The Curse and the Traveler's

[only_more_so]

Max and the guards were sweeping the area, but it seemed that everyone who had been in the area had seen the fog before the sunset and had wisely headed back into town. After discovering the area was cleared, the party usually headed back to the castle, but Max had a strange feeling and decided they needed to do another sweep.

As they rode around the perimeter of the fog Max realized that the fog was behaving differently than it normally did. He was used to quick bursts of fog that tried to circle around the galloping horses, or fog that would lay low to the ground disquising the terrain, but this fog was just pushing steadily inward. Either it was claiming ground in response to the recent unscheduled travels, or it was nearly time.

Max called for a return to the castle, and they headed back. Sure enough a thin tendril was trying to cut off their retreat. It was thin enough to see through, but also enough to hide a few creatures. Not taking any chances the men couched their spears and rode through the mist in a flying wedge, with Max in the center. A small creature managed to elude the wedge and jump on Max's horse. It bared it's fangs at Max and let out a small growl. With a blast of light and heat Max incinerated the creature without a second thought and continued back to the castle.

By the time they returned it was nearly midnight. Max wasn't sure if Skye would already be asleep or not, but he sent a subtle message that he was safe before heading to his rooms.

* * *

The queen listened to what Skye told her, as did Quint. The boy seemed positively agog at what he was hearing. All the other boys in the castle would be so jealous! Sensing this the queen said, "Before anything else is said, I think I should remind you Quint that everything that is being said here is to remain strictly confidential. I know you would never say anything, but you are still very new to the job and a little friendly reminder helps reinforce good behavior."

Turning her attention to Skye, the queen said, "What you have said about the necklace is very interesting, and fits in well with what I have already been thinking. Especially with the books we have recently discovered. This does give me hope that we will see the curse end.

As for you and Max... I hope you know that you will not be forced into a marriage, in fact you are still welcome to return to your own world. The curse has been confounding the royal family for generations beyound memory, so if I were you I would not feel pressured to decide one way or the other based on anyone's theory on the myth." The Queen adde with more emphasis, "even Max's theory!"

"Close your mouth Quint, you are going to catch flies."

The queen patted her mouth clean with a napkin and then said, "You must understand something Skye. I love both of my sons and want to see them happy, even more than I want to see the curse broken. You might think it crazy, but for most of his life Max has been preparing to face the fog alone so that his brother might wed and break the curse. That is why we waited so long to tell them who was the elder, so they would both have a taste of happiness and hope, and they would both have a sense of what a sacrifice would mean. I am telling you this so that you know what you might be asking of Max. If his love for you prevents him from facing the fog and the curse isn't broken, then he will feel the guilt of that for his entire life. In many ways, it would be kinder to let him die fighting those creatures, than asking him to live that way." By the time the queen was done speaking the words were coming out quickly and she was clearly getting more emotional.

"I hate to seem rude, but unless there is anything else I need to go now. Goodnight Skye, I am sorry that I wasn't more help to you. Goodnight squire Quint, make sure that she gets... where she's going safely."

 

[caela]

"I hate to seem rude, but unless there is anything else I need to go now. Goodnight Skye, I am sorry that I wasn't more help to you. Goodnight squire Quint, make sure that she gets... where she's going safely."

"Goodnight Beatrix," Skye murmured as the Queen left her with much to think about.

She didn't want to cause anyone pain but someone was going to get hurt. If it came to it she would go into the fog with Max. His sense of duty and honor would demand he go if the curse couldn't be broken and Skye would be damned if she'd let him go into that alone. As she sat thinking about what the Queen had told her she felt the touch of Max's mind to hers and was relived when he told her he was alright.

Rising she motioned for Quint and spoke softly, "I need you to take me back to Max's rooms Quint. He's back and he's fine."

Quint looked slightly surprised at the evidence that she and Max were indeed connected but he did as she asked without arguing and led her back through the castle to Max's rooms. At the door she smiled warmly to him and reached out to ruffle his hair, "Go to your rest now Quint. You've had a long dayand you've earned it. Come find me tomorrow after breakfast, apparently I have to have a coat of arms for you to wear and you are going to help me design something we'll both be proud of."

She smiled at the light that filled the boys eyes, he really was a delight, "And remember that what you heard tonight was for your ears along Quint. I'm trusting you to not tell anyone what was said between the Queen and I." Watching him as he left she knew he wouldn't say a word, he took great pride in the fact that she'd trusted him with information as important as what he'd been allowed to overhear.

Waiting until Quint was gone she drew a breath and reached out to touch Max's mind instead of knocking, Are you going to keep a girl waiting Max or are you going to come let me in?

 

[only_more_so]

When Max got to his room he tossed his boots and socks into the corner. He then removed his shirt and threw it on top of the boots. There was a faint blue glow on it from the creature he had destroyed and right then he couldn't be bothered to put it away to be cleaned, or disposed of. He crossed to the windows and opened them to gaze out at the encrouching fog. He could feel the slow steady progress, and that more than the cold air sent a chill through him.

Are you going to keep a girl waiting Max or are you going to come let me in?

The thought sent by Skye startled him out of his revelry. He found he was already walking toward the door before the thought was complete. Max thought, so long as I live I will never be alone again. It was a bittersweet sentiment.

