Spirits of the Earth

OOC: This thread takes place after this one (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=14844.msg139129#msg139129).

Pissed was an understatement. And confused, hurt and swindled didn't do her justice either as she sat in her room, a single candle lit as she fumed over a letter she scratched with a quill drenched in ink and tried to figure out just what she wanted to say. But what could she say? These last few weeks were a landslide of emotions. First Samuel was kidnapped, then the journey to rescue him, she meets with some criminal her father knew in secret and then that same man turns out to be Ryk Handalaar, who rescued both her and her son's lives and stole her heart so many years ago.

And perhaps he might have stolen it again, had their sudden, quiet engagement not just... 'ended' the way it had; which had started off like a wild flame,  now sputtered into a soured puff of smoke. Where as before she had been afraid what would ever to happen if she truly fell for a man like Ryk, now it seemed all of her nightmares were coming true, for not two days back and there's rumors floating all over the place about Mr. Handalaar and some young noble girl. And try as she might to try to ignore them, it pained her so to think he might have used her, for whatever reason he had. He was also the leader of a group of thieves, or whatever they were. These Soot wolves... maybe he was nothing but the wolf of his alter ego's name! But oh, how she had believed him! How she wanted his confession of love to be true! And though part of her had been relieved when it all had happened, she was now wracked with anxiety over far too many things.

And they had parted in the worst of ways, where she wasn't even able to speak to him, or of him, or of this moment, or that he was Samuel father's the entire road home. She had been sick more than once over this, and due to her disappearance and illnesses, her business began to feel the effects of her emotions, and profits dropped considerably.

Little did she know other things might have been in play here, that one fluke sunken ship might not have been an accident, and a few caravans exporting goods were raided intentionally, rather than an incident of weather, as it had been documented. But she had little time to consider this, or the things that were festering beneath the surface unknowingly due to her actions- and that of the mysterious red wolf.

And as she stared at the page of paper now before her, with so many angry words scribbled in ink, she crumpled up the thing and threw it into the fire. The flames grew brighter and flared with heat as she leaned over it, a hand now draped over her green eyes as she choked back a few sobs from where she leaned against the hearth. Why did she have to have feelings for him? Why did it have to be Ryk? And how had it come to be that he know knew her most vulnerable secret? And how was she even to touch on that? Samuel had asked for days about how his father was doing, but she encouraged him to be patient, he would come.


But that was weeks ago. And even Samuel stopped asking about him, as if that whole time away was some sort of a bad dream. Though she worried for her son, and tried to ignore that time herself, but the nightmares would come.. for both him, and for her, so many nights they had spent together in the same bed. Tonight was the first night out of a string of them when he had fallen asleep in his own bed, too exhausted after an evening of play. Lightning lay at his feet, and Dylanna had watched him sleep sweetly before kissing the top of his forehead and wishing him and his wolf pup goodnight.

And now it was raining, and she, agitated beyond all belief. So when she stormed off and began to tear off her clothes behind the changing screen, she hadn't noticed the figure looming in the shadows. Boots had come off first, then her shirt, pants until she was in nothing but in her under garments that encased her soft, tanned body in a nearly translucent white shift.  And the way the candle light danced across the wall, it made the attire scandalously translucent, and it was when she reached for the fastings that she heard a sudden creak in the floor board.

Dylanna went still, holding her breath as her shirt as half peeled off, almost nearly exposing herself. Then she saw the shadow, and her heart was in her throat. Green eyes looked around desperately, but all she saw was a gilded letter opening beside her desk. She'd have to run for it, but she'd have to take the risk. Leaping out from behind the changing screen, she dashed across the wooden floors. She saw the shadow move, it was swift, something glinted and then the letter opener was in her hand. Whirling around on her bare feet, she held out her weapon in a dangerous fashion, pointing it directly at the fiend in her room.

OOC: Tags to Aeyt!

        Weeks on the road when all he wanted was to be home with her, Ryk was exhausted. He was Ryk now. The Glint Hawks and Rufus were pushed to the side, and Einin was safe for now. She was strong, and there were Wolves protecting her always. It was not often that Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant, crept so through the dark. It was important that Rufus and Ryk be kept separate though, so he wore his fine clothes, the hilts of his fine blades shining on his hips.
        Dylanna was likely angry at his absence, but there had been unforeseen complications. She'd understand. She may be stubborn and quick to anger, but she was smart. She could be pissed as long as she wanted, as long as she understood and believed the truth. Though truth be told, he made this trip only partly because he missed her and their son. There had been attacks on her business, he'd have to find out who it was and deal with them, violently.
        His fingers easily found cracks in the wall as he climbed to her window. He'd seen a light on from the distance, and knew Dylanna was likely awake. When he saw her there, at her desk, writing, at first he thought perhaps she was working, but with the anger in her scribble, and the vehemence with which she threw the crumpled sheet into the flames, he knew it was probably related to him. Such arrogance. All her anger was not necessarily due to him.
        She was undressing now, behind the screen, it was time he entered. The thought of her nude body, made him ache to be closer to her, now, without delay. Love and lust burned in his chest and his loins, and it urged him forward carelessly. A board creaked, a board he knew to avoid, but he wasn't thinking clearly. She froze, and he did too. She was likely terrified, he felt a fool. As Ryk was about to call out to her she moved, quickly, toward the dull letter opener. Not much of a weapon, but anything will do if you have the will to use it. He moved quickly to try and catch her. He didn't want her to call out. Her servants would come with haste, and he wanted nothing more than to hold her in solitude.
        Dylanna was just a bit too far for Ryk to catch her. She turned, pointing the dagger at him. The candle, behind her, allowed him to see clearly through her shift, but the positioning left him in the shadows. He slowly undid his sword belt and dropped the three blades to the ground where their gems caught the light. He stepped forward slowly until his face was in the light. He waited for the moment of recognition, and then he struck like a snake. His hand went to her wrist and turned her arm gently, but firmly aside as he swept her into his arms. He pressed his mouth to hers and held her tight to his body. He could feel the anger and fear in her melt away. It would return as soon as she was free to think again, but for the moment he enjoyed the return of his love. He mumbled through his kiss, the words half spoken into her mouth, "Oh how I've missed you."

She heard the clunk on the ground, the man's sword belt was on the floor. She peered down at it only briefly before watching the shadowed figure come forward, and instinctively, she took a step back. But the moment she saw his face in the dancing candle light, her breath was caught in her throat.

"Ryk...." She barely managed to breath out his name when he swept her up into his arms, lips meeting to hers and stealing her breath away. For a moment, her heart was fluttering, about ready to sprout wings and lift her up and out of this world. How long had it been since she had ever experienced such a kiss? She could claim never, but what she did recall from her single night she had spent with Ryk before, well...

Perhaps that had been the one and only time she had ever felt such heat or need for another being. And though she blamed it on having too many drinks of rum with him, she couldn't completely deny there wasn't something there. And though she might have been confused on her emotions, instincts kicked in as she moaned softly through the kiss.

At his words, and finally being able to breath, she felt dizzy and was flushed, her heart beating rapidly to be held so close against his body. And despite her anger, her confusion, the very moment thrilled her, despite the fear he could have been some assassin to kill her in the night. Or perhaps that only aided in her feelings as she stared at him through hazy eyes, lips gaping open as she murmured, "You... you never kissed me goodbye."

Then as reality set in, she rose the letter opener to his throat and gave him a look.
"And you left me confused as hell. Mister Handelarr, you need to explain yourself." And the look she gave him meant business.

        Ryk looked at Dylanna with a helpless grin. Most of his worry, and his trepidation, had been burned away by the heat of their brief embrace. He sat on the edge of her bed. Not a very comfortable bed, she was much too practical when it came to her personal luxury. He'd have to buy her the best mattress and bed frame he could find, maybe have them enchanted to increase the benefits of her sleep. He reached down and loosened the ties on his boots, pulling his feet free. They were aching from his lack of rest. All that running in the early morning hours had been horrible. He pulled off his thin gloves and tucked them into his boots. Finally feeling relaxed he looked at his fiancé with warmth, and clear regret.
        "I'm sorry my love," Ryk gave her a look of genuine remorse, "I was not expecting to be away from you for so long. There were highwaymen raiding across Serendipity and in Kia's Court that I had not sanctioned. It had to be dealt with immediately. The Queen's guard can't be depended on to keep the roads safe, too many politics, so I must. It took longer than expected, but the result was very beneficial." Ryk laid back onto the overly hard mattress, "And when I returned to the city, I was informed that someone important to me had been captured by that goblin that's been causing problems in the city. I had to go and rescue her. She's very excited to be meeting you. I'm not sure she'll be thrilled that I'm sharing her secret with you, but she'll get over it. Now come lay by me. I want to hold you. I have not held you, really held you, in years. Not since our one night together." He put out his arms to her without sitting up, reaching for her, and leaving space for her to fit into his embrace.
        Feeling anything at all, was very confusing for Ryk. Rather than fight it though, he acted as he had seen other behave in these situations, as he spied on them from their windows. He knew what love was supposed to look like, and so he made the effort to express it to her now, as he had seen other men do with their beloveds. He would not have affairs like those men did though. He was not interested in that fleeting companionship. Sex, had always been about what it could do for him, and for his reputation. Women, even the most chaste, had a way of opening up when he got them into bed. He'd have to find a new way to get information, but Dylanna was worth it. Being engaged, and then married, would give him a much nicer public reputation, which could hinder him, but he'd be noble now, and their marriage would merge the two most powerful merchant enterprises in Kia's Court. All the practical benefits wrapped up nicely together, made it easier to let himself feel as he did for this woman. He would forever be faithful to his Lady Swinden.
        "Please do not be cross with me. I came to you as soon as I was able."

Dylanna lowered the letter opener when he moved away, still peering at the man warily. Though she was thankful to see him come back to her in one piece (for part of her feared that crazy woman had gone after him again, and the idea of him dying actually terrified her). But now that he was back, she could not quell the doubt that had curdled inside her belly all of this time he had been away and she watched him before setting the letter opener aside and folding her arms across her chest as he spoke.

"And you expect me to believe all of this?" Her gaze hardened, though it wavered as she peered down at him. He looked exhausted. But she was still pissed and too wound up to simply go crawling back into his arms. No, emotions towards him were still skittish at best, even if they were returning from where she had buried them away so long ago. Did he not realize what emotional and mental strain he had put her through? She had been so sick with worry.....

"And even if it were true, what do you even expect me to say to that? Ryk.... it's been years. I... I still don't even know how I feel about all of this. Do you have any idea how I've even been feeling these past few years? To keep your son from you a secret, the fear of what you'd do if you knew, and now.. now all of this just happened and I'm.. I'm... just to accept it?"

She shook her head.
"And we're not married yet, Ryk." She siad, taking a seat on the chaise lounge near the bed as she folded one leg over the other. "And I'm too riled up to sleep." And she raked an exhausted hand through her hair, and then realized she was practically naked. She promptly stood up from the chaise and swept up her robe from the edge of the bed and began to throw it on over her arms before tying it tightly infront of her, her back to him now as she spoke.

"We can't just... become lovers like this Ryk... There's still too many pieces to this I don't understand." And she finally turned to him with a sigh, the worry that had been consuming her clearly written across her face. "And that night together, Ryk.. It.. it was a long time ago.." And Shamefully lowered her gaze as she thought back to it, her cheeks still burning. This wasn't exactly a conversation she was comfortable with yet, even if she had been going over it a dozen times inside her head.

        Ryk's body was heavy with exhaustion, but he could see the emotional strain written across Dylanna's face and knew he needed to be strong for her. He pulled himself up from the bed and went to her. Ryk slipped behind Dylanna and wrapped his arms around her. He held her tight against himself, and spoke softly into her ear.
        "Everything will be okay, better than okay even. Things are going to be great. We have each other, and I will keep no secrets from you. I don't expect it to be easy, I don't expect you to throw away all your fears and doubts without effort," he squeezed her just a bit harder, "I love you though Lanna, and I'll not give up on us. You deserve all my love, and our son deserves to have happy parents that only love him, more than they love each other." Ryk let her go then, and moved around to face her. "Tell me what you need from me. I'll do whatever I can to give it to you."

And there he was, holding her close, telling her things would be okay.  But would they? For even as she reveled at the sensation of him holding her so close, doubts still pulled at her and she found herself growing quiet as he moved before her. Damn him for making her eyes now wet and threatening with tears. Damn him for making her so vulnerable.

"Gods," she said, trying to fight back her tears, cheeks growing hot. "Do you even understand how difficult this is for me, Ryk?" She shook her head. "How afraid I've been all of these years to ever let myself actually love you?"

Love... Something her parents were lucky to have had and treasure. Love, its what he confessed to her in the rain after her son's rescue, after finding out the truth. Love, it was the one.thing she feared so much to have happen to her, especially with a man with such a reputation as he.  But she, like her father, always noted the good in him, even if she had always tried to deny it since her first small crush on him since the first day they met. How cruel, she remembered, to think back to such a nice evening then for her to find out later about his reputation, which crushed her feelings from the start. Otherwise, would things have been differently for how she had perceived him? And would they had married a lot sooner than now?

        "It's no easier for myself, Lanna. I have kept this feeling to myself, as I've kept all my emotions locked away. You make me weak. You make me feel. Rufus is not a man that can afford to have feelings, but now he feels. Now I feel." Ryk sat on the bed again, rested his face down into his hands. "I'm so tired Dylanna. All I want is to be with you. You and Sam are the first reason for me to do anything, besides my own survival. I need you in ways I've never wanted to need anyone. But I know we are strong enough to endure anything, no matter how hard it seems. You are your fathers daughter after all."

"About that.. Ryk I.... are you sure this is wise? I mean to get married. I had no idea you lead two lives. I don't think anyone would have guessed." She shook her head but noticed a look in his gaze and went on to inform him, "I'm not saying I don't want to. I..." She sighed, brushing feebly at some of the pesky tears that had managed to fall. "I just don't know how I'll handle this. How will you handle this? How will Sam handle this? You're marrying more than just me, Ryk. We have a son. Our son and if we're married...." Her voice trailed up before she looked up into his gaze. "There is always the possibility Sam might not end up being our only child."

She knew what sort of reputation he had, and she had talked herself into trying to accept that, however, she knew the consequences of such a thing. She'd either have to accept him sleeping around, which would eat away at her, making her hate him, or...
Well, she'd be going from having no sex life to probably an over abundance of it and well, she might be okay with that aspect (because from what she remembered of their night together, it was incredible, not that she had much of anything else to compare it to.) And recalling how she was dressed made her flush all over as she looked into his face.

"Did you mean it?" she asked him, gaze locking to his. "That you loved me. That you still love me? And when.." And here, she tried to fight back a smile. "When did you know?" ANd then she paused to consider, gaze narrowing. "Did my father know?"
Was that why he had tried to push them to get married before?

        "Did that rascal Nammick know? I'd guess he did, he was so damn perceptive," Ryk couldn't help smiling at the thought of the man. If Theo had a father like that, Ryk and Rufus would likely not exist. He surely would not be here with Dylanna, he'd be off, happy, living an average life, with a loving family. He looked deep into Lanna's eyes and took her hands in his.
        "I have fought, every day, since the moment I saw you, to not feel for you. I fought against the strength of your pull when I heard you speak. Your soul calls to mine like sirens to lost sailors, and the burning passion I feel in my chest has always been reserved for you." Ryk kissed the back of her hands then, one, then the other. "I have never loved another person in my life. Only my friendship with your father could have been called any sort of love. It seems all the love I feel is reserved for Swindens," he remembered Einin then. Another person he loved, or at least cared deeply for. Still, the people he cared for beyond his need of survival now stood at three. Einin, Dylanna, and their son, Sam. As much as he was fond of his Wolves, even Chora and Alko, he would sacrifice them for his survival. He'd die for only three living beings, four, if Nammick were alive.
        "I'm sure part of your trepidation is the Wolves, and part is the reputation of the womanizing Ryk Handelaar," his face held no mirth. Ryk knew these things were important to Dylanna, that they truly troubled her. "The Soot Wolves are my enterprise. I have been shifting their cause a bit, but they are what they are. Criminals, thugs, burglars, and the like. Rape is punishable by death where my word is law. Victimizing children is punishable by death. Unsanctioned killing is punishable by death. No crime is allowed in Kia's Court, especially Arca, unless its at the direction of the Wolves, at my direction," he paused for a moment to give her the opportunity to absorb that before he continued. As for the women, I am yours now. I swear it my love, on all I am I swear it. I will lay with no person that is not you. I will swear it on a geas." He pulled the small magic item from his vest, the one he'd had Chuck swear on. "If we put our blood on this, and you hold it while I swear, I will be bound magically to my oath until one of us dies." He offered the trinket to her then, and pointed to the letter openers sharp point.

Dylanna pushed the letter opener away from them then looked up into Ryk's eyes.
"If you're going to make a promise to me, say it in our vows. I want the promise to come from here," she told him, placing a hand over his chest. "From your heart, Ryk. Not from magics. Not from money. Not from Soot Wolves or thieves. From you, Ryk. I want to know you mean it, without some magical bond. Marriage it... it's meant to be something special. And if it's true, if you love me, then you should have no problems keeping to the vows we promise."

        Ryk found himself smiling at Dylanna again. She was amazing. So full of fear, and he'd given her a way to bond his oath, but she rather trust him than magic.
        "I love you Dylanna Swinden. I love you with all my heart. I don't need magic to keep me faithful to you. You are my first and only love. The magic was only offered so you'd not have to worry or doubt me. I am yours, forever." He dropped to his knees before her, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his face into her stomach. He kissed her there, then looked up at her from that place at her feet. "Are you serious about more children? I know its a ways off, but it sounds wonderful to me. I wish I had been there for Sam's birth. It must be amazing to feel a life growing inside you."

Dylanna flushed at such attentions, but moved to gently rake a hand through Ryk's hair. SHe wasn't used to being close to a man. The one intimate night when she got drunk with Ryk was about as close as she got. Even her 'dates' had been so plain and dull. And no man really suited her.

"It was painful," she admitted, smiling as he went on about child birth. "And I don't think I ever swore so much." And here she laughed. "But he was beautiful, to see my son for the first time.... I knew then that night we had was no accident." ANd the last part was spoken through a gentle whisper, fingers paused and curled in his hair.

"I still can't believe that had ever happened.... I... don't normally let my guard down. But you had saved me, well helped save me and my entire crew that day. Just like that and..." She hesitated. "Maybe I just have a thing for heroics but I knew then there was something different about you Ryk. Despite your reputation and the things I came to loathe, I think it was then your mask began to slip away." She paused to think it over. "Maybe that's what my Father was seeing. Maybe I was just too afraid to see it. Afraid what it might mean."

Then thinking back to having another child, she touched a hand onto her belly.
"I.... I don't know how I'd feel about another child. But to be honest, I know your reputation, Mr. Handelaar,"s he told him, both hands now gripping threateningly but playfully into his hair as she gave a smirk down at him. "I'd be surprised if you don't get me pregnant a few times."
And she could be okay with that. Perhaps turning into a other with Samuel had made her grow soft over the idea, but she knew the more children- the more responsibilities. SHe'd have to rethink about her business...

But her business was another love in her life, too. It was hard to consider walking away from it. She wasn't sure she could just be a 'mother' as a career. THen again, it seemed becoming Miss Handelaar would be a job in itself.

"So who are you tonight, coming to me as you are? Are you Ryk, or Rufus, the wolf?" And at such a question, she gave him a more playful smirk, still peering down at where he was clinging onto her and laying his head against her belly.

        Ryk kissed her stomach again. The thoughts of their child, their future children, made him very happy. Strange. He didn't want children before now. It was suddenly the best idea he'd ever had. In his joy, and his love, he picked Dylanna straight up from where he was, turned, and tossed her on her bed. He leaped upon her and buried his face in her neck, kissing her passionately. But his lust and his passion only lived for that short moment. He laid his head against her chest, abandoning the thought of ravishing her, and grew serious once more.
        "With you I am myself," he paused for a moment before he continued. When he did he started from the beginning. He told her of his prostitute mother, killing the pimp at six, growing up on the streets and the many tales of danger. He recounted many beatings and near death experiences. He shared his regrets and his failures, and his shame. He told her of stabbing Defalcat, of his capture and torture, of fleeing Zantaric with Alko, and coming to Arca. The entire time he spoke, he listened to her heart and felt her body, she tensed at some parts, and her heart would race when he told of nearly dying. The whole time, he never mentioned his name. Until he spoke of Arca. Then he told her the history of his name.
        When he came to Arca, the name he gave when he joined up with the Soot Wolves was Naamlose. He changed his name with each step he took. First he was a Scavenger Wolf with that name, then he was a Shadow Wolf with the name Skaduwee. When he made the transition to Blood Wolf he took on the name Moord. His next name was simply his position, which was Dirus, which he didn't hold long. He quickly became Canis Nigrum, The Black Wolf, and took the name Swart. During his long tenure as The Lone Wolf he discovered the truth about the Red Wolf's eye patch. After replacing it with a copy and stealing the real one for himself, the Red Wolf of that time, was killed by the Beta, who was a mage. Ryk then stepped into the role of Beta himself, and took the name Lupus from his title. A few months later the new Alpha tried to kill him, since he was an obvious threat. His magic failed him, as Ryk had the eye patch in a pouch, and Ryk killed him easily and took up the mantle of Red Wolf, and was from then on known as Rufus.
        The persona of Ryk was one that he created when he first arrived in Arca. A merchant, with little money and no connections. In his time with the Soot Wolves he quickly manipulated his way into dealings with more powerful and rich merchants and noble families. That was where he met Nammick. Nammick saw promise in the merchant Ryk Handelaar, and brought him in on many dealings, quickly making him very wealthy. Through his power and wealth as a merchant, and his power and control of the Soot Wolves, he was the most powerful man in Arca, Kia's Court, and perhaps Serendipity.
        "In this room, you and I have no secrets. You have all of me. Only Alko knows all that I was, but he knows not of you, or our son. Only he knows my real name. No others live tat can tell it. But I want to hear it from your lips, I want you to say my name, so I can hear what it sounds like with love." He lifted himself and gazed into her eyes. "My name is Theodore Wrenthis. Theo. And I am forever yours."

Dylanna listened quietly as he spoke, her heart barely able to calm down from his brief attempt to seduce her.
"So many names..." She told him thoughtfully as she moved a hand to gently stroke at his hair. "Theodore Wrenthis." She tried out the name, giving it some thought before looking into his eyes and speaking softer, "Theo..." Het hands paused as she continued to look at him and said it one more time, as if committing it to memory. "Theo.. Theodore Wrenthis." And she smiled softly before suddenly wrinkling her nose. "Will that make me then Lady Theodore Wrenthis?"

        Ryk watched Dylanna's face, saw her sweet smile, and felt relieved that she was not visibly freaking out. He'd save his Arca life for another night of storytelling.
        "Only in private will you be Lady Wrenthis," he returned her smile, "I think it might be better if I take on your name though. Lady Swinden sounds much nicer than Lady Handelaar," he moved from resting his head on her chest to laying even with her. It made it easier to look into her eyes, and his neck would thank him later. "Samuel Handelaar sounds great," a smile crept across his face as he played with their names, "but I think Ryk Swinden sounds much better than Dylanna Handelaar." He couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of this conversation. Of course she'd change her name, as was customary for Serenian Nobles, but it was amusing to play otherwise.
        He stroked her hair, she seemed calmer now. She was so beautiful, her smile made his heart warm. He kissed her gently on the mouth. "I love you," he told her, then he kissed her forehead, each of her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, her chin, and her mouth again. "I love you," Ryk looked into her eyes and couldn't help but smile. His love made her the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, and happy for the first time in his life. "I'll never get tired of saying that."

