â€œCloud Nineâ€ didn't begin to cover where Maria's head was at over the next couple of days. Part of it was conflicted, if only because she was trying to tell herself it was the last time, and not wanting it to be. Her mind was as far away from any duties she was supposed to be doing and more on BrÃ¡dach, and what he was doing in that moment, on how he was at that moment. Anything to do with him, her mind was thinking on, whether it be in a platonic sense...or otherwise.<br/><br/>Simprina noticed a change in her, noticed her far happier than she'd been prior to leaving, and noticed her head was in the clouds far more than it'd once been. While Maria wasn't paying attention, she'd often make mental notes of things, building up the courage to ask about it, to overstep her bounds just a touch, if only to know what had her so happy, if a little conflicted, the constant struggle with something showing through in her violet eyes.<br/><br/>By the third day, she finally worked up the courage to ask, deciding to strike while Maria was settled at the fortepiano, fingers stilled over the keys, mind having long since drifted back to a certain Ranger whom she'd not been able to get any time with the past three days.<br/><br/>â€œ...Princess, I've been wondering something...â€ Simprina started hesitantly. Maria's eyes went through a series of looks, starting with confusion, then understanding, then focus. â€œ...What's changed?â€<br/><br/>The question was asked so simply that she almost misunderstood, brows pulling together as her head tilted the more she thought on it. â€œChanged?â€<br/><br/>â€œYes, changed...â€ she continued stepped a little closer, her eyes dropping to the floor as her hands clasped and unclasped in front of her in a nervous gesture. â€œYou see...different...â€<br/><br/>â€œDifferent?â€ Maria repeated, trying to hide how nervous that one word made her. â€œHow?â€<br/><br/>â€œYou're...happier...but not...Your mind is constantly miles and miles away, you can't seem to focus on anything you're to be doing, and it's like you've got the weight of something else on your mind, but you've yet to talk about it...â€<br/><br/>All Maria could do was stare, unsure of how to proceed. Did she lie? Did she say the idea of marrying Ivor was no longer seeming like a bad thing? The very idea of that left a bad taste in her mouth, so she decided not to go there, but to instead get up from her stool, taking on more of a serious expression, an unimpressed expression. â€œThat was too bold, Simprina,â€ she started, tone quiet. â€œWhat's on my mind is my business, not yours, and it'll do you well to remember that; Not to speculate and wonder, and push a subject that is none of your concern. Understood?â€<br/><br/>Simprina looked as though she'd been slapped for a moment, and then it shifted to a look of a scolded puppy, the woman quickly mumbling something of an apology followed by hastily exiting the room.<br/><br/>Letting out a sigh of sudden exhaustion, Maria slipped to the window to look about while clearing her head. It was frustrating, knowing the one person she wanted she couldn't have, knowing that she'd be stuck doing what was deemed her<span style="font-style: italic">job</span>instead of doing what she needed to. And, being around him would only make it worse, but going without seemed worse...<br/><br/>It was then that her eyes turned to the stables, considering them for a moment, finally deciding that's what she wanted to do.<span style="font-style: italic">Horseback to clear my head...that should do it...</span>came a thought, thinking of the solitude of it. She knew she had time before she had to be anywhere for dinner, so it wouldn't be that much of an issue for her to meander off on her own. Some thought it improper for a woman to be anywhere unaccompanied, but she<span style="font-style: italic">needed</span>to be.<br/><br/>Hastening out of her room, she moved through the hallways in a practiced manner, the layout like the back of her hand, now. About the twists and turns of the maze that was the castle's layout, and down the main stairs, slipping outside without (thankfully) a word spoken to her. Even as she craved the solitude and silence, a small portion of her almost hoped she'd run into him, even if only for a moment.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">For the next three days, he was....lost, but in a good way. There was nothing that he could do with thinking about her. Which as of late consisted of him wandering about the castle and the outer grounds. The doctors were not sure he was ready to be so up and about, but he just could not sit in bed anymore. Especially, now that all of his thoughts were completely focused on Maria. All he wanted was to see her, hold her, touch her....be with her. <br/><br/>That could never be though. Not without consequences that he knew he was ready for, save for the pain that he knew would cause her.<br/><br/>With the desire to clear his head, he took one of the horses from the stable and road out into the country side. There he found what to him seemed like the most perfect spot, perhaps only because it was away from the castle and it let him return back to the place he loved.<br/><br/>Nature. <br/><br/>Shoes were removed, then his shirt and without another thought of concern he waded into the pond up to his waist before he dove under for a short swim. When he surfaced, he reclined on his back and floated along in the water. Enjoying the water, the nature.....and the fond memories of his night spent with Maria.