"I am well aware of that. But I'll be sure if that happens, that I'll be the only one who pays."
Two Months Later. August 15. "Dylan, you've been working all day! Come on, I miss you!" Saraiah said after knocking on the door to his office.
Dylan opened the door, and smiled at Saraiah. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I've been so caught up with work and developing new potions. Please try to bear with me!" he said sweetly as he gave her a kiss.
"Well, instead of being on your computer, wouldn't you rather be on…me?" Saraiah said, suggestively.
"Ohhh I can't right now. Please understand!" Dylan replied, looking a bit sexually frustrated.
Saraiah gave him her pleading blue eyes, and began slipping the strap of her top down, showing a part of her breast. "Oh, please Dr. Frank, examine me!"
"B-But…aw ok. What the hell." Dylan finally relented and pulled Saraiah into his office, where he laid her down on the floor.
After a few minutes, Dylan had finished. "Oh come on, Dyl! I was getting close!" Saraiah whimpered as her boyfriend climbed off of her.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm just so preoccupied!" He replied, looking remorseful. "I'll make it up to you, I promise!" he quickly kissed her once again, and escorted her out of the office.
"Grrrrr…" Saraiah grabbed the sides of her hair and headed back downstairs. "I suppose I'll give Amber and Leina a call."
The next day. "Five minutes? That was it?" Amber said after Saraiah had vented to her about Dylan.
"Yeah. Ugh, in Mirrassei he was a sex god. Now he's just…lame sometimes." Saraiah said with frustration as she picked through a rack of dresses at the local shopping center. "I think this will look great for the photoshoot Leina wants to do!" she continued as she pulled out a blue and purple floral patterned sundress.
"Ooooh that's pretty!" Amber said as she admired the dress. She then pulled one that was a deep orange and strapless. "How's this for me?"
"That'll look so hot on you, Amby!" Saraiah exclaimed. "Let's try these on!"
"Afternoon, ladies!" Ryuden said as he walked up to them.
"Ry! Will you tell us what you think about our dresses? Pleeeeease?" Saraiah begged as she took him by the hands and bounced up and down.
Ryuden's gaze immediately fell to her bouncing chest. "Absolutely." he said without hesitation.
Amber first tried hers on, and it fit her perfectly. The skirt of the dress flared out, and her breasts filled in the strapless top. "Well?" she said to Ryuden, who looked rather impressed.
"Beautiful!" he said with a smile.
"Aww thanks!" she said sweetly as she sat down next to him, waiting for Saraiah to come out.
"Milady, are you gonna show me that dress?" Ryuden called to Saraiah who was taking her time.
"No…I'm not coming out!"
"Why not? You asked me to give my opinions. I wanna see!"
"J-just hush, Ry! I'll come out when I'm ready!"
"Saraiah hunny, what's the matter? Do I need to grab another size?" Amber said as she stood right in front of the door to where Saraiah was changing.
"N-no…I…c-can't come out. I'm too nervous!" Saraiah said quietly, so only Amber could hear her.
"Oh, it's just Ryuden, you don't have to be nervous!" Amber said as she laughed.
"That's the problem! Did you…see how good he looks right now? I'm a wreck in here!"
"Well then let me come in!" Amber requested of her friend, who complied. "Wow." She said when she looked at Saraiah. "Why are you nervous? You look ridiculously sexy in that, Saraiah! Gods, I'm tempted to pin you up against this wall right now!"
"Thanks Amby, but that's it! I can't let Ry see me looking like this! I just…ohhhhh Gods what is wrong with me?" Saraiah said as she buried her crimson face in Amber's shoulder. "I have a boyfriend, I can't let someone like Ry see me in this dress!"
Saraiah's dress was very flattering of her shape. It showed ample cleavage and flaunted her hips and butt very well. Her broad shoulders and toned arms only added to the appeal. The skirt of the dress fell just below mid-thigh. It was also predominately purple and had roses on it. "Amby, Ry will get the wrong idea!"
"Why do I get the vibe that you want him to get the wrong idea?" Amber asked, with amusement.
"Shhhhhhh!" Saraiah frantically covered Amber's mouth. "I'm not in love with him, but he's like the hottest guy on Alterra! Dylan's a 10, Ry's a 15!"
"Really?" Amber said after Saraiah released her mouth. "Scandalous!"
"Ladies, are you making out in there or something?" Ryuden called to them, sounding somewhat impatient.
"Shut up, Ry!" Saraiah hissed through the dressing room door.
