A Wonderful Thing

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th August 2007

Characters: Gleniel, Kiomo
Description: Gleniel confronts Kiomo with what she thinks she saw...
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 5, day 3 of Turn 4

Hearing familiar footsteps just outside her door, Gleniel looked up from her book and knew it was Kiomo. She bit her lower lip, watching as the knob turned. **He came, Glen. Maybe you should just forget it... He loves you.** Shards, she wanted to forget what she saw today, and the feelings she got from seeing him so close to Thalia....but she couldn't.

For the first time, her warm smile did not greet Kiomo when their eyes met.

"Good evening," he said quietly as he closed the door behind him.
Something was off.

"Hi." Inwardly she winced at how that sounded, but it was too late to pretend that everything was all right.

Usually her greeting was a bit more... enthusiastic. "Is something wrong, Glen?"

Taking a deep breath, she set her book aside on the small table. Her nerves fluttered as she gathered enough courage to look up into his face again...and nodded.

Kiomo was not in the mood for guessing games. "What is it?"

Dropping her eyes, she shifted uncomfortably. "You were...you were with Thalia today."

"Yes, I was," he nodded, acting as if such an admission was meaningless, but his mind was racing, trying to guess just what she might have seen and how in Faranth's name he was going to explain it!

His careless tone made something inside of her sharpen. "I saw the way you looked at her."

"The way I _looked_ at her?" Kiomo was genuinely surprised! That was it?

Her eyes flashed. "It's the same way you look at me!"

Well, this would be easily taken care of. "I think I know what happening here," he sighed, taking a few steps towards her. "Listen, Glen, I know its hard seeing me openly talking and joking with Thalia when I can't do that with you. It's hard on me too, you know."

She leaned further back against the arm of the couch. "Talking and joking? It looked like _more_ than just 'talking and joking' to me!" As the angry words escaped her, she realized just how true they were. Gleniel had been trying to downplay what she'd seen in her mind because she loved him, and she never wanted to distrust him. But she couldn't downplay it anymore, not when she kept seeing the expression on his face when he'd moved closer to Thalia.

"And don't you think every time I see you with a man a part of me sees you smiling at him a little too long? Don't you think I imagine that you're looking into his eyes a little too deeply, and standing a little too close? Shards," he said, shaking his head as he knelt down in front of her, "don't you know that whenever I see a man near you I wish I were in his place?"

She stiffened. "I.... What?"

He reached out to take her hands in his. "It's hard not being able to be open with my feelings for you, Glen. And its easy to imagine that someone else might take my place. Envy will do that. A little jealousy is healthy I suppose. I'm touched that it would upset you to think I might feel something for Thalia like I feel for you. It shows how much you want me. And I know feeling jealous is just part of wanting you. But I will never doubt you, Glen. Even when I want to tear you away from those other men and keep you all to myself, I never doubt the way you feel for me."

"I..." She could feel her temper fading away. Maybe it all had been in her head after all. What he said made perfect sense. **But you _saw_...** Gleniel shoved that thought away before it could form completely. She'd seen what her jealousy had wanted her to see. He was right. And yet.... Swallowing thickly, she finally lifted her head to look at him, tentatively brushing her hand against his soft cheek. "You love me?" She knew he did. She knew it. But that little insecure part of her wanted reassurance...wanted to hear him say it.

Oh shards. It had finally come to this. He had always been careful not to use those words with her before. There were some lies that just weren't worth telling. Of course, it had to be said. He always knew a day would come. And really, when he was with her, he really _did_ love her to some degree. She was innocent, loyal, sweet, completely devoted to him and only him... How could he not love having a woman pining away for him, longing for him, living for the moments when he slipped into her bed?
What man wouldn't love having a woman trained to please him, and not only one who knew how to please him but enthusiastically strove to please him every moment they were together.

That was where a lot of men went wrong. They looked for the experienced mistress who knew exciting ways to give a man mind-numbing pleasure, but had been tossed around too many times to submit whole-heartedly to him. Those were the women who were fun for an occasional tumble but quickly grew troublesome and hard to handle in the long term. But Glen, she would not be like that. She'd be easy to convince that everything was as it should be, as it had to be, and in the end no matter what it would be all right. Everything would be all right because they were in love. She still believed the harper's tales that love conquered all.

And for that reason, Kiomo could say the words without it being a lie. Taking her face in his hands, he looked up into those large, pleading eyes. In that moment he actually felt it. He knew it would only last until he walked out that door, but for now it was the truth, and he embraced the feeling completely. "Yes, Glen," he whispered, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. "I love you. I love you so much."

An emotion she couldn't quite name--or understand--flooded through her and she leaned into his caress. "And I love you too." Her anger, suspicion and fear were finally cast aside and forgotten as she leaned forward and kissed him, pressing herself as close as she could to him.

Kiomo wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him, delighted in feeling her legs wrapping around him, almost as if she hungered to be a part of him. Their kisses deepened as he reached for the ties to her tunic. He hadn't wanted her so badly in a long time. Her jealousy, her fear, her possessiveness were endearing, and he walked to milk it for all it was worth. They wouldn't even make it to the bed. He'd take her right here, and then they'd move to the bed and do it all again. And if they found the strength before the sun came up, they'd do it again. It was amazing the kind of stamina the excitement of a newly discovered love could give. If they were lucky it would last for days, this dizzying feeling as their skin met skin. He might even regret his stolen kisses with Thalia, but it certainly wouldn't stop him. After all, love was a wonderful thing, but only as long as you didn't let it carry you away...

Last updated on the August 7th 2007

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A Wonderful Thing