"Yes," she mused, eyes dancing vibrantly. "But it seems fate will be cruel and Lady Handelaar I shall be."

And then he kissed her, and she felt her heart warm, and then his lips moved to her forehead and eyes and nose and cheek and chin and then back to her mouth again. And he kept saying he loved her. She shivered at the idea. Love. He loved her. The very idea tickled her inside, making her heart flutter and her cheeks flush.

"Well, Rufus, The Red Wolf, Mister Handelaar, and Theodore Wrenthis," and here she paused to lift a hand, ghosting it across his cheek. "I think I'm in love with you, too." And she leaned forward, hesitating only briefly before sealing her lips unto his.

        To be kissed by Dylanna, instead of the other way around, as it always had been, was electric. The sparks on Ryk's lips spread through his entire body. Soon he was on fire, and he was pulling her in tight against himself, kissing her gently, but with fiery passion. This was all the world he needed right now. He was too exhausted to make love to her all night, but that didn't stop his hands from wandering. He pulled open her robe, and slid in closer to her. Feeling the warmth of her body was amazing, and only his hands could make that contact. Ryk pulled off his coat without moving away from her, and blindly tossed it away from himself. He could feel her much better through his shirtsleeves. He could feel her heart beating against his own chest.

As Ryk's hands wandered, Dylanna gasped through his kisses, feeling his hands all over her. He wasn't the only one feeling the heat. Her own body ached at his touch and melted at his kisses, and he'd be able to hear and feel just how fast and hard he made her heart beat.

Once his coat was removed, her hands smoothed up his arms and back, before green eyes opened and peered up into his blue eyes.
"Did you come here to spend the night?" she asked him softly. "You're getting awfully cozy in my bed."

        "That had not been my intent," Ryk whispered to Dylanna as he kissed her neck, "but I'd rather," kiss, "not leave your," kiss, "side now," kiss, "that I'm here," kiss. He paused in his kissing to look at her face. "As long as that's okay with you?"

Dylanna flushed, feeling his warm kisses against her neck and holding her breath each time he spoke, and releasing it each time she felt another kiss. Her hand swept through his hair again, pausing just at the edge as she peered down at him.
"What am I to tell Samuel in the morning?" she asked, a soft smile upon her lips.

        Ryk returned Dylanna's soft smile and kissed her mouth through it. He started undoing the buttons on his shirtsleeves. "I'm his father. He will need to get used to me being here when he wakes in the morning. I'm sure you won't want to move out of the family estate, so when we are married I will happily join you here." His shirt went the way of his coat, and Ryk pulled Dylanna tight against his bare chest as he buried her in more kisses.

As much as she had dreaded the idea for all of Samuel's life, to finally be free of the secrecy of his origin, and that it had, in the end, been so well received (and in fact, more well received than she could have imagined), she felt lighter, as if the weight of the burden, the guilt was no longer an obligation weighing her down. And the freeing feeling was all but carrying her away, lifting her heart and soul in the moment she allowed herself to be smothered by his love. Soft breaths and gasps escaped between each kiss before she found herself suddenly crying, but crying for joy.

"Oh, Ryk..." she murmured, her hot breath splaying across his skin as her arms went around him as she held him fierce, arms smoothing against the warm skin of his back and feeling the strong muscles there as she draped herself lightly over his shoulder, dark hair tickling down his back side and shoulder where her cheek now perched. "I had always thought to dread this day, yet here I am, laughing, smiling and even confessing to you so many truths that I had once felt so ashamed. And I had never imagined you could possess so many secrets, as many names as you do. To think, the wealthy and well to do Mister Handelaar even has a weakness..." she smiled, and he'd be able to feel it against his shoulder.

"I had always been fond of you, ever since we had first met. And I had been quite young then, feels like decades ago." She breathed a sigh through her nose, humming . "You were quite dashing. It was no wonder so many women had fallen to your charms. I think it was when I saw you with Jirelle Bates that I began to hate you, and got lured into all the gossip the Handelaar name spawned. You had quite the reputation. You.. still have quite the reputation," she went on carefully, still holding him, hugging him closely to her as she spoke. "But yet now here I find myself, realizing you're a hero, a criminal, and somehow in love with me. I never thought we quite fit that well together."

She chuckled and turned now to look at him.
"We did argue a lot. And there was that one time I told you I hated you. I think it was the first time you tried to kiss me in my father's gardens. I was so angry to think you wanted me as just another notch on your bed side, beside you pillow. Yet here I am... the only woman you saw fit to make an engagement and confess all of yourself to." And here, her eyes looked curiously into his, and the tears of joy had long since faded, but were sparkling none the less.

"Can I ask why? Why me out of all of the other women you could have had? I'm sure you could have easily been married by now. And have less slap marks for it and wine tossed in your face." She smiled a bit at that, for evne she knew, despite her hating any of his advances and flirts he had even cast upon her, she had liked the attention. Unfortunately for him, his reputation always got in the way. And there was always another pretty girl that she saw him fondling in a corner that made her jealousy and uncertainty rot within.

        Ryk nibbled Dylanna's ear before he answered her inquiries. Smelling her soap and tasting her skin was like a dream. A fantasy he didn't even realize he had. He rolled onto his back pulling her on top of himself. He smiled at her and pushed her hair out of her face.
        "To be honest, I'm not totally clear on the reason I first wanted you. You were young, and beautiful, and pure. But also strong, and stubborn. You weren't ready to just fall to my charms without a fight. All the women, the reputation, it's a smoke screen. It makes me less threatening to the men in power. They see me as more interested in chasing ladies than trade agreements and sales contracts," Dylanna's hair fell back toward him and he gathered it in his hands, lifting it as he brought his lips to hers. "There have even been times that men have sent their daughters or wives to seduce me to get information, or convince me of a deal that would not benefit me as much as them," he kissed her again. "Such tactics would never work on me, but occasionally I let them think they did. When in reality I was the one that benefited, gaining a spy that didn't realize they were one." He licked her lips sensually, then kissed the tip of her nose before releasing her hair, letting it fall over his face. "They will try that tactic even after we announce our engagement, and after we've been married. I'll know before the woman arrives, as I always have, and we'll arrange for you to be present for the attempts," Ryk moved his face through her dangling hair, smelling the sweet smell that was unique to Dylanna. "Such behavior will be quickly quelled, and I'll soon have a new reputation as a loyal husband. Of course that means I'll have to stop my visits to brothels. Explaining why Rufus no longer has nightly escapades will be harder, but I'll manage. I much rather be with you in this lumpy bed, than with any other woman anywhere," he smiled at her again before once more tasting her mouth.

"Here you shower me with kisses and promises of a perfect life," she told him when she was finally able to speak, even after all of those kisses (though it was some what difficult to keep a level head, for she hadn't been this riled up in ages). "Yet you have the nerve to mock my bed. Shall I throw you out to sleep on the hall bench?" she teased, finding herself gravitating towards his lips, and stealing a long, soft sensual kiss of her own.

        As Dylanna kissed him, Ryk sat up and pushed her robe back and off. Then he reached down to grab the hem of her slip. "I hope you don't mind," was all he said before he lifted it up and over her head. "If you try to throw me out, I'll just carry you away with me. You will not escape my love tonight." He pulled her against him, feeling her skin against his own. The warmth of her skin was wonderful. A sensation of human contact he had never quite appreciated until now.
        "I'm still half dressed. That might pose a problem."

At the removal of her robe, which took two many pushes too little, she felt herself shiver, her lips still kissing back unto his in a blind moment of heat. But then at his words, her own caught within her throat, as she was gasping when he suddenly whisked off her slip. She didn't even get a chance to cover herself, her cheeks burning red when she suddenly felt the fire of his skin against her own.

He was still half dressed. She blinked at him, dazed as her lips moved, but no words came out.

"Th-that," she said, finally using those lips that remained ajar. "Could be a problem. Too bad men don't wear slips. It seems they become an easy way out of an inconvenience." ANd here, her green eyes peered into his blue ones. How she adored them so, they were like twin skies peering back at her, and she was proud to say her son had inherited those eyes of his. She might even be able to say his lips as well, for sometimes when her son smiled, it was all Handelaar, and as she peered down at the way he was smiling at her now, she felt herself melt and her loins now burning with heat.

"Perhaps men were meant to wear such clothing to protect the fairer sex," she told him playfully, but it was a half hearted attempt to delay the inevitable, which was only harming her own self in the end, for as much as she would normally like to deny it, Ryk Handelaar was seducing her right here on her bed. And it had been too many months, too many years since she had ever been able to revel in the affections of a man, to feel that love completely and wholly-

Though before she had been drunk. Perhaps it had made it all easier, for now, with a clear mind (despite the haze from her body's heat...) she was still a bit nervous what to expect. How it would feel, and if it would be the same wild, writhing passion it had been that time on her boat.

Her heart was beating a mile a minute, her mind nearly in a frenzy from all of these kisses and touches and having a man so close... so was positively on fire. And dizzy, and so much else.
"So are you going to whisk those off, too?" And the idea made her smirk, if not laugh a little in her moment of giddyness as her lips captured his and some of the tension eased away as hands smoothed across the bare flesh of his back, and she could feel the tension and the very reason he felt his pants were problematic.

"If you're going to remove your pants," she told him carefully, finally able to release her life from his. She peered at him, her eyes half lidded, her breath quivering as she remained over him still. "Then perhaps I ought to lock the door. Blow out the candle.."

        "I rather not let you out of my arms," Ryk told Dylanna as he gripped her firm, yet supple buttocks. Her arms and legs were wrapped around him and as he stood, holding her up, all he said was, "hold on tight." He kissed her neck and chest as he crossed the room carrying her to the door, where lucky for him, the key was already in the lock. He brought Dylanna within range so she could turn it in its place. Then he moved back across the room to candle. He leaned forward, tipping her back until she was low enough to blow the candle out. As her body extended back, stretching to where she could reach the candle, Ryk enjoyed the play of the flickering light across his lovers body. She was so beautiful. Beauty before had been a weapon, a tool, or a sign, but never art. Not like this.
        Ryk felt that he was near to worship as he looked at the tension in her neck, the way her clavicles stood out, or the pert and perky breasts. She was what sculptures and painters tried to capture. She was living art. The gentle tones of flesh, that gradually shifted on parts of her body that never saw the sun. Then she blew a gentle breath and the flicker of light was gone. He straightened, carrying her back toward her bed. At its edge he stopped, and kissed her hard on the mouth.
        "Hold very tight while I let you go. I don't want you to fall," Ryk said in a loud whisper. Then he took his hands off of her and undid his pants. He returned his hands to her bottom and used practiced motions to move his pants down with just his legs and feet. Then he stepped out of them. He kneeled on the edge of Dylanna's bed, laying her back. All he wore were he small clothes now. Put those were easy to remove, and he would when he needed to. For now, he let his hands wander her body and explored her with his mouth.

Dylanna let out a gasp when she was lifted off the bed, not fully expecting that as she clung to him. She wasn't as frail as most women tended to be, but he made it seem as if it were easy to carry her about. But she didn't complain, and simply smirked as they moved along,a nd when it was time to blow out the candle, he wasn't the only one enjoying the way the candle's glow danced across the other's flesh.

But then the candle was out and she was back to bed, into darkness, not knowing where his lips were, where his mouth touched as she breathed out softly each time his lips met to a new place of flesh. The experience, all of it, was so new and surreal to her, it was almost like a dream.

Through the darkness she found his hair, hands moving through it and down his back side, encouragingly, and when lips found more sensitive areas, she softly gasped, or gave a breathy moan.

        Ryk used Dylanna's response to his touches to guide him. He paid more attention to those places that elicited the most response, and her pleasure fed into his desire. The intensity of those desires soon found him leaving moisture on his smallclothes, and as he had no others, he pulled loose the tie, and kicked them free. They're nude bodies, hot with passion and lust, tangled together in a beautiful dance. Ryk pressed Dylanna into the mattress with a gentle strength as he parted her legs with his knees. He found renewed energy, as their bodies met, where before there had been only exhaustion, and he drew each moment out. He slowly pulled her up to meet him, once he was between her thighs, and his lips and tongue found her breasts. Then her neck, and up to the graceful line of her jaw. He slid his hand into her hair and eased her face toward him, parting her lips with his own. He felt as if he could taste her soul in their kisses, and he strained to breathe her in. He rocked her gently into his body with his arms as his body mirrored the motion, all the while kissing her deeply.

It had been a very long year, a very long summer, a very intense heat. Though the temperature in her room had been comfortable before, she found herself in a fever, her body hot all over to the touch, and her mind in a whirl over what Ryk Handelaar was treating her to. She felt as if her body were a temple, his lips fervent with prayer, and the feel of his warmth all over her, to take in his scents so close had her undeniable wanting of him.

She should have been frightened, should have been scared, for it was the first time they would properly make love together, had confessed their love to one another, and though doubts still held a powerful weight between them, in that moment they were cast aside for heat and need, and for the desire to believe in nothing else but this perfection.

The second her legs were parted she whimpered, finding the gate of opportunity forced open. And then their bodies, pressed so closely together she could have swore her breath was to be squeezed out of her, except it was stolen away by their sudden union, and of his kiss, and she moaned pleadingly through it as legs wrapped around him tightly, so did her arms, sealing their bodies together as she breathed hotly against his ear.

"By the Gods, Ryk," she moaned.  To feel the length of his sex move within her own was dizzying, maddening, for the sensation made her burn, and her sex moved all around his entering length, tasting it in frenzy and then tightening up until it felt just right. Not only was her sex tight, but her body was tense as well, clinging to Ryk like a second skin as she breathed and moaned and rocked her hips with his, mesmerized by the sounds in the darkness, of his breath, of his own grunts and moans, and of the soft, slick sounds her soaking wet sex made as he claimed her. And it was the first time in her life she could ever just let herself go.

        Ryk eased Dylanna back down onto the bed, pulling her arms free of him. He interlaced his fingers with hers and raised her hands high above her head. He took his mouth from hers to gently bite her neck as he drove himself deeper into her. Never ceasing in the rotating and thrusting of his hips, he held her two hands in one of his, as his other groped and fondled her. Her body was soft, with an underlying strength from sailing on her trade vessels. He could feel the muscles in her back as he slid his hand down to massage her buttocks, pressing her up into his thrusts. He then moved his hand around to her abdomen, skimming it up through the sweat of their joined bodies. He cupped and massaged each of her breasts in turn before moving his hand back up to hers. Both of her hands in each of his, he swept her arms down, guiding her hands under the small of her back. The position of their four hands causing Dylanna to arch her back, Ryk brought his mouth down to her bosom, licking, nibbling, kissing, biting. He soon released her hands, placing his on her hips. He kissed her as he rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. His eyes having long adjusted to the dark, Ryk could enjoy the view of his lover as she sat astride him in the starlight. As he pushed the hair from her face, he made an almost imperceivable whisper, "I love you."

Dylanna moaned and writhed beneath his ministrations, each thrust making her burn, each thrust making her desire. The kisses and touches and teeth only helped aid in making her whimper, his sex striking her deep as she felt the pooling of pleasure within her.  And then they rolled over, positions changing, and she ontop of him, taking in his length as deep as it could go. Her lips remained open, teeth digging into them, nearly drawing blood as her lashes hung low and her eyes threatened to roll back inside her skull.

She could barely see him through the haze of her intoxication of lust, and the wild, untamed curtain of her dark hair about her face. But then his hands found those locks and pulled them aside, and green eyes moved from the heavens back down to him, and she saw the lusty look and gleam in his eyes, and something more.

'I love you.'

The words came out, sounding so perfect, so right. She trembled, softly whimpering as her sex clenched around his.
"I love you too."

The words sobered her briefly, as she leaned forward over top of him, hands smoothing from his belly to biceps, lips doing the same, pausing at hot breaths against his throat as her hips moved slowly, gently, sensually as she was in command now, moving over top of him. Her hips were rolling now, in a gentle rhythm, body reveling in the moment. He felt so good buried deep within her, hitting so many sensitive spots. She felt alive, truly alive, and soon deep moans were coming from within her throat, finger nails raking down his shoulders. She was afraid to go any faster, afraid to get herself to her peak, to scream out his name. But how she wanted to. But she knew those years of repression would come out too loudly. And what if their son woke up now?

Whimpering, she chewed on her lip, continuing to ride him and continuing to writhe in the slow, pulling heat of ecstasy.
"Gods, it's been too long since I've ever done this," she confessed, words strained through a moan.

        Ryk smiled with pride at Dylanna's words. She was the only woman he had ever wanted like this, simply for the sake of it. Sex was a means to an end, it was a way to take control. As much as he took pleasure in being a talented lover, nothing pleased him more than being inside this woman as she writhed with pleasure. He could feel the spasms of her body as she was raised toward climax, and he could feel her sex grip his as she resisted it. He pushed his pelvis up slowly, arching his back, lifting her up as she rotated her hips. The grinding of their bodies filled him with ecstasy, as he gripped her hips and pressed her down harder into him, driving himself as far into her as he could.
        Without warning he dropped his pelvis down and she fell the few inches, slapping against him. He quickly lifted her again and dropped her down over and over in quick succession. He knew that she would not last long if he continued so vigorously, so he sat up and pulled her into him. She likely scream out if she didn't have somewhere to bury her face. He pressed his shoulder into her mouth so she could bite down if she needed to, as he fiercely bounced her along the entire length of his manhood. When she was spent he'd support her, as she'd likely collapse against him. In the mean time he enjoyed the sounds she made as he was filled with the pleasure of thrusting up into her.

Ryk knew too well the language of women and she found herself soon at his mercy, his sex slamming up into her, over and over and over again until her breath hitched, a groan came out and she found herself burying herself against him, hot breath splaying across his sweat slicked body. But nothing could stop the sound from coming out, her cries to the heavens, of his name splitting out from deep within her throat. The moment was a white hot explosion, her mind numbed to everything but the scorching moment of intense union and heat, and her sex spasmed wildly against his length.

And then in a whimper it ended, her sex nursing at the ends of her contentment, and soon she was a puddle of goo strewn against his form. Her heart was beating rapidly, her chest sealed against his, face buried into his neck and shoulder as she moaned.

"By the Gods.... Ryk." She closed her eyes tightly and shivered. "That was... just how I remembered it." And she felt her already flushed cheeks heat at the memory. And her body, though sated in that moment, clung to his sex again as she found the energy to turn her cheek towards him and gently kissed him softly on his shoulder, then his neck.

        Dylanna may have fallen limp, but Ryk had not. He let her rest only for a moment, kissing her softly on the mouth, before he laid her on her back, letting the weight of his body press against her. With his hands he guided her arms up around his neck, then slid his own under her, holding her tight to his body as he slowly rocked into her, thrusting slow but firm as explored her mouth with his tongue once again. He picked up momentum, driving into her faster and faster, harder and harder, shaking her entire bed. It began to slide away from the wall with the power and speed of his thrusts. His mouth covered hers, blending his grunts and moans with her whimpers. His hands found her hair and gripped close to her scalp, pulling it with a slow intensity. He pulled her head back slightly, exposing her neck that he slowly bit into again, harder than before, likely leaving evidence of his passion. His mouth soon found hers again as his thrusts reached their zenith. He pressed his lips hard against hers as he slammed his pelvis hard against hers. His entire body tensed, and he crushed her in his embrace just before his spasm of pleasure spread across him. He was spent inside her, and his body felt heavy with exhaustion. His mind raced with the exhiliration of their love making, and he was barely able to hold himself up to keep from crushing her. His gasps came in short and quick, his breathe hot on her skin as he kissed her all over, whispering I love you's between each contact of his mouth to her flesh.
        "Nothing has ever felt so wonderful," Ryk said breathlessly as he collapsed beside Dylanna. "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes on." He caressed his fingers across her breasts, then down her stomach to her swollen sex, and back up again, trailing lines in their mingled sweat. "I can't wait to marry you."

Dylanna lay there, her body red and flushed and her chest heaving with breath. She had managed a second orgasm when Ryk took the lead, pounding into her and filling her up with his hot seed, and the very sensation set her over the edge, and now she was doubly exhausted as she peered over at him through a mask of messy, tossed hair.

At his compliment, she found herself smiling, in spite of herself.
"You aren't so bad looking yourself. It's one of the reasons, I think, you can get yourself so easily in trouble. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was always attracted to you. And now that we are to be married.... well, it just all seems like a dream. Except I know it's not. These past few weeks I've been so ill over it. I think my nerves were sufficiently shot."

And she sighed at the memory before peering back into his blue eyes.
"But now I think you've exhausted me, and I've never felt so.... content in my life." She closed her eyes and sighed again, just enjoying laying beside him, taking in their joined smells and the warmth that clung even to the air.

        Ryk was not content to just lay beside his lover, he needed Dylanna closer.
        "Come here," he said to her, tugging her closer. Half on top of him, her arm and leg draped across him, he turned her chin up so he could kiss her gently on the mouth.
        "Never in my life did I think I would have anything like this. You are an amazing woman to have found your way so securely into my heart," he stroked her hair, heavy with her sweat, as he looked into her eyes. "You fill me with a craving for life that I never knew I was capable of. This man, this identity, had been a play, a ruse, just a means to an end. You make me real. You make me whole when I didn't know I was incomplete. If it weren't for the complexity of our lives, I'd whisk you away from all this. Marry you down the coast, and hide away with you for weeks on end, making love to you all day, stopping only to feed you," he kissed her through a broad smile. "I know that our honeymoon will have to include an entourage to care for Sam and keep him occupied as I ravish you daily," he laughed through his word, "but it will have to do. I never want to be apart from either of you for long if I can help it."
        Feeling Dylanna's heartbeat calm, her breathing slowing, as the adrenaline of love making faded away, he noticed his own calm as well. True calm. The only time he had ever felt this steady was when he stole his freedom from Defalcat with a blade next to his spine. The symbolic transition of this moment was not lost on him. Once again he had stolen his freedom. He did not know that it had been missing, but the life he had wrapped himself in was a cold prison. The warmth of this woman's body against his, the kiss he pressed against her lips again, this was freedom. He could soar above the clouds on angelic wings and not feel more free than he did with Dylanna's weight pressing against him, her limbs tangled in his. He kissed her again, and again, not wanting to stop. She would be his only reason for living, her and their son, and any other children their lovemaking produced. Her soft body against his as he kissed her, he couldn't help but lust for her. With each kiss, his arousal grew, and only the weight of her leg across him, kept his swollen manhood from standing at attention.

Dylanna groaned in protest as she was tugged near, but she was smiling, even through his kiss.

