Having had quite an exhaustive practice session in the Hall of Knights, Lady Arianda pulled off her leather gauntlets and tucked them under her arm. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead with the inside of her wrist. As she left the Hall and proceeded in long strides toward the Great Hall, her voice boomed and echoed in the Tarot Tower and followed along after her. "BEAR!"

The lady pulled at the fastenings of her jacket, leaving it gaped open to her navel. She knew Bear was in the gardens at his regular daily duty. She knew he had no chance of hearing her call. She also knew that servants within the castle heard her well enough and word would quickly be passed to Bear, effectively summoning him. Along with her summons, the grapevine would also inform him where he might find his mistress. She was headed for the Dungeon and the Hot Spring.

Upon arrival she stopped abruptly before the Spring. She turned, with gloves in hand again, and propped her hands on her leather-clad hips. The sound of the waterfall began to relax her haughty mood somewhat, so she closed her eyes and let her head drop back. Her long copper braid draped over her shoulder, tickling at her breasts as framed by the gaping jacket. So she stood and waited in her black boots and leathers, confident that Bear would attend her shortly.

Bear worked at the flowerbed, removing the offending weeds carefully to insure that the roots were not left behind. Roses bloomed at nose level as he knelt concentrating on his work. There was great pleasure in watching things grow from the fruit of your own labors. For the most part, while he worked within the garden he could forget most other worries and concerns. The day was warm and sunny after the storm last evening. A gentle breeze caressed his bare legs and slipped through the sides of his loin cloth to tickle along his member sending a shiver not altogether unenjoyable down his spine.

"Bear attend me," whispered Her voice in his ear. His head snapped up and looked about but he was alone within the garden. Bear's brow creased in what could only be bewilderment. He was certain that he had heard his Mistresses voice telling him to attend. Once again he looked about the garden for her, peering into each and every shadow lest she be hiding from him. Yet, as before, his eyes told him that he was alone.

With a slight shrug he returned to his work yet the simple joy of it was now gone. Rising to his feet, he stretched, the muscles rippling along his back and chest as well as down his legs. He had not been named bear on accident. Bear made his way to the tool shed and carefully replaced the tools to their proper place. There was nothing to do but to find his Mistress, he finally decided. Making he was back into the castle, he headed toward his Mistress' rooms only to meet Maxwell in the corridor. Dutifully bear dropped his eyes as Maxwell paused to speak with him.

"Ah, there you are, bear! I do believe that Lady Arianda is looking for you."

"Yes Sir. I was on my way to her rooms now," he replied keeping his eyes downcast.

"Then it is a good thing that I caught you and saved you the trip for she is at the hot spring in the Dungeon."

Bear nodded once. "Thank you," was all he said in way of parting as he turned and headed for the Spring. The scars on his back itched as he recalled his last visit to the springs.

The gloves were slipped from Arianda's hand, then Bear drew both her hands into his and cautiously turned her. Her head came forward slowly to regard him. Of course she had heard his approach, even with his barefooted graceful steps and the white noise of the Spring. She was not startled by him in the least. She smirked to his half grin. "Are you going to dance or remove my clothing so I may bathe?"

Bear continued to turn her then prompted her to step back and sit upon a large rocky perch jutting out to the side of the churning water. "I thought, M'Lady, it would be best to start with your boots." He knelt before her to begin slipping them off, only then adding. "If it pleases."

Arianda leaned back upon her elbows as he slipped her boots off and set them aside. She furrowed her brows as he hovered over her before running his hands up her thighs, then hips, until his fingers found the fastenings at her waist and loosened her leathers. He also undid the last few latches at the bottom of her jacket, letting it fall open completely. His eyes took her in as his gaze slowly progressed up to her face, where she was now scowling at him.

"Enjoying the view?" she said caustically then rolled off to one side and stood again.

Wisely, Bear did not comment but continued to undress her in a very business-like manner now. He waited for her to step from the pants bunched at her ankles. He was in no hurry, for his kneeling crouch put him in close view of her soft mound of curls and even the light scent of her. He kept his eyes averted from her stern looks as he stood again. His hands pushed the jacket from her shoulders and deftly caught it. He added it to the neatly folded pile of clothing.

At last, as Bear reached around to unstrap his own leather thong, he looked at Arianda. "I assume you wish me to assist in the bathing as well, M'Lady?"

She was looking back, of course. No scowl now. No expression at all really, unless it was impatience seething beneath the surface. She made a vague gesture in the air with her hand as she regarded him. "Yes. Hair.", was all she said but by her look and motion, he caught her meaning.

