Another Original Fic - More...
Really, I should find a title for this...
~*~*~
Markas walked out of the building into the gray, early morning light of a new day. He’d left his dancer girl sounds asleep and perfectly sated. It was no lie when he told her he needed what he got from her, but he was alarmed at the way she looked at him before falling asleep. He wasn’t looking for anything more serious than a casual affair. At least that’s what he kept telling himself as he picked up his pace to get enough space between him and the girl. She was clever, that much he could discern, but it didn’t occur to her that he never asked for her name. Maybe it was better that way. If he didn’t have her name, he wouldn’t remember her.
No, that wasn’t true, either. He’d remember her til his dying day, that much he knew. A woman like her wasn’t forgettable. Ever. Pausing at an intersection, he thought there might be a chance to get back to the tavern and slip back into bed with her before she woke up.
Oh, who was he kidding? He’d never see her again after he and his best friend caught up with his brother and leave this god-forasaken city. Hell, he wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for Corren. Damn his older brother for following the men who’d robbed him and left him for dead. Corren wanted vengence. He wanted what they took from him, and he wouldn’t stop until he got it. Nevermind calling the law for their help. No, instead Corren called for him and Delaney, setting off after the men as soon as he was able, and doggedly following the soon-to-be hapless swindlers. His brother didn’t even tell him what it was they took. Maybe because he didn’t want to here that it could be replaced. Whatever it was. Anything can be replaced.
But things changed once Corren caught sight of a familiar face. Markas remembered his brother talking of a girl. Someone who’d captured his heart. Corren didn’t say as much then, but he’d fallen in love with this girl, and wanted her to meet him. That was years ago; four by his counting, and when Corren returned home that night, he came alone. Oh, how his brother seethed with anger. More than he’d seen before. Since then, Corren followed two trails, though he only kept to one. The swindlers led them here. So they split up to search the city. When one found where the swindlers were, he’d stay with them, hidden of course, and send word to the others. They were to be followed out of the city, and once they were far enough, Corren would carry out his vengence.
Markas took this part of the city to search, and that’s when he saw her, the girl he’d slept with. She was young, short and slender, and had the most fascinating shade of blond hair he’d ever seen. As golden as freshly minted coins, with strands that glimmered in the sunlight. He’d almost given up his search for the swindlers then, but she rounded a corner as was gone from his sight. Regaining his senses, he’d continued his search the rest of the day. At nightfall, he entered a tavern that was at least somewhat clean, and saw her again; dancing for coin and possibly more. Her dances were sensual and very suggestive. If she had her way, she wouldn’t be sleeping alone. No, he amended, she wouldn’t be alone and she wouldn’t be sleeping.
He remembered when she turned and saw him standing there, her green eyes flashing like emeralds. Her face flushed slightly, and he smiled, sitting at an unoccupied table. He ordered an ale and watched as she danced, her eyes on his the entire time. She danced for him now. Looking around, he saw that none of the other men knew. When she was done, offers were shouted, but she came directly to him and made it clear that he was what she wanted.
Markas still remembered the heat of that kiss, the feel of her body against his, the warmth of her surrounding him when they were joined. No, there was no way he’d forget her.
“Hey! Markas!” A harsh, whisper from his left caught his attention. A flash of light illuminated a face for only a second and then disappeared. Markas quickly left the road into the alleyway, shaking his best friend’s hand.
“Delaney, how did you find me? You were supposed to be on the other side of the city…”
“There’s nothing there. At least, none of the men Corren’s looking for. Any luck here?”
“No,” he replied. He wasn’t ready to tell Delaney about her. Not yet.
“Well, we should find Corren. I think we need to change plans. Those men have got to be on to us.”
“Sure. Let’s go.”
Delaney led the way out of the alleyway, and Markas followed him a short bit later. There was no chance of going back to see the blond lioness from last night. Even if he wanted to. Once he and Delaney met up with Corren, it would be too late to find her again. And in the back of his mind, he began to regret not asking her name.
