I do apologise for the long wait. I was subject to a series of unfortunate events, swiftly followed by the loss of my inspiration. I don't suppose any of you know where it might be? I checked under my bed but only found two odd socks and a rather grumpy monster.

Gretel POV

Awareness was slow in coming. At first it was merely a vague sense of warmth that was eventually followed by recognition of my own being. It was with lazy interest that I began taking in my surroundings. Something was wrapped tightly around me. Something warm, that emitted a sense of security I'd rarely felt before. Slowly cracking open an eye I had a moment of confusion before recent events came back to me, including the activities of, what I assumed was last night. I felt heat rush to my cheeks as images and sensations stormed through my mind. Muriel, who turned out to be the warm thing wrapped around me, murmured in her sleep and slid her hand down my abdomen to settle possessively just below my naval.

Panic seeped into my mind as I realised the gravity of the situation. I had sex with Muriel. I had sex with the most powerful dark witch around. I consummated a mate bond with a dark witch. And you very much enjoyed it. Shut up brain!

"I can feel you arguing with yourself", her voice startled me so badly I jerked out of her arms and fell off the edge of the bed.

Scraping myself and what little dignity I had left off the floor, I peered over the edge of the bed to find Muriel with her hand clapped over her mouth, mirth dancing in her eyes. "Not one word" I warned, attempting to manage intimidating but aware that my burning face probably ruined it. She moved her hand and opened her mouth to reply but paused when I growled at her, although her smirk remained firmly in place.

Clambering to my feet wasn't the most graceful of accomplishments but Muriel didn't seem to mind as her dark eyes raked my naked body, sending a wave of arousal rushing through me to pool between my thighs. She held out her hand, "Come here", her voice was a seductive purr that drew me forward at her command. She pulled me to lie almost on top of her. "Stop over thinking this. According to the fates, who have never been wrong before, we are meant for each other." She brushed her lips along my jawline. A shudder rippled through my body as her lips brushed the shell of my ear, "I told you before love. I've waited too long for you; I'm not letting you go".

Unable to remember all the reasons I shouldn't be doing this, I turned my head to meet her sultry lips. Drowning in the intoxicating taste of her as her tongue explored my mouth, I moaned and pressed myself as close as I could to her. Her chuckle was the only warning I got before she flipped us. She grinned down at me, dark eyes flashing, all predator. I couldn't tear my eyes away.

It was then that my stomach decided to ruin the moment, the loud rumble effectively distracting both of us. She pressed her face into my shoulder, laughing quietly. "Well I think that's my queue to feed you", despite the teasing note in her voice, she didn't seem too reluctant to cook for me. Which was a good thing considering my cooking skills, or lack thereof. Hansel always cooked and after the borsht incident, wouldn't let me so much as peel vegetables.

She stood from the bed, completely unselfconscious, stretching like a satisfied cat. I couldn't help but survey every inch of perfect golden skin. My staring didn't go unnoticed as that damn smirk appeared again.

"See something you like?" I ignored the burning in my ears and climbed out of bed, holding the sheet to my body. She frowned and pulled me against her, "are you cold?" I shook my head, "then why do you hide your body from me?" I was looking anywhere but at her by this point.
"Gretel?" there was a hint of command mixed with the puzzlement now.

"I just don't feel comfortable walking around naked" She just looked bewildered by my explanation.

"There's nobody else here. I've already seen, and thoroughly enjoyed, every inch of your body. Why would you feel uncomfortable?" I sighed. She was right of course, which was even more annoying because regardless, I couldn't let go of my hesitancy on this. So I just shrugged.

Muriel huffed, rolled her eyes and sauntered to a large trunk in the corner of the room. I couldn't help it, when she bent over her perfect backside was right there. My mind went blank, only to be jolted back to reality by a balled up shirt hitting me resolutely in the face. Scowling, I pulled it over my head, leaving the laces at my collar loose. Muriel handed me the trousers and undergarments, and pulled out a dress for herself. She would just be walking around her home but that dress hugged every delicious curve. Does she always have to look so bloody enticing?

She raised her eyebrows at my obvious appreciation, a smug, knowing expression on her face. Slinking towards me like a cat stalking its prey, she ran her finger along my jaw, eliciting a shudder. "You know, you look like a pirate. I like it." I snorted and rolled my eyes even as I felt a blush rising.

Her fingers linked with mine as she gently pulled me out of the bedroom and down the hall to the main cavern.

Gretel POV

Finishing the last of my breakfast I casually glanced around. I found myself relaxed here, it felt like I could let go of the tension I'd always felt before. Travelling with Hansel, searching for witches, was dangerous and I couldn't afford to let my guard down for a second, even when I was asleep.
This line of thought was proving to be too deep into 'feelings' territory to be dealt with just yet, so I stood up from the table, slid my plate into the water basin and ventured off in search of Muriel.

Padding down the halls, curiously peering into rooms I'd only seen before at a glance, I took in the complex of caves that felt more like a home than anywhere I'd lived since my parent's deaths. After passing the enticing library, a room filled top to toe with weapons that I was itching to test and the bathing room, I came across a room that appeared to only be used for storage. An open crate of ink and parchment sat on a dusty table, cloth covered furniture was placed haphazardly around the room. Light filtered through a small 'chimney' in the rock. Taking a rag, I wiped away the dust on the table before searching through the crate to find parchment and a pencil.

