By Laura Lulli and Heleen de Hamer

Rafe had forgotten everything else but the feeling of Eliadha soft body against his.

He desperately felt the need to kiss those red lips, to touch that blond hair...to embrace her even more tightly than he was already doing...

But the little part of his mind that was still able to think clearly, advised him to avoid Mabry and Regis to see more about the wonderful Amazon and him.

So he forced his eyes away from Eliadha's eyes, and cast a quick glance on the Ball room.

Then he bowed towards Eliadha and murmured in her hear:

"Would you mind to stop for a while, preciosa?"

Eliadha thought that any word she could ever hear might have a sweeter sound, and again, she wasn't able to answer but with a nod.

Rafe insinuated his fingers in Eliadha's one, and led her to one of the dark corridors on the left of the Ball room.

None of the two said a word, and none of the two felt the need to talk.

When Rafe was sure that almost noone could see them, at that point of the corridor, he gently pushed Eliadha against the wall, left her hand and took her beautiful face in his hands.

"And this is the second thing I have been desperately wishing to do, since I saw you" he said, just a second before kissing her.

The passion grew, and nor Rafe nor Eliadha could think of anything else...Eliadha was pushed firmly against the cold, stone wall by Rafael's muscled body. This was a very good thing, seeing as his kisses left her so weak in the knees, that she wouldn't have been able to stand on her own.

She let her hands investigate every inch of his still clothed body. She felt like ripping his clothes off right there and then, but knew that she must restrain herself a bit longer.

In the background she could still faintly hear sounds coming from the ball, so she knew that it wasn't safe to let go of her restraints completely.

Rafael's hands roaming across her body stirred up all kinds of wonderful sensations body. He was arousing feelings she had never felt before in her entire life. She heard someone moan contently and passionately and only later realized that it was she who was moaning.

Rafael was losing all ability to think clearly. Eliadha's hands on his body stimulated him in ways he had never thought possible. His hands roaming around her body aroused him even more. He hesitate slightly before laying his hands on her breasts. When he finally did so, he was pleasantly surprised by a passionate moan that seemed to rise from deep within Eliadha's throat.

Eliadha continued exploring his body and face with hands and lips and soon Rafael felt a moan escape from his own throat. His need to make love to her became so great that he threw all caution into the wind and slowly started hiking up the skirt of Eliadha's ballgown.

He felt Eliadha's hands restraining him. Puzzeled he pulled back his head and looked at her questioningly.

"I want this as much as you do, my lover," she said softly in a husky voice that was filled with passion. "But this is not the place. Let's find a more private place where we won't be disturbed."

Rafael nodded his consent and kissed her passionately again. Out of breath, he drew back his head and smiled at her, raw passion illuminating his eyes. He took her hand in his and said: "Come preciosa" as he led her deeper into Comyn Castle in search for a place where they would finally be able to give in to their innermost feelings.

Rafael led the renunciate to the part of the castle that hosted the rooms for the servants. Since the Council was not as big as it used to be, some of the rooms were empty. The couple found a complete corridor of empty rooms, and entered one of them.

As Eliadha looked around the room and checked out the bed, Rafael locked the door and stated: "Now there'll be no more interuptions. Come here preciosa, and let me prove to you how much I want you."

Without hesitation, Eliadha walked over to Rafael and not able to wait any longer, started unbuttoning his shirt. Rafael looked down at her, his eyes filled with passion.

"Why is she taking so long?" he thought. Not able to wait for Eliadha to undress him, he ordered her: "Rip it!"

Needing no more invitation, Eliadha ripped open his shirt, making buttons fly everywhere and exposing his muscled chest.

Now it was Rafael's turn. Even though his exitement was rising quickly, he managed to restrain himself and undo all the buttons, before gently pulling the dress down her body. When the dress lay on the floor around Eliadha's feet, she stood before him in all her naked glory. She stepped out of the dress and lay her hands on Rafe's belt buckle.

Slowly she unhooked it and proceeded to undress him further, this time making more haste.

They were both naked. Rafe led Eliadha to the bed, they both lay down and [censored]

Eliadha slowly woke up. Rafael's arms were still around her as they had been ever since their loving making. Still drowsy, she snuggled closer into his arms and fell asleep again.

Arms, legs and bodies intwined, the lovers slept peacefully ...

An annoying beam of the red sun compelled Rafael's eyes to open. It was later than he thought.

His mind still confused, he tried to understand where he was, aware only of the blond head laying on his shoulder.

He vaguely recalled to have nearly run in a dark corridor, pricked by the urgency to find a place...a place for that wonderful night to end in a proper way.

Rafe slowly smiled, thinking back about the ... exercise they had been doing so joyfully in that dusty room.

His blood run a little faster and he dared to kiss Eliadha, still sleeping...even if he knew that the sensations, he was feeling in that moment, were going to be more intense.

Eliadha opened her lips, without waking up...*Blessed Evanda*, thought Rafe *I would like to wake up every morning like this..."

Where was Thendara? Where was Comyn Castle? He didn't mind, as he was kissing once again that gorgeous Renunciate of his.

A sudden thought hit his mind: what time was? *and who cares...*

Probably Regis was looking for him...his sense of duty was wasting all the fun, as usual.

He allowed himself to laugh heartily about the astonished looks and the amazed questions his ripped shirt was going to gain.

He decided that he wouldn't even try to find excuses for that.

Rafael Lindir decided he would have to leave that heavenly bed, and started to rise, when a hand reached his shoulder.

A sensual, sleepy voice said: "Are you going away already? Without even greeting me properly?"

