Fair 2

Thanks to all those who reviewed! I'm glad you like the fic.

I forgot to put the disclaimer on the first one so here it is. Not mine.

He called her Marron and she called him Trunks. They didn't know each other too well to use nicknames. They were strangers.

Although she walked along rather demurely, she knew that underneath that dark cotton, she was almost naked. She wore neither bra nor pantyhose, just that scrap of panties. That was a strange change for her. Who would have imagined the prim Marron Chestnut walking around so boldly in this state?

She began to reason with herself in support of her unusual conduct. The skirt wasn't full enough to be blown immodestly high. That was good. Still, this was a first for her and it just had to happen in the presence of a stranger.

Maybe, it was because he was a stranger that she allowed herself to vary from her usual conduct. She could "safely" be different from her normally rigid self. Even if it meant dealing with this feeling of being acutely aware that she was a female; and that this certain stranger that she was with was definitely a man.

The sights and sounds of the fair came into focus and she noticed that it was a different sort of day. She smiled and decided to enjoy it. Unconsciously, she put her hand in Trunks' as they walked.

He often glanced at her to wonder what on earth was she thinking about. She appeared shy and blushed easily. She was so fragile, and her small hand in his touched something deep within him that he didn't completely understand.

Her physical pull was understandable but there was another tug from her to him. He well knew about men's desire to carry off attractive women but there was something else about Marron.

She was so fair. In his mind he saw that corn silk narrow into fine down at the apex of her legs. After a moment, he looked at her again. Other than one long strand that had escaped loose, her hair was tidily gathered into a bun tucked under the crown of her hat, and the breeze played with the brim. So pale. It was a good thing that he'd had sunscreen - but she needed a stronger blocking.

Back on the midway he found some, at twice the usual cost. He poured the stronger sunscreen on his palm. She dipped her fingers into it and spread the lotion on her face.

As she finished smoothing on the cream, he managed to "find" places she'd missed and touch her face and shoulders with more. She stood obediently and allowed that, having no clue how his thoughts went to other places he wanted to touch. She just lifted her thick eyelashes so her blue eyes looked into his and she smiled.

He thought that even in the long dress, which the breeze molded so nicely to her body, and the big brimmed hat, she looked right enough for a queen's garden party. Her waist was so small he could span it in his hands. Her breasts were plump for woman of her height. He smiled as his gaze went to those curves. He quickly covered such a blatant glance by asking, " I suppose you want to do your chest? I'd be glad to."

Her cheeks pinked and she lowered her lashes. She put her palm out and took more of the lotion for her chest. He used the rest on her back, peeking over her shoulder into her soft cleavage. His gaze steadily on her, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "See that ring?"

She had no idea what he was talking about. She moved her head, looking for a woman wearing a large ring. "Where?"

"Shhh." He glanced around like a conspirator. He had put his hand on her shoulder then so that he could steady her as he moved her chin just so, and he said he had to whisper all the directions so she could find the ring with her eyes, so no one else would know and covet the ring. "See?"

She wasn't sure what he was talking about. Then he skillfully took her hand and pulled it through the crook of his elbow so that her breast was against the back of his arm. She wasn't even aware of the deliberateness of that move. No one had ever done that to her before.

As if ignoring how close he'd pulled her to him, he confided, "The ring has been lost from my family for centuries. It's magic. Whoever wears it gets any wish he wants. I have to have it back. I especially need it right now. How incredible to find it at last, just when it's so desperately needed."

"Why do you need it?" She laughed up at him.

"To solve a deeply rooted problem." He sighed heavily and rubbed his free hand on his bare chest.

"You're crazy," she said, and laughed a delicious chuckle that did interesting things to him.

He walked her casually back to where the ring lay waiting. It could be won by hitting a sledgehammer to a machine three tomes in a row, causing the bell to sound each time.

Trunks ignored the old barker who was urging a strong man to try his luck. Trunks decided to look bored and uninterested. He even turned to see whom the barker was talking to and was surprised when he discovered it was he.

