**Part 4**
"So..." Rory's eyes shone in the moonlight, "Pop-pop huh?"
"You heard your grandfather," Tristan stole a glance over to Rory as they leisurely walked the campus grounds, "The wiles of getting old"
"Do you really call your grandfather Pop-pop?" Rory asked with a readied grin at the adorableness of it all.
"Well..." Tristan spoke softly, "after all the stains I have put on the Dugray name, I get the special privilege of calling Janlan, Sir."
Rory's smile faded. She didn't like the way he had said stains. Stains alluded to permanent damage, like the kind you threw away your favorite pair of jeans over, like the kind a family disowned you for. His tone had implied just as much. Rory bit her lip suddenly at a loss for words. Tristan caught her scrunched up pretty face deep in thought.
"Did you have to do any secret mission spy stuff to get here?" Tristan broke the silence. The smile on his lips working quickly to put her at ease once more. Now wasn't the time or place to let family drama bring them down. She was his escape from all of that, and quite possibly he hers. They had veered away from the lights and sounds of the concert chaos and now enjoyed the crunching leaves and snapping twigs beneath their feet instead. Along the way they had passed many a couple who like them, were trying to find a little bit of privacy amongst the shadows. It made Rory very aware about her surroundings and alert about being seen and recognized. What would her mother say? Worse, her grandmother? She thought about the word stain again, but just as quickly put it out of her mind; she followed Tristan and tried to sound confident,
"I wouldn't say secret mission" Rory's voice carried a nervous pitch that Tristan found adorable, "I did have to lose a book though."
Tristan chuckled softly, "Lose a book?"
"Yeah well," Rory met his eyes with wide playful ones, "I needed a reason to go to my grandparent's house." Rory decided to spare Tristan the actual drama that had unfolded in the days prior.
Tristan grinned amused, "Do you need me to replace it?"
"I'll send you a bill." Rory's mock seriousness brought a smile on his face that reached his eyes.
"You do that."
Rory smiled at that and added a small bounce to her next step; Tristan stifled a soft laugh as his stomach tightened. Tristan deliberately held back and let Rory lead the way so he could safely admire her from behind.
Rory Gilmore was a dazzling beauty. Out there under the occasional beam of moonlight breaking through the canopy of the woods, she glowed ethereal. Tall and lithe in an immaculately fitted dress that hugged her perfectly. Tristan had to lick his lips as he took in how the dress tapered down her lean back down to a tiny waist before flaring out to emphasize the sexy swell of her hips and long powerful legs... Tristan sucked in a breath, oh those legs...
You're a lost cause, Tristan thought of himself as he recalled how Rory had looked in the picture she had sent him just the night before. Rory was truly something else. He had never actually expected her to send him a picture when he had asked, which is exactly why he had asked! He had imagined the hot blush creeping up her neck, but leave it to Rory Gilmore to turn the tables on him instead. The infamous picture had been slightly out of focus and hastily taken so at first glance he had thought she was just wearing a lace bra and nothing else, the red of the body suit so transparent his eyes automatically assumed that she was just blushing all over. His imagination had immediately taken a hold of him and even now refused to release control.
Tristan followed Rory idly staring at the back of her legs, his mind immediately taking over where the hem of her dress started. His breath had caught at the sight of her long and perfect thighs. Soft, pale, and in beautiful contrast to the peppering of freckles that covered the tops of her arms and shoulders, her legs were...
Perfect.
Her legs were perfect. Tristan groaned
"Did you say something?" Rory looked back at him with beautiful crystalline eyes. She knew that he was looking at her, she could feel his eyes on her and she could very well imagine what he was thinking. She didn't mind one bit. In fact, she had come to love how that made her feel. How desirable she felt knowing that he was lusting after her. Where everybody saw her as Little Rory, Lorelai's saintly daughter, Tristan saw her as... Well, Rory didn't want to define that just yet. Rory couldn't help the coyness in her eyes or the softness in her voice as she asked,
"Coming?"
Tristan swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, "I'm about to..."
Rory furrowed her brow. Classic Tristan, debonair one second, crass the next. Tristan bit back the chuckle, Rory's adorable scowl let him know he had been heard and his double entendre easily deciphered. Tristan lengthened his stride to catch up.
"You were saying?" His grin was radiant and cocky. Rory's chest tightened. She couldn't help admiring his devil may care attitude that just as easily drove her crazy.
"I lost a book," Rory pouted at him. Tristan's inwardly groaned. How he loved that pout. It did serious things to him below the belt.
"You said that already" Tristan spoke almost directly to the pout on Rory's lips. Rory's next words hung in the air until his steel blue eyes met hers,
"Well I've decided. Just now. That you should make it up to me."
