Eric and Nek (Master n slave)
Feb 11, 2015 7:56:27 GMT
Post by Admin on Feb 11, 2015 7:56:27 GMT
October 28, 2007
(Ashley)
The cold night air bit at her, wind whipping her cloak around her trembling body. It was thin enough to begin with, and was also ripped and thread-bare in places from the harsh journey she had endured. Her bare feet moved numbly through the thin layer of snow on the ground, her head bowed against the wind that beat at her, tangling her red hair into knotted mess hanging from her scalp. She'd been running for days, and she wasn't sure where she was, was only hopeful that she had made it to the border, out of the country where her master was allowed to roam free, allowed to do as he wished with whomever he wished. One painfully cold hand lifted to trace over the freezing metal collar around her neck, rubbing over the itching skin beneath it as a tear slid down her cheek, freezing against her skin. It was not long though, before she found herself in the shadow of a roadside tavern, the moonlight causing a backlight so that the shadow fell dark and deep over her. She stumbled to the door, tripping over the snow drifts that were forming, only to fall against the door, landing on the floor inside, the gentle glow of the lights on the wall lighting her battered body. She lay there for a brief moment, only to grit her teeth and begin pulling herself to her feet, clouded vision making it difficult to make anything out for sure as she looked around her.
Two men stumbled from the tavern as the owner yelled from the door. "And don't ye come back, Johnathan, till ye can stand on yer own." He cursed at the man and turned to go back in before seeing the woman stumble and fall against the half closed door. "Good gods, what now?" he mumbled, thinking the pile of rags was another bum come to take advantage of his generosity. As he saw the long hair fall from the edges of the hood, he sighed and stooped down to help her to her feet. "Easy there lassy... you are well and good here at Mico's." He was about to ask her name when he saw the collar. He pulled the cloak tighter about her and suddenly his demeaner changed. "AAAHhhh Lassy, good gracious, where ya been, child. Been worried sick. Yer ma about boxed my ears for letting ya go last night. "Come, come, now. Let's get ye warm and dry and a cup of cider in ye." He started to lift her to draw her closer as he whispered softly. "You are safe child. None will harm ye here." Having a tavern on the border, he often got runaways. He would get her to rights and help her along as he did all the others.
The feel of warm hands and strong arms surrounded her, and she huddled against him, a soft whimper leaving her, her voice somewhat gravely from breathing in cold air constantly. His words made no sense at first, but she didn't have the strength to argue that she was not who she thought he was. It was after he had pulled the cloak around her tighter that he murmured into her ear that she was safe. Her half closed eyes opened a bit wider so that she could look up at him, their color a strange, shimmering silver. There was too much dirt on her skin to be able to clearly make out it's color, but it was obvious by her weight against him that she was a dainty girl, and no doubt if he payed close enough attention, he'd catch glimpses of her less than modest outfit beneath the cloak.
He helped her thru the small crowd and into the back room. Settling her on a small cot, he withdrew the soaked cloak and covered her in a large warm blanket. Laying her on the cot and covering her with another one, he whispers as he moves to stoke up the modest fireplace. "You are safe, little one. No one here holds whips or sharp tongues. You are safe." If she glances from beneath the comfort of the warmth around her, she would see hair caught in a pony tail down the man's back to his hips. His ebony locks seeming like an odd shaped shadow against the white of his shirt and black of breeches and boots. He is wearing an apron, around his hips, and the white ties are another sharp contrast to the dark lower half of his body. Rising, he turns to face her and kneel by the bed. Eyes of the deepest sapphire blue, almost unnatural like, gaze at her full of compassion. Smoothing her hair back so her vision is cleared, he whispers softly. Sleep now. We close in a candle mark, then I will bring you food. But you need to warm first. There is water beside you if you wish though it is not chilled." He nods to a goblet beside the cot and watches to see if she will respond.
As she lay there, her thoughts drifted, her eyes watching him. Who was he to be so kind? Her body was still trembling slightly beneath the blankets, teeth chattering as she watched him move around, only to kneel beside her. She realized, as he knelt there, that she was listening to a language not her own... and found herself unable to figure out how she could understand him. Her lips parted and her eyes closed as she forced herself to speak, though the language was not the same one he was speaking. "Tal tanouree, ket karetchek bradok," (("Thank you, I owe you my life")) she managed, before a coughing fit took her and her eyes slowly slid closed.