Marron loved it. She had never in her life giggled before, but now she did. Trunks lifted his brows and leaned his head down to peer into her flushed face and ask, "What's so funny?" That only set her off again.

Trunks allowed the barker to appear to talk him into trying to make the bell sound. He looked up at the bell and shook his head in doubt. He was a wonderful mime. He indicated that there was no way he could hit the bell.

With his eye on the gradually collecting spectators, the old barker again encouraged Trunks. He indicated all the grand prizes just waiting for a strong man to win for his girl. He leered at Marron.

No one had ever leered at Marron. It was a day of firsts.

The "lost heirloom" ring was an ugly thing. A strange green, it was big, lumpy, almost unrecognizable shape in a cheap-rimmed setting with a pinched-together, fit any finger split band. It was ridiculous that Trunks wanted it.

Patiently, Marron watched as Trunks' big hands reached for the sledgehammer. He tested its weight and pretended he was having difficulty just lifting it. The barker was smart enough to recognize Trunks as a crowd-pleaser and encouraged his antics.

Trunks used both hands to lift the hammer up and quickly bent over as if it was too heavy and had forced him to lean over as it hit the ground. The crowd was pleased. Trunks shook his head in despair, then snapped his fingers, went to Marron and surprised her by kissing her quickly before she knew what he was doing.

Then he lifted the sledgehammer without any problem. Everyone laughed, and the barker then proved he was as great a fellow as Trunks, because he began to discourage Trunks from trying to ring the bell. He stood in front of the prizes, spread out his arms in a protective way and begged, "Don't kiss her again!"

Trunks swung the hammer timidly, went back to Marron, ignoring the pitiful pleadings of the barker not to, and he kissed her again. The crowd cheered, and it grew rapidly, people pressed against one another and necks stretched to see over heads. The chatter and laughter drew other spectators.

Trunks raised his head, smiled into Marron's eyes and looked at her soft parted lips. He stood away, stretched, and taking a deep breath, swung the hammer over his head. The crowd applauded. He made it appear her kisses were acting as a stimulant to his body - which was true - but she felt as if she really had given him strength: hers. While he became stronger and tougher, she was weakened by his kisses.

He became a little cocky, walking around the wire-protected enclosure, smiling at the pitiful old barker, who was offering to return him his money. And he bowed to the cheering crowd. He was magnificent.

Then Trunks turned serious. He judged the weight of the sledgehammer, swinging it in his hands, testing it. He swung it around his head, no longer showing off but concentrating on what he was doing. He ignored all the people around him, the crowd quieted.

Marron became conscious of his muscles. She'd been too wrapped up in her worries before that she didn't notice how they bulged and writhed under his tanned flesh. Even with his moving and calculation, his attention was solely turned on the blow to ring the bell. She reacted to him in swirls of something, a need she didn't understand at all.

He wiped his hands in turn on his soft trousers, which hid no secrets of an athletic male: taut muscles, strong thighs. He gripped the handle of the sledgehammer, lifting its weight, swinging it casually, loosening his shoulders, calculating the swing, and looking serious.

She was so aware of him. He was concentrating completely on something else, but her body was reacting as if his attention was all on her. Then she heard a low, female voice behind her say, "My Kami, would you look at that man!"

Possessiveness clutched at Marron, and she turned a hostile glare over her shoulder. The woman didn't even see Marron. With her mouth slack and her eyes soft, she was watching Trunks. Her friend simply smiled slightly and watched too, as her fingers slid gently on her own throat.

Irritated, Marron looked back at Trunks to see if he'd noticed the women. He was still occupied what he was doing. Then Marron looked around and noticed all the people crowded outside the protective fence. Men were there too, but the women! From the looks on their faces Trunks was lucky he had the high wire fence between them and him.

"Hit it!" one male voice said tauntingly. And the woman behind Marron murmured, "Then put down the hammer and hit me - bodily!"

Her friend only made a hungry, throaty sound.

Trunks swung the hammer, took two long strides, brought the hammer down with a jump and landed it perfectly to ring the bell.

