Never Make a Lady Wait [A'stin]

[darkaire]

Oh, of course the one time she'd decided to try to be nice it didn't pay off.

Shaye glanced around the Weyrleader's weyr once more just to make sure she hadn't missed him. Pushing her lower lip out into a pout, she snuck around the room. Fingers pried into furniture and poked into bedfurs. She knew he couldn't hide behind the furniture and she'd be able to tell if he was hiding under the sheets, but she had to check anyway. Her mind wouldn't be satisfied until she'd exausted every option possible. And it was clear that A'stin was not in his room.

So then where was he? The thought ate at her brain in the most unhealthy way possible as she lowered herself onto his bed with a sigh. She'd gone to the trouble of finishing up her work early and putting more off to the next day in order to make this little trip. Why she'd thought A'stin would be here waiting for her...well, she didn't know. She'd just assumed that life did what she wanted it to do. Shaye began to pout again, absently poking at her lip as she spiraled downward into her thoughts.

She hadn't told him she was coming. Of course not - it wouldn't be a surprise then. Another sigh escaped her and she scooted farther onto the furs. In a rare moment of spontaneity Shaye huddled down into the furs and wrapped herself in them, burying her nose and inhaling deeply. They smelled like A'stin. She grinned to herself, more like the grin of a crazy person than a normal expression, and started to smooth the furs back out. It wouldn't do to have him walk in on her rolling around in his bed. She snorted.

More time passed than she would have liked and after pacing his room and prying into his belongings (searching for tokens of love from others, obviously) she had ended up on his bed again. Shaye was too stubborn to simply give up on her plan. The trouble had been taken and she was going to make it work. With a huff, the Weyrwoman stretched out and let her eyes close. She hadn't had a good sleep in so long...it was hard to sleep when she was expecting someone to creep in and kill her. Maybe it would be alright to take a quick nap while she waited on A'stin.

That was a weird thought - Shaye waiting on someone else. No one was worth waiting, she reminded herself, but she decided that she was far too comfortable to get up and go back to work. Besides, she'd already decided not to do any more work today. So she'd just...wait. And nap. Smothering a yawn, Shaye fell asleep on the Weyrleader's bed. She was slightly curled, one hand stretched out to hang off the edge and dangle over air. She had chosen to wear a dress that day, and the sleeve had started to slide off her shoulder from the awkward position. She looked so harmless in her sleep...but she would be quite the opposite once A'stin appeared.

She hated to wait.

[hrsegrl]

A'stin had gone back to his weyr just after visiting Jenafa. While his dragon had warned him to hurry, he had taken his time. Well, not really that much time because he often wondered why the dragon didn't tell him more than he absolutely had to know. Like perhaps that Shaye was in his room!

He was flabbergasted. She was in his weyr? He had come in quietly as he wasn't a very loud person to begin with. He took in the image of her slowly. Faranth help him, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He knelt down next to the bed and kissed the hand that was dangling off the bed. "Shaye." He spoke softly, knowing to expect the worst.

His hazel eyes roamed her face, hoping she wouldn't be too angry with him. No matter what he did, she was displeased with him. It was almost useless for him to try, except that one day he was going to get that heart of hers, just like she had taken his. Then they would be equal in love and in everything else. Until then everyday was a battle with her.

"I hope you were not waiting long, sweeting." He wondered just how angry she was. He was devoted to her and she wanted to make sure he only spent his free time with her or with Rodreth and it was apparent to anyone who walked in that Rodreth was here, though not for long should things get heated. He'd probably fly to Lyranth's weyr and sleep next to her.

[darkaire]

Feeling even just the slightest pressure on her hand instantly alerted her to the fact that someone was touching her. Her eyes fluttered open to reveal nothing but ice, the hand he'd kissed snapping over to curl around his neck. It was only a moment, but the grip was tight with intent to disable her attacker. Mine, Lyranth sighed, It is only A'stin. Abruptly Shaye's hand fell, eyes a bit wider than before.

"Oh, A'stin..." she blinked at him apologetically, though the sentiment would remain unvocalized. She blinked again, obviously groggy from the too-long nap and sudden awakening. If her slightly unfocused eyes were not enough to alert him to this, the tiny smile on her lips was, A smile was a rare thing and happened only when her inhibitions were lowered.

