* Kevil wakes up with a start, then sighs and turns over, watching Loria sleep for a long while with a faint smile on his face. Finally, just as sunlight begins to creep its way into the room, he leans over to kiss her hair and slips out of bed, padding quietly across the floor and out the door to the master garden.

* Loria mutters something sleepily and rolls over, wrapping herself up in the blankets.

* Kevil leans down to carefully touch the tiny apple tree sprout with a smile, then moves over to the small containers where their rose bushes wait. He kneels beside his and looks it over, carefully removing dead leaves and checking the soil.

<Kevil> ::One small bud has opened, and he touches its pale yellow petals with a smile. He glances back toward the bedroom, hesitating, then carefully pulls the flower from the vine. He stands, brushing grass and dirt from his hands and knees, and walks back into the bedroom, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed, hesitating again.

* Loria opens one eye, then mumbles something, pulling the blankets over her head.

* Kevil grins and leans over to pull the blankets from her face and kiss her cheek. "Good morning, n'shava."

<Loria> ::opening her eyes again:: What is this 'morning'?

<Kevil> ::laughs and kisses her, then brushes the rose's petals against her cheek before showing it to her:: Look - I am given a gift.

<Loria> ::yawns and sits up:: Guess it's getting to be spring... ::she smiles a bit sleepily, rubbing her eyes::

<Kevil> ::nods absently, looking down at the rose:: Auspicious, the first flower of the year being so beautiful... ::he smiles and brings it to his face, smelling its scent, and then offers it to Loria, his face somehow both solemn and playful.:: I would like you to have it.

* Loria takes the little flower, inspecting it carefully. She lifts it to her nose, inhaling the fragrance.

<Kevil> ::watches her with a faint smile, almost holding his breath:: I love you...

<Loria> ::her eyes soften as she looks up at him. She leans over and kisses him briefly on the cheek:: That's a good thing to know... I love you, too.

* Kevil takes her hand and twines her fingers with his, smiling wistfully. "Did you not know it before, raindrop? Have I left doubt in your heart?"

<Loria> ::shaking her head, running her free hand through her long hair, trying to untangle it:: No... but it's... reassuring to know that nothing's changed since yesterday.

<Kevil> ::frowning slightly:: Why should it? *How* should it? I... Loria... ::he releases her hand and takes her face in his hands, looking at her seriously.:: I love you. I want to marry you. I want to be your husband, and I want you to be my wife. I want you to be mother to my children, and to be father to yours...

<Kevil> I want to take your hands and join our circle before the Lady's eyes. To be your partner and your lover and your friend... ::tears form in his eyes and he leans down to kiss her, the lightest feather-brush of his lips against hers:: I love you, Loria. Nis shavalin. I never want you to doubt that.

* Loria reaches out one hand, touching his cheek. Her dark blue eyes are wide and somehow completely defenseless. She seems at a lose for words and one tear slips down her cheek, dropping onto the rose, lightly held, almost forgotten, in her hand.

* Kevil turns his face into her hand, kissing her palm. His voice is a breathless whisper. "I love you." He wipes the tear's track from her cheek with his thumb. "Tell me you really believe it. Please."

<Loria> ::nodding:: I know... I do believe you... ::smiling slightly impishly:: Although if it makes you so devout in your declarations, I may "forget" once in a while, just so you can remind me.

<Kevil> ::laughs softly, closing his eyes and kissing her forehead:: I hope you will not feel the need to trick me into declaring my devotion, n'shava... ::he opens his eyes and gives her a mischievous smile of his own:: After all, it has been said and said often that the true difficulty is in forcing me to be *silent*, d'va?

* Loria curls up to his chest, laying her head over his heart, listening to the beat within. "This isn't such a bad thing... you have a nice voice. I like listening... "

<Kevil> ::chuckles, wrapping his arms around her and laying his cheek on her head:: I shall compose epics, then, praising your beauty and your wit and your wisdom, and recite them for you.

<Loria> ::contentedly:: You could read the laundry list, my heart, and I'd still want to listen to you.

<Kevil> ::kisses her hair:: I think you exaggerate, Lori-my-love... ::grinning:: Though my laundry list *is* quite long.

<Loria> Minstrel's privilege, my dear... I'm allowed to exaggerate.

<Kevil> ::laughs again, squeezing her tighter for a moment:: I *do* love you... And that without any exaggeration at all.

