Author's Note: Chapter 10 is up (again procrastinating for a midterm)... seems like you guys didn't like chapter 9 as much... only a few reviews. Anyways gimme a shout and let me know what you're expecting...the remaining chapters are going to be a lot like chapter 9.

Rated M for the usual language/situations

-- d3vilish

Flames of Temptation: Chapter 10 - Breaking the Ice

They remained in silence listening to the waves slosh against the shore. A gentle breeze made the palm trees sway off in the distance. Sam drew mindless patterns on Jack's chest as they both lay awake completely content - all thoughts of indiscretion and regulations tossed to the wind. They could care less. Tonight was about them.

Sam looked up at him. "So, I guess if we're going to do this we have to let Krishna and Malini know."

Jack cringed. "Do we have to let them know?" She smiled. He hated his personal life becoming public knowledge.

"Krishna already knows about us so it won't be a shock to him." He raised an eyebrow. "The night we had the fight, we ended up talking for a while down by the beach." Still not buying it she added, "He's a very observant individual, he kind of put it all together himself."

"Is there anything else that you wanna fill me in on here Carter?"

"No sir." She teasingly replied.

"Good. Cuz that's the last coherent sentence I want to hear from you Major." He slid his body over hers silencing her with his mouth. They made slow lazy love again before sneaking back into the house.

The next morning Sam saved Jack the embarrassment and went to talk to Krishna herself. Although it was an awkward conversation talking to Krishna was incredibly easy. He could tell she wasn't comfortable since she wasn't her usual articulate self...Sam felt immensely embarrassed talking about feelings that she herself didn't quite understand. Krishna somehow was able to decipher what she was trying (but failing) to tell him.

Krishna and Rani both volunteered to be their mentors on this "spiritual journey" as they both referred to it. They would have to spend four days in complete seclusion from each other where their mentors would teach them the spiritual and physical purpose behind each day at the temples before they could actually go to the temples.

"Oh for cryin' out loud! Are you kidding me?! I have to spend four days talking to this guy about something that I don't even want to talk about." Jack said obviously concerned about Krishna's involvement in this process.

"Actually, you have to spend four days with his wife."

"What?!" his head snapped up. "Now, how does that make any sense!?"

"Apparently only a couple that has been through this can be mentors and it is customary to have a person that is the opposite sex as your mentor."

"See, now that's just weird."

Although he had a lot of voiced concern, Jack managed to suck it up since all he wanted to do was spend more time with Carter. If this is what it took, then he'd do it.

The temples were absolutely breathtaking standing proudly at the edges of a large clearing. The grounds were bordered with the tropical forest they had trekked through on their first arrival to the planet. In the center of the clearing was a pond reflecting the moon light between the small gaps in the water lilies. Two single room houses - a his and hers quarters - were erected on either side of the pond with a vine covered wooden bridge connecting the two over the water. Hanging oil lamps had etched out a path leading to the grand staircase of the temples down a cobblestone walkway with exotic flowers resting their heads against the stone. They were completely alone on this tropical paradise with no signs of civilization for at least a few miles in any direction.

Jack swallowed hard and proceeded up the stairs to the first temple.

The pillars were covered with intricate carvings of the various deities. Rows of diyas - small oil lamps with open flames - outlined the temple. Rose petals carpeted the floors. The temple itself didn't have any walls. Just pillars and large garland-wearing statues on the periphery. The floor had an arrangement of pillows, all shapes, sizes and colours with an array of exotic fruits on the platters at the center.

They were to meet at sun down where they would then spend the entire night revealing their most inner desires to each other. He was a bit relieved to find Sam not there yet. His stomach coiled in anticipation or was it anxiety? He had just begun to enjoy the view of the green mountains in the distance when he heard her footsteps coming up the temple stairs. He wasn't sure if he should just stand where he was or sit down casually between the pillows. He also wasn't sure of what he should be saying to her. It had been four days since they last spoke and they hadn't seen each other since the last time he saw her naked... they were there under completely new pretenses. "Hey Carter" probably wouldn't be the best thing to break the ice he decided.

Her heart raced when she saw him standing with one arm resting up on a pillar looking out at the mountains. He was wearing a white pair of pants with a white shirt that was completely unbuttoned and flapping in the gentle breeze. His tanned skin looked so tempting being exposed to her like that. He turned around trying not to look too impressed at the white night gown she had on. Her eyes seemed to stand out more against this colour. Thin straps held the garment in place as the silky fabric formed to her shape exposing her recently sun kissed cleavage. Evil... yes she was definitely evil. No bra. The woman was wearing no bra. Sam looked away from his gaze and smiled, a small blush reaching her cheeks. Shit. So much for not looking impressed. He couldn't take his eyes off how gorgeous she looked. He'd never seen Carter in a dress, let alone a night gown. There were reasons for standard issue BDUs. It kept him from pushing her up against the closest surface and fucking her. He wanted nothing more than to see that gown on his bedroom floor, but the rules were quite simple.

"The first night is purely about listening and understanding your partner's needs according to the following rules.

1. Always listen to your partner.
2. You must both talk and listen equally.
3. Do not withhold information from your partner.

And the last and most important of them all:

4. For a couple to be spiritually in tune, no physical contact must occur."

He remembered the watered down version of Rani's descriptions as she translated them from what seemed to be an ancient text. He was leaving it up to Carter whether or not they'd be playing by the rules tonight.

"Is this all for us?" She said, turning her attention towards the fruits.

Apparently we were playing by the rules.

Realizing that his mouth was already open he began to answer. "Yea. Apparently we should eat considering we're here for some twenty hours at a time." He proceeded to sit down on one of the large plush pillows soon accompanied by Sam.

"Know what I miss?" Jack started tossing a berry in his mouth.

"What?"

"Steak! The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is order the largest medium rare steak I can get!" The truth is if Sam hadn't mentioned them being vegetarian he probably wouldn't have noticed the lack of meat.

"So how did mentoring with Rani go?"

"It was... interesting."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Interesting?"

"Interesting. How was yours with pretty-boy?"

"Krishna." She corrected him smiling at how immature he still was. "It was fine. A little awkward at first, but he's really easy to get a long with so that made it more comfortable."

"So Carter..."

Ugh oh, I know what that means.

"...tell me about that Indian ex-boyfriend of yours." Oh yea, definitely shit-eating.

...to be continued...