Untimely Return (OPEN)

[Odell Le Faye]

It had been two weeks. Two whole weeks and Odell had never been so busy. The Tavern was getting redone in many ways, and ever since the owners departure Odell took it upon herself to see to it all his wishes were carried out. The mercenaries that showed up were like a dream. They were well behaved and didn’t get drunk, and unlike the other men they never seemed to insist on spending nights with the girls. If a customer became to fresh and made a working girl feel uncomfortable, they were quickly taken out of the building and the girls didn’t have to worry about not being paid ever again.

It really was a dream come true, unfortunately the dream came with a problem. More and more working girls had heard about the new set up and were arriving every day, wishing to work there. Odell couldn’t turn them away, but then again she couldn’t find enough room for them all.

On top of that, she saw to it that the girls cleaned and scrubbed the place over, making it more comfortable not to mention hygienic. She wanted everything to be perfect for the day that the new owner returned, whenever that day would be.

By night time, Odell was usually too tired to do anything but sleep, with the sum of money Jude gave her before he left she wouldn’t have to work for a couple of months and she enjoyed and appreciated the break. Still, she would have rather had his company than his money. Even though she’d only known him for a little while, Odell found herself growing somewhat attached to the wealthy soldier with the missing arm. She cried for almost a whole day when he left the first time, and she hoped he’d come back sooner than later.

One morning, about two weeks after Harkens departure, Odell was working on cleaning the light figures when Annie walked down the stairs followed by that night’s client. He paid her promptly and left. Odell made a point of avoiding the blond whenever possible. She didn’t care for her at all and would much rather she leave the tavern permanently.

“Well girls I must say I’m working my way of the latter.” Annie mused, showing off her coins, “That man was an officer of the Dark queens army. Pretty soon I’ll be sleeping with the Archduke himself.” She laughed and sat down at the table Odell stood upon, giving a tired yawn as she adjusted herself in her blouse.

Odell just continued to clean, “With how willing you are to open your legs Annie, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

There was a cold, silent moment and the others in the Bar looked between the two women. Annie glared up at the red head while Odell went on cleaning.

“Well. It will be easy enough. Sleeping your way into good places seems to have worked out for you hasn’t it Odell?”

Odells arm paused and her head turned to look down at the smirking little blond. Her eyes narrowed, “What do you mean?” There was a tint of warning in her voice, but Annie didn’t seem to head it.

“Oh you know.” She sighed and leaned back. “If I were the one sleeping with the ugly one armed man who just happened to be rich, I’d be the one making all the decisions around here too.”

If she’d stopped there she might not have had to endure what came next, but the pretty blond went on.

“In fact. When he comes back I was thinking about showing him a good time mysel-“ Her words got cut short by the sole of a black thigh-high boot suddenly kicking her square in the face.

In an instantly, Odell had jumped down onto the girl who now was sprawled on the floor. Annie scrambled to get up and run but Odell grabbed her by the hair and threw her into another set of table and chairs.

Pretty soon the girls were all gathered around the fight. Odell had the little blond in a headlock, her fist tangled in her hair as she slammed the girls face over and over into a table top. Her leg propped up onto a chair to support herself. As she did she growled out cusses that would make even a soldier blush. Behind her the barmaid Terry was trying to pull her off.

It was a rather interesting sight for the individual who opened the front door to walk in on…

[General Harken]

Odell had been busy? Harken had been busy! Convincing his accountants that he had invested a large sum of gold in some sort of expedition had been hard enough there was also several meetings that had tired him out. He had met with an assassin who had gotten drunk during their meeting to hire him on as a personal hit squad, discussed having a truce with a pint-sized spell caster who continually called him some sort of name, spoke of the truce with his Queen, and then still had to find a way to pay back Jamik for his birthday incident. Harken sighed deeply, upset that he had been gone for so long. He wondered just how much his new tavern had changed in his absence. Harken, in the guise of Jude, wealthy mercenary turned brothel owner, had arranged for several larger changes but had given Odell the ability to do whatever he saw fit.

