Chapter 2
Lorelei regained conciously at mid-day. Her body throbbed unmercifully but instead of the deep gashes all over her body, she found red, tender welts. There were advantages travelling with a healer. She sat up gingerly, wincing as recently mended muscles strained.
"Here, drink this." She took the steaming mug filled with a cloudy green liquid from him. He too had been wounded as the healing streaks across his body stood out clearly against his tan.
"We'll have to leave soon if we're to make it to Miramar in time."
She nodded and gulped down the noxious liquid, trying not to gag on it.
"Those creatures. They were part of the curse, weren't they?
He nodded.
"We can expect a lot more of that," he said quietly as he slashed his deep blue robes in the middle.
"You are very fast," he continued matter-of-factly.
"I have rarely seen anyone dispatch those animals as efficiently as you did." He cut off a long strip of material and used it to belt in the shorter version of his mages robe. She murmered an appropriate reply to the compliment.
Lorelei looked him over under the cover of her lashes. The makeshift shirt was much more practical, short and loose enough to allow him free movement. She also had to appreciate it in a purely feminine way. It empasized the strength of his shoulders, the trim waist and the long length of leg. She could only offer up thanks to Mira, that her Onset was not due for another three months. Her eyes swept back up his body to meet his own eyes, filled with exact same intensity she was affording him. She calmly stared right back at him.
He took a step forward to stand in front of her. She had to tilt her head back to keep eye contact but as in the way of opponents, she would not be the first to look away. His gaze turned warm, amusement trickled in, and then he bent his head to place his lips on hers. Lorelei's eyes widened as she stepped away, her hand reaching instinctively for her dagger. He smiled then.
"You're quite a woman, Warrior." But then he tilted his head and looked at her quizically. "But are you a woman?"
Lorelei flushed in anger. "Of course, I am!"
"I've seen virgins less skittish than you. It was just a simple kiss, nothing more. Nothing to be afraid of."
Another attribute Lorelei's aunt would have spoken of, was her niece's occassional act of utter and complete recklessness. Such was it when Lorelei stepped forward and boldly claimed the Alvamar's lips. And again it was totally in character to find herself in over her head.
The man's arm came around her like a band of steel as she found herself been kissed with a throughness that was totally intimidating. His head tilted to let his tongue stroke in even deeper into her mouth as his free hand swept down her side. Heat, passion, she thought dimly. Never would she have imagined the force of it. Self-preservation snapped into place. She pried him away with a well placed elbow, anger snapping from her eyes.
"I am a Warrior, my lord, not some barmaid you can tumble. I have earned the right to respect and I demand it!"
The Alvamar lifted an eyebrow calmly. His eyes turned cool again.
"I'm not aware that I have ever insulted or treated you as less than you are. I admit that I was carried away by the moment. I may be ageless but I'm still a man." He shrugged wryly. "But rest assured, I will not make any further advances towards you."
"Good!" she snorted. "One less thing to worry about."
"Yes," he continued confidently as he started North, "next time you will come on to me."
The trekked across the barren landscape in silence, each wrapped up in their own thougths. The Alvamar, poring through the defense spells in his mind and Lorelei remembering the Prince she was trying to save.
Barion. She had grown up with him. From the very beginning, the Queen had noticed her speed and had singled her out to be part of the prince's personal guard. The Prince had not been adverse to the fresh faced girl, far from it. He flirted and fought with her, soothed her fears and made her frighteningly aware of her own body. There seemed to be a world of experiance between his eighteen years and her sixteen. She hadn't put up much of a fight when he finally took her virginity. Secretly and passionately.
Then the Queen found out and she was transferred to the Queen's Guard post-haste. There could be nothing between a prince of the royal house and a warrior maid. That was ten years and many men ago. She had been about to be transferred back to the Prince's Guard when the Prince was attacked. The Kingdom's future rested on the Alvamar's shoulders and she would make sure that it would have a future. She had worked too hard to redeem herself to screw it up now.
The Alvamar returned to awareness slowly. He was satisfied that the spells he had remembered would be enough to deal with whatever the Old One could throw at him. He cast a quick glance at his companion. A secret smile curved his lips. He hadn't felt like this in a long time. The thrill of an adventure, a beautiful woman to stir his senses. A reluctant beautiful woman to stir his senses. He immediately realised the reason he had picked his more spectacular spells to deal with the Old One's minions. A juvenile need to impress the girl. He fought back a very un-Alvamarish laugh. Mira, it was good to feel young again!
Lorelei cast a glance at the sky. It would be dark soon. They had lost too much time dealing with the attackers. She started examining her internal map, searching for the nearest fortress. There would be dragons or firedrakes. At the worst, horses. Anything to get to Miramar.
