He sat facing the door, using a damp rag to clean ash-hopper blood out of one of his bracers when he heard a light knock. He tossed the bracer onto his discarded armor and got up to answer.

"It's me," she said quietly through the door before he could ask. He pulled it open and Vanya walked in with a basket on her arm.

"What's all that?" he asked as he shut the door, the click of the lock unusually satisfying.

"Oh, just some provisions," she said, lifting the basket between them. He smirked as he took a step forward and she stepped back, her eyes glittering as she walked backward toward the table. "Bread, jelly, sweetroll, comberry tart..." He followed her, step for step, until she stopped setting the basket down on the surface. She reached out and took his hand, pulling him easily the rest of the way. "Do you feel sufficiently spoiled?" she said against his lips.

He closed the small distance, kneading her mouth softly with his own as he circled his arms around her. Her fingers spread across his ribs then around his back until her hands anchored on his shoulders, hanging onto him as he cradled her head in the crook of his elbow, their kiss deepening with a frantic passion. Following the curve of her waist down to her hips, he pressed her against him as his hands found their target, spreading wide over the delightful roundness of her ass. He clamped his hands and hoisted her up, causing her to break the kiss with a gasp, recovering quickly as she wrapped her legs around him and kissed along his jaw as he moved toward the bed.

He lowered her to the mattress gently at an angle that would suit his plans, teasing his fingers under her tunic to find the edge of the smock while he nipped her collarbone. She arched her back to allow the fabrics to be pushed upward, raising her arms and he reveled in the languid display as she was once again revealed to him. He teased his lips along her prickling skin, her soft moans vibrating against his tongue as he tasted the pink bud of one breast, running his palm over the other as he kneaded. Her nails grazed over his scalp down to his shoulders, hips rolling against his stomach and he slid off the bed to his knees, tugging at her laces while she watched with a heated gaze.

"In answer to your question," he said as he pulled her breeches down. "I feel very spoiled."

She bit her lip as she ran her heels over his shoulders and he drew his fingers down her impossibly smooth legs, catching her ankles, spreading her as he kissed his way back up. She curled toward him as he neared the center and he snaked an arm under her waist to prop her up, earning a gasp as he teased with his fingers before closing his mouth over her wet heat.

Velvet softness and the sweet tang of her sex met his tongue, her hand curling tightly into his hair as she emitted a cry that could be mistaken for anguish while he sighed into her with a passionate kiss. Her heels scraped up his back, calves brushing the tips of his ears, driving him deeper, making him groan as her hips jumped erratically. He spread his hands along the inside of her thighs, pushing them apart against the bed to hinder her movements and her voice cracked as his name left her lips, a beautiful plea that he was all too eager to appease. He was lost in her, exploring her fully, relentless.

A violent spasm tore through her, her moans and the twitching against his tongue rewarding his efforts and he gazed up the flawless landscape of her body, drinking in her release.


Weightless, yet unable to move, she laid looking up at the ceiling, shivering as cool air rushed in to fill his absence between her legs. She hadn't known it could be like that. She looked down to see him pulling off his shirt, wiping his mouth with it before tossing it aside, then reaching for the laces of his pants, grinning at her wickedly. The sight of his naked form as he stood up made her ache with need despite her lingering tenderness and she reached out for him to hasten his advancement. He settled over her, his arms creeping between her and the bed to hold her close as she drew her fingers lightly over his back.

"You're so warm," he said as he nuzzled into her hair, the tickle of his breath making her flinch as she laughed. His response was to press further into the crook of her neck, nipping softly. She squealed as she wriggled beneath him, her skin breaking out with goosebumps as she gripped his shoulders, torn between pushing him away or pulling him closer. Sliding her hands up his neck to his jaw, she brought his face up to take his smiling mouth with a burning kiss, tasting herself on his tongue as he quickly returned the heat. He snaked a hand between them, lifting his hips and when she felt his erection against her she tugged his lower lip between her teeth to let him know how much she wanted it.

He groaned against her lips as he entered her and she pulled him back into their kiss, curling around him with her legs pressed tightly to his sides. He was everywhere, moving inside and out, building her up from the very center of her being until she was whining into his mouth. With a deep breath, he broke the kiss.

"Gods, you feel good," he murmured, his words electrifying her nerves, turning her whimpers to moans. Without breaking pace, he hooked his arms around her knees, pulling her legs up over his shoulders, the deepened angle bringing her to the screaming edge. Basking in the sounds of his pleasure, she succumbed once again to hers, tumbling into consuming ecstasy underneath his stiffening frame. With hitching breaths, he clamped a hand on her waist as he came and she rolled her head back, savoring the feeling of his fulfillment.

Her legs fell to the bed as he released them, her already shallow breaths pushed from her lungs as he sagged on top of her. She coughed, mustering the strength to push at his chest.

"Teldryn, I can't breathe."


"Hold on," he said, waiting for his limbs to respond to the orders to move.

She pressed harder against him. "I can't. You're suffocating me." He rolled away onto his back, stretching out and folding his arms behind his head. A smug smile crept across his lips as she took a deep breath.

"You wear me out, woman," he stated truthfully. She laughed and she gazed over at him serenely, every curve of her body flushed and glistening.

