A/N: Hello!

I warn you now, SMUT ALERT! SMUT ALERT. If you are not one for smut, I insist you don't read this chapter which I am fine with considering it is quite explicit. I can assure you that by not reading this chapter, you will not miss any of the story, however, this leads to the blossoming romance. I apologise before hand if it offends any of you, as I understand that some readers are uncomfortable with reading smut.

Please read and review.

Cold Comfort

Jaime eased himself down onto the rug beside her, and for a time they both stared at the crackling, spitting flame without speaking. He wanted to kiss her, he dreaded doing something to force her guard back up again just as she'd begun to let him in. He was also very wary of taking advantage of her, though to look at her she was the least like of wenches - women to have a man do anything that could be construed as taking advantage of her. But beneath her appearance and guard she had carefully fortified, Jaime recognised Eliana's fragility. He'd enjoyed their kiss, her cleaning him but he couldn't push her into something just because he wanted it.

Another surge of wind rippled through Harrenhal, gusting through the gaps in the window and rattling the flame. Jaime rubbed his right arm in a futile attempt to generate and restore the warmth to his body to stave off the chill. Eliana loosened her white-knuckled grip on the blanket and moved closer to him, ushering him into the cocoon of warmth she'd created. Jaime was grateful, not only because she let him in from the cold but because she wasn't shutting him out. At least not yet.

With tentative confidence, Jaime laid his good arm around her shoulders, and then when she didn't shrug it off, he slid his palm down to the small of her back. She was so odd to touch for a woman, hard panes of muscle and knots of tension. Eliana leaned into the touch, turning her head towards him and rested her cheek on his shoulder. Self-assured, he tilted her chin up with his ruined limb and captured her lips in another kiss. She responded, at first hesitantly parting her lips under the curious flicker of his tongue, but soon meeting it with her own. She placed a hand on his nape, entwining her fingers in his hair and tugging ever so slightly, keeping him from breaking away from which Jaime let out a small moan of approval.

"Gods, how I wished you'd let me kiss you sooner." Jaime murmured between kisses, the tips of his fingers rubbing slow caresses under the blanket at the base of her spine. Eliana responded just as he'd hoped she would - shivering deliciously against him and kissing him more urgently. Her other hand thrusted its way through his hair now as well and Jaime ached with lust. She laid down and pulled Jaime down with her so that they were pressed fully against one another. It was then she noticed his erection - hard to ignore when it was standing proud and pressing into her hip. She tensed and he felt it, pulling away to check to see if she had changed her mind, whether she had come to her senses. He saw guilt and desire chiseled in her features and he figured she was thinking of her mother and of Oberyn.

"Lia?" He whispered, his voice low and rough. He was so seldom lost for words, but his mind faltered and he couldn't think of anything to say at that moment. She dropped her gaze, unable to meet those eyes of his, and pulled away from him. It was painful to not pull her back to him, so strong was the need and want that rushed through him. She stood and turned away, crossing the room to stand by the window and look out into the dreary night. He didn't know what internal conflicts she was struggling with; he didn't know the words to sway her back into his arms, nor did he want to charm her - he wanted her to want him and he wasn't going to beg.

His eyes trailed to her neck, where she was clutching the pendant that sat there. He couldn't see it properly but he knew it was important; it held pride of place. He got the message and stood and went to gather his clothes, turning to leave.

"Jaime, don't." She called, looking to him finally while he sent her a confused look as she moved to the bed. "Don't go," Her voice was quiet as she added. "Stay here tonight."

Jaime shook his head, dropping his clothes and moving towards her. She sat on the far end of the bed, far away from him and he didn't like it. He sat near her, close enough to be able to touch her. He moved her hair aside, noting the gallery of muscles aligned across her shoulders. He had the sudden impulse to kiss her there, wanting to know what her skin felt like against his lips, but for the moment he contented himself in moving his fingers into her shoulders. They relaxed under him, and he rolled them forward, working muscles that were almost always tensed. Jaime smiled to himself, enjoying the moment of Eliana unguarded again. She had started to hum in time shamelessly as his hand became harder and massaged her.

