Pardoo comes to terms with his fall from grace

Pardoo was in for a very long night.

Despite the sheer physical exhaustion he felt after surviving such an intense (and intensely pleasurable) ordeal, the man simply couldn't fall asleep, and not just because Ursula was adorkably snoring so close to him.

His mind was racing with a dozen thoughts as he processed what, and who, he had just done.

Shame, despair, anguish.

He had spent years of his life devoting himself to Geod and the church. He had sacrificed so much, and worked tirelessly to become a paladin. He had sworn to defend the faith and protect those in need.

The vows he had solemnly taken had made it quite clear what he could and couldn't do, and in single day, especially when it came to lust, love, and physical stimulation.

He had broken his vows, corrupted and deflowered (he assumed) one of the most devoted and respected women of the church with his shameful body, and failed Geod.

And yet, as he lay there, completely naked and vulnerable, with nothing but the equally nude body Counselor Ursula pressed against him for warmth, he couldn't help but feel other, conflicting thoughts - joy, comfort, and most of all, love.

A particularly loud and un-ladylike snort escaped from the mature woman as she shifted around and snuggled against Pardoo.

He had often heard various members of the church complain about Lady Ursula in hushed, harsh tones. How she was cold, aloof, uptight, and just to be generally avoided.

Pardoo was never more convinced they had all been wrong about her.

Others had seen her as a harsh disciplinarian, a taskmaster and pragmatic protector of the church.

But none of them had seen the looks of pure sorrow and pain on her face or heard her wails of despair like he had when he found her. Nor had they seen the look of ecstasy on her face or heard the deafening screams of joy she had unleashed between praisings of Geod as the two had shared themselves with each other.

She looked so peaceful and content as she slept. Her messy, tangled purple hair perfectly framed her soft, sweet face. Even the small stream of drool coming out of her partially open mouth and pooling against her soft, pale cheek could do nothing to diminish her beauty in Pardoo's mind.

He had seen a side of Ursula no one else ever had, and now he could only see her as a gentle, vulnerable, lonely soul seeking comfort and love in the arms of another during her time of need.

Pardoo gently placed his arm around the soft, plush, beautiful woman. His heart swelled with love and contentment even as a wave of fatigue washed over him and his thoughts slowly dimmed and faded.

It had all been worth it.