Max pulled the doors open and saw Skye standing in the hallway. She seemed to be in the middle of her own pool of light as the torches which flanked his door illuminated her. She looked so beautiful Max was breathless. He stood frozen in place as a battle raged inside of him. Part of him wanted to rush to her, grab her in a fierce embrace and possess her as he had never done before. Another part feared her at that moment, feared the breaking of his heart and of the one thing that might melt his resolve.

Finally his years of princely training overrode his internal battle and he bowed and gesture her in. It was only then that he realized the room was totally dark except for the eeiry light coming through the windows accompanied by an increasing loud and cold wind. He also realized that he was stripped to the waist, wearing nothing but a pair of breeches.

"Excuse,..." Max made a gesture vaguely indicating both the state of the room and his own clothing situation. "I wasn't expecting company."

 

[caela]

Skye smiled when Max at last opened the door. The sight of him made her heart race in her chest. Wearing only his pants she really saw his body for the first time without the trappings of his royal garb or with other people around and she found herself staring and not wanting to look away. He was beautiful to her and her first impulse was to reach out and run her fingers along his skin. She suddenly ached to touch him though she didn't move in the doorway until he at last stepped back and motioned for her to enter.

"Excuse,..." Max made a gesture vaguely indicating both the state of the room and his own clothing situation. "I wasn't expecting company."

Stepping into his room she waited until he closed the door behind her before she turned to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She couldn't resist the selfish need to touch him any longer and she was suddenly relieved just to be able to hold him. She hadn't realized how worrying and stressful it had been to her to conciously keep herself from connecting to him while he was out until she'd felt his touch to her mind telling her he'd returned safely.

Leaning up on her toes she pressed her lips tenderly to his while her mind reached to his and she felt the jewel at her throat glowing warmly at their connection. She sent him waves of caring and she could feel his own inner turmoil as well.

"I've wanted to do that since you left," she whispered softly when she at last broke their kiss.

 

[only_more_so]

As Skye reached up to kiss Max, he could feel the chill inside of him warming. But at the same time he felt a clenching in his stomach.

"I've wanted to do that since you left," she whispered softly when she at last broke their kiss.

Max bent his head down to rest his forehead against hers. Even though he could communicate to her through the jewel, it felt so much more real, more personal, to have physical contact.

He let out his breathe in a long sigh. "I... thought you would be in bed by now. You have been so weak, and there is much to do tomorrow."

Max found he couldn't speak of the fog, but she had to know how little time was left. Rather than reaching through the gem, he pushed the thought with a trickle of his own magic through their physical connection. They only had days left.

"You shouldn't have come, I don't know if I can control myself."

 

[poohlive]

The sound of a chainsaw cut through his unconsciousness. It ripped sleep away from him, this dark pool of warmth and friendliness that surrounded him was jerked away, and he only felt the pounding headache inside his body.

The sharp stint of pain came first, his flesh being torn away. David was up now, he was awake. He shot up, looking down at his stomache. There wasn't a chainsaw, but it was some sort of surgical saw. He watched as it began cutting on his chest, as it was trying to get through the ribcage.

"No!" He threw his hand up. He didn't quite know what he was going to do, either grab it, or throw it away from him, something. His mind wasn't working very well at the moment. His head was pounding, his heart racing in his chest, and the world was wild and out of focus.

The saw cut deeper, but he grabbeds at it, and threw it across the room. As he did, two bodies grabbed at him and held him down. He couldn't move, his strength was weird, disjointed. He felt too strong at times, and then too weak. It was as if he were a toddler once more, learning to use his muscles for the first time.

"Hold him still," A third guy came back, he had the saw once more in his hand. David saw it, and tried once more to get free. He really struggled this time. The world snapped into focus as he pushed off of the table, cold and hard under him. It was metal, the same kind they put cadavers on so all the fluids could drain.

"He's thrashing about."

The world in focus, he recognized one of the guys holding him down. A big guy, large muscles, taut as they held him down. He had a European accent, long curly hair and smelled like vienna sausage.

"I thought you said he was going to be out like a light."

The doctor trid to get the buzz saw in close to his body, "I gave him enough percoset for a small elephant. He's supposed to be out like a light. I don't know what..."

David threw himself up again, hitting the buzz saw. The doctor kept hold of it, but left the table once more.

"Fuck it, hold him. I'll knock him out."

Awake now, fully revived, David knew he had less than a minute. He needed to get out of this grasp, he needed to get out of here, he needed to gety away. Under the arm of these two guys, he was powerless, undefined, a lump of clay.

The doctor would make sure he was molded...

David gabbed each one of them, and in a moment threw his legs up. They wrapped around each of the man's heads and with a hollow push, both hit the hard metal slabhe now lay on with dericive thuds. Immediately their grips loosened, and David sprung to his feet.

Although his mind had long since been fully awake, the rest of his body still seemed slow and sleepy. He crumpled to the floor, beside one of the large men.

The doctor, a large man with meaty fingers and no hair kneeled down to him, a large needle in his hand.

"Sorry friend. You tried... I'll give you that."

David only smiled, as he grabbed the man's hand, the needle breaking in their grasp. He pushed himself up as the doctor fell on his ass, his whole body shivering.

