Silent Exchange

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th September 2007

Characters: Traelyn, B'ram
Description: The Weyrwoman and brownrider have a silent argument
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "To Stand Still"

B'ram

Traelyn hadn't been lying to herself when she'd thought that the only thing she wanted here and now was to have U'kaiah with her tonight, to have his arms around her, holding her close. The warm feeling that suffused her was more than contentment, more than just happiness. She wasn't sure if there was a word to describe what she was feeling, and at that moment she didn't care about anything except the way it felt to be pressed up against him, her slender body fitting his as snugly as a wherhide glove fit her hand as they moved slowly together on the dance floor. If there were curious glances flickering in her direction she was unaware of them, so completely lost was she in the soft welling of desire thrumming through her, and him.

Closing her eyes, Traelyn rested her head on his shoulder, one fingertip beginning to trace the intricate bronze embroidery of his fine, black tunic. Beneath the silken fabric she could feel his shoulderblades bunch as he tightened his hold slightly on her, bringing her even closer against him, hips aligning. A soft sound escaped her, a sensuous sigh, and she smiled as he turned his face close to hers in response. She could feel the light stubble sprinkling his chin and cheeks now, smell his delicious scent--a heady mixture of sweetsand and slight musk of bronze dragon and leather. She could feel his breath against her skin, and she knew his lips must be lightly parted as if he wanted to kiss her but didn't dare take such liberties in front of so many people. Slowly her fingertip traced down his spine, then back up again, a gentle encouragement. When she felt his lips press themselves against her forehead, her soft smile grew and she rubbed her cheek against him.

Faranth, she couldn't wait until later when they could slip away undetected to a dark, secluded spot where she could freely express to him what had been building inside of her for so long. She ached for him. The emotion was so strong it was more than just a sweet pang. Shells...it was much more than that. She hadn't felt this way for a man in so long. Not even the thought of B'ram was as sweet and fulfilling as this. Her dark eyes fluttered open, and she found herself gazing into a pair of very familiar green eyes.

B'ram's gaze met hers from over Eleada's shoulder. She was pulled up tight against him in an embrace every bit as close and comfortable as Trae's, but the brownrider's mind was not on the woman in his arms. His focus was on the goldrider, wrapped up so intimately with that stranger. B'ram's lips parted slightly, almost putting a voice to the question in his eyes. **Who in Faranth's name is _that_?**

One of Traelyn's arms slid down to rest on the bronzerider's hip, then curling gently around his waist, her dark eyes never leaving B'ram's. She could see the question in his face, but she didn't know how to answer, or if she even wanted to.

Another pair wandered into his line of sight, breaking their gaze. B'ram looked down at the polished boots of the man who blocked his view. He and Trae avoided each other in public events such as this. They rarely even allowed their eyes to meet. It just... wasn't their way. Now, though, how could he not stare right along with everyone else at the way she and that man were wrapped around each other. But they didn't know. None of them knew that the night before he and Trae had been tangled together in embraces far more familiar, panting each other's name and running their lips over every inch of skin now so politely hidden. Only they knew the way they had made love and cuddled and caressed until the sun came up and even a little beyond. And yet now, with the sun full set, she was curled around another man. As the pair between them twirled off to another part of the dance floor he lifted his eyes to hers once more. **Why, Trae? Why?**

It was unsettling how the expression in his eyes made fresh guilt suddenly and swiftly well inside of her. And in that moment, the feeling of intense dislike that had used to be so familiar whenever she looked at B'ram washed over her--through her--displacing the calm serenity. She had nothing to feel guilty about. Nothing! How dare he look at her in that bruised way, as if she had kicked him. How dare he, especially when he was wrapped around another woman, holding her as intimately as U'kaiah held her. Traelyn knew B'ram would be able to see the flash of defensive temper in her eyes, but she didn't care. She was doing nothing wrong.

He could see the defiance, and he knew where it came from. B'ram knew it was the way she always dealt with unpleasant realities - snarl and bite and scratch and fight. It had always been her way. But she couldn't deny what had happened. His gaze _dared_ her to deny the fact that the night before had not just been screwing, it hadn't been their usual loving to fend off empty loneliness. They had connected in a way they never had before - talking, flirting, teasing, giving. **You know what we did, Trae. You know what it meant.**

**I know what it meant.** What had passed between them last night had been surprising, welcomed. It had been almost unnerving how neither had fought the new feeling rising between them--a new aspect to their relationship that hadn't had the chance to fully explore. At least...not yet. Traelyn's fingers tightened on U'kaiah's shirt. Because she knew that even though tonight she and U'kaiah would take the next step in their relationship--something she knew she desperately wanted--she couldn't deny that once he was gone back to Dragonsfall, she'd climb back into B'ram's bed. Their affair would not stop just because U'kaiah had fully entered the scene. How could it? **We're not exclusive. You know that. Shards, even I can see the woman you have pulled tight against you is more than a one night stand. So don't give me that look.**

B'ram saw her eyes flicker ever so slightly towards Eleada, and his gaze lowered out of shame. Not for the accusation in her eyes, but for the guilt of knowing what he was doing to Eleada. She was holding him close, completely unaware of the thoughts in his head. Of the silent exchange between himself the goldrider. Eleada was blissfully ignorant of the whole affair, and he intended to keep it that way, same as he was sure Trae would keep their dirty little secret from the man whose arms she stood in. His eyes slowly rose to meet Trae's once more. **Don't you think I am well aware of my guilt? I know how screwed up I am.**

U'kaiah turned his head, resting his cheek against Trae's forehead, giving B'ram his first clear view of his face. His fingers tightened slightly in the fabric of Eleada's dress as he recognized the bronzerider from Dragonsfall. The one who had come back to Trae's weyr with her that night months ago. **_Him_?** his eyes asked as turned his gaze back to the goldrider.

Traelyn's own eyes flashed with dark, defiant fire at the expression on his face. She remembered what he'd told her, months ago, about U'kaiah. She remembered he'd told her that U'kaiah was too good for the likes of her. The words had hurt her deeply, and the wound was still raw. **He loves me. He can give to me what I want most.** U'kaiah could give to her what B'ram couldn't. And she could give back to him on a level she just couldn't with B'ram.

The brownrider turned his face away to hide the flicker of fear that he felt. He remembered that night. He remembered his words clearly. 'Nice guys are the kind you make love to, and neither one of us are good at making love anymore.' Shards how that had all changed. They had gotten very good at making love to each other. But if she truly loved this bronzerider, what would she need B'ram for anymore? **No.** His eyes snapped back to hers, meeting her stare with one equally as rebellious.
**No. You still need me. You might think you love that sharding bronzerider, but you _need_ me. You're bluffing!**

She regarded the brownrider coolly for a moment. **Am I?** Then she deliberately turned her face away from his to look up into U'kaiah's eyes.
Leaning in, she brushed her lips very lightly along his jaw to his ear, and whispered, "Come with me." Taking his hand, she began to pull him away from the throng of swaying people. Her heartbeat quickened as U'kaiah followed closely, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. When they reached the door, she paused, throwing a haughty look behind her in B'ram's general direction. She knew he was watching her. He would know what she was going to do with U'kaiah. He'd seen this particular expression on her face enough to know _exactly_ what she had in mind. Then her eyes flickered up to U'kaiah's again, and the emotions she saw reflected there made something within tighten expectantly. A longing filled her, piercing her to the core. Without another backward glance, her fingers tightened decidedly around his and she led him out into the night.

Last updated on the October 1st 2007

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Silent Exchange