<Loria> ::pressing her lips to the warm skin of his shoulder:: I know. I love you, too. ::she lays back on one elbow, looking up at him::

<Kevil> ::reaches out to trace one finger along the line of her jaw and down her neck to her shoulder:: I know you do... ::he takes a slightly deeper breath, smiling:: No other knowledge has made me so happy.

<Loria> ::laughing:: I'd *hope* you would know it. I did everything but paint it on my forehead trying to get your attention. ::she absently bops him on the leg with the rose::

<Kevil> ::makes a wry face:: I am sorry, n'shava, that I was so... ::he searches for a word and fails to find one, shrugging:: I was an idiot and a fool, to say the least. ::he leans down and kisses her cheek:: Will you forgive me?

<Loria> You were forgiven the moment you opened your eyes and saw *me*, not some star-struck little girl following you around like a puppy. ::she laughs at this self-description::

<Kevil> ::grins sheepishly, stretching out beside her, lightly stroking her arm:: I *had* feared it, I confess. Though I still think I might have come to my senses sooner...

<Loria> ::nodding:: You weren't far wrong, I admit... ::she bats her eyelashes at him with exaggerated adoration:: Probably says something that you didn't want to take advantage of me... I'm not entirely sure *what* it says... but something.

<Kevil> It says that I feared Lisl would take my arms from my sockets and replace them with my legs if I so much as laid a finger on you. ::he grins and winks:: Though truly, I would not have wished to... take advantage. ::chuckling:: Well for you I am not Darin, or you might have been cheerfully tumbled into bed at the first sidelong glance...

<Loria> ::throwing her arm up to her forehead, wrist facing out in a classic damsel in distress pose:: Oh, and what a horrid fate that would have been...

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Well, perhaps not *altogether* horrid... ::he grins and lightly tickles her exposed ribs::

* Loria squeaks, accidentally planting her elbow in his chest in her haste to protect her sides. "Beast!"

<Kevil> ::puts a hand over his chest, striking a dramatic pose:: Alas! I am wounded - harsh words savage my heart even as your mighty blow fells me... ::he collapses to the bed::

<Loria> ::snickers, snaking her hand across his stomach, tickling him:: Wimp...

<Kevil> ::squirms briefly and catches her hand:: Wimp? *Wimp*? We shall see! ::he lunges up, attacking her ribs with a triumphant laugh::

<Loria> ::squeals again, wrenching away from him:: No t-tickling! Not fair!

<Kevil> ::laughs again, pressing the attack:: Why not?

<Loria> ::wedges her hand into his armpit, tickling:: You're bigger than I am... ::she giggles, twitching her torso away from him::

<Kevil> Erk... ::he twists around, grabbing for her wrist:: I see no problem with this...

<Loria> ::trying to maintain a pout, although she's still giggling:: Meanie! Wretch... Cheater!

<Kevil> ::laughs, trying to capture her other wrist:: How am I cheating?

<Loria> ::shaking her hair out of her face, poking him in the stomach:: Using your size to unfair advantage!

<Kevil> ::grins at her:: And what would be fair, do you think?

<Loria> ::stops struggling to consider:: You could just... let me tickle you... that might help. ::she grins at him::

<Kevil> ::looks at her thoughtfully, as if considering the idea:: Hmm... No. ::starts tickling her again::

<Loria> ::squeaks, pulling her wrist free and attacking his sides with both hands::

<Kevil> ::laughs and stops tickling her to try to capture her hands again::

* Loria lets herself be captured, taking the few moments to breathe.

* Kevil pants, looking down at her with a grin. "Well... Speaking of unfair. How am I supposed to tickle you if I have to hold your hands like this?"

* Loria takes a few deep breaths, looking up at him. "You're not... that's the whole point, I think."

<Kevil> Hmm. ::considering:: What am I to do with you, then?

<Loria> ::a small smile shapes her lips:: You could just kiss me. You don't need your hands for that...

<Kevil> ::with a sudden bright smile:: That is true! ::he leans down to kiss her::

* Loria returns his kiss with enthusiasm, still breathing hard from their earlier struggles.

<Kevil> ::breaks off the kiss, looking her over:: You are *very* appealing like this, n'shava... Flushed and mussed and breathing hard... ::his eyes darken with desire, and he grins:: I should tickle you more often, perhaps... ::he leans down to kiss her neck::

<Loria> ::a little breathlessly:: No, no you shouldn't... ::she struggles against his grip on her wrists, then stops, looking at him almost ruefully:: I'm just encouraging you, aren't I?

