Dark Temptations

Writers: Heather, AL
Date Posted: 3rd March 2014
Series: The Unwanted Sister

Characters: Coran, Relea
Description: On their journey to Emerald Falls to elope
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 5, day 17 of Turn 7
Notes: Takes place after "Let's Elope!" and at the same time as Reven's kidnapping.

Relea

There was no way to reach Emerald falls within a mere day. It would
be two, possibly three depending on weather, how often they stopped,
and what sort of time they made with their runners. The first day
dawned glorious, clear skies with just a scattering of wispy clouds.
The route had been picked carefully, all for the hastiness of their
departure. Thread would not be a threat for several more days, which
gave them extra time just in case. Despite how suddenly he had sprung
the idea, Relea had a feeling Coran had timed it purposefully. They
could sleep under the stars, the gentle days comfortable, the cool
nights bearable with a blanket or two. As the evening began to
settle, Relea assisted in building a fire and then warming the rations
they'd brought with them. They had enough for four days, and would
procure more at Emerald Falls.

"You did leave a note, didn't you?" She asked with her hands as they
finally eased down beside the fire, their bellies full. It was dark
but not silence. The buzz and whirr of insects offered a gentle
symphony in time to the crackling of the fire. Already the
temperature had dropped and the warmth of the flames combined that
with the body upon which she leaned were pleasant and desirable. The
combination urged her eyes to droop and a yawn to appear, but she
wasn't quite ready to sleep just yet.

Coran lifted an arm and wrapped it around Relea's shoulder, hugging
the woman against his side, "I did leave a note. I wish I could see
their faces when they read it." He smiled a bit, his fingers idly
stroking the side of Relea's shoulder as he signed with one hand, his
face turned toward her so that the firelight could illuminate his
face. Truthfully the healer was still surprise that Relea had agreed
to running off and getting married so suddenly. Already his mind was
focused on their wedding night. It would be so nice to be able to hold
Relea, to take her to bed with him, and not have to worry about what
anyone thought.

Relea had to crane her neck to read his lips, as one arm was a bit
preoccupied. Not that she minded, for his gentle touch was soothing
and pleasant and she didn't want him to break the contact. With the
closeness of her bodies, her hand motions were a little more muted,
but she was able to communicate regardless. "Shocked. I expect some
might think it is to cover up a pregnancy after my 'time' with Reven."
She was not a fool, or delusional. She knew how the minds of people
managed all sorts of crazy scenarios.

The man's nose wrinkled, "I had not thought about that." He replied,
but knew that what the woman said was true. Rumors were vicious, and
the only way to dispel them would be for Relea to_not_ get pregnant
for a lengthy amount of time after they were married. Coran really had
never talked to her about having children, however as a hold woman, he
figured that she was not opposed to being a mother. "I look forward to
showing everyone that you are mine." He told her, capturing her chin
and tilting her face up to his for a kiss.

There were no shivers, no electricity, just pure, unadulterated
pleasure at his closeness and the taste of his mouth against her own.
She returned the kiss with an eager one of her own. His lips were
soft and she reached up to stroke the side of his jaw. Her fingers
traced a path downward and over his cheek, enjoying the roughness of
the slight growth that had occurred since their retreat from Green
Valley. It was broken momentarily and she tilted her head a little
more to smile into his eyes.

"Don't tempt me, woman, my resolve is already weak when it comes to
you." He teased, although there was a very real truth behind his
words. Coran wanted Relea the way he had wanted a woman in a very long
time. Having her there in his arms underneath the stars, away from
everyone else, was temptation indeed.

"I'm sorry." Her fingers danced lightly and for a moment it seemed as
if she might continue to tease him. Yet, as desirable as he found
her, and she him, she knew it wouldn't be good to give in - not yet.
"We should get some sleep." She suggested as she straightened and put
a little distance between them.

Coran hated to feel her put distance between them, "If I promise to
behave will you let me hold you while we sleep?" He asked her, the
firelight flickering in his eyes.

"I'd let you even if you didn't." Not that Relea meant that he should
try anything and the piercing look she gave him communicated as much.
Her laughter that followed was soft, but still strangled and odd in
comparison to those who could hear. "The sooner we get to bed, the
sooner we leave in the morning."

"Yes ma'am." His teeth flashed in a smile as he wrapped his arms
around her and snuggled down on the pallet of blankets laid out.
Reaching out with one hand he pulled a fur over them both.

