Bodyguard,lover,and friend

Tala moved through the quiiet forest,her barefeet making hardly any sound as she moved. Her pale hair tied up onto her head,a few stray strands hung around her face as the wind blew gently. Her yello gown was modest yet hung to her curves in the right places. Her green eyes sparkled like they always did with her happiness,but today she was troubled. Her constant companion and friend had been gone for 2 days. Her companion was not human it was a large black panther,larger than normal. He had been a steady companion since she was a small child and when he was gone she felt more alone than usual.

It wasnt odd when he stayed gone for a couple days,maybe he was out looking for a female to mate with,maybe he had went hunting,she didnt know,but felt his absence keenly when he was gone. She stopped as she heard the voices approaching calling her name. She turned and smiled as her brother and sister came up behind her. They were twins and each was more different than the other. "Tala....mother says for you to come back home. It is close to meal time and she needs help.'Her brother Kian said to her.

Tala nodded and sighed her mother was pregnant with her 4th child,having troubles with this one in her advanced age. Tala was the oldest at 19 then the twins at 18. She turned and gave one last look out over the forest,wishing she had seen her friend. She called the panther Shadow when he was with her,turning she took her sister,Keena's hand as they walked back towards their village. Tala smiled at the seriouness of her brother then the energetic sister at her side. Two totally different peas from the same pod.

She let her sister and brother run off ahead of her as they neared the village,she could hear the voices of the villagers as they set about the midday meal. she loved her village,it was small,maybe 200 people but they were as close as any family could be. Her mother smiled at the children as they appeared,standing straight up,holding her lower back she approached them.

"Tala,Please see to the cooking. Keena, take your brother to find your father and return quickly."She said softly,she looked like an older version of Tala while the twins looked like their father. Tala took her mothers arm and led her to a wood bench and had her sit down. "Sit,Mother. I will finish,you need to rest."She spoke softly to her mother as she knelt before the fire,stirring the simmering pots hanging above the flames.

Tala felt her stomach rumble at the smell of the food and laughed to herself. She lifted the spoon and sampled the stew and sighed at its heartyness.She looked up as the twins came crashing back into the village,crying and screaming. She stood and went to her mother's side. "Raiders...coming!"kian managed to get out as he grabbed his sword from the resting place against the hut. The viallage men came thundering into the circle and calling for the women and children to run into the forest.

Tala's father led them as he stopped before them,his arms going to his wife and encircling her waist. "Go..run...I will come for you when it is safe."He called out to them. His eyes meeting each of his childrens as he turned and stood with the other men as the faint thunddering of horses could be heard now. Tala grabbed her mothers arm,trying to pull her after her. her mother took Tala's hand off her arm and shook her head slowly. 'Go..I am staying with your father. Protect your brother and sister..all will be well."He mother said strongly lifting her own sword.

Tala stared at the rmother,the tears falling from her eyes as she shook her head. "GO!"Her mother shouted at her this time,Tala grabbed her sister's hand and then followed after her brother into the forest. They could hear the cries from the Raiders as they descnded onto the village,the clanging of steel upon steel met her ears. She stumbled as the tears blurred her eyes. Her grip on her sister was broken as she stumbled. Her sisters cries of alarm met her ears as she looked up. The raiders had circled the village,now one had her sister helld in front of him on his horse,she searched for her brother and saw him fighting off two others.

Her own hand went to the dagger she always carried and faced one large dirty man that approached her. His toothless girn meeting her eyes. She stepped back a step and then held her gorund. "Keena,Hold on"She called out to her sister trying to find a way to get to her. The man loomed before her,much,much larger than herself. His calloused and dirty hands reached out to grab at her. she swung the dagger and felt the sharpp blade slice deeply across the offending palm. His roar of pain met her ears.

His quick fisted hand met the side of her face and stars flashed in her head as she staggered and then dropped to the ground. Her eyes blurred as she tried to remain alert. She could feel the vibrations of the horses on the ground,then she was lifted roughly. She was thrown across the pommel of a horse,her ribs feeling crushed from the force. She tried to stay awake as she watched the ground moving under them. She could hear her sister's weak cries from close to her,but no sound of her brother.

