It was the worst night, well, morning, of Keladry's ever-loving life.
Somehow, during her and Joren's nighttime struggle – in which they fell asleep, but somehow, in their unconscious state of mind, continued to play tug-of-war - with the blankets, the covers had tumbled off the bed. Neither one's mind noticed it, as they were both safe and arguing in dreamland, but their bodies certainly did, and that was the only logical reason that Kel could think of when she woke up the next morning pressed up against Joren's bare, naked, muscular chest.
Kel inhaled, and exhaled, slowly, fighting to keep her cool. She carefully tried to slip her arms out of his embrace, but his arms tightened instinctively. She twitched, then tried once more to calm down. Her Mask overcame her features as she repeatedly told herself she was a lake, a smooth, peaceful lake. Kel wiggled a little, thinking to worm her way down out of his arms, but she found it was to no avail. She gritted her teeth, determined not to have him waken and see her predicament. That was all she needed, humiliation to add to her discomfort.
Just then, Joren yawned and mumbled something. She stiffened in alarm, but she relaxed once he settled back down. Then he rolled over on top of her. Before she could stop it, a squeak was squeezed out of her. And as far as she was concerned, it was the only sound that she could utter.
Her face was pressed against his chest now, right up against the breastbone. At least he doesn't have chest hair, she thought wildly. She wondered if he shaved his chest. It was the only explanation for his smooth, muscle-rippling torso. He smelled good, kind of like chocolate. That's exactly what he smelled like, now that she thought about it. Was it his cologne? His soap? Was it his natural scent?
Dear gods, what do I smell like?
Kel had taken a bath yesterday morning. Wait – no she hadn't, because she had washed her hair the night before. The only reason she hadn't taken a bath yesterday was because washing hair straight in a row every night wasn't good for it. She realized she was rambling, but couldn't help it. She probably reeked with sweat. With a sinking heart, she prayed to the gods that Joren would not wake up. She squeaked for mercy.
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Damn, she smelled good. Like…vanilla, or something.
Joren heard Mindelan let out another squeak and fought back a grin. This was so much fun, torturing her like this. He woke up immediately – as he was trained – when she had shifted just a little bit. He pretended to sleep through her quietly frantic attempts to untangle herself from him. Then, curious as to what he would do, he rolled on top of her and squashed her. Such entertainment it was to hear the composed little bitch squeak like a mouse.
To make her even madder and uncomfortable, Joren stretched and, as though heavily sleeping and exhausted, collapsed completely on top of her. This time, he could not resist a smile. She must have felt his lips curve, because she let out something resembling an angry rasp.
"Hmm?" he murmured drowsily.
"Gerroffmehyaliddlefeg."
Joren took that to mean "Get off me, you little fag" and shifted off her. Mindelan glared at him before he realized her thighs were still between his, and that his shifting had brought her night pants down her hips a little more than his eyes needed to see.
It BURNS, his mind screamed. He could see his brain sprout legs and run around his head, finally crashing into his skull. Images of a blue thong danced merrily around his head even as several mini-Joren firefighters tried to extinguish the thought.
He twitched.
Neal walked in.
An awkward silence proceeds.
Neal blinked.
"Er…"
Five Minutes Later"Er…"
Five Minutes Later"Er…"
Five –"Give it a rest, already, would you?!" Joren yelled. "It's just a misunderstanding, that's all."
"Um…yeah," Neal said, flicking his eyes to their thighs and back to their red faces. "If you say so."
He backed out of the room, his arched brows raised so high they disappeared in his straggly hair, and closed the door.
"You stupid son of a –"
"This is all your fault –"
"My fault? You're the one who was on top of me –"
"Like you didn't like it – "
Thus began a new day.
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I'm so sorry it's so short, but I decided to write about the day in the next chapter. I'm hoping for Joren to use his impressive bodyguard skills quite often in there. Anyway, R/R, please!