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Post by Geoffrey Merchant on Aug 7, 2008 20:34:52 GMT -5
there's so much here, that i don't understand [/font][/right] The barn was so eerily silent, it was almost unbearble. It filled your ears with deadnoise, allowing your mind to wander. And that's exactly what Jeff's was doing right now as he mechanically did his barn duties, although he was nearly finished; he just had to finish sweeping the aisle way.
It had been a few days, and he had yet to see Klara since that afternoon in the woods. He figured it was because, despite her parting words, she didn't want to chance running into him. This would bug him, no matter who it was, courtesy of the way he viewed himself. But, for some reason, thinking of Klara wishing to not see him...
There was a bit of an ache in his stomach. It took him a bit by surprise - he hadn't been expecting feel any different about her then he did anyone else.
His thoughts had carried him through the dismal task of repeatedly stroking bristles attatched to a long handle accross the floor of the barn.
Leaning momentarily against a stall, he let out a sigh. The day was seeringly hot, forcing sweat to bead over every portion of his body. His shirt was already done for; that's what happens when you work in a barn in the blazing heat. And, so, since there was no one around to witness, and no one around to care, he crossed his arms in front of himself and hooked his fingers under the bottom of his shirt and pulled it off. With the dry part he rubbed himself down, discarding it into a random empty bin.
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Post by Klara Genesis on Aug 7, 2008 21:20:42 GMT -5
i shouldnt be thinking of you
but i do (and i do)
i shouldnt be wanting you like i do
but i do (and i do)
Klara hugged the small silk robe to herself, her black flats silent as she hurried over the marble floor. She'd waited until her bodyguard had fallen asleep, then slipped out, still wearing her pjs. For Klara pjs were a pair of short shorts and a tank top. The weather was too hot for anything else. Her mother had nearly popped a blood vessel when she saw her dressed that way.
But Klara hadn't cared what her mother thought for years. Besides, who would see her while she was sleeping anyway? A small sigh left her lips and she quickly checked over her shoulder before slipping around a corner then heading down the staircase. No one had caught on yet. Good.
A pleased smile spread over her lips. What she was wearing wasn't suitable for a short ride with Misha, but she'd hidden a pair of britches in the stable, so she wasn't worried. Klara was of course also hoping to catch a glimpse of Geoffrey, though she doubted he'd be there this late...
Within a few minutes she'd made it to the lower levels of the castle. She ran through part of the yard, hoping that none of the night guards would see her, then slipped into the barn. She stood there for a moment, catching her breath, then went toward Misha's stall.
She made it around a corner then stopped in mid-step, eyes widening. Well, it seemed as if she'd gotten lucky after all. Very very lucky. Not only had she run into Geoffrey, but he was standing there without a shirt on... |
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Post by Geoffrey Merchant on Aug 7, 2008 21:40:27 GMT -5
It was evident that it was the peak of a midsummer heatwave - only then could you catch someone, especially Geoffrey, shirtless in a barn at 10 o'clock at night.
There were living quarters in the stable, but no one ever stayed there. Most of the barn staff had their own cottages on the castle's property. Jeff had previously had one assigned to him, though he usually stayed at home with his... father. And it didn't matter now, whether or not he wanted to stay in the barn tonight. His father, David Senior, had told his son, David Junior (Geoffrey Merchant) that he wasn't welcome there. Not right now, anyway. And he had his cottage revoked, shortly after being spotted with Klara.
Why he was surprised to have a note delivered to him informing him of news of his cottage, he still wasn't sure. He guessed he just hadn't put enough thought into the potential consequences until that point. Either way, it was a small price to pay for insuring the safety of Klara.
But no one would deny how uncomfortable the rooms were. Small, cramped spaces, with air like a sauna, and old matresses on old, crippled bedframes. The nicest had two pillows. Woo! Living in the lap of luxury. Right.
The sound of someones entrance startled him. Turning quickly, heart and mind racing, his face probably gave him away in an isntant when he recognised the form before him; Klara. She looked like she had that day in the woods - guilty, like she wasn't supposed to be there. Only now, there was a hint of purpose and success.
