Welcome to Gaia! ::

Her feet kept moving, even after she heard Aren call her name. Well, the nickname that she’d grown fond of. She wasn’t running by any means, but she did walk swiftly, her golden hair shining pure silver in the moonlight. Her heart thud loudly in her chest, so many thoughts running around in head that she was starting to get a headache. She felt his hands on her back, immediately remembering to check herself—Wondering if her anger had done anything to her body temperature. She didn’t want to burn him.

“It just ran along the lines that the reason why you hang out with me is because I’m white, and pretty. And that eventually you’ll get bored, come back to your roots, and forget I exist altogether.”, she spoke smoothly, the hurt lacing her tone not hidden. It wasn’t anger there, no, it was simply a layer of…Feeling hurt. Narcissa reacted with anger for most things, because that was her fall back emotion. People didn’t take you seriously if you cried at the drip of a hat. “It’s not about me, I don’t think—Its about you. She just expected you to fall into her arms the minute you came back… Fairy tale on the reservation.”

“If I were Shandra—I think she would be sweet…”, she went on, letting him massage her back. He was good at it, and it did take some of the tension out of her. She tended to grow stiff, tense, when things upset her to maintain control of her ability. She didn’t want to be the one to prove the MRD right about mutants all along. “But I’m not her, nor your typical city girl.”

She was quiet for the moment as they stood in the darkness, the sun goddess finding it soothing with the moonlight shining down, despite her mantle. She slowly leaned towards him, rather than away. “I’m enjoying it here… I just don’t like the implication… That just because you change location, will mean that you suddenly forget I exist.”

Her eyes closed as he whispered in her ear, listening with interest to his native tongue. She enjoyed the way it rolled off his tongue. “Her name is beautiful.”, she commented off handedly, before listening to the stories he had all trapped in his head. Narcissa didn’t hold regard for them the way that he did, as a belief, but she appreciated them for what they were. Sweet stories, that probably held some kind of truth…Just hidden in metaphor. The one about the wolf crying to the moon stayed with her more than the others. Why, she wasn’t sure. But she was happy to listen to them… Especially coming from him, the sound of his voice removing the rest of the tension in her body. It never occurred to her to think of anyone strange for anything.

She’d nearly blown up a fairytale land, ruined the day of a century old vampiric mutant, been nearly obliterated in a casino by super soldiers, been transported into a movie, and had been a demon Queen. Who was she to think that someone was weird? Especially for something so diverse as their beliefs.

Her eyes opened as he tilted around her short frame to look at her, a small smile crossing her features as his hair tickled her sensitive skin—His question however making her fall still. She turned around in his grasp slowly, her cerulean eyes flickering to his face, eyelashes again dusting against her cheeks as she slid her hands delicately up his chest, past his neck, fingers twining in his hair, lips suddenly not far from his. “Why do I?”

“Because I don’t think you actually want it.”, she trailed off, her voice entirely serious—Understanding that he was teasing, but answering honestly. She spoke in that same beguiling tenor she always used when she talked to him so closely. They fit together well, naturally, so it seemed. Her eyes searched his, her own teasing in the light, reflecting it like stars. “Because you seem like a boy who likes the chase…”

“Would you even know what to do with me, if you actually caught me?”, Cissa questioned, letting her fingertips gently massage his scalp. Aren may, or may not regret opening this can of worms with her. She leaned forward, ever so softly letting her lips brush over his teasingly before she pulled away with a faint smile, knowing that her kiss…Burned, for lack of a better term. Not in the way that her powers did, with heat, but similar. Winking at him she looked back towards the sky… “No, I don’t think you would.”

“I’ll worry about you leaving when you actually decided to do it…Not now, when I still have you.”, she murmured quietly, her eyes again searching his, reading small things that she could never explain. It was a skill she had long since honed out of necessity. Before being unceremonially dropped off at the Academy with a wad of cash thicker than her wrist, and a trust fund, as well as a checking account with more than she could ever spend… She knew that eventually she would have to take her mothers, or even her grandfathers’ place within the diamond business. And would that leave her time for the X-Men? She wasn’t sure… She would worry about it after she graduated college.

