Chapter 5
A Timely Encounter
The courtyard was quiet when Taja woke. Looking around, she could tell that the rest of her work would be easy, although she would need to be quiet as long as there was light. Her fingers began working on the mortar, the scratches and cuts immediately bleeding as she dug. Taja didn’t notice the pain; her mind was focused on her work.
Occasionally, she would break and watch the little activity in the area. It was dull. However, she had to rest her fingers as they became less efficient as they cramped.
The sun passed overhead and set. The young woman barely noticed the beauty of the sky as she worked another brick out of the wall. She planned to return everything to its place once she finished, if she got out. The work had given her a purpose, so she wanted to give the next occupant the same opportunity, the same hope. It was better than sitting in silence waiting for the inevitable. She had no idea if it was common for those in the cell to be condemned to death or if it was just a place for them to rot, but Taja felt everyone should have a chance. She was not the first and knew she would not be the last to be misjudged by a broken system.
The dark of night set in, but her mind was consumed by her task. Without realizing the time or her surroundings, Taja pulled out the last bar. Her eyes flicked over to the guards, who were talking and laughing a long distance from her. Pushing the stone through the gap and to the side, Taja grabbed the bars on either side of the opening and attempted to pull herself out. It was difficult, but her work in the stables had made her strong. Her chest was already through when she heard a low voice near her.
“And what have we here?”
Her head snapped up. Leaning against the wall was the stranger. Expecting him to call to the guards, she froze.
“Are you stuck?” He leaned over and looked at her. “Here.” He offered her both hands. Taja looked at him unsure what she should do. He moved his hands a little indicating she should grab them.
When she still did not move, he asked, “Would you prefer I pull you out?” Without waiting for her response, he leaned over, placed his hands under her arms, and pulled her free. “I would pat the dust off, but…” he gave her a sheepish look.
Taja looked at him, her mind blank. The only thing that she could do was turn to the wall.
“Are you going back in?” His voice expressed the confusion he must have felt.
“I have to cover it.” Her hands worked the bars back in and replaced the bricks.
“Ah, here.” He gently pushed her to the side and finished the job much faster than she could have done with her fingers.
As soon as he was done the man turned to look at her. “I’m guessing you are going to need somewhere to go? Or will you be able to go home?”
Taja looked at him. She really hadn’t thought too much about what she would do. At some point she would need to pick up some things from the house where she had lived for the last few years, but her mother was likely up at this hour.
The stranger watched her as Taja thought about it. “That is enough of an answer. Come on, you can stay with me.”
Taja’s eyes darted over to the guards. Surely they noticed all of the movement – it’s not like she and the stranger had been still. She turned to look at the stranger, who had stopped walking and was looking at her. He held out a hand. Without any other plans, Taja felt the safest option was to go with him. Whatever he had planned had to be better than being executed, which was her fate if she stayed here or got caught by her mother. Stretching out her hand, the young woman took his hand. His smile was so gentle as he gave her hand a little squeeze. Before she knew it, they were walking out of the courtyard. No one stopped them or asked the man what he was doing there so late at night.
The man led her through some streets that she had not used in more than two years. Not since she had stopped being the toy of the men who lived in this area. It was strange to be back here. Taja placed her other hand on his and drew a little closer to the man. Surprised, he turned to look at her. Carefully he slipped his hand out of hers and placed it on her shoulder.
“You must be cold. Would you like for me to carry you?”
Taja looked up at him and paused, unsure what the proper response was. As she deliberated, the man smiled, “Alright.” His actions were quick as he picked her up.
As soon as she was in his arms, the man’s pace quickened. It wasn’t long before they reached a large home, one that had been vacant when she had last been in this part of town. No one knew who the owner was then, but she had heard rumors that it belonged to an important diplomat. Taja’s eyes moved up to the man. That would explain a lot. He looked down at her with a friendly smile as he opened the door and walked inside.
“There. You are safe for now. And don’t worry, I’m not going to ask about what happened. However,” he turned to look at her, “when was the last time you ate?”
Taja looked at the ceiling, “Um, I don’t remember.”
He lit a candle. Taja tried to see how he did it because there were no matches nearby. If he could light the candle without aid, that meant he was a wizard. Perhaps he was both a wizard and a diplomat. The stranger certainly seemed elegant enough to be either.
