Spirits of the Earth

"I'll wear the blue one, Mr. Delancey adores me in blue, and he'll be the first man I escort this afternoon. And that lace, yes that one with the pearls, we'll use that to help keep half my hair up. Mr. Delancey also likes it when my hair is down. He likes to smell it." She gave a roll of her eyes when her servant gave her a knowing look. "Which reminds me, two extra sprays with perfume ought to do. In the back of my hair, yes, like that. Oh.. what am I telling you for?" Renna said with a sigh and shake of her head. "We've been doing this for years now, Lainy. But yes.. come, come, the corset needs to be tighter. All the men like their women with small waists and ample bosoms." And as she turned around she drew her hair over her shoulder and waited for her maid to cinch her tight.

It had been a good long year, too long in fact, (and perhaps, one could count it was MANY years) and with the out break of war, amongst other things, was paying it's toll on the poor courtesan. It seemed the market for men escorts was sky rocketing, while the one for women was dwindling. Though she had only lost two clientele, it was enough to start hurting her income, and she had to start looking for more men if she was to sustain this sort of life- and to keep herself close to Oakley.

Things had been going good for them- except the terrible fight they had had after this wedding. But she always felt foolish for it. Oakley couldn't help his position in life any more than she could. But that didn't stop her from being jealous. And with news he had a child, she had grown quiet and distant from him. She penned him, saying her excuse was 'He should spend time with his child.' But in all honesty, she was rethinking everything in her life. Yes, she adored and loved Oakley Brennick with her entire being-
but now that he was a father, things....
Seemed different, and she wasn't rightly sure it was fair to his child for them to be fooling around. He needed a respectable father, or so her aunt lectured.

Somehow her aunt had survived all of this years. She had gotten uglier as the years passed, appearing much like a crow. Though it was said this illness woud be the death of her, the poor old woman held on, seeming to want to continue to dictate Renna's life as much as she could. But it must've been her time to go, for the moment Renna thew on her bonnet and stepped out into the daylight, a man approached from a carriage and informed her-

"Your Aunt Maudy is dead."


The day went on as usual, she in her bouncy blue colors while bouncing on Mr. Delancey's lap. Then later that afternoon she met up with Mr. Quiggly, who couldn't just have a quicky in his study, no- of course not. He had some grand scheme to have her all tied up for that afternoon, and not that she was finally free to go and see to her Aunt's estate, she was itching at the rope burns and huffing about as she made her way into the house.

It was odd to see it, nothing seemed out of place, except on the bed her Aunt lay, unmoving, and quite cold and white. She stared listlessly at the woman's corpse for a time before sighing and ordering Lainy to cancel all of her appointments for the week as she went about preparing things for the funeral and the wake.

And it seemed just about everyone showed up for it- but most of them just wanting to pay their respects to Renna, for not many liked Maudy, but Renna herself was seen as a rare jewel, even to those who hadn't been her client, and so she was not surprised to see both Mr. Delancey and Mr. Quiggly in attendance as she politely entertained them both and went about the house mingling among all of the guests.

SO she should not have been surprised to see him- but had it not been so long...
she would not have acted the way she did. For the moment she caught sight of Oakley Brennick, she dropped her cup of tea as it landed with a clank and splash at her feet. And only then did she make a fuss and ask her servant to clean it up, before she exclaimed how she wasn't feeling well, and disappeared up the steps and away from the stuffy crowd.

She had been prepared to face her Aunt's death- but NOT to see Oakley again. At least not yet. And oh, how was she to explain herself!? They had made so many promises, yet here she was- shying away from him out of fear things should, would, ought to change because he had become a father-

and it was at this thought she finally found herself crying when, all throughout he funeral, she hadn't shed a single tear.

He didn't know why he was here, in all honesty.  He had just as many other important places to be.  And if he were to continue being honest with himself, Oakley at all didn't even like the woman that most people knew as "Aunt Maudy."  In fact, if it wasn't for her, he would likely have led a very different life than he was right now.  Well, that wasn't exactly fair of him.  If anything, Oakley knew the direction of his life wasn't entirely her fault – though Ansgar smite him now, if he ever were to free her from blame – and he knew Michael Brennick, his father, had just as much a part in it as she did.  Perhaps more so than she.  He'd never had the guts he knew Charles had to stand up to him, to speak his mind.  Or even Brandur – "Bren" – for that matter.

Oakley sighed, burying his nose in his drink and licked his lips quietly as he stayed in his little corner.  In fact he knew the only reason he was here was to pay his last respects, even if he did hate the bitch.  Despite the birth of his child, he had plenty to be unhappy about these days.  Michael had taken sick, at least he wasn't the usual enormity of strength Oakley had been accustomed too.  Charles was as stuck-up as ever, and Bren...well, that didn't need any explanation at all.

It wasn't often Oakley allowed himself to become so bitter, despite the fact there were few things he ever looked forward to in life.  He still had his garden, he had his wife, and his daughter and for most men that would be enough.  But even now, in the cusp of his twenties, he was feeling the weight of life suddenly penning him in upon his set course.  And like always, there was nothing he could do about it.  Where that might not have bothered him in years before, now he felt exhausted, breathless, and trapped.

He hadn't noticed Renna saw him, for he was in tuned out conversation with an old woman who was sobbing into a napkin and blew her nose loudly in his ear.  "That's nice," he murmured and patted her on the shoulder though he didn't really know what she was talking about and he departed from her company.  At his words, however, he suspected what he said wasn't at all taken well and she only sobbed harder.  Well, he supposed the seclusion of the library would be better suited for one such as he.

And that's exactly where he went.

She needed air, and she needed it now. Throwing open the doors to her balcony, she rushed outside. But she only got a few feet before she gasped at the presence of another woman out there, and accidently knocked over one of the flowers she had been attending to for years now- a gift from Oakley. And it just so happened the pot smashed just outside the library window, all the while Renna was exclaiming, "Jinai!"

The blonde haired woman smirked as she puffed away at some opiate laced drug.
"Hey, Renna. She blew a casual breath of smoke her way." Hope you don't mind I came. I wasn't sure exactly how to go about getting into the place, so I climbed in through the balcony.

Renna blinked, and hurriedly brushed at her tears. That of which made the other woman make a face.

"You ain't crying now are ya? I thought your Aunt was a bitch."

Renna gave a light laugh to that comment and continued to brush her tears away.
"Yes, you're right. But it's hardly tears for her I shed."

Oakley had been pouring through a peculiar book when he saw the smashed flower pot on the other side of the library gazebo just outside door.  He didn't pay much attention to it however as he turned back to the book and settled into a heavy chair.  He did jump however when he heard a voice out from behind him.

"The Two Lives of Sir Edward Everain," Jude read from across the room as he approached with his own wine glass in hand.  He settled down into a chair across from Oakley and he smiled at the young man.  "Now, now, no need to be shy.  I'm here to pay my respects, same as you Master Brennick."  Jude bowed his head.

"Oh, sorry, Mr. Armand.  I didn't expect anyone to show up in here as well.  I can't help but feeling I don't know half the people in this place," Oakley said with a shrug.

"Nobody ever does," Jude sympathized and took a sip of wine.  "You see, some people come here because they actually care, and the others, well they show up to make a show of it and to see who they can get closer too and who they can stiff.  If you'll pardon my phrasing."

Oakley gave a sheepish laugh and looked back at his book.  "If it weren't for Maudy, maybe I'd be married to Renna, y'know," he commented in a light voice.

"Maybe," Jude said with a nod.  "But I'm sure your father would have found some way or reason to keep you apart.  He never did like that girl, or her family.  Everbody knows it."

"Yeah, then who are you crying over?" Jinai asked directly, and Renna sighed and turned away, frowning as she realized the flower had been smashed. "OH!" ANd she rushed away, down the steps nad then outside, scrambling to keep the flower together while more tears were being shed.

Jinai peered down at her, still smoking away at her opiate.
"Don't you need a pot or something for that?" But at suhc a suggestion, the girl broke down in sobs again, causing Jinai's frown to deepen. Great, she wasn't expecting to have to actually comfort anyone.

"Here, I'll bring a pot down." And a moment later, she was beside Renna, who was still crying away over the plant.

Jude frowned thoughtfully at Oakley and shrugged.  "Women.  Who's to say a man has to understand them to appreciate them," he said idly, downing the rest of his glass.

"But she just stopped talking to me, and...well, I guess you're right.  I mean, it all happened kind've fast, the wedding and the baby and now...I just feel so bad.  I wish there was something I could say to her or do for her to show her I didn't forget.  But when someone pushes you away, how can you do anything about it?"  Oakley didn't even see the woman outside of the glass door sobbing over the flower and he shrugged again.

"I figured she just didn't want to see me.  So I tried not to make myself more noticeable than I had to," he finished.