"Jaime", He thought he heard her say, so quiet it was almost inaudible. Drawn in by the smooth skin of her at her muscular shoulders, he pressed his lips to the back of her neck. A gasp left her lips, her eyes almost shut. His hand and stump were on her arms, and he pulled her tight against him. He kissed her again on the neck below her earlobe, letting his lips touch her skin ever so slightly.

Eliana shivered, feeling his hot breath on her.

"Cold, little wolf?" He asked, waiting for a typical response from their banter. When it did not come and he felt her still breathing heavily, he turned her around to face him. Her hands went to his chest, lightly touching the golden hairs there. Her eyes which had been half-open, widened looking over his handsome face. He swore he saw a small smile.

"I thought we agreed to not use that nickname." With that she took his face, pulling his lips against hers. His were mannishly rough, but hers were soft and he remembered although she was unbelievably tough, she was still a woman, sighing in his arms.

Jaime returned her kiss passionately, and bit her lips playfully until she opened and let his warm tongue explore hers. An odd feeling spread through Eliana like ink on new linen, coursing through her whole body. She heard a moan in the back of her throat, and she couldn't get enough of his lips, his body- she was scared to believe the moment was a dream, or a cruel trick or the bliss that comes before one died. But she was reassured when she felt his muscular arms wrap around her, pulling her into him. They both sat where they were, and his mouth left hers to nip at her ear and collarbone, roughly exploring her.

His lips trailed down to her soft, model breasts which had hardened with anticipation and hardened even more as she felt his lips wrap around them, sucking them. He lightly bit at them, and she heard a louder moan leave her throat. Jaime laughed a bit at that, and she didn't care- he could have his jape, as long as his mouth did not stop. The strange feeling was moving into her abdomen, a strange nervousness that she had not felt since she said goodbye to Oberyn in Dorne but Jaime was not Oberyn. This was Jaime Lannister, the Lion... Oberyn was the Viper.

He returned to her lips, her nails sinking into his shoulders, her ankle snaking around his, sliding nicely. He moved her back to the headboard of the bed, pressing her on it and parting her thighs. They broke apart, both chests heaving with exasperated desire. She moved her hands down his chest, leaning forward to bite his nipples and he groaned. They put their foreheads together as he moved in between her legs, pulling her up.

Jaime's desire was hot on her thigh, but he did not rush her, no matter how badly he wanted to. She had to be ready- it had to be her choice. "You should not feel obligated. This -" He waved vaguely downwards. "- is simply a physical reaction... and I can't help it."

For a moment, Eliana was reminded of her Septa but she quickly banished the thought. "But you want me to... and what if I wish to?" It was bold, bolder than she had expected herself to say. But it was true. She had never desired a man other than Oberyn, and even that was a distant sort of longing after she left Dorne.

Her response seemed to take Jaime by surprise. His eyes widened and then narrowed. He wrapped his left arm around her and drew her closer until she was atop him. She touched his shoulder, trailing her hand up his neck and leaned forward until their foreheads were touching once more.

"Do you?" His voice was rough and she could feel his breath on her lips. "Could you truly desire this broken, maimed body?"

"If you can desire this ugly one," She whispered back.

Jaime's arm tightened around her. "Do not call yourself that," He growled, growing suddenly protective and then his lips were pressing against hers. She swallowed back the urge to snap back, but instead kissed him back.

Jaime kissed like he did everything else: intense, thorough, and passionate. But he was also surprisingly gentle, his lips moved slowly against hers, letting her set the pace and not pushing her to deepen the kiss. Eliana growled against his lips. She was tired of gentle, and she knew now that she wanted this. She pushed her tongue into his mouth and ran a hand down his chest.

"Jaime…" She murmured, her voice quavering.

"So that's what it takes to get you to say my name, that and nearly drowning." Jaime stated plainly, as she watched him smile at her. He sealed his lips around hers, and closed his arms around her and again his eyes met hers.

