Raoul stared at the group of young people sitting in a circle on the kitchen floor. Dom, Kel, Jai, Maggie, Aiden, Derrek and a man and woman he recognized as members of the Riders sat in various stages of undress drinking straight out of a bottle of whiskey, holding cards and laughing uproariously. Dom, who wore only breeches and one sock, was the first to see him and he gulped before smacking Kel, who was seated next to him, wearing breeches and a what appeared to be a nightshirt, her shoes and socks in a pile next to her. One by one the others noticed Dom and Kel's frozen look of horror and silence descended slowly as the various members of the circle noticed Raoul's presence. Jai was the last to realize what was going on, but finally she turned to look at him, the cleavage at the top of her corset briefly distracting him from the yell he'd been about to give. She beamed up at him, the sloppy smile of someone who had been drinking a lot of liquor.

"We're playing strip poker," she said. "Want to play?"

Raoul opened his mouth and closed it several times, before giving up on words. He simply jerked his head in the direction of the door, and Aiden, Dom and Kel instantly gathered their clothes and hurried out of the door, followed quickly by the three Riders. Jai stood up slowly and wobbled a little bit, and Raoul realized that she wore only a corset and an almost see-through underskirt. When she nearly toppled over, Raoul grabbed her bicep, stabilizing her. Sticking her lower lip out in an enormously adorable pout, Jai said, "You spoiled my fun."

Unable to stop himself, Raoul smiled at the girl. "I think you have had plenty of fun."

Jai smiled and slid her arms around his neck, pressing into him. "I don't think so," she said huskily. Standing up on tip-toe to whisper in his ear, she added in a whisper, "I think there's a lot more fun to be had." Trailing her lips down his neck without ever quite landing a true kiss, she settled back down on her feet.

A blush spread across Raoul's cheeks and his breathing became more ragged as he stared down at the girl before him. "You're drunk," he finally settled on saying.

Jai cocked her head and smiled, "You're not wrong, but does that really matter?"

"Yes."

Reaching up again, Jai planted a kiss on his lips, unable to stop himself from responding to the warm comfort of her lips, Raoul circled his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer to him. Pulling away slightly, Jai asked, "Does it matter now?"

Forcing himself to think logically, Raoul said, "Yes. It also matters that I am double your age."

Jai shrugged. "So? I don't care. Why should you?"

"You don't care now because you are drinking."

Jai laughed. "Really, Commander? Don't you get it? I've been set on this for a lot longer than just tonight." She reached up to kiss him again, but Raoul pulled back.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get you to bed."

Jai pouted again. "Fine, but you have to promise not to get mad at the boys and girls who played strip poker with me. It was all my idea anyways. Especially, you can't be mad at Kel. I had to practically drag her down here kicking and screaming."

Folding her arms and jutting up her chin, Jai waited for the promise.

Raoul sighed. "Fine. I promise. Now let's get you upstairs."

Jai beamed and flounced out, grabbing Raoul's hand and tugging him along behind her. Once they got to her door, she turned around and smiled up at him. "You sure you want to leave me here?" she said breathily, fluttering her eyelashes outrageously.

Raoul laughed. "Why don't you try your moves on some one your age, sweetheart."

"Because I don't want someone my age silly. I want you. Now good night kiss."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not going to bed without a good night kiss."

"Go to bed."

"No."

"Bed."

"No."

"I'm not going to kiss you."

"But you so want to."

"Go to bed."

"No!" Jai said loudly, stomping her foot. "I'll only go to bed if you kiss me."

"Sh," Raoul said, looking towards Flyn and Buri's room in panic. If either of them caught him standing in the hall with Jai while she wore only a corset and underskirt and was demanding a good night kiss, he would never hear the end of it.

"If you want me to stay quiet, you better give me a kiss," Jai said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Considering his options, Raoul finally gave in and leaned down to give Jai a light kiss on the lips. Taking the opportunity, Jai put her hand on the back of his head, burying her fingers in his curls and pulling him closer to deepen the kiss. Once again unable to stop himself from responding to her, Raoul returned her deep kiss, pushing her against the door and running his hands down her sides. Despite the voice in his head demanding that he stop kissing her immediately, Raoul responded without hesitation when Jai slid her tongue into his mouth. Feeling her hands sneak under his shirt and slide across his muscled back, Raoul's fingers slid into the top of her underskirt and caressed her hipbone. When he touched her, Jai took in a deep breath, breaking the kiss just long enough for Raoul to re-gain control over himself. Breathing harshly, he pulled away.

"Too far," Raoul said. "That went too far. You are young, and betrothed, and drunk, and...young, very, very young."

Jai leaned against the door and smiled. "I disagree, with the too far and too young part anyways, but I suppose I said I'd go to bed after a good night kiss. Unless, you'd prefer I didn't."

"Bed. Now."

Jai opened the door obediently and bounced through, blowing a kiss at him before she closed the door.

Letting out his breath, Raoul turned and walked back to his room. Once he closed the door, he leaned against it, forcing himself to slow his breathing. Berating himself for taking advantage of Jai in her drunken state, Raoul slid back into bed, repeating over and over how wrong it was to think of her that way. Still unable to stop himself, he ran through the events of the night in his head and imagined the outcome if he hadn't forced her to go to bed alone, as he drifted off to sleep.

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Hm, I'm getting into it a little, maybe? Still not sure I like it. I need some feedback here people, is it worth it to keep going?