It the meantime, kicking a** and taking names was her business—And business was good.

She wrinkled her nose when he mentioned a Prince Charming… “Don’t…Ever date someone looking for that kind of prancy poncy fop.”

“It’s just unnatural…”, she shuddered in his grasp, her voice teasing as she spoke. “You’ll go through wives like King Henry if you do that. Beheadings and all.”

She had smiled though, when he mentioned that he couldn’t forget her—Yes, that was nice to hear. It was damnable pet name, that always made her acquiesce and let things go. Most people couldn’t get her to budge an inch on anything, but Aren could move her easily, with just three syllables. She was…Still thinking about the stories that he told though, remembering details. It was likely that if she asked him to tell her the one about the crying wolf and the moon again later on, he probably would. But it wouldn’t be the same as her first time hearing it… Yet still, she wanted to remember it.

Rather, she wanted to remember this.

She could feel his body warm to her own, whether it was all him—Or partially from her own warmth, she was never sure. But he, just like any red blooded man responded to her. And in that respect, she was glad she hadn’t reached the sister category. That made her feel a little… Ill. She didn’t have any siblings, and she didn’t intend to. She listened to him speak, patient, her fingers still moving through his hair… Manicured nails teasing the back of his neck as he laughed, keeping her close—Instead of backing away like she’d expected.

She always, always gave Aren an out with her. Why? Because of the way he acted, because of the way they acted. She was after all, his team leader… And therefore responsible for him. Even if that meant protecting him from herself.

“If we crossed the line?”, she questioned him teasingly, a small laugh trilling through her as she looked up at him, a silvery golden slip of a woman in the light. Her skin emitted a faint glow…Not enough to outright be noticeable, but enough, if one knew what they were looking for. “I think we crossed the line the day we met, Aren.”

His response made her pause, something she hadn’t expected, entirely. To be fair, she’d expected him to back off—The same way she did, when she realized that they were pushing the bar again. Her breathing remained at a standstill for several moments, as if she’d forgotten to keep up the charade of being human for a moment. She’d given him the out, and he hadn’t taken it… Again, concern grew within her, just like it had on the blasted island. Did he really know what he was playing at? He seemed to… But there were times, when she wondered if he simply played their game for sport… Not thinking at all what would happen if the fire game.

She was sure he wondered the same thing of her, from time to time. She wouldn’t blame him with her fluctuating moods.

She could hear the teasing in his tone though… But that didn’t make his response any less true. “Today you know? What makes today…Or tonight, any different than any other night….And what brought such knowledge on?”, she questioned, leaning towards him again, pressing another ghostly, almost innocent kiss to him—Waiting to see if, and when he would back down.

It was a test with Narcissa….Always a test. She expected him to keep pushing her…But eventually realize that he’d gone to far. But he never seemed to. Brushing his hair from his eyes, a small smile crossed her lips that were still…Too close to his for a simple conversation. A small laugh went through her, eyes luminous in the dim light... “Are you sure you won’t get excommunicated from the tribe for kissing the pale-faced harlot?”

“Ten more just like me? Are you advocating for a nuclear holocaust?”, she questioned teasingly, a light laugh leaving her as she leaned against him, head tilting back faintly, golden locks shimmering in the light as if it had liquid silver running through it. She laughed again, eyes shining when he made a comment about scalping—Her eyes lighter, not as sharp as those at the Academy would remember.

Though her laugh stilled in her chest when he started studying her, her cerulean orbs returning the gaze—However much of her expression might still have been a mystery to him. That wasn’t deliberate. It was simply how she operated, letting those in layer at a time…Nothing should ever be taken at face value. And every word, no matter how simple, should be regarded with apprehension equal to that of a loaded gun.