He understood the dialect and in a stumbled version with an accent not quite right, spoke back so hopefully she would understand. "You owe now nothing. Rest and later food will I." He could only hope she knew his words as he caressed her head once more and headed back to the main room calling out. "All right, all ye lads, grab the ladies n be gettin on. Tis the last time I will refill yer cups before I seek my own bed.... come on now, step quick. Last refills before bedding time." He laughed as several women landed in the laps of the men quickest to claim them for the night.
All she could do was nod, before her eyes fell closed and she found herself drifting on oblivion. In this place, the comforting darkness of unconsciousness, she found herself with odd dreams, dreams she'd had her entire life but had never completely understood. By the time he'd return to her, he'd find her squirming and twitching beneath the blankets, her eyes moving rapidly beneath their lids as her lips moved, soft mutters leaving her.
He locked the tavern after everyone had left and extinguished the lanterns before returning to the back room where she lay. The fireplace the only light. He pulled a chair forward, swung the porridge pot onto the flames and sat down by the bed. When she seemed distressed, a calm cool hand would caress her forehead and hair as a soft voice murmured over and over so she would understand. "Safe... rest... safe...." He closed his eyes and leaned on the arm of the chair, his hand extended to touch her forehead so he would know when she wakened as he slipped into dreams himself, of silver eyes ladies and dancing crystalline wings.
She woke a few hours later, her body hot with fever and a scream leaving her lips as the collar seemed to glow red hot, the smell of burning skin leaving her. Her silver eyes stared at the ceiling as her hands clawed momentarily at the piece of metal which now shows itself to be anything but basic metal. She whimpered, falling still and closing her eyes tight, crystal blue tears leaving her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. "Neekoli... sarat neekoli hamanat," ((Pain, far away and still pain)) she whispered, fingers tracing over the hot metal around her neck.
He startled awake. Seeing the metal grow hot, he doused it with the cup of water and sighed as she went still. Sitting on the edge of the bed he, pulled her close to cradle her in the blankets. "Ssshhhh you are safe...." He was speaking common but knew from her words she was frightened.
He whispered to her softly as he grabbed a cloth to dab the water from her neck and throat realizing she was warm, but the water had soaked her again. Laying her down gently he moved to the cupboard and rummaged around for a long shirt she could slip into and be dry. His back to her, he absently hummed a lullaby common among the fae and elementals whose words he couldn't remember but mentioned a place of calm and peace.
Her silvery eyes opened to look up at him as he dabbed the now hot water from her skin. He lay her back and then handed her a long shirt. Blinking at him turning his back to her, she tilted her head to the side, but then shrugged, shedding her cloak and the sparse garments she wore beneath, the top that seemed little more than a wide strip of fabric stretched around her chest and a skirt that was made of two long strips of fabric, tied together at either side, across her hips. Shedding the dirty fabric, she soon pulled the new shirt on, letting it hang down past her knees. Once she was dressed, she sat down on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "Callat hantark. Karek habadok," she said, tilting her head to the side as she watched him. "Tetok?" (("I'm done. You may turn around. Name?"))
He turned slowly and moved closer to remove the damp blanket and replace it with the dry one around her shoulders. "Eric." Was all he said as he pointed to his chest. Moving to the fireplace, he slid the arm out and ladled a portion of the porridge into a mug and brought it to her with a wooden spoon. "Here... food, eat... it's good... safe." He then returned to the pot and used a second spoon to take a taste himself.
She nodded. "Khesor Eric," ((Master Eric)) she said softly, bowing her head before pointing at herself. "Nek," ((pet)) she said firmly, as if making a statement before taking the porridge he offered. "Tanouree," she thanked him in her soft voice before ladling some of it into her mouth, cringing slightly at how hot it was on her tongue. Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath.
He nodded and bowed with an almost dramatic flourish. "Well known, Nek." He winked. Letting her get nearly finished with the porridge, he moved to sit beside her. "Easy now... let me see." He moved her hair gently aside to examine the collar on her neck and check for injury to her soft skin. His hands were cool, yet warm at the same time. It was almost as though as he were adjusting the temperature till he was at a point she would relax with his touch. As he checked her, he whispered softly as his mind made the connection of her name to its translation. "No... not pet. Safe... woman..."
She tilted her head to the side to let him examine the collar, but when he tried to deny that she was pet, she shook her head quickly. Pointing at him, she kept her head bowed. "Khesor Eric," then pointed at herself, "Nek". Her skin was soft despite the dirt covering it, and to his touch would seem cool despite the warmth it held, as if the warmth were unnatural. She could feel the magic flowing through her, and her silvery eyes closed. His fingers, as they brushed at the skin, would soon find themselves rubbing away some of the dirt, exposing pale white skin that was at once both beautiful in it's purity and at the same time somehow... diminished.
