A/N: Okay, this one picks up right where the last chapter left off, enjoy! :D
Chapter Twenty-Five: In His Favor
"You're right," he concurred in thought. "Perhaps we should up the stakes then…you know, sweeten the deal…"
"And what do you have in mind?"
Dom grinned at her flirtatiously, "How about a kiss." She eyed him closely, a sparkle alighting her hazel eyes as he continued, "If I win, I get to kiss you…to a slow count of twenty."
"In public?" she asked wearily, though her body warmed with the thought.
He laughed, "Not unless you want to." The look she gave him told him that answer and he laughed again. He knew her qualms about displaying public affection- especially being commander of the camp, and he respected those rules…for the most part. He had gotten away with a couple infractions…
"So is it a deal?" he asked. When she agreed, he then asked her which event she had chosen for him.
Glancing around, she spotted something over his shoulder and grinned. Then she told him, "How about wrestling?"
"Why not?" said Dom, smiling, "I haven't competed in that event today. So what do I have to do? Win the tournament for you?" he joked.
"No," she replied, a small smile still on her lips, "just one match."
"That's it? Just one match? I think I have the better end of the deal…" he told her, grinning as he looked down at her lips then back up into her eyes.
"Don't be so quick to assume," she replied, giving him a mischievous grin. He raised his eyebrows at her in question and Kel smiled and pointed behind him, "There's your competition."
Turning to look behind him, Dom was met by the sight of a well-muscled soldier warming up where the wrestling matches were going to be held. He looked solid, yet agile. If Dom was correct, he had been the one to come in first the night before in wrestling. Looking back at Kel, amused, he said, "You couldn't make it easy for me, could you?"
She shrugged innocently, "I didn't say it was going to be easy."
Dom grinned at her, sidling close to her so only she could hear what he said next. "For motivational support, I think I deserve a preview of my reward before I begin. That way I know what I'm going to be sacrificing my life for." He glanced back at his strong opponent.
Fully aware of his nearness, her face flushed at his request. Fighting the temptation to do as he suggested, she teased, "If you don't think you're going to win, then I don't see the reason to give you a preview of the reward…"
"But it would serve as a confidence boost," he tried.
She smiled, "If I say I have full confidence in you, isn't that enough?"
"I'd prefer the other," he grinned.
"Then it's something to look forward to after you win…well, if you win," she corrected. "I believe your opponent is yesterday's champion."
"So much for a confidence boost," he replied sarcastically.
"Oh, you'll be fine," she told him, trying to keep her amusement hidden.
"Dom, are you ready?" asked Wolset, who was in charge of organizing the matches and corresponding bets.
He sighed, "I guess so." Then, looking back at Kel, he said, "Be prepared to keep your end of the deal, Lady Kel." She watched as he approached his opponent and offered him his hand.
"No, no, he's not your opponent," Wolset informed him, both to Kel and Dom's surprise. Then Wolset pointed to someone behind Dom, "He is."
Turning to look, Kel let out an audible gasp as both her and Dom's eyes widened at the man before them. He was well over six feet tall, solidly built, and had the look of a veteran soldier. For a moment they both stared at him in awe. Then, slowly, Dom turned back to glance at Kel, as if checking to see if she had seen his new opponent. Kel thought it would be a hard sight to miss- the man was a giant!
As Dom looked at her, a smile crept up on her lips at the thought. She tried to hide it with her hand but was unsuccessful.
Noticing it, Dom shook his head before looking back at his opponent. He felt like it was going to be a long match…
"Are you alright, Dom?"
"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course he ain't alright! He just wrestled Mithros' brother!" retorted Wolset in response to Lofren's question.
"I think it was Mithros Himself," said Dom, pressing a wet cloth to the shallow cut running along his cheekbone.
"You know, Dom," started Fulcher in a teasing tone, "There are better ways to get a girl's attention than getting beaten up."
"Yeah," agreed Wolset, grinning and slapping Dom on his back, "Gettin' beaten up wouldn't have been my first choice, but we all know women like scars. Good thinking!" he teased.
Dom gave them all a warning look, "It wasn't my plan to wrestle him."
"Well, whoever's plan it was, it seems to have worked," Wolset whispered, "'cuz here comes Lady Kel." He kicked Dom's boot, "Look hurt!"
"I don't have to act," replied Dom drily as Kel approached. The men surrounding him parted to let her through. She winced slightly when she looked at Dom, looking slightly concerned. He looked back at her steadily.
"Hi, Lady Kel, did you see Dom's match?" asked Fulcher innocently.
"Of course she did," Wolset informed him, "she even placed a bet."
"Well at least you're a few coins richer," grinned Fulcher.
Kel grinned and then looked back at Dom.
"I better get back to collect the next round of bets…" said Wolset, carefully stepping away. Then he gestured to his friends, "I think we better leave Dom in the care of a woman's hand, don't you think boys?"