"I think you give me too much credit," she told him coyly as she sighed from where she lay, entangled over him. "To think, all of my evasiveness would equate to this moment."  She gave a sigh, a happy one, and one to help pull her through her exhaustion as her eyes sought his. She listened to him, and his heart beat, and was about to make a comment about that one time in the library, when he had cornered her there and she used just about every resource to try to one up him and get him to leave, in an albeit subtle way, but that was one of the moments she recalled fondly, and one of the days she knew she was falling for him, even when she tried so fervently to deny it.

But then she felt something on her leg, and her brows raised and her lips fell open just as those same brows came down as she narrowed her gaze at him.
"Ryk... is that?" she couldn't believe it and was nearly choking on a laugh. "And here I thought you were spent..."
Of course it was foolish for her to think she could get away from his affections so easily. She had starved the man of herself for years. She supposed this was just the repercussions of it.

        Ryk didn't have much remaining stamina but he had the desire. He rolled to face Dylanna, lifting her leg further over him. He kissed his lover gently on the mouth as he easily slid his hard shaft into her once more, the remnants of his seed and her pleasure leaving her still wet. He glided his hand along her leg to her firm rump, and pulled her in tight against him. He slowly ground his pelvis into hers, giving his hips a circular motion. His mouth soon left hers to kiss her cheek, jaw, neck, and shoulder. He dragged his tongue back up, nibbling and sucking on her ear lobe. Ryk released Dylanna's buttocks from his grip to reach between her legs from behind. He gently inserted two of his fingers into her already full sex, increasing the pressure of his tool inside her. His slow gentle thrusts drove as deep as he could reach into her, filling him with pleasure that he expressed in short gasps and grunts as he kissed her. The passion of his biting and sucking would likely leave marks on the left side of her neck and shoulder. He was oblivious to the marks his lust left on her flesh, knowing only the pleasure of being inside her body.
        Ryk removed the added pressure of his fingers and rolled Dylanna onto her back, moving with her as he did, lying on top of her. He found her hands with his, intertwined their fingers, and slid their hands up near her head. He used his hands and knees to relieve some of the weight of his body from his lover as he steadily drove himself into her, slow and gentle. The fevered speed of his lust had ebbed but his desire to be wrapped in this woman's body in her love, remained. The tight grip of her sex on his was maddening. He had to fight against an orgasm, stopping his thrusts, pressed into her to the hilt, trembling as he held there, his mouth tight against her as he struggled to contain his pleasure. It wouldn't be long until he filled her with his seed once more.

Dylanna let out a soft gasp at his response, not expecting him to simply begin taking her again. But in spite of her surprise, her lips curled as she released a breathy laugh and moan.
"Ryk..."
And then she was surprised again, finding her tight sex not only crammed with his, but a few fingers helping to aid in the sensation as she gasped and clung to anything she could, her hot sex pulsating wildly to taste and sample this new feeling.  And soon she was moaning deeply within her throat as he fucked her this way. And it seemed the bites and marks left by his lips only aided in the sensation, as Dylanna was pushed nearly over the top.

And then she was on her back, hands squeezing his as they were threaded together above her head and she, breathing of sounds of pleasure as he continued to slowly make love to her. The sensation drove her wild, stoking the flames to a higher sort of being that made it feel as if she might explode clean out of her skin. In and out, in and out his length would burn her, thrill her in slow, sensual motions until suddenly it all stopped, lips pressing hot and tightly against hers as she tensed up, sex tightening.

If he thought he was trembling, she was positively shaking, gripping onto him tightly, suddenly, as a hot breath exploded against him as she gasped out a moan of his name. She clung to him now in a fever of heat and need as her hips rocked wildly, sex tightening up as much as it could as she rode his entire length into a screaming moan of ecstasy.

And she was seeing white, the bliss intense and taking her to a whole other world, and this time she forgot to bury her lips away as the cries of pleasure rung out into the night.

        The point of stopping his motion had been to control himself and keep from ending their pleasure too soon. With Dylanna's hips suddenly rocking so violently, Ryk could not contain himself. With his ecstasy about to burst forth, he pumped hard and fast into his lover. As she cried out in pleasure, her sex gripping his so tightly, he let out a deep sigh of release, his tensed body relaxing as his hot seed filled her once more. He untangled their hands from the iron grip of their simultaneous climax, and supported his weight, with some difficulty, on his elbows. Ryk moved his mouth back onto Dylanna's and gasped for air between his kisses.
        "That was the first time," Ryk breathed between wet kisses, salty from their sweat. "...the first time it's ever been," he struggled to get the words out, breathless as he was. "So intense," he smiled as he kissed her. "Love makes this better," Ryk told her.
        "I love you, my beautiful wife to be," he pushed Dylanna's wild hair from her face. His eyes found hers, and he held her gaze. "You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen," he brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek as he smiled at her. "How I have been blessed with the most strong and beautiful woman as my lover is a great mystery," he leaned to his side, unable to hold himself up any longer. "Can I hold you while you sleep? Or should I go my love?"

Dylanna sighed contentedly, practically melting into the covers when his kisses and words and the sex was all through. Her eyes had been closed, but when he spoke to her, they had opened, gazing up at him hazily as she bathed in the after warmth and glow of her body completely and utterly sated. She released a whimper at what he said, but did not speak, simply staring at him, watching him with curiosity.

"It's still strange,"s he told him, moving to lay on her side, her head resting over one of her arms that stretched across a shared pillow. "I should be still spiteful of you, still hating you and avoiding you to all ends of the earth. Yet here we are... somehow, sharing my bed."

She gave a brief, breathy laugh and observed his blue eyes again, this time a bit more affectionately.
"I know this won't be easy... and... despite what we did," she began, wording everything so carefully. "I still need time.Time to digest this, all of this. After all, Samuel still needs a better explanation and.... well, most of Arca's high society believes I hate you." She gave a small smile at that. "Perhaps I still do." But even as she said it, her smile and gaze warmed.

"I think it will be difficult for many to accept. You are not nobility, and I.. well, we,... both of us are the wealthiest tradesman in Serendipity. It.... I do worry that a lot will not be happy on this joint enterprise." And at this realization, she frowned.

Leave it up to Lady Swinden to bring up business after pleasure.

        Ryk was happy to be laying here with Dylanna, and nothing could bring him down.
        "I'm not worried about the business side of things," he told her, "Yes, the profits of our two businesses will be coming to the same family. We should also both learn the ins and outs of each others enterprises. But, we should keep the contracts and actual dealings separate. At least at first. Mine are not all above board, and yours are." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, "I use manipulation, sabotage, and other devious means to control the greedy merchants and nobles that spend so much time trying to swindle each other. You deal with all the honest people with much more honest tactics." Ryk dissed Dylanna softly on her cheek and gave her a warm smile, "It's one of the things I love about you. You're incorruptible."

Dylanna couldn't help herself and smiled as he kissed her.
"Incorruptible? Then what was all that?" she asked, planting a warm, soft kiss upon his lips. "You know.."s he began, peering into his eyes, her lashes hanging low. "I promised myself this would never happen. But here I am and well..." Her cheeks turned pink and heated. "It seems we couldn't wait to consummate this until our wedding night..."

And like most virtuous women,s he had wanted to pride herself in being a virgin for her husband. Well... technically,s he had been at one point for him- and had only given it away to him. There had been no other men on her bed post notches, and as far as counting the times she ever did this....
Their little romp on her bed already doubled her active sex count.

        "If you like," Ryk grinned at the planned words, "we can pretend you're a virgin until our wedding. But it might be hard to sell with us already having a son." His smile grew wider. He reached to brush a hair from her face. "You really are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on."
        Ryk wanted to wrap her in his arms and bury her in more kisses, make love to her again. Had not the stamina for it though, so he was content to kiss her softly and gaze at her face. Exhaustion tugged at him, pulling him toward sleep, but he refused to give in. Dylanna's gorgeous face, the heaving of her breast as she breathed, the beating of her heart. He would stay awake as long as he could, watching her, feeling her in the dark.
        "I want to stay and hold you through the night. If you like, I can leave with the rising of the sun," he kissed her yet again, "but I want to hold you while you sleep. There will much chaos as we bring our lives together. I need to be sure to get as many nights of holding you as I can."

Dylanna breathed out a sigh at such a revelation before she found herself clinging to him back and kissing him soft.
"Then stay the night," she spoke softly, leaning her forehead against him. "Perhaps we can explain things to Sam in the morning..."
And then tired gaze suddenly perked up, eyes trying to read his. "What will you do tomorrow? Are you going to run off? Playing with wolves?" It was still all such a strange concept. To think this man lived so many lives. Yet here he was, wanting to make another one with her.

        Ryk gently pulled Dylanna in closer, his hands slowly gliding up and down her body as he caressed her warm flesh. "I am yours tomorrow, and the next day. I've already made arrangements for my absence." He nestled his face into her neck, kissing her softly. "Will you have time for me? If not, I will spend the time with Sam." Ryk released Dylanna from his grasp, giving her the space she'd need to get comfortable. "I will hold you however you like my love. It will be my pleasure to be your cushion, or your shawl."

Dylanna studied his face a moment thoughtfully, her face now half buried into the pillow.
"I'm so tired," she admitted through a breathy laugh. "And I'm not used to... such an option. The only other person I've cuddled within inside the bed was Samuel." And normally he nestled within her arms.

"And tomorrow? I've been staying at home since the incident," she told him quietly. "I've been afraid to leave, or ever let Samuel alone. I've hired more maids and servants to keep a watch on the place. And this... this is the first time Sam isn't in my bed."

Ironic it would be the same night she'd share it with Ryk.

        "Well then I chose a good night to return," Ryk said to Dylanna, a soft smile in his eyes. His fingers traced lines across her, his caress raising goosebumps on her skin. He leaned in to kiss the back of her neck and shoulder.
        "The Mountain Cats, the idiots that Valeska used, seem to be fleeing to here from Cerenis, after they were thoroughly crushed there," not a trace of anger or fear entered his voice as he spoke of them, or Valeska. "The Soot Wolves will crush them in time though, even with the unrest in the guild, we would never let an outside guild assert control in our home," he sounded completely confident. He knew that he'd come out on top in the end. These fools that were upset about guarding civilians, the ones that were angry or fearful with the Zahi situation, would be dealt with. His decisions may have been very personally driven lately, but he still filled all their pockets with gold. Most of them would have been swinging from the gallows long ago.
        "I will keep you safe from now on," he stroked her hair as he reassured her of her safety, "I will never let you be hurt again."

Dylanna let out a sigh. She wanted to just forget about all of that. It was all that was on her mind as of lately and well...
Having sex with Ryk, at least in that moment, had her forgetting everything that made her worried. She sighed again and groaned and nestled into him.

"I just want to forget about all of that for just tonight." She released a breath, keeping close and breathing in his smells. It was a comforting scent, his natural musk. And with her soft perfume mixed with the scent of sex and sweat, it was a smell that was lulling her into contentment and helping coaxing her to her much desired sleep.

"Perhaps we can talk more come morning," she said, trying to stifle a yawn. "For now, pretending everything is right in the world sounds good to me. Perhaps I can finally get some sleep tonight." Except it was already late, and Samuel was an early riser.

        Ryk held Dylanna, stroking her hair gently, caressing her as she lay against him. He didn't utter a sound as he lay there motionless. It was not long before his lover fell asleep. He was contented to watch her as she slept. Soon though, he dozed as well. It was the most pleasant, contented sleep he'd ever had. Just an hour later though he woke. He'd never stayed in one position so long and his arm under Dylanna had fallen asleep. So very gently, he slid out from under her. She murmured in her sleep and he froze, not wanting to wake her. Sure she would stay asleep he lifted himself from the bed. He made sure the covers were securely about her, and kissed the top of her head as she slept. She was so peaceful. Such a beautiful creature.
        Ryk went about collecting his garments, slipping back into them. His body was salty, and he longed for a bath, but there was something more important on his mind, so he reached into his pocket for the primper and gave himself a tap. The magic swept over him, cleaning him and his clothing. The primper tucked safely away again, he headed for her door. He unlocked it with a quick turn of the key and slipped out silently. He knew this mansions layout quite well, and it was a short trip to Sam's room. Dylanna kept the boy close, even before he was taken. Sam was her truest treasure. Ryk slipped inside Sam's room and heard the lowest of grumbles from the little wolf as he raised his bed from the bed beside Sam.
        "Hey Lightning," Ryk whispered to the pup, his ears perking up. Ryk pulled a little treat from some hidden place and bent as he approached the bed. Lightning took it with a happy sound, and with a scratch between his ears the wolf went back to sleeping through his guard duty. Ryk looked his son over, sleeping so soundly. He could see himself in the boy now, but he saw more of Dylanna there. He would be a pretty boy if not handsome. He gently drew his hand through the tikes hair, then bent to place a kiss on his forehead. He gave a similar murmur to his mothers, and Ryk held still until he was once again sure the boy would stay asleep, then he was back out the door, into the hall beyond.
        Ryk made his trip to Jasper's chambers on silent feet, his magic boots leaving no trace of his passing. Even as Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant, he found the leather treads useful. When he arrived he knocked lightly on the paneled door. He was sure Jasper was not fond of him, but Nammick Swinden had trusted the old man so much, and Nammick was rarely wrong about a man's character. Dylanna had kept the man around to care for her estate after her fathers passing, and it was likely a wise decision. Ryk could trust to do what was best for the Swinden's, so Ryk could trust him, as long as Ryk gave him no reason to betray him. Ryk would be an honorable husband and father. He hoped that would be enough for Jasper.
        Jasper opened the door, seemingly prepared for his mistress. He was dressed and had a candle in hand. A moment of shock registered across the old man's face for just a moment before he hid it away expertly. Any regular aristocrat would not have caught it, but Ryk was also Rufus, the Red Wolf. Years of surviving only with his wit had brought him here.
        "Sorry to wake you Jasper," Ryk said to the head servant, in a hushed voice, "but I was hoping you could help me send for some things from my estate. I want to give the Lady a wonderful day when she wakes, and I want to keep Sam occupied so his mother can sleep into the morning a bit. I'd have gone straight to whomever handles your runners and messengers, but I don't know who that would be. I left Dylanna sleeping soundly and I'd like to have everything prepared before she or Sam wakes."

Jasper gave Ryk a stern look over the spectacles resting on the bridge of his nose. His thin lips were drawn taunt as he breathed a haughty sigh through his nose.
"Mister Handelaar, my requests come from the lady of the house..." Though this was most awkward indeed, to think this... this man was just inside his Lady's house looking to give out orders. And by the looks of things- had he spent the night? He gave Ryk a scrutinizing once over.
"Lady Swinden did not notify me she had a guest," he then added with a raise of his nose, that of which he stared across it at Mister Handelaar. Really! What did he think he was doing?

        "I arrived after everyone was in bed," Ryk informed the servant, "Lady Swinden was working late at her desk. Please Jasper," he pleaded in his hushed voice, "I wish to send for a special tub for Dylanna. She will be very pleased with it. I would go fetch it myself, but if she wakes and finds me gone, I suspect she will be very cross with me." Ryk paused to glance around, perhaps he should find her cook and let them know he wanted her to have a special breakfast in bed as well. He was going to take care of her and Sam all day, as long as Jasper would cooperate.

Jasper gave a tired and patronizing look towards the man.
"And Lady Swinden won't be cross to find you here come morning?" Really! How absurd a thing to awake to! Mr. Handelaar, of all people, in HIS lady's home!

OOC: lol, I could not help myself but make Jasper give Ryk a hard time X3

        "Jasper," Ryk now addressed the old man with a deadpan expression, "You know what Nammick intended, you were not deaf. As much as you dislike me, we will have to get along. I have asked Dylanna to be my wife, and she has consented. I would like to give the woman I love a pleasant surprise in the morning. And I will be spending most of the day with her and our son," he waited for the information to sink in. "Now Jasper, will you help me, or must I wake all the servants in turn until I find the one I need?"

((OOC: makes it more interesting if Jasper gives a struggle. :))))

It was here, Jasper's face fell, his eyes going wide as he gaped.
"Lady Swinden is engaged?" he said, the words puffing out and making the candle he held dance beneath his breath. He could not believe this! He knew Lord Swinden had mentioned how well his daughter would pair with the merchant, and that it would 'be good for them both'; but he knew how much his lady despised the idea, so he was more than a little startled to hear this news. And what on earth did he mean by his son?

Blinkingly, he set his jaw and furrowed his shaggy, old eye brows at Ryk.
"Now you listen here, Mr. Handelaar, if what you speaks is true, then why have I not heard it from her own lips?"
For Dylanna hadn't told a soul since she had returned, for hse herself wasn't even sure if it was real, and wehn the days stretched on after she returned to Arca and there was no sign of him- she had gone back to grumbling about him as per usual, even when it might have been a questionable journey at best- considering Samuel let some of the information slip from time to time- but Jasper could not have conceived this!

        "I can be a very patient man Jasper," Ryk tiredly replied, "but this is a time sensitive manner. The fact that I've told you about the engagement will probably upset her when she finds out. She did not want to tell anyone about it until we announced it publicly," Ryk let his head fall forward with exhaustion. "When she revealed to me that Sam is my son, I couldn't contain my joy," Ryk yawned, despite his happy words, "I asked her to be my wife on the spot. I've been out of Arca though, and we have not had time to plan our announcement ball. Now please Jasper, I'd like for my magic bathtub to be brought here so that my fiancé can take a long hot bath and relax in the morning."

Jasper, obviously ruffled by this whole affair, paused a moment to try to compose himself, but it was evident in his heated sigh that he was still a bit miffed and uncertain over all of this. Fixing his gloves and cravat, he gave a gesture with his candle.

"So you wish for me to send some of our servants to fetch this.." and here he paused, sighing again. "Magical tub?" He raised both his shaggy brows skeptically at the man before snapping his fingers and two younger servant boys, haphazardly dressed, came stumbling at his side. This man him frown.

"Mister Handelaar, both Carmiss and Lewentt are at your disposal. Your address is easy enough for me to explain, but I'm certain you might need to pen your request to your own servants to explain your request." For he was certain this sort of request was just not something any ordinary man would do. Then again, Nammick had taken a shine to a man like Handelaar, but Jasper...
Jasper was more like his daughter, and ever wary of him as he continued to stare at the man, but in a much more masked and professional calmed manner.

"And was there anything else you'd like, Mr. Handelaar," Jasper went on, raising his brows expectantly.

        Ryk smiled happily, some of his enthusiasm returning now that he had what he needed. "Thank you Jasper. Only one of the boys will be fine, my servants will do all the work, all I need is a message taken." Ryk pulled out a small sheaf of papers and wrote a short note on it. He handed it to Jasper, so that the man could choose which boy to send on the errand. "Actually Jasper, there is one more thing. Could you have the Lady Swinden's breakfast brought to her room, so that she doesn't have to hurry to rise? I will take breakfast with Sam. I'd like to keep him busy so his mother can rest. She hasn't been asleep long, we had much to discuss."

Jasper gave a frown, though tried to hide it as best he could and turned to Carmiss, handing him the note and instructing him to be swift. Then turning back to Mister Handelaar, he straightened his shoulders and asked, "Anything else?"

He supposed if what he said were true.. he might have to get used to taking orders from this man on a regular basis. By Kia, he hoped this middle of the night stuff would not become routine.

        "Actually Jasper," Ryk said with a grin, "that will be all. Dylanna is going to be so happy, and I'll be sure to share the credit." Ryk made his way back to Dylanna's room without hurrying. As soon as he was in he pulled his clothes back off, folding them neatly and setting them in a pile by the bed. He set his long knife across the bedside table, the hilt easily reached, and climbed back into the bed with his fiancé. When the tub arrived, the servants would bring it right to the room. It wouldn't need more than two to carry it. It was deceptively light, probably part of its magic. He'd have another one commissioned to replace this one, as well as commissioning his lover a new bed, and some fine furnishings. Dylanna was great at making money, but she didn't seem to be trained in spending it. Well that was okay, Ryk would lavish her with gifts. She deserved to have nice, comfortable things. Ryk gently stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head before letting himself fall asleep.
        Ryk felt as if he had only been asleep a moment when he heard the door open. Servants silently crept in, he watched them move across the floor. They lifted Dylanna's tub, carried it out between them. Moments later they returned with the tub he had sent for. It was deeper, longer, and wider than the tub they had removed, and it was decorated luxuriously. He looked forward to teaching her about the magic spout that supplied water to her specifications. She could lay there for hours, and there was enough room for him to fit in there with her comfortably. Once again Ryk let himself doze, and his slumber was as light as always. He dreamed of his love, as he held her. He dreamed of finally being free. When the sun began to rise, sending just a hint of its warm glow into the chamber where they slept, Ryk opened his eyes. He smiled at the sight of Dylanna, so comfortable in the bed next to him. He kissed her face softly and rose again without disturbing her, getting only partially dressed. Leaving off his vest and coat, Ryk padded barefoot to the door. He quietly opened it and slipped out, heading to Samuel's room. Inside he found the boy awakening to the light of the sun. Groggy with sleep, Sam didn't see his father right away, but Lightning did. The wolf pup let out a yip as he hopped down and ran to Ryk, hoping for another treat.
        "Hey, Lightning," Ryk greeted the pup, scratching between his ears, before looking to his son,"good morning Sam."

Samuel lifted up his sleepy head, eye lids a bit uneven as he moved to wipe the sleep from them and give a tired yawn, but the second he heard a voice, and a man's voice, his eyes popped open wide as saucers.

"Mister Handelbar!" he said excitedly, and immediately crawled out of the bed and clung to his arm in a playful attempt at wrestling. The wolf pup, seeing all of the excitement, joined in too and jumped onto the same arm and began to playfully chew and lick at both Samuel and Ryk.
"Why are you here this morning? Are you going to make me raspberry pancakes? Mom always wakes me up when she makes me raspberry pancakes!" the boy said enthusiastically.

        "Raspberry pancakes?" Ryk asked, "Well I think that can be arranged. I've never made yummy food before, but I think the cook can do it for us." Ryk smiled down at his son, tickling at Sam's stomach with his free hand. "You know I'm your father Sam. You can call me dad, or papa, or anything you like. Even Ryk would be okay with me. We're gonna have some fun today okay? But let's be quiet and let your mother sleep in. Can you do that little man?"

Sam stared up at Ryk with a lopsided grin.
"Okay," but as he moved to cling to his arm, he asked, with a bit of uncertainty. "Will momma call you daddy, too?"

        Ryk smiled at the question, laughing just a bit. "Well buddy, she probably won't. She might call me daddy sometimes. Mostly though she'll probably call me Ryk, or maybe some sweet name like honey, or sweetie, or darling. I'll only call her mommy sometimes. I like to call her Lanna. I think it's a pretty version of her name." Ryk grabbed his son with both hands and lifted the little guy into the air above him. "You're so smart Sam. How'd you get so smart?"

"So you're just daddy to me?" Sam gave a sheepish smile. He seemed to like that reasoning, and laughed when Ryk picked him up. "Mommy! She taught me everything. And some of the nice men on her ship, too! Though I can't repeat everything they say. Or mommy says she might have to wash my mouth out with soap!" He beamed down at Ryk. "Are you gonna carry me like this to the kitchen?" he asked, playfully bicycle kicking into the air. "I can pretend I'm flying! Like with magic!"
And the boys eyes glittered at the thought.

