by M. D. Grimm
Aishe suddenly gripped my wrists and pulled my arms over my head. I instinctually fought but he kissed me slowly, lovingly, and I trusted him. I ceased my struggles. He stared into my eyes as he began to thrust slow and gentle -- at first. His pace soon changed, and I urged him on, lifting my body to meet his thrusts, wanting to be as close to him as I could. The sensation of being filled, of the stretching of my muscles, was so new and strangely satisfying.
"Come on, give it to me," I gasped. Oh, by the Mother, I was going to explode or be torn apart by all the sensations racketing through me. I never knew, how could I? Was this how Aishe felt when I was inside him? This feeling of completion, of belonging? The knowledge that he was inside me, claiming me, was overwhelming. No one had ever been inside of me -- not my heart, my soul, or my body. And now Aishe knew all three.
I jerked my arms out of his grip and wrapped them around his neck, kissing him with such wild passion that his thrusts became harder and bordered on painful. I wanted more. I never wanted him to stop. My hands tugged at his hair, and my hips lifted to meet each thrust. His lovely hands gripped my hips as he made me his with a ferocity I had never experienced.
"I'm...gonna..." I said in a strangled voice. Aishe gripped my dick with one hand and jerked it hard, making me come first. He came a second later, and I felt wetness, his wetness, inside of me. It was the most intimate feeling I would ever feel. He collapsed on top of me, and while most of my air was pushed out of me, I held him close, not wanting him to leave.
"That was your first time, wasn't it?" he asked softly. I knew what he meant.
"Yeah."
"Thank you," he said and kissed my cheek. I smiled and held him tighter.
I was drifting off to sleep when I realized my magick hadn't been unleashed. I had felt it stir inside me, and it had certainly risen and coursed through my veins, but my core remained shut. Did it happen only when I was the top? Did it really matter? Because that orgasm had been just as satisfying as the last one. I decided it didn't much matter and stroked Aishe's hair, intent on lying there until the world ended. Or until I needed to use the bathroom, whichever came first.
Chapter Sixteen
I woke up alone and stretched long and slow. I felt well- and happily-used and took my time dressing and combing my hair. I was sore, but instead of feeling grouchy about it, I smiled, glancing at my reflection in one of the few mirrors in my home. Mirrors had the awful ability to become a gateway to certain immaterial entities, and not all of them were nice. I enchanted any mirror I had, but the risk was too great to actually keep more than a handful. Though, I did have one room that was all mirrors, meant to drive the intruder insane and to have their spirit become lost inside of them.
I enjoyed my work far too much.
I walked out of my room and nearly ran into Grendela. She looked at me with those squinty eyes, and I frowned.
"Master," she rasped. "May I ask how long the dialen will be staying with us?"
Good question. "For as long as I want," I said, walking past her. "He will not be leaving anytime soon, and you had better tell the rest of your kin that. If one hair on his head is harmed, all of you will know pain."
I speared her with my eyes, and she jerked back. "Understand?"
"Yes, master." She bowed.
"Good." I left her and exhaled. Boygles weren't known for their inclusive natures. It would take a while for them to accept Aishe, and it was quite possible that would never happen. I just had to make sure they understood the consequences if they ever thought of harming my lover.
I sent my magick through my home and located Aishe. I smiled and shook my head. Of course he would find his way there. I walked down the corridor and turned to the room where the door stood wide open.
My armory was one of my bigger rooms. Weapons from every age, collected from Karishian and Earth, filled the space. The walls were covered with swords, lances, clubs, hammers, axes, and shields. Evenly spaced tables were loaded with daggers, knives, arrows, bows, and numerous other tools that were used to cause harm to an opponent. On one side of the room I even had some ancient and modern weapons from Earth, such as different types of guns, some grenades, and a genuine Civil War cannon. I loved those things.
All of this was guarded by spells, of course, and four huge stone guard dogs, which were currently giving Aishe kisses. I swallowed a laugh as they wagged their tails, making a strange grinding noise, and nosed into my lover's crotch while leaping up to lick his face. Aishe took it all in good spirit and scratched their stone ears. Without his pendant, he would have been shredded by the dogs' massive claws and vicious teeth. I really needed to adjust the spells to include Aishe pronto.
"Who said you could wander around by yourself?" I said, stepping inside. At my voice, the dogs all turned and barked, again with a grinding sound, and ran towards me. I lifted my hands and thought a word, and they all froze mid-leap. I stepped around them, and Aishe grinned, wiping his cheek of dog slobber.
"You did," he lifted the pendant. "I assumed this was an open invitation."
"I guess it is," I said, and my heart was light as I slipped my arms around his waist. He rested his arms on my shoulders as we kissed.
"But if you go wandering around by yourself, you rob me of the chance to play host. And to show off."
