Arya pressed her body against his, her breath only coming out in short spurts. She was acutely aware of Gendry's hand on the inside of her thigh and it was driving her mad. His mouth was on her stomach, moving across her skin in a fever.
"I want." Arya moaned, her hand gripping his hair as Gendry pushed his tongue into her bellybutton.
"What?" He kissed her pelvic bone. "What do you want."
"Gendry." Arya could barely breathe as he licked her breast.
"I'm sorry.' He teased. "I didn't hear what you said." Arya curled the bedsheets into her tight fist.
"I want you." She gasped as Gendry kissed her quickly on the mouth.
"I think that can be arranged." He smiled. "M'lady."
Arya yawned loudly and stretched her arms above her head. She turned to Gendry for a moment. He was asleep, snoring with one arm stretched across her waist. With uncharacteristic tenderness, Arya gently lifted his arm from her bare skin and lay it down on the sheets beside her. He stirred in his sleep and pressed his face into his pillow with a moan. Arya sat up and drew her knees to her chest. With one thin finger, she stroked the soft skin on his back.
She could tell it was early in the morning, but she couldn't be sure of the exact hour. Yellow sunlight shone through the open window in a thick stream. The sky was still a light pink from the sunrise and the trees were dripping with fresh dew. Arya was very quiet as she pushed back the sheets and slid down to the end of the bed. She reached for her boots and leaned down to lace them up to her calves.
"Where are you going?" Gendry's voice called. Arya silently cursed herself for not being quiet enough. She used to be able to slip away without him even stirring, but now Gendry had become much more aware of her presence beside him, and his ears were much sharper. Arya frowned and turned to look at him.
"Just going out to practice." She replied honestly. Gendry rubbed the sleep from his eyes and gazed out the window.
"Seven hells Arya, it can't be any later than five." He exclaimed. "Why do you have to go out so early?" Arya shrugged.
"I like being outside early in the morning. It's...calming."
"Come on." Gendry grumbled. "Come back to bed, just for a couple more hours." he grabbed her bare waist, but Arya slid out of his grasp like a cat. She jumped off the side of the bed and grabbed her tunic, pulling it over her head.
"Arya." Gendry moaned. "Please?" Arya turned back to look at him. Her eyes met his bright blue ones, and messy mop of black hair. She sighed. Gendry was the only person who could make her feel like she was melting whenever he looked at her, and it made her heart pound erratically in her tiny chest.
"Okay." She pulled the sheets down beside him and slipped underneath. He grinned. "Just for a few minutes." Arya whispered.
There was a loud knock on the door and Arya instinctively drew her knees to her chest in the bathtub.
"Arya?" It was Gendry's voice, calling her. "Can I come in?"
Arya suddenly panicked at the thought.
"Wait! I'm in the bath." She shouted back. She froze for a moment and listened for his reply. When he said nothing, she knew she was safe. Arya leaned back into the water, plunging her head underneath. She scrubbed at the grime and sweat that was caked into her neck and scalp. She pushed her hair off her face and used a bristled brush to remove the dirt under her cracked nails. As she stepped out of the bath, Arya reached for a sheet to wrap herself in. As she stood dripping on the floor, Arya thought of Gendry on the other side of the door and she bit down on her lower lip with nervousness. She closed her eyes. Don't be stupid. She thought to herself. You said you wanted it, what better time then right now?
Arya gulped and dropped the sheet, letting it pool on the floor around her.
"Gendry." She called quietly, half hoping he couldn't hear her.
"Yes?". His reply came too quickly, but Arya gritted her teeth, forcing herself to say it.
"You can come in." She whispered.
The door swung open and Gendry came striding in. He was in mid sentence as he made his way toward her bed.
"So I was thinking, I've made this great sword, right? I've been working on it for weeks." He wasn't looking at her and Arya had half a mind to put all her clothes back on again because she knew she was blushing the brightest shade of fuchsia as she stood there. "And today while I was in the forge working, I thought...well... who better to have it then-" He turned to look at her with a wide grin and his mouth fell open. His speech faltered. "Then...then...t-Arya, what are you doing?"
Arya felt so stupid. She felt a rising lump in her throat and her eyes stung. Gods be good. She thought. The only thing that would make this more embarrassing is if I started to cry. She wrapped her arms around her breasts to cover herself.
"I..I." She looked down, her cheeks flaming. "I don't know. I'm sorry. Forget it- nevermind." To her horror, Gendry stood up and began to walk toward her.
"Are you allright?" He asked gently, staring at her. Arya bit down hard on her lip to stop it from quivering.
"Yeah, I'll just..." Arya picked up the sheet and wrapped it around herself. Suddenly, she saw a flash of understanding on Gendry's face. He laughed.
"Are you trying to...?" He paused and creased his eyebrows. "Wait a minute. You. Want. Me?
