"Not a problem, friend." Lazarus kept his nose in his book to keep from looking at Val. If he did, he was sure he would not be able to pull his gaze away. Aw the hell with it, though. "And did you think it was funny?" He grinned. "I was actually worried about you." He playfully tossed the book at her bed, purposely missing. "I was going to hold him down while you ran to get your axe." He chuckled, as the next roll of thunder exploded outside, causing the house to shake.

He was really shocked to see her shout again, considering they'd made some pretty good progress.

"Don't worry about that blasted thunder Val." He smiled warmly and pulled his chair closer. "There, I'm closer now. Focus on me. Focus on us. For now, nothing else matters."

Valkari peeked out from under the covers again, looking up at his brown eyes with her icy ones. He was closer now. Close enough to be in arms reach. She reached out to take his hand, wanting to at least hold it while the storm brewed. Her hand was literally shaking when he took his, and it was smaller too. Valkari gave him a soft smile and looked back up at him. "It ... it helps me calm down."

All right she was half lying. The other reason was that she just wanted to hold his hand. The storm just gave her a reason to. It was a believable reason too, considering that she was scared and she was quivering to the bone with fear and slight coldness. She wondered what he thought of it, and she hoped that he didn't push her away. Valkari ... she needed someone in her life. Someone to calm her at her most raged moments. Someone to be with her more frequently than her friends. And someone to comfort her in her time of need. That was what she needed, but she would never admit it because she was just so damn stubborn it was unbelievable, though lovable.

As the storm roared outside the house, shaking in again, Valkari tightened her grip on his hand (and she had a tight grip mind you) to keep herself from shouting again from the sound and the shaking of the house. At this moment, what she feared was that the house would cave in on them and they both die under the rubble. Though it didn't make any sense, but when you were as scared as Valkari, anything that she could think of revolving around her fear made sense.

Lazarus took her small hand into his. Part of her wrist was in his hand, and he could feel her little pulse, beating rapidly with fear. He wrapped her trembling hand with his, using his thumb to stroke her pale skin.

This woman needed somebody that would be there for her. Why had the gods allowed her to suffer so? She needed a good, honest person. Someone to be a role model. Someone to be a partner, and a lifelong friend. A person that respected her...and was a damn good lover.

So did Lazarus.

He felt her grip tightening like the pinch of a mudcrab on his hands, but he didn't mind. He loved it. He loved actually 'belonging' in the moment. He loved to see her relaxing at the feel of his touch.

"It calms you then?" he said, in response to her statement earlier. "Then perhaps I should come even closer..." He moved his chair up until there was no space between him and her bed. It made it easier for her to clutch his hand, and he placed his other hand on the top of it, maintaining the rubbing motion with his thumbs. He really hoped she didn't become uncomfortable and push him away. That would be a smashing rejection....and a blow to the chemistry. One thing he knew....

...he didn't feel lonely any more.

Valkari's cheeks burned with a bright blush, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she pulled his hands towards her to keep them ... him close so that the thunder doesn't reach her. She felt safer with him. Much, much safer. It was as though he just made all of her problems ... disappear. She ... she didn't know how to explain it, but it felt good being near him, and him being near her ... well as near as he was going to get. Though, he seemed to like, no ... no she felt love, her company more than any man ever had in her entire grown up life (six years give-or-take).

Another boom shattered the clouds, making Valkari bring his hands to her cheeks, wanting to be safer under his watch an comfort. A whole day. A whole day of knowing this man and she already seemed to be attached to him. Why though? Why was she now suddenly ... in love? Yeah that's right. She was in love with him! How could she deny it? Valkari didn't even know herself if this was normal or ... simply true love, but what she did know was that she could trust this man, and she knew that he trusted her just as much.

"Lazarus?" Valkari asked him softly, looking up at him with her icy blue eyes, "this ... this is ok for you right? I mean ... I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or ... or anything ...."

She never really got his input on any of this. He seemed to like being near her, which was a change in some cases because most of the respectable men didn't ... seemed too appealed on the fact that Valkari was more of a tomboy than anything. But Lazarus, he didn't care. He didn't care that she wasn't a ladylike person, or the fact that she traveled for a living. Lazarus liked her for who she was, and was what Valkari had always wanted.

The redguard heard no thunder. He could sense no darkness, no rain. All he cared about was the young woman in front of him. The smell of her hair, the feel of her skin, and the look of her form. He loved how intoxicating her persona was...the way she was independent and strong. He loved her fiery spirit and how she balanced it with a deep, loving kindness. He kept his focus on her beautiful blue eyes, watching every flicker, hating every blink. He wanted to stare at her forever. When he looked into her orbs...he saw the eye of the storm. Peace, tranquility. He could see his future.

He'd only known Valkari for a couple of hours. They'd talked for a bit, ate with each other...and now he was here. It had turned from the worse day to the most pleasant evening. He had practically shook hands with her 5 hours earlier. Now he was holding her. He was ready to make a decision now. He....he loved this woman. He was sure of it. And he hoped she felt the same way, because he could hold his emotions back no longer.

He held her face in his hands, stroking back her hair and caressing her cheeks. The melody of her voice reached his ears, and he replied: "Uncomfortable? How could I be uncomfortable?" He chuckled warmly and rubbed her forehead. "I could stay with you forever...I...I want to stay with you, forever..."

Not thinking any longer, Lazarus leaned in and placed his lips on her neck, transferring the warmth into her smooth, fair skin. He grazed her neck with his nose, and kissed her again, closer to her jawline. There was no turning back now. If he had misinterpreted the vibes, if he had missed the beat, if he had falsified the chemistry...so be it. He cared not. He wanted to be with this woman. He wanted every night to be like this night...he wanted to be the man that kept her safe, kept her at peace.

Tonight, he had found her....

In a wave of courage, he brought her face to his, placing his warm lips on hers and kissing deeply and gently, hoping to transfer his feelings of love through this tender touch....

Valkari couldn't believe it. Was she dreaming? Did she need to pinch herself? Or was this real? She hoped it was, for this was the best moment she had ever experienced in her life. Looking into his kind dark brown eyes, she could see a flicker in his eyes, and it wasn't from the lightning. She could see the love and tenderness this lovely man had in him. Lazarus, he had done more for her in five hours than any other man did in years. It made her feel good and loved. She ... she needed him. She did, and this time she was going to admit that. Here. Tonight.

Valkari wrapped her arms around his neck and let him place soft, tender kisses upon her neck and jawline. A soft and relaxed sigh escaped her lips, unable to hear nothing but his voice and the sound of her heart pounding at a hundred miles. She felt warm, relaxed, and loved by this man. The only one she wanted to love at this moment, was Lazarus. He had showed her in only five hours that he could take care of her, comfort her, love her and calm her. He was the only one at this point who knew how to calm the young redhead during one of her breakdowns and feared moments. He could have left, not bothering with the young lass's fears and phobia, but he didn't. Instead, he stayed and pulled her through with kindness and tenderness she never received in ... never.

"And I want you ... forever. Lazarus." Valkari gave him a smile, her cheeks burning red like the warmth of a fire. She was hesitant to let him kiss her at first, but she quickly eased up and let him, pulling him into her bed with her and kissing him back with the same amount of tenderness, and adding a bit of sweet and spice to the mix.

UH...

CENSORED

"Use your imagination, friends."