October, 447 HE

[peerless_thayet]

The keep is dark when Thayet leads her horse into the courtyard. The party ended hours ago. Most of the Earl of Hafdon's guests will be abed. Servants will be waiting, of course, but she'll avoid them whenever possible. Tomorrow is soon enough to listen to their tuts of disapproval. She managed to undress herself before she was Queen; she'll manage just as well tonight.

Rubbing the back of her neck with one mud coated hand, she spies a man in the shadows of the stable's main archway. She hands the reins over with barely disguised relief and says, "Thank you. She'll need a good rubdown, and her feet looked after."

Comments

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon grins into her hair, then pulls back just enough to be able to see her face.

He leans down and stops a breath from her lips. "Not a chance."

[peerless_thayet]

A delicate sigh escapes. She stares into his eyes for a moment, then lowers her lashes and studies his lips, making no move to close the distance.

"I rather thought that might be your answer." She shakes her head sadly. "Knowing that, I might join the Fifth Rider Group in the forest after we clean up, thereby avoiding the whole issue."

Another almost kiss, and she stands, drops the blanket at her feet and moves in the direction of the bath.

"Unless you can persuade me to stay."

If she were a betting woman, Thayet would place good money on his chances.

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon almost tumbles to the floor in his haste to get off the bed and over to Thayet. He manages to grab her hand and swing her back around to him, pressing her body to his.

"I might be able to think of something," he murmurs as he finally captures her lips with his.

They don't manage to make it to the bath that night.