He sighed. There was no way to deny that she knew no better. So till he could make her understand, he would make her comfortable. "Yes... pet." He tapped her chest and caressed her cheek. "Khesor... " He took her hand and set it to his heart and then kissed her fingers gently. Rising, he went to the wash basin and brought it over, tugged the chair over with his foot and set the bowl on it. Once he was settled, he wrung out the now wet cloth and began to gently clean her face and neck around the back where she couldn't see. Then, he rinsed the cloth off and handed it to her. "Clean..." He nodded to the dresser in the corner that held a cracked mirror and said to her. "Clean self... see clean." He handed her the cloth and rubbed it on her arm so she would understand to clean herself and use the mirror if she needed. He rose and stepped out of the room to leave her in solitude. Something told him it was unusual for a 'master' to do, but he was no usual Master.
She took in his actions, feeling his hands cleaning the back of her neck gently, exposing the soft milk white skin beneath. It was a startling contrast, to the dark red of her hair and eyebrows, the long black lashes that surrounded her silvery eyes, but somehow it all seemed to work unusually well. When he took his step back and left her to clean herself, she watched in slight confusion as he walked away and left the room. Her master had never done that before... Shrugging some once the door was shut, she shed the shirt once more and went about systematically cleaning her body, one section of skin at a time, careful to get all the dirt from her skin that she could, watching in the broken mirror as the milky white expanse came into view. Once clean, she tugged the shirt back on and went to the door, kneeling at his feet almost immediately, head bowed, long tangled red hair falling into her face. "Khesor," she murmured softly.
He was sitting in the common room on a bench before the slight fire kept constantly burning to keep the room warm despite the winter's chill. As she came to him, he caressed the hair from her face and lifted her chin. "Beautiful...." Was all he said as he smiled. Gently urging her to her feet, he motioned to the collar. "Remove?" He said as his hands made the motion of coming apart. Thinking then that she may feel abandoned without it, he thought and spoke again. "Mine... you... wear..." Perhaps he could get her to remove the collar or tell him how, if she believed he would take and protect her. He knew it would be slow going. She would not understand the term 'freedom' for a while. But he was determined to make her feel safe till then. But he had to remove that collar before the owner.
A soft blush, or what could have been a blush, seemed to color her cheeks at the word beautiful leaving his lips, and she stood at his gentle guiding. When he pointed to the collar, she lifted her fingers to run over the seemingly delicate metal, a sad look coming into her eyes. "Magic," she answered, lowering her eyes, head bowing. "I do not know how to remove it, Master," she said softly, still speaking in the elemental dialect she'd been using earlier.
Hmmmm. He thought for a moment then nodded. Touching her chin so she looked up at him, he winked. "I... magic... too..." He pressed his hand to the collar and it would grow cool, instead of hot like most magic caused. When he lowered his hand, the collar would feel the same but look entirely different. Softly taking her hand, he led her back into the back room and stood behind her showing her the collar in the mirror. It looked to be made now of leather and lace, instead of harsh metal. He pulled her hair back and kissed her neck whispering as his eyes found hers in the mirror. "Safe... Master Eric... only now..." Hoping she would know he meant he would be her only Master now. He watched her face to see her reaction while holding her hair up to bare her neck easily to see from behind her.
A soft shiver went through her at the gentle kiss to her neck, but she smiled, eyes closing. He felt comforting, good... Something about him made her feel safer than she ever had. She knew deep down that the collar had not changed, but still... that he had made the effort to at least change it's look for her sake... It made her feel special. Even after he had pulled away and watched her face in the mirror, she could feel the touch of them against her skin, and she lifted those quick silver eyes to look at him as a gentle smile curled her full pink lips once more. After a brief pause, she seemed to have a bit of a spark enter her eyes, as if summoning her courage. A moment later and she was hugging him, her head against his chest and arms around his waist. The hug was brief, but fierce, and followed by her pulling away quickly.
He let her hug him, his arms only encircling her enough she would know he was not pushing her away. Whispering softly as she hugged him. "Good girl... safe now... always safe". He yawned then and moved to sit on the bed, straightening the covers he rose once more and went to the cupboard to fetch a second blanket. He spread it on the bed, removed his boots and shirt, leaving his breeches on for her sake, and crawled onto the cot. Scooting back against the wall, he held the covers back and smiled to her. "Come... sleep... it's all right." He smiled and patted the bed beside him hoping she would not run.
