A Clash of Gold and Bronze

[panther]

She winced as he furthered the tale, shards! How could any girl do that? That was an evil thing to do to anyone, to cheat on them. Let alone with their father. She shook her head, now she felt kind of sorry for him. “Shards, that was a rough deal, I’m sorry Alder.” She again looked away. She shuffled down a little in the cot, warming herself thoroughly. She pulled the covers roughly from under his backside, and threw them over his lap, a small effort to make him more comfortable.

She looked at him, all of her anger had faded by this stage, it was like they were continuing off where the conversation had diverged earlier – before he made his offer.

She laughed, smiling broadly, “Slip ups?” She questioned, “Touching and kissing?” She weighed it up, more to give suspense than anything, but she smiled broadly again – “that’s fine alder, jut so long as I can trust you not to look too far into it. I don’t want…” She paused, “To mislead you.” She shrugged, “sorry, I’ve just been accused of that before, leading people on, but I don’t think that I do, I just like messing around, and I think being a curious girl doesn’t help. I automatically presume I’m a friend, nothing more or less, that they think similarly and suddenly, I’m all stuck in a situation I don’t want to be in.” She smiled, though it faded fast at he memories that were disturbed as she went through that. “Though, with you, what made it worse is that you were nice.” She looked at him, one brow raised, one pushed down a little, playful smirk lining her lips, and a peculiar look in her eyes.

“That and the alcohol.” She explained. Shards but that was the juice of the devil. It made mistakes far, far too easy. Adjusting the pillows behind her, she looked up at him, amber eyes warm, friendly. But nothing else was really present, she was relaxed, and tiredness showed its ugly face, making her yawn. She covered her mouth to save from looking unladylike. “And…” She said, “Just nothing too forward with the kissing and touching and names and such eh? That’d look a bit … odd to say the least.” She pursed her lips. Frowning slightly. Not only would it look odd, but it would be difficult to explain too. “I don’t like gossip.” She explained.

[Xennai]

Alder shrugged when she said she was sorry, not really too keen on thinking about what had happened to him Turns ago. Not when it still upset him. “It’s not your fault,” he murmured softly. “My family was very…different, to say the least. They didn’t hold many of the values most people do, even the holderfolk. Mother was…distant and my father was like a brother to me.” Which may have made what happened all the worse. “We shared lots of things, even women, but this was the first time. And it wasn’t at different times, as the others were afterwards. It’d been while she and I had been together…” Eyes turned inward, speculative, thinking of the past, thinking of a girl with mahogany hair and sapphire eyes…

He jerked when she ripped furs out from under him and tossed them in his lap. The bronze handler blinked and then nodded, settling the furs about his lap. He looked over at the woman all snuggled up in bed, shaking off dour memories and laughing. “Well, I guess calling you goddess divine is out then, as is just bending you over and pulling one of those over the top kisses.” He winked. “Seeing as we don’t want gossips and all.” He knew she meant what she said about gossips and he felt much the same, but he couldn’t resist making a joke out of it, not with what their previous topic had been.

Alder shifted, turning so his back was against the headboard and he was sitting against it, legs laid down by her like half of another body. He settled amongst the pillows, adjusting his furs. “Well, darling, you’ve done everything you could to not mislead me, so never fear there. I know very well what ground you stand on.” A yawn creaked at his jaws and he snuffled quietly. “As for alcohol, it’s taste is delicious and it’s definitely not nutritious. All I need to know.” Head tilted as he smiled down at her, reaching out to gently brush her fringe aside from her eyes. “Best to only partake on occasion, mmm?”

[panther]

He certainly had a peculiar arrangement with his father. A father, who was like a brother to him? That she really hadn’t heard of much too often. Much less the idea of sharing women with him. Danae frowned, she was curious to ask, whether he’d share her – but the question had sprung to mind to vapidly, that she daren’t mention it for fear it’d ruin the best laid plans of mice and men.

She pondered over his thoughts, purposefully, “Well, the over dramatized kiss, certainly out, but goddess divine? I can deal with that. Just don’t expect it in return eh handsome?” She smirked, playing him at his own game a little. She glanced as he adjusted himself, shuffling higher, she rested her head on his chest, arm slung across his midriff.

