Page 16 of Quest of Fools

"This is probably the route we'll take," Marian said, tracing his finger along one of the many wide lines that must signify roads."There are many beautiful stops along the way."

"I can't wait to see them," Warf replied."Rath told us about the adventures he had for one of his challenges.It would be fun to see more of the kingdom for myself."

"You'll see whatever you want of the world, if that's your desire," Marian replied with a smile, turning to face him straight on, his intent clear in his eyes, and Warf was more than happy to meet him halfway.Kissing Marian was rapidly becoming one of his favorite activities.

Outside, the rain still pounded down as though it would never stop.Normally he would be cleaning the house, stitching clothes so they'd last just a little bit longer, fretting about all the money he wasn't making…

Now… now he had a whole day in front of him, with nothing to do except what he wanted.

Well, almost.What he wanted was to do a great deal more than kiss his betrothed, but it was probably far too early for that.

As ever, Marian tasted sweet, his arms small but strong as they wrapped around Warf's neck.When Warf stood up straight, taking Marian with him, he only laughed breathlessly and dove back into the kisses.

It was far too easy from there to set Marian on the table, brace his arms on either side of him, and kiss and caress at his leisure.Kissing Marian should still feel wholly new and strange, but instead it only felt like something he'd been doing for years and would gladly do for many years to come.

When they finally drew apart, Marian's hands clinging to the sides of Warf's face, he asked breathlessly, "Would it be overly bold to ask if you'd like to continue this upstairs in my room?"

"Are you certain?"Warf asked, then shivered as Marian licked his lips like a cat enjoying a bowl of cream.

"Oh, I'm certain," Marian replied."What about you?"

Warf laughed and lifted him from the table, holding him close for a moment before letting him slide to the ground."It sounds like a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon getting to know my betrothed."

That gained him a smile sunny enough it could probably banish the foul weather, and then Marian was leading him out of the office, up the stairs, and down the hall to his bedroom, where he closed and locked the door behind them."You're certain I'm not being pushy or moving too fast?"

Warf reeled him in and lifted him up to give him a kiss that held absolutely nothing back.Marian was beautiful and desirable, and if Marian was offering, then Warf was happily accepting.

"I could get used to this, being held aloft," Marian said with a laugh."I would not have described myself as a light person, but you make me feel like I weigh feathers."

"You've got nothing on much of the cargo I was paid to move, that much is true," Warf said with a laugh as he set Marian back on his feet."Far more pleasant to carry around."

Marian eyes burned, and he touched his tongue to his top lip as he shrugged out of his jacket and set it aside on the sofa near the fireplace.Like before, the room was somewhat cluttered with the workings of a busy mind, a peek into the things Marian loved that Warf would never truly be able to appreciate.

His skin, as he bared it, was flawless, not so much as a single scratch or scar upon in it, warm and soft-looking, leaving Warf aching to touch it and find out.The curls around his cock were neatly trimmed, a little darker than the hair on his head."You're beautiful."

"I like that you think so," Marian said, licking his lips."Now you, don't leave me pining."

Warf was absolutely certain he would not impress, but Marian was the one who'd invited him into his bedchamber, so that had to count for something.He left his clothes piled with Marian's on the nearby sofa, then joined him where he'd crawled into bed.

Too big and scarred and worn down he might be, even he couldn't miss the heat and approval in Marian's eyes as he beckoned Warf closer.He skated his hands down Warf's chests, the heat in his eyes flaring."You are delightful."

"That's not the word most people use," Warf said with a laugh.Not at first, anyway.They'd say plenty to get him into bed and scratch their itch for something big to ride, but the reality usually left them frustrated and swearing loudly.Imagination and reality seldom overlapped, and the reality was that he was usually more trouble than was worth it for most.

Karla certainly hadn't thought so, but she was a rare exception.

Ignoring his nerves, he did some touching of his own, sighing ever so faintly to learn that beautiful skin was even softer than it looked, smooth and supple beneath his touch.He teased one nipple until it was hard, then ran a nail gently over the other before moving down to tease at the trail of hair that led to an already hard cock, the tip red and wet.He ran his thumb over it, enjoying the shudders and moans that got him, and then gently pushed Marian down on the bed, waiting for him to get comfortable before settling over him.

"Marvelous," Marian said breathlessly, reaching up to skate his hands over Warf's shoulders, arms, chest, and hip, touches firm, confident.If he was at all intimidated by having so much mass hovering above him, there was no sign of it in his face or demeanor."Kiss me."

Warf obeyed happily, kissing Marian just as heatedly as he had before, holding back none of his strength or eagerness, feeding at his mouth like a starving man.He shifted slightly, and then one of his hands was wrapped around Warf's cock, stroking it lightly, teasingly.

Breaking the kiss, Warf groaned."Been a long time since any hand but mine has been there."

"Surely there were people aplenty lining up to console a broken-hearted widower."

"Nobody wants a man who already has three children, least of all one who dwarfs everything around him."

Marian kissed him, sinking one hand into Warf's hair."Well, keep dwarfing me, because I like it, and unlike whiny babies who bite off more than they can chew, I know what to do with a man like you in my bed."