Thar Shaddin

(ooc: la, la, la, la you wanna kiss de girl)
The focus of Nasku’s gaze shifted subtly to her lips and butterflies took flight in her belly. Was he going to kiss her? Was she ready for that? Had he not hesitated, they might be kissing now. But, as a gentleman, Nasku did not press his advantage and for that Ree was grateful.

Ree cupped her hand lightly over Nasku’s. A chagrined smile curved her lips as she broke the intense gaze they shared.

“I think they put some sort of natural aphrodisiac in our food. IF the concierge was to be believed.” The comment was an inference to their prior conversation. If something was going to happen between them, Ree did not want it to be for any other reason than because they truly wanted it to.

Ree stepped back. Nasku’s hand slid slowly from her cheek as she did so. She kept her hand on his, though, and eventually ended up holding his hand between both of hers. Ree’s thumb made slow circles across the top of Nasku’s hand.

“This was a beautiful evening. Let’s let it stay that way in our thoughts.” Ree smiled gently. Sometimes, the anticipation of what might be was as wonderous as what was. Tonight, she was content to allow the potential to grow between them.

“It was a long trip, I know I could use some rest tonight. I can imagine you could, too.” Reluctantly, Ree took another step back, allowing Nasku’s hand to slip from hers.

“Good Night, Nasku.”

When Metarie reached up to touch her hand to his, Nasku felt like his already sensitive skin was going to burn, but the moment was all too quickly broken when she broke their gaze. No, she was right though, it had been too soon to kiss and he was suddenly glad he had not pressed it.

Her words however made the smile on his lips freeze for a heartbeat or two. So that was why he felt so incredibly attracted to her. Or was there more to this feeling than just the effects of the aphrodisiac? He had been looking at her differently ever since they had been so very honest with each other on a fateful boat ride not too long ago.

But she was most definitely right in stepping away and cutting short their evening. If with regret, Nasku complied and did not try to stop her when she removed herself from under his touch. His smile returned to its normal self when she kept the body contact up for a while with his hand encircled by both of hers and nodded.

“It was a lovely evening indeed. I thank you for the delightful company and refreshing conversation.”
With a bow of his head, he said: “Good night, Metarie.”


The late hours didn’t immediately bring rest for Nasku, who was a little shaken by the revelation of aphrodisiacs in their food. In addition, his body didn’t seem intent on wanting to cool down all that quickly, so he shed his formal clothes and got into his sleeping pants, slipped on a bathrobe and went to stand on the patio for a bit longer. The easy access from his bedroom window to the balcony made this a quick process that would not wake up Metarie either.

He remained there for quite a while, letting the breeze play with his hair and caress over his partially naked torso – the bathrobe sitting rather loose for the sake of comfort. Thoughts were swirling in his mind like a rollercoaster and they were confusing. But one thing very clearly always reappeared at regular intervals: Metarie’s face.

Finally noticing the fatigue kick in, Nasku shook his head at himself and proceeded to catch a few hours of sleep. After all, he wanted to start the next day fairly fresh and not too late. Breakfast had been arranged to be served early but not too early. Hopefully, they wouldn’t put aphrodisiacs in it, otherwise it could prove to be a very long day.

Ree stepped away and moved toward her room, using the door that led to the patio to enter it. Part of her wanted to stay, to continue what felt like a magical night, and to continue what had awoken in her. The other part though, the rational, thinking part cut through the desire and feelings like that cold headache she’d gotten.

Ree leaned against the door , hands behind her back, and sighed. She remained that way for a while, half hoping Nasku might knock and call her name. He didn’t, though, and that was for the best. Ree moved to the bed and slipped from the silken dress into a silken shift. The silk slid over her skin like wildfire and clung to her body in supple ways. Perhaps a glass of water might help, she thought. Like Nasku, sleep did not come easy, though she was truly exhausted from the ride. Her body wouldn't let her rest. Ree loosened her hair and let it fall in soft, auburn waves around her shoulders.

Pulling on a matching robe, Ree stepped through the door in her room that led into the apartment proper. The robe was only semi-opaque. Her arms, the shift, all was teasingly visible, yet not.