He walked back toward her. “Do you mean you don’t remember when you ate today, or it’s been enough days that you don’t remember when you last ate?” The concern in his eyes was real. She couldn’t help but notice that his eyes stayed on her face, never once flicking to her doll-like figure.
“Days,” she said looking down. Taja was accustomed to men leering at her and treating her like a possession – that was easy to deal with. What this stranger was doing was unnerving. The only person who treated her with such care was Braylon. She had trouble talking to him at first too, almost like her mouth could no longer work as soon as there was something at stake beyond survival.
“Good gods! What kind of a civilization starves – never mind. I’ve seen enough to know that this place does not qualify as being civilized. Come.” He took her hand and led her through several rooms. Stopping in front of a chair, he pointed. “Please sit down and I will make something for you.”
Taja stood there looking at him as he leaned over the oven. Soon there was a roaring fire and the man was busy breaking eggs into a skillet. “I can do that,” she murmured, stepping over toward him.
He turned and gave her a sad smile, “No, you need to relax. Although,” he paused, “there is fresh water in that.” He pointed to a basin resting a little distance from the stove. “If you give me a moment, I will warm it up.”
Taja wanted to do something besides stand there, but she didn’t know what else she could do. The man was quick. Before she knew it, the eggs were finished and he had toast for her too. She didn’t remember him placing the bread on a skillet.
He went over to the bucket and moved around a bit. “Okay, come here and wash up before you eat. The food will still be plenty warm when you finish,” he added, seeing her hesitation and the way her eyes darted toward the food.
She stepped over and looked at the water. He reached out and pulled her forward. The man dipped her hands into the water and started scrubbing her clean. He was very gentle as he worked over the cuts and scrapes covering her fingers and hands. “That must have hurt,” he murmured. “I wish I would have known sooner. You would have walked out of the door the same day.” Taja watched him as he focused on tending to her hands. Once he was finished, he stood.
“Hold up a minute,” he said as she started to turn to the food. Suddenly a cloth was in her face removing some of the dirt. “There. Much better. I’ll get a bath ready for you while you eat.” He gave her a little nudge toward the food. “Go ahead. I promise it’s fine.”
With that he left the room. No longer caring about the fact that she didn’t know him or his reasons for helping, Taja moved over to the food. Whatever he wanted, it would never be enough payment for what he had done for her.
Despite her hunger, Taja ate the food as slowly as she had eaten at the table of lords and nobles. Several times she closed her eyes as she savored the taste of the food. There was something in the flavoring that was unlike anything she had eaten before. The young woman had no doubt that the man was from a foreign land. Everything about him was stately and mysterious, from the way he looked to the way he prepared the food. Simple eggs and toast had never seemed so elegant. The fact that she had been starved was not the only reason the food tasted so good.
The stranger came back into the kitchen. His eyes met hers as she took a bite of egg. Licking her lips, she gave him a shy smile. “Thank you.” Her eyes tried to read something about the man, anything that would give her a hint as to why he would help her when no one else would. There were so many questions, but she felt it was rude to ask.
He gave her a genuine smile. “It was my pleasure. I suppose I should introduce myself. It would have been better if you didn’t get too close, but I suppose it is too late for that now. My name is Phelan.” He bowed to her. “I am only here for another day or two as my business here is nearly complete. But I am glad that I did not leave this morning as I had originally intended.” His eyes watched her as she ate. “When I found out about a petite woman who assaulted a stable boy, I really didn’t need to see who it was. In my time, I’ve only known a handful of people with luck as abysmal as yours. If you have time today, I would be interested in hearing what happened. You don’t seem like you would be strong enough to break a boy’s nose.”
Taja looked down. “I used a shovel. And the last few days have been considerably worse than my normal experience.”
His laugh was like music, and her eyes immediately looked at him. “I’m glad that I was of use, then.”
“Yes, you saved my life twice.”
He smiled at her, “And your honor once.”
Taja looked at him, somewhat confused. Then she remembered about the tavern. Immediately she bit her lip. “I have no honor.”