        Ryk moved about the room, carrying his son, letting him 'fly'. Little Lightning running behind, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. He swung Sam about and then finally brought him to sit on his shoulders. "How about you ride my shoulders like a king on his throne?" Ryk sped around the room with Sam on his new perch. "You're the only one that will call me daddy. For now. Maybe me and mommy will give you a baby brother or sister to look after. Would you like that Sam?"

Samuel was having a ball, and at such a suggestion, he gasped and hugged his hands around Ryk's head.
"Yes! I want a baby brother! Sisters are icky!" And he made a face of disapproval on that one.

        Ryk laughed at Sam's disapproval. He could see his son being a real lady killer some day, but for now he thought girls were yucky. "Are you hungry yet Sam? I'm starving." Ryk headed for the door, ducking low as he exited to bring Sam safely through the portal. "Let's be super quiet," he whispered to his passenger, "don't wanna wake mommy." Ryk crept down the hall, making his way to the kitchen. Hopefully the cook hadn't gotten too far along on breakfast. He promised his son raspberry pancakes, and the boy would get them.

Sam placed a hand over his lips, but was giggling and smiling through them as they passed through the hall. But just as they were making their way towards the kitchen, he gasped. "Oh! No! We have to go outside first!" And he gave his little legs a short, impatient kick. "Mommy and I always pick fresh raspberries from the bushes in the gardens!" And he gave Ryk's shoulder a tug. "Come on. The door is over there!" And he pointed away from the kitchen to one of the side doors that lead out to Dylanna's back gardens.

        Ryk turned at Sam's urging, heading for the door. "You know, it's probably a good idea we go out anyway. Lightning probably needs to go potty." Ryk ran through the house to the door, making soft wooshing sounds, like the wind flying around them. He opened the door and ducked again to make sure Sam didn't hit his head, though the doorway was likely high enough anyway.
        "Which way now little man?" He knew the way, but it was much more fun to engage Sam in the navigation.

Sam made a gleeful noise as they rushed outside. And once there, he laughed and gave a point with one of his fingers, "Over there!" He.exclaimed. "Just past the wiwwow twee!"

        Gripping Sam's legs, Ryk ran at full tilt. Lightning ran after them yipping with joy at Sam's laughter. When they arrived at the bushes, Ryk lifted his son from his shoulders. He tossed him lightly into the air, caught him, swung him around, and then planted him firmly on the ground. "That was fun," Ryk said smiling, as he mussed up Sam's hair. "So how about these berries? I guess my shirt will have to do for a basket since we didn't think of that." He unbuttoned it and pulled it off quickly, folding and tying it so it made a little basket. "Let's get to picking them. We'll save the best ones for mommy."

Feeling the wind rush through his hair, and through his spread 'wings', the child let out a laugh of glee, feeling the butterflies soaring and tumbling within his belly as he felt as if he were truly flying and soaring free. He had never gotten a chance to really sit on top of anyone's shoulders, his mother, perhaps having done it when he was even younger than he was now, but the boy was growing fast, much like a week; and clung on heavily to his baby fat still, that evidence of use in his face, limbs and belly, and the soft quality of his skin.

When he was set down and hsi hair rustled, he beamed up at Ryk.
"Yeah! Let's get a WHOOOOLE bunch of them!" the boy stated enthusiastically, arms spread wide as he bounced about where he stood, Lightning yipping happily beside them, and as the boy went about plucking upt he raspberries (at least those at his level,) his face and fingers began to quickly stain, as did his teeth and tongue! Even parts of his hair were gaining small bits of leaves from the bush an dremnants of the raspberries that the boy was plucking and eating as he went. Eventually, when he'd gain a bunch in his hand, he'd dump them, fingers spread out, and then would totter off agian to eat and gather more, continuing the process until there was an ENTIRE mountain of berries, and the young boy was laughing and grinning ear to ear.

"Mommy will be happy. Look how any waspberries we got!" he beamed, puffing out his little chest with pride.

        Ryk smiled at his son. Sam was one adorable kid. He probably got it from his mother. "I'm sure she'll be very happy," Ryk confirmed with a wide smile. He looked down at the pile of raspberries in his shirt. The garment was thoroughly stained, and he had left the primper in his vest. Well that was okay. It would be a nice story to tell Dylanna when he went in there later.
        "Let's take these to the kitchen so we can get breakfast started," he reached his hand out to Sam to hold as they walked back into the house. "We need to make sure that breakfast is ready before mommy gets up."

Samuel was as enthusiastic as ever, and bounced along with enthusiasm as he and Mister 'Handelbar' made their way towards the kitchen. The 'daddy' part hadn't fully sunk in yet, and as he moved about the kitchen to help his father out, Dylanna leisurely stretched out upon her bed, back arching, toes curling and hands clenching into fists while her face was buried into a contented sigh into her pillow. And it was only then one lazy, green eye opened as she peered out into the vacant bed before her. The only indication that Ryk had even been there was the faint scent of his musk that remained beneath the blanket she was still half buried beneath- and the partial imprint his body left behind on her bed.

Had it all just been some dream, but then she shivered, only a little, remembering she was naked before letting her face bury further into her pillow as she continued to stare out into the empty space before her.

Had it all just been a dream? Had Ryk actually came to her that night?

ANd if he had.... what then? Had she just been a fool to trust him- to open herself up and to try to find a way to bring back all of those buried emotions she had ever felt for him?

He had so many notches on his bed post... why would she be any different?


But this was Ryk Handelaar...
and if what he had told her was true...
he was so much more than that.


And he was in love with her, and they were engaged. But idly, her left ring finger itched. She peered down at it- and it was as empty as her bed.


Had this really all happened?
Or was this all just some crazy dream? Perhaps she should go back to bed, especially as she felt just the faintest desire to cry over come her, fearful, even now, that she had just become 'another woman' to him; despite all of the promises and confessions he had made.

To think, all of those years so afraid of him and what he was still kept her back from completely enjoying what had been, and what could be. But she closed her eyes and tried not to think of it.

No, no... she was thinking far too much. He had promised her, told her so much.
It still didn't mean it did not hurt to see him gone in the morning.

        The cook had been quite helpful, and much more pliable than Jasper. Coming in carrying a shirt filled with raspberries had, at first, baffled the poor woman, but she recovered well. She supplied a bowl for Ryk to deposit the fruit into and then helped him and Sam make a batter for pancakes. Apparently Dylanna normally did this herself, but Ryk was not as talented in a kitchen. At least not with anything that wasn't meat on a stick over a fire. Alko did most of his cooking at the Wolves Den, and at Ryk's estate, he had a whole kitchen staff that handled everything for him. Sam helped direct Ryk at the tasks his mother usually set him to, and the Cook handled the more complicated parts of the process.
        When some pancakes were completed, Ryk took Sam to the dining room table and sat the boy down with his meal. He mussed his hair again and planted a kiss on the top of the boy's head.
        "Don't give too much to Lightning," he told Sam, "you don't want him to get sick from eating table scraps. Stay and eat your breakfast. I'll be back soon. I want to take your mother her breakfast myself."
        Leaving the boy in the care of an attendant, Ryk exited back to the kitchen and had the cook give him a tray filled with everything Dylanna would need for breakfast in bed. He headed back to her room, hoping she was still asleep, and if not, that she would not be cross. When he arrived, he knocked lightly and quietly slipped in. He was not sure if she was awake, but if she were thoroughly rested, he might be able to rouse her from her slumber. Standing by the door, in his thoroughly stained shirtsleeves, holding the tray with her breakfast, Ryk gently cleared his throat.
        "Good morning my love," he said softly, "Sam and I prepared you a special breakfast."

Dylanna had just about fallen asleep again when she heard a knock on the door. Tensing, she listened, but when she heard someone enter-a nd then who's voice it was, she turned around and raked the dark hair from her face in a groggy manner.

"Ryk?" And she barely remembered to clutch onto her blanket to keep herself modest.

        "Oh my love, no need to worry about modesty," Ryk said as he turned the key, locking the door. "We are alone," he told Dylanna, "and I brought you breakfast. Sam picked raspberries for the pancakes." He smiled at her brightly and brought the tray to her on the bed.
        "When you're ready I had a new tub brought for you from my home. I think you'll like it very much."

"Wh-.. uh?" Blinking, she adjusted her grip on the blanket, still not about to let Ryk get an eye full that morning, even after all that transpired last night. It was still strange, and though the moment of unease had been there when she presumed he had simply left her, it melted away into guilt for thinking it. But she supposed it was hard to kill old habits and thoughts.

But at Ryk's mention of Samuel, the smell of the raspberry pancakes hit her nose.

"Samuel... is he...?" she presumed he was okay, but after what had happened not but a few weeks ago... She was as paranoid as hell about him. And last night was the first for many things- and she found herself missing having the little boy awakening in her bed. But she supposed she ought to get used to it. He didn't need coddled all of the time and with Ryk here...

Well, it was nice. Had he really gone to pick those raspberries, but spotting the stains, she couldn't help but smile.
"Raspberry pancakes..."she sighed and stretched out beneath the blankets. "Samuel's favorite." And then she paused to consider something while smoothing back a piece of unruly, dark hair.
"Did you even sleep?" And she peered over at him curiously, a finger still hooked inside that gnarled curl of her hair.

And then at the mention of a tub, she made a face.
"What do you mean? A new tub?" She could have laughed. What on earth did he mean by that?

        "I slept enough to make it through today," Ryk told his beautiful bride to be, a soft expression on his face. He sat on the bed offering her the tray after placing a kiss on her lips.
        "Yes, a magic bathtub," he told her, "It magically dispenses temperature controlled water, it never overflows, and it the water is magically cleaned. The best part is it'll fit us both more than comfortably." Ryk smiled at the hint of further intimacy, and kissed Dylanna again.
        "I have not eaten yet though," he said as his stomach pointed out his hunger, "I'll let you enjoy your breakfast while I go eat with Sam, then I'll come back to show you how the bath works."

Dylanna blinked, trying to wrap her head around this, but the confusion was only laced in the softness of his kisses- and that reminded her of the night. Flushing, she kept a hold on the blanket and gave him a nod, but once her voice found her again, she scrunched her face quizzically at him and asked, "Magical... Bath?" She almost laughed, but it was caught within her eyes. "With magical, temperature controlled waters?" She shook her head, then peered down at her tray full of food.

Tucking back her smile, she peered back over to Ryk.
"Next thing you know, you'll be telling me you and Sam were creating these pancakes out of magic, too," and she plucked a warm raspberry from one of them and popped it into her mouth. The tartness of the berry made her smile.

But then at his insistence to leave, she gasped.
"Oh, but I never miss breakfast with Sam!" she went on, but as she moved to protest,t he blankets jerked away from her as she shifted about the bed, and he would get an eye full of her legs before she moved to stand, blanket still clutched before her as a limp shield- for modesty.

"Though I... I suppose it would not do to eat... eat breakfast like this." she said through a breathy laugh and continued to stand there awkwardly before him.

        Ryk smiled at Dylanna, and reached out to her. He reached behind her blanket to stroke her bare leg, then tugged at the shield playfully. He stood then himself, and pulled his lover into an embrace, planting his mouth firmly on hers. After the hard kiss he released her with a smile.
        "I love you, you are beyond beautiful, and you stand nude before me with only a blanket as protection. My desire for you burns hot but I must go," Ryk made an effort to quell his lust. He did not want to stroll about the house with an erection.
        "I told Sam that I was bringing you breakfast and that I would return quickly. If I tarry, he may come looking for me," he turned for the door then, "I promise to return once I've eaten and have him occupied with something else."
        Ryk turned the key, unlocking the door. He looked back to Dylanna, waiting to exit only once she'd given him leave to do so.

Dylanna gave a sigh, then a nod of approval.
"Yes, don't keep him waiting. Samuel can be quite impatient sometimes," she said with a sigh, still tingly from when Ryk touched her leg and held her for a kiss....
and at his comment. Thankfully it was still dark in the room and could mask her blush.

But before Ryk completely disappeared, she called after him, "Before Samuel doesn't eat too much!"
Then turning on her heel again, she gave another shout, "Or too much to the dog!!" Or wolf..
right, it was a wolf.

But then again, so was her fiance. After the door was shut, she leaned against it after a while, sighing and trying to figure out just what to do. But soon the scent of the food caught her nose and she slipped into a robe and went about eating her breakfast, still disbelieving how she had gotten it or, with a curious glance in it's direction, she had some sort of 'magical tub'.

Smirking through a bite, she shook her head and finished up her meal, then stood up and approached the peculiar thing. It looked just like any other bath tub- except, much, much larger.
Not too much was different about it. She gave a sigh.

"Magic.. right." Ryk probably meant the 'magic' of him seducing her. Such a charmer he was. But the very idea still warmed her with a smile.



Elsewhere...
Samuel had already eaten Two of the fluffy, raspberry pancakes and was starting to poke at the third one, slipping a few pieces to the hungry wolf pup beside him when he was caught red handed, dangling an entire pancake now over Lightning's lips. And before Samuel could even hide the evidence, Lightning leaped up and gobbled down the offered pancake in one great gulp.

And Samuel remained frozen. Oh no! Was he in trouble!?

        "Sam!" Ryk exclaimed, then laughed, "silly boy. Too much human food, and that wolf pup will be pooping all over your mothers house," Ryk still had a smile on his face, but he looked at the attendant and raised an eyebrow. "I left the boy in your care just for that reason." He shook his head and sighed, returning his gaze to Sam and Lightning. "If he messes in the house kiddo, I'm making you clean it up. You're gonna have to touch wolf poop." Ryk moved to the boy, ruffling his hair again, and noting that his face and clothes were a mess. Ryk sat next to him and slid the pancakes over to himself.
        "Now buddy, I'm gonna eat, and you can stay in this room and play with Lightning," Ryk reached over with a cloth napkin, "first I'm cleaning your face. Ready?" Ryk brought the napkin to Sam wiping the raspberry mess from the boy's face. "Now have fun but take it easy little man."
        As Sam got down to play with Lightning, Ryk tackled breakfast. He ate very much like he did when he was working with the wolves. He didn't have the time to enjoy the meal, flying through the pancakes with efficiency. Manners and any amount of elegance were abandoned for speed. He had boy to spend time with, and a fiancé to tend to. Breakfast was just about fuel, he could enjoy himself tomorrow morning. He had promised Dylanna two days of uninterrupted time after all.
        When he was finished, he let the nearby servants know they could clean up. He wasn't sure if they Dylanna relied on them as much, but he was sure they were capable. He went to Sam, and picked the boy up, tossing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Lightning immediately began to yip and jump at Ryk as he carried the giggling boy away.
        "So how about a bath? You're a mess. You have one in your room?" Sam's attendant followed behind them closely as they walked down the hall.
        "Where does Sam normally bathe?" Ryk asked the servant.

Sam stared at Ryk in disbelief. Would he really have to touch wolf poop? Ewwwww, gross! But giving him a guilty smile, he only replied, "But he really liked it!" And made squirmy faces as Ryk went about washing his face.

At Mr. Handelaar's question, one female servant piped up.
"There's a bathing room at the end of the hall upstairs. But normally Lady Swinden gives the young one a bath."

        "Well today," Ryk said to the young woman, "you and I will be washing him. Come along," and he walked off, expecting the lady to fall in behind him. "I have given Dylanna the day off," he said with a grin in his voice, "she has had a lot to handle, she could use some rest. Right Sam?" He lifted the boy from his shoulder and tossed him into the air a bit. He caught him and set him on the ground. "Wanna race there buddy?"

Samuel, now excited it seemed he was no longer in trouble, gave an enthusiastic, "Yeah!!!" After he was tossed about.  The female servant fell in step behind them, not certain what to make of this as she glanced around, as if seeking approval, but still obeyed.

        Sam's enthusiasm carried him down the hall at a sprint. His tiny legs made it hard to outdistance Ryk as he hustled behind the boy, servant in tow. When they arrived at the room, Ryk was surprised to find Jasper already there, drawing a warm bath for the little boy. The head servant of the house must be a mind reader. No wonder Nammick had kept him on, and trusted him so much. He knew what the household needed before they even thought about needing it.
        "Well isn't this perfect," Ryk said with a pleased expression, "and you've even decided on the boys clothing for the day. Jasper, you are on your way to earning a raise my friend. I wish the servants of my manor anticipated my needs this way."

Jasper gave a sigh the moment he spotted Mr. Handelaar. He wasn't about to take the man's words seriously- but even still...
He knew he'd have to get used to this gentleman in the Swinden House if what he had said were true.

"Just doing my job, sir." He said, remaining rigid at the door. He appeared unamused, staring past Ryk and down the hall, while behind him Samuel was laughing and climbing into the tub- still with all of his clothing on.

        "Sam! Wait!" Ryk rushed past Jasper to reach the boy before he climbed into the water. He snatched him up into the air, and Lightning let out an excited yelp, then ran a quick circuit around the tub.
        "You've gotta get undressed first little man," he said smiling as he set Sam back on the ground, "and when was the last time that wolf of yours was bathed?" Ryk figured Sam wouldn't actually remember, so he looked to Jasper. "Does Dylanna bathe him in this same tub as Sam? Or is that handled seperately?"

Jasper gave an incredulous look to Ryk.
"I would presume not! A beast should not bathe with-"

SPLASH!
ANd before anyone could stop them- Samuel was naked, in the bath, with a wolf pup splashing around and howling in delight beside him- and Sam was laughing all the while water gushed all over the floor in big playful splashes.

        Ryk stepped back as water sloshed toward him, not wanting to get it on his feet and track it about, but the effort was wasted. So much sloshing and splashing was happening that nobody in the room was going to escape dry, not even Jasper. Sam was having a great time, and Lightning, surprisingly, enjoyed the water.
        "Well there's no point in talking about it now," Ryk said to Jasper, "the boy has decided for us. If you supply me with the proper soaps, I will make sure they are both thoroughly clean."

Jasper let out an irritated sigh before snapping his fingers and having a servant girl bring the soaps. He gave Ryk just one look, but held his tongue.
"I'll bring some fresh towels," and with that, he went off to retrieve them.

        Supplied with soap Ryk rolled up his sleeves and approached the tub. He knelt down into the sloshed water without hesitation. He grabbed Lightning and handed him to Sam.
        "Okay little man, I need you to hold him while I soap him up," he told his son, "can you do that for me buddy?"

Samuel clung his limbs around the wriggling wolf pup as it yipped.
"Uh huh!" he said, enthusiastically, and giggled when the pup turned on him to give him a sloppy, puppy kiss.

        Ryk rubbed the soap into the wolf pup's fur, lathering thoroughly. He was worried he might scratch Sam, but he seemed more excited by the attention than anything. This was the easiest pet bath ever, Ryk expected more trouble. He made sure to fully suds the little beast, even washing in his ears. Then came the rinsing. He had Sam dip the wolf up to his head, and then Ryk scooped water onto Lightning's head with his hand. It was here that the wolf pup's attitude changed. He didn't like water on his face or in his ears. He really began to squirm, to thrash really, and Sam wasn't able to keep a grip on him. The pup got free and his head slipped under the water, but Ryk was fast. He quickly snatched the wolf up out of the water before any harm could be done. He was done with the tub now, and wanted out, but Ryk held him firmly.
        "I hope Jasper returns soon, or this could get painful for both of us," he said to Lightning.

By the time Jasper returned witht he towels, he stared in horror at the mess before him.
"Mi... Mister Handelaar- what is the meaning of this!?"

And upon seeing Jasper enter- that's when the pup decided to give his wet fur a good shake-
and water went everywhere.

        Ryk could only laugh. It wasn't his fault the boy and his pup had gone wild. Of course Sam still needed to wash, but the wolf was at least clean. Shaking water all over as Ryk held him in the air wasn't so bad. It could have been worse. Lightning could have dragged a dead animal into the house, or tracked mud on the imported rugs. Now that Jasper had arrived with towels, Ryk handed Lightning to the female attendant, that had so far proved to be of little use beyond ornamentation. She wasn't even that attractive, so she didn't do that job very well either. Letting Sam feed the wolf pancakes, handing him soaps once Jasper instructed it, holding a wet and squirming wolf pup. These were the actions he'd seen her accomplish. With his hands free of Lightning, Ryk turned to Sam.
        "Your pet is clean," he told Sam, "so that makes it your turn," and then he made a grave mistake. He handed Sam the soap.

Soap in hand was probably the least of his problems, for at first, it seemed as if Samuel was going to oblige, but the moment he got himself nice and sudsy- the boy's energy level sky rocketed. So from what went from a happily playing boy in the bubble bath one moment soon turned into a giggling naked boy dashing out of the tub and squeaking his way into the hall, leaving Jasper wide eyed when the child slipped from his grasp when he went to stop him- but it was too late-

and soon the naked three year old was running and laughing down the main hall.

        After his first moment of shock, Ryk was laughing and pushing to his feet. He pushed passed the stunned Jasper and sprinted for the boy. Luckily for Ryk, the young female attendant was holding Lightning, otherwise he was sure the wolf pup would be running after Sam. It would not do to have the him under foot as Ryk tried to snatch up the soapy child.
        Down the hallway he went, following the soapy wet trail and the sound of giggles. At full tilt, his speed was exceptional, and with Sam's tiny legs the boy could not maintain the distance. He closed the gap quickly and was soon right behind his son. With a great running leap, he flew over Sam's head and landed in front of the child. Turning and dropping to his knees he blocked Sam's path and the boy ran straight into his chest. He wrapped both arms around his son and swept him off the ground in a single movement. He couldn't help but smile back at his laughing son, unable to muster the ability to be angry.
        "Sam, you promised to be quiet," he told his son, laughter barely contained, "Mommy is supposed to be resting. Plus I think you nearly made Jasper's head explode." He carried his sudsy son back toward the bath. The soap was drying but there was still enough dampness to wet the raspberry stain on Ryk's shirt. When Ryk finally got back to the tub, door to the room closed behind him this time, Samuel had new raspberry stains on his soapy skin. Into the water the boy went, Ryk helping him wash this time, careful not to get soap in the boy's eyes.
        "When we're done here, I want you to play with Lightning in your room while I take care of your mother," Ryk told his son, "Jasper will make sure there are plenty of attendants making sure you're safe and cared for. I'll play with you more a little while later. Okay little man?"

Samuel let out a squeal of delight when his father captured him into his arms. And back into the tub he went, still laughing, still rambunctious, but this time at least a bit more manageable. He gave a devilish, toothy grin up towards him and began to playfully splash within the bath. And oh so innocently, he asked at his father's question, "Does mommy need help with a bath, too?"

        Ryk's own smile grew at the humor of his son's query. Sam, in his innocence, had asked quite the question. He did need to show Dylanna how to use the magic of the tub, but his intent was a bit more lascivious. Ryk of course wasn't going to tell his son that. His own mother had been a prostitute, and had made him hide when she had paying customers. He could still remember her feigned sounds of pleasure and the grunting men those twenty-six years past. It angered him still, but in a new way. How could a parent subject their child to that? He may have grown up on the streets, and even still today be a rogue, but he knew better. Parents were supposed to love and protect their children, nurture them and help them grow. Too often they neglected, exploited, or abused them. Sam would suffer no such fate. His son would always know love.
        "Yes she does Sam," Ryk told his son, "she can't reach her back very well, so I'm gonna help her." That was a simple enough answer, and Sam didn't need to know more.
        "Dunk."