"Sometimes Oakley, a woman just needs her space.  But most of the time when she pushes you away, that just means she wants you to pursue even more.  And sometimes they cry over flower pots."

Oakley shrugged again and nodded in understanding, and continued to read quietly despite that, not even looking up at the window.

"So, I take it this has.nothing to do with your aunt... Oh, is it boy trouble? Just tell him to.stop.finishing so early if that's the problem. Though you can't blame him. Most men don't have stamina."

"It's not that!" Renna cried.

"Then what, is a client not paying you..."

Renna shook her head.
"No, no... It is Oakley but I... I don't know. I just feel... Terrible now knowing he's married, has a child yet we.keep fooling around."

Jinai blinked, then laughed.
"Is that it? Shit, Renna, who cares if he's.got a.brat... Well, unless you're fucking in the same room the baby's trying to nap in... But I thought his.marriage was arranged anyway?"

"It was but I... And I know it sounds foolish, but I... I'm still jealous."

And Jinai laughed again.

Jude's brows raised at Oakley inherent ignorance, and he nodded to the younger man.  "Well, I'll take my leave of you then, and leave you to your book," he murmured with a bow of his head and moved toward the glass door, walking through the other side of it and closer it behind him.  Only when his eyes found Renna did Oakley's expression change and he gave a slight gasp.

But despite her state, he made no move to stand and instead remained seated as if he didn't notice her at all.

Jude looked at Jinai with hard eyes and grabbed the smoke from her mouth, throwing it to the ground and dashing it under his boot.  "That's enough of that," he snapped and turned to Renna.  "Dear, you're going to dirty your dress sitting in the soil like that."

Renna sniffled and shook her head.
"Oh, Jude. You know the dress is black. The dirt will brush off and not stain."

But Jinai glared at Jude.
"What are you doing here?" Though even she wasn't dumb enough not to know. She knew Jude would be there. It's why she stayed on the balcony, away from the crrowd.

"I'm here to support Renna," Jude said plainly, through a not-so-disguised eyeroll combined with a raised brow.  "And keep certain opportunists away from her.  Renna, dear, please don't cry.  You have yourself fussed over nothing.  You see there's a young man sitting right in there wondering if he ought to've come at all.  And I'd put money on the fact that he's even more nervous, and upset than you are.  I suppose Master Brennick just has had a lot of practice of not showing it.  But you should go talk to him.  And I will help tend to your flower."

Renna gasped as she looked up at.Jude.
"You've spoken to him? What did he say?"

"He was clearly upset from the looks of things.  He didn't think you wanted to see him anymore.  But even if he disliked your aunt, clearly, he knew he ought to pay his respects, more out of his devotion to you, than any sentiment toward her.  He said you weren't speaking to him anymore, and he's intuitive enough to know it's likely from his newfound family.  But those are my words, I suppose.  You should speak to him, find out for yourself."

Renna's lips remained open for a time as she digested those words. She knew Oakley well enough as to why he'd come. And only Oakley would be so brave to appear yet shy away from.her at the same time. But she only had her self.to. blame. She was so outwardly voicing her opinions and her own woes, she knew she was guilty for, on more than one occassion, did she upset Oakley even knowing how he was. He wasn't anything like her, and having grown up with him, she knew him better than most. It still didn't mean it didn't hurt.
"He always did enjoy the quiet..." She said softly, still hesitant to.approach him, even as she noted his form from.the window.

Oakley did his best to refrain from looking up at her though he could see her from the corner of his eye.  Jude on the other hand moved beside Renna and put an arm around her waist.  "Though he doesn't seem it, he's quite anxious to see you again, after all that has happened.  He's quite sure you hate his guts," Jude murmured and gave her a squeeze.  "Go on, now, speak to him."

Jude leaned in and kissed her cheek before turning around and tending to the work of setting the flower back into a new pot.  "Get off your big butt, Jinai, and give me a hand."

"Yes, alright," she said with a nod, and peered just once inside before slipping into the library. Upon seeing okaley shifting so uneasily upon the settee, she gave him a small smile and a ,"Hey."

While.elsewhere, Jinai cut Jude a look.
"You know that was a perfectly good cigarette."

Oakley's eyes were hidden behind a puff of curly hair when he finally turned to her and blinked a little.  "Hi," he murmured and gently closed the book, turning his attention fully to Renna.  "How are...you doing?"

Jude peered up at Jinai and gave her a smirk.  "I'm sure I have something better you could be puffing your lips on," he muttered, scooping the dirt up and filling the pot with it before completely repotting the flower.

"See? You did it all yourself!" Jinai said with a laugh. "And I ain'tkissing your ass, so don't get any ideas."

-----

Renna gave a small smile and took a seat beside him and peered up into his warm eyes.
"Not well." she said, her eyes still a bit red from crying. "I've missed you."

Oakley instinctively took her hands in his and squeezed them.  "I'm sorry Renna...but you never answered any of my letters," he murmured with a deep frown.  "I thought you didn't want to see me ever again."

--

Jude took a handful of unused soil and threw it at Jinai's ass, staining her bottom with it and smirking at her all the same.

"That's because I didn't," she said, hot tears beginning to trail down her cheeks as she looked into his face. "Oh, Oakley, I've been acting so foolish. But I can not help but feel a suffocation beneath this guilt. We sneak around, meeting in the dark, behind backs....  and now you're father. You've got a child, Oakley. How is that far to your child to have a father who can't be supporting of his wife?"

She had grown up lucky- her parents had loved one another, and to think of things in any other light made her tremble as a few more tears rolled down her cheeks.
"And Aunt Maudy never stopped hounding me over it... even until the day she died."


~~~

Jinai gasped.
"JUDE! What the hell are you doing!?" And in retaliation, she threw dirt at his head.

Oakley dropped his head.  "I wish you were my wife," he murmured.  "I wish you were the mother of my child," he added all the same.  "I love her too, my daughter, as much as I could love any child.  But..."  He shook his head.  "Just because so much happened, doesn't mean I wanted to stop seeing you.  But I don't want to feel like those other men who hire you, who neglect their families, their children.  I didn't even want to get married."

--
Jude turned her around and threw more dirt at her butt, before vaulting off into the bushes.

"I know, Oakley. I Know." And here, she took his hand and squeezed them lightly while peering up into his eyes. "And I wish I never had to have those men. Often times I have to pretend they're you, or else I'd go crazy. But by Ansgar's name, Oakley.... if only we were to live in another life."
Now the tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably as she tried to ignore them. "I know it's not fair to be angry with you for so much. You're about as much as a prisoner of your life as I am with mine. But... it does not mean it still does not hurt. And I can only ever imagine how you felt like all of those years, knowing what I had to do, every day just to pay the bills."
And now there were too many tears for her to even see him as she turned away and trie dto brush them off on her sleeve.

~~~

And Jinai tried to follow after him, but she was so high on opiates, she tripped over the bushes and landed within them- laughing like a hyena-
and people were beginnign to stare.

Oakley never considered himself a strong man, but for the life of him, he couldn't bear to watch Renna cry or suffer even more, so he did the only thing that came naturally to him and his arms went around her, even as she tried to hide them, brush her tears away.  He came forward and hugged her too him, putting her head underneath his chin.

--
Jude found Jinai and put a hand over her mouth.  "Shush...people are going to talk.  And we want to surprise them when we fuck in the bushes.  You can't let them see your face, remember?" he murmured.

Too bad for Jude, Jinai's opiates were kicking in full time and she was laughing like a crazy person, all the while Renna was sobbing as she hugged onto Oakley.

"I'm sorry. I know we've been through all of this..  I just never realized how much it would hurt to realize you have a life with someone else."

"Reality does have a way of hitting us the hardest, I guess," Oakley breathed through sobs of his own, but tears did not yet break through his eyes.  Instead he just hugged her and rubbed her back long enough to sufficiently feel and reassure himself that she was truly there beside him, and this wasn't all just some bad dream.

Meanwhile Jude was rolling around in the bushes with Jinai, effectively sitting on her to keep her relatively in place.

"Oh, look at me, crying over my own loss when my Aunt is dead and you... I should be happy for you you have a child," she said, sniffling and trying to brush away her tears. "How is your wife doing? I know child birth can be very hard on a woman."

Oakley sobered at the change of subject and he brushed a set of curls out of his face.  "Andreya is doing much better since the baby was born.  Her hips were a little too narrow for the task but she was determined to get our daughter out of her."  He laughed a little at his choice of wordings.  But it quickly faded.  "But it took its toll on her, yes."

Renna tried to smile, but her lips quivered and it was evident that it was forced.
"I bet witnessing the birth of your daughter was beautiful. Your wife must be very happy."

Oakley squeezed her hand and gave her a small nod.  "We both are. I love Lysabet, and I know if you met her, you'd fall instantly in love with that little girl too," he said with a smile.   But he quickly sobered.  "But I've missed you more than anything...I still think of you most of the day.  Sometimes it's hard to get anything done."