There was a pause, then he walked over to her. Taja knew that meant he realized she was not the pure creature he had taken her for when they met. He would now see a new option, and she knew that it would not be enough to repay him. Phelan’s finger was under her chin, tilting her head to look him in the eyes. “Just because you have had a difficult life does not mean you do not have honor. I saw you trying to do the right thing, and I know that sometimes the right thing is the lesser of two evils. Sometimes honor is nothing in the face of survival. Honor is about making the right choice when you have the luxury of a better option.”
Taja’s mouth was open a little as she heard the beautiful stranger talking. There was something in his eyes that showed a depth that she would not have believed – a hint of a much harsher life than she could have imagined.
He released her chin. “So don’t tell me you have no honor. It would mean…” He ran a hand through his hair and looked away.
“I’m sorry…” Taja felt she had done something wrong.
Phelan waved a hand, “It’s nothing. Just don’t be so quick to devalue yourself just because others can’t see your worth. Most people are idiots.” Something about the way he said ‘people’ struck a chord in her mind, but she didn’t feel she could ask.
Once she finished eating, Phelan took the plate from her hands and began cleaning the dishes. “The bath is ready. Please, go clean up and get comfortable. I’m afraid your hands will still hurt, but the pain will not last too long. And take your time. I want you to be comfortable while you are here.”
Taja bowed, “Thank you. I’ve no idea why…” Her voice trailed off.
His smile made her feel warm. “Because I wanted to.” He shrugged at her. She was about to leave the room when he spoke again, “I do not know your name.”
Taja turned and gave him a small smile. “Taja.” Her voice was soft and shy as she spoke.
“Taja,” he repeated her name.
Her smile widened. The way he said her name, with a foreign lilt, made her heart flutter.
“Well, Taja… please go take your bath before the water cools too much.” She bowed and headed back the way he had come.
Taja removed her dirty clothing. Despite their state, she folded each piece and placed them in a small pile in the corner so that they did not get the furniture dirty. The cool air gave her goose bumps as she moved toward the bath. It was elegant, including a small set of stairs leading up to it. The tub looked more like a small pool than a tub.
How did he heat up this much water? Taja could not help these kinds of thoughts as she placed her foot in the water. As soon as she felt the warmth, the young woman closed her eyes and sighed. Slowly she got in the water. Taja ducked under the water, and emerged with a satisfied smile and a slight moan. She couldn’t remember anything feeling so good. For a few minutes, she swam around the tub, enjoying the way the warm water moved around her. She had no idea how much time had passed, but at some point she realized that her hands were getting wrinkly from her time in the water.
Peeking her head over the edge, the young woman noticed some clothing and towels near the small steps. Were they there when I got in?
Her mind pondered several scenarios. It was entirely likely that she had missed them in her hurry to get warm. Even if Phelan had come in as she washed, there was no way he would have been able to see her over the high lip of the bath.
Stepping out of the water, she reached down and picked up a towel. With a few quick movements, Taja wrapped her hair up. She then took the second towel and began to dry off. Now out of the water, the young woman felt cold. Slipping the shirt on, she wondered how it felt so warm. Truly, the man must be a wizard, and a very good one. Or perhaps he specialized in heating. Taja didn’t really know much about them as she had only met one in nearly 21 years.
It didn’t take long before she was completely dressed. Removing the towel and hanging it neatly, she moved into an adjoining room. It didn’t seem right that she would go into the kitchen.
“Phelan?” Her voice was uncertain as she looked for him.
As if her voice brought him to her, Phelan appeared in a doorway to her left, the opposite direction of the kitchen.
“I hope you are feeling better.” He moved to her and lifted her hands. Taja felt she knew what came next. He would want something from her now, and she was not going to resist. She kept her head raised so that she could watch him.
Instead, he looked at her hands, turning them over so that he could thoroughly examine them. “They don’t look quite so bad, just a little wrinkled.” He gave them a little squeeze. “It just shows how beautiful your hands will still be in thirty years.” His smile was stunning as he looked at her. “Come. You have your pick of rooms for the night as no one else is here.”
Taja wondered if perhaps this man was married. She had never met a man who was faithful, but then she hadn’t been around the kind who would be. Perhaps this was what they were like. Or maybe… her eyes watched the way the man moved. It was possible that she would not have anything to offer him.
