm body was crushed against his he stopped breathing and his pulse hammered in his ears.

Then he felt her pull away and he relaxed his hold allowing her to move. S'Lon was stunned and he drew in a deep breath, while his right hand maintained a gentle but firm hold on her back.

”Don’t want you like that?” he repeated questioningly when he had recovered his breath and felt able to speak again and he shook his head. He looked into her downcast face, her wonderful green eyes hidden behind her hair and sighed. ”Robyn,” he said firmly and took her chin with his right hand and tilted her face back up so that he could see her eyes again and then brushed the strands of red hair away from her face, running his fingers lingeringly down her right cheek, before dropping his hand onto her leg.

He looked tenderly into her eye and was lost for a few moments in their depths. ”Now I won’t deny that you caught me by surprise there and I won’t deny that I didn’t intend it to happen either. But that’s not because I didn’t want it to happen, for I am happier than you can imagine that it did, but what I don’t want is to be the same as the other men that you have known.”

“If I kiss you then I want it to be because we both want to kiss and not because you feel obliged to. I also don’t want you to be sorry for doing something that you wanted to do. I’m glad you are here with me now.” S'Lon hoped it was true for her too, but there was little he could do about it.

Instead, he slid he left hand along the top of her thigh and running it across her hips and onto her back, he pulled her back into him. He looked deep into her eyes, feeling her soft against his chest and slowly leaned into her and gently kissed her on those full and slightly pouting lips. Softly but intensely his kissed her, and let go of her hand with his right hand and ran it up her arm, softly running his fingertips up her neck and then gently entangling them in her long red hair. He released her slightly and looked into her eyes, enjoying their depths and thrilled to the core to have her there and then softly kissed her again.

[Robyn Meiers]

At first, he tensed, and she wondered whether she was completely misjudging the whole situation. She was so very afraid of him pushing her away, or worse still, grabbing her and simply taking his pleasure as he wished. She banished that thought from her head as she felt his lips on hers. She knew him, crazy as that sounded, she felt like she knew him in a very basic, instinctual way. She knew that he would never hurt her, if it was in his power to not do so. Something about him told her that he would no more cause her pain than he would pluck out his own eyes. And as she felt the firmness of his lips against hers, she knew that in the pit of her stomach and the trembling of her arms and hands.

And then he relaxed, and she felt him respond to her kiss. She started to tremble as she was almost overwhelmed with her feelings for him. Excitement, pleasure and a deep feeling of security all whirled around inside her, but it was more than that. In that brief moment, as their lips danced the most ancient of dances, she felt the strangest feeling - like she had come home. She felt his arm around her, pulling her into his embrace and she let out a small moan of delight as he responded to her kiss. Never in her life had she felt so delightfully at home, so completely satisfied as she was at that moment. She pressed her lips against his, tasting the sweetness of his embrace, and she felt totally *right*.

But.... there was something not right. She knew what it was and she knew who had to put it right. What was wrong here was her.

So she pulled back. And she said what she thought. Then he cupped her face in his hand and stroked her hair back, and her resolve almost wavered. She nearly lost all ability to do what was best for him. She looked at him as he stroked her face, and she turned her face, slightly, relishing the touch of him on her cheek. As his hand dropped to her leg, her eyes stared into his, unmoving as she listened to him try to explain. She smiled, her face showing her understanding of his confusion at what was happening, and she almost lost herself in thinking just how beautiful he was. She had never thought of a man as beautiful before, she considered, but his face was put together so well, it seemed to be just.... right. Her smile deepened as she realised that she was allowing herself to be pulled into a world of fantasy.

She gasped slightly as he slid his hand up her leg and onto her back, and she allowed herself to lean into him. As she felt his lips descend on hers once again, she wrapped both her arms around him, returning his kiss with a gentle intensity as she leant into him again. She ran her hands down his arms, and then gently moved them back up, along his back.

As he released her she breathed out for a second and looked into his eyes. She looked happy, he realised, and she returned his kiss, murmuring her pleasure against him. She pressed herself against him, uncaring of the brief nature of her clothes, or how strange the situation was.

After a few more moments of that kiss, after she felt dizzy with wanting him, she pulled back and bit her top lip. She looked at him, then, and started to speak.