"Now?" Tristan's lips curled into a thin smile that made Rory feel like prey to be devoured. Her eyes sparkled with nervous determination,
"Now"
Rory let her bottom lip hang, lips parted. Her most kissable mouth an open invitation Tristan couldn't resist.
Tristan reached over and placed a hand on Rory's waist. Rory slowed down and softly gasped when Tristan spun her around in a smooth motion and pinned her against the trunk of a tree out of the way of the path they had been on. Heat collected where his fingers touched her. Rory took a nervous breath and expectantly looked around. They were alone. Tristan's eyes were pools of cool water; Rory licked her lips while her heart pounded in her chest.
"Like this?" His soft lips touched hers.
Fire
Rory breathed out a desperate sigh melting into his arms. She didn't understand how Tristan could make her feel like this. How he could ignite something within her body that seemed out of her control. It scared her.
She wanted more.
"That's…" Rory tried between hungry kisses, "a good start"
Tristan kissed along her jaw line and Rory lifted her chin to offer Tristan the delicate and sensitive skin of her neck. Tristan seized the opportunity hungrily. The feeling of Tristan's mouth on Rory was almost indescribable. Akin to being devoured and worshipped Rory decided. The boldness with which he held her surrounded her in a sense of warmth and safety that as false as it may have been (and her brain most certainly screamed at her to the contrary,) was a feeling still welcomed by Rory and blissfully accepted. There was tenderness in his actions, even as his hand cupped the base of her scalp and gently bit her neck in a very possessive manner.
"No marks Tristan!" Rory breathed out but did nothing to slow him down. What he was doing to her, it felt too perfect.
Rory marveled later how as his hand travelled down caressing her back, it somehow managed to unclip and lower the zipper of her dress in the same movement. Her brain screamed but she didn't care, deciding that Tristan's smooth and magical hands could do whatever they wanted. This is why she had come after all. Rory sighed contently, but her eyes did grow big when she felt Tristan slowly pull the back of her dress open and the cool air chilled her. She looked around in alarm again but there was no one around. The only sounds reaching her ears were those of her own shallow breaths. Conceding safety to the darkness, Rory obediently pulled in her shoulders to allow Tristan to pull the top of her dress forward and off her shoulders. Rory pulled one of her arms free to give him better access. For her efforts, Rory was rewarded with a deep guttural groan when Tristan recognized the red lingerie she wore below.
"You wore it…" Tristan's voice was ragged.
Tristan kissed her collarbone and down her chest planting soft chaste kisses. Rory closed her eyes to enjoy his experienced touch so she did not see his mouth when it descended on her nipple, over the lace and barely-there tulle. Rory inhaled sharply. Tristan gently nipped and pulled at the material with his teeth, then swabbed at the delicate rosy skin below with the tip of his tongue. Rory ran her fingers through his hair pressing him to her in silent encouragement. The wet tulle on her chest brought all sorts of new sensations to Rory, all of which felt amazing. Both warm and icy fingers caressed her and travelled perversely downward. Rory's eyelids grew heavy; Tristan touching her, kissing her like this was intoxicating. After a few days Rory wouldn't be able to say with certainty if this night had been a dream or reality. She wasn't sure if she was dreaming it then. Tristan slowly pushed the strap of her bodysuit off her shoulder and peeled aside the cup of wet lace to properly nuzzle on her tortured breast.
"Rory..." Tristan inhaled, and then exhaled a deep sigh over her wet, pebbled nipple sending a shiver that coursed through Rory's entire body, "The things you do to me Mary."
She dreamily reached out and traced her free hand softly down his stomach, over his belt and lightly touched the bulge of his erection with a delicate finger before pulling away.
"Fair is fair," she breathed out, then took his hand and placed his palm low on her abdomen, "See for yourself what you do to me..."
Tristan flattened his palm while Rory reached down and inched the hem of her dress higher until the tips of Tristan's fingers touched her naked thighs.
A shudder escaped her lips.
"You surprise me Mary..." Tristan's eyes on her smoldered with blue fire.
"You like surprises" Rory bit his lower lip.
Tristan's fingers gingerly caressed little circles up her thigh torturing her, but the deep rumble that came from his chest when his fingers met the material of her bodysuit made it all worth it.
"God Rory..."
Yet another surprise, he could feel it the second his fingertips reached her fiery little mound. Rory had shaved for Tristan.
Tristan could also feel how aroused she was. Tristan applied a bit more pressure with the tips of his fingers.
"Oh..." Rory mouthed breathlessly. The sheer fabric of the body suit felt slick under his fingers. Rory once again reached for his belt.
"Here Mary?"
"Your fault." Rory pressed her forehead against his chest so he wouldn't see the blush on her face.
"Are you sure?"
"Please Tristan" Rory pulled at his belt clumsily.
