[She pressed her brow to the back of her hands, still perched on the stones. He had released her throat but given a sharper bite in return. What little breath she had managed to catch left her again. Now she was dragging in a bigger lungful of air, struggling between the high that still lingered, along with him inside her, and the reality that was creeping back in. She had managed to shut off her mind for so long that now it was demanding to be let back into her consciousness. A moment longer, she did not wish to feel guilt just yet.
He was lazy and basking, but she knew how much time she had stolen. Even if all others didn't think the worst, Ser Criston would worry and ignore her command to stay behind. He might even suspect something, which she couldn't bear. She had no wish to disappoint him, as she knew she would. Nor could her children remain so long in the heat. Gods, she should have considered them before this reckless pursuit.
She slipped him from her, glancing quickly at her palms before brushing at her hair. The spray made her hair damp, simply enough to catch any stray hairs that might have fallen from her snood. They needed to hurry but she couldn't risk one facet of her appearance to be out of sorts. The sharpest eye might see it and gossip would follow. She would rather die than humiliate her father and family.]
Tie up my dress. [She hadn't answered his soft words, but hadn't returned to full distance either. The mask was still off, the shield still to the side. Instead, he could better see how fast her mind worked as she sorted out a potential political calamity. She glanced around the ground, first picking up the ribbon that had held her stocking in place before finding a small collection of stones on the ground. As her stocking was already loose, she removed it and dragged the top of her bare foot over the stones, cutting them in ragged lines. She bit her lower lip, wincing a little at the pain.
She pulled off her shoe and sat on the ground, looking up at him. She trusted him with this part of the deception, not believing she could manage it completely.]
My ankle needs to be bruised and swollen. [She watched him, curious if he'd be disgusted by how far she'd go to cover their actions.] I need you to help me.
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He was lazy and basking, but she knew how much time she had stolen. Even if all others didn't think the worst, Ser Criston would worry and ignore her command to stay behind. He might even suspect something, which she couldn't bear. She had no wish to disappoint him, as she knew she would. Nor could her children remain so long in the heat. Gods, she should have considered them before this reckless pursuit.
She slipped him from her, glancing quickly at her palms before brushing at her hair. The spray made her hair damp, simply enough to catch any stray hairs that might have fallen from her snood. They needed to hurry but she couldn't risk one facet of her appearance to be out of sorts. The sharpest eye might see it and gossip would follow. She would rather die than humiliate her father and family.]
Tie up my dress. [She hadn't answered his soft words, but hadn't returned to full distance either. The mask was still off, the shield still to the side. Instead, he could better see how fast her mind worked as she sorted out a potential political calamity. She glanced around the ground, first picking up the ribbon that had held her stocking in place before finding a small collection of stones on the ground. As her stocking was already loose, she removed it and dragged the top of her bare foot over the stones, cutting them in ragged lines. She bit her lower lip, wincing a little at the pain.
She pulled off her shoe and sat on the ground, looking up at him. She trusted him with this part of the deception, not believing she could manage it completely.]
My ankle needs to be bruised and swollen. [She watched him, curious if he'd be disgusted by how far she'd go to cover their actions.] I need you to help me.