"Bear..."

"Yes, M'Lady?"

"My nose itches."

Bear reached over, extending his fingertip to touch the right side of her nose.

"No, the other side."

As Bear gently stroked the itchy spot, Lady Arianda sighed her relief. "Whose idea was this?"

"Yours, M'Lady, of course." Bear said it with a bit of humor in his voice. He knew from the outset that it would be nearly impossible for his Mistress to be still as long as might be needed.

Sarah walked around the two, cradling a drawing board in the crook of her arm while her other hand sketched details in charcoal. She paid little mind to the subject or the servant tending her. Sarah's concentration was not on the Tea Room, nor the Lady, nor Bear. She was focused on shape, light and shadow, and trying to capture enough of the image before her to make a proper sculpture. Even so, the sketches would only be reminders for her. She was committing the image to memory so her fingers could mimic the form in clay. Daylight coming through the Tea Room windows was perfect, but it would soon be gone, so Sarah felt that urgency rather than the annoyance of Lady Arianda having to stand still for so long.

Arianda was dressed in her black leathers and soft knee boots. The jacket was pulled open at the collar. She'd posed somewhat casually, with the blade of her fencing foil resting on one shoulder. Her thick braid of copper hair curled upon the other shoulder. Her free arm was bent, hand on slightly jutted hip. This was initially a comfortable position, but not after long minutes on minutes of being frozen in place, unable to move even enough to scratch an itch.

The Lady cleared her throat and growled through tight jaws. "It's hot. I'm HOT! The sun on this leather is sweltering." Her eyes flashed at Bear who was still standing close by. He was not to be included in this artwork, but his attendance to the Lady's needs during this phase of creation was deemed vital. Bear was the intermediary between Arianda's impatient wrath and Sarah's steady skill.

"I am sorry, M'Lady." His grey eyes flashed back, but with amusement.

"I have sword in hand. Mind you do not ignore this POINT." She moved nothing but her mouth and yet felt a heated urge to draw the foil down and slit a line across Bear's stomach.

Bear bowed but his eyes did not leave her glare. "Of course, M'Lady." There would be payment due for his teasing. He was anxious for this 'sitting' to be done as well, so they could get to it.

@At last Sarah completed her sketch, and knelt beside Lady Arianda. The lass softly spoke a brief apology for the time she'd taken, then froze, head lowered, awaiting dismissal.

"Finally! Hold there. I've a score to settle and a task for you 'ere you go."

Arianda whipped the sword's blade from her shoulder and pinned the point directly onto Bear's chest. It was enough to press an indention, though no blood was drawn. He wasn't entirely surprised but stood stock still with his own head lowered, hands clasped behind his back. The Lady rolled her stiff shoulders and loosened her body without moving the tip of the blade away from Bear's skin.

"How daring of you to find humor in my discomfort. Do you feel this is appropriate behavior for Property?"

"No, M'Lady." Bear answered quietly. He knew her mood was heated by the tedium of standing for so long, in leathers, in the hot sunshine. He knew she would not permanently damage him, but there was much she could do just this side of it. He was both wary and excited at the possibilities.

The sword tip slowly drew down Bear's chest, leaving a scratched stripe. Still no blood, but enough that the white mark would stay a while. Arianda used the needle-like end of the blade to toy with the silver loops pierced through Bear's navel. The subtle tinkling was the only sound in the Tea Room at the moment, besides shallow breathing and the slight shifting of the Lady's soft leathers.

At last the sword pulled away as Lady Arianda stepped back half a pace. Bear took a deep relieved breath before he realized it, which is precisely when the Lady's sword swept to slice diagonally across his stomach, between his ribs and the silver marking rings. The white line quickly turned pink then grew shiny and wet with a thin stripe of Bear's blood.

"So you know punishment was due." She grinned, ire vented.

"Yes... M'Lady." Bear's jaw flexed from his stinging skin.

Arianda turned to stand the sword on its tip before Sarah. "Return this to the Hall of Knights before you disappear into your Cellar studio.