It couldn't be that bad, Vargas told him as the two plodded along. Harken only nodded his acceptance. He had taken up his usual disguise of an eye patch and wore one of his older arms, beaten and scratched. He wore his usual leather jacket with plated arms and tattered jeans, not bothering to change his appearance too much. Again he brought a large satchel of coin and a battered sword. Despite whatever wealth the girls thought him to have Harken had to play it off as if he had only enough to feed his habits and keep the bar running. As he walked along with Vargas the bar came into sight. Harken grinned his first thought being of seeing Odell. He wondered if she would be happy to see him. He kicked Vargas' sides lightly to urge the beast onward. Within seconds Harken was in front of his tavern.

The outsides appeared different and the building seemed newer. Harken grinned as he looked at the sign that was placed over the door spelling out the name in delicate black cursive. He hoped off of Vargas and patted his companions side. "Vargas, my friend, this is as close to a second home as I'll ever come. I can always rely on this place to be peaceful." he said as he adjusted his jacket. Pulling out his sword he looked over himself, making sure that he was presentable. Once he was sure he looked nice for a certain woman he sheathed it and walked toward the door. He tossed it open, grinning. He expected to be greeted with good cheer and warm embraces. No, instead he heard the sounds of flesh meeting flesh in the most violent way.

Harken glared out of his one uncovered eye and let out a growl. A fight, in his establishment. "Cease!" he cried out, the building literally shaking from the force. One of the advantages of having a large body was having an even larger voice. Harken's words caused almost all sound to stop and dozens of pairs of eyes turned to look at him. He scowled as he stepped forward, a pathway being made for him. Even if Harken weren't the owner they would have moved. He was the largest man most of the others had ever seen and his steel hand was a marvelous intimidator. As Harken made his way through the clearing he spotted who was causing the ruckus. Annie and a red haired woman... Wait, red hair?

Harken's mouth almost fell open when he realized it was Odell striking Annie. He felt his heart flutter at the sight of her and how she was handling the girl. ... I think I'm in love. He thought to himself in a joking tone. He kept his composure though, his lips pulling back into a snarl. "Annie, Odell." he said, his voice dripping with anger and what most could confuse for contempt. Harken knew Annie well enough from his first encounter to know she was most likely the instigator. He stepped forward and grabbed a hold of the woman, prying them apart as if they were children. "I will not have anyone disturbing the peace of this tavern. Not even those that work here? Are we clear?" he asked arching a brow as he looked between them. His eye lingered upon Odell for a moment.

[Odell Le Faye]

Odell didn’t hear the roar that the others heard. She merely went on beating the snot out of Annie until a large hang grabbed her and pulled her away, and even then she kicked out, her boot striking the girls shin. Her read hair was matted in her face and Odells breath hot and heaving. She could feel the blood pumping in her eats from anger. She didn’t care what the consequences were. She just knew she wanted to keep Annie from so much as wiggling her little arse in Harkens direction.

Annie looked pretty bad, both eyes black and blue and her nose was bleeding. She staggered and a couple of the girls rushed forward to help her stay up. But she still was able to speak, “Sir, she’s crazy! She attacked me for no reason!”

Odell put her hands on her hips and merely laughed, “Oh you don’t have to worry about me attacking anyone unless someone puts their HANDS where they don’t BELONG!”

She felt something warm and wet slither down her lips and chin and Odell put her hand to her face to pull it back. Blood was on her fingertips and her eyes went wide. Apparently Annie had managed to get a punch in herself. When she saw the blood she felt the pain and instantly she knew her own nose was broken as well.

Shit!

Looking up to the one who’d pulled them apart and barked out the command, she blinked to finally realize who it was. Harken stood, glowering over them like an adult glowering over tow children and suddenly she was embarrassed completely.

