Clash like blades

Don't own scrapped princess or any of it's characters. Just play with Shannon from time to time. This is for Alexis :)

He should have known better than to follow her. Shannon supposed that he couldn’t help himself. He was a guardian, it was in his nature to protect. Even someone as stubbornly independent as the beast princess Senes. They had sparred again this morning, a daily ritual she seemed bent on upholding. Despite the fact that she never won. She would never be able to defeat him. Why she couldn’t see that, Shannon couldn’t understand.

She had huffed and avoided him for the remainder of the day. Stalking through the camp, barking orders at her men and her second. She glared at him every chance she got. Shannon felt that he was perhaps better at dealing with females than the average male. However, this one was simply too much. She was a woman who hated women for being just that..women. What the hell was so wrong about letting someone stronger protect you? From his point of view, nothing at all.

She was of a very different opinion. Shannon understood why. She’d not had someone to hold her close and protect her. Her siblings had seen her as a threat to their position within the kingdom and cast her aside. She was a fighter, she always had been, had had to be. Raquel had remarked that she could relax now, that Shannon would take care of everything. Which was true.

However, rather than being pleased by that fact Senes had been infuriated, “Like I need him to look after me” she’d shot back. She might not need it, but Shannon was certain of one thing. She wanted it, she just couldn’t bring herself to allow it. She hid it so well, denied it so fiercely and only Shannon and perhaps her second guessed the truth.

The downpour had begun when they were several miles from the camp, the slops growing slick with water. The footing treacherous. He kept his distance, observing her, not calling out to her. She’d been so wrapped up in her angry muttering about him and the state of the world that she’d not realized how far she’d come.


Senes was soaked, growing more chilled as she moved. “Damn it all to hell anyway” she groused, slicking wet hair back from her face. She decided to turn back, but the footing was loose now. Twice she stumbled and slid down muddy embankments. Cursing all the way. Shannon braced his feet, sliding down more gracefully than she had.

“What are you doing?” he finally called to her through the rain. She pushed herself to her feet, ignoring his outstretched hand. “What do you want?” she asked, brushing mud from her soaked clothing. Shannon shook his head, “I was a little concerned” he admitted, “You rarely move so far from camp alone”.

She spun away from him, angry once again. Why did he have to be here? Why did he have to see her stumble? See her when she was less that what she should have been? Her hands fisted at her sides, and she tried to look haughty. The effect was ruined when her foot slid in the mire and she staggered backward, her balance all but gone.

Shannon reached out impatiently to catch her, making her fall against him. His arms closed around her steadying her against the driving rain. She went very still for a moment, as though she was afraid to even take a breath. Shannon had never noticed before just how much smaller she was. Her small glove covered hands fisted in the folds of his cloak.

Senes couldn’t believe it. Shannon Casull had kept her from falling. She should have been grateful and in many ways she was. She’d be damned if she said so however. She shoved back away from him, meeting his inscrutable gaze with an angry one of her own. She wanted to tell him to go to hell, that she didn’t need or want him near her. But her mind called her a liar, made her aware of his presence, the wamth radiating from him in the chilled downpour. The scent of male spice, wet wool and leather,. His own scent like winter pines and the tang of steel that floated with it.

His dark hair was soaked through, looking like brushstrokes of ink against his flesh. “Your going to catch cold” she grumbled at him. His eyes already scanning the area around them, “There is a cave a short distance from here. We’ll have to shelter there until this passes” he remarked. She stiffened, “I can make it back” she replied. Shannon shook his head. “Quit being so gung ho, it’s pointless to try and go back now. We need shelter”.

Senes frowned, “But the camp” she protested. Shannon was too quick “Has the abilities of Raquel’s magic and your men” he finished for her. He was already turning away and moving uphill. With a grumbled curse she followed after him, feeling the sting of cold in her fingertips and toes. He was right, they’d be fine. Again, she’d not be telling him so. “I’m sure your little sister will be missing you” she bit out. Shannon shrugged, “If trouble comes near, I’ll know. She’ll be safe with Raquel until I can reach them”.

“Because of your dragoon!” she snapped back at him, wishing once again that Natalie was fully functional like Zefiris was. Shannon turned so swiftly that they nearly collided. “Zefi helps and advises, lends her powers when needed, but don’t forget for one moment Senes, that my skills are my own and always shall be”.

He seemed irritated with her. Better than his haughty ‘I’m so perfect’ attitude she told herself. Nevertheless, she found herself wishing he would say something to her as they traveled onwards. The drumming of the rain beat a furious tattoo in her head, only enhancing the solitary position they were currently in.

They were moving higher, the ground more rocky and speed was difficult to maintain. The wet rocks shifted under them as they climbed toward the promised cave. Senes made a small sound of surprise as her current foothold shifted and fell away. Shannon was there, grasping her wrist to keep her upright. “You ok?” he asked her, droplets dripping from his nose and chin. She nodded and allowed him to pull her to a more stable place. She was so cold and tired now. Where the hell was the damnable cave already?