He laughed. "How awful of me. Okay then, I'll let you show me around." He looked around, and I felt his body tremble with excitement.
"I love this room. My hands are just itching to play with all of these." Aishe looked hungry, and I pulled away.
"Okay, then. Which one do you want first? Let's play."
With a passionate kiss that nearly blew the top of my head off, he ran over to a replica of an eighth century Viking war axe and tested it, swinging it back and forth. I stayed with his theme and grabbed a Viking lance, sheathing a Viking sword at my hip. All were replicas but well made. I'd commissioned them personally while on Earth.
"I have a room next door made for sparring. Let's go."
Aishe bounced out the door. Bounced. He was so fucking adorable. I knew where this play was heading. I unfroze the dogs and shut the door behind me. I walked to another door a short way down, and we both walked inside. It was about half the size of the previous room, with a tall ceiling, tall windows along one wall, and mats tossed in the corners. I had several of these types of room throughout Geheimnis, each used for different types of battle. One was specifically made for magick training with enough insulation that I wouldn't blow up my home.
Aishe looked impressed and shook his head in wonder. "How do you remember where all these rooms are? I could easily get lost in this place."
"You'll find your way," I assured him as we took our respective stances. "This is your home now. That is, if you want it to be."
Aishe's eyes turned to me and softened. "Of course I want it to be my home. It is yours, and I love it, just as much as I love you."
I grinned. "After this I should introduce you to my gargoyles."
His eyes widened. "Oh, well. That's okay, I don't have to --"
"Trust me." I swallowed a laugh. "You'll want to meet them. They have a great sense of humor."
"Uh-huh." I heard the doubt and lifted the lance, quirking an eyebrow. "Ready?"
His eyes became fierce, and he braced his body. "Ready."
We had never pitted our fighting abilities against each other, and I found it incredibly enjoyable. We never aimed to hurt or to kill, but neither did we take it easy on the other. Aishe was brilliant with the axe, and I found myself on the defensive more than the offensive.
"Don't take it easy on me!" Aishe demanded and swung the axe at my head. I ducked, turned, and used the shaft to sweep his legs out from under him. He anticipated me and jumped, bringing the axe down towards my shoulder.
I backed away and used the blunt end of the spear to jab at his stomach. He took the hit with grace and a gasp and kicked out with his foot. He hit my knee, and my leg buckled. He could have broken it, but I tr
usted him.
Trusted him.
It was so great to know that I could.
I held the shaft in both of my hands and blocked his downward blow before jerking backward, ripping the axe from his hand. I smashed the shaft into his chest and shoved him down on the mat tossing the spear away.
He grinned at me, panting and sweaty. "You told me not to take it easy," I said.
Aishe laughed and wrapped his arms and legs around me before kissing me. "I did. Thank you."
"You're very welcome." I kissed him back, hard, and gripped his hair, pushing him farther into the mat.
His hands were quick and ripped open my jacket, stroking and rubbing over my chest. I moaned and nipped at his neck, making him squirm.
"I didn't know you could do non-magickal fighting so well," Aishe said.
"There's a lot about me you don't know." I tugged off his tunic.
Aishe gripped my face between his hands, and his eyes were bright with love, lust, and mischief.
"Is that a challenge? Because I happily accept. I plan to know all about you very soon."
Instead of scaring me, his words excited me.
"Let the games begin," I said and ravished him. ***
"I never did learn who told Kayl about the stones," I said as I walked with Enfernlo through Vorgoroth. He was perched on my arm, and for some reason the forest seemed less dark; even the trees seemed to pick less fights than usual. "And about Aishe's tribe. And the others. Hell, I didn't even know those tribes had stones and that Master Ulezander gave Elissya a stone. How the fuck did he know?"
"Someone or several someones told him. I will look into it, rest assured."
I nodded but couldn't dwell on the negative for very long. "Do you know why my magick would rise up when, well, when I made love with Aishe? I never heard of it doing that before with any other mage."
"Not many mages would discuss such a thing," Enfernlo said. "It doesn't happen very often, and only when a mage has claimed a mate."
I stopped walking and eyed Enfernlo. "A mate? Seriously? Like wichtln or something?"
"Even more than that." He said. "Your souls have touched. You are now linked, more tightly than anyone else could ever be. Not many mages would allow that to happen. I'm glad you did."
I started walking again, trying to swallow that bit of information. Mate, huh? Souls touching? Heady stuff. The strange thing was, it didn't freak me out or scare me at all. It was intriguing, and puzzling, and oddly satisfying. Aishe was mine, and I was his, forever.
"Did I tell you he loves me?" I blurted and grinned, remembering all the times he told me and the many positions we found ourselves in while saying it. I never knew I was so flexible, or so adventurous. It happened to be two days since we arrived home, and Aishe and I had been joined at the...well, you-know-what, the entire time. I tried to give him a tour, several times, but we only managed to get to one or two rooms before one of us had to kiss the other, and that always led to something else.
