Chapter Four - Misplacing One's Attention

Of course, not everything bumped along so pleasantly as all that forever, but that's quite obvious from the outset. We are headed for the falls and our boat has no oars or rudder. Bear with me.

Late that night, I was having a dream, or dreams as the case sometimes is. Whatever they might have been about - Chandrian, Lorren banning me from the Archives, whippings, Denna - they woke me in a cold sweat. That's all I remember about that bit.

Now, in every young man's life there comes a time when they awaken to find themselves with a particular... let's call it a "condition". I'm trying not to be indelicate, because I consider myself a gentleman. When sharing a bed with one who's not your lover, it can be a truly harrowing experience indeed, and this was one of such times.

This was made much worse by the fact that Devi had opted to press her form against me in her slumbering state. Try telling your body to go back to sleep when another body is so nearby, feeling so warm and inviting... well, it's an uphill battle.

For a brief second, I began to panic. What if she woke up and found me that way? I considered lowering myself into the Heart of Stone, hoping it would allow me to rationalize that my situation wasn't so terribly unfortunate and that I could simply turn over in bed. But then I dismissed the idea; I should be able to handle this without such mental trickery. It should be easy for me to tell myself that Devi was just a friend, and that this was only mildly amusing, and that I should laugh at my anxiety.

Of course, that was fantasy. Just as I was on point of relenting and dropping into the Heart of Stone after all, Devi shifted and snaked her arm around my waist. I tensed from top to bottom.

It woke her and she blinked up at me. "Hmm?"

"Nothing," I whispered, using all of my onstage skill to avoid looking as guilty as I felt.

"What are you doing awake?" she rasped, voice husky with sleep. It was alluring in a way I didn't quite understand, but could appreciate regardless. "You seized up and it scared me."

"Just drinking in your beauty," I said, quietly enough but with a hint of sarcasm. "It stuns a man."

"Enough," she said with a slow grin, settling against me. "Trying out your charms on me just to see if they work, only so you can run off to Mola or one of your other harlots and put them to good use."

By that point, having her so closeby while my "condition" had not faded was unbearable. Carrying on a conversation during this was equally taxing. "Uh... yes. I mean, no, never anyway!"

"Your heart is pounding like mad," she observed. "What's the matter? Bad dream? Poor baby."

"Yeah," I gusted. It was probably true, after all.

"Ah. In that case, Physicker Devi knows an age-old remedy that can make it all bet... better. Hmm?"

Both of us froze. Her hand shifted, and so did my hips. Then the hand moved to her mouth and she coughed into her fist.

"Would it help if I apologized?" I half-laughed.

"Not a great deal."

"I was trying not to bring it up, you know. Hoping we'd both doze off and never think on it again."

"One could say you've already 'brought it up', eh, Kvothe?"

My heart was plummeting at great speed. "Are you angry?"

"Curious." Devi's hand disappeared under the blanket and I gritted my teeth when I felt it return; it remained still though, resting, not clutching or manipulating. "Why this? Is it me?"

"No!" I told her hurriedly. "Though, uh... having you here isn't exactly speeding its exit, one might say."

"Mm-hmm." Now she began moving her fingers, and my mind grew hazy, as if a layer of thin cloth were being wrapped around my head. "Would you like me to speed its exit?"

"Devi..."

"Come on," she said with an impish smile playing around the corners of her brilliant green eyes. "It's a bit of fun. No one need be aware we ever did it. Think of it as training for a future enchanted evening with your intended."

It seemed wrong. It felt wrong, down deep in my gut. Part of me knew it was going to be a mistake to have an encounter of this nature with the broker - even beyond the reasons I could think of at the time. In spite of these things, I was tempted.

"I promise I'll go slow."

"No, Devi," I finally managed to rasp out. "It isn't right. Your attentions are misplaced on me. I owe you money, and we're friends. Well, after a fashion."

"Don't be so uptight," she chided. "Might you have any idea how long I go between romps? It's been about a year for me. Think about how long that is, just for a moment! And even then, it was some client who'd fallen behind in his interest payments." With a sinister grin, she whispered, "I let him slide by a talent in light of my enjoyment."

The heat in the room was beginning to make my brain melt, but I forced my mind to remain on the topic. "Haven't you ever been approached at a bar? You're young and fetching."

"Thank you, my dear." She shrugged. "Most of the men who do approach are filled to the brim with drink, and hideous besides. If a decent enough bloke happens to be there, they usually angle for the younger, prettier blonde."

"Can't be many prettier than you in Imre." I hadn't intended to say that, even though it was my honest feeling; she was lovely. It was a statement of fact, not flattery.

"A single indiscretion," she urged with both voice and touch. Her tone betrayed her mounting desire. "I like you, Kvothe. You're rakishly handsome, and you're actually a decent person underneath all that bravado and carefully-built reputation. One night together wouldn't kill us, would it?"

"It might."

"You could find yourself owing two fewer talents," she told me, tone serious even as her cheeks began to pinken. "Three."

"This is not about money," I protested. "And before you try, it's not about whether or not you're attractive, either, because I believe we have already established that. Just... I don't want to sully another friendship over a 'single indiscretion'."

Her throat worked to swallow, and her hands moved from beneath the blanket to my collarbone, kneading in. "I'll wipe out your entire debt. All the remaining thirty talents - and you can have all your collateral back."

My jaw dropped. "You sound like a sweet-eater."

"Sate my hunger, Kvothe." Her voice began to shake. "I... you must be feeling it too by now. The frustration, the need. Didn't you like what you saw a span ago? My fresh, nubile body? It hasn't changed since then."

Horrified at her referencing that ugly ordeal, I snapped, "That's not what I was-"

"No, I know you didn't," she told me hastily, cupping her hand on my jaw. "And that you wouldn't, because you're a man of great character. Even so, you still got an eyeful. You know what I have to offer you. All that separates us at this moment are a few layers of clothing and your inhibitions. Take me."

I'll admit that by this point, she was winning me over; my reasons for resisting her were growing dim and indistinct. Her face was a vision, smile dazzling, body flawless (as I she had ensured I wouldn't soon forget). All in all, Devi was a masterpiece. Why didn't I want this? "Devi... are you sure?"

Before answering, her lips crashed into mine, tongue exploring my mouth, tasting me even as I tasted her. So succulent... indeed, like a ripe strawberry. Then she drew back and beamed, simmering with energy and expectations.

"Copper-hawks are always sure."

And that was as much reluctance as I could muster. Suffice it to say neither of us had many complaints about that evening. Every inch of her was paradise, and I reveled in it.

In fact, I reveled in it several times before the sun rose.

To Be Continued...

NOTE: Woo! So the passions flare. Next chapter will bring pain and dismay, however... ask yourself if you're ready for that.