More Than expected: (Closed Thread)

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"I was born there."

Celaena had to admit, she had not been expecting this statement from the half-elf known as Brandon.

"Born there?" she voiced in confusion and surprise beneath her breath before she could stop herself.

She didn't mean to pry, he had seemed very reluctant to reveal even that piece of information to her and she doubted that he would want to elaborate and tell her more. It had just been such a shock. A half elf from the high elvish city? That was rare indeed. Then there was the information that he'd shared about his father as well. He'd said his father was human, and that he would have liked to kill the man if someone else had not already done so. She was not expecting him to have come from the same city as herself.

She felt him relaxing behind her and forced herself to do likewise, attempting to change the subject a bit so that he knew she was not trying to make him share more with her if he did not want to.

"Do you miss it?" she asked quietly as she leaned back against him and settled in a bit more, letting her eyes drift shut as her head relaxed fully against his arm that was currently serving as her pillow.

 

[The_gladiator]

“It sure beat slavery.” He said dryly. “But, honestly, no. I don’t particularly miss being a second-class citizen. I hated that my mother had to hide me from your people. Hated that my sister once had to spit on me in public so that she could continue to be accepted. The high elves claim to be the most open and accepting of all the elven cultures, but some of the Drown treated me better. At least some of them wanted to fuck me, not just fuck me over.”

He fell silent for a moment and then awkwardly gave her a squeeze. “Sorry. I did not mean to let so much bitterness show.” His voice was less raw than it had just been a moment before, as if he were rebuilding the Icey wall, the layers of protection, in essence, the Brandon persona.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"At least some of them wanted to fuck me, not just fuck me over."

Celaena had winced slightly at the comment, stiffening a bit and her eyes reopening. It was a harsh comment, but she knew it was true. Her homeland was not without its flaws and the people's common attitude and treatment towards half-breeds was undoubtedly one of them. Life could not have been easy for him in Kierielle, growing up in a place where he was viewed as something 'foreign' and strange even though he was born there.

She relaxed slightly at the feel of his squeeze, but frowned slightly as he apologized and she could hear the cool, icy indifference returning to his tone. She shifted slightly within his arms, her head rolling to look back at him over her shoulder.

"Please don't apologize," she told him, her gaze meeting his, "I was born in Kierielle as well and grew up there, I know how the citizens there can be. Your feelings are more than justified."

She gave his arm around her a small squeeze in return.

"You should never have had to endure such horrible things."

 

[The_gladiator]

It was like Brandon was weighing her words in his mind, trying to figure out her angle, what the advantage was to her. His gray eyes met hers briefly and finally ne nodded. “Thank you,” is all he said finally. He wanted to say more, tell her he didn’t need her pity, but that hadn’t felt like pity so much as simple kindness. Lashing out like a wounded animal wouldn’t help the situation.

He felt her hand squeeze his arm. He suddenly felt the urge to take her hand in his. He did not though. He suspected by her words that she would remember the massacre that had stolen the lives of his mother and sister, that had left him a slave, but he did not want to bring it up. Eventually she would make the connections, but that did not mean he had to talk to her about it right away. He truly did not want her pity. Moreover, they were painful memories. Rather he waited to see what she might say next, do next.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena smiled slightly at Brandon's simple thank you. She hadn't been sure if he would accept her words or not, seeing the expression on his face as he'd seemed to struggle with them, not to trust them. She was glad that he had.

"I have to admit I do miss it sometimes, even though it was my decision to leave," she admitted as she shifted slightly onto her back so that she could keep looking up at him.

Attempting to lighten the mood she added, "Though most of what I miss I hope to purchase myself one day once I'v accumulated enough of my own wealth here.. like a bed with a decent mattress and linens for one."

She smirked at him.

"Not that I don't appreciate you sharing the hammock and blankets of course."

 

[The_gladiator]

Brandon propped himself up more on his elbow, so he could more easily look down on her, this put his hand behind her head, fingers unconsciously twining into her hair. Her rolling now had his other arm across her stomach. “They do sell beds here,” he said letting himself smirk a bit. “Well not here exactly, but you get it.”