</span><br/><br/>It took a little while for the horse to be saddled up, as they seemed to want to take their time when the<span style="font-style: italic">actual</span>royals weren't around, but, in due time, she was off. Side-saddled, corsetted and only slightly comfortable, she took the mare out for a trot.<br/><br/>For a while, she remained on the main path, allowing her mind to drift in certain capacity, keeping an idle eye on her surroundings until she found a trail to turn off on. And then she properly zoned. She needed the silence; Not the silence she gained from the castle's stone walls and borderline catatonic staff, but a natural silence, a white-noise of leaves ruffling in the breeze, the occasional bird chirping, or flapping by somewhere close. Even the chipmunks were a welcomed sound.<br/><br/>The only problem with this newfound silence was her inability to have any sort of distraction to allow her an escape from the one thought she<span style="font-style: italic">should</span>be happening. Thoughts that came in the form of a wounded, muscley, easy-on-the-eyes ranger. Maria couldn't help but kick herself for how lost in him she seemed to get, without fail. The only reason they'd met was so that he could transport â€œthe packageâ€ (as he'd once called her) to its new â€œownerâ€. But, now...<br/><br/>She'd had dreams of escape, dreams of him, waking thoughts of him and what things<span style="font-style: italic">could</span>have been like had his birthright been accessible. Dreams of what it'd be like to throw caution to the wind, and to force her father to take back control and end things man to man, instead of man's daughter to man. Dreams of something simpler, something without the hindrance of corsets, something public...something that felt right, when everything else since she'd gotten to Sirmia felt forced. Nothing of her was with this marital agreement, no matter how much she tried to convince herself.<br/><br/>And thinking of BrÃ¡dach was only making that convincing harder.<br/><br/>About that time, her horse started to whinny, bringing her out of her thoughts long enough to notice another horse, another of the Reece's horses, having passed into some sort of a partial clearing, a pond slightly obscured by the new horse in question. Her eyes narrowed at it before glancing back to see if it was something she missed, if there was someone who'd wandered out and she'd been oblivious, lost to her thoughts. Curiosity getting the better of her, she urged her horse forward, wanting to see who'd taken it out...<br/><br/>...Only to stop shortly after.<br/><br/>BrÃ¡dach. Wet, shirtless, floating in the pond. Her eyes quickly glanced up at the sky, as though asking the gods if they were finding her conflicted demeanor amusing, only to allow her eyes to slowly slide back down to him, unwilling to just back her horse out and ride off, but not sure it was wise to stay, either.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">After a moment he swam back to shore and it was as he noted his horse stared off at something. Slowly, he continued to exit the water, his eyes trained on where the horse stared. He stepped wide his steps carried him in a circular motion, his back kept to the water on the off chance whoever was there was not there to be friends. <br/><br/>When he could finally see what his horse saw, he smiled. â€œMaria!â€ he waved and walked over to her horse. â€œYou had me worried that someone decided to try and rob me,â€ he chuckled. â€œOut for a ride?â€ he glanced about her, â€œAlone? How did you manage that?â€ he smirked, now he stood at her horse's head where he stroked and patted the animal speaking to it softly. â€œSay one thing about these people, though do breed some fine horses...â€</span><br/><br/>If there had been any thought to leave, it started to diminish into the back of her mind as he started swimming to shore...and then as he came out of the water, the light catching all the beads of water dripping and slipping about his taut skin and glistening muscles. Her eyes widened a touch, lips parting as she momentarily stared, not even realizing she had.<br/><br/>Only when he waved and called out to her did she realize what she'd been doing, her lips closing and blush appearing on her cheeks.<span style="font-style: italic">Thank goodness, I was far enough away to not have my blush be extremely prevalent...</span>she thought, the time it took for him to walk over giving her time to get it under control.<br/><br/>â€œUm, yes...Yes, I rode out alone because I just wanted some peace and quiet,â€ Maria replied lightly with a shrug, trying to keep as casual as she could despite how close he was and how the urge to slide down off the horse to be closer was growing the longer she lingered. â€œI expect they didn't expect me to leave the gates, but the guards didn't question me, so I'm not going to complain that I was allowed a ride without escort for a change.â€<br/><br/>Glancing around herself to where his horse stay, and then at the water. â€œIs it nice in there?â€ she asked, only to instantly regret it when the image of him swimming again came to mind, and then how he'd saved her from the river...and then how he'd pressed his lips to hers... Shaking her head a bit to get the image out, she shifted the topic slightly. â€œHave you come out here often? Have the doctors approved such?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">â€œNo, but I needed some space too,â€ he said with a shrug, the action caused him a bit of pain but he ignored it. â€œThe water actually helped,â€ he explained. â€œI am lighter in there, so the weight and strain on my muscles and wounds are less,â€ he smiled and looked up at her. â€œWant to go for a swim? I know that you can't, but I could teach you. