Stolen Kisses in the Hallway

Elain's subconscious had been screaming at her for the past 30 minutes. She kept trying to ignore it, but she knew what was going on.

Lucien had been staring at her, trying to get her attention—not-so-subtly—for a while now.

It was her sister's mating ceremony, and she hadn't wanted to cause a scene, but when he had approached her and asked for a dance, she had told him she had to run to the kitchen first to check on the cake. He had smiled knowingly, probably expecting her to come up with some kind of similar excuse. She couldn't help it, she always felt awkward and out of place around him. She was undeniably attracted to him, but it just made her feel weird. Like she had the hots for a stranger. And she didn't know why.

The night was almost over now, Rhys & Feyre had left, due to the late hour and their newborn needing rest. Gifts had already been exchanged, and Nesta was spending time with her best friends before her and Cassian returned home. It was during this lull in activity that Elain started to sweat, because she could feel Lucien's intense stare from where he stood, a ways away. She braced herself as he pushed off a pillar and made his way to her, a half-finished glass of champagne in his hand. She fought the urge to run, cursed herself for a coward, and stayed put, half-hidden in a doorway that led to the servant's quarters and kitchens off to the side of the temple.

He approached her, half-prowling, with a curious and intense expression on his face. Elaine masked her emotions with a look of feigned calm, and she could tell instantly that he saw right through it. She knew not much got past him. This male. She mentally fanned herself. He was looking dashing in a three-piece suit of cream and beige with embroidered dark green trim. It complimented his features and complexion well. He'd long since removed his jacket, and it was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes caught on his suspenders, which outlined his torso in a mesmerizing way. Dashing didn't quite cover it, did it? Sexy as hell was more like it. Jeez Elaine, get it together.

She waited expectantly for the first words from his lips.

"Well?" He started, "Are you busy now?"

She wanted to say no, but didn't want her voice to tremble. So she stayed silent.

"I can't tell if you're just hoping I'll go away if you avoid me long enough, or if you're scared of me, or some combination of the two..."

He stated this as if he were unsure if she would take it as an insult.

"I'm not scared of you." Elaine said, surprised that he would think such a thing.

"Oh good, so you're just avoiding me then." He said with feigned relief.

Elaine just shook her head, unsure if she should smile.

Then he surprised her by saying, "But I'm sick of being scared of you, so here I am to push my luck with you."

She wanted to ask what he meant by that but she was once again shocked by his words. "Why would you be scared of me?"

He stepped closer, and she wanted to take a step back, if only to hide them a little bit more by the darkness beyond the doorway, but she stopped herself. She caught his scent, and it was so heady it made her feel quite drunk. He smelled like champagne, but his natural scent was more earth-like. And warm. Combined with the sweet smell of champagne, she was forced to swallow hard and not close her eyes at the deep inhale she'd just taken.

She caught herself staring, and he had come closer, crowding her further into the hallway. Against the wall, she thought. Push me against the wall. He didn't exactly push her against the wall like she wanted, but it was obvious that he wanted to come closer, and she was inviting him, walking backwards until she was against the wall. His breathing quickened, and she caught him inhaling her scent like she had just done with him, no doubt he could sense she wanted him. She wanted to bare her neck to him, and she almost did, but she also noticed that he kept his hands carefully clenched, the champagne since discarded, as if he was trying to keep himself from putting his hands on her...

She wanted his hands all over her. She couldn't decide if she should reach for him, but then he spoke. "I'm sick of worrying about what you would think of me if you knew how I felt about you. I have to know. I have to know what you taste like. I'm going insane Elain, just imagining what you feel like. And I don't want to waste time imagining what it would be like to kiss you and if you would kiss me back. So I'm just going for it. If you don't like it, you can push me away."

He was so close that she was almost cross-eyed, staring up at him, her breathing growing more erratic with his every word. He was echoing her every late-night thought, he was enacting her every late-night fantasy. She arched her back, and lowered her lashes at him, and it was enough of an invitation for him.

His hands grabbed her around her waist, but she pulled him against her, wanting to be pinned to the wall. He caught on quick, but he was more focused on finding her mouth with his. And thank the Mother for that. His lips met hers in a rush, stealing all of the breath from her lungs, all of the air from the hallway. Her hands grasped his face, needing to feel him, to draw him closer. She gasped as his mouth moved against hers, first softly, then much more urgently. He sighed in relief when she didn't push him away, then kissed her anew. This time, his mouth delved deeper, and his tongue met hers, tentatively at first. Then he was biting her, claiming her, playful and passionate. He couldn't get close enough, so he hoisted her in his arms, pushing her against the wall just like she craved. She moaned, and he huffed a laugh.

"This is so much better than I imagined. You're exquisite, Elain." She shivered at his words, her back still arched painfully. She exposed her neck to him, and he wasted no time worshipping her with his mouth there. He used his lips, tongue and teeth to explore her neck, her ears, her jaw. She was out of breath now. She kissed him back passionately, and there was no mistaking his interest in taking this further.

But she also wasn't sure if she should lead him on or not. That wouldn't be fair to him, would it? She was a mess, and she didn't feel comfortable letting him see that side of her. It was best to stop this thing before it started. She couldn't take him to her bed knowing that this couldn't continue. She couldn't use him like that. So with one final kiss, she pushed his chest with both hands, relishing the feel of him one last time. His face looked blissful, like a starving man who'd just eaten his fill. But at her expression, he paused, and a look of confusion came over him. He set her down gently, and pulled away.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I...can't," she said simply.

"I didn't mean to—"

"It's nothing to do with you. I like you, I just... can't be with you right now. Don't hate me, but, I just can't."

"I could never hate you, Elain."

She couldn't bear to look at him, the disappointment radiating from him was enough to choke her up. So she left before he could say anything else. What an idiot you are! She kept berating herself all the way back to the River house, and her room. Where she spent the night alone, thinking of all the ways her night could have went so much differently.