"Playing in the Grove"

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 12th August 2014

Characters: Barenziah, Zathris
Description: Sneak off to the grove together.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 18 of Turn 7

Barenziah

Zathris

Zathris was already at the hut when Berry arrived. In fact, he'd been
there for at least a half hour or more as he didn't want his departure
and hers to coincide. In addition, he'd taken the time to head to a
couple of cotholds that very morning and visit with the holders before
detouring at the grove. A fire already spread its warmth throughout
the little cot and had reclined upon the furs to peruse some work he'd
brought with him. When the door opened, his smile was immediate and
he quickly gathered up the parchment before he stood. "You came."

Barenziah had been surprised by the note that she'd found tucked
beneath her pillow when she woke that morning. How had it even gotten
there? She held up the note as she walked into the hunting shack, "I
came." She returned his smile as she tossed the note into the fire,
leaving no traces of evidence behind.

Zathris ignored the tiny sparks from the note and drew closer so that
barely a breath of space remained between them. "I was afraid you
might reconsider."

"And why would I do that?" She lightly ran her fingers down the front
of his tunic ass he looked up at him.

He resisted the urged to tear every piece of fabric from her body and
just take her right then and there. "Because." He murmured as he
lowered his head so that his lips just ever so lightly grazed hers.
"You might have had a change of heart."

"I'm afraid my heart is no longer my own." She searched his eyes as
their breath mingled, "It's yours." Barenziah closed the distance
between their lips, kissing him softly.

He could not longer contain himself and he enveloped her in his
embrace. As he tugged her down to join him on the furs, his hands
worked at her clothing, untying and removing it, then tossing it to
the side once it was out of the way. Once she was completely
unclothed, he lay her down and reclined beside her. "You still sure
about this?"

"Zathris!" Barenziah laughed, and shook her head, "If you don't shut
up and make love to me I'm going to kick you out of the hut and into
the cold." She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair,
combing the strands back away from his face.

Well he wasn't going to argue with that. Zathris leaned down to cover
her mouth as his hands trailed over her shoulder and arm to trace a
path down her hip and play at her thigh. He pressed in close to her,
then kissed a path to her ear so he could whisper. "I seem to be at a
disadvantage. Mind helping me with some fabric that seems to be in
the way?"

Barenziah grinned in response, her fingers tugging the hem of his
tunic out of his pants, and then making quick work of the buttons.
Pushing the material over his shoulders, she lightly raked her
fingernails down his torso as they traveled on their way to the laces
on the front of his trousers, "These will definitely be in the way."
She said as she dipped her hand inside the waistband of his pants, a
gleam in her blue eyes before pushing them down over his hips.

Zathris inhaled sharply then growled as he writhed a little to help
her relieve him of his pants. "You're asking for it, woman." He
hissed before cutting off any response with his mouth as his hand
wandered away from her thigh to return the favour.

"Good." She growled in return as she hooked her leg over his waist,
her fingers twisting in his hair.

*****

Zathris lay content, one arm curled beneath and around the succulent
body of the fire-headed woman while the other allowed his fingers to
lightly trail up and down her side and over her hip, then back again.
He placed a gentle kiss upon the top of her head. "So tell me about
your day." Now that physical desires were quelled, his thoughts
turned to other things about her.

"Spent some time with my mother today. She was having some ladies over
for cards so I helped her get the table set up, and some refreshments
ready." Barenziah rolled her eyes a bit, "These women take their game
of cards pretty seriously. But, with children all grown up and away,
what else do they have to do?" She shrugged a little, "Then I spent a
while in my room trying to decide what to wear out here," there was a
smile in her voice, "before figuring that you probably wouldn't care."

"Nope, not really." Oh there were times a specific outfit on her
might catch his eye, but in that particularly instance, he'd planned
to just rip it off of her as soon as she'd arrived so there was no
point in primping. "I think I prefer what you're wearing now."

"Yeah? I think I do too." Barenziah smiled as she snuggled into his
warm side, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She tried not to think about
the future when they were together. Questions like, "what were they
doing" and "where was this going" only served to cause her pain and
panic. It couldn't last forever, but she wanted to revel in every
moment of it while she could.

"Do you like card games?" Games were a good way to while away the
hours, but also just to spend time with someone. "Or do you prefer
other pursuits beyond that of fighting?"

"They're okay, but I prefer to read if I have to be indoors. I, of
course, know how to sew and knit but you will never catch me doing
that. Maybe when I am old with white hair." Barenziah with a chuckle,
"And what about the Lord Holder? What else does he do?"

"Ride. I like to play a good game of chess. Ever play chess?"
Zathris craned his neck down to peer at her. There was so much he
knew and so much he didn't about her. He was glad they had quiet
moments like that, to learn more about each other.

Barenziah rubbed an idle circle across his skin, "Yes, my father was
adamant growing up that my brother know how to play it. Said it was
'the man's game' and that it would come in handy for a 'future captain
of the guards'." She imitated her father's voice. "So of course I
watched and learned while my father taught Rynthian and then when my
father was away Rynthian and I would play."

"Ah, so you must enjoy it to play out outside of your father's
influence." Zathris deduced with a glint in his eyes. "Should I
challenge you to a game some time?"

"Only if you wish to lose my Lord." Barenziah grinned up at him.

"Ho ho ho, the woman is confident. I guess we'll see, won't we?"
Zathris propped himself upon his elbow and grinned down at her.
"Who's to say you wouldn't lose to me, hm?"

"Because for every one of my pawns you capture I will take off an
article of clothing... How long do you think your concentration will
hold out?" She traced her finger along his jaw.

"Ah, but you see, that would give me even more motivation to win." He
let his fingers trail over her hip and abdomen to play at her breast.
"Because I would surely work toward that prize."

The touch of his fingers left electric tingles shivering across her
skin, "Well, since you told me that. I would just have to play the
game in reverse then. Adding a layer of clothing with each of my pawns
that you capture."

"That's not fair." Zathris nipped lightly at her nose then let his
hand wander again to draw circles around her naval. "I'm not sure you
know how to play fair."

Barenziah's smile widened, "Looks like you have figured out my secret."

"Yeah. I have." Zathris murmured as he let his hand drift further to
tease between her legs. "I also know a few other little secrets."

The woman's legs automatically readjusted to accommodate, "Oh you do?"
Her voice had turned husky, her blue eyes hooded.

"I do indeed."

Last updated on the September 17th 2014

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"Playing in the Grove"