"With this circus you'll need nothing more..." - (Sponge, Wax Ecstatic)
by Jessica French (Midnite363@aol.com)
The day passed uneventful up until the late afternoon. The fields were washed in a glow of oranges and pinks, the sun just setting over the lands of Clan Drake. Shannon had spent most of her day at the stable with Toby. She had sat on the rails of the riding circles in her dusty riding dress, and watched Toby pitch hay into the horse's stalls. He had taken his shirt off, ignoring her mock cry at modesty, awarding her teasing with a simple grin. Shannon had enjoyed watching the muscles in his back work as he pitched endless mounds of heavy hay into the stalls that lined both walls of the stable. Twelve stalls and eleven horses, soon to be twelve when Dharma birthed her foul.
Toby had shared his lunch with her, a loaf of bread and orange cheese. He had spread a riding blanket for her to sit on, and he had sat beside her on the grass. They talked of many things, as they usually did, but Shannon had not mentioned her early morning visit with Damon. She had always been close to Toby, but she just didn't want to involve him with that aspect of her life.
It wasn't until she was walking home that she encountered conflict. She was just over the last hill, and the castle was in sight. She had her skirt bunched in her hands, so she could walk easier, and her hair was in a tidy ponytail at the back of her head. She thought she heard thunder, or the hooves of a horse on the grassy carpet of the glen, but when she turned she saw nothing. Standing erect on the crest of the hill, she dropped her skirts from her fists and raised a hand to her eyes. Scanning the glen she saw nothing. But she heard a whistle from behind her and turned around just in time to see Damon shooting across the lower field on top a black ride. A beautiful horse, which matched it's rider's darkness. Damon had on black riding pants and a white shirt, his hair was loose and the wings on the bangs were flying back with his speed. He looked remarkable. So breath-taking that Shannon just watched, and as she watched she saw him turn the horse towards her hill.
The horse slowed from gallop to a canter, to a bouncing trot as it made it's way up the hill. He pulled his horse up to her side, close enough that she brushed his leg, on his right hand side. Shannon lowered her hand slowly, raising her face to Damon's. She didn't smile, she didn't know how to feel. His manner that morning had been off, he had teased her with Gretchen, knowing it was a sore spot for her.
As thoughts of manners and how to act raced through her mind, Damon leaned down and cupped her chin in the palm of his hand, raising her already upturned face higher. He lowered his lips to hers, and as feelings overtook sensibilities she rose on her toes and pressed her mouth against his in return.
His mouth was sweet, full and demanding as it pressed against hers. His tongue caressed hers in light searching, and she all but melted at the flutters that started in her gut.
To him, she was like something burning and alive. He had thought long and hard all day of what to do with her, how to treat her, where to take her. In the end he had given up and decided to take a ride to clear his mind. Then there she was. As if waiting for him on that hill. It was a sign, to him. Her lips were full and soft on his, and they moved unhindered, unlike her cousin's, which were tight lipped and nervous. Something was starting high in his chest, a burning, a sensation that he didn't... couldn't describe. He pulled back.
Her eyes opened, she swallowed and licked her lips, lowering back to her feet. She wasn't sure what to do now, and almost turned to leave down the hill when his hand entered her vision. She looked up into his fathomless eyes, and saw whatever answer she needed to the unspoken question she didn't even know. She reached up, and grabbed ahold his wrist as he pulled her up behind him.
As she settled onto the rump of his horse, she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on to him as he gave a sharp kick to the horse's flanks.
The horse started and took off down the hill, sending them into the awaiting darkness of the glen.