Holier Than Thou

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad had just enough sense to be confused by Tenele's sudden return to the link, but not enough to save him from the result of Atul's orgasm ripping through his mind and his body like a wagon running him over. He bucked against the man's grip and his pulsing presence inside him, and a raw cry tore from his lips. Every nerve he had lit raw with ecstasy, and a touch of too-sweet agony. He pulled Tenele mindlessly into the sensation, clutching her to his mend as surely as he clutched the rock below him for dear life.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's knees buckled under the force of it and she slipped down into the sand. Stalker pressed his muzzle to her cheek with concern and she pushed him away. She couldn't be touched, at least not by the wolf. It all came flooding back to her. The dream, it hadn't been a dream at all. It was happening. It was satisfying... and in the wake of such a feeling, such imense pleasure, Tenele felt a bud of jealousy.

As she huffed, sinking her small hands into the white quartz sand, analyzing all the things Vlad whispered, the ones she'd heard through this... Dream. It had been like seeing the act through their eyes. It was exciting and powerful and beautiful. She thought about her husband's words to his lover, to the feelings he felt, to every desire he had being fulfilled... and it occured to her in a pang of realization, that she might not be the type of lover her husband wanted. That she couldn't give him that sort of pleasure, and wasn't strong enough to take or give that sort of force in bed. Staring wide eyed, and quivering from the force of such an amazing sensation, she felt her stomach twist into knots with the idea that her husband may find Atul a better lover.

Tenele stumbled to her feet, wanting to run from that feeling. Because, she thought it before she could stop herself and she didn't want her husband to know she thought these things, or Atul to sense her jealousy. She started walking briskly down the beach, Stalker right beside her, in the opposite direction of her lovers in the hopes that distance and a walk would cool her confused nerves.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's hands were wrapped mercilessly tight around Atul's upper arms while the force that had just blown through them gradually began to wane. His mind cleared just enough to sense Tenele at the other end of their link. He shifted slightly under Atul, and felt a rip of pain. It wasn't quite as glamorous now that he wasn't in the throes of ecstasy. "I think my wife may need me," he gasped into the skin of Atul's hot chest.

[Emora Deen]

Atul nodded, backing out and away from Vlad. He stooped to hand the vampire his pants while he collected his own. "I'll join you later..." Atul sensed that this was better left to Vlad to handle alone.

* * *

"That's silly," Tenele mumbled to herself while she walked. "Silly, silly. Why do I have such foolish thoughts." She shook her head, and Stalker seemed to shake his too, or maybe he was trying to shoo away the fly buzzing near his ear. Her body still felt buzzy with contentment, yet begging for the actual presence of touch. So she just kept walking until that need subsided, wanting to clear her mind enough to think proper thoughts, instead of half formed ideas of jealousy.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad took his pants from Atul with a smile. "Now there's just the little matter of getting to her." His body was rarely this eager not to be moved. He rolled sideways and rose to his feet next to the boulder he'd been lying on. His body took the opportunity to remind him that Atul had been very, very thorough with him and had more than enough strength to do proper damage. He doubted a mortal man would survive such an experience. Vlad didn't have much self control when it came to such things. Probably, if Atul had wanted to, there wasn't much that would be off limits, barring the use of holy magic. He grunted under his breath as he shifted to wrap the fabric around his waist, cast Atul a "don't you dare laugh" look, and half limped off across the sands to reunite with his gentler lover.

As he made his way to her and got within earshot, he called out, "Tenele!" He hoped she would be merciful and hold still a second so he could reach her.

[Emora Deen]

Atul chuckled as he watched Vlad hobble away. "Remember, you asked for that!" he called after the vampire before dropping his pants on the rock and running into the ocean to wash up.

* * *

Tenele covered her face with her hands when she heard Vlad's voice. She stopped walking and stood with her feet planted firmly in the wet sand near the shore. The water washed up, sweeping across her feet. She gathered her white dress again quickly to keep the ocean from dampening the hem.

