After they ate, Katie rushed to the inn, dropping the basket on the table. "Tippy!"
"Hold your horses." Tippy snagged more plates off a table. "If you want to be helpful, bus that table. It's standing room only today."
Katie grabbed a tray and began cleaning the table. "I'm so happy! I'm moving in with Sunwood!"
Tippy almost dropped her tray. "You're WHAT?"
"You're doing what?" Croaked another voice.
Katie turned around and almost dropped her own tray. "Stephen!"
His face had gone pale as he sat at a table, food in front of him. He stood up. "What about... what about us?"
The entire inn had gone silent. No one moved, not even a child.
Tippy cleared her throat. "You... might want to take this upstairs."
Katie sat down the tray and nodded. Moving quietly, she headed for the stairs. Not waiting to see if he followed, she went to her room and pushed open the door. She began gathering her things.
"Katie..." Stephens' voice was pained. "I thought we agreed... I mean. I thought you said..." He sighed. "I guess I thought a lot of things."
"It... changed." She blushed. "Something happened... and it changed."
He noticed her completely for the first time. Her normally straight hair was mussed and sticking out in wild angles, her clothes, normally neat and clean were hastily put on and smudged with dirt. "You... you had sex with him."
She hesitated as the heat slammed into her face. "We... we made love, yes." She whispered.
"But, why?"
"I... well, it had something to do with stew? I'm not entirely sure."
Closing his eyes, he buried his face in his hands. Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders. "Let me help you."
"What?" She dropped her papers and stared at him.
Stooping down, he began assembling the papers. "I know when I've been beat. Let me be the bigger man and help you. It's... it is the least I could do."
Down in the inn, Tippy eyed the pair as they walked out loaded with Katie's stuff. Tippy desperately wanted to go talk to Elunara, but she was entirely too busy. Resolving to do it later, she went back to work.
--
Sunwood hummed to himself. The day was exceptionally bright, and his flowers the most brilliant. Even as tiny buds, looking at his garden, he felt more at peace than he had in a long time.
"Just put them on the table."
Sunwood hesitated. Katie was speaking with someone in his cottage. Their cottage, he corrected himself. Hoping it was Elunara, Sunwood made his way into the cottage. Freezing, he stared at Stephen. "Hello."
Stephen shot a hand out.
Sunwood stared down at it for a moment before taking it.
Stephen shook his hand. "I know when I've been beat. This is my lot in life, I guess."
"I see..."
"But, I warn you, if you hurt her... I'll be there. I won't let her come to harm."
Sunwood grinned. "I fear Elunara more than you."
Stephen returned the grin. "That would make you part of a legion."
--
After Stephen left, Katie looked around the room. "Well, if I'm living here, I need some pots and pans. I may not cook all the time, but I'll feel better to not have to rely on Tippy so much."
Sunwood stepped behind Katie and pressed his lips to her neck. "Ask Elunara tomorrow."
"I could see about it today."
Slipping his hand down the front of her dress, he grinned. "After."
"After what?"
He tugged on her dress, pulling it over her head. Tossing it to the side, he moved his hand softly down her belly, as he licked her neck.
"Oh!"
His hand travelled slowly and softly own her belly, while his other hand massaged her free shoulder. Making his way to those soft curls, he slipped a finger into her. She gasped and clung to his arm. Pressing up into that tight space, he grinned and sucked on her neck. When she was dripping down his finger, he directed her to the bed.
Pushing her forward, she landed on her chest and arms. She started to turn over, but he pushed her gently against the bed. "No, like this." Adjusting himself, he pressed into her wet center, grabbing her hips. In and out, he slid himself, soft and slow. Pulling out, he shoved forward a little harder.
She gasped and clung to the bed. Calling his name, she closed her eyes.
Leaning forward, he pressed his mouth to her back, thrusting in and out, pulling back harder, pushing in faster. Grunting, he winced, but continued to bury himself into that ridiculously tight, wet heat. Releasing himself, he filled her with a groan. Tugging free, he stood up and watched the result of his release leaking out of her. Scrapping it up with his fingers, he pressed his finger back into her. Grinning, he pounded his finger in and out of her, watching as she writhed and gasped. With his free hand, he used his other finger to stimulate her asshole. Pressing in ever so slightly, he watched her buck and jolt. When she clamped down on his finger, he wiggled it free.
"That... was different." She gasped.
Pushing her completely into the bed, he climbed in beside her. "My love, we have all the time in the world. I plan on showing you much."
--
Stephen had found the best tavern to get drunk in quickly and was already halfway there. He took another swig of his beer.
Tammy wandered over and sat next to him at the bar. "Hey, handsome, how about a drink?"
He eyed her. "Aren't you pregnant?"
"Yeah, so?" She smiled sweetly.
"Probably bad for the baby." He hiccupped.
She ran her fingers on his arm. "Come on, Stephen, it's just one little drink."
He grabbed her hand and pushed it off him. "Find someone else."
"Hmph." Tammy snorted and walked away.
"Please, you're my last hope!"
Stephen blinked over at the woman pleading with the bartender. She was that same raven-haired woman he had seen in the Keep. The bruise on her face was much lighter, but it was still there.
"I can't help you." The bartender shook his head and wiped down the bar. "First of all, your husband was a louse. I refuse to testify to his character. Second, no one goes against Elunara."
Stephen twitched over the name.
"She killed my husband!"
"I can't help you." He repeated.
Stephen frowned. He made his way over to the woman. "What seems to be the problem?"
The woman eyed Stephen with caution. "Queen Elunara claims that my husband raped her daughter Katie, so she killed him. She butchered him in my home, and then claimed he deserved it! My husband never hurt anyone!"
"Katie?" The hairs on the back of Stephen's neck rose. "Someone hurt Katie?"
"I'm telling you he didn't!"
"She never told me about that."
"You know this Katie?"