Turning around she briskly walked towards the stairs to jog upstairs and take care of her face and avoid anymore of the awkward situation…

[General Harken]

Harken held them tightly, his metallic arm clamped around Annie's arm. When she spoke out against Odell he gave it a slight twist, not being able to control himself. "You will hold your tongue and speak rationally in my presence. Do you understand?" he asked. He felt Odell wriggle free of his grasps and saw her out of the corner of his good eye marching up the staircase. He held in a sigh as he focused his wrath toward the one before him. He clenched his teeth and then unclenched them as he thought of a punishment to deal to her. "We will discus what occurred later and any sort of punishment that you will receive." he said. With that Harken released her and then stood up straight. He looked around his face stern. "... Well," he said as he pushed his hands into his pockets. "What're you all lookin' at? Last time I checked this was a tavern! Eat, drink!" he said, putting a grin on his face.

"Terry! A round on the owner of this merry establishment!" he bellowed, slamming his hand down, the sound inaudible over the the cry of the men who were currently there and several women. With them thoroughly cheered up Harken turned his attention to something or rather someone else. He turned on his heel and marched up the stairs after Odell. He didn't bother to notice the fact that the upstairs was now carpeted and the wooden walls decorated, or the fact that men were gathering there to add additions onto the now ever growing tavern. With the influx of girls Harken had predicted he had saw fit to expand his investment. After all, it wouldn't sit right with him to send girls away to just await their deaths much like Brill.

His boots echoed against the floor despite the plush carpeting. He looked around, knocking on doors and apologizing when he disturbed anyone with his intrusion. Eventually Harken had discovered Odell. "Care to explain?" he asked as he leaned in the doorway and looked over her, catching a glimpse of the blood that was running down her nose. Experience told him that she had broken her nose and he wondered if he should offer to fix it. He figured it would be best if they saw a healer. He sighed, figuring that would be another thing they would need close on hand. The more Harken thought the more he realized he was turning this small little tavern into a bustling city made for wenches.

[Odell Le Faye]

Odell sat in the last room of the corridor. She hadn't closed the door after her. It was the same room she'd shared with Harken during his stay in the tavern. Sitting at the little vanity she leaned forward and dabbed at the blood, wincing at the pain she felt every time she did so. Looking in the mirror, she saw Harkens form standing in the doorway and she wanted to jump up and rush to him, cover him with kisses and take him to their bed. But instead she turned her attention back to her image and continued to clean herself up.

"The little idiot was mouthing off." She said simply, "I had to put her in her place."

She glanced at his reflection again and couldn't help but smile softly. She wanted to tell him how she'd missed him, how she thought about him every day and wished for him to come. She wanted to show off all the things she'd put into place for him so he'd be happy with her when he returned. But instead she simply asked, "Was your journey here pleasant?"

She noticed he looked much the same he had when he left her while she on the other hand was a complete mess...

[General Harken]

Harken's urges were much the same as Odell's. The thought of waltzing over to her, picking her up, and throwing her on the bed as he had done the night of their first meeting crossed his mind but he shoved it away. At the moment he wasn't speaking as the man who was madly... Well, Harken couldn't exactly describe the feeling and certainly wouldn't if he could. He was speaking as the owner of the establishment. "Out of work for a good week or so?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Odell, I know you don't like the girl much but you do know that a girl's face in this business is their livelihood." he walked forward, not paying attention to the changes in the room. He rested his right hand upon her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I made this place to be a safe haven for the women but I can't support all of you all of the time."

This wasn't how they wanted their first meeting after half a month to be. He didn't want to talk to her like he talked to his men and certainly didn't want to chastise her. Hell, the urge to compliment her for a job well done was hard to suppress, but he had to do it at this moment. "I'll have to take care of Annie for a time. Yes, I know she doesn't deserve it and that she's a terrible person but even people like that deserve to have a safe place to sleep." Thankfully he could incorporate his punishment into how he took care of her. The most obvious idea was to confine her to quarters with only half rations. He stopped his thoughts there realizing that was a punishment for a soldier... Oh well, they'd learn to expect such things from him.

"My trip?" he asked. He sighed, realizing she was going to be fairly distant for a moment. "My trip here was tiresome and I was hoping that I'd be able to meet someone in a more desirable position." he said as he gave Odell's arm one more squeeze before letting go and taking up a spot in a seat that had not been there before. "And how have you been in my absence?" he glanced around noticing several changes. "I see you've been using the funds I left wisely." Harken hated talking business with a passion but he would have to play that game for a time.

