"Julian, please, go away."
     Jules reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling Damalis up against a wall of stacked planks behind him. Taking her hand he turned it and pressed her fingers to an individual plank. "What's this one?"
     "Maple," she sighed.
     His free hand slid over her eyes. "And this one?"
     "Maple."
     "And this?" Her fingers fell on a stack to the left at Jules' insistence, his balance keeping her upright in the difficult position.
     "Walnut."
     "See, you know wood without looking at it, why don't you do the same for me?"
     "Where's Gorin, Julian?"
     "Quit changing the subject. C'mon, Lissy."
     Pulling away Damalis escaped to her work bench. Taking a rough bowl and grit paper she began to smooth the apprentice-quality piece. "First of all, I only knew what it was because we stack our wood in a certain way, numbskull. Second of all, even if I had said the wrong type of wood you never would have know. And third of all, I can know who you are by anything, Julian, I don't need to see your face."
     "Can you know by me feet?"
     A soft smile hit her features. Pulling the light brown strands back from her face Damalis nodded. "By your feet, your hands, your voice, your hair, your eyes, or all the curses that follow in your wake when you and Gorin are together."
     "Then kiss me, Lis." Jules' hands hit the tables and the rest of his weight followed, leaning forward so that his feet barely skimmed the ground. "Please?"
     "No."
     Collapsing along the table he rolled over, baffled. "Why not?"
     "One-" Bowl now discarded she stood, rounding the corner to take his collar and pull him back up.  "-because you are acting like a child. Two, because your mother would skin me alive."
     Strong hands encircled her waist, pulling the girl's form closer to his own. "Aw, no she wouldn't." A light colored brow shot up. "Alright, well, maybe a little, but what are you, afraid of her?"
     "Yes." Leaving him again she started for the house, only finding herself draw up along his chest once more.
     "Please, Lis? One little kiss-"
     "Julian."
     "I promise I won't let her hurt you."
     "Julian."
     "Fine, I promise I won't let her kill you. Now, can't you do even just one?"
     "Not on your-"
     Gentle but firm lips caught hers to stall the last, luring the small figure away from her work and back against the wall. Damalis' shoulders fell; the scent of dough and icing drifted off his clothing and straight to her senses, dissolving any further protests by muscle or mouth.
     "There," Jules eased. "Was that so hard?"
     He watched a smile spread, starting in the very corners and flowing inward until the whites of teeth shone through. "You've been pilfering Eran's goods again, haven't you? Are your "duties" for the day done?"
     "Not yet. Told mam I'd bring her home something, but I don't think you're going to cut it just yet, Lis."
     "I would rather not go near her anyways, if it's all the same to you."
     "What about tomorrow?"
     "Tomorrow I'm going to Tiflin."
     He frowned. "What are you doing there?"
     "Running for my life away from your mother."
     "You'd kill me heart if you keep avoiding her, Lissy."
     "Go away, Jules, I still have work to do."
     Chuckling he turned for the door handle, lowering into a mocking bow on the threshold. "And afterwards?"
     Damalis grinned. Her fingers curled in his shirt and she pulled him forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "My window's always open."