There was a long pause as he seemed to be considering the wisdom of saying what next came out of his mouth, “I find sharing this space with you to be the most pleasant experience I’ve had in quite some time.” His eyes met hers, not looking away, his expression unreadable.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena had laughed slightly at Brandon's little comment about the beds, smiling back at him a bit in return at the sight of his smirk. She certainly hadn't encountered any feathered mattresses and fine linens like she'd had back in her room in Kierielle, but she was certain he was right, they were out there somewhere. But one had to have a home to put them in first, and the money to purchase them with. She would find a way to make a place for herself in this new world though. She was determined.

She certainly noticed his pause then, and the way he seemed to be considering his words beforehand. What he said next definitely caught her by surprise.

“I find sharing this space with you to be the most pleasant experience I’ve had in quite some time.”

She looked up at him, his eyes holding hers and not looking away. She suddenly felt very aware of his hand entwined in her hair and the other across her stomach. Both had just shifted there so naturally that she had not really paid them any mind, but now... now the brush of his fingers in her hair made her suppress a shiver and she swore she could feel the heat of his palm even through the blanket wrapped around her.

Her eyes searched his, trying to gauge his expression, but it was unreadable. Was this some line that he was feeding her now? She didn't think so, but with him it was hard to tell when he put up such walls. How should she respond?

"Me too," she admitted finally after some hesitation, deciding to be honest both to him and with herself as well.

 

[The_gladiator]

Brandon stared into her eyes for long heartbeats. She spoke echoing his words and the smile was a bit more genuine that he gave her. For a long heartbeat he looked like he wanted to kiss her before he lowered himself down again, his arm sliding further under her to accommodate his laying back down, hand brushing her shoulder. His lips were near her ear now. He kept a respectful distance from her, not trying to make his breaths a blatant invitation on her most erogenous elven ears, not yet, anyway.

Finally, he spoke, one word, that was it, “Taurean,” Then fell silent hoping she would realize how much he was trusting her with that simple word.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

That name. Where had she heard...

Memories stirred within her mind of rumors and whispers she'd overheard years and years ago about one of the families from Kierielle, a very prominent family such as her own... and then the tragic fate that she'd heard had befallen that same family. Realization and understanding suddenly dawned in her eyes as she remembered what he had told her of his past and realized where exactly she knew the names upon his tattoo from.

"Taurean," she echoed, testing the sound of it softly upon her tongue as he had her name before and knowing just how much trust he was giving to her in this moment.

She wanted to turn towards him again, but stayed where she was, her gaze upwards. After a moment though her hand moved, resting upon his own on her stomach and giving it a small squeeze.

"It is good to meet you Taurean."

 

[The_gladiator]

Taurean actually shivered, hearing his name spoken with that accent. It actually caught him off guard. He could tell she was linking ideas in her mind. She had to be remembering who he was. It suggested so when she touch him.

He wanted to stiffen, to be on guard at her touch, but it felt too nice. “A pleasure to meet you too,” he said softly finally breaking the silence. Talking was not his strong suit it never really had been.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

“A pleasure to meet you too.”

She smiled slightly with a bit of amusement at the shortness and formality of his reply when he finally spoke. The feel of his breath brushing over her ear slightly as he spoke, despite his attempts to distance, made her have to suppress a shiver of her own.

"Still a man of few words I see, no matter what name," she commented, attempting to distract herself from it.

She released her grip on his hand, but kept it resting over his own. Elves were indeed a rather touchy-feely race, and it had been a long time since she had allowed anyone to get this physically close. She had to admit, it was nice. She found herself relaxing into him once more.

 

[The_gladiator]

“No matter the name I can only be what I am, no more or less,” Taurean said to her. He wasn’t sure what else to say. He was very aware of her closeness, of her hand atop his.

“Are you warm enough?” he finally asked. Both still only wore blankets. The delicate wrappings they had done sparing one another from complete bare skin contact. He couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like to have her skin on his.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"I'll be fine," she answered quickly as she forced her eyes to close.

In truth whether from the drug still wearing off within her system, their swim within the river, the coolness of the dark and damp stone cave around them, or a combination of the three, she was in actuality still a bit chilled. She could feel a bit of goose flesh raising up upon her arms.

She had not been lying though. It would pass and she would be fine. She was certain.

