A summer afternoon

[Leyna de Somerville]

The walk had been wonderful, Troy was such good company. By the time we reached the house my embarrassment had completely fled and I was just smiling happily.

I led him inside and Anne greeted us. “We’re going to the sun room,” I told her. “Please bring us some cool drinks.” I looked at Troy. “Did you want lunch?”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

"I would be happy to eat with you if you're hungry, otherwise I'm fine," I said with a smile as I focused on her. Sad as it was, my attention was attuned to the blond by me, not so much on the townhome as it probably should have been. I looked around when she was busy elsewhere, but when she looked at me my attention went back, and a smile was on my mouth. "The sun room?" I asked, curious as to what it was like.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I told Anne to bring us a light lunch and she headed off to the kitchen, Shylah close at her heels.

“It’s got some other architectural name that I could never remember when I was little so my parents just called it the sun room and that’s what stuck,” I said, laughing as I took his hand and led him towards the back of the house.

“Here we are,” I said, showing him into the sun room. It had windows taller than me and glass doors, all looking out over the gardens. There was a fountain in the corner with fish and the room was awash in plants. “Mother used to spend hours in here with the plants.”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I was chuckling with her comment when she took my hand; I admit my smile became a little larger after that, even while I kept myself schooled as proper. "I can see why," I said as I looked around, my eyebrows raising a little at how nice the room was. "It's really lovely in here - I understand why you both would like it."

I looked at Leyna with a smile, doing my best not to think of anything but the room. Doing my best, but not really succeeding, and I caught my thumb shifting along her lower palm as if of its own accord, enjoying the soft silkiness of her skin. "Do you come in here often anymore?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

My pulse skipped a little as I felt his thumb caressing my palm and I tried desperately to ignore it.

“Not as much as I used to when my parents were here too,” I said, smiling. I released his hand so I could pluck a dying flower from one of the bushes and drop it in the bucket meant for such things. “I’m not as good with plants as mother and I don’t want to ruin all her work.”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I watched her as she busied herself with picking flowers, inwardly cursing myself for not keeping better control of myself. I was disappointed that she'd let go of my hand, and had on but two occasions forgotten myself enough to stroke my finger across her hand. Eluas balls, but I needed to keep a better check on myself.

"Is she in the country?" I asked as I moved, ever so gently drawing my finger along the bloom of a purple flower.

[Leyna de Somerville]

“Yes,” I said with a smile, looking at him. “She and my father are out at the estate. They have always preferred it out there to the City and when I came of age they sort of unofficially gave me the house here to stay at and play at being a grown up.” I laughed softly and moved over to the fountain to check on the fish. I sat on the edge and dipped my fingers in the water lightly, making little ripples.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I turned as she sat and watched her trail her fingers through the water. "That would make a lovely painting," I said with a smile. "You look very.. happy. Peaceful."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I blushed softly when I realized he meant me. “Thank you,” I said. Unbidden the feel of his caress on my cheek surfaced in my mind and I blushed deeper.

I was saved from having to think of something to say by the arrival of Anne and another girl bearing trays of drink and food. One tray held a pitcher of water with slices of orange and lemon floating in it and another pitcher of the white wine and peach mixture I so enjoyed. Both pitchers were so chilled that I could tell it at a distance. The other tray held a bowl of cubed fruit, a plate of small sandwiches and another plate of cookies.

“Thank you,” I told Anne as they set everything out on the little settee. “That will be all for now, and please close the doors.” Anne cast me a look, but did as she was told and in a moment Troy and I were alone again. I rose from where I was sitting.

“Would you care for a drink or something to eat?” I asked Troy, shaking the water from my fingers before drying them on my skirt. My mother would be appalled.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I remained silent as her maid came in and delivered the lunch, and in my silent observations I noted the look Leyna recieved after she told her to close the door. It was all well and good - Leyna was betrothed and I had to behave. Damnit. I had to keep telling myself that.

"I would love it," I said with a smile, moving towards the trays before she had a chance to. "Let me pour it for you - which would you prefer?"

She wiped her hands on her dress. Such a simple thing, but so.. down to earth. Not what I pictured Princesses doing, especially in their own home with towels readily available. I smiled at her, hoping none of it showed in my gaze.