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Just *thinking* of you encourages me... ::he grins, then releases her wrists:: Did you really want me to be discouraged...? ::he runs a finger lazily over her shoulder and collarbone::

<Loria> ::leaning her head to one side, she kisses his forearm:: From loving me, no. From tickling me... well, yes.

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: Well... if there were another way to make you look so *delightfully* dishevelled... ::he grins and kisses her again::

<Loria> ::kissing down his jaw, just over the line of his beard:: I can probably manage to fake dishevelment, my heart.

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Anything to avoid being tickled, hmm....? ::he nuzzles at her throat:: You smell nice.

<Loria> ::leaning her head back:: Drawback of being Kristo's baby sister... he and Vallie used to double-team me all the time, before I was hurt. Bess'd always tell Ma' and Winnie's not ticklish. Until Polla came along, that left me...

<Kevil> ::stops kissing her, propping himself up on one elbow to look at her, faintly surprised:: If you really mean it, n'shava, I will stop... I just... ::he shrugs and smiles:: tickling is one of those silly games that one is not supposed to admit to liking...

* Loria leans up, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. When she breaks the kiss, still breathing hard, she grins at him. "Well, I admit to a certain amount of being hot and bothered about it."

<Kevil> ::grins, looking somewhat relieved:: Ah, well... You know the best way to cure that, do you not?

<Loria> ::kissing his neck, then taking small nips along his collarbone:: Well... I'm not sure I was looking for a *cure* exactly...

<Kevil> Mmm... ::he slides his hand up to cup her breast:: What *were* you looking for, then?

* Loria sighs, shifting slightly under him. "That's a nice start..."

* Kevil grins and ducks his head, tracing circles around her nipple with his tongue.

<Loria> ::drawing in a deep breath, she shifts again, bringing her nipple firmly under his mouth, closing her eyes::

<Kevil> ::Obeying her wordless command, he suckles at her breast, gently rolling and tugging on her other nipple with his fingers.::

<Loria> ::runs her hands through his hair, curling her fingers around the nape of his neck:: That's very nice... ::she sighs contentedly::

<Kevil> Hmm... I must agree. ::He grins and slide up to kiss her thoroughly before returning to her breast. His hand slides slowly down her side and over her hip.::

<Loria> ::running her fingers lightly down his back::

<Kevil> ::slides his hand down her thigh and back up, angling toward the inside::

* Loria spreads her legs slightly, pulling one leg up, running her foot along the length of Kevil's leg.

<Kevil> ::rakes his fingers through her pubic hair, almost but not *quite* touching her clitoris::

* Loria moans lightly, tracing her hand over his side and across his hip.

* Kevil kisses the underside of her breast and begins to work his way down.

* Loria pulls her other knee up, spreading her legs further.

<Kevil> ::grins and skips to her knee, kissing his way up the inside of her thigh::

<Loria> ::small muscles in her upper thighs twitch as she leans up slightly on her elbows to watch him:: Tease... ::her voice is half-accusatory, half-loving::

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: Why rush things? ::he lightly flickers his tongue across her clit, then looks back at her with a smile::

* Loria gasps, bucking her hips once with a mewling cry. "Cheat..." she says faintly, her eyes intent on his face.

<Kevil> ::smiles wider, somewhere between tenderness and amusement:: Some day, soon... after we are married perhaps, I will spend an entire day making love to you. ::he strokes her with his tongue again, his eyes remaining on hers:: I will kiss and caress and touch and love every inch of you, until you are too satisfied and exhausted to even call me a cheating beast.

* Loria laughs, bringing her leg up and running her foot down Kevil's arm and across his side. "That sounds lovely. And after you've recovered from your efforts, I'll return the favor."

* Kevil grins. "Very nice." He drops his head then and suckles at her clit, pressing and stroking with his tongue and lips.

* Loria holds almost perfectly still, only slight tremors through her legs and stomach as he works her. She draws her breath in slowly, releasing it in explosive gasps.

* Kevil continues to suckle her as he slips two fingers into her, pressing in and upward in rhythm with the stroking of his tongue.

* Loria rocks her hips with his strokes, her hands clenches around the top sheet of the bed, tossing her head from side to side.

<Kevil> ::builds intensity, trying to match the urgent motion of her hips::

<Loria> ::shuddering, she cries out, arching her back and twisting her hips as exquisite sensations of pleasure flood over her:: Oh, Kevil-lin, yes!