They had left a pitcher of water on the dining table. Despite her elfin hearing and sight, Ree was not looking for Nasku and did not see him at first. There were no candles lit in the main room, nor on the patio. The only light came from the fat, full moon that made its slow progression across the night sky and the myriad of stars, more visible here than in Marn.

Ree poured herself a glass of water and downed in quickly. As she poured her second glass, she turned to look out the double-glassed doors that led to the patio-balcony and stopped short. There, gilded in moonlight, was Nasku.

The moonlight was more than kind to him. It was as if the moon was there for the sole purpose of showing just how beautiful and masculine Nasku Oslun could be, as if the moon were his element. Nasku’s white hair gleamed silver and the loose robe and pants suited him better than stuffy, Marnian aristocratic clothing. All he needed was some masculine decoration, like thick silver bracelets and a diadem on his brow to look like some foreign, fey prince from some fairy tale, to look like a true son a Baresi, the goddess of Nature.

The wind teased her with glimpses of bare skin – his chest, his neck, and the not so bare as it pushed against the clothing to outline the strength of his thigh, his buttock, and…

It was obvious Nasku had foregone underclothes.

He took her breath away.

Reason warred with primal instinct, something unusual and unknown to her.

Ree pressed the glass of cool water to her chest, just below her collar bone, and to her cheeks. She drained the glass and placed it on the table. Ice chinked as pieces fell against one another. Ree's finger tips rested on the table as she stood beside it. She wasn't hiding by any means. She was exposed by the moon. It's glow fell upon her fully through the doors, though perhaps it was not as much her element as his.

She couldn’t stop looking at him. She didn’t know you could desire something, someone, this much. Had it been those odd mushrooms? They were just food, right? Folklore always had things to say about this or that food, but in this case, could they really affect a person so? Or was this truly her desire? She had so little experience to go on…

She had to move, to return to her room, because…

If he…

She would…

And then… what?

Ree trembled from a fear of the unknown as much as she trembled at the sight of him.

Sleep had been on his mind, he was absolutely sure of it. But sleep was no longer on his mind when he turned around and caught a glimpse of something that he could not truly be seeing through the window giving a view of the interior of the apartment proper.

That could not... Was he truly...

Nasku just stood and stared, his jaw almost dropping at the sight that presented itself to him. If he had had any doubt about Metarie being absolutely stunning before this moment, he was now absolutely certain that he would never again harbour such thoughts.

There she was, on the other side of the glass, wearing a thin layer of clothes that left practically nothing to the imagination but covered up enough for it to somehow still all be a mystery. Curves were accented, her colouring was highlighted and he could not look away from her. His eyes roamed over her beautiful figure, taking in every wave of her hair and the way she was glowing in the moonlight.

Bereft of all coherent thought, Nasku didn’t know what to do. He wanted to move, though whether that entailed moving to his bedroom to get some sleep and break this utterly dangerous moment, or whether it meant moving towards her, the one he could not by any means get out of his head, he did not know. He didn’t even notice when he shivered slightly as yet another breeze whisked over the patio and made his skin pull tight into goosebumps.

Before he could think, he was at the window, hand on the knob to open it. He stepped into the apartment, slowly closing the door behind him.
All the while he did not take his eyes off of the vision before him. She had to be a vision. There was no way this was reality, was it? He had to be dreaming already. And if this was a dream, nothing bad would come of it, wasn’t that so?

“Metarie...” His voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes fixed on her face, transfixed by how it seemed to glow mysteriously in the moonlight.

He didn’t know what to say or what to do. He was also very aware of the fact that this might not have been a wise move, and he was completely and utterly ignoring the warning bells inside his head that screamed ‘aphrodisiac’ at him. He had been interested in her before this fatal dinner, he would still be interested in her tomorrow, so why the hell not?

When he spoke her name, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn’t see the heat in his eyes, eyes made for moonlight, but she could hear it in his voice, and it sizzled across her skin and fueled the fires within her.

Ree opened her eyes slowly once more. Even with her eyes closed she could see him in her mind’s eye. Even though he was shadow, he was still light. Right now, she couldn’t see his face, only the outline of him gilded by moonlight. Even that was unfair.

