Gladiator (Closed for Lotus)

[Lotus_Maiden]

Summer didn’t stay too longer after Dakota had excused himself. She returned to her chamber, did some reading and writing for a little while, and then headed to bed in a short white silky gown. She thought back on the today’s events and smiled at the idea of her own personal bodyguard. She fell asleep shortly after that, sleeping through the night interrupted.

She woke earlier the next morning with the desire to go hunting today with her new employee. He was good with the knife and could probably teach her a thing or two about hunting and riding. She was about to tell Marie to relay the message to him so he could get ready, but she had already darted off to prepare breakfast.

So Summer decided to go tell him herself. She put on a robe over her nightgown and headed toward to his room. Out of habit, she pushed the door open and entered without knocking. “Dakota, I like to go huuu---,” the words stuck in her throat as soon as she saw the sleeping man before her.

He was completely naked and uncovered. Even sleeping, his muscle looked tense and very well defined. Her eyes soaked in his muscular biceps, rock hard abs, and fully exposed private. Her cheeks burned hotly and red as she stared. Even in its limp state, it looked impressive. She wondered how big will it grow, how will it taste, how will it feel like in her hands, between her legs, in her slit...

When she caught herself thinking and lusting for it, she gasped and turned abruptly, wanting to leave before being caught. Her haste, however, back fired. She knocked the door shut with her abrupt turn. It closed with a loud thud while she was still inside.

Summer held her breath and stayed as steadily as she could, listening to any movement behind her to see if that had woke him. When she heard nothing, she tried her escape one more time. She succeeded with the second try.

The redhead sprinted back to her room and stayed for the morning...

 

[JadeKnight]

Normally he was a light sleeper, but he was in such a deep sleep that he didn't hear the door slam from Summer's first attempt to leave. All it did was cause him to turn over on his side, still sleeping. He woke up a short time after she left, stretching his arms as he sat up.

"Heh, slept a little longer than I expected."

He went through his usual morning routine of exercise, working up a little bit of an appetite. Grabbing the bathrobe, since he didn't have a towel or anything else to use, he wiped himself down carefully. The clothes he had been given were a pair of black breeches, white undershirt, and a green tunic laced with gold embroidery. The clothes were a little snug, but workable for the time being.

After relieving himself, he made his way to the dining room after the smell of food. He grinned at the sight of a table full of food, his stomach growling. He didn't see Summer waiting at the table, but he went ahead and started in on breakfast by himself.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

The maid was back in her chamber, setting out the cloth and making her bed, when Summer returned. “M’lady, are you alright? Are you having a fever? Should I send the doctor?” the maid asked worriedly when she saw how pink her cheeks were. She also seemed to be out of breath with a shock expression.

“No, no. I’m fine. Just. I just need to be left alone.” Summer pushed her toward the door hastily. Before the maid could tell her about breakfast, the door had already slammed close behind her.

She was utterly confused with Lady Summer’s behavior this morning. She headed to the dinning room, intended to grab some food and carry to the lady. Dakota was already there eating when she arrived. She greeted him while she piled a few food on a silver tray. “Morning. Lady Summer won’t be joining. She doesn’t look quiet well.”

---

Summer hopped back on the bed after she shooed away the maid. The more she tried to forget what she saw, the deeper the image ingrained in her mind. Just thinking about his nakedness had a strange affect on her. Her stomach tingled and the sensation traveled down. She felt the heat emitting between her thighs before it became slick with her sticky fluid.

 

[JadeKnight]

Dakota had just finished his first plateful of food when Maria came into the dining room. He pushed the plate back as he greeted her.

"Good morning Maria. I'm sorry to hear Summer isn't feeling well. I hope she gets to feeling better. And the food was wonderful."

The maid smiled and nodded her thanks as she continued to gather up food for Summer before leaving to take it to her. Dakota sighed for a moment as he leaned back in the chair. He had hoped to get Summer to take him out so that he could get better clothing.

"Maybe a little later."

He gathered up his dishes in a small pile before taking them into the kitchen, placing the in the sink. He probably should have left them for Maria, but he wasn't used to the service aspect of this new life yet. After leaving the kitchen, he too his time exploring the house to see what he missed by going to bed.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Maria returned to her lady’s chamber with the tray of food. Upon hearing the door open, Summer jumped out of bed with her hands hidden behind her back. She looked at the maid guiltily.