It was odd having someone next to her. Of course, having a hard
ground, even buffeted by a layer of pallets, was odd in of itself.
Yet it was also a pleasant sensation, the warmth of his body seeping
through his clothes as he pressed against her. She wriggled a bit,
snuggling closer, then let her eyes close. Despite the fact that it
wasn't the most comfortable of situations, the trip had tired her
enough to urge her to sleep within only a few moments, the fire
crackling and casting shadows over the couple.

Coran, however, was having a much harder time falling asleep with the
warm curves of his betrothed pressed up against him. Shards, she_was_
a nice bundle to hold. His vivid imagination was busy drawing up what
each one of those curves touching his body must look like without
clothing. Body thrumming, Coran sighed into the back of Relea's hair.
This was going to be a long night.

****

As the night wore on, the air cooled and a gentle dampness settled as
dew formed, tiny jewels that glittered on the leaves and blades of
grass and glistened in the moonlight. Relea stirred and the blanket
slipped down, bearing her arms to the slight chill of pre-dawn. A
soft noise escaped and she shifted once more, then turned, still
asleep, to burrow further into the embrace that surrounded her.

Without thought, and later he would claim he was 'still asleep', Coran
tightened his arms around the woman in his arms. She just fit so
perfectly against his body. Whereas he was hard in places, she was
soft, her curves fitting so neatly against him. Trailing his hand up
her back, he tangled his fingers into the silky tresses of her hair as
his mouth found hers in a hungry kiss.

The realm of sleep floated away as his hands roamed over her body and
his lips pressed eagerly against her own. Sleep still cast its spell
over her, wakefulness tugging at its edges just enough to allow her to
respond, her mouth opening as her arm slid over his hip.

The response was all Coran needed to spur him further as his hand
broke from her hair to run boldly along her side and over her hip.
Running his hand down her thigh, he lifted her leg and draped it over
his hip, allowing him to press more firmly into the cradle of her legs
as he deepened the kiss.

The urgency with which he caressed and kissed her shooed sleep further
back and allowed wakefulness to take a firmer hold. Her eyes
fluttered open, then shut again as she trembled in response to the
intimacy of his touch, to the way his body tried to envelope and delve
into her both at once. Her hands glided up his side and grazed over
his back even as her mouth responded to his.

Awareness had come to Coran, but he was too lost in passion to give
stopping much thought. After all, they were getting married_tomorrow_
right? What would be the point in waiting one more night? Who was
going to know but them? His hand rubbed along the thigh that rested
along his hip, and slid up the front of Relea's shirt where his
fingers began working on the buttons of her blouse.

Her breathing quickened and Relea writhed against his touch. She
worked her hands up between them. Her fingers curled against his
chest, then she gently, but firmly pressed against him in an attempt
to put some space between them.

At first Coran wasn't sure if Relea was spurring him or pushing him
away. Finally his brain slogged into gear and he broke away, "Relea?"

The night transformed her eyes to darkness, the light of the dying fire

flickering like stars within their depths. Regret slid over her face
and she shook her head as she released the pressure against his chest
to make a single sign. "Wait."

That was the single most difficult thing in the world for Coran at
that moment. His eyes could barely make out the sign that she made
with her fingers but the intention was clear enough. The healer
exhaled a long, slow breath, every nerve in his body standing on end.
He wasn't sure what he was waiting for, his body to implode, or if she
was asking him to wait while she gathered her breath, or, Faranth no,
if she was going to say that they needed to wait until they were
married!

In the dimness of the night, with what little light shed by heavenly
bodies, Relea read the emotions that warred in Coran's face and
trembled in his hold. She pressed against him once more, breaking
that lock and inserting a little space between them before she signed
again. "We must wait."

Coran's eyes slid shut for a moment. **She's trying to kill me!** He
thought, trying in vain to think of things that would kill his desire,
but as soon as he opened his eyes there she was, lying beside him in
the moonlight looking more kissable than anyone he had ever seen. "I
need some air. You go back to sleep." He pulled away from her, tucking
the blanket around her as he went so that she wouldn't be cold. The
cool night air was_exactly_ what he needed however as he stiffly
walked away from their little camp and out into the darkness.

"Coran." Her fingers formed the name but he'd already turned away.
Relea's hands dropped uselessly to her lap. Didn't he understand?
Was he angry at her? Relea's eyes followed his form through the
shifting shadows until she could no longer make him out. Then she lay
back down, her eyes fixated upon the smoldering fire as she let out a
long, slow breath.

Last updated on the March 25th 2025

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