Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's expression went slack. He blinked at her, assessing. "Yes, I believe I was," he finally said, slapping on a casual smile too late to seem natural. "I appreciate your benefit of the doubt. At any rate! My reputation here is quite popular, even opposite that in Ighten. I expect you'll have no such suggestions from the members of the court here. No one to rescue you from my corruption," he winked.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smirked. "Oh, whatever will I do," she sighed. "What do you think, Tenara?"

"Hmmm?" Tenara asked, glancing up from her doll. "I don't know."

Tenele laughed. "Are you hungry?"

"Yah!" she replied excitedly.

Tenele reached forward and scooped her out of her husband's lap. "Shall we go get dinner? Does daddy want to come down for dinner with us?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Sounds good," he said, scooping Tenara up with him as he stood. "I'll keep you company."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled. "Great!" she replied.

After dinner Tenele gave Tenara a bath and tucked the child into her bed. Stalker curled at the foot of it diligently. "Good night, sweet princess," Tenele whispered to her, before blowing out the candles.

Tenele returned to the bathroom and returned later with her damp hair pinned up loosely and wearing a thin silk nightgown. She went drew back the covers to their bed. "Are you sleepy?" she asked her husband, kneeling one leg on the bed as she waited for his answer. "It is early."

* * *

"Hehehe," Espha giggled. "I thought for sure that last guard knew something." She leaned against the door to her room with a heavy sigh. "My heart stopped."

"Well, we made it back without a scrape. I call it a successful day," Talon replied, admiring the lovely smile she wore. "So how do you like the room? Unusually quiet, isn't it?"

"Yes," Espha replied, narrowing her eyes. "How do you know?"

"It was mine when we lived here last. Vlad and Tenele had someone spell it so I couldn't hear the heartbeats and... the noises that come from their room. Really, be thankful. They can be like bunnies. It was distracting to me, as a new vampire. The noises of the world almost drove me mad. I'm much better at handling it now."

"I was wondering why it was so quiet inside. I like it. After a busy day of learning how to be a good queen, it is nice to have silence." She brushed her black hair behind her ear. "Thank you for today, Talon. It meant so much to me. I really enjoyed spending time with you."

"I enjoyed spending time with you," Talon replied. "Let me know if you want to escape again and I'll arrange it."

"I will do that." Espha bowed her head. "Good night, Lord Raider."

"Good night, Queen Espha," he whispered, bowing his own head before backing off down the hall.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad had been stacking up the work he needed to bring to Phillip's offices in the morning. He turned at her question, and took in her attire. He made sure not to look too closely and make her self conscious. "Not tired per se, but I'd enjoy turning my mind off for a while."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled happily and climbed onto the high bed and beneath the thin covers. It was much too warm for the covers that Ighten had, so everything seemed to be layers of thin cotton. The wind blew in warmly from the balcony, swishing the curtains. She sat up slowly and blew out the candles near the bed.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked at his wife lying beautifully in bed. He walked to his luggage and drew out a pair of silk pajama pants, envisioning a fun way to tease Tenele while he changed into them. He froze as he spotted the wooden box tucked among the mix of Ighten and Hajaran clothes. He said no. You hurt him enough. Stop thinking about it, asshole. When he rose and turned from the suitcase with the pajamas in hand, his plan to tease Tenele had lost all attraction. He had to stop making people uncomfortable. He had to give them space. "I'll be back," he murmured, heading to the bathroom to change. When he came out a minute later, he walked around to the unclaimed side of the bed and settled next to her, shirtless but on top of the sheets.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele bit her bottom lip as she tried to figure out why he was on top of the sheets instead of lying next to her. She weighed the idea of vampire's being hot against the fact he thought she might not want him next to her. Tenele swallowed and slipped out of the covers to lie on top of them. She scooted up close to him, curling against his side and draping her arm over his chest.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad turned his head to look at her. Her touch was so kind. She wanted to be up here with him. He curled his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. He telekinetically flipped the huge sheet up over her so she would stay warm. His heart ached and sang at the same time. "I love you, Tenele."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele hesitated a moment in replying. Her lips had already parted with the response. She'd told him before, on the ship, after their fight. Even then she didn't get the feeling he believed her. She didn't even know if she believed it herself.

She sat up slowly, slipping a hand up this face. She cupped his cheek, running her thumb over his lips and along his cheek. Her green eyes pondered him. His man loved her infinitely. He had complete faith in her. He was devoted to her...

Tenele pressed in slowly, touching her lips to his. She kissed him openly, like trying to show him what her words could not convince him of.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's lips answered hers, softly, until they started to shake. Her affectionate gesture was so real, it made him want to believe there was love behind it. It broke apart the walls in his heart, and ripped his guts out. Tears burned their way free as he stayed in the warm contact of her kiss, even though his mouth twisted with the effort not to cry.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele drew back slowly, looking at the pain on his face. She wasn't sure why it was there, but she feared that maybe she had hurt him. Maybe he still didn't believe. She took his face in both of her hands and she kissed him again, pouring all of herself into it. Please, believe, believe, believe.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to him, kissing him again. "What can I do?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad shook his head, too embarrassed for words. And despite all that, he couldn't calm down. "You're fine," he croaked out, wrapping his arms around her in a shaking grip. "I'll get it together. Just stay like this a minute."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded, pressing her face into the crook of his neck and kissing the skin lightly. Her fingers rubbed soothingly along his sides.

[Soran Nightblade]

The vampire's shaking breath eventually calmed amidst the light touch of Tenele's fingers on his skin. His mind could only take a few minutes of giving in to that kind of overload before it burned itself out into exhaustion. Despite himself, his thoughts were lulled into a calmer blur after a few minutes. "Damn, I'm sorry," he muttered.