Half of her knew she should pull away—Since he had not. It was her responsibility to keep them in line. But the other half of her wanted to wait… Wanted to see how far he would take it. She could sense the unspoken challenges, and the lioness within her could never turn away from that. Not without cause. One of her hands slid from his hair, warm fingertips gently tracing the contour of his jaw…One step at a time, raising the bar. She pushed him slowly, like one would encourage a child to walk… His new surety was not something she expected to last past the dawn.

“You were never innocent to begin with.”, she pointed out easily, her usual devil may care tone unwavering. “And no…You never did have a chance.”

Against her? No—He never had a chance at all. They were too much alike, too different. He was doomed. And she was the one doing the dooming—Everyday.

Not for the first time, she knew that she should withdraw and take him back to people… Back where there were things like guilt and pedantic morality, to keep them chaste. Because the longer she watched him, the unrepentant way he kept playing the game, her will to do so was fading. He said one thing, but his warm eyes told her another. Constantly back and fourth…She knew better than to follow his teasing completely. But this was a road they had never gone down. Did he truly not car, not realize what he was doing?

“And you normally don’t talk to me with a clear head?”, she questioned, a little curious—Though she was pretty sure she already knew the answer. Still, she touched his cheek, a simple caress—Ever intimate. Her smile was soft, coquettish, stating that she already knew why he may or may not have trouble. He didn’t have to say it aloud. Her head tilted when he mentioned that he knew exactly what he was doing… Did he? She’d only ever given Aren the side of her that teased playfully… That could be hard, and cold, but only for a reason. The pieces of her that remembered kindness, without pain.

“You wouldn’t like it if you broke our little rules…”, she trailed off, her eyes closing for a moment as she sighed softly, trying to think of a way to explain. Though she wasn’t really sure she had to. If he said he knew, knew what he was doing—He had to know, that this shouldn’t happen. That they should have quit with stories about the wolf and moon. He’d never been so bold before… And Narcissa couldn’t say she entirely disliked it. Or disliked it at all. “Are you growing bored of me already—That you feel the need to end it so soon? This is chess, not checkers—You’re a rook and I’m your Queen. Aren….You won’t win.”

Narcissa knew well—She wasn’t a prize. She was… Hell. Did he really want to burn with her?

“I don’t have a problem with funding. I’d offer you a blank check—If I thought you would take it.”, she murmured aloud, her hand stilling against him for the moment, feeling a gentle breeze stir her hair, causing a shiver to run down her spine… She wasn’t at all cold, that usually didn’t happen. It was just the feeling of the wind. “They’ll never know if you don’t tell them… A good little pale-faced harlot doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Her swords were cut off, by feeling his lips pressed to her own again—Her eyes falling closed a moment…She went entirely still as he kissed the corner of her mouth, not saying anything for several long moments. She deliberately drew in a breath, interrupting the statuesque expression she had taken—Letting it out slowly. She was…Tired of feeling so numb…Tired of playing, just for the night. She spoke against his lips, something that could barely be heard… “Forgive me.”

And then she kissed him—Actually kissed him, not the childish pecks she gave him on a regular basis. Seeming to move from a statue to a moving—Warm, wanting creature in seconds. It was a testament to how much she often held back, kept to herself—Despite the nature of their comments. If he wanted to be stubborn…She could be twice as much. Narcissa didn’t often…Speak correctly through words, but merely used them as a way to convey base emotions that she stayed away from. Wrapped in her embrace, warm hands encouraging—Yet never demanding… She was simply, all consuming. She broke the kiss after a moment, though only a hairsbreadth between their lips. Her voice was...Unsteady, as it never was. She was reigning herself in-- For him. Giving him the chance to flee like hell.

“You should run, dear Aren…Christ...You should run.”

It was the way he said her name, that damnable nickname that made her stomach twist… That made her response die in her throat. If he would take a check from her… And it made him feel better that he labeled it for this… She would have let him. She didn’t at all care about his social standing…It just seemed stupid for her to have more money than she knew how to spend, when his community was suffering. Her body warmed, from something other than her powers. It was a different feeling…Like honey rising within her, instead of anger and power. She hadn’t let Aren this far inside before, his words, his touch. It was always on the surface, never passing the plastic covering mentally she wrapped herself in. It had suddenly gone from a game, to something other—That she didn’t know what to label it as. His previous comments were lost to her, because she was trying her damndest to stay still whilst he decided. Always, she gave him the choice, that she wouldn’t have given to anyone else. The chance to reject her.