A cheer arose with the sound of one derisive blat in the crowd. Trunks turned his eyes to Marron and smiled with confident arrogance but with that saving humor. She laughed and raised a small fist in victory.

He came to her acting as if he was depleted of the strength to kiss her again. Even as he did, the woman behind her groaned in envy, and the elderly barker said, "No, don't kiss her! I'll be ruined! Think of my pregnant wife and kiddies!" as Trunks swaggered back, powerfully swinging the hammer.

Twice more he swung the sledgehammer to ring the bell two more times. He won the magic ring that gave him anything he wanted, and Marron wondered what would he want.

The barker handed Trunks the ugly ring and laughed at the fact that he could want it. He said, "You've made my day. Take something else too. How about the big panda? No? It'll be good advertising for me. Please."

Trunks turned to ask Marron, "Would you like it?"

She laughed, "No." And shook her head.

So Trunks bit his lip in thought, then sat the panda at the top of the fence and, using the top of a box and a wide felt marking pen, he put a sign on it.

Challenge! Try to beat me. Two out of three. Trunks Briefs.

Just as Marron was thinking Trunks might really be arrogant, he said, "What would I do with a panda that size? Can you imagine me driving with it in the back seat of that black car?" He was so amused. "If I'm lucky, someone will beat me."

But the old barker touched Trunks' arm, and he was so pleased that Marron realized that Trunks could have just given the panda away. This way, there could be more business for the old man as Trunks' challenge was taken up.

The pair moved away to a less crowded place, and Trunks asked that Marron put the ring on his finger, and she did. He told her, "With the magic ring, I'm invincible! I can do any noble deed. Set me a quest."

But he only amused her.

There weren't too many strangers like Marron and Trunks at the fair. Most of the people were locals who knew each other in varying degrees from next-door neighbors to nodding acquaintances, so the strangers stood out. After the bell-ringing exhibition, which Trunks had maneuvered so cleverly, and with his challenge, Trunks and Marron became known to almost everyone.

There were friendly comments, a few men clapped a hand to Trunks' shoulder, women smiled shyly at him, but there was that one derisive blatter, who was named Uub. He was several years younger than Trunks and as well-built, but he didn't have the same sense of humor. He rang the bell, but not three times in a row, and he was grim about the competition. For some reason Uub took it as a personal challenge.

The two strangers went through the tents to view the judging of the baking and crafts, and they decided for themselves whose was best. Trunks bought two quilts. One was a prizewinner, but he insisted that the other was just as good and paid the same amount for it. He couldn't take them off display until the day was over.

One quilt pattern was called Paw Prints and the other was Floating Lilies. These patterns were very appropriate as they mirrored Marron and Trunk's personalities. She didn't know it was a purposeful choice until he said, "I'll give you Paw Prints to remember this day and I'll keep Floating Lilies to remind me of you."

She laughed to think of how such a dainty quilt would look over such a man, but then the vision caught her mind so vividly that she sobered, as strange and unknown sensations skittered over and through and around inside her, at the thought of him naked under that sweet quilt. She knew he was not a man who slept clothed.

They entered all the contests. She threw a rolling pin on one contest and she ran in a race that required each one to carry an egg on a spoon. And although he gave her his magic ring to wear and kissed her - and watched her movements with narrowed, enflamed, relishing eyes - she didn't win a thing. Gradually, during that morning, the pair collected a casual interest of cheerful rooters who kindly yelled them on.

Trunks was elaborate in his relief that she threw the rolling pins so poorly, and she laughed. He said, with a lazy casualness, that for the ring to work she would have to be his woman. At the thought of being his, she bit her lip against the sensations that surged inside her. She had to take a deep breath to fight these feelings, but she did not reply.

After a while, word passed quickly to Trunks that Uub had rung the bell three times. It was Trunks' turn. The crowd was friendly and neutral. They smiled at the pair as they went back to the bell. Marron remembered to give Trunks the magic ring, and she anticipated the kisses. She realized that she would get three more and she blushed a little at the thought.