"Yes, milady." Sarah held her drawings close to her while her shaking free hand grasped the sword hilt. She was up and gone in an instant. She was also grateful that the Lady had not seen fit to give her any other admonishment for the time she'd taken to do the sketches.

The Lady stood for a moment looking at her own artwork, her handsome, tanned, prime Property with her new mark upon him. Her grin remained as she noted the bulge at Bear's crotch, despite the ordinarily loose fabric of his black leggings. "And now a bath." she said curtly, while turning to stride from the Tea Room. Bear stepped in behind her, not yet daring to touch his wound, as they kept pace to the Amethyst Tower and the Lady's chambers.

Lady Arianda stood motionless once again, now in the middle of her bedchamber. Bear had slipped off her boots and was working open her leather jacket. She wore nothing beneath it, so the swells of her pale breasts were visible to him, even before he pushed the garment from her shoulders. His own motion made the scratch at his stomach sting more. He caught the jacket and folded it to lay it aside.

Returning to the Lady, Bear knelt before her and loosened the cinch at her waist then peeled the leather breeches away from her moistened skin. He drew them downward over her hips to her thighs. He tried not to hesitate in this smooth motion as he caught sight of the soft copper fur over her mound. Pushing further on the leather, he bunched it at her ankles and the Lady stepped out of her last garment.

Arianda turned to pad barefooted into her bathing chamber while instructing Bear, "Strip. You will join me."

Worth a scratch! Bear thought, and quickly removed his own leggings then stepped after her. His stiffening manhood seemed in a bigger hurry to follow along. The view of her nude body walking lithely ahead of him was making that all the more urgent.

The Lady paused just a pace through the doorway.

"Good to see you, M'Lady Arianda," came a warm gentleman's voice from within the smaller room.

Bear knew the voice and thus the third person, even before he made it to the threshold.

Arianda replied with a grin, "Good to be seen, Maxwell," as she continued into the room.

Maxwell was standing to one side of the large tub which was already filled with steaming water and milky from the addition of soaps and scents. "I hope your bath is prepared to your liking, M'Lady." He enjoyed the graceful movement of Arianda's pale and curved body as well as the darker more firm one of her assistant following behind her.

"It smells enjoyable, Maxwell. Bear shall soon test it." She gestured for Bear to climb in first. As he did so, Maxwell noted the red stripe across his torso and that a few droplets escaped the red line. He arched a brow while his mouth drew into a smirk at Arianda. She laughed lightly, not bothering to explain. Maxwell very seldom needed explanations.

"M'Lady, I will intrude only a moment. I have a couple of things to discuss, then I'll leave you to your bathing." Maxwell extended his hand to Arianda even as Bear took the other, while she stepped into the bath. She ordered Bear to sit against the angled back of the tub. He hissed when the hot soapy water stung his wound, but got settled. His arms were draped along the tub's edge. His legs were parted so the Lady might have a comfortable seat between them, once she joined him. Maxwell further assisted Arianda while her body disappeared into the water until she lay back against Bear.

"Very well. What news have you?" She drew Bear's hands down around her and encouraged him to cup water up over her breasts and shoulders.

"We've several who await audience and Cook has purchased a unique Property that will be of interest, I am sure."

"Indeed? Well..." she pondered this a moment as Bear reached for a soft washcloth. Arianda lay her head back against Bear's shoulder while he drew the wet cloth and water stream up to gently bathe her neck. "Perhaps an open invitation to dinner in the Great Hall then, Maxwell?" She closed her eyes, enjoying the relaxation of the water and Bear's attention to her skin.

"Yes, that was my thought." Maxwell watched from his casual stance, hands folded together at his back. He enjoyed watching the trails of soapy water follow the curves of her collarbone then trickle in streams down over her pink nipples and smoothly wet breasts. "Would you like to peruse the new Property before or after? I should mention that there is another interested in her. You'll want to discuss it with that guest."

