[Mature content Chapter]
"Why do I feel so nervous? I'm not a virgin, but…." Arya asked Aulix, as she tried on his gift.
He came up behind her, moving hair off her neck, lips lightly brushing her skin. Aulix smiled when she shivered. He tied the straps together at the nape of her neck.
"You've built this moment up in your head, for years. Not only that, but every man that you actually care about, will be like the first time. It just won't hurt as much."
She turned around, "are you serious? I feel like I'm going to puke."
"Relax, have some cider, but not too much. Enough to loosen up a little. And don't forget to breathe."
"Why are you helping me? Isn't Gendry competition?" Arya asked.
"Depends on how you look at it. I just want to see you happy." He handed her a dress. "Put this over that. Easier to take off than leather pants."
"What if I forget everything that Taron taught me?"
Aulix chuckled, "I like this side of you…."
"What. Stupid?"
"Not at all… vulnerable and unguarded…. But, you won't forget. It will come naturally to you. And I'm sure Gendry knows what he's doing too."
"Right, but what if…." Arya began.
He pulled her close and kissed away the questions, not to seduce her, but to make her focus. "I'll help you two get started." Aulix released her, turning away with a grin on his lips.
She blinked, "thanks… but no seducing Gendry, he's mine first."
Aulix laughed, "got it. Come on, I'm hungry." He offered his arm to her. "Oh and don't mention your past while around Kika, because he hasn't told her a thing. Not sure why, but keep those questions and answers for when you're alone."
They went to the tavern and saw Kika with Gendry at a table. "Ordered a jug of cider for you Ari and ale for the rest of us."
"Apparently some things never change," Aulix noted and sat down beside Kika. "Cheers."
After everyone ate something, Kika asked, "so how do you know each other?"
"We got rounded up to be taken to the Wall… I use to look more like a boy than a girl," Arya explained.
"Some fat kid was picking on her, so I stopped him. Even though they couldn't tell she was a girl, I could." Gendry winked at Arya.
"He blackmailed me, don't even think of him as a saint!"
Kika laughed, "well I know he ain't one of those."
Arya's hands flicked. 'Can you get her mind off of our past?'
'Easily.' Aulix replied and put a hand under the table. It wasn't long, before he lead Kika away. 'Catch up, then take it upstairs. Have fun.'
"Alone at last. I take it you didn't tell her much?" Arya asked.
Gendry shrugged, "we learned early on to trust no one except each other."
"So what happened to you?" They said in unison and then clinked mugs.
"Last I remember, the Red Witch had you chained in a cart."
He took her hand in his. "You were right about her. Apparently I have Baratheon blood, which is good for witch spells or some shit like that."
"Is that so… m' Lord," Arya teased.
"We've both grown up so much… you're a beautiful woman Arya." Gendry said, leaning close to her, so only she could hear him say her name.
"Come to my room, it's more private so we can catch up," she invited.
He nodded and followed her. On the way he heard her hiccup. "Still don't drink much do you?"
"Enough… but not so I'm barfing in the bushes…. I too realize now that your warnings about Anguy were right."
"We were both young and naive."
"So how did you escape the Red Witch?"
Gendry locked the door behind him. "One of the men, who brought me food, was from my home town. He took pity on me. I was put in a row boat and told to go back to King's Landing. Except I couldn't swim, still can't and for a while just rowed in circles until I got the hang of it. I didn't end up anywhere that could be identified on a map. Once on shore, I wandered from town to town, working all kinds of jobs. Eventually I ended up here and just stayed, a town rebuilding needs a man like me."
She ran her hands over his arms, "it's made you stronger. Did you ever make a new helm?"
He flexed for her. "No, I needed to stay unknown…. What about you?"
"I escaped the Brotherhood, cause they were gonna sell me, like they did you. Then I was by the Twins when the Red Wedding happened." Arya's voice broke.
She'd never let herself feel the loss of her brother and mother. But with Gendry, she didn't need to hide herself. He knew her, like no other. He took her in his arms, in a bear hug.
"I heard about it. I'm sorry you had to deal with that on your own. You can let it all out now." Gendry kissed away her tears.
Sniffing, Arya continued her story. "I ran into Polliver, which allowed me to take back Needle and remove him from my list. Stole a horse and headed for my Aunt's in the Vale, only to find out she killed herself. On my way to port, to buy my way onto a Braavosi ship, I found the Hound lying twisted in the rocks. I left him to die. Then once I reached Braavos, I went to find Jaqen."
He undid the tie of the dress, making sure that his hand caressed the back of her neck. He let the dress fall to the floor. "Did you find him?"
She stepped out of the pooled fabric at her feet. Knowing the glow from the room's lanterns would reveal she was naked under the shear fabric of the bed dress.
"Not really. I got in with a street gang, more of a guild. They taught me how to fight, survive and become self reliant. They became my family." She pulled off his shirt, dropping it. "I went to see the Tower where the guild of the Faceless Men were. Never went inside…. I always thought of you. I never forgot my promise to find you."
"And now that you have, are you disappointed?" Gendry asked and added, "m' Lady." Then picked her up in his arms and put her on the bed.
"I could ask you the same thing… I'm a killer. An assassin for hire, as long as I know my target's name."