She knew she would too. Which is why things were getting harder and harder for her to cope.
She blinked back a few tears and nodded, averting his gaze.
"I probably would," she whispered. "Everything you ever touch is warmed by your gift. I have no doubt your daughter basks in the same love and attention you pay to your flowers."
A love and devotion she knew she could never have, even if it were what they both had wanted.

Oakley ducked his head for a few seconds.  "I am a bit shamed, I'm afraid.  With all that's happened, I haven't been able to keep up with my garden as I used to.  Some of the flowers are dying."

At such a admittance, Renna's eyes went wide, but then she peered away from him, eyes ever thoughtful as they wavered. Then slowly, a sad smile crept across her lips.
"That's because you've found something to love more than flowers," she whispered. "Your child. I bet she is truly Ansgar's gift."

He'd thought of it that way once or twice, but he wasn't in the habit of foregoing something in which he had loved all his life, even in the face of his family.  Perhaps it was still that stubborn attachment to his youth, that innocence he had always known and his eyes turned down, looking at the table instead and he frowned.  "Yeah," he replied distantly.  "She is.  She really is beautiful."

"How long will you be visiting?" she asked softly, after their conversation had drifted into silence.

"Not long, I don't think," Oakley admitted with a soft sigh.  He gave a forced smile and looked up at her.  "But it was nice to see you again."

"Yeah, considering the circumstance..." She said with a sigh and roll of her eyes. "So I suppose we don't have much time then?" She said, finding her own hands gently touching his.

Oakley raised his head, looking in her eyes for a moment and giving a small smile.  His face had grown mostly out of that boyish simper, from the usual blushes and matured in steeper angles into dawned manhood.  "Is there someplace we can take a walk?" he asked softly, squeezing her hands.  "Privately."

"Yes, in the gardens ."She moved towards the door, but slowly, sparing him but one small glance. "I really did miss you, Oakley. And I don't think I realized just.how much until we were near."

Oakley nodded to her as he followed her out into the garden.  The air was silent except for the soft chirp of crickets and the call of night birds...and the gentle purrs and moans from Jude and Jinai in the bushes.  Oakley did blush then and held Renna's hand all that tighter to him.  "Did they say how your aunt passed?" he asked softly.  "I hope she didn't suffer."

Renna pursed her lips.
"I hope she did suffer! After all the pain she caused me!" Renna said bitterly, while blinking back tears and ignoring the activity in the bushes.

Oakley didn't even flinch when she said that.  He squeezed her hand and nodded.  He tried to have no ill will toward anyone, but some were harder than most.  "So how have you been, short from dancing on her grave I mean?" Oakley said with a small grin, but it quickly faded.

Renna sighed, trying to reign in her temper before she turned to Oakley and stopped in a small corner of the gardens.
"Missing you mostly."

Oakley took both of her hands in his and he pulled her into his arms.  He wrapped them around her shoulders and hugged her to him.  "Let's not keep missing each other then," he murmured.

"Oh, Oakley. But I feel even more guilty now wanting to take your time." She shook her head at the idea, and to try to get her tears to stop, but it didn't work.

"I'm sorry you feel that way.  But how could you be wanting of my time when it should have been yours to begin with..."  Oakley felt her quiver and held her all that much tighter.  "Oh...we should have run away together.  Nevermind family names or reputations..."

"But that's not fair to your child, Oakley," she said, peering up at him as her blue eyes threatened to spill tears.

"But yes.." she then added, after a time. "Maybe we should have."
But that was neither here or there, and the time had come and passed. It was too late for such things now. Both were now committed assets to their world.

Oakley squeezed her tightly and kissed her cheek.  "But we have each other now...  I love you so much Renna...  I never want to lose you from my life."

Renna's lips trembled, a few tears escaping down her face.
"Damn you, Oakley," she said, stealing a much needed kiss to his lips. "Damn you for loving me." ANd she smoothed her hands down the lapels of his jacket, before holding onto him and pulling him in close, this time,t he kiss much more intense, and much more full of need.

His head tilted to the side as their kiss deepened and his arms held the small of her back.  "Oh Renna.  A kiss like that takes me back to the first time we made love.  In the trees beyond the orchard."

Renna trembled at such words.
"It was a sweet memory," she said, fresh tears sparkling in her eyes.

"And I will treasure it always," he said with a chuckle. "But we'll make new memories together."

Renna looked up into his eyes, an eagerness wavering in the depths of her tears.
"Do you promise?"

"With all my heart and soul," he murmured with a nod.  And he kissed her fierce.

Renna let out a soft moan, her heart now fluttering inside her throat as that very kiss stole her breath away. And only when she had a moment away from their sudden series of heated kisses, did she breath, "Oh, Oakley," as soft fingers came gently stroking down his cheek.

Oakley smiled down at her and covered her hands with his, holding them lightly. "Will you," he began, his breath soft, leaning in closer to her, "show me your garden...?"

At such a question, Renna's heart fluttered and she looked bashfully away.
"Oh, it's nothing as grand as yours."

[I think he means your other graden, Renna. ;D]

Oakley's smile grew coy and his hands slid down her arms and body toward her waist.  "Are you certain of that?" he murmured.  "I'd love if you gave me a tour."

Renna continued to look bashful, fingers playing with his when she paused, observing his gaze. Her expression twisted, brows raising as she.noticed a particular dance to his eyes. It was then she got his drift and nudged his side.
"Oakley!"

Oakley grinned and squeezed her hands.  "What?" he chuckled and brush his lips to her cheek.  "Did I say something wrong?"  His hands played with her fingers much in the way she did and he only smiled gently.  "So...will you show it to me?"

Renna's cheeks turned even pinker.
"I... don't know if that's such a good idea, Oakley," she said. "Because I think someone already had the bright idea." And as if on cue, Jinai let out a cry of ecstasy that echoed across the gardens.
"But... I do think I have a... unoccupied section over here. Come on." And she took his hands and pulled him along, laughing as they both would barely be able to fit behind a bush. And here, she sunk down low, on her knees practically as she tucked back some of her red, curly hair.

"Oakley, this is like before, when we were young and sneaking around." And then she leaned in real close so that their noses almost touched.
"So what do you plan on doing with me?" she asked, giving him a knowing and coy grin. "I mean you do have me all to yourself finally..."

Oakley did blush at the sound of Jinai's cry.  But he turned positively cherry when he heard Jude soon afterward.

"Not so loud," Jude said.  "We're in Renna's house!"

Oakley turned back to Renna and followed her to the empty spot in the bush.  He smiled and got down on his knees beside her.  His hands moved up to her shoulders and held her still for that moment.

"Plan?  You make it sound like my  motives are less than pure, my lady..." he snickered but his smile only grew.  "I mean to kiss you.  All over.  Here."  He dropped the shoulder strap of her dress and replaced it with his lips on her skin and that was soon followed by the other.  "And here."  And he leaned down to kiss the base of her throat.  "And especially here."

Renna felt a burning not only on her cheeks, but between her legs and a fluttering within her that tickled through her veins.
"Oakley.." she breathed softly, eyes fluttering closed at the attentions of his lips upon her skin. It felt so soft and sweet, and made her lightly shiver. Where as before the pair had once been so uncertain in this territory that they trekked, the years had taught them much, especially in the intimate details of what the other one liked. And that was the one thing that kept Renna sane when bedding so many men. She just pretended they were all him. Or at least she tried as best she could. But now that she was to finally be with him again, to feel these kisses, to taste his real flesh, it made her whimper as a hand smoothed up his thigh.

Oakley pressed his lips even closer to her neck and kissed down toward the base of her throat, at the mention of his name.  "I missed you so much Renna," he murmured as he brought his lips up to her mouth once again. 

His lips to her neck made her shiver, and at his words, she released a soft whimpering breath, which was stolen away the moment their lips sealed together.
"Oh, Oakley. I love you. I truly love you. Even if I'm a fool for it."

"Then let us both be fools," Oakley said before stealing her lips.  His arms wrapped around her fiercely with all the held in passion he had found trapped inside him.

Renna whimpered beneath the kiss, and felt herself melting at his phrases.
"But I already hear two fools out here.."
For it was true, Jinai and Jude weren't exactly being any quieter than they had been moments ago. But then after a wild cry from Jinai, all went quiet and Renna gave Oakley a knowing smile before capturing his lips within her own.

Oakley had forced Jude and Jinai out of mind when Renna kissed him at last.  He laid down at his side, letting her lay across him.  He didn't care if he dirtied his jacket, his shirt, or anything else.  As long as he was with her.

Renna smiled warmly through the kiss, leaning into him, pressing over him, and closing her eyes lightly to revel in the sweet, surrendering moment.