"Where is she," He said, the broken needle in his hand, blood pouring from where it cut deep into him.

"What? No... don't hurt me, please."

David pushed the shards of the needle closer to his eye, "That all depends on what you tell me. Now where is she...."

"No... don't, please. Ok, I'll talk, I'll talk."

David nodded. He was all ears.

 

[caela]

You shouldn't have come, I don't know if I can control myself."

Days. He thought they only had days together. If he was right she'd make them the best days of both their lives because she'd meant it when she'd told him that if he tried to go into the fog alone she was going to follow him.

Smiling up at him her arms only tighten around his neck as she holds his gaze, "I didn't come here for you to control yourself Max. I want you and if you're right about the time we have together I don't want to waste a moment of it."

Leaning up she pressed her lips to his once more and it didn't take a jewel or magic to connect them. Love did that and let him taste what she felt in her heart but hadn't yet said. She hadn't known him long in reality but it was as if she had known and loved him all her life.

Slowly breaking the kiss once more she barely backed away and knew he could still feel the warmth of her breath against his lips when she spoke softly, "I love you Maximillian. I'd like to stay if you'd have me but I'll leave if you want me too."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

The pounding in her head made Serena put both her hands through her hair. She pushed away her bangs and rubbed her temples. She opened her eyes up and blinked. Her face contorted in confusion. She closed her eyes again. Opened them again. It took her a moment to realize she was not in the pretty hotel room that David had gotten her, she was in fact somewhere else. She sat up on the bed that was incased in a cylinder shaped room. The walls were curved, the floor as well... she thought it odd, but perhaps David had found a better room for them to sleep in.

She scooted her feet out from under the silky blankets and was shocked to find herself wearing a small gown, if one would even consider it a gown. It was a bright red, fell to her hips, and there holes covered in lace over her breasts. The design continued to “V-neck” down to her stomach. She felt a string between the cheeks of her rear and her hand moved to her sex, it too was covered by the soft fabric that matched the small gown. “David undressed me?” she asked herself.

“No. I did,” a voice spoke to her.

Serena spun around, her balance off slightly. She shook her head and focused on the voice and the man who spoke it. “You?” she said. There was an uneasiness that washed over her. She looked at the man from the party. He was dressed in a pair of black slacks, a white shirt, and wore black shoes. In his hand was a glass of wine another rested on the table beside him. Behind him were windows, small windows that showed the clouds in the sky.

Serena blinked rapidly, her pulse raised. She was in one of those machines she’d read about in the books David and Max brought her. “An airplane?” she asked.

“Private jet,” the man said. He stood and gave her the glass of wine.

She looked at it, at him, at the bed, and shook her head no.

“You may drink it. I want you awake for what comes next,” he told her. He drank from the glass himself, to prove to her that it was indeed safe. She still refused. He shrugged and downed both goblets of wine. Then returned them to the table and then Serena.

“Where’s David?” she asked. Her pulse was racing with fear. This fear was thicker. She was more scared now then when the Lord at the party tried to hurt her. In the end there was Max... here there was no one.

The man laughed. “David... was that his name? Eh... it doesn’t matter now what his name is. He’s been dealt with. Now what is your name?”

“Dealt with?” she asked. “What do you mean? What did you do to him?” She ran at the man, her tiny fists beat at his chest. “Where is he?” she cried.

The man grabbed her arms and lifted her away from him. “Dead... now what is your name?” He pushed her away from him. Serena stumbled on to the bed and felt the air hit her thighs and ass. She scurried across the slippery bed and stood on the other side of it.

“David was a Prince you fool... you... he’s...,” she couldn’t speak the grief was overwhelming to her.

“A Prince,” the man laughed. “He was a drunk and a womanizer. Did you forget how much he enjoyed himself. I watched him. I watched how you hung on every word the boy spoke. I saw how you devoured him with your eyes. He didn’t care. He didn’t return those feelings girl... so I disposed of your prince...” He moved closer to her. His eyes drinking in her body. “Now... I would like to know what to call you as I fuck you till you scream.”

 

[only_more_so]

"I love you Maximillian. I'd like to stay if you'd have me but I'll leave if you want me too."

Max's head was spinning. He felt feverish and confused. Standing in front of him was everything he had ever thought he would never get to have. He had known that from the moment he saw her, but that she loved him too... He felt that she did through the magic of the jewel, but to hear her say she loved him was its own magic.

He couldn't turn her away. He knew that as surely as he knew that he loved her as well. "Wait here a moment," he said slipping from her embrace and hurrying to shut the windows and block out the chill wind. He returned to her side quickly and grasped her hand leading her to one of the stairways in the corner.

The stairs were wide enough that Max needn't hold Skye as closely as he did. But as they mounted the stairs he wrapped an arm around her slim waist holding her against his side.

The stairs opened into his bedroom. The room was quite warm compared to downstairs and the red coals of a fire set by his servant still radiated heat into the room. The spacious fireplace dominated one wall while the opposite wall was dominated by the bed. It was easily big enough to sleep eight people and nearly thick enough to require a ladder.