"Oh sweet baby fucking Bahamut, Saraiah! Just let me see that bloody dress already!" Ryuden said while sounding rather exasperated.
"Just go out there!" Amber said as she opened the door and pushed Saraiah out.
"HEY!" Saraiah yelled as she lost her balance and barreled right into Ryuden's arms. "Uh, hey." she said to Ryuden as she looked up at him.
"Alright. Let me see." Ryuden took a few steps back, and looked Saraiah over. "Not bad, Milady!" he said with a smile.
Saraiah felt her face heat up. "Not bad!? Idiot!" she snapped as she punched him in the arm.
"Ry, she's smoking hot, what do you mean, 'not bad'!?" Amber also punched him in the arm.
"Ladies, come on! You both look gorgeous! Let me take some pictures!" Ryuden said somewhat defensively as he pulled out his phone.
Amber and Saraiah both posed, and then scowled just as he took the photo.
"C'mon, girls! I wanna send these to Leina as previews!"
"Ok fine, Ry." Saraiah said as the two of them posed once more.
"That's more like it!" he said with a smile, as he began taking photos of them individually. "So pretty, you two are."
"Ha, thanks Ry! You're 'not so bad' yourself!" Saraiah replied, chuckling.
"Well, I've picked my outfits as well, so I'm gonna head to Leina's and meet up with Aran! Take care, ladies!" Ryuden hugged both of them, then left the store. After a moment, he inhaled deeply and said, "Holy fucking SHIT. I had to get out of there before I dragged Saraiah into one of those dressing rooms!" He adjusted himself, then sent a few photos to Aran with the captions, "Fucking speechless."
After a few minutes, he received a response. "Oh hot DAMN. Even Leina wants to bang her. Lol."
Ryuden chuckled, then replied, "Haha! She'd best take a number then!"
"Duuuude you're insane! Don't tell Dylan or Renaiya!"
"Hah, no worries! I'll have to get Ren on video chat soon. ^_~ Besides even if Saraiah's hot as all fucking get-out, I still love Renaiya. The good looks run in the family!" Ryuden texted back as he shook his head and smiled. "Gotta drive though, see you soon!"
"So, I really hope Saraiah wears that dress from Ryuden's texts!" Leina said with a smile as she and Aran set up the photoshoot area. "Although…" Leina's face turned somewhat melancholy, as she looked down at her feet.
"What's wrong?" Aran asked, concerned.
"Oh, it's nothing." Leina shrugged and went back to setting up. She was wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts that flaunted her butt.
"Hey, Saraiah is sexy, but so are you." Aran said, as he looked right at her rear-end. "And so what if your boobs are small. To be honest, I prefer that."
Leina rolled her eyes at Aran's comment, but she knew he meant it as a compliment. "Heh, thanks. What about Amber? She's almost as tall as I am. I happen to know that she's had a crush on you for a while."
"Amber? I don't know. She's attractive, but I've never really gotten the feeling that she was interested. I'm positive she's actually a lesbian. No joke."
"Oh, that's nice." Leina shrugged as she set up her camera.
"Leina, what's goin' through that pretty head of yours?"
"Aran, I…just don't feel quite ready to discuss my insecurities with you yet." Leina said as she closed her eyes and shook her head.
"You have those too, eh? Well, I'm insecure about my pasty skin, and the fact that I'm a bit feminine looking. I just keep the hair long because it works for me. I'm just learning to embrace it, I guess. And I have damn near no ass. Then there's Ryuden. I often feel invisible around him. Girls just don't show interest in me like they do him." Aran confessed, trying to empathize with her.
"Ryuden? He's handsome, but you're the one I see. Your skin is gorgeous, and it's not that pasty. You look healthy. I love your hair. I could go on all day about you." Leina said with a genuine smile. "But yeah, you just look intimidating to women. I see them look you over often, but you do seem to give off the air that you don't want to be approached."
"Maybe I don't, especially after what happened two months ago. That's my biggest insecurity. I suppose I trust way too easily, and now I'm still getting used to being a father. It's terrifying. Am I doing things right? Can I make up for the way Zaine was treated by the egg donor?" Aran glanced over at Zaine, who was playing in a gated play area. "I can change diapers easily, but I can't change his past."
"I think you're doing great, besides, you have Cid to help you when you have concerns!" Leina said, reassuringly.
"That's true, thank you." Aran smiled at her, and she felt her heart race.