“I’m glad we understand each other then.” She grinned up at him. His fingers brushing her fringe form her eyes. Feeling rather very comfortable as she was – except for the clothes. If she were in her regular nightwear it would be a lot more palatable – but, she didn’t fancy the idea of being in less clothing around the male, especially when she had no real area to escape his eyes to change. So that was out of the question. “Aye, on occasion Alder, and preferably in moderation, certainly in your company, my slovenly bronze one.” She smiled. Yawn followed afterwards. She patted his stomach.

“I never realised, I haven’t asked you what hold you were from.” She turned her face up to meet his, smiling gently. “I was born in Azvon, went to a northern wher hold for a while, then came back down here. Southern’s my home. But judging by your accent, you’re northern through and through right?” She asked tentatively. She missed being able to be this comfortable with a man, it wasn’t the same with a girl, you could hug a girl, but they were always as fragile as yourself. Where as, with a man, you could curl into them, get comfortable and feel safe in strong arms. Against a larger frame. So peacefull. She’d only ever been like this with her cousin, and maybe one or two from the wher hold before, but not many.

[Xennai]

Alder was more than a bit surprised when Danae decided he’d make a better pillow than the one she’d been using. He was shocked. Considering everything that had happened prior, yes he was indeed shocked. After a moment, smile touched at his face, soft and happy. He slung an arm around her before he started laughing, body shaking.

“Oh ho, you want to be goddess divine? I don’t think so, not when the best you can come up with is handsome.” He sneered as if in disgust, but he was pleased, much more than pleased, that things were working out so well between them now. Alder didn’t have to bed Danae to like her. He had almost, not quite but almost, from the beginning.

Fingers resting on her cheek as he grinned down at her, nose wrinkled and eyes scrunched up. “Mmm, as long as I’m the only male present. You, my Queen, get a little too happy when the wine’s been passed round a few times. Best to have me there so I can smash in heads if anyone besides me gets any ideas.” He winked, laughing, scooting down further on the couch so that they were both a bit more comfortable.

“Mmm, good girl. I’m from up by the High Reaches. I’m blessed with my tan because it certainly didn’t come naturally.” Fingers wriggled in front of her to show her. “My father was the Lord Holder of a small little hold outside of the High Reaches, by the mines.” He smiled, languidly stroking her cheek, absentminded and not thinking. He liked this. He liked this a lot. He liked being all snuggly and warm with Danae and knowing that both of them were comfortable. He’d never been this way around a woman and it was nice. Very nice. “You must be some pretty hot stuff if you can place me.” Head tilted and he winked. “But then again, it’s rather obvious, isn’t it?”

[panther]

She looked at him with an air of discontent, “I think handsome’s just fine for you.” She smiled. “There’s little else I’d be willing to call you, without feeling like an out and out liar.” She teased.

She laughed, then the outrage set in, but it was humoured, “So, despite the fact that you have no claim on me, I am not allowed to see anyone else?” her question posed. “I’d like to see you try- but then.” She paused, thinking it over, “No matter, I’m not an ostentatious, hormone dependant fool such as a wherry head I know, who’s bronze bonded.” She shrugged. Her smile broad. But a yawn broke it. Shards, the hour must be approaching nightfall now, surely. She felt far too tired to be getting up soon-ish. “But then, you know I wouldn’t let you spoil my fun.” She grinned with a wicked edge to it. Despite the fact that he knew her fun didn’t go down to cot levels.

She watched as his fingers shifted in front of her, listening to words that tumbled from his lips. But she hastened to contradict one point. “I’m hardly a girl, now am I Alder.” Stated not questioned, but she continued, and pointed out about what he had intended this be about. “You really aren’t that difficult to place, though, it is quite unusual to have such a tan for a northerner, let alone for a northern wher handler. But the accent, the twang on certain words gives you away quite neatly, though, I doubt I would have guessed High Reaches region, I’d have gone for something more inland, like Telgar, or Igen.” She pointed out. He really didn’t have that sort of an accent, it was not deep enough for High Reaches.

