My darlings,

I was simply overwhelmed by the response to my previous chapter! You're all so kind and lovely - and there are so many of you! My oh my! Well, now I have no choice but to continue my escapades.

And thank you! Thank you all for the reviews!

Special thanks to the reader nicked AI for the outcry: "Let them love, please!" I couldn't stop giggling. I feel like the worst gooseberry here, standing in the way of their loving. I'll try to let the two love birds finally have at it *ehehe*

Love you all!

Cheers xx

Katya

P.S. Just a reminder that I have some independent webserials going at wattpad dot com. The name's Katya Kolmakov. Have a look! It's still them, Thorin and Wren, but 'dressed' as different characters in stories of different genres.

P.P.S. I also have four books published on Amazon; two of them having just gone up. Have a look! They are available as Kindle Unlimited as well.

If you're interested in my writing besides FF, you can follow my Facebook page: facebook dot com /katyakolmakov. If you click on the sign up button you'll start getting my newsletter. The first email is coming out at the end of this week.

And now to the Erebor bedroom! *wink wink*

And then the solution came that was so simple and clear that Thorin even gave out a small laugh.

He just met her eyes and asked, "Have I upset you?"

She looked up from the embroidered leaves on the cover.

"Pardon?"

"I seemed to have ruined your mood," he said simply. "It was never my intention."

She opened her mouth, but then sank her teeth into her bottom lip. He straightened up and shifted closer to her on the bed.

"Wren."

Her name felt foreign on his tongue; after all he didn't get to pronounce it that often. She looked up again, and studied his face.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

And then her features softened, and she moved closer to him as well.

"Nothing. It's… nothing." She smiled now. "It was just my silly thoughts; and my own… aggravations, which you should not grieve yourself with."

"But I want to," he said. "I could help."

She smiled wider.

"Not always. Some of them are too nonsensical. I'm over them now, I swear. And I do appreciate that you wish to share them and to help."

Her slender arm snaked out of her 'tent,' and she softly touched his sleeve.

"Are you certain I have not offended you?" he asked.

"No, of course not!" she exclaimed, her face clear and content again. "I've enjoyed your story; and I thank you for sharing it with me. I regret now that I didn't let myself enjoy it more. It is after all amusing." She shook the cover off her shoulders and her arms lay on his shoulders. "You, Dwalin, young and full of yourselves, thinking all those lasses you jested about would even spare you a glance..." She shook her head and gave out a sarcastic 'tsk-tsk' sound. "Oh, the naivety of the youth!"

He chuckled, and tilted his head.

"Are you implying some maiden would refuse my courtship? I was a prince at the time."

"I'm certain that they cared for it not. No ancestry or riches can make a woman accept a disagreeable man. It's the temper that counts."

Her cool slender hand lay on his jaw, and she brushed her thumb to the corner of his mouth. This simple touch showed itself surprisingly sensual.

"And the looks as well," she drew out. "Being the wife of a Prince and, as I am well aware, of a King is more of a burden and a lot of hard work. Being the wife of Thorin, son of Thrain?" she murmured. "That's a pleasure."

He lunged ahead and caught her mouth roughly. She embraced him readily, answering to his kisses. The appreciation towards her that he'd felt - for her sober attitude, for the mature and calm treatment of her moods - was quickly replaced by the sheer, piercing lust.

And then kisses weren't enough anymore. He yearned for more, but had only a vague idea of how to quench the thirst. He grabbed, and squeezed her shoulders, and arms; and pulled her into him, her slender body, strong and supple. He kissed the neck, and the open collarbone; and he felt annoyed at the lace that was in the way; and as much as growled into her skin in greed. She gave out a throaty laugh, and then suddenly grabbed his ear.

"Thorin," she called, and pulled. "Tho-rin."

Her voice was raspy, and she drew out his name.

"Mahal, you're eager," she muttered. "I forgot it about you. When you still didn't learn to savour it..."

He looked up at her. Her strong fingers still held his ear.

"You're overdressed, my lord," she deadpanned; and then laughed. He assumed he looked stunned. He felt stunned, as if hit to the back of a head with a wooden club; or as if drunk.

And then she let go of his helix, and started quickly unclasping his doublet. He blinked and rushed to help. They dragged the doublet, the waistcoat, and the upper tunic off him; and here he was sitting in front of her, only in the silk undershirt left on his upper body - suddenly unsure how to proceed.

