The Arcana - Muriel Fanfics!

3. Myrrh

I curl up tighter into the furs, pretending to read. Really, I'm just peering over the tops of the pages to admire the view. 

The storm had finally hit, and though it was only noon, ragged grey clouds spilled over the sky like a stain. The fire crackled merrily, quiet compared to the giggle of children and the squalling of babes that usually filled our hut. But since Asra and Portia whisked them away for the weekend, it's just been me, Inanna and Muriel. Even so, Inanna seemed to decide she wanted time to herself as well, and slipped into the quiet of the woods. 

I sneak another peek over the top of the book, rustling pages idly in the hopes Muriel will think I'm simply reading. Sitting cross-legged in front of the hearth, his calloused hands and swift fingers make quick work of the strings keeping his braids tied up, and soon his thick dark hair comes tumbling down as he shakes free of the last braid. I don't even try to supress a small, curling smile. The firelight illuminates the planes of his face, his side profile gilded in gold light making those green, tired eyes shine like emeralds. Muriel's bare chest catches the light as well, and does little to hide the tension in his shoulders. The worry he carries with him. But before I can say a thing, Muriel's firelit emerald eyes slide to mine, catching me staring. His cheeks flush pink, those eyes quickly finding the floor. 

"...What."

I smirk, closing the book (which, to be frank, wasn't being read in the first place) and setting it aside. "Nothing," I say, stretching. "You're just...beautiful, is all." 

Muriel grumbles, but I can see his ears flush.  As I stretch up, the fabric of my nightgown comes treacherously close to 'might-as-well-wear-nothing' territory, saved only by the heavy fur of Muriel's cloak, wrapped around my shoulders. Muriel's pink tinged cheeks turn positively puce, and I smile impishly. 

"Nothing you haven't seen before, love." Muriel snorts, hair falling into his eyes. I gesture towards his hair, the strings keeping it together strewn round him. "Want me to re-do them?" 

Muriel nods, peering at me from behind a curtain of hair. "...They were a little too...tight. Hurts my head," he explains. Nodding, I pad towards him, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Muriel instantly sits a little straighter, as I stand behind him and slide my hands into his hair. Slowly, soothingly, I try to rub some tension away. Muriel shivers, a small, content sigh escaping his lips. A tinge of guilt settles into my stomach, knowing he's had too-tight braids all morning and hadn't complained once. 

"I'm sorry," I say looking down, rubbing circles to ease the tension. "I didn't realise that...I'll do them looser, this time." Muriel goes rigid again, weary gaze flicking up to me. "...It wasn't your fault."

His hands come up to his head, warm fingers grasping mine as he gently tugs my arms down until one is crossed over his chest. The other hand, he presses to his lips, soft and tender. Sighing, I lean against Muriel's broad back, resting my head between his shoulder and neck. My arms come to rest around his neck, drawing absent circles on his chest. For a moment, the warmth of the fire is nothing compared to feeling the rise and fall of Muriel's shoulders, the brush of his hands and the smell of myrrh and rain.

Slowly, I press a kiss to the space between his shoulder and neck. Muriel tenses, his breathing hitches. I kiss him along his shoulder, then back up to his neck. Shuddering, Muriel leans his head slightly to the side, exposing his neck as his eyes flutter shut. Trailing kisses upwards, I don't stop under my lips press under where his ear meets his jaw. Muriel's heart is hammering through his chest, I can feel it. Smiling against him, I gently nibble his ear.

Muriel clutches my hand, breaths coming short and rough. Straightening, I run my fingers across his broad shoulders as I circle to face him. Gazing up at me, Muriel's eyes swirl with want. Silently, I loop my arms around his neck and settle into his lap, bringing my lips to his. Muriel surges to greet me, arms wrapping around my back and waist and pulling me closer, closer. My fingers explore the familiar places, the expanse of his chest and strength of his back. Muriel's hands wander until one is buried in my hair, the other tightening around my waist. I feel Muriel grin against my lips. 

"Why are you so smiley?" I manage between kisses, which become more consuming, more enveloping by the second. 

"...Lucky the kids are out," is all Muriel whispers, before my world tilts and Muriel's laying on his back, pulling me with him until I'm straddling his waist. My own smile turns feral as Muriel's lips come crashing against mine, one hand firmly on my waist and the other roaming under my traitorous nightgown, which is hiked up around my hips. Muriel moans, and I roll my hips against him. The kiss quickly becomes everything, without beginning or end, just his lips and my lips, me and him and him and me...

I break away, Muriel's heaving and my panting the only sounds as I fumble with the lacing of Muriel's pants. His hands deftly sweep his cloak from my shoulders, before sliding back up my arms and slipping the nightgown over my head with him. No sooner than the last knot is undone then our lips are colliding again, Muriel's fingers shaking and my toes curling as our bodies connect, any and all parts of me filled with light and warmth and love.