She didnt know how long they had rode but soon she was lifted from the saddle and tossed to the ground. Her hair falling loose aorund her as she lifted her head. The right side of her fac now marred with a nasty bruise. her eyes looking quickly around for her sister,finding her tied to a tree but her eyes were closed. "Keena..."She managed to croak out through a dry throat. The man who had taken her quickly slapped her once more."SILENCE"he yelled at her before turning to look at the 4 men with him. "Tie them both securely. Bagar you may use your prize before you do so."He grunted to the man who had held keena. Tala heard her sister finally come awake as she was loosened and hefted over his shoulder. her screams rent the air as he took her deeply into the bushes. Soon all was quiet.

Tala struggled against the ropes feeling them cutting into her skin,blood running down her arms. She felt her head pounding from each blow and tried to keep the nausea at bay. The large man in front of her turned to look at her. He grinned before moving close to her,his hand reached out and ripped her gown down the front,leaving her chest almost entirely exposed. He gripped one breast tightly,painfully. Her cry of pain escaped her lips before she could stop it. The blow split her lip and added to the pain of the earlier two finally pulled her down into the darkness. She slumped against the tree,the ropes the only thing holding her up.

The man grunted and turned away.."Want you awake when I take you..."he mumbled going off to find the lake nearby. Tala was unaware of when her sister got free of her rapists,clawing at him before running. the blade ended her young life quickly,next to the fresh bubbling of the creek. Her brother fought valiantly for their lives before he too fell beneath the men out numbering him. Her mother and father died side by side fighting as they always had. her unborn brother died before it took its first breath of life,nestled under his mothers heart.
http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y370/gaias_child_2010/llfa.gif

CLOSED FOR LAST_RIDER

((would like on male to play the panther shifter who is not only her companion but become her lover,mate. he will save her and take her back to his people where she will have to learn to trust again,learn to love him,accept his people..and then become strong enough to seek vengence for her familys death..will have some curves thrown in as the story goes along..but must be able to post once or twice a week at a minimum..i am here usually 3 or 4 days a week more if RL allows..swnd me a bio if interested and an intro post..))

bumping

Shad'rae bounded through the forest, his lithe black body melding with the shadows as he padded along. This was home, or at least as close to home as he could get. His people insisted he would grow into it, that some restlessness was natural. Shifters weren't naturally given to hanging around places, feeling domestic. They were more wild than not as a general rule, especially at his age. The general wisdom was that he would grow out of it, come to love the forests as home.

He disagreed. For a long time he'd listened to that advice, trying to fit in with the other shifters, but never had. Eventually he'd sought permission, and left to find himself. It was far from unheard of for shifters to leave their homes during their restless years, inevitably they returned, usually better for the experience. Wisdom wasn't cheaply obtained, and experience was the best way to get it. Experience was harder to come by sitting at home or in a village with his kind than out in the world.

Shifters weren't welcomed by many, not once their true nature was known, so Shad'rae had done his best to keep it hidden. He spent his time in human form in the forest or larger cities, where he could hide easily. Panther form was different, he stuck to smaller villages where panthers were common enough.

It was in one of these villages he'd seen Tala. He couldn't explain it, but he'd been drawn to her. The first time he'd approached, she hadn't run. She'd only ever seen him in panther form, but that was ok for now. She was newly 19, soon enough he could explain what he was. His kind lived slightly longer than most humans, but that was also because humans tended to be much more violent. He wasn't much older than she, being 25.

As the trees opened along the familiar paths his nostrils flared. Something was wrong. Smoke of a kind was to be expected from a village, but not this much, and blood. Too much blood.

He shouldn't have left. He couldn't spend too much time in either form, and had been in panther almost without a break for about a month. He needed to take a break to be human, so he'd spent a few days in the forest camping out and had been on his way back when the wrong scents flooded his nostrils.

As he padded through the fields, the acrid smoke burned his nostrils. Raiders. Those who took without thinking, killed without mercy. They had taken his Tala. At least he hoped they'd simply taken her, the alternatives left him sick to his stomach. Of course, he'd also kill them all. Young shifters like him were prone to bouts of bloodlust under the right circumstances.

There wasn't much left of the village. The well was trashed, buildings lay in smoldering ruins, bodies left out in the sun to feed the carrion creatures. A scene of destruction he'd seen time and again as he'd moved around the world of humans. It was sad, how so few were evil, but how much destruction they could wreak.

