How Long? (1/2)

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 29th July 2008

Characters: Traelyn, U'kaiah
Description: In her usual way, Traelyn finds solace with U'kaiah
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 9 of Turn 4

There was something endearing about the way he slept, Traelyn thought as
she stood over U'kaiah who was sprawled across the sofa, one arm flung
behind him, a bare foot propped up on a pillow while the other trailed to
the ground. His face was turned to the side, dark curls mussed and
sticking out at odd angles. A small smile touched her lips at the sight.
Sometimes, when she was lucky, she got to hear him chuckle in his sleep.
But right now just a tiny grin quirked at the corner of his mouth. She
longed to run her finger over that crooked grin, but held herself back,
not quite ready to wake him yet--not quite ready to face the questions
he'd ask.

She wasn't really in control of her emotions yet, but she hadn't wanted to
stay at Dolphin Cove. B'ram's sneering comments had shaken her, driving
her past a point she hadn't thought she'd ever be able to pass. A part of
her didn't really believe that they were over--that she'd ended it.
Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that, somehow, they weren't
through. Their relationship was too deep--too twisted--for it to be
completely over. But she'd put a seed of doubt in his mind. He had to
know that he sharding couldn't treat her like that and expect her to just
take it. There had to be consequences, but this whole situation made her
feel sick.

Wearily she dropped her riding gloves on the table and bent to unlace her
boots, kicking them off. Shrugging out of her riding jacket, she laid it
over the arm of the nearest chair before slipping out of her pants and
outer tunic. Finally freed from the heavy clothing, she knelt beside the
sofa, gently laying a hand on U'kaiah's thigh, bending her head to brush
her lips against his. "U'kaiah."

"Hmmmm," the bronzerider groaned, turning his head towards the sound of
his name. At the feel of warm skin against his lips, his eyes flew open
in surprise and he tried to lean back into the pillows and focus on the
face. "Trae?" asked groggily, his face awash in confusion. "What day is
it?" Had he missed something? Like an entire sevenday?

"It's not a restday." Sitting back on her heels, she gave him a small
smile. "I'm early."

"Very," he said as a grin spread across his lips as he reached for her
hand to pull her close again. "But I like it."

"Scoot over." Nudging his body, she shifted until she was pillowed
against him, long legs curled between his, taking comfort in the way he
wrapped himself around her.

He cradled her head under his chin as he settled back against the
cushions. "I still have a couple candlemarks before I'm expected back at
drills," he murmured, burying his nose in her hair. Shards, he loved the
smell of her.

"I figured," she murmured back. Already the tension in her was easing a
little, as it only could when she was with him. "We'll just have to
stretch out each minute, hmm?"

"Nap time's over, huh?" he smiled, running his fingers through her hair.
U'kaiah didn't mourn the loss. Laying with her like this was refreshing
in ways a little sleep just couldn't compete with. "Was there a reason
why you came?"

Of course there was a reason--more than one: so that she wouldn't be
alone, that she'd made the right decision in coming here, to reassure
herself that what B'ram had told her wasn't true.... "I just wanted to
see you." Gently she nuzzled him, arm draping over his hips. **Had to
see you.**

"That's a good enough reason to me." He closed his eyes, glad that she
had come. It was nice to know she thought of him like he thought about
her on the days when they were apart. It certainly made stolen moments
like these seem all the more precious.

Ridiculous, that she should feel like crying. The lump she had pushed
back on the way here was throbbing in her throat again, and she closed her
eyes tightly. Shards, she didn't want to cry, didn't want him to ask
questions, didn't want to explain herself--that she was shaken, hurting,
scared. Traelyn ground her teeth stubbornly, but not before one hot tear
pooled at the corner of her eye, sliding down her lashes to her cheek.
**Damn it.** Angrily she tossed her hair over her shoulder, hoping
U'kaiah wouldn't see it...or feel it. **I'm not so insecure as all
that!**

The bronzerider hadn't felt the tear, but he could feel the way her body
tensed, and the forceful snap of her head. "Trae?" he asked softly as she
settled back against him, still tense but trying to lay still. "Has
something happened?"

She shook her head.

U'kaiah felt a small twinge of frustration that yet again she kept
emotionally at arm's length, even as she physically pulled him close. It
was always this way, and just because they were lovers that hadn't
changed. He always hoped someday she would trust him enough to open all
those closed doors. But for now, he knew he could only hold her. "It's
all right, love," he whispered softly, wrapping her tightly in his arms.
"You don't have to say anything."

There was a part of her that truly wanted to talk about it--about B'ram,
about her uncertainty. But she knew that if she did, it would most likely
bring up topics that were best left uncovered....parts of her she didn't
want to reveal to U'kaiah. B'ram's implication rang in her mind: how
could this relationship last if she didn't allow him to see the real her?
Shying away from that, she tightened her fingers around his tunic. "I'm
glad you're here," she told him softly.

"I always am here, Trae. I'm always just a dragon's thought away."

"I know." Shifting, she slid around until she was gently straddling his
hips, expression unreadable in her half-closed, too-bright eyes. But was
it enough? In a Turn, would it be enough for both of them? In two Turns?
**How long, Trae?** B'ram's voice floated through her mind again and she
quelled it, hands moving to U'kaiah's waist as she gently rubbed against
him, one hand fingering the fastenings of his trousers. Swallowing around
the sharding lump in her throat, she bent her head to kiss him, taking
comfort in the way he tasted, the way his lips moved against hers, the way
his body reacted to hers. Just like she always did.

Last updated on the July 29th 2008

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How Long? (1/2)