A Game We Can Both Win

Writers: Devin, Dana
Date Posted: 15th August 2006

Characters: Traelyn, N'vanik
Description: After the waterball game, Trae and N'vanik meet up and enjoy some time together.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "Game Time!"

N'vanik

"You cheated."

"Lots of times."

Grinning, Traelyn leaned back against the smooth bark of the tree, tossing him a towel. "I think you rather enjoyed cheating with the women the most... I saw your hands a-wandering."

N'vanik caught the towel and started to dry his hair. "That's part of what makes waterball fun."

"Mmm-hmm." Shifting, she made room for him to sit beside her. "I think you all have that same frame of mind..."

He sat in the warm sand. "How come you didn't play?"

She shrugged a slender shoulder. "Felt like watching instead." Her expression turned impish. "And I got to admire all the shirtless men...."

He snorted. "So that's why you wanted me to play."

Traelyn grinned at him. "I'm a selfish, completely transparent woman, aren't I?"

"You said it, not me." N'vanik grinned back.

"Mmm. And you know," she murmured, running a coy finger down his chest, "you looked particularly sexy out there.

"Too bad you didn't play. I would have liked to cover you."

"Uh huh," Traelyn snorted, knowing exactly what he meant. "And do you _really_ think we would have paid attention to the game if you had?"

"I didn't pay that much attention to the game anyway," he said. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to cheat at waterball?"

"But you made it look so easy!" she laughed.

He grinned. "I made it look _good_!"

Shaking her head, amused, she moved closer til her cheek was resting on his shoulder. "Shameless, that's what you are, bronzerider."

"You know you like it," he teased.

Yes, she did. "Mmmm," she sighed, pressing a kiss to his skin.

N'vanik pulled her closer and kissed her lips, his hands tightening on her arms. "And you like this too."

Grinning, she brushed her mouth against his, and murmured, "Telling me what I like, hmm?" Traelyn shifted, hands resting on his legs. "What else do I like?"

A pair of revelers staggered by, singing way off key and passing a bottle between them. N'vanik glanced at them and then looked back at Trae. "Maybe I should take you somewhere more private before showing you."

Her eyes flickered. "Then take me, bronzerider."

It took an effort not to take her right there. N'vanik got to his feet, pulling her with him as he called Loseth. The bronze was reluctant to give up his warm spot, but he knew it would only be a temporary interuption. It was warm where they were going, too.

~*~

Traelyn sighed, feeling too sharding lazy to move all the way off of him as they lounged together in the sand and shade of the cove. She could hear the waves laping against the shore--the tide was coming in now.
Nestling her head on his shoulder, she cracked her eyes open a bit to glance up at him. Grinning, she brushed her fingers against his cheek, wiping away the sand that was sticking to him.

"And you complained about grass getting everywhere," he said.

She snorted softly. "What can I say... I'm a picky woman. At least we sort of had towels this time."

"Wet towels, which just makes the sand more sticky," he said, smiling.

Grinning, she slid a leg gently along his. "And is it _my_ fault they were wet? I don't think so."

"You're the one who wanted me to play waterball." He laid an arm across her hips.

"And you had a good time, didn't you?" The question was followed by kisses she pressed to his bare skin, tasting salt from the sand and sweat as her mouth slid up his arm and to his throat.

"I did." It had been a good distraction.

Traelyn grew quiet then, her thoughts taking a more solemn turn as she remembered how he'd come to her earlier that same sevenday. "That's good," she murmured, fingers slowly tightening briefly on his arm.

He noticed her change in mood. Being with her had been a good distraction, too. Until now. "How 'bout you? Did you have a good time?" Maybe she wouldn't bring it up.

"Mmm-hmm." She tilted her head up to slant him a mischeivous look, forcing the memories away. If he was going to pretend it didn't sharding happen, then she could play it that way too. For now. "And an even better one now."

N'vanik smiled. "Good. I'd hate to think waterball is more fun than me."

"It would bruise your bronzerider ego, wouldn't it?"

"Well, yeah. How can a game compare with personal attention?" His hand moved from her hips and went lower.

"Games and personal attention can go hand in hand sometimes, N'vanik," she told him, her tone saucy as she rolled over on top of him to stare down into his face.

"Think we can come up with a new one?" he asked, eyes dancing.

"That depends on how creative we're feeling, doesn't it?" she asked, brushing her nose teasingly against the tip of his. "Because, with the right incentive, I might just get a little more...inspired." She caressed a hand down his side. "If you know what I mean."

"I'm up to the challenge," N'vanik leaned forward to kiss her collar bone.
"And I'm up for a game that we can both win."

Last updated on the August 15th 2006

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A Game We Can Both Win