S'lon... I don't want this to be... she searched her mind for the right word and finally she found it sordid. I dun want it to be sordid, cos it's not. I don't know for sure, but I think that it isn't sordid for you, and I know that it isn't for me. It's... it's what I want. It's... she looked away for a moment, as though worried that he might mock her.. When you kiss me, it's beautiful. It's.. I dunno, it' s like right you know? An I want us to have a relationship, S'lon. Not some kind of leaping on each other like a pair of crazed voles. I wanna have a real relationship wiv ya. Can we do that? Cos if we can, then I can do this. But if we can't, then I can't stand it.

She looked at him, her green eyes showing her determination. She wanted to be with him, she knew that. She wanted to be his, and as she realised that, she realised something else. So she smiled and spoke again, even though she ached to simply kiss him again and again.

So do me a favour? Keep the papers, cos that way if there's a legal problem or something wiv Jacob, then you've got proof, but I promise you that if the day ever dawns that I don't wanna be wiv ya, I'll tell you, then you give em to me and we'll call it quits, ok?

She watched him then, her eyes dancing over his face, as her hands continued their exploration of his arms and neck. She found that she couldn't stop touching him, he was like an addictive substance, she considered, simply put. Shewanted to be with him, but for the first time in her life she wanted it for herself.

So, for the first time in her life, the manner in which they would be together would be according to their mutual terms. Robyn looked at S'lon and found that she liked that idea. The idea of knowing that he was with her because he chose to be was something that pleased her greatly.

So she waited for his response, her hands moving gently, caressing him as she did so.

[S'Lon]

Robyns response to his kisses was everything that S'Lon could ever have dreamt about. With her arms around him, he felt secure and for the first time for many, many years he was not alone. Of course, he had been with many women before but none that he truly cared about. Many had been good friends and friends of many years, but never before had any been in resonance with his soul.

What made it all the more remarkable to S'Lon was that he hadn’t seen it coming. After meeting Robyn that first time there had been a physical attraction for she was a beautiful young woman, but he had discounted it because of her age. Her position had meant that he had been concerned, and concerned enough to try and do something about it. In the flurry of activity that had surrounded resolving that problem it had not even crossed his mind that he would actually desire any permanent relationship with her.

Her arms clung to him and even as the kiss finally finished his mind spun. He watched as she pulled back and he enjoyed even that for though he could kiss her forever, he also loved to watch her face. Her face twitched and he smiled at the expression on her face, though in truth the smile might not have been obvious as he was probably grinning like an idiot. He nodded as she spoke for she had found exactly the right word that covered what had concerned him from the beginning. He listened as she continued to speak though it was hard to concentrate with her hands continuing to caress him.

He hissed with pleasure as her hands stroked his neck and he was forced to capture her hands with his so that he could concentrate enough to answer her. He gently guided them in front of his chest and held them there, stroking her palms with his thumbs.

”You found the word that I had been searching for I think. I’ve been so afraid of treating you like the other men you’ve known that I’ve been scared to touch you. If its OK with you then what I really would want is to get to know you first and not start out, how did you call it? Like rutting voles, I think you said,” he said with a grin.

”I’ve got some plans for the future and I’d really like you to be with me in that future. But enough of that for now, we can speak of it later perhaps or another time.”

He changed his grip on her hands, raising them to his mouth and kissed the palms that he had been caressing. ”I’ll keep the papers for you, if that makes you happy, but you can have them anytime you want them, not just when you want to leave.” He hoped deep in his heart that this would be a very long time in the future or preferably never.

Sliding his hands under her arms he slipped her hands over his shoulders and pulled her towards him. Holding her with his arms supporting her just below her shoulder blades, he gazed into her eyes. What is it about this woman he wondered? I only have to look at her and every other woman in the world just disappears. He suspected that some of the physical attraction was the colour of her hair and eyes, but he wasn’t sure and at the moment he was happy to sit and stare and wonder. But enough wondering he thought and pulled her in closer and kissed her once more. Her lips were firm against his and his mind disintegrated and all rational thought disappeared into the delicate wash of pleasure. With his hands he held her gently and caressed her back, stroking gently but firmly from the curve of the small of her back and up to her graceful neck.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn watched his face with interest. She wondered if he knew that he simply hadn't stopped smiling? But the she felt her own muscles in her cheeks aching from a similar affliction. So all in all, Robyn decided, she couldn't really comment on his continuous cheery grin. She chuckled as he misquoted her comment about crazed voles and she leant into him, unable to pull herself away from his touch or his eyes.

