That night, after being securely tucked into the small guest bed on the second floor, Etienne’s host systematically extinguishes all of the candles throughout the home, plunging the room in darkness. He hears the floorboards creak as she pads toward her own bed, just through the wall from his own. Sleep catches them both quickly.
A few hours later, in the deep of night, Etienne stirs awake from a nightmare, thoughts of being trapped in the Thalmor torture dungeon still lingering. Easing himself out of bed, he uses his finally tuned thief senses to navigate the home. The wood chills his feet despite the fire roaring downstairs. Vague flickers of light reach the second floor, but not so many that he can walk carefree. It’s definitely not the first time he’s dealt with low-light conditions, and it certainly won’t be the last.
His bare toes inch along the rough wooden floor, following the cracks between the boards to walk in a straight line. Turning left once the firelight shines again past the wall, he spies the silhouette of the sleeping Dragonborn. The woolen covers on her double bed are pulled up tight around her neck to ward off the cold. A thin pillow is lumped up to support her head.
Etienne lets out a slow exhale before proceeding with his plan to thank Malaika in the only way he knows how. Creeping to the other side of the bed, he gently peels back the covers to slide in. He starts by brushing the loose tendrils of hair out of her face, tracing his hand across her neck lightly, following his fingers with his lips.
Malaika moans lightly and rolls over towards him, onto her back. Her eyes flutter open, unfocused, before settling on him. He smiles at her, running his hand through her hair, before leaning down to lightly press his lips to hers. In her dreamy state, she presses up towards him, seeking out more of his warmth. One of her hands winds its way under his loose shirt, nails softly skating across his ribs, causing him to suck in a sharp breath, a mix of pain and pleasure.
He groans at the feeling and rolls over to rest halfway across her body, supported on one elbow. He pushes down on her mouth again, sliding his tongue across her lips, begging for entrance. She lets him in with a light moan. They kiss for a few moments, slightly entwined, before Etienne resumes his ministrations on her neck.
She groans again, deeper this time, and pushes her bosom up into his chest. One of his hands slides up her belly to tease the side of her soft breast. He stops there, focusing instead on the feeling of her skin under his lips.
Her free hand glides across his neck and up into his hair. Suddenly, she stops and he feels her hand tighten painfully in his hair, roughly pulling his head back and off her.
“What in Akatoshes name do you think you’re doing?” she hisses, using her strong legs to flip him to his back. She pins him down and even with the dim light he can see the frightful fire in her eyes.
Etienne swallows hard before answering, “I was just… trying to thank you. I meant no harm.”
Malaika’s grip on him eases as she slides off of him. “I…apologize. I should not have reacted so.” She sighs heavily. “Etienne, I do not need any thanks. And what you need is rest not…a quick romp in a stranger’s bed.”
“Malaika…”
“No, Etienne, please. We can speak in the morning. Let me help you back to your bed.” She casts Candlelight and the room is suddenly illuminated with a blue light hovering above her head. She draws back the covers and holds her hand out to the man. She pointedly avoids looking at his groin, which betrays his thoughts.
He sighs before taking her hand and standing, returning to his own bed in silence.
"It Takes a Thief" 5/?
A few hours later, in the deep of night, Etienne stirs awake from a nightmare, thoughts of being trapped in the Thalmor torture dungeon still lingering. Easing himself out of bed, he uses his finally tuned thief senses to navigate the home. The wood chills his feet despite the fire roaring downstairs. Vague flickers of light reach the second floor, but not so many that he can walk carefree. It’s definitely not the first time he’s dealt with low-light conditions, and it certainly won’t be the last.
His bare toes inch along the rough wooden floor, following the cracks between the boards to walk in a straight line. Turning left once the firelight shines again past the wall, he spies the silhouette of the sleeping Dragonborn. The woolen covers on her double bed are pulled up tight around her neck to ward off the cold. A thin pillow is lumped up to support her head.
Etienne lets out a slow exhale before proceeding with his plan to thank Malaika in the only way he knows how. Creeping to the other side of the bed, he gently peels back the covers to slide in. He starts by brushing the loose tendrils of hair out of her face, tracing his hand across her neck lightly, following his fingers with his lips.
Malaika moans lightly and rolls over towards him, onto her back. Her eyes flutter open, unfocused, before settling on him. He smiles at her, running his hand through her hair, before leaning down to lightly press his lips to hers. In her dreamy state, she presses up towards him, seeking out more of his warmth. One of her hands winds its way under his loose shirt, nails softly skating across his ribs, causing him to suck in a sharp breath, a mix of pain and pleasure.
He groans at the feeling and rolls over to rest halfway across her body, supported on one elbow. He pushes down on her mouth again, sliding his tongue across her lips, begging for entrance. She lets him in with a light moan. They kiss for a few moments, slightly entwined, before Etienne resumes his ministrations on her neck.
She groans again, deeper this time, and pushes her bosom up into his chest. One of his hands slides up her belly to tease the side of her soft breast. He stops there, focusing instead on the feeling of her skin under his lips.
Her free hand glides across his neck and up into his hair. Suddenly, she stops and he feels her hand tighten painfully in his hair, roughly pulling his head back and off her.
“What in Akatoshes name do you think you’re doing?” she hisses, using her strong legs to flip him to his back. She pins him down and even with the dim light he can see the frightful fire in her eyes.
Etienne swallows hard before answering, “I was just… trying to thank you. I meant no harm.”
Malaika’s grip on him eases as she slides off of him. “I…apologize. I should not have reacted so.” She sighs heavily. “Etienne, I do not need any thanks. And what you need is rest not…a quick romp in a stranger’s bed.”
“Malaika…”
“No, Etienne, please. We can speak in the morning. Let me help you back to your bed.” She casts Candlelight and the room is suddenly illuminated with a blue light hovering above her head. She draws back the covers and holds her hand out to the man. She pointedly avoids looking at his groin, which betrays his thoughts.
He sighs before taking her hand and standing, returning to his own bed in silence.