“M’lady, please eat. You’ll feel better.” Summer doubted food would let out the burning sensation between her legs, but she didn’t object. “Dakota is awake, ate, and wandering around. The cloth on him looks ridiculous,” the maid commented, thinking back how the cloth just barely fitted him.

Summer bit her lips to stop a sigh in her throat when she heard his name. She tried to act normal and sipped her tea. She wanted to say, ‘more reasons for him to just prance around naked.’ However, she said instead, “Will need to get him more fitting cloth, especially for hunting. Tell him we’ll go out in an hour or so,” she ordered the maid, whom nodded and left to do her bidding.

After a quick bite, Summer changed into a blue, flowy, lightweight dress. It had a collar with a deep neckline, showing off her cleavage. Her red locks were pulled back into a pony tail. She then headed to the foyer.

 

[JadeKnight]

Dakota had most of the house explored by the time Maria informed him that Summer said they would be leaving. He could tell that Summer, Maria, and the house doctor weren't the only ones to be living there. The house was rather large for them. He had even found a large sitting room with various stuffed animal trophies around the room.

He had foundt his way to the foyer, coming upon Summer. He gave a soft whistle as he took in how she was made up.

"You look like you are doing much better m'lady Summer. And quite beautiful as well."

He chuckled for a moment as he gestured to his own outfit.

"As you can see, these clothes aren't exactly suited for me. I'm afraid to move too much without ripping a seam or two. Where are we heading to today?"

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Summer spun around at the sound of his voice. “Ah, thank you,” she said quietly when he complimented her. When he referenced his cloth, she wanted to suggest just go naked then. However, she said instead, not allowing her eyes to wander south, “We’re going better fitted cloth for you. After that, do you think the bodyguard can teach a trick or two about hunting?”

She planted her hand on his forearm and insisted, “Come.”

Then they headed toward to one of the tailor shops in the market. She tried to think something to talk about. “So, Dakota, did you sleep well last night?” Of course the first thing escaped her lips bought her mind back to his fine naked body.

 

[JadeKnight]

"Hunting? It's been a long time since I've gone hunting."

He smiled for a moment as she laid her hand on his forearm,leading the way through the market place. He nodded to a few of the people they passed, speaking as they walked.

"I slept rather well. It's been a long time since I slept so well, I fell asleep as soon as I laid down. It was Dreamless sleep, but that's fine."

They soon arrived at a tailor shop, a bell over the door ringing as it was open. They were greeted by a young man a moment later. The tailor took one look at Dakota and shook his head.

"You came to the right place sir. I don't get many your size, but I can accommodate you. This way."

The man led Dakota around a set of wooden dividers, pausing to address Summer.

"Please wait there m'lady. I won't be long."

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

“Oh, right,” Summer stayed on the other side of the dividers. She tried to occupy herself looking at and touching the different fabric at the storefront.

The man pulled out a measuring tape and began to take Dakota’s measurements, staring with his broad shoulder. “You’re build like a war machine,” the tailor told him as a compliment. “Arms up,” he told him before wrapped the tape around his chest for the measurement. He went on with the rest of his body.

As he jotted down the numbers on a notepad, he added randomly, “Your lady friend, she’s quite easy on the eye huh? Does she need new cloth as well? I like to get her measurements, heh heh." He snickered slyly.

 

[JadeKnight]

Dakota gave a chuckle at the tailor's comment about his build. He didn't comment as the tailor continued to finish taking his measurements. He smirked for a moment when the tailor began teasing about Summer. He shook his head for a moment.

"No, she's not the one here for anything. Maybe she'll come back another day. Now hurry up with the clothes."

The tailor scowled at Dakota for a moment, but went off to find some more fitting clothes. Dakota called over at Summer while waiting on the tailor.

"And what sort of game were you planning on hunting?"

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Summer was trying on a hat when Dakota’s voice drifted from behind the divider, ”And what sort of game were you planning on hunting?”

The tailor first went to the front of the store to look. He commented when he saw Summer with the feathery hat, "That looks good on you, m'lady. As I expected everything will." His eyes looked up and down on her as if he was stripping her with his eyes.

She noted his look but mentioned nothing, just simply said, "Thanks." Then she walked back closer to the divider, didn’t want to yell across the store. “I’m not sure. What will be good for a beginner?”

The tailor returned to the other side once again and handed him one outfit. “Try this one while I check the stock room,” he advised and then disappeared to the back, leaving the only two customers in his shop.