[Leyna de Somerville]

“The wine with peaches please,” I said, smiling as I moved to the tables as well. “It’s one of my favorite drinks when it’s warm outside.”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I took the one she wanted and cupped the wineglass in my hand, stem between my middle finger and ring finger. "It's a refreshing drink," I commented with a smile as I poured it for her. "Very light, good for summer months." Setting the pitcher down, I turned and moved to her, handing it to her with an easy grin. "Isn't this what we had when we first met?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

I flushed as I took the glass from him, finding it impossible not to let my fingers brush his as I did.

“Yes, I do believe it was,” I said softly. For some reason such a little thing, a shared memory triggered by a current event felt so…intimate.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I'd have been lying had I said I didn't enjoy the small touch of her fingers on mine, but I swallowed it down, refusing to let myself react to it. I turned and poured my own glass, then shifted back to her and raised it in a small toast. "To things both past and present, then," I said with the same easy smile, tilting my glass out to hers to clink together before swallowing. I wanted to show her my marque, but the flush in her face said she wasn't comfortable, and I wouldn't remove my shirt until she was. I didn't want to make her squirm... Not like that, anyway.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I smiled at his toast and then took a long drink of wine, trying to use the time to settle my thoughts and emotions.

It didn’t work.

“Would you like to eat or show me your marque first?” I asked softly, looking at him as I asked and willing myself not to blush again as I had before.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

Her blush had receeded and hadn't come back again, but she didn't seem comfortable, and I was less so at the thought of making her unsure of herself. "Whatever you'd like, Princess," I said with a gentle smile after sipping my drink. I held onto it, fearing if I set it down I would cup her chin. Cup it, tilt it up, and kiss her til I made her toes curl in her shoes... and even then, I wasn't sure I'd be able to let her go.

My breath quicker than I'd have liked, I swallowed and shifted into a charming smile. "It's a little red at the top, I fear; the inking was just completed mayhap half a week or so ago."

[Leyna de Somerville]

There was a fraction of an instant when I wanted to call it off, to beg him to forgive me and then run and lock myself in my room. It was too quick and impulse to show, and quickly squashed by the part of me that said there was nothing wrong in what we were doing. That voice was louder – for now – and gave me a bit of confidence.

“I’d like to see it,” I said softly, even as I smiled at him.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I saw no hesitation in her, and it gave me heart. Heart enough that my easy smile wasn't so hard to come by, wasn't so hard to muster. I'd learned long ago, before I'd even come to Jasmine that putting people at ease was the quickest way to settle disputes and emotions, and it only came natural now.

Setting down my wineglass, I began undoing the row of buttons that kept my shirt on, all the while forcing myself not to think about being half naked infront of her; instead I thought about how happy she must be with her betrothed, and how my interference would do nothing but cause heartache. The thought sobered me, and when the last button was undone I looked at her with a flashing smile. "Ready?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

I watched as he undid the buttons of his shirt, barely breathing. It had occurred to me, again, just how incredibly attractive Troy was and as when he’d touched my face earlier my body was reacting to the thought of him taking off his shirt in very distracting ways.

He looked at me and smiled, my knees going a little weak when he did. I nodded, unable to catch my breath enough to speak.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

At her nod, I split my shirt and let it fall off my frame, my hand catching it before it fell and laying it neatly over the back of a chair. My breath quickened considerably, and I looked at her a second, a second that seemed and eternity, before the corner of my lips shifted to a soft curve of a smile, and I turned to present my finished marque to her. I knew there was a good chance my breeches were covering the bottom of it, but I didn't ask, letting her have the chance to tell me herself if it was.

[Leyna de Somerville]

The grace with which he removed his shirt made my pulse skip and when my gaze moved from the beautiful expanse of his bare chest to his eyes, it was all I could do to keep from moaning softly. My skin warmed as if he was touching me and when he turned away I almost reached out to stop him.

It took a moment for my eyes to focus on what was before me as I looked at his marque, but when they did I gasped softly. “Troy,” I breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

I stepped closer and without thinking, raised my hand and lightly traced the shape of one of the star shaped flowers.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

My smile was growing at the open honesty of her words, though I froze when I suddenly felt her fingers on me. Safe from her sight, I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the touch, the way her skin slid over mine, how light and gentle it was. "Thank you," I said softly, soft enough that I didn't know if she really heard me. What would it be like, I wondered, to have her willingly touch me like that, without fear in her eyes, or reluctance?

[Leyna de Somerville]

As my eyes moved up along the vines and leaves of his marque, so did my fingers, stopping just before the slightly reddened skin at the top.