"Well, Aran, I have a low self-esteem. I don't feel attractive to any man other than sexual predators…" Leina closed her eyes and sat down.
"Leina…were you…?"
"Yes…by the King Cobra gang. And again by Vince. The second time I wasn't awake for it, but I knew it had been done." Leina's voice wavered, and Aran sat in front of her, placing his hand over hers.
"I'm so sorry."
"No need to be. I suppose the gang incident helped push me into knighthood. I decided I would never be a victim again. Of course, while I strengthened my body, I also strengthened my guard." Leina said as she squeezed Aran's hand.
"Well, let me bring it down. Slowly. I'm your friend, Leina. I'm here for you." Aran softly kissed her forehead. "We all are."
Leina felt tears wet the corners of her eyes, and her heart fluttered. "I feel like some of it has come down already."
"Guys, we're here! Let's get this party started!" Saraiah said as she walked in with Amber and Ryuden.
"Alright, let's get ready!" Leina said as she and Aran stood up. She then directed everyone to get dressed and the girls to get their makeup done.
"So, it seems that my brother's assassins have taken down Sumestris. How delightful." An older woman said as she clicked around her office in high heeled boots.
"So what does that mean for us, Margine?" A tall, blonde man in his 40's replied.
"Well Boris, I think it's time we set our plan into motion. I want those boys, Aran and Ryuden. I need them. They could be of use to me." Margine said as she leaned against the side of her desk.
"How would we apprehend someone like them though?"
"We have to be cautious. We cannot approach them directly. We need to lure them here by another means." Margine thought for a moment, her long, slender fingers laid across her chin. She then walked behind her desk and paged for Renaiya. "Renaiya dear, would you please come to my office?"
"I'll be right there." came the reply.
"I believe she can help us figure things out." Margine said as she sat down in her swivel chair.
After a few moments, a tall woman with dark auburn hair and hazel-green eyes arrived. "Yes, Aunt Margine?"
"Renaiya, I need your assistance. I need to lure Aran and Ryuden here somehow. I believe they'd be very useful for my experiments."
"You do know that Ryuden is my boyfriend, right?" Renaiya asked, with a look of concern.
"Oh, please don't worry, I don't wish to kill them if they cooperate with me and the plan works out. But why hasn't he come for you yet?"
"I told him not to, that I was safe." Renaiya replied, and Margine nodded.
"Well, you are. So what do you think would bring those boys to us?"
"We could bring in my sister as a hostage…" Renaiya's eyebrows furrowed. "Please, don't harm her though…"
"I'll only do what's necessary, Renaiya. However, isn't she almost as strong as the Dragonsouls?"
"Yes she is. I could speak with Dylan and work out a plan with him, as long as neither one of them will be seriously injured in the process." Renaiya suggested to her aunt, who seemed on board with the idea.
"Well Renaiya dear, I will do what's necessary. But I have to have those boys. It's our only hope."
"I understand, Margine. I will contact Dylan soon. We need to take our time on this, however."
"They've also got someone important in captivity that I need to rescue, but in due time. You may go, Renaiya."
"Yes ma'am, Margine." Renaiya took her leave.
"Boris, you may go too." Margine commanded, and Boris complied.
Another young woman walked in. "Mother, are you sure about all this? You do realize that…he…could turn Aran and Ryuden against us."
"I am well aware of that. But I'll be sure if that happens, that I'll be the only one who pays."
"But Mother! It doesn't have to be that way! We could use them to our advantage!"
"We can hope, but for now, we must make preparations. In a couple of months I will send you to investigate." Margine said as she stood up from her desk. "Speaking of him, I need to go to his chamber. You may go back to whatever it was you were doing."
"Very well, Mother. Please be careful."
Margine left her office and walked down the hall, the clicks of her boots echoing through the futuristic hallway. She boarded an elevator and descended to the lowest level, then walked to a large room where there was a man kept in a stasis chamber. "Ohhh…ughhhhhh" Margine grumbled as she grasped the sides of her head.
"Hahaha, you think you're so smart, my pet. You may have my body in stasis, but you cannot suppress my spirit…"
"Lucius…enjoy your mind control while you can…you will soon bow down to me…"
"Oh ho ho, foolish harlot. You think that creating dragons from my blood and DNA would ever measure up to the real thing?"
"One of my dragons tore your daughter to ribbons, if I remember right!" Margine taunted the entity inside her mind.
"And for that I swear you will suffer. You will never win. You caught her off guard."