Shad'rae found the trail after a bit, panthers weren't built for tracking, but he'd done enough tracking as a human to compensate. Plus the bandits hadn't bothered to cover their tracks very well, probably guessing no one was left alive. He followed the trail, his eyes adjusting to the darkness as he closed in on their camp. He scented Tala there.

It didn't take him long to find her, his beautiful creature bound to a tree like a common animal. She bore the marks of one who'd been abused, swelling along her face, he wasn't even sure she was conscious. He suppressed a snarl as one of the men approached her weakened form. The lust carrying off him was strong, and knowledge of what was coming fired his blood.

With long low stalking motions, he crept around the shadows, watching the man approach Tala. When he left the firelight, Shad'rae struck. He pounced without a sound, tackling the man to the ground, his powerful jaws closing over his throat and crushing.

He let the man gurgle and choke on his blood before he shifted into human form. He took a knife from the man and cut Tala's bonds then shifted back to panther. They needed to escape quickly and the cat could carry them further and quieter than he could as a man.

Tala became aware,slowly,her eyes tried to focus around her. Her face throbbed and she tasted blood in her mouth. She felt her ropes loosening and raised her head slightly,her vision still impaired,she saw the form of a man standing before her,then he was gone. She felt the soft fur brushing against her legs as she slumped down to the ground in a kneeling position.She reached out and knew by touch that Shadow was near her.

"Shadow..."She whispered through dry and bruised lips,her eyes trying to focus on the large Panther. She could tell by his nudging he wanted her to climb on his back.She slid onto his back,clutching the scruff of his neck,her body wracked in pain,but knowing he wanted to get them to some place safe.She tried to keep her senses around her as she hung onto him. her mind cried out for her family,her friends,the people of her village.

She didnt know how long they ran,she felt her conciousness fleeing rapidly. Her hands tried to girp his fur,her body sliding to one side. She felt herself falling as the ground rushed up to hit her hard. She made no sound as she crumpled in a heap. Her head lifting once to look at him..her glorious black furred friend.His name falling from her lips as she lost what little conciousness she had managed to hold onto.

her dreams were filled with blood and screams of her family,her own voice crying out for her sister and brother. The pain of never seeing any of them again,or holding the baby brother that never had a chance to live.She felt the hands of her captors touching her,not knowing that it was in reality Shad'rae's hands. She fought against the touches,then the feeling of something soft brushing against her cheek. Soon she settled into a dreamless slumber.

One of the thing that Shad'rae had been attracted to in Tala was her strength. He hadn't known that right away, it had been an instinctual thing, one of the many things that had drawn him to her. Now, as she clung to his fur, she again demonstrated that strength. Even on the verge of collapse she held on as long as possible.

They ran for a long time, he wasn't quite sure how long, or even the specific direction. All he knew was that he had to run, he scaled low hanging branches to avoid too many footprints, he even splashed through a shallow creek to help distribute the scent, things that logically he didn't have to do. They were just Raiders, not given to tracking and hunting, they were essentially lazy bullies who wouldn't chase something.

When Tala's grip got too loose, he slowed. She couldn't hold on forever, not in her state, and he didn't want her to fall off when he was running all out. He was virtually at a standstill when she finally fell with a muffled thud. Shad'rae looked around, not liking where they were at the moment.

He shifted back to human form. Black hair that hung to the nape of his neck, his eyes still yellow. His body was lean, but well muscled from his active life. They just needed a safer place to spend the night. Shad'rae lifted her in his arms and walked a little ways, finding a few collapsed trees that formed a nice alcove. They'd be safe here.

Her form nestled down in the soft ground and he shifted back into panther form. She needed his warmth tonight, besides, his senses were better in panther form. He curled around her, licking her from time to time. Before he drifted off himself, he thought about her name for him. Shadow, which was actually what Shad'rae translated into in Tala's language.

Tala stirred sometiime during the night,her body ached,her head throbbed. She looked around and didnt want to leave the comfort of her warm blankets,then she stiffened. It wasnt warm blankets around her,but the furred body of Shadow. Her comfortable hhome was gone,her life was changed forever.She turned her head and looked at the large face nuaaled close to her own,her hand rose to stroke down the bridge of his nose. She felt safe curled into his body,she wanted to bury herself deeper and forget about things. But she knew she couldnt,she had to go back to her village,bury the dead. She had to give her family a final peaceful resting place. The thought of the animals feeding off of their lifeless bodies made her heart skip.