Tenele felt too much embarrassment to greet her husband just yet, so she watched the waves crash against the shore with Stalker dancing up to drier land.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad grinned as he noticed her shy reaction. He hoped it was just embarrassment and not reproach for what he'd just done. The link between them was growing fairly dulled, since he'd used a lot of involuntary magic to survive the experience he'd just enjoyed with Atul. But he had felt something - a flicker of displeasure, or jealousy, or something of that nature. "You seem to be recovering quickly," he smiled as he approached her, trying not to be put off by her far-away gaze. "Perhaps you'd be kind enough to tell me the secret."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's lips quivered with a smile that she tried to force away, but it managed to happen anyway. "Hot baths," she told him, amusement evident in her voice. She couldn't help it, even if she feared that he enjoyed Atul's body more than hers it was funny to see him dealing with the repercussions of it. "Soaking in hot baths makes you feel better... and napping in hammocks."

A large wave crashed against the shore, sweeping water up over their feet, up to the calves, and back out again.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Hammocks," Vlad repeated dreamily, relishing the thought. He ruby eyes flashed down to her, squinting slightly at the reflection of the sunlight in her hair. He circled around front of her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "I got carried away. He was being too cute. I'm sorry, I should have checked with you first... Did I hurt you?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele placed a hand over his and smiled at him. "No," she said. "I'm not hurt. You and Atul can enjoy each other as much as you like... He seems more your tastes." She averted her gaze. "I'm glad he can give you what you want."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad blinked at her. "What?" he asked numbly. Confusion creased his features.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed, fiddling with the dress in her hands. "Well, you really... really enjoyed him and I don't think I've conjured such a reaction in you. It was primal and beautiful. Its okay, if you enjoy his touch more. I'm not able to do what he can do for you. There are needs that I can't satisfy, not like that." She felt silly for saying it, but if he'd seen what she'd seen through her eyes. He'd understand, then.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's thoughts spun, and he tried to relive what had just happened from her perspective. She was incorrect, of course, but he understood why she might thing such a thing. He knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. The movement made him wince. "It's true, you and I make love differently," he said with truthful affection in his voice, "but it cannot be compared to what I share with you. Tenele, you don't have the strength to be that rough with me, and even if you did, I doubt you would be willing to. Even knowing I could endure it and even enjoy it, you would not hurt me.

"Atul and I have a very pleasant affection and respect for each other as equals, and as creatures of darkness. That's why we can explore our rivalry in a more primal way, and enjoy a kind of battle together in the sheets. It's intimate to trust and wrestle with each other's limits. And there is a part of me that needs that release and to be allowed to be that monster, for a little while, with someone I can trust to control me.

"You are different. You make love with me tenderly and with all the gentle affection of a mortal lover. Even if I could convince you I am a monster, you would not treat me like one. You allow me to be human. As a monster, I need pain to be complete, but you make me feel whole. You accept me and love me with your body, and also challenge me to be more. Ours may be a quieter, less aggressive joining, but it means more to me, not less." Ruby eyes smiled at her, though his expression was carefully relaxed.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele felt her eyes water at his words, and her heart tug. She gazed down at him, kneeling before her in the dampened sand. She tugged on his hands to draw him to his feet before another wave soaked him in water. Then, she pressed into him, curling her hands together and pinning them between their chests. She rested her cheek against his sun-warmed skin. "I'm sorry for doubting that," she whispered to him. Her hands slipped down so that her arms curled around his lower back. "I won't doubt it again."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's arms encircled her, almost human-warm from the desert heat and Atul's weight over him earlier. He kissed the top of her head and ran fingers along the back of her neck. "I should not have let you doubt it," he reassured, intimate warmth radiating in his voice. "As for whose body brings me more pleasure," he grinned, "Your memory sounds rusty. Perhaps it's been too long since I gave you a demonstration." His bare torso glided a bit firmer against hers.