A smile tugged at the corners of Jeff's eyes, but remained hidden from his lips at the moment. "Can I help you?" He asks wearily, words brimming on the serious, formal side just to be safe. But it was impossible for hope and warmth to seep in and almost overtake his words.
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Post by Klara Genesis on Aug 7, 2008 22:16:09 GMT -5
'Can I help you?'
It took Klara a moment to register the words, then she blushed and tore her eyes from his shirt, locking them with his. She hadn't caught his tone, having been too busy staring. Her cheeks were very very warm by this point. Klara laughed, almost nervously,
"Ahh...I didn't know you'd be here so late. I was just wanting to go for a ride with Misha..."
When mentioning the name of her mare, she couldn't help but glance at the stall just a little behind Geoffrey. Maybe Misha could wait, "You could help me saddle her up..." Her eyes twinkled playfully in the dull light, and she couldn't help but smile. No one was around, so she could flirt all she wanted. It wasn't every day she was going to walk in on him without his shirt.
Inevitable she wondered his those strong shoulders would feel under her hands...the strong panes of his chest and stomach. Damn. Boy, was she in trouble. Unconsciously she reached up, pulling her robe tighter around herself, the red silk standing out brightly, even in this bad lighting.
By this point she'd already forgotten about Misha, all of her attention on Geoffrey. She couldn't even think enough to feel guilty about it. She held her robe together with one hand while reaching up with the other, brushing a strand of hair off her face and behind her ear.
"Have the others finished their chores and gone already? I don't see anyone else..."
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Post by Geoffrey Merchant on Aug 7, 2008 22:44:10 GMT -5
His heart was already wild, but as he noted the pink flush of her cheeks and ring of her voice, it began thundering beneath his chest. The way she reacted to his words, just the way she presented herself... it relaxed him. He let the serious posture dimish, the smile in his eyes spreading to his lips.
His eyes began at her hair. Even late at night, it looked perfect. He longed to reach out and touch it, to lose his hands in her hair. Her eyes shocked him, took his breath away. Her face together as a whole was out of this world beautiful. He allowed a moment to lower his eyes and one over his body, but was careful not to linger. She was wearing a silk robe, looking very out of place and vulnerable in the barn. His own sky blue eyes found their way back to her face; to her lips. He found his heart miss a beat then start again overtime. Just the thought of his lips meeting hers, his hands in that golden hair, around her wispy waist, or touching those fragile arms...
Quickly he caught himself, meeting her gaze. All he could manage was a nod at the suggestion he help tack Misha up, but he couldn't bring himself to walk towards the tack room just yet. The next question, he took a moment to process, gathering his thoughts and reining them up, pushing them back for a moment. "Yes, they've all been gone for a few hours." He felt anymore then that, like filling her in on his living situation, was more then she needed, or would wantm to know.
He advanced towards her a step, then realised the tack room was not in that direction. Awkwardly he averted his course and stepped through the open doorway, eyes searching for Misha's tack. "You usually come out for midnight rides?" He asks casually, a playful tone to his voice, knowing full well it wasn't midnight and that she probably didn't, considering she was in what looked to be a very expensive robe.
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Post by Klara Genesis on Aug 7, 2008 23:29:55 GMT -5
As she waited for his answer, Klara couldn't help but let her gaze slide over his bare chest, her lashes lowering slightly. Why did he have to be so unbelievably irresistible?! And why did they have to be living in a world where status matters?! Klara nearly started muttering under her breath. She then blinked, a thought occurring to her. It had been her mother who'd drilled it into her brain that it was forbidden for a royal to be with a civilian or defender...
She'd stopped listening to her mother, or following her example, when it came to everything else. Why not this? What did it matter? There weren't that many royals around that weren't a part of her family. She wouldn't allow herself to lead a lonely life because her mother was stuck up.
That realization gave her complete release. She gave him a bright smile, faintly wondering whether he'd puzzle over it. Ah well. Klara gave a mental shrug then brought herself back to the present. She could have sworn she'd felt his eyes on her, but she could have been wrong...
He then stepped forward, and Klara's heart almost jumped into her throat, beating frantically. She'd never had a reaction like this to anyone, ever. It was almost frightening, the sort of power he had over her. Klara swallowed, watching him move away again and toward the tack room. She followed, fighting to keep her eyes on the back of his head and not let them wander to other places.
