Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed as she felt his hand loosen around her. She was disappointing him.

Tenele smiled, touching his cheek. "I didn't mean it like it sounded," she replied, backpacing to recover the ground she'd gained in his affections. Enough. She wanted to be enough.

"I... I want to," she replied. "Please." Her hand curled in the silk gown she wore and she dragged it up so that the fabric revealed the gentle curve of her hip and thigh. Her green eyes fluttered up to him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad drew back, separating their bodies. This was the same thing that got him in trouble last time. She didn't know what she wanted. She was forcing herself to be with him because she was afraid.

"Tenele," he murmured. "I love you. I think we should take things slow, this time. I want you to have time to decide how you feel. The next time we make love, I'd like it to be mutual."

[Emora Deen]

There was a part of her that knew he was doing it for good reasons, and then there was a part of her that felt rejected. Tenele couldn't discern between the two. He hadn't wanted to take things slow on the ship after that first time... She felt embarrassed by her forwardness.

"Oh," Tenele drew the silk dress down again. "Okay... That's nice. Thank you." Tenele burrowed down next to him to hide her face, pretending to want to snuggle a little longer.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad drew back again, stroking a hand over her head as he recoiled from her bed. "I should really be meeting in the library," he said. The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. Was he just a male she felt she needed to satisfy in order to make him stay? He had been her husband once. There had been a time when she would never have worn that conflicted anxiety on her face when asking if he needed to fuck away his hard-on.

He walked stiffly to his suitcase, then rejected his Ighten clothes in exchange for a Hajarian suit from his closet.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele felt that rejection grow into a small knot of sorrow as she watched him dress. Tenele's eyes grew misty to the point he just looked like a colorful blur. She couldn't find the voice to ask him to stay, and she didn't have the pride at the moment to strip off her clothes and beg him to stay.

Tenele rolled so her back was to him and drew the covers over her head. She'd just stay in bed a little while longer... and then she'd go see about getting back what he really wanted.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad dressed quickly. He looked back at the bed, feeling guilty and stung at once. She probably couldn't see what she really wanted right now. She probably felt hurt. She'd seemed so insecure last night about Atul. But the more he interacted with her, the more he thought she was just compulsively getting herself in deeper than she wanted to be, all out of fear of losing her options.

He wasn't an option. He was a definite. He would always be there for her, but she didn't know that yet. There was no reason to take advantage of her insecurity when she didn't really want him. Remembering what happened last time just reinforced that showing her that side of him would only lead to regret later.

"I'll bring Snack with me today, so you can have some time to yourself," he said as he finished dressing. "See you tonight."

[Emora Deen]

"Thank you... See you tonight," Tenele whispered, wiping her eyes. She sighed heavily, pressing her face into her hands and smoothing back the skin. She had to get a hold of herself. She had to be the woman he wanted, the one he missed, the one he loved. The one both of them loved. She could do it. She could be that person.

[Soran Nightblade]

A few hours later, Vlad and Tenara were lying out on the dark grass of the palace gardens. Vlad had taken shelter in the shade of a monument and sat there reading from a huge pile of books he'd transported out with him. "Find any yet, Snack?" he called to his daughter who was rummaging for creatures in the brush.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara shook her head. "I saw one," she replied excitedly. "He was fast. He was all legless! I want ask him why he has no legs." She went deeper into the brush until the bush completely swallowed her. "Oh, hello! There you are Mr. Legless!"

* * *

Atul glanced up from the documents he’d been hovering over for the last hour at the sound of the door opening and closing. He froze, mid-quill mark, as she stopped on the other side of the desk. “Tenele… I didn’t expect you,” he replied, dipping the quill in the ink and letting it sit. He settled back in his chair. “What do I owe the visit?”

“I didn’t know if you’d stopped for lunch. I heard you often forget to eat as of late, so I thought I’d bring you something,” she sighed, setting the basket on the desk. “I also hoped we might be able to talk?”

Atul nodded slowly. “Thank you,” he whispered, reaching out for the basket. He drew it towards him, shuffeling parchment out of the way. “It smells nice.”

“Its roasted chicken and potatoes,” Tenele replied. “It was delicious.”

“Tenara?”

“With her father,” Tenele sighed. “I snuck away to see you.”

“Why?” Atul drew the plate out and took up the fork.

“Because, I needed to talk to you, and I didn’t want Vlad to know,” she replied, meeting his eyes.

Atul sat the fork down slowly. He couldn’t concentrate on eating when she looked that serious. “Okay, let’s talk.”

