Hunted (Open - please PM before joining)

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

"Thanks for taking care of her for me - I thought she was never going to take the hint! Can you believe it? Flirting with a married man right in front of his wife?! Makes you wonder what some of the other people who stay here must be like!"

Alexia was somewhat comforted by Brinn’s words, but still she could not help but think;
“.. but he’s not a married man and she certainly was leaving no doubt as to what she’d like to be getting up to!”

Turning suddenly she was unable to hide her expression.
She found herself wrapped in his arms.
She looked up at him curiously. The servants were all gone and for now they were alone, so why ….?

"It's okay, you know. You're quite safe here.
There is nothing to worry about tonight - you're warm, protected and cared for."

Her heart gave a lurch and her cheeks pinked as she gazed up at him.
But she knew she must not let herself get carried away with all this.

”Yes … I know … I have my husband to protect me … “

She whispered, the words had been intended to be jocular, but they merely came out breathlessly.

Turning away from his gaze, she spoke softly.

”I … I hope it doesn’t … inconvenience … you too much, posing as my husband… “

She murmured hesitantly.

”I mean … well… I realise the obligation you must feel and … the… constraints … all this must put on you … “

She hedged nervously.

She couldn’t ask him outright if he was going to see that girl.
She would indeed sound like a suspicious wife.

”Perhaps … when you return from escorting me to Wales… then you can…. I’m sure she’d be as willing then… she.. seemed eager enough, even though she believed you to be married … “

Her cheeks coloured as she averted her face, standing with his arms still around her, her words sounded absurd, but she saw realisation dawn on Brinn’s face and hid her face ashamedly in his chest.

”I’m sorry .. it.. it’s none of my business… “

She apologised hastily, berating herself for not holding her tongue!

 

[Steiner]

Brinn lowered his head so that his face was buried in her hair. "Until you're safe, there is NO pretense. We ARE married, and we'd better act that way, even in private!"

He squeezed her upper arms and pulled his head back to look down at her.

"Now what's all this about? That pushy wench from downstairs? That's my fault for flashing all that money around downstairs, I suppose. There's one of those in every village, I wouldn't need to come back here to find company like that, I assure you!"

He stepped back, his hands on her shoulders.

"And that's the last time you mention any obligation, I hope. I made my decision some time ago - so there's no need to go over past history, is there?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

Alexia braced herself for Brinn’s response.
Would he be angry with her?
Would he laugh and ridicule her?
She was totally unprepared for his words and actions.

She felt Brinn nestle his face into her riot of blonde hair, moving his head to burrow down, losing himself in it. She shivered at the feel of his face, his breath on her scalp.

"Until you're safe, there is NO pretense. We ARE married, and we'd better act that way, even in private!"

She glanced down at her ring and wondered at the earnestness of his words.
It would be wise to be safe rather than sorry and she had to admit to herself, she was enjoying the protection that being his wife offered … and the intimacy … and his tender talk … she acknowledged …

His hands moved to her arms as he drew his head backwards, though she kept her face averted still. His grip was firm and he squeezed her flesh, a gesture, urging her to confide in him, to trust him, to look at him.

"Now what's all this about? That pushy wench from downstairs?
That's my fault for flashing all that money around downstairs, I suppose."

Slowly she raised her eyes to his, glancing at him knowing somehow that he spoke the truth.

”There's one of those in every village, I wouldn't need to come back here to find company like that, I assure you!"

He finished as he stepped back to ensure could see her face fully now.
His hands were on her shoulders and she found her eyes drawn to him, his voice was soft, but held seriousness, an insistence as he spoke.

"And that's the last time you mention any obligation, I hope.
I made my decision some time ago - so there's no need to go over past history, is there?"

She shook her head obediently.

”Noo.. “

She agreed quietly.

”If you say not … it’s past .. “

She turned her demure expression to him and smiled softly.
She was but a young woman and he a seasoned fighter, yet she was so lacking in experience that she seemed little more than a child, so willing to be reassured, so naively trusting as she looked up at him
The barmaid was forgotten. She believed him unquestioningly.

 

[Steiner]

He saw her tentative smile and matched it with one of his own - glad that she seemed to be relaxing a little. He leaned in closer to her and kissed her mouth gently, but unhurriedly - not pressing too firmly.

Then he seperated from her again, giving her a final squeeze for reassurance.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

His answering smile warmed Alexia.
The touch of his mouth made her shiver.
She felt his lips brush gently across her own as he kissed her gently, yet tenderly.
She let her head drop back and offered her mouth up to be kissed, her eyes fluttering shut as she moved her mouth beneath his.