Phelan held out a hand, “Your choice. Just not that one.” He pointed at the room at the end of the hall. The door was open. “That one’s mine, and it’s set up for certain… traditions I have before sleeping.” He gave her an embarrassed smile, “It would take too long to set everything up anywhere else, so I have to ask that you not choose that room.”
Taja looked at him, wishing she could ask. Instead she responded, “I won’t take your room. There are plenty of others. Thank you.” It was incredibly rare that she had to swallow so many questions, but she was not about to do something that could offend him. Before she got to look, there was a loud insistent knocking on the door. Her eyes moved to Phelan, who quickly masked a look of concern. “Go ahead and get some sleep. But you may want to hide… just in case.” He gave her a quick grin and left. He had not pointed out the obvious that it could be people there for her.
Without thinking, Taja went into his room and shut the door. She was cautious to make sure the door didn’t make any sounds as it closed. The room was directly above the door so she could hear what was going on below.
She sat still, holding her breath as she heard someone announce that they were the guard. Phelan let them in without hesitation. For a moment she was shocked by how reckless that was. Then she realized that a man who is innocent has nothing to hide – by letting them in without condition he was giving them a certain impression. Though she could not hear exactly what they were saying, Taja could tell they were there to search. Her hand went to her heart, and the young woman lowered herself to the floor trying to hear better. From what they were saying and Phelan’s response, it sounded like they were looking for something, not someone. Was it possible that no one had realized she was gone?
Her eyes went to the window where the black of the sky reminded her it was still night. Though little must have remained of the night, it was still far too early for anyone to have gone to her cell to check on her. The execution would be around mid-day so that as many people who wished to witness it could. Then the guards were here for something else. She could hear them making noise as they moved around the house.
Looking around the room, Taja knew that she could do something to help get rid of the guards faster. There were a number of strange things in the room that she tried to hide, her little feet making no noise as she went about it. She was removing her clothes as she heard the men coming up the stairs. Phelan had remained quiet over the course of the search.
One of the guards was talking to him, “I must admit, sir, you have been rather quiet. That isn’t exactly like you. Usually, you have quite the mouth on you. It makes me wonder exactly what it is you are hiding.”
“Why do I have to be hiding anything? Given the hour and an unexpected visit from the guard, my silence could easily be taken as anger.” There was a threat to his voice that caused Taja to pause.
The realization that she may have made the wrong decision flashed through her mind as all sounds stopped at the top of the stairs.
It was too late now. Quickly she pulled back the cover on the bed and climbed into it.
“Well, isn’t this interesting?” The guard sounded amused. “All of the doors are wide open, except for that one. Could it be that you are hiding something behind that door?” The footsteps were growing closer as Taja placed her head on the pillow.
The door opened and all noise stopped. Taja knew that her hair was visible from where they stood.
“Phelan? Is everything alright?” She made sure her voice sounded drowsy, as if they had only now woken her. Rolling over and starting to sit up, she gave a little gasp and clutched the sheet to her bare chest. “Oh.” Her eyes were wide as five sets of eyes stared at her.
Immediately, the guards began to blush. The one in front bowed to her, “I am so sorry, madam. Please excuse us.”
With that, everyone turned and left the room except Phelan. He remained a moment longer, his eyes taking in the changes to the room. Finally, he looked at her and she gave him a sheepish smile. His head tilted to the side and the hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
“I will return, my dear. Please continue to rest.” His voice was loud enough for the guards to hear as they hurried down the stairs. Phelan gave her a slight bow and left the room.
She could hear the men apologizing downstairs as they made their way out of the house. Clearly her presence had changed their mind about the likelihood that they would find whatever it was they were looking for. Swinging her legs over the bed, Taja picked up her clothing and began to dress. She still needed to pick a room for the night, but her eyes kept looking around the room. She should put everything back. Setting to work, the young woman tried to return everything to their original places.
The noise downstairs stopped, but she was too focused to notice. When the bedroom door opened, she looked over and saw Phelan enter.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, coming over to her. “I’ll take care of putting everything back.” He took something out of her hands just as she had lifted it. His hand brushed hers as he did, and Taja froze. He looked over at her, the friendly smile on his lips. “You can let go. I’ve got it.”
