Gravity

Early morning sunlight streamed through the gauzy curtains.

Siobhan Weathers stretched lazily beneath its warming touch. She didn’t want to move. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, one absently running across her body. The warmth melted her bones back into that leanly muscled body. But as much as she wanted to stay there, she knew their idyllic little episode was at an end.

Shrugging her way out of his embrace, she rose, naked, and crawled out of the bed. Her platinum hair rippled like a waterfall and swished into a silken sheet until it brushed the base of her spine. So many others had adopted the stiff styles laden with product; she still resembled the flower-child she had once been. Archaic, in a sense, but her close relationship with nature made her scorn the toxic, earth-destroying products that many of the less powerful witches swore by. She wondered what they would say if they could hear the earth scream like she could.

Completely unconcerned by her lack of attire, she moved to the dresser on the other side of the room, where her bra lay strewn across the top.

Behind her, the satin sheets rustled. “Leaving without saying good-bye?”

A small smile graced her lips. No, that hadn’t been her intent, but let him think what he would. She turned so that she was facing him. Riven Graethe propped himself on his elbow, lust pooling in his black as sin eyes. She’d thought him attractive when they’d first met years ago as mere children, but now she could idly admit that he was gorgeous. Silky copper hair lay cropped close to his head, his patrician features saved from being stern by thick, sweeping lashes. Against his pale skin, the darkness was striking.

The arm that propped him up was leanly muscled rather than bulky, but that wasn’t surprising. Riven’s tall form stretched with the fluidity of a snake and bulk would have been out of place.

“This can’t happen again,” she said.

He sighed impatiently and uncoiled himself from beneath the sheets, crossing the room to join her. Despite his height, her eyes were level with his. “We’ve been over this, Siobhan. My wife never has to know.”

Would never know, she agreed silently. But rather than saying that, she shrugged. “Talia doesn’t deserve what you’re doing to her.”

“What we’re doing to her,” he corrected.

She laughed, delighted that he’d bothered. “Yes, what we’re doing to her, then. Either way, it has to stop.”

Pressing against her, he flicked his tongue over the pulse in her throat. “What if I don’t want it to?”

Lust shot through her, but she ignored it. Her mouth hovered inches from his. “Who said what you wanted mattered?”

He hissed, his eyes going ever darker, and then his mouth captured hers. It wasn’t gentle, but then, nothing between them was. She let the ardor sweep over her, their lips melding, his tongue dipping possessively to war with hers. She pressed herself fully against him, bare skin sizzling against bare skin. His hip bones molded to her body in a perfect fit. Her breasts pushed against his chest and then they’d fallen back into the bed, her legs wrapped around his waist and her nails digging into his back.

He moved from her mouth then, nipping and licking at her throat, lower and lower, and she let her eyes slide shut while passion raged between them.

When it was over, they lay side-by-side, sweaty and dragging in ragged breaths. Her pulse pounded in her throat. She would miss this.

Trailing a finger lightly down her side, he said, “You don’t want to give this up anymore than I do.”

Amusement pulsed through her. Shaking her head, she rose from the bed and began collecting her clothes from where they lay strewn about the room. His boxers she lobbed at him. “This isn’t about you.”

“What if I told you I love you?”

Siobhan laughed. “Go home to your wife, Riven. You made your choice.”

He didn’t look happy, but he pulled his boxers over his hips and bent to snag his jeans from the wooden floor. His shirt lay draped over the brocade wing chair in the corner. Shrugging it over his shoulders, he buttoned all but the top two buttons.

“This doesn’t change anything.”

“I won’t hurt the secret alliance you’ve been negotiating with Emmeline Arlith.” She saw surprise dance over his features. Her amusement deepened. “You didn’t think I knew about that? No, it won’t change anything. You’ll have your little pact and we’ll still oppose each other on the Council. In public, we’ll be perfectly polite and distantly disdainful. No one will ever know you cheated on boring, quiet Talia. Especially not with me.”

He absorbed this for several seconds. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“I never thought you would.”

Because, if nothing else, Riven Graethe wasn’t stupid. And crossing her would be.

He slipped on his shoes while she watched silently. From the dresser, he picked up his keys and slipped them into his pocket. “I don’t imagine I’ll get a good-bye kiss?”

“We both know where that would lead,” she answered dryly.

She watched him walk out of the room, throwing her one long, lingering glance that stroked down her still naked body. So tangible she could feel it. The door shut softly behind him. One hand came to rest gently on her flat, smooth belly, then a small, wicked smile curved her lips.

Yes, he’d made his choice.

And he would never know the consequences it would have until it was far too late.

No, I will not answer how this relates to Illusoire, so don't bother asking. ;) Enjoy, I hope!

Much love,
-K