Unfortunate Misunderstandings (PG-17)

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 29th July 2016

Characters: Corran, Nohria
Description: River Bluff's hatching feast takes an unexpected turn
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 21 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, Goulan; Follows Dancing & Plans
Rating: PG-17

The beach was a long ribbon stretched out to the side, and though most
of its detail was lost in the gloom, it was still obvious that there
were a few people out here. A few small fires dotted the length of it,
providing beacons of light. As for the ocean itself, it spread out
dark before them, and the distinctive susurrus of sound as the waves
broke onto the sand and then receded became audible.

Corran gave Nohria a moment to appreciate it before speaking again.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes," the woman breathed. She had never felt so small or taken in by
the scenery. Pern was an amazing world, and for a short while, she let
it distract her. Then, she examined how far away the other people were
and how much cover they had, and turned to the guard. "Corran," she
said to get his attention, and pulled at one last lace. Her dress slid
off her shoulders and down her arms to pool at her feet, leaving her
in just undergarments and shoes. "Corran, take me. Here. Now."

The guard's eyes widened. He felt his body rising to attention at the
sight of her unclad, just as it had when he'd seen her naked in the
bathing pools. This wasn't at all what he expected from her. Walking
hand in hand and kissing, he'd expected. Maybe very involved kissing.
But jumping this far when he hadn't touched her before...

"Nohria..." he began, biting his lower lip in consternation.

"Don't you want me?" Nohria asked, stepping close enough that the man
could smell the alcohol on her breath. "That's why you invited me
here, isn't it? You can have me if it's what you want. What you need."
She caught his hand and placed it on her left breast, trying to ignore
how much it excited her to have Corran this near.

"Yes. I mean, no. I mean." His words stumbled out. When his hand
touched her flesh it seemed to move of its own accord, cupping the
weight gently. He stopped to suck in a breath, trying to think through
the powerful tug of the strongest desire that he had ever felt, and
the fog of drink.

"I invited you here on a date, not because I expected you to pay for
it with a cheap roll in the furs."

_Shards._ The words conjured images that made his body feel even more
taut and desperate.

He really was trying to court her! Nohria felt several things at the
revelation: Confusion. Relief at the fact Corran truly wasn't the kind
of man to take advantage of a seemingly drunk woman who was making
such blatant advances on him. Startled that he had so much self
control. Anger that she _wanted_ him to take her. And finally, a sense
of despair: What did all this mean for her and the mission?

"Will you at least kiss me?" Ancients, where had that come from?! Was
she trying to push him over the edge? Was she really that stupid? Even
if she were free to give herself away, there was no way it would work.
If Corran ever found out she wasn't a widowed drudge, it would only
end in disaster.

But Ancients- Oh, Ancients, Nohria wanted to kiss him.

"Shards, yes," he breathed out before stepping closer to Nohria so
their bodies touched. He lifted his other hand to cup her cheek
gently, stroking his fingers against it and turning her face up before
leaning in to kiss her. He'd intended to be gentle – this was their
first kiss, it should be – and then his mouth was on hers and it was
warm and it was soft and suddenly it went from 'gentle' to 'scorching'
in the blink of an eye. The hand still on her breast tightened,
playing with it. He was aching with desire and need, his body hard as
a rock, and the closeness was breaking down his self-control.

Nohria hooked her fingers in Corran's shirt and clung to him like she
was drowning. For several long moments, the rest of the world ceased
to exist. It was just her and the guard on the beach, reveling in
sensation. Her entire body was burning, tension coiling in her guts
and groin. Corran's mouth, his hands on her body, the way his form
felt under the cloth, was entirely too good. It set her alight in ways
even Ardihan hadn't, and it was leagues better than what Goulan could
do for her-

She was going to have to tell Goulan about this. Her position was now
dangerously compromised. She drew back, and hoped it was dark enough
to hide the fact her eyes were welling up. "I'm sorry," she said
without knowing why, and turned to pick up her dress.

This wasn't fair. This situation just wasn't at all fair, and it was
starting to make her very angry.

Maybe she was sorry she'd taken him up on the Hatching invitation.
Maybe she was sorry she'd assumed incorrectly. Or that she'd made the
offer. Maybe she never wanted to talk to him again. As she pulled away
he already missed his hands against her body, her lips against his.

"If I made you feel pressured..." he started.

"You were the portrait of restraint," she interrupted, which was the
problem. She yanked the laces into place and made herself presentable.
A shake of the skirts to dislodge the sand, a quick tidying of her
hair, and her modesty was preserved again. "I'm the one who
overstepped her bounds." As good an excuse as any. "Shall we return to
give our respects to the Weyrleader?"

"Yes. You'll like him," Corran assured. He started back towards the
Weyr, not entirely reassured by what was going on. This time, he
didn't want to reach for her hand, afraid of what messages it might
send.

Hopefully on the walk back he'd have enough time to calm down. This
would be an embarrassing state to meet his brother in…

Last updated on the August 13th 2016

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Unfortunate Misunderstandings (PG-17)