Numair blinked his eyes, smiling, remembering the events of the night.

His smile slowly fading into a frown, his mind rekindling the battle between conscience and desire. His sensible side scolded for allowing it to happen. His other side smiling stupidly with intense happiness.

Why would you let that happen the argument started. He wasn't crazy, or talking to himself, just a battle of wits between his heart and his head. I didn't start it.

Nevertheless, you could have ended it!

I did try to ask Daine if she was sure, her response was more than a yes.

That is all good and well, but you gave in pretty easily.

Well doesn't that show it was meant to be?

He turned his head to look at his sleeping love, he didn't really regret what had happened, he would have liked it to have been on his terms though. Had he done wrong by her? Would she regret what happened?

As if in answer to his silent questions, Daine's eyes fluttered open. He could see his soul in those blue-grey eyes; they held his future, his family. Just looking into them made his heart burn for her. How could he have betrayed her like that? He had failed to protect her, not from some new beast or suitor, but from his own selfish needs.

He had teased her, yes. But that was just a foolish game, he had never intended to bed her, not now, not yet.

He had been a fool to think he could stop at simple touches and kisses. More of a fool in believing she would not retaliate to his tantalizing.

"What are you thinking Numair? You look so serious." Her face, which had woken with a sly smile of greeting, now creased in a concerned frown.

"Everything, and nothing" he replied, unsure why he could not share his internal battle with her. An allusion of frustration passed over her expression.

"Would you care to explain?" she said irritated by his ambiguity.

"We should not have done that." For once in his life, his mouth had moved faster than his mind, he knew it had hurt her; it was an insensitive, stupid thing to say.

"Oh" Daine rolled away, not wanting him to see the tears filling her eyes.

"I'm sorry Magelet, that came out wrong, I didn't mean-" he moved to put his hand on her shoulder to turn her back towards him, but quickly removed his hand away when she flinched at his touch. He felt a pang in his chest, the feeling only troubled love can cause.

"Don't apologize to me, if you didn't want me, you should have mentioned it last night. It's a little late for chivalry now." She didn't care if he was hurt from her words; he had just ripped her heart out with his.

Numair buried his head in his pillow out of frustration with himself.

Well done! Look what you have done, pain you have caused. Pain from your words not you actions. "Daine" he mumbled into his pillow. She didn't answer; he didn't know what to say to fix this even if she had answered.

Her tears were flowing freely in streams down her face. How could she have been blind to this. She thought he was ok with it last night; she had looked in his eyes, pools of chocolate lust and wanting. She wondered what she would see there now. Probably regret, he had woken to see a child, regretting his actions because of it. She sat up, reaching down the side of the bed to grab the shirt she had worn last night, tugging it furiously over her head in a rush to get away, run away from the pain in her heart. Before she had time to put her arms in the shirt properly, she felt his arm wrap around her waist, a new wave of pain shot through her heart, his embrace was warm and felt safe and she wanted nothing more than to curl up and let it wash over her.

"Daine," she didn't turn around, trying to remove his arm, to escape. He pulled her towards him, tightening his hold.

"Daine, please, don't leave our bed in anger." He pleaded. She wasn't listening, she didn't want to hear him say his regrets. "I'm not angry!" she lied.

"will you stay please, listen to my pleas of forgiveness at least, then if you are not satisfied you may storm out of here as you wish." His voice was low. She still didn't turn to look at him, she couldn't bear what she might see in those eyes. Afraid if she looked into them, she would forgive him anything without explanation.

"I'm listening." She said staring at the door, her arms still tangled in the shirt.

"When I woke up, and saw you laying here. I have never felt that happy in my life. You should have woken to these words. You have to understand my reluctance; I do not want rumors to harm you."

"I have lived with rumors my whole life, along with accusations and insults, and I can live with any new ones they care to throw at me." She had heard this excuse before, it was his difficulty not hers.

"let me finish please." Daine shifted her weight on the bed. She already felt herself giving into him, at just the sound of his voice.

"I understand your view on that, but my heart is foolish. It will not stand idly by and allow others to hurt you. Even now, it pains me, for I am the one causing you pain, and my anguish at that is my punishment. The thought that you may leave this room and not return, would take away everything that is good in my life." Daine slumped her shoulders, his words were drawing her in, she was hardly resisting.

"Numair, when you woke, what did you see?" she asked

Numair sat up, pulling her into his chest, both arms now wrapped around her body, "I looked into your eyes as they opened, and a saw my soul. Laid out in front of me faults and all, loved unconditionally. I saw my future, my family, our children, my life." He whispered.

Daine started to weep, uncontrollable. She had never in her life felt so happy, contented than she did at that moment. She leaned her head back looking up, no sooner had their eyes met then his lips touched hers. They kissed as if it was their last, and their first. A Deep obsessive kiss, that drew them back, resting once again peaceful in each other's arms.