tangerine
face to the sun
"Tang" He speaks her name and it is raspy and breathless. There is a strain in his tone that sets her on edge. But again, for a final time, she chooses to ignore the omen. She savors his gentle touchs and sends other thoughts out to sea with a sigh. His caress have her floating.
Then the dark stallion clenches his jaw and she braces he legs against the tides, coming back to earth. Tension and resistance are radiating from him, she knows something is not right. It's too much to ignore now. Her kisses stop and she pulls her face away from his so she can see him better. Her amber eyes are soft and searching, looking for an answer.
"I can't." Two words. Even without explanation it is obvious what he means.
She feels a sting in her breast, a small lump of shame in her throat. Even though she promised herself she wouldn't regret anything tonight... no matter how it played out.
But she swallows hard and pushes down the emotions she wont let herself feel, she knows this isn't about her. She wont make it about her.
He doesn't pull away from her, quite the opposite, he leans his brow heavily into her neck. She is glad for that at least. Tang takes comfort in this small weight he allows her to carry. He still needed her. Or at least that's what she tells herself. At least he didn't leave her standing there along, like the silly girl who asked for too much. Where so much sensation had been moments before she feels dull.
It hadn't been right for her to try and take from him.
But how was she to know how broken he really was? His forehead is buried in her mane and for the first time she is glad his gaze is hidden from her - giving her a reprieve to sort out the roiling feelings in her chest. Her eyes mist slightly loosing focus as she vaguely watches the golden moon continue her ascent.
Confusion tumbled in her mind grasping at any thought of their encounter it could get ahold of. But her compassion greatly outweighs her frustration, she knew how to be the comforter, she had always been the peacemaker.
If he will let her she guides them to a place up the beach where the sand is dry and soft. The heat and restlessness in her belly has fled and she feels level like her normal self. She stills sees him as beautiful, desirable, but not in the same way at this moment. Her heart has shifted, and now it's hurting. Hurting for him, not for herself.
His weight is still pressed into her and she gently guides both their bodies to the warm sand. (If he resists she remains standing beside him). Like a mother with a foal she grooms his shoulder and diligently removes sand from his coat. She searches for the right words, not wanting to push him but wanting to tell him she cares. Carefully, nurturingly she kisses each of his eyes. She has done enough expressing herself for the time being she decides. She will just be with him now, hopefully he knows himself well enough to tell her what he need.