Heirot

Tenele narrowed her eyes. He acted like Sekushi was out to get her. "Vlad," she said, smirking slightly. "I don't think he's out to get me. Well, then again he did put his hands...." she stopped herself. "Maybe it would be suspicious.... But, I don't like seeing you hurt..."

She brushed her silver hair, something she always did when she was thinking hard, emberassed, or uncomfortable.

Vlad narrowed his eyes, looking up at her. He seemed to be thinking for a long moment. "This is getting too dangerous. Perhaps we should consider abandoning this plan for something else," he thought out loud. Even as he said it, he knew they couldn't. It would raise suspicion and make it impossible to get in again any other way.

Tenele looked down at him. She thought for a moment. "Vlad... Did that guy, Sekushi, did he say something about me. Is that why you don't want me going near him?" she asked softly, moving because her hand she was propped on was starting to loose its feeling. Sitting up without something against her back got uncomfortable after a while.

Before Vlad could respond, the door swung open without a knock. Sekushi strolled in through the doorway and stopped when he saw Tenele's there with him.

"Why hello, my dear," he smiled. "Forgive the intrusion, I didn't realise you were here. I just came to tell this hunk that his performance has greatly improved. Our patrons enjoyed him so much that he's booked double tonight." He smirked at the fiery glare that shot toward him. "Well, I'll stop interrupting. Perhaps I'll see you later, my dear," he smiled at Tenele and strolled out again, closing the door behind him.

Vlad stared at the door, his hands curling into fists.

Tenele didn't look at Sekushi much, she only glanced at him everynow and then. "Let's hope not," she said softly when he left.

She glanced at Vlad and then her eyes locked on him. Booked double?

"Vlad... please... let me take you out of here," she said softly. She didn't like the thought of him with more women.

She grabbed his hand absentmindedly, not notcing how his hands were fisted.

Vlad would have liked to say yes at that moment, but he was fairly sure "convincing your master to void her contract" was on Sekushi's list of misbehaviors punishable by attacking Tenele. "We have to go through with it," he said through his teeth. He looked toward the wall, wondering if she understood what had happened the night before. He wondered what she would think of him if she knew. Would she be touching him the way she was now?

Tenele didn't know why but her eyes watered slightly. She forgot momentarily about the wounds on his chest when she fell laid down on him, hugging his neck.

"I will be so glad when this is all over..." she said and turned her head to the side, her silver silky hair cascading down onto his shoulder. "I'll do everything I can to make it end sooner..."

Vlad was surprised that she hugged him, but didn't mind it. His hands loosened and wrapped around her back in a secure embrace. "It'll be fine," he told her, not sure he believed it.

Tenele felt it would be fine. His arms around her back made her feel so safe. She closed her eyes for a moment. She looked up at him after a while and let her head hover right above his.

Her green eyes sparkled slightly. She leaned her head down, wanting to kiss him like they had kissed eachother after the fight with dragons...

Her lips gently touched his, kissing slowly at first.

Vlad's eyes sank shut and he kissed her back, not caring about the pressure on his cuts. His thumbs traced small circles on her sides as he fell deeper into the kiss, trying to feel instead of think.

She closed her eyes as they kissed, enjoying the feel. She loved him kissing her. It felt so good to kiss him.

She lifted her head and took a deep breath. "Rarr..." she said playfully, kissing him again. Her hand touched his neck, moving to his face... through his hair.

Vlad grinned and met her lips, doing everything right, touching her exactly the right way. She felt good above him, her fingers in his hair, her smell...

and then, in a broken instant unpleasant memories of the night before when he'd been in the same position under very different circumstances flashed back through his head, and the magic snapped. He drew in a sharp breath as though he'd been punched and jerked his head backward further into the pillow. He blinked and stared at Tenele's face a few inches from his alertly, cursing himself for being shaken so easily.

Tenele gasped to, a bit startled. But, when she looked at Vlad's head back into the pillow she looked at him even more startled. "I'm sorry..." she said and sat up straight. "I wasn't thinking..." She brushed her silver hair out of the way twice.

She climbed over him and laid down next to him looking at the ceiling.

"No, it's not you," Vlad said, hoping she's believe him. There was an awkward silence, and then, "Actually, last night there were some...complications." He took her hand and lifted it to the side of his face, and down to his collar, where her fingers hooked on it. "As long as I wear this, I can't use my power. Can't use telekinetics, can't heal, and can't..move." He spoke in a low voice, clearly not accustomed to admitting weaknesses to others, but he wanted her to understand. For some reason, he wanted her to get it, before he kissed her again.

Tenele stared at his collar after he kissed her. She thumbed the collar lightly as she rolled over on her side. She looked like she was contemplating something. "I'll find a key to get it off... I promise," she said. She had this detirmened look in her green eyes. Her hand slipped up this face, touching him tenderly.