As he drew away, she smiled and felt his reassuring hold once more, before moving away from her to the place where she had been stood by the fire and looked down at the tub.

"Will we eat or bathe first, Brinn? "

She enquired.

 

[Steiner]

"Well, we should probably eat first, Alexia. I don't know about you, but once I've soaked in hot water for awhile, on top of the wine and a good meal, I'll be ready for bed!"

As he spoke the lad, Jack, accompanied by the wench Sally brought up their meal and laid it out on the table. Brinn grabbed Alexia's hand and led her to the table, telling the pair to bring the water in about half an hour. He sat down at the table and, poured the wine as Alexia filled two plates with the food - which was good quality country fare, unsophisticated, but well prepared.

Brinn eat hungrily - enjoying the repast, and pushed Alexia to take a little more than she would usually. Her body was unused to hard walking, and she would be quickly converting the extra food to extra muscle with the gruelling timetable they had ahead.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

"Well, we should probably eat first, Alexia. I don't know about you, but once I've soaked in hot water for awhile, on top of the wine and a good meal, I'll be ready for bed!"

Alexia nodded in agreement. She was exhausted. Brinn had set quite a pace that day and although she was becoming used to travelling, she had not covered as much ground in as short a time when she was on her own!

Alexia turned as Jack and Sally brought up the meal and laid it out before them.
She smiled up into Brinn’s eyes as he took her hand and led her to the table. Alexia did as she was bid and filled two plates with food, whilst Brinn poured out another goblet of wine. Handing the plate to her “husband” she gave a nervous smile.

”I hope my choices, please you,”

She spoke softly hoping that both the choices for their meal and the morsels she had placed on his plate were adequate.

”This… I’m not used to playing the lady … I fear my background is much more humble than you suppose, Brinn … “

She looked down then and began to eat slowly wondering if he would accuse her of misleading him.

As they ate, Brinn prompted her to tell more of her background.

Alexia offered no details of her family, but explained that she had been raised in a rural area and always helped out at home with cleaning, cooking and sewing. She smiled as she recalled collecting eggs, churning butter and gathering the offerings of berries and mushrooms that grew wild about her home.

It was clear her family had been poor and that she had spent her youth contributing to the household, yet she did not tell Brinn that the illnesses of her parents and their subsequent deaths had been the reason for her not being much in the company of the other young people located about her.

Alexia automatically served Brinn a further helping of the fine food laid out before them. She was confident at table he found and eager to locate the food he requested. He urged her to eat more, but Alexia shook her head, indicating her still half full plate.

”This is much more than I usually eat Brinn … I have but a small appetite … I doubt I will faint away if I manage to get all this food within me … “

She dimpled him a smile as a teasing light came to her eyes.

"You would not wish to be saddled with a weighty wife, I think ... ?"

Lowering her eyes demurely, hiding the mischief that danced in them, she set about eating her own repast, the very image of the obedient, compliant wife ...

 

[Steiner]

Brinn smiled - Alexia's sense of humour was slowly coming out as she became more comfortable with him, and he found her gentle way of speaking to him quite charming.

"Well, my lady, it's not as if my life has been a series of fine banquets and comfortable lodgings. There have been times when I have slept in ditches and one winter I turned farm labourer to make ends meet." He gestured at the room around them "This year I happen to have been remarkably lucky - I captured a Lord, and my share of his ransom, the one-third my employer was required to give me by contract and custom, has proved to be most useful."

He paused to chew a Chicken leg and made a show of running his eyes up and down her figure "I suppose you have to watch what you eat, at that."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

Alexia warmed to Brinn's smile and fixed her eyes on his as he responded.

"Well, my lady, it's not as if my life has been a series of fine banquets and comfortable lodgings. There have been times when I have slept in ditches and one winter I turned farm labourer to make ends meet." He gestured at the room around them "This year I happen to have been remarkably lucky - I captured a Lord, and my share of his ransom, the one-third my employer was required to give me by contract and custom, has proved to be most useful."

She listened fascinated by his tales, wondering at all the sights he had seen, remembering his reminsicence of meeting the king.
She watched as he ate, taking her second helping as she saw how he stopped deliberately with the chicken leg poised in his hand.

She noted his deliberate perusal of her body and lowered her eyes with affected modesty as he did so.
Alexia knew there was not one bit of fat on her and if there had been she would easily walked it off by now.

"I suppose you have to watch what you eat, at that."

He commented suggestively.
She raised her eyes to his and pouted prettily.

"But my Lord, I thought that was what husbands were for, it seems I have been sorely misled."