Now it was her turn to leap onto him, and grab, and kiss. Her hands were clawing at his shoulders and his chest; and she gritted through clenched teeth, "Mahal, I missed you..." He wrapped his arms around her waist, and jerked her towards him; and she was on his lap, suddenly taller than him, looming, and kissing him. His fingers tangled into the flaming hair, and he tried to twist from under her mouth, because the smooth skin of her throat was right in front of him; and he wanted it! She bit his bottom lip; and it drove him mad! More, he just wanted more!

"It's like the first time..." she rasped out; and then she jolted, and pushed away from him, and met his eyes. "We should stop… or not..." She squeezed her eyes for an instant, as if gathering her thoughts. "There might still be bleeding, a bit..."

He gave her a confused look; and then he remembered what she'd told him of a woman's moon days.

"Will it hurt you?" he asked.

"No, not at all," she answered, and smiled. "And it might not even stain. Some men just prefer to wait..."

"I don't think I can," he blurted; and she barked a low laugh.

She cupped his jaw and studied his eyes. He wasn't sure what she was looking for in his gaze. Whatever she saw seemed to please her; and she leaned to his lips again.

His first urge was to rush and resist her guidance; but he forced himself to follow her lead. This time her movements were slow; and he matched the rhythm. Her caresses felt deeper and firmer now; her palms slid down his torso; and he felt her fingers slip under the hem of his undershirt. He shuddered, and leaned into the kiss, seeking more.

She pushed her hands up, bunching the tunic; and he bent, and moved back, helping her to take it off. When it was off, he met her eyes again.

"I need to..." she said, and then cleared her throat. "Just give me a moment, please."

She climbed off the bed, and he watched her in astoundment.

"I just need to..." she continued muttering, and then pointed at the bathchambers' door. "Just a moment, I promise."

She walked through the door hastily; and he just sat on the bed, feeling rather like a dimwit. She was back quickly, though. She walked up to the bed and stopped near it.

"I needed to make sure that… It doesn't matter." She shrugged, without continuing.

He appreciated the lack of discussing the mechanics of her moon days. She'd obviously was checking whether she still bled; and he was glad that she just took care of it without his participation.

She tilted her head and looked him over. Her eyes were burning.

"Mahal, I missed this view." She gave him a predatorial smirk; and he raised one eyebrow.

"Why are you enjoying the view from afar then?" he asked, switching to Khuzdul without realising it.

She laughed, and then jumped ahead, toppling him backwards onto the bed. He caught her easily; she was after all such a small thing. She rose on all four above him; and he watched her lick her bright red lips. He wanted a taste as well! He lifted his head, aiming for a kiss - but missed. And then he realised she'd moved a tad, up and away from him. There was a mischievous smile playing on her lips; and he rose some more trying to catch it. She escaped again. She was teasing him!

He considered grabbing the back of her head and jerking her down; but something stopped him. He saw that she was waiting to see what he'd do. He smiled widely to her and lifted his hand and ran his fingers down her arm - slowly, languishly. Her lips parted softly in response. That was encouraging; and he rose higher, and holding his upper body in the air he kissed the bare shoulder, and brushed the tips of his fingers along her spine, just as the night before. She moaned; and supporting himself on one elbow, he placed his other palm on the back of her neck, under the soft copper and silver waves. He didn't pull. Instead he kissed the jaw and the neck, and his lips then reached the little ear, which burnt feverishly under his breath, and he whispered, "Kasamhili." Please.

She turned her head. He saw her dilated pupils and the blush on her high cheekbones. She licked her lips again; and then moved from under his hand. She slowly sat on him; and he grunted when her body weighed on his erection.

She then quickly opened the row of small hooks on the front of the undertunic she had on; and the two halves of the bodice opened. He looked at the strip of the pale skin, between her still covered breasts.

Her fingers danced on the bare skin of his stomach, down to the buckle on the belt - and then she suddenly laughed.

"You still have your boots on," she said. "Mahal help me, you didn't take them off when you came in. I was right, you are..." She stopped herself; and he understood she was sparing his sensitivities.

"I am what?" he asked distracted by her hands moving on his belt and then on the buttons of his trousers.

The two sides of the bodice fluttered, and he caught a glimpse of the soft lines inside. The skin was as if glowing, inviting; and he gently slid his palms on her sides. He pulled; and this time she allowed, and kissed him deeply.

"Chaste," she murmured into his lips.

"Teach me then," he said, answering to her kisses.