It was easy to fall into a habit.

They slept side by side nightly. The black of her fur would melt into his and it was almost as if they were one creature with two heartbeats. Gideon would curl his body around her smaller one, and like a set of spoons they would fit together. Or Nayru would lay her head on the man’s broad chest and drape her leg across his and listen to the steady drumming of his heat as she drifted into slumber. And every night it went much the same: there were kind words, warm caresses, and then sleep. They would awaken and pick up where they left off: murmuring to each other, lacing their hands and intertwining their bodies in loving embraces. They were content.

That something more should happen between the two of them hadn’t occurred to the naïve girl; Nayru was happy enough to simply exist in the same space as Gideon. When she was without him Nayru found herself just not as happy and carefree as she was when they were side by side. Yet daily they parted and spent time away from one another, which made their reunions in the evenings all the more exciting. Until slumber found them, as it had every night since their first night together. This night was no exception.

Yet half way through the night crimson eyes slid open. Still Gideon held her, although by his breathing she knew the man was not awake. Slowly she turned her body, so that they were then pressed together and stared up at closed eyes. That he should be awake with her just then seemed more than logical and Nayru shifted her weight again, hoping to jar him into consciousness. She waited as the man stirred slightly in his slumber as she shifted. Tracing a line with her fingertip along his back as she spoke, Nayru watched for the man’s eyes to slide open. ”Gideon. Are you up?”

"No. Nothing wrong.” Her quiet words floated out from the darkness and settled upon sleepy ears, and Nayru knew that waking the man needed better justification than that. Or perhaps she needed no justification. Gideon had wanted her for her, and this perhaps was simply part of her. Again trailing fingers traced a line along his back, hoping to shake the slumber out of him as she shifted once more. The movement brought her closer to him, as if that were possible, and when the hand grew tired of caressing his back she searched for his own hand to lace her fingers with his.

”I'm not very tired.” As the black and white lady spoke the words she knew them to be more true than ever. Nayru was anything but ready for slumber and the need for sleep was become less with every moment. With Gideon's verbal responses she was encouraged, and slowly a playful energy flooded her. Sharp and deadly teeth mouthed softly at the back of his neck, the loose skin where a mother might lift her pup soft and pliable under her gentle teeth. ”Wouff you stay up wiff me?” The muffed words fell clumsily off her tongue and into the thick ebony fur Gideon wore.

Without waiting for an answer the female took the liberty often given to the fairer sex. Assuming his compliance, the girl detached herself from the Stormbringer male only to find herself climbing atop the much larger body. Seated there, as if he were a throne and she a queen she smiled down at him, the smirk on her face growing. ”You're not too tired, are you?” And yet, even if he were, Nayru was sure that it wouldn’t matter as she brought her face down to his and nipped at whatever she found there.

Nayru did not hesitate in her proceedings, although she could tell Gideon initially seemed confused by the girl's doings. Soon enough the man seemed to easily accept her actions: the hold she had on his neck, and then the transition to hovering above him. Gideon took it all in stride, which was good as Nayru didn't quite have a game plan. Simply the girl acted on impulse, moving and speaking as the ideas came to her. What the piebald woman was after even she was not sure, but sleep was no longer an option for either of the pair. Gideon was quickly catching her energy, and as he reacted to her she was encouraged. The touch of his fingers trailing along her body seemed to spur her on.

"I don't know.” Openly the lady admitted that there was no rhyme or reason to what she did just then. Yet she knew he would not fault her for simply being herself. The raven man had never given her a reason to doubt herself and she did not do so now. Allowing her hands to wander, Nayru kept her cherry eyes glued to the reflective irises of Gideon's turquoise eyes. Almost too eagerly her hands ran down his sides and then even lower, all the while the girl watching him for a reaction.

That feels really good. Nayru smiled at the boy, suddenly aware that it was indeed her purpose to make him feel good. Just how she was to accomplish that the girl was still trying to figure out, but bit by bit the mystery of it all was falling into place. Vaguely she knew that the end result of the night would be the type of coupling that Conor and Bris had done to produce Eclipse and the naïve girl would have blushed at the thought if not for the thick fur upon her face. Rarely had she thought about the act before, she had never felt the desire to commit it with anyone. Now she couldn't help but think of it, although just what to think of it or exactly how to proceed eluded her. Yet even with her lack of experience in these matters Nayru had instinct on her side.

Gideon's response to her continued caresses seemed most natural and strangely curious at the same time. Intrigued she continued, responding to Gideon's reactions. Crimson eyes stayed mostly on his face, gauging whether she was doing right or wrong just then. Yet he gave no indication of unhappiness, and Nayru's wandering hands increased in speed as her enthusiasm grew. Soon enough they fell into a rhythm, their bodies, her hands, and event their breath seemed to fall in sync and Nayru didn't give it a second thought.

Whatever had just occurred was unexpected, and as far as Nayru was concerned, unwanted. Her ears lay flat as Gideon questioned her, considering the situation: her own actions, Gideon's reactions, and now the fluid that pooled upon him and because of her. It was all very confusing and yet seemingly very natural all at once; meekly she answered him: "I don't know." No one had explained this to her, but somehow her primal instincts told her this was not how it was suppose to go. No disappointment came to her voice, but she couldn't help feeling some. Whatever Conor and Bris had had between them surely it was not this. Yet Gideon seemed pleased and so the girl tried to rally her own spirits.

"Are you… okay?" Her voice seemed distant, as if it came from somewhere else. Easily she slid not away from him, but simply to his side. No longer atop him the piebald lady surveyed him in the dark. Whatever had just occurred was surely fine. Yet she felt displeased, dissatisfied. As if there should perhaps be something more. However to say such seemed strange just then, so the girl settled in beside the man and waited, only allowing a large breath of air to escape reluctant lungs.

An ear twitched in response to his explanation, but she said nothing. Got excited? Well she had been excited too but what had come of that? As the man embraced her once more the apology washed over her and she softened. Truly it was not his fault and there was no need for anyone to be sorry over anything, but she did not open her mouth to say as much. Instead she turned back to him and buried her head into his shoulder, puffing a tiny but exasperated sigh into the thick ebony fur of the man. Failure was part of life, but not one Nayru often experienced and she felt as if they had failed. And yet, she knew this was not entirely true. Whatever had just happened had been out of either of their hands and they should simply take if for what it was, a learning experience, and move on.

Gideon seemed to have the same idea, if at first you don't succeed, try , try again. Nayru felt the familiar hands once more searching along her body, this time quickly going towards regions normally left untouched. Her response was almost instantaneous, still aroused from the first session, and she attempted to replicate the response she had ignited in him before. Hand followed much the same path they had before and Nayru moved her body up to him, closing in the distance once more.