“Call off the wedding with Espha,” Tenele leaned heavily on the desk. “You are king. You are the last word. You can make that call. Do it.”

“Tenele…”

“Do it,” Tenele replied harsher. “For a King who waged a war against a God you sure are a coward.”

Atul’s blue eyes sparked and his expression darkened. “I am not a coward, Tenele.”

“Coward,” Tenele hissed.

“It is more complicated than that. I have to have a Queen to insure the people of the stability of my governing. I need a partner. I am tired, and I cannot rule by myself. Espha is intelligent, she comes from a prominent political family, and was highly educated. She is poised and appropriate. Most of all, I doubt she’ll slit my throat in my sleep in order to be sole ruler of Hajara, unlike that Queen gnawing at my ankles…”

“Marry me,” Tenele replied.

Atul choked on his own saliva. “You are already married and Vlad…”

“Marry him too,” Tenele sighed. “Marry us both. I’ve already researched it. Your culture accepts polygamy. Usually a man with multiple wives, but there is no law against a husband thrown in there. I’m not sure how that would work out in terms of king and queen… since that would mean two kings, but I’m sure you can get the title issue worked out.”

“Have you been drinking? Did you hit your head? Do you have any idea what you are asking?” Atul scowled. “You don’t love me Tenele. You don’t know me. You want me to marry you?”

“No,” Tenele barked. “I want you to marry Vlad. But, we come as a package deal. You’re an attractive guy, you clearly care a great deal about me, and you love Vlad.”

“I care a great deal about you?” Atul repeated. “Tenele, I love you. I love you more than I can describe. Do you know how many times a day I think of advocating the throne and passing it to a more qualified adviser? Someone less love-sick and more stable? I think about everything under the sun to be with you. When I left, and I realized you both would hate me forever, that I had lost you forever, I couldn’t cope. I was sick. I didn’t eat, sleep, and I drank until I wasn’t useful to anyone. I thought about ending it, and escaping to be with the God of Death, where I did not have to endure the crushing pain. And then Espha came, among twelve hopeful women. She was the only one as desperate and afraid as I was. All those other women just wanted to be queen, at any cost. She just wanted to be free. Espha dragged me out of the bog I was wallowing in. Espha is the one who convinced me that I could have both worlds. She wanted me to go back to you both and to apologize, beg forgiveness, and tell you that I could still be with you. But, I can’t because you don’t know who I am. You don’t love me. Marrying you is like marrying Espha.”

“No its not,” Tenele replied. “You don’t love Espha. You love me.”

Atul pursed his lips together. “That’s beside the point…”

“Call the wedding off,” Tenele told him, coming around the table. Atul twisted in his chair.

“Tenele! This has gone-”

She grabbed his face, nearly falling atop him, and pressed her lips hard to his. The King’s hands shot up, hovering around her like he didn’t know what to do with them. When she finally drew back, she gave his nose a gentle nuzzle.

“Tenele…” he whispered, with a hooded gaze. To feel her kiss… her hands on his face. He shook his head quickly, like trying to wake from a dream. “What are you-“

Her lips met his again, hot, firm, and unyielding. The King melted. The taste of her, the feel of her warmth so close to him. Her hands drew away from his face and she gathered the skirts around her. Dreams, he thought wildly as he felt her climb into the chair with him, straddling his lap, this was a dream. His fingers curled in the soft silver hair at the back of her head, and his arm wrapped tight and low around her waist.

Atul lowered his arm until it hooked just below her. He lifted, twisted, and with a free arm shoved everything off his desk, even the lunch, before lowering her down. He felt her stiffen and the kiss break. He drew himself away insanity.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed, glancing at the mess on the floor. He was going to have to rewrite all those documents that now that they were lathered in grease… He meant to pull away completely, but she hooked her hand in the lip of his pants and drew him forward.

“Tenele, what are you doing?” he asked, curling his fingers around her wrist and prying her away from his clothes.

“You want me,” she purred, settling back on his desk. “Wouldn’t you enjoy us on your wedding night more than a woman you do not love or desire? You say you are tired and need help. Two is more productive than one. You already have an heir with us, you do not have to worry about killing another woman with your seed. It would strengthen any alliances you have with Ighten to the point of being unbreakable. Politically it is the soundest decision.”

Atul narrowed his eyes. “But, you do not love me, Tenele, not anymore.”

“That does not mean I do not want you,” Tenele hummed, reaching for his belt. “I’ll show you.”

