[I am beyond sorry for the delay of this. I have no excuse. *kowtows massively*]
Hours later, Summer slid back to the surface of sleep, blinking slowly. Humphrey had pleasured her to the point of exhaustion, and then the two had slipped into sleep still tangled about one another, clothing strewn about. At some point, one of them must have woken enough to draw the coverlets up.
She looked at him, arms still loosely about her, and couldn’t help but smile. He was generous and brave and beautiful; she ran a gentle hand over his hair. “Humphrey?” she whispered. “Wake up, lover.”
“Oh?” Summer replied archly, laughing softly. “Who is feisty? You must take yourself into account, Humphrey.” She kissed him again, lightly. “But since you spent the day hunting hearts instead of harts, is your kitchen prepared to feed us? ‘Twould be a sad thing to starve after such a feast.” She drew away and slipped out of the bed, reaching her arms to the ceiling in a massive stretch, hair atumble down her bare back. Looking over one shoulder at the Duke, she added, “Yes, I am always so.”
“Hearts versus harts, I like this…” Humphrey laughed watching her as she stretched herself, as if she was performing a show to him. “I believe if you showcase yourself like this you might end up with serious delay of supper for I shall drag you right back to bed.”
Regardless of his words, Humphrey also rose from his bed, walking across the room to his wardrobe to dress in something comfortable. “I warn you, you will sup with a monk. I think to wear some lengthy robe,” he said, “Anything more than that would be bothering me.” He chose his garment and turned towards her, “Will you stay the night, Summer? I mean… I would like you to.”
“Is it not wordplay that brought us together, Humphrey? I must keep in practise, lest I lose your attention.” She smirked, stalking toward him, but hesitated in the midst of putting her arms around him at the question. “I — ” No glib answer came to mind. Play, wordplay, bedsport, all these were well and good, but she was yet a noblewoman, and he a duke and brother to a king. “I might be persuaded to,” she went on, at last, playfulness fallen from her eyes as she searched his.