What the fuck had happened? He was mystified. He was comfortable, satisfied by release and she was still there, coiled up next to him with her head on his heart. His fingers absently pulled at the hair that had come loose from her braid. He'd found the most blissful release in the arms of a woman who had, for some crazed reason, wanted him to do so. If he still held any doubt at her words, her actions couldn't hide the truth from him. He had felt her wet heat and heard his name on her tongue when she'd found her completion. He'd been thoroughly spent after finding his own and had fallen on top of her, unable to bear his own weight any longer. She had held him, kissing him tenderly and touching him until he had managed to move again.

And now here they were. Quiet and still as the fire crackled, casting wavering shadows across their bodies. She'd begun to hum and run her fingers lazily through the hair on his chest and he felt something inside him shift. Maybe this would work out after all. Maybe they could be something to each other and it wouldn't end in disaster. Maybe.

She stopped her actions and moved her head to place her chin on his chest, looking up at him with a glowing smile. "Are you happy?" she asked.

He stared back at her, trouble filling his eyes. Happy? Happy was for children and virgins and dense as fuck little shits. He had precious few memories he could draw on that might be considered happy and all of them had eventually been tainted by anger, disappointment, and death. He found he couldn't speak because he simply didn't know the answer.

He'd taken too long to reply and she could see the wary confusion in his eyes with just a twinge of annoyance. She knew little of his past but the way he looked now only confirmed what she already had suspected. He'd been doled out too much sorrow and far too little happiness in life.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled and started anew, "I meant are you content?" Surely, he could manage that, she thought.

He paused again, but only shortly and then nodded his head. "Aye," he said gently, sitting up a bit, kissing her hair once and patting her arm somewhat awkwardly.

She smiled fondly and bit her cheek to stop a chuckle. He was adorable and she'd probably get a half hearted slap to the back of her head if she let on to her thoughts. Now that they weren't gnawing and grinding against each other naked or bickering and goading each other on he was somewhat clumsy and shy. She wondered, not for the first time, if he'd ever had a woman to truly call his own, and not just one paid to pretend to be for a time.

"Well, I'm happy," she insisted, ignoring his scoff, "Laugh all you want. You don't get to tell me what makes me happy."

She was stubborn and knew her mind well. She was like him and that was good, he found himself thinking for the second time that day. He was appalled to feel a lump form in his throat. He sat up fully, detangling himself from her and moved off the bed. She gave him a pout.

"Thirsty," he said in way of explanation. He didn't wish to hurt her; he only needed a chance to breath. He grabbed the cast aside wineskin and gulped down a few mouthfuls. That was better. He turned and silently offered her the bread.

"Gods no!" she cried, laughing and clutching at her belly, "I don't think I'll need to eat for days. Never let me try and keep pace at the table with you ever again!"

He couldn't stop the laughter that followed her remark. She loved the sound of it and had been learning how to draw it from him with more frequent ease. It was a true laugh, rich and thick like the sap buried deep within ancient, unyielding trees. She was learning how to pull back the bark and tap straight into it.

He threw the bread back on the table and offered her the wine instead, which she accepted eagerly. She pulled down the furs on the bed, using one to cover herself while she took small sips from the skin. While she enjoyed the red, he shuffled over to a small table which held a basin and pitcher. She noticed his limp was more pronounced and the healer in her spoke up, scolding herself for letting him abuse the still healing limb. She could have offered to ride on top but she'd been so caught up in the moment that anything other than what he wanted had completely left her mind. She'd take better care now and see that he not over use it anymore this evening. It would be a dreadful task to try and explain to the Elder Brother why exactly her patient had taken a turn in his recovery.

He poured water in the basin and used a cloth to clean himself. When he was finished, he rinsed the cloth and handed it to her, taking back the skin. He sat at the end of the bed, facing the fire, giving her a bit of privacy so she could clean herself as well. It had been awfully sticky by the end.

