Undone
By Alaricnomad

Lucas was gentle by nature.

He had always seemed so strange to her, so strange in his quiet, gentle ways. So gentle toward her, his words and his expressions, the soft looks in his eyes and his friendly touches; later, even as bodies pressed together and entangled in passionate embraces, he was always gentle.

Every time they tried to separate, her memories of him refused to leave her alone, memories of her gentle former lover taking residence in her mind no matter how hard she tried to drive them away. When he had held her, his body strong and firm against hers, his arms had been unyielding but careful as they wrapped around her, holding her close as if she were a fragile piece of artwork or a precious antique.

His kisses were always so like Luke, slow, thorough, languorous…passionate, but ever so gentle. His touches, like the caress of a feather, light but lingering, slender and warm fingers stroking her skin, along her back, her arms, her stomach, her hips.

She had always feared it would be Lucas's gentleness that she would put in danger, that she would taint or warp him in some way that the man she had known and loved would only become a fleeting memory in her mind.

The last of her underclothing fell away to join the dress at her feet, and she stood before him, the coolness of the air odd against her naked skin, vulnerable and strangely fearful as his eyes slowly trailed over her bare body, the imprint of their intensity almost tangible against her skin.

And then his own clothing fell away, and his arms encased her, his hands calloused but soft against her body, and in the end, it was always his gentleness that worked to undo her.