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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 27, 2009 1:06:08 GMT -5
His fingers never left my shoulders, and for a moment, I felt weakness in my knees. "Darien," I breathed, so softly I wasn't even sure he could hear it.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 27, 2009 1:09:08 GMT -5
Leaning in, I placed a soft yet lingering kiss on the side of her neck.
“Let’s finish the painting,” I murmured.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 27, 2009 1:19:32 GMT -5
I closed my eyes when he kissed my neck, those damned tears threatening to fall again. "All right," I replied softly. Slowly, I moved away, sitting on the seat and posing.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 27, 2009 1:27:15 GMT -5
I sighed low as she moved away. Then I went to the painting, removing the covering and making myself focus. Picking up a brush, I began the last finishing strokes.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 27, 2009 1:32:55 GMT -5
For this last half hour, I held the pose, blinking every so often as a tear threatened to fall. Towards the end, I could smell the sweet potatoes on the air, and I knew it would not be long now.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 27, 2009 13:29:19 GMT -5
A last stroke and I laid my brush down.
“All done,” I said, looking up at her.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 28, 2009 1:12:24 GMT -5
I'd been staring off into space, but at his words, I made eye contact with him. "Truly?" I asked. "May I see it?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 28, 2009 20:17:53 GMT -5
“Of course,” I said with a smile. I stepped back so that she would be able to see the painting. It was one of my best works. One could almost feel the warmth of the sun as it glowed on her skin, you could almost see the soft movement of her chest as she breathed.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 30, 2009 0:42:25 GMT -5
Sliding off the stool, I moved around to look at the painting. When I saw it, I gasped. "Oh, Darien," I breathed. "It's so lovely." Staring back at me was a beautiful young woman. I feared that Darien had flattered me overmuch with this painting. "Is this what you see, when you see me?"
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 30, 2009 14:01:08 GMT -5
I looked away from the painting and at her. “That’s exactly what I see,” I answered. “That’s what you look like, Merav.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Dec 30, 2009 15:40:46 GMT -5
I looked back at him. "It's...amazing," I said. "Thank you. My mother will love it...I love it." Standing on my tiptoes, I leaned in to kiss his lips softly.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Dec 30, 2009 18:32:37 GMT -5
I would have slipped my arm around her, but I had paint on my hands and didn’t want to ruin her dress. So I contented myself with returning her kiss, smiling against her lips as I did.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 5, 2010 0:29:59 GMT -5
Gently breaking the kiss, I moved to where my regular clothes were. "I should probably change," I said, with a little laugh. "Then I'll get the rest of our meal cooking." Lacing up the dress was harder than undoing it, so with a little time, I was able to get it off.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 5, 2010 14:32:46 GMT -5
“Alright,” I said, still smiling. I began to clean up myself and my tools, stealing glances at her as she changed.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 5, 2010 18:04:51 GMT -5
When I was done changing, I dug the potatoes out of the embers. The skin was a bit burnt, but otherwise, they smelled wonderful. Pushing some more wood onto the embers, I started a fire. Standing, I went to take out the steaks and lay them on the grille. "What is the best way to send the painting to Namarre?" I asked.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 5, 2010 20:53:28 GMT -5
“I have person who will crate it up once it’s dry and cured. The crate will protect it through any journey,” I answered as I dried my brushes.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 5, 2010 22:34:35 GMT -5
"Oh, I see," I said, as I lifted a pot of water onto the hook. "How many meals does that cost?" I grinned sidelong at him.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 6, 2010 13:27:58 GMT -5
“None, it’s part of the cost,” I said, chuckling. Setting my brushes aside, I went to her, deciding that it was time to broach the subject and be done with the tension.
Reaching out, I took her hand. “Merav, you are welcome here any time you’d like. You don’t have to cook or clean or anything. I enjoy spending time in your company and I hope that I will still see you even after our business is done.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2010 0:03:44 GMT -5
If I hadn't been kneeling, I'm sure I would have fallen over. I met his eyes, revealing the tears there I'd been trying to hide. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Because I know you are so busy, and work so hard..." I swallowed. "I want to come back. I want to come see you, I am happy when I am with you, I..." I swallowed again. "I just didn't know if you wanted that, too."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 7, 2010 14:56:18 GMT -5
I knelt down beside her, my free hand coming up to cup her cheek. “I find myself missing you when you aren’t here,” I said softly. “I’d like to see you as often as possible.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2010 17:28:28 GMT -5
I felt a tear fall, a tear of happiness and of profound relief. "I want that, too," I whispered, leaning into his palm. With a sudden laugh, I moved to embrace him, hugging him tightly. "I don't mean to cry," I said, even as I laughed through my tears. "I'm just so glad."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 7, 2010 22:56:38 GMT -5
I wrapped my arms around her and held her to me as I smiled. “I’m very glad as well,” I told her.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2010 23:38:13 GMT -5
I moved my head to kiss him, pressing my lips to his with joy.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 7, 2010 23:41:35 GMT -5
I returned her kiss passionately. When the kiss broke I murmured against her lips, “I’m suddenly sorry that dinner is in the making.”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 7, 2010 23:45:28 GMT -5
"Me too," I murmured back. I pulled back reluctantly, a bit breathless. "Let me just...put the asparagus in the pot."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 8, 2010 0:12:12 GMT -5
“I can control myself until after we eat,” I said with a chuckle. Smiling, I stood up and looked around. “Anything I can do to help?”
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 8, 2010 0:32:09 GMT -5
I laughed. "I will try to contain myself," I said. Standing, I fetched the vegetables and put them in the pot. "If you want to keep an eye on the food while I set the table, and turn the steaks when it's time, that would be very helpful."
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 8, 2010 0:34:42 GMT -5
“I can do that,” I said, smiling and moving closer to the hearth to better keep an eye on things.
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Post by Merav Malahi de Valentin on Jan 8, 2010 0:39:44 GMT -5
I moved to the cupboards to get the tableware. "Are you planning to go to the Midwinter masque at the palace?" I asked.
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Post by Darien Kachine on Jan 8, 2010 12:20:15 GMT -5
“I hadn’t really thought about it,” I answered without looking away from the food. “You?”
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