"God is very far from this town, that is true."  She was breathing very hard as she listened, it was hard to think the gentle touch on her face, she pursed her lips and kissed the ball of his thumb  as it moved on, his fingers were drawing lines of fine.  Protettion?  He offered pro-- e gripped her throat before she could answer, her eyes were shocked fully open from their half lidded state.  But oh so gently, he held her possessively, not harshly.<br/><br/>ASnd then he took her wind away, just for a heartvbat.<br/><br/>Something very deep and primal in her stirred at that.  Not exactly in defense.<br/><br/>She raised bot hands, massaged her throat, looking at him with a level, almost primitive light in her eyes.  "I accept. I will walk beside you, watch your back, give you  my gold."  Her hands reached out, both of them clasping the hand that had held her throat.  "But I will hold you to your promise of protection. "  Her hands shook a little  "I will lie on my back for you."  A cheap surrender of a point, he was a man, he doubtless already expected it.<br/><br/><br/>"I'll not be passed around  like a keg of rum."<br/><br/><br/><br/>