She hummed fot a mere second and began to stretch again. Her body was slightly cramped from assuming one position for so long and kinks needed to be worked out. Only when a little 'pop' signified that she'd done what she wanted to do did she tip her head to glance at him again. "I don't know how long it's been..." it was said in a sigh as a hand snaked out to cup his cheek. "So let's just leave it at that?" As sleepy as she currently was, she still knew how upset she'd be if she realized just how long she'd been waiting on him. Lyranth wasn't about to mention it and busied herself with preening her glorious hide. She knew this mood of Hers would last only as long as she was sleepy, distracted or drunk. And at the moment, Shaye was only sleepy.

[hrsegrl]

He saw that she was in a good mood. That smile, that wonderful smile, got him smiling back at her. "Darling, I've missed you." A'stin said softly. He moved his face to kiss her palm. "Let me get out of these leathers, they aren't the most comfortable sleeping attire..." A'stin said, standing slowly. He was careful not to mention anything more about his tardiness.

He had not know she would be there but if had gone straight to his weyr who knows what they could be doing now. How he cursed himself. Rodreth leapt from his ledge and flew to Lyranth's ledge. My most beloved Queen. Might I lay beside you? Rodreth stood outside in hopes that she would allow him to snuggle. He liked laying with her, it was comforting.

A'stin made quick work of changin into his sleeping pants. He never wore a shirt to bed, because he felt more comfortable without one and because he liked to show off his upper body. "When you were lying there, I couldn't help but watch you for a moment." He continued, not knowing what she wanted to do now, sleep or lecture or maybe something more fun. "I couldn't move because I'd never seen anything more beautiful in my life." A'stin was being honest. He had experienced fatherhood and none of his children would ever compare to her in his mind. No other human would, no matter how precious.

He got into the bed next to her but laid on his side so that he could look at her. She might still be tired, even with a nap. A'stin doubted she had been here that long. He can't have been at Jen's very long after Rodreth sent him that message.

[darkaire]

She hummed at him again, brain not coming up with anything to say. Not that she minded at the moment, not when he was undressing right in front of her. However much she bottled it up; there was no denying that A’stin had a killer body. It was easier to deny that she wanted it all to herself, but when she thought of other women being able to see him like this, to touch him, to do things with him…it was a little harder to deny. She bit at her lip slightly and let her eyes stay on him as he changed, appreciating him as much as ever.

Of course she shifted her gaze up to the ceiling when he turned to join her in the bed. It wouldn’t do to have him catching on to her. That would give him power, and Shaye didn’t like the idea of someone having power over her. She didn’t even like the idea of being vulnerable. Completely ignoring his compliments, she tipped her head over to look at him with a slight frown. Something had just occurred to her: “It’s already time to sleep?” When she’d gotten to his weyr it had still been light outside. Surely he hadn’t taken long enough that it was dark…

Hello Rodreth, you may. Also, tell Yours to lie. If he wants Mine to stay in a good mood, he might want to convince her that he is just getting ready for bed early, Lyranth rumbled at the bronze, scooting over to make room for him. She wasn’t as much in denial as Hers, and she would readily admit that she liked snuggling the big, handsome bronze. Dragons were just more practical that way. And less crazy, though that might be debatable.

[hrsegrl]

Rodreth took the Gold's advice readily. How very wise you are my Golden love. Rodreth sent Lyranth's message to A'stin though the man already had a mind to not tell the whole truth Shaye. As much as he loved her, her mood and tempers might one day be the death of him. The dragon settled in comfortably next to Lyranth touching her nearly the whole length of her body.

Her gaze was on him when he wasn't looking but he could feel it. If weyrfolk thought Goldriders were vain, they'd obviously never met a Bronzer like A'stin. Looks were overly important to him. He wanted people to see him as the handsomest, strongest, most cunning and all together greatest man on Pern. As long as he was with Shaye many Igen riders would believe it. That wasn't his reason for wanting to be her Weyrmate though.

A'stin smiled at her. "No, but you looked so comfortable I thought it would be nice to join you. I couldn't very well do that in my leathers." Besides he could think of so many things he'd rather do with her in bed. She might not allow that but he couldn't keep the thoughts from entering his mind. He wanted her to know he was there now and she could do as she wished. "I was thinking...like I do sometimes... would you like to go to the beach sometime? Just you and I and of course our dragons." If she didn't at least it was a nice thought. Jen had convinced him that he should try to get them out of the Weyr before both of them went insane.

