Beach day

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

Anneliesa was off on a walk, just enjoying her day and the beach was the perfect spot for that. With no books in hand and just a light shawl over her shoulders and wearing a flowing dress that trailed behind her, she would head to the beach and kick off her shoes to hook into her fingers to carry as she walked.

The dress she wore, was one she didn't mind getting wet so she would trail close to the waters for a time. The beach seemed to be empty today, so it was quiet with just the gulls talking and the waves lightly crashing into the beach. It made her wish she had brought a towel but she hadn't, so getting soaked right now would not be the smartest thing in her book.

Down the ways a bit though, to a more secluded area of the beach, she would spot a pile of clothes. Did someone get pranked? That thought alone made the countess giggle some as she went over to the pile and picked up a men's shirt and looked it over for some clue as to who they belonged to. "Hello?" her voice called out curiously as she would turn and keep looking until she would spot someone.

[Cormac Naharis]

Although it may have seemed a little too cold to be swimming in the ocean this time of year, Cormac often disregarded the idea as a bad one. He loved the ocean and though it was more pleasant in the summer months, it was rather… refreshing when it was colder. It woke him up and he also felt it conditioned him for less favorable climates should he ever be caught in bad weather when he was in a war or guarding.

When the water was this cold, though, he did not linger in it for too long. He swam out, fighting against the waves, using whatever strength he had to push through them and not allow them to push him back out to shore. He did this for some time. Enough time for a woman at the shore to come across his clothes and search through them.

He made his way back towards the shore, keeping underwater until it became shallow enough for him to stand. As he broke through the surface, there was a loud splashing sound as he stood, his hands moving to wipe the water and hair from his face, not yet noticing the woman standing by his clothes. Until he lowered his hands from his face and opened his eyes- he spotted Anneliesa holding and inspecting his shirt. He raised a brow and tilted his head before calling out. “I don’t think that shirt would suit you, my lady…” Cormac stood there, fully nude, the water just up to shins. There was no use in dipping back into the water- it was too cold. And well, unless she turned away, he didn’t have anything to conceal himself with, especially as she was holding onto his shirt still.

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

Anne was trying to see if there was something she recognized about the clothing she held, but so far nothing came to mind. What did suddenly jump out at her though was the mans voice she heard and she would be turning and then staring. A more proper lady would have looked away in an instant but, given that she was a little less than so, she stared a bit at him and bit her lips a smidge together.

"I don't know...It would fit me as a night gown since it's perfectly large and comfortable looking," she told him. Bad joke there but she really had been spending far too much time with her nose in novels that she couldn't help it.

Looking around, she would hopefully find a towel and she would pick it up and carry it over to the waters edge while keeping her eyes up on his face, "I don't think I've seen you in this state of undress before Cormac," she told him with a impish smile on her face as she held the towel out for him. Her eyes though were taking him in, she really could not help herself because he really was very handsome and dripping wet from the ocean. Heavens save her, she was so glad her sister wasn't around to scold her for this one. Anne was trying to help him but he didn't seem to be the shy sort after swimming in the ocean naked as a jay bird.

[Cormac Naharis]

Most women would have quickly turned away as if embarrassed or too proper to allow themselves to see a naked man outside of wedlock or something like that. But not Anne. Was she staring at him? He raised a brow and allowed his own blue eyes to look her over, it was then that he noticed just who exactly it was. Anneliesa O’Cleirigh- Mauve’s sister.  What would she say if she knew of her sister looking at him like that?  Or what would she think of him?  He wasn't doing anything wrong- just a quick swim.  It was Anne's fault.

A smirk found his lips as she claimed the shirt would be perfect for a nightgown for her, and he shrugged his shoulders. Cormac slowly walked out of the water and towards her as she held the towel out to him. He took it from her with a grin on his face, keeping his own eyes on hers. He muttered a quiet thank you before drying his face off with the towel and then wrapped it around his waist.

At her comment, he raised a brow again and laughed. What an obvious thing to say- of course, she hadn’t seen him this way before. They had never had the opportunity to be thrown into a situation such as this-- or something more purposeful. He caught her looking him over again and he smirked, “Like what you see, then, Lady O’Cleirigh?”
He was hardly shy, despite his quiet and reserved nature- he was confident in himself and didn’t let things, such as being seen naked, bother him.