[Xennai]

Alder made a rude sound, lips blowing much like a runner’s did when they whuffled. Eyes rolled and he squeezed her. “You’re the liar if you think I’m just happy, sweetness. You know I’m much more than handsome. You just don’t want to admit it.” He chuckled.

“Aww, no, I didn’t say that. Those boneheads just aren’t worth you. They don’t know how to handle you like I do,” he teased and then poked her with a finger. “Hey now! None of that. I prefer overly excited over hormone dependent, thank you very much. And I don’t want to hear of your fun, hon, considering that it’s not fun at all.”

He glanced down at her, mouth twisting to side to side as he debated. “Well,” he drawled. “You’re pretty close to either in my estimation. You know. Not quite a girl, not yet a woman.” He smiled and then frowned, acting as if imsulted. “Hey! I’m no fisherman, you minx.” He made an angry little sound, moving as if he were about to get up but flopped back down. “Ah, well. Guess you’re not that good,” he muttered, eyes rolling to look at her as he smirked. “And you have that whole rural thing down, babe. Some one could tell you were Southern if you said two sentences. But it’s okay.” He patted her, face looking dejected, as if she’d just told him she had a deadly disease. “I love you still.”

[panther]

She smirked, looking slightly incredulous, “Maybe I am a liar, maybe I’m not, but I’m not going to shower your already immense ego with trifling flattery.” She smirked, raising a brow, almost in challenge. He’d never get her to admit otherwise. Even if she did think it, and she did appreciate his looks, but that was honestly about it. She wasn’t overly attracted to him. Sure he was a good looking lad, but so were a couple of the rider’s at the Weyr, and shards if she could she would. But handlers and Rider’s didn’t always gel quite so well.

“Handle me?” She smirked, “considering the number of times you offended me tonight, I think that puts you amongst those boneheads, right? And I’d love to know, exactly how you handle me now Alder, that could be a curious tale.” She said with fake interest. But the next part made her façade falter, she laughed, having forgotten that conversation she had held with him earlier, almost completely. “Mmmm shards you’re right there, I’d almost forgotten that.” She confessed, blushing a little, and laughing off her mild embarrassment.

Her mouth opened wide again, he managed it again, “You’d make a good fisherman, I don’t know what you’re talking about – and for your information it was the tan that lead me there too, sea breeze tans even the fairest of skins.” She shrugged. She took mild offence at the southern comment. Pouting slightly, “You’ve got some front alder – I’ll give you that, You’re down here? In my Dig, in Caspian, in Southern, the very Heart of it too, and you have the bare faced cheek, to belittle my accent?” She smirked, eyes incredulous at his words. “Dumb old timer” She said with mild cheek. casually ignoring the comment that included that dratted L word.

She listened, watched his mouth twist as his mind came to a conclusion. “Well here, I’ll make it simple for you, “Do I look like a Girl? Do I talk like a girl?” Her head shook at the end of each of these questions, “Do I act like a girl, do I seem like a girl?” Again she shook her head, then added, “And Alder?” She wriggled in closer to him purposefully, “Do I feel like a girl?” She smirked.

[Xennai]

“Exactly.” Alder’s smile was a mile wide as she remembered her embarrassment. “I could have done so worse, Danae, which makes me one of those who is not a bonehead because I can usually, though not around you as much it seems, know when to say something and when not to. Or do something as well, just for clarification.”

Lips made the rude noise again and he laughed. “Oh, sweetheart, please. This is good genes and all. You could tell if you looked closely.” He shoved an arm under her nose and pointed to his skin. It was clearly tan but had a strange pallor as well. “See that? D’you see? Clearly, it’s genes. I’ve been a wher handler for over five Turns. A fisherman’s tan would have faded. Besides that, I’ve always looked like this. Just…a little less so.” And that did not help his case in the least.

The bronze handler glanced over at the gold and his face scrunched up. “Hey now, did I say I didn’t like it? No, I did not, Miss Priss. In fact, I like your accent quite a bit. It sounds a lot like mine, only much more twangy, which makes me happy.” He smiled sunnily.