"Why is it that you stayed late? And yes, I try to go as often as I can. Though with my bodyguard being as paranoid as he is...I rarely get away."
Rosy lips pouted slightly and she let out a small laugh. Well, she'd made it away from her overbearing bodyguard for the night. Klara would enjoy it momentarily with Geoffrey and then out with Misha. Maybe he would accompany her again...?
Her eyes tore from him, starting to search for Misha's tack. Had someone misplaced it again?! She sighed and started walking alongside one of the walls, eyes searching, making her way toward Geoffrey. She'd actually become so involved in looking for Misha's saddle amongst all the others that she didn't pay attention to where she was going, gently bumping into Geoffrey.
A soft gasp escaped her lips and she looked up at him, eyes wide...
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Post by Geoffrey Merchant on Aug 7, 2008 23:47:46 GMT -5
"I stayed late because I live here now. For now, anyway. Apperantly." He mumbled the last word, realising a little too late that it might instigate further questioning from her. He was a very closed off guy, and didn't like opening up to others. He felt like he had already offered too much to her, even though they'd barely shared many words. And, there was a nagging underlying feeling, that even if he did let her in, even just a bit, it might not be so bad.
The moment alone in the tack room gave his heart enough time to attempt to regain a regular pace. Unfortunately, that was a failed attempt.
He could hear her enter. He wanted to turn, to look at her, to just take in her beauty for one more second. But he felt that if he did, he might offend her, or somehow scare her away. So he continued searching for Misha's tack, acting as if he was unaware of its wherabouts, even though he was fully aware of its location. He just wanted as much time with her as possible.
They both turned at the same time. Apperantly, he was closer to her then he had thought. Had the haze in his mind scewed his judging of distance? Apperantly. Or maybe he was just too focused on not making his obsurdly fast breathing caused by his heartrate painfully obvious. But now, there was no doubt it was.
Her touch sent him reeling, in the technical sense. A lump jumped into his throat from the pit of his flying stomach, a rush filling his head. His hands move to her waist, held there ever so lightly. In part it was because he feared he might have pushed her so off balance she might fall. But in truth, he wanted a further excuse to hold her, to feel her in his arms. He wasn't sure he'd get this chance again.
His eyes were soft and full of plenty emotions - especially a hidden understanding. If she pulled away, left, never came back - he wouldn't hold it against her. Truthfully, he wouldn't be surprised. His lips parted just the slightest, a faint smile finding their way to them.
He wanted to lean towards her, maybe play it off like he was going to whisper to her. But he opted against hit. He already felt out of his element, and if the high he was on began to fade, his low self esteem would take over and he'd crumble. The fingers of his right hand flexed, lightly moving towards the small of Klara's back.
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Post by Klara Genesis on Aug 8, 2008 0:31:36 GMT -5
He lived here, for now? What did that mean? Did he stay in the barn, with the horses? She had the horrifying image of him having to sleep on a pile of hay. Though she frequented the barn a lot, Klara had no idea that there were bedrooms located somewhere in here. She pouted slightly, wondering why he would choose to stay here rather than go to his parent's home or getting a room in the palace.
"You sleep with the horses? Do you mind me asking...why you don't go somewhere else?"
She was truly puzzled as to why he would stay here. As much as she loved horses, Klara was aware that the barn wasn't the cleanest or safest place to stay overnight.
They still hadn't found Misha's tack...and suddenly all of that didn't matter. Suddenly his hands were on her waist, and they were standing very closely together. Klara supposed she could assume that he'd taken a hold of her so she wouldn't fall....right? She swallowed, pulling her gaze from his eyes down to his lips, then back up to his eyes. Common sense said that he'd wanted her to catch her balance, there was nothing more a boy like him would want from a girl like her. But his eyes, they said different.
Klara found herself almost lost in their depth, the colour almost identical to her own. She took a deep breath and lowered her gaze, unintentionally looking at his chest. The delicate blond exhaled, and without a second though placed her palms to his chest. She nearly lost herself in the feel of his soft skin, the hard muscle beneath, and the faint drum of his heartbeat.
This brought her attention to her own heart, galloping away in her chest. Klara inhaled again, then released a shaky breath before raising her gaze back up to his...
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