“Does it hurt?” I asked softly.

[Troy nó Jasmine]

My breathing was forced slow as I felt her fingers move across my back, making me ache with a desire that only a supreme hold on my will stopped me from turning and kissing her. "Not much, not anymore," I said quietly. "Even when it does, though, it's.. not the same. You're proud of it, of your work and dedication." I turned slightly, enough that I could look at her, and wished at that moment that I hadn't. She was so close to me now that I could feel the heat of her body against my back, and it made the desire flash through me harder than before.

[Leyna de Somerville]

When he turned slightly, my eyes looked up to meet his and I saw desire there that made my blood rush. My lips parted slightly of their own accord, as if preparing for the press of his mouth to mine. I felt my body begin to lean into his even more before I caught myself.

Oh gods…what was I doing???

I blushed hotly and stepped back, tearing my eyes from his and letting my hands fall to my sides. “Thank you,” I whispered. “For showing me. It’s magnificent.”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

I saw the part of her lips, the lean of her slim body towards me, and my blood rushed through my veins as I prepared everything I had in me for her. When she suddenly balked and stepped back, her face aflame, I flinched as if burned, and turned immediatly to gather my shirt.

"It was my pleasure, Princess," I said, and this time her title weighted on me, a reminder of who she was, who I was. I took my shirt in my hand and straightened it out to put it on, wishing I could will away the sight of her parting her lips for me, the picture of her moving to accept me, to...

I shook slightly and turned to face her, to face reality. "Leyna," I said softly, my shirt on but undone yet, and inwardly I cursed for the sloppiness of it. Before she could move again I reached and caught up her hand, cradling it gently between mine. "I know it's.. small. I know. But if you ever have need, I'll be at your side quicker than you could breath. And I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, I vow it," I added, immediately cursing myself for it. Damn, damnit, damnit Troy. Hurt her? Awkward for the first time since we met, I moved to kiss her fingers, then remembered myself with her hand halfway to my lips, and another awkward moment followed as I patted her fingers and released her hand.

[Leyna de Somerville]

Princess… This time when he said it, it hit me like a blow. And I clenched my eyes tightly against the tears that threatened. Oh gods, what was I doing???

I loved Nic, I really did. He was a good man and kind and sweet and I knew he loved me too, but…

but…

He didn’t look at me like that anymore. I’d seen the pure desire in Troy’s gaze and I wanted that desperately. Nic used to look at me like that.

Troy said my name and I opened my eyes, looking at him. His words were so kind, so sweet they broke my control and a tear ran down each cheek. “I’m so sorry Troy… I don’t know what I’m doing…what I was thinking,” I whispered. “You’re so handsome and sweet and funny…I just wanted…”

More tears fell and I turned away, not wanting him to see me cry. “I’m sorry I put you in this position.”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

Her tears broke my heart, and I was as surprised by that as I was that she was crying at all. The first two were like hammers blowing at me, and when more fell and she turned away, I reached out and caught her up, pulling her to me, cradling her in my arms ever so gently against my chest. "You didn't," I whispered softly, my face angling down, face in her hair. "You didn't, Leyna, not at all. Please don't cry."

I cradled her, tenderly, softly, wanting her to smile and laugh again. "Please," I repeated softly, one hand coming up to stroke down her beautiful golden hair.

[Leyna de Somerville]

His arms around me, the feel of his bare chest against my cheek, it nearly undid me. I felt myself soften in his arms, the tears stopped along with the beat of my heart and all I could think of was him.

“Troy,” I breathed softly, feeling the warmth of my breath as it rolled across his skin.

Then, with a thunderous pounding, my heart started up and my mind came back to me. I gasped and stepped back, not jerking away but pulling out of his arms. “Oh gods,” I gasped, stricken. “I can’t… I’m engaged…Nic…”

[Troy nó Jasmine]

Seeing her step back like that, out of the embrace of my arms with gasps of her betrothed, I felt something in me shift, something break. Funny how it happened like that, with this only our second meeting, but in the end we all were Eluas children.

"Forgive me," I said quietly, bowing my head as I stepped back from her. "I should go, I'm sorry." I turned and walked to the door, quickly doing up the buttons of my shirt, but not bothering with the top ones or to tuck it in just yet. I paused with my hand on the door and looked back at her, not saying anything, just looking at the mess I'd made and the pain I'd caused. "I'm sorry," I repeated softly, not wanting to flee without giving her the chance to say anything.