Even with the warmth in the room, Max could feel Skye shivering slightly. He walked her over to where the embers of the fire gave off their red light and poked the coals gently. Adding a few pieces of wood until the fire caught again.

He was kneeling on the thick rug before the fire and turned to look up at Skye, to see if she was warm enough. But she wasn't turned to the fire but toward him. Max reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her gently toward him. He rested his cheek against her belly as her arms and hands held her bottom and hips in place.

Soon he felt her sliding downward in his arms as she knelt in front of him. His hands lingered on her bottom as she descended and he could feel the swell of her breast as it slide by his cheek. Soon he was gazing into her eyes and said, "I love you Skye. And I would like for you to stay." He then kissed her with more tenderness and more need than he ever had before.

 

[caela]

"Wait here a moment."

Skye could hear her heartbeat thundering through her body but she knew when he went to shut the windows that he wouldn't ask her to leave. Part of her was uncertain of what was to come. She'd spent most of her time in her own world alone down on the beach and had little experience with men. The few dates she'd been on had been dull to her and she'd never felt even a glimmer of what she felt for Max for anyone else...and now she'd asked him to let her stay in his rooms.

She was happy to let Max lead her up a winding flight of stairs. He held her close to his side and she relished the closeness of his body. She could feel his warmth through the thin silk of her gown and was glad he'd chosen it. She didn't feel as seperated from him in the shimmering silk as she would have in most of the dresses in her closet. This one allowed her to nestle in close against his side and feel the strength of his arm around her waist. She never wanted to leave his side.

Entering his room she wasn't surprised to find that it was nearly as spartan as the downstairs. Max decorated as if he expected to never return and she realized that eventually that was his expectation. That he would leave one night for the sake of his kingdom and never return.

The thought made her shiver and though Max noticed it he thought it was a chill and she watched as he knelt to get the fire going. She stepped close and simply watched him, amazed at the way he looked. She could take her eyes off him and the way the firelight played over his body. It made her both eager to touch him and intimidated as well and her heart was pounding in her chest once more.

When he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist she was startled but didn't seek to pull away. Instead her arms wrapped around him gently and she just held him to her for a long moment before she started to slip down toward him on the floor. She was careful as she moved down to her knees, she didn't want to dislodge his arms as she savored the feel of them around her and even his hand on the rounded curve of her ass made her smile as he tried to follow it with her descent.

"I love you Skye. And I would like for you to stay." He then kissed her with more tenderness and more need than he ever had before.

She'd known he loved her, had felt it and seen it in his gaze as well as being told it by the fairy princess in her vision but hearing it actually said sent the warmth of pure joy running through her. He'd offered her the one thing she'd always craved and she now realized that she'd simply spent her life waiting for him to bring it to her...love. His lips on hers were sweet and tender and she responded to that, kissing him back with all the love and need that filled her.

Her arms were tight around his neck, clinging to him tightly as his kiss stole her breath. When at last they parted to come up for air she smiled shyly at him before glancing away and murmuring softly, "I should tell you Max that I don't...what I mean is I haven't ever...ummmmm, I don't have much experience with men. Unlike most of the women in this place I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do past the kissing part."

 

[only_more_so]

"I should tell you Max that I don't...what I mean is I haven't ever...ummmmm, I don't have much experience with men. Unlike most of the women in this place I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do past the kissing part."

Max thought she was kidding. He knew that in her world they taught such things in their schools, he had read it in their papers. But he could feel her nervousness. She must know what to do, just as he did, but had no experience in the actual doing. Not that he had any experience himself.

"Skye, until you came along, I didn't even have any experience with the kissing part." He stroked her cheek gently, leaving one hand one the round swell of her bottom. "I never even imagined that I would, and I am still not sure." Max felt the fear grow in him, he would hate to leave Skye pregnant with his child while he faced the fog.

But her body compelled him to touch and explore. He bent down to kiss her, more deeply than he had before. His hands slide over the slippery material of her dress, seeking a way inside. He couldn't remember hot it closed, and his fingers were stymied. He remembered the slit on the side and one hand stole inside to touch her bare thigh. His hand slid upwards cupping her bare bottom, caressing the smooth skin.

Max felt himself swelling against her and pulled her hips against his with the hand on her bare ass. He pulled his mouth away from hers for a moment. He wanted to whisper something in her ear, but forgot partway and settled for sucking gently on her earlobe.

 

[caela]

"Skye, until you came along, I didn't even have any experience with the kissing part." He stroked her cheek gently, leaving one hand one the round swell of her bottom. "I never even imagined that I would, and I am still not sure."

Skye stared at Max in shock at this revelation. She'd seen the way the women of the palace had all but thrown themselves in his path with offers of sex. She didn't imagine this was a recent development and that he'd never taken any of them up on the offer shocked her. Most men would have turned into happy lechers with all the offers being thrown his way and yet he'd avoided them all.

It touched her and only made her want him all the more.

She couldn't help giggling softly when she felt his fingers trying to find the opening at the back of the dress and was just about to tell him that it lifted off over her head when his hand found the slit in the side and she felt his touch burning on her bare skin. The heat of flesh on flesh, even in such a small touch, sent all thoughts flying out of her head and she whimpered softly in the back of her throat.