Gods, she was beautiful.

She reached out to glide her fingers over his chest as she turned toward him, resting her chin on her crossed arms. He closed his eyes, feeling her weight with each breath, cool air caressing the places her warmth was not touching, her nails scraping lightly along his skin. When he opened them again she was watching him with a curious expression. He arched his brow.

"Need something?"

"You never answered my other question," she said, the corner of her mouth curling up.

He searched his mind a moment before answering. "What question?"

"What is your star sign?" she responded, as if it were obvious.

"Ah," he replied, remembering their conversation that already seemed so long ago. "The Thief."

She blinked a few times, her smile widening. "Is that why you carry lockpicks?"

"I am no thief," he said pointedly as he pushed her onto her back, caressing wayward strands of hair from her cheek to plant a tender kiss near the base of her ear. "My mother used to curse the stars every time I got into mischief." He smirked. "And got out of it."

"Surely not." She grabbed his chin and tilted his face up to hers. "You?"

He chuckled and pressed his head into the crook of her neck, drawing her into his embrace. He sighed contentedly as her fingers drew lightly over his scalp. She could do that all night as far as he was concerned.

"I was born during Evening Star," he said against her skin. "What does that make my Zodiac?"

"Evening Star would be December..." she said thoughtfully. "What day?"

"The ninth or tenth, I don't remember exactly."

She tugged at his hair and he could hear the amusement in her voice. "You don't remember your birthday?"


"It's one of those," he said, his laugh tickling her neck. She rolled her eyes as she resumed scratching his head. She supposed after a hundred or so birthdays, she might forget the exact day as well.

"I think you would be a Sagittarius." She wouldn't bet her life on it, but she was pretty sure. "If I remember right it's a bow and arrow."

She could practically feel him thinking and she hoped he wouldn't ask any questions because she didn't have any answers beyond what she'd already said.

A thief with a bow and arrow.

"So you're Robin Hood," she said, smiling when he lifted his head and squinted at her quizzically. He propped himself up on one elbow, looking like he was trying to figure out if she was being serious.

"As for me," she continued with a giggle. "Well, all I need is a blindfold and I'd be Lady Justice."

His brow quirked up. "Is that a request? Because I have just the thing." He reached over her to the nightstand, retrieving his cowl, snapping it between his hands as he tried to lower it over her eyes.

"No!" she squeaked, her hand shooting up to catch it. He let her snatch it away, laughing as she sat up and pushed him down, straddling his waist. "But perhaps I should use my powers to put you in binds," she purred as she looped the cowl around his wrists. She leaned down trapping his hands between them, hovering her lips over his.

"And what is my crime, muthsera?" The tone of his voice and burning in his eyes drained her mind of coherent thought.

"I'll think of something," she said breathlessly, kissing him almost as the words left her mouth. Soft and slow, she explored his mouth as if she owned it, mapping him out with her tongue, one hand tightening its grip on the cowl as the other roamed over the expanse of his chest. She couldn't get enough.

"Ah, Vanya." Teldryn's voice was hoarse as he broke their kiss. "Make no mistake, I want this but..." He looked truly regretful as he spoke. "I meant it when I said you wear me out."

"I suppose I can delay your sentence," she said as she sat up, freeing his hands and placing the cowl around her neck.

He slid his hands over her thighs as his eyes roamed her appreciatively. "That suits you."

She only smiled as she leaned forward, folding her arms to rest on his chest so she could admire his face. She raised the fingers of one hand to graze along his stubbled chin toward a long, pointed ear then followed his cheekbone up to his brow, over the deep violet marks that she hardly noticed anymore.

"What does your tattoo mean?" At her question, the air in the room changed immediately and she withdrew her hand, resting it back on his chest as his gaze cooled. She watched his expression flicker with a torrent of barely concealed emotions, felt his hands tighten on her legs as he smoothed his face until the storm only remained in his eyes.

"It means my emancipation," he said simply. "Let me up." He patted her leg softly, his tone gentle despite the obvious tension and she immediately obeyed, rolling off of him. He got up and retrieved his pants from the floor, pulling them on then crossing the room and picking up his pipe from the table. A small smile pulled at her lips as she watched his practiced movements. She knew this cold feeling all too well, though it was strange to be on the receiving end for once.

Vanya looked down at the cowl around her neck, the faded color of House Redoran, running her fingers over worn threads that told stories that were more than likely older than her. She removed the cowl, tossing it back to the nightstand and found her tunic amongst the sheets, putting it on as she got up. He was still facing the table, taking his first draw on his pipe and she pulled the wine bottle from the basket. She popped the cork and poured some for herself then inclined the bottle toward him, meeting his eyes as he blew smoke from the corner of his mouth.

"You want some?"

"Is it shein?" he asked, grabbing the bottle by the neck and taking a whiff, wrinkling his nose.

"Nah, snowberry."

He held the bottle out to her. "I'll pass."

"More for me," she said with a shrug as she took the wine, mentally noting to bring a flagon of Sujamma next time. "So, you want to hear the story of Robin Hood?"

The way his lips quirked up around the tip of the pipe told her the answer and she smiled, taking the bottle along with her as she headed back toward the bed. "Come settle in, I think you'll like this tale."