The Academy Volume One

by Maxine Mansfield

  He was male beauty personified. His eyes gleamed with a predatory light and his lecherous grin told plainly his intent.

  The taut muscles of his chest and torso glistened with a golden sheen, and his nipples pebbled before her eyes. Briar licked her lips in anticipation of the moment he would lay her down, of the moment he would thrust his cock deep into her pussy and fuck away the worries of the day.

  Uthiel grinned as he slowly ran his hand down his body before encircling his mouth-watering cock. Briar watched, mesmerized, practically drooling. Her nostrils flared, her belly contracted in a spasm, and her pussy vibrated with need.

  Lost in a sexual haze, she hadn’t realized Uthiel had picked her up until she landed gently on the bed. Every patch of her skin his hot, hard body touched sizzled with expectation

  “Mmm,” she moaned, her mind blank except for the feel of Uthiel’s tongue as it plunged deep within her own mouth and started a slow, deliberate exploration. Spirals of delight shot down her throat, landing square in her belly, before traveling all the way to her toes.

  She wiggled her hips in desperation, impatient for what she knew this man could give.

  Uthiel chuckled, “Not yet, my lady. This night is like Yulemass, and I feel like a child again. You, my lady, are better than the best shiny new toy. I do believe I could play with you all the night through.”

  She moaned once more in response.

  Was it his tongue or his fingers that had just grazed her nipple, teasing and cooling her heated skin? She almost opened her eyes to see, but the effort was too great. Arching up to meet him more than halfway, Briar sought his touch and sighed, “Uthiel?”

  “Yes, love?”

  She felt his words through the tender place below her breasts where his lips now tormented and tantalized. His tongue dipped and delved into her navel, and she forgot what she was going to ask.

  In fact, Briar forgot all manner of things. Time and place lost all meaning. All that mattered was this man and what he was doing to her, with her, for her.

  Ever so slowly, he slid down her body, his tongue blazing a trail of liquid heat. Even before he parted her thighs, Briar was ready for what she knew was coming. Her pussy throbbed with a force matching the waterfall surging outside the room.

  He flicked his tongue and captured her clit, and a jolt of sweet surrender rocked her to the depths of her very soul. Her entire frame shook with it.

  He didn’t wait, however, for the quaking to subside or her breathing to slow before once more seeing to his task.

  Briar took in one huge gulp of air, and held it as his tongue made glorious laps around her clit, suckling, nipping, and teasing. Her legs shook with weakness, her heartbeat doubled, and her mind went fuzzy.

  Oh my god…if this is how he is going to play with me all night long, I’ll never survive ‘til morning.

  And if she thought he was playing before, a moment later she gasped as he showed her the true meaning of the word. His tongue delved deeply into the recesses of her pussy, to an in-and-out rhythm Briar relished. Her toes curled and even the top of her head tingled as she strove to match his rhythm.

  Once more, he latched onto her clit. Uthiel suckled like a man long devoid of drink, and Briar was life-sustaining water from the heavens.

  She squirmed and wiggled, loving what he was doing, but at the same time impatient for the feel of his cock deep inside her.

  He showed her no mercy.

  “Uthiel, I…I can’t take…anymore. You’re torturing me―give me what I need,” she shrieked.

  His chuckle against the lips of her pussy sent tiny spasms of bliss rocketing outward in every direction.

  “There’s a fine line between ecstasy and torture, my lady,” he whispered. “I haven’t crossed it-yet.”

  She shuddered, “Ah, yes…right there. Oh my God Draka, that, that feels so good.”

  Her next spasm shook her to the core, but Uthiel didn’t slow his onslaught. His tongue caressed the center of her pleasure and suckled through her orgasm as his hand fondled the inside of her thigh and a single finger slid deep within her pussy, stroking, caressing.

  She was going to die, she was sure of it. No one could endure this much pure pleasure and not. Every fiber of her being was screaming, every muscle taut. Any moment now her heart would burst into a million pieces.

  She spasmed over and over and over until she lost count and almost consciousness, and still he did not cease.

