Vlad met Atul's eyes, conflicted. He wanted to be with them so badly, the need for intimacy was overwhelming. Contact, on the other hand, wasn't so attractive to him right now, and he was wary of hurting their feelings or proving to them how shallow his composure really went at the moment. And then, of course, there was his pride, ragged as it might be at the moment, coming back with vengeance.
"I can take care of it myself," he said gently to the king, putting his hand over Atul's at the hem of his shirt.
Mature: Desert Moon
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Soran Nightblade
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
Atul nodded, keeping the disappointment from his face. "I'll leave you two alone," he whispered. Atul backed away, giving Tenele a quiet nod before he left the room.
Tenele sat on the edge of the tub, holding her fingers under the water to make sure it wasn't too hot. There weren't any oils or perfumes as she was used to, but there was soap and a clean cloth near the tub.
She was used to taking baths with Vlad, but she wasn't sure if this was a good time to be squeezing into a tub with him. They were both hurt. She decided she would help bathe him, and then get him into bed before bathing herself.
When the tub was full, and steam wafted into the air, Tenele turned to her husband. "Out of those clothes," she mused with a soft smile, brushing fingers through his hair.
Tenele sat on the edge of the tub, holding her fingers under the water to make sure it wasn't too hot. There weren't any oils or perfumes as she was used to, but there was soap and a clean cloth near the tub.
She was used to taking baths with Vlad, but she wasn't sure if this was a good time to be squeezing into a tub with him. They were both hurt. She decided she would help bathe him, and then get him into bed before bathing herself.
When the tub was full, and steam wafted into the air, Tenele turned to her husband. "Out of those clothes," she mused with a soft smile, brushing fingers through his hair.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
Vlad felt guilty for it, but he was calmer when Atul left the room. It made no sense... he completely trusted and loved Atul, and missed him so much it ached, and yet Tenele felt easier to handle at the moment.
"If you command it," he sighed, his voice teasing as he unfastened his belt. He drew his shirt over his head stiffly and then shed his pants and kicked them to the edge of the room.
He stepped toward her, bare and whole, his eyes connected to hers. His hands reached out and framed her face. He leaned his forehead against hers gently. "I'm afraid I'm not in very good shape for you, my love," he apologized. His fingers dipped along her neck and traced her broken ribs, barely grazing the skin. "My hero," he chuckled faintly, as if her wounds hurt him as well.
"If you command it," he sighed, his voice teasing as he unfastened his belt. He drew his shirt over his head stiffly and then shed his pants and kicked them to the edge of the room.
He stepped toward her, bare and whole, his eyes connected to hers. His hands reached out and framed her face. He leaned his forehead against hers gently. "I'm afraid I'm not in very good shape for you, my love," he apologized. His fingers dipped along her neck and traced her broken ribs, barely grazing the skin. "My hero," he chuckled faintly, as if her wounds hurt him as well.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
"Don't worry," she mused, holding his hand to her face. "I have no intention of taking advantage of you. I'm only going to help you bathe, and then I'll usher you straight to bed."
Tenele helped Vlad into the tub very slowly. Tenele took up the cloth and the soap and began washing her husband carefully. She wasn't sure how hurt he was, so she was very gentle with him. It hurt to stretch and lean across the edge of the tub, and it probably would have been easier had she gotten in with him, but this was what she needed to do. She needed to give him and his body the space it needed.
When she stretched too far she held her breath, knowing he could hear any tight sound she made. She didn't want him concerned with her pain. It was her pain, and he had his own. He'd been through too much to be concerned with her.
Tenele took the rag and washed the soap free. She soaked up water and squeezed it out over his skin so it washed away the soap.
Tenele helped Vlad into the tub very slowly. Tenele took up the cloth and the soap and began washing her husband carefully. She wasn't sure how hurt he was, so she was very gentle with him. It hurt to stretch and lean across the edge of the tub, and it probably would have been easier had she gotten in with him, but this was what she needed to do. She needed to give him and his body the space it needed.
When she stretched too far she held her breath, knowing he could hear any tight sound she made. She didn't want him concerned with her pain. It was her pain, and he had his own. He'd been through too much to be concerned with her.