His shoulders were straight, broad, and strong. His hair still gleamed like silver in the moonlight. His waist and hips were just as slim. And, worse still she was exposed, vulnerable in the moonlight. He could see her so easily. Logical words would not be able to change the things he might notice.

Like the way she reacted to his voice and the way her body betrayed her in so many subtle ways. Betrayed her, like the way she took a step toward him. But, she kept her fingers on the table as if the table were something safe, an anchor. Betrayed, like the way her breasts tightened and pebbled beneath the thin silk of the shift. Betrayed, like the way her feet didn’t take her from the room to hide in her own.

“I was… thirsty.” She gestured with the hand that had been touching the table toward the pitcher and the empty glass filled with ice. She had let go of her anchor and now was adrift in moonlight.

If he took two more steps he would be close enough to wrap his arms around her. That thought led to others. Ree lifted her left hand and touched her lips with her fingertips. Her mouth peeked through splayed fingers. She looked away from him in the hopes she could break whatever spell she was under. But, he was so near, she could smell his skin. Both her breath and her heartbeat quickened. Butterflies danced underneath silk and lace.

“Nasku.” Was that her voice thick with desire? Ree’s hand fell and she turned her head to face him once more.
Did she look as uncertain as she felt? Or, was she already one of the lost, drowning in moonlight in this place designed for lovers? Could she really play the innocent? No... and the emotions played across her face like a mummer's tale. Ree looked down and inhaled another deep breath. She looked up at him again and the uncertainty was gone, but for a flicker that danced in her eyes.

“I…”

Her reaction to him... He had to seriously control himself not to close the distance between them, sweep her up into his arms and kiss her. Passionately.

Nasku could feel the hard beat of his heart in his chest and his hands were itching to reach out to her, to run his fingers over her skin, through her hair... His breath had quickened when she’d taken a step towards him, and was speeding up even more when he thought about how close they were, how their mutual desire was almost palpable.

Though she seemed unsure, she didn’t walk away, didn’t tell him to go away. Nasku wanted to take her hesitation as an invitation, very much so, but still he hesitated. He didn’t want to cross his boundaries and yet... His name on her lips, like a melody for his ears only. He closed his eyes briefly as he savoured the moment, inhaled her smell, before he gazing at her face again.

When she looked down, Nasku decided to move closer. Her vulnerability was pulling at his insides, making him want to encircle her in his arms, protect her, shelter her. He had just reached out to touch his fingertips to her hair when she looked back up at him, and he hesitated. The uncertainty was definitely gone and she looked more woman than ever. While he liked that about her that she was strong and confident, he was now having a little trouble deciphering the look in her eyes.

His hand remained hovering a finger-breadth away from her hair, slightly trembling. The tremor in his hand had transferred to the rest of his body as well when he said in a very low, almost vulnerable voice: “If you want me to go...”

He didn’t want to go. But he didn’t want her to do something she might regret.
But he really wanted to be close to her, wanted to feel the warmth of her skin under his touch.

Something happened when you were near to someone whom you desired. Their closeness made your body tingle in anticipation. The space between was charged with some kind of energy that gave off a warmth . In this moment, bodies are like magnetic poles pulling at each other. It is the mind that keeps the connections from happening. Sometimes bodies are smart and brains are dumb.
Ree’s body craved the contact. Had her eyes been closed, she would still know he was there. He was overwhelming her senses and short-circuiting her commonsense just by being close.

Nasku was closer now. He reached for her, but hesitated in his consideration for her, once more. She liked him for that and she wished he would just forget his consideration, too.

“Go?” Ree gave a soft laugh and shook her head slowly. He was close enough now that she could see him better. He was less shadow and lines than he had been before and Ree wished for a moment, he was still only shadows and lines.

“What I want…” her voice trailed off. “I don’t even know any more.”

Ree looked down, but found the expanse of his chest took up her view now. She could see his bare skin and her fingertips tingled. Her fingers twitched. She wanted to touch him. She looked up at him again and the indecision warred in her gaze again. Her mouth, her mind, it wouldn’t stop working! Teodinus, help her. Someone please, just shut her up.

