Holier Than Thou

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's lips stretched into a seductive, teasing smile. "So that's how it is?" he purred, following alongside the king across the shore. Being restrained wasn't his thing, but Atul had certainly been accommodating of the vampire's needs, and Vlad was willing to entertain Atul's. "Crap, I must really love you," he muttered before realizing what he'd just blurted out, never mind the consent it implied.

[Emora Deen]

Atul blinked at the vampire, feeling a faint smile tug at his lips. "And I you," he admitted as they continued on along the shore. "Like I said last night, that's not something I would have ever thought I'd admit to another man. In fact, I think you are the only man I could ever admit that too. Whether that is because of Tenele or not, I'm not sure. Soo... Tenele, are there any things she won't do or she's hesitant to do?"

* * *

After bathing Tenele dressed in a thin cotton dress with narrow straps. It was white, with a pale blue ribbon around the waist. She combed her fingers through Stalker's fur as she used him as a balance while she walked outside and a small distance from the house to the hammock between two trees. She managed to worm her way into it, resting gently on her side against the soft woven fabric. It cradled her comfortably, with just enough sunlight and just enough shade that she didn't risk sunburn.

Stalker curled beneath the hammock.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad grinned slightly, admitting to himself that he enjoyed Atul's calm assertion that he loved him. The king had a way of expressing himself so openly...even the way he was always casually kissing and caressing them both was endearing. It was hard to imagine that such an affectionate cuddler enjoyed dominance. Then again, an image filled Vlad's mind of their escapades the night before, Atul's hard thrusts ruthlessly claiming his body. The vampire shivered, a pang of need shooting through him at the memory.

"Tenele has never denied me anything I requested with respect and love," he said, trying to get the thought of Atul's throaty moans out of his head. And here he'd been teasing Tenele for having a one-track mind. "I suppose there are things she would prefer not to do. I haven't found those yet. Even the fact that I prefer...violence," he stumbled on the words to keep it from sounding absurd. "I doubt it is her nature to do such things, but she is willing to humor me."

[Emora Deen]

Atul smiled. "She is very caring. I think she would do anything for you if you asked her, even if she was a little afraid of it. I think it has a lot to do with trust... Which makes me think about that, for Tenele, tonight might be a little scary for her. Ah, that's not what I meant. Not scary in the scream and run for your life sort of way. I mean... new and unexplored and you won't be there with her. I think what helped her accept me was the fact that you were there, you were near her and grounded her and were there as a shield to anything that might make her uncomfortable. Tonight, while you'll be there... you won't actually be there."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked out at the sea thoughtfully. "She did seem nervous," he acknowledged. "Though I'm not always the most relaxing company, she knows my boundaries and exactly where she falls at the top of my priorities. Perhaps if we both agree, now, that we would never push her to go through with such an act if she became uncomfortable. We would wait, if she were not ready. Knight could not possibly think otherwise, if we are of the same mind." He glanced at Atul.

"I wonder what it is like to know someone so completely, to exist explicitly for that one person, and have them not know you enough even to comfortably make love?" He grimaced a little. It sounded so awkward and strange, but then, Tenele seemed okay with it, and unlike him, she'd met this strange being they formed together. She said she could even feel love for him. "They should be fine."

[Emora Deen]

Atul nodded. "I think it would be very lonely, and sad. Maybe heartbreaking. But, you're right. I think she'll be fine. If she wasn't I think we would be able to tell. I hope at least. And I agree, I'll never do anything that makes her uncomfortable."

Atul sighed as he stopped walking and plopped down on a rock along the shore, sitting near a cluster of fallen boulders that had rolled down from the cliffs.

* * *

Tenele found herself nodding off, lying in the hammock. She drew her eyes open, willing to stay awake. Eventually she nodded off.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stopped a few feet from the demigod, and found himself unconsciously wondering if it was even possible for him to be tied up. He'd been too amused by the brief mental image Atul cast him to really give thought to it. Rope wouldn't work. Unless he just pretended. He made a confused expression, trying to guess if it was still exciting if the person wasn't really trapped. He imagined that would be about as interesting as pretending to bite Tenele without actually doing it.

Was there even a material that could hold him fast? To make it worse, he knew how to teleport. He felt a little frustrated to realize he wouldn't make a very attractive mark. The idea of a new bedroom game intrigued him. Surely there was something, other than holy metal. "Do you even know how to restrain me?" he asked. The question came out as a cocky dare, which wasn't the original intention but felt more or less appropriate.

[Emora Deen]

Atul glanced up from his thoughts, take a long moment to stare at the vampire with an expression that read pure confusion. "Restrain you?" he searched his thoughts, and then his tanned cheeks turned that lovely dark rose. "No," he admitted sadly. "The only people I've ever restrained were either easily held or somewhat difficult... But never impossible." He tapped his chin. "But, if you are so inclined," he chuckled. "I could have my advisers start searching for a way to hold a powerful vampire without hurting them... too much." His blue gaze sparkled deviously.

[Soran Nightblade]

"No," Vlad muttered. "I'd regret having to kill your advisers. Bad for international relations." He sauntered around Atul's back, his fingertips running from the tip of one of his shoulders to the other. "You'll just have to think of a way yourself." He leaned down into the king's face, lips brushing his, eyes half-lidded and hungry. "And try me."

[Emora Deen]

Atul looked at Vlad's lips, and then his half-closed eyes. "Really?" he asked leaning forward the hair needed to make their lips connect. He nipped at Vlad's bottom lip. "You'll let me make you helpless. I feel honored." He pressed his lips hard into Vlad's, trying not to smile while he kissed.

[Soran Nightblade]

"I said I'd let you try," Vlad corrected, Atul's inviting mouth making him feisty. He leaned further into the king, arching him backwards on the stone. A strong vampiric arm supported Atul's back as Vlad's lips crushed into his. His tongue ran over Atul's lips, tasting and claiming him.

Either of them had enough male dominance to go around for three or four men. The pair of them together with hormones raging was a full-out liability.

[Emora Deen]

Atul cupped his hand around the back of the vampire's head and drew him harder in, his other arm tugging against Vlad's waist. He settled back against the rock. "I look forward to trying," he murmured against the vampire's lips.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Don't get your hopes up," Vlad crooned, his hips grinding into Atul's as he pressed the man back on the stone. The thin garment he'd thrown around his pale waist before leaving the house did little to hide his body's reaction to pinning the king down. He leaned upward and kissed him again. He was probably going too far, but Atul was being far too cute.

Alright, maybe cute wasn't an apt word to describe the powerful, muscled demigod who lay willingly half-naked beneath him while casually kissing him.

[Emora Deen]

Atul grinned. "Do you think Tenele would get jealous if I took you against these rocks?" he asked the vampire, his blue eyes glowing. "Or... maybe you want to try it the other way around? Though, I like dominance.... I could relinquish it for a little while." With the waves crashing on the shore it even seemed romantic.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad pressed his chest and stomach flat to Atul's, his body rocking subtly against him as they slid against each other. Dominance sounded good right now. Then again, he doubted Atul could enjoy an unskilled lover in that arena, and Vlad had literally no experience with doing such things the "nice" way. Or the un-nice way, for that matter. He knew better than to think Atul was just randomly thrusting when they joined. Masochism could only bring Vlad along so far. The man knew exactly where to go, how to move. Where he'd studied such skills, Vlad couldn't begin to guess. "I suppose she could forgive us, since she's leaving us for another man tonight," he joked, his laughter rumbling between their closely pressed bodies.