"Of course, M'lady. Beg pardon."

Arianda watched his muscles flex as he raised his arms to undo his long braid. Her eyes flashed as he shook loose his silken black hair to let it fall about his shoulders. She reached out to touch a narrow hint of grey developing along his temple. It would add to his beauty, she thought.

Bear paused as she touched him then brought his arms down again, but around her shoulders. Lady Arianda arched a brow at him and received a grinning response. "Your hair is braided as well, M'lady. Do you not wish it undone?"

"Ah, well, yes. Proceed." She rested her hands against his chest and leaned her head in to allow him to undo her hair more easily. His musky scent of tanned skin and outdoor work filled her mind. "You smell of sunshine." she whispered.

As Bear combed his fingers though her hair, he took a long deep breath. Her nearness, her touch, her soft whisper warmed his loins. "This pleases you?"

Yes, she thought, altogether too much perhaps. "Yes." she said, more coldly than she was thinking it. She slipped from his arms and swept her hand out toward the Spring. "After you." She obviously expected him to go before her and help her step into the bubbling hot pool... just because it was her choice to do so.

Bear passed her, heading toward the pool and only then allowed a smile to play about his lips. Stepping into the pool part way, he turned and offered her his hand to help her in as well, backing up slowly as she entered. His eyes once more traveled the length of her body as she entered the steaming waters. As always with her, his loins grew warm with heat that had nothing to do with the pool. This area was shallow enough that one could kneel and the water would only reach the chest or throat level depending on size. As she neared him, he released her hand and, gently touching her shoulder, indicated that she should turn around and kneel. She arched a brow at his directions but withheld comment and followed his lead this once.

Bear knelt behind her, his large hands coming to rest upon her shoulders and then his fingers slowly began to massage her muscles at the base of her neck and the top of her back. A young serving girl entered with a tray held in both hands. Carefully the girl placed the tray at the edge of the pool, her eyes never lifting to meet either of theirs and then just as quietly, she left. Upon the tray was a carafe of plum brandy and two glasses. "I hope you don't mind, but I thought you might like some refreshment as well." His deep voice rumbled in his chest just behind her ear which she found pleasurable. "Shall I serve?" he inquired as his hands continued to work on her muscles.

Arianda dipped from beneath his hands. She turned and stood up over him. Her skin sparkled with the water and a soft steaming blush. "At last, some initiative." She reached to glide her warm wet hands along his shoulders to his neck, then curled to press a kiss to his cheek. "Yes, pour one glass. You'll share it with me." Slowly she sank back into the water, letting her hands follow down his body, below the churning surface. Her fingers found his budding erection and teased him before she released him to his task.

Bear grunted slightly as her questing hand slipped below the churning water and found his manhood. He coughed once, causing it to wiggle within her grasp before she released him and he moved to the side of the pool to do her bidding. "I was not aware that it was my place to show initiative," he said with his back to her as he poured a single glass of plum brandy, "M'Lady." he added after a slight pause. Turning with the now filled goblet in hand he crossed back toward her. "Shall I serve?" he inquired with a slight twitching of his lips at the corners that might or might not have been a smile.

She said nothing, but an abbreviated nod acknowledged his question. She looked up at him, waiting for him to take a sip. When he did so and tipped his head to press his lips to hers, the shallow kiss deepened and they shared the sweet thick taste of the plum wine. Arianda's mouth sucked at him. She played with his tongue, tasting all the sweetness from him with a soft moan. Her lips reluctantly left his then her hand gripped around his hand and the glass. She tipped the wine up to take a long sip and then another. The second drink she held while her hands pressed to either side of Bear's neck and pulled him to her to share the wine again.

Bear let his free hand wrap around her waist then glide up her back to brace against the nape of her neck. He could feel and hear the vibration of her purring into their passionate kiss. Her body curled against his, intensifying the heat of the water and that which stirred in his loins.

Lady Arianda broke abruptly from the kiss and turned away from Bear. She slipped aside into the water, leaving him to stand with empty arms and a half empty glass of wine. He turned to watch her as she lay her head back to swirl her hair in the water, then she stood upon the ledge again. She seemed to ignore him while she cupped water to her face and shoulders. When she finally looked at him, she made a waving gesture. "Put the glass down. Bathe." Without waiting for him to respond, she swirled about in the water, up to her neck, seeming lost in the warmth and steam.

Bear did as directed and set the now half empty glass aside. He dove into the water emerging through the surface a bit past her in the deeper end of the pool. It felt good to be within the water as it caressed his body while he swam. There were few pleasures in the life of a slave...well so it used to be, he thought with a look towards his floating Mistress.

