~<em>David and Nicci getting to know each other a little on the beach after lunch. ~</em><br/><br/>A joint IM post<br/><br/>David's walk around the grounds of the island eventually brought him to one of the beaches.  This one, however, was slightly different due to the fact that it had a small cove.  He pushed his hair back, trying to keep the wind from making it too hard for him to see.  He nodded slightly as he glanced around the cove, then out over the water.  Peaceful place, he thought.<br/><br/>Nicci felt lighter after doing her entry, sure it felt strange talking to the camera and seeing yourself on screen but it also gave her an outlet for some of the various emotions from the last two days.<br/><br/>She took a deep breath of the cool salty air. God this place was beautiful, she thought as she bent down and took her shoes off, even though it was fairly cold, she couldn't resist the sand under her toes.<br/><br/>She shaded her eyes as she looked out to sea and then followed the curve of the bay.  She realised that someone was already here before her, her eyes narrowing she was pretty sure it was David and she walked towards him, a smile on her face, another person who needed the cowebs blown away she thought.<br/><br/>As she got closer she called out, "Great minds think alike huh?"<br/><br/>David glanced up, his eyebrows rising slightly as he heard a voice.  He smiled slightly when he saw it was Nicci.  He waved and took a few steps over to her.  He noticed her walking gingerly across the sand, then saw she had taken off her shoes.  He smiled at that.  "Well, yeah, of course.  After all, we did both agree to this unusual 'experiment,' ", he said, his hands making the quotes around the word.  "But, it is a nice place."<br/><br/>"Everything okay back at the castle?" he asked after a moment.<br/><br/>"Oh yes, fine, I'll be going back to do supper, but I just needed to get out into the fresh air for a bit, and this place is just so beautiful, I don't think I will ever tire of it."<br/><br/>As she came closer and her eyes scanned his face, she realised that she'd already learned that for such a handsome man he wasn't brash or cocky at all, so many men as good looking as him were so full of bravado it made it hard to get round it.  She felt so happy that someone so easy going had joined them, it made the whole project seem more whole.<br/><br/>Her eyes lingered for a moment on the scar on his chin, it really was very kissable, she thought, her eyes twinkling, wondering if he realised how sexy it was.<br/><br/>While she was looking him over, he was taking the opportunity to look her over as well.  Something in the back of his mind kept bothering him every time he looked at her.<em>Oh, screw it, might as well ask.</em>"Okay, this is going to sound weird and I appolgize in advance, but...for some reason, you seem very familiar to me.  Are you a model or actress or something?"  As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized it might sound like a pick up line.  "I mean, I'm not trying to...ah, I mean...ack.  I just mean that I could swear I've seen you before and I'm trying to place it."<br/><br/>He ran a hand through his hair.  "Sorry, I'm still a little off balance.  Still trying to wrap my head around all of...this." he said with a motion of his hand.<br/><br/>She realised that David hadn't been here when they all talked about what they did, and that also made her blush a little as that meant he also didn't know about her background. She wondered how much of a difference it would make to him when he did.<br/><br/>"No, that's fine David, yes you might have seen me before, I've always worked as a model, not a fashion one, nothing like that, I'm not the right shape."<br/><br/>She smiled, her eyes twinkling even more, "But I've done quite a lot of fetish and erotic photography and also body-doubled in films for actresses."<br/><br/>She laid her hand on his forearm, "It is a lot to take in isn't it, and for me... well.. it means a lot to me....... a chance of happiness...."<br/><br/>As she spoke of her modeling work, he realized that must be it.  He chuckled slightly, nervously, but then decided that there was no reason for him to be nervous about having seen her before in that form.  "Ah, okay, that explains it.  Yeah, that's probably it."  He then took another look at her.  He couldn't recall specific images, but if she was sure that was where he'd seen her, he wasn't going to argue.  It was also nice to see that she was obviously comfortable with it.  "Wow, this is a first for me."<br/><br/>He smiled and glanced down at her hand on his arm, then lifted his hand to trail along her arm as well.  Apparently, she wasn't shy about physical contact.  Good.  He wasn't sure what the rules were, but...if she initiated the contact, he wasn't going to refuse it.  "Ah, I take it that you've been on the look for something of this nature for some time?"<br/><br/>Part of David had been trying to figure out something as he had walked.  This setup seemed a little...extravagant for a simple sociological experiment.  It almost seemed personal.  He wondered if there was more going  on here than had been let on.  Something to consider.<br/><br/>Her eyes clouded a bit, this was the hard bit, "Well for a long time I didn't really know what I was looking for, I just knew I hadn't.........." she paused, biting her lip for a moment, subtly moving away slightly to give him the space he might need, "I, well..... as well as having relationships I was involved on the party scene, and I started to realise that a one-to-one monogamous relationship wasn't for me, and I just couldn't bear the idea of not being faithful – so I decided to just stay single.."