"Or she was merely weak!"
"Hahaha, well that doesn't matter now. Go ahead and bring Princess Saraiah to me. It's time I traded you out for a newer model. Someone so young, vibrant…someone who could pleasure me so well. Much more than you could, I'm sure."
"What the hell do you know, you vile creep!?" Margine shouted, as she punched the chamber.
"Oh ho, jealous? You had better calm yourself…" Lucius said calmly. Margine lifted her hand to her chest and began to dig into it with her fingers.
"N-no…please…" she whimpered in fright.
"I'd hate for you to accidentally tear your own heart out…" the dark entity continued as he released Margine.
"Oh Gods…oh…" Margine panted as she felt her heart racing intensely. "F-fine…you win…this time…" She quickly stumbled out of the chamber and closed the door behind her.
"Hahahaha…this is going to be fun. I'd love to have Saraiah become my number one Dark Angel."
"Ugh, Marky, I just can't seem to hit the target!" Yukari complained to her brother as they were practicing with guns at the firing range.
"Kari, don't be so hard on yourself! It just takes practice." Markas said sweetly as squeezed her shoulder.
"I know, but I don't wanna be kidnapped ever again. I also wanna help bring back Mom and Dad!" she replied as she aimed her weapon again. "I wanna be just like you, Marky! I wanna learn that awesome lightnin' magic too!"
"Sure thing! We can ask Ryuden to help us with that. He's only tha best of tha best o' black mages! In the meantime, I can at least give ya some tips."
"Oooh that would be awesome!" Yukari said excitedly as she fired her weapon once again. "Oh my Gods, I did it! I hit tha bullseye, Marky!"
"Excellent work! Keep practicing, and you'll get it in no time!" Markas said happily as he hugged his sister. They heard someone clapping. Markas turned around and smiled. "Yo, Ayako! What a pleasant surprise!"
"Haha, it's good to see you too, Markas! Yukari, that was great shooting you did at the end! Gods, I remember how proud of Aran I was when he started getting the hang of unarmed combat!" Ayako said as she smiled and hugged both of the siblings. "Also, Kari, you could possibly try for the Hunter's Guild one day! Maybe even Team Armasa!"
"Haha, she'd be an awesome addition to either team! It was actually Sam Frankewicz that taught me everything I know about bein' a gunner." Markas said with a smile as the three of them left the range.
"Doctor Frank taught ya how to shoot, Marky?" Yukari asked, wide-eyed with curiosity.
"Oh Kari, she may be a doctor, but she's one o' the best shooters around! She ain't the leader of tha Hunter's Guild fo' nothin'! She used to be an instructor while she worked part time as a doctor. Mom and Dad actually designed an awesome arm cannon fo' her. She keeps it concealed as a bracelet on her right arm!" Markas explained as he pointed to his own wrist. "They've taught me what I know, which has helped us be able ta carry many or large weapons without any issue."
"It's true!" Ayako said with a smile.
"Wow! Dr. Frank is so cool!" Yukari said, excitedly.
"She sure is, Kari! How 'bout I treat both o' you pretty ladies to dinner?" Markas said as he placed his arms across the shoulders of both ladies, whom both happily agreed.
"Wow Leina, these photographs are very lovely!" Emma said to her daughter after looking through the prints from the photoshoot. "Gods, Aran is so handsome! Are you two going to date or not, Leina?"
"Thanks, Mother!" Leina replied, smiling. "As for me and Aran…I think so, in due time!" she blushed as she picked up a picture of her and Aran together.
"A guy like that may not stay on the market very long, dear!" Emma came across another picture, which made both her and Leina smile. "He's a catch. Look at how in love with his son he is."
"He's a wonderful father, but he thinks he's screwing it up. I honestly think he has clinical depression, but refuses to acknowledge it." Leina said as a sad look spread across her face. "He'd rather try to make other people happy."
They heard the hallway toilet flush, then after a few minutes, Aran emerged from the restroom, while spraying air freshener. "Ugh, y'all may not wanna go in there for a bit…" he said, sheepishly.
"You're a real charmer, Aran." Leina said as she shook her head and smiled.
"Well, no man is perfect, I suppose!" Emma said as she tried not to giggle.
"Ya flatter me, Countess!" Aran chuckled as he sat down and looked through some more of the printed pictures. "I love the ones of Zaine and me. I still can't believe he's alive and well!" he said with a radiant smile as he looked over the ones that showed him hugging and laughing with his son. "Ryuden adores him. He decided he wanted to take him for the evening!"
