Getting to Know the Harbinger

"But..."

Vilkas didn't want to admit how excited he'd been to accompany Kaya to the Bannered Mare for a drink. Kaya had specifically told him to clean up and meet her upstairs, so there he was, freshly washed, wearing his nicer dark grey tunic with tan trousers and boots, walking up the stairs without his armor or warpaint.
Farkas would have teased him mercilessly if he'd seen him...
But his brother was nowhere to be seen as reached the main hall and found his Harbinger waiting beside the door. She smirked as her eyes found him and Vilkas felt his heartbeat picking up speed.
She was wearing a simple dark red dress with a corset and her makeup was done. Her figure was more lovely than he'd imagined from what he'd seen with her armor on... the dress hugged all the right curves and, by Ysmir, Vilkas liked what he saw.
"Well, you clean up nicely," she complimented as he approached.
"Not nearly as nicely as you do, Harbinger," Vilkas grinned. He was close enough now to hear and smell the blood pumping in her veins, and she sounded like she was enjoying the sight before her just as much as much as Vilkas was.

That was one thing about the beast blood that Vilkas had never realized would come in handy... they could both hear each other's heart beats... which meant as the evening progressed there was no point in dishonesty... no point in beating around the bush.
After a few drinks Vilkas was holding her hand, and after a few more his arms were around her waist and he suspected they'd be kicked out of he continued how he wanted to... Kaya smiled and laughed, and leaned into his shoulder... the sound and smell of her pulse told him she was as eager as he was for him to touch her...
Finally, they were drunkenly making their way back toward Jorrvaskr with Kaya leaning against him, and Vilkas hoping he wouldn't stumble and knock them both over.
"I don't want to go inside," Kaya protested with a giggle.
"Where do you want to go, Harbinger?" Vilkas grinned. Suddenly she seemed much more stable on her feet as she took his hand and pulled him toward the back of Jorrvaskr.
"Have you ever just sat back here and looked at the stars?" She asked. She looked back over her shoulder at him with a happy smile. Vilkas was about to tell her he hadn't, but if it would mean he got to see her smile like that he would sit out here with her every night... but then Kaya drunkenly tripped on her own feet just they were reaching the side of the building. Vilkas tried to catch her, as she tried to steady herself, but Vilkas wasn't as steady on his own feet as he was used to being and they both staggered clumsily for a few moments before colliding not so gently with the side of the building.
"By Ysmir," Vilkas swore, "are you alright Harbinger?"
Her back was up against the wall, and Vilkas could hear her racing pulse and soft panting breaths... then he realized how close to her he had basically landed... he was leaned up against the wall with one arm braced beside her head and the other holding her waist... his face was mere inches from hers... and the way she was looking at him... Vilkas prayed he wasn't so drunk that he was misreading her expression... he could smell her wolf spirit... she wanted him... and he knew she could smell just as well as he could to know he wanted her too...
"Kaya..." he breathed, and he heard her breath catch in her throat. "If this is just the wolf spirit inside of you, and not something you want as well... please, tell me now..." he said in a low tone.
Vilkas watched as Kaya swallowed and took a shaky breath, then she looked up and met his eyes. "No Vilkas," she whispered, "this is something I agree with my wolf blood on for once."
Vilkas felt like his heart skipped as he quickly ducked his head to capture her lips with his own. His arm around her waist pulled her closer while his other hand moved gently through her hair. She kissed him back with no hesitation and ran her hands up his chest to drape around his neck. The kiss was sweet and tasted of mead... and her lips were so soft and smooth. They broke for air and then dove back in for more, each kiss slowly becoming more passionate than the last. Vilkas didn't know or care how much time passed like that, but when his hands began to absentmindedly pull at the lacings of her corset he realized he had gotten far too drunk and lost in the moment.
As if suddenly coming to the same conclusion, Kaya pulled back.
"Vilkas," she panted in a warning but regretful tone.
"I know, I'm sorry Harbinger," Vilkas sighed, letting his forehead rest against hers.
"I prefer when you call me Kaya," she whispered with a smirk.
"Kaya," Vilkas smiled, leaning back to look down into her eyes. "I... you know what I want," he sighed.
"And you know I want the same," she nodded, making Vilkas's heart skip again.
"Aye," he did know, he could smell her desire, but hearing her confirm it made him ready to throw his convictions to the wind...
"But..." she said sadly, bringing Vilkas's mind back to clarity.
"But I won't dishonor the Companions and the men who raised me by taking you before I've wed you," Vilkas said with a resigned sigh. Kaya's pulse sounded relieved at first, but then Vilkas heard her breath catch in her throat for a moment as if she'd just processed what he'd said, and her heart began to race.
"I... Vilkas..." she began hesitantly and Vilkas's heart began to race too. "I think there are still a lot of things we need to get to know about each other... but... if we do... and you'll still have me... I think... I like the sound of that idea."
She was smiling nervously but genuinely up at him now and Vilkas's face split into a grin, he'd been afraid she was about to turn him down.
"Sounds good to me," he nodded.
"Good," she nodded, sounding relieved again, "I think we should go out on some jobs together."
"Aye, and soon," Vilkas grinned before leaning back to kiss her again.