AN: I feel like a bent over little old lady…as much as I love coming down to Mexico and seeing my Grandma…and eating all the good Mexican food, I hate the mattresses here. I twist and turn all night trying to get comfortable, and in the morning, my back hurts to the point that I almost cry out in pain when I straighten it…sigh. At least last night it was a little better, I decided to switch beds (there are two bedrooms with two beds in each) and while sleeping better, I'm feeling bent in two. And my Grandmother has now laughed at my switching beds. Also, Friday I got into a war with my Grandmother's rose bushes…I'm still not sure who won. I managed to get almost a full bag of leaves and dead flowers off them, but they also did a good job of attacking my right hand in retaliation…I now sport scratches and poke on my pinky, my middle finger, under the nail of my index finger, and a big scratch on the joint of my thumb. Well, that's about all I can say about how this is going!
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns all characters and places recognized.
Dom had felt Kel shiver and didn't even hesitate to ask "Cold love?"
Without much thought besides keeping his lady warm, Dom pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her. It wasn't until she managed to snuggle closer to him that he realized he finally had Kel in his arms, that they were out of view from everyone, and that this would be the perfect time for that kiss he had been wanting.
He knew she sensed the change in his body, but he didn't want the moment to be broken like it had several times over the past two and a half weeks. So instead he quietly breathed out "Kel" before turning her head to allow access to her lips. He could make out her eyes shining, they seemed to widen before his lips were one hers.
He had known that their love was something special, but he had never expected his first kiss with Kel to be like this. All of the years in which they had held an attraction for each other, all the chances they had to share a simple chaste kiss but had missed seemed to start a fire of desire once his lips had touched hers.
All he had wanted to do was give her a small kiss, but now that his lips were on hers, he did not want to pull away. He was amazed to find that not only was Kel kissing him back, but that she was actually turning in his arms to allow better access for her hands. She pulled him closer, pressing their bodies together.
He was beginning to feel nervous about scaring her away with his obvious need, so he made a point of keeping that part of himself away from her.
Her hands went first to his hair as their tongues began an intricate dance, each trying to explore and taste the other. Then her hands started to wander down his chest, but never going past his belly button.
His hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they rubbed down her arms and across her toned abdomen. He hesitated to cup her breast, not sure how far she was willing to allow him to explore. His indecision was made for him when she placed his hand there herself, letting a low moan escape.
All the while, their kiss was becoming more and more desperate. A release to all of the repressed feelings finally making their escape.
There was to be no end as they continued to kiss and explore, and then Dom froze as he hissed in pain.
Kel had never had a kiss as the one she was sharing with Dom. All of Cleon's kisses were hesitant, almost afraid of letting go and losing control.
She could feel Dom's hesitation of holding her breast. She wanted so much to have the warmth of his hand there, to allow him to fully explore her body, so she placed his large hand where she wanted, moaning as heat flooded her.
She tangled her hands into his hair once more, just letting passion guide her. As she went to cup his face, she felt Dom stiffen with pain as she touched his bruising check and jaw.
She quickly pulled away, "Dom, I'm sorry. I think…" but her words were cut off as he captured her lips once more.
She lost herself once again in the kiss until she once again touched the same spot. This time she forced Dom to stay away.
"Dom, you really need to let me take care of that." She disentangled herself from the bedroll and quickly moved to her packs to fetch some of the bruise balm. She shivered as the cold hit her bare legs.
Quickly getting back under the covers, she opened the lid and dabbed some of the healing balm where she knew she had hit him earlier. "There."
Kel smiled back at Dom.
He was going to pull her in for more kisses when she stopped him. "Dom, I don't want that stuff all over my face."
He sighed. "Fine my lady, I will behave."
He pulled her in closer. "Why don't we just nap for a short while?"
At her nod they found a comfortable position and closed their eyes, just happy to be in each other's arms.
When they woke up a short time later, they just stared into each other's eyes. Realizing that the rain had let up enough for the men to build a fire for dinner, they agreed that it would be best for them both to get dressed properly and join the men before anybody tried to look for them. Each turned away from the other, they quickly dressed in silence.
Dom exited his tent and made sure the coast was clear before calling Kel out.
They walked to the fire together, whenever they caught the others eye they would share a knowing smile. It wasn't until she was a few feet away that Kel recognized the men closest to them to be men from Dom's squad. Feeling her annoyance from earlier in the day, Kel stopped.
She was just about to launch herself at Wolset when she felt Dom's strong arms wrap around her waist, holding her back.
"Let go of me Domitan!" Kel snarled, calling the attention of all the men around the fire to herself.
"Not until you promise you will not kill my men Keladry. I've worked them hard to get them how I like; it would be very disappointing to have to start from scratch."
Kel just continued to growl. The men, who at first thought that their sergeant was joking, became more panicked when they saw just how much strength their leader had to put behind holding the livid Lady Knight back.
Wolset stood up and took a step away from the struggling pair. "What is the matter your ladyship?" He asked quite innocently.
"You know damn well what you and the other men did to my tent and bedroll Wolset. Be assured that I will kill you when the sergeant here lets me go." She heard Dom sigh.