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it and well, don't panic,â€ he chuckled, then stepped closer to her.<br/><br/>â€œCome on, it will be fun,â€ he held his arms up to help her down out of the saddle. Already his mind thought of the possibilities that such a simple encounter as swimming could lead to. To hold her, to feel her again. There were more than enough reasons to tell her to go back to the castle, to even leave himself. But, he could not bring himself to do it, even if it was the right thing to do. That night a part of him had claimed her as his own and he could not resist the desire to be with her. <br/><br/>â€œPromise I'll keep you safe.â€</span><br/><br/>Her eyes widened and she started to shake her head, gaze leaving his to look back at the water, heart already picking up pace. Part of the sudden increase was due to the idea of getting in the water after what happened last time, after she'd sunk like a rock been trapped beneath the water's surface. The other part...<br/><br/>Getting in the water with him meant getting off her horse and getting undressed to some degree and getting close. Getting close while he was...well...him, didn't help her already conflicted mind. And, she doubted she'd be able to resist at all if things were to shift in a certain direction...Allowing her eyes to glance back at his, seeing that smile, and the way he spoke...that promise...<br/><br/>â€œWell...how would I...get out of this?â€ she asked, a hand gesturing to her dress. â€œI can't go swimming in it, nor can I return to the castle completely soaked, either...â€<span style="font-style: italic">That's right, Maria,</span>she thought bemused at herself.<span style="font-style: italic">Don't tell him â€œno,â€ but instead point out the logistics and half-hope that he'll have a way around that.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">â€œTake the dress off and swim in your under garments,â€ he said with a grin. â€œOr, you could go without anything at all....â€ he his tone shifted just slightly. â€œI mean...it is not as if I have not seen what is beneath it....â€ <br/><br/>He smiled at her, his hands moved and were now on her hips, â€œCome on, the swimming will do you good.â€ Without another word, he lifted her from the saddle and lowered her down in front of him. â€œSo, are you removing just the dress? Or, everything?â€ <br/><br/>Why did he have to do this? Why did he have to touch her? To put them in situations where he could touch her. Even now, though she was down from the saddle his hands had not left her hips and instead he just stood there looking down at her....holding her.</span><br/><br/>That tone was growing increasingly familiar to her, the more she lingered around him. It was the tone that spoke to exactly what they'd done, even if only a fraction different than the one he'd used prior. It was enough to cause her blush to come back and for her eyes to nonchalantly focus elsewhere, only to sharply inhale a breath as he lifted her free of her horse and put her down.<span style="font-style: italic">Even with injuries like that, he's still just as strong, an-</span><br/><br/>Forcing that thought to stop, she was far too aware of how his hands hadn't left her hips, of how he was looking at her. She hardly wanted to admit to herself that she was a bit scared of going back in the water, and she didn't want to admit to how difficult it'd be to keep on point with what he was saying and not his wet, warm, perfect body near her own (as she imagined it would be so she didn't end up drowning again). To go naked would be to make everything more intimate without having to do a thing. To keep on her slip and chemise would mean she'd have one layer, even if thin, to separate him from her...but she couldn't likely put a dry dress on top of wet undergarments, either...<br/><br/>â€œThat would depend on...â€ There was a pause, her eyes dropping again as her cheeks flushed. â€œHow long you think I'd have to...learn to swim?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">â€œAs long as it takes,â€ he said and smiled. â€œNo one is going to look for me and no one tried to stop you,â€ he reached up to run the back of his fingers across her cheek. â€œSo, for the afternoon it is just the two of us and if we get out soon enough, you can dry in the sun,â€ the smile stayed there on his lips, though his gaze shifted just slightly. Shifted to her lips and instantly he recalled how soft they were and how much he enjoyed it when they kissed. <br/><br/>They were alone...no one would find them here and with that knowledge, there would be more time. Time to do all the things he had wanted to do three nights ago. To draw the moment out make it last for as long as either could stand. <br/><br/>â€œMaria...â€ he began, â€œI want you.â€ The words were bold and once they were out, everything else that he had to say seemed to just flow. â€œI wish that it were different. Wish that I could court you properly, but...â€ he sighed. â€œI know we can never be anything in the public to one another, but I can't not be with you,â€ his hand cupped the side of her face, his thumb smoothed over her cheek. â€œWe can keep it between us...a secret, like my parents. Some time with you is better than no time with you....â€<br/><br/>There was a part of him that was not sure how this would work out or if he should have just left when he had the chance. Fortunately, or unfortunately that was a very small part. The rest of him stood behind his words, behind his confession. Now it was just a matter of seeing what she said....to see how she felt.