At this, Lady Arianda opened her eyes and looked up at him with curiosity. "Just purchased and already another buyer? Hm. This must indeed be a unique one." She also took the opportunity to relish Maxwell's enjoyment of the scene which was apparent on his face. "I suggest that we clear that long table of flowers at the end of the Hall. Put the Property on display. If we're to have a little bidding war, then I think the purchase might at least lounge there for our viewing pleasure while we sup, hm?"

"Excellent idea, M'Lady. I shall see to that and the dinner arrangements right away." Maxwell bowed as to take his leave.

Arianda laughed as he departed, "You do not fool me, Maxwell. I'm sure you've had Cook working at this dinner since long before you had my bath drawn." By the time she finished speaking, Maxwell was out of sight. She and Bear could hear his chuckle fading.

"I wonder if Terin will join us?" It was a question spoken aloud but she knew Bear would not be able to answer it. She wished she'd thought to ask Maxwell. Anyway, on with the bath, Arianda thought. She interfered with Bear's washing in order to pull her braided hair across her shoulder and undo it.

"Allow me, M'Lady?" Bear said quietly, his hands suspended as he waited for her answer.

She nodded and leaned forward. She could feel Bear's member against her buttocks as she pressed between his open legs. His fingers deftly undid her braid and stroked through her long russet hair. How beautiful it lay in waves upon her back.

"Now yours." she said, so Bear undid his own braid, setting his hair loose as his Mistress preferred it. He gently encouraged the Lady to remain leaning forward so he could wash her back. When she thought he'd done enough, she relaxed against him once more.

"I'm in need of relaxation after that nonsense for the sculpture."

It was a subtle cue but enough for Bear to know what she was granting. He wrapped her in his arms, letting his hands and the cloth wash her in long strokes along her shoulders. His soapy fingers rippled over her breasts, teasing her nipples. Arianda began to softly moan her pleasure and writhe against him. She gradually drew one leg up over his and let him pin her foot against the tub. She drew up the other and let his own legs secure her, poised wide open beneath the water.

Her arms raised up behind her to wrap around his neck. She would let him bathe her body and soothe her spirit as his slow strokes and circular motions worked down along her body. The washcloth disappeared below the water's surface and gently brushed across her tender flesh. Then, Bear released the cloth into the water so his fingers could explore her lips, swelling with her arousal.

As Arianda gasped from this attention, Bear tilted his head to press his mouth against her neck. He kissed gently at first, then his hot tongue tasted her, his teeth grazed her, biting at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. He had one arm securely around her waist while the other was invisible beneath the water's surface, but Arianda knew precisely where his fingers were. They teased and tortured her most sensitive little nub until there was a direct stream of fire from Bear's hand between her thighs and his mouth at her neck.

The water began to churn with Arianda's writhing and Bear's motion to perpetuate it. He was stirred too, simply at the thrill of bringing her such obvious pleasure. Her hands gripped more firmly, even harshly, at the back of his neck. His mouth grew more aggressive at her shoulder. His own hardness was being placated to some extent as she shifted. The more firmly his hand worked between her legs, the more pinned he was between his own flesh and hers.

Bear began to moan against her neck even as Arianda's rhythmic gasps escaped into the warm moist scented air. Her chest heaved. Her fingers wrapped into Bear's hair and urged him to finish her. Her rapid heartbeat was echoed through her back and pounding against Bear's own thumping chest.

Just as Arianda sucked in a deep breath and Bear's arm tightened around her waist, his fingers deftly delivered the strokes to jar them both. Water sloshed out of the tub as Arianda and Bear jerked in unison. Arianda's hoarse voice was muffled by turning her head to bury her face against Bear's cheek. She felt his member pulse and twitch against her back. She twitched herself as Bear's fingers softly concluded their work.

After a few moments of panting breath and adjusting their entwined bodies, they both lay back in the bath, spent. Now the water would have to work by itself. Eventually, the Lady and Bear would have energy enough to get ready for dinner. For now, they were lost in warm comfort, soothing scents, and temporary oblivion.