Excuses, excuses…. Procrastination, laziness, had a birthday…. Blah blah blah…. Been away, had people over, Supernatural marathon (Oh Jared and Jensen you two hotties that I will never be able to choose between)…. Seem's I've actually been really busy, go me.
As always thanks for the reviews :)
Just one question, and it's been really bugging me for some reason: Chocolatluver4ever; what the heck does 'less then three' mean?
Anyways keep them coming
Philippine wasn't just ignoring Aramis now, she was down right avoiding him, and even though she was not physically in the same room, her presence was still felt, mostly in the form of one of her 'minions' as he had silently dubbed his friends after he had awoken with no signs of fever and only a vague notion of what had transpired the previous night.
Aramis was trying to remember a very vivid dream he had had the night before, his stomach turning, heat rising in his cheeks and his brow furrowed in concentration and her pieced it together. He was just about to remember who he was dreaming of when Planchet burst into the room with his lunch.
"Why Mr. Aramis sir" he said with a smile, "should you be sitting up?" he frowned down at Aramis, "Miss. Poppy says you shouldn't be getting out of bed sir."
"Bloody minions" Aramis mumbles under his breath, "I'm quite all right" he said louder, he was absolutely sick of being coddled like some child. Aramis swung his legs to plant his feet on the floor so that he could get out of that thrice dammed bed.
D'Artagnan walked into the room just as he was stretching his stiff arms over his head, apparently nobody in this country knew how to knock. D'Artagnan looked at him with the same frown as Planchet.
"Should you be out of bed? Poppy said-"
"Oh for fu-" Aramis finally snapped, "I am fine. I have no fever and if someone comes anywhere near me with a cold cloth, so help me God…"
"All right, all right" D'Artagnan said holding up his hands in mock surrender, "keep your shirt on."
"Speaking of which…" Planchet said turning around from placing a steaming bowl of grey coloured mush which, supposedly, was meant to be Aramis' lunch on the desk. "Why is you shirt ripped? Did it get caught on something?"
Aramis glanced down at his shirt and realised that his top two buttons had been torn off, a third hanging by a thread. He brought his hand up to touch the linen, his handsome face holding a look of intense confusion until it dawned on him.
"It wasn't a dream" he said out loud, his voice shocked.
D'Artagnan was looking out the window at the fair going on in the street, "what wasn't a dream?" he asked absent mindedly.
"I – we – she -" Aramis struggled to string his words together as D'Artagnan turned to look at him with another frown.
I can't tell him – me and Poppy – was a dream…but the buttons… I'm dead – special hell. Shit. It was a dream…Wasn't it?
Aramis looked like he was about to be trampled by a runaway carriage, his eyes wide and looking at D'Artagnan.
"Crap" he murmured, he was stuck for what to say.
Just as D'Artagnan was getting frustrated with his friend's lack of communication, the little noise being made in the room was cut by the very person who was torturing poor Aramis' mind.
"What the Hell are you doing out of bed? Planchet he needs to rest!" Poppy stormed into the room, her face flaring a deep red in colour. It looked like she was extremely cross, but that was a front, in reality she was about to die from embarrassment from just being in the same room as him.
Aramis was struggling not to look over every inch of her body, just remembering the way she had responded last night, the noises she made, had his blood boiling.
Fuck she looks good. He thought.
D'Artagnan and Planchet groaned as she rounded on them, she had been a harpy all morning, making them run around looking after Aramis so that she didn't have to step a toe inside the room, they had quickly realised that it was easier to do what she said then have her systematically ruin everything in their day. Philippine rounded on Aramis after she had had a quick word with the other two, her face went an ever darker shade of red as her eyes focused on his lips, heat rising inside her, she struggled not to squirm under his gaze and the look of intense heat he levelled at her, a low thumping started in her lower abdomen.
"Why aren't you in resting?" she hoped they didn't hear the slight catch in her breathing, she managed to fortify her voice as she continued, "Do I have to tie you up?"
"Kinky" D'Artagnan muttered returning to look out the window.
Poppy looked at her brother, face screwed up in distaste, "eww."
Planchet chuckled as Philippine turned back to resume her reprimands of Aramis only to find him still looking at her, but with a far away looking in his eyes, his body rigid, eyes almost black with what he was thinking. At that look her own thoughts suddenly turned to him tying her hands to a nice, soft bed with him above her, ravaging her like he had the night before. The thumping in her lower body intensified to an almost painful level and she struggled not the squeeze her legs together for relief. She made herself breath slowly as she left the room at what she felt was a dignified pace, only to return moments later to grab her role of throwing knives. She accidentally slammed the door behind her in her frustration with Aramis, her brother and mot importantly, herself.