Then a brow rose and one corner of his mouth. Oh, she was asking for it. He wasn’t truly going to go after her, it was all part of the game. But she had asked for it. Smoothly, Alder rolled, pinning Danae beneath him, his weight distributed carefully so he didn’t smush her, but settled enough that he could feel her and she could feel him. “Now, let’s go through that again. Do you look like a girl? Most certainly not. Do you talk like a girl? Sometimes. Do you act like a girl? Again, sometimes.” Eyes turned toward the ceiling as he appeared to think, one finger idly twirling in her hair. “Do you seem like a girl? Yes you do because you have all those girlie parts. Do you feel like a girl?” His weight settled on her more fully and he watched her carefully. “No,” he whispered, “you don’t, sweetie.”

Gently, Alder rolled off and to the side, rearranging the furs to how they been. He turned to look at her, eyes dancing with humor. “So there’s your answer, if you’ll have it.”

[panther]

She let her confusion show, “Sorry? You what? You know when not to say things? You let your temper get the better of you, and tell me I was not fit for a queen handler, Alder, or did you’re bone–like head already lose that piece of information?” She smirked, “Not many can get away with insulting me like that Alder. “ She shook her head,

She withdrew a little as he forced his arm right in front of her face, she pushed him away “Seven” She bated, I’ve been a handler for seven turns, Alder. And a fisherman’s tan doesn’t fade that quick, not if you’re out and around at regular daylight hours.” She shrugged. Then shifted onto the accent, “you make little sense Alder, even that that has a glimmer of hope and logic to it flounders under your mastery.” She jibed, smirking. She shook her head, he really was preposterous.

She really wasn’t expecting what came next, being pinned to her own bed by the bronze handler. Here eyes widened, traces of her earlier fear teasing at the edges, making her nerves heighten, she could feel his warmth over her, far warmer than the furs. He was all lean, not that she hadn’t figured that already, but it was more pronounced like that. “Alder…” She warned, “Danask is only through there… She’ll eat you if you do anything.” His body weight increased a little more as he came to the conclusion. Then he rolled off her, she’d not expected that as much as she had the initial. “And scorch it, you!” She muttered, slapping his stomach, more playfully than in malice. “You! Fiend!” She could think of no better word at that moment, her heart rate up and her colour reddening, fortunately it was dark in here and colour changes like that mattered little in the dark. She was silently thankful.

“Unless I’m mistaken, those aforementioned, “Girly parts, are actually more like those of a woman, thank you very much.” She pointed out, catching a pillow and thwacking him with it. Adoring the sound it made before tacking it back to where it had been. She was a little sour over it. Though she wasn’t sure why, a couple of ideas played her mind. But his humour in the event was apparent in his eyes anyway. She frowned a little, sulking ever so, ever so slightly.

[Xennai]

"Excuse me," Alder pointed out. "If you weren't listening, I told you that I can usually, though not around you as much it seems, know when to say something and when not to. Do you remember me saying that? Because I remember me saying that."

He shrugged negligently, arm removed. "Well then, Miss Smartarse. I've been a handler for six, I'll have you know, and believe me, a tan on me would fade that fast because, being a handler, I'm not outside. Right?" He nodded and answered himself. "Right."

Alder laughed almost maniacally at the woman's reaction to his physical and verbal prodding. He fended off the pillow before it was removed. He eyed her, nose crinkled, and rolled over to look at her, face-to-face, his own very serious. "I'm sorry if I upset you, darling." He tilted her chin up with a finger, apparently a habit of his with her. "But they are girlie parts, even if, I'm assuming, yours are delectable and more mature. However. Girls have things boys don't, even when they're little, and that makes them girlie parts." Alder smiled sunnily and kissed her on the forehead. "So don't look all sour and sulky, babe, okay? Even if it does make you look rather adorable. But I'd rather see you smiling."

