When I saw Oreyn, I had to stifle a laugh. He must have had the same thoughts I did about needing a change of clothes. He had shed his armor and scrounged up a pair of dark red velvet pants and a white shirt that was open at the chest. He had even attempted to comb his hair down out of its standard mohawk, and it was now swept back from his forehead, giving him an exaggerated widow's peak. He looked like the leading man from a romance novel, only more…amusing.

He must have noticed me choking on my laughter, because he grinned sheepishly. "Is it too much? At least I didn't go to the trouble of digging out the doublet that matches these pants. I'm surprised this outfit even still fits; I haven't worn it in nearly ten years."

I grinned. "I'm glad I decided to change into something more comfortable. I would have felt terribly underdressed as I was."

Oreyn gave me a roguish look as he stepped toward me. "You look ravishing, darling. In armor or out of it."

I glared at him teasingly but detected no sarcasm in his tone. "Well, you do clean up nicely, even if I am a little surprised to see you in velvet."

"Would you prefer to see me out of it?"

I threw back my head and laughed. "I never knew you had such a sense of humor, Modryn."

"Who said I was joking?" he leered as he reached out for my hand and pulled me to him. I smiled and ran my fingers through his carefully combed hair, causing it to stick up partway again. He chuckled and leaned in to kiss me, his arms encircling my waist. He moved his hands over the silky fabric covering my back and made an approving sound, which I took to mean he had noticed my lack of a bodice. He released me and took a step back, staring hungrily into my eyes.

"Would you like some wine?" he asked, opening a bottle of Surilie Brothers that had been sitting on the table.

"Of course." He poured me a glass and handed it to me before pouring some for himself. Then he raised his glass toward me.

"To new beginnings," he said quietly.

"To new beginnings." I tapped my glass against his and felt warmth rising through my body though I had yet to bring the drink to my lips. I blushed and tasted the wine. It was warm and smooth and captivating, and though I knew the thought was inane, I couldn't help thinking to myself, Just like my host.

Oreyn seemed intent on playing the role of charming seducer for the evening. As soon as we had set our glasses down, he swept me into his arms and lifted me off the floor. I could barely contain my laughter as he carried me to the bed. I weighed more than your average fair maiden, and I could tell it took a little more effort than he anticipated. But I let him have his display of strength and didn't let out a single giggle.

He set me gently on the bed and then stood. In a smooth motion, he took off his shirt and dropped it on the floor.

I stared at his well-formed shoulders and chest, an appreciative smile forming on my lips. I sat up and turned my back to Oreyn, sweeping my hair off my neck as I looked over my shoulder at him.

"I need a little help with these buttons," I said coyly, glancing down at the row of velvet-covered buttons down my back.

Oreyn leered. "I know of a more efficient way to separate that fabric, but I suppose you wouldn't want me damaging your lovely gown."

"Aren't you impatient?" I teased, pretending to pout. "Come on, show me how nimble your fingers are."

With a sound like a purr, Oreyn slid onto the bed beside me and began undoing my buttons one at a time. As more of my midnight-hued skin was bared he trailed a row of kisses down my back, making me shiver. He had barely passed my shoulder blades when he made an impatient noise and suddenly pulled open the back of my dress, sending buttons flying.

I whirled around, feigning anger. "Now look what you've done!"

"If you don't want your dress ruined, maybe you should get one with fewer buttons," he growled devilishly. Then he pressed his lips hungrily to mine.

As we kissed, Oreyn's hands went to my shoulders and he slid my dress down to my waist, his hands then making their way back up my body. I pulled my wrists free of the drooping sleeves and pushed Oreyn away as I stood. He glared as I moved beyond his reach, but I just smiled playfully. I slid the dress past my hips and let it fall to the floor. I watched Oreyn's eyes catch fire with lust.

"Are you going to keep those pants on all night?" I teased. The words were barely out of my mouth before he had pulled his ridiculous breeches off and thrown them across the room. Giggling, I clambered back onto the bed. I pushed Oreyn forcefully back onto the mattress and kissed him voraciously as I straddled him.