She slid from Shadow's side,looking back to him. She moved slowly,unsteadily to the nearby creek,kneeling to scoop water up. Her dry lips aching for the taste of the clean water. She drank deeply then splashed water over her face and neck. Sitting down on the bank she sighed and tried to feel how much damage had been done to her face by touching the skin gently. She winced as her fingers found the nasty bruise on her cheek and the puffy eye. She wished she could go back and kill the man who had done all this,then she stopped.

Had she really seen a man cutitng her free? Had she been inagining his gentle embrace as he carried her? Shaking her head she looked back to where Shadow was lying,her heart caught as she saw his yellow eyes fixed on her,watching. He seemed to never blink as she kept her gaze on his,she could feel her lips moving as they formed a smile for him.

Shad'rae felt her stirring and woke up fully. He didn't move, letting her move and stretch, he could smell the minor panic coming from her. She was remembering what had happened. He watched as she moved to a creek and drank from it.

When she turned, he let her see he was awake and watching her. The smile she gave him almost broke his heart. To have gone through all that she had and still give him a smile, it twisted in his gut.

He stood and padded to her, licking her face once before drinking as well from the stream. She deserved to know the truth, that he wasn't just a big cat. Besides, she would want to return and bury her family, and right now that wasn't a good idea. Though it probably wouldn't get easier.

The black panther sat beside her, his brain working. His last campsite wasn't too far, and he had clothes there. It just wouldn't do to have the first time she saw him as a man be when he was naked. Once he was clothed they could talk.

He nudged her legs and nodded towards his back, indicating he wanted her to climb onto his back again.

Tala hugged her friend close as he padded over to her,burying her face into his fur. She almost lost her balance when he nudged her,wanting her to climb onto his back.She grasped his furr loosely at his neck as he began a fast walk. Her body leaning forward across his back,her head close to the back of his."I missed you,my friend."She whispered as he carried her deeper into the forest.

"I am glad you wasn't in the village when the attack happened. I dont know if i could have handled everyone I loved and cared for dying. I dont think I could handle the pain of being totally alone."She said softly talking to him as she always had.

"I have lost everything....."She said sadly as she let the pain of her injuries and the pain in her heart finally emerge. Her tears fell onto the fur along his back,her sobs muffled in the fur. Her hands held tightly to him as she gave in to her sadness. Her body began to shake from the force of her silent sobs...Her soft mewling sounds as she let her grief spend itself.

Tala was never one to show weakness in front of others,she had been forced to grow up early in life and help cared for her siblings..she loved her family and the thought of them being gone tore at her. She felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest,never knowing such intense pain she let her tears fall. Knowing Shadow had listened to her over the years talk of family,friends,first crushes..how she wished for true love. She told him some of her deepest secrets.Now he was hearing her at her weakest........

Shad'rae felt his heart twisting in his chest. To hear her finally give voice to her grief, to know someone he cared for was hurting so, that all those people were gone. Briefly he contemplated the brutality of man. But he remembered he was at least half human, and didn't feel the need to try and rationalize the difference between him and them.

The heat of her tears was like lava, scorching him as they moved along, a reminder of his failure. Maybe he couldn't have killed all the raiders, there had been fair number of them, but he could have fought. He could have helped them hide if nothing else. But he had been away, had let the one person he cared for suffer.

The trees parted and they found the clearing he'd stayed in. Shad'rae paused by the scorch mark of his campfire and lay down for Tala to get off. When she dismounted he took her wrist in his mouth and turned her away from his stash. When she turned to watch him he patiently turned her again. He didn't want her first view of his human form to be of him naked.

When he was sure she wasn't looking he shifted into human form and pulled leggings and a vest on. He moved behind her, taking a deep breath and then spoke.

"Tala."

Tala let Shadow grasp her wrist,turning her until she was facing away from him,she frowned not knowing what he was doing. She stood there waiting,hearing the large feline moving around behind her,then it grew quiet. She heard the sounds of footsteps and began to tremble,it was the sounds of a human footfall. She jumped when she felt the hands on her shoulders and the deep voice speaking her name. She felt her breath catch as she slowly turn around.

