As welts healed and rib knitted whole again, the small woman dared a few more steps from the Red Dragon Inn each day. She did not wander as far as she had a month ago, but it was a start. But, of late, there was little want for wandering too far.
Fingers passed against Panther's chest while he slept with the merest of touch to rest the palm of her hand at the middle of it. The wane light of morning had already touched the panes of glass that helped make up the window of his room. In the half-darkness, unable to fully to see him, she listened to him breathe.
With a smile on her face, she eased away as gently as possible so not to wake him. If she was successful, it would allow him more sleep than her body was presently allowing of self.
The shift of pallid, unbleached cotton moved against her and brushed hems against her thighs. She gave a faint shiver of the difference of the warmth at his side under the covers, to the cool air of the room. Bare feet padded against the floorboards, whispering soft in each light step. The dress of dark brown was pulled over her head and wriggled into place over breasts, then hips alike. As she watched him in the growing, faint light of morning, she smiled even as the sash was pulled about her waist and her small leather coinpurse tied to it at her side.
Her endearing watch of him was halted. There was want to be elsewhere and yet to be there. Nets to help the Fisherwoman with, or to linger a while longer. There was Kitty's wedding dress to work on as well.
By then, teeth gnawed light and pensively against the swell of her bottom lip. The sash was unbound and lain with her coinpurse to the seat of Panther's chair. She never reached for the door. Short of laughter, simply at herself for that near-childish moment.. and certainly selfish, S'jira moved back to the side of the bed. Covers were brought carefully aside and she was soon beneath them... snuggling back in against him.
For a long time, she listened to Panther breathe. Listened to his heart beat. And stayed there without hurry to be elsewhere at all.
Fingers passed against Panther's chest while he slept with the merest of touch to rest the palm of her hand at the middle of it. The wane light of morning had already touched the panes of glass that helped make up the window of his room. In the half-darkness, unable to fully to see him, she listened to him breathe.
With a smile on her face, she eased away as gently as possible so not to wake him. If she was successful, it would allow him more sleep than her body was presently allowing of self.
The shift of pallid, unbleached cotton moved against her and brushed hems against her thighs. She gave a faint shiver of the difference of the warmth at his side under the covers, to the cool air of the room. Bare feet padded against the floorboards, whispering soft in each light step. The dress of dark brown was pulled over her head and wriggled into place over breasts, then hips alike. As she watched him in the growing, faint light of morning, she smiled even as the sash was pulled about her waist and her small leather coinpurse tied to it at her side.
Her endearing watch of him was halted. There was want to be elsewhere and yet to be there. Nets to help the Fisherwoman with, or to linger a while longer. There was Kitty's wedding dress to work on as well.
By then, teeth gnawed light and pensively against the swell of her bottom lip. The sash was unbound and lain with her coinpurse to the seat of Panther's chair. She never reached for the door. Short of laughter, simply at herself for that near-childish moment.. and certainly selfish, S'jira moved back to the side of the bed. Covers were brought carefully aside and she was soon beneath them... snuggling back in against him.
For a long time, she listened to Panther breathe. Listened to his heart beat. And stayed there without hurry to be elsewhere at all.