Because she cared for him. She would accept his refusal of her, gracefully, if need be—Because he was important to her. She felt a crushingly sweet protectiveness over him.

Less and less of her however, was hoping that he would make the ‘correct’ decision.

How something could be so clearly wrong, and feel so… perfectly right was beyond her. A soft sound escaped her when he pulled her closer, his comment about not being a Christian making what little fleeting hope he had any sense disappear. This was followed by his lips covering her own again—And it shattered what precious little resistance she had left.

It was as if the dam broke, and all that she kept hidden and buried spilled out—His returning her kiss was the key-- the acceptance, permission. She grew slightly warmer, enfolding him in her aura—their natural energies mingling. To Aren, it would be like coming home…A feeling of being warm and welcomed, completely. His energy tasted of cinnamon and the bitterness of gun powder, the clean scent of fresh earth… It left her with a heady, almost drunken feeling, that she was sure would pass to him soon enough. To catch her like this, was to have all of her—To feel her, the side affects of her ability and all.

Her mouth moved against his, the fingers that had once simply ran through his hair now woven completely into it—Tugging when she felt the need to, her other hand curled tightly in his shirt. This would be the first time she’d ever used her power on Aren in this way…But it was unavoidable. It would be easy to get lost in the feedback... She would be like, touchable, living flame in his arms...Meant to be touched, to make him feel every inch of her without trying.

He had no protection against her aura, no experience with it. The first time was always…New. But it wouldn’t always be quite like that, if they made this a habit…Or likely, anything close to it. It ended in being physically hypersensitive of the other for awhile...It would become apparent that it wasn't just her scintillating wit that drew men to her like honeybee's to the hive.. She, her actual person, was addictive.

Any reservations she had were dissolving, the lines blurring completely... Forgetting why she had a problem with this in the first place.

Noting what level his energy was at kept her own leveled to a heat level slightly above his. Cycling his excess energy through her, and then back through him, was the only way she could keep her temperature from raising without solely focusing on it. It was much the same thing she did when she held his hand to make sure she felt…Human warm. She could feel his heart beating against her—But she had lost the power to truly analyze, longing and a latent feeling of hunger keeping the kiss hard, and long for quite awhile. She devoured what he offered, taking advantage for the moment, of his stubbornness. Of the way he held her, like something that was…Important. Ever so slowly she tapered off, pulling back to give him a moment to breathe—She didn’t need to.

Her eyes fluttered open, not the glacier blue they usually were. There was light in them—Proof that Aren affected her profoundly, and in a way well beyond her control. She could feel that her own lips were bruised, and she could see that his were swollen—She’d never seen that before on him. It made her want to resume their previous activity… He was so… Aren, to her, in that moment that it was entirely unfair… He’d always had a beautiful mouth, but she silently admitted to herself it was better like this.

She tilted her head and hotly kissed up his neck, nipping when she felt appropriate—Her lips close to his ear. She breathed his name against his skin, her voice low and sensual...It wasn't something he would have heard readily.

“You really should run… But I’d rather if you didn’t.”

Someone earlier that night had told her to cherish every kiss. She would never admit it if asked directly, but this one would stay in her memory... She was tingling all over, and she was rather glad that he held her so close and upright. It let her focus more on him. She’d kissed others before… But had never given them the full force of it, usually staying to the peppered things that didn’t mean anything. “Or perhaps I should take the temptation away…Afraid of your Queen yet?”

He was one of the few people that didn't make her feel like a monster. That simply let her exist--Accepting her for what she was. She would be the sun in the night sky for him, hanging beside the moon--If he so wished it.

Lets see, if he'd finally reached his breaking point.