Tenele took the rag and washed the soap free. She soaked up water and squeezed it out over his skin so it washed away the soap.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
Vlad sat very still in the tub, grateful for every moment of it, each carefull caress of the sponge, each carefully held breath he noticed when her wounds hurt her. He let her do as she wished and didn't question her injuries. He knew her too well to deny her a little pride, just as she knew him.
If she hadn't come, today and not a day later, he would never have lived to see her again.
"Is Tenara safe?" he asked in the secure quiet between them.
If she hadn't come, today and not a day later, he would never have lived to see her again.
"Is Tenara safe?" he asked in the secure quiet between them.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
Tenele squeezed out another rush of water, before moving into a position that made it easier to breathe, and easier to speak. "She is with Sinead. I left Stalker with her as an added protection..." Tenele's throat closed as she thought of their daughter... and what their daughter must have thought of them for abandoning her for so long. Tenele had tried very hard to keep her mind from the subject, but now that Vlad mentioned her...
Tenele blinked the tears from her eyes and went back to rinsing her husband off. "I think you're all clean," she replied, standing up and grabbing one of the towels folded neatly near the tub. "Let's get you dry and into bed."
Tenele blinked the tears from her eyes and went back to rinsing her husband off. "I think you're all clean," she replied, standing up and grabbing one of the towels folded neatly near the tub. "Let's get you dry and into bed."
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
Vlad stood slowly, bracing himself against the edge of the tub until his limbs felt steady enough to hold him. "You speak like I'm a sick child," he sighed at her nurturing behavior, even as he was forced to lean on her as he stepped free of the tub. He turned back to her and kissed her quietly.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
Tenele was afraid he was angry with her. Her heart raced and an apology immediately formed on her tongue, and then he kissed her. It was such a conflicting rush of emotions, on top of all the other emotions she was dealing with, that it nearly sent her into tears. She swallowed, taking a deep breath, and smiling tightly. "You're not a sick child," she replied. "I warned you that I would be coddling."
Tenele dried him and ushered him towards Maxwell's bed. She didn't know what his feelings were towards it, but she hadn't the strength to move him any further, and it seemed Atul had gone off adventuring with Talon.
Tenele dried him and ushered him towards Maxwell's bed. She didn't know what his feelings were towards it, but she hadn't the strength to move him any further, and it seemed Atul had gone off adventuring with Talon.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
Vlad accepted her help gratefully as he made it into the bed. He couldn't care less whose roost it was. Tonight, it was his. "I'm sorry...I may take advantage of your coddling for a while," he murmured.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
"Don't be sorry," Tenele smiled as she tugged the covers over him. "I am happy to coddle you as much as you want it..." Tenele sat on the bed for a little bit longer, cupping a hand over his face. Finally she sighed and stood up. "Time for me to bathe. I'll be right back."
Tenele went into the bathroom again and closed the door behind her. After all the time they'd spent apart she felt she should keep it open, and not have the air between them blocked, but she needed a minute.
Thinking of her daughter had triggered too much anxiety, too much fear, and then the moment she thought he was angry with her had been a little too much for her nerves. She didn't want him to hear her if she happened to break down while doing a basic task like bathing.
Tenele filled the tub again, and stripped off her worn boots, layered socks, pants, and the wrap around her chest. She caught a glance at her thin bruised form in the mirror and winced. Definitely not a picture of desire at the moment. She slipped down into the water slowly, settling back into the heat.
It was the warmest she'd been in weeks. She let her mind go quiet. But, now there wasn't anything to focus on but all the things she'd avoided. Her husband was safe now, and so she couldn't concentrate on getting to him. Rescuing him. Now, she thought of other things.
She thought of Tenara staring out the window, or crying herself to sleep wondering why her mother and father had left her... and Tenele's heart shattered. There was no good choice in the matter. If she'd stayed with Tenara, Vlad would have died...
Tenele didn't want to cry. Crying hurt. But, the more she thought, the harder it was to keep from crying. She should be happy. She had her husband back. And she was happy, there wasn't any denying that. But, Tenele couldn't feel completely happy until they were home and she could hold Tenara again.
Tenele went into the bathroom again and closed the door behind her. After all the time they'd spent apart she felt she should keep it open, and not have the air between them blocked, but she needed a minute.