  She didn’t even have breath left to beg for the end to come. She didn’t wish it to, anyway. If this was going to kill her, then this was the way she wished to spend her last moments on Albrath.

  In this man’s arms, being loved this way.

  When at last Uthiel slid back up Briar’s body and wrapped her within his embrace, she slipped closer and closer toward welcome, exhausted slumber.

  “I’m not done with you yet, my lady, but I will grant you a few moments’ reprieve.”

  Not done with her yet? What a lovely sentiment.

  “Mmm,” she breathed. If Briar had her way, Uthiel Stoutheart would never be done with her.

  She burrowed closer into his embrace, determined to close her eyes for no more than a moment before demanding he finally put out and give her his cock and the fucking she deserved.

  She grinned before slumber overtook her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  She woke with a start as Uthiel’s arms tightened about her. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  His chuckle rumbled through his chest.

  “Break time is over, my lady. Back to business.” He positioned her lengthwise on top of him, parting her legs. Slipping deep into her still-moist pussy, he sighed contentedly, “Your turn to do the work, my sweet. Just rock your hips, nothing else. Slowly, ever so very slowly.”

  She was numb. Though his thick, hard cock slid easily deep inside her, the inner lips of her pussy and her clit were still too swollen and desensitized by Uthiel’s earlier administrations to feel much of anything.

  Heat burned her cheeks as she attempted to explain her discomfort. “Uthiel, I don’t think this is going to work. I can’t feel my…well, you know what I mean.”

  He cradled her closer and laughed, “Give it time, my lady, and trust me on this. Have I ever led you astray?”

  She shook her head against his chest. Doubt filled her mind, but she rocked her hips as he had instructed anyway. Knowing that even if she got nothing for herself out of this encounter, it would be enough if Uthiel experienced even a moment of pleasure. She couldn’t afford to pass up the opportunity to at least try and bring him to orgasm.

  At first she really didn’t feel much of anything, but after a few moments, where her body met Uthiel’s, friction built against her clit. With every downstroke, his cock rubbed a tantalizing trail of tingles along the sensitive muscles inside her pussy.

  After Uthiel’s earlier performance, there couldn’t possibly be another orgasm left in her, could there? But the pressure spread, and her breath came in quick spurts while her insides throbbed and―

  Oh my, does this feel good.

  She pounded her pelvis against his, striving to increase the speed.

  Uthiel wouldn’t allow it. “Easy, sweet Briar.”

  Sweet Briar? To VoT with sweet Briar. She didn’t want sweet. She wanted fast and hard and hot, and this slow pace wasn’t getting her there.

  She had to go faster. She would simply detonate from the need if she didn’t, but Uthiel wouldn’t allow it, and Briar almost screamed her frustrations. The evil man controlled her every movement. Never letting her sit up, never letting her rush, assuring the pressure stayed directly on her clit and nowhere else at all times.

  She still wanted him to have an orgasm too, she really did. But if he didn’t move his ass soon, she was going to kill him before he got the chance.

  Sweat slicked their bodies and the satin sheets below them swished to a rhythm of their own.

  The still sane part of Briar’s mind re
alized Uthiel was encouraging her with soft words of love while he stroked her bottom and nuzzled the responsive skin behind her ear.

  She didn’t want his encouragement. What she wanted―no, needed―was to be thoroughly fucked.

  Just when she’d lost all patience with this slow pace, it finally happened.

  The orgasm took her by surprise. Her pussy came alive with a gusto that shocked her. Never had the throbbing been this intense. Never had the need been this deep. Never had she exploded with such sweet abandon.

  With joy, love, and total bliss, she shouted Uthiel’s name and collapsed on top of him. Tears of relief stung her eyes.

  He gently rolled her off his cock and sheltered her in his arms. “Now you may sleep for a time, my lady. May your dreams be as sweet as your body.”

  Her tears started anew. Uthiel had lovingly and graciously given her two wonderful orgasms, but no matter how hard she tried, he still hadn’t had one of his own.

  ****

  Mist swirled and Briar grimaced in her sleep, waiting for Carnelian’s voice. It wasn’t long in coming.

  “Our destinies are intertwined, Healer. Yours, mine, and the paladin’s.”

