Night Shift

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 19th September 2012

Characters: Morin, Sophque
Description: Nocturnal Activities
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 6

Sophque

Each evening Sophque made the short trip from her cot outside the
walls of the hold to the service entrance. She was just one of the
staff who entered at that time when the sun was going down and the
guards knew their names and faces. In the morning she'd come out and
make the reverse trek down the hill to her home and her little girl.

Most of her evenings were spent in a small room with good lighting and
her sewing. It sometimes amazed her how many rips and tears were there
for her attention each night. She nodded with a sweet smile to the
'day woman' and took up her seat at the table. A few hours later and
she heard the rustling in the rafters and looked up to see the
whirling eyes of a flit looking down at her.

She put down her piece of sowing and picked up a small basket of
glows. Then she slipped through the door and down the hall. After some
quiet travel she found the door she wanted and scratched before
opening it.

"Come!" was the less than subtle reply from within.

She was in the door and it closed behind her before the sound
dissipated. A gentle smile curved her lips and she approached the bed.
She never asked a single question but just came when needed.

The Lord Holder was sitting on the edge, holding his head in his hands.
He didn't even look up at her. After a long drawn out sigh, he mumbled,
"I just can't get to sleep."

"Ah," she said simply. She settled on the side of the bed next to him
and raised a hand to the back of his neck. She rubbed his neck with
one hand and feeling the tension, climbed up behind him to get a
little better angle and worked at the knots in his neck and shoulders.
As she did she just hummed softly. When she finally began to feel him
relax a little. she stopped. "Why don't you get back in bed." Her
voice was calm and steady.

He nodded, wordlessly swinging his legs back up to the bed and scooting
over to make space for her. Sinking back into the pillows, he sighed
once more, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes. "My body is
exhausted but my mind just keeps spinning." It was so frustrating for
him when this happened, which was fairly regularly.

She knew from long experience how his mind would spin around and
around and not shut down no matter how he tried to sleep. Her own
father had similar experiences while she was growing up and her mother
had taught her things she did to help him get to sleep. Sophque pulled
off her dress and climbed into the bed with him. Laying down at his
side she turned toward him so her head was on the pillow next to his.
"I heard a story the other day about a boy and his canine," she began
softly. "They were playing in the orchard next to the river..." her
voice took on a melodious and soothing quality.

Morin closed his eyes. As he listened to her voice, he let out a long
breath through his nose. This time it was not an expression of
agitation, but of release. Coils of tension were slowly relaxing as his
fingers reached out to curl around her backside. It was not a sexual or
possessive gesture. He just needed to feel her beside him.

"...and when they came to the small cot he called out..." She
continued her story and curved more closely against him. Her fingers
played across his chest in slow circles as she continued to tell the
story in a soft and soothing voice.

As he listened to her words, all thoughts that had pounded through his
head like crashing waves began to fade into the background. It didn't
matter if she were reciting the days ledgers, her effect on him would be
the same. All he could think about was the sound of that voice, the
warmth and weight of her body, the tenderness of her touch. His
breathing deepened and he could feel his body growing heavier with each
breath. With his last ounce of conscious strength, he turned his head
towards hers. He tried to open his eyes slightly, but the effort was
too much. "Don't go," he whispered even as his head sank deeper into
the pillow.

Her eyes crinkled and she would have snuggled even closer if it were
possible. She continued her story until she could tell he'd finally
gone to sleep, then she kissed the warm skin of his shoulder. She
would always stay as long as he wanted her there. Sophque cared deeply
for Morin. He'd given her far more than anyone could ever know and she
understood the deep gulf that divided them. But now, like this, she
was free to love him and hold him to her. It was not in her nature to
ask for more than he could give.

It wasn't until well after his usual waking time and a ray of early
morning sunlight peeked through a break in the curtain that Morin
finally opened his eyes again. Turning his head, he found Sophque still
manning her post with infinite patience. "You must be tired," he said
simply before breaking out in a yawn. "Did you sleep at all?"

"A little," she smiled. This night vigil was nothing really new to
her. The fact that he'd hardly moved at all after he'd fallen asleep
told her he'd gotten some good rest and it had probably been a long
time since he had. "How do you feel?"

"Almost human," he said with a small smile. Morin turned over onto his
side to face her. "Did you get the marks I sent?"

"I did, thank you." She smiled a brushed his hair with her fingers.
"Sophine has some pretty new clothes and the larder is full. I even
got a new story book." Sophque dearly loved to read and being off work
during the days meant she had plenty of light to do so when she wasn't
sleeping or caring for her daughter.

Morin nodded, satisfied that their material needs were being met. His
fingers slid over her side to the small of her back, pulling her a
little closer. "Does she need anything?"

"No," she smiled back at him. "Her needs are small." Sophque fit
herself against him just enjoying being right where she was.

He liked the way her body felt pressed up against his. A heat began to
flicker in his eyes as he gazed into hers. "Is there anything you need
or want? You know you have only to ask."

She smiled and caressed the side of his face. "I will if I need
anything." She only made requests when she had a true need. He was a
good provider and the majority of her needs were met. She had a good
stone roof over her head and her very own place. Her parents assumed
it was her wages for working in the Hold proper and in a sense it was
so she didn't disabuse them of the idea. "I promise."

Morin always asked, though, if there was more he could do. He was not
in the habit of exchanging favors for sex beyond the occasional trinket or
bob. It was an advantage many were all to quick to assume and exploit.
He refused to play that game. And yet Sophque had never tried to take
advantage of their relationship. It was something that had both amazed
and confounded Morin about her. He couldn't quite understand why she
was so willing to give so much of herself for so little in return. At
first he wasn't sure he should trust this woman who would come at his
call, have access to his rooms, and to his body when he was completely
alone and unprotected. He was not, after all, without his enemies. But
she had won him over in the end. In all honesty, he could not say and
never tried to claim love for her. And yet there was no one on Pern
who had seen him more naked or vulnerable than she.

Though the thought flitted through his mind that there were places he
could be, and work he should be doing, as always, her touch and her
warmth quickly banished those thoughts to the back of his mind. Rolling
her onto her back, he gently settled himself on top of her, his breath
already quickening as their bodies moved against each other. "Is now a
good time?"

"Yes," she said breathlessly as her body welcomed him. "I'm safe."

Last updated on the September 23rd 2012

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Night Shift