Re: Tempest -- Unicorn Short Story Forum

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Date Posted: 14:56:45 03/01/04 Mon
Author: sizzla
Author Host/IP: host81-152-149-168.range81-152.btcentralplus.com / 81.152.149.168
Subject: Re: Tempest
In reply to: Raphaela 's message, "Tempest" on 15:46:17 02/28/04 Sat

>very nice like to see more work the same.
>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 -- ashley owen smith, 00:57:24 03/24/04 Wed