"Speaking of Ryuden, look at this picture of him and Saraiah." Leina said as she handed him another photo. "And I love that little boy already! I had so much fun taking pictures of and with you and Zaine!"
"I did too, Leina!" Aran said, gazing lovingly at the blonde. He then looked at the picture of Ryuden and Saraiah. "Wow. The way they're looking at each other. Two people in love with each other and they don't even know it. Gods, look at how happy they are."
"So true. But they're in relationships. I suppose neither one of them want to take risks, so they settle for someone they're comfortable with, rather than the person they believe is out of their league." Leina said, somberly. "Tallon and Heather went to learn how to make potions with Dylan. Seems he's far more interested in his research than he is in Saraiah. She wanted to have a date night with him, but he decided to take up the potion making stuff instead. They had a fight and now Saraiah is hanging out with Ry." she continued, somewhat crossly. "Tallon and Heather didn't know that he blew off Saraiah."
"Wow. She's alone with Ryuden now? But what about Renaiya?" Aran asked, folding his arms across his chest. "That's a mess I'm glad I'm not a part of…"
"That is indeed a tough situation." Emma said, sympathetically. "I'll go prepare some snacks, I'll be back in a little bit." She stood up and left the living area.
Leina picked up a picture of her and Aran. "Look at how happy we are." She looked at him and smiled.
"Uh…yeah! We definitely are!" Aran replied as he blushed. "Look at how gorgeous you are, Leina. To be honest, I don't want another man to have a chance with you…"
Leina felt her cheeks flush and her heart race. She had never experienced romantic feelings, but she was sure that was indeed what she was feeling. "Aran, I've never had any interest in dating anyone before. W-what I'm saying is…I-I'm ready to date, and I want it…to be you." she awkwardly stammered, as she began biting her lip and twiddling her thumbs.
Aran smiled as he observed how nervous Leina appeared to be. He found it rather endearing. He gently took her by the hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. "Ya know, I'd love that."
Leina felt her walls come crashing down, at least to him. Tears began welling up in her eyes. "You would? Oh my Gods…thank you!" she said excitedly as she bounced her knees.
Aran couldn't help but laugh when she thanked him. "Ya know, I ain't doing you a favor!" he leaned in and kissed her cheek, which caused her to giggle and cover her face. "You're so embarrassed! Wait 'till I do this!" he chuckled as he gently removed her hands from her face and planted a big kiss right on her lips.
"Oh my Gods, my very first kiss!" Leina wasn't sure what to think about the feelings and sensations she was experiencing. She did know that she liked it and wanted more.
"There's plenty where that came from!" Aran winked as he leaned back in and kissed her some more. "Gods your lips are so soft!" he exclaimed excitedly as he pulled her in close and pressed his lips to hers some more, this time slipping his tongue into her mouth.
"Oh goodness!" Leina said as she pulled away, breathing heavily.
"I'm so sorry, was that too far?" Aran asked, with genuine concern.
"N-not really, but I'm no good at something like that. I got nervous." Leina replied, sheepishly.
"Awh, I can teach you! Just use your lips, and use your tongue to tease mine a bit. It doesn't have to be sloppy. Just like this." Aran sweetly tucked a lock of hair behind Leina's ear, then slowly and softly kissed her, then tilted his head slightly, parting his lips as he did so. "Just follow my lead, my love…" he whispered softly into her mouth, and she complied, inviting him in and lightly sweeping her tongue over his. She felt herself begin to tremble with excitement and felt her heart skip a few beats.
"Whoa!" she exclaimed as she pulled away once again, her hand over her heaving chest. "What is going on with me? I'm shaking and my heart is palpitating…"
"My love, that's sexual arousal you're feeling. Is that…something you want to do right now?" Aran said as he gently caressed her knee.
"W-what!? No! Not yet!" Leina exclaimed as she faced forward and went scarlet. "That's something I need to feel completely ready for!"
"Right, I'm sorry!" Aran said as he too face forward, blushing.
"No need to be, I just wasn't expecting that!" Leina replied, giggling. "But I'll gladly be your girlfriend!"
"I'm completely ok with that!" Aran said, with a big smile.
"Ok, sorry I took so long! Who wants some snacks?" Emma said happily as she arrived in the living area once again.
"So Mother, I have something to tell you!" Leina said happily as she and Aran grinned from ear to ear.