She smiled softly, hearing him inhale deeply…His heartbeat pounding in her head, his smile only encouraging her. She could feel him…Feel him breathe, feel every movement he made. Hearing that he wasn’t running, wasn’t thinking of it… She fairly purred at the sound of her name coming from him. She could feel that he was being truthful, his energy moving within her… Did he not know what his voice sounded like? It did wicked things to her insides... For the first time, in a long time, she felt… a spark inside. Bright. Burning, for something other than a fight…Other than the next confrontation. Didn’t he know how cold she was, when he wasn’t around?

He kissed her, and she leaned towards him- Despite the fact that it was shorter than the previous one it. She loved feeling him smile against her skin…”My rook is proving himself…Perfect, in all things. Your Queen is very pleased…", she intoned sweetly, seemingly convinced that her aura hadn’t scared the hell out of him. Some people couldn’t handle it. But it cherished him…Sought to protected him, wanted him nearer.

She needed him closer, if it was humanly possible. They were on even ground here…She wasn’t his leader, he wasn’t her team mate… They were just two individuals, having an quiet interlude under the night sky.

He kissed her again…Over and over, soothing some of the seemingly insatiable hunger she seemed to have for his touch. Like it had been denied for far too long. It felt like it would never be enough. His sweetness appeased and caressed the pacing lioness she held inside, her eyes showing nothing but contentment, want. She was past being able to think of reasons why this was wrong, far past it. She let him walk her backwards, the stars in her eyes moving as she leaned to kiss him— Only to find her back pressed to the soft moss of the tree. Caught between him, and it.

For a moment, she felt trapped—And she tensed, never one to ever want to feel that way. But his energy washed over her like a delicate breeze, and she gave into it. It was Aren, she trusted Aren. He belonged with her tonight, together in the darkness, with her light… They belonged to one another, even if it was, only for the night. He touched her cheek, and she leaned her delicate face into his palm, watching the flames of her aura dance up his skin. It looked good on him, warming the chocolate of his eyes that she cared for so much. Her gaze fell to his mouth, and she gently bit down on her lower lip—Wanting again the connection they’d had before. She wanted to kiss his swollen lips until he demanded that she stop.

“I’m sure Aren…I am. Please…”, she responded without doubt to his teasing whisper, her face taking on a sensual pout. It was only one of many of her disarming facial expressions that she carried in her arsenal. Across the metaphysical link they were carrying, he would feel her body pleading—He would know what she wanted, what she needed. She felt a soft moan escape her when he said her name again, that pet name. Yes, his voice would be her undoing…

And then she heard something behind him, a woman—Speaking. At first the sun goddess didn’t register it. The voice called her a b***h? Naki.

Her eyes flashed white for a moment, pure white.

She felt anger well up within her, distaste for her—For interrupting. For not leaving them alone. For Aren having to defend her honor for her in this. He’d started it? Perhaps…But she hadn’t stopped it. Didn’t want to, couldn’t. The sun goddess felt…exposed. Hurt. She was fully clothed, but her light was showing… Her ability shining through, enveloping both of them. It wasn’t the power she used to attack with. This was personal, and she felt that it had been invaded. Her face had started to cool by degrees as she instinctively tried to bring herself back down. To Aren, her expression was open. Narcissa didn’t trust Naki…It would be cold for her. Narcissa didn’t want her seeing these parts of her, even if she couldn’t possibly understand.

She didn’t want anyone seeing this part of her…Aren was the exception. Her shields were down, like they never were-- The cold sun goddess gone-- Having been replaced by a caressing fire.

“You were right about that…”, she returned to him, hearing Naki run away—Her expression flicking between closing itself off, and remaining open to him. She still…Wanted him, could feel him. “I can see why though. Why she’s jealous.”

Silently, she admitted that she…Might have been, if the situation had been different. So much for keeping her ability under wraps. She wouldn't of been surprised if the jealous girl came back with a lynch mob torches and pitchforks.