After she left and he was able to regain his composure, Aramis walked over to the now luke-warm bowl of grey mush, wrinkling his nose as he lifted a spoonful of the gluggy stuff, frowning as it slowly slid off the spoon to plop back into the bowl. D'Artagnan and Planchet were watching the tall man, trying not to laugh.
"Do you want some real food?" D'Artagnan asked with a smile getting up and stretching.
"Of Heavens yes" Aramis said looking at him thankfully.
"Lets get you a jacket then" Planchet said helpfully, "it may not be raining but it's still a bit cold sir" grabbing said jacket Planchet also muttered just out of Aramis' earshot; "plus Poppy would kill me if you didn't have one."
With that they headed down to the common room to find Athos and Porthos.
Athos, Porthos and Philippine was sitting around a table in the empty common room talking.
"Philippine are you feeling alright?" Athos asked when there was a lull in the conversation and Porthos took a drink. "You look quite red; you didn't catch anything from Aramis did you?"
Poppy went even redder and started to play with one for her extremely sharp knives, flipping it back and forth over her fingers, making the men nervous. "I'm fine" was all she would say going an even darker shade of red then thought possible for her pale complexion, her free hand idly touched her slightly brushed lips.
These changes and gestures did not get past Athos. "Something's different" he stated.
"What's different?" Aramis said from behind Poppy making her jump and slam the knife into the table, imbedding the tip deep into the old wood.
Poppy ducked her head down, hiding behind her long, lose, brown locks of hair, and as Athos watched her face he saw something he didn't think was quite feasible, the areas of her face and neck which were visible had gone even redder, a feat he had not thought previously possible, but here he witnessed it, were it this time from embarrassment or Aramis' close proximity Athos didn't know, all he knew was that something had defiantly changed between them. Poppy quickly got out of her seat and started to leave with her role of knives.
"Where are you going?" D'Artagnan asked taking her chair as everyone watched her leave, again. "We only just got here, I thought you would be dragging us around to everything in the fair."
Poppy didn't break stride as she waved the role of knives above her head and said over her shoulder; "Practice" as she walked outside.
"What's outside?" Aramis asked, he hadn't had a chance like the others to look around, being confined to his room and all.
Porthos waved his empty hand, leaning back in his chair and taking another wig of his drink; "Targets outside, she's been there most of the mornin' practicing with various things."
Perhaps that's why she's been so red D'Artagnan thought.
There is defiantly something going on between the two but at least she's channelling her energy into training thought Athos.
I wonder if there's any decent wenches in this town Porthos wondered draining his cup.
Planchet just stood humming to himself.
And Aramis' thoughts were angrier than he expected. Why is she avoiding me? I walk into a room and she walks out, we need to talk about what happened. I want her. Wait – What? She's a kid, what am I doing? He inwardly groaned. Maybe she has the right idea, train until you're exhausted, till you can't even think. It's a good plan…kinda.
Aramis resolved to train himself, consequently in the same area as Poppy, but he tried not to think about that or how her body would look, sweat making her hair cling to her, her chest moving with her gasps of exertion. His pants seemed to be getting a little on the tight side again.
She's too good for your thoughts old man he tough, mentally shaking himself.
Philippine walked back in a few minutes later.
"That was quick" D'Artagnan said looking up.
She wiped the misting of sweat from her forehead. "Didn't need much practice, just had to make sure I still got it." Philippine said putting her knives on the table, making a point of not looking at Aramis.
"Can we go to the fair now?" D'Artagnan asked looking hopefully at Poppy.
She huffed in amusement and his attempt at puppy dog eyes. "Fine" she sighed with a smile, "let's go."
"Wait" Athos stood up looking at Poppy "take off the sword" he stated.
"Huh?" she grabbed for the sabre at her hip almost protectively, slightly afraid he might take it from her, she had become very attached to it and its intricate decorations.
Everyone else was looking at him with frowns, not understanding what his plan was.
"You bring too much attention to yourself in a small town like this" he stated. "We should make you ware a dress but I don't think anyone wants a black eye" he looked around at the group of grown men shaking their heads at what a small woman might be able to do to them.
"But-" Athos frowned at her "fine. But I'm not leaving without the hidden blades" she said unstrapping her belt to take off the sabre and its scabbard.
Athos smiled at her, "I wouldn't expect you to."
"I'll go put this away then" and with that she shot up the stairs.
At the mention of weapons Aramis realised he was completely unarmed, something he would usually never be accused of, he went to follow Poppy upstairs before he was stopped by Porthos.
