Jess: She walks toward the door and out to the courtyard in its predawn splendor.

gm: It is chilly, particularly on her feet, which are still damp. She can hear early activity in the kitchens down toward the wall.

Jess: she shivers slightly with her first steps, noting the dew and the prickly points in each blade of grass.

gm: Sitting on a bench far across the darkened courtyard is Verhain, the student from the House of the Lily. He is holding a large mug of some hot drink. Muirne can see the steam curling up off of it. He is wearing a dark woolen coat and appears to be lost in thought.

Jess: She approaches him, eyes flickering between him and his steaming brew.

gm: He doesn't seem to notice her until she is quite close, and then after a moment's startlement, smiles. "Muirne," he greets her, moving slightly on the bench to offer her room. "Can't sleep?"

Jess: She smiles down at him, laying a hand on his and gently releaving him of his mug.

gm: He grins, and opens half his coat onto the bench so that she can sit in it and stay warm with him.

The coffee is sweet and strong, flavored with cream and cinnamon.

Jess: she drinks deeply, holding the mug to her cleavage as she snuggles into his coat. "Perhaps I SAW that you were in need of my companionship this morn and was drawn from the comforts of my down blankets to greet the Sun by your side," she quips with a playful smile.

gm: "Better that than dreams of the Tower," he says, letting a moment of seriousness pass across his face, but he smiles again right away. "And your Seeing, did it extend to how very much I desire your companionship?"

Jess: "Only as much as you desire to draw breath." she replies with his mug at her lips.

gm: "I hope you are not teasing me this day. The moons of your breasts above me would go some way towards banishing the darkness of my sleepless night." In that place of empathy, Muirne feels his honest desire, driven a little by fear, but mostly by the simple eagerness of morning, and by his pleasure in her company.

Jess: "Sweet Verhain, rarely do I tease in such matters. Why does darkness blanket your brow?" she asks, nuzzling her head on his shoulder.

gm: He has been up a good while; the curls of his dark hair are damp on his neck, but the edges are dry. "I dream badly. I dream the Tower falls; or is empty and consuming; or has someone in it, lost. Dreams are not the nature of my Sight, but I wish I could banish whatever mood pushes me this way." He cranes his neck a little so he can look at Muirne. "I'm sure we could come up with something in the short term. Tell me how I can please you, to thank you for the distraction of your arrival."

Jess: Muirne reaches up with her free hand, twisting the dampened locks around her fingers. "Let me bring you comfort this morn."

gm: "How am I so lucky as to be here when you would be, brooding when I needed your light?" He grins at her, the smile all the way through the amber of his eyes. "Here, come back to my room." He glances in the direction of his own cottage and slips himself the rest of the way out of his coat to wrap it completely around Muirne.

Jess: She stands, placing a kiss at his lips as he wraps her in his coat

gm: "Ah, I see your feet are cold, too." He picks her up and walks her across the path to his own door. He does not put her down, but shoulders his way in and sets her down only when she is safely over the bed. There he takes a hand towel from his nightstand and gently brushes the sand and courtyard leaves from her feet, making no comment. He moves up her legs until he comes to the edge of his coat and her gown, where he stops and looks at her directly for permission to continue, as if knowing what came before could be a joke between friends.

Jess: She giggles at his pause, weaving her fingers behind his neck, "You are too good to me," she whispers in the dim room. "let me unburden you..." she smiles, sliding her hands forward to begin unbuttoning his shirt.

gm: He is so openly pleased at her agreement and at her presence, his smile is infectious. In spite of his request that she be his comfort, he seems very happy to be active now.

Jess: Her smiles matches his, evolving into a giggle not unlike that shared between to close friends. She slid the shirt from his shoulders, holding his gaxe in hers.

gm: Verhain is muscled but not heavily so, with strength across his back, chest and arms from his work with the bow. He pulls off his belt and tugs the tails of the shirt out of his trousers. In turn he pushes his coat off Muirne's shoulders.

