we walked in the garden, we planted a tree [Aidan]

[starchilde_lost]

[August 30th, 2011]

She'd been spending a lot of time at the waterfall lately. The rave was over, but Rachel could still feel the tremble of the bass under her skin. The hangover was past, but she could still feel the pain of guilt and confusion. She had just wanted to have some fun, let loose for a night and now she was starting to think that she'd ruined one of her closest friendships here on the island.

Not to mention opened herself up to an entirely new avenue of sexuality she'd never considered before.

But at the heart, she thought the sexuality thing wasn't even the important part. Well it was important, but she knew eventually it would take care of itself. She'd just never thought of it before, was all and was trying not to think about it now. The really important part was that she was pretty sure her best friend would never speak to her again and that hurt Rachel more than she wanted to admit. So Gabrielle maybe had a little crush on her? So had Alistaire Stuart, and they'd managed to stay friends, but lately Gabby wasn't even talking to her and that made things worse. She couldn't repair, or work on, or even talk about their friendship if Gabby wouldn't even see her.

Standing on the edge of the cliff and looking down, Rachel wondered if things really had been simpler back home. Kill Gabriel. Kill the bastards that had killed her family. Sleep with Korvus, who loved her and she... she loved him. At least she was pretty sure she did. The longer she was here, the more she started to doubt that. And did that mean she'd taken advantage of him? Had she taken advantage of Gabby? She didn't want to think that she had. she didn't want to admit that her loneliness combined with the alcohol and drugs and... she'd just gone too far.

But if she couldn't talk to Gabby... she couldn't work it out. God, was there anything Rachel could do right? She looked down at the rolling water and debated with herself before deciding that ultimately, she couldn't make a decision today. If Gabby wouldn't talk to her, she couldn't make amends. And she wasn't home so she couldn't sort things out with Korvus. All she had was today and a deep pool of water just begging to be dove into. Which is what she did, diving with almost perfect accuracy to the center of the pool, trusting that it was deep enough for the dive.

It was, but as Rachel surfaced she realized that diving from such heights had it's disadvantages. Like stripping the tops of bikinis off one's body. Looking around, Rachel tried to see where her top had gone, or if she was going to end up rushing home with her hands as her only modesty.

Comments

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely," he said, laughing again before pulling her close for another kiss. Deeper than the previous one, he kissed her long and slow, as if he had nothing to do in the world but entirely enjoy that one kiss.

[starchilde_lost]

She couldn't argue, it was a pretty nice gift and she was more than content to lose herself in it. It made her smile against his lips, wrap her arms around him and melt a little in the embrace. She wanted to let the rest of the world fly away, just let it all hang so she could stay in this moment awhile longer.

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

Aidan hummed happily against her lips, keeping his arms wrapped around her as she rested against him. His fingers began to slowly massage along her back, kneading the muscles there to help her completely relax against him.

[starchilde_lost]

Of all the conflicting feelings his hands on her body gave her, the relaxation quickly won out, leaving her almost weak against him. She was definitely going to be sore in places the next day, and would no doubt spend the next week or so finding creative ways to cover the bite on her neck and possibly light bruises around her wrists, but right at this moment? Totally and absolutely worth it as she nipped at his lips before nuzzling at the hollow of his throat with a satisfied sigh.

"This is definitely coming up in therapy next week." She chuckled as she rested her head against his chest for a moment before getting up to dispose of the used condom.

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

"Is that... good or bad?" Sam asked, propping himself up on his side as he watched Rachel walk along the room. He wondered if the moment was completely gone and if he should go. She seemed to have enjoyed the closeness, but now that she was up and moving about he wondered if it would be best if he should go. He just didn't want her to think now that he'd slept with her, he would be out the door and forgetting her.

[starchilde_lost]

"Honestly?" She slid back into the bed with him, not quite ready to have him leave yet, not wanting the reality of that empty side of the bed, the empty side of the hut to come crashing down on her again. She knew it would, she could feel it creeping in already, the little voice of guilt working it's way into her consciousness.

"I don't know. I really don't." She told herself that he was getting at least as much out of this as she was. That he might have his own proverbial demons to hide from. Her hand slid over his shoulder, eyes not quite meeting his. "I don't regret this, can't, it felt too good."