</span><br/><br/>A shiver tripped up her spine as his fingers glided across her cheek, the gentle action wanted, even if somewhere in her mind, she knew she should have taken a step back and garnered some space. The way he'd justified her ability to swim, had taken her logistics and turned them into something attainable, the idea had a certain appeal, had her interested in possibly going in the water, though she expected to be clinging to him the entire time. Swimming on her own just seemed too petrifying with her track record, and going to a point where she could no longer touch almost had the makings of a panic attack starting in at the very thought.<br/><br/>But, then there was a shift, his eyes lowering, and she licked her lips in a nervous gesture, mentally kicking herself shortly thereafter as her lips had clearly been what he was staring at. Her eyes naturally shifted to his and her heart skipped a beat, wanting to steal another kiss, to promise herself that kiss would be the last kiss and then she could walk away from him. That this caress would be the last caress. Just as the idea became too appealing to ignore and she'd made up her mind to do it, his lips parted...<br/><br/>...And the words that came out had her own parting in shock, her gaze bouncing back and forth between his eyes, disbelieving of what he was telling her, wondering if it were a dream. He wanted her. BrÃ¡dach actually wanted her. He wanted to court her, to be spend time with her, to be with her. He wasn't being forced out of a union to end a war, he wasn't being forced for the benefit of some other kingdom or some other faculty. He<span style="font-style: italic">wanted</span>to be with her because he wanted<span style="font-style: italic">her</span>, not what her family could do.<br/><br/>Even after what his parents went through, he wanted her, wanted to try.<br/><br/>Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned more into his touch, turning a bit to press a kiss to it, holding it to her cheek with her own hand and just trying not to cry right then. There were no words to describe what his words had meant to her, and she doubted there ever would be a way to properly articulate them. â€œBrÃ¡dach, I...â€ she started, only to cut off when her throat felt too tight to speak, biting hard into her lower lip to try and control it. â€œI'd be lying if I...if I said I hadn't...thought about how things could have been had I not been...â€ Again, her voice cut off, the hand holding his holding it a little tighter as she drew some strength from it. â€œI tried to convince myself that...that the last time we were...that that'd be the last time...â€<br/><br/>Shaking her head, she inhaled a shaky breath, eyes looking anywhere but at him. â€œI knew it wouldn't be...no matter how much I tried to tell myself that it was, but...â€ This time, she allowed her eyes to glance up at him, worried, hesitant, her voice quiet and uneven in her attempts to keep her emotions at bay. â€œ...You would...you would go through that? Go through what your parents did, to be with me? I don't want to see you get hurt because of me, and if you did, it'd kill me, BrÃ¡d...If they find out...â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">To silence her doubts, to quell her fears, he kissed her. The hand at her cheek slipped to behind her head, held her to him, while his other hand moved to the small of her back. This was dangerous and many would tell him that it was down right stupid. However, all he could think about were the moments when his parents were together. How happy they looked together. Even his mother continued to smile when his father was away. There would be times when they would be doing something together, like gathering firewood and she would just start to smile. Not the normal smile that she often had. No, it had been the smile she only had when his father was around. <br/><br/>He wanted that smile, he wanted to see that smile on Maria's face. Wanted to hold her, court her and show her how it could have been. If one thing had just been different, how their lives could have been if just the one circumstance had been different. Without dwelling on the past, dwelling on what could have been, he instead wanted to focus on their future. What little there was to be had together, he wanted it. Needed it. <br/><br/>When the kiss ended, he lingered his forehead rested against her own, â€œWe will deal with that when it happens...if it happens. Until then, we are just going to focus on this. On moments like this...moments when it is just us....and no one else....â€ <br/><br/>Another kiss. Another expression of not only his committed to her but his committed to trying this her. <br/><br/>A thousand and one reasons why this was a bad idea and he focused on just the one that made it all worth it. <br/><br/>Focused on her.</span><br/><br/>The tears she'd been trying to hold back started to trickle free as he kissed her, embarrassed that she was such an emotional woman when he'd likely get annoyed with that. She was taught to be this refined, regal, in control person, and around him...around him he threw her off. He made her want to be just a normal, to want to just be one of the crowd, to be able to get everything that she could have tried with him had it not been for titles and treaty agreements.<br/><br/>Her hands slid up his chest, before one of them moved around back to hold him close. She was still torn, still unsure if she were willing to risk how things my end for the temporary satiation of her need, the temporary absolution of her â€œwhat if'sâ€. He was trying to put her at ease, and she could feel it in his kiss that he really did want it, that it wasn't just some some pity thing or something to toy with her as he'd once kissed her to do. It was real. It was what she'd dreamed of when it came to how her life would go, before it became her responsibility to clean up after those who'd created a war before she were even born.