Sameul took in a mouthful of air and dunked into the bath water, splashing up a moment later with a happy, roaring shout. Most of the suds washed away from that, and the boy was nice and clean- the raspberry stains did not set, but somehow, it seemed, pieces of raspberry seeds were floating atop of the bath waters while Samuel went back to happily playing with the waters.  He could not realize the man Dylanna had been hiding him from all of these years was the very man she was not set to marry, but it was supposedly a time now lost to the child. He was still so young, so much of his traveling childhood would not be remembered anyhow, for he was only at the age where things truly began to collect inside his mind.  And he was pleased, it seemed having a father would be fun, and he giggled and splashed at Ryk- as if testing the limits of his male companion to see what this daddy was really made of! He knew his mother would not tolerate this, but Mister Handelbar was fresh meat! And with another giggle, he continued to splash and splash.


All the while Dylanna was examining the tub boredly, she caught a glimpse f herself in the mirror and gasped. She looked wretched. Why didn't Ryk say anything? She promptly moved from the tub over to her vanity and threw on a silk robe, tying it loosely before taking a seat and beginning to work at her hair. All of this fuss just to be getting bathed in front of him, and she had to pause herself in the middle of her fussing and peered back at her reflection- still confused how this all came to be...

and then recalling the flowers, which she know knew were all from him, made her blush as she went about avoiding her own reflection and just continued to pull the brush through her long, dark hair. Somehow, there were more knots in it than usual, but she silently grunted through the brushing anyway, beginning to feel flustered about this whole thing all over again.

Why did it have to be Ryk? But in the same spirit... it was as if it had always been Ryk....

        Ryk only laughed at Sam's splashing, and then splashed the boy back a few times. Having a son was going to be lots of fun, but he was sure Dylanna would likely make it a chore as well. There would have to be discipline of course, but he already knew that he'd be the fun parent. Likely he'd be the scary parent too, the one Sam feared upsetting, but Dylanna would be the parent that set the limits and told the boy no. She knew more about the realities of her world, the world Sam would grow up in. He better enjoy the lawlessness of this first bath.
        After splashing with Sam a bit, he was now stained with raspberries, and soaked through with soapy water. He stood and lifted Sam from the tub, keeping him at arms length. The last thing he wanted was to get the clean boy covered in the mess on his shirt. He turned with the squirming boy to find that Jasper himself had come forward with a towel to wrap Sam in. The female attendant had Lightning still wrapped in another, and was keeping the wolf pup under control. At least she had been good for that.
        As Jasper wrapped the boy and took him into his arms for a proper drying Ryk leaned in and kissed Sam's forehead.
        "I love you son," Ryk said to Sam with a wide smile, "you be good for Jasper and do what he says. And try to stay out of trouble while I scrub your mamas back." He turned away from his son then, holding the morning fun tightly in the forefront of his mind. Their first time together as father and son, all the cute things Sam said and did, were now sacred memories. The first memories of a family, of love.

        When Ryk arrived at Dylanna's room, he was pleased to find the door still unlocked, and he entered without making a sound. His lover sat at her vanity, fussing over her looks, trying to sort through her tangled locks. The marks of his passion were bright on her neck and shoulder, but it was her hair she fussed at. Clearly she was still flustered by the whole situation. He locked the door behind him, and walked to her, peeling his soaking, red stained shirt off as he went. He dropped it on the floor without regard, and came to stand behind the gorgeous woman before him. There was no sneaking up on a woman sitting in front of a mirror, and his eyes met hers in the reflection. He bent to her, tipping her head gently to the side, kissing her marked neck.
        "You are more gorgeous this morning than ever before."

He always sought to surprise her, didn't he? And how had she not heard him enter? Tearing her gaze from his, she tensed as he went and kissed her neck. She avoided his gaze, both on his person and in the mirror as she looked away, inadvertently giving him more access to her neck.

"How is Samuel? Did he eat well? Not a bite wasted?"

        "He's well fed and bathed," Ryk responded, "the pup too. Now its time to tend to you."
        He grazed his teeth along Dylanna's neck while slipping his hands forward to pull at the ties on her robe. He wanted to expose her beautiful flesh so his eyes could explore every inch of her. He longed to press against her again.
        "Come," he whispered between kisses, "let me show you how to work the magics of the tub."

The action made her tense,  and hold a breath. Teeth sunk down into her lower lip as her cheeks heated into a flush, but heat blossomed elsewhere as well, as it tingled- starting from the tips of her toes and spreading throughout the rest of her body like a flame. And then he felt him work at the ties of her loosely secured robe, and with a gasp, she moved a hand to grip it closed.

Mister Handelaar," she tsked, smirking at him through the mirror before turning those dark eyes to him as she peered at him from over the shoulder he was still kissing as she placed a hand upon his cheek in a subtle way to get him to halt. "I would oblige but that would require you to stop kissing me. How am I suppose to stand when your lips to my neck make my legs feel... strange." She smirked, eyes studying him in their close proximity before she found herself needing to turn away, for her smile was growing- and the very idea of it made her more embarrassed. To think, she was just admiring Ryk Handelaar.. but oh...
Had she already forgotten that it was alright? That they were engaged and well....
had already consummated their love?

Still, it was a lot to take in- and she knew the sensation she felt as if she were living in a dream would take a while to go away...
and also that haughtiness towards him- that hate. To think she agreed to all of this when she was so vulnerable...
but he had saved Samuel, risked his own neck not even realizing the boy was his own son. And also saved her own life out on that island.

Yes, Ryk Handelaar had been her her- and had she but known what he was capable of... perhaps those years of denying what her father said had been in vain. But she could not help but still feel a bit jealous. He had had so many women, and used that tongue to seduce so many...

She worried that was all he was doing know except...

She knew for a fact what he professed was true. She saw it in his eyes, and no man could look so vulnerable as he. Ryk, Rufus... Theodore, whichever man he truly was, she supposed she had already accepted it when she accepted him. But at least this time when he tried to seduce her...
at least it would be on her terms. And well, she would certainly not be drunk for most of it. He was rather.... good at it, after all.

        "Who said you need to stand?" Ryk pulled Dylanna's seat out from the vanity then scooped her up into his strong arms. Leaning her against his bare chest, like a man carrying his wife over the threshold, he smiled at her before kissing her once on the mouth.
        "If you so desire, you never have to walk again," he told his lover, "I will carry you everywhere in my arms." He made his way toward the tub, and then gently set Dylanna on her feet. He pulled her in close to kiss again, before moving down next to the magic bath.
        "Would you like me to show you now, or do you have something else to take care of first?"

Dylanna released a short breath when she was scooped up and awkwardly clung to Ryk.
"I don't know what kind of woman you think you're wooing, but I am no dainty woman. I'm sure your arms would fall off if you tried it." Really! She was nearly as tall as he was, and she had muscle, especially in her legs. She wasn't quite like the other ladies of society, for her tanned skin that was, while soft, not nearly as soft and fair as the rest of her class, due to years on the sea, and also, from years of being a mom.
"And it might be well to show me now, before you get.distracted."

        Ryk smiled knowingly. He knew what Dylanna meant when he said he might get distracted, and that was just what Rufus had in mind. He was already crouched by the tub so he reached out and turned the hot water handle. Immediately hot water poured forth from the faucet. He then turned the cold handle adjusting the temperature of the water pouring forth. When it was a comfortable heat he turned at her smiling.
        "Both handles make water pour forth from the spout," he told her, "one makes it hot, and the other cold. Adjusting the two of them you can alter the temperature of the water to your liking." He pointed down into the tub at a hole that the water was running into, preventing the tub from filling. You could see the floor through the hole but the water simply vanished as it poured through, "that magic hole takes away the water so you don't have to worry about emptying the tub." He pulled off an earring and tossed it in, where it was quickly swept through the drain. It fell through onto the floor beneath where he reached to retrieve it. "Your valuables are safe from that magic though. It only takes liquids away, which is convenient. I've used it to wash gems from a heist before," he told her with a mischievous grin, replacing the jewelery in his ear. He pressed his thumb against a depiction of a whirlpool near the faucet and the drain became a solid part of the tub, the bath beginning to fill.
        "The water does not grow cold as long as it remains in the tub," he told her as he began to remove his pants, "It will remain as hot or cold as you make it." He tossed his pants over toward the bed, where the rest of his garments, save his shirt, were nicely stacked. "The water also magically cleans itself of dirt, blood, and many other things. Soap will remain in the water longer than most things though. Do you keep your soap at the vanity?" Ryk asked his fiancé, his eyes never leaving hers as he began to unlace his smallclothes.
        "I'll happily wash your back for you," he said, as his last piece of clothing dropped away.

Dylanna crouched over the tub, watching in fascination as Ryk instructed her on the magics of how it worked. She was amazed by it, that much was certain, and dipped a hand into the water to test it as she tested each knob. One hot.. one cold. She smirked. Playing wtih the temperature until it seemed just right, she turned to observe Ryk, who was undressing before her as she dropped her gaze as her body heated.
"Wash my back?" How come she had a feeling he'd be offering more than that? She shook her head at it and tried to tuck back a smile, regaining her composure as she cut him a serious look. But to see Ryk Handelaar before her, completely nude, and in the daylight- it was a much different picture of him than when hey had both undressed by the candle's glow. When she realized she was staring, she dropped her gaze and realized she was still dress, but the robe was the only thing that kept her modest, and she was still holding it close with a fist.

        "I know I'm the perfect specimen of a man," Ryk said, standing in all his nude glory, his erection standing at attention, "but you should probably get the soap. Our son won't stay occupied forever."
        He turned from Dylanna to the tub, stepping in. His arms, chest, and abdomen carried many scars, but his back was latticed with them. Numerous lashings gained in Zantaric, from whips, canes, and cudgels, had left his skin marred. Time had stretched and smoothed them to the touch, but they were easily visible by the light of day. Having both his hands intact meant that the lashings had not come from the corrupt authorities. The scars on his back had been given to him by his mother, her pimp, and the different people that had assumed the role of protector to him. Defalcat had been the last, and the most cruel, but Ryk was free of that man now, that prison of a life. Dylanna's love had set him free.
        Ryk lowered himself slowly into the quickly filling tub. The water was just a bit hotter than he preferred on a normal day, but not as hot as what he used to loosen the knots in his muscles. Even so, it was still important for a man to ease the more sensitive part of his anatomy into such temperatures. He didn't want to cook away his chance at more children. His back toward his lover, he could not see if she was getting the soap, or if her bravery had allowed her to disrobe yet. He was patient, but their son would not be. So he finally turned his head to look at her.
        "Are you coming my love?"

At his words, she let out a huff, but instead of retorting, she gave a roll of her eyes and turned away, fetching up the soap and pausing for a moment at her vanity, and observed Ryk quietly through the mirror. He might have the perfect body, but those scars spoke volumes of another tale. She began to wonder just exactly which life earned him those- but if she had to guess, she'd presume Theo.

Fetching up the bottle,s he turned around and as she neared the bath, she let out a soft noise of irritation, nearly forgetting she was still clothed in the robe before she set the scented soap bottle down beside the bath and began to release her grip on the now crumpled fabric.

"It..." she began with a breath. "Is going to take me a while to get used to all of this. I know last night we... well," she dropped her gaze a bit shamefully. "Got better acquainted with ourselves more.... intimately..." But now that it was daylight....
"I just feel as if.... my heart and mind are still not all quite caught up." Even if her body was. Sighing, she whisked off the robe in one swift gesture before she'd lose her nerve and tossed it onto the back of her vanity stool. Then drawing ina  deep breath, she turned around and stepped before the bath, eyeing Ryk warily before finally taking one dainty step inside.

        "Get in here woman," Ryk said as he reached up and grabbed his future wife by the wrist. He pulled Dylanna down to him, in such a way that her bottom landed on the thick of his thigh. As she splashed down into the water, that was now up to his navel, it sprayed up into his face. He laughed and shook the moister away like a dog after a bath.
        "No need to be shy with me," he told her, "I love you, and you're the first woman I have ever loved. I didn't even love my mother. Truly, you are the first person I've ever loved."
        He helped Dylanna move over to sit next to him. The tub was plenty wide enough for them to sit side by side comfortably. He kissed her face, and pushed her disheveled hair from her face.
        "Did you hear that Lanna? I love you. Even with the rising of the sun. I will love you until the day I die, and after still. I've never been a believer, but you make me wish for an afterlife, so that I might love you for eternity, whether in heaven or hell."

Dylanna let out a gasp, and soon found herself sitting on Ryk's leg as her cheeks heated to a blush. But what he would come to say to her next, truthfully made her flash all over, warming her blood, and her heart. She was speechless as she stare at him before casting her gaze away bashfully.

"Yes, I heard you. It's just still a lot to take in," she told him breathlessly. "Ryk... I... I was afraid of you for so long. That apprehension, that fear... it will still take some time to go away." But then more affectionately, she added, smiling into his face as she rose a hand and cupped his cheek. He really did look quite different with this sort of smile on him. If it was possible, he looked even more handsome- almost like a new man.

"But I suppose I've faced much worse things than you," she told him, a sly grin stretching across her lips. "But here I find myself trying to open up and to love a man by three names." Her eyes flickered, trying to read his blue eyes. "I won't pretend to understand what you've gone through, but what I can promise is my devotion. It... it will be nice to raise Sam with his actual father." And sheepishly her gaze looked away, and she found herself taking in the scars across his body.
"And to also be able to actually have a true lover," and she gave another breathy laugh at that. It was rather embarrassing, but true. She hadn't had anyone else other than Ryk Handelaar- and secretly she wondered if he was the reason why- not because of him pulling strings, but because of her keeping her distant, and always having the other merchant on her mind. What was it about him anyway that always fascinated her? Perhaps part of the charm was that it shouldn't be, but in the same breath he was like a dose of good medicine, the part of her she had trouble with, and in a sense, helping to balance herself out- despite her flaws. Whatever the reason, it somehow landed her in the tub with him, and she peered up at him, giving him another shy smile, her cheeks still pink.

"So I suppose this is how our story begins?" she said,  resting her arms on either side of his neck in a gentle embrace. "You save my son and the truth all comes spilling out. I still feel as if I'm stumbling over my feet when I try to talk to you about all of this. It's just so strange how this all came to be."

And here she was, rambling uncontrollably over it. For she was anxious, and still so very new to love, to romance, even to having her own 'true' family. And it was a wonderful feeling to think that finally, she'd have something so complete.

        "Shush now," was all Ryk said, the words barely a whisper, as he placed his lips on Dylanna's, silencing her. Her kissed he softly, playing with her long hair as he did so. He could taste the raspberries on her mouth, the sweet but tart flavor, a pleasant addition to the soft press of her lips. When he leaned away from her he gave her a satisfied smile.
        "I know it will be hard my love," he told her, "but we have many years together to look forward to. Making love, raising children, traveling to exotic cities. There are so many things our future holds. With the advancements in magic and alchemy, we will surely live long enough to know our grandchildren, and maybe even our great-grandchildren. The best part is that we will be together for it all," Ryk looked at his lover, his perfect white teeth shown in a toothy grin.
        "Now I think it's time to put such thoughts aside," he said to Dylanna, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "We are naked together in a large tub. I think we should take advantage of this time." He gave her a wink, and gestured for her to climb on his lap.

Dylanna gave a soft sigh through her lips when they kissed. His lips were so soft and warm, as was his body. She had never gotten a chance to ever appreciate this sort of aspect in life, too busy working, too busy worrying- too much this and that. When he pulled away to speak, she stared at him through her dark lashes, and then him bringing up their predicament again, she could not help herself but smirk as she slid onto his lap and stole a kiss from him herself.

She decided she liked his smell, the natural musk of his body, and the heat he exuded, the firmness of his muscles, and even the unique feeling of the scars upon his skin as her hands smoothed across his back. And she was kissing him still, softly, gently; before her lips grew more palpable and she, more hungry as her kisses grew more and more intense.

        Ryk returned Dylanna's kisses fiercely, hungry for the real love she was giving him. It was so different from the other woman he'd been with. Lust had been there, desire, want, but never a need like this, never love. Even when he had kissed sweet Einin, he had never felt this kind of love from her. More lust, more infatuation, feelings perhaps confused with what she thought was blossoming love. This was something different.
        He craved her as much as she did him, needing to feel her against him. Her body was perched sideways on his lap, her legs together, chest turned and pressed against him, bare breasts heaving with each breath. His lips pulled at hers, his tongue brushing against her tongue, their kissing messy and fast, starving for more. He just couldn't get enough of her, the scent of her was sweet to his senses, her skin the softest he'd ever touched. She may not be the soft woman of a pleasure house, but he preferred her toned muscles to pliable flesh. She was strong, and with his arms wrapped around her he could feel that strength just beneath the surface of her skin. Ryk shuddered as Dylanna's hand slid across his back. Her soft touch eliciting a feeling of pleasure unlike any he'd ever experienced before. She was the fantasy he'd denied having for so long, and he let his hands explore her.
        Ryk moved his hands up her back in a gentle caress, then brought them to her front, her chest, cupping and fondling her breasts tenderly. He gently pinched and pulled on Dylanna's nipples before moving his hands down her body. He slid a hand beneath her, getting a solid hold on her firm ass. He massaged her with that hand, rolling his fingers in an undulating motion, while he slid his other hand between her thighs. He spread her legs just enough to have room for his hand to work. He then rubbed the lips of her sex gently with his fingers while he pushed his thumb in against her pleasure button. The rough life he'd lived had been the resource that taught him the right places to touch a woman, and he used that knowledge well now. After a time he slid his second and third fingers into her, curling them back to rub inside her with a scooping motion. All the while he never stopped rubbing her clit with his thumb, measuring the amount of pressure to give by Dylanna's movements and sounds of pleasure. He moved his other hand from her buttocks, to the small of her back as he also moved his mouth to her breasts. He greedily, kissed them, sucking and biting at her nipples, supporting her back with his one hand as the other stirred her honey pot. He loved pleasuring her more than he enjoyed his own grtification. He could do this all day, and looked forward to having the opportunity to have his mouth on her sex, to taste her pleasure.

Their kisses were like new secrets she had always wanted to share, and eager to learn, eager to taste, she too, got caught up in he frenzy and heat of passion. Hands continued to feel along his body, over both rough and softer flesh, of warmth, and occasional hair. She wanted to feel him, to memorize the feeling of each slope and valley of muscle and skin, to feel the cords, the bones, the heart beat within. Her breaths turned quicker now, hotter between each kiss and as his hands went south her lips suddenly peeled away, leaving them ajar as long lashes hung low over her eyes and she, remained frozen and poised at the sensation as fingers worked across her sex, then easily slid inside. But her lower lip was still pressed ever so lightly to his, so he'd be able to feel her soft gasps as he worked at her, the sensation driving her crazy as he worked into her.

And his hands were like magic, finding all the right places. She couldn't have known that her breathing had given her away, but her body was doing a lot of the talking. He was so close to just the right spot, that she adjusted her body ever so slightly, and felt the tips of his fingers rake her, and soon her moans were becoming deep.

Her sex was hot as molten lava, still slick from their sex from last night, and the walls spasmed and tasted around his fingers as she remained there, still paralyzed from his ministrations and her mind and body still trying to figure out just exactly what to do. But as it turned out, she was completely and utterly at his mercy, and all she could do was hold on for the ride.

        Ryk continued his practiced motions, each tiny signal she gave him helped refine his technique. He found just the right motion, just the right speed, just the right amount of pressure. All the things he learned from her body, her breathing, the increasing heat in her sex, he put to use with adroit hands. When she began to make sounds at the pleasure, he put his mouth against hers. He didn't want her making any loud noises that might draw attention. He wanted the intimacy to last, uninterrupted. He kept his mouth on hers, guiding her up the hill to her climax, not stopping for a moment. His lips pressed hard against hers, just the slightest bite of his teeth against her flesh.
        He took great pleasure in the increase of her heart rate. The acceleration of her breathing filled him with excitement. Her moans, made into his mouth, into their kisses, those moans made his blood boil with passion. He would be in her soon, he would fill her with the entirety of his throbbing manhood, that pulsed with his rapid heartbeat. First though, he would take her all the way there. He would fill her body with all the pleasure he could before he took his own pleasure from her. This was his joy, this was the foreplay he desired. Her moans and spasms. Her orgasm.
        "Say my real name when it happens," he kissed her breathlessly as he whispered the words, "say it when your body is at its peak."

 He was unrelenting, his fingers unforgiving, never stopping, always moving, stoking the fires of her need. Her moans would have been loudly but were now sealed away as they vibrated against his soft, smothering lips. And the nearer to her peak she came, the more tense her body had become. She was clinging to him as tight as a second skin, and as his fingers worked their magic, her eyes soon rolled back as she was shivering through a muffled scream of ectasy. And in the heat of the moment she nearly forgot to cry out his name.
"Gods, Theodore!" And she closed her eyes tight, an explosion of heat pulsed between her legs and her sex gripped his fingers tight. Gods... She was in heaven.

But had she really done it? She called him by his true birth name. There were no frills with it, no lies- just simple truths in a simple moment that could only be deduced as a single insane moment of heat.

Bliss. She melted after words, Ryk's fingers would be extra sticky as a breath hitched and she finally opened her eyes to regard him. And as she did so it was in another light, and something n her expression changed, something softened, and she reached a hand to cup his face before telling him breathlessly, "I love you." And then she leaned forward, sealing her lips unto his, face then nuzzling him affectionately as she kept her arms clung around him. "I love you, Theodore Wrenthis. I can't wait to officially call you my husband." ANd the words were spoken against his ear on a breath tickling him, as her teeth dared to nibble, just a little, before she grew more bold and began to lightly kiss down his neck.

        The tub was nearly full with water and Ryk could feel it's magic working pulling away the sweat from his body. As he slid his fingers from inside Dylanna, the sticky evidence of her pleasure was swept away before he could bring the fingers to his mouth to clean them. Tasting her would have to wait for a time when they were not being bathed with magic. Ryk lifted a foot and used it to turn each of the handles, shutting off the water. Then his attention returned to his lover, her body still pressed against his.
        He turned her slowly, so her back was to him. The acrobatics required to get her legs around him now wouldn't be hard for her, but he was impatient to ask. Instead, with her back against him, he spread her legs and lifted her gently. The water, and Dylanna's cooperation with his movements, made it easy to hold her up as he pressed the tip of his tool into her sex. He lowered her down the length of his shaft, then tipped up his legs so she was leaned back against him. His mouth pressed to her neck, kissing gently, his hands slid up her body to her breasts, fondling them, swirling around areolas, pinching at her nipples. He didn't rock or gyrate, leaving that to her. Instead he just kept kissing her as his hands wandered her body. Her breasts, stomach, and thighs found his hands kneading them. He stroked at her hair, turning her head this way and that, kissing her neck and shoulder. Occasionally putting a finger or two in her mouth, he'd press at her tongue, or tug her jaw down by her teeth, allowing him to kiss the back of her neck. He also pressed against her clit, rubbing the pleasure button gently with his fingers. He wanted to give her as much pleasure as he could, not to manipulate her or control her through sex, but because he loved her. He loved her and he wanted her to feel it with every fiber of her being.