  She shook her head, “I know, I know, Carnelian. You’ve told me. But why do you continue to speak in riddles? Just tell me plainly what it is you want and what I’m to do.”

  “Love him, half-elf, half-human female. Love the paladin and we all may yet be saved in the end.”

  “I do love him, Carnelian, with all that I am.”

  The voice sighed.

  “Then the time of waiting is close to an end.”

  Briar reached for Uthiel, searching, but he wasn’t there. Panic filled her, her chest tightened, and she couldn’t catch her breath. She sat up and looked wildly around the room.

  Then she saw him.

  Leaning against the railing of the balcony outside, with his back to her, was the love of her life. Her Uthiel.

  She released the breath she’d held, and fresh, sweet air filled her lungs.

  She wanted to join him, but she was stark-assed naked, and her tunic was missing. Not that she minded Uthiel seeing her without a stitch on, but they were in a city, after all. He, at least, wore his breeks.

  She climbed out of bed and paused to drink in the sight of him. The sun’s rays glistening off of his bronzed shoulders warmed her pussy and it throbbed all over again.

  The desire to go to him―to wrap herself in his strong arms, to kiss his wonderful lips, to drop to her knees, free his cock, and give it special good-morning attention―almost overcame her modesty.

  Almost.

  Briar glanced around the room. She could wrap the satin sheet around herself, but it was so very big. Spying Uthiel’s shirt lying on the floor, she smiled. That would do.

  The scent of warm, familiar musk filled her nostrils as the shirt slipped over her head. She caressed it down her body as if it were his hands upon her, and hugged it about herself. Her nipples tightened as the fabric slid over them, just as Uthiel’s tongue had the night before.

  The weight of something in the left pocket caught her attention. Reaching in, Briar wrapped her fingers around a smooth, round, and incredibly warm object. She opened her hand and gasped.

  A stone. Not an ordinary stone, but the most beautiful, extraordinary thing Briar had ever seen. Like a drop of rain suspended in time, or the tear of a magical creature, plucked from its cheek and hardened, forever captured in the form of a gemstone.

  The jewel was white, and yet…not. Nearly translucent, actually. Ribbons of all the shades of red fire danced within. It pulsed with a heat of its own, as if it were alive.

  Turning it back and forth to catch the very best light, a form appeared inside the stone. A dragon spreading its wings, preparing for flight. Yet as quickly as the dragon arrived, it was gone, replaced by a light show of rainbow-colored shooting stars.

  She brought it to eye level, marveling at the play of light and fire. She rolled it between her fingers, caressing it, turning it, testing its weight and hardness, mesmerized by the color show.

  Without warning, a fissure of brilliant blue light formed down the middle, and the stone broke in half.

  Briar’s breath caught in her throat as she held the two pieces in her hand. Uthiel’s beautiful jewel-she’d ruined it!

  What had she done? And what was she going to do now? Tears filled her eyes and sorrow filled her heart.

  Uthiel walked into the room. “Briar?”

  She couldn’t hide her distress or the tears coursing down her cheeks. Nonetheless, she averted her gaze in a valiant attempt.

  “My lady, what is wrong?”

  She lifted her eyes, her heart breaking in her chest. Slowly she opened her clenched hands.

  “I only wanted to look at it, I swear. I’m so sorry. I don’t know how it happened, but I broke your beautiful stone.”

  Uthiel stared for so long, Briar was afraid he was going to pass out from shock. He gaped at the stones, then at Briar, then the stones, then back at Briar, then the stones again. He coughed, sputtered, gulped deeply―

  And grinned.

  Oh my God Draka. What had she done? What was this stone to Uthiel that the breaking of it had turned him into some kind of a mindless idiot?

  Briar burst into tears. “I…I…I really am sorry. I ruin everything I touch. I don’t understand why I can never seem to do even the simplest things right.”

  Uthiel wrapped her in his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and sighed softly into her hair. “My sweet Briar, you didn’t ruin anything. The stone was meant to come apart. Someday I’ll tell you the whole story of the stone, but for today I’ll simply say the Dragon Heart Opal is…special.