“I want to enjoy this time we have in this wonderful, wondrous, magical place. I want to stay here forever and never want to return to Marn. Marn makes me feel old. I want to be younger, because I think I might be too old for you. I’m ninety-five. Ninety-five and yet, you probably have more world experience than I. I want to be reckless, but I want to take my time because when I am reckless something bad always happens. I want… innocence and foolishness. Do you know, even as a child, I was never allowed to play? I want to forget my life up to this point and make this the point when I truly start living.”

Ree inhaled a breath. The words had started to tumble out and she couldn’t stop them now.

“I want to believe whole-heartedly in something, someone and give my all, my everything over to that. I want someone else to be the decision-maker, sometimes. Everyone looks up to me and expects me to do the right things. I want… I want to touch you. I want to see if your skin feels as smooth as it looks, to see if your hair is as soft.”

A flash of smile appeared as she admitted her desire for him and her fanciful notions. Ree looked down again and her gaze skittered over his bare chest to focus on his bare throat instead. Everywhere she looked he was there. Every time she breathed, she breathed him in. She could almost taste him on her tongue just from the scent of his skin.

“You … you look like some Fey Prince in the moonlight. And, I want that fairytale and I never want it to end.” Ree lifted her gaze to his, filled with entreaty. Lie to me, she thought, if you have to. Just make sure I believe it. I have to believe.

“But, I just know. I just… everything will end, that something will happen and you will go your way and that I will go my way, and then what was the point? I want more than a moment, but it is much too soon to ask for more than that.” Ree gave that soft, little laugh again.

"What do I want? I want to be less of a coward and less of a fool." She should have taken her leave then and there, but she didn't. Ree stood and waited to see what he had to say to all of that.

He wanted to lie. Desperately. He really did. He didn’t want to see her suffer. He would have promised her the stars if she had wished for them, would have offered her anything at all she wanted on a silver, even a golden plate, but he could not promise her what she really did wish for. He wished it was different, but they both knew that what Metarie said was the truth.

Nasku had been delighted when she had neither sent him away nor moved out of his reach, but he had not been prepared for her words. At first he had smiled, almost interrupted to offer himself up to her when she admitted to wanting to touch him, but then...

The words had cut him deeper than he was keen on admitting, though there was no denying that there was more truth to her emotions than either of them wanted to acknowledge. His hand dropped to his side and his eyes looked stricken, but he did not turn away from her, did not stop observing her. Despite their craving for satisfaction, or at least for intimacy, they both knew that they were in incredibly dangerous territory and though Metarie was wavering – had Nasku wondering, too – the tension was still there. He still craved closeness.

And he so desperately wanted to lie to her, to return to the magic of just a few moments prior.

There was no turning back. And there was no describing at how horrible he felt for what he was about to say.

“Anything. I would do my best to give you anything you wish for, Metarie. But I wouldn't want to promise you something we both know neither of us can keep. If I promised you the stars and the moon tonight, promised you a life time of bliss and that I would never leave you, we both know it would be an empty promise. Likewise, you might very quickly tire of me, no matter how you feel about me in this moment.”

Finally, he reached out again, without hesitation, and entangled his fingers in her hair. His other hand was quickly following until he held her face between his hands, looking into her eyes, not exactly letting her look away. She needed to hear this.

“You are no coward, and you are no fool, Metarie, not in my eyes. And while I may not be able to offer you more than the moment, this holiday, all of my time and devotion in the here and the now, I do it willingly. More than willingly. Metarie...”

He stopped himself briefly, closing his eyes, hating himself for starting to sound like an idiot, but she had been open, and he wanted to return that favour at least. He opened his eyes again and resumed losing himself in hers.

“You have no idea how brilliantly you shine. You stand out amongst other women, not just because you are extraordinarily beautiful but because of whom you are, on a whole. It may not have been entirely clear to me, myself, at first, but you have completely and utterly bewitched me. I can’t stop thinking about you, no matter what I do. I can’t even sleep properly without thinking of your face, about what it would feel like to hold you in my arms, to kiss you. I want you to touch me; I want you to find out whether my skin is as smooth as you imagine it to be. I want you to enjoy yourself. I am offering myself to you, in my capacity as the fey prince that I am not and never could be, but I wish I could be. For you. Anything for you.”