Jess: Muirne runs her finger tips over his chest, tracing the definition of each muscle along his ribs and chest

gm: He sways a little as she touches him. He reaches up to her shoulders and undoes the ties of the thin gown, little barrier though it may be. Delicately he pulls the fabric down below her breasts, watching appreciatively as her skin chills.
Putting his knee between her legs, he scoots her back a few feet onto the bed and lays down half on top of her. He is more playful than ardent with his kisses, but his hands know precisely what they are doing, tracing her collarbone and arms, her ribs and the circle round her breasts. His thigh puts just enough pressure between her legs to feed the ache she has begun to feel.

He seems to be waiting for something. She can feel him urgent through the fabric of his trousers against her thigh, but continues only playing with her, his eyes watching for some sign.

Jess: Her eyes shine with anticipation of the game, capturing his lips in hers with gentle nibbles. Muirne slides out from underneath him, peeling her night dress from her form.

gm: Grinning, Verhain pulls her back and rolls her on top of him. His delighted hands run down her shoulders and her back, absorbing the feel of her and pulling her naked weight down against his chest.

Jess: She leans over him, kissing his lips hungrily, before letting her mouth travel his bare chest.

gm: He lets her take her time, then, occasionally giving in to a moan but not freeing himself to take her.

Jess: Her hair, scented with lavender and hints of the sea breeze, traces him as she continues to explore his bare skin with her lips. Her caresses are playful and enthusiastic as she drinks in his scent, and the taste of his skin.

gm: It is still faintly scented from his early morning bath, and now, just a little, of his sweat and the salt tang from Muirne's own sea-sprayed skin.

Jess: She continues her trek down his torso, teasing places where his pants still met his skin. her hands massage his hips and thighs approaching, but not releasing him from his constraints.

gm: "Muirne," he breathes out, panting, "what can I do? What must I do to have you take me?" The lust and anticipation pushed into her name drive straight to the ache in her groin, leaving her thrumming.

Jess: She rises, pulling her mane from her face, sliding on top of him. Peering down at him, she takes his hands and places them about her waist. She brushes her lips across his, almost in a whisper, "Utter the words of your desire."

gm: He leans up to take her kiss and lets his head drop back as she pulls just out of his reach. "Free me. Take me inside you until you are full, and until I can do nothing else but fill you."

Jess: Deftly, she removes the barrier of his trousers, fully accepting him with much anticipation.

gm: His eyes widen in slight surprise at her swiftness, and she feels him tense a moment to regain control of himself. After that, he seems indeed set loose, using his hands and the strength of his arms to lift her and pull her back onto himself, though at the rhythm she is setting. In short order her rolls on top of her again, unless she resists him, and takes her hard until stopping abruptly to bring her to orgasm with deft brushes of his fingers.

He quickly reenters while she is still panting, and spends what seems many minutes exploring her from several different positions, laughing with her once as they are threatened with a tumble from the bed. Another arching and unexpected orgasm racks Muirne, and when she comes back from it he is shuddering his last, his face buried against her neck.

He is perhaps not the most sophisticated lover Muirne has ever had, but he is perhaps the most enthusiastic.

Jess: A hand reaches up, stroking the back of his head as he relaxes in her arms.

gm: He rests there a moment, then comically exagerates his fall off of her onto the pillows beside her.
They are both sheened in sweat. Verhain is smiling up at the ceiling and breathing heavily, recovering.

Jess: Muirne rolls onto an elbow, staring at his glistening nakedness. A satisfied smile pulls at her lips. With her free hand, she brushes his lips with her fingertips, then almost absentmindedly, traces circles in his chest.

gm: He murmers her name against her fingers and slows his breathing gradually. Finally he opens his eyes and looks at her, his cheeks still flushed. "Mm. Yes. What brought that on?

"And where can I get more of it?"

Jess: She laughs mirthfully, bringing her mouth to his. "I am a muse of lust." she replies playfully once she untangles her tongue from his.

gm: "I daresay you may be."

Jess: She places a tender kiss on his brow. "Sweet Verhain, you shall never have to suffer the torments of nightmares whilst I am here. I will fill your dreams with things of magic..."

gm: "I would have no nightmares because I would never sleep."

Jess: "Perhaps, but, when your mind wandered, it would be of fantasy... and anticipation of the night's affair." At that, she rests her head on his chest, listening to his heart.

gm: It beats steady, slow, a heavy, healthy cadence, with his breath moving his chest like the tides of the sea, lifting and falling. He says quietly, "You didn't say what got you up this morning, truly. Were you all right?"

