Untouchable Prize
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 8th November 2006
Characters: Eleada, B'ram
Description: Eleada encounters B'ram in the bathing pool, and he invites her to dinner and a little dessert
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 25 of Turn 3
Eleada ran her fingers through her curls, absentmindedly disentangling a knot she encountered with her fingers as she stared vacantly out over the bowl. So many people, bustling around with their lives, laughing, loving... She shook her head as her heart twisted. It had been harder the last few nights since the flight to accept she was alone, that Linrary was gone. C'radan had noticed, but watching her brother and Nesily together just made her friend's absence hurt worse.
She hugged herself tightly, then let go, painfully remembering the feel of arms around her again, the pleasure that Gliorith's flight had brought. Her mind reached out for Gliorith, then pulled back. The green lump was sleeping in the sun again. She sighed again, and then strode determinedly off. Maybe a bath would help...
B'ram was already in the bathing pool. He had a bath in his own weyr, but sometimes, after being hot and sweaty already, he preferred the tepid waters of the community pool over the hot, steaming pool in his room. That way he could clean off and cool down a bit at the same time. He had the pool all to himself at the moment. The brownrider had come in on the tail end of a crowd of riders after drills. He took his time, hoping to have the place to himself when they all left. Now he could lie back and relax, and float lazily on the surface...
Eleada strode straight into the chamber, relieved to see that there were still few people in the water, if not many. Now where to put... **Oh!**
She felt her mood lifting as she spotted B'ram in the water. He wasn't likely to leave her alone, and he was certainly distracting enough to make her forget. A slow smile crept across her face as she waved a greeting, then turned her back and slowly started peeling off her clothes.
"Long day?" B'ram called, sitting up straighter and averting his eyes politely. Well, maybe he stole a peek or two, but no worse than she had stolen of him, he was sure.
"Longer than I wanted it to be." She admitted as she kicked her pants to the side and turned around. She caught him sneaking a glance, and felt her smile grow wider. Unlike the holdbred dragonriders, she had never felt shame for nakedness. Why bother? Looking wouldn't change her. "What about you? Long day?" She asked as she slipped into the cool water.
"Long. Boring. Couldn't wait for drills to finish. I've been dreaming of a nice cool bath since lunch." He passed the sweetsand down to her as he talked.
Eleada poured some into her hands before passing it back. Wetting it down, she worked it into a lather as she continued, making sure B'ram caught a few glimpses of her through the water. "Thanks. But why a cool bath? If I wanted to cool off I'd jump in the sea."
"Yes, but then you have to wash off all the salt water eventually anyway, right?" He smiled, knowing exactly what she was doing, and not at all ashamed to oblige her by taking a quick peek or two. "You have a point there." She admitted as she worked the sand through her hair. It was nice to have someone admire her again. She always felt like a little girl around C'radan and Nesily -her mother was worse- and B'ram gave her the comfortable illusion that she could have someone if she really wanted to. "So... do you have plans when you've finished soaking?"
"Why yes, in fact," B'ram shrugged a shoulder casually. "I'm planning on having dinner with a beautiful woman I know."
"Really?" Her eyes sparkled. "Does this woman know of your plans, or is it a surprise?" Her hair sufficiently lathered, she started on her arms as he answered.
"Well, it might be a surprise," he replied with another shrug. "But I think she knows I'm going to have dinner with her tonight."
"Well, that doesn't make any sense." She said with mock innocence. "How can it be a surprise if she knows?" Her lathering finished, she ducked under the water to rinse, and came up with a rush of water that splashed B'ram. "Oops."
"Well, its only a surprise if she didn't already figure out I plan on eating with her," he grinned, splashing water back at her and admiring the way it dripped down her body.
Eleada grinned. "Well, I'm sure she's delighted with the offer, and looking forward to it." She splashed him back, soaking him good and dancing just out of reach, taunting him.
"Oh, you think so, do you?" he grinned, following her around the bathing pool. "I'm looking forward to it too. But first, I have to teach you a lesson about bathing pool manners!"
She laughed as she danced away from him, playfully splashing at him whenever he got too close. "Manners? Why should _you_ pay attention to bathing pool manners." She teased. "You have your own bathing pool."
"Ah, so that means I'm exempt from following the rules then?" he asked as he lunged towards her once more.
Eleada squealed as he caught her, his wet arms sliding around her and taking her breath away. She twisted in his arms, intending to face him, but tripped backwards instead, pulling both of them underwater. She came up spluttering, and after shoving her dripping hair out of her eyes, grinned sheepishly at B'ram.
The brownrider blew water from his eyes and then looked at her with a broad smile. He had liked the way she felt in his arms, and hoped she'd find her way into them again. "You know, we could continue this discussion in _my_ bathing pool..."
She waggled a finger at him, recovering her composure. "Ah, but what's the point? We're both clean now, and I thought you said you wanted a nice _cool_ bath." She grinned wickedly.
Undaunted the brownrider tried to close on her again. "And I've had a nice cool bath. Now I wouldn't mind a little something warmer."
"Like stew?" She asked innocently, her grin getting wider as she reminded him of their first meeting.
He grinned as he closed in on her once more. "If I poured stew all over my body would you help me clean it off?"
She let him close again, practically purring into his ear. "It would have to be really _good_ stew. But why waste a perfectly good dinner when I'm getting hungry...?" She left the question hanging, and reluctantly ducked out of his arms just as they were about to close around her. It was too early to let him catch her so easily...
Looking down into the empty space she almost occupied he sighed. One of these days he just might get the hint. But not yet. "We could always substitute dessert..."
"Perhaps." She conceded, her eyes sparking at the disappointment in his eyes. He really did want her...! But she needed more than just the thrill of having a lover to justify him in her bed. There were some things she just wasn't willing to risk. "Then why don't we go see what they're serving?" She suggested, sliding out of the bathing pool to sit on the edge, an -as yet- untouchable prize on display.
"I know what I want," he grinned, knowing full well she was taunting him and shards if he didn't like it. "Lead on."
Last updated on the November 11th 2006