Without thinking about it any longer, Nasku moved to kiss her, putting all the desire and the passion he felt into it, hoping that he hadn’t just overstepped his boundaries. But she had said she wanted someone else to make the decisions for a change. Well...

Nasku trapped her face in his hands. Ree lifted her hands to his wrists, as if to pull his hands away, but… she didn’t pulled them away. She glanced away from the intensity of his gaze.

“You are no coward, and you are no fool, Metarie, not in my eyes. And while I may not be able to offer you more than the moment, this holiday, all of my time and devotion in the here and the now, I do it willingly. More than willingly. Metarie...”
When Nasku spoke her name a second time, Ree looked up again.

“You have no idea how brilliantly you shine. You stand out amongst other women, not just because you are extraordinarily beautiful but because of who you are, as a whole. It may not have been entirely clear to me, at first, but you have completely and utterly bewitched me.

I can’t stop thinking about you, no matter what I do. I can’t even sleep properly without thinking of your face, about what it would feel like to hold you in my arms, to kiss you. I want you to touch me; I want you to find out whether my skin is as smooth as you imagine it to be. I want you to enjoy yourself. I am offering myself to you, in my capacity as the fey prince that I am not and never could be, but I wish I could be. For you. Anything for you.”

And, as if to make good on his words, Nasku kissed her. Ree’s eyes widened. They closed slowly as she succumbed and gave in to kiss. His kiss made her knees weak. Her hands fell from his wrists to his shoulders. She clenched her fingers in the silken robe, tightening her hands into fists – to keep herself from falling? No, she had already fallen, figuratively at least.

His lips felt so hot, Ree felt almost certain he branded her. How long they stayed like that, just kissing, she didn’t know. All she knew was that she had opened her mouth to his and drowned in the sensation, the sense of him. Nothing existed in the world except Nasku Oslun, his kiss, and the space between them that figurative sparked with heat.

The clock, a large oaken clock with deep, sonorous tones, proclaimed that 1 a.m. had found them. Its chimes and its tick-tock, tick-tock broke her from the reverie. Ree’s breath came fast and her heart pounded in her chest. She was the first to break the kiss. Resting her forehead against his, she kept her eyes closed.

“I… ” Her voice was ragged and thick with desire. He had stirred insistently between them and she could feel him against her. His body had risen and filled the space they’d left between their bodies as they kissed. She wanted to say she wasn’t ready for more than this, ready for what his body promised. Though, he’d find that a lie if he touched her where she ached for him. Her body proclaimed itself ready, even if her mind did not.

He would be her second lover, ever, and that had been more than a year ago. A single time, in a single night, more than a year ago… she was ridiculous. She acted like a virgin even when she wasn’t one.

“It’s late…” An excuse and a feeble one at that. If he pressed, if he continued, she would give in, but she wanted him to woo her just a little more.

He hadn’t been entirely sure how Metarie would react once their lips connected but when she didn’t pull away, Nasku was glad for it. Seconds were passing by, minutes even, and he lost complete track of all time, lost in their little passionate moment. What else could possibly exist outside of their little universe?

Had the kiss been everything he hoped for? Yes, and so much more. When Metarie’s hands dropped away from his wrist to hold on to him more tightly, he closed the distance between them even more, his mouth never leaving hers as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.

A rush of heat and pure desire raced through him when the kiss endured even longer. His whole body responded to her closeness, her smell, her touch and he couldn’t deny that he wanted her with every fibre of his being.

All too soon the chime of the clock struck them back into reality and Nasku found himself gasping for air like a fish on dry land when Metarie broke away from him. When she rested her forehead against his, he closed his eyes, too, and settled his hands loosely on her hips.

He needed a few moments to regain composure. Not much longer and he would have gathered her into his arms and dragged her off to his bed. Maybe it would have been too quick but at that moment he hadn’t much cared. Now that they had finally come up for air, the clouds of lust and desire that had settled heavily over his mind were starting to lift just a tad and he managed to think somewhat more clearly, though it took a lot of self-control.