Shadow no longer stood behind her...now stood a tall man,his body well built and his dark hair falling aorund his face. It was the eyes..she would know those yellow/golden eyes anywhere. This was her Shadow standing in front of her,but how? She had heard of shifters all her life,had even had a couple living in her village at times. She never thought she would be this close to one,let alone grow fond of.

"Shadow?"She asked softly lifting a hand out to touch him. Her fingers stopped short of fully touching his skin as her eyes looked into his."How...I mean...your a shifter?"She said finally stepping back a few steps to fully look at him. All those years she had poured her heart out to him,told him her deepest,darkest desires. She felt her cheeks flame as she thought of how she had just cried into his fur as he carried her here.

"Why..why now?"She began in a whisper."Why show me this side of you now..why not a year ago..or even when we were younger?"She asked him,feeling a bit deceived.Her eyes frantically searched his for answers,needing to know. She finally moved again ..this time letting her hand rest against his chest,just over his heartbeat.

Shad'rae waited as she figured out what he was. He was worried, terrified in fact, that she'd hate him. He had always visualized this ending with her rejecting him, hurling angry words, cursing him to the depths of hell.

Instead she just asked why. She touched him, feeling his heartbeat in his chest. She deserved answers of course, after his deception. He would give them anyway, he wasn't sure he could lie to her even if he wanted to.

"I don't know why I waited until now. I was planning on telling you sooner, but, I'm afraid. I know how your people react to my kind. I know that I shouldn't have just assumed how you would react, but I only had my experiences."

His hand raised to touch hers, his yellow eyes meeting hers.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner. You've been a true friend to me, and I've been drawn to you since I first saw you. If you want to go back to your village, we an get there before nightfall."

Tala looked up at Shad'rae,she then moved closer to him until she was folded into an embrace against him. Safetly held in his arms as she felt his human body for the first time. She took in the scent of him and then raised her head."You were at the raiders camp...you cut me free."She said matter of factly.She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close.

"It doesnt matter,you have told me. The past cant be redone no matter how much we will it. I do have to go back,I cannot let my family and friends lie there..."she added softly finally moving away from his comforting arms.

"If you dont mind ..can we leave in the morning..The night holds too many demons.'She said sitting down next to the fire and touching her jaw gently. Her gaze drifting to the flames dancing in front of her. A call of a night animal made her gasp and jump slightly.

"Thank you Tala."

Her words took much of his guilt away from him. She was right of course, dwelling on or in the past only made you vulnerable to the present. His arms circled her waist as she stepped to him for a quick embrace, her warmth against his human skin was comforting.

Shad'rae started a small fire for them and settled beside her. It was different, being in human form with her. She felt, more tactile, more real in many ways. He could see and smell more of her in panther form, but his felt better to him. He couldn't have explained why, just that it did.

"Oh, I must beg forgiveness again Tala. I haven't yet told you my name. In my people's tongue it's Shad'rae. That translates to Shadow in your language."

He leaned closer to her, letting her feel his support. When she jumped at the sound of an animal, he smiled and eased her back down into a comfortable position.

"It wont bother us. I've been here many times and the wildlife knows to stay away. You can sleep safe Tala. I promise, no harm will come to you while I'm here."

Tala settled back,his touch comforting as she looked up at the night sky. Her body close to his,their combined warmth soothing her. Her eyes slid shut as she gave in to the call of the healing rest she needed. Her body relaxed against him as she slid deeper into her dreams.

The dream started innocently enough,the three of them running by the lake,her brother,sister,and herself. Happy and carefree,their laughter echoing across the trees. Then the shouts,the panic..the raiders arrived. she tossed her head in her sleep,small whimpers escaping her lips. She could still smell the sweat and blood as it closed in around her. The cries of her family calling out for her to help them.

She felt the blodd on her skin,coating her heavily with its deep crimson and coopery smell. she wiped frantically at it,trying to rub it from her skin. Her tears running down her face. She looked into the eyes of her family's murderers,could see the pleasure they got from the pain they caused. She tried to run,but the large hand wrapped in her hair. She was pulled harshly to the ground,his body covering hers.

