Date : 14.11.2011

Title : The Hassansins' Secret

Author : ElaineDex

Chapter : 8 of ?

Rating : M

Pairings : Zolm/OC

Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Angst, Maybe Some Strong Language.

Spoilers : Possible references to Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time.

Disclaimer : I do not own anything to do with the Prince of Persia franchise. This plot and any O/C's are mine.

Summary : (AU) The Hassansins take on a mission that leads to the discovery of a secret from their past, one that could change their futures forever and Zolm finds out that maintaining emotional detachment isn't always quite that easy.

Zolm released Dasmine abruptly and took a step back from her, his blue eyes burning intensely as he looked upon the woman who stirred his heart like no other.

"Forgive me…" he murmured, watching as she raised a trembling hand to lips swollen from his kisses.

"There is nothing to forgive," she replied, smiling softly at him, his kiss everything she had dreamed of and more.

"You should rest," Zolm said and she nodded, turning away from him slowly and heading for her bed, her head and her heart now in a tizzy as to just what this unexpected kiss had meant.

"Stay with me…" she said, turning to look at him again, blushing as she realised how that sounded, "…just until I fall asleep…"

Zolm took a moment to consider her request, weighing up how much willpower he had now that he had finally acknowledged what he had somehow known all along; that he wanted Dasmine…wanted her badly.

Nodding once, he waited as she shrugged off his robe and got under her blankets before he removed his boots, scimitars and headdress and discarding them onto the floor he lay at her side, disconcerted when she immediately snuggled against him and it took him a moment before he placed his arm around her shoulders, unused to such physical closeness as he was.

They lay together silently, Dasmine wanting to ask so many things, but before she could, the tiredness that she hadn't known she was feeling crept upon her and it wasn't long before Zolm felt her head grow heavy against his chest and he looked up at the stone ceiling, staring, allowing his mind to go blank for the longest time, not wanting to do anything but feel her softness against him.

She was such a contrast to him, so light and happy and soft compared to the heavy darkness that always seemed to surround him and he had to wonder why she was drawn to him. Turning his head he breathed in the scent of her hair, allowing himself the moment since there was no-one there to see…

He knew he shouldn't let himself care…no good ever came from caring, his training and upbringing had taught him that. Caring was a weakness, one that allowed your enemy's insight into your soul…gave them something to attack you with…

Easing himself out from under Dasmine, he got off of the bed and turned to look down at her, closing his eyes as he warred within himself and eventually, sighing deeply, he gathered his belongings and left her room.

OoOoOoO

Azzam had cursed so colourfully that the air in the palace must surely have been a deep shade of blue by now.

He was alone in the throne room save for the one surviving henchman who was stood silently before him, bearing the brunt of his anger despite the fact he was much more skilled and dangerous than the snivelling would-be king.

"There is one last hope to defeat them…my Lord…" he said and Azzam turned to look at him, narrowing his eyes.

"Tell me…"

The henchman smiled.

"There is a woman…"

OoOoOoOoO

Dasmine awoke sometime around noon and was not surprised to find Zolm already gone. Rolling onto her back she stretched and smiled as she thought about the way he had kissed her, wondering what had prompted the action.

Throwing back her blankets she moved to her wash bowl and jug and proceeded to ready herself for the rest of the day, taking time with her appearance even though she knew the men would no doubt be hungry by now and ready to eat one another's arms.

Detangling her long hair as best she could, she then picked out one of her best dresses, eager to look nice, for now that she seemingly had Zolm's attention she did not want to risk losing it again. Finally ready she made her way down to the kitchen and began to prepare the bread, cheese, fruit and goat's milk for the men and began to ferry it through to the dining area where the men were gathered.

"Ahhh, finally…there you are Dasmine," Ghazab said, ambling over to her. "My gut thinks my throat has been slit," he joked, grinning at her and she glowered at him, blushing as Nefrat joined them and said,

"You're a little over dressed for serving the food today aren't you?"

Shushing him she had just turned away to make another trip to the kitchen when young Yousef stopped her,

"I think you look beautiful Dasmine…" he said and was quickly grabbed in a playful headlock by Setam as the others laughed.

Mortified, Dasmine made a break for the archway and headed back to the kitchen, returning with the rest of the food and she was surprised to see that Zolm had appeared in her short absence and was sat by the hearth.

Making him up a plate of food, she approached him, offering it to him when he looked up at her.

He nodded once in thanks before saying,

"I trust you are well…?"