Oakley turned his head, deepening the kiss and pushing up the back of her dress, feeling along her thighs underneath.  He felt his groin ache with anticipation.  "Gods, Renna," he breathed.  "You feel just like how I remember."

Renna moaned and gasped through their kisses as his hands found their way up her skirt, her own hands smoothing up his back and pulling at his shirt.
"You think so?"s he whispered against his lips hotly. "I'd thought you would have noticed I gain a little weight," she added with a subtle blush. "I mean.. my curves all over are a bit more.. pronounced now."

"If I noticed," he sighed, "I'm too much of a gentleman to have said anything. Except to state that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."  Oakley pulled at her lips with his, his hands finding her hips underneath her skirt and feeling down along her ass, holding her to him.  "Wow, you did fill out."

"What happened to being a gentleman?" She asked, giggling against his lips.

"Oh did I say gentleman?" he laughed.  "I meant absolute cad and lech." Even he couldn't even keep a straight face ay that and laughed against her lips.

Renna was giggling too, which made her ticklish now at his touches as she wriggled beneath him in attempts to free her 'curves' from his clutches.

But his arms sealed around her like a vice.  "Oh no you don't!" he muttered and kissed her neck in fervor.

Renna let out a squeal.
"Oakley!!!" And tried to jerk out of his arms while laughing.

"Don't go away," he murmured.  "I'm not really a cad.  I don't think I could ever be."

When his fingers ceased, so did her squirming as she sighed beneath him and smiled.
"Just kiss me, Oakley Brennick. Kiss me and remind me why my heart is all yours."

Oakley's face was red from those giggles and he smiled at her.  He only hesitated for a moment before he kissed her softly, slowly, sensually. Only having gotten better with age.

Renna moaned beneath the kiss, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Her own lips replied in kind, kissing him softly, sensually, and enjoying the warmth and softness from them.

Oakley grinned against her lips and pulled at the buttons of his shirt and shrugged the jacket from his shoulders.  He was having more trouble with it than he ought to've. 

"Here," she said with a soft laugh. "Let me help you with that." And delicately, deftly, she began to pluck the buttons upon of his shirt until the front was open, exposing his skin beneath as her hand smoothed across the warm soft flesh of his body.

Oakley was no longer as shy as he once was, though his face still burned, especially since they were out in public.  He slipped out of his shirt and leaned over her, putting hands on either side of her head and holding himself up.  "I'll probably never be quite as...developed as say someone like Jude, but I think I've gotten more fit since you last saw me," he muttered with a soft laugh, and then that familiar blush colored his cheeks.

Her hands continued to smooth all over his body, lightly making noises as her hands went.
"I think you're perfect," she said, taking her lips to his neck, and gently moving south, towards his shoulder.

Oakley's breath hitched at the contact of her kisses.  He gasped lightly and turned half-lidded eyes to her.  "You really think so?  You don't think I'm to skinny?"

"No, of course not,"she said, breath splaying across his chest through kisses. "Well, maybe a little." And he'd be able to feel her smiling as she continued to trail kissing across his bare skin.

Oakley gasped again, peering down at her from his position beside her.  "You would tease me!" he protested, though it was more amused than offended.  He ran his hands through her hair and gently massaged her scalp, pushing enough hair out of the way before he leaned down to kiss at her temple, as angled as she was.

Renna smiled and lifted her head to steal a kiss from him.
"Why ever would I tease you?"she asked, but before he could reply, she kissed him. "I love you."

"So you can capture me when I'm most vulnerable," he smirked down at her.  At that open opportunity, his arms went around her and snatched on the knot of her corset, his hands expertly untying it and pulling it loose.  "Or maybe so I can capture you myself."

Renna gasped when.her corset came lose.
"Oakley!"
And perhaps it was because she spoke it too loudly, or that someone was actually looking for her, but when she heard a mans voice call her name, she gasped and clung to Oakley, growing quiet.

"Renna? Renna are you out here?"

 Oakley shielded her and covered her with his body. "Shhhh," he said and scurried further into the bushes, and dragged her along with him. 

"What if they see us?" She whispered, the top of her dress falling off as they crawled about and huddled in the bushes.

"Renna?" the man called again, walking further into the gardens when Jude suddenly popped up, trying to fix his clothes, and buttoning up his trousers.

He smiled at the man and the man stepped back.  "Excuse me," he said, flustered.  "I thought I heard Renna!"

"Renna?  No, I'm afraid she's not here.  She must be up in her chambers.  But you see the lady I'm with.  She's too...er, delicate to appreciate any witnesses other than myself.  So I'm afraid you'll have to vacate the area." Jude smirked at him and fixed his shirt, buttoning it up.

"But I heard -"

"Oh...I'm sorry sir.  I apologize on the lady's behalf for her...er, overexcitement."  The man blushed and huffed through his walrus mustache before walking away, clearly annoyed.

"Over excitement?" Jinai asked, after the man was gone as she stepped out from behind him. "Is that what you think that was?" She smirked and peered over towards the bushes where Renna and Oakley obviously were occupying. "Come on,"s he looped arms with him. "Let's see where else we can find to fuck. This place has become too crowded."

"One tries, your ladyship.  Now I agree with your plan entirely, but do you think they'll be okay?" Jude asked with a raised brow, cutting his eyes to the bushes.  But soon he smiled and shrugged.  "Yeah, I'm sure they're fine.  Now...as for you..."  He kissed her hotly and grinned like a wolf, pulling her back to the house.

"I think there might be a bed upstairs," Jinai murmured, her voice fading as the pair disappeared inside, leaving Renna and Oakley to have more privacy in he gardens.

"I... I think we're alone," Renna whispered, long after the gardens grew quiet.

Oakley peered through the roots and brambles along the garden from where they were and saw she was indeed correct.  "That was a close one," said, smiling at her.  "Now do you remember where we were?  I could have sworn it had something to do with a loose corset top."

Renna blinked and looked down, gasping to realize one breast was already exposed.
But then she chuckled and covered herself.
"Yes, I think a naughty boy untied my laces..."s he went on, giving him a coy grin. "And I think the naughty boy ought to be punished."

Oakley blushed and cocked his head at her.  "No, this naughty boy will be very good from now on.  Please don't punish him, he means well," he said with a pout.

"If he means well, then he'll take his punishment like a man." ANd here she paused to lift a finger and pointed it at her lips. "And kiss me here." And she pointed then lower. "And here." And then her finger went from her throat then to her chest. "And right here..."

Oakley raised a brow at her and leaned in.  "He would like to let you know that he is very sorry and would appreciate," he kissed her lips softly, "a little," placed a wet kiss on her neck,  "mercy."  The last word came out like a purr as he kissed the top of her chest.

Renna felt her melt at.his attentions and words.
"Show mercy?" She whispered and pointed to her lips again. "Not until the punishment is over."

His lips remained by her chest when he murmured, "And how long shall I indulge your cruelty?"  And kissed her lips again, longer this time and then her neck, lingering still and finally her chest.

"Until I say it's over," she whispered, and guided his face back to hers as she kissed him longly, hotly and full of need. And when she finally pulled away from the kiss, she looked desperately into his eyes.
"Make love to me, Oakley Brennick. Make love to me, on this day I'm finally free. Remind me that I'm yours."

Oakley looked at her warmly and suddenly smashed his lips to hers, kissing her more deeply than he ever had before, with all the passion he was capable of and peeled her from the dress.  He captured her breasts within his lips, his hands feeling along her body.  "You're always mine, Renna," he breathed against her lips at last.  "And I'm always yours."

Renna moaned, her body aching from his lips, from his touch.
And when their lips met again, she breathed against his, "I love you." And she kissed him. "I'll love you now. I'll love you forever."

Oakley moaned at her words.  "Always," he murmured as he slipped out of his trousers and slid into her, moving to her pleasure and to his.  He pulled her hips high onto his, clasping them tightly as he could.  "I love you Renna.  Forever and always."

Renna gasped when they finally connected, her moans coming out louder and louder with each of his needy thrusts. She clung to him, one hand gripping his hair, the other resting over the small of his back as she kissed him and breathed heavily between each one, moaning his name.

Oakley pushed into her with a desire he hadn't felt before, not even the last time they made love.  But he was a man now, no longer the shy boy that blushed at her flirtations and he felt stronger now in her presence.  He fucked her hard, the pants of her breath driving him on, her moans making similar noises escape from him.  "Tell me what you want Renna.  I want to make you scream."

She moaned and writhed beneath him, curling her toes and tightening her sex as he fucked her. Her hands clung around him as teeth sunk into her lip.
"But someone could hear us," she moaned.

"You're right," he moaned against her lips.  "We should go to your study, or a spare room.  Wherever we are, I want to love you just like this."