"Ugh, who does Dylan think he is, blowing me off like that!" Saraiah grumbled, pacing around Ryuden's art studio.
"An idiot, that's what." Ryuden said calmly as he worked on yet another painting, of one of the photos from Leina's shoot earlier that day. It was one of Saraiah.
"Oh, I'm sure he has a good reason…" Saraiah said as she crossed her arms and sat on a stool next to Ryuden.
"Maybe a side ho…"
Saraiah quickly smacked Ryuden over the head and snapped, "That's not helping, idiot!"
"Ow! He's the idiot, putting you on the back burner like this…" Ryuden grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Why can't he be sweet and attentive like you, Ry!?"
"Meanwhile, in the friend zone…"
"Ry, you're dating my sister, what do you care?"
"Just making a point is all. Don't get the wrong idea!" Ryuden folded his arms across his chest and stared at his work in progress.
"I wasn't. You're one of my closest friends, and you've been here for me, except when you left…"
"Can we let that go, please?" Ryuden said as he conjured a glass of wine. "Want some?"
"Sure! Wow, that's pretty awesome of you to be able to do that!" she said as she accepted the glass. "I'm sorry. I just really missed you, Ry. It just wasn't the same without you." She sipped the wine, and closed her eyes.
"Hey now, I'm back." Ryuden said sweetly as he placed his hand over Saraiah's. "I won't leave ever again."
"I just feel so inadequate, like I just can't keep Dylan's attention! I'm pretty sure he's not sketching me or even remotely thinking of me in any way…" Saraiah sniffled and fought back tears, then stood up and plopped onto the couch in Ryuden's living room.
Ryuden exhaled through his nose, then put down his paintbrush. "Maybe you just need to leave him. I hate to be that guy, but—"
"N-nonsense, Ry! I l-love him!" Saraiah cried as she buried her face in her hands.
Ryuden quickly walked over to the couch and sat down by Saraiah, placing his arm around her. "I'm so sorry, Saraiah. I didn't mean to upset you…for the record, even in captivity Ren and I are kind of on the rocks. I feel like she's hiding something."
Saraiah sniffled, then looked up at her friend. "Y-you are?"
"Yeah. It happens. I'm sure it's just a phase." Ryuden replied, reassuringly.
"Yeah, maybe you're right. I suppose I'm only adding to his stress by being so clingy." Saraiah said as she placed her hand on Ryuden's knee.
"That's NOT what I meant, Milady." Ryuden said as he pulled Saraiah into his lap, cradling her. "You're a great person, and you have a big heart. I'm sure Dylan will see that soon enough. He'd be a fool not to."
Saraiah hugged him tightly and leaned on his shoulder. "Ry, you're so sweet. Renaiya is so lucky." She then closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled the scent of his subtle cologne. She felt her heart racing and she felt relaxed in his arms, not really concerned that they were more affectionate with each other than usual.
"Honestly, Dylan is too." He smiled as he felt her soft, warm breath against his neck.
"You think so? Thank you Ry—" suddenly Saraiah jumped nearly two feet in the air off of Ryuden's lap and went scarlet. "Son of a bitch, you definitely do!" she exclaimed, pointing at his lap.
"Uh…h-how did that happen…?" Ryuden stammered as he frantically grabbed for a pillow.
"You tell me!" Saraiah shouted as she grabbed another pillow and beat him frantically with it.
"Hey, you were sitting in my lap, what did you expect—"
"You pulled ME into your lap, idiot!" Saraiah retorted as she pinned him on the couch, covering his face with the pillow. Ryuden disappeared into the shadows. "Hey, that's cheating! Show yourself and fight like a man!" Saraiah yelled as she stood up from the couch, menacingly shaking her pillow.
"Behind you, Milady!" Ryuden said while laughing as he smacked her from behind with a pillow, then pushed her onto the couch. His heart was slamming against his chest and he was really enjoying this pillow fight.
"Oh!" she exclaimed when she hit the couch, then felt Ryuden flip her onto her back and start swatting her again. She too was liking this far more than she should. They fought intensely with their pillows a few minutes longer, until they both collapsed on the floor, laughing hysterically.
Ryuden then heard his phone chiming. "I think that's Ren!" he exclaimed happily as he scrambled for his phone and answered it. "Ren! Uh huh. Oh. I see…ok then. Is everything ok? It is? Then why can't you…ok fine. Bye. Love you." Ryuden hung up then plopped down on the couch with a scowl.