A loud snap sounded from behind her. Without thinking, she flung herself at the Alvamar, knocking him to the ground. Looking up, her eyes met those of a placid pig, chewing happily away. A soft laugh vibrated through the body beneath her.
"When I predicted that you would come on to me, I didn't really mean it so literally." His eyes gleamed with an unholy glee. "But since you have made your move, I would be a total cad to refuse you," he continued with a saintly sigh, his arms coming round to hold her.
"No!" she wriggled away, the delightful heat of his body still warm on her skin. "Touch me and lose your hands!" The Alvamar threw back and laughed as he had wanted to all day.
"If nothing else Warrior, you're always entertaining."
"You're in a awfully good mood for someone who's being hunted down like a dog," she said grouchily, coming to her feet.
"Can you blame me?" he replied, propping his hands under his head. "This is the first time in many, many years that I have been free of my work, free of responsibility. I've missed the freedom of my youth," he finished softly. "And you, Warrior. When was the last time you had a holiday?"
Lorelei blinked. "A holiday? Err... three months ago." If you could call the Onset a holiday. She felt herself grow warm under his intent gaze.
"Can you read my mind?" she blurted out. The Alvamar relaxed slightly.
"I cannot enter a human's mind unless he or she permits it. Don't worry, Lorelei, I will not invade your privacy." He got up and dusted himself off. "We don't have much light left, so we'd better make camp here."
"Do you think we'll be attacked tonight?" asked Lorelei.
"I have no idea. The Old One probably doesn't even care about me anymore. The business of the curse has most likely been delegated to one of his apprentices." He cast a hungry look at the wandering pig.
"That looks like dinner to me!"
Lorelei shifted restlessly all through the night. Strange disjointed sensations flowed through her body. Soft urges, delicious thrills, she floated alone in her dream state. When she woke the next day, she felt a throbbing heaviness in her abdomen. Puzzled, disoriented but not extremely worried, she put together her pack for the day's travel.
She turned around to douse the camp fire and staggered as a spasm gripped her body. Her eyes glued themselves to the bare-chested form of the Alvamar as he strode into the campsite carrying two full water skins. Lorelei could not drag her eyes off the wonderful physique on display. She licked her lips slowly. Please Mira! Not this! Not now! She screamed silently with a growing sense of horror. Her body growled in response, the urge to mate growing more powerful by the second.
Lorelei swung away from the sight, her hands balling into fists as she squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated on controlling the animal that had awakened within her. Oh Mira, this was all wrong. The feeling of the linen she wore, rubbing against the swollen, wet flesh between her thighs was agonizing. Not for another three months!
"Ready to go, Warrior?" Alvamar called out.
"In another minute," came her muffled voice. When she came towards him, her face was strained and pale.
"Is something wrong?" he asked solitciously.
"No, not at all," she replied with a brittle smile. "We should be able to make good time today."
Please, put your robe back on, she begged silently.
The Alvamar nodded and swung his pack onto his bare shoulders, striding away in the general direction of Miramar. She swore furiously in an undertone.
At the end of the day, Lorelei was walking in an electric aura generated by her lust. Her feet stumbled over themselves, she was exhausted fighting both herself and the rough terrain. Ahead of her, the Alvamar strode on, his muscles glistening with sweat. Lorelei's eyes were fixed determinedly to the ground in front of her, but an image of his bare body flashed into her mind. The broadness of his chest, tapering down to a narrow waist and firm, muscled buttocks. The fire flared in her groin. She bit a finger savagely to fight it. The sharpness of the pain cleared her mind a little. Temporary relief from the urges that would only get stronger.
She could withstand this. She would withstand this, she swore determined. The idea of that man finding out that she was caught in the throes of a sexual frenzy was impossible. In the middle of nowhere, with no protection. A child would be inevitable. She pressed a hand against the throbbing ache in her lower back. The pain killers she had taken didn't seem to work against something like this. Mira! You bitch! She swore in a fury. You have no right to do this to me!
The Alvamar stopped so suddenly that she walked right into him. He caught her and steadied them both. Lorelei gasped softly and stiffened. Her entire body seemed to focus on the touch of his hands on her upper arms. The Alvamar swore softly.
"Something's wrong. You look like death."
"Its been a tough day. I'm exhausted," she said brusquely
He tilted her face up to examine it. Sizzling green eyes met cool grey ones. which began to widen as her musky female scent began to surround him. and arouse him as it was designed to do.
"Lorelei," he whispered.
"No!" she yelled, shoving him away. The passions swirling around in her found a vent in fury. "No!" she sent a kick towards his shin.
"Shut up!" he yelled right back at her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around to put her in a head lock.