Rafe turned, smiling: "No, preciosa. I was waiting for you to wake up"

"You beautiful liar...I don't believe a single word of yours" Eliadha grinned "Anyway, _I_ mean to greet you in the way you deserve" she added, pulling him back in the bed.

Their lips touched again, and Rafe forgot the reason for which he was trying to leave the room.

"They'll wait...." were the last word to be spoken.

A few hours later, Rafe, his arms still around Eliadha, kissed her forehead, and spoke: "I hate to say this...but I have to go now, Eliadha"

A little, but audible sigh was the first answer: "And I hate to say this, but...I guess you're right" Eliadha said against his shoulder, kissing it, softly.

Rafe laughed "I'm happy you agree...or I would have to creep out of this room, instead of walking!"

He was rewarded by the feeling of Eliadha's cheek getting more hot on his shoulder.

"This is unfair...I'm nearly as tired as you, you, you....Oh, never mind!" also Eliadha was laughing now.

Silence feel again between them, each one of them thinking about their future as a couple.

Then Eliadha gathered some courage, and rised, to take her gown from the floor on which it had laid all the night.

"Would you like better if I go out Castle Comyn alone?" she asked, her voice unexpressive, without even turning to Rafe.

*So this is what she was thinking....* Rafael was putting on his trousers.

"You're kidding, I suppose" said Rafe, decisely. "I'm going to accompany you at the Guildhouse, if you let me the time to find a shirt in better conditions, of course"

Eliadha finished to button her dress, and didn't said a word. She didn't even turn, since she didn't wanted him to see the stupid tears that were starting to run down her cheeks.

But her barriers were too thin, and Rafe felt her relief. He reached her shoulders, and embraced her, unable to say or do anything but hide his face against Eliadha's neck.

After giving Eliadha one last hug, Rafael released her and said to her:

"Wait here, I'll be right back."

Before Eliadha could say anything, he had unlocked the door and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

"Sure you'll be right back," she said sarcastically. "You just didn't know how to tell me you don't want to see me again." She walked over to the bed and used a sheet to wipe the tears from her face.

Just when she was sure Rafael would indeed not return, the door was opened and Rafe walked in. In his hand he was holding a shirt. It didn't seem to be of the same quality as the one he was wearing, but at least it looked (and smelled) as a clean shirt.

Pleasantly surprised and relieved by his unexpected return, Eliadha rushed over to him, wrapped her arms around him and started kissing him passionately. Rafe dropped the new shirt on the floor and returned the embrace and the kiss.

After some time, he gently broke off the kiss and released his lover.

"However pleasant this is, I think it is time we left."

Reluctantly Eliadha agreed with him, so Rafe changed his shirt and they finally left the room where they had spent the best night of their lives.

At first they walked had in hand, but when they came to more populated corridors, Rafe reluctantly let go of Eliadha's hand. It wasn't seemly for a regent of Aldaran to be seen walking hand in hand with a renunciate, lovely and lady-like as she might appear. If word of his exploits got back to Mabry or Regis, there'd be hell to pay.

They managed to leave the castle without attracting too much attention, although the guards at the gates gave Rafael a few knowing nods, grins and winks. Seeing this, Eliadha wanted to put the guards in their place but restrained herself. She wouldn't embaress Rafe by loosing her temper.

Companionly they walked the streets of Thendara. When they reached the marketplace, they stopped at a booth to buy some nice pastries. Both of them were famished after their all their exersions and the pastries were devoured in no time.

Just before they reached the Guildhouse, Rafael looked around them so see if no one was watching the couple. Deciding that no one was interested in them, he quickly pulled Eliadha into a dark alley between two houses and kissed her. Without hesitating, Eliadha returned his kiss, even though she didn't know the reason for it.

Rafe slowly pulled away from the kiss and whispered: "I couldn't say goodbye to you without kissing you one more time." Seeing Eliadha's downcast face, he quickly continued: "No preciosa, I just meant 'goodbye for now'. I couldn't very well kiss you like this out in the street in front of the Guildhouse."

Eliadha didn't answer, but just looked at him, waiting for him to continue his explanation.

"We have to part now. But only for today. May I please see you tomorrow?"

'He wants to see me again!' Eliadha thought excitedly. Calmly she replied: "If you wish to see me again, visit my stall in the market place. I'll be there all day tomorrow. I have to go over the books with the new clerk I hired. If you don't show up, I'll assume you don't want to see me again."

"I'll be there preciosa. You can be sure of that."

The couple left the alley and continued on their way to the Guildhouse.

In front of the gate, Rafe formally said 'goodbye' to Eliadha by bowing over her hand and giving it a last lingering kiss. Passion shone in his eyes as he looked into her eyes and whispered: "Until tomorrow, preciosa. I love you."

He turned around abruptly and walked away, leaving behind a very confused renunciate. Eliadha watched him walk off. When she lost sight of him in the crowd, she opened the gate and entered the Guildhouse.

Rafael didn't find the strenght to turn one more time...he feared that he wouldn't be able to go back again to his duties.

He could still feel the smell of her perfume on his shirt, the sensation of her hair on his shoulder that morning when he had waken up....

Too bad that he had told Uncle Regis they would talk about the Regency the day after the Ball. He would have like better to spend the whole day with Eliadha.

He wondered if anyone at the Ball was unaware of his flight in the corridor with Eliadha...giggling, he tried to imagine Regis' expression when he'd met him.

And what about Mabry? Had she seen her regent going away?

Rafe knew he'd better worry a bit about their opinions...but the only things he was able to concentrate, now, were Eliadha's kisses.

Continues in Back to Comyn Castle

Back to the RPG page

The Sweetshop | Leisha's RPG page | Other Darkover pages

This page is hosted by Get your own FREE home page