Gendry kissed her nose. "You can't fool me. Even knowing their names, if you don't think the reason to kill is right, you won't."
"Only two others understand that, but they're the ones who trained me."
"Aulix is one. And the other?"
"He stayed in Braavos. His name is Taron, leader of the street guild."
Gendry nodded. "You love him." It was a statement of fact, not a question.
Arya tugged on his pants, but looked him in the eyes. "Yes, but not like I love you."
He was naked, she wore Aulix's gift. Gentry's hands slid over her shoulders and then under the sheer dress, one hand ran up her leg on the outside, over her ass and to her hip. It's caress sent tingles of delight wherever it went.
Gendry confessed, "Kika is my bed mate and friend, but my heart always belonged to you. We're the same; got noble blood but don't want it."
"We're survivors." She kissed his neck, just under the ear, knowing exactly how it would effect him.
Moving to help her remove the bed-dress, Gendry's hands continued to caress her body. His arousal had started the moment he'd seen her in the dress, at the tavern. She could feel the calluses from his hands and they sent divine little shivers transported by hypersensitive nerve endings, throughout her body. Both explored by touch; caresses telegraphing every inch of each other, chiselling it into memory. No more words were spoken, because they were speaking through their actions. When they kissed, it made her recall their first one. It was the same for him.
"I've missed you Arya Stark," Gendry whispered with emotion.
"You're what brought me back, Gendry." She said passionately, tracing a finger over a scar. "Was this from your torture?"
"No, hot chunk of iron that bounced off, from a blade I was working with my hammer." He kissed a scar on her arm, "what happened here?"
"I saved Taron's life, it was either my arm or his heart."
"Did he ever need to return the favour?" Gentry's kisses travelled along her collar bone and up her neck.
"Twice. Once I was careless and another a target." Arya gazed up at him, then pulled his lips to hers.
Aulix had been right, her body naturally responded to his. She grew impatient and used her legs to pull him in. "Make love to me Gendry…. now."
"Just as demanding as ever…. m'Lady." He teased softly, but fulfilled her request. She gasped and he paused. "Sorry, are you okay?"
She nodded, "it's been a while that's all. I don't want you to stop." Arya felt embarrassed admitting that.
As his body moved against hers, she looked over his shoulder and saw a mouse on the rafters. When it waved at her, she knew it was Aulix. He was making sure she was okay; always protective. She winked and it scurried away. All attention returning to Gendry. He held himself above her, kissing her face, neck and lips. His lower body rocked forward and her hips lifted to meet him. Muscles tensed, Arya's fingernails bit into the flesh on his back, her head she buried into his neck.
"Look at me Arya Stark," Gendry said huskily.
She did and saw the dark passion in his eyes, burning just for her. He saw his need reflected back at him. Capturing his lower lip between her teeth, Arya gently pulled him closer. Gendry's peck muscles met her breasts, both had abs that tightened and then she rolled them over. He grinned, knowing she wanted the control. On top, Arya let herself go and called his name as climax was reached. No longer having to curb his desire, Gendry came with her, but not inside.
Arya flopped down beside his body, panting, trying to get her breath back. He pulled her close to him. She rested her head between his arm and peck muscle, it cradled her head perfectly.
"I'm not the only reason you came back," Gendry said knowingly.
"No… the best reason, but after I finish my list, I need to find what blood family I have left."
"You've got me, I'll never leave you again…. And you have Taron… Aulix seems like he could dip out at any moment."
Arya smiled, "you're right. Aulix is a free mind; just when I think I know him, he does something to surprise me. But he's also dangerous."
"In a way we all are. He seems unpredictable and that in itself is where the true risk lies."
"Sometimes it's fun too." She dragged her lower lip over his, open mouths met and tongues danced.
Recovering first, Arya slowly kissed, licked and nibbled her way down Gentry's torso; down the divide of his chest, over abs and even lower. She knew he wouldn't be hard right away, but that was okay. This was one thing she liked to do for her man. And Arya knew from experience that taking her time, was the best way. Slowly his desire was rebuilt, until he picked her up off him. Her legs she wrapped around his waist as he lifted her off the bed. Moving so her back was against the cool wall, Gendry held her up, legs now over his arms and they united again. The feeling his thrusting body drove into Arya, made her bite down on his muscular shoulder to muffle her yell of pleasure. This time, love making was longer and he was focused on making her quiver all over. Even though she came, he kept her riding that wave of ecstasy, until the multiple spasms got so intense, that his mind joined hers. Gendry in all his experience with women, had never come himself repeatedly, with one hard on. They collapsed on the bed, limbs tangled, gasping for breath and sweating all over.
"You must be an angel," Arya said to him.
"Why cause you're a devil?"
She nodded, "and together we'll shake the world."
He chuckled, "you've always done that, even without me."
"But it's so much better with you."
They made love all night and half of the next day, Arya using all her knowledge to give him the most pleasure she could. And Gendry did the same with her. She loved that he was such a strong man, yet in some ways so gentle. They'd finally found each other, over miles of land and years apart. No sex was better, than they were with each other, because their love was deep, lasting and enduring. In his arms she feared nothing, wanted nothing, needed nothing.