[b]With a bit of a scowl, River dragged himself to his feet & lumbered over to where Emera was, currently in the middle of one of her little crises. The women knew exactly how to drive him nuts sometimes, it was unreal how much she assumed he would be "better off" without her. Why did she think that she wasn't capable of pleasing him? He used to sleep with so many women because he was bored & not ready to rest his heart on one woman.

"Emera, you're not a cage, a chain, or a gnat for me to swat away," the dragon said sternly, "You are my woman, & the only one I want in the slightest. Yes, I would love to take you to bed with me, but it's worth waiting for your permission. Now stop complaining before I kiss you senseless; I already warned you that once I got your permission to love you that I would never let you wiggle free, remember?"

With a slow, easy smile, River wrapped his arms around Emera & pulled her into his warmth & height. he gently rubbed his hand over the back of her neck & kissed her forehead, keeping the woman squeezed against him to calm her. The elf woman could be a real pain from time to time, but River shocked himself by even enjoying her stubborn side, & almost reveling in it.[/b]