Tristan lifted her chin to kiss her and nod his acquiescence. Rory mirrored his nod biting her bottom lip. Nervously, she looked around working out the mechanical details of having sex in the woods at night without somehow ruining her dress or her hair.
Tristan reached for her a bit more forceful. Rory gasped gripping his forearm,
"Don't rip it. It snaps at the bottom"
Rory kept her grip on Tristan's arm as he reached lower between her legs and found the snaps to her body suit. Her body felt feverish with desire and the knowledge that Tristan was touching her somewhere so intimately out in the open. Rory leaned into Tristan for support as she felt the first of the snaps give way under Tristan's skilled fingers when both heard,
"Coming through! Coming through! If you don't want me to accidentally see anything you wouldn't want your mother seeing I'd cover up if I were you!"
"Really?!" Rory's frustration was clear on her voice.
"Shhh" Tristan stifled a laugh and pulled her behind the tree, maybe they could continue once whomever it was passed through.
"Coming through!" the person repeated closer then rounded the clearing and Rory couldn't stop herself,
"Paris?!"
Rory slapped Tristan's hands away just as Paris walked into view shielding her eyes and looking at the ground inches in front. Upon hearing Rory's voice, Paris looked up.
"Gilmore?"
"Paris?" Rory pressed the front of her dress over her chest turning a deep red, "What... What are you-"
"Doing exactly what it looks like what I am doing Gilmore, leaving." Paris huffed out, "as I am sure you are doing exactly what it looks like you were doing, living up to your mother's reputation by not falling far from the tree?"
Rory clenched her teeth to answer back but didn't really have a retort for her.
"Now old girl…" Tristan wandered into view with a million-dollar smile, "That was rather uncalled for."
"I should have known," Paris sneered in acknowledgement, "Tristan"
"Under the circumstances," Tristan raised his eyebrows, "I'm very happy to see you."
"I can see how happy. Don't!" Paris held up a hand stopping Tristan, "At least have the decency of closing your pants before you take another step this way."
Paris turned to look at Rory who seemed frozen to the spot she was in. Her face softened,
"I apologize. What I said was uncalled for… but Tristan? Really?"
Rory was mortified, "Paris-"
"Save it," She dismissed the horrified brunette, "I don't really care. You didn't see me; I didn't see you. The quicker I get out of here the faster I'll get back home."
Tristan shot her a thumbs up, "That's my girl"
Paris turned a pointed finger to Tristan,
"You. Shut it," then turned to look at Rory still clutching the top of her dress to her chest, "I would make him double bag it was I you."
Rory rolled her eyes despite wishing that the ground would swallow her up, "Thanks Paris."
"Hey..." Paris held up her hands stepping away, "The advice is free, as is the shot of penicillin at the free clinic. Your call, bye!"
Paris left them in flash, a few seconds later they heard faintly, "Passing through! Passing through! That can't be sanitary!"
Tristan looked at Rory who hadn't moved from her spot. Her dress still tightly clutched in her fists against her chest.
"Well-" he started but Rory chose that time to animate and beat against his chest with the bottom of her fist,
"Tristan!"
Tristan smiled a dismissive, cocky smile, "Paris won't say anything"
Up to that moment Rory had only been worried about being caught in flagrante delicto (well, almost) by someone she knew, but she hadn't thought about that person, in this case Paris Gellar of all people, gossiping about what she saw. The word 'stain' came up like bile churning her stomach.
"Oh my God!"
Tristan tried again, "Paris won't say anything."
"How do you know that?!" Rory demanded again through clenched teeth and worried eyes.
"Paris is a good friend"
"Paris hates me!" Rory's bottom lip quivered.
"But she doesn't hate me," Tristan spoke softly, "Estranged as we may be, she still would not betray our friendship just to stir up a little gossip."
Rory released the death grip she had on her dress and looked down to examine the damage, her face looked pained. Tristan noticed,
"Trust me, Paris won't -"
"I wrinkled it" Rory cut him off. Her voice strained, "People will know."
Tristan's face softened, "Here, let me help you with that."
Rory looked at Tristan curiously as he helped her slip her arm in her dress quietly.
"It's not fair," Rory's voice came out tiny. Tristan let her continue, "I'm always the nice girl."
"Well… not always," Tristan smirked, "I hope."
To his relief, Rory laughed softly but the pained thoughtful expression remained. She looked at Tristan imploringly,
"I just wanted..." She didn't finish her sentence.
"Let's go find the concert." Tristan's voice was smooth and collected confusing Rory even more. Tristan smiled,
"No one will question your dress if they see us coming out of a throng of people," Tristan leaned in to breathe his next words into her ear, "I'd say the sweatier we were the better."
Rory furrowed her brow in pause as his words sunk in; her eyes grew wide,
"That was your plan all along"
Tristan didn't say anything but she caught the smug grin on his face before he stepped behind her to zip up her dress.