We pressed our bodies tightly together, our hands roaming freely. I could feel his erection throbbing against my abdomen as his hands brushed down the length of my body, over my waist and hips down to my ass and thighs. He caressed and squeezed, and he growled as he kissed me, sending vibrations from his mouth to mine. I could feel myself getting wet. I couldn't resist any longer. I shifted my weight and without warning slid myself onto his cock.

Oreyn gasped as my warmth enveloped him. His gasp became a feral snarl and he grinned madly at he. His eyes blazed as he grasped my waist and began thrusting upward into me. My eyes rolled back and I moaned as he pumped his hips furiously. I pressed myself against him as closely as I could, feeling every muscle flex and relax rhythmically against my body. Our eyes locked, two pairs of fiery embers burning into each other as we ground our bodies sensuously together.

Suddenly, he wrapped an arm around my waist and turned us both over, keeping me held tightly to him as he positioned me on my back. I relaxed back onto the bed and wiggled myself into a more comfortable position. Then he resumed his thrusts, harder now that he had more leverage. I snaked my legs around his before sliding them up to wrap around his waist. I felt him enter me deeper as I shifted myself backward. He murmured his appreciation and lowered his head, guiding my breast to his mouth with one hand. I moaned softly as he held my nipple between his teeth, teasing it with his tongue. I began grinding my hips upward in time with his, falling into a sensual rhythm. He released my breast and stared fiercely into my eyes, his face barely an inch from mine.

"You...are a...magnificent woman," he said between sounds of exertion. His hair was disheveled and sweaty, his breath noisy and deep. I pulled him tighter against me.

"And you...are phenomenal," I replied, my words punctuated by thrusts. He locked my mouth in a deep kiss as we worked our way to climax. Our bodies writhed together as if our flesh was nourished by each other's touch. As if on an unspoken signal we increased our fervor, feeling the heat building to an inferno between us, until finally we were swept away in orgasm. I squeezed him tightly with my whole body as I came, and I felt him stiffen before he let out a guttural moan of ecstasy. We clutched at each other, wanting there to be no space between us. Then slowly, luxuriously, we relaxed into each other's arms as a delicious glow washed over us.

Oreyn collapsed on top of me, breathing heavily. I ran my fingers through his hair and felt him gently kiss my neck before he rolled over to lie next to me, his arm draped across my stomach.

...

We lay side by side as our breathing returned to normal. I turned to face Oreyn and watched his chest rise and fall.

"I'd like to stay with you tonight," I said softly. He turned to look at me. "I know we need to be discreet, but I can be practically invisible when I want to be. No one would see me leaving here in the morning."

He smiled gently. "I would never kick you out of my bed, my dear. Discretion has its limits."

I studied his face. "How can you be so gruff and hardened in your work, yet so sweet and charming with me? It's like you're two people wrapped up in one body."

He looked at me intently. "I could ask you the same thing, you know. You're a dedicated and efficient fighter, and until yesterday I thought any man who made advances toward you would find himself afraid to even look at a woman again afterward. But you've surprised me, to say the least."

It was my turn to smile. "Any man but you who made advances toward me would be afraid to approach a woman again," I purred. He laughed softly.

"What makes me so special?" he asked.

I wasn't sure I knew the answer to his question. I was irresistibly attracted to him, but there was more to it than that. Maybe I was thrilled by the challenge of breaking through his stony façade and seeing what he was like underneath. Maybe in some way it was just another quest for me. But that felt too cheap to be right. Maybe I liked him because he seemed to like me—he had lightened up on me considerably since I first joined the guild, and that made me feel extraordinary, since he didn't seem to have lightened up on anyone else. I decided to be honest.

"I haven't figured that out yet," I answered. He smiled, and my stomach felt like it was infested with ancestor moths.

"I haven't figured you out yet, either," he murmured. He pulled me close to him and kissed me gently. I nestled up against him and thanked Dibella that Oreyn had caught me staring in my moment of weakness the night before. To think that I might have completely missed this chance…I didn't want to consider it. Secure in his arms, I drifted off to sleep.

Author's note: Thanks so much for reviewing! I love writing this story, but it's also practice for me, so if there's something you particularly liked or didn't like, please review and let me know! I appreciate concrit.

There is MORE to this story, so if you're interested in anything other than the hawt secks, keep watching for the next chapter. ;)