Another Bump In the Road

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 26th May 2007

Characters: Nialyn, Birigundi
Description: Biri and Nia start to get things going between them when they hit another bump in the road...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 20 of Turn 4

Birigundi

"She loves it when you croon like that to her," Nialyn grinned, watching
as Lyndi fixed her huge eyes on her papa. "She's completely transfixed."

Birigundi smiled up at her as he continued to hum the little song his
mother had always sung to him as a child. He rocked her back and forth
and rubbed her chubby cheek with the tip of his finger. There was nothing
in the world he loved so much as his little girl.

His daughter reached out, but when her small fist wouldn't touch his nose,
she settled for grasping onto his fingertip instead and sticking it in
her mouth.

Birigundi made a little face down at her as she covered his finger with
baby slobber. He never thought he would actually not mind being covered
in slimy spit, but he certainly was getting used to it. It was a good
thing he thought ahead and washed his hands well before holding her.

"Good thing you washed your hands," Nialyn chuckled, echoing his thought
as she leaned back against the sofa. Faranth, it was so nice to have Biri
here. She'd missed him last night. And Lyndi had too. Their daughter
was always a lot less fussy when her papa was there to hold her and croon
to her like he was doing now. Some people said that babies didn't know
the difference whether their parents were there or not, but Nialyn knew
better: Lyndi knew. She just did.

"Well, you ladies get me aaaallllll night tonight," he grinned down at
Lyndi as he reclaimed his finger and wiped it on the bottom of her
sleeping shirt. It was covered in slobber anyway, what was a little more.

Noticing the big yawn Lyndi gave, Nialyn murmured, "I think maybe you
should put her in her crib, Biri. If she's still fussy we'll take her
out, but she should go right to sleep. She didn't have too long of a nap
this afternoon."

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea," he said, turning his smile
onto Nia. A little alone time would be welcome indeed.

"Make sure to tuck her in snugly!" she called softly after him as he
headed towards the bedroom. "Her favorite blankie is on my bed."

"I know," he called back, though he was smiling. "Mama can be so nervous
sometimes," Birigundi softly whispered so only Lyndi could hear. "We know
what we're doing, don't we."

The baby gurgled in agreement while trying to grasp onto his index finger
again--her favorite finger.

"Not now, baby girl. Now you need to sleep and give your mama and I some
time together." He kissed her meaty jowls and set her down to sleep.
Birigundi stayed with her, humming and tracing his fingers along her nose
and forehead in a consistent pattern until the rhythm lulled her to sleep.
"Good night, little one," he whispered before softly kissing her head once
more and quickly retracing his steps out of the room.

Hearing his footfalls, Nialyn turned around and propped her chin up onto
the back of the sofa to look at him. "She's asleep?"

"Uh huh," he grinned. "Which means we are alone..."

Nialyn felt her heart give a little flip. She knew that grin, recognized
that tone... Blushing, she gave him a slow, knowing smile. "Yes we
are...."

Birigundi sank into the cushion next to her, slipping an arm around her
waist and pulling her a little closer. "Now what could we do for the rest
of the evening? Do you have any ideas?"

"Maybe," she replied in a soft, coy tone. "Do you?"

"I do," he nodded, leaning in to brush his lips across her ear. "You're
very inspiring, you know."

She didn't _feel_ like she was very inspiring, but shards, if he said
so.... "Oh yes?" Shifting, she reached out to rest her hands tentatively
against his chest.

"Oh yes." His lips traveled down her neck softly. He certainly didn't
want to push her into something she wasn't ready for. The healers had
warned him that she would not be interested in sex for a while after the
birth. It wasn't as if he had been lacking for partners, lately, but he
had become more and more aware of just how long it had been since he and
Nia had truly been together. Just how much longer did they have to wait?
How would they know if they never tried?

Nialyn could feel herself begin to respond to him. A soft heat grew
between them. Soft, pliant..arousing. She sighed as he began nibbling on
her neck, and she fingered the laces of his shirt, gently tugging on them.
Maybe it was time. She had missed their lovemaking, and now that she was
finally experiencing those familiar pulls of desire again.... Well, why
should they wait?