<br/><br/>When he broke the kiss to speak once more, she wanted to believe in what he said, that they'd deal with it as it came...<br/><br/>â€œNo, wait...â€ she said as she broke the next kiss, her hands almost desperately clinging to his shoulders, trying to get her thoughts in order. â€œHave you thought this through? Have you thought through what it'll be like? What it'll be like to be with a woman who...who has to be married to another? Who has to...bear an heir for that man? And, and what if you find another, but by that time I've fallen too hard to..to let you go and...and I already got jealous when Ivor's trollop of a sister went to check on you and made it known her intentions... How do you think you...or I...will be able to handle that? Simprina can already tell something's different with me...that I seem...suddenly happy, that I've changed...and we weren't even...â€<br/><br/>She'd rambled and she knew it, breaking eye contact as a hand came up to run her fingers through her hair in the ever-present nervous tick, before asking what she'd already done in one word; one quiet word. â€œ...How?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Of everything that she said he focused on the one thing that made him smirk, â€œYou were jealous?â€<br/><br/>Sure it was not the most important topic to focus on at the moment, but it was the one he choose to focus on. If for nothing else then to give himself the time he needed to think about all of the other stuff she brought up. Thoughts that he had with himself night after night, the many reasons why they should just stop. <br/><br/>Right now, he did not want to think about that. He wanted to just enjoy this moment before someone else came about to ruin it. Before something else was brought up. Something major. Like whose heir? Would it be his or the princes child that she had? Even if it was his own he could never claim the child, could never be with the child, could never love the child as his own because it would be born to the prince. <br/><br/>It would be like his own childhood, but far more painful. To have a child he could never love in public or even in private because he could not risk the child's life. All of these things and more he had thought about and still he wanted this. Wanted her and wanted whatever they could be to one another. Something was far better than nothing.</span><br/><br/>Her mouth sort of dropped open, brows pulling together in a sort of almost incredulous expression. â€œCan you blame me?â€ she asked, a hand gesturing to the side as she started to feel a fresh bout of it.<br/><br/>â€œAbigail is gorgeous, with her dark hair and her dark eyes, and she's used to getting who she wants given her status, even if she can't be married off because of her activities! She's set her cap to you, and just the thought of her being all over you and trying to rub it in my face that she's going for you because I called her out on being a slut when she tried to be absolutely atrocious to me at the dinner table my very first night there! She's going to do it out of spite; and if she weren't before, she will now! And to know that there will likely be others who are going to want you and I can't say a thing about it, that I have to grin and bear it because you can't truly be mine, and you can't turn her down if she asks anything of you, I'm going to rather stuck my head in the baker's oven than watch that disgusting display!â€<br/><br/>Again, she'd rambled, and at some point she'd started to pace. Her gestures were starting to go a little wild, sharp, from one side to the other and her expressions were getting more animated as it really started to kick in. â€œYou aren't even mine and I was trying to justify to myself that you were mine for just a little while longer, if only because you'd not gotten your payment completely situated yet and had to be here a while longer! I don't even know how I'm going to handle it when you aren't around constantly anymore and I don't know how I'm going to be able to even really talk to you when I'm supposed to be borderline mentally deficient and am supposedly needing someone else to read things to me, so I don't even get letters and notes directly!â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">When she paced away he allowed her, instead content to lean back against the horse, which was more than fine to allow him to do so. All the time she paced and ranted, he could only think about how much he enjoyed how her body moved. How even in the fit of anger there was still a grace to her, a way that she commanded the attention of all those in the area. <br/><br/>â€œFirstly,â€ he said, with a push up from the horse to get in the way of her pacing and catch her in his grasp. â€œShe is not gorgeous. She is a tramp and a slut, someone that I would sooner punch in the face than consort with in anyway,â€ he reached up to cup the side of her face. â€œYou are gorgeous and breathtaking. More of a woman than she can ever hope to be,â€ he said to her with honesty. <br/><br/>â€œAs for my...payment,â€ he shrugged. â€œI asked instead to be given a plot of land here. The money that I got from your father went to supplies for the house that I had planned to build here....â€ <br/><br/>Even though he could not have her, he had planned to at least be close. Have a place he could come back to when he felt the urge to leave and travel once more. He could always come back there, come back to her. <br/><br/>â€œAnd....