[Odell Le Faye]

Not looking at him until he came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, Odell felt guilt sink in. It was true, she’d put Annie out of business and even though at the time she felt the girl deserved it she knew how it would be to be in her position. She tried not to let it make her a bit jealous as he said he would be taking care of Annie but instead nodded and put her own hand on top of his.

“I know. I’m sorry.” She said with a sigh before going back to wipe up the remaining blood. It seemed the flow had stopped.

Watching him walk away from her, her heart sank but she turned in the seat to face him properly. “Yes, I’ve been trying to. But just cleaning this place took a good week and a half. I’m still not finished. It was a poorly taken care of building before… but you already knew that…”

She stood and strolled over to him, her hands behind her back. Not being one to linger in a fowl mood she reached out and touched a finger lightly against his jaw. “If you are tired perhaps you should lay down and rest?” She offered, a mere hint of seduction in her tone, “I could brining you some thing to eat too if you’re hungry?”

Odell liked taking care of him, it made her feel useful and worthwhile…

[General Harken]

Harken didn't bother to acknowledge her apology. He knew that she was sorry. He could see it written on her face along with something else he couldn't place his finger on. When she told him of her efforts to clean the place he let out a laugh. "I see you really have had your hands full. The place looks a lot better. You'll be a lot busier when the men I hired finish adding on to this place. I know that you can handle it though." he said as he looked over the room.

"I'm glad that I chose the right person to run the place whenever I'm away. You'll have to give me a tour of the place and show me what you've done while I was away." he said as he looked back at Odell. He glanced back just in time to see her reach out and brush her fingers across his jaw. He reached up with his right hand, his fingers twining about her's, before pulling her toward him. He caught her and then placed her in his lap.

"No, I'd rather not eat my own tavern into the poor house." he said, commenting on the fact that he had an endless hunger. Many had figured Harken had no stomach and instead some sort bottomless pit. "Though, I'd be glad to rest if someone wouldn't mind laying with me." he said as he touched his lips to Odell's neck, the light beard that had grown during his travels brushing against her exposed shoulder as he leaned down. It had been a long time since Harken had been this close to a woman. After visiting Odell, Harken hadn't been to any sort of tavern or brothel and even if he would have gone he had a feeling he wouldn't have been able to speak with the girls as he usually did.

[Odell Le Faye]

She practically beamed with pride as he told her he knew he'd chosen the right person to look after things while he was gone. She'd wanted to make him proud of her for that reason and she wanted to show that she was good for something rather than just being a whore. If she'd seen the way she gushed she probably would have slapped herself in the face. However, she really wasn't used to compliments like that.

Odell didn't need to be pulled or coaxed. She slipped easily into his lap, wrapping one of her arms around his neck while the palm of her other hand touched his collar, idly playing with it before hooking her finger over the edge and stroking the skin that was just under the cloth.

His lips on her neck made her head spin a little and her eyes closered while her breath turned heated. Odell knew she had to keep her wits about her, but that was very difficult to do when this man had her in such a vulnerable and delicious state.

Her own tongue ran over her lips as she suppressed a moan. "I'd be happy to show you around." She breathed, her fingers tugging slightly at his shirtfront while her other hand slipped up into his hair.

Wanting more, her eyelids fluttered open and she slipped off his lap, "And as for laying with you, you don't even have to ask..."

She stood before him, facing him full on as she begun to undress slowly, her fingers starting with the laces at her front. Having been in pain before, she all but forgot about the throbbing ache at the bridge of her nose...

[General Harken]

Harken had seen her expression though and it had forced a small laugh from him. He never would have thought she would react like that to a simple compliment. It was simply the truth and Harken thought it was the best policy to be honest... Well, most of the time. The girls that worked for him still had no idea that he was the Archduke and that included the woman who was currently sitting in his lap. He always felt guilty when he remembered that he was caught up in a massive lie, especially when he thought of how he was lying to Odell. Every once in awhile he wondered what would happen if he told her the truth. Would it be like one of those fairy tale endings were the handsome prince rescued a fair maiden from the dark clutches of some villainous beast. That thought almost made the large man laugh out loud.