With all his control, he went slowly, first pushing into her. He didn't look upon her face until he was all the way inside, her muscles agonizingly tight around him. He looked at her face which was trained on him in return. His left hand stroked her ruined cheek and then he kissed her lips and she gradually responded, breathing in deep. He did not move his hips, until he felt her relax slightly around him, then slipped out and went back in, controlling his urges to make sure she was at least, if not enjoying it, comfortable. He looked at her face again, refusing to look anywhere else.

She felt him thrusting slowly in and out and she concentrated on the feeling of him inside her, completing her. He kissed her lips, allowing her to relax. His right arm pulled her close and his left one snaked between them, circling her nub slowly, in time with his deep thrusts. Her arms circled around his neck and she kissed him, moving her hips against his, wanting him to go deeper and deeper.

They met eyes; her blue orbs almost the colour of melting snow and his the deepest green she had ever seen. She was the one gasping now, unashamedly thrusting against him, and he removed his hand and replaced it with his strong stomach, stroking her faster and harder with each thrust. He was practically holding her up, just the smallest part of her touching the bed.

Jaime and she were both panting, wilfully thrusting so that Eliana gripped his shoulder blades and held herself up as he moved into her again and again. His face was buried in her neck and his right arm had circled around her back again to hold her tight to him. She helped as best she could, her thighs straining as she pushed down to meet his thrusts. Her senses felt heightened and warmth was spreading through her body. She closed her eyes and threaded her fingers through his hair.

The chamber was silent other than the sounds of their bodies moving together, that and the gentle crackles and hisses from the hearth. Jaime's movements grew more frantic, and his hips jerked up as he drove himself into her. Eliana doubted he would last much longer, and she could feel herself getting close again. Soon she felt herself clenching around Jaime and she was still against him as she came. He wasn't far behind, and with a final thrust he spilled himself into her.

They didn't move for a few minutes. Eliana could feel Jaime softening within her, but he didn't pull out. His breath ghosted over her neck and she briefly laid her head on his shoulder. It felt almost more intimate than the sex itself, to sit like that together without speaking. Eliana knew it couldn't last, that it was just a temporary moment of shared pleasure and solace in the midst of the pain and war that surrounded them. Jaime would return to King's Landing and to his sister. Eliana... well, she wasn't sure yet. But she knew this would not happen again, that there could never be any kind of future with this man even if she wanted it.

Eventually Jaime shifted and slipped out of her, leaving her feeling strangely empty. She lifted her head off of his shoulder and he raised his eyes to meet hers. Then he smiled, the first time she had ever seen him smile without a hint of mocking behind it. He reached up to brush some hair out of her eyes and she stayed still, staring at him as he leaned forward and kissed her lightly.

Unexpected hope rose up within Eliana. She didn't know what she really wanted from this man, or what was going to happen next but they were in this together now. For now, she would enjoy the companionship and try not to worry, at least for a few minutes, about what the next days would hold.

The oil lamp had burnt away while they were wrapped in one another, the low flicker of the dying fire was all that was illuminating the chamber. Jaime had curled his good arm around her waist and drew her to him. Her shoulder was the closest part of her body to his lips, and so he began peppering it with soft, gentle kisses. His reward was feeling her relax into him. She took his hand in hers, holding it to her chest, between her breasts, and he could feel the strong rhythm of her heartbeat. He breathed in her scent, unsure he would ever get to be this close to her again.

His fingers closed around her pendant as he inspected it. Upon it shone a leaping trout, the sigil of house Tully, her mother's house. "She gave it to me for my twelfth name day." She smiled sadly at the memory. He knew she was grieving for the loss of her brothers and chose to not interrupt. "She said it would protect me as would she... not everyone can keep their promises."

Jaime pressed his lips to her forehead. He watched her for a time, listening to the gentle sounds of her breathing and the patter of rain against the window panes. He watched her until the fire died and then only the moonlight illuminated her face, painting her skin silver. Eliana eventually fell asleep in his arms, and Jaime was glad she'd found some piece in all this... and he was happy he was the cause of it.

A/N: Please read and review!

Ezeiel