“You’re right,” he replied, his voice hoarse and strained. Gosh, it was hard to keep his hands where they were instead of letting them explore. As if his fingers knew he was thinking about them, they gently kneaded the body underneath them a little, thumbs rubbing slowly along her hipbone.
A shudder raced over Nasku’s body and with a gasp, he dropped his hands and took a step backwards. The look in his eyes however betrayed the movement and told volumes about just how much he wanted to do the exact opposite and there certainly were other parts of his body that were a testament to just how much she aroused him.

“Maybe we should...” he nodded towards his bedroom. He was already feeling hot but a sudden rush suddenly crept up his neck and flushed his cheeks when he realised how that particular gesture could be construed. “I mean...” Hell, yes, he wanted her in his bed, but it was too soon. No, he could not, would not bed her on the first night they spent together. Or rather, he should not.

“You’re right,”

Ree nodded, against his forehead, eyes closed and breath ragged. His grip tightened on her hips and his thumbs brushed over her, pulling the fabric this way and that. The sensation skittered across her whole body and her focus zeroed in on that little touch.
When he pulled away, she still had the robe bunched in her fists. They shared a look, keeping their eyes level. And, that was for the best.

“Maybe we should...”

Ree released her hold on him and backed away, too. Back toward the anchor that was the table.

“I mean...”

“Yes… right. We have an appointment in the morning, right? To get fitted for our beach wear?” Ree cringed inwardly at herself. Was she really only capable of inane conversation?

She edged toward her room, catching up her glass of ice. She was suddenly thirsty again, but she would drink from the tap in her room.
“So, we should get some rest.”

She was in the doorway of her room.

“Good night, Nasku.” A lingering look before she closed the door behind her.

Sleep was a long time in coming that night and when morning finally came she was sleeping hard. A knock on her door barely roused her, but the voice of the female concierge did.

“My Lady, your breakfast is ready. Master Nasku asked it be set on the patio.”

“Thank you. Please let him know I will join him shortly.”

Nasku… that woke her. Her dreams had been filled with him and heated kisses. Ree touched her lips and smiled girlishly. So, it was with more than a little shyness that Ree emerged to join Nasku for breakfast. She wore a pale yellow sundress that tied at her shoulders and fell to just below her knees. Despite the hour, it was warm on the patio.

The table was laid with fruit, jellies, croissants, tea, and juice. Ree wasn’t sure she would be able to eat because of the butterflies that stirred in her belly, she paused by her chair to greet him before she sat.

“Good morning, Nasku.” Her hair was still down and fell around her face in auburn waves. She looked at him, his face and noted the color of his eyes were as much grey as green. She smiled at him. Seated, she realized she was ravenous.

The concierge waited a moment before placing a napkin on Ree’s lap.

“Your fittings are at 10. The shops are located in the central pavilion to your left as you exit the room. Master mentioned that swim lessons were of interest, so an instructor will meet up with you after your fittings. Afterwards, an umbrella has been reserved for your use on the sand and is set up for you.”

The concierge gestured toward the clock, then toward the beach in front of them. “Because you are both so fair, I encourage you to apply sun lotion to keep from burning. A bottle has been placed in the beach bag by the door for you, along with towels and robes.
Lastly, servers are available to tend your needs while you are on the beach should you require refreshment. Other entertainment is also available and can be found in the listings here.”

The concierge touched her fingers to a menu on the table. She smiled and looked between the pair. “May I be of further use?”

“We do,” he replied with a nod, glad for the very normal topic as it took his mind off of other things that wanted to be taken care of.
“Rest would be a good idea,” he agreed with a smile. His eyes were tracking her movements across the room and he was almost furious at the silly, short words that were coming out of his mouth but he did not dare speak more for fear of exposing his emotions even more.

Had he really...? Yes. Yes, he had.

Sighing, he turned to go to his own bedroom and proceeded to just lay on the bed for a long time. There was a lot that needed thinking about and a lot that needed musing about, but his thoughts were unfocused and drifting in every which direction, with Metarie at the centre of course. Mercifully he finally fell asleep.

Morning came all too soon but at the same time not soon enough. He snagged one of the hotel servants and arranged for breakfast – on the patio of course – and proceeded to take a quick bath before contemplating his dressing options. What on earth should he do for light clothing? He was used to the more aristocratic clothes in Marn and he quite liked them too, but he could hardly wear those to dally around on the beach. Of course, they would have a fitting later on, but he didn’t want to start sweating in formal clothing for breakfast.

