Private Tales In the Vicinity of Thunder

[Nadya]

Nadya knew the moment Cullen would talk to her parents, they would weep. Not out of shame, but of love. How many times she had spoken to them at length about how loved he was, that they would put aside the shame and infamy of House Morvane, remember their dear friends through the son they left behind. It pricked her eyes with unshed tears at the thought.

Until her bait had been taken.

The gasp she let out was one of anticipation, his hands pinning her arms above her head. The switch had been flipped, and Cullen was now intent on reminding her. Her grey eyes darkened beneath fluttering lashes at the feel of teeth grazing her neck. The yelp was unavoidable, as teeth sink into soft flesh, but Nadya's hips moved beneath him.

"Good gods..." she whimpered. "You best not be bluffing Cull." Nadya wanted it. Their first time the night before had been fueled by adrenaline and passion. This moment now, Nadya felt more connected to him. Perhaps her admission for love freed something inside her, healed a part of her, but gods it felt as if they were both now understanding it all between them. "I want you to do the best and worst to me." Nadya breathed.

She revelled in the heat, of him, of the fire, and the growing warmth moving down to her core. There would not be a storm rolling above to mask them now, but Nadya wanted to be claimed. Wanted to make this home remember them both.

"Do that again." She leaned her head to give him better access to her neck.

 

[Cullen]

Cullen’s breath came heavier now, his pulse a thunder against her skin. The sound of her gasp, her challenge, lit something wild in him. He met her gaze, and for a heartbeat, there was no air between them, only the pull of something inevitable.

Cullen’s low growl vibrated against her throat, his breath hot against her skin as he bit down just enough to make her gasp again. That sound undid him, every careful wall, every ounce of restraint he’d held onto through the years cracked under the force of it.

He drew back only far enough to look at her, his eyes dark and unguarded. Gods, he loved her. It burned through him, fierce and consuming, a feeling that scared him almost as much as it set him free.

“You should know better than to tempt me.." he murmured against her skin, voice roughened by need and something deeper. "Foolish woman.”

He kissed her again, deeper this time, desperate and devoted, his hands tracing the familiar shape of her as if to convince himself she was real, that she was his.

The world beyond them ceased to exist. The fire cracked, their shadows tangled across the walls, the room itself seemed to hold its breath as he answered her plea with another kiss, another bite, another promise pressed to her skin.

Whatever words came after were swallowed by the warmth and the firelight, until only the sound of their heartbeats filled the room, two storms breaking against one another.

 

[Nadya]

There before the fire, Nadya and Cullen found solace in their mutal affections. The first time they had been frenzied, spurred on by the storm rolling through, and eager to get to it.

This time, on the rug and warmed by fire, they took it slowly. No one had made to interrupt, and gods knew how long they laid there. Hands roamed, disappearing beneath items of clothing before the kisses were not enough. Soon layers were shed, until they were both bare to each other once again. Ravenous and intentional, they both toyed with one another until their panting breaths echoed about the room.

She did not know what time it was, but only when the fire died down to embers did she stir from beneath Cullen's arm. Nadya began to pull her clothing back on, slowly working the laces of her boots before going to the door and opening it.

Ten minutes passed and she returned with slices of bread, butter, and a raspberry jam. "Cullen." Her boot prodded his side. "Rise and shine, love." She squatted down beside him and set the plate down. "Want to get dressed so I can steal you away to my room or we could go for a ride somewhere so no one can bother us today?"

The both were given leave, and Nadya was not about to let anyone take that away from her.