Part Two (Fragment)

[sigridharem]

Immediately follows the previous part.


Almost at once Sasha sprang up, swinging his legs off the bed and hurrying over to his clothes, his hair hiding his face from her. It was possible he desperately needed to relieve himself, but… why would he make such a point of carefully gathering his things up?

"What are you doing?" Sigrid asked, mildly.

He wouldn't look at her. "I thought you said you wanted to sleep."

She frowned, sitting up. "I did. That doesn't answer my question."

"I…" Sasha met her eyes then, hesitantly. "I assumed you were done with me."

Sigrid still didn't understand. "Done with you? In what capacity?"

"For tonight, I mean. So I was… going to go to the seraglio." Sasha shifted uncomfortably.

The realization hit her. Slaves don't sleep with their masters.

"Sasha," Sigrid said gently, "the rules have changed. You are a free man, and I am most certainly not that cursed woman who treated you so abominably." She paused. "Do you want to go back to the seraglio? Answer me honestly, because your desires are important to me."

She saw him swallow hard, turning over her words in his head. Slowly, his coat fell from his hand.

"No," Sasha admitted, finally.

(She hoped it was his real answer)

Sigrid smiled, patting the bed. "Then come back here. If you're not adverse to it, I would like you to sleep at my side tonight."

His blush was sudden and fierce, but without a word he returned, slipping underneath the coverlet somewhat awkwardly. Rather to Sigrid's annoyance, he kept his arms carefully to himself.

So she pulled him closer, kissing his hot cheek. "Don't tell me you're feeling shy now, after all we've just done together."

"No, but…" Sasha's face was pensive as he turned to face her, hand ever so tentatively brushing against her hip. "Is this usual, for your… your men?"

"Fairly usual, yes." Sigrid yawned. "When we're in my boudoir, at least. I am less inclined to cuddle in my dungeons."