Finally, he decided to throw on a loose white button shirt – he did not feel comfortable... – and some shorts that had been provided for him by the hotel. None of these clothes made him feel very much like himself but maybe that was part of the whole adventure. Whatever, he was dressed now, the clothes were going to be exchanged later. It was just breakfast. He wouldn’t make such a terrible fool of himself – at least he hoped so.

While he was sitting in his chair on the patio, Nasku steeled himself, telling himself over and over that it was going to be alright, that he was going to keep his focus on what the plans were for the day. He wanted to make sure that things actually went according to plan, keeping his mind on the tasks at hand and so forth, especially because he wanted to make sure that Metarie had everything she could possibly wish for. But for all his good intentions, as soon as Metarie stepped out onto the patio, all his intentions of staying cool jumped right over the balustrade. And his brain along with them.

He barely managed to breathe out a “Good Morning” when he jumped out of his chair and helped her be seated – in the good old-fashioned way it was done by gentlemen. He couldn’t help himself, it was inbred and he also couldn’t deny that he liked being a gentleman.

When the concierge proceeded to rattle off all the plans Nasku had actually already made, he cringed inwardly. Had he assumed too much? Had he organised too much? Did she even want all this? Well, at least his focus was on the plans again, though he had not intended to go completely nuts with worry over it all.

“No, that would be all. Thank you.” Nasku smiled at the concierge until the good woman turned and left the apartment, a knowing look in her eyes that Nasku decided not to have seen. Was he so terribly obvious?!

Clearing his throat, he looked at Metarie. “Did you sleep well?” She really did look stunning and the yellow suited her rather well.
“I hope you like the arrangements I took the liberty of setting up for our day.” Her hair was lovely when it flowed openly around her shoulders like that, and the way the sun caught in them... Nasku had to consciously force himself to focus on the table before he wouldn’t stop staring at all anymore.
“Ah, this all looks so very delicious.” She looked more delicious than the food however. He snuck another look at her before he busied himself with the glass of juice that had been set next to his plate.

He barely managed to breathe out a “Good Morning” when he jumped out of his chair and helped her be seated – in the good old-fashioned way it was done by gentlemen. He couldn’t help himself, it was inbred and he also couldn’t deny that he liked being a gentleman.

When he helped her to her seat, Ree looked up at him as she sat. There was the hint of the thrill of the prior evening at his nearness. "You look very nice in that. I like it." And, it was true, she did. He wore no puff tie and she could see the hollow of throat where his collarbones came together. There was something... sensuous and decadent about glimpses like that. She liked, too, the thick rings he wore.

"Sleep well? No...." Ree shook her head slowly. "... and yes. Once I finally fell asleep, I slept like the dead." She smiled a puckish smile accompanied by a slight blush.

"I do like them. A swim lesson was a stroke of genius. I was worried that we might have a problem because we both can't swim." Ree nodded at his next comment.

"I can't believe how hungry I am after all we ate last night. Perhaps it is the sea air that does it."

The citrus juice was refreshing and tart. Bread flaked perfectly and the preserves must have been freshly made. "I appreciate the freshness of everything. It's lovely." Ree added a dollop of yoghurt to some fruit in a bowl and topped it was granola. Munching happily she sighed in contentment as she looked over the railing toward the white sand beach and the cerulean blue water.

Some large fish had leapt from the waves followed by more of its kin. Gulls called above, riding the air currents with pointed wings. Further out and higher up, a sea hawk patrolled searching the waves for shoals of fish and big, fat pelicans floated on the water, like small islands. Closer to the horizon, fishing boats could be seen rising and falling with the lift and swell of the ocean. The wind blew, a constant companion that offered a contrast to the heat of the sun. Thankfully, their breakfast was well shaded offering a respite from the sun.

And so, breakfast passed in a companionable silence punctuated by observations of the scenery. At five til, the concierge returned followed by additional staff who saw to clearing the table.

