Slowly he released her hands, and her elegant fingers spread against his chest, as he reached out for the rest of her. His fingers and palms encountered the sensitive spot just beneath her ribs and kept moving until he had slid his arms completely around her middle. Gently he pulled her toward him until they were touching from shoulders to thighs. Her outline softly conformed to his, and then melded with it, as if someone had come by and erased the lines that defined where his body began, and hers ended. With a quiet groan, he then locked his arms behind her back to keep her in his embrace.

She felt his heart rate intensify as their bodies made contact, this time, without the formidable barriers of jacket and parka. As they moved closer, her hands glided up his chest until they reached the inner parts of his shoulder tops, where the silken ends of his hair teased her fingertips. She curled her fingers and let the strands slip between them, as she reveled in the feel of his parted lips, sleek tongue tip, and the soft bulkiness of his sweater, which gave emphasis to the superb physique beneath it. The fronts of his powerful thighs brushed against hers, and then pushed slightly forward to maintain the connection; Allura gladly returned the pressure. As she did so, his stance widened, and almost instantaneously she felt his most intimate parts nestled against her. Blood running hot, she gasped and pressed even nearer; his torso was hard, yet inviting, and felt so good against hers that she had to express her enjoyment in the form of a throaty moan.

Keith felt a deep-seated satisfaction as he heard The Princess acknowledge her pleasure and swiftly deepened the kiss by sliding the full length of his tongue against hers. His head moved in time to the leisurely strokes of his tongue, and she paralleled the motion, while her fingers burrowed into his sweater, trying to hold on as her knees started to give way. His arms tightened reflexively as he felt her body move down, and then he turned, bringing the two of them around so that his backside could rest against the countertop, and she could lean into him. Never once did their lips part as he did this, but now Allura could feel the unique, added sensation of stubble grazing her chin and the sides of her mouth due to the changed angle of contact. She shivered at the raw, tingling touch that was in direct contrast to the smooth glide of his tongue around and under hers.

Long moments ticked by as they kissed, again and again, locked in the safe comfort of each other's arms, unmindful of anything or anyone that might trespass into that refuge.

The noisy shifting of the mugs soaking in the sink finally sliced into heedless bliss. Giving a little start, Allura tried to gently withdraw from their link, giggling softly as his mouth pursued hers, their lips now barely touching while his tongue delicately curled upwards to trace her upper lip.

Regretfully she angled her head away from those entrancing male lips, knowing that she had work to do, but hating herself for remembering that she did. Somehow, she forced her vocal cords to perform, though the bedroom eyes gazing imploringly down at her did their best to rob her of the power of speech.

"Keith, I'm afraid I must- oh!"

A soft gasp forced its way out of her throat when he lowered his head and his seeking lips trailed across her cheekbone to find her ear and the hollow below it, before burying his face in the curve of her shoulder. His glorious hair brushed lightly against her cheek; powerless to resist temptation, she turned to hide her mouth and nose in the soft black mass that had slipped forward between his neck and shoulder. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply; the sleek strands smelled of fresh air and a deliciously spicy scent that she felt sure was pure Keith. With a contented sigh, she slowly tipped her head back, acutely conscious of the hot mouth that was now exploring her jaw line, and the persuasive hands that firmly pressed into her back. Her arms slid up and crossed behind his neck as she surrendered to sensation, all thoughts of duty banished from her mind.

"Your skin is so soft," he murmured against her jaw.

"So's your hair," she replied breathily. "I adore it."

"The Garrison has told me I should cut it," He softly confessed, as he nuzzled her ear once more. "It's not regulation."

"Don't you dare," she moaned, as his tongue caressed her earlobe. "It's perfect the way it is."

He smiled against her ear. "Oh I don't know...it is a lot of work. And it's always mussed up, no matter what I do."

Allura's eyes flew open at his wry comment, and her hands suddenly delved into the raven black strands. She used them to tug at his head until they were face to face.