(Ashley)
The cold night air bit at her, wind whipping her cloak around her trembling body. It was thin enough to begin with, and was also ripped and thread-bare in places from the harsh journey she had endured. Her bare feet moved numbly through the thin layer of snow on the ground, her head bowed against the wind that beat at her, tangling her red hair into knotted mess hanging from her scalp. She'd been running for days, and she wasn't sure where she was, was only hopeful that she had made it to the border, out of the country where her master was allowed to roam free, allowed to do as he wished with whomever he wished. One painfully cold hand lifted to trace over the freezing metal collar around her neck, rubbing over the itching skin beneath it as a tear slid down her cheek, freezing against her skin. It was not long though, before she found herself in the shadow of a roadside tavern, the moonlight causing a backlight so that the shadow fell dark and deep over her. She stumbled to the door, tripping over the snow drifts that were forming, only to fall against the door, landing on the floor inside, the gentle glow of the lights on the wall lighting her battered body. She lay there for a brief moment, only to grit her teeth and begin pulling herself to her feet, clouded vision making it difficult to make anything out for sure as she looked around her.
Two men stumbled from the tavern as the owner yelled from the door. "And don't ye come back, Johnathan, till ye can stand on yer own." He cursed at the man and turned to go back in before seeing the woman stumble and fall against the half closed door. "Good gods, what now?" he mumbled, thinking the pile of rags was another bum come to take advantage of his generosity. As he saw the long hair fall from the edges of the hood, he sighed and stooped down to help her to her feet. "Easy there lassy... you are well and good here at Mico's." He was about to ask her name when he saw the collar. He pulled the cloak tighter about her and suddenly his demeaner changed. "AAAHhhh Lassy, good gracious, where ya been, child. Been worried sick. Yer ma about boxed my ears for letting ya go last night. "Come, come, now. Let's get ye warm and dry and a cup of cider in ye." He started to lift her to draw her closer as he whispered softly. "You are safe child. None will harm ye here." Having a tavern on the border, he often got runaways. He would get her to rights and help her along as he did all the others.
The feel of warm hands and strong arms surrounded her, and she huddled against him, a soft whimper leaving her, her voice somewhat gravely from breathing in cold air constantly. His words made no sense at first, but she didn't have the strength to argue that she was not who she thought he was. It was after he had pulled the cloak around her tighter that he murmured into her ear that she was safe. Her half closed eyes opened a bit wider so that she could look up at him, their color a strange, shimmering silver. There was too much dirt on her skin to be able to clearly make out it's color, but it was obvious by her weight against him that she was a dainty girl, and no doubt if he payed close enough attention, he'd catch glimpses of her less than modest outfit beneath the cloak.
He helped her thru the small crowd and into the back room. Settling her on a small cot, he withdrew the soaked cloak and covered her in a large warm blanket. Laying her on the cot and covering her with another one, he whispers as he moves to stoke up the modest fireplace. "You are safe, little one. No one here holds whips or sharp tongues. You are safe." If she glances from beneath the comfort of the warmth around her, she would see hair caught in a pony tail down the man's back to his hips. His ebony locks seeming like an odd shaped shadow against the white of his shirt and black of breeches and boots. He is wearing an apron, around his hips, and the white ties are another sharp contrast to the dark lower half of his body. Rising, he turns to face her and kneel by the bed. Eyes of the deepest sapphire blue, almost unnatural like, gaze at her full of compassion. Smoothing her hair back so her vision is cleared, he whispers softly. Sleep now. We close in a candle mark, then I will bring you food. But you need to warm first. There is water beside you if you wish though it is not chilled." He nods to a goblet beside the cot and watches to see if she will respond.
As she lay there, her thoughts drifted, her eyes watching him. Who was he to be so kind? Her body was still trembling slightly beneath the blankets, teeth chattering as she watched him move around, only to kneel beside her. She realized, as he knelt there, that she was listening to a language not her own... and found herself unable to figure out how she could understand him. Her lips parted and her eyes closed as she forced herself to speak, though the language was not the same one he was speaking. "Tal tanouree, ket karetchek bradok," (("Thank you, I owe you my life")) she managed, before a coughing fit took her and her eyes slowly slid closed.
