Naveen

"I will always be your friend Rina, you will never lose that now." I promised her softly. I couldn't foresee any reason why that would simply end between us, and I was quite pleased with how things had grown between us.

Rina:

I smiled softly. “Thank you for that,” I said softly. I would have returned it, but it wasn’t exactly true. He would be around far longer than I would. I was just a short time in his life. I looked up to meet his eyes, wondering if he thought of me as a child compared to him.

I searched her gaze, trying to decipher the thoughts hidden just underneath the surface. She seemed vulnerable, in her own way, and in that moment she seemed so very young. It was hard sometimes to think of humans as anything but children even when they were old and gray. My life would span dozens of hers and for a moment this all seemed so silly. Humans were the way they were because they had short lives. Short fleeting ones where they loved fast, took all they could, and tried their best to run from death.

Rina:

I looked at him for another moment then looked away again. “Shall I ring for lunch?” I asked, swinging my legs down off his lap and taking my hand back. I felt a small ache in my heart. It was something I only ever felt when I was with him, and something I tried very hard to ignore.

"I'm surprisingly starving." I was just now noticing the feeling from her mentioning food. My mind was still drawn back to thinking about the problem with human thinking. With such short lives, their emotions came quicker. Hot anger, harsh words, burning passion for love. Like the fire they so desperately clung too humans were a race of heat and sparks.

Rina:

“I’ll get right on it, my lord,” I said with a quirk of my lips. When I stood up, I couldn’t help myself and I bent to kiss him softly. It was a quick kiss and I wasn’t seeking anything from it, I simply wanted it.

I hurried away and went to ring the bell for a servant to come with lunch. Again, it was just for me, but they usually brought more than enough for two.

Huffing a laugh at her use of 'lord' I shook my head. I never wanted to be lord and she knew that. But as she ordered food and after that kiss most of all I suddenly found I didn't mind being called such so long as it came from her lips.

I watched her as she moved about, drawn to the movements of her hips and how she held herself. The robe hid enough from sight, but so too did it also offer tantalizing hints at what was beneath.

Rina:

Talon had to relocate to my bedroom when the servant brought the meal. I set it out on the table before I went to retrieve him. The day went on much the way it was this morning. He seemed more playful than usual, and he did seem relaxed which pleased me.

I was enjoying the time immensely. It was heavenly to forget about the outside world for a time and simply be with him. I felt more like myself here with him than I ever did doing anything else. I felt comfortable being me when I was alone with him, and it seemed like he felt the same way.

The day ran on and I came to enjoy every part of it along the way. This was a Rina I wasn't used to seeing, one where she seemed more herself. She didn't hide behind her protective walls, didn't put on airs just to keep up appearances. She laughed, she smiled, and I didn't need either of those to tell she was enjoying herself.

In my own way I too was finding fun in what was happening. Being able to be me was a relief. Being Talon was like wearing armor all the time. It was nice to take it off. All things had to come to an end eventually and I knew I'd have to become Talon once again. But for now I was happy with this, just the two of us without anything getting in the way.

Rina:

With dinner came a bottle of mead. The servant was going to simply pour me a glass but I requested they leave the bottle. They gave me a brief judgmental glance but nodded and left.

After dinner we sat on the sofa again and drank the mead. “Not as good as elven wine,” I commented. It was still good in my opinion, but I couldn’t help think of the first time Talon and I had slept together. I had gone to his room with some complaint, now I couldn’t remember. He offered me wine and I ended up staying and talking for some time. He told me his true name then.

"Mmm, no. But making a drink with honey is still good." I sipped from my cup, letting the sweet liquid roll across my tongue before swallowing. It wasn't nearly as potent, but it was a new taste and in it's own form refreshing.

Taking a glance her way I smiled, "Thank you for this. Today has been...wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better break."

Rina:

“You are more than welcome, Savien,” I said softly. It seemed fitting to use his true name at the moment. I scooted a little closer to him. “I thought I could run a bath for you. I’m sure it would feel good to soak in warm water after last night.” I touched his cheek lightly beside where the skin was broken.