He had turned back towards her though, and she again was caught between him and the tree. It made her head swim to see his chocolate eyes focused intently of her again. “Don’t apologize for something you didn’t do…”, she murmured, the nipping at her collar bone causing her eyes to close as her head tilt back a moment. His nearness lulled her, and reassured her. The constant flow of their mutual energy made her melt in his arms, the heady, almost drunk feeling a little worse for her than it was for him.

Some small part of her knew that he should go after Naki…That SHE should go after Naki and tell her to mind her own damn business. But what they had started wasn’t easily interrupted…It was, as previously stated, the first time she’d exposed him to her aura like this. Did he want it ripped away from him? Narcissa could shut down the flow of energy between them, but at the moment, it would be akin to cutting her hand off... She had warned him. It would take at least ten minutes to fade on its own, for now—If they completely ignored one another. But she didn’t want that… She looked back at him, eyes even lighter still, soft and luminous… She knew what she wanted. ”Stay with me tonight.”

“Don’t leave me in the dark… Not like this. We can worry about everything else tomorrow.”

She laughed softly, when he spoke that she was understanding… That was the first she’d ever heard of that, from anyone. Was he really having that much of an effect on her? “You give me too much credit… There’s just something I want more, than to persecute a silly girl. Something more important.”, she spoke lightly, watching with a certain level of satisfaction what her request that he stay with her did to him. She could feel his heart beat still, and her own sped up.

His promise of ‘Whatever she wished’ may or may not be something he regretted come morning. But for the time being, it was exactly what she had wanted to hear—His voice making her eyes close, the sound ringing in her ears like slowly melting butter as his energy passed through her again, for the time being a cycle that would not stop…It renewed every emotion she had, nearly bringing tears to her at the intensity of it. Thankfully, she could maintain some level of dignity and they would have evaporated before being seen. She knew he could feel the same, so it left her less vulnerable—Knowing her was there with her.

Their fingers laced, and even the simple sensation of that made her sigh—Her every nerve ending on fire, begging for the cloth barriers between them to be gone. Just holding his hand wasn’t enough. Her pout returned when he mentioned ‘Not here…’, but it was less forceful, more of a reaction. She understood the practical reasons, why—Against the tree, no matter how much part of her mind was entertained by the thought, was more than likely not a sound idea. She held his hand as they walked—Fingers still laced…Unable to not be touching some part of him.

He made her feel completely intoxicated, everytime he kissed her—The taste of him driving her to deepen every kiss—Causing their energy to cycle through them faster. From him, into her. From her to him. She shared herself with him, gave of herself freely as she never did—The action pure, demanding nothing it return as her aura sought to enclose him in warmth. It spoke to him what she could never say. It begged him to come home, she was home. She was never more than a few steps behind. With the link open and wide between him, the only place she felt safe was in his arms. He soothed her, taking time to dance with her through the forest—Moving, before turning to kiss her when her body demanded it.

The feedback they were experiencing would stop when she drew herself from him—The single minded need to have, and be with one another would fade. But it wouldn’t…Disappear. Though it might not change much, because they’d enjoyed being near to one another before this. As wrong as it may have been…It was all consensual—He was all she could think of, Naki gone from her mind. Even the moon overhead paled in comparison to him… Everything did.

They reached the destination he had in mind and she paused… For a moment her vision expanding, sharpening as she took in the area. Everything seemed surreal, bathed in a faint glow. The sound of the water made a soft smile cross her features, the scent of some floral plant making her sigh in contentment—Her bright blue eyes flicking up to his from underneath dark lashes—His fingers in her hair. She could say nothing, pulled the diamond encrusted clip from her hair, tossing it too the ground as she shook her hair out—Letting it fall around her like spun gold.

He called for her, and her body responded—Arms twining around him as their eyes locked, brown clashing and melting into the lightest blue. She wanted him so badly, there was nothing, short of an invading army that could stop this. Her lips met his without hesitation, warmth and a tenderness that he would have never known from her carrying over the bond…Her hand slid up his shirt, her fingers curling slightly against him as she drew her nails teasingly down his flesh, biting his lower lip. Devouring, all consuming fire…

Yes, they should have stuck to stories of the wolf and moon… Should have returned to the bonfire. Perhaps, should have given into one another long ago.

