TIMELESS TEMPTATION

Chapter 24

Relief washed over Tara, albeit tinged with a strange curiosity. Nakul's explanation, while fantastical, offered a glimmer of hope. It was far from ideal, but at least it wasn't a sign of some unknown illness.

"So, what do we do now?" she asked, her voice regaining a semblance of composure.

Nakul hesitated, his gaze flickering to a corner of the hut where a pile of furs lay. He seemed to be contemplating something, a blush creeping up his neck. Finally, he met her eyes, his voice barely a whisper.

"There's a traditional remedy for lactation discomfort," he began, his words laced with a nervousness that mirrored her own. "It involves..." he trailed off, his eyes darting towards the doorway as if expecting Arjuna to appear at any moment.

Tara's brow furrowed. "Involves what?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.

Nakul cleared his throat, his voice barely audible. "Direct stimulation... by mouth."

The air crackled with unspoken tension. Tara's cheeks flushed crimson. The idea was unconventional, to say the least. Yet, a strange sense of logic battled with her initial shock. It was a natural process, a way to relieve the discomfort and potentially regulate her body.

A creak of the hut door shattered the tense silence. Arjun stepped inside, a basket overflowing with freshly caught fish in his hand. He stopped short, his gaze flitting between Tara and Nakul, his brow furrowing in confusion.

The blush on Nakul's face deepened to a fiery red. "Tara was just telling me about the... discomfort," he stammered, his voice trailing off.

Arjun's gaze darted to Tara, his own cheeks taking on a similar hue. The air hung thick with unspoken awareness. The events at the pond, the newfound intimacy they shared, all seemed to color this seemingly innocuous conversation with a deeper meaning.

Tara, taking a deep breath, decided to address the elephant in the room. "Nakul suggested a... traditional remedy," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper.

Arjun's jaw clenched. He looked from Tara to Nakul, a storm of emotions flickering across his face – possessiveness, confusion, a flicker of...acceptance?

Tara held his gaze, her own emotions a swirling vortex. The situation was strange, yes, but the pain was real. She needed a solution, and Nakul's suggestion, however unorthodox, seemed like the only option available.

Finally, she met Nakul's eyes, a newfound determination hardening her voice. "Let's try it," she said, surprising even herself.

The trio sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared knowledge and the unspoken intimacy between them palpable. Arjun's gaze flickered between Tara and Nakul, his expression a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and something else that Tara couldn't quite place. She felt a blush creep up her neck as she recalled Nakul's earlier words, his voice barely audible as he explained the traditional remedy for lactation discomfort. Nakul cleared his throat, his cheeks still flushed. "I can help you with that, if you'd like," he offered, his voice steady despite the earlier awkwardness. "It's not as strange or unnatural as it may seem. In fact, it's been practiced for centuries among our people."

Tara considered this for a moment. The pain in her chest was real, and it was only getting worse with each passing day. She trusted these men, and if Nakul's words were true, then perhaps this was the best solution. "All right," she said finally, her voice steady. "Let's do it."

Arjun shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his expression a mixture of disbelief and something else that Tara couldn't quite decipher. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "There must be another way."

Nakul's blush deepened, spreading across his neck and cheeks like a sunrise. He offered her a tentative smile, a mix of relief and nervous anticipation dancing in his deep brown eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a murmur.

Tara met his gaze, her resolve hardening despite the tremor in her hands. "Yes," she said, her voice stronger than she felt. "It's the only option we have right now."

Arjun, still rooted to the spot, remained silent. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, his jaw set tight. The air crackled with unspoken words, a storm brewing within the usually stoic warrior. The playful banter, the shared laughter, the tentative steps towards a new kind of intimacy – it all seemed to fade away, replaced by a raw possessiveness that both surprised and unsettled Tara.

With a final, hesitant nod, Nakul knelt before her. He gently cupped her face in his hands, his touch warm and surprisingly comforting. Their eyes locked, a silent conversation passing between them. This was no longer just about relieving a physical discomfort; it was about a new level of intimacy, a step into uncharted territory.

Taking a deep breath, Nakul leaned forward, his lips brushing lightly against the sensitive skin of her breast. A shiver ran down Tara's spine as a jolt of unfamiliar sensation sparked through her. His touch was hesitant at first, a mere exploration. But as the warmth of his lips sent shivers down her body, the initial awkwardness melted away.

A soft moan escaped Tara's lips, a sound both involuntary and deeply intimate. The pain, which had been a dull ache moments before, seemed to lessen with each gentle suckle. A strange sense of relief washed over her, a feeling that transcended the physical. It was a connection, primal and profound, that surprised even her.

The sounds in the hut, the soft moans and the gentle sighs, cut through Arjun like a blade. He couldn't tear his gaze away, a fierce possessiveness warring with a strange sense of helplessness. This wasn't how he envisioned their bond unfolding, and a torrent of jealousy surged through him like a river in flood. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to leave. He needed to see this through, to understand the nature of the connection Tara shared with Nakul.

As Tara moaned softly, a flicker of something akin to pain crossed Arjun's face. Was it physical sympathy, or the pang of rejection? He couldn't decipher his own emotions. The vows they had taken, a bond forged in desperation and a shared future, felt like shackles against the raw emotions churning within him.

Nakul, oblivious to Arjun's silent vigil, continued to tend to Tara with gentle care. His movements grew more confident, a newfound intimacy blossoming between them. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering just a beat too long. A silent understanding seemed to pass between them, a shared secret whispered in the language of touch.

The scene before him ignited a fire within Arjun. A primal urge to protect Tara, to claim her as his own, wrestled with the vows they had taken and the loyalty he felt towards his brother. He was a Pandava prince, bound by duty and honor. Yet, the raw possessiveness that clawed at him was a force he couldn't ignore.

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