Arya didn't say anything, but she managed to meet his gaze. He was wearing a stupid lopsided smirk, and she couldn't help but return it with a meek smile. He brought a hand up to the side of her neck and gave her skin an awkward stroke. Despite the strange circumstances, Arya's entire body responded to his touch. She tensed, not wanting him to see how she felt. She was suddenly aware of how close Gendry was. She could feel the heat coming off his body and his breath on her face. He brought his hand up to her cheek and held it there as he leaned in to kiss her. As their lips met, Arya closed her eyes. He tasted like...Gendry. He was a mixture of sweat, metal and sweet-smelling earth, all packed in together. He ran a hand through her wet hair. When he coaxed her mouth open with his tongue, Arya let him. She intertwined her tongue with his, taking in his warmth.
When they finally pulled away, they were both out of breath. Arya panted slightly and Gendry's cheeks were flushed red.
"Right." He gulped. "Well. That's that I suppose." Arya laughed and kissed him again, this time wrapping her arms around him. The sheet fell from her body and she made no attempt to reclaim it , even as Gendry's body stiffened. His hands were around her waist, pressing herself against him. He ran one finger across her rib cage and Arya shivered. Gendry moved his lips down her neck and into the dip of her sharp collarbone. She reached for his hand and moved it up to her breast. Gendry stopped licking her skin and looked up at her with narrowed eyes.
"It's okay." She murmured, feeling brave again. "I want you to touch me." Gendry groaned and complied, gripping her breast. Arya bit down hard on her lip, pinching it between her teeth to stop from crying out. But Gendry could see the expression on her face and he brought his mouth down on her skin, kissing and licking her. Arya gripped his head in her hands, burying her fingers in his thick, dark hair.
She slid her hands down until she found the tie of his breeches. Gendry sprang back instantly, his warmth suddenly gone.
"Arya." He breathed. "You're lovely, really really great. But I can't."
"Why not?" She spluttered back with frustration.
"We just can't. I'm sorry." He looked away.
"What do you mean? I'm not afraid."
"I know." He replied. "But they'll kill me if I take your maidenhood. I'm just some lowborn scum of a bastard blacksmith. You're not meant for me."
Arya was suddenly enraged.
"Who cares about them?" She spat back. "I'm not their's to give away. I'm all yours. Take it." But Gendry shook his head.
"I won't." He answered stubbornly.
"Please Gendry." She groaned.
"They'll know." He whispered.
"No. No, they won't." Arya kissed his cheek. "We won't let them find out."
Gendry sighed.
"You're impossible." He muttered, meeting her lips with his. Arya only smirked as she wrapped her legs around his waist, and Gendry supported her, walking her over to the bed without disconnecting their lips. He lightly dropped her onto the bed. Arya watched as he stood beside her and pulled his shirt over his head. He crawled across the bed to her, kissing her stomach. She wrapped her arms around his waist and brought her hands to his breeches. This time, Gendry didn't stop her as Arya undid the tie and slid the clothes off of his body. She smiled at him.
"Ready?" He kissed her ear. Arya nodded, despite her newly emerging nervousness. It's not going work. She thought all of a sudden. It won't fit. But Gendry had already opened her legs and was pressing himself against her.
"It's going to hurt." He whispered, his voice low and husky. She nodded again and closed her eyes. Gendry pushed himself inside of her. Arya was not prepared for the pain that came as she locked her jaw closed and tightened both hands into fists. She felt as though she was splitting in half from the middle and tears clouded her eyes for a moment.
"You allright?" He asked gently. "Move when you're ready." She could hear the anticipation in his voice. Be strong. Arya thought. Even though she felt it would be the most painful option, Arya willed herself to push lightly against him. Gendry responded with enthusiasm, starting a slow pattern of a back and forth motion. Arya felt nothing except disappointment and sadness as she lay underneath him. She gulped down the rising lump in her throat and closed her eyes, wishing she was somewhere else, imagining another situation. She couldn't shake the motion. In and out, back and forth. Suddenly, she felt a slight stirring in the pit of her stomach and the pain became dimmer. Her senses heightened for one minute, and she could hear Gendry panting and feel his body above her, but somehow it was as if she had drifted outside of her own body. Without explanation, she felt out of control as her hips rose and met his, wanting to be closer. Her stomach was burning.
"Gendry." She opened her mouth to tell him, ask him what was happening, but as she spoke his name, the fire spread quick and wildly, in an instant. Arya opened her mouth wide as all the muscles in her body seemed to relax and turn to ash. She let out a loud moan from the back of her throat. In the same instant, her entire body tightened and she lifted herself off the sheets into his arms. She fell back again, her entire body throbbing. Gendry groaned. They were both panting as he rolled off of her.
"Holy mother of..." Gendry chuckled. "Arya, you're a little wolf." Arya dropped her head onto her pillow and exhaled loudly. She turned to look at him, a wide grin spreading quickly across her face.