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Date Posted: 06:39:54 12/28/01 Fri
Author: Leigh
Subject: Re: Orignal Gemstone 14
In reply to: Leigh 's message, "Orignal Gemstone" on 03:53:05 12/24/01 Mon



After Madeline left, Michael rang down to the servants quarters for a bath which he took in the room next to Nikita's. When he was done and was dressed in a long dark robe, he returned to her room to find her awake.

She looked at him and tears welled up in her eyes as she held her hand out to him. Michael went to her, sitting down and taking her hand in his. "Ni-ki-ta," he whispered. With his other hand he reached out and caressed her face. "You've come back to me."

She nodded, smiling weakly as she pulled him down till he lay beside her. She moved their entwined hands and placed it over her heart, then sighed and leaned her head toward his shoulder, inhaling of his clean scent. And just before she drifted back to sleep, Nikita opened her eyes and gazed deeply into his as she whispered the words that Michael longed to hear the most; "I love you."

************


Michael leaned forward, pressing his forehead gently against Nikita's. He closed his eyes and took a deep shaky breath as he finally allowed himself to believe that she was going to be alright. Without moving away, he opened his eyes and gazed with a pained expression at Nikita.

"Don't ever do this again," he said, his voice trembling. "You lied to me and I almost lost you."

"Are you angry?" she asked.

His eyes darkened. "Did you think that I would have allowed you to go into that battlefield without me?" he asked. "That I would want you to fight my battles?"

"I wasn't fighting your battle. I was fulfilling my duty, Michael. I had no choice."

"Yes you did, Nikita. You could have been honest with me from the beginning and told me what was happening."

Her lashes lowered and she pulled back a little. "How could I have told you?" she asked huskily. "It would have meant making you choose between me and your people."

"And you thought I would choose the latter."

She would not meet his gaze and when she spoke her voice sounded distant, tired. "You so much as told me you would not fight against your people."

"Damn it, Nikita," Michael shifted so that she was forced to look at him. His eyes were dark with emotion as he gazed at her. "I said that when I thought you meant that I should fight them for my inheritance. I had no idea my uncles were preparing to attack Vatia. Had I known that I would have done everything in my power to stop them -- including fighting by your side if need be."

"I didn't want you to have to make that choice."

"Ni-ki-ta." Michael gave an exasperated sigh and closed his eyes briefly. "The choice was mine to make." He looked at her, his mouth frowning. "You still treat me like -- like the other men here," he said, his eyes delving into hers. "I'm not like them. I am like you. I've been trained to fight. Not to stay home while the woman I love is out fighting a war." His gaze intensified. "I can't do that. I won't."

Nikita blinked, a look of hurt entering her eyes. "You're saying then that you don't think things between us will work? That you can't be with me?"

Michael's brows furrowed as he moved his hands up to cup her face. "No. That's not what I'm saying at all." He groaned and leaned down to kiss her mouth. "Kita," he whispered. "Don't you realize yet how much I love you?" He pulled back slightly, enough to stare into her eyes. "I love you," he said forcefully. Then in a softer tone, "I love you."

She responded with a moan and leaned toward him once more. "We'll make it work," she murmured between kisses. "I promise, Michael. I'll find a way for us to stay together."

************

Michael smiled at her promise, moved to kiss the tip of her nose and then her forehead. "We both will, my love," he assured her, then settled down beside her, curling his body carefully around hers. Nikita sighed, exhausted but confident in his love as she leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep.

Michael lay for a long time listening to her even breathing and thinking how it was the sweetest sound. When he'd found her on the battlefield her breathing had been so shallow, he'd hardly been able to detect it at all. For a few agonizing seconds there he'd thought that it was over. That she was lost to him forever.

Tears stung his eyes. Tears he'd been unable to shed in front of Nikita or anyone else over the past few days. But now that he was alone with her, and she lay safe in his arms asleep, they escaped his tired eyes and left a hot trail down the side of his face.

He swallowed, drew a trembling breath and ever so carefully tightened his hold on her. Nuzzling the top of her golden head, he closed his eyes and inhaled. "Nikita," his mind whispered. "You've captured my heart so completely.

Nikita slept on as he lay there, tenderly caressing her hair, her face. He'd missed her so much over the past few days. Had craved to know if she were alright and to feel her beside him. So great was his fear of her dying during his absence, he'd wanted to abandon the war he fought with Megara and Stephen and rush back to be with her. During the darkest hours, though, he had felt a warmth which wrapped itself about him, a presence almost that comforted and assured him that she would be waiting for him when he returned.

After almost an hour Michael finally gave into the bone deep weariness that plagued him. Pressing one last kiss to the top of Nikita's head, he yawned and nestled down closer to her, then closed his eyes and slept.