â€ he smiled to step away from her and go to his horse. â€œI grabbed this from the library and thought you might like it....â€ he rummaged about in the pack before he produced a small leather bound book. â€œHere,â€ he said when he returned to her. If she were to flip it open she would see that it was blank. â€œI know that you enjoy to read, but you had said that they keep you from doing so, I thought that you would enjoy to write your own story? Something interesting, entertaining and well....when you are done I could see about getting it copied into several copies. You can write under another name and just...share that imagination and creativeness with the rest of the world....â€ <br/><br/>Another shrug as he rubbed the back of his head, â€œIf you would have rather an actual book, I can go back and try to pick out one for you....â€ he offered, as he began to doubt that she would like it now that he had given it to her.</span><br/><br/>Had he not stepped into her way and stopped her pacing, she'd have continued on with the gestures, with the ranting and raving, with the idea of the tramp trying to work her way in there. It was just something she couldn't have pretended was okay, not when she felt like he was her's, not when she refused to begin to think of Ivor as someone she could ever grow feelings for when everything she was was all about someone else. And, it didn't help that she saw Abigail as gorgeous, even if a bit of an outwardly bitchy look to her without having to say a word.<br/><br/>She wasn't sure she could just accept that he'd sooner punch her in the face, if only because he didn't seem the sort to punch a woman in the face, nor did she seem the sort to give up. It wasn't as though he could say, â€œOh, I'd be courting the Prince's intended if she had any say,â€ when approached.<br/><br/>But that all took second to what he said next. Her heart seemingly stopped, as did her breathing when he said he'd be staying around. That he wouldn't just be vanishing into the woods, but had planned on building a house...And then to have been so thoughtful and get her a book to write in, offering to get it published if she so felt inclined? In that one minute alone, he'd given her a plethora of reasons to try and make it work, because he'd already been trying, had already thought some things through.<br/><br/>Holding the book to her chest, arms crossing in front of her, she felt at a loss for words. But there was still one thing she had to know. â€œ...You never really did...answer my question...about how you'd handle things...â€ she pushed awkwardly. â€œThe circumstances are slightly...different than with your mother and father...â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">â€œYou are a quick one,â€ he teased slightly. â€œLook, for all my knowledge and experience this is something that I had never thought I would have to deal with. Never something that I would be involved with, but...â€ He shrugged, the action easier each time he did it. â€œ...Then I met you. I will readily admit that I could not stand you when I saw you and pegged you for all those entitled bitches that I had to escort here and there. The ones who so willingly throw themselves at me when their husbands were away because it was something dangerous to do and something they could brag about later to their entitled friends.â€ <br/><br/>At the topic of his past he spoke with contempt, disdain and disgust. â€œThen here was you, a princess who longed for something more. Who wanted something more for herself, but did what she had to for the sake of her people. Kind of heart, educated and well...beautiful inside and out,â€ he smiled. â€œI know this is not the best situation, I know that there are more reasons to not try but the one reason to try is far more important than not giving it a go...â€ he reached for her hand and placed it on his chest.<br/><br/>â€œI don't want to live the rest of my life and wonder...<span style="font-style: italic">What if</span>. I want to try...see where it goes, because whatever it is, whatever we could be is worth at least a try....,â€ he smiled. â€œI will handle it all with the best of my abilities and do what I can to just remember the one important thing...â€ at this moment he leaned down and kissed her. Slow, soft and sweet, just like their first kiss, â€œYou. That is the only thing I will focus on and that should be all that I need to get through this just fine...â€</span><br/><br/>â€œBelieve me, you don't have to admit that...â€ she mumbled beneath her breath, all too familiar with how he'd treated her. The comments, the looks, the inferences of what he thought of her and just how lowly he'd thought of her. It was almost funny, when she thought back on it, how getting her drunk had turned out to be the best thing, because it'd let her guard down enough to answer his questions candidly, not rattle off prepared answers like she did with everyone else. Had he not asked her to try mead...and then the wines...<br/><br/>Nothing would have happened, he'd likely still hate her, and she'd be completely alone.<br/><br/>There'd been a blush as he described how he saw her, eyes glancing away and instead focusing on his chest, her thumb smoothing over it. He was right, echoing the same sentiment she'd been struggling with for days. There'd be â€œwhat if'sâ€ if they didn't at least try, always wondering how things could have been. Even if the situation wasn't ideal, not trying would be worse.