Chapter Two
It wasn't long before Third Company heard the news they would be returning with Kel to New Hope. Raoul had nothing to comment about it, though they were all suspicious. Within a few days of their arrival, they realized that Kel no longer returned to her room alone. She didn't sleep much, always running about, but there was a man…
None would mention it to Dom. He had tried to be discreet. It wasn't uncommon for men to take an interest in a pretty girl and linger with her. But this was Kel. There was much gossip flying about, though most was quelled before it reached Kel or Dom.
Neal was the one to finally take it to her. He scratched Jump behind his ear as the sparrows twittered softly. Tobe was cleaning Kel's weapons before he gave another staff lesson to the children. He watched her silently. Kel fidgeted.
"Out with it already, Neal."
Neal cleared his throat. Even he, who so willingly lashed with his tongue, was wary of broaching such a subject. When Kel had been with Cleon, there had been no mention of it. At all. It was one of their unspoken rules. And now… "Are you bedding with my cousin?"
When Kel's eyes met his, cold, angry, and wounded, he knew his answer. He swallowed, scrambling to make up for it. "There's rumors all over camp, Kel. I just don't want you getting hurt, is all."
Kel lowered her gaze, putting her quill down as she stared at the paper. "You know he can't commit to anything as well as I do, Neal."
Neal frowned, watching as Tobe discreetly exited. Perhaps he could learn a few things from that boy – like when to avoid Kel because she was about to implode over something. "Dom rarely bothers with committing, and skips right to the 'itting'."
She rolled her eyes in return, raising an eyebrow at him. "I'm sure it would please you immensely to know that he has not tarnished my 'honor' in any way, Nealan." She picked her quill up, continuing with her paperwork.
He knew a dismissal when he heard one. Neal left quietly, trying to think back to if she'd ever talked to him like that. Somehow, he didn't think this would end well. At least for him.
Later that night, Kel traced a finger over Dom's chest, watching him as he dozed lightly. She frowned at him, brushing hair from his forehead as he smiled dreamily. "You should sleep." His words were barely audible, soft and gentle.
Kel sighed and laid on him, pulling the blankets up. "Let's have sex."
Dom cracked one eye, peering at her thoughtfully. "Something eating at you, Kel?" He'd nearly had a heart attack. Sex was something he wasn't ready for with Kel. Somehow, he didn't think she'd be another courtier. In fact, he knew she wouldn't be. Perhaps that was what scared him most. He tugged softly at a piece of her hair, feeling her exhale on his chest.
"Everyone thinks we are. So why shouldn't we?" He could hear the hurt in her voice. She was as defensive as ever about it, he thought. His hand moved to grip about her waist, pulling her on him. She propped herself up on her elbows, the shirt that served as her nightgown falling off her shoulder a bit. She was big for a girl – but her shoulders were no match to Dom's.
Dom's blue eyes watched her as he raised a brow. "I know I'm handsome, but you suddenly stating we should have sex managed to throw even me off balance." He brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear, noting how just an inch or two of hair could so easily soften her features.
Kel pouted, something rather unlike her. Dom couldn't help the smile as she snorted at him. "No one expects me to wed a virgin, anyhow." Her flash of female poutiness gone, she rolled off him, tugging the blankets up. She did want him, but how was she supposed to tell him? Kel was a blunt person. She knew the nuances of court, the bows for a Yamani delegate… but how to tell a man that she wanted him to stop playing nice?
Dom cuddled closer to her, kissing her neck as he slid an arm around her waist. "You don't have to give into them, Kel." He tightened his arm a bit, letting his fingers slide up under her shirt. "Stop worrying about it. Sex is just another silly thing people flaunt when they have nothing better to do." Kel sighed.
"I know," she whispered softly, her exhaled words as much of a sigh as a confirmation. "I do know."
Over the weeks, Dom's squad came and went. The camp came to know that when Sergeant Domitan's group was present, Kel was in a much more pleasant mood. And Mithros forbid if you wanted something from her when he was out fighting a raid.
It was easier to get time alone with Dom than it had been with Cleon. For one, they weren't sneaking around nearly as much. And since she felt less pressure to prove herself, she didn't care if people saw when she retired to Dom's quarters in the evening, or if he came to hers.