Taja let go of the large round item, her mind no longer wondering what it was. Phelan began to walk away with it when her hand reached out and stopped him. He stopped and turned to look at her. “Is something wrong?”
Taja gripped his sleeve tighter. “Are you married?”
Phelan’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”
Her eyes went up to his. “Are you married?”
“Uh, no?” It was the first time she had heard him sound uncertain.
Gently she placed her hand on his and she pressed down, indicating he should put the item down. His eyes looked her over. “Are you hurting? Is everything alright?” He placed the object to the side and stepped back to look at her.
Slowly she stepped forward and put her hand on his chest. “Why?” Her eyes searched his.
He looked down at her hand, then into her face. “Why?”
“Why are you helping me? I haven’t seen you treat anyone else like you treat me.”
Phelan’s face relaxed. “Because you needed it. Most people can do better, but they don’t try. It was obvious that you try, but others get in the way. It’s not fair for people like us.”
Taja’s expression clouded over. “You are a foreign diplomat with money and power. I am no one. We are not alike at all.”
He frowned at her and took her hand. “We are far more alike than not. Come here.” He pulled her to the bed and sat her down. Phelan didn’t even seem aware that they were sitting on the same bed as he continued. “You are what, third generation pixie?”
Taja furrowed her eyebrow. “I do not know what you are talking about.”
His hand stroked her hair. “This is not the hair of someone who is fully human. These,” he picked up her petite hands, “are not something you find on a full grown human. They are not meant for the kind of work you have been doing.” His eyes shifted from her hands to her face. “No human could be so evenly...” he stopped himself as his hand moved to her check. Pulling it back, he looked at her and realized, “But you didn’t know, did you?”
Taja tilted her head. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Phelan closed his eyes, a clear look of anger crossing his face. “Your parents never told you.”
Taja shook her head, “My mother and I never talk about the past, or at least not that far back. I never knew my father.”
Phelan’s face flashed a look of anger, but he hid it quickly. “She was ashamed. Typical human.”
Taja fidgeted, something she had not done in years, not since Braylon had sat her down to talk about changing her life. “You talk as if you aren’t human.”
Phelan opened his mouth for a moment, then bit his lip. “No, I am decidedly not human.”
Taja blinked a few times. “You say it like being human is a bad thing.”
He lifted an eyebrow and looked down at her. “I loathe humans.” The expression on his face made it clear that he did not want to talk about it further.
Taja decided not to press him about why. Still, there was the question of what he was if not a human. She had heard people talk about wizards and witches as if they weren’t human. Maybe they didn’t consider themselves to be after being ostracized. “But, then, you don’t consider yourself human? Wizards are still human.”
He threw his head back with a loud laugh. Her eyes took in the way his eyes creased, and she couldn’t help but smile a little at the way his laugh echoed around the room. It was like a haunting melody.
Turning to look at her, he responded, “Technically, they aren’t fully human either. That is part of the trade for their power. Even several generations down for the first wizard or witch in a family isn’t fully human. But I am not a wizard.” His half smile made it hard for her to breathe. “Here, I’ll show you.”
He moved off of the bed and toward a window. Taja followed. She tried to figure out what he could be if not a wizard. “You seem to be very good at fire magic, the way you were able to make fire and warm things up without any effort.”
Phelan opened the window and turned to look at her. “Yes, the majority of my kind are rather good with fire. Watch, and do not worry. My mind does not change when I do.”
Taja’s eyebrows knit together for a moment, then she lunged forward as the man threw himself out of the window. For a second, she saw Phelan falling with a smile on his face, then in the place where he had been was a dragon. Its wings spread and the creature began to soar out over the courtyard. Her eyes were mesmerized by the way his brown wings worked, flapping and spreading as he coasted. He did not go high, and she knew if he did that the entire city would panic. Dragons were the most dangerous creatures, and wherever they went destruction followed.
But she did not feel afraid. Her eyes watched as the dragon headed toward the window. Taja took a few steps back, her face one of interest instead of fear. As the dragon neared the window, it slowed, but there was too much momentum for it to stop in time. Suddenly Phelan was crawling through the window.
“See?” He gave her a small smile. “Not a human.”
