Talia slid her arm around Sinbad and hugged him to her side saying, "she's right."
Maeve's eyes suddenly began to glow; Talia quickly let go of the captain. The others were surprised, but Maeve shook her head and said in a mock sweet tone, "I'm sorry Talia, did I scare you? I am just recovering from a bit spell casting."
Talia shook her head, and quickly changed the subject. "So what are you guys doing here?"
"Well, we were caught in a storm, and were blown off course." Said Sinbad; his eyes still on Maeve. He could feel her emitting an aura of magic.
"The storm last night?" Talia asked.
They nodded, she continued, "that was one of the worst ones I have ever seen. If my ship had been in the middle of the ocean, it would've sank…you know I thought it would last for about a week the way it was raging…surprised it only lasted a night…the harbour is in chaos because of that…"
Then she frowned as she realized something, "are you trying to tell me that, that ship of yours is strong enough to last through a storm like that?"
They all grinned with pride at Maeve, who didn't seem as if she was paying attention.
"It would have been dooms day for us, had Maeve not used her magic." beamed Doubar.
"You calmed a storm as bad as that?" Talia was surprised.
Maeve was looked like she was in a trance. Rongar waved his hand in front of her face. She snapped out of it, and smiled.
"Well," said Sinbad, "we are not going anywhere, until, the ship is repaired. So we might as well do some exploring." They all nodded, he then turned to Talia, "do you know any good inn?"
"Sure, I know a place that belongs to a friend of mine. He'll go out of his way to get out of mine. Maybe I could get you a discount. Whaddaya say? Eh?" she nudged Sinbad. All except Sinbad and Maeve laughed. Maeve because she couldn't see the joke, Sinbad because he was worried about what Maeve might be thinking.
After giving the instructions to the other sailors, Sinbad and the crew walked with Talia to the inn. Maeve suddenly stopped in the way. They were about to ask her why she stopped when Dermott, swooped down to her arm, they had got the answer to their question.
"Hey, there beautiful!" Talia reached out to stroke Dermott's feathers, "you have become more pretty than the last time I saw you."
Maeve was not pleased by the way Dermott cackled as if he enjoyed her touch. But she kept her mouth shut.
Sinbad's eyes were in some way or another wandering to Maeve's face. He noticed that she did not seem irritated, but more like tensed. And he could tell, because he knew her, that the cause of the tension was definitely NOT Talia. He tried to see her thoughts, but was met up with a wall, he figured he wasn't the only one who couldn't hear what she was thinking, he could hear Dermott, constantly asking Maeve what was bothering her. Sinbad was worried about her; she had expelled a tremendous amount of power, trying to calm the storm. From the looks of her face, she did not want to do it again, neither did he want her to. She was still weak, he could tell that.
As they walked down the streets, memories flooded Maeve's mind. Memories of her experiences in Cairo. Memories of Mike, and his gang. She tried hard to keep them away. But she could not stop remembering both the good times and the bad times. As they walked by the palace, Maeve was reminded of how, when Mike's foreman, Duraid, was locked up in the dungeons. She had to go and free him, instead she got locked up instead… her first experience of a dungeon. It wasn't as bad as her stay with the Averians, but it wasn't very pleasant either. Duraid, was a lot like Doubar, the only difference was that Duraid was more like a grateful puppy. He would do whatever he was told without questioning the least bit. But he was always the big brother type of guy. That's what drew her to Doubar in the first place. He was a mixture of Duraid's loving personality, and Dermott's pigheadedness. Duraid would never, ever betray Mike. Maeve could never deny the fact that Mike was gorgeous, in fact almost as good as Sinbad. In fact, the last thing you would expect him to be when you saw him was a Godfather. She was attracted to him. But, when it came to Sinbad, Mike was no comparison. Yet he was a lot like Sinbad in his character. Only thing was Mike, was more crude…
"Maeve?"
"Huh?" she was startled out of her thoughts.
"We're here…" it was Firouz, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine Firouz. Just a little off."
Firouz did not seem satisfied by her answer but he nodded and went into the inn. She took a deep breath and went into the inn. When she walked inside her heart jumped. This place was one of Mike's favourite hangouts. Oh this is going to be a long trip! She thought. She went and sat at the table where the rest of them were. Talia was fawning all over Sinbad, this made her want to throw up and Sinbad was trying to pretend as if did not enjoy it… but Maeve could sense that he did. Men! She thought in disgust. As she asked for an ale.