Thinking of her daughter had triggered too much anxiety, too much fear, and then the moment she thought he was angry with her had been a little too much for her nerves. She didn't want him to hear her if she happened to break down while doing a basic task like bathing.
Tenele filled the tub again, and stripped off her worn boots, layered socks, pants, and the wrap around her chest. She caught a glance at her thin bruised form in the mirror and winced. Definitely not a picture of desire at the moment. She slipped down into the water slowly, settling back into the heat.
It was the warmest she'd been in weeks. She let her mind go quiet. But, now there wasn't anything to focus on but all the things she'd avoided. Her husband was safe now, and so she couldn't concentrate on getting to him. Rescuing him. Now, she thought of other things.
She thought of Tenara staring out the window, or crying herself to sleep wondering why her mother and father had left her... and Tenele's heart shattered. There was no good choice in the matter. If she'd stayed with Tenara, Vlad would have died...
Tenele didn't want to cry. Crying hurt. But, the more she thought, the harder it was to keep from crying. She should be happy. She had her husband back. And she was happy, there wasn't any denying that. But, Tenele couldn't feel completely happy until they were home and she could hold Tenara again.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
Vlad lay still in the warm bed and listened to the muffled sounds of water and his wife's heartbeat in the next room. He'd gone three months without that peaceful rhythm, and it was like music now.
It left him calm enough to think of Talon. He wasn't sure how his bloodling made out after the impromptu transfusion they'd done. Obviously he'd had the strength to stop the fire and save his, and probably Tenele's, life. He had a strange urge to have them all at his side - Atul, Talon, Tenara, even Stalker. He wanted to have them at hand, to be in love with them. On the other hand, there was a tense need to be alone. Only Tenele seemed to be immune to his antisocial urges, and even that was probably because she knew instinctively which buttons not to press.
It was strange... he was normally quite a physical person. He tried not to worry about it too much. That had to wear off, didn't it? He just needed to heal up and get back to normal. Then he could see them all again, and they'd never know something was broken before.
After a few minutes, sleep pulled him under.
It left him calm enough to think of Talon. He wasn't sure how his bloodling made out after the impromptu transfusion they'd done. Obviously he'd had the strength to stop the fire and save his, and probably Tenele's, life. He had a strange urge to have them all at his side - Atul, Talon, Tenara, even Stalker. He wanted to have them at hand, to be in love with them. On the other hand, there was a tense need to be alone. Only Tenele seemed to be immune to his antisocial urges, and even that was probably because she knew instinctively which buttons not to press.
It was strange... he was normally quite a physical person. He tried not to worry about it too much. That had to wear off, didn't it? He just needed to heal up and get back to normal. Then he could see them all again, and they'd never know something was broken before.
After a few minutes, sleep pulled him under.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
Tenele stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around her shoulders just as Atul came back into the bedroom. He did a double take when he say her, but not because of lack of clothing, but the red rim around her eyes.
"Hey," he murmured, crossing the room and cupping her cheek in his hand. "Everything okay?"
Tenele nodded, trying to hide her face away. "He's had a bath and is sleeping I think," Tenele replied, glancing to the bed where her husband lay.
Atul frowned. "What's wrong..."
"I just miss my daughter," Tenele whispered, trying to control her voice. "Being here with him, finding him... it makes me think of Tenara and how I left her. I just left her there, and she's too young to understand why. She probably thinks we hate her, or we're dead, or we abandoned her and are never coming back. I think of all the things I thought of when my mother left me with Sinead to never return and I know how much pain she must be feeling... and it hurts my heart."
Tenele reached up to catch the tears and wipe them away before they could fall across her cheek.
"She's much younger than you were when your mother died," Atul reminded, as he'd done several times over during their trip. But, he could understand her pain. Tenele was a good mother, a loving and caring and absolutely devoted mother. She had to make a choice, and she chose to save her husband.
Atul guided Tenele towards the bed. "I think you are exhausted and need some sleep," he reprimanded. "Decent warm sleep on something other than the ground. You'll feel better. We'll get back to Lowight and Tenara will see you and immediately forget everything. She'll run into your arms and never let go. which may hurt your sex life, but hey... those are the breaks."
