Dancing on Strings

Clockwork Boy

And she hated him for it because she didn't want to so aware of him when she had been mad at him not a half hour before.

She had spent years in close contact with man just as... just as beautifully built but it wasn't the same and she hated him for it

He titled his head to the side and Mai's face began to heat up as his grin widened.

"My goodness, My Lady. I hadn't thought of that but if that's the first place your mind jumps to, I'm more than happy to oblige." He reached a hand down to her and Mai glared at him.

"You hadn't thought of that?" she sneered. "You expect me to believe The Black Rabbit was just acting on his own volition."

Griffin laughed, his smile playful as he bent down towards her. "Well, I wasn't thinking of that in this moment. I won't say that it hadn't crossed my mind though. But who can touch a princess?"

"A Man with duel personality, apparently," Mai said and took his head.

His smile widened as she settled her palm against his and he pulled her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Let me take you into our private world," he whispered, bending his head so his mouth from inches from hers. "Let me show you our kingdom, Princess of Dreams, so you know it for however long you might rule."

Mai looked up at him for a moment, willing her heart to stop beating quite so fast before she nodded.

Griffin beamed and swung her around, her dress whirling around them, and pushed her back onto the sprawling bed, landing on top of her, the heat of his body penetrating the fabric of her corset as their legs entwined through the skirts.

"Griffin, You—!" she started before he cut her off with his laughter.

"We have to sleep," he said, propping himself up on his elbows, his wavy black hair rippling around his head. "There's a bed big enough for both of us, let us make use of it."

"I think I preferred you when you were panicking about your face and trying to cover yourself like a modest young lady," Mai growled at him.

He just grinned at her. "No you didn't," he said before pushing to his hands and knees and moving off her, crawling away. Before she could sit up, he caught her under the arms from behind and dragged her up the bed like a doll, settling her against the pillows before lying down beside her.

With a snap of the fingers, the covers below them vanished then appeared over them. A second snap and the candles in the room faded away, pouring darkness down around them.

Mai stared into the darkness for a long moment, then blinked.

"This is hardly the outfit to sleep in," she said into the void and sense Griffin's returning grin.

His light fingers drifted up the centre of her bodice, the sensations amplified by the lack of sight.

"Well, we could always take it off," he suggested.

Mai smacked his hand.

"No," she said and his hand flattened to her body, just below her breasts and stayed there, not moving another inch.

After another moment, and all too aware of every thing move and breath Griffin made beside her, she groaned.

"How am I supposed to sleep?" she snapped.

There was a rustle of sheets as Griffin lifted onto one elbow with a soft laugh, blindly reaching through the darkness and brushing her hair from her face.

"Just let it come to you," he said, "I promise you, it will. Sleep comes much easier in this world."

Mai let out a huffy breath and he laughed slightly, before settling down again, right beside her.