They quickly all agreed and excused themselves as they left. Watching them leave, Kel grinned, then turned back to Dom. He wasn't sharing in her amusement.
Trying to wipe her smile away, she asked him, "So are you okay?"
"Besides being squashed by a giant, I think I'm doing quite well," he replied in a sarcastic tone.
Kel couldn't help it, she laughed. At the questioning look he gave her, she apologized, "Sorry, but I don't think even Lord Raoul could have defeated that giant."
"I'm glad you find it so amusing that you just got me crushed by that living mountain…"
"Oh, Dom, it wasn't that bad," she told him, failing to bite back her laughter. "Look at it this way, at least it was a short match."
He snorted, "Yeah, and that fact does wonders for my pride…"
Able to understand his feelings, Kel moved closer to him and gently placed her hand on his arm. "Well we all have to be humbled every once in awhile…"
"I think I'm the most humble man alive," he said, "even you bet against me…"
She laughed softly, "Would it make you feel better to know that I placed a bet in your favor?"
"You did?" he asked, surprise showing on his face when he looked up at her. After she nodded, he asked incredulously, "Why? You bet against me all the other times when I had a good chance of winning, and now you chose to bet in my favor?"
"Well I got you into the mess, so I figured it was the least I could do." Then teasingly, she added, "Besides, I had to keep the betting pool active…"
He gave her a narrowed look as she laughed, but she could see a trace of amusement starting to show in his face as well.
"You mean that's the only reason why you bet on me?"
She smiled at him playfully, saying in a warm tone, "Perhaps there was a part of me that wanted you to win too…"
There was a definite twinkle in his eye now as he said, "Only a part of you? We'll just have to work at that, now won't we…?"
As he moved closer, Kel gave him a questioning glance. Then, judging by the way he grinned at her and angled his face toward her, Kel suddenly got a very clear idea of his intentions. Pulling back, she glanced around quickly, "Dom, people can see us!" Really, everyone was too intent on watching the wrestling matches continue to pay any attention to the two of them standing in front of one of the barracks, but Kel didn't want to chance it.
Dom chuckled roughly, "Then let's go someplace where they can't see us…" And with that he took hold of her hand and led her between the narrow space between two barracks, where it was dark and just wide enough for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder.
Looking back and determining that they were far enough out of view, Dom stopped and pulled Kel to him, covering her mouth with his in one swift movement. Cupping her face in his large hands, slowly he moved them back into her hair, his mouth working eagerly over hers as he did so. Kel could feel her nerves thrumming as they kissed.
When later they pulled apart they were both breathless and slightly flushed, their smiles wide.
Eyes twinkling mischievously, his hands resting on her hips, Dom held her close. "I think my pride is still lacking a little…"
Kel laughed softly as he leaned toward her again. Putting her hand on his chest to stop his advancing, she said, "I think you're pride is doing quite well, Dom. Besides," she said, eyes glittering, "I've let you get away too many times unpunished for stealing kisses from me in public…"
"Does that mean you want me to stop?" he asked, grinning.
She gave him a playful look as he pulled her closer so that when he talked his lips were only inches away from hers. "Are you trying to sway my answer?"
"Is it working?" he smiled. A thrill shot through her from the feeling of his warm breath against her lips.
"Why don't you find out yourself?"
Dom pressed his lips to hers swiftly. Pulling back he grinned, "You didn't bite. Does that mean I can kiss you again?"
Kel laughed lightly, "Will you promise not to steal any more kisses from me in public first?"
"If I do, then I'll be crossing my fingers behind my back the whole time. Remember, I don't make promises I can't keep," he replied, his voice low and exhilarating.
The combination of his deep voice and intoxicating smile he sent her was enough to make her forget she was even outdoors. "Then we'll make a promise you can keep," she told him, her hand slipping from where it rested on his chest to wrap around his neck, her other hand following suit. She smiled as his eyes looked at her willingly, "If you promise not to remember that you lost the wrestling match tonight, then I will promise to forget it also. Personally I felt like you should have won…"
Dom raised his brows slightly, his mouth widening into a huge smile. "Meaning I get to claim my reward?"
"Only if you want…"
Wrapping his arms around her tightly, he chuckled, "For such a smart woman, you can sure ask some stupid questions…"
"I didn't want to intimidate you with my intelligence," she retorted softly, smiling just as widely as he.
"Believe me," he said, placing a kiss at the corner of her mouth, "your attractiveness is intimidating enough as it is…" And with that said, he gently turned her head toward his and fastened his mouth on hers.
Later, when he broke the kiss, it was Kel who pulled his lips back to hers, saying that they had only gotten to the count of ten. Though this was certainly improbable, Dom didn't object when she pressed her mouth firmly against his. Instead, he settled his mouth on hers for a very, very slow count of ten…or was it a count of thirty? Maybe an even minute would suffice…
A/N: *Double Sigh* Well, was that fluff or what? Kel and Dom kissing in the narrow darkness between the barracks…what better way to end a chapter? Lol. :D