Tenele smirked as Atul pulled back the covers and Tenele fell into bed. He took the wet towel from her and threw it across the room before covering her in the warm blankets.
"Go shave," Tenele reminded Atul. "You look like some wild mountain man."
Atul scratched his short beard. "Maybe I should keep it for a little while longer then," he laughed. "I can hide away from being king if I'm a mountain man... and then I could stay with the three of you forever." The king placed a scratchy kiss on her forehead and turned to have his own time with the bathroom.
"Hey," he murmured, crossing the room and cupping her cheek in his hand. "Everything okay?"
Tenele nodded, trying to hide her face away. "He's had a bath and is sleeping I think," Tenele replied, glancing to the bed where her husband lay.
Atul frowned. "What's wrong..."
"I just miss my daughter," Tenele whispered, trying to control her voice. "Being here with him, finding him... it makes me think of Tenara and how I left her. I just left her there, and she's too young to understand why. She probably thinks we hate her, or we're dead, or we abandoned her and are never coming back. I think of all the things I thought of when my mother left me with Sinead to never return and I know how much pain she must be feeling... and it hurts my heart."
Tenele reached up to catch the tears and wipe them away before they could fall across her cheek.
"She's much younger than you were when your mother died," Atul reminded, as he'd done several times over during their trip. But, he could understand her pain. Tenele was a good mother, a loving and caring and absolutely devoted mother. She had to make a choice, and she chose to save her husband.
Atul guided Tenele towards the bed. "I think you are exhausted and need some sleep," he reprimanded. "Decent warm sleep on something other than the ground. You'll feel better. We'll get back to Lowight and Tenara will see you and immediately forget everything. She'll run into your arms and never let go. which may hurt your sex life, but hey... those are the breaks."
Tenele smirked as Atul pulled back the covers and Tenele fell into bed. He took the wet towel from her and threw it across the room before covering her in the warm blankets.
"Go shave," Tenele reminded Atul. "You look like some wild mountain man."
Atul scratched his short beard. "Maybe I should keep it for a little while longer then," he laughed. "I can hide away from being king if I'm a mountain man... and then I could stay with the three of you forever." The king placed a scratchy kiss on her forehead and turned to have his own time with the bathroom.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
When the sun rose the next day, Vlad's body tried to wake itself at its usual time. His body felt terribly heavy, and he knew subconsciously that it was time to get himself upright. Talon would be coming any minute with to escort him to the table. Strange, for that to be the best part of his day. But he felt so heavy. His sore muscles didn't want to move, and his mind didn't want to wake up. He twisted his head, pushing back into the pillow for focus. "Talon," he muttered.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Desert Moon
In her sleep Tenele felt the body next to her move. She instinctively snuggled into it, slipping an arm around the waist and curling her naked form against it, as she'd done so many nights before with Atul. She murmured softly in her sleep, her fingers faintly sweeping across his side.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Desert Moon
"Talon..." Vlad muttered skeptically, his mind waking up more. He raised an incredulous eyebrow and peered over at the warm shape cuddling him. The bloodling had treated him tenderly since coming to care for him, but this was out of the norm. He opened both eyes wider and realized where he was. He realized who was holding him. Shock and relief tightened his throat. How many times was he going to go through this same realization before he accepted she was here?
He rolled in against her, his legs wrapping over hers. He draped his arm over her waist, conscious enough to avoid her ribs. He froze there a minute, absorbing her warmth against him and listening carefully to both pulses there in the bed with him. He longed for that second heat, and wondered again why he felt skittish about it. His fingers explored the sheets on the other side of Tenele and brushed up against that second warmth.
He swallowed back his ridiculous nerves. Atul was asleep. Vlad was in control. The vampire's hand slid gently up over Atul's hip, exploring his smooth skin.
He rolled in against her, his legs wrapping over hers. He draped his arm over her waist, conscious enough to avoid her ribs. He froze there a minute, absorbing her warmth against him and listening carefully to both pulses there in the bed with him. He longed for that second heat, and wondered again why he felt skittish about it. His fingers explored the sheets on the other side of Tenele and brushed up against that second warmth.
He swallowed back his ridiculous nerves. Atul was asleep. Vlad was in control. The vampire's hand slid gently up over Atul's hip, exploring his smooth skin.