For one, Harken was much too old to believe in fairy tales anymore. Second, he wasn't exactly the image most would get when they thought of a charming prince. He would be the first to admit that he wasn't any prize but he certainly wasn't the ugliest man he'd ever seen. Third, Odell wasn't exactly what one would call a maiden. The woman, to Harken's great anger, or rather jealousy, had been with plenty of men through out her life. It was always nice to pretend though. "Oh, would you like to show me around now or later?" he asked as he lifted his head from her neck and looked down at her. She shifted slightly and then stood up before him.

Harken got his answer in a rather odd way. He smiled as she began to tug at the chords that held her corset against her and sat up straight. He figured that meant they would go on a tour later. His single, black eye seemed to smirk as it watched her appraisingly. Harken had gone two weeks without so much as speaking to another woman for fear of betraying Odell, despite the fact there was no spoken vow between them. They had been a very long two weeks.

[Odell Le Faye]

It was true, she didn’t bother to answer his question because what she wished to do was fairly obvious. Working on the Inn had kept Odell from opening her legs to anyone, but there was also the fact that she didn’t want to work like that for anyone else. Not that she particularly enjoyed being a woman of the oldest vocation, but for some reason after meeting and being with Jude she couldn’t even face the idea of ever sleeping with anyone else. Somewhere deep inside she supposed that she wished she wouldn’t have to. Plenty of rich men took care of women like her… didn’t they? She wasn’t sure. She’d heard rumors of it happening but had never met a real mistress personally. Probably because they didn’t tend to live in taverns.

Seeing the way his eye roamed over her, Odell’s smile only brightened. She liked being appreciated for her body, as weird as that may be. That was why she worked so hard to keep it young looking. As her fingers elegantly unlaced the top she swayed her hips a little, lowering her chin a bit and bighting her lower lip. Finally she was free of the stays and she let the garment drop to the floor behind her.

Her breasts exposed, she flipped her hair over her shoulder before lifting a foot and gently placing it between his legs on the chair, using it as an anchor while she unlaced and tugged off one of her boots. She bent forward a little further than necessary, giving the man quite the eyeful.

After repeating the same process with the other boot, she turned away from him, walking a few paces towards the bed while undoing the front of her shorts, slowly, sensually, she wiggled her way out of the, leaving her in nothing more than her lacy, black panties.


Turning around, she walked back over to him and pressed a hand on his sternum, indicating she wanted him to stay in the chair while she slipped onto his lap, straddling his hips, her arms wrapped around him as she leaned in to kiss him, her lips hovering over his.

“I missed you.” She whispered, her voice so soft only he could hear her confession…

[General Harken]

Harken watched with well hidden anticipation as Odell tugged at the strings and then allowed the piece of cloth to flutter to the floor, not that Harken was paying much attention to it as it fell. He bit his cheek to prevent himself from standing up and going to her and instead watched as she performed for him. He inhaled deeply, attempting to snuff out the desire that was rising within him as she danced about him, placing her legs before him, leaning down in front of him, teasing him. Again, he fought against the instinct to reach out and pull her towards him and instead tightened his grip upon the arms of the chair, the wood threatening to snap under the grip of both hands. She walked away from him, her hips swaying seductively with every step. He watched as she wriggled free of her shorts in what he could only describe as painfully slow.

Harken couldn't take it anymore and began to push himself up from the seat, his hands finally releasing the death grip he'd had on the arms of it. It was too late though. Odell had moved quietly across the room and placed her hand on his chest, pressing him back against the chair. Not many things could stop Harken once he set his mind on something but that gentle, guiding hand had stopped him dead in his tracks and he followed it's command as he sat down, Odell's legs stretching over him, wrapping around his waist, leaning down to press her lips to his. His arms snaked their way around her pulling her tight against him. He tilted his head back ready to receive the soft touch of her lips against his. Only, it never came. Instead, soft words spoken with out the usual seductive, sultry tone were spoken yet they carried the same affect, if not more. He shivered as he looked up, his single black eye meeting a pair of brilliant emerald eyes.