"Now, you're going to listen to me," he bellowed into her ear, setting her brain ringing. Lorelei could only whimper as her body broke free of her control and pressed in closer to his.
"Oh Mira," he groaned as her bottom started grinding suggestively against his groin. "Lorelei, why the hell did they send you out to me if you were due for your Onset?"
"I'm not due for another three months! I don't know whats happening to me!" she moaned as her hands came behind her to clasp his buttocks. "I feel like dying!"
The Alvamar winced as the movements of her body and her hands set a mighty erection going.
"Alright. I'm going to let go of you now and we're going to figure this out."
Lorelei crumpled to the ground as soon as he let go of her. Her body was shaking like an autumn leaf but she was too exhausted and humiliated to care.
"You must let me help you," said the Alvamar urgently, crouching down beside her.
Lorelei lifted her eyes to meet the sight of the straining bulge in his breeches. "No," she said in a strangled whisper. "I can't. If this is the Onset, I would get pregnant for sure. I don't have a potion and I bet you don't either."
"No dammit, I don't!" he ground out, struggling to keep his wits. The blood was flowing from his brain to his throbbing cock, respondingly instinctively to the scent of a woman in heat.
"Lorelei, you have to trust me!"
She made a negative sound and lifted a hand to ward him off. He caught hold of her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.
"I will not let you get pregnant," he swore.
Lorelei stared at him silently for a while. His eyes were hot with desire, but they were also honest. Her shoulders bowed as she came to a decision. What choice did she have? It was either that or go insane.
"Do whatever you have to," she whispered so softly that he could barely hear.
Alvamar grabbed her pack and pulled out her blanket, spreading it under a lone tree. Grabbing his water skin, he poured some into a bowl and washed the dust from his hands. Around him, the setting sun sent shafts of golden light, turning the droplets falling from his hands into a rainbow of colors. Turning around to go get her, his eyes met the sight of the warrior maid struggling to her feet. Her eyes came up to meet his. Not just blazing with lust but with a wounded pride. His heart came up to lodge in his throat, every protective instinct in him as a man and as a healer came to choke his breath. The rich sunlight turned her hair into flame as she walked slowly towards him.
When she was standing in front of him, he took hold of both her hands and lowered her down to their makeshift bed. He sank down to lie beside her, propping himself up on an elbow. One hand reached to caress her face softly.
"Trust me," he said again. She nodded wearily, wondering at the sudden tenderness in his eyes. Slowly his lips came down to claim hers.
His lips were soft on hers, tasting gently. Her body recognized the victory immediately and surged against him, impatient now that the battle had been won. She heard him groan as her hips thrust against his rigid shaft. The woman Lorelei, tired and disheartened, retreated into herself where nothing could touch her.
The Alvamar felt her legs lock themselves around him, the hardness of her armour digging into his bare chest. Gasping, he wrestled with the buckles that held them in place, ripping off her breastplate to reveal the dove grey linen that lay beneath. The scent of her arousal was driving him so crazy that he had to fight against the urge to rip the bodysuit off her body. His vaunted mental powers had gone to the dogs when faced with the oldest magic of all. His hands swiftly unlaced her bodice and plunged into its warm depths to cup her breasts.
He swallowed slowly. Warm, living flesh pulsing in his hands. Her nipples felt like pebbles in his palms. Instinctively his hands circled, rubbing her sensitive tips against the calluses of his hands. The sharp cry of pain she let out caused a quick frown to flash across his face. Too sensitive for touch. What she really needed was release.
Regretfully, his hands left her breasts to stroke downwards over her stomach to slide under the cloth still covering her hips. She froze as his fingers parted her wet lips for one second, two, before she ground herself heavily against his hand. Alvamar gasped as the wet heat spread over his skin, his entire body reacting deliciously to the slick fluid coating his hand. Without conscious thought, his fingers started stroking her, rubbing along the length of her slit, rubbing deeper and deeper with each stroke. Lorelei arched up against him, high cries escaping her as her body moved to his rythmn. He looked into her eyes then, wanting to see her passion, her desire as he brought her to climax.
Nothing. There was nothing but blankness in her eyes. Her face was strained with passion, her hands clutching at his shoulders, but the woman he was touching wasn't Lorelei. The desire in him chilled then. He had no wish to make love to a lifeless doll. Gritting his teeth, he speeded up his hand's thrusting until she finally came in a series of wild spasms. He held her exhausted body then until she fell asleep in his arms.
It was dark when he roused her a couple of hours later. She yawned and stretched slowly, not quite understanding the languorous throbbing in her abdomen. And then her face flamed as memory flooded back. The Alvamar noticed her heightened color when he turned to hand her a bowl of dried jerkin mixed with a small portion of rice. She took it with a curt nod.