Eternity seemed to pass before the black maw of the cave rose before them, nearly choked with brush and bracken. "This is the place?" she asked, "How did you know it was here?". Once more Shannon shrugged broad shoulders, "I recon all the areas we stop in" he told her.

Shannon was glad to see that several large logs were near the mouth of the cave, he dragged them from the bushes, glad that they weren't soaked. "I'll start a fire" he told her, "You should get out of those wet clothes". She flushed, "What?" she asked. He gestured to her clothing, "Your cold Senes, take your clothes off and lay them out near the fire".

She backed into the shadows, eyeballing him oddly. Did she think he was going to throw her down and ravish her? Not likely, though the thought had merit. He arranged the logs carefully and within minutes had coaxed a spark to life. He leaned back against the rock face. Senes was standing behind an outcropping of rock, barely concealed from his sight.

“Why are you here Shannon Casull?” Senes demanded. Shannon sighed, pulling away from the stone wall and unfastening his heavy cloak. “Here” he said, Senes stared at him like he’d grown a second head. Not a man of limitless patience Shannon tossed it at her, “Hurry up will you?”. Senes wrapped the cloak around herself and scowled. It was damp, but not completely soaked and it carried the lingering warmth of his body. Outside, the howl of the wind was deafening, and the storm went on.

No one would venture out to look for them, the camp would know that she and Shannon were more than capable of taking care of themselves. That meant she had two courses of action. She could try and make her way back to camp in the soup that had once been a forest filled with foot trails. Or she could remain barricaded in this cave with him.

Shannon had already tended the small fire, poking at it until the flames danced cheerfully. The brush at the mouth of the cave provided ample concealment not only from sight, but the wind as well. Rain began to fall heavier now, huge droplets that beat like stones on the ground outside. Shannon leaned back to peer out the mouth of the cave, “That’s one nasty storm” he commented.

Senes was silent, hunkering down across from him. Of all the damnable luck. “Stupid” she muttered. Shannon glowered over at her, “What’s that?”. She folded her arms, turning her face from him. “I’m stupid ok? I should have been more aware of my surroundings” she spat him. Shannon shrugged, “That’s true” he agreed. He was amused by her angry antics, but more than a little tired of the endless stream of them.

“Go to hell Shannon Casull” she hissed, the effect ruined by her shivering. She jumped to her feet and stalked to the side to stand against the wall of the cave. Shannon, rose to his feet, setting his sword on the ground as he did so. He approached the cold woman slowly, like a great cat after it’s prey.

Her eyes went wide, “What are you doing?” she demanded, her breath hitching in the last word. Shannon’s gaze was unreadable, just like when he fought. What was he thinking? He leapt forward, caging his arms on either side of her head, his angry gaze mere inches from her own. “You know Princess Senes” he began, “You could be a really cute girl… if you could learn to shut the hell up once in a while”.

Senes couldn't speak, had no idea what to say, but Shannon remedied that for her, slamming his lips over hers in a kiss of angry hunger. She whimpered under the onslaught and when he felt her resistance begin to shatter, he gentled his actions.

His mouth, like hot velvet, pressed nipping kisses to her lips in turn, then the corner of her mouth. His callused fingertips stroked along her smooth throat, in a seductive caress and she moaned softly. Shannon angled his head, deepening the kiss, his tongue gliding out to slowly whisper against her own.

Senes trembled from his touch, his kiss more masterful than any she'd ever recieved. Those had been few, mostly due to the fact that she didn't enjoy being tongue raped or slobbered on. This however, was something new.

Shannon teased and touched and coaxed until, almost shyly she began to participate in the kiss. Her own timid tongue lightly touching his own. Shannon growled low in his throat, wrapping his arms around the wool covered woman, dragging her against the hardness of his body.

Her fingers climbed along his sleeves to his hair, that beautiful dark hair he kept tied up all the time. She worked the tie free, even as Shannon's hand cupped her chin, forcing her head back gently. She cried out when he attacked her throat with hot open mouthed kisses. His actions causing the white flesh to show red in the dimness.

Senes decided then and there that she had to choose. She could stop Shannon now and always wonder or she could let this go on. Most likely losing her innocence to the D-knight in the process. Her hands tangled in his wet hair as she let the cloak fall from her body.

Shannon heard the rustle of the wool against stone and pulled back long enough to look her in the eye. "I hope that's an invitation" he said with a smirk. She pulled him back to her for a breathtaking kiss, "With one like me, you never can tell" she whispered against his lips.

To her delight Shannon chuckled, drawing her upwards in his arms and then sank to his backside. Sitting in his lap, straddling him, bare as a newborn, Senes felt uncharacteristly shy and lacking.

More astute that she often gave him credit for, Shannon understood. "You haven't done this before have you?" he asked. She slowly shook her head, worried that he'd deny her. Hell, he considered it. She shivered when his large hands swept down her back to her hips, holding her tight against him.

Her eyes widened as she felt his hardness beneath her. Shannon locked eyes with her, brushing her hair from her brow. "You don't always have to be so strong" he whispered to her, pressing a kiss to the base of her throat, "You don't always have to fight".

