by Mirajane
I’d been walking for what felt like hours when I realized that the whole point of being a fairy was that I could fly. My heart raced in my chest with anticipation and I opened the menu, looking for the option to access my wings. There was no control for it in the main menu, so I reached behind and touched my back, feeling for any sign that they were there. All I felt was the soft fabric of my tunic.
“Come on,” I muttered, walking forward again. No tutorial for flying? How was I supposed to get anywhere in trees this tall if I had to walk the whole way? I didn’t even know if I was headed in the right direction. I resolved to give it one more hour. An hour to find a village or at least another player, and then I would suck it up and log off to ask Finn.
I wondered how far I had walked, glancing down at my aching feet. Whoever designed this game had made it frustratingly real, and I lamented the fact that I could still suffer fatigue in a virtual world.
As I pushed forward in the darkness, my eyes adjusted enough to see only a few feet in front of me, I heard the distinct sound of footsteps in the brush behind me. Freezing in place, I clenched my fists at my side. The fear I’d felt all day was definitely not paranoia. Someone was following me.
My eyes darted to either side of me and settled on a pathetic-looking stick, but since a twig was better than nothing I picked it up and swallowed back my fear, turning to face my pursuer. I peered into the darkness, unable to make out any shapes other than the towering trees.
“Finn! If that’s you I’m going to pound you!” I yelled at the empty space. But deep down I knew it wasn’t him. Why would Finn follow me around for hours without announcing himself?
I backed away from the direction the noise had come from with my hands tightly on the stick, scanning the forest until my eyes settled on a bright pair of yellow eyes.
Chapter Three
The creature ran from the cover of a tree; long claws protruding from its fingers. The word “goblin” came to mind as I took in its sallow green skin and long, pointed ears. It was shorter than me, with a rounded belly and long, clawed feet. In any other circumstance, I might laugh at the little monster, but my stick was no match for those talons.
The goblin picked up speed, and I faced forward so I could move faster. I felt the rush of wind when it swiped at my back, missing me by less than an inch. Forgetting that it was only a game, I screamed into the night, the terror nothing short of real.
I glanced over my shoulder to see how close the little monster was, my eyes widening when I found him right on my heels. My foot caught on a root and sent me hurtling toward the ground, panic seizing my chest. Snarling sounds left the goblin’s mouth as it bore down on me, and I screamed again.
Raising my stick, I prepared to strike, but it dodged my swing and swiped at my arm, sending a burning sensation across my skin as its claws ripped through my flesh. I stared at the blood gathering on my skin, waiting for the wound to heal. It didn’t, and the goblin was preparing for his next attack.
“Help!” I begged the empty woods, knowing there was nothing that could save me. I’d been traveling for hours and there hadn’t been a soul in sight. The beast lunged for me again and I scrambled back on my elbows, waving the stick at it. Hope escaped me as he swiped, again and again, marking my forearms with painful scrapes.
I yelled in frustration and raised my right foot, kicking the creature’s belly as hard as I could. It fell back with a grunt and I scrambled to my feet, running forward once more. My lungs burned in my chest and though I did not look back I could hear it chasing after me, its uneven stride snapping twigs and shuffling across the grass.
There had to be a better weapon somewhere. Or perhaps I could climb a tree. Can goblins climb trees? I supposed now wasn’t the time to find out. The last thing I needed was to get caught up in a tree unarmed and with no escape. Part of me wanted to surrender and try again when I respawned, but self-preservation spurred me on.
As I dodged trees and exposed roots, the thought occurred to me to log out to escape this embarrassing fate, but when I opened the menu the option was grayed out. Of course. You can’t log out in the middle of combat.
Rage burned inside my chest and I felt like the worst kind of coward. This little goblin was probably a level one monster, and it was going to kill me on my first day. My mind raced through every available option, but just when I was about to take my chances climbing a tree I stumbled into a small clearing.
The sound of trickling water floated on the air and I willed my feet to move faster. Where there was water, there might be rocks. I ran faster still, pumping my arms at my sides and flying over the dirt as fast as my legs could carry me. I was grateful that, though I had no weapon, I did have years of track to keep me going.
When I reached the stream I searched the bed for anything I could find to fight the monster back. Pebbles lined the bottom of the shallow water, none of them big enough to do me any good. Chest heaving, I turned to face my attacker. Backing into the stream, I crouched lower, ready for the attack. The goblin prepared to charge again when another movement caught my eye at the edge of the clearing.
My heart picked up and I feared it was a second monster, come to finish me off. There was no way I could handle two of these things at once. But the figure that emerged from the tree line was decidedly human, and he was headed straight for me.
Chapter Four
The monster’s gaze was fixed on me, completely oblivious to the shadow emerging from the woods. The dark figure hurtled toward us, a sword clutched in his hand. Squinting into the dark, I tried to make out the stranger’s features. He looked big; his stride too heavy to be female. I wasn’t sure if it was me or the goblin that he wanted.