"I missed you as well." he said, his voiced hushed in much the same manner that her's was. With what he had been thinking all day finally out in the open he leaned up. He kissed Odell with all of the desire and passion that had been built up within him during her enticing dance and the two week period he had gone with out her, without feeling her pressed against him, laying beside him.

[Odell Le Faye]

One crazy love making session later…

“God!” Odell gasped for the hundredth time as she fell against the disarrayed bedding. She rolled onto her back, looking up at the ceiling as her body heaved with dry pants, trying to regain her breath. Her hair tangled around her head and shoulders, her skin wet with perspiration all the while her mind spinning wildly while her body still basked in the pleasure that slowly ebbed away. Only moments before she’d been in throws of rapture unlike she’d ever experienced before, and she couldn’t help but wonder how it was this man could make her feel so much…

She lifted her head to try and look up at the man she thought of, the man whose head was near her feet and a sly grin crossed her face as if she shared with him a secret and private joke. But she couldn’t hold it up for long, and her head slammed back down against the bed with another long sigh, “Oh…. God…” She moaned again, still blinking off the sensation.

One of her hands reached up to wipe at her brow while the other crossed her stomach. In the future she’d be sure to tell her girls that men with missing limbs apparently made the best lovers…

[General Harken]

Harken let out a deep sigh as he leaned his head back against the bed, his arms sprawled out on either side of him. It had been one of the few times he actually showed some sort of exhaustion. He ran his right hand over his face, finding that his eye patch had been tossed off in all the excitement. Come to think of it, he didn't remember when she had actually coaxed him out of his clothing. He sat up, propping himself up on his elbows and glanced around, seeing various articles of clothes covering the floor. He turned his head and grinned when he saw Odell looking up at him, a sly smile present upon her flushed face. He laughed as she fell back onto the bed with another sigh. Harken shifted and ended up laying next to Odell, his head near her's.

He leaned over and placed a light kiss on her cheek before resting his head against the disheveled bedding. "I think I'm more exhausted now then I was when I came in." he mummbled, referring to the fact that he had originally decided that he wanted to lay down. He hadn't exactly expected it to turn into... well he wasn't sure what he was supposed to call what had just happened but he hadn't expected it to happen. He ran his hand through his moistened black hair, brushing several locks from his face. Once he had whipped the perspiration from his face he slipped one arm under Odell, allowing her to rest her head upon his shoulder and then placed his hand over her's.

"So," he began as he turned and looked down at her. "You missed me?" he asked with a soft laugh that shook his chest.

[Odell Le Faye]

Odell was beaming and as he came to her she couldn't keep from practically gushing. It took no coaxing at all for her to move in closer, her head resting upon his shoulder while her hand touched and caressed lightly at his chest with her fingertips. Closing her eyes, she merely basked in the moment, listening to his heart beat before he spoke.

"I'm sorry." She mused, not really sorry at all, "You should be able to sleep well now." She chuckled softly at her own joke before opening her eyes to look up at him. Her lips kisses lightly at his jaw as he laughed over her behavior.

Of course she'd missed him. In how savagely she'd attacked him in bed that probably was fairly obvious. She's never gone so long in her life without sleeping with a man, and for once it wasn't the sex she missed but the man.

Her fingertips traced little circles on his skin but she did not move her hand, liking the feel of his upon it.

"Mmmm..." She hummed as in deep thought, "I suppose I did." She laughed and kissed his neck.

Suddenly she remembered something and pulled back a little, "Oh, the girls and I were wondering if tonight we could have a celebration of sorts. We'd wanted to have it last week but decided it would be best to wait until your return. It wouldn’t be much. Just something to celebrate the new owner and his generosity.” She sat up a little to look down into his face, waiting for his answer.