"… These people make the best fish I have ever tasted." Talia bragged.
Oh that's a surprise! Maeve thought sarcastically, she actually has taste! Dermott heard this and started laughing. Sinbad heard it too, she had forgotten to hide her thoughts.
"Okay!" said Firouz as he and Rongar came up to them, "we have got rooms for each one of us. It is on the first floor. Maeve the one on the extreme right belongs to you, I thought you would get some privacy there."
Maeve nodded and smiled. Firouz proceeded by telling everyone which room belonged to them, and gave them their respective keys.
"Well, then what are we waiting for?" said a jolly Doubar, "Let's eat!"
Everyone laughed accept Maeve.
"Oh lighten up, sweetie!" Talia giggled. Maeve scowled at Talia and went back to drinking her ale. The men chuckled.
"So Talia," asked Sinbad, "what brings you to Egypt?"
"Whatever takes me anywhere, handsome!" Talia flirted.
"What are you after?"
"That's for me to know and you to guess!" she said slyly, then she put on a suggestive smile, looked at Maeve and teased, "however, I could give you a one to one experience!"
Maeve growled under her breath, and Sinbad squirmed. The others laughed. Sinbad, quickly changed the subject, "hey Talia, where is your ship?"
Talia's grin disappeared, then she put on a smile again saying, "it is well…umm… around!"
"Around where?" asked Maeve coldly.
"Around here." Answered Talia.
Maeve did not pursue the matter further. She quietly sipped on her ale.
"Maeve, are you sure you don't want this? It's very good…." Firouz asked her trying to change the subject.
"No thanks Firouz," she smiled faintly, "I don't think I should eat after all that spell casting…I might throw up…"
"Yes...maybe you shouldn't…"
Maeve smiled again. Talia went on chattering excitedly about what she had been up to…and as usual she flirted exuberantly with Sinbad. Doubar as usual blabbed about what they had been up to. Sinbad's eyes were moving from Maeve to Talia, Maeve seemed lost in her own thoughts… he was beginning to get worried… the last time she had been like this was before he spell was cast on her, and she went unconscious. Love, he called out to her in through the mind, are you okay?
I'm fine… Sinbad, I am tired… I think I should go to my room and rest.
Okay, do you want me to come with you?
I am not going to fall over and break Sinbad…
Maybe not break, but you could fall over…
She glared at him. He smiled his dimpled grin. Maeve stood up and said, "I think I should go and rest…"
They all nodded, just as a man came up to Talia, and said, "is every thing as you like it ma'am." Talia giggled at this display of respect and said, "yes Nimmur, the food is great!" then she ran her fingers through Sinbad's hair and said to Nimmur, "you take good care of this boy here…he's a veeeeerry good friend of mine." She winked at Sinbad, causing Maeve's eyes to narrow. Sinbad laughed nervously. Nimmur left them, Maeve said bluntly, "I'll be in the room. Don't disturb me unless it is really important."
"Bye Maeve." They all said; she nodded. Sinbad told her in her mind; I'll be there soon.
Yeah right! She thought back.
"Bye Red!" Talia called, Maeve turned around and gave a faint smile to Talia, just before stomping up to her room.
If she hadn't left earlier, Maeve would have exploded. She barged into her room and slammed the door shut. She unclipped her scabbard carefully and placed on the table nearby, but then unconcerned she almost ripped off her belt and her brown vest. She took out her boots, and flung them somewhere. She then crawled into the bed. Dermott flew to her window cackling.
"Shut up!" she said.
Okay, but that isn't going to make me stop worrying about you.
Don't you have any mice to eat?
Dermott laughed and flew off. Maeve pulled the covers over her. She had an urge to sleep in the nude… but she decided against it, in case anyone came into her room. Knowing the crew…it was very likely. So she remained in her white, shirt/dress.
For about half an hour Maeve could not sleep. The only thing she could think about was what Talia was trying to do with Sinbad. Oh quit it Maeve! She told herself. Sinbad will not cheat on you, he loves you. If you want to have a relationship with him you have to learn to trust him. But then another voice told her, you can trust Sinbad, but can you trust Talia?
