Thorin had no words to describe the feelings Alyssae called up. Her beauty was not only magical and her passionate kisses did not only awake a deep, rusty longing, but it was everything about her why he wanted to make love with her until deep in the night. And many, many more nights.
He looked up to her and stared in her breath-taking eyes, shining like gems in the moonlight. "I think I love you."
She chuckled. "You think?"
Thorin's cheeks burnt. It was hard to admit such a thing, because it had been primarily hatred and grudge that had kept him alive the last decades. Everything he felt now, was totally unknown to him and it confused his mind.
"Yes."
She grinned softly and touched his dark hair. "Good."
He looked uncertainly at her, although his attention was distracted by the fingers of her other hand, that glided across his back and rested above the band of his pants.
The look in her eyes made him nervous. There would be a moment that she wanted to see more of his body, but actually he didn't dare to expose himself fully. It probably sounded ridiculous, but to elvish concepts he had not much and he was afraid she would laugh about it.
"Shall we go back to the others?" he asked carefully.
Of course he didn't want to go, but being found in this way by his comrades was even worse.
"Sure," she smiled to his relief. "You have to rest." A smirk played around her lips. "You have made too many efforts today."
Thorin watched how she took her brassiere from the ground. With his eyes he followed the curvature of her back and her full breasts, that even increased in dimensions by this movement. His throat still felt soar. He couldn't imagine she had permitted him to touch those beautiful curves with his lips and fingers. She had even wanted him to do that.
Skillfully she tied the garment around her upper body again, where after she pulled up her dress again. She picked up his stuff from the ground and tossed it to him. For some reason he didn't want his men to have any idea of what had happened between him and Alyssae, so he put on his clothes with a painful face.
"Well, there they finally are," Dwalin grinned while they sat beside the others. "We have finished dinner already."
Bofur started to laugh. "I think Thorin and Alys have had their own portion."
To his annoyance he noticed his cheeks became red, but Alyssae kicked Bofur playfully to his leg. "A king has more rights than an ordinary dwarf."
"Well, it must have been the first time that he wanted to claim those rights. Last time Kili and I had to do it."
Alyssae looked questioning at them and Bofur realized nobody had told her about her menstruation.
"You bled while you slept," Thorin grumbled. "Those two wanted to find out where it was coming from. Gloin assumed just in time it could be your monthly cycle."
He looked timidly at Alyssae, afraid she would be angry or shocked, but she started to laugh.
"Well, that must have been quite an adventure. I can see it before my eyes: thirteen men who have no idea what to do with a bleeding woman."
Thorin didn't laugh along. He found it still an embarrassing moment when he thought back and her taunting face made him willing to walk away.
"We have to do another session," Thranduin's voice sounded.
"I don't need another one," Thorin answered grimly. "I feel fine."
The elf had done more than enough. He didn't want him to spill more energy, while he himself secretly caressed his fiance.
"Durin's day is coming close," Gandalf spoke as well. "You need all your strength to face Smaug."
Thorin sighed and avoided Thranduin's glance. He took off his upper garment and felt the elf hands on his body - this time not those of Alyssae, but of her fiance, which only increased his guilty feelings. A warm stream spread over his body, but it only seemed a shadow of the hands that had touched his skin only a few moments ago.