Justifying Curiousity (OPEN)

[Arleen Reinhart]

I frowned at his reply, slightly confused at his response. My action had no effect to soothe him, instead, it seemed like he was more unsettled. I frowned confused. That was, until I met his gaze. It made my heart skip a beat and heat rush up into my face in embarrassment. With that realization I immediately rolled over to escape having to meet his gaze. I was such a fool! It only diverted his mind to a different trouble, rather than comfort him. One could say that it worked too well.

"I-I'm sorry..." I apologized, still facing away from him. I couldn't face him right after that fact, it would just be too awkward. I could only hope that it hadn't troubled him too much. But... what if it did, and he pursued that...? The thought drove my heart-rate up and killed all innocent thoughts that were in my mind. I just needed to calm down, and never act so foolish again.

This is why I preferred being a soldier.

[Gideon Uriela]

She didn’t catch his meaning at first and seemed irritated by what he said she looked into his eyes and saw something that she didn’t hope for one could surmise. Without a word she uncoiled herself turning her back to him. It was then he realized why she did what she did, she was trying to help overcome his nightmare, the young woman’s actions were of pure intentions although easily misconstrued. She apologized but there was no real harm done except for Gideon’s perverseness getting the better of him. Arleen was still innocent and pure like the driven snow while that was true she was also a soldier she could die before knowing what womanhood truly had to offer. Gideon smiled, she tried to help him it was only natural that he return the favor.

Without a word he scooted over to her conforming to her back side and wrapped a arm tightly about her midsection in a manner that offered the feeling of safety and security. Teasingly he knee dug into the back of her own, his warm breath beading off the back of her neck. He would offer her the same illusion that she did him to lessen her awkward feelings. ”You didn’t do anything wrong...”[/b] he whispered to her airily, then nestled into the crook of her neck.

[Arleen Reinhart]

I felt him press up against me, and the feeling of his body pressed against mine almost as if he were trying to melt into me drove the already impure thoughts I was having sky-high. His breath on my neck sent cold shivers down my spine from the feeling. I heard his words through this condition, trying hard to keep calm. Regardless, my heart rate wasn't quick to calm down, and was unsure as what I should do.

"T-that's..." If this was his way of getting revenge on me for inadvertently teasing him, he succeeded immensely. I kept trying to calm down, but my attempts seemed to be failing. I just couldn't calm down easily after that. I kept quiet, closing my eyes and trying to divert my attention to other things. Tomorrow, what would I need to get, if anything from this town's market?

Oh what was the use, it wasn't working!

[Gideon Uriela]

Her body felt red hot against his own, Gideon found Arleen's strong reaction to his intimate touch to be absolutely charming. Undoubtedly her fresh mind seethed with lecherous thoughts but it could be almost guaranteed the more experienced mind carried a more lascivious fancy than she could appreciate without experiencing first hand. His cool breath that tickled her neck caused her to shiver signaling that he had control; she tried to keep her composure despite the noticeable heaving in her bosom. ”Hm?”

[/b] He questioned softly at her stuttered word, the vibration of his vocal transferring to her neck just behind her ear. Kicking off his allowing them to tumble off the side of the bed he slid his top leg between her own rubbing his instep against her calf slowly, sweetly.

Meanwhile at the back of Gideon’s mind he was thinking about how to get back to Cocoon quickly as possible, there weren’t many means of transportation in this corner of the world. Gideon managed to get here by boat but that was a couple days voyage. His arm that wrapped itself around her slide by slowly with the craft of a snake allowing his finger tips to grace her forearm lightly raking across the surface. After a moment something came to him, the Zertinan Caverns. From what he heard the caverns went everywhere they even linked the continents together under the ocean. Still it was a gamble; Gideon didn’t know how to navigate them even less what could possibly be lurking down there. It was a viable option next to the couple day’s journey by boat.

”We could get back by boat but that will take a couple of days or we could take the Zertinan Caverns. It suppose to be a very quick trip through the passage, the tunnels link the continents together, but I don’t know which way to go once we get down there or what’s down there…” He spoke to her softly his lips brushing against her neck standing the tiny hairs on end. Meanwhile his adventurous knee made its way between her thighs rubbing affectionately.[/justify]

[Arleen Reinhart]

I started when he pushed us over the side of the bed, failing my attempt to catch myself before we hit the floor. "Wha-?" I was about to protest his action when I felt his foot rubbing along my leg. Wait... was he taking the initiative and trying to go all the way? I couldn't help the heat that flooded my face as the shameful acts I envisioned seemed to be coming to life. I had only just met this man today, yet it was going to be like this? His divergence of his thoughts calmed me down somewhat. So he was only toying with me then? "It doesn't matter what's down there we just need to geT BY-?!" My words were cut short by the feeling of his knee drawing so close to a place so intimate. Trying to clamp my legs shut only made it worse, as it just made the motions all the more sensational.

In .5 seconds, he had made my mind short-circuit.

He did intend to go all the way with this. I knew it was partly my fault for teasing him, but would it be right to go this far after knowing each other for such a short time? I barely knew the man, except for that that he'd told me about himself. Thinking about what he told me, I remembered the look in his eyes when he divulged his whole story. I should tell him no; that we hadn't known each other long enough to go this far. However, part of me didn't want to. Part of me just wanted to heal the pained look in those eyes however I could.

In my confusion, I tried to be as docile as I could, with his knee being so adventurous and all. I couldn't decide what to do. If I rejected him here, would he come to dislike me? Would it make him more distant, after he's already confided so much into me? My will wavered between the two, unable to tip the balance either way.