Tristan had planned this all along
Of course he had, Rory reasoned feeling the weight previously pushing down on her lifting. Tristan would use something like a charity concert as an opportunity to get lucky. Rory felt rather proud of him for thinking of it and she felt the beginnings of a smile forming. Tristan moved her hair to the side and kissed the back of her neck. Though she couldn't see him, she could feel his leer, his signature spoiled little boy smirk pressing against her neck. Instead of irritating her, his confidence reignited something she thought had been doused off just minutes before.
"Tristan..." Rory's voice was soft, she didn't trust it not to betray her and crack.
"Come" Tristan stepped in front and led the way. The two walked in tense silence for a few minutes; the lights and sounds of the concert soon swallowed them up.
Rory spoke up, "I really wanted to... you know"
"I know" Tristan offered.
"Maybe I can go see you sometime this weekend?" Rory had to speak up to be heard, "We could... try again? When do you have to leave?"
"First thing tomorrow unfortunately," Tristan offered a tight-lipped smile, "Tolerance and patience can only buy me so much time with Janlan."
"Oh. But you didn't get to..."
"To what Mary?" Tristan drew out his question. Rory blushed and tried a different way,
"Do you still want to?" Rory had to almost yell to be heard.
Tristan wasn't sure if he heard her correctly, "excuse me?"
Rory scrunched up her face frustrated. This topic was awkward enough, she took his hand and led them further out near the tents and tables. The damp bodysuit under her dress sent shivers all over her body. She felt naked walking next to Tristan and wondered if anyone could tell that she had been up to a few minutes ago. Tristan, none the wiser reached over to a waiter passing by and took two flutes of champagne handing one to Rory when they slowed down again.
"Do you… Can You? Or has the moment passed?" Rory looked down at Tristan's crotch. Tristan held back a smile,
"What?"
"I read in Vogue that-"
"You read Vogue?" Tristan toyed, the banter feeling so natural.
"My mom's. Sophia Bush was on the cover. It might have been Teen Vogue now that I think about it. No, it was definitely regular Vogue."
"Sophia Bush is hot, go on" His eyes sparkled with laughter. Rory pouted at that but continued,
"I read that most men…" Rory took a big sip of champagne blushing, "need like recovery time after-"
"Mary?" Tristan interrupted.
"Yeah?" Rory's stomach tightened when he said her name like that, not once registering that he hadn't said her actual name.
"I think you would be pleasantly surprised."
"Yeah?" Rory repeated in a whisper and she fought to keep eye contact with Tristan; the curiosity to check for herself causing her blood to simmer back up, so instead took another big sip of her drink. Tristan nodded leaning in closer.
"Yeah."
Rory licked her lips,
"Do you want to?" Rory's voice was barely a whisper, but she had Tristan's undivided attention, "I can... help..."
Rory kept her eye contact to make sure Tristan got her meaning. She felt her cheeks and the tips of her ears get hot. Never in a million years would she make such an offer to Dean, or anyone else for that matter but the thought of Tristan leaving her side unsatisfied bothered her more than she thought possible.
"Please..?"
Now it was Tristan's turn to feel hot under the collar. He downed his drink in one quick gulp and took her hand,
"Let's go, let's get out of here before your grand-"
"Rory! There you are!"
This wasn't their night. Rory's grandfather Richard's voice reached them closing in fast, "I'm so happy we found you!"
Rory shot Tristan a grimace. Tristan could only offer a mild shrug of amusement.
"Save me," Emily started nonplussed, "Your grandfather has officially gone off the deep end."
"Rory, Tristan, look!" Richard held out his phone. The couple leaned their heads together to see the screen. The intimacy of the closeness of their faces amidst Rory's grandparents feeling more taboo than anything that had transpired that night.
"Is that you and U2?" Rory asked surprised.
"It sure is!" Richard beamed, "Such nice young men. Come Rory, Tristan, we were looking for you. The stage manager promised to get you right up front in exchange for some financial advice!"
"Wow," Tristan's instincts kicked in, "we tried to get closer but got spun around."
"It's madness in there!" Emily huffed, "We didn't get too close but you can see it from here, everyone is pushing and shoving. Look at your dress Rory! It looks like you slept in it."
Richard laughed, "Now dear, you were their age once. I remember someone going through a Jimmy Gilmer phase in her early twenties"
"I most certainly did not!" Emily squawked, "Richard Gilmore, you are having too much fun tonight."
"I am dear," Richard winked at Rory, "Come let us find the stage manager"
Rory shot Tristan an apologetic look just as Richard turned to them to whisper with wide playful eyes, "I learned to whistle the bridge to Sugar Shack to impress your grandmother."
**End of Part 4**
