When their bowls had been emptied and cleared away, they shared another drink. Falda was far from a lightweight after spending months drinking with the Companions of Jorrvaskr, but she played tipsy well, giggling more than might otherwise be appropriate and letting her hands move carelessly. She could tell he liked her touching him, so she began running her fingers along the back of his hand as they spoke.

They were good hands, she noticed. Larger than her own, with blunt fingernails and callouses you only got from hard work. Shame to let those hands go to waste.

As the din of the tavern died down, she knew the man was gearing up to leave.

"I need to get back to the barracks," he said, sighing. "There's a lot of work to do in the morning. Is there anything else I can get for you? Food? Money? I'll have some guards sent out to check on that camp."

"I'd just like to get my mind off of it," she said, covering his hand with her own. "I think I'd like a nice boy" - she leaned in to his body and whispered in his ear - "to fuck me three ways from Sundas."

Gaius pulled away just enough to meet her eyes. There was enough puzzlement in his gaze that Falda thought she might have played her hand too quickly, but behind his surprise was something darker, a hunger that told her she had won.

"That might have been too forward," he said slowly, but the thickness in his voice betrayed his words.

"Is that a no?" she asked teasingly as she slid a hand over his thigh, and she could feel his cock hardening through his breeches.

Gaius swallowed hard and drank deeply from the last of his mead before he leaned over to her, his breath hot in her ear. "Where is your room?"