He understood the dialect and in a stumbled version with an accent not quite right, spoke back so hopefully she would understand. "You owe now nothing. Rest and later food will I." He could only hope she knew his words as he caressed her head once more and headed back to the main room calling out. "All right, all ye lads, grab the ladies n be gettin on. Tis the last time I will refill yer cups before I seek my own bed.... come on now, step quick. Last refills before bedding time." He laughed as several women landed in the laps of the men quickest to claim them for the night.
All she could do was nod, before her eyes fell closed and she found herself drifting on oblivion. In this place, the comforting darkness of unconsciousness, she found herself with odd dreams, dreams she'd had her entire life but had never completely understood. By the time he'd return to her, he'd find her squirming and twitching beneath the blankets, her eyes moving rapidly beneath their lids as her lips moved, soft mutters leaving her.
He locked the tavern after everyone had left and extinguished the lanterns before returning to the back room where she lay. The fireplace the only light. He pulled a chair forward, swung the porridge pot onto the flames and sat down by the bed. When she seemed distressed, a calm cool hand would caress her forehead and hair as a soft voice murmured over and over so she would understand. "Safe... rest... safe...." He closed his eyes and leaned on the arm of the chair, his hand extended to touch her forehead so he would know when she wakened as he slipped into dreams himself, of silver eyes ladies and dancing crystalline wings.
She woke a few hours later, her body hot with fever and a scream leaving her lips as the collar seemed to glow red hot, the smell of burning skin leaving her. Her silver eyes stared at the ceiling as her hands clawed momentarily at the piece of metal which now shows itself to be anything but basic metal. She whimpered, falling still and closing her eyes tight, crystal blue tears leaving her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. "Neekoli... sarat neekoli hamanat," ((Pain, far away and still pain)) she whispered, fingers tracing over the hot metal around her neck.
He startled awake. Seeing the metal grow hot, he doused it with the cup of water and sighed as she went still. Sitting on the edge of the bed he, pulled her close to cradle her in the blankets. "Ssshhhh you are safe...." He was speaking common but knew from her words she was frightened.
He whispered to her softly as he grabbed a cloth to dab the water from her neck and throat realizing she was warm, but the water had soaked her again. Laying her down gently he moved to the cupboard and rummaged around for a long shirt she could slip into and be dry. His back to her, he absently hummed a lullaby common among the fae and elementals whose words he couldn't remember but mentioned a place of calm and peace.
Her silvery eyes opened to look up at him as he dabbed the now hot water from her skin. He lay her back and then handed her a long shirt. Blinking at him turning his back to her, she tilted her head to the side, but then shrugged, shedding her cloak and the sparse garments she wore beneath, the top that seemed little more than a wide strip of fabric stretched around her chest and a skirt that was made of two long strips of fabric, tied together at either side, across her hips. Shedding the dirty fabric, she soon pulled the new shirt on, letting it hang down past her knees. Once she was dressed, she sat down on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "Callat hantark. Karek habadok," she said, tilting her head to the side as she watched him. "Tetok?" (("I'm done. You may turn around. Name?"))
He turned slowly and moved closer to remove the damp blanket and replace it with the dry one around her shoulders. "Eric." Was all he said as he pointed to his chest. Moving to the fireplace, he slid the arm out and ladled a portion of the porridge into a mug and brought it to her with a wooden spoon. "Here... food, eat... it's good... safe." He then returned to the pot and used a second spoon to take a taste himself.
She nodded. "Khesor Eric," ((Master Eric)) she said softly, bowing her head before pointing at herself. "Nek," ((pet)) she said firmly, as if making a statement before taking the porridge he offered. "Tanouree," she thanked him in her soft voice before ladling some of it into her mouth, cringing slightly at how hot it was on her tongue. Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath.
He nodded and bowed with an almost dramatic flourish. "Well known, Nek." He winked. Letting her get nearly finished with the porridge, he moved to sit beside her. "Easy now... let me see." He moved her hair gently aside to examine the collar on her neck and check for injury to her soft skin. His hands were cool, yet warm at the same time. It was almost as though as he were adjusting the temperature till he was at a point she would relax with his touch. As he checked her, he whispered softly as his mind made the connection of her name to its translation. "No... not pet. Safe... woman..."
She tilted her head to the side to let him examine the collar, but when he tried to deny that she was pet, she shook her head quickly. Pointing at him, she kept her head bowed. "Khesor Eric," then pointed at herself, "Nek". Her skin was soft despite the dirt covering it, and to his touch would seem cool despite the warmth it held, as if the warmth were unnatural. She could feel the magic flowing through her, and her silvery eyes closed. His fingers, as they brushed at the skin, would soon find themselves rubbing away some of the dirt, exposing pale white skin that was at once both beautiful in it's purity and at the same time somehow... diminished.
