fandomhigh | Library, Thursday 3/28

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Library, Thursday 3/28

Belle was distracted today. Belle had been distracted all week.

The library was not helping. Or maybe it was, in its own way. It had certainly provided her with a vast array of reading material both fiction and non.

There was even one book she was certain she had looked at with Clare that one time they'd been trapped in Dite's. That one she was taking back to her room for later.

Right now she curled up in a chair reading a rather fantastically filthy romance featuring a knight. She kept losing her place while her thoughts wandered.

Somehow, she didn't mind.

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See how much she blushes!

Surely, the appearance of an actual knight (hopeful) would help matters greatly! Because there was a Graham, all but bursting into the library in a swirl of his tell-tale red cloak, with a declaration to be had once his long legs brought him to the desk.

"My lady," he greeted, with a gentlemanly doffing of his hand and a smile that was far more nerves than intended, "I beseech you, I believe I may be in need of some assistance! Of the...." There was a pause, meant to be for dramatic effect, but, unwittingly, all things considered, it may have had a very different effect indeed, "literary variety."

And, yes, in case anyone was wondering, he did practice that speech about five times on the other side of the door before entering.

Belle, who had just gotten to a very interesting passage involving the knight needing assistance of an entirely different sort, looked up at Graham quite flushed and wide-eyed.

"My favorite knight!" She closed the book carefully, marking the page for later. "What can I do for you?"

Yes, she was looking at him a bit like a predator as she said it but it had been a long week and her book was getting rather explicit.

"Uhhhh...." The look on Belle's face just then had Graham faltering a little, unsure exactly what it was for only that it seemed....well, a bit different, didn't it? And even if he wasn't sure about it, it was making his cheeks start to burn something fierce, but not in an unpleasant way. It detracted him enough from his whole schpiel, though, and he shook his head to get back on track. "Er, well, right." He nodded, digging into one of his pockets to pull out his phone and held it out for her. "I need help with some audio books, I can't figure out how to get them to work! But I've been trying to focus on some of my texts to help prepare me for the Tournament of Knights, and I haven't been able to....erm. Well..."

He cleared his throat.

"Focus."

Obviously it was just nerves for the impending tournament, right? Right?

"Er, uh, so I thought maybe, you know, if I'm having trouble reading the words, then maybe I could multitask by listening to them, and then not only could I study with my mind but I could set it to play while I worked out my body as well! But I can't figure out how to get them to work...."

Oh no, Graham was even more adorable when he blushed like that.

"I could read to you," she offered. "While you...work out your body. I love reading. I've been reading all day."

She'd been reading the smuttiest of smut, Graham!

"Really?" asked Graham, eyebrows lifting a little in surprise. "You'd do that for me? I mean! You don't have to, I wouldn't want to waste your time, Belle! And some of the stuff is really boring, old histories and all the dry knight stuff that doesn't make it into all the big epic adventuring tales! Probably no where as interesting as..."

He took a moment, peering over and tilting his head until he was almost sideways to read the cover of what she was reading.

"The Long Hard Knight of the Sword."

Well, there went his cheeks again! If reading that title hadn't set him off, then the picture accompanying it on the cover sure did!

"It's a very good book," Belle said quickly, blushing herself.

"Very interesting and exciting. Perhaps we could make your learning exciting as well? Or...I could read you some of this?"

Young lady! The scandal!

"Yeah?" asked Graham, who had to admit, he was now rather curious about it, and it Belle was being nice enough to offer to read to him so he could multitask or focus better, then it should at least be something she could enjoy, too! He rubbed the back of his neck a little doubtfully.

"I mean," he reasoned, "it is about a knight, isn't it? That could still be helpful! I'm sure there's all sorts of things in there that a book about a knight could still teach me that I might not have known!"

"I think," Belle said, giving Graham a very considering look, "that you could learn a number of things from this knight. And so could I."

She sighed a little as she said it. Was it getting warm in the library?

It did feel a little warm in the library today, it was true, but everywhere was feeling that way for Graham. Must be that spring weather warm-up! But everywhere didn't have Belle sighing in a way that made Graham realize that she really did have a lovely sigh, didn't she? And if she had a lovely sigh now, then....

Oh.

Oh no.

Face doing a very good imitation of his cloak, Graham shook his head and chuckled somewhat nervously.

"Well, then," he said, "I guess...we'll have to try it, then! After all, I need to learn everything I can, right?"

"I'd be thrilled to help with your education in any way I can," Belle said, letting her gaze slowly travel the length of Graham's body.

"Are there any areas you think need particular...attention?"

Ooh, yeah, Belle, take in every inch of those gangly, scrawny arms and matchsticks stems. But, in his defense, he actually had been working out!

Graham did feel the sudden urge to pull up a little straighter, though, squaring his shoulders, oh-so-subtly puffing out his chest as he considered Belle's question.

"Well, I'm not really sure," he admitted. "How would I know what I still need to learn if I don't know I haven't learned it yet?"

He nodded at the book again.

"What's the knight doing in the story now?"

Belle had a proven affinity for scrawnier guys, Graham! You were in luck!

"He's just returned home," Belle told him, smiling a little wickedly. "To his lady love who has been alone in a tower for ages and only recently freed."

Graham's face lit up, and he leaned forward a little eagerly, as if to peek at the book and see for himself.

"Ooh!" he said. "Is he just returning from a grand quest? Was there fighting? Dragons? Evil wizards? Is he bringing home a bunch of glorious loot?"

And he had to admit, he found the idea of a girl in a tower very compelling for some reason.

"There was fighting," Belle confirmed. "But he's now ready to sheath his sword for a time."

Ahem.

"And he has brought home some glorious things, yes. You're very clever to figure that out so quickly. Would you like to read a bit? I was just...here." She pointed out a particularly lurid passage. "He's just come into the dining room, you see, but the table is bare."

Find some deliciously smutty books all on your own if you must

If he's around. Might be better if he isn't this week, tbh.

This week's post is NOT a reflection of my own library.

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Library, Thursday 3/28

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