This is why I wasn't good at being a woman.

[Gideon Uriela]

He wondered how far she would let him go until she said stop she resisted him somewhat but not enough that would detour him. Maybe she really wanted him to go all the way, he couldn’t tell he didn’t intend to but he didn’t know what was on her mind. All at once her words were caught in her throat as his knee came near her sweet spot. Finally she offered the resistance the proved she couldn’t take anymore but at the same time she worsened her plight. Arleen was a very desirable woman there was no mistaking that whoever she chose would be a lucky man. Her skin soft and radiant, her curves were fine, her youthful appearance accentuated by her golden locks and mesmerizing gaze.

”Is this what you want?”

[/b]He asked he was curious as to what was on her mind for real. His knee remained still caught in the tight embrace of her thighs. Elsewhere another problem reared its head it rested between the squished between them, their current position was rather uncomfortable he needed to adjust himself and tried to do so by working his hips although it could be horribly misconstrued. He began to wonder if what he had told her earlier weighed heavily on her mind which caused this whole situation in the first place. Why was he taking such gratification in torturing this girl so? It was disgusting to be honest, he had her believing that he would force himself on her, she was vulnerable and maybe felt that she needed to let him do this to her. Gideon doubted that she had even been kissed before.

Arleen was so innocent, if Gideon was a lesser man he would already have penetrated, robbing her of that one precious moment that she could never have back. Gideon became even more interested in her answer, had he scrambled her mind so much she wouldn’t know what to think? Then again he began to wonder if being her first time would be a good idea, after all he would take care of her probably unlike the next man, and he thoroughly understood her situation and would be patient with her needs. What would she say; it could very well determine the relationship between them.[/justify]

[Arleen Reinhart]

Thump. Thump.

Was I a woman, or was I soldier? That question reared its ugly head like the devil's grin. My answer to this man... to Gideon, would define that. If I were to choose being a woman over a soldier, would he be the man I chose as mine? I closed my eyes, trying to envision that future. I couldn't. I couldn't envision a future with him yet. I didn't know him well enough to try. Sure, he could be a good natured person, but I had to know who he really was before I could trust him on that level.

I just didn't want to hurt him.

How would he take the rejection? Would he react badly and become distant, unable to be reconciled with, or would he accept it and move on like nothing happened? There were many ways I'd seen men handle rejection, I just didn't know which he would be. That's why, I should remain a soldier.

As a soldier, I knew for certain how things are and how things ought to be. There were no anomalies. there was no guessing. It was all organization and action. So, to do this, I just needed to slide back into that mode. I did so with shocking ease. As soon as I thought about it, my heart calmed down and my thoughts became less-jumbled. I relaxed my whole body, the emotions that I'd felt before slowly dissolved into a cold mask. I knew how to be this, this machine. Tempered and tested and one of the finest results of the academy I attended, the only thing that achieved me my success was this. The ability to detach myself from choices. Normally, only experienced soldiers are able to do it without guilt, and it's true that sometimes I feel guilty at the end, but in the execution, I do not make a mistake. I follow it through to the end.

"N-no..."

I was mentally shocked at how my voice sounded, even with this mental veil on, it sounded weak, afraid. Completely the opposite of how I'd wanted it to be. The rejection was there, but I only hoped he wouldn't take it badly. I just didn't know him well enough to go that far. He would still be able to hold me while we slept in the end, unless he took it hard.

Oh god I hoped he didn't take it hard...

[Gideon Uriela]

What would she choose, would her decision if no wouldn’t make much difference. Maybe she didn’t like him or didn’t feel comfortable enough yet, or now just wasn’t the time. It took her a little while to answer his question she needed time to make such a decision that could change her life forever. In an instant her body relaxed as if she had given up or something then her answer came, it sounded as if she wanted it to come out differently than it did by the waver in her voice, it started off strong but lost its edge. She wasn’t ready to become a woman with him at this time, that was fine.

”Alright.”[/b] His tone didn’t announce any hurt feelings it almost sounded as if he was happy. If only she could see his face, he was smiling softly, she provided him with something no one had for a long time, one of those wondrous sparks that made life worth living. ”Get some sleep, we’ve got a big day tomorrow..”[/b] He spoke closing his eyes once again faking sleep their closeness left him a little distraught he felt a pain in his lower extremities that was brought about from the need for release. He tried not to think about it sighing softly. He’d definitely be walking with a waddle tomorrow. Gideon began to wonder about the caves again what they’d be like and if anyone from around here had been into them before and could show them a proper path to reaching their destination.

[Arleen Reinhart]

I lay there silently after his reply, relieved and weary. He hadn't taken it bad, it seemed, and for that I was happy. Of all the things that could've come out of this situation, him hating me was the one I resented the most. It had been avoided, so there was no more use thinking about it. I closed my eyes and curled up slightly, ever aware of his presence at my back.

How far would this man go for me? He said he'd help me get home, but how far would he go to see that through? In fact, what if he himself just wanted to go home? I wouldn't begrudge him for wanting that, but after his story, I was uncertain. Would he still want to return to a place that rejected him? Would "I" want to return to Cocoon if I were in that similar situation.

I flooded the thoughts from my mind with thoughts of sleep, of warm comfort. I would figure all these things out in their due time. It wasn't as if I needed to know right now, at this moment in time anyways. There was something endearing about the man though; it made me not want to be a soldier anymore. It made me afraid that while I was with him, I'd turn more into the woman my mother wanted me to be. I wouldn't let that happen though. If I did, what would all my work have been for?

With those last thoughts, I drifted off the sleep.

--END--