A branch broke beneath the stranger’s foot, causing the beast to turn toward the sound. A terrible growl escaped its throat and it ran toward the intruder. I took a step forward as the man reached the goblin, his black cloak shielding his face and flowing out behind him. He raised his sword and brought it down in a diagonal slice, cutting through the beast in one fell swoop.
My chest heaved as I took in the sight before me, watching the goblin hit the ground in two pieces before his body disappeared in a foul black mist. I tried to catch my breath as my rescuer cleaned his sword on his cloak.
“Thank you,” I breathed, straining to see his face.
“Why didn’t you fight back?” His dark eyes flashed to me and he strode closer. I stepped back on instinct, my foot splashing in the water.
“I-I don’t have any weapons,” I shook my head.
“What do you mean you don’t have any weapons? We’ve been here for hours,” his voice was deep and husky. The closer he stepped the taller he grew, until he was towering above me, his square jaw set in a judgmental line.
“Yeah, well. We’re also in the middle of nowhere.”
The stranger chuckled, leaning back. “First time, huh?”
“No,” I glared at him.
“I wouldn’t go admitting that.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Where did you get that sword, anyway?”
“Item drop. All it took was a couple of goblins,” he shrugged. “Your friend there was a level two.”
“I don’t make friends with things that try to kill me,” I glared into the empty space where the goblin used to stand. I hated being made fun of, but facing his teasing was easier than facing certain death at the hands of a mythical creature.
He tapped his lips with his pointer finger. “And what do you do with people who save your life?” His eyes took on a mischievous glow.
“Don’t get a big head,” I rolled my eyes. “It’s only a game.”
“Fine. Guess I’ll leave you to it, then.” He nodded and turned to leave.
“Wait!” I reached after him, hating the pathetic tone of my voice. If he left me alone, I might meet another goblin. He turned back with a smirk. “I’m Avery,” I sighed, holding out my hand.
“Caleb,” he shook my hand once, holding back a laugh.
“A few miles from here, but still in the Sacred Wood,” he nodded.
“So we didn’t all start in the same place?”
He shrugged. “Guess not.”
I folded my arms as I looked at him. “And you don’t think that’s odd?”
“Everything about this game is odd,” he gestured to the stunning scene around us, though the beauty was marred now that I knew there were monsters lurking all over these woods. It was much more ominous in the dark. “Personally I think it’s exciting. Tutorials ruin all the fun.”
“So far, I’m not having any fun,” I scoffed.
“Maybe you should loosen up,” he smirked. I couldn’t control the blush that stained my cheeks, but I refused to give him the satisfaction.
“You couldn’t handle it,” I pursed my lips, surprised to find myself flirting.
“Oh, I doubt that very much.”
I bit my tongue in an effort to hide my smile. “You’re very forward, aren’t you?”
“I just enjoy watching you scramble.”
“What a gentleman,” I shook my head. Even in the darkness, he was undeniably attractive, with a broad chest and a good nose. I imagined he was even better looking in daylight.
“Who said I was a gentleman?”
I looked at him for a long time, taking in his broad shoulders and dark eyes. Everything he said made me want to run away, but all I could think to do was to take a step closer.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to scare me off?” I cocked my head, looking up at him.
“Plenty of things to be afraid of in these woods. But I’m not one of them,” his voice grew deeper, his gaze penetrating. For reasons I couldn’t explain, I trusted him. Shrouded in mystery as he was, I felt safe in his presence.
“Will you sit?” I gestured to the bank of the stream. “I have some questions.”
Chapter Five
“It’s strange,” I said, staring into the clearing as I sat on the bank beside him. “Even though it’s just a game, the danger felt so real.”
“The guy who designed it has been working on it for over a decade,” he nodded. “It’s more real than any other game on the market.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m no tourist. I’ve been looking forward to this game for a couple of years now.”
“Wow. And I thought waiting a few months was torture.”
He barked a short laugh. “You have no idea.”
He sat inches away from me, his proximity sending shivers through my body. This close, I couldn’t help but stare at him. His short, dark curls fell over bronze skin, the muscles in his arm hiding just beneath the surface. He turned his strong jaw to look at me and my eyes flashed to the ground, a blush staining my cheeks.
A knowing smile spread over his face. “You don’t seem the type to be a gamer.”
My eyes shot back to his. “Because I’m a girl?” I raised my brow at him.
“No. Because you were about to lose to a level two goblin,” he laughed.
My jaw dropped. “I didn’t have a weapon!”
“Neither did I, until I killed one of those things.”
I chuckled, wrapping my arms around my knees. “What do you want? A trophy?”
“A simple thank you would suffice.”
I looked him up and down, trying to ignore the way my heart pounded in my chest. “Thank you,” I breathed. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been so affected by a man. Finn had always been a playboy, but I preferred to keep to myself. No one ever looked at me the way they looked at my brother. The way Caleb was looking at me now.