 

[JadeKnight]

Dakota took the outfit from the tailor before he headed to the back room. However Summer's answer caught him off-guard for a moment. He leaned around the edge of the divider for a moment, looking at her.

"What do you mean, for a beginner? What about all those trophies in the sitting room at the house? Is this your first hunt?"

He looked at her for a moment longer before ducking back behind the divider. Stripping off the smaller set of clothes, he folded them and put them on a pile on a stool near him. The green breeches, white undershirt and white tunic fit him much better, giving him room to move. Satisfied with the fit, he stepped out in full view for Summer to see.

"Now this is much better, don't you think?"

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

She looked at him amusingly when only his head popped out from behind the divider. “Those trophies belong to my brothers. This will be my first hunt. I want my own trophy,” she added before he disappeared again.

He then stepped fully out to view now with an outfit that actually fitted him. She twirled her finger, signaling him to turn around as he asked, ”Now this is much better, don’t you think?”

“Yes, it is. Though nak---,” she caught herself before the words slipped, “---yes, much better.” She pulled the hat further down her face to hide her now blushing cheeks as the imagine of his cloth-less body flashed before her.

 

[JadeKnight]

He caught her near slip of the tongue, but he acted as if he didn't notice. He chuckled and reached up, pulling her hat up again so he could see her blushing face.

"Come on, there's no need to hide your face while helping me with clothes."

He was interrupted by a loud throat clearing from the tailor who had re-merged from the back room. He had two more sets of clothes for Dakota, as well as a hunting outfit. Looking over the outfits, Dakota nodded.

"These will be fine. The lady will pay you."

Dakota picked up the outfits in a large stack as he followed the tailor out. The tailor went up to the front of the store, moving behind the front counter. He tallied up the price and smiled to Summer.

"That will be thirty gold miss."

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Her eyes gazed up to meet his when he rose the hat from her face. "I. Um. I. Wasn't hiding. I was testing to see if the hat fit correctly," she defended.

The tailor reemerged with more cloths and a bill. “I wonder if you’re the one who works for me or vice versa,” she teased when he told the tailor that she was picking up the tab. Even so, Summer paid for his cloth. She even bought for herself.

Once they exited, she questioned, “You haven’t said what kind of hunt is good for a beginner.”

 

[JadeKnight]

He shook his head for a moment at her comment on who was in charge. Technically she was the supposed to be the boss, but she seemed to be relativity to actually being in charge of someone. Though that was just how he saw it, though he didn't say anything.

"Well, you are the one with the money in this case."

He followed her out of the shop, squinting for a moment at the brightness before readjusting.

"Well, the easiest creatures I would say for a beginner to hunt would be a deer, squirrel, duck, or turkey. Although I would say we should drop these off and get changed."

He gestured for a moment with the stack of clothes in his arms.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

“Hrm, a deer will be nice. A big buck with 11 pointers. Now that would be great trophy, don’t you think? Ha.”

She looked down at arms then up at him. “Of course. I’ll need to change out of this dress as well. As far as hunting gear, I’m sure we have plenty in our equipment room. My brothers have a good collection of them.”

Once they got back, the maid took his cloths to put them up. Summer led him to the their warehouse. It was a huge wooden shed at the back of the house filled with all sort of iron wares, weapons, and so forth.

She went over the rack of bow and arrows. "I might not know how to handle a lot of weapons, but bow and arrows is my niche," she commented confidently, testing the string of the bow. She turned to him, "What's your favorite choice, Dakota?"

 

[JadeKnight]

"A deer sounds fine. Although I haven't hunted anything since before I joined the military."

He followed her home, being careful not to drop any of his new clothes. He greeted Maria for a moment when she took their clothes from them, taking them into the house. He followed Summer into the warehouse, whistling softly at the large collection of weapons.

"Your family has quite the collection."

He watched her test a bow for a moment before nodding.

"The bow and arrow, huh? I'm a little rusty, but I'll try my hand at that as well. We'll need a dagger or two for dressing the animal for transport back here. What sort of transport do you have for us to use?"

He picked out one of the longbows, testing it for a moment. Satisfied with the pull of the string, he notched and an arrow before releasing it into one of the walls.

"I think this one will suit just fine."

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

“Transport?” Summer hadn’t thought about that. Her lack hunting experience showed. “Here I thought we can just ride out on a horse, stake out for a kill, and then ride back. I had the servants pack us some camping gear as well.”

