Ch. 11: The Game

Is it suddenly hot in here? Why did we stray back this way? I was doing so well! Her heart picked up its pace again. Damn. I should've known my hormones would only lie low for so long.

Hayward raised his eyebrows slightly and then turned and looked up at the ceiling again.

Don't do it. Not yet. Idiot. Oh, fuck it, let's do an experiment.

He looked back at the princess and could see the way her cheeks had warmed slightly. "What happens if we drop the euphemisms for a bit?" he asked curiously. They were alone. There was no one to overhear their scandalous discussion. They didn't need to deny anything later. Except to themselves; there was some safety provided by euphemism.

Hayward took a deep breath. "You may be the most beautiful woman I've ever met. I like you. I want you. I get the feeling that's mutual. So... what do we do? You're a princess, but we're not in Aasleagh. I don't really know what the consequences would be like here."

"Oh, but they were so much fun," she teased, then listened to his words carefully before answering, sitting up to feel more like they were really having that adult conversation.""But you're right. We're adults. We should be able to have adult conversations. And yes, the attraction is mutual."

He chuckled. "The euphemisms don't have to go, I just thought it'd be good for us to be frank for a minute. Besides," he said, grinning at her, "it's always nice to hear someone just say they want you." He winked.

She pushed his comment to the side, further answering the question. "But the consequences...hmm...well, if we were discovered, which as you've pointed out we are completely alone here....it would be a little scandalous but not worthy of exile or beheading or anything you previously mentioned."

She thought a moment longer. "My mother would probably doubly push for us to get married because she'd think perhaps you had stolen my precious red rose... but... I gave that away years ago." If they were being frank, she could just say it as it was. He couldn't deflower her. She had nothing to give.

She shrugged. "But if I had to fess up to that truth to her, she'd just look at me with those same 'I'm so ashamed' eyes she does when I talk about hunting. So... that's nothing new..."

"Oh, your poor mother." He chuckled and shook his head. "She ought to be proud of you, not ashamed."

"Be proud of her manly daughter?" She laughed. "Who hunts and fucks and talks back? That's hardly likely to happen."

"There's nothing manly about you, Princess. She made sure I was well aware of your feminine wiles yester-evening. If anything, she is partly to blame for this conversation even arising. She might not be in favor of you riding me like a stallion, but she definitely served you up on a platter all the same." He laughed, and she sighed.

"I know. I also know it's probably a bad idea for us to sleep together on the principles alone. But life's much more fun if you don't live by principles."

"Yeah, neither of us seems to care much for principle," he agreed. "I dunno. Maybe I thought it'd be better if we made a conscious decision on the matter rather than simply driving each other mad and then giving in like we almost did today. Cuz I was just gonna tease you and then leave, and I think you might have had the same idea... and dammit, if it weren't for Dantares, I was gonna have you right then..." He chuckled again.

She laughed at him. "I had very much the same idea... but... damn..." she said, shaking her head. "Apparently all forms of self-control have gone out the window with you, and I'm not entirely sure why." Her eyes narrowed. "But I did want you. And I do want you." Her words were matter-of-fact.

It was probably a bad idea. No, it was definitely a bad idea, but they'd both made their intentions quite clear at that point. And her willpower was once again failing miserably as they laid there, side by side, staring up at the stars. No one could find them there. No one could stop them there. If it was going to happen, it might as well happen there.

As if resigned to this, in a flash she was plunging her face into his once more. If they were going to stop beating around the bush with words, they might as well stop with actions too.

Hayward gave a tiny yelp of surprise but put up no resistance, welcoming her kiss. He'd missed kissing her, and there was some relief in being able to relax his self-control a little. But if they were going to do it, he was going to have a little fun with her. Why not get her worked up again like before? He savored the kiss before pulling back and grinning at her. "Now, now, Elissa. Didn't I tell you before that you were going to have to be patient? Besides..." His free arm came up fast from his side, wielding a pillow with enough force to knock her away from him. "You still owe me a rematch."

She was really enjoying the moment before he pulled away. Damn. Did he always have to be in control? Then... he smacked her with the pillow.

"Fine!" she said, getting to her knees and grabbing a pillow. "I'll just beat you again!" her eyes were twinkling with mischief, the competitive creature inside her ready to strike. She went straight for his face, then bounded away quickly before he could retaliate, looking over her shoulder, daring him to chase her.

Hayward got an arm in front of his face and absorb most of the hit. He growled and slowly rose to his feet, licking his lips. It was dark, but the starlight was enough to see by. This was going to be fun. "Running away already?" he taunted her. He didn't give chase so much as he simply started walking toward her. "Didn't I just tell you, I hunt by simply following prey until it collapses from exhaustion?" He didn't actually plan to be so passive in this case. He caught a pillow with his toe and tossed it into the air in front of him. Using that as a distraction, he flung one of his pillows at her face, then caught the new one as it fell.