Hiding a giggle she deliberately continued to eat, licking her fingers indulgently before taking a generous sip of wine, the smile still pulling at the corners of her mouth ...

 

[Steiner]

"Oh no... We're here to help ensure you get enough exercise to work off those excess pounds - or in your case excess ounces..."

Brinn laughed, and made a show of flexing his arms and chest - "I seem to have put on a few pounds over the summer, but I suppose you don't want me to get rid of those?"

Brinn sat back and drank his wine again, watching as Alexia smoothly refilled the cup. "Errrm... Out of interest, how many times have you done that? My head is a little cloudy, I think!"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

"Oh no... We're here to help ensure you get enough exercise to work off those excess pounds - or in your case excess ounces..."

Alexia pinked prettily only guessing at the marital activities he alluded too and laughed openly at his innuendo, though the compliment was not lost on her.

Brinn laughed, and made a show of flexing his arms and chest -

"I seem to have put on a few pounds over the summer, but I suppose you don't want me to get rid of those?"

She eyed him with wifely interest letting her gaze move assessingly over his body, not masking the admiration of his physique; but of course she didn't tell him that.

"The pounds can stay ... "

She murmured with a studied casual tone,

"As long as it does not make you sluggish and inactive, my husband ... "

Although her eyes danced with merriment and her cheek dimpled, she managed to school her expression to remain straight.

She saw Brinn sit back and watch her with interest and she took up the flagon to fill up their goblets once more.

"Errrm... Out of interest, how many times have you done that? My head is a little cloudy, I think!"

She noted that the wine was almost fully drained, and glanced from one goblet to the other in surprise. She felt warmed and slightly light headed it was true, but whether that be from the drink of the companionable banter she shared with Brinn she was unsure.

"I see... "

She continued evenly.

"My husband is to use the excuse of excess pounds and excess drink as excuse for shirking his marital obligations .. "

She teased.

"As your wife I can see that I am to be sorely neglected..."

She affected a pout, which was not quite convincing as her mouth quirked letting out a stray giggle at Brinn's mock outrage.
She glanced affectionately at him as she lifted the goblet to her lips realising that she had infact cleared her plate.
She found that she much enjoyed the witty repartee they shared and turned her shining eyes on him as he lounged lazily back in the chair, his eyes on hers.

 

[Steiner]

With an expression of wounded pride Brinn shook his finger at her. "Neglected? By my troth, not long! I'm of a mind to pick you up, carry you over to that bed and use you for my own ends, wife!"

Brinn tried to keep a straight face but, he could tell that the corners of his mouth were twitching, and that she wasn't at all fooled. Noticing her empty plate he smiled in encouragement. "Now tell me, how long has it been since you had a proper meal, Alexia?"

As they were finishing up, the two servants began ferrying in large kettles of copper, filled with water. Brinn supervised the filling of the bath, ensuring that the water was hot, but not TOO hot, and then dismissed them both with a small coin.

Shrugging off his jacket he turned to Alexia with a grin... "Still shy?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

Alexia barely held back her mirth as Brinn shook his finger at her and teased.

"Neglected? By my troth, not long! I'm of a mind to pick you up, carry you over to that bed and use you for my own ends, wife!"

MMmmmm Why did that threat sound so attractive to Alexia?
Fortunately, Brinn was distracted by the sight of her empty plate.

"Now tell me, how long has it been since you had a proper meal, Alexia?"

She looked at him consideringly and answered quietly.

"I have not eaten properly since I left home over a week ago and then perhaps not up to a month before that ... "

She spoke casually, but a haunted look came to her eyes.
She did not see Brinn's look of concerned questionning or realise that he may have indeed quizzed her for further details had not the servants arrived to fill up the bath.
Alexia was relieved, however when Brinn moved away to supervise the filling of the tub. She watched from a distance as he tested the temperature and ensured that all was well before summarily dismissing the servants and locking the door.

When he turned to Alexia it was an expression of humour that she saw as she eyed him wondering what he would say next.
Deliberately she saw him discard his jacket and grin in her direction.

"Still shy?"

He challenged her. She smiled and stepped towards him, but found her step faltering.

She nodded, feeling foolish, but kept her eyes on his admitting her reluctance to disrobe before him.

 

[Steiner]

Brinn abandoned his shirt too, hoping that his example would calm her nerves. When it didn't he approached her - "Would you like me to help you with that?"

He knew he was taking a bit of a chance, but he also knew that this moment was coming - if not now then SOMETIME over the next few weeks, and it was better to have it out in the open now.