Alder rolled to his back again, carefully picking Dane up and draping her over him in her former position. He liked being like this with her. It was a new experience, one he relished. Closeness without the sex. A novel idea, but they'd achieved it. Gently, he stroked fingers through her long, vivid hair. "And, by the way, I'm not sure I'd be able to handle you, per se. Maybe just keep you in check. And even then, maybe not so much. I'd just probably pick you up, handle the consequences, and get you into your couch before you made a mistake you'd regret." He shrugged, apparently haven taking the matter seriously. "You'd be mad, I'm sure, but you wouldn't have to suffer some brute reading signals that aren't meant."

[panther]

“Oh whatever Alder,” She yawned, only half paying attention as sleepiness began to dominate part of her sensible mind.

She shook her head, letting the topic of his tan drop, she really wasn’t that interested as to where it came from but she gave him a little something to sink his teeth into, “Oh so I was a little off on your location,” She smirked, “Even I get things wrong on occasion Alder, difficult as that might be to believe. My being painfully close to perfection and all.” She added in a nonchalant way, like one might observe that the sky is blue.

“Don’t you darling me, sweetie” She bit as she pulled herself away from his hand, making a point, though it was only half hearted, and you could tell. She huffed a little, but he was right there, though she wasn’t quite certain on his calling her … parts – Delectable. But it was likely a better idea to let that one slide. “You won’t see me smile much, if that’s the way you’re being with me.” She pointed out. Really not too certain where was safe ground on that topic. She knew the difference between a girl and a boy, obviously, what wherry head didn’t? “You’re spinning tales there, sir, you know I was referring as to whether I was a woman or a girl. So, the option of being male, was not included.” She let her sulking fade, he had just actually paid her a compliment, even if it was backhanded and awkward to accept.

She allowed herself to be shifted, moved and arranged like a figure or a doll. Once he’d settled her into place, she changed her positioning ever so slightly, curling a little. She was so tired. The fingers running through her hair was far to relaxing, and she could feel herself drifting a little, but then he spoke, ruining it for her, raising the idle comment she had made, and presumed he’d ignored, she flushed slightly, really glad that the back of her head was more in his view than her face. She smirked, though making sure it was the opposite side of her face to that that rested on him, and so he would be oblivious. “So, you’d send me to bed for being a bad girl?” She asked, smirk tugging more at her lips, “You know, I was never sent to my couch, let alone dumped there.” Her words delivered quite sleepily, then she repeated some of his words back to him, :Some brute reading signals that aren’t meant?” Turning it to a question, “Pray tell, my bronzer, what is this fairy tale situation that is occurring in your head?” She asked, loftily, brows furrowing gently, despite the fact that he couldn’t really read her face for she was looking away from him, it was a strange myriad of confusion.

[Xennai]

Alder felt a smile on his lips and a warmth in his body as Danae curled closer to him, obviously sleepy. Somehow, it made him feel much bigger and stronger than he was when she was like this. When she felt all soft and innocent and utterly and completely adorable. Alder sighed, not really liking where his thoughts were going, but he couldn’t help it. He could admit now he had a thing for the gold handler, but it was yet to be seen if it was friendly or more…passionate. He had his ideas, not that he’d voice them though.

“No,” he murmured softly, fingers still stroking through her fiery hair. “I wouldn’t send you to bed for being a bad girl, sweetheart, I’d take you to your bed to insure that you didn’t do something you didn’t want to do.” He sighed softly, eyes far away, seeming to think as he spoke. “You sent some signals to me back there, Danae. Now, knowing what exactly was going on—and only at your insistence—I didn’t read into them much. Other men aren’t quite as…adept at that as I am, I suppose you could say. Some just think of what they want and not the other parties involved.”

Alder’s head turned and he tilted her chin up so he could see her, so she could see the very serious light that was in his eyes. This was not a situation he wanted to talk about, or even think about, but he would so she’d know. Danae always must know. “I’d do it to help you, unless you really told me you liked the man and didn’t want me to interfere. I know that it’s very wrong of me to think that you couldn’t take care of yourself, but you know what alcohol does to your mind, hun. I wouldn’t want you in a position you didn’t want to be in.”