  “When you held the stone and it split, a link was formed between us, a bond so to speak. I’m glad it happened. Really, I am.”

  Briar sniffed. Was he just being nice about her latest bumbling mistake, or did he really not care that she’d broken it?

  The two halves of the stone grew warm in her hand and pulsed with an energy. She almost dropped them.

  “Briar, I must go away, but only for a short time. Have no doubt, though, I will return. And just to prove to you I’m not upset, I’ll leave half of the stone here with you. You know, for safekeeping, we could call it,” he chuckled.

  Fear infused her and Briar stiffened. “No, Uthiel. Don’t go,” she pleaded. “I have a very bad feeling about this. I’ve been having the strangest dreams. Please don’t go.”

  He sat down on the bed and lifted Briar onto his lap.

  “Do not fret, my lady. I simply must travel to my home to deal with…family matters. I’ll be back before you even have a chance to miss me. Remember, we have a date for Sarco’s family’s summer festival, and we certainly wouldn’t want to miss that.”

  Her heart pounded, and tingles of apprehension had the small hairs on the nape of her neck standing at attention. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she fought to contain them. “I don’t believe you. You’re going after that dragon again, aren’t you?”

  He hugged her. “Don’t be ridiculous. Family business, Briar, that’s all it is, really. Even though my father and I are on opposite sides of the dragon issue, I’m still his son. When he calls, I must go.”

  Briar sniffed and wiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of Uthiel’s shirt, her fears warring with the explanation Uthiel had given her. Did she believe him? Could she? Did she even have a choice? “If you must go, then take me with you.”

  Uthiel looked at the floor, but not before she saw sadness cloud his eyes.

  “I would if I could, my lady, but, alas, that isn’t possible. I don’t expect you to understand why, but I ask you to accept that I simply can’t.”

  He caressed her damp cheeks, and she saw the regret in his eyes. “Anyway, your father would be hunting my hide if I was to take you away for the summer. It’s his time to have you home. I’m sure your family misses you very much, Briar.”

  He might not
be lying to her, but she knew he wasn’t telling her the whole truth either. What was she going to do about it, though? She couldn’t become a harridan and demand he take her with him, and she couldn’t sit idly by and just watch him walk away and into danger.

  She made up her mind. She would let him go for now, but at the first hint something was wrong, Uthiel Stoutheart was going to find Briarlarn Tumbleweed on his doorstep, wherever that doorstep may be.

  She handed him one half of the Dragon Heart Opal and clutched her half in her hand. Briar gloried in its warm pulse. It matched perfectly the beat of Uthiel’s heart and the heat of his wide, warm chest beneath her cheek. It comforted her as nothing else could have.

  “You promise you’re only going home and nowhere else, and you’ll be back before the start of the summer festival?”

  Her half of the stone suddenly pulsed faster as Uthiel stiffened slightly. “As God Draka is my witness, my lady, I swear I’ll return to you as soon as what I need to do is done, and not a turn of the hourglass later.”

  So, the change in the pulsing of the stone proved it really was somehow connected to Uthiel. He was definitely leaving something out of his explanation, based on his increased heart rate and the stone’s matching pulses.

  “Hmm.” She glared at him, but then he kissed her. The half of the Dragon Heart Opal she held literally hummed with contentment once his lips met hers.

  Briar smiled and relaxed against him a little. The stone could give her at least a hint about when Uthiel was happy, when he was distressed…or possibly even when he was in danger? Likewise, she would also know when he was safe. Perhaps she could watch him walk away and not worry overmuch for his well being. Not unless the stone indicated she should.

  She playfully kissed his chest. “You wouldn’t have time for a little going-away present, would you?” She wiggled her bottom against his lap and grinned as she felt his cock leap to life.

  Uthiel pretended outrage, although his laugh gave him away. “Well, I wouldn’t call it little…and here I believed I’d done such a stellar job last night, you’d barely be able to walk this morning, let alone be demanding…more.”

  Briar laughed, “There’s no telling how long I’m going to be deprived of that fine cock of yours so, my rescuer of fair maidens, do your duty and ease my distress.”