She certainly knew how to mitigate his concerns. Even despite the shocking and heavy-hearted hints as to her former life and why she had been so scared, her repeating that she wanted and intended to be a dutiful consort lifted his spirits. If she sincerely wanted as such, he had an odd confidence she would. She had been alluring and well enough at masking her fear in the baths, he wondered what she would be like when she recovered from the trauma.<br/><br/>“You are a strong woman. The Gods reward those who fight for inner-balance and perseverance. The scales that tipped so low to your detriment will even out to your fulfillment, I am sure.” He spoke as his hands continued to move through her hair and along her neck and shoulders.<br/><br/>Her talk of her losing her family, her husband, was alarming, though again she wrapped it up so succinctly with her promise to serve made the blow cushioned. Of course she had been scared and traumatized. Ripped from her life and then put into the hands of the hound battalion? Would he have fared any better in her shoes?<br/><br/>He willed himself to not think about the hounds for now. Her eyes on his were pulling at odd parts of his mind. Her baring her soul, even the less than happy parts, rung tones in parts of his heart that he rarely exercised.  The sincerity, the raw, true nature of this woman was attractive, compelling and rewarding to imagine having her. She was almost the exact opposite as Aisha, at least in personality, and there was an undeniable draw to having such a different woman after exclusively having Aisha.<br/><br/>“I have no doubt you will delight me.” He said in a whisper before he kissed Layla. He knew not if it was appropriate timing, he just found himself leaning down, his hand taking a handful of her hair gently in his fist. His other hand held her close to him, caressing down her side and leg. His lips locked to hers, sucking at her lower lips, warm breaths mixing between them. He needed to forget the past hour, and he wanted to forget the past year.<br/>