"Oh, I suppose it is time for our fittings" Ree's eyes widened as she spoke, showing her excitement and amusement at the thought of being fitted for swim wear. Ree placed her napkin on the table beside her plate and waited for Nasku to pull out her chair as he was wont to do. When she stood, the top of her head was level with his eyes. She had to look up at him, if only a little, and that was a plus.

"Thank you," Ree smiled up at him and a thrum of emotion welled up in her. They were accompanied, so Ree risked only a busk of a kiss to his cheek. "Shall we?"

She leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "I .. I like the way you treat me so gently."

Metarie was absolutely right. If there was one thing that stuck out, it was the freshness of the food. It all smelt and tasted as though it had been freshly plucked from plants or made. “Lovely indeed. There is no better word for it. I wish we had more such food in Marn. Or is it just the change in scenery that makes everything taste so much more delicious?” Nasku knew he was eating way too much but he just felt like he needed to taste everything. How could he possible not try it all?

It was safe to say that on a whole breakfast was a very enjoyable experience. Once again, Nasku was relieved to notice just how much he enjoyed Metarie’s company, even if they spent their time together in silence. It just didn’t seem awkward as was so often the case. There was no need to fill pauses in between actual conversation with pointless comments.

When the concierge appeared to remind them of their fitting meeting, Nasku nodded to the woman with a grateful smile and instantly jumped up to help Metarie out of her chair. Nothing more than the gentlemanly gesture, he was utterly thrown off his guard when he was suddenly rewarded by a kiss to the cheek. For a few more heartbeats than necessary, Nasku just stood there, trying to resist the urge to touch his hand to his cheek. And most of all, he tried to suppress the sudden onrush of memories from the previous night otherwise he might do things which would prevent them from ever reaching their fitting.

“Yes!” Snapping out of it, he held out his arm for Metarie to grab a hold of as they followed the concierge to their appointment.

Once again, Metarie surprised him by whispering in his ear. This time, the blush was unstoppable and Nasku was glad that the concierge had her back to them, though he had no problem replying to this. “And I like that you like it.” Of course, the fact that his lips lightly brushed her ears as he whispered the words were no accident at all.

The concierge delivered them at their appointment and departed after assuring them that she would be back in time to bring them to their swimming lesson in case they weren’t down at the beach by then.

All notion of flirting or feeling comfortable went straight out the window again when the fitting started. Measuring and questions about clothes that he wasn’t quite sure how to answer. Tight? Loose? Somewhere in between? Colours? While he like his clothes to be tightly fit, he wasn’t sure that was the best idea for beach wear.

“What is a man supposed to wear to the beach anyway?” Nasku muttered for Metarie’s benefit when the tailor busied himself with laying out material and colourings of this and that and so much more. It was just confusing. He had never had this much difficulty choosing clothes.
“I’m sure you don’t have so many problems with what you should wear to the beach. You’ll look splendid in everything.” Well, maybe a bit of flirting could still be arranged, Nasku thought as he gave Metarie a sideways glance, the corners of his lips pulling into a mischievous grin.

The brush of his lips against her ears gave her a little shiver of pleasure. Color appeared on her cheeks and she looked away.

Ree laughed. "Don't ask me. I'm not sure what a woman is supposed to wear, much less a man." An opaque screen separated the pair, with one group of people seeing to Ree and another to Nasku. They could see each other's faces, but nothing else. She caught the glance and returned it.

"You're much too kind." Suddenly Ree was distracted.

"Oh... I don't think I could wear that. Isn't there... isn't it missing some fabric??"

"Oh, no, Miss Metarie. All the ladies wear these to make the most of the sun and warmth."

"Ah..." Ree glanced over at Nasku. "If you say so?"

Ree stepped out into the central area where the mirrors were.

"Eep!" She wrapped her arms around her waist, but the fitting girl just giggled and tugged at her hands.

"You're so beautiful artists will be clamoring to draw you."

"Do you think I could wear a robe or something?"

"They do make wraps to go with these. I'll get it for you."

"Thank you!"

Ree turned and peered over her shoulder at her backside.

"Nasku. I feel naked. I don't think I can walk around in public like this." She looked to him with worry on her face.

To be fair, there were other women trying on similar outfits and they did not seem bothered in the least. Perhaps Marn just kept its prurience behind closed doors...