Azure eyes glared into amused brown ones.

"You are to leave your hair the way it is. I forbid you to cut it." She commanded, in her most Princess-like tones. "I forbid you to change it in any way."

"You forbid it?" His thick eyebrows lifted in mock outrage.

The Princess' gaze wavered a little. "I..uh, well.."

"What happened to asking?" He inquired, with a sly smile. "What happened to the magic word, hm?" He softly chuckled at her put out expression. "If you want something from me, Princess, all you have to do is ask- politely, of course, like Nanny has always taught you."

She tried to draw away then, but the muscular arms locked around her tightened, preventing a premature escape. Giving up the brief struggle, she stared at a point somewhere beyond his left ear, and gritted:

"Okay, fine, I will!" She paused dramatically, then asked in a sticky-sweet voice, " My dear Captain Keith, would you grant me the very considerable favor of not cutting off your hair? I would be most appreciative."

"Ah-ah, you forgot the magic word," He reminded her, solemnly.

Allura sighed in exasperation. "So sorry, Commandant! I meant to say, would you please grant me the favor of not cutting off your hair!"

She waited expectantly for an affirmative response. Long seconds ticked by before she got her reply.

"I'll think about it and get back to you." He drawled.

She turned chagrined eyes to his, and reddened when she saw the broad grin on his face.

"Oh! You are the most- you are a - Oooo!" Her indignant expression and puckered up mouth caused him to shake with suppressed laughter.

"You are the most aggravating ..." She sputtered, and pushed ineffectively against his chest, making him laugh harder. Really, he was too much- kissing her passionately one minute, laughing at her the next!

"Laugh while you can!" She informed him, her baby blues flashing. "You'll have to let me go sometime, and then you'll be sorry!" She lowered her gaze to his arms, and reached down to tug at the bands of steel that were holding her captive. "Let go!"

He had suddenly stopped laughing.

Allura quickly looked up and observed, with increasing concern, the trace of hurt that was flickering in the dark depths of his gaze. She stopped wiggling. "Keith? What is it? What's wrong?" She grabbed his upper arms.

The warmth encircling her body was now gone. She felt the sharp pangs of loss, until his calloused hands tenderly cupped her face.

"Forgive me for hanging on to you like that, Princess. The only excuse I can give you is that I have had to let go too many times." His smile was bittersweet as he looked down at her with a warm expression.

Her face was filled with remorse. "Keith, I.... I'm sorry, you were only teasing, and I just, I mean, I was-"

"Overreacting." He finished the apology for her. A smile reappeared in his eyes, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes." She admitted, a little sheepishly.

He bent his head and softly rubbed his nose back and forth across hers, three times, before drawing away. "There, you've just gotten an authentic Eskimo kiss."

She blinked up at him in mystification. "Eskimo kiss?"

"You know I'm from Alaska, and that I'm part Inuit," He reminded her.

She nodded.

"Well it's sort of a tradition among the Inuit to rub noses to express affection."

"A tradition..." Her eyes went wide. The celebration! She had to get moving or it would never come together the way she wanted it to.

He noticed her anxious expression and sighed, realizing their romantic idyll had truly ended. He dropped his hands to his sides, and the Princess stepped back.

"I have some unavoidable duties to attend to..." She spoke the words with regret, her eyes never leaving his.

"I know." He sighed again. "I have some paperwork to finish, stuff I left hanging to go play."

"Are you sorry you did? Play, I mean?" She asked provocatively, her eyes now bright with mischief.

"No, I'm not." He huskily replied, smiling a little.

"Me either," she told him, her eyes shining with excitement. She stepped forward, went up on her tip-toes, and gave him a lingering kiss on his tanned cheek. She giggled when he made a grab for her.

"Come here!" He said with authority, his eyes glinting with amused admiration as she skillfully avoided his grasp.