Feeling Dom loosen his hold, Kel thought that she was free, but she did not notice how Dom had changed positions to pin her down. Wolset not noticing anything but an angry Lady Knight launching for him took another panicked step backwards, unfortunately landing in the fire.
Unknown to all the men and angry Lady Knight, Lord Raoul had come at the first hint of trouble. He looked from Wolset trying to put out the flames of his burning loincloth, the men laughing at his misfortune, and Kel who was still trying to get away from Dom who still had her pinned.
"Enough!" Raoul used his commanding voice. "Sergeant Domitan, I want you to allow the Lady Knight up now. It is not proper for you to wrestle with her like that. Keladry, you will not kill any of the men and that is an order! Wolset, you had better start explaining what has Kel acting most out of character!"
He watched as Dom let Kel up, but still placed a restraining arm around her waist just to insure she would behave, and a nervous Wolset with his singed loincloth getting ready to report. He even noticed the other men from Dom's squad looking down at their feet ashamed.
Wolset started, "My Lord, this monin', Riley and me self went t' Lady Kel askin' her t' help Riley with his staff work. While she was teachin' him, I took the liberty of givin' her tent an' bedroll over to the rest o' the squad. Together we added pond slime, small critters and mud into both, and then we put in a few stones to help tear it up by puttin' it in a spare barrel so that it could roll all day. Afore the Lady could get her tent, we pulled it out and placed it where she could find it." He looked down.
Raoul then looked back to the scowling Kel who was still in Dom's arms. He raised an eyebrow at her.
Continuing to scowl she answered his unspoken question. "I was soaked to the point of drowning, Peachblossom was being more than a testy pony throwing me into the mud, and Sergeant Domitan was being more than an ass towards me all day. I had just finished punching the Sergeant and leaving him in the mud so I could change when I found my tent."
Raoul raised his eyebrows further as he took in the sight of Dom holding Kel. "I think it is rather obvious that you two made up." He looked to Dom for an answer.
"I apologized to my Lady and allowed her the use of my tent to change and calm down in. She told me what my men did and I could tell the change in her mood before she attempted to kill Wolset, so I stopped her the best I could." Dom looked carefully at Raoul to see what his mood would be.
Raoul rubbed his chin as he thought. "You men," he pointed to Dom's squad, "will have extra duties for the rest of the mission. You will have a watch every night until we reach Pearlmouth; it is quite obvious that you have too much time on your hands. You will also be in charge of cleaning up after meals and anything else I can think of."
He then turned to look at the rest of the company. "There will be no more pranks for the remainder of this mission. If I catch wind of any such thing, then those responsible will answer to me, and maybe my wife, on the practice courts. Now get back to what you were doing. You two," he pointed to Kel and Dom, "come with me."
Kel and Dom followed Raoul to his tent. Dom still had his arm wrapped around Kel, but neither of them noticed. When they reached Raoul's tent, he motioned for them to sit. It did not escape his attention that Dom still was maintaining contact with Kel; he had her hand in his. Kel seemed to be fuming silently still so he assumed it was to insure she didn't do anything rash.
Raoul sighed as he sat down. "Sometimes I feel as if this job is going to eat me alive. I don't think I need to tell you how this mission seems to be filled with mishaps left and right seeing as you two seem to be in the center of it all."
He held up his hand to stop Dom from interrupting him. "I am not blaming you two Dom, I am just stating the obvious." He looked at both of them.
"Now down to business, we need to find a place for Kel to sleep. I would originally have like to have you give her your tent Sergeant, and then have you join one of your men. But under the current circumstances, I don't think that would be wise."
"But Sir, if that's not what you are going to do, where am I to sleep?" Kel seemed to have finally come out from her quiet fuming.
Raoul smiled, "With Dom of course." At both of their bewildered looks he laughed. "With your current mood swings my dear girl, I think I need to place you with a baby-sitter. And I think that Dom here has shown a knack for that today."
"But Sir won't the men talk? It is completely indecent!" Dom protested.
"Are you telling me Sergeant that you do not wish to share with your lady?" Raoul laughed at their faces. "Don't worry, none of the other men know. I just happened to be passing by when I heard…certain events earlier this evening."
Raoul became serious once more. "Just because I am allowing this does not mean you should take advantage of the situation. Until we reach Pearlmouth, your tent shall be pitched next to mine. I view her as a daughter Sergeant."
Believing they were dismissed, they both stood up, but before they could turn Raoul asked Kel one last question. "Lady Knight, could you possibly bring me this ruined tent of yours? I would like to assess the damage myself. In the meantime Sergeant, I would like it if you were to move your tent next to mine."
Kel and Dom rushed to fulfill their orders.
Three days later to the utter dismay of the men in Dom's squad, they found their travel bags to be smelling of mold and long dead critters. Upon closer inspection into their bags, they found swabs of the tent they had ruined and a note from Raoul reminding them that any pranks they performed in return would lead to them being severely punished.
AN: You are more than lucky! Not only do you get two chapters, but you also get two new stories! Please take the time to read Unexpected and Jump.(You are lucky because I'm posting these from Mexico! Otherwise you would have had to wait at the very least another two days!)