Indiscretion (3/4): Only Tonight
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: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 27th February 2006
Characters: Almonteo, Jathali
Description: Almonteo fails to resist the temptations of a friendly lady harper
at his concert.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 0
The journeyman turned the knob of his allocated weyr door with a long drawn out sigh. What a night. His Master had been pleased with him, but he can't say he was all that pleased with himself. He had played well, and he had enjoyed the music and the dancing. But it was the fact that he had enjoyed the dancing a little too much. He had enjoyed his dance partner way too much. Even as he set his case down on the table and began unbuttoning the top of his gather tunic, her eyes were etched onto his memory.
Perhaps that was why he stood there completely dumbfounded when he turned up the glows and saw a woman perched on the end of his bed with those exact same eyes looking up at him. "Shards..." he breathed.
She looked flushed and uncertain and far too nervous to be a seductive weyrwoman seducing a crafter. There was proof of too much alcohol in her eyes, but there was a world of honest desire as well. "I couldn't take the chance that you would leave before I got to see you again..."
"I'm married," Almonteo whispered. The look in her eyes, he knew, was reflected in his own. Shards, how in Faranth's name could this be happening?! "I love my wife. I love her so much. And we have a daughter..."
"We'll probably never see each other again," she replied, rising to her feet. The few paces between them seemed to take forever for her to cross, but then she was in front of him, shaking hands coming to rest on his chest.
"I don't want anything but tonight... she never needs to know."
**But I'll know...** his mind whispered as his fingers covered hers. But shards, she was so beautiful, and that look in her eyes... It had been a while since he had felt so truly wanted. He leaned his forehead against hers, his breathing coming faster as his body warred with his conscience.
She took a step back, trembling hands finding the laces of her bodice. She pulled at the first string with deliberate slowness, trying to make the move look practiced. Unfortunately, the knot caught and she was left fumbling with the laces as heat rushed into her cheeks. Almonteo watched as she fumbled with the knot. Her nervousness, her bumbling, it just made her all the more irresistible to him. A practiced seductress would have been easy to loath, easy to reject. But she was so endearing and sweet and incredibly vulnerable. He felt himself drawn to her, and he watched his fingers reach out, almost as if they belonged to another person's hand. His mind was so much more clear, his fingers much more nibble, that he made quick work of the knot, and gently began pulling at the laces.
Her breath caught as his fingers brushed against skin, and then all she knew was that she needed to kiss him. Pushing herself to her toes, she caught his lips with hers, the kiss clumsy with need and desire and too much wine. She didn't care that his hands were trapped between them or that her dress was slipping from one shoulder... all she could think about were his lips, and how she'd wanted to feel them while they whirled and laughed and danced... Her lips muffled a slight groan as his fingers slipped between cloth and skin and his lips reacted naturally to the feel of her lips. The eager passion she reacted to him with was like it used to be turns before with his wife. Carmora used to seem to never get enough of him. Shards, how he had missed that time. But she was not Carmora. She didn't feel the same, kiss the same, taste the same. He pulled back slightly, breathlessly. **Carmora doesn't have to know,** he reminded himself as his eyes closed tightly shut, trying to force thoughts of her from his mind.
It soon became clear that while she might not be experienced, she was hardly innocent. Her fingers coaxed his tunic from his body, her enthusiasm and eagerness more than making up for any lack of knowledge. She wrapped her arms around his body as soon as his chest was bare, pressing a kiss against his shoulder before looking up at him. "Dance with me?" He nodded silently as his fingers found hers and his hand reached around her back, pulling her closer. Almonteo could feel every inch of her skin that touched his. She smelled like wine and flowers, and her lips were soft against his skin. His lips slid along her shoulder and neck as he gently rocked them both back and forth, their bodies sliding across each other slightly with the movement. Only tonight, he thought. It was only for one night. Carmora needn't ever know.
Last updated on the February 27th 2006