It was a thoughtful gesture, seeing to her needs and letting her keep some modesty around the after effects of their love making. She knew kindness didn't come easily to him and it made her care for him all the more. He wasn't like any other man she had known and yet, at times, he could be a patched together collection of the best she had witnessed in mankind. You just had to look at him right. Like the starry sky viewed through spun glass. Just because the image was warped and blurred didn't make the object itself any less beautiful.

He gazed at the fire, listening to the bedclothes rustle and the rub of cloth on skin. He wanted to turn and watch her remove his seed from her body. He was fairly certain he would never grow tired of seeing her naked. But it also seemed too intimate a gesture and so he kept his back turned. She probably didn't want an old lecher peering at her while she tidied herself anyway he reasoned. He could be polite; he just rarely found the motivation to do so. But she was so close and completely bared and he was almost convinced that if he tried to couple with her again, and again and again, she'd allow it.

He had only owned the coin a few times in his life to lie with a woman completely free of any clothing for a time. He'd take himself in hand before putting his cock in a copper slag and the blasted whores at Littlefinger's establishment charged more for everything. More time. More skin. More touch. Removal of clothing was a double charge for more time and skin. And they always, without fail, charged two or three times the going rate in compensation for his "condition". His Kingsguard status seemed to hold little value in the brothels when paired with his face.

The Lannisters may have given him an allowance during his time in their service, but he was far from wealthy and he'd be damned if he would ever ask his cunt of a brother for any coin from the estate. Unless he had some extra dragons from a Tourney in his pocket, it was skirts up and cock out for him, against a wall or with his paid companion bent over a piece of furniture while he took her from behind.

Half the time it was coin wasted. The pleasure dried up in the presence of disgusted looks, fear, and the bickering he could hear amongst them about whose turn it was to service the dog. In his youth lust had gotten him over the forced smiles and back handed compliments. As he got older the kicks to his dignity were no longer worth the payoff. It seemed the more he tried to get out of it the less he actually got. But now he had a woman, a good woman, stark naked in his bed, sharing a skin of wine with him and what in Seven Hells was he doing looking at fucking fire of all things for? Fuck being polite. If she didn't want him watching she could bloody well say so.

He turned to observe her dabbing at her inner thighs and a wave of possessive pride washed over him. She looked up and blushed prettily for him before crawling up to the end of the bed with him, tossing the rag into the basin. She pressed her breasts right up against his back and reached over his shoulders to snatch the wine from him in what she thought was stealth. He let her have it.

"And what now?" she questioned, near his shoulder. "Drink or sleep or . . ." she trailed off giggling. He never much cared for giggling women but he found her nervous laugh amusing. He was pleased she was experienced enough to not go screaming off into the night at the sight of his cock, yet still maiden enough to blush. He found he wasn't the slightest bit interested in her first two suggestions.

A sudden urge took him and he turned to her quickly, grabbing her around the waist and swinging her around till she'd landed in his lap. She shrieked in surprise but then lost herself to a fit of laughter. She'd dropped the wineskin in the tumble and it sat on the floor spilling its last remaining drops. Her now empty arms encircled his neck and she began trailing kisses up towards his good ear where she started to nibble and lick. He moaned his approval while his cock, still a bit sleepy and recovering, started to respond slowly. She kept at her task for several minutes then moved to the other side of his face to give the same attention to his ruined ear. At the first brush of her lips to his skin he jerked away suddenly. He was willing to accept that she found him tolerable. He couldn't fathom the idea of her wanting to get close to his scars. She looked at him with serious eyes, puzzled by his abrupt urge to move away from her.

Her fingers moved to his chest, drumming a pattern while she spoke. "You are pleased aren't you?" she asked hesitantly, looking down to her lap, "With me that is?"

Ah, there was the problem! He'd been too free with talk of whores in the past and now she thought he was great slag of a man himself and she not enough for him. She thought his resistance was her fault somehow and not his own. She was a fool sometimes.