Swimming was one of the things Bear most enjoyed. Once again he dove under the water. Its warmth a pleasure against his muscles and skin. With powerful strokes he quickly crossed the distance till he was directly below his Mistress. For a long moment he floated there beneath the water watching as her shapely legs treaded water keeping her afloat. With each movement of her legs there was a brief glimpse of the curls marking the entrance to her womanhood. Once more he felt a warmth not akin to the water begin to build in his loins.

Slowly Bear allowed himself to float to the surface directly behind her. His strong arms reached forth as he treaded water and gently caressed her sides, slowly making his way upward until each hand cupped a breast gently. His thumbs stroked each of her nipples in turn, causing them to harden and a purr of pleasure to come from her. "Shall I wash your hair, M'lady?" His deep voice rumbled in her ear. Distracted by his thumbs attention to her breasts, she nodded that he should. Though she could not see it, he smiled. His hands moved up her sides and to her shoulders. Then, with a push of both hands, he sent her below the surface by a good arm's length!

Startled by Bear's move, Arianda shifted free of his hands and struggled in the water before surfacing again, sputtering and splashing. Her hands grasped at mostly air then found his upper arms so she might pull herself to him. She was fuming! It was visible in her eyes as she looked through soaked strands sticking to her face. All the soft warm sapphire blue was gone and only cold gray stared at him. A moment of decision crossed her face as she searched Bear's eyes, something she thought to do and would have done swiftly, had it been anyone but him.

Her stiffened body suddenly relaxed. Her eyes softened to their warm blue again. Her grip at his arms eased and her mouth drew into a soft smile, as if she finally saw the humor in his playful act.

Arianda leaned in to kiss the corner of his mouth then whispered "I complimented your initiative, didn't I? Perhaps tis my fault that you tried to drown this cat!" Her last words were spit at him just before she dipped her head to take a hard bite at his shoulder, one she did not release. Her fingernails dug into his arms and her mouth punished him as her legs wrapped around his hips. She began to taste his blood in her mouth and it started to satisfy her subdued anger.

Time spent in the gardens beneath the sun had not only darkened Bear's skin but roughened it as well. Thus it was that her nails digging into his arms did not hurt as much as one might think, though to say they did not hurt at all would be false. Despite being prepared for her attack, he still hissed a sharp intake of air as her teeth dug into his shoulder. "A new way of marking," he paused to hiss again as her teeth tightened slightly, "your stock, M'Lady?" he finally finished.

Bear kept his legs in motion to keep them both afloat but after enclosing her in his arms he could not move them less they shift her hold on him and draw further blood. "Perhaps," he said as she growled against his shoulder, "I should have brought you something to eat as well." This brought her from his shoulder to look at him directly. His smile greeted her face questioningly.

Her expression softened again, followed by outright laughter. She licked blood from her lip then hissed, "Perhaps I shall consume you... but in due time. Wade us to the shallows that I may make better use of you before then, hm?" She held to him and scooped water onto the bite marks on his shoulder. He hissed at the sting but of course the water began to heal the wound already.

They returned to the edge of the pool near the wine tray. With their bodies wrapped around each other, the water could barely pass between them but certainly it swirled its warmth at the near junction between their thighs. Arianda reached out to snatch the wine from the tray and took a long drink of it, straight from the carafe. She raised her brows and offered the wine to Bear, but he shook his head. With a shrug, Arianda took another long sip before she set the decanter down again.

Her fingers played along his neck as she looked into his grey eyes. "Tasty as you are, I've no real appetite for blood."

"And what do you have an appetite for, m'lady?" A sparkle in his eyes grinned back at her as he let her slide within his arms just enough for her to better feel his prominence.

She shifted her hips, softly pressing his member between them. "You, my dear Bear. For the moment, I've an appetite for you." She let go of him and pushed his own grasp away so she might slip back under the water. She came up again, head tilted back, to let her hair flow away from her face. She reached back and shoved the wine tray away from them, then slipped her hands along Bear's arms to draw his hands to her waist. "Lift me to the ledge." He did so easily, setting her there, but kept his hands upon her hips as he stepped in between her parted knees, looking up at her.

A wickedly amused grin smiled upon him. "Perhaps we taste each other. Your turn." She purred her laughter then slowly arched back to lay her steaming body upon the cooler stone. It made her gasp lightly. It made her stomach flex. It made her soft lips twitch, which he saw full well as he looked across her body, now on display for him.

( Continued on page 2)

(Click on candle to return to the Great Hall)

Hot Spring

Bear9: Diversion

Grace of Passion
Summons