"I've missed being along with you, Nia," he murmured, pulling at the laces
of her tunic. Of course they had been alone plenty of times since Lyndi
was born, but not like this. Not like a man and a woman.

Nuzzling him, she let her lips linger over his as she whispered, "I've
missed you too, Biri." She smiled as she felt the last knot in those
laces give, and she bent closer to start kissing her way gently down his
neck.

Yes, indeed, it had been a long time. Birigundi had realized lately just
how much he liked being with Nia above all others. Not to say he didn't
enjoy taking a tumble with the more confident, forward girls. But Nia was
different. The way she kissed him... her shy, sweet way... The other
girls might be more experienced, but Nia... There was just something
about her that made being with her... special...

Nialyn would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that she was feeling
rather self-conscious--she was. She still wasn't as slender as she'd
like, and she felt clumsy because it had been so long since she'd made
love with him. But as his hands slipped under her blouse to caress her
back, it emboldened her, slowly giving her courage to not hesitate.

With a pleased smile, she pulled his tunic to the side so she could
continue to kiss her way along his skin...and froze. Stared. What...?
Lightly her finger brushed over the dark, glaring mark that stood out on
his skin. And there wasn't just one, but another one. She knew what they
were. Love-bites," her friends had giggled when she'd asked about them.
Biri had given her one once. She had worn her high-collared blouse to
hide it for days afterward, too embarrassed to let anyone see or even
catch a glimpse. That mark had stayed dark for so long... And these on
Biri were still rather new, from the looks of them.

Her fingers fell away from his neck. New love-bites... She hadn't given
them to him. He'd been with another woman. Nialyn closed her eyes as she
felt the blood rush from her face, leaving her feeling numb. Last night.
He'd kissed and caressed another woman in the same way he was kissing and
caressing her _last night_.

"Nia? Are you ok?" he asked, confused as to why she stopped. She seemed
to be staring at something. Craning his neck, he tried to see what it
could be. "What is it?"

**Did you really think he'd stop sleeping around when Lyndi was born?** a
part of her asked nastily. **What do you think he _did_ when he was gone
during those long nights when you were by yourself? Certainly not giving
you a second thought!** Dimly she was aware that Birigundi was asking her
something. Tearing her eyes away from his neck, she glanced up at him but
didn't hold his eyes for too long. Nialyn didn't feel strong enough to
hide what she was feeling from him. "I don't...." She shook her head,
the bitterness that was welling inside of her replacing the soft glow of
desire. "I can't, Biri." Shifting, she started to move away, wishing he'd
take his sharding hands off of her. She didn't want to be touched. "I
just.... I can't."

"Is it too soon?" he asked, rubbing her skin comfortingly rather than
seductively. Shards, he hoped he hadn't pushed her too far!

"N--yeah. Yeah." **Not that it matters to him, Nia. He'll just go find
another girl to get his fix.** Again, she shifted, twisting her back a
little, wanting his hands gone from her. "I can't."

Birigundi was getting the hint. He pulled his hands away pacifyingly.
"It's all right, Nia, I understand. I don't want to push you into
anything here..."

She just nodded, not trusting herself to speak--not with that sharding
lump in her throat! **When will you learn, Nia?*

Well, shards, this evening had certainly grown awkward in a hurry. "So...
Do you want me to stay? Or should I go?"

Nialyn wouldn't look at him. "You don't have to stay." Then she suddenly
stood. "I'm kind of tired, Biri... I wouldn't be very good company
tonight." Shards, she knew she wasn't handling this smoothly at all, but
she didn't know what else to do! She couldn't be near him right now,
especially since those dark marks on his neck were glaring at her,
reminding her of what he'd done the night before when she'd been all alone
with Lyndi.

Birigundi was getting the distinct feeling that she did not want company.
It hurt a little. He had wanted to spend time with Nia, but he would not
force himself on her. "All right. Can I visit tomorrow, then?"

She hesitated. Then, "If you have time." Forcing a rather watery smile
that didn't reach her eyes, she moved around the sofa, picking up her
favorite throw blanket as she did so, rolling it tightly in her arms as
she watched him leave. "Night, Biri."

Last updated on the May 27th 2007

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Another Bump In the Road