Saul
***

He sat dejectedly at a table, picking over his dinner. He'd rushed home
only an hour ago, looking for comfort for one of the worst days he'd had in
a long time, and Shawnee had been sleeping. He'd kissed her .. he'd
nuzzeled in her hair .. he'd even called her name and still she slept,
barely moving.

He nearly growled as he felt hand on his shoulders, but the massaging felt
so good he bit his tongue. He looked up and saw Gwyna's smiling face,
looking down at him. "You look so tired, Saul."

"A little," he grumbled.

"You definitely need to relax, hon. You're muscles are so tight."

"It's just been a long day .. and Shawnee is exhausted .."

"Of course she is, love. She just had a baby." Gwyna shifted down to sit
beside him, "I wouldn't expect that you'll have Sweet Shawnee back for
several weeks. She's a new momma."

He raised an eyebrow at her. What was she talking about? Weeks?! But Gwyna
continued, "After all she's got a newborn to take care of. Diaper changes
.. breastfeeding .. up all hours of the night .. none of those things make
a woman very sexy."

He frowned and his shoulders slumped even further. Gwyna smiled, "Oh, poor
Saul. Don't worry. I'm sure the time will go by quickly .."

He sighed, "I suppose."

"Just let the little mother concentrate on the baby for a while .. and you
concentrate on yourself.. because really she can't do both."

Another sigh, "I suppose not. I just .. really needed to talk to her .. I
needed her .. to listen. And she was sleeping."

"Oh .. why don't you tell me. I know it's not the same.. but I am a good
listener."

"I know you are. But .. I don't really feel like talking about it.
Especially not here." His eyes flickered around the dining hall.

Gwyna's smile widened. "You know what. While Shawnee's sleeping, why don't
you come to my apartment and let me give you an herbal rub. We can drink so
wine and you can tell me what's got you so tense."

"I don't know .. I should probably get back to Shawnee."

"Saul," she said shaking her head at him, "She needs her rest. And so do
you. Come on, let me take care of you for a little bit."

He nodded, "All right."

She smiled and her dark eyes sparkeled, "Good. You've been a friend to me
over the years, I'm glad you're letting me be a friend to you."

"You've always been a friend, Gwyna."

Gwyna
***

"And then there she was .. as if we'd never been apart," he said bitterly
as he knocked back the glass, finishing his second glass of wine. "Oh sure
she looked older, but that same look on her face. I recognized it. The look
that drove my father away .."

"Oh,  poor Saul .. it must have been so hard for you," Gwyna purred as her
hands worked the warm, fragrant oil into the muscles in his back. "It's no
wonder your muscles are so tense."

"I just wish she hadn't returned .."

"I'm sure you do." She reached over and grabbed the bottle of wine, "More?"

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" He chuckled.

She grinned back at him, "Of course not. I just want to help you relax."

"You are," he said sitting up and turning to face her, "And I appreciate it
a lot."

She smiled and poured more of the burgundy liquid into his empty cup. "I
would do anything for you." She settled a little closer, and ran a small
hand over his chest, letting her fingers comb through the dark hair which
curled softly there.  She leaned toward him, her face barely inches from
his, "Let me do anything for you."

"Gwyna .." he said softly, his deep blue eyes searching her face, which
glowed in the dim flicker of candle light. Suddenly he was uncomfortable ..
he knew he shouldn't be allowing himself to be in this position. Shawnee
would never understand ..

"Let me love you, Saul," she whispered moving so her breath blew warmly
over his cheek.

"I can't .."

"Yes you can." Her lips covered his, and the soft silk shirt she wore feel
away as she shrugged it off. She rubbed her now bare breasts over his chest
and wrapped her arms around his neck as her kisses deepened.

Saul could feel her heat spreading through his body as she kissed him. Gods
.. it had been so long. His hands began to roam over her back and around to
gently caress a soft breast, it's nipple hardening as his fingers ran over
it.

She sat up slightly and moved her hands to his waistband, beginning to undo
them. He groaned and caught her hands. "Gwyna .. You are .. very beautiful,
but .."

"But what, Saul? All I want is to make you happy, even for just one night.
You need this." She pulled her hand free and moved it over the bulge nearly
ready to burst from his tight pants. "Let me give you want you want."

"Oh gods," he voice gasped, as his breathing deepened.

Gwyna whispered one last time, "Let me love you .." as his pants were
suddenly undone and being pushed over his hips.

Saul
***
<< a while later ..>>

<Saul!> the voice called to him through a fog.

He shook it off and moved to wrap an arm lazily over the waist of the warm
body beside him. His eyes opened slowly and he felt his heart fall as they
took in the sight of the dark hair and tanned skin of the slender woman in
bed with him.