~*~*~
~*~*~
Markas walked out of the building into the gray, early morning light of a new day. He’d left his dancer girl sounds asleep and perfectly sated. It was no lie when he told her he needed what he got from her, but he was alarmed at the way she looked at him before falling asleep. He wasn’t looking for anything more serious than a casual affair. At least that’s what he kept telling himself as he picked up his pace to get enough space between him and the girl. She was clever, that much he could discern, but it didn’t occur to her that he never asked for her name. Maybe it was better that way. If he didn’t have her name, he wouldn’t remember her.
No, that wasn’t true, either. He’d remember her til his dying day, that much he knew. A woman like her wasn’t forgettable. Ever. Pausing at an intersection, he thought there might be a chance to get back to the tavern and slip back into bed with her before she woke up.
Oh, who was he kidding? He’d never see her again after he and his best friend caught up with his brother and leave this god-forasaken city. Hell, he wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for Corren. Damn his older brother for following the men who’d robbed him and left him for dead. Corren wanted vengence. He wanted what they took from him, and he wouldn’t stop until he got it. Nevermind calling the law for their help. No, instead Corren called for him and Delaney, setting off after the men as soon as he was able, and doggedly following the soon-to-be hapless swindlers. His brother didn’t even tell him what it was they took. Maybe because he didn’t want to here that it could be replaced. Whatever it was. Anything can be replaced.
But things changed once Corren caught sight of a familiar face. Markas remembered his brother talking of a girl. Someone who’d captured his heart. Corren didn’t say as much then, but he’d fallen in love with this girl, and wanted her to meet him. That was years ago; four by his counting, and when Corren returned home that night, he came alone. Oh, how his brother seethed with anger. More than he’d seen before. Since then, Corren followed two trails, though he only kept to one. The swindlers led them here. So they split up to search the city. When one found where the swindlers were, he’d stay with them, hidden of course, and send word to the others. They were to be followed out of the city, and once they were far enough, Corren would carry out his vengence.
Markas took this part of the city to search, and that’s when he saw her, the girl he’d slept with. She was young, short and slender, and had the most fascinating shade of blond hair he’d ever seen. As golden as freshly minted coins, with strands that glimmered in the sunlight. He’d almost given up his search for the swindlers then, but she rounded a corner as was gone from his sight. Regaining his senses, he’d continued his search the rest of the day. At nightfall, he entered a tavern that was at least somewhat clean, and saw her again; dancing for coin and possibly more. Her dances were sensual and very suggestive. If she had her way, she wouldn’t be sleeping alone. No, he amended, she wouldn’t be alone and she wouldn’t be sleeping.
He remembered when she turned and saw him standing there, her green eyes flashing like emeralds. Her face flushed slightly, and he smiled, sitting at an unoccupied table. He ordered an ale and watched as she danced, her eyes on his the entire time. She danced for him now. Looking around, he saw that none of the other men knew. When she was done, offers were shouted, but she came directly to him and made it clear that he was what she wanted.
Markas still remembered the heat of that kiss, the feel of her body against his, the warmth of her surrounding him when they were joined. No, there was no way he’d forget her.
“Hey! Markas!” A harsh, whisper from his left caught his attention. A flash of light illuminated a face for only a second and then disappeared. Markas quickly left the road into the alleyway, shaking his best friend’s hand.
“Delaney, how did you find me? You were supposed to be on the other side of the city…”
“There’s nothing there. At least, none of the men Corren’s looking for. Any luck here?”
“No,” he replied. He wasn’t ready to tell Delaney about her. Not yet.
“Well, we should find Corren. I think we need to change plans. Those men have got to be on to us.”
“Sure. Let’s go.”
Delaney led the way out of the alleyway, and Markas followed him a short bit later. There was no chance of going back to see the blond lioness from last night. Even if he wanted to. Once he and Delaney met up with Corren, it would be too late to find her again. And in the back of his mind, he began to regret not asking her name.
~*~*~