Resisting Temptation

Writers: Cali, AL
Date Posted: 31st January 2010

Characters: Briata, B'lamick
Description: B'lamick takes Briata sledding and the two get more than they bargained for.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 5

Briata

The kiss was not expected. Those green orbs widened in surprise and her hold on him tightened, only to relax a moment more. Her eyes fluttered shut and she at first accepted, then returned the caress of his lips. Briata shivered, but it wasn't a chill that caused it. Jewel, perched upon one of the drawers crooned softly in response to her pet's pleasure, but neither man nor woman heard her.

B'lamick got his wits about him first and pulled away, shocked at himself, and even more shocked at her response. He tried to sit up, but her grip was firm, keeping him pulled against her. "Briata..."

Those eyes opened again and stared up at him. They were different, darker, smoldering with a desire that surprised Briata herself. Her fingers dug into his skin and she trembled against him. "B'lamick..." She tried to whisper something more, but her throat caught and the words were twisted away.

He was weak. He shouldn't be doing this, she'd only been divorced a few sevendays, but as he heard her say his name, it became harder to remember. He leaned down again, her lips eagerly finding his, and it was like free falling. Where his hands were once trapped beneath her, they were pulling her even closer against him. He needed her, wanted her, had to have her.

She responded with the same desire. Her hands released his arms only to wrap and his neck. Briata's mouth worked hungrily at his and her body trembled against him. She had only been kissed and touched like that once, but the memory of it faded almost as soon as it tried to surface. She was too caught up in the now, in the feel of his hands against the small of her back, the taste of his mouth and their little warmth mingling and pressing together.

B'lamick grinned as he moved his kisses down to her jawline, then further down to her neck before making it's way back up to her lips as his free hand cupped her face. A gust of wind and loud crack of a log brought B'lamick's attention back to their surroundings. He turned away to check the hearth, and with it, the cold air stilled the swimming of his head. "Briata." he sat up, untangling himself from her arms and stepping back towards the fire. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

She hadn't realized how warm they had been together until he stepped away. The chill made Briata shiver and she blinked. Her own head cleared and she let out a squeak before she gathered the covers over her and clutched tightly to them. "Shaffit." Her eyes closed and her cheeks burned. So much for being cold. "I'm so sorry B'lamick...I..." What had gotten into her?

"No, I'm sorry." he assured her, what had he done? "I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my feelings under control if I was in that bed with you. Please forgive me."

"It's my fault...oh shards, you must think I'm some sort of...sort of..." Slut. Someone who went around and bedded men as if they were toys. Briata couldn't meet his gaze and she felt as if her whole body was turning red from embarrassment. "I'm so sorry..."

"Shells Briata." He kneeled down at her side again, grabbed her hand and pleaded with her. "I know you're still dealing with your divorce and I just took advantage of the situation here. I'm weak and I'm sorry, you're just so beautiful, I sort of lost my mind for a moment there."

Briata still couldn't look at him, couldn't meet him in the eye. Instead she stared down at the hand that held her own. It felt nice to have someone hold her hand like that. Even after they had been married, Ishek hadn't touched her much since that first night and even then he had stopped before they could...Briata shook her head again. Ishek had been older, but he had been attractive. B'lamick was attractive too...Ishek had made her feel desire, but what happened with B'lamick had been a lot more potent. Why? Was it because she was desperate? Because of the annulment? Because she just needed someone, anyone, and he was the closest to her?

Or was it more than that?

B'lamick was her friend. They had met soon after she had arrived at River Bluff. While she and T'vanen were still on friendly terms, they didn't see much of each other. She had other friends too, of course, but the one who stood out the most, the one who had most of her time outside of her classes and work was B'lamick. Whenever she wanted to be with someone, he was the first person to spring to her mind. She enjoyed his company, loved his laugh, and she had to admit that seeing him without his shirt had unsettled her in a way that she had never gotten around Ishek, even early on. Why?

Briata was almost afraid of the answer. She was scared. B'lamick was right, she was still dealing with the aftermath of her failed marriage, but was that the only reason? She was almost trying to convince herself that it was, but something else nagged. And poor B'lamick, how did he feel? **Oh Latarth I am such a fool!** Mentally she reached out to the dragon, the closest other presence besides her firelizard and clung. It wasn't right. It was too soon...she was going to hurt someone, hurt B'lamick and that made it even worse. She didn't want to hurt him. He was her friend...he was...Briata felt like laughing and crying at the same time. She did neither, but instead sat there and continued to gibber out broken apologies while her face continued to glow red.

}: She is scared. :{ Latarth was confused. She was with his rider and they had been making each other feel good. There was no reason for her to be scared.

**Of me?** B'lamick froze, unsure if he should remove his hand.

}:No... Something else. :{ Latarth was sending her thoughts of love, trying to calm her. She was in no danger, his rider would protect her.

B'lamick was confused. He didn't know how to undo what had been done, or even if he _wanted_ to undo it. His thoughts flicked to Tey, the girl that he'd always wanted to kiss and had never been brave enough to. This was what he had been afraid of. That if he told her or showed her his feelings, that things would be confusing. That she would reject him and he would lose her. Was he losing Briata? The thought filled him with pain, he couldn't lose her, he'd make it right somehow. "Briata, what can I do, anything, please. Do you want me to stay away, not stay away? Anything, so long as I can fix this."

Briata did look at him then, her eyes wide. "Oh no, B'lamick, no...it's not that. It's..." She was working herself up and Briata closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "It's...I..." Words failed her. What was she supposed to say? Word of the annulment had only come...had it even been a month yet? True, she had left Ishek three or four months prior and she had known it was coming, but...

B'lamick reached up and pulled her against his chest. He couldn't bear to see her upset and he knew that he'd caused it. He stroked her hair and whispered comforting nothings, hoping that it would help but also wondering if it was only making things worse. Holding her again flared that need in him that he'd resisted before. Could he resist again, for Briata's sake?

Last updated on the February 1st 2010

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Resisting Temptation