<snip>

Sharah picked up a shell, sitting close to his side, and offered it to him, tipping the shell up and letting it slide into his mouth. Yavia leaned into his other side, “Hmmm aren’t scallops supposed to be an aphrodisiac?”

Sharah

Tenkiller almost choked on the scallop and then chewed and took a drink. “Hun, I think ya mean oysters.” and he chuckled. “ ‘Sides… you two are all the aphrodisiac this guy needs.” He leaned in and kissed Sharah, opening himself as much as someone untrained could, and let all his desire, longing,passion, and love cascade into her. Then he did the same to Yavia.

Tenkiller

Sharah’s arms slid around him. His kiss left her wanting a lifetime of more before it ever ended. It was a delightful feeling the way he so freely offered that contact and acceptance of it. He knew she could feel it no matter what, but he chose to give it to her. For that long blissful moment Sharah felt normal and cherished and desired. Carefully, gently, she gave him back her own love, desire, passion, and the way he made her feel safe from herself. When it ended it left her to try to catch her breath and she reached for the glass of chilled water.

Sharah

Yavia’s fingertips traced over his temple, along his jaw and down his neck. She let her touch convey her feelings to him lightly, a promise of more. Then her palm rested flat over his heart and there was the brilliant connection of uniqueness and love and belonging that told him she loved him completely. There was passion and desire as well. She lingered for as long as he wanted. “You are an amazing man TK.” She kissed him briefly, “Sharah and I are very lucky to have you and each other.” She kissed him quickly again, she took his hand and Sharah’s completing their wonderful little circle.

Yavia

There it is again. he thought to himself, knowing full well that Sharah would probably catch the inner voice in his head. For all of his unique gifts, Charles was both very self-aware and keenly observant. The circle. It just makes everything… and he looked at Sharah as if asking her if she felt it and to complete the thought.

Tenkiller

Sharah lifted her eyes to his gaze. Oh yes she could feel it. From him and from Yavia. The way they slipped so easily into it, their simple acceptance of their place within it. The joy, the sense of belonging, and the completeness. They were a bright beacon that anchored her in the darkness. For a blink of a moment she felt the storms and darkness rip at her, and she didn’t feel she belonged there at all. The small but determined core of her held desperately to that circle. She lived them deeply and completely without reservation. It flowed off of her, past her control, to fill them. Oh yes she felt it. The way they drew her into her place, held her there, and filled all the broken chipped pieces of her.

Did she dare answer his mind? Did she trust her control? No she didn’t. He would tell her that was okay because he did, and she trusted him. She felt confused again, uncertain, but there was no room for fear. The circle didn’t allow it inside. ‘…complete. It makes us complete.‘

Sharah

Charles smiled at her and then leaned in and kissed her, his lips still carrying the saltiness of the scallops far away home. He then looked at V and said “Ya know, I think she might be gettin’ the hang of this whole ‘she’s allowed to be happy’ thing after all.” He looked back at Sharah and wi ked with grin on his face and then he turned and kissed Yavia. “Just makin’ sure you remember, too.”

Tenkiller