When she woke again, he was rubbing her back, over and over without pause. His steady hands and solid body gave her comfort as she awoke.

"Morning," she muttered, her lips once again on his skin.

"Good morning," he whispered. She could hear his smile and when she looked up, she returned it as well.

"Yes, alright, it is that."

"You are beautiful when you sleep."

"No doubt more so than when I am awake," she quipped, but his hand on her cheek made her pause.

"No. I have watched you in slumber often, just waiting for when those eyes open and engage with me."

"You could not have watched me that often." She blushed. "For I have spent a number of nights watching you too."

He chuckled and kissed her, shocking her a moment before the memories of earlier flooded her mind. She stopped him from withdrawing and kissed him back, letting him take the lead once again until she was panting in his ear.

"How is it that you bewitch me so," she hissed as he moved down her body with a purpose she did not understand.

"It is you that has bewitched me," he muttered, pressing his lips against her belly. The scratch of his beard tickled her and she butted his chin with her hip.

"If it bruises, it was well won," he muttered before she could apologise.

"I do not know what you are -"

"Trust me," he whispered.

She did. Once again, she nodded and allowed him to roam, almost squealing when something touched her. She realised that it was his tongue, pressing against her with a purpose that she had only ever felt from something else.

"ROBIN!"

He groaned against her and the texture of his beard and the noise and the flick of his tongue made her grip his head and press against it. She felt possessed; as if she was no longer in control of her body as he pressed over and over. She crested and then again as he loved her with his mouth until he groaned his name and knelt between her thighs.

"Permit me."

"Yes," she pleaded as he pressed forward.

There was no resistance, no pause, as he slid inside of her and took up his rhythm. He lifted her legs around him and she clung to him as he took her. She loved this man. In that moment, she realised that she truly loved this man for his care and truth and the bravery of him, but for more than that. For his care of her. For his respect.

Her body took so much longer to crest this time, though she was unsure why and a part of her began to worry that they had broken something when he started sucking on her breast again. It was as sudden as a match flaring and she screamed against him as his strokes turned long and deep. She could barely breathe as she built and built until he spoke her name, sounding almost in pain, his rhythm faltered.

"Robin," she whispered, gasping as he slipped deeper. "Robin."

He cried out and as he spilled inside of her, she shuddered and clenched around him, forcing another cry from her as he warmed her from within.

"Oh, Marion," he muttered. "You are bewitching."

She smiled as a tear squeezed from her eye that she hid from view, but Robin didn't miss it.

"Happy tears, I hope?"

"Yes," she groaned, slapping his shoulder for good measure. "Though I still have a knife under my pillow, you know."

He laughed as he moved off her and pulled her into him. She wondered whether this was the same life that the ladies of court enjoyed. Lulling about while other people did the work, but she knew Robin was not about that life either. She kissed him impulsively, allowing him to see her happiness on purpose, this time, as she cupped his cheek and kissed him once, twice, a third time and allowed him to hold her tightly for a moment before he understood she would prefer to get up.

"You have left me with barely any cloth left to use," she grumbled as she sat up.

Her breasts were on show and her arms covered her without thought, but Robin took her hands, kissing the palms and pressing kisses all over her chest. She luxuriated in it for a time, allowing him a moment to suck against them in turn before she pushed him away.

"We must rise," she said softly. "We must."

"I know," he smiled from beneath her chin. "Seems a shame to waste the opportunity, though."

She rolled her eyes affectionately and stood, bringing her torn gown with her. He turned away as she pulled on her robe and smiled when she threw him his shift.

The heaviness of the previous day washed over her as she remembered that today they would have to bury Walter. The sadness permeated the room and he held her while she cried. Eventually, she managed to find some peace, knowing that Walter would have felt like he was doing the right thing, no matter the foolishness of it and she reached up to kiss Robin in thanks.

"He loved you as a son," she whispered, knowing he would understand.

"And he loved you, as a daughter," Robin replied. "And a friend and equal."

She nodded. He knew that it mattered to her that Walter saw her as equal, despite their station and she squeezed his fingers once before she moved to dress. There would be work today before she should put on her finer gown for Walter's burial.

"I must go to the village to check on the lads. Will you be alright here?"

"Husband," she snarled.

He laughed as he left, pulling his sword around his hips and pecking her lips before he strode out of the door and saddled up his horse.

She watched him go, for the first time, seeing the muscles under his tunic shifting as he rode and knowing that a few of them had the imprint of her nails in them. The thought warmed her and she shook her head as she started the fires and found some bread to tide her over until the midday meal could be found.