Don't Tempt the Phoenix

by CJ England

  Aithne worried about him as he worked. His thousand years would be up tomorrow and she could see he was exhausted. His blond hair was shot through with grey and his handsome face was lined. He moved much slower than normal, and his superhuman strength was muted. He’d explained in his human guise, he was able to maintain his strength better than in his bird form. If he became the Phoenix, he would barely be able to move.

  Still, she worried. He seemed to be intent on making her happy and comfortable here, and no matter what she said, it didn’t make a difference. She wanted him to understand it was he who made her world complete…not a house or nest.

  Finally, the little hide-a-way was finished. It was only the size of a small tent, but it had a roof and four walls and a soft cushion of moss for their bed, but in Aithne’s eyes, it was perfect. But instead of resting as she wanted, he immediately set to building the special nest of spices they would use for the renewing fire. Finally, only after it was finished, would he sit down to rest and eat.

  They feasted on nuts and berries and ripe fruit, some of which she had never seen before. Then they bathed in the pool to get all the stickiness off of them. Afterwards, she shooed Milcham back to the hut by himself. She had something very special to do for her handsome lover.

  —

  Reclining on the bed of moss he’d built, Milcham sighed heavily. Even though he hadn’t said anything to Aithne, he was about at the end of his strength. Each time before when he had needed the renewing fire, he’d been here, protected in his city. But this time, not only had he carried his mate-to-be half way across the world, he’d taken the time to see to her comfort as well. He didn’t begrudge her that. He’d just not considered the impact of how it would make him feel.

  He teetered between relief that the day of his rebirth was at hand and fear about what would happen. He knew he wanted to be his old self again and by this time tomorrow, he would be, but what would happen with Aithne in the mix?

  Oh, he wasn’t worried she was the wrong woman for him. Every beat of his heart proclaimed that she was his soulmate…his twin-flame. What concerned him, was he didn’t know what would happen once they entered the renewing fire. Would she make it through the fire? Would she become a Phoenix too? Could they have children of their own? Where would they live? Here in the city…or out in the human world?

  He sighed again. So many questions without answers. He knew Aithne trusted him wholeheartedly, and the fact he couldn’t tell her what would happen was part of what weighed on him so heavily. She was about to change her life for him, and he couldn’t tell her what her new life would be.

  He closed his eyes, smiling as he thought of her delight in seeing his home. Her reaction was all he’d hoped for. Her wide eyes and multitude of questions had made him re-look at his own world. Seeing it through her eyes was very enjoyable.

  Milcham frowned as he thought of the crude hut he now lay in. She deserved so much more. He wanted her to have everything. Silks and lace and the most beautiful home he could give her. As his mate, she would want for nothing.

  He heard a sudden sound and opened his eyes. All the breath in his lungs promptly disappeared.

  Aithne stood shyly before him. Her long black hair curled down over her shoulders and breasts and her emerald eyes shone with love for him. His mouth dried up completely when he saw what she was wearing.

  She had on the negligee Dawn had given her. The same green of her eyes, it was so sexy, his body forgot about being tired. His cock stood to immediate attention.

  It had a halter top with thin straps that led down to lacy sheer triangles that cupped her breasts lovingly. A tiny lace bow nestled at the bottom of her cleavage. The silk skirt draped smoothly over her hips, flowing like a green waterfall to pool at her small feet. The fabric parted into a slit that reached all the way up to the top of her thighs, where the lace of an even sexier thong peeked out.

  She circled slowly, showing him that the back draped low down around her hips so the sides allowed tantalizing glimpses of the curves of her breasts.

  “I thought I’d model your gift for you,” she said softly.

  Milcham tried to clear his throat, but it was too dry. “Ummm…thank you?”

  She laughed lightly and walking over to him, sank down next to his naked body. “Glad I packed that one suitcase?”