The alone time never led to much. More often than not, both were so tired that a few fevered kisses were all they were able to get in before curling up around each other to fall asleep. On few occasions, they managed more than that.
On one such night, Kel lay awake, staring at the ceiling of Dom's room. He was sleeping half on her, his hand still between her legs as he snored softly. She sighed. She shouldn't have let him fall asleep on his side; he always snored when he did that.
The weeks had flown by, and with each passing day, her charges at New Haven became more and more independent. She suddenly felt as she imagined her mother would have when her sister's had married and she was off on duty… She sighed again. Kel nudged sharply at Dom's side, eliciting a mutter as he rolled off her, managing to flop on his back. She absently fingered the charm at her neck, glancing to admire Dom's features in the pale light from the lone guttering candle. His most charming and obvious attraction, his eyes, weren't available to stare at, but the rest of him was sight enough. His chest and arms, his strong jaw and his dark hair. Kel sighed. Part of her still found it amazing that such a handsome man would even give her a second glance, let alone consent to share his bed with her. She bit her lip as she moved quietly and gracefully from the bed.
Her wandering took her to the walls. Neal soon followed, Kel not passing a second thought as to why he knew she was up there. She sighed, slouching onto the railing.
"You're too tense, Kel."
Kel cast a sideways glance at Neal. He'd grown up a lot, she realized. His tongue could get him into any bind, and he was one of the few knights who would duel verbally with the Lioness, but he picked his battles now. He no longer lashed blindly. Frowning at that train of thought, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd grown up. She straightened her back at the thought, her fingers tightening on the rail.
"What do I do now, Neal? I didn't earn my shield to settle down and be a quaint little wife." Her voice was quiet, passionately thoughtful.
"Dom would never ask that of you." He sounded surprised. She could hear him picking at the wood of the railing as he shrugged. "It's your life, Kel. It really is." He looked a little wistful as he continued on, "You have no need to marry, to produce an heir, to appease an in-law. No lands to watch or run… you are truly free, Kel."
His warm hand on her shoulder surprised her. He squeezed, flashing a grin that managed to reach his hazel eyes. "Soon your fledglings will be birds, and you will have to find some new small ones to protect." He paused before adding, "And I hope to Mithros you'll let me come with you."
After he left, Kel continued to think, her brow crinkled before she rolled her shoulders. She would do a pattern dance before trying to sleep again. If she tired herself out more, perhaps she would be able to sleep in peace.
It was a few weeks later when a courier brought news from the King. She was released. As she read the letter over again, she chewed on a nail. New Hope was no longer in need of her, and she was free of assigned duty until there was a need, or until she chose something to sign up for. There was always border patrol, no matter what was going on in the world. She would see occasional action…
Or she could be a lone wandering knight. Others had done such things. Her and Tobe could just go and help where help was needed. She smoothed the letter before thoughtfully folding it, deciding to wait until Dom returned. She would refine her choices and options then.
"You could join the Own," Dom's voice woke her from her light doze.
Dom had not been as surprised as she had been by her release. While she'd known she would eventually be released from duty, she hadn't expected it to happen so… soon. It just wasn't something she'd thought to be a reality.
Dom's voice continued on, low and soft against her neck. "Well, you can't join it, but you could travel with us… with me." He swallowed hard, feeling her tense beneath him.
"With you?"
Dom nudged her neck with his nose before kissing her. "Whether you do or not, Kel, I am yours as much as I'm allowed to be." He sat up, pulling his clothes on in the early morning air. The words had startled Kel. She had never given up thinking that he was dallying with other women still – that he liked her, but this was Dom. He was loud and boisterous and charming. She was too… something for him. She just wasn't right, and she had thought that was obvious as the nose on her face.
He leaned and gave her a quick kiss, caressing her cheek with his rough palm for a second before he straightened, flashing her a devilish smile. "Time to surprise the men with a weapon's check." The pure delight in his words so reminded her of Lord Wyldon that she blinked as he left the room, calling to his men before he'd closed the door.
Kel stared at the blankets before flopping back onto the bed, her hair fluffing into her face.
Well. She still had no idea what she was doing, but she had at least one very appealing option presented to her.
A/N: I have no idea what to do next. Who knows where it will go. Any suggestions? I just drabbled this, so if it seems bad / strange / random, feel free to blame me. Please suggest. I need ideas. ;3 Reviews are loved.