“Tenele,” Atul protested, pushing her hands away. She sat up and kissed his lips. His attempts to stop her grew half-hearted by the second. “Please, you don’t want this. This isn’t you.”

“It is me,” Tenele replied firmly. She nuzzled his neck, drawing his trousers open. “Don’t you want me? Haven’t you missed me?”

Atul’s throat closed, his eyes watered. “I have,” he whispered, running trembling fingers through her hair.

“Show me,” she replied, guiding his hands to her thighs. She moved them up her legs until they pushed the hem of her dress over her hips. “Show me.” She reached to the thin straps of her Hajaran dressed and pushed them from the shoulders so that the silk gathered at her waist.

Atul exhaled a ragged breath. “Please,” he whispered. “I’ve hurt you once. I don’t want to hurt you again. Cover up. You don’t really want me.” His vision blurred, his hands holding her hips tightly. “You won’t love me. Just go, Tenele.” The King covered his heart with his hand. “Get dressed. Go.”

Tenele faltered at the sorrowful look. Her brow furrowed. She remembered the fierce fire of the man who saved her in the market. He’d looked invincible and powerful at that moment, but right now…

She took his hand and drew it away from his heart. There, she placed a kiss and covered it with her own hand. “I loved you once,” she vowed, brushing his cheek with her other hand. “I will love you again.”

Atul’s jaw clenched as he met the wild green gaze he’d missed for so long. He pressed in, his lips to hers. A slow sensual kiss that grew into something far more heated. “Tenele… put on your- Ohhh….” His gaze went immediately to where she had a hold of him. “Please. My control… has limits. Let… let go.” His knees grew weak and he pressed his palms hard into the table top to stay on his feet.

“See,” Tenele whispered, “even without my memories this will work. This relationship will work just fine.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad peered over his book at his daughter. "The ones with no legs are very shy, Tenara. They bite when they're scared, and like to keep to themselves."

[Emora Deen]

"This one's not shy!" Tenara replied as she wiggled her way out of the brush with her hand wrapped tightly around the snake, just behind his head, so he couldn't bite her. His body coiled around her tiny arm. His mouth gaped open, fangs showing. "He's smiling!!"

* * *

Atul drew away quickly, and fell back into his chair so quickly that it set Tenele on edge. He forced himself back into his pants painfully, buttoning the trousers. His chest rose and fell with what she could only assume was rage.

“Go,” he whispered, motioning for the door. “Get dressed, and go.”

Tenele hesitated, slowly slipping her arms back through the straps of her dress. “Atul…”

Atul shook his head, holding up his hand. “I love you,” he whispered. “I won’t add anymore to the trauma I’ve caused you. I beg you, not to add anymore to my own pain. I want you, oh Gods, do I want you… But, if I take you now, you will not love me. You will not enjoy it. It will break you further. Don’t ever attempt something like this again, unless you want it with all of your heart, do you understand?”

Tenele nodded slowly, tears forming. “I’m sorry.”

Atul nodded. “It must be hell to live in a world where people know you so completely, and you don’t even know yourself. You don’t even know who you are, or who you want to be, or what you love and what you enjoy… We will find a way to fix you, Tenele. This will be made right.”

“Don’t tell Vlad,” Tenele pleaded as she slid off of the desk.

Atul pinched the bridge of his nose. “Go,” he sighed.

“Please,” Tenele reached forward to grab his hand, to plead with him. He drew away.

“Go!”

Startled, the maiden jumped back. Embarrassment and shame flooded her. Her breath came quick, she stumbled over the contents he’d pushed from his desk, and fled from the room.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad cracked up at the sight of his daughter wrangling a snake. If Tenele were here, she would probably faint. "Can I see him?" he asked.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara nodded, carrying the snake over to her father. She plopped down in her father's lap and held the snake up to his face. Her other hand tried to pry the coiled creature from around her arm. "Tight," she grumbled.

[Soran Nightblade]

"He's holding on tight because he's scared," Vlad said to her. "But since you're holding him, keep a tight grip and I'll show you some things." He traced his finger along the underside of the snake's jaw, and it opened wide, struggling for an angle to bit him. "Do you see the pointy front teeth? They're called fangs. Animals with fangs are carnivores. It means they eat live food. He uses these for hunting mice, and smaller lizards."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara gasped. "Not lizards!!" she replied, scowling at the snake. "Mr. Legless, that is wrong! You leave the mice and lizards alone." Tenara lifted her hand. "Can I poke them?" she asked, reaching out to touch his fangs.