His hands were everywhere,touching,pinching,hurting. She fought against her assailant in her sleep,lashing out. her hands fisting to strike out,her legs kicking. She was pinned hard to the ground,immobile to move. The scream that ripped from her throat causing the nearby birds to take flight. Her body jerked upright,scooting backwards across the ground. Eyes still sleep glazed as she looked around for an escape.

Shad'rae slept off and on, cat naps even in human form. He was aware instantly when Tala felt distressed. He couldn't protect her in her dreams, much as he wished he could. Initially he hoped she wasn't having a horrible nightmare, or that she would wake herself.

It was a vain hope.

She started thrashing, kicking and striking with her fists, she was getting too close to the fire. He caught her wrists and crisscrossed them over her waist, like a straight jacket, his body behind hers, holding her. He was about to shake her into wakefullness when she screamed in terror.

A small flock of birds nearby them took flight with the sound of crashing rocks.

"Tala, wake up!"

His voice was firm and in her ear. He released one of her wrists and very lightly tapped her cheeks with his hand. It wasn't hard enough to be a slap, but the constant pressure to her body should bring her from sleep.

Tala shook in his arms,her head turning quickly,looking around them. her eyes wide with her terror as she looked back at him. "I saw them....the raiders..could feel them..'She whispered in panic as she turned in his arms. her hands grasping his forearms tightly.

Her body trembled against his,her wet tears fell onto his skin,she tried to stop them,regain her emotions. She was a fighter..not a sniveling maiden,she told herself as she finally grew quiet in his arms. Her body relaxing slightly as she looked up at him. She was in awe at how they stood out,even in human form they were a golden yellow,more yellow in the darkness.

She reached a hand up to touch his cheek thinking of all the yearsd she had touched him in cat form,hugged him,talked to him. He knew more about her than anyone else did. She lifted her lips to gently touch his,shyly. She blushed and looked down,silently berating herself for acting like a wanton.

He held her as she cried, knowing how real nightmares can feel. He whispered soothing words to her as she shook, stroking her hair softly with his hands, trying to comfort her. Eventually she stilled her trembling and returned to herself.

Shad'rae still held her, even as she turned and pressed her body to his. He knew she wasn't trying to entice him, and he did everything he could to fight down the base physical reaction to a soft female body beside his.

Then she looked into his eyes.

It was like she could see through his soul. He didn't back away from her stare, returning it, knowing his emotions were bared in the golden pools. He didn't care, she had a right to know.

He didn't pull away from her lips as she leaned up. The kiss was hesitant, soft, gentle. He never wanted it to end. He'd never felt so alive as at that soft, almost innocent brush of her lips to his. The kiss lingered for a very happy eternity between them.

Eventually of course it had to end, her soft lips breaking the contact. A red hue crept up her cheeks, and she looked down. He knew she'd been raised as a proper girl, maybe she felt like she had acted poorly. He tipped her head up until their eyes met again.

"I've wanted this since the day I first saw you. To hold you in my arms, to kiss you, to take away your fear and pain. Please Tala, trust me, let me try and make you feel like the queen I see you as."

Tala blushes at his words and touched his chest lightly,resting her palm there. Her eyes remained looking away,her voice soft."I am no Queen...I know nothing of what goes on between men and women.'She said softly feeling as inexperienced as she sounded. "I have loved you since I saw you..watching me as I swam when I was 7 or 8. "She said looking out across the fire.

"I got lost and you kept me safe that first night,kept me warm when it chilled."She laughed at the memory."My father about whipped the skin from my behind when you led me back home."

"but he never stopped me from letting you around me..it was almost as if he knew we had connected.'She said as memories of her father came crashign back,looking up at him. She reached up and wrapped one shy hand in his hair,pulling his mouth down to hers once more.

Her tongue trailed across his bottom one softly. She nipped at it before kissing along his cheek,to bite softly on the skin beneath his ear. She felt him tense under her touches but grew bolder as he didnt pull away. Her other hand moved down across his chest,over his nipples. Feeling them grow hard as she explored. Lower it moved until she felt the rippling of his ab muscles as she grew close to his hidden manhood.

He smiled at her as she pressed her palm to his chest, feeling his heart beat.

"You may not be a queen by blood or title, but that is what I see in you, have always seen in you."