* Kevil breaks off as she bucks and twists, then shifts between her legs, pulling himself onto his knees. He thrusts into her, hard, wrapping his arms around her waist and fastening his mouth on her breast.

* Loria wraps her legs around his hips, locking her ankles together, pulling him into her, her hands twining into his hair.

<Kevil> ::moaning as he thrusts:: Ah... Oh, Loria...

* Loria loosens her legs, rolling him over onto his back without losing a stroke, arching backwards, resting her hands on the bed near his knees.

<Kevil> ::groans, shifting his grip on her hips to pull her more tightly onto him::

<Loria> ::raising up, she nearly pulls off him before thrusting down again:: Kevil...

<Kevil> ::gasps:: Loria... ::he groans and arches, pulling her to him with nearly bruising strength:: Oh, Bright Lady, Loria, n'shava... ::he gasps and shudders::

* Loria leans forward, brushing her lips across his, her hair falling in thick curtains on either side of her face.

<Kevil> ::shivers again, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her gently:: I love you.

<Loria> ::nuzzling the side of his neck:: I know...

<Kevil> ::panting, he strokes her back gently:: And you love me. ::he grins:: How wonderful... ::he lifts his head to kiss her shoulder:: Maybe I should wake up early more often.

* Loria looks over at the small rose, amazingly uncrushed by their activities. "Maybe you should." She snuggles against his chest, reaching out one hand to lightly clasp the rose.

* Kevil strokes her hair, smiling as he sighs contentedly.

* Loria leans on one elbow, looking at him, absently tracing patterns over his chest.

<Kevil> ::looks at her with a faint smile:: What is it?

<Loria> ::smiling softly:: Nothing, shavalin. I'm only thinking how nice it is to have our house to ourselves again.

<Kevil> ::reaches up to brush her cheek with his knuckles:: N'va. ::chuckles:: I very much agree... How long did She say She wanted Brother Rook for, anyway?

<Loria> ::shrugs:: A few days, She said. She said She's going to be sending him away, more permanently, after this whole mess is over. He's going to spread the word around the country.

<Kevil> Mm... Sounds good to me. The farther from *us*, the better... Let us hope that happens soon. ::he grins at her::

<Loria> ::in a fervent tone:: The sooner the better... I'd rather have *Kristo* outside that door at night than Rook.

<Kevil> ::laughs and hugs her:: I can thank of *many* I would rather have... But truly, I would much rather be able to cease worrying and no longer have need for a guard at all.

<Loria> ::blushes colorfully:: Me, too.

<Kevil> ::grins:: Tired of worrying over eavesdroppers, n'shava?

<Loria> ::nods:: I mean, not Ree... she's... well, for one thing, she's a woman, and secondly, she just pretends not to see anything that she doesn't think I want her to see.

<Kevil> ::nods:: She has a great deal of practice at not seeing things. ::he chuckles::

<Loria> I imagine she does, actually. ::she colors again, faintly:: Brother Rook, on the other hand, sees everything. And takes notes, I think, sometimes. And he doesn't like you... honestly, that upsets me. He... I don't know, it's like he thinks he has some right to disapprove.

<Kevil> ::makes a wry face:: I expect he is unhappy that I do not worship you the way he does... How dare I kiss you, or caress your face, or otherwise treat you as if you are a human woman under your priestly robes...? ::he sticks out his tongue at the absent Brother Rook:: I harbor some small hopes that Lady Imp will knock him out of that. ::sighs:: Not *great* hopes, mind...

<Loria> ::covers her mouth with her hands:: Maybe She'll show him her Other form. That might help some.

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Or send him screaming... ::grins mischievously:: Either would do.

* Loria rolls off Kevil, cuddling against his side. "And when shall we return to Alanis, my love? I'm *certainly* not taking him along..."

<Kevil> ::laughs:: After we are married here, I should think... I brought the matter up with Zoya a few weeks ago, in fact, and she said she would be ready when we were.. ::he sounds vaguely surprised::

<Loria> ::shrugs:: Just... no more run-ins with your ex-employer...

<Kevil> ::shudders:: I hope not. ::he pulls her close, kissing the top of her head::

* Loria grins at him. "I think I'm hungry, Kevil. Shall we go scandalize Ree by being up before noon?"

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Certainly. ::he kisses her once more before releasing her and rolling over to look for his houserobe on the floor::

* Loria stretches, sliding out of bed and slipping into her robe.