Where as all the times before she was a bit apprehensive as to what they were doing, but now that they were committing their love to the daylight, it had a whole other meaning to the intense passion they shared last night. Last night she truly needed it, and if she were not so proper, she would admit she simply needed to fuck, but this? This was so much different, being able to see him better, to feel him better, and to be so much more confident and self assured with each step they took. Though the night was beautiful in it's haunting shadows and romantic candle lit glow, there was a new glow now coming in through the window that helped warmed her as his dick slipped inside her tight sex.

There was little resistance, her body already fully prepared to take him in, but she was tight none the less- considering Ryk, or rather, Theo, had been her only lover. Her thick lips parted open, top teeth sinking down into the lower as she released a deep throated moan. His hands all over her body, her breasts- it had her nipples standing pert and at attention, and she whimpered as his hands continued to taste of her, to feel the softness of her skin against his rough hands. Gods, she loved those warm hands, so confident, but so gentle, but also hungry and as eager as the desire burning within her as her hips began to rock slowly, ever so slowly as she drew Theo's dick in and out of her.

With her taking the lead, she wanted to figure this all out, so when his sex was sealed as deeply as it could be, she tightened up her sex, let it pulse a bit, to taste the sensations of him fully filling her. The pooling of pleasure began to bud and burn within her, and going off of her own feelings, she began to slowly lift up her hips, riding him gently, slowly, before lifting herself up now until her sex's tight lips were at the end of his, and his dick was nearly falling out of her.  Just the tip of him was in her now, pressing against allt he sensetive folds and coaxing near where his finger was playing with her clit.

Her breath hitched now as she held it, and then, as she felt her sex nearly empty of him, her own sex spasmed in anticipation, muscles working together frantic as the sensations of her peak were growing like a fire. She needed more, and soon she was gasping, her body reacting naturally, as she thrust him back inside her, fully in and there she held it- letting her body taste and adjust to him again, the burning growing stronger before she began to repeat it, slowly, painfully, hungrily- again and again.

"So is this... this what you think is considered washing my back?" she asked breathlessly, his cock now half hanging out with her as she held him on the edge. And despite the magic water, his dick remained thick and slick with her wetness, as it glistened even in the waters before she moved to take him inside of her again. And as fingers met to her lips, she smiled and nibbled on them playfully, before threading one hand with his and drawing it to her lips, moving lips to kiss across his knuckles, then finger tips before releasing a breath of contentment- content to just allow her body to just be with his- rocking and nursing the sensations of love- but with no where to go but up, except she didn't want to peak yet, so she just kept it casual. And she began to wonder if this was truly what love was all about. Not just talking, but meeting with minds and body, in one intense dance like this.

        Ryk was enjoying her movements, and enjoyed that it was Dylanna in control and not himself. For only having been with him, she was not awkward in her movements. She was a wonderful lover, and this pleased him. Literally. Her slow, sensual movements were wonderful, and a rare treat. She knew this wouldn't be her only time with him, and her motions were not fevered and rushed. There would be times when their passion ran exceptionally hot, and they would both be hasty in their ministrations. That would be amazing, but this was a different kind of amazing.
        He loved feeling her back against his chest, the water sloshing between them. As she rose and fell along his length, the pleasure she brought him spread through his body. He made sure to give her body the attention it deserved in reciprocation. One hand kept its fingers on her clit, working it expertly as she worked his cock. The other hand fondled her perky tits, kneading them gently, rubbing, twisting, and pinching her nipples. He could feel the muscles of her tight sex increase their grip on his rod, and his pleasure increased. His mouth remained locked on her neck, moans of pleasure vibrating against her flesh. He was in heaven.
        "I'll wash your back when you've had your fill of me," the muffled words, said against her neck, came out in a whimper. Her movements clearly were having the desired effect.

Dylanna leaned into him, feeling the strength of his chest against her back as his muffled breath against her neck, and the way his hands fondled her chest made her shiver, nipples turning erect as she moaned. At his words, she smirked, however and leaned her head back so they were cheek to cheek as a hand raked through his hair.

"I think that only just makes sense," she told him, green eyes sparkling as she looked into his face, peering at him through dark lashes as she sunk her teeth into her lower lip as she took his sex in deeply again. "You... you were awfully messy last night," she told him through a breathy short laugh, before releasing another moan as she drew his length away and out of her sex again in one long, slow pull, feeling each inch of him drag within. She was releasing hot breaths now, the slow motion getting to the better of her as her hips began to move more quickly, the bath waters splashing more roughly. Gods, this was heaven, and she wasn't sure how she lived so long in her life without more of it. But she supposed with a lover like Ryk- he'd give her more than her fill.

"So tell me," she whispered, lips sealing to his from the side. "Shall I call you Theo again?" she whispered, hot breath tickling at his lips, still kissing him from the side.

        "I love you Lanna," Ryk murmured in breathless words. He wasn't able to focus on Dylanna's voice, and so he didn't answer her question. He was too focused on containing himself. He didn't want to peak yet. His hands had left her now, no longer working her clit and tits. He gripped the sides of the tub, and took deep gasping breaths. He had rocked his hips occasionally before, helping work his cock inside of his lover, but now held still. His muscles were taught, his body trembling. His feet were pointed with the effort to contain himself, and his toes curled down. Dylanna was getting him closer and closer with each movement, and his self control was beginning to fail.
        "I'm going to explode inside you,"Ryk whimpered, then bit his lip moaning. His lover seemed to know just how to move her body into his, as if by instinct. "Please don't stop my love," his words came out a whisper, "please. Oh please."

He didn't need to tell her he was close, she already knew. She could feel it in his body, in the tone of his voice, in his breaths, in the way he shivered as she too, reciprocated in kind. Though she was tempted to torture him when he was on the brink of ecstasy, his whispers were enough to flare up her own heat. So she didn't dare stop as she continued to roll her hips, feeling him, tasting him, and riding him hard until they both would melt unto their joined heat.

And what happened next made her scream, her body peaking, sex spasming; wildly, hotly, wet. And in their wild motions of frenzied need, the tub had all but lost all of it's contents- good thing the bath tub was magic, or they might have flooded the floor.

        "Oh," was the only word Ryk mumbled out as Dylanna took him to his climax. He groaned against her shoulder as he began to thrust up into her with the heat of his orgasm. His hot seed sprayed into her with pulse after pulse of his pleasure, filling her so that it ran back out with its abundance. She'd given him the most intense orgasm he'd ever had, enhanced by the love they shared. He'd never lay with another woman as long as he lived, and that did not make him fearful. This was all he needed. Dylanna was all he needed.
        He pulled his mouth away from her shoulder to find her mouth, giving her deep, passionate kisses. Ryk loved this woman, truly loved her, as he had never loved another living being. To love two people, his wife to be and their son, so suddenly after so long a life without it, was surreal. He clamped his eyes shut tight against the world and wished the dream would never end. To waken from such beauty would crush him, but it was not a dream. His eyes opened on the most beautiful face he'd ever seen in his life, and she was his. Heart and soul, he was hers as well.
        "How long do I have to wait to marry you?" A large grin spread across his face with the query. He lifted his foot to turn the handles and start the water back up. "You should adjust that my love, I don't want to burn you."

The fluttering inside her heart was almost enough to carry her away. Her veins tickled, as did her finger tips and toes, each inch of her affected by this passion, this love; something she was finally able to allow herself to succumb to. And as she nestled against him, she gave a contented sigh, but did not wish to move away from his body. He was too comfortable, and the moment too perfect, so instead of removing herself from him, she lifted up a leg and copied him, pressing a bare foot onto the faucets and gave a laugh as she tried to adjust the temperature with her feet.

"Hrmm, I don't know. Perhaps we could make it a very long engagement so I can torture you for as long as I can."
But one wrong move made her yelp and cling to Ryk suddenly- for the water suddenly gushed out of the magic faucet freezing cold!

        "Oh ho ho ho," Ryk laughed at Dylanna's yelp. The cold water was running strong, splashing against his feet. He lifted her off of him, his seed spilling from her, so that he could reach the handles. He twisted them quickly, turning it to a much more pleasantly warm flow. The water cleaned itself of their sex as the heat spread around them. They would soon again be surrounded by the enveloping heat of the tub. Ryk leaned back again and pulled her across his lap, kissing her.
        "Better?" he asked her. "I don't want you to lose that heat I've filled you with." Ryk's smile was warm and loving. "If you don't marry me, it's you that will be tortured. I'll put another child in you, and everyone will wonder at the father." He kissed her again, his smile never leaving his lips. This love was wonderful. He would enjoy every moment of it.
        "Where did you put that soap?"

"Oh, so is that your plan?" she asked him, smartly. "Trying to bed me as much as you can before our wedding night to assure yourself another child with me?"
And then at the comment about the soap, she only smirked and told him, "I think you're sitting on it."

        It was under his thigh, and Ryk grabbed it and lathered it into his hands thoroughly before pressing them into Dylanna's back. He rubbed at her thoroughly before the water got too high, sudsing her back completely. Just because he had volunteered to wash her back, didn't mean he couldn't wash more of her. He slid his hands across her front, lathering her stomach. Then he took each of her breasts in his hands spreading the soap across them in a sensual way. He didn't need an excuse to massage her pert tits, and pinch at her nipples, but he used washing her as one. He kissed her tenderly as he touched her gently. The was filling fast though so she needed to stand so he could was the rest of her.
        "Will you stand for me gorgeous," he asked her sweetly, "there are more parts of you that need my attention." Washing her like this was a wonderful experience, touching her gently, without the real purpose being sex. He loved her so much, and cleaning her was a good way to show that.
        "If our coupling has you with child before we are to be wed, I would not be unhappy," he told her plainly, "but I'll be happy practicing putting a child in you, even if we're married more than a year when you are with child again. I want us to have as many as you're willing to carry. I love you, and I want children to share our love with. You are my heart, and Sam is my soul. What better legacy can a man have than a family that remembers him fondly?"

Dylanna smiled appreciatively as Theo's hands found their way all over her body. The soap made her skin extra soft beneath it's lather, and beneath his ministrations her nipples grew hard and erect. Though other things were effected, such as the fluttering, heavy beat of her heart and the warmth between her legs; but the warmth seemed to travel all over her, warming her blood and her cheeks. She obeyed his words, standing to let him finishing washing her, and found herself needing to laugh.

"You know, I'm not used to someone washing me. Normally I'm the one doing the washing."
And the one being washed was Sam. With a contented sigh, she let him work, green eyes drifting away and almost not comprehending his thoughts. She smiled over it, though she tried to tuck it away, to keep it discrete, which was an impossible feat in itself.

"I always dreamed of a big family," she told him in earnest. "But I don't know how well my life suits a family. And yours... you don't live just the life of Ryk, Theo. But as a wolf at night." And this made her frown. What sort of dangers would their children be in if Theo's organization went sour? Or if someone found out his true identity? ANd would their future children get sucked into such a thing? She bit her lip nervously, too many thoughts clouding her mind as she turned away from him.

"Perhaps we should keep it small..."
Naturally, she was referring to their family size. It was practical, after all. And much safer, or so she would hope.

        "That might be hard, to accomplish," Ryk said, "with a body like this to tempt me." He slapped Dylanna hard on her soapy ass, then gave it a firm squeeze. Once his hands had found all of her, Ryk gently pulled Dylanna back down into the quickly filling tub. The soap dissipated quickly, whisked away by the magic coursing through the water. He moved so he was at her feet, and he lifted them each in turn soaping them. As he did, he gave each a quick massage, kneading the heel and bridge, rolling her toes between his fingers.
        "I'm sorry it's taken us so long to find each other. We'll have to make up for lost time Lanna."

Gasping when he slapped her ass, she gave him a stern look when she was reseated in the tub.
"That's a silly notion to say," she informed him, still frowning. "Time is a constant and moves forward. We can't possibly gain any of it back. But what we ought to do is simply figure this out," she said with a sigh. "And if you haven't been able to tell already, I'm not much of a lover, or.." she said, her cheeks flushing red. "Or know how to be one. I've always been afraid of the idea. Afraid I'd be terrible at it."
Or afraid to be swept away into it, to become too lost in a moment with someone like Ryk- and that was all it would be. But now what had she found herself caught up in? She was now engaged, and soon- the whole world would know. ANd there was no going back. This was it. And this was the man she was to marry- the father of her child...
and who knew..
perhaps the father of many of her children.

        Ryk smiled at Dylanna lovingly, released her foot and slid forward between her legs, easily lifting her to his lap. Though his erection pressed against her sex, he knew they didn't have time for more lovemaking. He kissed her softly on the mouth, and pushed her damp hair away from her face.
        "I couldn't tell at all actually, he said truthfully, "you have great instincts, and you've always been good at everything you put your mind to. I'll be gentle, except when it's better not to be." He gave her a wink. "I'll be your favorite teacher." His lips were on hers again, his tongue seeking hers hungrily. Then he broke their embrace and stood, quickly sudsing, washing himself in the quick efficient way he'd adapted for when he had to change from Rufus to Ryk with little time. He dropped into the water, rinsing the soap from his body with haste, then exited the tub without delay. The final magic trick the tub had to display enacted as his second foot rose from the water, drying him instantly.
        "Stay and soak," Ryk told his future wife, "enjoy the water and relax my love. I'll tend to your household, and to Sam, until you become bored with laziness." He smiled at Dylanna warmly and leaned in to give her a sweet kiss. He stood in all his naked glory for only a moment more before moving to dress. He reached for his soiled clothing and pulled them on without any worry that they were making him dirty again. He pulled on his sweaty smallclothes, slipped into his pants, tugged on his netherstocks, stepped into his magic boots, donned his stained shirtleeves, and then put on his orange vest. He left his black coat with orange trim folded across Dylanna's vanity chair as he used the mirror to straighten himself up. From a pocket he pulled out the primper and gave himself a tap. It's magic went to work cleaning him, and his clothing, no trace of the stain remaining. A touch of a vial of refresher to his lips, and Ryk was not only perfectly cleaned and groomed, but had a fresh, clean, and minty mouth. He moved back to Dylanna and gave her a wink and a grin.
        "I've gotten pretty fast at this. How do I look?" He leaned in to her, not waiting for a response, and kissed her mouth. A little bite to her lip, and he straightened heading toward her door. "Is there anything you need, or something you'd like me to tend to in particular?" If she was to relax, he didn't want her worrying about anything while she was soaking.

A wet, soapy hand suddenly gripped onto his dry trousers.
"Wait," she said, water dribbling down her arms and soiling the floors with their frothy mess. "You expect me to just stay here and... relax?" Her face wrinkled at such an idea. How preposterous! There was too much to be done during the day, and without her awake to order the house, there could be chaos! Not to mention Samuel needing attention! And though he had suggested he'd help with all of this, Dylanna was not a woman who would simply lay back and watch.

        Ryk reached down and took Dylanna's hand, lacing his fingers through hers. "That is exactly what I expect you to do my love." He kissed her again. "You deserve a bit of time to yourself. "I'm sure Jasper knows the day to day well enough. As much as he dislikes me, I'm sure he can help me through the minor things to keep everything going. If there is anything major, I will defer to you. I'm sure he and I can handle most of the duties. I will also see to Sam. Does he have tutors yet?"

Dylanna seemed to cringe. Such a.notion was foreign to her, relying on another for help, especially where her own son was concerned. Perhaps it was something she'd have to get used to, but in that moment it was unfathomable.
"I'm afraid without my son or house to run, I wouldn't know how to relax. And I am quite done with my bath." It was true, she was thoroughly clean and too anxious now to linger. So she simply stepped out of the bath and reached for her towel.

        Ryk watched his lover move. Watched her reach for a towel she didn't need. The tub had pulled its water away from her and she was dry. Dylanna's action was one born of habit, of ritual, not of need. She needn't wrap herself from the sight of her lover either and so Ryk caught her reaching hand and pulled her naked body to his.
        "If you insist on not enjoying the freedom that having a husband will bring you," he said as he wrapped his arms around her, "I will have to find fun ways to exhaust you, so that you will need the rest." He smiled warmly and then kissed her. "Today I will concede. I will raptly watch you dress, covering this amazing nude visage. Then we can see to your house together, and I will learn all that you do in a day."
        He released her, and gave her a pat on her bottom before rolling up his sleeve to prevent it getting wet as he reached into the tub to drain the water. Afterward, Ryk moved to the wall, that he might lean against it and watch his lover wrap herself in clothing.

It was so strange to step out of the bath and not be wet, but as her green eyes examined herself,a and of him, it was difficult for her to hide her smile. Though when she was pressed against him, her breath was stolen away, and not just by the heat created by their bodies, but by his kiss as well. She placed two hands upon him and lightly pushed herself away, just so she had but a few inches to breath, but it seemed their bodies would remain close as she peered at him.

"I still don't think I'm quite used to these... attentions," she admitted, and as he moved away to drain the bath,s he sighed and wrapped her robe around herself and moved over to the vanity to brush her hair. But her mind was plagued with so many things, that she found herself pausing in mid-brush to peer at Ryk's reflection in the mirror behind her.

"I'm afraid there isn't too complicated a life here to learn. Unless you were seeking my ledgers, that of wish I would not show."
Naturally, promise to marry or not, those ledgers were sacred to her business partners,a nd she could not compromise her business, her way of life, even for him. She and Samuel depended on this, and as Ryk already well knew; the woman before him was not so easily trusting.

But,s he still was a woman, and she just hoped her time away from him cooled herself off. She had never been so sexually awakened or stimulated as when she was with him.A nd it was a deadly combination- of her secret desires and dreams at night coming awake. She'd have to keep herself in check- just in case there ever was a soul crushing reality that-
Perhaps he really was using her, like she had feared he might had she ever fallen for him.

But she was torn. The secrets he shared, and their most intimate moment made her lowe rher gaze to the neatness o fher vanity. She kept simple make ups, wanting to always look nice, but never over doign anything, not even the rouge or powder, and normally, she never wore her powder. It was silly to try to anyway. Her skin was too tan to hide, and she never pursued the proper means to obtain a husband.

Yet here she was....
Engaged.
And she would find herself known some day as Lady Handelaar.
What would this mean for her and Samuel? Sure, Ryk promised her much but...
She bit her lip and tried to fight all of these thoughts away,a nd returned to drawing her brush through her hair. She had to stop thinking this way. It was making her ill, and so far- Ryk had not shown any interest to betray her.

And infact, she kept herself in check, remding herself that it was this very man who saved her child's life, and whisked her back away into another night (and now morning..) of passion...
a passion she was so very much missing in her life.

And she was a woman of her word. She promised herself to Ryk..
but could she truly open herself up to this blooming love? It was hard for her to ignore the fear still brewing within her every time she saw him. Would she get used to this? Or would she always find herself at odds with her own heart?

        "I'm not at all concerned with your ledgers," Ryk told her. Dylanna's business was not on his mind. He planned on keeping his corrupt practices separate of her. Her money was not something he needed, nor wanted. He was wealthy enough on his own, though his dealings were usually a bit more sinister.
        "I just want you to have an easy day," he said, "I want my being in your life again to help simplify as many things as possible. Especially since I know how complicated it will make others." Watching Dylanna was definitely something he would enjoy doing regularly.

"Any easy day?" Dylanna sighed and could have laughed as she turned away from the vanity. "What's that?" Having a child meant no day was idle. Even times of relaxation she had to be on guard, especially now- since Samuel's life had nearly been compromised and the very memory of it had her eyes going towards the door.

        "Well I did notice you don't have nearly as many servants as I keep on," Ryk said, "and not even as many as your father kept. From what I know as being the only merchant with an empire as vast as the Swinden's, is that you could afford a full staff easily and to have nicer things. I know it's not your way to give in to opulence, but why work so hard at something if you do not benefit from the fruits of your labor?"
        He finished and stood quietly watching her. If he had a problem he always threw money at it, used magic, or used some clever manipulation to make it go away. If Dylanna hired a full staff, that was magically scryed to prevent spies, and hired the normal number of armsmen an estate her size normally had, life would be easier. It would cost a bit more, well, a lot more, but she could easily afford it. At least he'd be getting her a new bed. The one they had slept on last night was old, lumpy, and not good enough for his lover. It made him wonder about the bed his son was sleeping on. Well he'd have all the comforts they deserved installed, even if it was at his expense.

Dylanna raised her.brows.
"More servants?" She shook her head, and tried to hide her smile as she sighed. "And what would I have them do? Baby sit you and your... Wolves? I can't see marrying a wild, pack animal adding to my convenience."

        Ryk grimaced at that. He knew that the Soot Wolves could potentially complicate his life with Dylanna. He was determined to make an effort at preventing that, but one could never be completely prepared for everything. You just had to learn to improvise well. He took his weight off the wall and stood straight, walking over to stand behind his lover as she prepared herself to face the world. His hand slid under her hair finding the back of her neck. He stroked his fingers across her flesh. His other hand went to her chin and his eyes met hers in the mirror.
        "I will do my very best to keep our life separate of that. I've done fairly well keeping Ryk and Rufus apart." He tipped her head back gently as he brought his lips down to meet hers. He could not stop himself, and his hands slid down into her robe, finding her breasts. "Your body makes it very hard to stay focused on conversation," he told her between kisses, showing his renewed passion. "I will never get tired of touching you, or taking pleasure in you."

Realizing she had been curt, she frowned at his reflection apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Ryk. I.just...." But then he was touching her, fondeling her soft skin. She shivered lightly, feeling bumps raise across her skin as her nipples turned erect at.his touch. "Ryk..." But she didn't finish that thought, her eye lids hanging low and her breath.catching in her throat.

        Ryk placed his hands on the arms of Dylana's chair, and pulled it back from the vanity as he kissed her. Once there was enough space in front of her he moved to face her, kissed her hard on the mouth, and then dropped to his knees. He pulled her forward to the edge of the seat, threw open her robe, and spread her legs. Ryk looked at Dylanna's beautiful pussy, his eyes lingered on her narrow cleft, just starting to glisten with moisture. He brushed his fingers lightly over her mound and gently parted her moist lips. Slowly he put his head between her legs, spreading them wider. He loved the sweet, slightly musky scent of her freshly cleaned sex, and he couldn't wait to taste her. He brought his mouth to her pussy and began kissing her, his partially parted mouth making small sucking sounds. Then he moved downward, licking the entire length of her slit, then back up, parting her lips open with his tongue. She tasted as wonderful as she smelled.
        Dylanna's sounds of pleasure and slight shudders encouraged him to pleasure her. His hands stroked up from the tops of her feet, all along her body, until he found her breasts. As he worked his mouth on her sex, his hands kneaded her breasts. In an attempt to squeeze as much pleasure out of her as he could, Ryk deliberately ignored her clit, building the tension in her body as much as he could. He continued his ministrations, licking her now very wet slit, sucking and nibbling her soft lips. He tickled the tip of his tongue along her perineum to elicit sounds of pleasure from her. He brought his left hand there to massage it with his fingers, wet and slippery from her juices, and his saliva, running down her. As Lanna's breathing grew heavy, Ryk moved his mouth up to her clit. He could feel the stiffened pleasure button beneath her hood, and sucked at it. He pushed the hood back with his tongue stroking the clit as he did so. He pressed his face harder against her as he furiously worked, breasts, perineum, and pussy, all getting his attention simultaneously. As he sucked he kept his thumb on her perineum while his fingers stroked against the opening of her hole. His hand thoroughly slick, Ryk slid three fingers into Dylanna, massaging her inside and out. The moisture of her pleasure lifted his arousal, and he quickened his movements. As Dylanna's sounds of pleasure grew, he increased his speed and pressure, trying to push his lover over the summit of her climax.