“Wouldn’t you prefer a much cleaner shirt that hasn’t been soaked with my sweat from a day’s work?” He lifted a hand out as if asking her for his shirt, the smirk never leaving his lips.

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

Anneliesa knew that she was an overall good and proper lady, never going beyond a kiss or two with a gentleman who attempted to woo her but that always failed. Now though, she could resist looking at the man in front of her as water beaded down his rather toned body. She would be tucking this tid bit away for just some mental happiness later because she was rather sure, she wouldn't see anything like this again.

It was hard to keep her eyes up but she managed to keep them above his hips and up and then back up to his face as she was giving him a rather sweet smile right now. The smirk on his face was met with her brows raising a little bit but the smile never leaving her face.

"I'd have to say yes, though I've never had the privilege to enjoy looking before- you hide a lot under that armor, don't you?" She asked, a playful tease in her tone as she spoke to him. Oh she could feel her sister scolding and laughing at the same time right now, she might have to tell her but leave out whom she saw in this unique state of clothing- or lack thereof.

Anneliesa would go over to his clothes then, picking them up and holding them, "Oh, so are you offering to get me a clean shirt of yours to sleep in?" she asked, her tone sweet and innocent as she flirted a little with him. She was normally not this playful but hell, she just saw a man pop up out of the water naked, there was little reason to be a shy maiden right now- and when she was flustered, she tended to lean to the impish side of things.

[Cormac Naharis]

Cormac continued to smirk as he watched Anneliesa look him over, seemingly with no shame. He felt like he was on display, though he wasn’t sure he minded too much. Especially when it was a beautiful lady like Anne. Was that wrong?

She admitted to him that she liked what she saw and commented that he hid a lot under his armor. He gave her another shrug, though this one was nonchalant as if he never noticed, or perhaps he was just humble and didn’t think highly of himself in that regard. He grinned at her playful teasing tone and then finally laughed. “I suppose you could have just asked…” He teased her back, “rather than ambush me on the beach here. Were you stalking me?” He smirked and glanced around the empty beach. What was she doing out here, anyway?

He continued to hold his hand out, waiting for her to give him his clothes, but she held them still, not offering them over to him. He raised a brow at her, playfully. Was she going to make him stay undressed for her own amusement?

Cormac laughed at her comment. “I suppose… if that is what you really want- I’m sure I could spare to give up a shirt of mine.” He winked at her and when she still didn’t move to give him his clothes, he set his hands on his hips and looked her over again. She looked like she had a devious look on her face, and he wasn’t sure where this was going.

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

The smirk on his face made her smile, she was trying her damndest to not blush but there was a tinge of pink to her cheeks the more she looked at him. This was going to get her in so much trouble even though she was a grown adult.

First, she would hand him his pants and underthings- she wasn't so cruel as to keep the poor man naked and cold on the beach right now. Then she laughed at what he said, her head shaking, "Would that have been proper; Oh Sir Naharis? Mind removing your clothing for me so I can take a quick peek?" she asked him, her tone wholly playful as she laughed lightly, "No, I was just enjoying a nice day at the beach. I thought it was empty and I keep getting told that I spend far too much time indoors than a lady should," she said with a little grin.

Gosh it was going to be a shame to see him get dressed but bonus was she could watch a little bit while he did as well.

"Mm is there a cost for a shirt?" she asked, still holding his actual shirt for ransom still. She didn't mind that it had a masculine scent about it- ok it was sweat but it didn't stink. She was enjoying this a bit though, the wheels in her mind turning in her head right now. How bad would it be if she ran off with his shoes and shirt?

[Cormac Naharis]

He noticed the blush touching her cheeks, and it only caused him to smirk a little more. When she handed him his pants, he took them from her and stepped into them before pulling the towel away to finish pulling them up and buttoning them.

He laughed as she imitated asking him to take his clothes off so she could get a good look at him. He had only been joking, but the thought of it was still quite humorous to think about. Cormac laughed, “why not?” He joked back playfully, the tone in his voice making it obvious that he was only kidding. Of course, if she had asked him, he would have looked at her as if she were crazy.

