Tempest -- Unicorn Short Story Forum

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Date Posted: 15:46:17 02/28/04 Sat
Author: Raphaela
Author Host/IP: webcacheB06a.cache.pol.co.uk / 195.92.168.168
Subject: Tempest

Jennifer sat huddled on her rock at the edge of the shore. Her long blonde hair blowing in the gentle breeze. Glancing across the lake she could see David fishing. She watched him from behind her sunglasses. At 40, he was good-looking, especially with a tan. The typical tall, dark and handsome type but that was where �typical� ended. He was intelligent and artistic, also very sensitive. His brown eyes, normally gentle and expressive, were now firmly focused on the task in hand as he cast yet another fly into the lake after that elusive trout. He was certainly good to watch. Theoretically she was supposed to be doing some sketching while he flyfished but she knew that had just been an excuse to give them some much needed space.

This weekend break to the Lake District had been her idea, an opportunity for them to discuss their future without the pressure of worrying about their respective children and other demands on their time. Quality time just for them. However, life does not always go according to plan and since they had arrived they had felt more like polite friends than lovers, something wasn�t right but she couldn�t quite put her finger on it. Maybe it was because now the fantasy had become reality and they weren�t sure how they wanted to deal with it. She disliked confrontation and he just disappeared into himself.

A passing swan disturbed her from her reverie, creating ripples in the otherwise calm water. Glancing at her watch she realised almost 3 hours had passed. He would stay there casting until the light went down but she was now stiff and freezing from sitting so long on the cold rock. Jennifer picked up the abandoned sketch pad, frowning at it as if were the sketchpad�s fault that she had done no more than put in a vague outline of the lake and surrounding mountains and trees, what had she been doing for the last 3 hours?

�David, do you want to freshen up then go out for dinner?� she yelled over to him. He glanced up at her and nodded but, even from that distance, she could see his haunted expression, he was thinking � she could tell. Rubbing her arms to try and regain some of the lost warmth she went back through the trees to their tent. She smiled wistfully, they had thought this would bring them closer � the intimacy of the confined space in a romantic setting under the stars but now it just felt cold and unwelcoming.

Grabbing her wash kit Jennifer headed for the shower block and joined the queue � oh for that four poster bed and ensuite bathroom in the olde worlde inn he had first suggested. When her turn finally came she turned on the warm water and massaged the foam wash all over her, letting the water run through her long hair, down her body, slowly making the soap disappear. Nothing like a good hot shower to make you feel human. Once she had blow-dried her hair and applied her make-up, Jennifer retraced her steps back to the tent. No sign of David, he must have gone for his shower. Grateful of the solitude and silence, she quickly pulled on a fresh T-shirt and wrap-round skirt and prepared to go out for dinner at one of the local restaurants. Hopefully some good food and wine may brighten the mood before the weekend became a complete disaster.

David returned and smiled ruefully then disappeared into the sleeping compartment to change. He smelt good. They had not even had a cuddle since they arrived but judging by his after-shave perhaps things may be looking up.

They had decided to try the new restaurant in Ambleside. It was an old converted barn built on three stories but with huge glass windows and plenty of beech and stainless steel. The food was of the trendy Mediterranean variety � lovely to look at and taste but not an awful lot of it. However, quantity was not was she needed just now as she chased an olive around her plate. Grateful for the classical background music, their silence seemed deafening. Neither knew what to say, where to start. After so much passion could this be it? She wondered sadly but could not even meet his eyes.

As they left the restaurant, the rain started and by the time they reached the car park it was quite heavy and they were soaked through. �Typical Lake District weather!� he grunted. �Yes, but at least we had a lovely sunny day.� Jennifer replied lamely. �Oh shit�, she said to herself and thought she will have to make an effort. �I love you� she said smiling up at him but the wind cruelly snatched her words away and seeing that her mouth had moved, he merely yelled �talk up can�t hear you in this�. Damnit they should have stayed at home in their respective houses. At least she would have been warm, dry and miserable.

The crunch of the gravel announced their arrival back into the campsite car park. Jennifer paid a quick visit to the toilet block while he waited for her then they made their way through the trees to the tent. They had forgotten the torch and she kept stumbling over the tree-roots and branches scratched against her. She tried to get closer to him but he felt hard and resisting whereas normally he would have guided and protected her from the harsher elements of life.

Seeking refuge in the tent gave no relief to her state of mind. Why was he treating her like this? Ostensibly they had not even argued and had even had a pleasant day doing their own thing but by the set line of his mouth and her unhappiness, they were out of tune and lost. They looked at each other but she could tell he felt awkward, almost as if they were strangers rather than soulmates. Perhaps he no longer loved her. It was so hot and humid, she felt as though she was drowning in the oppressive atmosphere. She couldn�t stay in the tent a moment longer as she was beginning to suffocate and feel ill. Grasping for the tent zip, she pulled it down quickly and escaped outside. �I am just going for a walk by the lake.� she said on her way out. �But, it is raining �.� he replied lamely, the rest of his sentence lost in the wind.