Jess: She sighs contented, "Fate knocked at my door, and I'm afraid I left her disappointed... but, with each passing moment, comes another to bring a chance occurance to reality." Muirne presses herself up, looking into his amber eyes, "And, when she left, I was drawn to the courtyard..." she utters sheepishly, "and found you in need of me."
She didn't expect him to understand, this was something she'd come to accept long ago as her fate. This was how her world existed...

gm: He smiles boyishly at the poetry of Muirne's statement, perhaps not understanding the literal truth of it, but perhaps... coming close.

"I was indeed in need of something, and I am now very happy to discover what that something was."

Jess: In the darkness, he can sense her cheeks redden with his statement.

gm: She realizes it is not so dark, now. Another of the cottage doors opens and closes, and footsteps pass by on the way toward the dining halls.

Jess: Reluctantly, she untangles from his form, rising from the bed. She glances at her gown, then picks up his coat, sliding it about her shoulders.

gm: He raises an eyebrow, then relents. "That gown is shameless, you realize."

Jess: "The gown is more than I care to sleep in. I prefer meeting the world skyclad. But, I'd hate to tarnish your good name and leave here in such fashion."

gm: He laughs at that. "I think your hair amiss and my seed on your leg would put paid to my reputation. If I had a reputation."

Jess: "You may retrieve this from me the next time you've a sleepless night."

gm: "I shall be cold until then."

Jess: She stares down at him, laughing, "Unless you come sooner rather than later," she returns with a coquettish grin

gm: "We shall see, vixen."

Jess: She bends over him, coat still unfastened, and kisses him hungrily on the lips.

gm: He sighs into her kiss.

Jess: "take care, or I'll see that we both miss the morning repast and are late to our studies." she warns.

gm: "Oh, dire warning." His hand brushes one breast as though by accident.

Jess: Mischief flashes in her eyes, as her nipple responds quickly to his touch. "Tis, were I to have my way, you'd never leave this bed."

gm: "If you are leaving, then let me taste us both together before you go." His arm slips around her waist and draws her hips towards the bed. Verhain looks intently into her eyes as he presses two fingers of his other hand past the wet hair and deeply up into her. With his thumb he rubs between her lips a moment, reawakening her sex and bringing her to aching attention with a few deft movements. Withdrawing his hand slowly, slowly, he brings his wet fingers to his lips and tastes them. His eyes never leave hers, waiting for any reaction.

"Now," he says huskily, "You had better go."

Jess: A murmur escapes her lips with his touch. Weaving his hand with hers, she leans over him, sampling their mix with her tongue. "I will have more of you." she promises, quietly, rising from the bed.

gm: "When I get cold..." he prompts.

Jess: She fastened his coat about her, pulling her tousled hair from inside the coat. "Should your will keep you at bay that long.."

gm: "Pathetic thing that it is."

Jess: "It is what is to be...." she replied, "you will come to me... " She turns, leaving the gown in a slump on the floor, and leaves his side without looking back.

gm: That day he goes to classes in his shirtsleeves, walking through a long class on the nature of Seeking in light winter rain through the forest on the grounds. He must be freezing, but the only sign is that occasionally he looks at Muirne and gives her a small, secret smile.

Jess: She returns his glances with an arched brow and a smile; the challenge has been laid before him. Her behavior toward him is as warm as it has always been, nothing to give away their little encounter. She's not aloof, but she doesn't press for any attentions beyond what had occurred before.

What they shared was a moment in time, she expects nothing more than that from him - or any lover she takes.

gm: Dinner passes with a few smirks in Verhain's direction, and once when he is in conversation with another student he shares a self-deprecating laugh. People seem to have guessed that his night was disturbed, but they have not yet Seen nor guessed that Muirne was his distraction.

She knows from past work that their coupling will be revealed the next time the students share the Cards, but that is at least a day or possibly two hence, and she can enjoy her game a while longer.

Jess: The revelation of their lovemaking amuses her, not because she is flamboyant in her escapades, but that she has affected them all with one little act.