<br/><br/>She smiled sadly, thinking about all the pain and anguish along the way, believing there was something wrong with her, "It wasn't really until I got involved in the BDSM scene that I started to learn about polyamory, and realised that it was I had been looking for all along."<br/>DiverseDesires: She turned a little to look out across the bay saying softly, "A family, true poly love, everyone caring for each other, that's my dream"<br/><br/>She turned and smiled into his eyes, saying more strongly, "And that's why I am here, to find out if there is a place in the world I fit into."<br/><br/>David listened as she spoke of her past, letting her pull away slightly.  He kept his fingers on hers though as she spoke.  When she was done, he found himself smiling a little.  "That sounds...familiar.  For me, it's more about the honesty thing.  I never wanted to get anywhere near a situation where I'd lie, so I was always honest.  Even if it meant telling someone I was interested in someone else.  That almost never went over well."  He chuckled.<br/><br/>"I actually hadn't heard about...polyamory until I was here, in the UK.  I'm not even really sure what it's all about, but I know it's not just about sex.  I just know that during my time in the scene, I found myself enjoying having multiple partners.  But I'm not looking for just random sex, no.  No, it's more that I want something more, beyond that.  And frankly, this appeals."<br/><br/>He laughed slightly.  "All that said, I'm still trying to figure out how best to fit in.  Of course, I'm guessing that all of you...well, all of us are trying to figure that out, too."<br/><br/>Nicci wondered if his chuckle was a defense mechanism, if he had felt like that too, it can't have been easy for him either, and she knew just difficult it could be.  "Yes I think you are right, we've all had different experiences, and are feeling our way.  But it looks as if all of us really do want to try to make this work. I know for me, I feel that I need to commit to it fully, open my heart and treat it like, well almost like an arranged marriage -  like the psychs said."<br/><br/>Her head tilted to one side slightly, as she looked up at him, "And to be honest David, I am really glad that you came, I think you gel so well with everyone, I know I feel very comfortable with you already, and that really surprised me."<br/><br/>David blinked a few times in surprise.  He was a little taken aback by her honesty, but at the same time appreciated it.  Actually, he appreciated it a lot more than he would have thought.  "Thanks, Nicci.  That...that actually helps."  He realized that his hand had dropped to her hip when she had turned to him, but made no real motion to move it.  "I know I'm basically the new guy, but knowing that at least one of you is comfortable with me being here is reassuring."  He smiled slightly.  "Thanks."  He bent his head to her and laid a soft, lingering kiss on her cheek.  As he did so, his hand tightened slightly on her hip.<br/><br/>Nicci felt the tangible connection that sparked between them and caught at her breath, tingling in the air between them.  It both excited her and relieved her, after all the uncertainties, to know he felt drawn to her calmed  some of the niggling doubts inside.<br/><br/>She turned to stand right in front of him, her thumb reaching up to smooth the scar on his chin, and then brush across his lips, "Thank you, " she said softly, "It looks like we have a real adventure in front of us don't you think?"<br/><br/>She couldn't have known it, but another person trailing their finger or thumb across his scar was something he'd grown to take a slight amount of pleasure in.  A few times, it had actually taken on a more ritualistic role.  For one thing, it was one of the last things one of his exes would do before he began scening with her.  Even now, the faint touch of a finger along the scar triggered a slight shift in his mind.  His eyes darkened slightly as a wry smile broke across his face.  When her thumb passed over his lips, it was all he could do to not capture it.  "I would say so.  I think this should be...pretty damn interesting."<br/><br/>The tension, if anything built and she saw his reaction to her touch in his eyes, her own reacting to him in spades.  But she pulled it back, breathing a little shakily, surprised at the intensity. She took his hand and tugged him lightly, drawing him with her to walk along the beach, "Come on, lets go walk to the water's edge, even if you are chicken I'm going to get my feet wet...."  She laughed, the wind seeming to lift her playful spirit, "Maybe it will cool me down a bit,......" she said, flashing a heated flirting look into his eyes as she turned and walked almost backwards leading him on, "Looks like I'm going to need a lot of coolin' down round you guys......"<br/><br/>David chuckled and let her lead him by the hand toward the water's edge.  "Hey, I don't mind getting wet, I just don't want to lose any more clothing to the mud room."   He laughed low as they neared the gently lapping water at the edge of the beach.  "Well, you won't always have a nice cold waterline to escape to.  I'll just have to make sure of that.  Might have to get the others to help tie you down, but I'll hazard a guess you won't mind."<br/><br/>He smiled and watched as she moved through the water.  "Oh, I'm not sure if you knew, but there's a cove over there.  I hadn't seen anything else like it, so it might be someplace to bring the others someday."  He motioned toward the small cove.<br/><br/>A hot spike of desire kicked in her gut as she imagined just that.... helpless and heated......