"A bath." I leaned my head into her hand. "How long has it been since I last had a bath..." I mused while my eyes closed. It was when I stayed in my people's fortress. Here I'd been towel washing to clean myself. Or using the nearby river. "I'd love one." My eyes finally opened and I smiled at her.

Rina:

I smiled back and leaned forward to kiss him. I pulled back without another word and went to prepare the bath in my room. There was a section of the room screened off. I filled the bath with water and lit the fire place beside it to keep the area warm. I called for him to come in when it was ready.

I kissed her back, the action bringing a smile to my lips after she walked away.  She'd been more affectionate this time than I'd seen her.  Even counting after we patched our friendship after what'd happened.

Standing when I heard her call me, I stripped off my shirt as I walked towards the bedroom. Holding it between my hands as I folded it slightly within my hands.

Rina:

I stood up when he came into the screened off area. “It’s all yours,” I said. I hesitated where I was, wondering if he wanted me to leave or to stay. If truth be told, I didn’t want to leave.

"Aren't you going to join me?" I asked when I saw her hesitate. I smiled at her as I nodded towards the bathtub. "It looks big enough for two, and pampering me or not I'd never turn down the chance to share a bath with you."

Rina:

I smiled and my cheeks warmed. “Alright,” I said with a nod. “I’ll join you.” I toyed with the ties of my robe then undid them and let the silk garment fall to a pool on the floor. I wore nothing underneath. “You get in first.”

I had been undoing my belt when I heard the whisper of silk and when I turned to the source I paused as I gave her body a slow once over. A cheeky grin crossed my face as I nodded. "I can do that." My remaining clothes soon mirrored her own pool and I stood before her naked. Turning I moved to the tub, climbing up the stepstool so I could slowly sink into the warm water with a sigh.

Rina:

Before I climbed in, I had an idea and I ran to get fresh glasses of mead. I returned, handed him his glass and climbed into the tub. I situated myself so I was facing him with my legs to the side. I eyed his body and the bruises along it that had been covered before. I didn’t want to bring it up, I didn’t think he would want to talk about it anymore, but it pained me to know that he had suffered because of me.

I took the mead in confusion. "Do humans normally drink in the bath?" I took a long sip from the drink then offered it out to her. My people tended to bathe as a social thing. In the years before we'd been forced to our mountain baths were co-ed, where gauzy coverings preserved modesty to those who wished for such things. You talked with your fellows, smiled, laughed. It wasn't a place to eat or drink however and while you communicated we never lingered for too long. After we made our home the fortress we separated for baths. Males to one side, females to the other. It was simply for practicality. Most families had their own baths in the home anyway.

Rina:

“Well, I enjoy wine in the bath if I’m going to soak for a while,” I explained with a smile. We talked in the bath for a while until the mead was gone. After that I grabbed a pitched and instructed him to sit up while I washed him. I washed his hair out gently, cautious of his hurt side. I made sure each wound was cleaned. I soaped my hands and ran then slowly over his body.

"Planning on being in here a while then?" I laughed. The talk was nice, a good mix of intimacy and just companionship. When we finished the drink I followed her instructions while she washed me. This part I was entirely unused too. I'd never had someone else wash me before. And while it was surprisingly nice while she tended to my hair and wounds. Once she started running her hands slowly over my body I felt it was less about making me clean and more about feeling my body. The thought brought a smile of amusement to my face as I watched her. "Enjoying yourself?"

Rina:

I tried to hide my smile. “I’m only doing what I promised earlier,” I said softly while continuing to glide my hands over his slippery body. “That is, to serve you.” I straightened so my chest was nearly touching his and my face was only inches away from his.

"And is this purely for my benefit or are you serving two masters here?" I purred out softly as I gazed into her eyes. My eyes half closed, and I was acutely aware of how close she was, how close her chest was to my own, her lips to my own. I reached my hands out, slowly caressing and holding her hips.