"Ry, what did she say?"
"She canceled our video chat, again. She said she couldn't explain why. I suppose I should give her the benefit of the doubt…" Ryuden said as he placed his face in his palms.
"Damn, Ry. I'm really sorry." Saraiah said as she took him by the hand. "Let's go finish that painting, shall we?"
"It's ok. I suppose there's a reason for it." He smiled slightly and stood up, leading Saraiah by the hand. "We shall, Milady."
Half an hour passed, and Ryuden worked diligently on the painting, as Saraiah sat by and observed. Ryuden even had her help, since she too enjoyed art. He paused for a moment and stretched.
Saraiah stood behind him and began massaging his shoulders.
"Oh Milady, that's perfect right there. Yeeeeaaaah…" Ryuden inhaled deeply as he felt the fair princess knead his tense muscles with her fingertips. "You know just how to do it. Not too hard, not too soft."
"Oh, hehe thank you Ry. I'm glad I can help." Saraiah said sweetly as she continued massaging him, from his neck down to his lower back.
"You are a big help. In so many ways." Ryuden said as he swiveled around on his stool to face Saraiah. He then gently moved her in front of him, the two of them facing the painting.
"Aww, Ry…" Saraiah soon felt his fingers rubbing between her neck and shoulders. She felt chills go down her spine.
"Milady, you're so tense." He said softly as he rubbed the said spots with his thumbs.
"I guess I'm just really stressed out, Ry. But I feel a bit better at the moment." Saraiah closed her eyes for a moment, thinking over what she was doing. "I don't care right now. This feels amazing and I'm going to enjoy myself. It's not like anything else will happen…I think…" She inhaled deeply when she felt Ryuden trace his fingertips down her back and the massage her sides, sometimes gently caressing under her shirt. "I'm not a cheater though…am I? Ry is overstepping right now…but I don't want to stop him. My Gods, I can't stop him. It must be that wine." Saraiah stepped back slightly, towards Ryuden, and placed her hands on his knees. She let out a sensuous sigh, then said, "Ry, you know just how to touch me." She then went crimson. "Did I just say that out loud!? He's totally gonna get the wrong idea!"
"Anything to help you relax." He whispered right behind her ear, before he moved her hair aside and began kissing her back, and sometimes her shoulders.
"Ry, should we be doing this?" Saraiah asked, while short of breath. She felt chill bumps all over her skin.
"The question is, do we want this? We don't have to go far at all." Ryuden said as he turned Saraiah around to face him.
"How many drinks have you had, Ry?" Saraiah asked, while her body was reeling to go, her mind was far more reluctant.
"I'm…not too sure!" Ryuden replied as he started laughing.
"Silly Ry!" Saraiah said as she stepped closer to him and held him tightly, giggling into his shoulder.
"Yeeeeeah that's me, Milady!" Ryuden said as he and Saraiah made eye contact, his intense emerald green eyes gazing into her deep blue ones.
"Oh my Gods, those eyes are my godsdamned weakness!" Saraiah thought to herself as she inhaled deeply, and pulled Ryuden in for a kiss. She felt him inhale deeply and let out a moan of pleasant surprise, then she felt him caress her cheek for a moment. She then quickly pulled away. "Oh my Gods, what are we doing? I'm sorry, I can't do this. I gotta go!" Saraiah grabbed her bag and quickly scurried out of his living quarters in the castle, and made haste for her car.
"Holy fucking shit, how drunk are we?" Ryuden finally said out loud to himself after he recovered from post-kiss catatonia. "Fuuuuuck we really got caught up in the moment…" he grumbled as he walked to his room and flopped onto his bed. Zaine was asleep in his guest room. He grabbed his laptop and opened his messenger screen and typed, "Ren, I need you now. Please tell me you've changed your mind…I'm so horny right now I don't know what to do with myself."
"I'm so sorry Ry, I am too, but I can't!"
"Fine…" Ryuden replied, then closed his laptop and removed his pants. "Can't say I didn't try, Ren…" he said out loud to himself as he took matters into his own hands. "The things you make me do, Saraiah Raynes…"
"Dylan, are you done yet? I want you right now! Please just put your damn computer down for ten minutes! Pleeeeeease?" Saraiah begged of her boyfriend as she knocked on his door.
"Saraiah, please! I am way too busy right now!" Dylan said loudly, sounding irritated. "I'll be done soon, I promise!"
