Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled, cupping a hand over her husband's cheek. "Yes, that is exactly my problem," she mused and kissed him back.

Atul pulled Tenara into his arms and snuggled her. "I missed you little one," he whispered to her. He was going to miss her. He was going to miss moments like this with the four of them tangled in the sheets and rough-housing in the early light of day.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled into Tenele's kiss and sank with her luxuriously into the sheets. He drew her in close to his chest with his arm and looked over at Tenara in her Papa's arms. "I missed you too, kiddo. I'm sorry I kept Mom and Papa so long. They had some trouble finding me, and I wasn't feeling well."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara smiled softly from where she lay on Atul's chest. "Its okay. I love you," she replied.

"We love you too," Tenele whispered.

[Soran Nightblade]

The next week was among the most boring for the threesome in recent memory. With Atul's obligations covered at home, and Vlad and Sinead remaining at a cold standoff, there wasn't much to do except heal, and enjoy their daughter.

And enjoy her they did. Every day they spent playing and exploring the city together felt happier than the last for the strife-weary vampire. He was tired of drama and battle. He was starting to feel comfortable with the idea of settling down more.

His fractured nerves got better each day, but he was cold to the point of rudeness to pretty much everyone in the capitol except his family. Even the queen's maidens, with whom he'd once flirted constantly, got little more than curt greetings or snarky pranks out of him when he was bored. People noticed the change, and the gossip circulating about him was unflattering, but no harsher than it had always been.

Vlad was walking back to the castle. He'd run some errands on his own that day, since the ship to Hajara was due at port that night, and there were many things that weren't available there. He fingered the small wood-carved box in his pocket a little guiltily. He'd used a chunk of his savings, but that wasn't really the issue.

He pulled off into an alley and removed the small item from his pocket, like he was playing with a forbidden toy. Opening the small box, he peered in at the gleaming metal object inside of it. A gold band, largely sized for a man's finger and carved with an ornate darkened pattern inside and out. He worried over a few more seconds before stuffing it back into his pocket. He felt too warm. He must be mad to even think of such a thing, but when he'd caught sight of it, something insisted that he get it.

It was folly. Atul couldn't possibly take on a commitment like that. Still, the warm weight felt good against his thigh. Having it made him relieved somehow. Just thinking about it made his chest swell.

[Emora Deen]

"Nap time," Atul insisted to Tenara. "You haven't had a nap all day."

"No!" Tenara argued. "No nap."

Atul tossed Tenara over his shoulder and carried her to her small bed. "Nap," he insisted, flopping her over onto the mattress.

Tenara huffed as her Papa pulled the covers around her and kissed her cheek. She yawned, despite all of her protests. "No nap."

Atul smiled, brushing his fingers through her hair. "Sleep well."

"Okay," she murmured.

The King returned to the room he'd shared with Vlad and Tenele to find the Maiden packing up his things. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and tossed her to the bed where he fell across her. "Tenara is napping," he murmured against her neck.

"You are my hero," Tenele sighed. "She refused yesterday and I couldn't seem to make her sleepy enough."

"You just needed to run around the castle for a few hours," he admitted. His hands snaked under her blouse. Just once. Once more, he thought desperately, swallowing the knot in his throat. "Where is Vlad?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad made his way up the stairs to their rooms. A few of Sinead's advisors were on the way down, but they didn't address him. It was no wonder; very few could get away with openly arguing with the queen in her own palace, and no one could figure out why he hadn't been punished for it yet.

Vlad couldn't care less about them. No one here was his friend, nor had they ever been. It was the same as always, except that his standards were now higher. After doing a shockingly good job of playing Atul for the weeks when he was healing, he was now at a low point from a diplomatic career perspective.

He made his way to the door, and the sound of someone - Tenele? - laughing inside changed his expression as if he were a different person. He knocked once and entered. "I'm back," he announced as he strolled in.

[Emora Deen]

Atul sat up over Tenele and smiled brightly. "Welcome back," he called, slipping his hands out from under Tenele's shirt.

Tenele sat up slowly with that beautiful smile that melted their hearts. "Tenara is napping and Atul is feeling playful."

Atul's heart fluttered nervously as he turned his gaze back to Tenele.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled as he shut the door behind him. "Playful, huh?" He prowled towards them. "Shall I assume, since Tenara sleeps, that it's not a game of Tea Party?" he teased, kissing Atul's shoulder as he went to hang his coat.

[Emora Deen]

"No tea," Atul replied, snaking his hands back beneath Tenele's shirt. "But, there can be a party." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

"I have to pack."

"I have to touch you," Atul mused. "I'm king. My needs come first."

"Oh do they, now?!" Tenele asked. "Spoiled royal."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad inconspicuously locked the door to Tenara's room. He moved to the edge of the bed, smirking at their little game. "I'll help you pack," he promised faithfully. His hands slid over her ankles and up her skirt, pulling down her stokings. "For instance, we should pack these," he murmured. He pondered them a moment and then tossed them onto the open suitcase on the floor. "And probably these," he decided as he went back in for her underwear.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed as she felt her husband's hand glide up her leg again. "That's probably right," she whispered to him, looking up at Atul's blue eyes. "Packing is always easier with help."

Atul kissed her again, humming against her lips. He was holding back on all the things he wanted to say, both innocent and vulgar. He was feeling restless, but there was good reason for that. He hadn't told them yet... Gods he was an idiot for not telling them yet.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled and pushed the fabric of her dress upward as he leaned down to kiss up her thigh. He breathed in the heat of her skin and licked her thigh with a soft moan. He teased higher, hoping to captivate her away from her dull packing.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's breath quickened. She moved to sit up and watch, but Atul took her hands and held them down either side of her head. He dropped his mouth to her neck and sucked on the skin. "I feel like I'm being tricked..."

Atul froze, blinked, and moved his mouth to the buttons of her shirt. Snapping them off with his teeth.

"Hey!" she yelped.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad blinked up at Atul's handiwork. That was unusual for the demigod... He decided not to think much into it. "I suppose we'll need to back the buttons, too," he decided matter-of-factly as his mouth reached her center and he pressed in against her, licking deeply. The taste of her left him rock hard, his pants straining the fabric.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele gasped, toes curling. Atul nuzzled her shirt open and licked across her skin until he found her breast. She squirmed between them. "Hah..." Atul nipped at her skin, his hands squeezing around her wrists. The sound of her voice, the feel of her breath washing over his skin.

He lifted his head and glanced down to Vlad with a smile.