A/N: Oh my gosh! Sorry for the long wait, but I've been SOOO busy with school with stuff lately I have had NO time at all! So sorry for the wait, but finally here's the next chapter!!! Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Three: Stealing Kisses

"She tried to put herself on carpentry detail only to be politely refused…the carpenters said no, she demanded to know why…The master carpenter explained politely that Sergeant Dom had said Kel was a disaster with hammer, axe, or saw, and they did not have wood or nails to spare. Kel spotted Dom up on the walkway, grinning down at her. He'd seen her approach the carpenters. She gestured rudely at him. She also stopped asking the carpenters for work with considerable private relief…"

-Tamora Pierce, Lady Knight

Kel awoke the next morning, smiling as she stretched lengthily. She wouldn't have been surprised if she had been smiling during her sleep, it being the best sleep she had gotten in months.

Her stretching caused the sparrows sleeping on her bed to stir, chirping sleepily. Kel apologized, feeling too happy to feel too concerned. She laughed when she saw Jump, also on her bed, still snoring away. Feeling playful, Kel nudged him with her foot. He rocked with the motion but only snored louder. She chuckled as she removed herself from her bed.

She dressed quietly, not wanting to wake anyone up. It was past dawn, and the sun was already shining, but it was still early and Jump and Tobe had gotten in late last night from the stables.

Washing her face, Kel smiled as she thought of the night before. Because Tobe had come in late from the stables, it had given her and Dom more time together. She silently thanked the boy for his lateness, for she and Dom had talked late into the night, sharing stories, laughter…and frequent kisses.

Kel warmed at the thought of Dom's kisses, her smile widening. He was a wonderful kisser…

She quickly resumed dressing, having stopped when her thoughts wandered to Dom. When finished, she grabbed her glaive and headed out to the practice yard.

Dom sighed contentedly as he rolled over on his cot. He had woken up to the remembrance of last night. He kept his eyes closed, trying to recall everything in his mind.

He had left Kel the night before when Tobe had returned from the stables. He and Kel had talked most of the night, but of course, the boy had to come in at an inopportune moment- during one of their kisses. The boy hadn't seen anything, for they had quickly moved apart, but Dom had felt slightly despaired when the boy came in. He knew it was unfair and he was being selfish, but his entrance not only meant the interruption of their kiss- which he had been thoroughly enjoying- but it had also meant that he had to leave. When he did leave for the barracks however, he had felt like he was walking on air.

He and Kel were a couple. He had repeated that fact over and over in his mind before he had gone to sleep. And he was still repeating it in his head now, smiling at the thought. Never before had he felt so happy.

Wondering what time it was, Dom got out of bed and went to one of the windows. Opening the shutter, he looked out onto the camp. The sun had already risen, but it was still early, and most everyone was still asleep. He was about to return to his bed, when something caught his eye. In the distance was a lone figure out in the practice area. His heart started to pound and a wide smile spread across his face.

Changing his mind, he moved quickly to get dressed…

Crossing the fort toward the practice yard, Dom kept his eyes focused on the person already there practicing. Going through one of her many glaive exercises, Dom thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and leaned against the nearest building to watch her. She moved with such grace and precision that one almost forgot that she was holding such a deadly weapon.

That deadly weapon, and the fact that they would be in clear view of most of the fort, was the reason why Dom didn't walk over and put his arms around her. She would probably slice him in half if he did!

So, Dom contented himself with watching her, which wasn't such a bad option at all. He felt like he could watch her forever.

When she eventually finished with one of her exercises however, Dom couldn't help but think his options were starting to look up. Aware that she had put her glaive down as she drank from her water flask, Dom pushed himself off the wall, quietly walking up behind her.

He was only a few feet away from her when suddenly Kel said, "Trying to surprise me is not a good idea when my glaive is within reach, Dom."

Dom stopped and chuckled, "No, I suppose not. Is there any way it could somehow become out of your reach?"

Kel turned and smiled at him. His stomach did flip-flops in the most pleasing way. "Why?" she asked, laughing, "You can hardly surprise me now."

"Oh no?"

She shook her head, grinning.

"Well, we'll see about that…" he told her, and in an instant his arms were around her, and his mouth was on hers.

A sound of surprise escaped from Kel's lips, but Dom didn't remove his mouth from hers and neither did she. She could feel him smiling against her lips as she gave in to the kiss. It was indeed a wonderful surprise.

The two were embraced in the middle of the practice yard, but neither one seemed to care at the moment. Their mouths were too busy responding to each other's touch.

Eventually pulling apart, they looked at each other and smiled widely.

Dom thought he could definitely get used to this, and said so out loud.

Laughing, Kel put her hand out to stop him from advancing toward her again. "Don't get too used to it," she said smiling, "I have an image to keep among the people, and being caught kissing you constantly is not part of it. I can just imagine what Lord Wyldon would say if he got that in one his reports…"

"Keep up the good work?" Dom grinned.

She laughed, "Doubtful. So consider yourself lucky that you got that kiss in, because it can't happen anymore in public where anyone might see us."

"But in private…?" he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"That's a different story," replied Kel, blushing. Then she said, beginning to walk away, "I better be going. I still have so much to do."

"Kel?"

She stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

Dom walked to her and stopped in front of her. Then he leaned down and kissed her quickly. He smiled when she gave him a narrowed look, her eyes twinkling and a smile tugging at her lips.