"Argh!" she exclaimed. She pulled the pillow over her head, as if she wanted to stop her thoughts with it.
She heard the sound of the door opening, she peeped from under the pillow. It was Sinbad. She removed the pillow and placed it under her head.
He smiled at her, "hey beautiful!"
She grunted, and turned to her side. Sinbad locked the door. He took of his belt, with the saber and placed it near Maeve's broadsword. He came and sat on the other side of the bed He slid his boots off. And turned to Maeve (rather to her back) and said, "Maeve…" She cut him off, "I am surprised you actually came. I thought you'd be somewhere else, by the way you seemed down there."
"And leave my woman all alone?" he smiled.
She turned to face him, "you have more than one woman." Then she turned her side again.
"I don't want them Maeve, I want you."
"And apparently you have got me, haven't you?"
Sinbad took a deep breath, if this conversation went on…Maeve, would never even want to talk to him. So he said, "no I think it is the other way round." She turned fully to look at him. She gave him that look. Then she broke into a laugh. He joined her. He leaned forward to kiss her. She denied him the pleasure by stopping him just when his lips were an inch away from hers. "So you did not feel anything when Talia was kissing you?"
His lips were being drawn to hers like a magnet, yet she was torturing him by keep him away by only an inch from those luscious lips of hers. His breath quickened, and he said, "who cares?" as he tried to force himself towards her lips, but she held him back saying, "I do."
He looked into her chocolate eyes and said, with a sly smile, "no you don't!" and he pinned her hands, (which were holding him away from her) to the bed, and kissed her long and hard as if he were trying to compensate for all the time he spent away from her.
Maeve's heart leapt with joy, as it always did, when he pressed his lips against hers. She slid her arms around his back, and held him so tightly. It seemed to her that if she let go she'd fall into an abyss. When he broke the kiss, she pulled his head down for another one. Through her lips she showed him, that whatever anger, or bluntness she showed before were all pretense. Finally, when they were breathless, they broke away. Sinbad pulled off his shirt and vest, and unwound his sash. He threw them on to a chair near by and slipped into the covers with Maeve. Maeve's heart raced every time he showed off his lean muscles. She slipped her arm around him. He could tell that she wasn't in the mood to fool around. Now that he thought of it, neither was he. They were both exhausted from that storm, and Maeve's exhaustion was more than his was… since she was drained of energy. She readily crawled into his embrace. She felt so comfortable. Sinbad could feel all her tension loosening up. He smiled as he kissed her head. Maeve tucked her head under his chin. He put his leg over her lower body. He moved his hand and tugged at the shirt she was wearing, "Maeve, get rid off this. You'll be more comfortable."
Sleepily she mumbled, "what if someone comes in?"
"The door is locked, besides everyone is tired, they're all in bed…they won't come searching for me."
Maeve sighed and broke away. She was too tired so he did the honours with pleasure. He slid the shirt over her head and threw it towards the chair where his shirt was. She was now wearing only her cotton chemise. She kissed his bare shoulder as she buried her face under his chin. He gently massaged the small of her neck till he could hear the rhythmic sound of her breathing. She had fallen to sleep really fast. He sighed and closed his eyes. He moved his hand down from her neck to her lower back, fell into one of the most peaceful sleeps he ever had.
They slept soundly until early evening.
It was the sound of rain that woke Sinbad up. He smiled as he saw Maeve sprawled across his chest, her red curls spread all over. It felt good to have her in his arms again. He looked out of the window and saw that it was early in the evening, however it was raining heavily. Obviously the storm Maeve had calmed, was not through giving rain to Cairo. He could see that Maeve was sleeping peacefully. He knew she needed the rest. He stroked her hair, wishing that they both could remain like that forever. A cool breeze blew in; suddenly a spray of rain wet the couple. Maeve being a light sleeper startled at the feel of water, and at Sinbad's reaction to it. She groaned and turned to lie on her back. She looked at Sinbad and said, "what was that?"
"Rain." He whispered.
"What time is it?" she yawned, and turned to snuggle back into Sinbad.
"I don't know." He smiled as he accepted her into his embrace.
"I am not through sleeping." She moaned.
"Then go back to sleep." He smiled, "you need the rest, love."
"You're saying that as if I am pregnant." She said, as she buried her face in his chest.