He had to break down a few of the walls between them. Right now they were doing a fair job, but a trained observer would easily spot the speculative look in Brinns eyes when they were drawn to her, or the way she was nervous around him in intimate situations.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

Alexia watched as Brinn removed his shirt, but this did nothing to calm her nerves.
She watched as he approached and offered her assistance.

"Would you like me to help you with that?"

Her eyes flew to his face, but she shook her head.

"You bathe first.. then... "

She stammered and came to a halt.

She could not see Brinn going for a convenient walk whilst she washed! Especially as they were supposed to be bathing together as newly weds!

She blushed.
This was all so new to her, way beyond her experience!
She would have to wash without bathing fully, that was all.

She deliberately turned her back on Brinn and went to sit on the bed, leaving him to bathe in privacy.

 

[Steiner]

Brinn sat on the other side of the bed and concentrated on breathing evenly - she was a hot five seconds from freaking, as he'd worried she might do, and that would probably cause some difficulties he couldn't handle here in town.

He turned and stroked her back... "Alexia..."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

Alexia felt Brinn sit on the bed and tried to ignore his presence.
He would be stripping she knew.
He would be eager to get into the tub.

She all but flinched as she felt his touch on her back, then relaxed as she felt the gentle stroking movements.

... "Alexia..."

He spoke her name softly, but she determinedly didn't turn round.

"Yes...?"

She enquired, her voice low and hesitant.

 

[Steiner]

Brinn paused, carefully considering his words.

"You shouldn't be angry with me, you know. After the bantering, and the wine, maybe I went a little too far, but you know that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you - and nothing without your permission?".

Brinn sighed, he hadn't wanted to drive her away - had been hoping she found him as attractive as he found her.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

"You shouldn't be angry with me, you know.
After the bantering, and the wine, maybe I went a little too far, but you know that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you - and nothing without your permission?".

Alexia heard his sigh and turned to face him.

"Brinn... I'm not angry with you ... how could I be?"

She asked him, confused by his words.

"It's just that.... "

She blushed deeply feeling foolish.

"This is all so ... new to me... this morning ... at the stream... "

She spoke hesitantly, expecting him once more to laugh at her.

"When you ... we... well... "

She broke off in confusion.

Exasperated by her own inadequacy, she raised her eyes to his, her cheeks flaming.

"Brinn... I have never .. been with a man, never even ... seen ... a man ... naked ... I ...even if you were my husband ... I would not know how to behave, what you would expect ... "

She finished softly, lowering her eyes and preparing for his derision...

"I'm sorry ... for... trying your patience ... "

She whispered, feeling guilty for teasing him ...

 

[Steiner]

"I think I understand your problem, Alexia." he stroked the line of her jaw, then the side of her neck with a single finger.

"Why don't you stop worrying about my expectations, or disapointing me? My only expectations were that it would be nice to share a tub with you - and that I need someone to do my back for me. If I happen to enjoy the view whilst I'm there.... Well that's a bonus." he grinned, trying to reassure her.

He slid over the large bed, his legs either side of her until she was sat between them - leaning back against his chest. Putting his arms around her from behind, he let her relax back into his embrace, hoping that the warm hug would calm her down.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

"I think I understand your problem, Alexia."

Alexia raised her eyes to his and stayed immobile as he gently ran his fingers along the curve of her jaw. She looked up at him with questioning eyes as he dragged a solitary finger along the side of her neck, trying to hold back the delicious shiver his touch caused.

"Why don't you stop worrying about my expectations, or disappointing me?”

Alexia nodded, her expression bashful as a scolded child.

”My only expectations were that it would be nice to share a tub with you - and that I need someone to do my back for me. “

Her mouth quirked and she giggled in amusement at his outrageous comment.

”If I happen to enjoy the view whilst I'm there.... Well that's a bonus."

Alexia felt the pink tinge her cheeks once again, but met his smile with one of her own, secretly flattered by his compliment.

She let him surround her with his legs, enjoying the feeling of being wrapped in his warmth.
She was sure that he had seen the telltale pulse in her neck when he had just touched her so gently.
Perhaps it was because she could feel herself being drawn to him, feel herself responding to him that he could make her feel so nervous at times?
She gave a soft sigh, leaning back as his arms wrapped about her body.
His strong arms tightened their hold on her, drawing her close to him, holding her protectively, soothingly.
He was so strong, yet so gentle and confused her totally, she decided!

 

[Steiner]

He just held her for a short while, feeling her relaxing. Finally he muttered "You've had a time of it, recently, haven't you? I can tell that you've been alone, vulnerable and scared. Well, that's not so true now, is it? You're not alone - you've got me to talk to. You're not vulnerable - I'll protect you. So why be scared? Especially of me? I know I'm no knight in shining armour, but half those bastards would have used and discarded you without a second thought, so be glad I'm just a normal man!"