"Gwyna .." He whispered falling back as he remember their lovemaking which
had ranged from the couch, where they had begun .. to the soft, mattress of
her bed, where they now lay. Oh gods! Why hadn't he stopped himself!

Gwyna roused from her sleep, "What's wrong?" She whispered.

"God Gwyna .. we shouldn't have .."

She smiled at him, "Why not?"

"Because Shawnee will never understand .."

"Don't tell her." The woman turned and snuggled her still bare body against
his, "Saul, all we did was fill a need. You needed me last night. I was
there."

"But the dragons .."

"Can't Fayloth keep a secret?"

<Fayloth?>

<Saul! Maxima says her rider is with a strange man and is scared ..>

<What?> Saul asked sitting up.

"What is? What's wrong?" Gwyna asked.

"Not sure yet." Saul told her returning his attention to Fayloth. The blue
dragon tried to explain to his rider as quickly as he could.

When he was done the bearded rider turned to Gwyna, "We'll have to talk
about this later. I've gotta go." He sighed, "For now, just keep Binette
quiet."

Gwyna smiled, "Of course, Saul. I don't want to cause trouble for you and
Shawnee."

He looked at her dismally, "Gods, I'm sorry .. I should have been
stronger." Then he grabbed his clothes together and raced for the ledge,
warning Fayloth that he mustn't tell anyone about this.

<It's just a mating .. it's not a big deal.>

<It will be if Shawnee finds out about it. You don't want to go back to
living alone do you?>

Fayloth considered as Saul pulled on his jacket and climbed onto the
dragons back. <I won't tell.>

<Good. Now take me to this place ..>

***

When Fayloth landed on the ledge of the apartment he could already hear the
screaming.

"Stay away!" it was a woman's voice.

He hurried toward the sounds and pushed open the door to find the red-head
who reminded everyone of Aradia .. what was her name?? He turned to see a
woman with long dark brown hair trying to calm the girl, much as a mother
would admonish a small errant child. And on the other side of the room ..

"Tarv'renon!" Saul called, recognizing the rider, "What the hell is going
on here?"

The man looked at him in surprise, "I .. I .."

"I want to leave!" Xanthia screamed pulling away from the stranger, and
running to Saul, "I want to leave."

"It's okay, let's go .."

"NO!" Tarv'renon said looking at Saul pleadingly, "Don't take her away."

"What is your problem, man! Can't you see she's upset!" The bearded rider
asked looking at the younger man.

"Saul?" A voice called from the entrance of the apartment.

Saul immediately recognized the voice, "In here, Trinale."

The tiny red-headed warrenlady walked in looking very composed despite
obviously having been wakened in the middle of the night but this ruckus.
She spotted Xanthia, and her face flooded with relief, "Thank the gods!
We've been so worried about you."

"I want to leave .." Xanthia begged again.

"We'll get you out of here soon. But first I want to know what is going on
here."

<<NRPG: I'll leave the outcome of this to the rest of you :)>>

***
<<Still later>>

When he arrived home Shawnee and the baby were sleeping.  He looked
guiltily in on his mate, laying there so peacefully .. then headed back
into the dragon chamber and moving to stand near the ledge.

<Why does it trouble you?> Fayloth asked.

<It's the human way ..>

<It's silly!> The blue snorted.

Saul moved to his dragon, staring into the swirling red eyes, <You won't
say anything to Doshayne?>

<No .. not if you do not want them to know, I will not tell.>

<Don't tell anyone, Fay .. this will have to remain our secret .. for the
continuance of our home ..>

<I know ..>

Suddenly a peircing scream cut through the air. Damn! Shaulyn was awake. He
moved quickly to the couch, hurridly removing his boots and pulling an
afgan over him and closing his eyes. He wasn't quite ready to face Shawnee
yet. Not even if she never knew what he had done.

He heard her moving tiredly through the hall, and begin cooing at the baby.
"Where is your daddy, sweet girl?"

He heard her footsteps as she stepped into the room where he lay,
pretending to sleep on the couch.  He felt her gently rub a hand over his
head, but he remained still, not opening his eyes until he was sure she had
headed into the other room.

He lay there for a while, trying to figure out what in the hell had
happened .. How had he allowed himself to be so weak. It wasn't fair to
Shawnee .. or to Gwyna .. and it certainly wasn't fair to that innocent
babe.

Eventually he drifted to sleep, though his dreams were filled with images
of Shawnee taking Shaulyn and leaving Whiteriver forever...

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
***
NRPG: I've got more to do, but it's getting late and I need to go read
Kevin a bedtime story :) I'll do the morning stuff tomorrow hopefully :)

Hugs,
Kris

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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