Hey guys! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the encouraging comments and reviews! The last month has been a tough one in school and I simply did not have very much time to write. I really appreciate your patience (I know how excruciating it can be to wait for an author to update, especially after a cliff-hanger!).
I really hope that you enjoy this chapter. Hopefully I have given you a little taste of romance here.
To clarify on something later in this chapter: I have only a basic knowledge of elven relationships and views regarding sex. This is my version of how relationships and sex will work in my story and I don't know if they fall in-line with the Tolkien universe perfectly. Please excuse if they do not and just try to enjoy how I depict them!
Thank you for reading and once again for being patient. Updates should happen quicker and more consistently once more. I apologize again for the long wait.
As you all know, I own not a thing.
Much love,
-ChoupetteLagerfeld
Kerrianne's nerves were firing non-stop as Haldir's lips moved over hers in what was certainly the hottest kiss in which she'd ever participated. His hands scorched where they wrapped around her waist, the contrast between the wet fabric of her night gown and the heat of his skin driving her into a frenzy. With a groan, Kerrianne opened her mouth for Haldir's searching tongue and wrapped her arms around his neck. She scratched her nails across the nape of his neck, combing her fingers through his wet hair while his tongue wrapped around her own and tasted her. His answering moan made Kerrianne's head swim and her mind floated as her knees went weak.
Haldir slowly backed her up against the edge of the pool, pushing his hips into hers and invading her space even more. Kerrianne gasped for breath and tilted her head back to look into Haldir's hooded eyes as his hands moved up to her face. Delicately he traced the arch of her eyebrow and the dip of her upper lip, his touch gentle and tantalizing all at once. Kerrianne shivered as she stared into the deep blue of his eyes, glowing under the moonlight. How she'd come to be in this situation would definitely keep her from getting sleep in the future.
"I don't know what it is about you…" Haldir trailed off as he lowered his head to Kerrianne's neck and his hot tongue flicked over her ear lobe. Kerrianne waited for him to finish his sentence but it seemed like he had no intention to elaborate. She lost her train of thought as Haldir's tongue swiped over her neck and he started sucking on the cool skin where her neck met her shoulder.
"Haldir," Kerrianne whispered breathily, her hands trailing down his muscular back to grab hold of his hips and pull them into her. She slowly grinded her hips into his, her breathing getting heavier when she felt the evidence of his interest harden against her. That familiar burn trickled down her spine to settle deep in her stomach as Haldir's body answered her call. His hands cupped her breasts, the wet material of her gown sticking to her chest and revealing her peaked nipples.
Her mind was a whirlwind of fleeting thoughts: disbelief that she was kissing Haldir, how attracted she was to him in that moment, the fact that his skin felt so perfect against hers, and finally the fear she had both that he would stop and that he would keep going. Kerrianne let Haldir take the lead; she didn't trust herself in that moment but she did trust him. Their frenzied kisses continued and Haldir's explorations of her quickly heating body few bolder. His hands touched every part of her, from the back of her knee (which he grasped as he hiked her leg up and over his hip) to the crease where her thigh met her hip (which he held with an iron grip). It was all too sensual and so, so hot. Kerrianne didn't think she'd ever been more turned on, and Haldir hadn't even ventured between her aching thighs yet.
With a quiet groan, Haldir exhaled against her shoulder and planted a kiss there before abruptly taking a half step backwards from her. He held her at arm's length, and the heat from his body quickly left Kerrianne. It was almost painful to be separated from him, especially compared to how close they'd been just a moment ago.
"We must stop," His deep voice rumbled and Kerrianne found herself moaning again, the tone of his voice only adding to her growing pleasure. She didn't respond and merely continued her caresses, stepping closer to him and bringing her hands around to slip them between their bodies, where he was hard and waiting.
"No," Haldir seized her wrists as he gazed fiercely into her eyes The aquamarine of his eyes struck her motionless.
"But why? You want to," Kerrianne replied in a whisper, wondering if she could possibly sound more desperate. Haldir's head dipped once more and he stole a kiss before she could react.
"It is not a matter of wanting or not. Elves take such things very seriously. I am not usually so hasty," He shook his head with a small frown, like he was scolding himself. Kerrianne wasn't sure how to reply but embarrassment and annoyance were emotions she was familiar with and so she focused on that.
"You are the one who kissed me," She replied, pushing him away, trying to ignore how his hot skin felt under her hands.
"And for that I apologize," He replied, looking not at all apologetic. Kerrianne felt her anger build and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling suddenly quite naked. To his credit, Haldir's eyes didn't leave her face as she struggled out of the pool, the sopping wet night gown wrapping around her legs and hindering the process. Once she was on dry land, she turned to look at him once more. He merely stood in the waist deep water, droplets of moisture clinging to his creamy skin and twinkling in the moonlight. If she weren't so annoyed with him, the image would have struck her speechless.
"Fuck you, Haldir," Kerrianne whispered scathingly, vindictively enjoying the stricken and surprised look on his face before turning around abruptly and leaving him alone in the pool.
Haldir sighed and looked up at the stars, wondering what had possessed him to kiss the mortal. He felt inexplicably drawn to her and that simply would not do. There were a million reasons why a relationship with Kerrianne would never work but Haldir could only focus on the vision of her dark eyes in the moonlight, the taste of her wet skin, and the feeling of completeness he'd had when she was in his arms. He wondered if he'd ever experience that sensation again.