While not inexperienced, he'd stopped looking for companionship after he'd seen Tala. She'd been all he needed. He'd protected her when she was young, waiting until she was old enough to understand and return his love. Now she was.

"We'll go slow Tala. Everyone must have a first. You don't need to worry about anything, just do what feels natural. I promise, I wont force anything. My body is yours to explore."

Shad'rae grinned at her words, remembering the lost girl he'd led home. She'd been almost as afraid to go back as she was to stay in the woods. She'd been afraid of him at first, until she'd let him close enough to see he wasn't going to harm her. Then she'd followed him back home.

She was right about the punishment, he'd stayed away, knowing he wasn't to interfere with her raising, but her cries had carried. Of course, so had the tears of her parents, later in relief at having their daughter back. Such was family.

Tala seemed to take his offer to explore his body literally, her lips and tongue tracing his in another kiss. Her hands rubbed his well muscled frame, and he instinctively tensed. Not out of fear, but out of pleasure. She seemed to understand, the touches sliding lower, over his abs, near the top of his leggings, his manhood bulging under the leather, reaching for her touch.

"Just be gentle with me down there. It's sensitive, but you may touch and explore all you wish. And if you want to stop, we will Tala."

His tongue snaked out and traced hers, coaxing it into his mouth for a deep kiss as her touch slid inexorably lower.

Tala lifted her head at his words,her hands halting for a few moments. She then let her eyes travel downward over his body..stopping when she saw his rather noticable bulge. Her eyes lifted back to his,bright and sparkling in the moonlight,her hand moved back over his taunt stoamch,downward. Her breathing grew deeper and quicker as she finally rested her palm over the top of his erection,she could feel the heat from him through his leggings.

She swallowed deeply,moving over him. She heard the quick intake of his breath and stopped,looking up at him. "Did I hhurt you?"She asked feeling worry rush through her. She held her hand still over him,trembling slightly as she watched his face. He seemed to be struggling to breath,his cheeks appeared red to her eyes as she looked at him.

She waited for him to tell her if he was ok,but the moving under her hand,the twitching, made her look down. She moved her hand slowly,feeling each movement,she could see the stomach muscles rippling as she touched him. She leaned closer,her lips touching his chest,moving further as she could hear his heart beating quickly.Her lips tracing over the plains of his chest,not completely touching his nipples as she moved along his ribs,down to his stomach.

Shad'rae moaned softly the first time her hands touched his throbbing erection. She paused and asked if she'd harmed him. That was so like her, to be concerned for him. He shook his head softly.

"No, you didn't hurt me. It feels good, that's why I sound like that. You'll know the difference if you ever cause me discomfort."

His cock twitched again under her hand and she moved her hand from the heated rod that seemed to have taken over his being. He wanted her to touch it, but he wasn't going to force her. He was here for her to touch, to explore, to enjoy. Not to force her into doing something she wasn't comfortable with.

The breath hissed from him as her palms pressed into his abs and side, her lips kissing down his chest, avoiding his nipples, much to his frustration. He enjoyed the soft, almost innocent touch of her lips on his skin.

With a soft wiggle his hips he lowered his breeches, his hard cock springing against his abdomen. He made no motion to touch it, or her beyond another soft kiss of her lips.

"It's ok, you don't have to touch it if you don't want to, it was just a little uncomfortable in there."

His hands caressed her arms and sides softly as she looked at his pulsing manhood.

Tala lowered her eyes slowly,his size stunned her for several seconds. never having seen a naked man before she wondered how her body would accept his manhood easily. She bit her bottom lip unconciously as her hand moved out toward him. Her fingertips brushed over his shaft,lightly. Her eyes focused on what she was doing,her body trembling slightly as she explored him. She became a bit bolder as she wrapped her hand around him. Becoming accustomed how he felt in her hand,she slowly moved her hand up and down on him. Stopping to raise her eyes up at him when she heard his intake of breath.

Not trusting herself to speak,she leaned down. Her tongue moving in small flicks across his stomach. Her hand sliding along his length until she reached the hilt. She slid her hand lower,feeling his heavy sac under her fingertips. She looked up at him,her eyes filled with innocent passion. "I dont know what to do."She whispered softly feeling the flush running into her cheeks. " Show me how it feels, how to love you the right way."