She knew enough about body heat and how it worked to know that their two blankets would likely have been better served draped over them both together as they lay skin to skin instead of around them each separately, but she was not prepared to throw aside propriety just yet and lay together naked with a man she hardly knew.

 

[The_gladiator]

Her answer was too quick. He knew it was a lie, but he wouldn’t push her. Not necessarily a lie, but more an evasion. She would be fine, did not mean that she was ok now. However, he wouldn’t push her. That was not his way.

“Glad that you’re ok,” he said and gave her a squeeze. Closing his eyes. His fingertips absently brushing her bare shoulder as he shifted to get comfortable.

They lay there like that for what felt like an eternity, Taurean forcing himself to breathe deeply evenly, seeking a mental calm, that was admittedly difficult with an attractive woman so close to him.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"You too," Celaena replied as she lay awkwardly for a moment, staying still as she felt Taurean shift and get comfortable beside her, the feel of his hand brushing over her bare shoulder making her shiver slightly even though she knew it had been accidental on his part.

He stilled and she could feel his breathing slow and deepen, though she didn't think he was actually asleep just yet. She tried to do the same, but his deeper breaths exhaled softly against her earlobe, tickling the highly sensitive area and making her breathing catch slightly and the hair at the nape of her neck raise.

She decided to move back onto her side into her original position, hoping that would help. Slowly, she shifted within his hold, turning her body again so that her back and bottom were once more pressed into him instead, her head turned away as she released a sigh and settled in, pulling the blanket a little higher up around her for warmth.

 

[The_gladiator]

He was well aware of her and as she rolled over, he made a soft noise of pleasure feeling her body curbed to his. He lay for a moment and finally he moved, he pulled the blanket out from around himself, not an easy process without spilling both of them out of the hammock though finally did so. “Don’t look back,” he said, “You do not wish to be blinded my lady,” he offered, and was that a bit of teasing in his tone.

Freed of his form, he draped the blanket, now heated by his body over both of them. This now could cover both of their arms, and she was now receiving the benefits of two blankets. This only left her blanket between his body and her skin, but he thought it would help her stay warm.

He said nothing, just returned to spooning her, hand perhaps a bit higher on her stomach than before, but still nowhere near her breasts. His arm tucked mostly behind her this time so her pillow was again his hand, as his fingers naturally twined in her hair. “That should help,” he finally murmured breath brushing the back of her neck again as he let himself try to relax again.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena's eyes had opened and she'd tensed ever so slightly when Taurean suddenly began to move so much behind her. Wondering what he was doing she'd almost turned back to look when she heard his word of warning and stopped, the hint of teasing in his tone making her eyebrows arch upwards in amusement and mild surprise.

Soon though as she felt his blanket drape over the two of them she realized what he had been doing. She felt the additional warmth of both his blanket and his body now as he settled back in behind her and spooned her again, his arm around her waist and his other hand cradling her head as it entwined in her hair. The sensation was so warm and secure that she unconsciously released a sigh, her body relaxing back into him even as she shivered slightly at the feel of his breath against her neck.

"It does," she replied back to him softly, her eyes drifting shut again, "Thank you Taurean."

 

[The_gladiator]

“You’re welcome lady Celaena,” Taurean replied softly. Letting his eyes close. “Gods you feel wonderful,” he murmured not really to her but to himself. The words were in elvish and spoken under his breath.

After he spoke those words, he seemed to mentally check himself for he stiffened for just a moment. He then let himself relax again; he had said what he said. It was the truth; he would make no apologies for that. His breathing slowed finally again. As a half breed, he couldn’t find the reverie that the elves did, that meditative state that was like sleep. He actually required both reverie and sleep. And honestly did neither really well.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

“Gods you feel wonderful.”

Celaena's eyes drifted open again in surprise, looking out into the space before her. She could tell by the way that Taurean stiffened for a moment after he spoke the words that he had not meant to let them be said aloud. For a moment she wondered if he might apologize, as most might have in that situation, but he did not. Of course he had warned her already that he was no chivalrous knight.

She smiled slightly in amusement. She couldn't exactly think badly of him for what he had said, nor his lack of apology. Had she not been thinking something similar just now when he had wrapped himself back around her?