He pulled her tighter against him and she could feel the evidence of his own need pressing against her. Instinctively she rolled her hips against his and her arms twined around his neck while his suckling of her earlobe sent fresh shivers of heat pulsing through her body.

Tipping her own head toward his eat she whispered softly, "We're both overdressed Max and I'd like our first time to be in the lovely bed of yours, we can try the floor in front of the fireplace tomorrow night if you like however."

Her eyes were both teasing and serious as she spoke. She definatly thought they were both wearing far too much clothing as she desperatly wanted to feel the warmth of his body stretched along hers. Whether they made love for the first time on the plush carpet before the fire or in the large bed across the room however she didn't really care, she was simply teasing him about that to help put them both more at ease.

 

[only_more_so]

"We're both overdressed Max and I'd like our first time to be in the lovely bed of yours, we can try the floor in front of the fireplace tomorrow night if you like however."

Max gently pushed Skye to her feet while he stayed kneeling beneath her. He placed both hands on her legs under the hem of her dress and slowly stood up. As he stood he collected the material of her dress in his hands. First to her hips where his fingers caressed her flesh lightly. Then to her waist, knowing the soft touch tickled her slightly. His hands reached her breasts and his thumbes traced the gentle swelling of her bosom. They rubbed across her hands nipples as their path traced inexorably upward.

The entire time his eyes were locked onto hers. Feeling her need through the contact. She raised her arms so he could slide the dress the rest of the way off her body. For a brief moment their eyes were blocked by the dress as it fell to the floor, but that instant was brief. He studied her nude body by the glow of the fire. She was all long soft curves and delicate circles. A blush was spreading across her chest as he regarded her. Not a blush of embarrassement he realized, but one of heat.

He could see her arousal in the taut perfection of her nipples and the quickness of her breathe. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, and he could smell a delightful frangrance oozing off of her promising pleasure.

"Skye, you are so beautiful," Max said with all the feelings he had for her. He felt a nagging doubt. He realized it wasn't guilt for his brother, because it was his fault for not loving who she really was. No, it was the thought that he might make her with child and have to leave her to fight the fog.

"Skye, I love you and want you more than I have ever loved or wanted anything in my life. I will do anything for you tonight, except... that." He couldn't find the words without being crude or insensitive. "I know you think I am too worried about honor, and too morally stiff, but I..." Again the words failed him. But somehow he knew she would understand his fears. His eyes pleaded with her to understand, to stay with him without that one act.

 

[caela]

Skye let him push her to her feet and she smiled down at him as he slowly rose and gathered her dress with him. His touch send waved of heat and desire flickeirng across her skin and drew small whimpers when his fingers brushed against her things or caress her breasts. She could feel her stomach tightening with need and was glad when at last he drew the drew the dress up and over her head.

She could feel him watching her and couldn't stop her skin from blushing. Even his gaze was like a caress and only served to further enflame her body. She wanted him and it was there in every look she gave him and the way her body seemed to sway toward him like a flower seeking the sun.

"Skye, I love you and want you more than I have ever loved or wanted anything in my life. I will do anything for you tonight, except... that." He couldn't find the words without being crude or insensitive. "I know you think I am too worried about honor, and too morally stiff, but I..." Again the words failed him. But somehow he knew she would understand his fears. His eyes pleaded with her to understand, to stay with him without that one act.

Reaching up she pressed a finger to his lips so that he didn't have to try to explain anything to her. She knew he was worried about their future, about leaving her, and could guess that part of that worry was leaving her with child.

She spoke softly and tenderly, "Max, your honor and morality are part of what I love about you. I wouldn't dream of asking you to change them and would be disappointed if you did. I understand your worry about making love and we'll do or not do whatever you like but remember what I said before Max. If you go off into the fog I'm coming in after you.

You'll never be alone again Max. Where you go I go even into the fog. I think I'd regret our never making love but so much as I would regret conceiving a child and not giving birth to her. I'm not leaving you tonight Max, if all you think we should do is curl up in the bed and fall asleep in each others arms I understand it Max."

 

[only_more_so]

"I'm not leaving you tonight Max, if all you think we should do is curl up in the bed and fall asleep in each others arms I understand it Max."

Max looked down at Skye and almost felt silly for having trepidations about telling her, asking her for that one favor. He kissed her gently and quickly scooped her up in his arms. She seemed a bit startled and her arms quickly clung to his neck. He looked down at her and said, "That is far from all we can do." Max knew he was leering at her and added with a wink, "I might not know what they are, but I intend to find out."

He carried her to the bed, all the while watching her eyes. While she held on to his neck, he used one hand to toss back the covers revealing the fine silk sheets beneath. He gently placed her back on the bed and admired her beauty once again. Her fine pale skin seemed to glow against the black sheen of the bedding. Her red hair was glowing in the light of the fire framing her face, and Max realized with a blush, her sex.

Max quickly stripped off his pants and lay down in the bed next to her. He lay on his side with his head propped up in one hand. The other hand he let trace over her body. He was entranced at how smooth her skin was. When his finger traced the outline of her nipple he marveled at how it seemed to tighten against his finger. He was so entranced tracing the lines of her body that he nearly forgot about his erection resting on her smooth thigh. "Should we curl up and go to sleep, or figure out something better to do?"