Her hands moved over his wide shoulders, pulling at fastenings as she did so. Shannon released her long enough to pull the tunic over his head and toss it behind them. He pressed his face against her throat, drinking in the sweet scent of her flesh.

She shook her head, "Then who will?" she asked him. He laid his lips over hers once more, "I will" he whispered. Senes felt his hand cup her bare breast, the cold flesh sensitive to the heat and texture of his hand. Hard hands, built for fighting, so gentle now.

Shannon pinched lightly at her nipple, making it harden, then he leaned her back over his arms and pressed chaste kisses around the rosy peak. Working his way inward, blowing warm streams of air over the pebble. When he enclosed it with his mouth, she arched, crying out as he suckled from her.

Switching breasts he urged her onward. His other hand slid over her hip, to her thigh, before delving higher to touch the core of her. Shannon groaned at the wetness he encountered, fingers sliding against the samp silken flesh. Senes stiffened as he began to stroke her, tension filling her body as he worked her.

"Easy now" he murmured against her ear, "Let me love you". His hands, so skilled in combat were pushing her further into the maestrom of sensation. She was hardly aware when he laid her back against the coarse wool. Hardly aware that her own hands were tugging at his trousers, and he was working them off, even as he laved her stomach with wet kisses.

Shannon sighed with relief when the confining clothing was gone from him. Senes got a good look at him and went pale. He was much larger than she had imagined a man should be. The sex of him like a pillar of marble, hard and smooth lined with blue veins below the surface and a vivid tip, gleaming with moisture. She licked her lips, her eyes betraying her worry.

Shannon covered her smaller form with his own, more muscular one, gritting his teeth at the slide of flesh on flesh. His whole body crying out for him to take her now. Still, he hesitated, kissing her brow, "I will prepare you as best I know how" he told her, "It will help with the pain that comes". She swallowed hard and nodded, expecting him to plunge within her.

Shannon slowly worked a thick finger into her tight sheathe, caressing, massaging the smooth walls of her hot sex. His thumb moved up to rub in small mystifying circles. Her breath left her, and she cried out. The pleasurable pressure igniting in her lower stomach like molten gold. "Sha...Shannon!" she panted. He chuckled against her ear, loving her sounds, the growing wetness of her and the scent that was rising around them.

He slid down her body until his face hovered over her core and she yelped when he shouldered her thighs and blew across the wet folds. "What are you..." she began, protest tinging her voice. He perhaps should have waited to indulge himself in such blatant wants but he did promise to prepare her well. Her words fell away with a sharp cry as his mouth covered her heat.

His tongue swirled through her folds, teasing that tiny pearl that made her arch against his face, clamp her strong thighs on his head. Shannon continued his actions, feeling her body bow with an inner tighteness that signalled release. Her small hands fisted in his hair and her head thrashed on the cloak, her cries, moans and whimpers rising into the air with broken incantations of his name.

Senes had no idea what was happening to her, it felt good but something was about to break free. She screamed out as her orgasm shot through her, leaving her limp and panting beneath and very satisfied looking Shannon. She opened her eyes and met his gaze, "There's more?" she asked. He smiled, catching her lips in a dueling kiss, allowing her to taste her passion on his tongue. "Much more" he murmured.

His strong hands slid to her hips lifting her as he positioned himself against her. "There will be pain" he reminded her, "But not for long". He entered her slowly coming to rest against no barrier. He'd not expected one seeing as she was quite athletic. Still her channel was very small and untried. This is where her pain lay. She hissed as the feeling of being filled became uncomfortable and then, he surged forward, seating himself to the hilt within her depths.

He groaned as he gathered her close, feeling the pulse of her heart in the artery that lay so close to his shaft. She was like wet searing heat around him, tight and heavenly. She was clinging to him tightly, her nails scoring his back in retaliation for the pain he'd caused. Shannon caught her arms and pressed them to the cavern floor above her head and began to move.

Slow, smooth, powerful thrusts that rocked her on the cloak and took her breath away. Her small whimpers of discomfort became loud lusty cries of need which Shannon responded too with artful mastery. Her thighs wrapped around his slim hips as he pistoned into her, his mouth moving from her throat to her breasts and then to her lips.

Once more that pressure built, the knot coiling tightly in her and she clung to him, "Shannon, I can't...oh god Shannon!". He lifted one leg high onto his shoulder and slammed into her, his thumb teasing over the pearl of her pleasure even as his tip met the spongy ridge within. "You're beautiful" he told her, seeing her spread before him, her hair wild around her face.

her body fluttered around him, squeezing, milking and Shannon knew he'd not last much longer. "Come for me Senes" he commanded her, "Come for me now!". Her body arched and she cried out his name, "God, Shannon!". The hot rush of her fluids engulfed him and he pumped into her once, twice more, before he too stiffened and pulled from her body, his seed spattering across her pale stomach.

They lay panting, a tangle of hair and limbs and whispered words. "Do you leave it to me now?" he asked sometime later, as they held each other in the fury of the storm. Senes nuzzled against him, "To protect me?" she asked. He grunted and she laughed lightly twining their fingers, "Not a chance" she said saucily, "Who is going to protect me from you?"