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

"Good, because I don't regret it either," he said, hand sliding over her hip in a casual familiarity that didn't exactly exist but was nice to fake. He scooted a bit closer and nuzzled along her neck and shoulder, trailing light kisses as he did so.

"It was absolutely amazing."

[starchilde_lost]

"Mm-hmm." Rachel hummed at the warmth, letting him pull her close and running the hand on his shoulder up into his hair, playing with it a little as he kissed her. She told herself she wasn't cuddling, even if she knew she wouldn't mind it, even if she was beginning to think she'd like to fall asleep in his arms and wake up alone. So maybe she could pretend this was just a really erotic dream she'd had.

But she wouldn't say she wouldn't mind it again. She couldn't do that. She wasn't even remotely... there yet. Maybe it could happen again, maybe it couldn't, but she wasn't going to seek it out, she sure as hell wasn't going to ask for it.

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

Aidan gave a pleased growl as her fingers moved through his hair, smiling as he rested his head on her just a moment. The contact was still good, his body lazy with the effort they had been through and enjoying her nearness.

"If you roll over," he murmured, "I give excellent backrubs."

[starchilde_lost]

"Oh, that's just cheating."

But she rolled over eagerly enough, laying on her stomach, curious to see how good was good. It was the one thing Xavier's never had and always needed (aside from a consistent and flexible medical staff), a professional masseuse. Because, seriously, how many fewer fistfights would they have with each other if they could come home to a nice massage?

And if he really was good, would Rachel really let him go? The idea of regular... backrubs was almost more enticing than, well, the other.

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

"You're not complaining," he said, shifting a bit until he was kneeling next to her. He leaned over and placed a trail of kisses along her spine before he slowly started to massage her, starting at her neck and working her way down.

He was more than happy to do it, Rachel looked like she would appreciate it and he got to keep touching her, which was especially nice. It worked out well for both of them.

[starchilde_lost]

"No." She shivered a little, his kisses still able to get to her. Of course, any kiss like that would, but knowing what those lips could do made it all the more... intimate. But she almost melted when his hands started to work the knots out of her muscles, what little tension remaining after their little work-out disappearing under his care. Nurse, he'd said he was, hadn't he? Definitely had a knowledge of anatomy, that was certain.

"Definitely not complaining."

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

Aidan had never had any formal training in massage, and it wasn't something he did frequently, but even if you did it sporadically over 200 years, you got fairly decent at it. And his knowledge of anatomy from being a nurse didn't hurt at all.

"Good, I'd hate to have to stop," he said, moving his hands lower. He could imagine she'd be sore tomorrow, no matter how athletic she was he doubted she was used to working the muscles she had in quite the way she had.

"And if you fall asleep, I reserve the right to crash right next to you."

[starchilde_lost]

"Wouldn't..." She trailed off. Would she mind? Waking up next to a random hook-up, having that right in her face after the excitement's worn off? Could she deal with that?

...Or would the morning bring more of the afternoon's activities? And would that be worse? God, she groaned, both in the pleasure of his hands on her back and from the sudden quandary she was in.

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

Aidan could guess what her hesitation was about and he didn't want to put her in a bad spot. If she wanted him to leave, he wouldn't have any problem with that, but he knew that the morning after could be awkward.

"I'll have to leave pretty early so I can get back to my shorts without anyone seeing," he said, working his hands down to her hips and backside. "So if you'd rather not risk me waking you up when I get up extra early..."

[starchilde_lost]

"I suppose... if you wanted to rest up a bit before you go, least I can do, right?"

She felt a little guilty, but he had given her the out and she knew that's exactly what he was doing. She was actually a little grateful for it, it save the awkward request later. I want you gone before I wake up isn't exactly the nicest concept to put into words. But right now, like this, she was okay if he wanted to stay for awhile.

It made her feel a little less lonely and it put off the moment when she had to confront this insane thing she'd just done.

[likesthestooges.livejournal.com]

"Alright," he said, massaging her thighs. For someone that didn't do this sort of thing, he was impressed by how good she was at it. Her athleticism and the fact that she didn't do it often probably led to a lot of that, which Aidan was more than happy to be on the receiving end of.

"If you snore though, I might head out even earlier."

[starchilde_lost]

"I don't snore."

But the accusation made her smile a little. She was still a ball of emotional turmoil, but he wouldn't be able to tell it from the state of her muscles. She was as physically relaxed as she'd ever been, sailing on a sea of post-orgasmic bliss.