"I take it that was the last one?" she asked, her lips still twitching.

"But of course," he replied, grinning.

"Good, because it was." Then with a promise to see him later, she walked back toward headquarters.

He smiled as he watched her go. Dom was already thinking that he could probably steal another kiss sometime throughout the day. He just had to be careful when…Seeing how Kel had already allowed it, he didn't think she would object too much…

That afternoon, Dom was heading over to the fort's ramparts to begin his guard shift when he spotted Kel. Like the past few days she'd been here, she was going around checking on everything, helping as much as she could.

Dom smiled, but not wanting to be caught staring, he started to continue on his way. However he stopped when he saw the carpenters, sawing and driving nails into the wood. Immediately the image of Kel and her horrible carpentry skills sprung to mind. Dom smiled. Then he once again started back on his way, stopping again quickly.

Turning to glance back at Kel, and then back to where the carpenters worked, he realized that she would soon be offering her services to them. Dom grinned at the thought, deciding to have a little fun with the lady knight.

Striding over to the master carpenter, Dom greeted the man politely. After asking the man how the work was faring, Dom asked, "Has Lady Kel offered her help to you today?"

"No, sir," the man replied. "Why do you inquire?"

Dom chuckled, "Actually I just wanted to warn you. As you may have noticed, she isn't exactly handy with tools…in fact, she's a disaster…" The silence that followed his statement told Dom that the man was not going to object. He smiled and continued, "So what I want you to do is turn down her help when she offers."

The master carpenter started to object, but Dom quickly told him, "Don't worry. Just tell her that I told you that we don't have any materials to spare, so we cannot accept her assistance." He smiled, "If you have any problems, just direct her to me. She makes a mess of her hands when she so much as holds a hammer."

The man soon agreed, being too polite to acknowledge the fact of Kel's horrible carpentry skills out loud. Then Dom continued on to take his post on the fort's ramparts.

Every once in a while he would glance back to see where Kel was. Finally he glanced back to see her approaching the master carpenter. He turned around halfway to watch, anticipating her reaction.

As the master carpenter talked to her, Dom saw Kel's face contort with confusion. Then she asked him a question. When the man started to explain, a look of understanding passed over Kel's features. That's when she also seemed to become aware of Dom watching her, because she suddenly caught his eye.

Dom grinned down at her. The rude gesture she sent him in return made him grin wider. She shook her head at him and turned to walk away. However, he had noticed that once again her eyes had shown hidden amusement.

He smiled as he watched her walk over to some of the soldiers. She hadn't insisted on helping the carpenters, he noticed, and he had a feeling that she appreciated being let off that duty- and he was sure the carpenters were thankful as well.

After supper that night, Dom found himself waiting outside the door of Kel's quarters. She, Neal, and Merric always met after supper to discuss things about the fort, and he was hoping he had timed it well enough that he would see her walking down the hallway shortly.

Leaning on the wall next to her doorway, he waited.

He didn't have to wait along until he heard a voice ask, "Waiting for someone, sergeant?"

Dom looked up and beamed. Kel was standing there, looking at him with an amused look.

Playfully, Dom said, "Actually I was looking for Neal, but I guess you'll do."

She laughed, causing Dom to grin widely. "Headquarters is a funny place to be when his quarters are in the infirmary…"

"They are?" he asked jokingly.

"If you want, I can go show you…" she replied, teasing.

He grinned, "There's no need for that. It's far too long of a walk. I guess I'll just stay here with you…"

"Thanks," she said sarcastically, causing him to chuckle. She unlocked her door to let them inside. Closing the door behind them, she told him, smiling, "You know, Dom, the way to a girl's heart is usually not to make her feel unwanted…"

Grinning alluringly, he stepped closer to her and asked quietly, "Do you want me to make you feel wanted?"

The deepness of his voice sent a shiver down Kel's back. Trying to keep her thoughts straight, she said, "Well attacking my carpentry skills is hardly the way."

Dom laughed, "You should be thanking me for that."

"For letting the whole fort know I'm a disaster with hammers?"

"I'm sure they already figured that out for themselves," he teased. "Just admit it. You're glad that I got you off that duty."

"Did I ever say I wasn't?"

"Well the lovely gesture you sent me in thanks could hardly be considered reassuring," he told her, smiling.

She returned his smile. "I could hardly run up to the ramparts and thank you properly, so I settled for the next best choice."

He laughed. Then taking her hand, he pulled her slowly to him, smiling when she looked at him knowingly. "Can you thank me properly now?"

Kel grinned, "Of course." Then she leaned up a placed a quick peck on his cheek.

When she pulled away, his blue eyes twinkled with mirth, his lips twitching with amusement. He then said to her, "I think you can do better than that."

Then he lifted her hand he held to his lips and, his eyes never leaving hers, he kissed each finger lightly. As he did so, he told her how she should be grateful to him that her fingers were still intact. And she was. Her poor fingers were still healing from yesterday's use with a hammer- and the feeling of Dom's warm lips upon them made them feel ten times better. It was the best healing she had ever had, sending a pleasing feeling throughout her body.

When he finished, she smiled and, pulling his lips down to hers, she made sure to thank him properly…

A/N: Ahhh…how sweet and fluffy! I'm sure Dom wants to be thanked more often! ;D