As Anne admitted to what she was doing exactly, he made himself busy by trying to dry his hair off with the towel. She still wasn’t giving up his shirt, but he didn’t mind. At least his lower half was covered up now. “You do look a little pale...Except for now… I see a little pink on your face- maybe you’ve been out in the sun for too long?” He smirked again, knowing very well it wasn’t from the sun.

At her question, he returned his gaze to her and smirked again. Was there a cost for a shirt of his? He thought for a moment, pursing his lips together as if exaggerating his thinking. “Hmm…I don’t know…What do you think it’s worth?” Cormac looked at her curiously, wondering what she would think. “But you do realize…” He paused, tilting his head in thought as a slow grin formed on his lips. “If you have a shirt of mine… You might never be able to erase the sight of me from your mind… You’ll think of me whenever you wear it. Is that really something you’d want now?” He teased her, perhaps even flirting with her now.

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

It was hard to keep her body from showing the obvious fluster to seeing a naked man, she did try and give him some decency of not watching as he pulled them up but she would be lying if she didn't take a small peak once more before averting her eyes a little for him.

That tone had her laugh, "Because then I might be laughed at and called an improper lady," she told him with a small laugh. She wouldn't ever dare such a thing, it was a fun idea but she could never just straight out ask another to strip so that she could look and see what he looked like under all that leather- though she was not regretting the look she got.

The mention of the pink on her face had her moving his shoes and shirt behind her back as she walked up a bit closer to him now as her head tilted to the side, "I think that makes two of us, the sun is a little unforgiving on the beach," she told him with a playful smile as she would then start to walk backwards a bit from him, she was toying with ideas in her head.

Anneliesa didn't go far, his words making her bite her lip a little bit as she let her gaze drift up as she imagined that. She would think of him but would the reverse be the same as well, "But does that mean you'd be thinking of me wearing your shirt then to bed as my nightdress?" she asked him with a sweet playful smile- she was returning his own flirt, "I think it has plenty of worth just makes me wonder if the owner will try and get it back or let it go," Anne told him her hips swaying a little as she would pick up her skirts just a smidge so that her bare feet started to show as that would make running oh so much easier.

[Cormac Naharis]

He laughed softly and shook his head. “Does it matter what others think of you?” He asked her with a more serious tone, though still a sense of playfulness. “Then again, are you being a proper lady by staring at me like that?” He smirked again, hinting at the fact that he caught her in the act. Though he didn’t seem to mind all that much- it was just rather amusing to him, this whole conversation.

Blue eyes watched as she moved his boots and shirt behind her back and he raised a brow curiously. She was up to something, no doubt. He watched as she moved closer to him and claimed he was getting a bit pink as well. Though he didn’t really think he was blushing all that much, she could see him when he could not. Or maybe it really was the sun getting to him.

Cormac stared at her as she began walking away, a curious smile forming on his lips. She wasn’t planning on giving him his shirt back, was she? And apparently not his boots either. He watched her, not yet going after her. She didn’t answer his question, but by the way, she bit her lip and smiled playfully at him as she turned the question around on him, he imagined he was correct in his assumption. He shrugged one of his shoulders to his ear and grinned. “Hmm. Perhaps I would. I think it would be a rather attractive sight, actually. Though I might wonder each night if you are actually wearing it or not.”

He continued to watch her as she walked backward and away from him. Would he try and go after her to get it back? Or would he let her have it, since she seemingly wanted it, sweat and all. He smirked and stood there with his hands on his hips as if he wasn’t going to move after her. She looked as if she were preparing to run as she lifted the hem of her skirts, which caused him to raise a brow in a challenging manner. Was she going to try and outrun him? A well-trained soldier?

He was amused, and that was clearly written on his features. “You’re going to make me catch you to get my clothes back?” His tone was doubtful, though he wouldn’t put it past her- she seemed to be enjoying this little banter and flirting, and maybe he was too. Plus, maybe it would be amusing to see her try to run from him, but he’d give her a head start, regardless.

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

"My sister's opinion matters most to me," she told him with a little chuckle. Oh, he had to bring that up. She would give him a small shrug of her shoulders at that, "I was being properly curious and just...making sure you were uninjured from your cold swim," she told him with a renewed playfulness. Oh yea, to anyone else that would be her story but he knew she watched him because he had gotten her full attention and she didn't want to break it.