But it was too late for that. Too late to wonder what they should have done differently, to worry about what would happen at the Academy. He didn’t just…Belong to her, that night—She belonged to him.

Yes, it was much too late.

**

The first light peaked over the mountains not far away, leaving Narcissa glittering in the mornings light. Her skin took it in, replenishing what they’d spent throughout the night. Her hair was spread about the green moss—Liquid gold, and curling at the ends, mussed completely out of any style it had been in. His voice took her from the quiet contemplation she’d been having—Her eyes opening lazily as he nibbled at her collarbone. Anywhere near her neck incredibly sensitive, she swallowed the soft moan that rose in response…

She hadn’t been sleeping, just relaxing like a pleased tabby cat in the sunlight.They hadn’t gotten much of anything in the way of sleep. She’d lost count how…Many times they’d gotten lost in one another. She leaned towards him, nude still as her hand slipped around his waist—Her head tilting to catch his lips with her own for a brief, sweet, moment.

“Are you so sure you don’t want to skip breakfast?”, she teased wantonly, her voice deeper, a little hoarse from crying out his name all night long. If they were seen…Anyone who remembered what she’d been wearing the night before, would know she was wearing the same thing anyway. There were twigs and leaves caught in her hair…She pulled back lightly, glancing at him…He looked just as rumpled as she did.

Save, he had darkening bruises that she could see—Obviously love bites. She wasn’t sure if she did or didn’t have them as well…But if he wished to hide them, she was sure she could do so with foundation, at least on herself. He had red welts across he shoulders, left from her nails…She could feel them where she touched his back. They’d marked one another thoroughly, so it seemed.

Half of her wanted to apologize…But she just couldn’t, there still, wasn’t anything at all she regretted. “Or we can take a dip in the lake…”

Her now azure blue eyes were teasing still, back to her normal color—Though they had gone pure white many times that night. She was ninety percent sure that he wouldn’t take her up on that offer, but it didn’t stop her from nibbling as the skin of his shoulder while she waited for a him to respond, enjoying the warmth of him, the scent she had come to know so well. “But if you really want breakfast…I wouldn’t want to disappoint your family…”

‘Anymore than this.’, she silently added. She didn’t have much faith that Naki had kept what she’d seen… Fire and light licking up Aren’t skin, enwrapped in the arms of the blond he’d come with—Doing god knows what, to herself.

She squirmed pleasantly when he touched her stomach, a smile crossing her lips when she felt him chills…She liked to make him react, to make him shudder, to make him moan—Christ, her mind was slowly going downhill, the longer they lay together. She took silent pride in his sore muscles, knowing that she would be feeling this for the next few days. She knew that…If she pressed him enough, she could have gotten him to stay with her a little longer—But he was right. They should get going…

She just didn’t want to leave this perfect little place.

Her gaze swept up his back warmly…Nothing at all innocent in her eyes, until they stopped on a deep red mark. Her eyes widened just faintly when she realized that there was a large ‘N’ burned into his back, surrounded by a sun. She felt for her throat, looking for the pendant that she’d worn the night before… she found it on the moss covered floor that they’d been laying on, the chain was broken, completely snapped in two.

“Well…You wanted your brand…”, she muttered under her breath. Sometime, between the first and second session—Her necklace must have broken, and the pendant must have gotten heated and fallen behind him when—Narcissa again stopped that train of thought, actually swallowing a blush when she remembered that particular moment. Anymore of that, and she would be dragging him back to the moss… And they would definitely miss breakfast.

“We’re going…Fishing?”, she questioned curiously, as if this was a foreign concept to her.. Dressing as carefully as she dared. Her legs weren’t quite cooperating with her yet, knees feeling weak—Thighs sore. She was glad she’d been wearing a dress and she wouldn’t have to hop into pants one leg at a time. Her boots were easy enough too, once she found them. “Like…To catch fish?”

