>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.

Hurt, outrage! She fought to contain the tears that threatened to erupt. So
she was only desirable if he was drunk???

>"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.

As Lisha ran out of the dining hall the tears spilled freely down her face.
All she wanted was to be... well... wanted. And not by some fop who only
had eyes for her when he couldn't hold his liquor!

***

** On the Green, outside the dining hall **

>"Lisha wait, you've got it all wrong." said Daltem. Lisha turned to look.

Initial instinct was to either slap him or continue running, but Lisha
stopped in her tracks after seeing the distraught look on Daltem's face.

>"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.

Lisha smiled a half smile at the confession. It wasn't what she was used
to, for sure. But maybe, maybe there was the slightest chance he was sincere.

Lord Daltem noticed her tear stained face and, being a gentleman at heart,
handed Lisha a handkerchief before he continued. Lisha took the proffered
cloth and dried her eyes.

>" 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.

Lisha blushed, suddenly feeling foolish and strangely ill at ease. The last
words were so foreign to her, never before had any man said that to her or
felt that way about her. It was what she had been waiting to hear for
years, and now that it was said, she didn't know how to react.

"I... I don't know what to say," Lisha stammered.

"Did I say something wrong," Lord Daltem asked.

"No... It's just, no one's ever thought of me that way."

"So would it be all right if we started seeing each other, getting to know
each other?" Lord Daltem asked for verification.

"Yes, absolutely, I'd like that very much."

******
NRPG: Tag James, you can take it from here. Sorry, I didn't realize you'd
been waiting so long.



                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                        )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood          )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__                                          )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_                                         )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      Danika/Kalindeth of Daere        )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Xanthia of Whiteriver            )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;