<br/><br/>Kissing him back, melting into him, it took her a bit to get up any words to answer him, just looking into his eyes for a few moments. Then, a small smile, nervous, but happy, followed by a nod. She wanted to try, to see it through. Where she once only thought about damning consequences, here was her chance to do it. â€œI want you, BrÃ¡dach...I'd tried to convince myself this wouldn't be good, but...I...I need to try this...I'm just glad you...you got the courage to be so bold, or else I would still be trying to convince myself that this isn't a good idea...â€ Maria admitted quietly with a sort of shy laugh, a light blush to her cheeks. â€œBut, I want you...and if this is the only way I can get time with you...I'd rather it than nothing at all...â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Now that this was settled he leaned back enough to take the book from her, then he bent down and lifted her up to his shoulder. A small grimace of pain passed over his face, but he ignored the discomfort. With her over one shoulder, he walked toward the water, though he stopped by his horse to put the book back in its pack. <br/><br/>Then with her still on his shoulder her began to walk with her into the water, â€œBout time you learned how to swim,â€ he laughed  and only stopped when he was waist high. â€œHold your breath,â€ he warned then tossed her into the water with a laugh. Sure she was wet now and had not had the time to remove her dress, but it was more fun this way.</span><br/><br/>She'd expected him to take the book back, preparing for a kiss or something,<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>to be hauled over his shoulder and walked toward the water, dress and all. Shaking her head, she tried to get him to put her down, not wanting to mix water with a corset, silks and satins, not after the last time, but he wasn't giving in. He was walking in with her, her arms trying to cling around him so he couldn't toss her, unable to get a proper grip in time before she went down.<br/><br/>There was no breath grabbed, instead telling him not to when she went under. It took her a minute, tangled in all of the fabric, but she popped up, sputtering, a look of shock on her face as she just looked down at herself in shock. â€œY-You just...â€ Heels sinking into the mud, she  bent back over to take them off and out of the water, not even sure what to do. â€œHow am I to go back like this?â€ she asked, eyes wide. Her hair was surely coming undone now, the elaborate twists untwisting with the weight of the water, pins falling out here or there, the water dripping down her drenched form as her chest heaved from the excitement of it all. â€œI'm completely soaked! I can't even get you back for it because you already were!â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">He walked toward her, his hand removed the pins from her soaking wet hair, then he pulled her close and kissed her. It was hot, passionate, with his tongue instantly pushed into her mouth to dance with her own, while his hands ran over her body. When it ended he was breathless, but he smiled, â€œI guess I have to help you out of that dress then....don't want you to catch a cold being all wet like that....â€</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">That</span>was the kiss she'd expected when he removed the book from her hands, not to be dragged into the water. There was an almost instant groan, her lips parting to accommodate his tongue, her own rushing to dance with his eagerly. She could barely breathe when it finally ended, barely stand as her head had gone so light. And when he brought up catching cold, she simply narrowed her eyes at him playfully and tried to take a couple steps back. â€œWell, if someone didn't want me catching cold...maybe they shouldn't have thrown me into the water...â€ Maria pointed out with mock annoyance, going through a show of wringing out the parts of her dress that were above water.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"I can't help that I love the sight of you dripping wet...." he replied as he advanced toward her. "Let me...warm you up..." he said, then reached for her again.</span><br/><br/>Shaking her head, she turned away to walk â€œindignantlyâ€ back onto the shore, using her mocking annoyance to her advantage to hide the blush at his comment about her dripping wet. â€œNo...no, I think I'll sit in the sun and dry off...you know...so I don't drown with all of this...and catch cold and all...â€ she sighed, hiking up her skirts to try and walk out of the water, glancing back only a moment before taking off.<br/><br/>Or, trying to anyway, as she found it surprisingly difficult to run through the water, let alone adding pounds upon pounds of wet fabric to contend with.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The smile that came to his lips, when she stormed off and then tried to run away. â€œOh no you don'tâ€! he  said as he chased her down and scooped her up. Now cradled in his arms he carried her out of the water and over to a patch of grass that was warmed by the sun. <br/><br/>â€œI can't believe you tried to leave me,â€ he said as if truly offended. â€œDon't you realize you are mine now?â€ he asked when he laid her down on the grass. â€œWhich means, you are stuck with me...â€ now he held himself over her, his eyes on her own. â€œNot going to just let you walk away from me....not anymore...â€ he said with unspoken emotion before he kissed her again. Again it was hot and heavy, his body held above her own for the time being.