She sat there almost lying across him,her hand around his shaft,her tongue raining light licks across his chest. Her hair pillowed around them,covering them in a silken blanket. Her trim leg rubbing along his more stronger one. Her breathing had grown deeper and quicker. She slid further onto his body,pressing her chest against his,feeling his nipples hard against her own. She moved her hands to his shoulders,then to touch his cheek softly. A fingertip running across his lips as she moved against him. " Make me feel special,take me away from all this heartache.She whispered as she pressed her lips to his gently.

Shad'rae felt the softness of Tala's fingers begin exploring his manhood. Despite her working most of her life, her hands felt soft and perfect along his pulsing flesh. She was almost timid at first, tracing the veins, so soft and careful. Slowly her confidence grew, and she wrapped her fist around his cock and began stroking up and down. He tried not to make too much noise, he didn't want to startle her again, but as her fingers slid up and down he groaned softly. It felt so good. As her fingers slid lower and she cradled his balls in her palms, he sighed softly in pleasure.

"I dont know what to do."She whispered softly feeling the flush running into her cheeks. " Show me how it feels, how to love you the right way."


He smiled kindly.

"What you're doing is wonderful. Be gentle with my testicles, they're tender but it also feels very good when they're played with. You were stroking me very nicely, it felt very good."

It was difficult to describe everything he liked, the little things that would come to them the more they were together. Rather than try, he let her explore. When her tongue started flicking over his skin, teasing his abs and up to his chest, he was ready to come unglued. She wasn't trying to drive him crazy, but that's what she was doing. Then she released him and used his shoulders for leverage to sit up.

"Make me feel special,take me away from all this heartache."

"You are special Tala. Don't ever doubt it."

His lips kissed her fingertips as she traced them. He wanted to show her, to make her feel good. Gently he reached to the bottom of her shift and started raising it. She never stopped his motions, and before long she was without it, now wearing just undergarments around her hips. Still taking his time, letting her adjust to everything, Shad'rae slid them down her legs, then laid them beside her shift. He took long moments to drink in her beauty with his golden eyes.

"You are beautiful."

His lips found hers again. This time while they kissed his hands slid around her hips, pulling her ontop of him. He didn't press into her, instead he just let her sex rest against his erection while she straddled him. His lips broke the kiss and started going down her neck, hands cupping her breasts up for his lips and tongue to begin lavishing attention on.

Tala shivered as the cool night air moved across her bared skin,her thighs resting on either side of Shad'rae's hips. She could feel his hardness pressed against her moist core,the swift intake of her breath escaping her lips. She looked down at him,his golden eyes seeming to peer deep into her soul. She moved her hips slowly,letting her heat run along his shaft. Moaning softly at the feel of it sliding back and forth over her.

Leaning down,her lips and teeth nipped at his chest,moving to first one nipple then the other. Grasping the hard nub between her teeth playfully. Sucking the nub into her mouth,tongue flicking across it. She felt the flutter deep in the pit of her stomach,the ache swelling between her thighs. She wanted something,but didnt know what. "Shad'rae...I...Oh..."She tried to get the sentence to form as her mind burst in pleasure.

"I...need you."She finally managed to get out,her hips pressing harder against his shaft. The lips of her entrance wrapping around him tightly as she moved against him. Tala pressed her hands harder into the muscles of his chest,her nails digging into his skin. Her voice growing deeper with her passion,her eyes almost smoldering now. "Make me yours.She whispered against his lips.

Tala's skin tasted sweet. His tongue, lips, and teeth traced her bust, her nipples, teasing the hard nubs before suckling them. Shad'rae could hear her heart beat accelerating. The scent of her desire was becoming stronger, the heat from the apex of her thighs growing with each passing moment. He needed her, badly.

"I...need you. Make me yours."

The words were a whisper, but spoke volumes. He nodded, definitely grateful she was ready. His lips left her breasts, his hands slid down her sides to her hips. He held them steady in one hand, the other gripped his manhood and pointed it at her. Very slowly he let her down, the wet pull of her sex along his skin was exquisite. She relaxed, and the head of his cock passed her entrance and slipped inside her body.

"It's best to get this over with."

Shad'rae closed his eyes, and in one fluid motion thrust his hips up and pulled her down. He felt her maidenhead giveway to his insistent cock. The he was inside her, her velvet walls gripping his shaft.