Things seemed to have calmed down somewhat, she realised as she checked herself over. The urge had faded into a faint throb in the back of her conciousness, but she knew from experiance that this would only be a momentary reprieve. She gritted her teeth. Nothing could have damaged her mission like this had. They could only make good time during times like these. And the stops... The stops would have to be frequent and fast.
The same thought was running through the Alvamar's mind as he repacked his gear. Traveling tonight would be very uncomfortable but they had already lost more time that they could afford. Then there was also the matter of Lorelei.
He had already scouted the area for streams. None. The herb, Arbouria, was plentiful in the lush landscape of his home. In fact it was so common, he never bothered to carry it in the herb pouch hanging from his waist. There always seemed to be a frond growing outside the front door. Now, of course, right when he needed it, not a single one could be found. No Arbouria, no potion, no protection. He grimmaced. Sexual frustration would be a major part of his life for a little while longer.
"There's a supply station about three hours from here," said Lorelei briskly, bending over a map. "It's unmanned but there will be emergency rations and water." Even as she spoke, she could feel the urge stir within her. Three hours suddenly seemed like forever. Without wasting any more time, she efficiently put her pack together and strapped it onto her back. The Alvamar put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How do you feel?" She stiffened inexplicably. Not even with a flicker of an eyelash did he betray that he had felt her muscles tighten under his touch. Instead, he dropped his hand and pretended to shift his pack to a more comfortable location.
"I'm feeling fine," she replied awkwardly, cursing herself for reacting so childishly to such a simple gesture. "We really should get going before my sex drive decides to come back on." He nodded, a little warmth coming into his eyes. "Everything will be alright, you know." She smiled at him. Without another word, they headed off into the darkness.
Four hours later, after a few wrong turns in the dark, a crudely built hut loomed up within the lighted circle cast by their torch. Lorelei was sweating profusely, her face flushed in the soft golden glow as she fought against the most natural of impulses. The door unlatched easily under the Alvamar's hands and creaked open to reveal the cabin's dusty interior. Both packs fell to the floor and the door slammed shut behind them as Lorelei dropped onto the single camp bed in the cramped space. The Alvamar swiftly located a bottle of oil and some flints and lighted the lamp sitting on a table. It flared into life, clearly outlining the dust and the dilapidated condition of the cabin. And Lorelei's pain as she lay on the bed. He was beside her in the next second, stripping away her stained and soaked bodysuit. Her flesh glowed damply in the lamplight even as Lorelei closed her eyes determinedly.
An hour later, they found a goldmine of supplies in a small cupboard. Everything from dried jerkin and grain to toiletries and soaps so the Alvamar immediately got busy restocking their backpacks. Outside, Lorelei poured buckets of well water over her nude body washing away the dirt and perspiration. She reveled in the sheer pleasure of cleaniness and the weight of the water flowing through her loose hair. The night still sat heavily on the land but the light streaming out of the cabin's open door and windows colored her lithe body with a loving hand. He watched her with a dry throat as her back arched over and over again, the water running over her body like the best of lovers. He couldn't explain the sense of loss within him. Could it be because he couldn't inspire the exhiliration in her that chilly well water was obviously doing? An hour earlier, she had arched against him, seeking pleasure and fulfillment, but always detached.
Lorelei squeezed the water out of her hair, smiling softly. The pleasure of the bath had revived her spirits as well as her strength, Even with all the stops, they were making pretty good time. The next leg would be a lot longer but travelling in daylight would certainly be a lot easier. For now though, she looked forward to food and a few hours of sleep. Grabbing a thin towel, she dried herself off efficiently and wrapped herself in it. Both her uniforms were still drying on the edge of the well, so she simply headed back to the cabin to keep warm.
He met her at the door, turning sideways to allow her by before continuing on to the well to have his own bath. Lorelei sat on the edge of the rickety table and with a grimace took a bit out of a piece of dried jerkey, thinking longingly all the while of the hot, steaming meals that were standard fare at her barracks. With a sigh, she straightened up and ran into the sight of the Alvamar shaving his face in the nude. With a small shock, she suddenly realised that even though they had been more or less intimate, she had never allowed herself to really see him. She hadn't known of the long deep scar that ran the length of one muscled thigh. Or that his lower body was a work of art. Unconciously, she began to repeat history and watched him at his bath. She watched the deliberate movements of his hands with the razor, drew in her breath in appreciation when he stretched to draw another bucket of well water. She smiled when she heard him yelp as the coldness of the water hit his skin and she stared fascinated as the water flowed through his hair. Then when he slowly turned his head and grey eyes met green, she allowed her eyes to tell him that she found him attractive. Without a word, he held out his hand and after a moment's hesitation, she went to him.
Continued in Chapter 3
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