** Lunchtime, Dining Hall **

>"This... This wouldn't happen to be yours?" he asked uncertainly.

Gods I'm embarrassed! Daltem thought to himself as he wiped his sweaty   
palms on his trouser legs

>"Why yes it is! Wherever did you find it?" Lisha asked, letting her   
fingers
>intertwine with his momentarily as she took the ribbon from his grasp.

Daltem's heart beat faster as her hands brushed his. For the life of him   
he couldn't work out whether it was her good looks or the fact that he   
was more than a little nervous that was causing his heart to race.

>"It... um... it was by the bed, on the floor."

>"Oh, that's where... Must've been when we were on the bed together, and   
you
>kissed me and ran your hands through my hair..." she played with her   
hair
>seductively.

>"I... um... hope you enjoyed yourself," Daltem said uncomfortably,   
trying
>to feel the woman out, to find out how far things went. He couldn't let   
her
>know he didn't remember a thing.

>"Yes, very much so," Lisha said, not wanting to be insulting, "We'll   
have
>to do it again some time."

>"Ahem... Yes, definitely," he responded uncomfortably.

> "I hope that I didn't mind my undressing you, though. I didn't want to   
be
>too forward, but I thought it would be more comfortably for you if you
>didn't have all those clothes on."

"I erm, well. Can we talk? I mean some where quieter than the dinning   
hall. I think, no, I *know* that there are a few things that need to be   
said, but the dinning hall just *isn't* the place to say them." said   
Daltem, unused to this kind of situation.

Thank the gods that was over with! Daltem paused and looked at Lisha. She   
was a very attractive woman, and looked a lot like his ex-wife.

Lisha laughed and reached out clasping Daltems hands in hers.
"Look nothing happened between us, you passed out and well, I undressed   
you and pulled up the sheets." said Lisha as she smiled into Daltems   
eyes.

"Phew!" was Daltems response. His relief obvious. Lisha kicked her chair   
back and stood to her feet.
"Why, would it have been so *bad* if we had slept together? I know I'm   
not your type, but... Men!" exclaimed Lisha as she hurried from the   
dinning hall.

Daltem turned red in the face as the dinning hall went quiet and everyone   
turned to look at him. Daltem got to his feet and hurried after Lisha.

He caught up with her a short way from the dinning hall.
"Lisha wait, you've got it all wrong." said Daltem. Lisha turned to look.
"I am relieved I didn't sleep with you, but not because of you! I don't   
make a habit of sleeping with every available woman. When I sleep with   
someone I hope for a little more commitment, and a relationship.It's just   
that I haven't, well, how do I put this?" Daltem paused trying to think   
of the right words, wishing the hangover would pass away quickly.

" I haven't slept with anyone since my wife died. Yes I would like to   
*see* more of you and get to know you, but not when I am drunk and not   
knowing what I am doing. The last thing I want to do is hurt or use you."   
finished Daltem.

[Tag Morgan]

Hehe, ball's in your court! hope I didn't play Lisha out of character. If   
I did: many apologies in adavnce!

James
xxx