As he moved her hands to his chest, her eyes twinkled merrily, and she made use of the opportunity to simply stroke her fingers gently along his chest. The feel of his thumbs caressing her hand sent shivers of excitement through her, and she licked her suddenly dry lips as she felt herself respond to him in ways that she had never thought possible.

She nodded as he suggested getting to know each other better, and leaned in to him, kissing his nose gently as she did so.

I think yer right about that, you know. But I also think that unless I drop meself in cold water soon, it ain't gonna 'appen that way. You know, I've been wiv a lot of men, S'lon. Too many, that's for sure, but I 'ave never, ever felt so..... well, like this. I wanna rip yer clothes off and explore every last bit of ya. I wanna feel your hands on me everywhere, I wanna feel you kiss me...

she stopped then, and shook her head, laughing slightly No.. and that ain't gonna help either! she exclaimed, kissing his face gently with six or seven feather-lite caresses. I know this sounds a bit corny like, but I find it kinda 'ard to keep me 'ands off ya, so I 'ope you've got enuff sense to call stop. Cos sense is never something that I've been good at.

Then he kissed her once again, and she felt herself melt into his arms. Her body arched against him, her hands once again began their exploration of his back and neck, and she pressed her lips against his with a feeling of heat emanating from them. It felt like she was on fire, and where he touched her, that was where the flames licked up her. Where his lips touched hers, she felt that she might explode with desire and wanting him. So, she returned his kiss, her fingers teasing his neck, gently caressing the sensitive nape of his neck and twisting in his hair.

Then she kissed down his cheek, along the curve of his cheek bone, and kissed his neck itself. Her tongue danced briefly into the curve of where his collar bone met his shoulder, and then moved on. She kissed his neck and then moved back up, to once again press herself against his lips, to taste his sweet mouth once more.

It seemed that she was right about one thing, as her fingers gently stroked down his back and her lithe body pressed against his, heat emanating from her. She was unlikely to stop this herself. He head was whirling and there was no thought in it except for the very real one of how much she wanted this man.

As she continued to kiss him, she let out a small moan of delight as his hand caressed her back and then her neck. As he reached her neck, her breathing became more ragged and her kiss deepened in its intensity. She murmered his name as he felt her legs wrap around his waist, as she slid herself around him, legs and arms wrapping until she was enveloped completely in his arms, and he in hers.

She broke off briefly, looked at him with pure desire in her eyes I have never wanted any man like this.... what is it about him? she wondered as she looked at him. And then she realised something, he saw her realise it, and she unwrapped herself, albeit reluctantly.

The first time we..... do the 'ole crazed vole thing.. she spoke quietly, her breathing still uneven and her face flushed with the effort of what she had just done it's gonna be perfect. Perfect and beautiful. Not like this. Not in these clothes she motioned down to the slave-girl outfit she was still wearing an' not cos we both just lost control. No. It's gonna be romantic and wonderful and perfect. An' it's gonna be that cos we're gonna wait......

So.. she said, forcibly calming herself down tell me about yer plans for the future? What are you...what are we gonna do, then? she sat once more on the bed, and took his hands in hers, looking all the time at his amazingly blue eyes.

[S'Lon]

Robyn’s suggestion that perhaps they ought to stop and that perhaps he was the one to stop had penetrated into S'Lons mind, but somehow he was unable to resist leaning in and kissing again just the one more time. Just one more kiss, then I’ll stop had been his thought, but he had not allowed for Robyns reaction to that kiss and the closer embrace of their bodies.

Guiding her arms over his shoulders had also been a tactical mistake if stopping had been his intention, for it placed her hands around his upper back and it wasn’t long before they returned to the exploration of his neck. Her fingers gently and delicately brushing against the nape of his neck was like a red hot poker into his mind and he leaned slightly forward as at the same time she melted into his arms, her body hot against his, her skimpy costume and his summer shirt little barrier between them.