If his goal was to send her to heaven, she was nearly there. Having his tongue inside of her- to feel his breath and hot, wet tongue lapping at her sweet spots, drove her to moan loudly as she writhed and tried to move her hips to give him better access to her sex. And he'd drink of her, and drink deep, and when fingers' felt her, fingers penetrated her, she had all but screamed. She threw her head back, dark hair curling as light sweat graced her neck line- and just as her lips opened wide to sing-

a playful giggle came from the other side of the door.

"Mummy! Mummy!"

It was Sam, and her breath changed as she radically tried to swallow back her pleasure, all the while her sex pulsated wildly, being so near to her peak, but also fearful her son might catch her and Ryk and....
He was a bit too young to learn where he had come from.

"R-ryk," she whispered, in a throaty moan, hands gripping into his hair and sex tightening incredibly so. "It...s... It's Sam. He.. he's at the ... d-door."

And she paused, her heart pounding inside her.
"Is.." she hesitated, licking her dry lips as she swallowed. "Is the door still locked?"

        Ryk did not cease in his ministrations. In fact he became more fierce in his attempt to make Dylanna climax. He nodded, and mumbled an affirmative into her, as he lapped at her sweet pussy. Not only was the door locked, but he had left the key turned in the lock so someone on the outside couldn't put in their own key. He parted his mouth from her to speak three words. "Bite your tongue," he told his lover, before diving back into her. He moved his fingers in and out of her, sucking on her clit, feeling the juices run down his hand, listening to her try and hold in her moans, trying not to rock the chair with her writhing. He sucked harder on her clit, alternating with full tongue licks on the pleasure button. His thumb continued to rub her perineum while his fingers pumped in and out of her pussy.
        His working never ceased, no matter how hard she pressed her mound against his face. He massaged her clit hard with his tongue, fingers thrusting in and out of her faster and faster. He squeezed and massaged her breasts, pulling and pinching at her nipples, caressing her areola's. He could tell she was close to the edge. Rotating his hand, so his thumb could no longer rub against her, he curved his fingers to hit that most sensitive of spots inside her. He rubbed and tapped at it rhythmically, working on her relentlessly, feeling her pleasure vibrate through her entire body. Her pleasure was also evident in that Dylanna was dripping wet, even as Ryk swallowed down much of her sweet nectar. He could feel her sex tense and clench around his fingers. Knew she was almost there, and he refused to stop until she was pushed over the edge.

By the Gods! Ryk's tongue, fingers, hands- whatever it was he was doing to her drove her insane, lighted her fire and caused her to moan out, unrestrained. But after hearing his breathy reply against her sex to bite her tongue, she tried to obey, but the moans and her writhing were growing with increasing need. He still hadn't answered her questioned about the locked door, but she presumed he was not so foolish as to have their son catch them in such a scandalous of acts, though the idea of the fact they could be caught increased and heightened the sensations and she kept growing mercilessly nearer and nearer to her edge.

"R-Ryk, Ryk- I!" she tried to stutter out, but hot breaths of need had her gasping, her sex pulsating rapidly, wildly against his tongue, and the heated sensation and intensity of a climax was almost upon her before she found herself arching back as she held onto him and screamed-

Though she screamed with her mouth closed, nostrils flaring, cheeks full of hot breath as her entire being seemed to rumble from that moan.

By the Gods....
No wonder so many women fell prey to this man. And to think, she found herself suddenly engaged.


Though it seemed this act of pleasure and sin was short, her body was red from exertion, her neck feeling a bit strained and her skin coated lightly over with a warm coat of sweat. Her chest was rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath, and finally those green eyes looked down to him.

"And here I used to curse your flirtatious tongue," she told him breathlessly, dark hair spilling over her eyes as she continued to try to catch her breath. "I... I must admit I... I never considered such... such acts to be committed." And she felt strange for admitting it, even a little embarrassed, but she was fully exposed to him now and it seemed the more she was in his company, the more comfortable she was beginning to feel.

She raked a hand through her hair and released another breath and just let herself revel in the aftemath of an orgasm.

Ryk Handelaar's tongue...

By the Gods, what was he doing to her?

        Ryk felt Dylanna's sex tense and clench around my fingers and then waves of orgasm flooded her body. He could feel vibrations on his fingers as her pussy pumped out her sweet, liquid pleasure. He removed his fingers from her, lapping up the delicious reward that flowed out of her. He brought both his hands down to undo his pants as he finished tasting her. As she sat recovering, feeling the orgasm slowly fade from her body, he pushed his pants down, just enough, as he stood before her. He rubbed his still slick hand along his shaft, covering it in the thick moisture. He didn't warn her as he moved forward and pressed the tip of his cock into her still pulsing sex.
        "I'm not done with you yet," he said, as he thrust the full length of his manhood into her. He put a hand over Dylanna's mouth to stifle cry's and moans, and was thankful that the chair was sturdy enough to support them as he began thrusting fast and hard into his lover. "I'll be quick, since we seem short on time," he whispered breathlessly, as he thrust faster and faster, fucking her harder than ever. He gripped the chair with his other hand, the one on her mouth pressing a little harder than intended with his vigorous pounding. Their need for speed drove him to finish quickly, and he finished in a fraction of the time he took bathing her pussy with his tongue. As he reached his climax, he moved his hand from her mouth and kissed her hard, his tongue sliding between her lips. He grunted as he kissed her, giving a last few hard and slow thrusts as his warm seed once again splashed inside her. His hard kiss turned gentle, his rigid grip and the tension in his body relaxing. A few more kisses as his erection faded, and then he smiled at her sweetly. "I love you Lanna," he said as he brushed her disheveled hair aside and stood straight. "Don't plan on sleeping tonight," he told her, "I'm going to fuck you raw, heal you with a potion, and fuck you raw again."
        He stepped away from his lover and went about straightening himself up. The bottom of his shirt and vest had gotten in the way and were now a soggy mess, and they moisture of their fucking had run down his legs and onto his pants. It didn't really matter though, and so he tucked his shirt in, pulled his pants up, and straightened his clothes. Then he pulled out the magic toy that would wisk away all the evidence of their coupling. Clean again, he reached for a tiny vial of refresher and placed a drop on his tongue. As it moved through his mouth, cleaning and leaving behind a fresh mint taste, Ryk kissed Lanna, spreading the cleaning magic to her as well. She might be sweaty and disheveled, but her mouth was clean.
        "So do you want to take another bath, or would you prefer I use a little magic to speed things along?"

Dylanna couldn't fight him even if she wanted to. Her sex was hot and slick, so there was no resistance when he stood before her, ready to fuck. Dylanna only gave him on lusty, but exhausted look as she panted, then panted louder when he suddenly slipped into her. Gods, he felt incredible, his dick pumping into her hard and deep, and despite the sex lasting seemingly only an instant, she was left still heated, flushed and her sex, pulsating with a hungry need. Though she supposed he was right. They couldn't just do this all morning- but she was beginning to see how someone could.

Once her breath was better caught, she looked up at him with a soft smile. She had tasted herself when he had kissed her, and now that he moved to clean himself and he kissed her again with mint,t he tingling, fresh taste surprised her a bit as she gasped and pulled lightly away as she felt her own mouth refreshed and cleaned out by the magic. She blinked up at him, still laying there, uncertain if she could use her legs yet as she managed to prop herself up a bit better as she raked more dark hair from her face and gave a slow shake of her head.

"I have a feeling if we get in that bath again, we might not ever leave this room for the day."
And her eyes went down to his magic device.
"What is that thing anyway?"

        "Well since it primps, I call it The Primper," Ryk said with a lopsided grin. "The mage that made it had some other name for it, but I forget what it was. I think he's still teaching at the mage college. I don't understand why he doesn't make more and sell them. I guess it took a lot of effort and he didn't find it to be worth it. I paid him quite a bit for it. Enough to have a new trade ship built." Ryk noticed that a small puddle of their mixed fluids had run off the chair and gathered on the floor beneath. It was an opportunity to show one of the primpers settings. He twisted the top of the thimble sized device and it grew into a handled hair brush. He dragged it across the mess on the floor and its magic went to work cleaning it completely.
        "I'm not completely clear on how it works, but it cleans things, and people, but only on the exterior," he told Dylanna, as he twisted the top back around and the brush shrank down to a thimble sized looking glass once more. "Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant, is never without his primper. It's how I stay so fresh all the time."

"Well, Dylanna Swinden, exhausted merchant, is going to command her fiance to use it on me or we'll have a very excitable Samuel to deal with, and if we wait any longer... well..."
The young boy might start asking questions, and she didn't exactly want to go see her son all covered, in well... the after math of sex.
"But it's quite an impressive tool. I suppose if I were more frivolous with my spending, it would be one of the few things I'd consider to add to my collection."
Though as she thought on it- she supposed marrying Ryk meant it was kind of hers, too.

Marriage, such a strange concept to her-
Not that marriage was strange but...
She had never considered herself ever going to marry someone-
and of all people, certainly not Mister Handelaar! But as she studied him, she couldn't help but smile and blush a little. What was it about him that made her feel this way? Perhaps that was the mysteries of love? She could just only hope this perfect world they were to create could truly last forever.

She wasn't sure she could handle well if Ryk ever were to break her heart. It took her this long to  trust him so intimately, after all.

        "Yes my love," Ryk said sweetly as he tapped the primper on the tip of Dylanna's nose. The magic swept over her, cleaning her once more. Ryk leaned in to give her a kiss. Then moved away to give his lover the space she needed to dress, and do whatever it was ladies did to get ready for the day. None of them had the same routine. Some had to put on a whole face, and twist their hair up a million ways, and spend hours deciding on which stockings to wear under their dress. Dylanna seemed like she would have a simpler view of such frivolous things and would be quick, but one could never tell. He took up silent sentry by the door, watching his lover in her vanity mirror. She was such a beautiful woman.

The primper acting as a brief breath all across her body, and the moment after (which was not even a second of time), left her feeling refreshed from head to toe. She wriggled her toes a bit in the after math before releasing a sigh.

And then realizing what Ryk called her, her cheeks heated a little before she moved to stand and headed over to her vanity, and found herself raking her hand through her dark hair in attempts to figure out just what to do with her hair. And it was then she caught Ryk's gaze as he admired her. She couldn't help but smile and ask, "What?" as she began to lift up her silver brush and pulled it through her hair. Thanks to the primper (and their bath from earlier) her hair was left very soft, and despite their activities, it was easy for her to pull the brush through any knots.

        "I think it's best we not talk about how gorgeous i think you are while you stand, all but naked, not far from me," Ryk stated plainly. "I find it very difficult to control myself around you. I find my arousal already returning, not for lack of satisfaction, I assure you. We may not leave our room on our honeymoon." He broke his longing gaze, the heat of his lust for Dylanna growing. He adjusted his new erection to a more comfortable position before searching through his pockets for something to occupy himself. All he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms, carry her to the bed, and fuck her relentlessly. He had known desire before. He desired Einin, in a way he had never experienced before, and he even cared for her deeply. It didn't compare to this though, the burning need in him just to touch Dylanna. He wanted the sex, wanted to feel her mouth pressed against his in passionate kisses, but he needed to touch her. He needed to be close to her, to smell her, to know that she was within arms reach. The thought of leaving her side made him feel short of breath.
        Was this what love was supposed to be like? It made him so weak. He feared for her already, before he'd given in to his feelings. Now that they were sharing, now that they were in love, he was terrified, and excited. Feelings were a new thing for Ryk. How would Rufus handle these changes? Especially since she knew who he was, and was accepting him anyway? She was marrying Ryk and Rufus. Were they seperate men anymore? One woman loved them both, loved him as a single man, loved him as Theodore Wrenthis. How long could he maintain the facade?
        "You're the most beautiful woman, I've ever laid my eyes on, Lanna," Ryk told her, still looking at his feet. "How am I so lucky that a woman as strong, intelligent, and independant as you has let me into her heart?"

It was odd to see Ryk act so strangely at her door. She had seen him give lecherous gazes to not only herself, but to many other women as well. But him trying to keep himself civil around her actually made a smile grow across her lips.
And at his last bit of words, she felt her heart flutter and something heat within her, and naturally, between her legs. Feeling a bit embarrassed by the question, she cast her gaze away from him- even though it had only been studying him through her reflection before she laughed softly and finished brushing her hair.

"Perhaps I should get dressed before fussing over anything else."
But the idea of putting clothing on actually made her feel a bit tired. It seemed quite a chore after all they had done. And she couldn't deny she rather liked the way Ryk was giving her such attentions-
it was a new experience she never allowed herself to have before- and so far, Ryk had always been a leader, though she had to wonder...
thinking back to that night on the boat...

And that's when she chuckled and told him, "Because you tricked me into a few drinks and from it, you gave me Samuel."
But a jest was a jest,a nd she did feels he owed him so muhc more than that- not just for saving her life, but for Sam's as well. It was here she finally put her brush down and turned to him, slipping on a silk robe and lightly fastening it around herself.

"My father always said you were a good man. I laughed at him a lot, but even when I was young, I knew what he meant. He... he had told me stories about you, ones that rarely get around the streets. Most times.."s he went on, idly running her finger across her powder. "Any rumors about you were about the last woman you had been in bed."

And her cheeks flushed a little at that. She knew it would be a hard pill to swallow, but could Ryk and his alter ego actually keep their word?

"How often will I be able to see you?" she found herself asking, lightly clutching her robe closed as she glanced at the floor.

        "As often as you like," Ryk's words were soft, just loud enough for Dylanna to hear him. "I'll come through the door, climb through your window, or use your fathers secret entrance, whichever you prefer," he told her, "I'll sleep only by your side. If I'm not asleep in your bed, then I'm not asleep." Ryk looked up to watch Dylanna again briefly, before casting his gaze back down to his fine boots. "If you have the space, I'll move all the things from my study here, and Ryk Handelaar will handle all his business from within your estate. Many of my tactics will have to change with my vows to you, but I don't mind that at all. Those foolish men can still try to send their wives and daughters to seduce me. I'll just have my wife meet with them instead," He looked up at Dylanna and smiled, imagining what that would be like. It would probably stop quickly, and his reputation as a womanizer would quickly fade.
        "When you're busy with your ledgers, I'll be sure to play with Sam, so you won't have to worry about that," he said, working out the ideas as he spoke. "I can bring a small part of my staff over, and some of my furnishings. At the very least my bed, it's so much better than yours. You'll never want to leave it. I'd like to have some rune mages from the college come here and scribe your entire house, as they did mine. I know it wouldn't be proper for me to move in until we're married, but how much do either of us care about that? What are your thoughts my Love?"

Dylanna felt a fluttering within her heart at his replyz, but grew quiet as he went to speak on about other things. But she was barely paying attention to all of it, still thinking back to what sort of life the pair of them would lead. It still seemed so surreal, yet here they were- engaged.

She had been staring down at her finger, which was still devoid of a ring,a nd thought back to how this engagement came about. Samuel's life had been saved, and she owed so much thanks to Ryk. Without thinking much on his questions, she crossed the room silently to wrap her arms around him, just holding onto him as she buried her face into his shoulder.

"I think Sam and I will be quite happy with those ideas indeed. But I suppose we can... can discuss the rest after we've discussed the details about.. about the wedding. I.. I know most engagement lasts months...."

After all, how long would it take for them to plan the wedding? And what sort of wedding would the pair have? No doubt it would be something extravagant, and somehow she found herself fretting over the costs. Samuel would also need a tux... then there was the type of food they served, where it'd be served....

Ugh! So many details were making her dizzy. For now,s he'd just hold onto Ryk and let herself enjoy this rare moment, that, as she came to realize it with a smile, would be not so rare a moment once the pair were wed.

        As Dylanna wrapped her arms around him, Ryk returned the embrace. He pressed his face into her hair, breathing deeply of her scent. He kissed the side of her head and nuzzled her gently. "I love you beautiful," he said to her. "Don't worry about any of that. It'll all get taken care of. We'll have to notify the Queen of course, and I'll need to have you fitted for a ring. Unless you want to wear your mothers. I wouldn't be offended. Or was she interred with it? It doesn't matter. You'll have whatever ring you want. You are my heart."

Dylanna laughed breathily at his words.
"But you should know better. I worry about everything."
It was probably why she was such a good mother. And when he went on about a ring, and her mother's, she slowly shook her head. "My mother was buried with her ring, as was my father. It was meant for her, and it will rest with her." She went quiet a moment as she thought over everything, her arms still around Ryk as she too, was breathing in his smells.

        "I love you Lanna," Rufus said the words softly. He held his fiancé close, stroking her hair softly. She was more than what he'd dreamed he could ever have. She was everything to him. Her and Sam. "We should make time to visit a jeweler. Once we pick everything out, I'll want to have some magical additions made to the ring before you start wearing it. One can never be too cautious."

Everytime he said it- those words, 'I love you' It made her heart flutter and soar like the new birds of spring. She knew it would take some time getting used to, but then again- every time her son said he loved her, it still melted her heart. Perhaps it would never get old? And as he held her, stroking her hair, she murmured, "I love you, too."

At his suggestion to go to the jewelers, she picked his hand up and lightly kissed the top of it.
"Will you embed my engagement ring with extra magic so that it sparkles more than all the rest?" she jested, lifting her dark eyes up to him as she smirked.
"You know, one can never be too cautious if another woman has a more glittery ring than my own."

        Ryk caught Dylanna's jest and met it with a smile. He kissed her on the mouth, unable to contain himself, looking at that adorable smirk. He played along, continuing her joke with one of his own. "It will sparkle so brightly, that none shall be able to look upon it, and so it's beauty will only be legendary, unconfirmed myth." He smiled broadly, then kissed his wife to be again. "The magic will also afford you and the ring protection. So not only will you be as bright as the sun, but danger will struggle to find you." His smile fell away and Ryk grew serious for a moment.
        "It will protect you from harm," he told her, "and I am going to pay for the most useful enchantment I've heard of yet. The wearer of the ring, you, will be hard to find with malice in mind. Anyone who is seeking to do you you harm, will have trouble thinking about you, and when they look at you, they will get distracted and their gaze will fall away." He held her in tight again, wishing something like this wouldn't be necessary. With Valeska still out there, he had to take every precaution.
        "I'll have a charm made for Sam as well, one that can be worn around his neck. And one for the wolf as well, since he's always with the boy. Best to cover all the fronts."

"That sounds well and good, but I'd rather not have magic that affects the minds of those near me. I mean... Samuel certainly is not always the more amicable of children, and I'm sure you and I will have our quarrels." And here she moved a hand to run through his red hair, eyes still looking into those deep blue eyes of his as she sighed and smiled, a small dimple creasing her left cheek.

"I'd hate to think of the repercussions of such magic on those I love."

        "It doesn't target everyone indiscriminately," Ryk assured his beautiful bride to be, "it measures intent. It will never target me, as it will never be my intent to do you serious harm. It won't deter someone who is angry and wants to punch you, but it will make kidnapers and assassins struggle at their tasks." Ryk placed a small kiss on the tip of Dylanna's nose, smiled at her, and then kissed her on the mouth. "I don't want to shackle you and hide you from the world, but I'd like to do my best to protect you when I'm not close."

Dylanna sighed after he kissed her, his hands finding his before she leaned forehead and pressed her forehead to his.
"I know you're just looking out for me but I..." and she sighed again before looking up into his eyes. "I'm just not used to someone wanting to take care of me. To protect me. That had always been my father's job... but he taught me well on how to protect myself, to manage my home and live on my own. He..." and here, she faltered as she thought of him and searched Ryk's eyes. "He'd be very proud of you, you know. And.." here she laughed and dropped her gaze as she shook her head. "He'd laugh at me." She gave a roll of her eyes as she turned from him. "I can hear him now and his 'I told you Ryk would be good for you...' speech...." But she shook her head some. It was still all so strange. Would she ever get used to this?

It was then she looked up into his eyes and gave him a crooked smile she was trying to repress.
"I never thought I'd marry a criminal."

        Ryk grinned at the remark. He was indeed a criminal. A criminal mastermind really, but he wasn't keeping score. He kissed his fiancé softly and gave her a loving smile. "I never thought I would marry for love," he told Dylanna, "I knew I'd marry eventually, in order to secure a title, and further my trade, but not for love." He kissed her again, sweetly, then brushed his cheek to hers as he took in her scent. "Your father would have likely used our union as a way to convince me to go straight," he said the words softly, his mouth pressed to her ear. "It's not a bad idea. Though it may take time to ease away from it."
        He leaned away from her, looking into her eyes as he spoke to her. "I'll do anything for you and Sam. I love you Lanna."

Dylanna felt her heart melt at such a claim, and it warmed her to know that. And despite having apprehensions of Ryk Handelaar at first, she was finding herself so naturally trusting him. She was, after all, giving freely of her heart, and she thought about all those years ago when she first realized she was in love with him- and tried to kill off that crush. But every time she saw him...
The same fluttering always awoken in her heart, and her heart would beat just a little bit faster. And maybe her hands would sweat a little, too.

In this moment, she simply stared at his face, taking him in for all he was worse. She could only ever truly admire him from afar, and it was here she realized how handsome he was- or perhaps, found herself refinding this fact. She cupped his cheek and gave him a small smile.

"We can take this slowly. I'm okay with that Ryk. This.. this whole thing, this relationship, it's just... It's all so new to me. I... I've never been with another man before, not even to be courted," and she felt so embarrassed to say that, but she wanted to be honest with him.

"It's another reason I kept the truth about Sam from you. I... I wasn't even sure what to do with it, and I'm just happy that no one ever questioned it. Sure, there were rumors and things spreading around, but I'm just happy it did not affect my trade. Though I think it did affect the only other chance I had at a marriage."

ANd here she gave a sheepish smile at Ryk.
"You know Lord Vinter? Well he..." and she blushed and cast her gaze down. "He had expressed interest in me. Before... before the boat ride where Samuel was conceived. I think me returning with a child had him at a loss of words. But well, not a loss of women to marry. I was only back in  the city for a few months with Samuel when his engaged to Lady Turtmeyer's middle daughter, Nell."

She gave a sigh and shrug at that, before peering up at him.
"I suppose there were others, but I'm pretty good at evading men's oogling eyes."
As Ryk was more than aware of!
"I never thought to marry, to be honest. I liked the idea of livnig on my own, proving I was strong enough, had the will enough to do so."

She chuckled at this and returned her gaze again to Ryk.

"And here I find myself before you and-"


Another scream was heard at the door as Dylanna gasped, then placed a hand to her chest as she sighed with relief, hearing Samuel's giggle before she glanced over at Ryk.

"Perhaps we should conclude our time alone. I think Samuel wants our attention."

        "I can agree to that," Ryk said, "but you may want to get dressed before we move on with our day." As he pointed out that Dylanna was still in her robe, he reached into it to pinch at her nipple. He leaned in and kissed his soon to be wife before he continued. "I'll be sure not to interrupt as you dress."

Dylanna gasped and batted his hand away.
"How come it is that I do not trust you then?" she told him with a forced glare, and worked at fixing her robe, which had begun to fall down her shoulder when his hand shot out to fondle her, and now both of her nipples were erect and pushing up against the soft fabric of the robe.