Alder shrugged self-consciously, not sure he was liking this rather…noble or valiant side of him that was emerging in the face of Danae. He wasn’t like that. He really wasn’t. Usually, he was one of the men he was talking about, though he didn’t take advantage. He always made sure both parties wanted what was going to happen. He’d lost some good beddings because of it, but didn’t really consider it a loss. Not when someone would regret what happened with him. But with Danae…Apparently a lot of things changed.

[panther]

She shrugged, “Six of one and half a dozen of another though saying that, stopping me from embarrassing myself, I am old enough to look after myself you know” She insisted, but as he continued, her eyes widened, and she blushed fiercely once more, eyes screwing tight shut. Oh shards…. Why did she had to make things awkward, “When?” She asked tentatively, “Signals like what, when?” She opened her eyes, her eyes showing concern and a little fear. “I’m sorry…” She said, her tone dropping as she began to feel stupid. Why was she provoking him like that? She had a funny feeling she knew what he was referring to, but she just wanted clarification. But, the words jut ame from her head before she had thought about it.

But as he tilted her head up, meeting his eyes, unable to hide the redness of her cheeks now, “I…” She stopped swallowed, and let him finish. “I can handle myself, honest Alder, I was doing it before you arrived, perfectly adequately. Alcohol obscure moments included.” She told him, despite feeling very small, not helped by his over all largeness next to her. “But… thank you, I guess.” She looked a little confused, but she was touched by the act. She smirked, unable to let the conversation head down the stupidly sensitive line it seemed to be going town, “But you know? Just for a little clarification, I don’t think you could handle me, even if I told you I liked some one or otherwise.” Her tone was lofty, her grin was mischievous. And she was enjoying the torment that was going to occur here. For it was inevitable that he would bite, and give her the satisfaction she wanted.

[Xennai]

Alder shrugged, not overly concerned. “It was a lot of things, Danae,” he murmured. “They were just a bunch of subtle things that gave a sense that you were flirting and into me…” He felt embarrassed now talking about this. He didn’t want to make her feeling bad. “It wasn’t as if there was anything that screamed ‘I want it now!’ or anything like that. It was just a bunch of little things, but I know better now.” He smirked, trying to make her feel better. “I’m just a bad man and think every girl wants me, that no one can turn me away. That’s all, sweetheart,”

She was blushing and he felt supremely bad then. He’d just been saying it to say it, not because he wanted to shame her or make her feel bad. It’d been said matter-of-factly, for no particular reason. She seemed to shake it off though and he was ready to laugh, ready to continue their teasing game. Instead, it made him frown. His head shook slowly and he laughed, though it wasn’t in humor. “I wouldn’t go thinking that, darling. I’m two times as big as he.” Eyes glinted. “I could handle you, though I wouldn’t want to.” A promise burned in his voice.

[panther]

She blushed feverishly. Turning away from his eyes, and feeling rather incredibly stupid. Even though he said he knew better, she felt supremely guilty. Yet, she couldn’t pinpoint the source of that guilt. Why it was there she couldn’t fathom.

His next comment made her smirk, and a small laugh escaped her as he explained a little, “Well… It’s not an easy thing you know.” She told him, “I didn’t exactly enjoy telling you ’no’.” She pointed out. She opened her mouth to continue, managed one syllable “I-“ Then shut her mouth, brows furrowing, slightly thankful she had stopped before she embarrassed herself any further tonight.

Why was she being such a fool around him? Sure the Alcohol, the anger, the whatever was going on here were all explanations, reasons and an odd situation respectively. But none of it added up neatly in her mind. She yawned. Then thought perhaps that’s why. But she shook her head, “No, I don’t think you could, even if you wanted to.” But then she realised what she’d said, “now who is lying?” She grinned up at him.

“That is one of the biggest fallacies that has been spoken this evening!” She looked a little more than amused, “You wouldn’t have given me such a proposition and apologised, nor would you have been quite so respectful about joining me in my cot, if you didn’t want to handle me” She laughed, heartily. He was a good joke, a good spirit, but, she so far wasn’t seeing her own signs, signs that he was noticing. How naïve of her. But that was Danae, bright as a button, yet no common sense.