 

[poohlive]

Andrew Wellington. He was a prince, an Earth prince. One of those Estoria princes, or Romania or something. A far away and pretty much indistinguishable country that abused its people and did whatever it could to make ends meet.

Of course, the royalty still got to live like royalty, it was just everyone else that suffered. David had figured out a lot of information from the fat doctor. Apparently, David was going to be sold piece by piece on the black market, one of Andrew's specialities. A 50 thousand dollar heart, two 10 thousand dollar lungs, couple grand per kidney, and the rest would be sold to some backwater butcher for mystery meat Thursday, 99 cents a pound. Yes, David had been cut up, sold off to the highest bidder and left for dead a few hours ago.

Now he sat on a private jet, one from bought from his wild winnings in Vegas, as they followed Andrew's flight plan. Apart from extravagent Vegas weekends and more than one secluded castle in the country, Andrew even had a few jets of his own. One had left the Vegas airport only a few hours before David had arrived.

Some exchanged money, and David was following close behind.

Three hours. Three hour head start for this guy. Three fucking hours ahead of David. All in all it was more though. On the plane itself, David could do nothing, and they were talking a 12 hour flight. So, that left 15 hours, unless they could somehow be stalled somewhere for some reason. Damnit, in 15 hours Andrew could do just about anything to Serena.

David didn't think it would go as extreme as his ordeal was though. They wouldn't kill her, not if they were going through this much trouble to get her out of the country. He would have seen her unconscious body lying next to his with the doctor ready to cut both of them up. No, Andrew wanted her for something else.

And that dark pit in David's stomach told him he thought he knew what Andrew wanted.

Fifteen fucking hours.

"Hold on Serena, be strong. I'm coming."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena trembled with fear as the man’s vile words spilled from his lips. She knew what he meant to do to her. Though she was ignorant in many things, she could tell by his sneers, his voice, his movements, that he was going to hurt her just like the man at the party. She took several steps back and bumped into a table by the bed. She gripped it and felt the hot tears fall down her cheeks. Serena watched his fingers remove his shirt.

He was covered in hair. Thick black curls coated his hardened frame. His muscular form rippled with every move he made. Serena saw his body and for a moment the legends of the beasts in the mist slammed into her. She could almost see the sharp claws of the beasts grow from the man’s fingers and she shook her head to clear the childhood story from her mind. His hands had already discarded his shoes and he was now working on his belt.

“On the bed,” he told her. His eyes plastered to her breasts.

Serena didn’t move, just gripped the edge of the table with both hands behind her back and prayed for help. She shouted for it, screamed it, but no one came. Only the sound of his laughter filling the room was her only answer. Her bottom lip trembled as she watched him drop his pants and reach out and grab one hand from the table. He held it in a locked grip. . “Name slut,” he said.

His hand hit her face with a resounding smack. Serena felt the sting and cried out in pain. There was something inside the young woman that snapped at that moment. There would be no rescue... no Max, no David, not even Skye could help the woman from a different world. Only Serena could save Serena. Her eyes seemed to fill with darkness a color so intense that one would not have words to describe the hate it generated.

Her little hand came up and her nails seemed to become sharp weapons that were meant to deliver nothing but pain. She slashed at his face, ripping skin with the little talons. Her fingernails dug deep and she watched the streaks of blood appear. His hand grabbed his face, the other hand reached up and slapped her again. Harder. Serena fell to the bed on her stomach. She gasped and took a deep breath.

“Bitch!” the man shouted. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her to the side of the bed. He twisted them, rolled her to her back and wedged his leg between hers.

Serena screamed for him to get off of her. He ignored her. His fingers ripped the satin that covered her sex and she thrashed under him as she fought off his touch. Her fingers clawed at his face again and he grabbed her wrists. She kicked at his legs and twisted her body back and forth.

There was a sound coming from the door and the man shouted to be left alone. It was the distraction Serena needed. He’d loosened his grip and she pulled on hand free to rake the other side of his face. He rolled off her and stood up. He glared at her. His cock leapt toward her. Serena looked at his sex. It was thick, long, and swollen. She feared the pain that his invasion would cause.

“I like it rough, but I don’t like to bleed,” he growled. He pulled a handful of rope from a drawer and Serena understood what he was going to do. She scrambled away, but felt his hand grab her again and she was pulled back.

What happened next seemed to shock her as much as it did the man. Her eyes saw it, before he did, and it was like slow motion. They both reached for the clock on the table. Serena’s fingers clasped it first. He made a move to dodge the blow, but he missed his opportunity. She slammed it against his temple. It wasn’t enough to knock him out, but it hurt him. He fell to the bed and grabbed the side of his head. Serena didn’t stop. She dropped the box she’d seen and replaced it with the lamp.

He rose up to stop her, but she was to fast. Years of playing with the boys had taught her how to throw and she held on to the lamp and pretended it was a ball that would never leave her hands. She reared back and banged it up against the man's head. It slammed hard. She brought it back in the opposite direction and again it slapped against him. Serena completed the action two more times before her senses came back and she realized the man was no longer moving.