Her body was moving, just warming up a little bit but what he said had her belly doing a little flutter. That was new, she didn't expect that for an answer, "Well... I'd say the only way to know would be to see for yourself at least once but I know I'd be rather comfortable in it since it's more than twice my size," she told him with a little smile. She knew she would, she had heard that sleeping in another mans shirt was an enjoyable experience and she had not done it herself and she might now be getting a chance.

Mentally, she was mapping the path behind her and how face she could run on the sand. She didn't have her shoes in her hands anymore and just his clothes and her shawl. She could easily outrun him- how fast could he really be anyways? Mischief sparkled in her hazel eyes as she looked at him, a smile tugging on her lips, "I am afraid I might because I fear you are too cold and it would be unkind of me to not help you warm up and see if you can indeed catch me," Anneliesa told him with a sweet smile before she pulled his shoes and shirt up to her chest with her skirt up high to her calves and she booked it laughing.

She had that head start but he would quickly see that this lady book worm, was fast on her feet and was already making it a fair distance away from him as she didn't even look back to see if he was chasing her yet.

[Cormac Naharis]

Maeve’s opinion actually mattered to him, as well. The DeGraff family had taken him and his mother in and helped raise him- he never wanted to disappoint them, and only hoped this little encounter with Anneliesa didn’t cause any problems. For him or Anne. Then again, no one had to know except them. And he hadn’t done anything wrong, really. Well, unless you call a little flirting and encouragement wrong. Cormac couldn’t help but laugh as she came up with an excuse for staring at him. “Oh, really? You were looking for an injury?” He raised a doubtful brow at her. “And exactly what kind of injury were you expecting to find?” He smirked playfully and tilted his head as he regarded her curiously.

Cormac still didn’t move as she continued to move backward. At her comment, he blinked a few times and stared at her. “Are you insinuating that I should spend a night with you, to see how you look in my shirt?” He grinned widely and laughed a breath out of his nose. Maybe that wasn’t what she meant, but he could at least put the idea in her mind. Or twist her words around to make it seem that she had come up with the idea herself. “Well aren’t you quite forward, my lady?” He playfully teased her.

He noticed that mischief in her eyes and as she answered his question, he couldn’t help but grin further and then he laughed just before she took off running. It was then that he finally moved, but not to run yet. He spotted her shoes and smirked, leaning down to pick them up. She really had no clue how fast he could run, did she? And while she seemed to be running quite quickly, he knew he’d be faster even still. He had extensive years of training since he was a young boy. He was sly and agile and quick.

When he had given her a good enough head start, he finally ran after her, with her shoes in his hands. Ransom, right? He pushed his legs hard and fast as he ran towards her, his bare feet thumping hard against the sand. He caught up to her rather quickly and moved up behind her, dropping her shoes to the sand before he quickly wrapped his arms around her from behind and bear-hugged her. Gently, of course, lifting her up off the ground to help the momentum of their running come to a halt. He spun her around before setting her down and moving to stand in front of her, laughing, but breathing heavily to catch his breath. “I admire you trying.” He said between breaths. “You must want my shirt real badly, hm?” He laughed again, “but my boots? You said nothing about wanting my boots.”

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

Maeve would want to probably scold her for acting like a teenager right now but yet probably find it rather hard to stay angry with her really. Both were adults and not doing anything really inappropriate, she just happened upon him by chance and now her tongue was getting ahead of her and here they were now. "The kind that the ocean can cause; chapped skin or surprise abrasions from rocks, you never know really in the ocean," she told him with a smile. She was really having fun, she hadn't expected this today and really this was much more enjoyable than sitting at home.

The sudden twist of words succeeded in making her falter, her tongue essentially tangling as he made her fully blush, "Th-that's not what I meant!" she said laughing now as it did seem like she wanted him to come spend the night, "Well I amnever blunt with my words but if you insist on spending the night I do ask for dinner first and a glass of wine," she told him, countering to try and fluster him. She was only trying to recover now because heck, he had her flustered rather well and truly now.