        As Dylanna worked at fixing her robe, Ryk made it more difficult by sliding both his hands inside and and pulling his fiancé toward him. His mouth met hers in a passionate kiss and he fondled her quick and rough. The expression of his desire to remain alone with her only lasted a few moments before he released the beautiful woman, and gave her a smile.
        "As much as I'd like to break my word," Ryk said, while looking at Dylanna hungrily "our son is waiting for us." Her robe was barely on either shoulder now, and he couldn't help but look over her exposed breasts and fit body. "Don't take too long my love."

She stared back at him as if she were in some sort of a daze, and not just her cheeks were flushed from such activities. It took her a moment, and she blinked, and stared back up at him before releasing a frustrated sigh and moved a hand to pull up her robe.

"You are something else, Mr. Handelaar," she said, and moved towards the changing screen, hoping that being away from him she could more easily ignore the fire he had ignited. But such a task was difficult, and she had been deprived of such things for so long that, even behind the changing screen, she found herself hesitating and thinking back to what transpired but a moment ago.

        "Sam has had breakfast," Ryk recounted, "and he's been bathed. So what will come next on your things to do today?" Thinking about the care of his son, made it much easier to put his desire for Dylanna out of his mind. This was definitely something new. When he felt desire for Einin, it was much more lustful. While he cared greatly for the young woman, this tightness in his chest, and the tension in his stomach were not present. Dylanna made him nervous, and he feared not being able to spend every moment with her. It would be difficult, jumping straight into parenthood and married life. He did not dread it, of course, he simply wished he'd had time alone with his lover before there was so much responsibility.

Once dressed, she gave a sigh and stepped out from behind the changing screen.
"My agenda?" And she looked him over before stepping past to fetch her boots. "I think since you've arrived, any set plans have gone out the window." And she took a seat and began to lace up her boots, but paused just before she tied the last one and looked up into his eyes.
"We should plan to do something with Sam."

        "I'd be happy to do anything you like," Ryk told his wife-to-be, "spending time with Sam would make me very happy." The smile, and genuine tone were something he could have feigned. This time he didn't have to. He was actually experiencing true feelings of happiness. Not unheard of for Theodore Wrenthis, but rare. His time as Ryk and Rufus was filled mostly with business, and it was usually not the pleasant kind.
        "He sounds ready for us to come out of here," Ryk noted that Sam was still making noise outside the door. Dylana was just about finished dressing so he moved to the door and unlocked it. The key had barely turned when the door swung in toward Ryk. A lesser man would not have dodged aside from the imminent collision. He caught the boy as he rushed in, sweeping him into the air. Sam was airborne, flying free for a few moments before Ryk caught him and spun him into a firm embrace. He didn't miss the glee on his son's face at the flight, or the tired look on the servants face. She hadn't had to handle Sam for long, and Ryk didn't understand why she found it so difficult. The wolf pup followed close behind, yipping up at the laughing boy in Ryk's arms, as Ryk turned to face his son's mother.
         "Your beautiful mother is nearly ready for the day," Ryk said to his son, "I'm sorry that I've been keeping her from you Sam, but I wanted to make sure she washed thoroughly." Ryk gave Dylanna a knowing smirk, and wagged his eyebrows at his lover. He hoped that she'd blush, but Dylanna was easier to anger than to fluster.

If there was a blush, she hoped it blended in with her rouge. Though she hardly wore that sort of make up, being with Rky... well, she felt the need to impress. And she liked the idea of him admiring her, adoring her. She just hoped this wasn't a mistake. But even if it were...
Perhaps she could bare it knowing that well...
This was a dream of her father's. And maybe she could see it through.

But she never imagined caving. In fact, she had truly been determined to live a life on her own, to prove she didn't need a man, nor want one, to carry her through life. She never thought about such a thing as acquiring a life time friend, a partnership; and she felt strength in that, and a growing warmth spread within her, especially when Ryk was with his son.

That was a sight she never thought she'd see either. Ryk as a father....
Or rather, Theodore Wrenthis. Theodore...
It would still take her a while to get used to that. But then again, that was their little secret, wasn't it? And she made a vow in that moment that if they were to have another child, he'd be called Theodore- for she was uncertain if she ever wanted a daughter. As a woman,s he knew how difficult this world could be. And she also feared raising one- girls were... different than boys. And if she wasn't sure she wanted a daughter to follow the same path as herself, even if she felt proud of where she was in life.


Thinking to their engagement, her smile grew and soon she was approaching father and son.
"And now that we are ready for the day, we can enjoy it all together." And she cast a single, dimple cheeked smirk at the pair. "There will be no work today, Sam. Today.." And here her eyes caught to Ryk, "Today will be our first day exploring things as... a family. We've never had this before, Sam." She turned to her son. "It'll be like a new adventure, like all of those times we've gone out to sea."
And Sam seemed to adore the idea. And curiously she turned to Ryk. It was still an awkward thought- Ryk as a father, but well.....


This was the path they were taking, and it seemed all were taking it well.

        Ryk had never had a proper family either, and he was happy, and excited for the experience. There was a bit of trepidation as well, but he was confident that he would catch on to the way it was supposed to work, quickly enough. "So what sort of activity do you have in mind? We could spend the day on your grounds, or perhaps visit the market? Us together in public, perhaps holding hands, will send a clear message to everyone that I am yours. I've never before made public display's of affection before." This was of course not totally true. He had kissed and had sex in public places, he just wasn't seen doing it, or at least not by anyone that would matter. "I'm up for whatever you'd like to do."

Dylanna quirked a brow.
"Hold hands?" That almost seemed like something young lovers did. The pair of them were a bit too old for that- but yet... It was a charming thought. She shook her head, still smiling and turned her attention to her son.
"Samuel, what do you think?"

"We should go to the river!" he exclaimed.
At this, Dylanna's eyes went wide.


"The.. river?" She titled her head curiously.

"Other boys go with their daddy's there!" he went on, and then gave the pair a sheepish smile.

At this, Dylanna released a breathy laugh and peered over at Ryk. Then she looked back down to her son.
"And what... is the plan, when we take you to the river?"

And at that, Sam's eyes lit up and his smile blossomed.

"GO FISHING!"

        Fishing. Well Theodore had learned to fish. Though the skill had more been used to pull coin purses from passersby than to catch a meal. He'd done some fishing on his trip from Zantaric to Arca, but most of his 'fishing' gear was kept in his office in the den, and really it was a retired trick. He was far passed being a purse fisher. He looked to Dylanna.
        "I'm fine with that," Ryk told his soon to be wife, "but we'll have to purchase the necessary equipment. I don't have anything for such a task."

"Purchase?" Dylanna raised a brow. "Hardly. You think the Swinden's would be without the proper equipment to catch fish?" She was more or less raised on a boat, after all!

"We've got enough fishing rods you can have two of them!" Samuel added with much enthusiasm.

"And with bait..." Dylanna began, but Sam promptly finished her thought.

"We can dig in the dirt to get WORMS." And his blue eyes were alit with such wonder.

Dylanna gave a small smile and looked over towards Ryk and tucked some loose strands of her dark hair behind her ear.
"Yes... digging for worms is always expected on such excursions.. Shall we prepare a basket for lunch? Fishing can be quite the lengthy ordeal."

        "I am more than happy to follow your lead my Love," Ryk gave his wife-to-be a sweet smile, and then bent to muss Sam's hair. "I guess it's gonna be an adventure, and there will even be a picnic." He straightened and gave Dylanna a light peck on the cheek. "I'm extremely delighted," he told her, "and I love you both more than I could have imagined."

Sighing, Dylanna nodded and felt herself grow rigid at his last statement. Though touched, she felt so strange to hear those words from him. It would take a lot of getting used to, and her damn cheeks better stop burning at some point because she was not fond of her blushes so easily giving her away.

Samuel was none the wiser to his mother's dilemma as he was enthusiastic the entire time, from going into Nammick's old room to fetch the fishing gear, to the long trip out back in the tall, grassy fields. It was windy, but it made it comfortable for walking, and Dylanna was glad she decided against a dress for this occasion. The tall grass could be so scratchy against her skin, and as they walked, Samuel moved around and used his small fishing net and tried to catch the bugs flittering over head, and was soon running ahead of them and had nearly disappeared, the tall grasses seeming to swallow him from sight.

"Samuel!" she called out, her voice echoing across the field.
"Don't go too far ahead!"

        Ryk stepped closer to Dylanna as they walked. At first he felt a bit awkward about it, he hesitated. He knew what he wanted to do, but it was strange for it to be real. He reached out, slipping his hand into Dylanna's, lacing his fingers with hers. He smiled at her. Such a simple thing made him feel shy, and he hoped the sleight warmth on his cheeks didn't show color. With sex there was only confidence. With these little intimacies, he didn't know what he was doing, and they came from a place of emotion. A place he didn't know his way around.
        "I hope you don't horribly mind that I've upturned your day."

Her cheeks turned pink too at the gesture, and for a moment her eyes drifted down. Thankfully he had calloused hands too, and he wouldn't mind her own rough skin from years of work at sea. But at his statement she gave him a small smile.
"You don't have to apologize for anything," she told him, squeezing his hand. "If anything, I should be thanking you." She turned away, still blushing as her eyes strayed to Samuel. "Moments like this our son will remember." she turned to him. "As will I."

        Making memories was what they did that day, and the next. Ryk had left through the sewer access hidden in the basement of the Swinden estate to become Rufus in the night. The tasks he had to take care of were not pleasant. He was at war in his own city battling these faceless men that were infiltrating his crew.
        The Red Wolf utilized every tool at his disposal, rare friends, allies of opportunity, anything. He kept it all away from Dylanna and Sam. They would not be drawn into his night war. Being two men would once again pay off.
        Rufus had received word that Einin was on another night time adventure with a young man. He'd gone and watched them himself, keeping an eye out. The boy was rumored to be a Mountain Cat, but he seemed less than capable. They were making terrible efforts at sneaking out through her newly increased security. Rufus did get confirmation that the boy was a childhood friend of Einin. Well he trusted her to not make too many ridiculous decisions.
        When Rufus went to go back to Dylanna, he left a Shadow to keep an eye on his protégé. He loved the young woman. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. Even if he wasn't marrying her as he'd intended, he would keep her safe.
        Only a few hours as Rufus and he was crawling back into Dylanna's exceedingly utilitarian bed. He had told her he was leaving, and where he was going. She was likely not pleased, but she had accepted that he was more than one man. That he lead more than one life.
        The next day Ryk sent messengers, and made orders. He wasn't planning to move into the Swinden estate. He hopped Dylanna and Sam would move in with him. Though with all the Swinden business Dylanna would likely be hard to convince. That didn't mean that he would let things remain so bare. So some comfortable furnishings were being custom made. They would match Nammick's original style of decor choice, with the comfort Dylanna deserved. Ryk looked forward to tying his fiancé to the bed posts on their new bed.
        Ryk spent the majority of the day chasing Sam around the house and the gardens. They climbed trees and played with the wolf pup. Ryk also started training the pup. One of his messages sent had been for a professional to come and start with real training. The wolf would love Sam, but it would be trained to follow commands and protect the boy as well. He'd ordered a special collar for the pup. A magic one of course. Enchanted with fey power, it would heal the pup, and extend the lifespan. It was too bad such magics didn't work on the intelligent races.
        That second night he only briefly went out as Rufus, returning to Dylanna as soon as he could. He stepped from the magic bath, the water gone from his skin, but the warmth still radiating from his flesh. He slid into the sheets beside her. The bed may still have been her old one, but he'd had the servants bring the best sheets up. It was much better than the old ones.
        Ryk kissed his wife to be. He ran his fingers through her silken hair, and whispered to her, "I love you Lanna."

Her chest rose at his words, goosebumps flooding across her skin. His words were so soft, and she, still very much half asleep, believed in the moment it was a dream. She curled into him, sighing softly at his warmth and nestled in closer before she groggily opened one eye.

"Ryk?" she moved to sit up, but paused when her memories returned. She was still tense, however, but she knew that someday... she'd get used to all this. Being aware was much less awful than believing the worse, however, she still had even far worse things now to worry about. With them each knowing the other's secrets, and with their engagement, she now had two 'boys' to worry about. (Three, if you included the 'dog'.)

She sighed again.
"Will you always come home this late?" And a small smile was caught on her lips, but there was still concern shining in her green eyes.

        Ryk wasted no time in putting his lips to his lovers mouth. Blessed Kia she was beautiful, and she was his. Mother of his child, soon to be wife. The taste of her mouth on his lips, he leaned away from her so he could gaze upon her beautiful face as he answered her.
        "Not always," he assured her. "If I can find a suitable successor to take my place, and keep the Soot Wolves from falling apart when I leave, I'll retire." He smiled at Dylanna. These genuine smiles were becoming a common occurrence. Happiness seemed to do that to you.
        Ryk knew it was unlikely that he would retire soon. He hopped to do his best to legitimize the Soot Wolves and then set Owl up as the Red Wolf. He wasn't sure he could manage either. The Soot Wolves were pretty deeply criminal, and Einin was nearly incorruptible. Though he had corrupted her sexual innocence.
        Leaning in again, Ryk kissed his soon to be wife once more. "I'm bone tired my love," he whispered against Dylanna's cheek, "but I'd love to share a little carnal intimacy with you if you're up for it." He reached forward and began slowly untying her dressing gown before she'd even had a chance to reply.

At his insurance, Dylanna sighed through his kiss.
"So in other words, when pigs fly."
Which was alright. She hadn't intended to marry herself, and she was certain a man like him probably never dreamed it as well, although it was strange they both found themselves in such a predicament. She supposed he was a foil to her, but gradually, she supposed, she could accept it. Although, as she felt his fingers working at her night dress, she supposed she might be accepting it a little more now.

"Ryk.." A hand rested over his to halt his advances, but before he could question her, she sealed her lips over his hotly, kissing him deep. One of her legs hooked around his before both hands of her's shoved at his shoulders and soon Ryk would find himself turned over, Dylanna overtop of him, and he pinned below her with his hands over his head. Her grip on his wrists kept him firmly in place, and her strong legs now straddled him. Her weight was anything but light, for she was muscular and curvaceous, as she grinned down at this man.

"You do realize carnal and intimacy are complete opposites." She leaned down to kiss him, smothering any attempts for him to answer. "But you left me frustrated and alone for hours."
The heat between her legs could attest to that.

"I think you owe me a bit more than a little...."

        Ryk was exhausted, but that didn't stop him from wanting exactly what Dylanna was offering. He was hardly helpless in the position she had put him, he'd wrestled men larger than her. That didn't mean he couldn't enjoy it though, this control she sought over the encounter.
        Ryk had climbed into the bed naked, planning on having sex with his fiancé. That got rid of the need to undress, and it also exposed him directly to the heat between his lovers legs. It seemed she wore nothing beneath her nightgown, and his growing erection pressed up against Dylanna's ass. He could feel the moisture gathering between her lips, an invitation to slip inside her.
        "What ever shall I do," Ryk said with feigned helplessness, "I have an exceedingly sexy woman straddling me, demanding sex. I'm doomed to a night of pleasure. Please don't be gentle."

"So you're claiming innocence?" she asked with mocked judgement, though her tone was clearly amused. A hand traveled down his chest, feeling the strong muscles there in, and pausing to also feel his heart beat. It made her own heart flutter, and he'd be able to feel the opening of her sex move.

"And you aren't to do anything," she growled, leaning forward to kiss him again, a bit more roughly and adding a little bite before she pulled away. His length was now aligned length wise across the heat between her legs as those lips moved to trail down his neck, to his throat, before she nibbled her way back up to his ear.

Hot breath splayed across his ear before she readjusted herself, aligning his sex so his tip was pressed ever so slightly into her body. She need but move one full thrust forward to take him, but she used this moment to drink in his form with her eyes.
And then she kissed him, and began to make love.

It would seem, though she wanted to play a feral game, she couldn't help herself but start off sweet and slow, rolling her hips and taking his sex all the way inside her, then all the way out.

        Ryk was expecting Dylanna to tease him more before taking him inside of her. He was pleasantly surprised when she did not. While Ryk enjoyed being teased, he wasn't sure he had the energy for it tonight. These past weeks had been exhausting, between all the trouble with the Mountain Cats, saving Sam, and then saving Einin, he'd had little down time. Now he was spending his days with his son and fiancé, leaving even less time for leisure. Being two men had been much easier when he didn't have a family, but it was worth it.
        "Mmm," Ryk moaned softly, "It's hard to believe I'm the only man you've been with, when you're so good at that." He laid there, moving his hips only slightly, easing his pelvis up as Dylanna came down, and vice versa. He hadn't finished undressing her before she climbed atop him, and the view of her pert breasts heaving, framed by the open nightgown was divine. Dylanna had one of the best pair he'd ever laid eyes on. Not as small as he remembered them on the ship when they'd first lain together, childbearing had likely caused that. They remained youthful, full, and perky. Her nipples were cracked from breast feeding, but not horribly so. It was a feature he found attractive. She was the mother of his child after all.
        "Oh my love. I crave the taste of your mouth, and to feel your perfect breasts pressed against me."

She released a heated breath at his request and cupped his cheek as she drank of his lips. She was leaning closer now as she continued to move over him, and took his hands and guided them up her gown and to the warm mounds of her breasts. Then her own hands moved to rake through his hair, hips still moving slow, feeling his sex at length, and only breathing between each roll.

"I was raised to give that gift to my husband."

Husband. The very idea made her shiver, little bumps rising across her skin. She still found it hard to believe. They were having sex again. And she knew most of this man's secrets.

And they were engaged.

        Ryk was tired, but Dylanna breathed new life into him. His exhaustion didn't completely bleed away, but it's sharp edge was dulled, the beating of his heart increasing. As his hands slid across his fiancé's youthful body, he felt the goosebumps rise on her flesh, her nipples hardening at his touch.
        Dylanna's soft lips on Ryk's, the touch of her tongue, they lit a fire in him, that warmed him to his soul. He gently removed the nightgown from his wife to be, then wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. As she slid up and down the length of Ryk's thick erection, the gentle motion pressed her pert breasts into him. He reveled in the contact, the warmth and caress of her skin against his. His hands found Dylanna's round buttocks, kept firm by the hard working and active life she led. He caressed his fingers across it, then gently squeezed it, helping her speed her stroke ever so slightly.
        Ryk's mouth left his lovers, seeking her throat. He could feel the beat of Dylanna's heart through his lips, pressed just below her chin. There they parted, to expose Ryk's teeth, as he softly bit her, his tongue swirling as he sucked. Down from the thrumming in her throat to the hard clavicle, he kissed, nibbling at the collar bone. Moving back up her neck again until his lips, teeth, and tongue, found her ear, biting and sucking at the lobe. Ryk's breath sighed lightly across Dylanna's auricle, though it was not his intent to blow in his lovers ear, and he felt the shiver it elicited. His hands left her ass, gliding up her back, fingers tracing up her spine in a gentle caress.
        It wasn't easy for Ryk to remain patient, mostly passive in their love making. He was used to taking the lead, throwing his lovers about, fucking them as he pleases. He was enjoying it though, and really thought he could get used to it. Letting Dylanna take the lead would be a pleasant change. For only ever having one lover, she was quite adept. Dylanna was good at most everything she decided to put effort into. Yes, Ryk could get used to letting Dylanna take the lead in the bedroom sometimes.

It didn't take long for things to heat up. Even though Dylanna was there to experiment with this new found activity with her engaged, it didn't take long for her to get lost into it. She found an angle she favored and continued to roll her hips, stopping to pause just before nearly relieving herself of his member, before she'd shove him back inside; and continue this motion over and over again.

Any clothing left was shed aside, forgotten in limp piles across the floor. Even the bed sheets were beginning to get kicked aside as Dylanna tried all sorts of angles over top of him, eventually turning around and sitting on his cock with her back to him. And as she did so, hands smoothed down towards his bottom, then back up to cup and massage his balls as she watched with a hazy gaze how his sex entered her, again and again.

"G-Gods, Ryk..." She had been silent for so long, but her voice came out high pitched and with a breathy need. Her eyes rolled back as teeth sunk into her lower lip and she began to grind into him more feverishly. And she found leaning back gave her such a pleasuring angle that her dark hair now tickled down his face and her back was half plastered to his front.

And she moved to guide his hands down the front to where they were joined, and urged his fingers to play in the heat.

        Ryk let his hands wander, touching his fiancé in all his favorite places, which amounted to about everywhere. As Dylanna cast aside her nightgown, he got lost in the shear beauty of her body. He could not believe how lucky he was that the woman he loved was so gorgeous. He left her in control, watching her move, enjoying her riding him. As she turned away, Ryk moved his hands to her ass, squeezing, rubbing. She leaned forward, presumably to watch his cock sliding in and out of her. It was a view he himself enjoyed.
        When Dylanna leaned back, Ryk moved his hands to her breasts, but she soon took hold of them, guiding them down. Ryk was more than happy add to her pleasure with his fingers. One hand lifted her hood, while the other expertly rubbed at his lovers clit. The little button had one purpose, to bring her pleasure, and Ryk would use it to that effect as best as was possible. He'd give her as many orgasms as she could handle.

She should have known his hands would be sinfully skilled; he was a master thief- but oh so much more. Each time his fingers dipped inside her, she swore she was soaking up the bed sheets with how much moisture he stirred up. But it helped aid with the lovely, slick sensation of his fingers, touching her, again and again.

She was leaning back so tensely now and her breath was becoming hitched and shorter, shallow and full of heat. And no longer could she take it, as her eyes rolled back to see her brains as she screamed his name towards the sky.

        Ryk maintained his ministrations as Dylanna climaxed, and exclaimed his name. As she started to come down from her intense burst of pleasure, Ryk slowly eased up on the pressure. He knew that this moment of sensitivity could become overly intense and wanted to give his lover a chance to recover. But only just. After she'd caught her breath, Ryk slowly rose, guiding Dylanna forward onto her hands and knees. Still inside her he leaned forward to caress his fingers down her back while he slowly began to thrust into her. As he continued the deep motion of his hips, he fondled her breasts, and then brought his skilled hands back down to rub at her now swollen clitoris. His rubbing was steady as he thrust, and he kept his motions consistent, driving his fiancé closer to another climax.

How long had it been, how long were their bodies so entwined the world felt as though it were on fire, that reality melted and their two bodies unioned, becoming one? Perhaps she had been holding back for far too long, because she was so easily excitable, so ready to dive into so many different methods and means and positions and things to pleasure them both that at the end, it was like she had been submerged and had come up for air, gasping and breathing heavily as she lay in a tangled, sweaty heap in her lover's arms.

Forget the bedsheets, most were on the floor and the pair were lying across what was left of them on the bed. And she simply breathed, Ryk still very much inside of her, and sweat glistened across her skin and dampened her hair, sheets and the mattress.

After a very long moment of just breathing, she closed her eyes, still very flush, and so very full from their activities, that she let out a soft little groan. And part of her hoped that, during her screams and demands in their ectasy, for him to take her and claim her with his seed... That it would come to fruition. She adored being a mother, and heated at the notion that if they kept such things up... Samuel would very much no longer be her only child.