"Sorry, can't! I wish I could...but if I don't see to my itinerary, Coran will have an absolute fit," she informed him, impudently.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than they heard the door to the lounge slide open. They guiltily jumped apart as they witnessed the daunting appearance of Coran, who stood framed in the lounge's doorway, scanning the room for occupants.

The older man noisily cleared his throat before speaking. "Princess, are you in here?"

Allura glanced apprehensively at Keith and noted with alarm that some of her makeup had rubbed off on the cream colored sweater. Eyes wide, she wordlessly pointed at the telltale smudge. He looked down, and his brow furrowed as he took stock of the problem.

Reacting quickly, he lunged to grab a nearby dishtowel, flinging it over his shoulder to hide the stains. "Start washing!" He whispered urgently.

The Royal Advisor heard the sound of splashing water and the clattering of dishes. He advanced further into the room and saw Allura standing in the galley style kitchen, busily swabbing a large mug with a pink sponge. On the opposite side of the Princess, he could see the broad shoulders and raven black hair that could only belong to the pilot of Black Lion. No one else was there; the two of them had been completely alone. He frowned. "Princess, what are you doing in there?"

"I was just straightening up after the team's snack, and Keith kindly offered to help me. Then he has to go and finish his paperwork." She answered him brightly, while scrubbing at the mug as if her life depended on it.

"I see," her Guardian replied, in a neutral tone. He carefully took note of her flushed face, and the way she was avoiding his eyes.

"Hello Coran," Keith tossed the greeting over his shoulder. "We're just about done."

"You realize we do have a domestic staff for this type of thing, Captain." The Princess' Guardian stated, matter-of-factly.

Allura interjected, "We know, we just thought it might be nice to do it ourselves."

"I see," Coran repeated, nodding solemnly. He walked to the kitchen entrance and surveyed the two young people as they carried out their mundane task, all the while noticing how careful they were not to touch each other in any way as they moved around in the narrow space.

Allura finally handed Keith the last mug, and as she did so, their fingertips brushed. A spark seemed to shoot between them and for a second or two they gazed at each other, before hastily looking away.

A less observant person might have missed it; a less astute person might have shrugged it off; but not the Royal Advisor and Legal Guardian to Her Highness.

The situation was as plain as the stubble rub marks on Allura's blushing features.

The older man thoughtfully rubbed his chin as he reflected on what he had suspected the minute Pidge innocently told him where he could find Allura and Keith.

~It has finally happened between them.~ He thought, resignedly, and then corrected himself. ~No, actually it happened the day they first laid eyes on each other, it's just that they have recognized it. So now what do I do. Alfor? Please advise me.~

"If that's all there is, I guess I'll be going." Keith said, as he hung the mug its proper hook in the cupboard above them. He swung the wooden door shut with an air of finality.

"Oh, okay. Thank you so much for everything, Captain." Allura replied stiltedly, conscious that her Guardian was watching her every move.

"Anytime, Princess," he responded easily, his dark eyes warm and melting as they fleetingly looked her over.

He moved around her, the dishtowel still draped over his shoulder. When he had gotten past Coran, he turned and tossed the towel to a pursuing Allura, while making sure he kept his clean side toward the sharp eyed Diplomat.

"See you at supper, Princess?" He murmured in an undertone.

"Yes, see you then." She answered softly.

Keith gave her a small, secret wink, and then, after casually saluting the Advisor, took his leave of them both.

Allura stood and gaped at the empty doorway for a moment, trying to comprehend exactly what had taken place in the last few hours, and how she felt about it.

"Princess, it's time for us to get to work, we have a lot to go over and not much time." Coran's cultured voice gently broke into her reverie.

"Yes, of course. Please forgive me for woolgathering." She replied, automatically. Turning, she fully faced her silently speculating Advisor for the first time since he had arrived.

His hazel eyes grew wide with shock as he stared at her left cheek. "By the Lions, Allura, what has happened to your face?"

To be continued...:)