He sighed. There was no way to deny that she knew no better. So till he could make her understand, he would make her comfortable. "Yes... pet." He tapped her chest and caressed her cheek. "Khesor... " He took her hand and set it to his heart and then kissed her fingers gently. Rising, he went to the wash basin and brought it over, tugged the chair over with his foot and set the bowl on it. Once he was settled, he wrung out the now wet cloth and began to gently clean her face and neck around the back where she couldn't see. Then, he rinsed the cloth off and handed it to her. "Clean..." He nodded to the dresser in the corner that held a cracked mirror and said to her. "Clean self... see clean." He handed her the cloth and rubbed it on her arm so she would understand to clean herself and use the mirror if she needed. He rose and stepped out of the room to leave her in solitude. Something told him it was unusual for a 'master' to do, but he was no usual Master.
She took in his actions, feeling his hands cleaning the back of her neck gently, exposing the soft milk white skin beneath. It was a startling contrast, to the dark red of her hair and eyebrows, the long black lashes that surrounded her silvery eyes, but somehow it all seemed to work unusually well. When he took his step back and left her to clean herself, she watched in slight confusion as he walked away and left the room. Her master had never done that before... Shrugging some once the door was shut, she shed the shirt once more and went about systematically cleaning her body, one section of skin at a time, careful to get all the dirt from her skin that she could, watching in the broken mirror as the milky white expanse came into view. Once clean, she tugged the shirt back on and went to the door, kneeling at his feet almost immediately, head bowed, long tangled red hair falling into her face. "Khesor," she murmured softly.
He was sitting in the common room on a bench before the slight fire kept constantly burning to keep the room warm despite the winter's chill. As she came to him, he caressed the hair from her face and lifted her chin. "Beautiful...." Was all he said as he smiled. Gently urging her to her feet, he motioned to the collar. "Remove?" He said as his hands made the motion of coming apart. Thinking then that she may feel abandoned without it, he thought and spoke again. "Mine... you... wear..." Perhaps he could get her to remove the collar or tell him how, if she believed he would take and protect her. He knew it would be slow going. She would not understand the term 'freedom' for a while. But he was determined to make her feel safe till then. But he had to remove that collar before the owner.
A soft blush, or what could have been a blush, seemed to color her cheeks at the word beautiful leaving his lips, and she stood at his gentle guiding. When he pointed to the collar, she lifted her fingers to run over the seemingly delicate metal, a sad look coming into her eyes. "Magic," she answered, lowering her eyes, head bowing. "I do not know how to remove it, Master," she said softly, still speaking in the elemental dialect she'd been using earlier.
Hmmmm. He thought for a moment then nodded. Touching her chin so she looked up at him, he winked. "I... magic... too..." He pressed his hand to the collar and it would grow cool, instead of hot like most magic caused. When he lowered his hand, the collar would feel the same but look entirely different. Softly taking her hand, he led her back into the back room and stood behind her showing her the collar in the mirror. It looked to be made now of leather and lace, instead of harsh metal. He pulled her hair back and kissed her neck whispering as his eyes found hers in the mirror. "Safe... Master Eric... only now..." Hoping she would know he meant he would be her only Master now. He watched her face to see her reaction while holding her hair up to bare her neck easily to see from behind her.
A soft shiver went through her at the gentle kiss to her neck, but she smiled, eyes closing. He felt comforting, good... Something about him made her feel safer than she ever had. She knew deep down that the collar had not changed, but still... that he had made the effort to at least change it's look for her sake... It made her feel special. Even after he had pulled away and watched her face in the mirror, she could feel the touch of them against her skin, and she lifted those quick silver eyes to look at him as a gentle smile curled her full pink lips once more. After a brief pause, she seemed to have a bit of a spark enter her eyes, as if summoning her courage. A moment later and she was hugging him, her head against his chest and arms around his waist. The hug was brief, but fierce, and followed by her pulling away quickly.
He let her hug him, his arms only encircling her enough she would know he was not pushing her away. Whispering softly as she hugged him. "Good girl... safe now... always safe". He yawned then and moved to sit on the bed, straightening the covers he rose once more and went to the cupboard to fetch a second blanket. He spread it on the bed, removed his boots and shirt, leaving his breeches on for her sake, and crawled onto the cot. Scooting back against the wall, he held the covers back and smiled to her. "Come... sleep... it's all right." He smiled and patted the bed beside him hoping she would not run.