"A spare room or study? But my house is full of mourners!" she protested, laughing lightly evne as she moaned. "But anywhere would be fine so long as it's with you,"s he breathed, her eyes lightly closed. THis was simply heaven.

"You mean people who mean to trap you into a corner," Oakley grunted and smiled a little.  "Then the garden will do.  It will always be our place."

Renna melted at the phrase.
"Yes. It always has."

The garden sang of their love in the wake of shared ecstasy and when he was spent, he laid in the dirt beside her, covered here and there with smudges of soil, but he was otherwise content.  "Just like when we were teenagers," he laughed softly.  "It still doesn't seem that long ago.  Does it to you?"

"Yes... and well no. It feels like it was yesterday, but in the same breath, it feels like that was an eternity ago." She turned to peer over at Oakley, her eyes studying his face.
"You've grown up alot. Your jaw, it's really much more pronounced now. You've become quite handsome."

That familair sensation colored his cheeks and he smiled.  He couldn't help himself.  It seemed that part of him would never leave him, no matter what he tried.  "And you've blossomed into a beautiful woman, Renna," he said with sincerity.  "I knew you would be."

Renna looked up at him with those big blue eyes.
"Thank you," and she gave her chest and proud toss forward. "And I'm sure you're glad for the blossoming!" For she had become quite ample in certain areas indeed!

"Ah yes, I wouldn't be doing you much justice if I didn't compliment you on your assets," he smiled at her, putting an arm around her and leaning his head against hers.  "But if you're a lovely blossomed flower, what does that make me, chopped liver?"

"Precisely!" she told him with a laugh,a nd kissed him on the tip of his nose. "Or.. more appropriate, A stink foot."

"Well chopped liver does smell pretty bad," he laughed before he leaned in again and stole her lips away for the moment.  A soft smack brought his lips to part with hers and he smiled.  "You would call me Stink Foot after all those years."

"Of course,"she giggled. removing a lock of curly hair from his face. "Did you think I'd forget?"

"Admittedly, I was sort of hoping you would," he smirked.  "But I should've known better."

"I could never forget!" she told him, her smile broadening. "It's the nickname I gave you when I teased you. And it was silly, I know, but I didn't know any other way to show that I had feelings for you. SO I took to teasing you, calling you intimate yet ridiculous names you and I would only get the meaning of. You used to get so pink cheeked. It was cute."

"You liked me pink-cheeked?" he said with smiling eyes and his familiar blush returned to him. 

"Of course," she told him, stealing a kiss from his lips. "I always did. I knew you'd turn out handsome when you were older. And I loved every part of you, even then. Your hair, your eyes.. everything. Even your stinky feet." And she wrinkled her nose playfully as she smiled.

"My feet are not stinky!" he said mildly defensive.  He feigned a scowl before leaning in to press a strong kiss against her lips before pulling away.  "I've since cleaned up that problem!  Apothecaries are undervalued commodities."

Renna giggled.
"I think you only need to wear cleaner socks!" she teased.

"I change them often!" he grumbled, turning cherry-faced now.  "Now that's about enough of my feet we'll discuss."

"How are you going to stop me?" she playfully challenged. "I could sing about your feet all day."
And so she did!

"Oh, Stink Foot, Oh, Stink Foot.
The classiest boy I know.

Oh, Stink Foot, Oh, Stink Foot.
His stinky feet are his only woe.

Oh, Stink Foot, Oh Stink Foot.
If only I could tell you so-

That you stole my heart, and took it all apart
Now we share the same heart beat and blood flow."

"That was...horrible.  Please don't ever become a bard," Oakley said, unamused.  Yet he couldn't quite contain his easy smiles.  He was pink-cheeked and beaming ear to ear as he suddenly took his shoe and shoved it into her face.  "Since you love stinky feet so much!"

"Shall I sing it again?" she teased, but then his shoe was suddenly in her face and she yelped, quickly slapping a hand over her lips.
"Oakley! You're going to have us found out!" And she attempted to shove the shoe back into his face.

"You're the one that's squealing." he hissed and put his shoe back on.  "We should get dressed.  Before more people wander this way."

"A good idea. Can you think of the scandal if we were discovered?" she said, and giggled and turned away from him, slipping back into her dress and humming the song about her lover, Stink Foot.

"I don't really," he murmured as he shrugged back into his shirt and brushed his curls back to his face.  He was largely dressed save for his jacket as he looked at her.  "Need any help?"

"Yes, with the laces." And she turned to him, holding the front of the dress against her bosom and her hair swept over her shoulder as she waited for him to tie her in.

He'd had plenty of practice as he deftly knotted her back up and tied it in a perfect bow.  "There then.  As voluptuous as ever," he smiled at her, kissing the back of her neck after parting her hair.

Renna blushed as she smiled at him from over her shoulder.
"I should go clean up... get back to the Wake."

Oakley nodded, his expression softening.  "When can I see you again?" he asked, eyes hopeful.  "I know you have guests to attend to.  I...I should clean up to, I've got dirt everywhere."

"I ... I don't know. But we should hurry before someone comes."

Oakley did just that, looking before emerging from the bushes, fixing the collar of his shirt and brushing the dirt from his hair.  He was adjusting his buttons when he turned to Renna and helped her up as well.  "There.  Now we at least look half-decent," he smiled and patted her arm. "I shall see you later yes?  It was lovely to see you again, Renna."  He gave her arm a squeeze before quickly kissing her arm and vanishing back into the library.

The moment Renna was alone, she released a sigh of relief and worked at fixing herself up, smoothing down her hair and brushing off any dirt. And she hoped in doing so she bought enough time that her body's flush would have cooled. Then stepping out of the gardens, she returned to the party, not realizing a certain pair of eyes were upon her-

and those eyes were that of Bren Brennick.

"Fancy seeing you out here," Bren mumbled between sips of his wine.  "Still shagging my little brother I see?"

Renna nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned around to spot him, and immediately her blue eyes turned fierce.
"You have an odd way of saying hello," she quipped, not giving him the satisfaction of a haughty retort, even though she had one ready at the tip of her tongue.

Bren Brennick laughed a heavy chuckle, stepping closer to her, winking as he did so.  "I have been told I leave an impression.  I'm happy to oblige.  I'm wondering what your Aunt thought of you and Oakley.  Charming woman, she was."

"You should know her thoughts very well," Renna went on, nose to the air. "For our friendship did she not once turn her nose down upon it."
Though, ironically enough, her Aunt had no idea what sort of relationship they had shared.

"Goes to show what you know.  Then again you're a woman," Bren laughed.  "She actually thought very highly of Oakley.  She just assumed he was a little teapot if you understand my meaning."  He laughed again.  "Poor boy.  I guess he was always too soft.  Too bad his wife couldn't shape him up."

"It seems you're awfully interested in your brother. Are you jealous of him?" she found herself asking, glancing just barely in his direction.

"Jealous?  Hardly!"  He laughed loudly, throwing his head back and he shook his head.  "I feel sorry for him.  He's trapped in a loveless marriage he didn't want, with a sickly wife and an ugly brat.  What kind've man would want that life?"

That's not the part she referred to about Bren being jealous of. But she wondered if he even knew that. Rather than humor him, she chose this time in attempts to leave.
"Well, it has been a lovely talk but I must continue to mingle with the other guests..."

"Yes.  Mmmmmmmingle," he purred, raising a brow at her and sipping the rest of his drink as he watched her saunter away.

Bren always gave her a weird and uncomfortable feeling in her gut, and she couldn't get away from him fast enough. It was as if spiders were crawling on her skin, and she even brushed off the ghosted feeling as she returned to the hall. Now she was flushed for another reason, and as she scanned the area to where there was the sea of guests milling about through her home for the wake, she suddenly felt very alone, and very trapped. She didn't feel much like socializing, but she knew she hadn't a choice.

Using whatever energy she had left, she forced a smile onto her features, but it was evident something was wrong, but most would presume it was due to the courtesan's sadness over the passing of her Aunt. Little did anyone know she was shooken up by one small, short visit by Oakely's older brother.

It wasn't long after that the reception was over and all the guests quietly but slowly began to file out.  Some had lingered behind, hoping to catch a glimpse of the grieving niece, exchange cards with her, or cop a feel, reserved only for the bold.

Oakley was one of those last to leave, and he felt more and more reluctant the closer he got to the door.  He had seen Bren lingering around the parlor area a few times, talking with a few guests before getting into a sleek black carriage and having it roll off.  He didn't even speak to his brother, seeing no need for it and soon he left, he felt a great weight rolling off his shoulders.

He felt something in his hands and realized it was a small orchid head, free of stem or leaf and he cupped it gently.

OOC: I'm assuming only Bren left but Oakley is still there?