*

Nikita woke before Michael did the next day. She felt stronger, something she attributed in great part to his presence. Feeling the heaviness of his arm and leg draped across her during the night had filled her with such contentment and a feeling of being well-loved and cherished. It mattered not that they hadn't coupled last night, for their need had not been for a joining of their bodies but that of their hearts and souls.

She turned her head, inching closer so that she could press her face partially against his. She smiled slightly to feel the stubble on his chin rub against her cheek. His breath was warm, his scent so very male. Gingerly she turned, looking down at his slumbering face, and her smile widened.

Bending down she placed a tiny kiss at the corner of his mouth then pulled back and waited. His breathing continued, deep and steady, indicating he was still asleep. She moved in again, this time kissing him tenderly on his lips. There was a slight pause as he inhaled, his brows puckered ever so slightly, but then he sighed and resumed his normal sleeping pattern.

By now Nikita was feeling mischievious. Her smile widened into a grin as her blue eyes sparkled with equal parts love and playfulness. She reached her hand down, gliding it over warm rippling muscles, past his bellybutton and slipped it between where his body lay atop hers. She found what she was looking for and began to caress him.

Michael's breath caught, his body tensed, and then his eyes opened to see and hear Nikita laughing softly. He smiled sleepily, his hand moving down to cover hers as he nuzzled her neck.

"Kita," he murmured, his voice thick and husky.

They played a little while, their fingers teasing, their
mouths kissing and nipping various body parts. Finally Nikita took Michael's face in her hands and looked up at him with all her love for him shining in her eyes.

"What do the Scythians call it when a man takes a woman to be his life mate?" she asked softly.

His smile was tender. "She is called his wife and he is her husband."

Nikita considered it a moment, her eyes thoughtful. "And you have never taken a... wife before?"

His laughter was gentle. It shook his body as he bent and kissed her, then pulled back. "This is an odd time to ask if I'd ever taken a wife before," he stated. "After all that we've shared?"

"Answer me," Nikita demanded, her eyes narrowing as she tried to look and sound stern. But the upward curve of her lips ruined the effect.

"No," Michael answered, the corners of his eyes still crinkling in amusement. "I've not taken a wife before. Do you think me a man to take such a vow lightly? That I would marry one woman and fall in love with another?"

Nikita smiled as her thumbs caressed his cheeks. "Have you ever come close to taking a wife?"

He sighed. "Ni-ki-ta."

"Tell me," she said, her eyes never leaving his.

His expression became serious and a far away look came into his eyes. "Once. A long time ago," he answered. "My uncle arranged for me to marry the daughter of an ally of his. On the eve of the day we were to wed though, she disappeared.
Ran off with the man she loved but whom her father refused to let her marry." Michael shrugged his shoulders as he refocused his attention on Nikita. He smiled at the frown on her lovely mouth. "You're not jealous are you?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No, just wondering," she mused. "He must have been quite a handsome man for her to have chosen him over you."

Michael cocked a brow at her. "Is that all you love about me? Just my good looks?"

"Of course not. I love your body too."

Her laughter filled the room as Michael bent and began to tickle her ribs with his mouth and teeth till she begged him to stop. He hovered over her, smiling as she looped her arms around his neck and wrapped her long legs around his waist.

"Tell me of this marriage ceremony," she
whispered. "Perhaps we can combine it with our exchange of vows. Then we can be both life mates and husband and wife."

He smiled into her eyes. "I'll tell you later," he said, "Right now there are other things on my mind." And with that he lowered himself down onto her...

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Replies:

  • Re: Orignal Gemstone 15 -- End -- Leigh, 06:48:19 12/28/01 Fri
  • Hey, Missy what's so corny and mushy about -- lilitz91, 11:22:57 12/28/01 Fri
  • Hey, Missy what's so corny and mushy about -- lilitz91, 11:23:04 12/28/01 Fri
  • I thought it was fine Leigh. Thanks for posting it again. (NT) -- tanya, 11:46:51 12/28/01 Fri
  • Just perfect , Leigh.... -- Mackie, 13:43:52 12/28/01 Fri
  • Re: Such a special love is never mushy or corny... -- Brenda, 17:44:32 12/28/01 Fri
  • oh, Leigh, I loved this! HR mushiness and all!! (r) -- LJhooked, 21:27:39 12/28/01 Fri
  • By now I guess you know we all love mush! (r) -- Katja, 04:20:45 12/29/01 Sat
  • Oh Leigh! Thank you! (r) -- Lindy, 08:41:59 12/29/01 Sat
  • Re: Orignal Gemstone 15 -- End -- sk, 13:16:23 12/30/01 Sun
  • I agree with everyone else (r) -- Tracy, 16:34:18 12/30/01 Sun
  • Better late than never... -- CarolBee, 23:15:10 12/30/01 Sun
  • Leigh, I really enjoyed reading this... 'mush' and all!... (r) -- Kim, 13:54:42 01/03/02 Thu
  • Aloha, Leigh (r) -- KT, 11:26:38 01/07/02 Mon
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