[Xennai]

Brow rose and Alder smirked. He couldn’t aptly describe the feelings coursing through him. Foremost was affection for Danae and this conversation. Underneath that was a whole tangled mess he didn’t want to get into right now.

“I didn’t mean handle like that, Danae.” He glanced down at her, rubbing at her cheek now with his thumb, absentminded. It was more about soothing himself than her. Her skin was just so soft and warm…”I meant handle as in I could get you to do what needed. But,” humor burned at his voice now. He fought hard not to laugh, glancing down at her again, eyes alight. “If you wanted me to handle you that way, it could be easily done as well.” He laughed then, a soft and hushed sound. Where they were at felt like a sanctuary now. He didn’t want to disturb that peace. He didn’t want to disturb Danask either, come to think of it. Everyone had heard of an awoken gold’s temper.

“But hold on there just a minute, honey.” He turned, shifting her as well, until they laid on their sides, facing each other. He frowned, reaching out to touch her cheek, gaze speculative. “You had a hard time saying no to me?” Of course he’d latched on to that. Head pressed closer, frown intensifying. “Did you really, Danae, or did you just say that?” There was something odd in his eyes, burning in his voice. It was soft but hard and utterly foreign to him.

[panther]

She giggled in a far too girlish way at his words, comforted and bordering on drowsy once more, as repetitive motions comforted her, her eyes lulled closed as she listened to him talk, his voice was soothing too, just listening made her comfortable, “You are like a green in heat, worse than in fact, really I’m starting to wonder if its abnormal.” She smiled against his chest, breathing deeply, a smell that was entirely his. She sighed contentedly, but even that was short lived.

He moved her again, she gave a real discontented noise. Looking at him with eyes that showed her displeasure, her grumpy, sleepiness, “Alder….” Chimed out his name in complaint at being moved. But as he spoke, her eyes widened. Shard it! She’d forgotten she’d said that. Ooooh man, she let herself in for it. She blushed fiercely – again. Ducking her head between their chests, curling in on herself slightly. Then, after a few nervous breaths that shuddered through her frame, but she steadied, and gave him a quiet reply, “that’s not really what I said, I said I didn’t enjoy denying you, Alder…” She corrected, before she looked up at him, her eyes drawn, reserved, and a pallid ghost of their former ferocity and mirth they had shown earlier. But his pressing tone made her want to tell him, even if she didn’t actually want to admit it. “And… no. I’m not just saying that.” She shook her head.

She felt far to embarrassed, cold too, she drew the covers around herself, and looked tentatively up at him. “What did you think that show was then exactly? If not my own mind fighting against itself?” She questioned as her fingers idly played with the furs, twisting a few threads between her fingers, which seemed to absorb the majority of her concentration at that moment. “I don’t say things for no reason alder, generally if the intent is not to torment, the words I speak are true.” She informed him, still not meeting his gaze. She felt her heart beat quicken again. Eyes looking up at him now from dark lashes. Hoping, praying that what she’d see in his eyes was different from discomfort, or distress, or anything that didn’t bode well for her, or the friendship they had.

[Xennai]

“I’m no green,” he muttered, glaring at her in mock anger. “I’m much too manly to be green. I don’t get all proddy when I don’t get it either. I just get a little more tightly wound. And that is not proddy,” he clarified, knowing that she’d argue that it was.

He’d surprised her with his question, she’d been so sleepy. A flare of affection rose and he cupped her chin, thumb rubbing at her cheek, soothing her now. She curled against him and he sighed softly, feeling slight dread for making her all awkward and uncomfortable again. His shame only increased when he saw her face. Well, shells. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, he just wanted to know.

Alder didn’t interrupt her, but listened quietly. He felt a ripple of shock when she said that the “show” had been her mind fighting against itself. Alder felt that strange, soft and hard feeling roar up a little higher, but didn’t come into full life yet. He continued listening to her, a small smile curling at his womanizing lips.