</span><br/><br/>It left her in somewhat of an awed state, that he was still able to lift her with all the heavy fabric, and his own sore self. Somehow, though, he managed to, carrying her out to the warmth, laying her gently down, hovering over her... And those words! The way he said she was his, that he wouldn't just let her walk away...her heart skipped several beats, only to try to escape her chest when he kissed her. Eyes instinctively closing, she kissed him back, tongue dancing with his own, a moan escaping as her arms wrapped about him, one of her hands burying itself in his hair and holding him close.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">This time there was time. Time to enjoy one another, to enjoy the simple things, the smaller things, like kissing. Carefully, he lowered himself atop her, though his kept most of his weight in his knees. It was perfect. There the two of them laying in the sun, kissing, touching and expressing feeling for one another through their touch. Now there was no longer the thoughts that they should stop that it was wrong. Instead there just was them and their pleasure, nothing else mattered anymore. <br/><br/>Without any rush behind his actions, he let the kiss continued. His tongue worked against her own while his hands took their time in exploring her and committing to memory every inch and curve of her form.</span><br/><br/>It was different this time around, that much was obvious even just in the kiss. Where last time it'd picked up, hot and heavy, and within moments they were at the wall, grinding, trying to enjoy while feeling the time constraint, while feeling the necessity to rush through to keep the other safe. This time...there wasn't any of that. This time, though the kiss was passionate, there was a sense of freedom. The freedom to caress, to touch, to savor and enjoy the moment without fear of being spotted. Far enough into the woods that there was no fear of someone stumbling upon them, that they could do whatever they wanted how they wanted.<br/><br/>Like him resting atop her as his hands moved over her. Where before it'd been harried groping, rushing to remove everything at once, this time it was better. Her own hands were able to explore, to touch, to feel, without worrying she was going to get in the way and make it take longer than they had time for. It was this that she wanted, this that she needed, being able to be with him like this, as it should be...was perfect.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">There was so much he wanted to do and now they had that time. The kiss ended, his lips moved to taste and kiss her neck. â€œWe...should come back here....everyday....â€ he murmured against her flesh. â€œThink you can manage that?â€ he asked then nibble down along her neck and shoulder. â€œWe can come here...swim....talk....and just..be together....â€ he nibbled along her collar bone down to her chest. Already, his hands began to seek out the the ties and laces, the wet knots proved to be a challenge, but he was determined to get it them undone.</span><br/><br/>There was a slight whimper as he pulled away from her lips, the kiss ending, to move elsewhere. She wasn't sure she wanted to stop kissing him, not yet, but melted more into the ground beneath him as his lips touched her neck.<br/><br/>Everyday.. He wanted to see her everyday... To talk, swim, be with her... The idea was a tempting one, one that she didn't see being too hard if her schedule since she'd gotten there was any indication of how things would go from then on. Ivor kept to himself as did the rest of the royals, and her ladies-in-waiting were easy enough to get privacy and time away from. This could be their spot, their place to meet, and spend time, even if they couldn't anywhere else.<br/><br/>As he shifted her, she rolled willingly, feeling his hands working at the ties at her back, felt him struggling with the wet material that didn't seem willing to budge. For the briefest of moments, she almost asked him if he had a knife to just cut it free, but then she pushed the thought away because it wasn't like they were in the middle of the wilderness in some far off kingdom. They were in Sirmia, and she had to be able to go back to the castle in a cut up dress or mussed...She had to look how she did when she left.<br/><br/>Which would already be tricky enough without a ruined dress.<br/><br/>Pressing a bit more into him, hoping it'd somehow make it easier to untie, she finally answered him in kind. â€œEveryday...I'll come here and wait for you...â€ she promised, her voice breathless, quiet, happy. â€œI don't care what we do while we're together, but...this will be our place...our spot...where we can just<span style="font-style: italic">be</span>with no worry of anyone else...â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">She agreed and he felt his heart rate increase even more. Arms about her form he rolled slightly so that she was atop him, her weight atop of his own and his hands now with full access to the back of her dress. <br/><br/>This, they would have this everyday. Could be with one another without needing to rush, without needing to worry and fear about being discovered. They could share and learn about one another, in peace and safety. One at a time, his fingers began to undo the laces, it was not long before his hands could push the dress from her shoulders.<br/><br/>She was so soft, in comparison to his own hard flesh. A moan poured from his lips, which were still against her flesh. Every inch of her he wanted to taste, to touch, to kiss....<br/><br/>Still, there was one more barrier.....her corset...<br/><br/>Already his hands were at work on the knots. Fingers doing their best to undo the knots and free her from that confining piece of clothing. Next time, this would be removed first and then they would go swimming.</span>