"Where are you going?" Porthos asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
"Getting weapons" Aramis stated.
"Sure" Porthos said smirking some more making Aramis frown and everyone but D'Artagnan laugh. All D'Artagnan did was frown, not really wanting to say anything just yet but knowing that he should soon.
Aramis just shrugged and left.
They literally bumped into each other in the hallway; both had been lost in their own thoughts about the other and had run into the side of the other. One was reprimanding themselves for even caring and the other was trying to reason with themselves why they must stay away for the others own good. They both stumbled when they hit the other
"Sorry" Poppy mumbled looking up at him from below her lashes.
Aramis had grabbed her arms to prevent her from falling, her unruly hair was now somewhat tamed in and up-do in her new hairpin with the hidden blade and the creamy expanse of skin on her long slender neck was there for him to gaze at, he could see slight bite marks from the night before developing, marring the soft skin, the sight of his claim only made him want to taste her more, he unconsciously licked his lips but she saw it and her breath quickened. Aramis found that one of his arms had snaked around her waist while one hand was stroking her long neck; she forced herself not to sigh at his touch.
This is bad. they both thought, but they still couldn't move away.
His face moved closer to her lips but she pulled away slightly, trying to remain in control but she was in a downward spiral from the moment her touched her. Her pulling away from him ignited his primal hunter instincts, while she was struggling to hold onto her control he forgot what the word 'control' even meant.
No, you're not getting away, he thought almost savagely, mine now.
He growled deep in his chest, sending a shiver through her before he grabbed the back of her neck, crushing her lips to his in a searing kiss, pulling her slight body against him in a crushing embrace. Poppy fought back only slightly before submitting to the tight hold of the man in front of her. She would never admit out loud that she loved this side of him, when he lost all control, she felt like it was only for her, that only she could make him forget himself like this.
Their tongues battled for dominance, he discovered that she was a fast learner but she was still nowhere near his level of skill, she managed to make up for it with her enthusiasm. He tilted her head more to one side so he could thrust deeper, sending a moan through her as she clutched at his shoulders for support.
"Poppy!" D'Artagnan's voice yelled from downstairs and they broke apart with a gasp to stand on separate sides of the corridor breathing heavily. "What's taking so long, you lost?"
"I'm-" her voice was shaky as the two stared wide-eyed at each other, she cleared her throat. "I'm coming" she yelled back.
"Hurry Aramis up will ya, we're getting bored down here."
"Who's 'we'?" Philippine heard Porthos yell at her brother and she chuckled reaching a hand up to try to fix her hair.
"Well-" Aramis said still panting slightly looking at her flushed cheeks and slight smile.
This can't happen again he thought, he felt guilty, almost like he was corrupting her in some way. I shouldn't have let it happen to begin with, this will not happen again, it can't happen again.
"Best be going" she broke the strained silence "don't want 'Tagnan wandering off, he would always wander off and get lost when we were kids, drove our parents frantic, threatened to put a collar on him once." She was rambling as her lips tingled from brushing against his stubble; he hadn't shaved in a few days.
"No, you're right, you go" he was having trouble speaking properly as his mind returned to him, he turned away to walk to their rooms without looking back. "I need to get something" she was slightly hurt that he refused to look at her, never once glancing back.
"Ah o-okay, I'll – I'll see you downstairs then." She said after him, she saw his head bob a little but other than that there was no acknowledgement that she had spoken at all. Poppy's chest hurt, he was the one that had kissed her, she didn't exactly stop him, didn't fight back all that hard, but he was the one that had started it and now not a single minute later he was ignoring her, refusing to even look at her when she was speaking to him. She was hurt, and as always when she felt hurt she turned hostile and became rather pissed off. Philippine stormed downstairs where the boys had started up a game of cards.
"Well let's go then" she said turning her anger on their poor unsuspecting heads.
"But we just-" D'Artagnan said looking at her.
She cut across his words, "stay here then, I'm leaving" and she stormed out of the empty inn.
"What the hells wrong with her now" Porthos asked packing up the cards.
"I honestly haven't got a clue, but we'd best get after her before she kills somebody." He meant it as a joke but as soon as D'Artagnan said that it dawned on all of them that she may actually kill anyone stupid enough to annoy her right now, they raced for the door after her.
"But what about Mr. Aramis?" Planchet huffed bringing up the rear of the pack.
"He'll find us later" D'Artagnan said as they hurled themselves into the crowed to find his volatile sister.
So there wasn't actually meant to be any nooky in this chapter but they just can't seem to keep away from each other! Oh well, hope you enjoyed. Remember REVIEWS people :)