That costume of hers was designed to be revealing as he had already found several times to his cost already and now it offered little resistance to his questing hands, quickly revealing her silky skin to his touch. The soft skin beneath his hands distracted him from the kiss for a moment and Robyn took the opportunity to change her focus and her soft yet firm lips were soon kissing his cheek, then moved down to his neck. As he felt her tongue, what little control he retained was blown away like a leaf in a storm and he arched his back against her, pushing his head back against her fingers which tangled in his hair.

He gasped for breath, his hands spasming against her back and he leant back into her kiss, his hands busy exploring all the curves of her back and running lightly up her spine to explore her shoulders and the base of her neck. S'Lon focussed his attention back to kissing her very careful, extracting the maximum possible pleasure from each moment.

At the back of his mind, something was busy trying to get his attention, but for now he ignored it, holding her tight and working his lips against hers. He heard her whisper something that he thought was his name and then her legs were wrapping themselves around him, her hips sliding into his, locking their bodies together in an unbreakable grip. The back of his mind went frantic but he ignored it completely, his right arm dropping to massage and stroke her thigh and then moved on round exploring her and holding her tight. Only the weight of her body and his inability to rise with her locked around his hips stopped him from completing the move his body so desired, which was to lift her and lay her on the bed. He contemplated for a moment simply leaning back but even that was denied him because of her legs wrapped behind him.

She leaned back and he looked into her eyes, peripherally aware of the smile on her face, her beautiful long red hair framing her face and providing a frame for her enchanting green eyes. Enchanting is the word he dreamt I am completely under her spell. Then a small frown creased her forehead and she unwrapped her legs from around him and slid back, his hand sliding round her hips and resting on her thigh as she did so.

He smiled at her words for there was truth in them and finally the back of his mind assumed some control. ”Yes, I would hate to look back on this brightening as the first time we did the uh… crazed vole thing. Neither of us is exactly new at this so yes, we should wait for a time that is more important and memorable than this one. The anticipation will simply make it all the more pleasurable when we do. And I’d like her to be just a little older, with a break between what she has been forced to do and what she wants to do, he amended to himself.

He let her go and sit on the bed while he simply tried to catch his breath and allow the flush to fade from his face. Taking her hands in his he listened he held them for a moment while he returned the gaze for a moment, drowning as ever in the deep limpid pools of her eyes.

He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them for a moment while he considered an answer. Placing her hands back in her lap he stood and stretched for a moment, trying to recover himself before replying. He paced across the room for a moment before sitting back down and taking her hands again and gazing into her eyes with a smile on his face.

”It seems so long ago that I first met you at that house.” He shook in head in disbelief. You may recall that among the things we discussed then was what I did, and you may recall mocking me, and here he winked at her about how no one would pay for the services of a Ranger because all we did was to sit on the fence. Well, you are right and if I stay just training to be a Ranger then it won’t be long before I am a penniless Ranger, especially with the way I have been spending money recently.” He gave her a mock glare and then just in case she thought he was being serious he leaned in and kissed her again, but this time made sure to release her fairly quickly, though ‘quickly’ was somewhat prolonged.

”Don’t worry about my finances just yet, but at some point I need to find a way of raising money. I could just rely on the Hall to provide for my needs but I don’t like to rely on charity where it’s not necessary. Many jobs I could do around town here just wouldn’t fit my needs for training and the occasional brightenings spent out in the wilderness. Also I would like something that will fit with being a Ranger.”

“I’ve been looking around now since late winter considering what to do and I’ve sort of decided to try my hand at being some sort of merchant. I don’t want to stand in a shop all day, but I think I want to own a shop and pay someone to work in it for me. What I want to do is to use my travels especially to locate things that I can bring back and sell in the shop.”

“I’ve gone so far as to work out that a good starting point I think would be a shop in the wine trade, for there is a steady demand for it here and you could import more expensive wines. But then I would want to expand it into other things. But to be honest its hard to think about all the issues on my own and I’ve seen a lot of possibilities around the town, many of which I know nothing about.”

His eyes refocused on hers and he wondered what she was making of what he had been saying. ”So, what do you think of that?” he asked glad that the change in focus had allowed the temperature to fall a little and started to wonder when that maid was going to arrive, it certainly wasn’t the good service he had come to expect from the Finn.