He murmured in her ear, "Don't forget, you must kiss me. If you don't kiss me, I will fail."

She scoffed, but not too strongly, "You kissed me but I didn't make it."

He explained gravely, "It's because you don't believe in my kisses - yet."

That wasn't it at all. It was that, after he kissed her, she couldn't forget the kiss and concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing. How could a woman run in a race and hold an egg on a spoon right after Trunks Briefs had just kissed her? Why would she want to?

The crowd that gathered was thicker that before around the protective wire fence that enclosed the bell. Trunks reached out to shake Uub's hand, but Uub just stood sober-faced, hands on his hips, somewhat hostile as he ignored Trunks' gesture. That was the beginning of a slight division of alliances in the crowd. Uub was the local while Trunks was the stranger. That added a little more excitement to the match.

Since the crowd was already enticed, Trunks was all business. He kissed Marron and swung the sledgehammer in testing as he moved about, seriously concentrated and, with studied care, rang the bell with three kisses and three blows in a row.

The crowd erupted in cheers and advice. Uub was advised to rest for a while, and one beer-drinking buddy suggested Uub ring Trunks' bell, ignore the panda, grab Marron and run. That plan had some backers, but Trunks protested with humor.

Because Uub was the man he was, he seized the hammer in spite of the barker's caution to wait a while and he rushed the blow, so he missed the first bell. There were sounds of disappointment from the crowd in the aftermath of that, and in a temper, Uub hit the other two but missed the next one.

Trunks had discretely moved over to the edge of the crowd by Marron and stood silently. He said to Uub, "Next time," and tugged Marron away. Marron considered how kind Trunks was. He hadn't jeered or even smiled. As the morning progressed, Trunks avoided going past the bell, but occasionally someone would comment, "Uub hasn't done it yet! You're going to take home the panda."

Trunks gave a sober nod to indicate he'd heard, but then he said to Marron, "Uub is a little tense about this. I wish there was another challenger to defuse him. It was stupid to set it up. I was careless. I'm the stranger and Uub is very serious. If it should come to trouble - and it could, because I can't think of a way to withdraw from it - but if there is trouble go immediately to your car and leave. I wouldn't want you involved. It could get ugly."

"We could leave - now."

"Let's consider that later. We've got the day. Let's enjoy what we have. A solution might come. He could beat me."

So they wandered around. He pounded a peg with a mallet and flipped a weighted rubber frog onto a lily pad and won her a doll. He tossed rings over enough pegs to win her five peacock plumes in gorgeous iridescent purples, blues and greens. She accepted each feather thoughtful and considered it a sign for her to just forget Sharpener. There is an old superstition that if there are peacock feathers in a house, there will be no marriage.

She took Trunks' pocketknife and ruthlessly cut the feather stems down to about ten inches and stuck them in a row into the band at the back of her hat. He said they were perfect. She laughed up at him, but he didn't laugh back. As he looked at her, his eyes were shadowed by his lashes and his mouth was serious. He said again, softly, "Perfect."

No one pays serious attention to an obvious line or to a skilled tongue in a man who'd obviously known a girl in every port. Trunks handled Marron in such a way there could be no doubt that he was no stranger to many pleased, delighted, charmed women. And she found she was jealous of all those others.

How silly, she chided herself. This was a one-day fling. It wasn't the real Marron Chestnut who strolled beside this incredible man. It was a truant Marron she didn't even recognize. One who rather unsettled her.

She became conscious of the glances women gave to Trunks as he ambled so casually along, attempting to appear indolent. He moved and his body was skilled. He turned his head and his eyes seemed like piercing blue jewels. He was magnificent. He did draw pierced, covetous, languid, envious stares. And it was she who walked with him.

When Marron went to high school there had been no football players; the school was too small for a team, and she'd gone to a women's college. She'd never walked the halls beside a lumbering football hero. She'd never known that kind of reflected "glory," but now she did, and she relished the envious glances of other women. It was another part of this stolen day.