  Milcham suddenly realized this was why Aithne insisted on carrying the small bag with her. At the time he’d been annoyed, but now…looking at the bounty before him, he knew the extra weight was worth every extra flap of his tired wings.

  “You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said with utter sincerity. “You take my breath away.”

  Aithne blushed. “I wanted to be pretty for you.”

  He chuckled. “You’ve succeeded.”

  She bent and brushed her lips over his. “I’m glad.”

  He teased her lips with his tongue as he returned the kiss. “I was happy in this place before, but now…now I can’t even describe how I feel with you, here.”

  “I have waited my whole life for this.”

  “I waited my whole life…for you.”

  Aithne smiled. “I love you.”

  He grinned. “I figured you did when I saw the gown.”

  She giggled. “I have more than the negligee to give you.”

  Milcham raised a blond eyebrow. He traced a finger down her cleavage, enjoying the silky smoothness of her body. “Really? I’m very happy with this gift.”

  She shivered at his touch and smiled, unconsciously seductive. His groin heated in response. “I think,” she whispered as she bent over his prone body, “that you’ll like this as well.”

  He groaned as her lips touched the curve of his ear. “Aithne…”

  “Shhh.” She nipped gently at his earlobe. “You are tired and need your rest. Allow me to do this for you, my love. I want to.”

  Milcham groaned again as she moved over the top of him. Her silken gown slid over his heated body sensuously as she straddled him. Her lips moved down his throat, nibbling lightly on his collarbone, before moving back up his neck to his chin. She swirled her tongue over the roughness of his beard, and then captured his hard lips with her own.

  The taste of him always made her feel as if he was the one thing that could truly satisfy her. Dark and still smoky, his mouth teased her back with his forceful tongue and demanding kisses. For so long, she’d allowed him his way, but tonight…this last night she might ever have as a human, she would show him exactly how much in love with him she was.

  Tearing her mouth away before she was caught up in his special fire, she bent and traced her way back down his neck and shoulders to the hard plane of his chest. Lovingly, she kissed each muscle knowing they were tired not only from building the hut and nest, but from the long flight as well.

  His breath caught when her mouth hovered over his flat nipple. She breathed on it lightly and heard him groan as it hardened into a dark brown bead. Flicking out her tongue, she licked it, rewarded by a quick jerk of his body and another, even louder groan.

  Smiling, she nuzzled the dark male nipple, teasing it with gentle nibbles and swipes of her tongue. Soon, his hands came up and grabbed her hair as he tried to move her to the other side. She allowed it, giving his other nipple the same arousing treatment. His groans filled the small building and his enjoyment aroused her as well. She could feel the lacy crotch of her panties getting very wet.

  When she decided she wanted to move on, she reached up and untangled his fingers. When he protested, she shushed him. “Just wait.”

  Holding his hands down next to him, Aithne kissed her way down his powerful body. Down the center to the flat of his stomach and it’s shallow indentation. She swirled and sucked at it, feeling him move restlessly beneath her as his breath became shorter. She nibbled back and forth over his stomach to his sides, loving his shudders and groans. His erect cock bumped against her chin and her mouth watered with the urge to take him into her mouth.

&nbs
p; Milcham’s body was so tense he felt as if he might break in two if she touched him anymore. He wanted to roll her beneath him and drive himself deep into her welcoming body, his need was so great. A part of him prayed he would be able to keep the form of a man after the renewing tomorrow. The thought of being unable to make love to Aithne in this way, was unbearable.

  When she buried her face in his groin, he began to sweat. “Please, Assai…” he moaned. “I want you.”

  “There’s plenty of time for that,” she whispered. He hissed lightly as she kissed up the side of his jerking cock and down the other, being careful not to touch the sensitive head. “Until then, I want to make you burn.”

  His eyes began to glow. “I am burning. Right. Now.”

  “Not enough.” Her lips slid away from his throbbing erection and down his thigh. She bit the back of his knee and he swore when she laughed throatily at his reaction. “Hotter,” she murmured. “I want you ready to explode.”