“You’re welcome,” he smiled. My heart sped in my chest, pounding in my ears. His earlier comment about my needing to loosen up swirled in my mind. He didn’t know how right he was. I never took risks in the real world. Real world meant real consequences, but this wasn’t real. What could it hurt to try a little spontaneity? It occurred to me then that this was a chance to reinvent myself. Caleb had no idea who I was. In here, I could be anything I wanted to be. And just then I wanted to be closer to him.
“I’m not completely helpless, you know.” I leaned back in the grass, swallowing back my nerves as I watched the water flow.
“No?” He cocked his head.
“I’ve always been good at sports. But the virtual world is different. In the real world, I know exactly what to do with my body, but…” I trailed off, realizing the implications of my words too late. Another reason I had never been with a man. I was a terrible flirt.
“It’s different when all you have to rely on is your thoughts,” he nodded. I was grateful that he let my comment slide. His teasing only added to my nerves.
“Right. Nothing translates the same here.”
He turned to me then, his eyes following the length of my body. “You’re going to have to get a lot tougher if you want to make it in here, you know.”
My breathing spiked. “Excuse me?”
“Freyr’s world is no place for beginners. Alfheim will chew you up and spit you out if you can’t take charge.”
I stared at him for a long time, searching his face for answers he was not about to offer. One second he was kind and saving my life, and the next he was calling me weak. “I’m tougher than I look.”
He leaned in close until his face was only inches from mine. “Prove it,” he whispered. I knew he was daring me, but the curiosity was too much to bear.
Perhaps it was the adrenaline from the goblin attack or the excitement of stepping outside of my careful routine for the first time in my life, but all I could think about was his lips on mine. Before I could think better of it, I leaned in and kissed him.
His lips were softer than I expected for such a hardened man. A groan rose from deep in his throat and he put one hand on my face, kneading his lips harder against mine. My hands floated up to his curls and I pulled him closer to me, but I couldn’t get close enough. He pushed me back into the grass and swung one leg over me so he straddled me with his large form, his free hand settling on my waist.
His mouth traveled to my jaw, then down to my neck. Every touch set my blood aflame, and I needed him more than I’d ever needed anything in my life. Whoever I was in the real world disappeared, and there was just the two of us in the grass. Two bodies trying desperately to become one.
When his hands found the hem of my tunic my breath accelerated. No man had ever touched me like this, but I wanted him to have all of me. How I could trust a man I just met so implicitly was beyond me, but it was too late to turn back. He was about to claim my body and I had no intention of stopping him.
His fingers traced up my belly slowly, building the anticipation until he found my breast, rubbing his thumb over my nipple until it hardened, sending a spike of pleasure down my body that echoed between my legs.
“Please,” I whimpered, overcome with need. Every inch of my body became sensitive, his every touch sending currents of electricity across my skin.
“Tougher than you look, right? Tell me what you want,” he breathed into my neck. I arched my back and pressed my body flush against his, feeling his arousal against me.
“You. Now,” I panted, moving my hips against his. His hand left my breast and wandered down to the waistband of my pants, slipping under them easily. I was soaking wet by the time his fingers found my center, and I moaned as he kneaded the most sensitive part of my body. I clutched the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head, desperate to feel as much of his skin against me as possible.
He continued to caress my pussy as I writhed beneath him, certain I would self-destruct at any moment. My fingers fumbled for his belt, but I couldn’t focus long enough to get it off while his sensual assault continued. My body bucked beneath him, a slave to his touch.
“Here,” he chuckled, making quick work of his belt before he pulled my pants down to my thighs. Too impatient to undress further, he positioned himself and slid his length in
side me. I gasped as I embraced the sharp pain of his cock filling every inch of me, stretching me to capacity.
“Okay?” he kissed my jaw, already thrusting into me again. I nodded, biting his earlobe softly. He groaned, picking up the pace as he held his weight over me. I could feel the blood rush between my legs, making me even more sensitive. The passion built like a dam about to burst, but I couldn’t have prepared for what was about to happen.
He moved faster, claiming every single inch I had to give, his hips meeting mine with greater intensity until I could hardly breathe. The dam burst and my walls shuddered around him, my whole body exploding in a wave of pleasure like I had never known. He grunted, thrusting into me again and again to the point of pain.
“Yes,” I moaned, throwing my head back. His breath fell harder until he found his release, his chest heaving above me when he stilled, emptying into me. For a moment we both stayed still, taking in the aftershocks of pleasure.
“Holy hell,” he panted, pulling out of me and leaving me empty. He rolled over into the grass, both of us struggling to catch our breath.
The reality of what I’d just done began to sink in and I felt a moment of panic. Did I really just lose my virginity to a total stranger? Does virtual sex count as real sex? I didn’t know what could be more real than that. The questions plagued my mind as I lay beside him, staring at the starry sky above us.
He adjusted himself and buttoned his pants before rolling onto his side to look at me, a short laugh exiting his perfect lips.
“Shit, Avery. Who are you?”
Chapter Six
“I told you I was tougher than I look.” I kept my gaze on the sky, lifting my hips to get my clothes back on. I couldn’t explain the melancholy that was taking over my senses. The most intense pleasure I had ever felt gave way to the most questions I had ever asked myself.
