Chapter Seven
Neal and his Adventures, or Misadventures
Dedication-- To Sofie, for being such a cutie, for dancing around with me while humming Jack Sparrow's theme song, and for "giving" me almost everything in my room.
Here's lookin' at you, kid.
xxxxxx
Skye studied Neal for a moment, as if measuring his intentions. Finally she sighed, opened the door a little further, and motioned Neal inside.
Glancing around Skye's bedroom, Neal almost smiled. Her room was almost as disordered as he remembered her room at the university being. Books, clothes, papers, used mugs, and various healer-related articles lay scattered around on every available space. The two sturdy wooden chairs in the room were both occupied, one by a pile of wrinkled breeches and the other by an untidy stack of paperwork and letters.
Perching on the unmade bed, the only accessible sitting area, Skye motioned for Neal to sit beside her. Neal did so, a little uneasily, and turned to address her.
"About what you…heard…saw…earlier, in the infirmary. Well, first off, you should know that was entirely one-sided. On her part."
Skye regarded him with serious brown eyes. "Alright. I believe you. But that's not all I'm upset about."
"I know," Neal put in quietly. "And that's not all I came here to say. About last night…I…"
When Neal did not speak for a moment, Skye decided to. "Listen, Neal, I didn't mean to make you feel guilty about what happened last night. Please don't think that you took advantage in any way. I could have stopped you, but I…the truth is, I didn't want to." Skye had now dropped her gaze to the floor, and her freckled cheeks were flushed a light shade of red. "And I suppose if you don't feel the same…"
"But I do," Neal told her, his voice soft and husky. "I just wasn't sure, until last night. And then today, when you…"
"Jumped to conclusions. I know I did. And I am sorry for ranting at you in the corridor," Skye apologised. "In front of strangers, no less."
"Strangers?"
"There was a dark-haired man behind you," Skye explained.
Neal rolled his eyes. "Oh, him. He's no stranger."
Skye raised her eyebrows.
"He's the cousin I mentioned to you last night," Neal explained.
A brief pause followed before Skye added wickedly, "He is very handsome."
"You only say that because you haven't seen him chasing after his horse in the rain," Neal informed her dryly.
Skye smiled. "Yes, but I have seen you being chased by a horse in the rain, and I still manage to find you handsome."
Grinning good-naturedly at the compliment, Neal reached out to tuck an escaped strand of hair behind Skye's ear, then left his hand near her face, caressing her cheek. His other hand seemed to be moving of its own volition as it encircled the back of her neck and drew her face towards his. Gently, softly, he brushed his lips against hers, once, then again.
He redded slightly as he drew back. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" Skye silenced him with another kiss.
Neal felt his body react rapidly to her kiss. His heartbeat quickened and thrills ran down his spine and spread to the rest of his body until the shivers of delight seemed to flow through every part of him.
He pulled Skye closer, pressing his mouth roughly against hers, drinking her in as if she were the sweet nectar of life. Aroused with sudden impatience, he pressed Skye down on her bed below him, running his hands freely up and down her bare arms.
A small moan escaped her lips as Skye buried her fingers in Neal's hair and pulled him closer.
She was so close to him - Neal could smell the sweet fragrance of her hair, feel the warmth of her body beneath his. He was fumbling with the laces on her tunic when a loud knock sounded on the door and Kel's voice rang through the thick wood.
"Skye?! Skye, are you in there?"
xxxxxx
Kel shivered delightedly. Kissing Cleon had been one thing, but kissing Dom was entirely different. He's very good at this, she reflected.
"Kel?" Dom murmured into her neck.
"Mmm," she replied, burying her fingers in his hair.
"Is this too much? Too soon?" he questioned, his voice still muffled.
Kel pulled away and looked at him. Longing mixed with concern filled Dom's deep blue eyes. She sighed. "I don't know. I don't know what to think. When you kissed me at Steadfast, it was easier because I left the next day and we didn't see each other anymore. I didn't have to worry about how it would affect our friendship. How does this affect our friendship?"
Dom paused. "Well, I'd say it's a positive effect." He grinned, then turned momentarily serious. "Kel, we haven't lost our friendship. It's just changing - for the better, in my opinion. I'd hoped you'd agree. I plan on doing my best to convince you." With that, he lowered his lips to her neck, his hands tracing patterns on the small of her back.
"You're very convincing," Kel murmured into his hair. "This is just complicated."
"What? Kissing? It's really not that hard."
"Dom! Can't you be serious about anything?"