Narcissa had never done that before… And honestly wasn’t sure it was something she would be able to do, without embarrassing herself terribly. She didn’t like the sound of it…But she trusted Aren to teach her, if it was necessary she learn. Her thoughts about fish were cut off when he kissed her, and she returned it easily—Feeling warmth start to flood her again, but all too soon he pulled away and she finished getting dressed.

“You mean, your Na’á would be sore if you ignored her all day…”, Narcissa returned with a faint laugh, her azure eyes shining at him. They weren’t quite as cold…More guarded than they had been the night before, but more open than they usually were. There was a softer edge to them when she looked at him—Something she found herself doing often. Orbiting around him… When he moved, she moved.

She took the hand he offered her without thought—Immediately feeling more secure with the skin to skin contact, no matter how slight. Her thumb passed over the back of his, their fingers linking. She never did find the diamond hair ornament she’d had in before—She forgot all about it by morning actually. Hearing that he brought her chocolate—She perked up at the thought of going back to what passed for civilization.

Rounding on him, she leaned towards him—Face upturned as she brushed her lips over his, teeth catching his lower lip for a moment before she let go, eyes on his through dark lashes. “The rook keeps surprising the Queen…”

“I’ll try the food first….”, she went on, almost cheekily as he lead the way back, their walk casual…But somehow perfect. Fingers laced together, a soft breeze in her hair, the air hot and dry, she was perfectly content. “But keep the chocolate close, love.”


**

The sun goddess was more than content, not to think about their return to the Academy and what it would mean. When they got back… She would have to be the cold, iron fisted leader, that as a general rule made peoples lives absolute hell. There was no rule that said a team leader and a member couldn’t…Fraternize, it wasn’t like they were professors. She would worry about the future later on…For now, she was letting the chips fall where they may.

His feelings, her feelings were so…entwined still, that she was content to follow that synched line between them all day. Narcissa…For once, wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted from this. Everything had seemed so clear the night before, when she felt as if to die if he didn’t kiss her quickly enough. All that mattered to her, was him.

But day had come, and while she didn’t regret it, she didn’t know where they stood. So she did indeed revert to their previous behavior—Teasing and infectious. She did breathe a sigh of relief when they entered his family home, and no one seemed awake. It would be less awkward to explain things if necessary while not wearing last nights clothing.

Aren seemed to read her mind, bringing her a towel…It was infact, exactly what she had wanted. She turned to thank him when his lips captured her own without warning… The kiss was brief, but it seared her deeply, ever rekindling the passion she felt that was slow to fade… She had to walk away, when they broke apart. But not without a teasing joke…One he may or may not be able to tell she was joking or not with. “You know…You could always join me in the shower.”

It was intense…Consuming in a way she couldn’t describe. Even though she had been, for the most part teasing, she felt warmth well within her at the mere thought of having him in the shower. She went to Aren’s room and grabbed her toiletries, as well as an outfit and disappeared into the bathroom. She appeared no more than forty five minutes later, dressed and hair in perfect order. She left her waist length tresses down and free. She’d risen her power to dry off from the shower.

Entering the room, she wore a short skirt—Surprisingly made of washed out denim. On her top was a white peasant blouse. The slight makeup she wore had been replaced, her lips a glossy cherry—Blue eyes shaded highlighted with something that looked like kohl—Silver color lining her eyelids. She wore a different pair of boots, similar in make—Though a paler brown. “Miss me?”, she called to him—Noting that they were still alone. She leaned towards him, hair spilling into his lap as she pressed a searing kiss to his lips, her body smelling faintly of jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla. Her skin was warm as she ran her hand down the side of his face—Kissing him deeply, as if it had been forever since she’d last seen him.

Her other hand immediately slid into his hair…She loved the way it felt between her fingertips…She seemed to love everything about him the morning, especially the way he reacted when she touched him…If they weren’t in his mothers house, she would have sat right in his lap and entertained him the rest of the morning… But God willing, she merely kissed him sincerely—Passionately.