Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. Pike, the author, does, lucky lucky girl.

Enticement

A gentle wind blew through the glade, scattering Laurel's long blonde hair. From his seat beside her, Tamani captured and tugged on the strands.

"Hey, stop it," she whined teasingly. "That hurts." She pouted up at him.

"What are you willing to do to make me stop?" he asked, a glint in his eyes.

She leaned forwards a bit. "What is it you want me to do?" she replied.

He was leaning in as well. "I think you know what that is." As their lips met, his grip on her hair loosened, light blonde strands cascading all around them. She ran her teeth against his lower lip, causing him to shiver and press her closer to him. His hands trailed up her back, gloved fingers caressing the sensitive skin around her blossom. It was that time of year—the sun was still rather warm and incredibly delightful for the two of them in that California area. The petals were large and full—she hadn't bound them once since she blossomed two days ago. It was a great feeling.

Tamani pressed her back, pushing her against the soft ground. They paused for a moment, breath condensing together, lips barely apart. "Want to have some fun?" he asked her softly. Laughing breathlessly, she nodded and pulled his mouth back to hers.

And fun did they have.

Laurel borrowed Tamani's phone to call her mother and let her know that since it was so late she was just going to stay the night at the cabin. There was no need to let her know that Tamani would be staying with her—he would never leave her side, and since her parents still refused to get her a cell phone even though she was officially out of high school she needed his to make calls. It wasn't really a nuisance—though she really did want her own phone—and her mother was rather accepting of Tamani.

Laurel thought it was probably more or less because she was truly so very happy, to the point where it could never be denied, and that made her mom happy. There were no moments of anguish, of doubt, with Tamani as there had been with David. With Tam, it seemed like everything was right. And it really was.

She sat the phone down on the nearby table, shoving her hair away from her face and behind her shoulders. She sank down into the old couch, pulling her legs up underneath her and wrapping her arms around them. She breathed in the familiar smells of her childhood home.

"Already made yourself comfortable, I see."

Laurel turned at his voice, a smile already turning up her lips. "I figure I have the right to since this is my house, on my land," she retorted. But any bite that her response could have had was chased out by the happy buzz she already had just by seeing him.

Tamani casually made his way over to her, walking slowly, confidently. When he was in front of her he leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. "So what do you want to do in your house?" he asked, smiling slightly. "We have the whole night, no nosy neighbors or company; just ourselves, some time, and the most amazing smelling blossom that ever bloomed." He inhaled deeply for a brief moment.

Laurel pushed his shoulders away lightly, embarrassed about his comment about her blossom. "It's not that special," she said quietly. Embarrassment was always a wonderful reason to be thankful she wasn't a human. She would've been bright red then, and she knew it.

"It is incredibly special." A gloved finger gently brushed one petal, sending a shiver down Laurel's spine. She tried to collect some coherent thoughts.

"I don't know. It makes you wear gloves all the time." She leaned in closer to him, then whispered as though it were a big secret, "I think I've already forgotten what your hands look like."

He laughed, a sound that made her fill with happiness. "I believe that that little notion is far better than the consequences that could ensue if I didn't wear them," he told her, tapping the tip of her nose with his index finger. She captured his hand and pressed her lips against each gloved tip, then tugged his arm closer to her, kissing up it. He sank on top of her, mouth instantly finding hers. The sweet taste of his mouth sent her up in the clouds, euphoric with the sensation.

"I love you," she sighed, leaning her head back against the couch for a moment.

"I never get tired of hearing that," he admitted, grinning sheepishly.

"And…?" she prodded, nudging him with her elbow.

Again, he laughed. "I love you, too, Laurel," he replied. "Always have."

"Always will," she added.

"Forever," he finished. She ran her hands through his long black hair—green again at the roots—and pulled him down for more kisses.

She was very, very happy in that moment. And so was he.

Hi there! Green Snowbird here! I love this pairing, although I do believe the author deserves a shout-out simply because I normally root for one guy in the love triange but I loved both Tamani and David. However, green roots and exotic name won. I just finished the series (literally) and thought, what the heck?

So here it is. I would love some reviews, faves-just some feedback! I want to do several short bits of fluff that make me warm and fuzzy inside (and embarrassed! They like to have "fun" a lot it seems!) and feedback would be so helpful!

So enjoy it if you do, and thanks for reading. Love,

~Green Snowbird