  His mouth dropped open. She wanted him hotter? Any more and he would die. “I am already there,” he gritted out, squeezing her hands tightly. “Feel me? I’m ready to burst as it is.”

  She smiled at his words and licked her way back up to his groin. “I’m not ready yet. I want this to be perfect.”

  He groaned and laid his head back on the moss. “It is perfect. You are perfect!” He tried to free his hands when her mouth moved its way back up his erection and hovered over its weeping tip. “Damn it, Aithne. Suck me! I need you to put it in your mouth. Please.”

  Her heart swelled at his words. He was always so self-possessed; he rarely showed her his true need for her. Unless he was in the middle of a climax, he was usually in perfect control. But this time, she’d put him over the edge and she loved it.

  Their eyes met as she carefully licked at the broad head of his penis. It was covered in seminal fluid and dark red with frustrated need. At the first touch of her mouth, they both moaned. He tasted darker, here. More smoky. The taste like warm molasses. His hips jerked up, when her mouth enveloped him, as he tried to drive himself deep in her mouth.

  “I…love…you,” he panted, his eyes glowing a hot amber. “God, how I love you.”

  Her eyes misted, and she blinked rapidly, but never stopped the slow moves of her mouth up and down his cock. Every touch. Every flick of her tongue was intended to drive him to the brink of ecstasy.

  When his grip on her hands became almost painful, Aithne judged she had pushed him far enough. She gave his penis one last loving suck then allowed him to slip from her mouth.

  His eyes, which had closed with pleasure, now popped open. “No…Assai…please.”

  She smiled and licked her lips to get the last of his juices from them. His gaze followed her tongue hungrily. “Don’t worry, my love. I’m not done yet.”

  Never taking her eyes from him, she stood and then slowly shimmied out of the miniscule panties she was wearing. Then she pulled apart the folds of her gown and sank back down on top of his body.

  Milcham stilled as her heated mound came in contact with his throbbing erection. She leaned forward, putting her hands on either side of his head. His mouth watered when one of her lace covered breasts brushed his mouth. Moving quickly, he trapped it between his lips and sucked…hard.

  Aithne moaned above him, arching closer as he pleasured her with his mouth. Her warm folds rubbed up and down his engorged cock and he could feel her juices mingle with his own. His balls tightened and burned just at the thought of how it would feel deep inside of her. He switched sides and took the other breast into his mouth, treating it to the same delight as the first one.

  His hands went to her hips, and he began pushing the gown aside to get to her warm flesh. Little by little, until all that was covered were the breasts he was teasing. He removed his mouth and blew on each tip, watching as the pink berries hardened and begged for more.

  With a sharp tug, he pulled the beautiful negligee over her head and tossed it aside. The sudden movement pushed the head of his penis right to the entrance of her heated quim. Their eyes met again as he throbbed there, feeling the warmth of her channel beckon to him. She smiled and took his hands again, threading their fingers together and holding them next to his head. Then…ever so slowly…she began to ease her way down his turgid length.

  She was so hot, so ready, it was like sliding into hot, sweet honey. Her yoni pulled at him, teasing him even hotter as he groaned out loud. She moved inch by inch, so slowly he wanted to grab her by the hips and pull her down onto him, but his arms were too heavy from the exquisite feeling of being inside of her.

  At last, she took him all the way inside of her and they panted together, both luxuriating in the feel of each other’s body. Then, just as slowly, she began to move.

  She lifted herself up off of him, almost to the tip of his throbbing length. Then…she eased herself back down again. She did it again, and then again, until Milcham was wild with need for her. His cock ached to drive itself deep inside of her, and when she lifted up off of him a fourth time, he couldn’t take any more.

  Jerking his hands free, he grasped her by the hips and thrust himself up into her, grinding his hips against her wet mound until she cried out his name. His eyes went to solid gold as he slammed her up and down on top of his burning cock. When she screamed and he felt her quim clench down on him like a silken vise, he shouted out his desire as well and exploded deep within her.