He clutched her face in one hand and, perhaps a bit too roughly, made her look up into his eyes. This was important for her to understand and he needed to make sure she was listening. He wasn't used to repeating himself.

"I'll only say it once so you had better pay attention." She nodded her head, eyes wide and he continued, "I've never had a woman by any name but Sally. They're all liars and not worth talking about. Never had a woman knocking at my door at night, bringing me wine and pleasure and I won't forget it either. So, stop your doubting, woman. It will get old fast. It pleases me to have you here."

He gestured at the markings covering half his face. "This . . ." he growled pointedly, his features taking on anger, "This is not something you have to do. Leave it be. I don't want anymore lies."

She was stunned. It was the most he'd said at one time to her in weeks. It was as close to a confession of affection that she would ever be able to drag out of him. And on top of it all he thought his face undesirable to her. She felt tears gather at the corners of her eyes. He rolled his eyes at the sight of her sniffling.

"Don't start with that!" he chastised. He knew she wasn't sad or angry but he was uncomfortable that his words would move her so. Not knowing how else to deal with her tears, he laid his hands on her and kissed her lips. It worked. She soon swiped at her eyes and then kissed him back. She knew what she needed to do now.

Shifting in his lap, she leaned forward and urged him to lie down on the bed. She moved off of him and pushed at his legs, leading him to bring them onto the bed as well. She quickly positioned herself high on his hips, straddling him so that he was pinned down. Of course he could easily move her if he wanted but she was hoping he would allow her to show him just how much she truly wanted all of him.

She started with his hands, lacing her fingers through his and stroking the palms with her thumbs. Scars from where she had stitched up some of his past wounds were felt by her as she continued to slowly rub. He gave her fingers a slight squeeze and she bent down, taking one hand out of his and replacing it with her lips. Kissing the pads of each finger she then nuzzled his palm with her cheek before moving to do the same to the other hand.

Arms and shoulders received a similar treatment. Her hands smoothed over his muscles before her lips replaced them, kissing and tasting her way across his skin. She moved onto his chest, scratching her nails on him from sternum to stomach and back again. He trembled and twitched under her. She worked her lips down through the thick hair to find a nipple and bit gently at it with her teeth. He hissed out a breath and she smiled to herself. She licked and suckled at both in turn until she felt him start to move beneath her and bring his hands to her back. She could feel his engorged length nudge at her and knew what he wanted. She would have him soon but she wasn't finished yet.

She sat up, grabbed one of his hands again and met his gaze, her eyes full of understanding and love. "I won't ever lie to you. I never have and I never will. If you believe one thing I say, believe that." And she lowered her body to start again on his face.

She began with the good side, marking his temple with her lips and he immediately shut his eyes. Fine, she thought. He didn't have to watch but he needed to feel this and try to accept. She moved down the line of his jaw, across his chin and over to the scarred side, treating the jaw and temple there with just as much tender care. He had been holding his breath but let it all out hurriedly as she removed her lips and cupped his cheek with her hand.

"Can you feel this?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. She'd never learn to please him if she didn't even know what sensations he was capable of feeling there. He kept his eyes shut tight and wouldn't answer her. His hands were clenched at her hips, his nails digging into her flesh.

She was patient and continued to stroke his check until he gasped, "No. Pressure and warmth. That's all." is oiv

His voice was tight and had cracked at the end. She was walking a dangerously thin line. She knew he could resort to his usual cloak of anger at any moment but she needed to push him this time, she was sure of it. She would help him win this battle.

She kissed him on the jaw with purposeful pressure. "And that?" she queried.

He shook his head in the negative, "the same."

She brought her mouth close to what was left of his ear and whispered, "I won't lie to you. Not ever. All of your flesh is precious to me."

He was biting his lip now much like she did when she was nervous or upset. His eyes were stilled firmly held shut and he groped blindly to find one of her hands. He pulled her fingers up to his hairline, far up on his scalp where the burns faded to brown hair and moved her fingers across the space with his own hand.

