Terra stretched slowly when her eyes opened sometime later. The sun was beginning to set over the sea. The clouds on the horizon were colored in shades of purple and pink. The warm breeze blew lightly causing chill bumps to appear of her sun heated skin. She took a long deep breath before stretching once more. She reached over and picked up the fruity drink which was still cold and took a refreshing sip. She wasn't certain how long it had been since the others left the beach and she had drifted off to sleep. She looked around the deserted sand. She was alone for the first time all day.
Terra got up from her chaise and took a moment to look out over the sea. She considered spending the remainder of the evening by the water. Earlier, the staff had made it clear that they could serve dinner by the water if she wanted.
"Did you have a nice nap?" Tamerlane's voice floated over the air causing Terra to look at the cabana behind her. She had forgotten that Tamerlane had been back there before she drifted off to sleep earlier.
"It was wonderful," Terra replied as she stretched again. Tamerlane's eyes moved over her as she stretched out her long, lean body. She was wearing a revealing string bikini. Terra did not miss the slow perusal by the Nietzschean male. She walked over to the cabana, rinsed the sand from her feet in a trough of water just beside the platform, then stepped up on the platform. She looked around the space. The center of the platform was dominated by an oversized chaise with a table to the side. The curtains which could be pulled for privacy or protection from the wind were tied back to the support posts. The ends of the material fluttered in the breeze.
"Any idea what time it is?" Terra asked as she looked down at Tamerlane. He was wearing plain black swimbriefs. His muscles were all etched to perfection as they always had been.
"1815," Tamerlane replied after looking at his datapad that was laying on the chaise beside him.
"Hhmmm," Terra stretched again. She was very aware of how such a stretch caught Tamerlane's attention.
"I informed the culinary staff that you would speak with them when you were ready for dinner," Tamerlane's eyes ran quickly over her again before returning to his flexi.
"What time is your meeting?" Terra looked around the beach again. As far as she could tell it was deserted. Although she was certain there was security somewhere.
"Meeting?" Tamerlane's brow furrowed slightly when he looked up at her.
"You told your father you had a meeting with some viceroy?" Terra replied as she looked back down at Tamerlane.
"My meeting with Viceroy Halder ended about twenty minutes ago," Tamerlane replied with a faint smile.
"You just didn't want to go pick out linens with your sister this evening," Terra accused him in a teasing fashion.
"I have greater responsibilities in the universe," Tamerlane replied as he turned off the flexi and put it on his datapad. "I also have no desire to be part of any decision which may result in distress on Alexandra's wedding day. No one is blaming me for poorly coordinated table linen or mismatched stemware."
"Touche," Terra replied with a soft laugh.
"I also have a video comm meeting with Marquess Zephyr later this evening," Tamerlane replied as he looked Terra over slowly. "He is Viceroy Halder's most vocal critic and leading challenger for the viceroy's position."
"Ahhhh," Terra nodded. She was surprised that Tamerlane told her that much. Then again, he and Tyr had spoken of the topic freely in front of them earlier. Terra assumed it meant the topic was not a very confidential or sensitive one. Terra ran her fingertips over the soft cool cover on the chaise cushion as she walked along the bottom to the side. "How is Evangeline?"
"Evangeline?" Tamerlane seemed to consider her question a moment as his eyes followed Terra's movements. "She is well."
"A couple of weeks ago … she needed to see you," Terra's voice trailed off when she saw the quizzical look in Tamerlane's eyes.
"The night Evangeline requested I visit her," Tamerlane nodded slowly when he realized what Terra was asking and perhaps why she was asking it. "She wanted to discuss she and our children taking a trip to visit her family in the Galdor system."
"She is leaving Arktos?" Terra found it surprising. She had never considered that Tamerlane's wives might actually leave the protection of the palace and Arktos.
"As you can imagine, it is a security concern any time one of my wives and my children travel," Tamerlane nodded slightly. "Preparation takes time, especially since Evangeline had not been back to Galdor since she and I were married. It is best to take these trips as quietly and discretely as possible. Plans are in motion now for her and the children to depart in the next few days."
"So she didn't … need a visit," Terra put 'need a visit' in little finger quotes.
"She did not desire to breed," Tamerlane shook his head at Terra's wording. "Although it is not information that you necessarily need, I have it on good authority that none of my wives plan on breeding for at least the next nine months. All wish their youngest to be weaned before they have another child."
"I suppose that makes sense," Terra replied as she looked around the area again. The sun was dipping deeper below the horizon as the day slowly moved into night. "When is your meeting with the marquess?"
"2030," Tamerlane replied as Terra's attention seemed focused on looking around them.
"Would you like to have dinner later?" Tamerlane's question was edged with a little uncertainty when he spoke.
"Dinner?" Terra asked as she looked back down at him. "You and me?"
"Yes, you and I," Tamerlane replied with a faint smile. "Unless you would like to dine alone …"
"No," Terra blurted quickly. "Dinner is good."
"What time would you like to eat?" Tamerlane asked as his eyes ran over her again. "Food preferences?"
"I just need to get a shower and change," Terra ran her hand through her hair. "Anything is fine with me. I'm adventurous when it comes to food."
"Would 1930 be acceptable?" Tamerlane asked when Terra did not give him a specific time.
"Ummm … yeah," Terra was surprised by him inviting her to actually have dinner … together.
"It would give us a chance to talk," Tamerlane offered as his eyes moved up to meet hers.
"If you are not busy right now," Terra began as she moved onto her knees on the chaise. She raised her eyebrows questioningly as she made her way to Tamerlane who was in the center of the chaise. When she reached him, she slipped one leg over his outstretched legs and settled herself on his upper thighs. Her hands came to rest on his abdomen and her thumbs lightly caressed the smooth, soft skin stretched over hard muscle. "Maybe we could talk right now."
"What would you like to talk about?" Tamerlane asked as her hands lightly caressed his abdomen. A faint smile tugged at her lips before she leaned down and brushed them lightly over his. Further words were not shared as her lips slowly caressed his.