He leaned back a little "Now, our bath is getting cold, Alexia. And you wouldn't BELIEVE how much they charge for hot water in places like this! A nice soak will do you as much good as me - don't think I haven't noticed you favouring that leg!"

Brinn rose, and headed for the tub - discarding clothing as he went. He started to ease himself into the hot water, his back to her, hoping that this would embolden her enough to follow his suit...

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

"You've had a time of it, recently, haven't you?
I can tell that you've been alone, vulnerable and scared.”#

He didn’t have any idea about the details of what she’d been through, but he guessed at how scared and lonely she had been.

”Well, that's not so true now, is it? You're not alone - you've got me to talk to. You're not vulnerable - I'll protect you. So why be scared? Especially of me?
I know I'm no knight in shining armour, but half those bastards would have used and discarded you without a second thought, so be glad I'm just a normal man!"

Just a normal man? But a real man, that was for sure.
And real men were not what Alexia was used to dealing with.
And yet, she trusted his words. He would protect her and would not use and discard her.

"Now, our bath is getting cold, Alexia. And you wouldn't BELIEVE how much they charge for hot water in places like this! A nice soak will do you as much good as me - don't think I haven't noticed you favouring that leg!"

She looked at him guiltily and saw his grin. She wasn’t sure if he was teasing, but knew that it was a sacrilege to waste so much hot water.
She watched as he rose and began to strip. The casual grace of his movements was not lost on her as she stared wide-eyed, until finally, totally naked he eased himself into the tub.

Alexia bit her lip and watched. His back was turned to her and she eyed the water longingly.
Shyly she stepped forward from the bed and began moving her hands tentatively to slip off her clothes. She remembered how she had bathed this morning and how Brinn had approached her in the cold water. She smiled as she remembered the feel of his shirt over her body as she had hidden her body from the stranger.
Standing in her undergarments, Alexia hesitated.
She heard Brinn sigh as he relaxed into the water.

”Come on lass, while it’s still hot …”

He spoke gently, his eyes still averted from her body, being careful not to scare her.
Her face suffusing with pink colour, Alexia made a decision and quickly divested herself of the final garments and stepped tentatively into the tub, feeling the warm water enveloping her legs and then her body as she sank thankfully beneath the surface of the water. Her eyes closed momentarily as she tried to ignore just how close and how intimate Brinn’s naked body felt sat closely by her side.

 

[Steiner]

Brinn had heard the whisper of cloth on skin as she undressed, and it had taken a serious effort of will not to turn his head enough to peek at her. His reward for forbearance was now seated beside him in the tub, and the pair of them reclined in the hot water, watching the flames of the fire dancing in the grate.

Brinn began to wash the mud that had seeped through his leggings from his calves and knees, careful to behave completely nonchalantly. The merest presence of her next to him, the occaisional brush of her skin on his, was incredibly exciting and he felt himself react. The water of the tub was too clear for her not to notice eventually, so he decided he'd have to brazen it out and hope she wasn't scared by the idea that he desired her physically.

Sneaking a glance over at her, he saw that she was relaxing, not moving, letting the hot water lap at her body. "Isn't that good? Better than waiting until I was finished with it, hmmm?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Alexia Kenton

Alexia knew that the water did not hide her body, but somehow she felt more "hidden" once she had sunk into the tub.
She could not ignore the awareness she had of Brinn's body close to hers.
She tried not to gaze at him curiously and concentrated instead on the flames as they played casting a warm glow on the room.

He had been right. This was bliss.
She had never had such a large tub and allowed herself to relax back in the water, revelling in its warmth, unable to hold back a soft sigh.

"Isn't that good?
Better than waiting until I was finished with it, hmmm?"

She giggled.

"Yes... you were right ... "

A smile played on her lips.

"I never disagreed with that, it was just being naked like this that was so .... "

She coloured, but giggled, feeling relaxed, but naughty as she thought of the picture they presented.

"My mother would have had a fit if she could see me now..."

She murmured, more amused than distressed with the idea.

"No she wouldn't ... "

Alexia allowed her eyes to meet his for the first time.
Neither looking at the other's body, his eyes soft and smiling, hers questioning.

"No she wouldn't ..."

He repeated;

"Not if we were married ... "

His eyes held hers, as if willing her to accept the role they had been playing since meeting the stranger.

" ... and... we ... are...?"

Alexia questionned breathlessly.

"And we are."

Brinn confirmed firmly.

Alexia nodded, despite herself, knowing that if she did not even in part believe that she would not be sat naked in the tub with him now.