"I feel more here," he cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice steady as he moved her fingers to his neck near where his beard started, "And here." His hand was shaking and he was so damned ashamed but no one had ever touched him here of their own volition, except for the Maesters long ago and all those memories held for him was torturous pain. There was no pain where her fingers roamed now. He was not going to let this opportunity pass him by. She was somehow not affected by his image. It was insanity. She was insane. She was his insanity and he would gladly go mad if she would continue to touch him as he instructed.

She pulled her hand out of his own. Sliding her fingers where he had shown her, she added a little more pressure to make sure he felt her. She worked silently but with purpose, willing him to feel her love for him. When had things shifted to love she asked herself. Weeks ago was the reply. She just hadn't been able to put words to her feelings until this evening.

She placed her hand back inside of his. "Anywhere else?" she questioned softly.

This time he brought her fingers to his missing brow and then over to the remnants of his ear. "I can feel a lot here. Don't know why. Doesn't make any bloody sense-," he began to ramble and was swiftly left speechless when her lips met with the object in question.

She kissed and licked and used her teeth on him there, the most sensitive place on his disaster of a face. Like their time in the bath, he had reached a point where her attentions were sending him over the edge. He didn't break down and sob as he had earlier but he could feel a few hot tears leak from his eyes. She seemed not to care, lapping them up from his skin before returning to his ear.

"I'll never lie to you," she said again and, the Seven help him, he believed her.

She slid her body along his chest and found him still alert and ready. Lifting herself, she sank down onto him, slowly filling her woman's space. And, Gods, he whimpered. She felt her muscles tighten around him and his eyes sprang open to find hers. She could see the shiny residue of tears still left in his eyes. She rolled her hips slowly and they both gasped. She felt her eyes close as the bulk of him began to hit a spot within in her that made her shudder and cry out.

He watched her move. Slow but with intention she rode him. He wanted to thrust but let her do as she pleased. He'd never seen a woman like this before, coming undone like this on top of him. Her eyes shut in ecstasy and her brow pinched just a bit in concentration. She moved her hips in a circle and her eyebrows rose while she started to mewl little cries of pleasure. It wasn't at all like the shows he'd been given at the brothels. Even the best of them couldn't match the real thing unfolding before his eyes. He moved his hands to her hips feeling the bones beneath shift and roll. Her hands found his and as she began to move more forcefully she squeezed them tight and hard.

He moved his hands to her breasts and began to knead them causing her to moan and move faster. Her hands lay on his wrists, feeling the muscles move as they held her. They were both pleased to find she could fill his hands neatly, a small amount of flesh escaping between each of his fingers.

He was close now, her inner muscles clenching and working him to a point where he was no longer sure he could let her do as she liked. He brought his thumb down into her folds and found a swollen little nub he knew brought intense lust upon a woman. He flicked at it mercilessly and she screamed. She kept rolling her hips and gasping and then he saw her fly apart. Rapture and pain seemed to pass over her face at the exact same time while her walls fluttered around his cock. He couldn't hold back any longer and cried out his passion, thrusting up into her frantically while he seed spilled from his body.

She fell onto his chest and it was his turn to hold her while they both basked in the aftershocks of their coupling. Her walls still tugged at him every few heartbeats causing him to shudder and twitch within her. She recovered first it seemed, as she drew her face up to kiss him.

"We're getting rather good at that," she said cheekily and he gave her a rumble in his chest in reply.

She moved off of him and curled up at his side as she had done earlier. She was so tired, the wine and love doing their best to lull her to sleep. Her eyelids began to drop shut and she was aware of him placing a fur over top of them. After that she knew nothing but darkness and peace.

She awoke in the morning surrounded by his arms, warm and protected and sticky again. Her hair was loose now. He had pulled it free of the braid during their third time coupling. She had slept for a time, moving to her side and awoke from a blissful dream to find him pressed to her back, undoing her braid and seeking out her entrance once again. She'd allowed him to enter her from behind, one of his hands at her breast while he leisurely took her. Both of them hazy with sleep but needing to feel close once again.