------

The moment the guests had all gone, Renna believed she had been alone, and tired went about helping her maid clean the place up. Her dog had been released from his confines (as it would not do well to have a yapping dark at a wake) and soon the little fur ball was happily jumping and pawing at Renna's dress-
when a scent caught his nose and the dog dashed off, and rushed into the parlor, where there, he jumped onto Oakley and began to lick and nip playfully at his hand.

"Bark! Bark!"

Oakley gave a yelp at the feel of paws on him and a tongue on his face. "Down!  Down!" but the dog refused to listen.

Renna knew that bark, and found herself standing in the door way as she smiled at the two.
"You know... I think Froof the poof really likes you."

Oakley peered across to Renna and gave a sheepish gulp.  "Froof the poof?" he parroted.  "Well, he's certainly a cute dog.  I didn't know you had a dog.  He must be excited for all those bothersome people to leave."  Oakley crouched down and ruffled his hands through the dog's fur and the pup playfully nipped at his hand.

"I only got him recently. My aunt was too ill to protest." And at such a revelation, she gave Oakely a sheepish smile. "He seems to like you."

"He's a doll!"  Oakley pet the dog tentatively at first before standing and peering up at Renna.  "What kind of dog is he?"

The dog continued to jump and lick at Oakely's fingers. It still wanted to be loved!
"The cute kind?" Renna went on with a smile. "I'm not sure, Lady Orvella's dog had puppies and shes' not sure who the father is, so .. I guess a mutt. But he's totally cute, and obviously the best dog EVER. Isn't he just SOOOO adorable?" She asked, lifting up the wriggling puppy to let Oakley see him again. And the puppy's tail wagged FURIOUSLY.

"He's certainly precious, I'll give him that," Oakley said, a little taken aback at the dog's constant need for affection.  He was off put as he'd never had a dog before.  His father wasn't fond of hounds, for hunting purposes or otherwise, and he'd never been allowed to have one as a child.  The pup was endearing certainly, but Oakley had no idea how to handle him.

"Is his name really Froof?"

Renna stuck her chin out, placing her hands on her hips.
"Of course! My dog would only have the quirkiest and cutest of names!"

"Honestly...he looks more like a Toby," Oakley said as he gently tried to pet the dog's head amid licks and pants.

"Maybe you look more like a Toby," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him. "Or would you prefer Stinfoot"? She know he loathed the nick name, but she couldn't help it. She loved to tease him and he was really the only boy she could get away with it on and well...
She only teased those whom she was quite fond of- and with Oakley..
she was in love with him-
Stinkfoot and all!

"Froof isn't that old either, but he's a fast learner," she went on, boasting. "He already knows his name, how to sit, come, stay, lay down and roll over. Though I'm still working on the potty training bit. He tends to like to sneak off to poop behind my piano," she said with a wistful rolling of her eyes.

"I didn't know you had a piano," he said, straightening and smiling at her as his hands idly pet her small dog.  "Did you just start, or did you always know?  I never knew you played, huh.  I've always wanted to learn to play piano too, but Michael always said Brennick men learned only useful things."

Renna gave a roll of her eyes.
"I've always known. If you're a woman and don't know music, you might as well stay home an old maid!" She gave a smirk at that and a shrug.
"Would you like me to play you something?" she said, ruffling her dogs ears as he licked at her hand, and at Oakley's.

"It's all right.  It's not necessary," Oakley said with a smile.  "I'm sure you're quite good at it.  Perhaps another time, yes?  I have a terrible headache actually.  Do you have something to drink, maybe?"

"Oh!" she said with a gasp. "You poor thing. Here, let me fetch you some water. It is much easier on you for things like this. Unless you'd prefer tea?"

"Tea will do," Oakley said with a smile and followed her to a seat.  He was immediately joined by the dog and he pawed his hand to keep him petting him.

Renna gasped when she saw Froof whining and begging for more attention from Oakley.
"Froof, really now!" she said, and paused what she was doing and scooped the puppy up. But the little dog squirmed and licked at her face, which made her giggle as she shook her head and ruffled the pup's ears.
"Ahh, what am I to do with you?" she said, then kissed the pup clean on the nose. "I can't make tea with you being so cute and begging for attention like this." And as she held onto the pup, she turned to Oakley.
"Oh.. would you mind watching him? You could take him out in the garden. He might to relieve himself anyway."

"Huh?  Oh....I-I suppose I could take him out," Oakley said as he turned to Renna once again and took the wriggling dog into his arms and was promptly assaulted with kisses and licks and Oakley laughed suddenly.  He put down Froof and motioned for the dog to follow him outside into the gardens.  He smiled at the small animal, as he wandered about his owner's gardens. 

The dog was indeed adorable and Oakley watched him with a small smile that gradually grew and grew until it was spread ear to ear.  The dog bounded around, shaking his fur and peeing by a tree before returning to Oakley for attention.  And before he knew it, the dog had persuaded the man to give in to a game of chase through her garden.

By the time tea was done, Renna stepped out into the garden. She watched for a moment before calling out, "Tea is ready!" And with a wider smirk she added, "unless you're too busy for tea now?"

Oakley ran back to her with the little dog panting behind him and wagging his tail.  "Tea sounds lovely," he said and walked inside with her, taking her hand in his.

Renna smirked. "It seems.you are both fond of gardens," she said, leading them into the house, and poured them each a cup of tea.

"Except he likes to pee and poop in them," he laughed as he sat down for tea.  He took a gentle sip.  "Delicious as always."  He sighed happily and just smiled at Renna, wishing he had married her instead of Andreya.

She noticed his look and wrinkled her nose.
"What's with that look?" she asked with a smile.

"Why didn't we get married?" he asked gently, looking at her longingly.  "Why did reputation and money matter more than our love?"

It was then her expression changed, softening and becoming more sad than it had the entire day at the funeral. And the only response she could give him was, "Because we are fools," in a breathless whisper as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Oakley reached for her hand and gripped it in his own.  "I love you Renna.  I know there shouldn't be life wasted on regrets, but I wish I had had the guts then to marry you when we were younger."  Tears bubbled in his eyes and he pressed her palm against his cheek. 

At such a profession she found herself unable to keep back a sob, as her vision blurred while tears continued.to stream down her face.

"But its too late..." He was.married... Had a family... And she? She belonged.to any.man who could afford her.

Oakley leaned in against her hand and kissed the palm of it.  "Does it have to be?  Too late I mean?"

Her lips trembled.
"You have a family, Oakley."

Oakley clenched his eyes tightly.  "You're my family," he murmured.  "I know what I have...I know it all.  But I can't help but think of what I lost."

"But we are not lost," she said, lips trembling. "So long as I can see you, hold you..."

Oakley suddenly kissed her, lunging forward and leaning her against the back of the couch, possessed with emotion and passion and anger and pain.  He shuddered, pulling away to catch his breath, panting against her lips.

She felt her heart swell as their lips met, her breath stolen. And when he parted to breath, so did she, only she moved to hungrily.claim his.lips again.

Her lips ignited a fire in him and he met hers with intensity, slipping his tongue within her mouth.  Their lips smacked as his arms snaked around her, pulling her to him with force.

Such a reaction sent a fluttering thrill through her heart, and as their kissed deepened, she found herself moaning... And then suddenly beginning to cry.
"We are fools!" She sobbed, clinging to him. "If only we had just listened to our hearts.... I would have glaldly given up my wealth, this life of scandal, just for you.... To be your wife, if even for a day."

Leave it to Oakley to become a sap for the moment.  He pressed his forehead against hers, holding her despite her sobs and trying to hold back his own tears.  He loved Renna, more than life itself and would have gladly given up everything he had - even his gardens - if it meant a lifetime with her.  The life he was raised on, they were just things, easily obtainable and quickly discarded.  He'd never cared nor paid attention to any of it.

"Let's run away," he purred against her.  "Let's get away from this awful city, this terrible country.  All of it!  Let's leave it all behind."

"Oh, Oakley," she said, holding his hand and squeezing it as tears ran down her face. "Maybe in another life. Here, we are chained to our fate. I could not take you away from your family- with your daughter so young..... And your parents would disown you. Oh, I couldn't let you become burdened over me. But..." and she laughed through tears as she still trembled. "Wouldn't it be something if we did?" And her eyes shined with fresh tears as they continued to fall.

"We should have.  We had all the impetuosity of youth, and still we resigned ourselves to our fate.  Renna...you were a fool.  And so was I.  We were beautiful fools, too stupid to realize what we had when we had the chance.  And now look at us.  Look at me," Oakley said, pulling away and slumping back against the sofa, rubbing at his eyes.  "I hate my life.  I hate my wife, my family.  I never wanted any of it.  Not a day goes by where I don't think about ending it all.  What difference would it make?"

At that, she dropped to her knees at his feet, burying her face into his lap as she sobbed.
"It would matter to me, Oakley. Knowing I at least have your heart makes every breath with it. Without you, I am nothing."