[darkaire]

Of course I am, Lyranth jointly huffed and preened at the bronze's words. Huffed because she knew how wise she was, and preened because she was not one to overlook a compliment. She tilted her head against Rodreth and rumbled appreciatively. You aren't too dim yourself. A compliment back of sorts. Lyranth was not in the habit of giving them out, though she was more generous with them than her rider was.

To Shaye, the man beside her was the handsomest, strongest, most cunning and all together greatest man on Pern. She would never, ever tell him so, but she would think it secretly in the dark of her room. She didn't even dare think it while he was so close to her, scared he would read her thoughts. That was silly, a human reading thoughts. Wasn't wasn't so silly want Lyranth reading her thoughts, telling Rodreth, and the bronze telling His. Her paranoia nagged at her, reminding her of that option. It wasn't like the gold hated making Hers fidgety from time to time.

She smiled sleepily up at him, pacified with his answer. So long as she hadn't been waiting until nightfall, it was fine. Maybe she'd just been out for a candlemark at most. That would explain why she still felt tired - she hadn't gotten enough sleep yet. Smothering a yawn with one hand, the other snaked out to brush against the man's chest. Shaye scooted a bit closer, tempted by the body warmth she felt with her hand. How nice it would be to curl up next to him, to feel those arms hold her close while she soaked up his warmth...but no. Not possible. Then he might suspect that she actually liked him. Faranth forbid.

A snort left her at his thinking comment, lips parting to offer some snarky comment about how that was dangerous, but it was lost at his continued words. Shaye stared at him blankly, maybe even a bit dumbly. "Go out?" she repeated, withdrawing her hand from his skin to curl into the sheets next to him. "Outside the Weyr?" her lips turned down at the thought. Why would he think she would even entertain the idea?

Mine, Lyranth chipped in, sounding a bit too smug for her own good, perhaps you should consider it. I would like the sun.

Shaye rolled her eyes slightly, not caring if A'stin thought it was directed at him. You're so selfish. You'd sacrifice my sanity for some sun?

Yes, quite possibly.

Shaye rolled her eyes again and then closed them with a sigh. She had been so tired lately, struggling to find energy to do anything other than paperwork. Maybe a...vacation (mental cringe at the word) really would be beneficial. The Weyrwoman wiggled on the bed slightly and peered over at A'stin from under her lashes. "Maybe. What else did you have in mind?" she knew he had some sort of plan locked away in that mind of his. He wouldn't just come out and suggest something so random without having something else to go with it. At least, she hoped he was more together than that. Impulsive people frightened her. Well, impulsive actions did.

[hrsegrl]

The Bronze was equally pleased at the compliment she gave him. He was the epidemy of smug as he lay next to Lyranth. The dragon thought he had done well with her though perhaps she was the one in charge of what just happened. The dragon didn't care as long as they were both happy and comfortable in eachothers company. He felt that they were.

A'stin watched as she moved towards him, careful not to let how it pleased him to see her want to touch him. If she thought about it she would draw back. When her hand was at last on his chest he felt that same sensation he did whenever she touched him. It was intoxicating to the point where he wanted more though he knew she would not let him. That of course only made him desire her more. She withdrew her hand at his suggestion and he half thought she would get angry at the idea.

She was curled up next to him so he spoke softly, "I feel that lately the both of us, though mostly I, have been so busy we haven't been able to rest or be ourselves. We barely get to see eachother." He sighed and looked down on his Weyrmate. It was evident that they were both tired. He was thinking not only of his own well being but hers as well. It did no good to anyone to have them so tired.

It was very clear to him that she was annoyed but why he didn't know. The rolling eyes, while he could have thought it was because of the idea of getting away doubted it. Shaye might be paranoid to the point where she didn't want to go but if she were annoyed with him she probably would be on her way out of the bed and consequently out of his weyr.

His hazel eyes looked on her again, "We could go anywhere but I had been planning on going to somewhere warm where there would be no other people to bother us. I was looking into either an area around the Nerat Penninsula or even one of those deserted islands off the coast of Ista. We could always come back here in a matter of seconds if we need to. I don't have anything completely planned yet because I wanted to know your thoughts and I won't be going without you." He didn't think a vacation would be at all enjoyable without her. A'stin stroked a stray hair out of her face. Just that small gesture giving away some of his feelings. As if the entire Weyr didn't know he was besotted.