  Their climaxes seemed unending as the tremors moved like heated lightning through their bodies. Lights and music and colors danced behind their eyes, until Aithne collapsed on his chest, her body still shivering from the strength of her orgasm.

  Shakily, he put his arms around her and kissed her sweat-dampened hair. “That,” he growled, “was worth every cent you paid for that gown.”

  She giggled against him. “Just when I didn’t think it could get any better.”

  Grinning, he rolled them, so she now lay beneath him. “Each time is amazing, Assai…we both know that.”

  She stroked her finger over his hard chest, idly tracing his tattoo. “It may be the last night we have together as humans.”

  He frowned. “And does that worry you?”

  She immediately shook her head. “No, not really. I’ve tried to tell you it doesn’t matter where we are as long as we are together. And I guess it doesn’t matter what we are. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d miss making love to you.”

  Milcham kissed her gently. “I know. I will miss this too, but if we do both become Phoenix, then we can still join together. That will never change.”

  She nodded and peeked up at him from under her lashes. “Does it make me a bad person to pray we can keep these forms?”

  He laughed. “No. I have asked for the same thing. I hope we can both change from Phoenix to human as we choose. I also hope we can live in the human world and come back to my…our city when we want to.” He grinned and his eyes turned smoky again. “Perhaps…when the children come.”

  Aithne blinked back tears. “You too hope for children? Really? We never really spoke about it.”

  He nuzzled her neck. “A girl with your eyes? A boy with your smile? How could I not want this?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I want a boy that looks just like you, and a girl who has amber eyes.”

  Milcham’s heart pounded at the thought. “Perhaps…if we are blessed…Yahweh will give them all to us.” He moved within her, feeling himself stirring as he spoke. “And we can practice making them tonight.”

  She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. “Yes. More practice, please.”

  Suddenly Milcham caught sight of something that hadn’t been there before. “Look Assai”, he smiled. “The Lord has brought us some wine to celebrate our homecoming.”

  Aithne twisted in his arms to see a decanter of ruby red wine and two tall goblets. “How wonderful.”

  Milcham pulled away slightly and poured the two glasses. Then he handed one to her, tapping his gla
ss against hers gently. “To the beginning of our life together,” he murmured. “And to our love.”

  Aithne smiled. “May it stand strong and last forever.” They sipped the wine, never taking their eyes off each other.

  “Now…where were we?” Milcham growled as he took the glasses and put them with the decanter. He pulled her back into his arms.

  “About here,” she answered throatily, as their lips met again.

  —

  And somewhere…evil smiled.

  Chapter Twenty

  Milcham came suddenly awake with the knowledge something was wrong. He sat straight up and glanced around the hut. He saw nothing and Aithne lay sleeping soundly next to him, but he still couldn’t shake the feeling. Easing out from under her limp arm, he stood and walked naked to the door of the hut. As soon as he stepped outside, he knew why he’d been awoken.

  To the east, a pale light could be seen. It painted the night sky with misty fingers of light and Milcham’s eyes widened in horror.

  It was the rising of the sun.

  What had happened? Normally, his internal clock awoke him well before the event. He still had time, but this was cutting it close.

  Whirling around, he staggered to where Aithne still slept. He bent and kissed her, but she didn’t stir. Smiling, he kissed her again. They had made love twice, both falling asleep almost before they finished the second time. His poor lady was worn out.

  When she still didn’t move, he shook her gently. “Aithne…wake up. It is time.”

  Her eyes didn’t even flutter. Frowning, he shook her again, but still nothing. His heart began to pound in sudden worry. Lifting her, he tried harder. “Assai…it is time to get up. We must get to the nest.”

  Her head lolled to the side, but she didn’t move at all. No blinking of the eyes or stretching in his arms that would signal she was there and ready to face the day. No sweet smile to make him feel as if it was him and him alone, she awoke for.