"Not a bad idea." He teased. She raised her head to raise her eyebrow at him, and then returned to her position. She ran her hand along his chest as she did so. Playing with his chest hair.
He smiled, I am living a dream, he thought.
Well, if you don't shut up, I could turn your dream into a nightmare, he heard Maeve's irritated voice in his head.
He giggled and pulled her closer. She slid her arm around his neck, and dozed off.
Sinbad lay awake, holding her, occasionally massaging her back. He was enjoying this. In his experience with women, no one had ever been able to make him this content just by letting him hold her. Either the girl would ask for more, or he'd get bored of doing nothing. He kissed Maeve's hair and hugged her even closer. They lay like that for half an hour with occasional sprays of rain. He was caressing her hair when another spray came in. She bolted up, surprising him. She had a very frustrated look on her face.
"Maeve…" he frowned a bit, "what's wrong?"
Not answering him, she scrambled out of bed muttering something, obviously, not pleasant. She walked up to the window; suddenly she was drenched to the bone by a burst of rain. She cursed loudly and slammed the window shut. Sinbad giggled at her irritability. She looked so cute. He propped himself on an elbow looking at her as she was looking down at her drenched chemise. She cursed the rain even more. He laughed loudly. She turned fully to glare at him, causing him to drop his jaw at her wet appearance; the sight of her body still took his breath away.
"Oh stop gawking!" she snapped at him as she came towards the bed. "It isn't like you haven't seen me without clothes before."
Sinbad was taken aback by her statement. She was obviously very irritated and sleepy, to make an embarrassing comment like that. She realized what she said and blushed profusely. Sinbad let his head fall back onto the pillow as he watched her get up and strip off her chemise, which was already transparent, since it was wet. And squeezed the water out of it. Then, she spread it on a line that was meant for hanging clothes, Sinbad's eyes followed her every movement, his heart hammering in his chest as he watched her move around wearing nothing at all. She walked back to the bed, and slipped her legs under the covers, and said, "Sinbad, if you don't close that mouth of yours I'll close it for you."
Finally gaining his voice he asked, "and how would you do that?"
"Like this." She whispered and pulled his face to hers. Clamping her mouth over his. Sinbad's eyes widened at first, the closed as he savoured the taste. It was slow and passionate. He slipped his arm around her bare back and pushed her further into the bed, resting his body gently on top of her. His hands played with her curls, as her fingers caressed his face. Slowly and softly they broke the kiss. Each wanted to go on, but at the same time they were worried about pushing the other, too far. Sinbad traced her features. Maeve closed her eyes, as his fingers moved to her lips. He kissed her tenderly, before she shifted. He sensed she wanted some space, so he moved off her. She sat up, and adjusted herself a bit. Then she sank back into his embrace and nestled her head on his shoulder. He did not object to the fact that she wasn't in the mood to do anything else rather than laying like this.
"You know?" he teased softly, "clothes don't suit you much?"
"You know?" she answered back, "they don't suit you much either!"
They giggled, and Sinbad sighed. Maeve closed her eyes, falling back into her reverie.
After about three-quarters of an hour, Maeve finally woke up. She felt thoroughly refreshed. She sat up and stretched. She turned to look at Sinbad. He was awake and he was watching her with a smile. She returned it to him, and slipped out of the bed. He sat up. She picked up her cloak and put it on her. She walked over to her chemise and felt it; made a face when she saw that it was still a bit wet. Sinbad swung his legs over the bed and put on his shirt. Maeve washed her face with some water and then she dried her face. She opened the window, when she figured it had stopped raining. By the time Sinbad was completely dressed, Maeve's chemise was dry. She started getting dressed. She was fumbling with the laces of her west when Dermott, fluttered in.
"Dermott," Maeve chuckled, "you'll catch a cold if you fly around in the rain like that!"
Sinbad slipped his arms around Maeve, and was about to kiss her when he looked at Dermott. Ever since he came to know the hawk's true identity, he started treating it like a human being…and naturally, he was uncomfortable showing his affection to Maeve around human beings.
All right! All right! I'll go…he heard Dermott say, but I just came to ell you that he others were up an hour ago…Doubar is searching for you.
Sinbad nodded as the hawk flew away. He gave Maeve a sweet kiss before they headed downstairs.
When We Were Thieves - Part 4
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