—-
Kerrianne started the next day under the assumption that she'd be playing the avoidance game with Haldir but it turned out she'd worried for nothing. Haldir had returned to the border of the forest, once again taking up his duties as March Warden. Rumil had mentioned this in passing as he and Kerrianne enjoyed a stroll through the city. She, of course, didn't mention the previous night to Haldir's brother. In fact, Kerrianne didn't plan on telling anyone about her encounter with the March Warden. Not only did she not entirely understand what happened but it hadn't exactly ended well. She figured Haldir too would appreciate her silence on the matter.
Kerrianne walked slowly beside Rumil as he told her stories of his and his brothers' childhood days. She listened distractedly but her attention was truly on his older brother and the night before. Of course she hadn't slept a wink all night and had tossed and turned under her blankets. On one hand she was elated that Haldir found her attractive and other hand she was furious that he'd ended their interlude. She was also mortified at her own behavior. She'd never in her life acted as wantonly as she had last night. She'd practically begged Haldir to screw her in the pool, for Pete's sake! What the fuck was wrong with her?
"….And you have not heard a single word I've said," Rumil's hand on her arm brought Kerrianne out of her thoughts. His blue eyes (so annoyingly like his older brother's) gazed sown at her in amusement.
"What has you so preoccupied?" Rumil questioned, a smirk playing on his lips. Kerrianne shook her head as she blushed slightly. No way was she coming clean with Rumil. He'd never let her live it down.
"Nothing. I'm just tired," Kerrianne tried to shrug nonchalantly. Rumil didn't look convinced.
"Would your lack of sleep have anything to do with a certain brother of mine?" He questioned, playfully elbowing her in the side. The casual gesture would have been very unusual from any other elf but Rumil was the most relaxed elf she'd encountered so far. It fit that he would be most like her human friends back home.
"Why would I lose sleep because of Orophin?" Kerrianne joked back, laughing when Rumil rolled his eyes at her. It was purely a human gesture and he had recently picked it up from her. She enjoyed the effect she was having on her new elven friends.
"Do not be purposely obtuse," Rumil nudged her again as he leaned on the railing of the bridge they were standing on. Currently, they were high above the floor of the city, wandering through the wooden pathways and bridges in the canopy of the trees. It was exhilarating and a little scary to be so high up. Kerrianne sighed, turning towards Rumil. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask him for a little advice.
"What are the Elven views on….. sex?" Kerrianne trailed off lamely, watching as Rumil's eyebrows rose. She blushed at his reaction.
"Why do you ask? Has an elf caught your eye?" Rumil teased, his blue eyes glinting.
"Nevermind! Forget I asked," Kerrianne quickly backtracked, too mortified to clarify her question. Rumil laughed gently at her expense.
"I only ask because you caught me off-guard. Elves rarely discuss such things with anyone other than their partner. We are very private in general. Luckily for you, I am a most liberated elf and would be happy to answer your questions!" Rumil nudged her once more, trying to put her at ease.
Kerrianne gathered her courage and tried to remind herself that she was a modern twenty-five year old woman. She had had several sexual partners before and had never been ashamed of her desires. She refused to be embarrassed of a natural, healthy sense of desire!
"In that case… I am curious about elven relationships. Do you guys have one night stands? Or…" She stopped talking because Rumil looked puzzled.
"What is a 'one night stand'?" He questioned and Kerrianne felt herself reddening at the idea of explaining the concept to the handsome elf. She steeled herself for the awkwardness ahead of her.
"It's when you hook up… I mean, sleep with someone without the prospect of a relationship. Basically you're together for the night and you might never see the other person again. It's very common where I'm from," She explained in what she hoped was the simplest way possible.
"This concept is very foreign to me. Elves do not typically engage in this sort of behavior. Sexual relationships do happen between elves but they are not common outside of marriage. It is very uncommon for elves to 'sleep' together, as you put it, and not be bonded," Rumil noticed Kerrianne's confusion and explained further.
"Bonding is basically an elven marriage. Two who have bonded cannot live without the other. It is truly for life, since elves are immortal. The bonding is soul-deep and irrevocable and it happens when two elves who love one another are intimate, thus the serious attitude elves have regarding sex," Suddenly it dawned on Kerrianne why Haldir had stopped her last night.
"So sleeping with an elf automatically means marriage?" Kerrianne asked, horrified. She imagined accidentally marrying an elf just by sleeping with him.
"No, not necessarily. The two must intend upon bonding together. It does not just happen but elves are still very cautious about such things. A soul bond is even deeper than marriage since if one half of the bond dies, so does the other. This is also why so few elves bond with non-elves. If an elf bonds with a mortal, they will die shortly after the mortal dies. It is a great sacrifice that an elf makes when they love a mortal," Kerrianne let that information sink and felt infinitely more grateful that she and Haldir had not continued the night before. She was not ready for such a commitment and there's no way Haldir would want a relationship with a human if it was essentially a death sentence.
"Wow, I never would have dreamed that that's how elven relationships work. Where I come from, humans have so many fleeting relationships in such short life-spans. It's so different," Rumil smiled a little sadly at her.
"Do not despair if there is an elf you have set your sights on. It is rare but not unheard of for an elf and a human to be together. If love is meant to happen, it will," He comforted her.
"I wasn't asking because of any specific elf," Kerrianne bluffed, her red cheeks giving her away.
"Sure," Rumil let it go. "Come, I will escort you home," He stated, taking her hand. Kerrianne let herself be led back to her talan and didn't even question him calling it her "home."