Judging by his look, Taja thought he probably expected her to run away. Instead she threw her arms around him. “That was amazing!” Her voice was excited as she hugged him. She could hear his heart beating a little unevenly. She pulled back, her hands resting on his arms. “So are you a dragon?”
He grinned, “I’m a shifter.”
“Does that mean you can become other creatures too?”
His face momentarily looked shocked. “Is dragon not good enough?”
She laughed, “It’s almost too much.” Taja grabbed one of his sleeves and tugged him back to the bed. She sat down and he followed. One of her legs tucked under her knee. “So there are more like you that can shift between dragons and human?”
He nodded, his eyes watching her face. It looked like he wanted to say something, but he let her continue.
“Do they know at the palace?” Her expression was mischievous, so Phelan knew she already knew the answer.
“What do you think?”
She giggled, “Of course not. Are you here to make peace?”
He cocked his head to the side. “What kind of peace could a shifter broker? No, I’m here for myself.”
She gave him a smile. “Maybe originally, but you seem to have picked up a stray.”
His eyes widened as Taja clamped a hand over her mouth. The smile that spread across his face at her words was beautiful. “Are you saying you want to go with me?”
Taja’s hands still covered her mouth and she began to shake her head, fearing she had said something inappropriate.
“That is a shame. I would welcome your company. If you have nothing else to keep you here.” Taja saw the hope in his eyes; it was the same hope his presence had given her.
“I… um… I don’t have anything to stay for. I’m a fugitive,” she gave him a shy smile, “so staying here probably won’t be a good idea.”
“Then come with me.” He took her hand. “It would make me feel better knowing that you are protected, and,” he paused and looked away for a moment, “it would be nice to have someone to talk to.”
“Where are you going?”
He looked back at her. “I am trying to reclaim items taken from my people from the various kingdoms.”
“Are the items important?”
“They are to me.”
“What about the people who sent you to collect them?”
He shook his head, “No one sent me to retrieve what was taken.”
“But surely they are happy to get them back?” Her eyes looked at his face. He suddenly looked very sad.
He pursed his lips, sighed, and said, “I am keeping them safe and will someday send word to my clan about them. But I can never go back.”
Taja frowned. “You can’t go back? You mean you can’t go back home?”
He looked into her eyes and said nothing.
Taja pulled her hand out of his and threw her arms around his neck. “Then we are in the same position. Neither of us can go back home.”
She felt him relax, and his arms went around her little waist, pulling her to him. Phelan put his head on her shoulder, his face resting against her neck. It was not a new physical occurrence for her, but Taja felt her heart skip. Never had she felt anything when men touched her; she let them do things to her, but she never wanted any of it. For the first time, she felt warm and she wanted more.
She began to stroke Phelan’s hair and back. “Thank you, Phelan,” she murmured and kissed the top of his head. His body tensed a little as she spoke, but Taja continued to stroke him.
His voice reverberated through her body as he answered, “You don’t have to do this. I am not looking for a slave or a toy.”
Taja sighed and kissed his head again. “I know. I’m not doing it because I have to. It’s the first time I’ve…” She found it very hard to say what she felt, not because she didn’t know, but because she had never expressed her own desires.
Phelan pulled back a little to look at her, his large gentle eyes warming her. Taja placed a hand on his face. Immediately, his hand reached up and took it. Phelan’s hand wrapped around hers and he began to kiss her hand. His lips moved up her arm, and he gently placed a hand behind her back. Effortlessly, he lifted her from the side of the bed and moved her to the middle.
As he began to kiss her neck, Taja’s fingers began to undo the buttons on his shirt. He let out a little sigh and pulled back. Phelan’s eyes looked down on her as his hand softly ran through her hair. Slowly he lowered his face and Taja closed her eyes. When his lips brushed hers, she leaned up and pressed firmly against his. He pressed harder, pushing her head into the pillow, and his tongue slid between her lips. Taja put a hand on the back of his head and pulled at him as her other hand slid down his back and began to pull at his shirt. Phelan moved away from her for a moment, and pulled the shirt off of his arms. Taja’s eyes fell on an elegant depiction of a dragon on the man’s upper arm. For a moment she was hypnotized by the way its wings moved with his arm as he threw the shirt on the floor, then slipped his hands under her shirt. The sensation made her forget about the tattoo as Taja arched her back in response to the feel of his hands on her stomach. She placed her hands by her head as Phelan moved the shirt up her body. He kissed her bare skin as his hands worked, causing Taja to moan and press against him more insistently. His hands gently glided over her arms as his bare chest pressed into hers. As soon as the shirt was off, his hands intertwined with hers on the pillow.