 

[caela]

Skye gave a startled squeal of laughter when Max scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing. Quickly her arms twined around his neck and she nuzzled his throat with her cheek while he carried her to the bed. The sheets were soft and cool against her heated flesh and the mattress was so comfortable it just seemed to crafle her body. She could have happily stayed right there forever.

"That is far from all we can do." Max knew he was leering at her and added with a wink, "I might not know what they are, but I intend to find out."

Skye laughed at that blush that kissed his cheeks when his eyes traveled down her body and he saw that the thatch of hair gaurding her sex was the same fiery red as the hair on her head. A blush colored her own cheeks when she watched him strip from his breeches and she saw hime naked for the first time. He was magnificent! The sight of him as he climed into the bed and stretched out beside her only made her want him all the more.

Watching him prop his head on one hand she gasped when he reached out to touch her body with his free hand. His touch was electric and she could feel the tongues of fire that lept through her blood at his every caress. She could feel his erection against her thigh but for now she ignored it and rolled up onto her own side facing him. Mimicing his posture she propped her head on one hand and tipped forward to press a small kiss to the tip of his nose.

"Should we curl up and go to sleep, or figure out something better to do?"

Laughing at the question she reached out and let her fingertips strate to trace the hard lines of his chest and stomach, deliberatly letting them dip his own thatch of curly hairs but without touching his erection before trailing them back up and asking innocently, "Could you really sleep just now Max?"

 

[only_more_so]

"Could you really sleep just now Max?"

Rather than answer her teasing question, Max reached toward her and pulled her body to his. He brought his mouth on hers with more force and need than he intended. With her lithe body held against his hardened body, he kissed her and his hands roamed over her back and bottom.

He particularly enjoyed moving his hands over her bottom. Tracing the faint line above the cheeks and then travelling downward between her legs. He traced one finger down between, not applying enough pressure to seperate them, but to just skim over the surface.

He could feel her warm sex rubbing against his hip. The soft curls at first tickled, until the pressure increased. He could feel a moisture gathering where her body rubbed against his. As he continued kissing her he grew curious, was she sweating? He knew that her sex seemed to be getting hot against him.

Curious he rolled her onto her back and gently pinned her shoulders to the bed. He knew he could feel her, but he wanted to see her sex with his own eyes. He broke his kiss on her mouth and kissed her cheek. Another kiss on the jawline and the side of her throat. He trailed kisses along the slope of her breast, relishing the slightly salty taste of her soft skin. When he got to her nipple he was distracted for a long time. He kissed it gently which seemed to make Skye squirm beneath him. He kissed again, this time with a swirl of the tongue. She tasted wonderful, an incredibly delicate flavor and the texture of her nipple felt wonderful against her tongue. He sucked her nipple into his mouth as his tongue swirled.

He almost forgot his destination as he was so enraptured with her nipples. He eventually continued her journey down her body, but he left his hands and fingers to continue exploring her breasts and nipples. Soon he was kissing down her flat belly which was heaving beneath his kisses. As he travelled downward his nose was being overwhelmed by a musky scent. He had smelled the scent before, on the fingers of the particularly wanton girls when he had kissed their hands. Suddenly he understood that was the scent of arousal. But Skye's scent was cleaner, more intoxicating.

Soon he was looking directly at her sex. The flaming red curls that framed her delicate sex were nothing compared to the heat he could see in the folds. He rested his head on her thigh as he studied her. He wrapped one arm under the thigh his head rested on, and with the other he traced the soft flesh. He was conscious of every movement of Skye's body, every gasp his exploring fingers awoke from her. He could feel the thick wetness that came from her, allowing his fingers to slide effortlessly over the skin. He was hesitant to put his finger into her, but traced the outlines and circled the opening he has discovered.

 

[caela]

Skye watched from need filled eyes as he started to kiss his way down her body. Every touch of his lips was like a brand on her skin marking her forever as his. When he stopped at her breasts and drew first one nipple and then the other into his mouth she couldn't keep from crying out softly and arching up to press against his lips. The arc of pleasure that pulsed through her body was all consuming and she wondered if they could really continue and not consumate the love they'd vowed to each other.

Her thoughts scattered however when he started moving lower however. His finger picked up where his mouth had left off on her nipples and she found her hands cupping his, caressing his fingers as they plucked at and explored her nipples. When his head came to rest on her thigh she could feel the heat of his breath on the sensitive skin of her sex and whimpered softly. The touch of his fingers teasing the opening of her body made her arch unconciously and she reached down to thread her fingers into his hair.

"Max," she gasped softly while squirming restlessly agains him, "Max I need...something."

 

[only_more_so]

"Max," she gasped softly while squirming restlessly agains him, "Max I need...something."

Max stopped his explorations when Skye spoke. He could feel the tension in her body that was caused by his exploration, and wondered what she needed.

"What do you need, Skye? I am probably not doing this well, so please tell me what you need."

As Max spoke his fingers started moving again. He found that she squirmed especially when he rubbed a curious little spot toward the top of her sex. One of his fingers traced the side of the little nub while his thumb lingered near her opening.

 

[caela]

She whimpered when he paused. She hadn't wanted him to stop touching her! She knew the basic mechanics of how this was supposed to work but she didn't know anything about foreplay and she wasn't sure how to tell him what she wanted.