"Whatever, Dyl!" Saraiah replied as she scurried to their bedroom and stripped down, laying fingers upon herself. "Ry…you'd meet my needs if you could…" she said softly to herself as she closed her eyes and moaned softly, letting her imagination run wild. "His lips and eyes…how could I not kiss him?" She continued until she found her release, throwing her head back and moaning loudly, but softly. "Oh yes…touch me like that…work your magic on me, Ry—"
"Saraiah, I'm finally done! Let's do this!" Dylan said breathlessly as he began removing his shirt.
"Sorry, I'm good now!" Saraiah replied as she stood up and headed for the shower.
"Damn it…" Dylan grumbled as he lightly punched the door jamb. He walked over to the bathroom door, and found that it was locked. "I'm sorry…" he said as he walked, defeated, back to his office.
"Holy shit, Saraiah! Are you serious?" Amber exclaimed when Saraiah told her about the previous night's events. They were swimming in the castle pool.
"Yeah! I kissed him! I still can't believe I did that!" Saraiah said, sounding shocked as she floated on her back.
"Do you feel bad about it?"
"I dunno, maybe a little. Dylan can't help if he's busy, but Ry…my gods we just had this connection and it felt like an adolescent dream coming true. But it's nothing more than a fantasy. A one-time thing. I haven't spoken to Ry since last night other than some awkward good morning texts. Jeez, you'd think we did have sex!" Saraiah said, just before she submerged herself for a few seconds.
"Saraiah, hunny. If you were honest with yourself, who would you want to be with?"
"Dylan, of course! Things are amazing when he's not buried in his work! Ryuden may be sexy, but there's gotta be more than physical attraction!" Saraiah replied, looking as if Amber should know better.
"I asked you to be honest with yourself, Saraiah." Amber said as she swam right up to Saraiah.
"I am! Do you forget that Renaiya is in the picture here? It's weird enough that I kissed her boyfriend, I'm not gonna flat-out steal him from her!"
"I suppose you have a point! But it was just a kiss, hunny! Don't worry so much about it." Amber said as she kissed Saraiah's forehead.
"That's true. Thank you, Amby. But on a completely different note…Aran and Leina!"
"I know, right!? How adorable is that!? We gotta get the deets from her when we meet for lunch!" Amber said, excitedly.
"Amby, you sure are happy about that! I'm glad!" Saraiah said with a sweet smile.
"That's because I've got me a special someone too!"
"Whaaaaaaaa!? Since when!?" Saraiah exclaimed, wide-eyed with shock. "Oh my Gods, who is he!?"
"It's…a she!" Amber replied, blushing. "Truth is, Aran was the only man I've been attracted to. How coincidental it is that he looks androgynous."
"You're a lesbian? Holy shit, Amby! Still learning things about you after all these years!" Saraiah said, laughing.
"Yeah, I'm completely gay. I've finally come to terms with that! As for who she is, it's one of the other hunters! Hopefully circumstances will allow you to meet her soon!"
"I'm so happy for you, Amby! What does she look like? Can you tell me that?" Saraiah asked, excitedly.
"She's tall, slender, and has dark hair and green eyes. She's Mirrasseinian!" Amber said as she blushed.
"Whaaaaa? You and I have similar tastes! Except Ry isn't really slender. He's a solid 230. He wears it so well though, still lean without being too skinny!" Saraiah said, smiling. "I suppose being almost six and a half feet helps offset the weight! She sounds hot though!"
"Oh, she is. Trust me!" Amber said with a radiant smile. "But she can't reveal herself yet. She could compromise herself if she did."
"Right, I understand!"
"Miss Craven, you have a call." A prison warden said to Jennilyn as he handed her a phone.
"Yeah yeah. Gimme the phone and get lost." She snapped as she snatched the phone away. "Yeah?" she said into the handset.
"Jenn, this is on an encrypted line, and I must be quick."
"Fine, Margine. What do you want?"
"I need you to stay there a bit longer. I'll get you out in due time."
"Are you fucking serious!? I'm rotting in here, get me out now!" Jennilyn loudly whispered into the phone.
"You're in no position to sass me. You failed Sam Frankewicz already, if you fail me I won't be so merciful. So you shut your mouth and wait until I come for you myself. You understand?"
"Ugh…fine!" Jennilyn shouted before he hung up. "Come get the stupid phone, guard…"
"Very well." The warden said as he grabbed the phone and left.
"I suppose those Armasa freaks and those Hunter bitches can enjoy their peace a little longer…"