As Jennifer walked through the trees, she was oblivious to how wet she was becoming, her hair now fell in long ringlets and her T-shirt was clinging to her. The rain was a welcome relief to the humid atmosphere of the last few days, never mind the mood inside the tent. Standing at the edge of the lake, she had to admire its beauty even in the midst of a tempestuous storm. Ever since she was a little girl she had visited this special place, just off the tourist track. The rain was becoming more intense and heavy. A thunderous roll in the distance announced the imminent arrival of lightning, then a silver fork cut through the air. Normally she would have run for shelter, afraid of the storm but she needed its vitality tonight and she embraced it. Her shivers however were not just due the wind and rain but to the icy chill running through her heart. Could their passionate relationship be at an end now they were both free to enjoy each other? He had hardly touched or even spoken to her since their arrival, preferring to chase that elusive trout. Well, after the storm, she was going to return home and make excuses to the family for arriving a day early. There seemed little point in prolonging this torture, she felt so alone. She wondered if perhaps now that she was available, he was no longer anxious to possess her so completely rather like desperately wondering what is in that beautifully wrapped present � once it is revealed, the excitement and desire is no longer there. She didn�t need this, not now. It had only been 6 months since Jamie�s untimely death. It had taken her long enough to come to terms with the guilt as she had been about to leave him for David just before the accident. Now she had faced her demons and been prepared to �go for it�, he seemed to be having doubts too.

Another torrential downpour forced her to take shelter amongst the trees, the lush canopy served her well. She lazily watched the raindrops hitting the newly formed puddles so hard they bounced up again before exploding into many more droplets. The tops of the mountains were now hidden beneath the dark menacing clouds and the scene before her appeared hazy, or perhaps it was because she was looking through her tears. She had never felt so alone or isolated in her life. Her soul was slowly disintegrating leaving her nothing but an empty shell.

The storm was certainly getting up. Even the atmosphere was hostile to her plight. The wind seemed to make the trees hiss at her as if in disapproval. It whirled round her legs, the chill air biting into her cruelly. Another fork of lighting shot across the sky, magnificent in its potential for destruction. A feeling of complete and utter terror started to grip her and squeeze her icy heart.

She started as she suddenly sensed a presence behind her and gasped as two strong arms encircled her in a warm and passionate embrace, twisting her round to face him. As she looked up in amazement he leaned down and kissed her hard, pushing her back against the tree, holding her hands back to prevent resistance. David had never kissed her like that before, normally it had been so very tender and loving but this was almost � brutal. His tongue found hers and she almost suffocated with desire. Every nerve in her body tingled and she knew she couldn�t hold back. Neither did she want to. It had been a long time since they had so urgently wanted each other. She could feel his body tensing in anticipation. She withdrew from his grasp and looked up at him, catching the look of pain as he thought his passionate advances had been unwelcome. Then standing on tiptoe, she kissed his lips tenderly, barely brushing them before progressing down his throat, taking in his sensuous musky scent. She could feel the flame of arousal shooting right up through her very being. Then, ripping his shirt open, caution blown to the wind, she allowed her tongue to explore him, tasting him. His skin felt hot to the touch even despite the storm raging around them. The rain seemed to sizzle as it landed on his naked flesh. He groaned as she moved on down past his naval, no longer then with the usual tenderness but hungry and urgent with desire. One hand deftly undid his belt, while the other flicked the button open. Now she was kneeling in front of him and with her teeth she slowly unzipped him and allowed her tongue to release him. David had never known her to be so passionate and in complete abandonment, oblivious to the fact that they were in a relatively public place and a storm was raging all around. A lighting fork flashed overhead as if to convince him this was reality. Then she slowly kissed him back up his body until she stood before him again. David lifted her up then slowly lowered her down on to him, her legs wrapped around him, her arms around his neck, her tongue not leaving his. Her sweet scent was intoxicating.

From the corner of his eye he noticed a stream of light illuminating the stony pathway. His eyes slowly followed the beam . A man stood there. Watching them. He had obviously been on his way back from the shower block and his light had picked them up against the tree. He just grinned at David. It didn�t deter David, in fact he found the idea of being watched vaguely erotic, however, he knew that Jennifer, who was normally shy and reserved, would be mortified if she knew someone was watching them and especially if she bumped into that person next morning. He released her and was about to lead her back to the tent but then with another roll of the thunder and crack of lightning, the rain came down so heavily they sought rescue under the canopy of trees again. This time though he took her hand and gently pulled her down into the long grass. Not a word had been spoken between them, their eyes had indicated desire and agreement. Her wrap around skirt parted accommodatingly and he pushed her now wet-through T-shirt up revealing her hard nipples. Tracing her contours with his tongue down to her sensitive tensed thighs, his fingers teased her body until she arched in acquiescence. Every nerve of her body tingled and cried out for more. Knowing she wouldn�t be able to hold back much longer she wrapped her legs around him and, tensing her body, indicated that she needed him to enter her now. She kissed him passionately and hungrily. As he slowly built up the rhythm of their love-making, she could feel the harmony of their lives slowly returning and the brutality between them had now been replaced with the tender passion of their love. Her soul was at peace again.

They seemed to lay for a long time in the wet grass, oblivious to the storm raging around them. It was as if the tempestuousness of the storm had snapped them from their stubborn politeness and released the tension. They felt closer than ever before and she was only certain of one fact now, that things will never be the same again but at least they would go forward and develop. There could be no guarantees of happiness in life but she knew he really did love her, and she him With that foundation surely everything else would fall into place.

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Replies:

Re: Tempest -- sizzla, 14:56:45 03/01/04 Mon
- Re: Tempest -- ashley owen smith, 00:57:24 03/24/04 Wed