"What do you need, Skye? I am probably not doing this well, so please tell me what you need."

She would have answered but his fingers moved and found an extremely sensitive spot neat the top of her sex that made her hips buck upward with need and a low groan fill her throat. She'd taken enough biology to know he'd just found her clit and one of her hands reached down to hold his there. It felt so good! She wasn't going to let him stop.

His thumb tracing her opening was making her squirm as well, her hips rolling seeking more from his touch. Realizing at last what it was she was trying to get she gasped softly, "Inside Max, let your thumb move into me please."

 

[only_more_so]

Max quickly realized that Skye didn't like it when he stopped his exploration to hear her question. He promised himself he wouldn't stop again until... He wasn't sure until what, but he knew he would keep going until then.

"Inside Max, let your thumb move into me please."

Max had known to do that, but had been waiting. Or so he told himself. He was a bit timid at the thought of moving he thumb into her. He rubbed his thumb up and down between the folds of her sex and felt the sides closing around his thumb. There was a slight suction which seemed to pull his thumb into her.

Max marveled at the heat and slickness that his thumb encountered inside of her. As he pushed his thumb deeper inside of her, he could feel the sides squeezing against him. They seemed to be pulsing as he thumb went deeper inside of her. He realized his fingers had slowed their motion outside and chastised himself for nearly stopping.

He again stroked that curious spot that seemed to make Skye tremble. He traced the sides and along the long folds again and again as his thumb sank deeper inside of her. His thumb was exploring inside of her, even as his fingers explored outside. His thumb was soon in as far as it could reach. Somehow he sensed there was something still to be found as he pulled his thumb slowly out of her. She whimpered as he did so he quickly plunged the digit back inside.

Max became aware of her hands on his head. Grasping his hair as he continued his exploration. He noticed she grasped particularly forcefully when he did certain things and whimpered when he stopped those things. He found that she particularly liked when he stroked his thumb in and out with a steady rhythm. But soon the awkward positioning was taxing him. It was hard to stroke with his thumb and the fingers from his position. He tried as she squirmed and tugged on his head, but he knew he would tire before she would.

His face was now a scant inch from her sex as her hands pulled him inexorably closer. He could see the flesh around his thumb pulling out and going in as his thumb stroked. The scent was almost overwhelming as he got ever closer.

Perhaps... He slowly withdrew his thumb from inside of her and quickly replaced it with two upturned fingers. The were only slightly wider than his thumb but the walls of sex held them quite tightly. She barely had time to mutter one whimper before his tongue slid out to replace his fingers on her nub. He didn't know what he was expecting to taste, but it was more powerful than he imagined. It was sweet, and spicy, and slightly salty. He didn't know if he liked the flavor but Skye evidently liked the feeling.

His two fingers were now pushing into her in a steady rhythm. He could feel her hips bucking, urging him to move faster. He continued to lick as quickly as he could as his fingers explored her in a steadily faster rhythm. His other hand reached up her body, stroking first her stomach and then reaching up towards her breast.

His hand reached further upward. He couldn't see her face as he continued licking and manipulating her sex, but his hand found her throat and then her jaw and he used his fingers to see her face. He could fell her pulse throbbing in her throat and her jaw opening and closing as he continued ever faster. He could feel waves of ecstacy pouring off of her and knew her cries were good.

He felt the tension building, and knew that something had to happen soon. He was quite curious as to what that might be.

 

[caela]

Skye could feel his uncertainty as his fingers moved over her and she was just as uncertain as he was. She didn't realize she was pulling his head closer to her sex until his head tipped and she felt the sweep of his tongue across her clit drawing a low cry from her throat. The fingers he had moving inside of her were sending spirals of pleasure out through her body that stole her breath and seemed to pool low in her belly.

She felt his free hand moving up her body and arche to it until it reached her face. When his fingers ran across her lips her head tipped slightly and she captured his index finger with her lips and started to suckle softly. She savored the salty taste of his skin as her tongue swirled around his finger and dipped her head down the length of the digit in time with the pace of his own fingers moving in her body.

The harder and faster he licked at her sex and his fingers moved in her the more she could feel that ball of pleasure in her belly growing. It seemed as if it was tightening inside her and when at last it exploded through her she cried out in shock and pleasure. Wave after wave of intense pleasure washed through her body making her tremble and shudder there on the bed under the manipulations of Max's tongue and fingers.

 

[only_more_so]

When Skye cried out he could feel her whole body tensing. He especially felt her sex clamp down on his fingers. He could barely move them inside of her. Max decided this was what he had been waiting for. He gave her one last lick and then moved up her body. He left his fingers buried inside of her as he went to lay along her side. He couldn't help giving her nipple a quick suck.

Her body still seemed to be shaking and eventually Max relented and slowly withdrew his fingers from inside of her. He could hear her gasping and the withdrawal and feel the walls clinging to his damp fingers.

He wrapped his arms around her, caressing her side and hip. Holding his chest against hers, and wrapping one leg over hers. He kissed her cheek lightly, waiting for the dazed look to fade from her face.

He wanted to ask if she was okay, but he knew that she was. So he hugged her tightly and gently kissed her cheek and neck and waited for her.