She then watched the man picking and assessing his bow. “Rusty? Aw, I was hoping you can help improving on my skill. My brothers always claimed I’m holding it wrong and have a bad posture.” She held up the bow half arms length before her with one hand pulled back the string as if she was about to fire.

 

[JadeKnight]

He chuckled softly for a moment as he went and retrieved the arrow from where it had hit the warehouse wall. It took a few moments before he was able to pull the arrow free.

"Just because I am rusty doesn't mean I can't help you. It no different than riding a horse. I wouldn't take long to get back to my normal level of skill."

He raised an eyebrow as he looked at the position she had taken up. He shook his head for a moment.

"Your brothers were right, you are holding it wrong. Here, I'll show you."

He moved to her, standing beside her. He took the hand she was holding the bow in and moved it so that it was fully out in front of her. Moving her hand so that it was straight up and down, pushed the other one forward to release the tension on the bow. He stepped back for a moment to check on her form before handing her the arrow.

"Notch the arrow and show me how you aim. I'll correct your posture when we are out in the field, since it will be much easier with you in something besides a dress."

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Summer glared at him when he sided with her siblings about her posture.

She held her breath when he moved behind her, grabbing her hands and guiding her to hold the bow correctly. She leaned her back against his chest while his breath brushed against her skin as he spoke. Her head turned slightly over her shoulder, closing the space between her lips and his neck. Before they touched, he backed away and held her an arrow.

She took it in her right hand as she stuttered, “Ri. Right. Sure.” After she loaded the arrow, she extended her left arm, paralleling to the ground. Her right arm pulled the string back with the arrow’s feathers between her fingers. “Ta-da!"

 

[JadeKnight]

He stood back, watching as she notched the arrow and pulled it back. While she held the arrow in place, he walked around her to examine her from every angle. She had canted the bow just slightly, so he placed a hand over hers, straightening her once more.

"Try not to twist your hand. And look down the shaft when you aim."

He stood on her right as he gently lifted her arms into the right position. Satisfied at her position, he moved back once more.

"Let it fly."

He smiled as the arrow flew straight through the air to hit the far wall.

"Well dear Summer, you have most of the basics down. We can finish the rest when get out to the hunting grounds. I'll get the rest of what we need."

He laid a hand on her right shoulder for a moment before moving away. He went back to the equipment, gathering a two large bags. He stuffed one inside of the other before grabbing some rope, a sheathed dagger, a quiver of arrows, the longbow he had chosen, and a few other things.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Summer stood as steadily as she could while he circled her and assessed her posture. She held her breath when he stood in front of her to correct her arm. When he said, "...look down the shaft...," *she unintentionally, she dropped her eyes to his crotch. Images of his naked rod flashed in her mind.

As soon as she realized it, she immediately looked away, blushing profusely. “Ri. Right.” She nodded and fired as he asked. Thank goodness it went straight and pierced the wall.

He then complimented before went off to gather some more gears.

“Looks like you have everything under control, right? Then I’ll go change,” she declared and then walked off.

 

[JadeKnight]

He raised an eyebrow for a moment at her actions for a moment, shaking his head after she had left. There was something going on with her, but he couldn't quite place it. He chuckled softly for a moment and shook his head. After gathering everything he thought they would need, he head out to the table where the horses were.

He saw one of the servants with the horse, strapping on two bundles of gear. He dropped all the hunting gear near the horses as he talked to the servant.

"Here's the hunting gear you can add to the rest of that. What are the extra bundles for?"

"That's the camping gear Lady Summer requested."

"Camping gear? Yeah, I do remember her mention camping gear. All right I missed sleeping under the stars."

He gave the stable boy a smile before heading inside to change himself. He changed into the hunter's outfit that the tailor had sold them. When he went back to the horses, Summer hadn't arrived yet.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

On the way to her chamber, she told the servant to gather up some camping gears. Once she changed, she retraced her steps and caught Dakota by the stable. He had already picked up two horses with bags strapped on them and stacks weapons laid out next to the animals. She noted that he had changed too.

She turned to the stable boy, "I'll be gone for a night or two. I'll be back before Father and others' return. So no need to tell them my where abouts," she ordered.

The young boy nodded and agreed, "of course my lady." He made a quick glance back at Lady Summer's traveler partner, grinned slyly, before he retrieved inside.

She mounted the brown one and looked to Dakota, "Are we ready? We should ride out, find a place to set up camp before set sun," she suggested. Although she had never camp out or hunt without her brothers, she knew a thing or two about living under a tent.