"No it wouldn't make any difference," Oakley breathed into his hands.  "All the world is keen to move on, And I'm left behind, a ghost of what was.  I don't know if I can live like that.  Without myself.  My heart is dying."

"Oh, Oakley, please... Please do not speak so irrationally. It breaks my heart we must be secretive, but even more you don't have the will to live. You are the better half of me, Oakley. You always were."

"Do you realize that my life would have played out exactly the same as it did even if I hadn't met you?  Nothing changed, nothing made any difference at all.  Renna...I know it must be hard for you to hear, but if I feel it, how can it not be true?" he muttered, burying his face against his hands.

She could only frown at him and his deductions, but despite not having words at the ready, she wrapped her arms around him and just held him close.
"I know what you mean," she whispered, keeping him close. "The life of a noble... your destiny would have been preplanned years before you were even born."

Oakley wiped away his tears though they continued to flow.  He stood, pushing Renna away and fixing the collar on his jacket.  "I am sorry.  I never should have let you see me like this," he breathed, chest aching.  He rubbed it gingerly, keeping his back to her.  "I am a coward and a fool and a ninny.  Everything my father thought I was, I am."

"That's not true, Oakley. We're all humans. We all possess weaknesses, but you are not as shameful as you think." And she reached out to take his hand, to squeeze it comfortingly if he's allow it.
"You have a good heart," she pressed. "And in this world, that's all that should matter."

At that statement, Oakley raised her hand to his face and kissed her palm, his tears ceasing for the moment.  "Oh Renna..."  He muttered the words, wanted to kiss her then, but couldn't find the gumption to do so.

He didn't have to say or do anything. The silence they shared spoke volumes before she leaned forward to kiss him soft, to kiss him deep.

Oakley whimpered against her lips.  But once the force had taken him, his hand buried itself in her hair and he kissed her hard, with need.

Her own whimper was quiet compared to his as she only paused the kiss to catch a breath before tightening the hold she had on him and kissing him with increasing need.

He grabbed her face, pulling her in close until they were one.  He drank her lips, kissing her with need.  He loved her.  Oh how he needed her now more than ever.

Renna didn't talk, in fact, it appeared as if she could scarcely breath as their kisses were so intense and deep that she was panting between each one as her hands smoothed up his back and she kept close to him, just holding him, loving him and never wanting to let him go.

"I love you Renna," he panted between kisses.  "I love you beyond all reason.  I love you more than life itself.  Despite all my regrets, you were never one of them."  He hugged her to him, and lifted her up from the sofa with a strong body that might have surprised even her.  Oakley was no longer the boy she was infatuated with, and he, though he still stumbled here and there, no longer allowed himself to be set back by awkwardness.  Not when it came to Renna.

He carried her from the sitting up, walking up the stairs to her bedchambers.

She was in fact, surprised by his sudden bridal style carrying of her and making off with her up the stairs, and the blush on her cheeks could attest to that. And as they neared the top, she found herself no longer able to contain her own joy as she confessed, "And I love you, more than life itself. Through all of my regrets, my mistakes, you were never one of them." And she leaned upwards to kiss him deep.

Oakley held her fast to him, carrying her off to her bedroom where they had often made love.  Something felt different about this time.  Something more resolute.  As if this was the way he always intended it, to carry her as his wife.

Oakely wasn't the only one who felt the newness. This diligence, this desperation coming from her lover whisked her away into their own little world with just a little more cement, the stance he took with her in his arms, final, and she couldn't help but kiss him, not caring where this path ended, just so long as she was with him.

Oakley closed the door behind them, locking out her small dog, but for his own good really.  He laid her across the bed and crawled over her, possessively, passionately, fully intent on making her his.  If fate would not let her be his wife, it could do nothing to keep them apart.  He loved her, more than he could fully express in words.  And that left it only to be expressed in body.

Their clothing didn't even need peeled away. Renna wasted no time in hiking up her skirts and deftly finding the clasps on his trousers. She could already feel his need, and once his pants were open, his warm, hard shaft spilled out and she simply guided it between her legs while kissing him, and kissing him hard.

Oakley moaned, loudly at the sensation of being within her once more.  But damn the ruffles of her dress for being in the way!  He pushed them out of the way to find her face to kiss her again as he started to move against her body.

His motions were quick, decisive but not too fast.  He made her his, and was sure to express that very notion, through every motion of his hips.

Though she was a whore, and a top class one at that, it didn't mean she was ever lucky enough to make love. Most men wanted to just fuck, to let themselves go into a pretty girl that was anything but their wife. But Oakley? Oakley was her heart, her world, and to feel him take her...
It was all the hope she needed as she kissed him back, almost whimpering from such contact.

In this moment, she was his wife.  And he her groom, and this was the first night of many in which they would be together.  Perhaps he was just a dreamer, or maybe he thought she was that missing piece that would make his life feel whole at last, but he made her his completely, taking her with slow, diligent need.  He was desperate, caged, and whatever moment of freedom he had, he would share it with her.  They were one.

If perfect could be a thing, this moment was surely it. The pair seemed so intune with their bodies that their love and ecstasy flowed like ocean waves. And as they rose and fell and met chaotically in the middle, she paused just then, nearly at her peak and told him,
"I love you ."

In the aftermath, Oakley lay beside her, his clothes a tangle and strewn all about the bed.  He was panting, hard, their antics had taken quite a lot out of him after all and he was no longer the young boy he'd once been.  He smiled, gently, as was his wont as he looked across to Renna, no words need be said.

Renna simply smiled at him, her body positively glowing. She too, said nothing as she leaned up to kiss him softly.

Oakley couldn't help it, but he smiled against her lips, kissing her back.

"You should stay the night," she told him, a hand gently brushing through his hair. "Who would miss you? You could say you were held up..."

Oakley's eyes lit up.  "Really?" he said.  "You'd let me stay?"

"My aunt just died..." she told him, smiling lightly. "I have no clients to see in the morning."

"I will stay.  I don't care what they say.  I'll stay with you as long as I can," he said with a small grin.  "I love you."

"You say that as if you have a choice," she told him, giving him q playful, predatory look.

Oakley put his hands up.  "Renna?  You got that weird look in your eye.  Renna!"

And with a yelping laugh, she clung onto him, holding him tightly and pinned him down as she kissed him, and kissed him fierce.
"Yes, scream my name!" she laughed, and continued to kiss him, moving to his neck and ear.

"Renna!" he yelped and laughed and was thrilled and scared all at once.  It reminded him of their youth, to play like this, and all his worries and sorrows slowly melted away as he crawled around underneath through the sheets.

"You can not escape!" she cried after him, easily pinning him again as she worked on giving him silly, sloppy kisses once more.

If Oakley wanted to resist, he imagined he could easily overthrow her.  But he did resist, but it was clear he wasn't doing it very hard.  It was merely a few swift motions of his head trying to dodge her kisses.  He just laughed, snorting a little bit.  "noooOOOoooooo!  You'll never take me alive!"

"Yes, Oakley Brennick, the whole world will know our love, for when the morning comes you will be the next corpse and they will announce it as death by affections." And though she was giggling still, (after all, it was hard to keep a straight face!), Renna had yet to relinquish her kissing quest upon her love.

"N-nooooo!" he howled with laughter and continued to resist.  He blew raspberries off to the side as a kiss caught onto his neck and he jerked his whole body up.  "Renna Cartiste!  Now you better listen to me, or-OR..OR ELSE!  I mean it! BWAHAHAHA!"

He could not resist. Renna had found his wrists, secured them, pinned them down,a nd began to kiss and suck and breath against his neck.

"Renna!  You are LADY!"  He howled with laughter, but the feel of her breath on his neck sent a shiver down his spine.  He quivered beneath her, even pinned down as he was.  "Renna..." but whatever he was going to say melted away from thought.

At the remark about being 'a lady', her smile spread across his skin that she still kissed. And continued to trail those kisses along his neck, collarbone, then back up to his cheeks, then lips.
And at his silence, she just kept kissing, hands finding any of his open, warm skin she could.

Oakley moaned beneath her ministrations and his breath hitched at the feel of her hands on his heated flesh.  "Oh Renna..."  At least her courtesan training had been good for something.  He opened heavy eyelids to watching her kiss along his chest, though he no longer fought her, his hands reached up to become lost in the cascade of her hair.  He sat up, just a little and pushed the remainder of her clothes away from her body.

His own clothing would be peeled away and soon the two met naturally, becoming one in a shuddering breath. Renna rolled her hips, her lips remaining open, though barely breathing, as she reveled in the sensation of him within.

The motion of her hips made his eyes roll so far back into his head he thought he saw his brain.  Oakley Brennick never considered sex would become an important part of his life, related to any pursuit, even in his marriage.  He did not want to be his brothers - least of all Bren.  But when he was with Renna, he didn't think of all that, the whole world could stop and it didn't matter. 