It was morning on the third day, and I had to get some fresh air, but I was anticipating going back after I left Enfernlo.
"Yes, you did, about twenty times," Enfernlo said, sounding amused. "But I am still very happy for you, Lazur."
"I can still hardly believe it, En." I walked over roots and gazed happily at squirrels and ignored the bright eyes of the wichtln. "I woke up, and he was still there. It wasn't all a dream."
"Did you really fear it would be?" Enfernlo asked. I stopped and picked up a large leaf that had fallen to the ground.
"Yes, I did, actually. Not many good things have happened to me, and Aishe is one of the best -- if not the best. But now I have a problem."
"You always have a problem," Enfernlo said.
"I know, but this one is worse than all the rest." I dropped the leaf. "What if something happens to him? What if I can't protect him? I have enemies, Enfernlo. Other mages resent me, and then there are the kings north and south of me. I constantly have heroes trying to get rid of me; what kind of life is that for him?"
I turned to look at the payshtha, and he frowned, his eyes intent on my face. "He's my weakness, En. What if my enemies seek to use him against me? Should I let him go to keep him safe?"
Enfernlo stared at me for several silent seconds before speaking. "Would you let him go?"
"Yes," I said without hesitation. "If it was to keep him safe, I would let him go. I would sacrifice my heart to keep him safe."
"There isn't much chance of that, is there?" I spun around and frowned when Aishe came out from behind a tree, his bow and quiver slung over his shoulder. He frowned at me and looked angry.
"Enfernlo, could you give us a moment?" Aishe asked politely.
"Of course." The payshtha launched into the air, and I hated being caught having a private discussion with a friend.
"You shouldn't eavesdrop," I reprimanded.
"You shouldn't decide the fate of someone who can speak for themselves," he shot back.
I clenched my hands into fists. "You don't understand, Aishe. Do you know how important you are to me? Do you know what would happen to me, what I would become if you were harmed or killed? I couldn't bear that, Aishe. I would rather be separated and know that you are alive than to have your death on my conscience."
"You are not getting rid of me." His soft voice vibrated with fury. "I will not leave, no matter what you do. Don't you understand, Morgorth? It is always the ones left behind that are the most hurt. What do you think I felt when my tribe was murdered? How do you think I would feel if you died, and I couldn't save you?"
I had never thought of it that way.
"Do you respect me, Morgorth?" Aishe snapped.
I blinked in surprise. "Of course I do."
"Then prove it. Respect me enough to know I can handle myself. Respect me enough to stand beside me, not in front of me. That's love, Lazur. Fighting with the one you love, not shooting them off to the Mother-knows-where and making both of them suffer."
My shoulders dropped, my anger faded, and I just stood there before the dialen I loved, and spread my hands. "I'm scared, Aishe. I've only just found you, and now I could lose you. I can't let you die."
He walked to me and hugged me. I hugged him back and gripped his tunic. "I lost my tribe, Morgorth, don't make me lose you, too. I fear, just as you do, but we cannot live in that fear, we cannot always look for it and expect it. I just want to live with you, enjoy life with you. Can we do that, please?"
I closed my eyes and nodded. "You have to live, Aishe. I'd destroy the world if anything happened to you."
And I would. I would take the stones, and I would use them. Nothing would be left, and no one would stop me. I would be so caught up in my despair that I wouldn't allow anyone else to be happy. Everyone would have to be as miserable and as broken as I would be if Aishe was ever taken from me.
I would become the monster I so desperately did not want to be. Maybe that was the Mother's plan.
"Don't think about that, my love," Aishe stroked my back. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here, now, with you."
I nodded again, and we pulled back.
"Lord Morgorth!" Lansa screeched, coming to fly around my head.
"What?" I asked, and held out my arm. The bird landed but couldn't stop twitching.
"King Raskalin." Lansa continued to screech, making me wince. "He has sent an army, army. He sends it this way, this way. He marches five hundred strong, five hundred strong! He comes to destroy you, destroy you!"
Lansa flew away, and I sighed and rolled my shoulders. I looked at Aishe, who looked amused.
"Really? You made an enemy out of that arrogant ass?" he asked me.
I shrugged. "Yeah, you met his knight, remember? The one I sicced my truls on? Apparently he survived and ran back home. I sent a challenge. I should be happy the army didn't come before I got back home. I'll take care of this. Don't wait up; this might take all day and well into the night."
I began to walk to the southern end of
my forest, but Aishe grabbed my arm.
"We'll take care of this," he said and took his bow in one hand and his short sword in the other. "This is my home now, too. And I like watching you in action."
I smiled. His home. I bent my arm and held it out to him. He curled his around it, and together we went to defend our home.
