This chapter is mainly character development. Hope you enjoy it.
*
Summer was nervous. It had been five days since Lucas had said he would introduce her to the other Síochán and finally he was going to do so. She had expected it sooner but Lucas has been more interested in spending more time in bed with her. Not that she had been complaining. He was very inventive in bed and he had amazed her with all the incredible orgasms he'd wrung out of her body. Still, she was bored because of the lack of training schedule and they couldn't make love all day. Well, Lucas could if she allowed him too.
She smiled at the memory of his petulant expression when she had taken some time out to go back to her rooms. Being a Síochán, she required very little rest. Sleep lasted anywhere between five to fifteen minutes but she still liked to lie in bed and pretend she was still human, pretend she needed more rest than she really did. In reality, she just needed a little time to herself so she'd taken to her rooms.
Lucas had taught her how to conceal her thoughts from him. He had said she would need to do so from now on because the other Síochán wouldn't think twice about peaking inside her mind. That was another thing which made her smile. Lucas' frustrated expression when he tried to slip into her mind now and came up against a blank wall. Their whole relationship had changed. She was no longer the student and he the instructor. They were more equal since they had become lovers though she was aware of just how much of a novice she still was to this life.
Summer willed herself into the Scrying Room, smoothing down her long, white dress as she did so. It was styled from her era and she thought she looked good in it. If she'd had any doubts about it they were soon settled as Lucas turned from the Fountain to look at her, his blues eyes shining with appreciation.
He smiled a truly wicked smile and crossed the room to her to pull her into his arms and slide his mouth eagerly across hers. "You look stunning," he sighed against her lips, his body already hard for her as he sipped at her sweet lips with such relish. He couldn't get enough of Summer and was severely tempted to forget about introducing her today and taking her back to bed.
He had put off the introduction as long as he could because he didn't want to lose this closeness between them. The man Summer knew was only a small part of who he truly was. He had wanted to put off this discovery for purely selfish reasons. He didn't want to see her beautiful green eyes looking at him with disappointment and possibly loathing as she realised he wasn't as good as she thought he was.
Lucas kissed her again and then sighed and stood back. He couldn't really put it off any longer. His eyes ran over her beautiful face as he memorised her happy, relaxed expression and he smiled fondly at her when she raised a quizzical eyebrow at him.
"Summer, there are a few things you need to know before we leave," he smiled gently. "Firstly, you cannot call me Luc when we're with the others. We are all rather formal when we're together and there are certain expectations when it comes to personal behaviour. Our time here together is more relaxed and I know it is what you are used to, but you need to keep that informality separate from your dealings with the group."
Summer nodded slowly though she felt her nervousness increase. She wasn't used to being in a formal setting and Lucas sounded so grave, so different to what she was used to. He was still smiling at her but she could sense a level of detachment to him and it worried her slightly. "Am I going to recognise the new Lucas I come to see?" she asked slowly.
He started slightly and then his smile widened and he gave her a quick hug before he pulled back again. She was so very perceptive. "You cut straight to the heart of what I'm trying to explain," he sighed softly. "No, you most likely will not recognise much of whom I am, Summer. You see just a fraction of me when I am here with you, my more tender side. I hope you can still find it in your heart to be kind to me once you see the other many facets to my personality. I will understand if you can't."
Summer shivered slightly as she listened to him. Her entire world was about to be rocked again. It was what he was trying to prepare her for. She was going to lose the one sure thing she had in her world right now. She was going to lose the Lucas she knew and loved so much. She nodded again and managed a weak smile. "I will always be grateful to you, Lucas, no matter what happens from this moment on. I will always hold you dear in my heart."
She felt like she was the one doing the reassuring as she watched his beautiful face relax a little at her words and he seemed unable to stop himself from giving her another hug. He held her tightly this time, his body tense as he ran his hands slowly down her back and dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head. "You will always be dear to me too, Summer," he breathed softly before he pulled himself together and walked away from her.
"You will learn what is required of you today," he said almost conversationally, his eyes intent on her face. "You most probably will not like all that you hear and will be tempted to react emotionally as you're accustomed to. I must ask you to try and refrain from any outbursts, Summer. I need you to hold your peace until you can think rationally and compose a logical, concise response to what you hear. Do you think you can do that?"
She frowned deeply and shook her head. "Probably not," she answered quietly, because she knew she wouldn't be able to reign herself in if she became upset about something. "But I will try my hardest, Luc. For you. I will try not to shame you with my uncouth behaviour."
Her terminology made him smile. "You could never shame me, Summer. I may become the butt of some teasing from the others because I've been a little lax with my instruction but I will never feel ashamed of you. You are such a warm, passionate creature. Most of us have been in this life for so long we've learned to mask our more exuberant traits. I know you will try your hardest to contain yours but do not worry about my feelings, because I am sorry to admit that I will not be concerned about yours during the meeting. I will say and do what I must and hope you forgive me in advance for any harsh words which may come between us."
His honesty made Summer's heart sink though she appreciated him being so honest with her. At least she knew where she would stand once she fully entered the world of the Síochán; she would stand alone. She stared at him for a long moment and then she suddenly ran forward and threw herself into his arms. "I forgive you, Luc," she whispered urgently, holding onto him tightly.