Taja’s legs wrapped around his, and she pressed up. Phelan moaned and began to kiss her more desperately. His kiss was deep and passionate, but like him, it was gentle. Taja squeezed his hands and stretched her hands up, forcing him to lie flat against her. Her hips pressed into his repeatedly.
“Taja,” he whispered into her neck.
She responded by kissing his face, his eyes, and his forehead. His body pressed against hers, then he let go of her hands and slid his hands down the sides of her body. As he removed her cotton pants, Taja lay on the bed, her eyes trained on him. Her hips moved up and down, slightly distracting him. Phelan threw the pants off of the bed and quickly covered her body with his own, kissing her lips and gently pulling back on her hair. Taja leaned her head back a little and felt him nip at her neck. It was a new sensation, and she moaned as he did it again.
“Phelan,” her voice was husky as her hands pulled at his hair. Her hips pressed against his with more urgency. “Phelan.” Unable to wait, her hands moved down his back and under his pants. She worked off the belt and unfastened them. Phelan stopped kissing her long enough to remove them.
The pants fell off of the bed, and Phelan placed a hand on her calf. Taja rested her hands beside her head as she looked at him. He traced her body with his hand. As soon as he reached her hips, the young man placed both hands on her and he put his head against her stomach. His teeth pulled a little of her skin up, and Taja gasped. Her hips pressed up and his chest pushed back. Slowly Phelan worked his way up her body, and with each thrust of her hips, he pressed back.
His hands cupped her breasts and Phelan gently leaned down, placing his mouth on her nipple.
Taja arched into him. “Gods! Phelan!” He smiled up at her and repeated the movement with her other breast. “Phelan!” Her hands went into his hair.
Suddenly he grabbed her hands and stretched them over her head. He was kissing her mouth and pressing his body against hers.
Taja’s body pleaded with him as his kiss kept her from saying a word. In response, he slowly pushed his body against hers. She felt him begin to move into position, and she moaned. His hands squeezed hers, not so much that it hurt, but enough that she knew he was really holding back. She pressed her breasts against him, her hips moving rhythmically.
For a moment, he stopped and looked down at her. Her breath was light and shallow, but she kept eye contact with him. Phelan’s hand went to her face as he slowly pressed into her. Taja closed her eyes and moaned, her body pulsing against his. He slid out, then pressed a little further in. Taja moaned louder, biting her lip as he slid back out. His eyes never left her face as he slowly worked further and further into her. With each new thrust from his hips, Taja got louder. Finally, unable to wait, she threw her legs around him and forced him fully into her. His head dropped to her neck as he let out a loud groan. “Oh gods, Taja!” With that he began kissing her, his body establishing a rhythm that sent Taja into fits of pleasure. The first time she came, he immediately shifted his position, causing her to climax again. Her breath was shallow and she found it difficult to breathe. During the second climax, she screamed out his name. Phelan changed his position again, but this time it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer.
“Don’t.” She murmured into his ear. When he paused, she kept her body in motion so that his body began to work against hers. “Don’t hold back.” With a sense of urgency, she pulled him to her, and immediately she felt him get harder. Her chest pushed into his, her head leaning back. He began nibbling on her neck, this time harder, causing her to gasp and moan. She began to work her muscles, and he stiffened. Her hands moved down his back and cupped him, pressing him further into her. He began to kiss her until she knew he was about to peak. Phelan’s head dropped to her chest, and she arched up into him. To her surprise, she felt her body clenching again. When he tried to pull out, her legs kept him inside of her so that they came pressed against each other.
His eyes were large and filled with worry as he looked down at her. “I didn’t- I don’t-”
Taja pulled him down on to her, her lips covering his. He was still inside of her, and she could feel that he could keep going. Rolling over on top of him, she began working her muscles, working his partial hardness into a full erection within. Whatever it was he wanted to say, she made him forget as they started again at her pace.