Blending in

[Leyna de Somerville]

"My parents sent me to the City to find out what it was like to live as an adult, they have no call look askance at anything I might do," I said with a laugh. "Not that they would, for all the bristling they have only ever wanted me to be happy."

I caught his gaze, feeling my pulse quicken again.

"And I must admit to being very happy," I said, smiling softly.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Then it sounds like your parents are just about as perfect as parents can get," I said, smiling widely.

Her eyes caught mine again and blood pouned in my ears slightly. "I'm glad you're happy; when I first saw you you were lovely, but you were also sad. Now you are happy and even more beautiful." I reached a hand up and brushed her cheek softly.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I flushed with the heat that rose in me and I leaned into his caress.

"That was a difficult time when you first saw me, everything was in such turmoil. Things seem to be settling again and people are remembering how to be happy," I said.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"It's important that people learn how to move on and find happiness again," I answered. "Everyone needs something to look forward to."

Almost unthinkingly my hand trailed lightly down her neck as she leaned into my touch, the pounding of blood in my veins becoming just a hair louder. "What do you look forward to?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

I couldn't help the soft moan that escaped me as his fingers moved over my neck.

"At the moment I can't think beyond the next time you touch me," I said breathily, my pulse fully racing again.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Her pulse raced under my hands and I heard her moan and words faintly though the pulsing of my blood through my body; it was entirely too easy to let myself go too far too quickly with this girl. I would be easier to stop now that to try to remember to stop myself later, so I ran my hand around her chin and then pulled it away. "This should help you think of an answer then," I said, teasing and a little apologetic. It wasn't that I didn't want to touch her, it was the fact that feeling any more of her trembling and flushing under my hands and I may not be able to rein myself in.

[Leyna de Somerville]

My breath caught at his words and I felt the flush of my skin turn into a deep blush. I leaned back in my seat, looking anywhere but at him. I was acting like a starry-eyed little girl, and making a fool of myself.

I took a deep breath and tried to think of an answer to his question.

"I look forward to doing things I have never done, spending time with people I care about, and trying to figure out my path in life," I said, voice sounding reasonable steady. "What do you look forward to?"

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Not making a fool of myself and doing the best I can," I answered with a grin, mentally beating myself up for making her feel uncomfortable. "And you claiming your prize for winning our race, whatever it may be."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I smiled fleetingly and looked up as the waitress came to clear away the dishes.

"What shall we do next?" I asked. "You're turn to choose, since I decided on eating."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"I don't even know what there is to do here, that's not fair," I said, teasing her by playing at being indignant and smiling so there could be no doubt about my jest. "What are my options?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

I chuckled softly. "I haven't been here much longer than you," I said. "I imagine we can find anything that strikes our fancy. It's a big city."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Very true," I said, smiling lightly and trying to bring back that relaxed, happy atmosphere there had been between us earlier. "If you could find anything here, possible or impossible, what would it be?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

"You are trying to be very circumspect about getting me to choose the next thing and make it look like it was your decision," I told him, grinning wryly. "If I was to choose anything, I would find a place with music and dancing."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Oh no, you've found me out," I said just as wryly. "I'm just not good at making decisions about leisure activities. Besides, I wouldn't want to choose wrong and have you be irritated at me; you could lose me if you were on Soir and I would be lost in a strange city."

Cocking my head sideways I grinned and asked, "If you were to look for music and dancing here, where would you go?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

"I am not going to make all the decisions," I said, making a face at him. I motioned to the people in the pub and the staff. "There are plenty of people for you to ask about where to find music and dancing… plenty of regular people." I looked at him, eyebrow raised in light challenge.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Accepting her challenge with a toss of my head and a mischevious grin I stood and walked over to pay and asked a few questions, got answers and walked back over to Leyna with a truimphant grin. "Are you ready to go?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

I took the time he was away from the table to finish collecting myself so that when he returned I had a genuine smile to give him.

"I am," I said, laughing and rising.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

She was smiling again and it made me so happy to see it that grinned a little giddily and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, hoping I would never have to see her so uncomfortable again. "Then let's go," I said with a chuckle as I wrapped her arm around mine and squeezing it gently. "Noche and Soir are probably anxious to walk a bit more anyway."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I managed to keep my composure as he kissed me, I was proud of myself.

"I am sure, plus I'm sure those boys have had their hands full already," I said, letting him lead me out.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Are you suggesting that our lovely horseflesh could be difficult?" I asked, feining shock. "Oh, perish the thought."

When we finally reached the stables one of the boys was waiting outside and, seeing us, grinned and ran inside to get the horses. Impulsively I turned to face her and cupped her face in my hands, kissing her until the clatter of hooves on cobblestone told me the horses were ready.

[Leyna de Somerville]

Before I could stop myself I was melting against him as he kissed me. I let my hands move up his arms and I moaned softly as the taste of him filled my senses again. the scent of apples rose from my skin as desire began to burn bright within me.

I didn't hear the horses as they approached, all I knew was the feel and taste of him.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Pulling away slightly I said with my eyes on hers, "Now I know why the horses at least like you- you always smell like apples." My heart was pounding and her hands on my arms burned as much as her wanting moan roared through my mind and I was a little breathless.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I chuckled, blushing softly.

"That comes in the bloodline along with the talent with animals, any strong emotion and I smell like apples," I said, smiling.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"I like it, though I bet it makes it hard to hide when you're angry or irritated," I said with a chuckle and reaching for Noche's reins.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I chuckled, pressing the coins I had promised into the boy's hand and swinging up into Soir's saddle.

"It does at that," I said, smiling. "It also makes it impossible to try and get away with anything when you're a little kid."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

From Noche's saddle I grinned. "Every parent's dream, every child's nightmare- the evidence of troublemaking or guilt. My mother always said she could tell because I wouldn't look her in the eye."

Smiling down at the boys I steered Noche out of the stableyard and waited for Leyna.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I urged Soir up to fall in step with Noche.

"I would have bet it was because you couldn't stop from grinning," I said, teasingly.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"No, I can't grin when I feel guilty," I said, smiling and leading Noche through the streets to our next location. "Then again, I haven't had anything to feel guilty about since I've been here, so I smile quite a bit."

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Ah see, now I know your tell, the only time you don't smile is when you feel guilty," I said with a chuckle.

I noticed people on the sidewalks looking at us as we passed, I wondered what they were thinking.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Well, I think it's only fair, given that I know yours," I said teasingly. From the directions I'd gotten at The Cockerel we should be nearing the destination and I grinned.