"Yes…" she replied, feeling suddenly awkward and shy, a sure sign that something was definitely changing between the two of them.

"When the meal is over we will begin work on your self-defence skills," Zolm said and Dasmine's eyes widened a little.

"We um…we will?" she said and he nodded, breaking up his bread and cheese.

"Yes," he stated. "I am not happy that you do not know how to protect yourself sufficiently when I am not here."

Dasmine's heart did a little happy dance in her chest at the thought that he cared that much and she smiled at him, some of her confidence returning as she said,

"I had better change my dress then," and she fiddled with the laces at her breasts as Zolm cast his eyes over her.

The pale blue garment she wore was very fetching and Zolm swallowed as he took in the way the material skimmed her breasts and hips and he looked away abruptly before saying,

"Yes…" and Dasmine smiled again before turning away and leaving the dining hall, her hips swaying, unaware that Zolm's eyes followed each move intensely.

After changing and tidying away the breakfast mess, Dasmine sought out Zolm and found him in one of the dim torch-lit training areas, swirling his scimitar far too fast and dangerously for her liking and she merely observed him for a moment until he turned to her.

"Come…" he said, lowering his weapon and she stepped toward him, not at all sure about him teaching her how to defend herself with a sword such as his. It was far too heavy for her and she didn't want to fail him or make a fool of herself in front of him.

She needn't have worried though for as she neared him he placed his scimitar down and produced a long dagger from his belt, the hilt crafted to look like the head of a snake and she smiled as he handed it to her.

"For you," he stated. "That is what I will teach you to use…"

"Thank you," she replied and he nodded and removed his cloak before producing a matching dagger from his belt.

OoO

Sometime later and for around the tenth time in a row, Dasmine found herself with her back flattened against Zolm's chest, his dagger to her throat, hers lying on the floor some distance from where they stood.

Zolm growled a little in her ear, trying to not let his frustration get the better of him.

"I don't think it's working…you're so much stronger than I am," Dasmine said, frustrated with herself and her inability to fight back and Zolm had to concede that she would have difficulty defeating any man who had his mind set upon disarming her…

A flash of anger went through him again at the thought of what Azzam's two men had attempted and he was glad when Dasmine spoke again to distract him from his murderous thoughts.

"Perhaps I need to approach things differently," she said and he went to release her, but she stopped him, placing her hand on his arm to stop him pulling his dagger away from her throat.

"I imagine that men can be easily distracted when it comes to the female form…" she said and even though she could not see Zolm's face, she could imagine his expression.

"Where are you going with this?" he asked and she wiggled her behind a little, receiving another short growl for her efforts.

"If I played along for a time..." she said, "...like this…" and she slipped her hand behind her back, in between their bodies, her fingers skimming his manhood and when Zolm moved back abruptly and released her, she reached up and snatched the dagger from his hand, grinning at him triumphantly as he glowered at her.

"You see, that was much more succ…" she trailed off, crying out a little as Zolm advanced upon her, grabbing her wrists and raising them above her head as he backed her hard up against the wall behind her, pinning her there and squeezing the wrist of the hand that held the dagger until she released it and it clattered to the stone floor unheeded as they stared at one another.

Before Dasmine could say anything further, Zolm lowered his head and kissed her, her fingers having started a fire inside of him that he was unsure he could put out until his desire was sated. As she moaned into his mouth he took the opportunity to slide his tongue against hers and as he felt himself begin to harden he released her wrists, pleased when she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. Trailing his hands down her sides, his thumbs momentarily skimming the rounded sides of her breasts before he moved to caress her hips, then onto the soft curves of her behind, pulling her in close to press her belly against his straining erection before bending slightly and lifting her, his hands encouraging her to wrap her legs around him.

Dasmine moaned again and did as he urged, the soft skin of her thighs becoming exposed as he dragged her skirt higher and she felt heat pooling at the apex of her thighs.

Tearing his mouth from hers, Zolm buried his face against her neck, his teeth nipping at the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

"Be sure that this is what you want," he murmured, his voice holding a warning. "Now is the time to tell me if it is not…"

Dasmine moved her hands to his face and pulled back a little so that she could see him. She would be a liar if she said she wasn't nervous; she had never lain with a man before after all, but she did want this…wanted him…

"I love you…" she said simply, smiling softly at him, "…I want to be with you…"

Zolm groaned at her words and crushed his mouth to hers again before turning with her still in his arms and heading for the stairs that led up to her room.

OoOoO End of Chapter 8 OoOoO