The recent events were too much to think about all at once so I lost myself in my designs, this one a device that would allow short periods of flight. I would need to perfect the design but theoretically it should let the pilot glide for a distance whilst steering using methods similar to the flight of birds. I figured I'd look in to propulsion later but if I could start with this then work on adjusting to fit some kind of motor to the structure, eventually the pilot would not only be able to glide down from a height but to maintain or even gain height without the fickle use of thermals.
I was so engrossed by what I was doing; it wasn't until Muriel placed her hand on the back of my neck that I noticed her presence. The subsequent fall from my chair did little for my fragile dignity which was still recovering from earlier.

"You seem to be spending a lot of time on the floor, love." Ignoring her offered hand I hauled myself to my feet once more while silently cursing my blushing. "You're adorable when you're angry" the grin on Muriel's face was an irritating mix of smugness and mischief.
"I am not!" I was dusting myself off still when she picked up my design.
"This is incredible. Will it work?" I suddenly felt shy, nobody but my brother had really seen my designs before and the finished products we often used for hunting were usually attributed by the assumptions of others to a man.
"Should do, I need to test some things first, and each model would need to be adjusted according to height and weight of an individual, but it's all just gravity, drag, air resistance etc." The way she looked at me now was nothing short of predatory. It was so intense that I stepped back, only to hit the edge of the table. "Muriel?"

Muriel POV

I couldn't believe it, when I noticed what she was working on. The possibility of flight, unaided by magic. She was often so unsure of herself and yet clearly, she was one of the greatest minds of the century. And my god was that arousing. "This is incredible. Will it work?" I had to ask even though I could see the meticulous notes and calculations. Broomsticks were all well and good but that was magic. To be able to travel through the air was a major tactical advantage, perhaps evening the playing field a little for the mortals. Of course the instant any major governing body got wind of this it would be pounced on for military purposes.

I knew this was most likely designed, as with her crossbow and other weapons, as a tool for hunting my own kind. But instead of trepidation, I could only feel desire. Her mind was truly a beautiful thing.

"Should do, I need to test some things first, and each model would need to be adjusted according to height and weight of an individual, but it's all just gravity, drag, air resistance etc." My head snapped up at her quick dismissal of her own achievement and noticed her fidgeting shyly.
It was the final straw really, that impossible intelligence wrapped inside her delectable body, combined with this endearing shyness. I needed her naked. Now. Perhaps bent over the table, hands bound behind her back. I'm sure there's rope in one of these boxes. It would be raw, animalistic but truly, she was the most delicious prey.

"Muriel?" My intent must have been written all over my face, as she stepped back, accidentally stumbling into the table. That moment of distraction was all I needed, slipping my hand into her hair; I gently turned her to meet my lips. It had been four and a half hours since this morning when we kissed and her mouth was like a drug, an addiction I was desperate to feed.
I ran my tongue along the seam of her lips and with a moan she yielded. Her hands slid up my sides, tugging me closer even as I tipped her back over the table. Suddenly she pushed me back, "No. I want…. I want to give you…." She struggled with speech as we both panted. I turned us, so I leaned against the table.

"You want to what, love?" I teased even as my heart pounded at the very thought of Gretel's mouth and fingers. She blushed again and tentatively ran her hands up my thighs. I couldn't take anymore and winding my hand tightly in her hair I gently but firmly turned her gaze to meet mine.

"On your knees, love", without breaking eye contact she slid to her knees before me, the submissive position serving to send my arousal sky high. She slid her hands under my dress lifting it over my hips, and hooked her fingers under the sides of my under-garments. She ran her hands up my thighs, finally breaking eye contact in favour of a new distraction.

The feather light brush of her lips on my thigh sent a shiver down my spine. She soon grew bolder, kissing, licking and gently biting my inner thigh but never going where I needed her, forcing a growl of frustration from my throat even as my arousal grew.
Tightening my grip on her hair I hissed, "Careful love, I'm a witch. Mate or not, I always get even." She chuckled in response and dipped her head to lap firmly at my clit, causing my breath to catch in my throat. My head fell back with a moan as pleasure took over my body. Closing my eyes, all I could focus on was what the woman, my mate, was doing between my legs.
Her dextrous tongue circled my clit, slowly getting faster as her hands moved to my hips to hold on as I bucked involuntarily. Gods! What is this vixen doing to me? I jerked as her tongue momentarily left its previous ministrations to delve into my entrance before flicking back over my clit.

"Gretel?" I breathed. Her eyes met my own even as she sucked hard, forcing a choked cry from my lips.
"Ah! … Gods … I … I love you" Her eyes widened before becoming dark with desire, her left hand sliding from my hip to push two slender fingers inside me that curled, hitting a spot that thrust me off the edge into a blinding white light of pleasure.

She rose from her position, wrapping her arms around my waist and burying her nose in my neck as she waited for me to recover. As the aftershocks passed, I tilted my head back to look into her eyes. Our lips found each other in a gentle caress that filled my mind with bliss. When she pulled back I smiled and ran my hands through her slightly mussed hair.

Finally pulling apart, I glanced over her shoulder spotting my treasure and smirked. Her eyes narrowed and she warily stepped back at the mischief written all over my face. "Muriel … whatever you're thinking … just wait a sec-" I didn't let her finish. Spinning her about face, I pinned her bent over a waist-high crate while pulling a length of rope from the open box next to it. Her eyes widened comically with an odd but telling mix of disbelief and desire. In a matter of minutes I had her forearms bound to each other from wrist to elbow and her impossibly tight, and sexy, trousers around her knees.
I stepped back for a moment to admire the view before laying my body over hers to nip at where her shoulder met her neck, laying claim with my mark. Sliding my hand down her body, between her legs, I purred, "Mine."

God I hate writing smut... Its so bloody awkward and strains what little of the mush I call a brain that I still have.