<br/><br/>She swallowed hard, jeez, she couldn't stop it playing out in her head her body getting hotter by the moment.<br/><br/>"Yes I know, " she manged to say, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice, "I saw it on my run this morning, looks like the perfect place for a beach barbeque too, don't you think?<br/><br/>She stepped into the frothy lace at the edge of the sea, gasping at the cold, "Race you!" she called over her shoulder as she started to run along the waterline, the water spraying up around her, as she sped along the beach.<br/><br/>David stood still for a second as his brain had to switch from images of sex to realizing that she wanted to-.  "Hey!" he yelled as his brain finally caught up with reality.  By that time, she already had a pretty good lead on him.  And he wasn't even sure of where she was running toward!  As he began to run, he realized that her being in the surf was actually helping her.  The sand was bogging him down just enough.  He laughed and continued to run though.  Besides, watching her run was quite nice.  And he wasn't going to let her get away from him that easily.<br/><br/>She could feel the comb holding her hair become loose and grabbed it before it fell, her hair flying out in the wind behind her. As she reached the other side of the beach she stopped, laughing, almost intoxicated by the joy of feeling so free. Watching him catch up, as she walked back up onto the sand, she dropped her shoes for a moment and pinned her hair back up still laughing as he reached her.<br/><br/>She was soaked, but she didn't care, and licking the salt from her lips she teased, "Too fast for ya, huh?"<br/><br/>He chuckled slightly as he finally neared her.  His eyes held hers for several moments before he spoke.  "I could make the case that you caught me off guard and exploited it, but...I think I'll just settle for a rematch at some point.  But, you did win, so you get one request.  Either now, or later, your choice.  And if I can, I'll do my best to satisfy whatever request you make."  He took a few steps closer.  "Whatever it may be."<br/>Elliquiy Marikir: He held her gaze for a few seconds of heated silence, only the sound of the waves reaching their ears, before he smiled again.  "By the way, you girls did a wonderful job for lunch.  I can tell I'm going to be one well contented guy these next six months."<br/><br/>The quiet stillness as they stood locked into each others eyes took the sound from her laugh and left a gentle smile on her lips, that broadened into a grin as he started to plead his case.  She'd expected a rematch, but the offer of a request to be honored surprised her, in fact it surprised her a lot and her eyes widened at his words.<br/><br/>He was obviously more playful than she thought, but also.. more secure........  and far more......<br/><br/>Again he took the wind out of her sails, his comment about lunch, the change of direction, of more than anything the sudden pulling away of the rug under her feet also spoke volumes of the level of control her had, and exerted on others.  It seemed only to add to the spice of his eyes, and the looks which had the ability to drown her.<br/><br/>She swallowed, trying to match his lightness, "Don't worry we'll look after you and try and keep you.......very...........content......" she smiled, "I hope."<br/><br/>His chuckle was low and deep, resonating in his chest as he took the final few steps to stand before her again.  "Oh, of that I have no doubt...'darling Nicci.'" A sudden gust of wind blew a spray of water over the pair of them.  After he blinked the water from his eyes, he realized she was pretty wet.  "Oh, damn it, I'm a moron.  Here, let me walk you back. You're sopping wet.  And we don't want you bedridden...."  He paused.  "Well, not yet."  He then turned his side to her and offered her his arm.  "Shall we?"<br/><br/>In fact she was surprised she wasn't steaming, she may be pretty wet, soaked in fact, but he seemed to have generated enough heat in her to make a sauna.  She took his arm, "Oh thank you kind sir." she said in a light posh voice, his calling her darling Nicci making her feel almost girly as started to walk by his side. In her normal tone she carried on,  "Don't worry about me though, I'm a tough cookie."<br/><br/>In more ways than one, she thought, smiling.  As if a little water would set her back.  But refusing to think of the far harder things she had had to deal with she thought instead about the fact that David was obviously at heart a gentleman, something the three men seemed to have in common....that element of actually caring, of having a real sense of almost old-fashioned values.<br/><br/>Something too that the best D-types seemed to have in spades.  She sneaked a little look sideways at him, through her lashes, wondering just how dominant he was, the little comment about tying her up once more flashing through her mind.<br/><br/>David guided Nicci back to the castle, heading for the mud room entrance.  He didn't think he would need to leave his stuff behind, but it would let him hang up his light jacket.  Walking with Nicci on his arm, David was accutely aware of everytime her hip brushed against his.  He was more than a little hot himself, but it wouldn't do to press her too much, too soon.  He wasn't even sure how the six of them were going to approach the sexual angle.  They'd have to eventually, but how, he wasn't sure.  Still...there was nothing wrong with walking arm in arm with a beautiful woman.<br/><br/>"I think I'll have to make sure to take more walks.  This was quite fun."  He glanced at her, catching her looking at him briefly.  He smiled at her and gave her another kiss on her cheek when they stopped.  "Thank you for the company, Nicci."<br/>