She looked up at him and that soft, hard light was in his eyes, the soft, devastated smile on his lips. He realized what the feeling was. It was more affection for Danae and it was tempered with an extreme underlying current of protection. Alder realized then that he’d likely kill anyone who harmed the woman in any way. He’d hurt any who slighted her and ostracize any person who dared to think badly of her. He was shocked by the feeling, but he was even more shocked to realize that he liked it.

Alder leaned forward slightly, eyes cautioning hers. He couldn’t help himself in this and he only hoped that it didn’t ruin anything. When he had an urge, he didn’t fight it unless the circumstances were dire. He didn’t consider this such. Gently, lips pressed to hers, soft and warm, affectionate but not overly so. He didn’t want to “handle” her as she’d insinuated. He just wanted to thank her.

He pulled back slowly, gently, wanting to press further and not doing so because he wanted to. He watched her with cautious, wary eyes, hand falling from her face, giving her personal space back. He watched her and slowly smiled. “Thank you, Danae, for not thinking I’m totally and completely repulsive.” An eyebrow twitched and he sighed. “And I’m sorry if I freaked you out. I just…felt that I should do that.”

[panther]

She sat, nervous waiting for him to break the silence, her eyes drifted from him, no longer able to take the tension, and just as she did, she felt his lips press to her, soft, pliant, and warm against hers. She stopped breathing unintentionally. Holding her breath. She waited for more, but none came, here eyes open wide, like a wherry in the glow light. Instead, he backed away, gave her space back to her.

She swallowed hard, heart beat slowing down, or perhaps time just felt longer, her eyes moved up to his. She felt odd, like she was suspended between consciences. Part of her, the larger, more logical part, told her to pull away, slap him, and send him off. But, his words, soft, that charming smile, even the pause for not knowing quite how to say it. Just endeared him to her. Her heart picked up pace. It was obvious now that the second, less logical conscience was being adhered to, and the logical one denied.

She closed her eyes as he spoke, shook her head, “Would you…” She paused, trying not to sound angry, because she knew that would be how he’d try and take it, “just shut up” She said, eyes pleading as they opened. She was as soft and malleable right now as the kiss had been, and she’d bend to his will with little much as a second thought.

Danae leaned in again, mouth open slightly, her lips pressed to his own. making her heart race a little more. And she continued, despite the fact that every inch of her body screamed at her not to.

[Xennai]

Alder watched her, irrationally worried that she’d take it the wrong way, that she’d freak out, that she’d send him away and tell him he was evil, vile, a pig. Irrationally worried that she’d call him worse names and, most terrible of all, tell him to never do that again, tell him that his circumstances were void, that they couldn’t be friends ever again…

He frowned, confused when she told him to shut up. That he had been rather expecting, but not entirely. Anger lit, a tiny spark within him, but it was quickly squashed, incinerated, doused, put to rest, killed and utterly annihilated.

Because Danae leaned in and kissed him back.

Alder felt the shock ripple through him, a monster of a thing. It took him a moment or two because of it to not fully feel her soft, warm lips against his, not taste her taste—honey, mint, sunshine and the slight taste of wine, lingering on her breath. Alder inhaled sharply and reminded himself to be soft, gentle, and not lick her all over and gulp her down. Figuratively of course.

The bronze handler moved forward slowly, pressing close, body lightly brushing against hers, just a taste of heat and hard angles. His mouth pressed to hers, soft and avid, slowly moving against it. The heat that was in him was incredible, but he tamed it, only passing on hot warmth to her, with none of the ferociousness that was cavorting about inside him.

Hand rose to press against her cheek gently, softly. His other went about her waist, pulling her closer, needing her to be closer. He couldn’t help it. His mind was filled with her. With her soft skin, her vivid hair, her sexy eyes, her smile, her laugh, her scent, their jokes and words.

Alder pulled back again, not sure how long it had been. Seconds, minutes, hours? He licked at his lips, tasting her there. It was addictive. He wanted more of her, so much more, but wasn’t going to press her. He sighed softly, green eyes dark and soft, burning with fire. He reached out to kiss her forehead gently, arm unwinding from about her waist. “Well then.” Laughter burned in his voice before it broke through.