Now it was dawn and she'd need another bath before starting her day. She'd need moon tea as well and so she reluctantly started to remove herself from his embrace. His response was swift, pulling her back immediately and holding her fast to his body.

"Where you running off to?" he mumbled into her hair.

"The sun is rising," she told him. "I need to get back before everyone notices I'm gone. I have chores that need done and I need a bath and moon tea first."

"Leave it," was all he said and then he snored. Had he gone back to sleep?

She rolled her eyes and moved to turn over and face him. He huffed and grunted in disagreement, opening his eyes to look at her. She decided teasing would work best if she was ever going to make it out of his hut.

"Leave it?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow at him. "You don't want me to go make tea? You're ready for a wedding then?"

She burst out laughing at the look on his face. He looked panicked and horror struck but then he too laughed when he realized she was teasing.

"No, no wedding today, woman," he agreed while pushing her away from him. "Get on then. . ." he trailed off a bit of sadness in his eyes. She knew what he wanted to ask but didn't dare in case she answered negatively.

She pulled at her hair, trying to brush it with her fingers and failing spectacularly. "When I come back I'll need to bring a comb if you're going to insist on taking my hair down" she told him.

His eyes brightened. She'd said "when" not "if". He continued to watch her through half closed eyes while she started to dress. He chuckled when he saw her give the rags that remained of her smallclothes a disgusted look.

"Don't laugh!" she stomped her foot, "You haven't got two hours of mending ahead of you! I should make you do it."

He howled with laughter at that. Mend her smallclothes? The very idea was hysterical to him. She blew her hair out of her face and slipped on her dress, casting him irritated looks while he continued to laugh. When she was finally done she approached the bed to lean down and kiss him.

"You are an aggravating man," she breathed between kisses.

"Aye" he agreed.

"Don't ever change that," she cautioned while biting his lip. She kissed him deeply and then rose to take her leave of him. She bundled up her small clothes into her shawl, which caused him to smile again and then she was gone.

He rose from the bed an hour later. He was loath to leave the place where so much had happened in such a short time. He scrubbed at his face with some water and dressed hastily as he heard the bells ring for morning services and the first meal of the day. He missed her already but the time apart gave them each time to think on the events that had brought them both here, together.

….

Author's Note – Reviews and comments are greatly appreciated. I don't own anything GOT related.

The only thing of note I really would like to stress is that while researching what may have been a typical allowance or salary for Sandor I kept running into a lot of comments that stated he would have some money coming in from the family estate if Gregor allowed it. And that didn't seem right at all. One, Gregor wouldn't share. Duh. And two, Sandor would never accept anything from him under any circumstances. Ever. So, no, I don't think he has any money coming to him from that avenue. In my brain, he had a small allowance from the Lannisters for maintaining his gear with a bit left over for drinking and whoring so he would be minimally satisfied and continue to do a decent job. Tourney winnings were used to splurge on better quality wine and women. And possibly losing horribly at some gambling game I have yet to decide on, because I have this urge to have him be terrible at something you'd think he'd have skill in. Obviously, he's skint broke at this time in the story.

I've decided I'm going to leave this story as it is and plow forward. I will write about past events by using flashbacks, thoughts and dreams. The next 2-4 chapters will be set in the past? Expect a delay at this point before another update. Lots of research to do to get it right. Hopefully just a 7-10 day pause. Two weeks at max.

Anyone come up with a better title? I haven't so it's staying as is.

The past four chapters have been heavily influenced by two songs:

Do I Wanna Know by The Arctic Monkeys – Pretty much the entire song but particularly "The nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day"and "I'm constantly on the cusp of to trying kiss you".

Recovery by Frank Taylor - "If you could just give me a sign, just a subtle little glimmer, some suggestion that you'd have me if I could only make me better. Then I'd stand a little stronger as I walk a little taller all the time".