He kissed her breasts, mouth appreciating them as they deserved and his hands recalled the arches in her spine, her back, where his nails dug in, pressing down onto her hips with some force, so that their bodies might meet with intensity.

Like Oakley, sex wasn't what made her world go round, but if it was sex with Oakley- she was in heaven. Though her outlook might have been tainted by her profession, it did little to taint how she felt with him.
"Oh, Oakley.." she whispered soft and sweet as her hands felt up and down his body. That made her shiver, as he realized she could feel the muscles of his body, where as in their youth, his flesh had been so soft. She supposed she felt different to him as well, having blossomed and developed a lot of curves. She was no longer the skinny little thing he met, and her breasts were more than large enough to fill his hungered lips.

And hunger they did for her, kissing them and nipping them lightly as their hips met with impassioned force. "Renna," he breathed.  "Renna be mine. Forever. Please."

Renna whined through a moan as their hips met again and again.
"Anything for you.."s he whispered, fingers entangling into his hair. "I'd do anything just to be yours and only yours."

Oakley moaned and whimpered and perhaps it was the passion between them that made him completely at her mercy.  As they moved from one position to the next, Oakley coaxing her with learned expertise, he panted hard in her ear.  "Then be my wife," he murmured.

Renna trembled and felt her sex pulsate, nearly meeting her peak at such a statement.
"But.." she said between whining moans. "You're.. you're already... m-married."

"Be my wife," he pleaded, half-moaning the statement.  "We belong together.  We always did.  In mind and spirit and body, we are already married."

Renna trembled. What he said.. she knew and felt to be true. And her heart and body heated, her lips quivering as she whimpered and found herself kissing him, her sex spasming, her body shaking as she neared her peak.

"Gods.. yes... I'll do it. I'll be yours. I'll be your wife!" she exclaimed, and began to buck wildly, her sex gripping his cock so tight before it began to spasm wildly as she screamed, reaching her climax in a fervent rush of heat and need.

At long last they both lay prostrate on the bed, strewn across each other like old clothes to be discarded.  Oakley hadn't been so satisfied in months, not before all this.  For a brief moment, it felt as if they were truly free.

She thought the same, as she lay there limp and useless. But after a long moment, she turned to him and gently placed a hand on his.
"In the.morning... Let's take my Aunt's carriage and go."

Oakley turned his head curiously toward hers.  His hand returned her grip, threading his fingers into hers.  "Go?  Go where?"

Her eyes sparkled in a dance as she smiled.
"Anywhere. Anywhere but here. Let's start a new life, let's get married, and let's forget the world to create one of our own." She gave his hand a tight squeeze.

"If my Aunt's death has taught me nothing, is that we have only one life... one chance."
And so far, she felt her's had been completely fucked up. And there was so much regret, so much longing....

Why not fall prey to her desires? To her wishes? Dreams?

Oakley smiled gently at her, in his soft Oakley way.  He squeezed her hand back.  "Let's."

It was at this time, Froof was pawing at the door again, and his little nose was sniff, sniffing at the bottom of the door. He released a high pitched, whimpering whine before pawing at the door again.

"Bark!"

Renna smiled up at Oakley, then looked over at the door.
"I think Froof wasn't to know what all of the commotion was about."

"What are we going to do about the dog?  We can't drag it across wherever it is we're going," Oakley said and sat up on the bed.  He slid off the sheets and walked toward the door, and as soon as he opened it, the furry little animal zoomed through the door and jumped up onto the bed, wagging his tail and nuzzling into Renna.

Oakley smiled and considered the dog.  And the way Renna coddled over the thing as if it were a small child.  And maybe it was to a woman that would likely never have any - or any she might be allowed to keep.  The dog was her family...and Oakley had his.  He looked at his ring and frowned at his own hand.  He felt a ball forming in his throat and he slowly took the ring off.

"No more," he whispered and threw the ring into the fireplace.

Startled, Renna turned just in time to watch what he did.
"Oakley?" she asked, and Froof began to bark as the fire hissed in response to the golden ring.

"I'm free," he said.  He turned to her and his face was stern, edges sharper than they were all those years ago.  "No one decides my fate anymore.  I don't care about the consequences.  The only thing that matters is you, and my child.  No one else.  I don't care about my wife.  I don't care about my father or my brothers.  They can have everything else.   You are my wife.  You are my life."

And just then, the calling bell came ringing. It was definitely something to tear her out of the moment, which was overwhelming her to the point she felt dizzy.

She didn't turn or try to pay attention to the calling bell. It was such an odd hour. She could only hope whoever it was would come back tomorrow. She could easily pull off the excuse she was in mourning.

"But what can we do, Oakley?" she asked, sobered. "I want nothing more than what you confess to me, but where can we go? What can we do? I could never take you from your family.... and our country is at war."

The call bell came again, which made her agitated as she cast a soured look towards the hall that lead to the stairs that spiraled down and opened up to the front door- where the bell continued to ring...
and ring.

And it would keep ringing and ringing with no attention paid to it. 

"We can do what we should have done when we were young.  We can leave together! Tonight!  Tomorrow! Soon!  I can't live in agony any longer.  Let's get out of this hell?  We'll go to Serendipity.  Make a new life for ourselves."

"But Oakley..." and she paused, the ringing having stopped before she whispered. "But what if your family? Your daughter..."

"You're my family.  You always have been, and we wasted time trying to allow excuses to keep us from being happy together.  How stupid of your aunt to teach you this wasted trade, when we could have been happily married.  When your fortune and reputation could have been saved in doing so as well.  You should be my wife," he said hysterically.

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked into his eyes.
"Then let's leave. Let's leave this country. Tonight. My aunt has things I can use for money. And I have many jewelry I have no need to wear. We could easily make it into Serendipity. I know some people, and some connections to where the roads would be safe."

Not to mention... her ability.

Oakley dressed in his rushing, fixing himself up with their new plan as reassurance.  "We'll go out the back.  Forget the door, they'll go away after a while," he said and fixed his hair, slicking it back.  "I'll help you pack."

She nodded and moved towards the door.
"You handle my things. Just grab what is valuable, and also practical. I'll see what I can fetch from her things."

Moving fast, she was moving fast to pile up golden rings and emerald earrings and anything else that shined. After a while, she just dumped the drawer out, and paused a moment to see something wedged between the drawers.

Crouching lower, she narrowed her gaze and reached in- and soon came out holding a thin, blue velvet back book.

"What is that?  What do you have?" he asked.  Oakley approached her, a packed bag in hand already before he looked at the blue velvet book.

Blinking, she shook her head.
"I don't know. Maybe a diary?" And she thumbed idly through the pages.

Oakley might have been more curious had the tension not been deep in a moment like this. "We need to go, Renna.  We'll take it with us.  Quickly your trunk is just over there,"  he said. And as the case was filled with what was necessary he carried it over his shoulder and began for the stairs.

True. She could read more later. She stuffed the thing in one of her bags and moved to follow Oakley down the stairs, glancing just once back at the row of painted portraits as they went. She never thought she'd miss them, but somehow glancing at them made her realize that this was truly a goodbye to her old life, and the resentment towards it built up in her stomach like a knot.

Somewhere in the urgency of leaving, they avoided whoever was knocking on the door. And throwing everything into a carriage, whatever it would hold, they were soon on their way, flying furiously down the winding road.

Oakley couldn't say where they were going, just that they would find a new life elsewhere. Doing what he should have all those years ago.

It didn't matter how fast they were going, Renna was all nerves as she wrung her hands.
"Do you think they'll follow us? Or tell others,, tell your family if they know we've left together?"

"I don't care about my family anymore," Oakley said firmly, tiredly. "For too long I've worried what others thought and I've let it chain me from doing what it was that I loved most. Renna, you're all I've ever wanted in this world. Please tell me, we are in this together?"

Renna searched his eyes, tears threatening but they never spilled.
"Of course, Oakley," she told him, resting a cupped hand to his face. "I love you. I will always be at your side." And she took his hand into her's, and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

The carriage tore off down the road at breakneck speed and they kept going well into the night.  Oakley felt his eyes begin to slip as dawn was breaching the horizon.  He felt Renna at his side, asleep, and knew they'd soon be approaching the border of Falkenrath. 

"Renna...  We're almost there. We're almost free."

Renna opened her eyes and blinked. She peered at him, then realized it was dark. She sat up, stretching against him and the seat.

"We are?" she stifled a yawn. "How do you know?" she asked quietly.

Truthfully he didn't really know.  But his gut told him to stay positive, to not look back. Glancing to her, his arm fell around her and the horse slowed down, exhausted and although he whipped the animal again, but still it did not move.

"Shit," he whispered. "I...I just know the border is just down the road! Gods...Renna, you know...when we were young, why didn't you ask me to marry you?"