He had, but that wasn't the way she played. If he waited until she was exhausted, there would be no fun beyond the silly game. She blocked the pillow as he hurled it at her head, trying to think fast about what her next move should be. She was used to sitting patiently until the right move to strike, but that would not work in this particular situation. Hiding might work, but that wouldn't be much fun, either. So she walked toward him as if feigning defeat, another tactic he might see right through, but it was worth a shot.

"All right... I suppose there's not much I can do if that's your tactic.." she shrugged, coming up close to him but not all the way, looking down to see his next move.

"Surrender is always an option, but I suppose it's not much fun," he replied, licking his lips. There was no way she was giving up so quickly. She'd been willing to kiss him, invite him into bed, and rip off her shirt, all to 'win.' "I'd prefer you stood and fought rather than running like—" he stopping himself just short of saying like an elf. His Aasleaghan upbringing was catching up to him.

What he did next was unsurprising; this was a pillow fight, after all. He took a fast step toward her and swung both pillows in a fast flurry of strikes aimed mostly above the waist. There wasn't anything particularly clever about it. He was simply attacking, and attacking fast.

"Were you going to call me a coward?" She responded right before the onslaught of pillow attacks. She blocked a few, but still took a decent beating. In response, she drew back and smacked him as hard as she could, hoping to knock him back a pace or two.

"Because I am not a coward!" She hit him even harder that time, somehow mustering unknown strength at the suggestion. Had she known what he truly was going to say, she might've been even more upset, or perhaps she would've just thrown him out immediately.

The first big hit staggered him slightly, slowing his advance, but he was ready for the next, raised his shoulder into it and was hardly phased. He laughed and kept coming. "No, but I'll have to remember that one when I need to get under your skin." He took another fast step, closing the distance and unleashing another flurry of fluffy pillow strikes. He didn't want to be too predictable, though; better that he keep her on her toes. As he attacked, he waited for one strike to get past her guard, hitting her in the face. He immediately let go of the pillow and grabbed her by the collar. With one firm yank, he pulled her into a hungry, passionate kiss, held her there for a few seconds, and then threw her onto the pile of pillows again.

"Now who's cheating?" She replied with a smirk, but she didn't mind. She crawled back to her knees in front of him, the pillow in her hand having long since dropped, and ran her hand along his trousers, the briefest outline of something shadowed in the starlight. He wasn't fully erect, but she could still graze her long fingers over it, biting her lower lip as she looked up at him, locking eyes.

Her mind swirled with possibilities. She could stand and jump straight back into him...or untie his britches and go straight for the thing she wanted. She could play hard to get and pretend she didn't want it at all. Or continue the game.

While she was considering the possibilities, Hayward still had a pillow fight to win. He swung the heavier of his two pillows underhand into her chest, hard enough to lift her off her knees and send her tumbling across the pile of pillows again. "That feels nice... but I'm not done with you yet," he growled. The wide, predatory grin was back in full force as he stalked toward her.

Well, guess the decision's been made. It was not the one she would've chosen, content to let one game go by the wayside in favor of a much more enjoyable one. However, clearly he was not.

What would he do if I just laid here? She wondered, her eyes locked on his. Instead, she sat up, making a throw for his legs to sweep him. It didn't work. She tried again, her mind racing, searching for a solution. She didn't have one. He had the upper hand, and they both knew it. He was faster and stronger than her. If she were going to win, she'd need to outsmart him, but her brain was fresh out of tricks.

Hmm. Might have gone a little too hard.

There was always a little thrill to asserting himself as stronger and faster, but it took some of the fun out of it if she stopped fighting back. Perhaps it was time to end things and move on. He continued toward her, lowered himself slightly, and then pounced, using the pillows to cushion the impact as he tackled her onto her back. Then he quickly grabbed her by the wrists, pinning them down on either side of her head, kissing her forcefully. Hayward pulled back slightly, grinning at her. He meant to say I win, but instead a single word came out, a low, animalistic growl: "Mine."

When he pounced upon her, she gave no resistance, matching his intensity as her lips moved against his. Then came that word. Mine sounded like he was laying claim to her, and she wasn't so sure she was ready to be claimed. However, the fire in her veins had been reignited, and she wanted him.

Her hips arched up to grind against his, unable to do much with her arms pinned. She could, however, crane her neck to nip at his lower lip, sucking on it hard before diving back into his mouth fully.

He slowly released his hold on her arms, moving his hands to either side of her body to help support his weight. She was strong, but there was no reason to rest everything on her. He savored the kiss again as his hips pushed back down against hers. He broke the kiss once more and tried again.

"There. I win," he hissed. He slowly rocked his hips against hers, sliding his obvious erection between her legs. "Now, princessssssss," he began, hissing softly in her ear. "What... do... you... want?"