"I do try, my dear girl," he whispered into her ear. He rested his chin on her shoulder, delighting in the warmth of her breath against his neck. Dom had kissed ladies before, had admired them and reveled in their affections, but Kel was so wonderfully different. She was sensible, not giggly and silly or haughty and unapproachable. She had a peculiar effect on Dom's feelings, one that convinced him to be serious and careful with her. Kel wasn't one to be fooled with, but moreover, she was Dom's friend and he enjoyed talking and spending time with her as well as kissing her.
He walked his fingers across her stomach and up her breastbone until he could slide his hands around the back of her shoulders, pulling her close.
A sharp cry and a muffled thump interrupted their ardor. Other voices quickly rose, exclaiming over some spectacle outside Dom's window.
Kel pulled away from Dom. "What was that?" she wondered aloud.
"Nothing, I'm sure. It's not important," Dom said impatiently before returning his lips to hers.
"No, Dom. Something happened," Kel insisted, disentangling herself from Dom's embrace and standing.
"Kel, I'm sure that there are others who can see to…whatever happened," Dom protested, coming up behind her and circling his arms around her waist.
"They're my people, Dom. I'm duty-bound to see if anyone's hurt," Kel reminded him. She strode quickly to the door and hurried down the hallway, Dom trailing behind her like a forlorn puppy.
Outside, a large crowd had gathered by the barracks. At the centre, a man lay on the ground, limbs askew, groaning slightly. A woman, dressed in the uniform of one of the Queen's Riders, leaned over him, appearing to be examining him competently.
"What happened to him?" Kel questioned as soon as she had managed to make her way through the gathering of people.
The woman glanced up at Kel before returning to her task. "He was thatching that roof," she indicated a nearby roof-top with a jerk of her head. "Then he fell."
"How badly is he hurt?" Dom inquired, looking concerned, and receiving a look from Kel that clearly said I told you so for his pains.
"Well, he's not dead yet," the Rider informed them. "Beyond that, I'm not sure. His vital signs appear to be fine, but he's not conscious, and I'm not sure why. I'm no healer, and they only teach Riders the basics of medicine.There may be internal bleeding of some sort. You'd best call a real healer in to look him over."
Without a reply, Kel hurried away in search of Neal. However, after knocking repeatedly on his door and receiving no answer, she gave up, assumed he was out, and continued to Skye's bed-chamber.
Banging loudly on the door, she shouted, "Skye?! Skye, are you in there?"
xxxxxx
Neal groaned. "Rotted daffodils. What does she want?"
"Shhh," Skye hushed him.
"Skye?! There's a man who needs a healer!" Kel shouted again.
"That's what she wants," Skye told Neal. "I should go."
"Wait!" Neal protested. "What about me?"
"Oh, that's right. Kel can't see you in here, she might suspect something." Skye was talking in a rapid whisper as she glanced around the room, looking for a hiding place for Neal.
"No. That's not what I--"
"Quick, under the bed!"
"What?!"
"Now!"
Grumbling, Neal crawled under Skye's bed while she straightened her clothes and tamed her hair. As soon as he was out of sight, she pulled open the door, spoke with Kel briefly, and hurried out the door.
-To be continued-
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A/N-- I'm getting more and more twisted by the day, aren't I? This chappie was practically all fluff. I don't know what's wrong with me. Eh, moving on. Not much else to say, besides, review!
the eternity- Well, there was no 'undying love' or courting, just some good old snogging. :) And thanks so much for the flattery, although I'm not at all sure that I deserve it. Thanks so much for your review! ::hands you a half-baked brownie:: Yeah, those brownies aren't quite done. I was in a hurry…::sheepish smile::
Fantasizing-Lady-Knight- Thanks for the -incredibly- positive review! I went all red when I was reading it. You really encouraged me to keep writing. Thanks again!
PsychoLioness13- Yes, but the summary got you to read the story, so it worked, didn't it? And don't feel -too- sorry for her. After all, she does have Neal…
dreamerdoll- I must admit, if given the chance, I would probably throw myself at Neal as well.
Secret Agent Angel- Does this chapter answer your question? Thanks for the review!
constantine's lover- ::blushes::
sora- I know how you feel. I hate reading something that has a cliff-hanger, but I can't resist using them myself. Hope you liked this chapter, though!
fantasyfan- Thanks so much for your advice and encouragement. I don't know what I'd do without you. :)
Extra special thanks to waterdancer15, MysticAnubisOFtheRING, and KelDomForever for your lovely reviews!