As she felt his body relax and his breathing grow slower again, she slowly reached and gently guided his arm more tightly around her, leaving her arm to drape upon his own and her hand clasping his.

"Goodnight Taurean," she murmured softly as she let her mind begin to rest and prepare to drift into her reverie.

 

[The_gladiator]

He felt her pull him tighter around her, her hand covering his. He made the slight shift after a moment, so their fingers twined, her palm to the back of his hand. His blanket covered them both trapping in their shared heat.

“Goodnight Celaena,” he said softly. He let himself finally drift into a fitful reverie, that would hopefully lead to sleep.

When he woke, some time later, He had no way to judge time in the underground room, he became hyper conscious of Celaena. Mostly of her hand still in his at first. Then the fact that his body was pressed to her, his pelvis to her bottom, and he became aware that his body was happy to be there, very happy. A chivalrous knight might have pulled away, but he did not. Nor did he hump himself against her like a pervert either. She slept, but even if she woke, he would let the compliment speak for itself. She was attractive. It was also human nature to wake with such a condition. He willed himself back to sleep, not wanting that moment to end yet, did not want to have to pull away from her yet.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena stirred slightly as she began to rouse from her reverie. Her rest had been deep and pleasant, and she felt greatly restored and much more like herself now that the poison was completely out of her system.

Her body stretched slightly and she released a little sigh of pleasure as she felt Taurean's body still wrapped around her, their hands even still linked. It seemed as if neither of them had moved throughout the night. If anything they had gotten even closer, understandable though considering the close confines of their shared hammock.

There was one small change that she soon noticed however. Well...not small actually, not small at all, and it was pressing firmly against her bottom through the blanket wrapped around her.

She was uncertain how to respond. Should she get up? Wake him and make him move? She was admittedly reluctant to do either. She didn't want to disturb his sleep and his body felt so nice pressed against and wrapped around her own.

"Taurean?" she whispered softly after a long moment of silence, testing to see if he was awake.

 

[The_gladiator]

She stretched. A languid movement that pressed her bottom into his arousal, her head into his touch, her hair against his face. It was one sensual movement that caused him to lose the feigned rhythmic breathing he was fighting to maintain. He wasn’t sure if it were that hitch in his breath that made her speak but speak, she did.

“Yes Celaena?” he asked thumb stroking over the back of her hand, one of the first deliberately sensual touches he had offered her. He knew he should move, should apologize, but he didn’t, he remained joined to her, unwilling to hide in that moment. It was a moment that felt right, he wouldn’t let shyness and decorum ruin it. Unless she was offended, that is, and then he might change his tune.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Yes Celaena?"

So he was awake then. She felt warmth begin to slowly travel up her arm as his thumb softly stroked over the back of her hand. It was a small caress, but clearly intended to be sensual, unlike his other touches before.

She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. She knew propriety dictated that she now move away, put some distance between them both if not get up entirely. She should probably get offended as well, chastise him for continuing to lay so close despite his arousal after he'd awoken... but she didn't want to do any of those things.

She linked her hand a little more tightly with his own, bringing it higher up her body and resting it against her chest as her free hand reached up and traced its fingertips lightly over his arm.

"How is your shoulder?" she asked instead.

 

[The_gladiator]

She did not pull away. Rather she held him closer. His hand was now pressed to her chest. Almost between her breasts and his breath again hitched. Her touch felt good, way too good. Much better than he would probably admit to her.

“It is a lot better, thank you. Perhaps I wasn’t sold colored water, then,” he commented dryly. “Eventually I should go see if it’s dawn, and if we were passed in the night.” He did not sound like he wanted to move, though.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena smirked a bit with amusement at Taurean's dry bit of humor about the 'colored water'.

"I am glad to hear it," she commented, the small smile being heard in her voice as her fingertips continued absentmindedly tracing soft swirling patterns over his forearm as they spoke quietly with on another in the cool darkness of the cave.

She wondered as well what time it was, for there was no way of knowing for certain with no light or birdsong to go by now, but just like him she did not seem in a hurry to move, to get up and venture out to see. In a moment, she told herself.

"And if it is? If they have passed us by, what then?" she asked, wondering if he had a plan for what they should do next.