Anneliesa felt like she had a good head start, her feet pounding the sand and kicking it up as she kept her loose skirt up from her ankles to keep from tripping on it. She thought that she heard feet on the sand after her but by the time it truly registered she found herself being bear hugged from behind and lifted off of the ground! She yelped and laughed as one of her hands held onto his arm as he spun her and then set her down. Anne couldn't stop laughing as she turned to place a hand on him to steady herself, her face flushed and chest heaving a bit.

"You are much faster than you look, I conceded to your speed," she told him with a laugh, "Well, I had to think of something that you would need more than a shirt to leave," she told him with a laugh, a bright smile on her face as she would give him his shoes first but her hand would stay on him as she tried to keep from falling. She couldn't stop smiling though, he brought this out in her and really she was half tempted to bolt again to see if he would give chase.

[Cormac Naharis]

Maeve would probably scold him for this too. He was typically a lot more reserved and quiet than this, and he was sure they might not believe he was acting this way. Then again, he was typically playful and humorous amongst his friends and family. But there was something about Anneliesa that drew that side out of him. Or maybe it was just because she had seen him naked, and well- there wasn’t much left to hide anymore, was there?

He laughed at her list of possible injuries he could have obtained from the ocean, and he tilted his head as if to agree that she had a point. But he hadn’t acquired any injuries-- just his loss of dignity-or maybe just his propriety. “Uh-huh…” He responded as if he didn’t believe her.

Cormac couldn’t help but grin, chuckling softly at her as she seemed to fumble with her words and become flustered by the idea of him spending a night. But it wasn’t what she meant- yet she was insisting that if he were to stay, she deserved dinner and a glass of wine. Cormac smirked and tilted his head as he looked at her curiously. “Is that all it takes?” He playfully joked. She didn’t say no, to be fair. Or tell him to get lost. He wondered if she truly was considering it, or if she was just playing along. Even so, it didn’t do much to fluster him. Instead, it only made him curious and maybe even challenged.

He hadn’t let go of her as he set her back down in the sand and she steadied herself against him. He held her shoulders to keep her upright as she laughed. Now she was admitting to underestimating him based on his looks? He smirked slightly and shook his head. “Did you forget that I am a soldier?” He laughed as he continued to catch his breath.

He removed one of his hands from her to retrieve his boots as she gave them to him. Yet, she still wasn’t handing over his shirt or removing her hand from him. First, she couldn’t take her eyes off of him, and now she wanted to touch him?

Her smile made him smile even more and he shrugged his shoulders. “And…” He paused, his expression growing slightly more serious, though his smile remained. “Of course I would take you out for dinner and wine. I am a gentleman, despite what you must think of me now.”

[Anneliesa O'Cleirigh]

Anneliesa had prided herself in manners and behaving but she was spunky still, she liked to have some fun after working all the time and so she didn't feel like she would be too harshly scolded for having a bit of fun right now, right? She was hoping not because this was just innocent fun right?

A little nod left her as she gave a sweet playful smile that lit up her eyes as she looked at him, "Yes and you seem to be in good health and no bumps or cuts," she told him with a little grin. She did take that chance to look him over once more to make her point known that she was checking in on him of course.

It wasn't often that she was turned into a fluster mess from a comment but he got her nice and pink in the cheeks as she tried to think of words to counter but he just kept going. "Well it may take a few more evenings like that and then one public outing," she told him, see if he could come back from that. She wasn't wholly sure if she was asking him out on a date right now or not, partially she was but yet she wasn't sure if he would want to with her still- her self confidence was all over the place right now.

Her fingers would touch the back of his shoulder, her fingers moving a little bit out of pure curiosity and just to touch him a little more, "How could I forget though normally you have a somewhat serious look on your face, this expression suits you more," she told him with a smile as she worked on breathing normally again.

He had all but his shirt back, what had started this rather fun game that she found herself in with him right now.

"As I promise I am much more of a lady than this afternoon has proven," she told him with a bit of a smile at that, her tone still light and filled with laughter from it all, "No I think you are very much a gentlemen still, that opinion has no wavered but I do see you as much more fun now," she said with a sweet smile to him at that. "So...how does dinner at my place sound then?" she asked, a little playful grin on her face as mischief was still rather evident in her eyes but she was behaving right now, content to hold onto him.