Aren and Stara - The Arrival

A pang of guilt rolled through me. He didn't know how well I knew his name.

"Nice to meet you Aren."

Suddenly, I felt a calloused hand rest gently upon my thigh. It was warm and electrifying as he caressed the tiny hairs there very slightly.

"You are kind not to say anything. I could be kind to you if there is anything you need," his face was only inches away now and his fingers made lazy circles inching up my thigh.

I sighed, enjoying his touch too much to speak. I knew what he was doing. He still wasn't sure of my sincerity but he would ensure my silence by giving me pleasure and in turn I wouldn't talk. Tit for tat. But it had been so long since I had been touched I didn't care. He was close enough to smell now and my god did he smell good, not cologne like those fops at the state parties but a deep male scent of sweat and skin. My starving libido was happy to pretend he actually wanted me and let him continue.

"Would you let me repay your kindness?" I didn't hear the question so much as feel it as his warm breath tickled my neck.

Yes. Oh god yes.

Under my shift dress his fingertips caressed the edge of my panties.

"No," I said quietly, pushing his hand away.

He pulled away while confusion and what seemed like anger for just a moment flashed across his face.

"I'm sorry," I said, "this isn't right."

A subtle shift and the anger was replaced by that same aloof, distant stare he usually wore.

"Forgive me Lady, I know some do not approve of relations between the different classes. I will leave you in peace if you'll allow it."

"No, it's not that at all... it's just that," god, how did father put it? "we'll never be on equal footing. Any uhhh... activities between us will be forced even if it's your idea... you know?"

"I see..." he said in a way that made it clear he definitely did not know, "Am I free to go then my lady?"

"Of course, I don't control your comings and goings. You followed me here remember?" I said, a little annoyed now, "And it's not 'Lady Stara' it's just Stara."

"My apologies." As the young man stood up he tried to hide the obvious erection bouncing against his leg. I realized then he may have been trying to work me but he was turned on at least and frustrated like me yet I was turning him away because of rules or morals or decency... or something. I almost groaned aloud when he reached into a pocket to adjust himself before walking away. My hands were jealous.

You're a goddamn idiot Stara...

Sitting slumped against the tree I contemplated my idiocy and obvious masochism by letting him walk away without even a kiss. When I couldn't take it anymore I finally hauled myself up and walked back to the house, cranky and still damp between the legs. I picked at the dinner set before me with no appetite. Aren did not appear in the house for the rest of the evening before I slipped into bed. I couldn't decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I craved him but I might die of shame when we met again.

It was a rough night tossing and turning. Every time I closed my eyes I saw dark, intense eyes and full lips. I wondered how soft they were, how soft his shiny black hair would feel running through my fingers. There wasn't an inch of skin or line of tattoo that I hadn't mentally traced by the time the full moon was shining onto me through the sheer curtains. I tried to soothe the ache between my legs but no matter how I tried, the fire burned even hotter with no relief. My face felt feverish and my thoughts cycled delirious with want. I had to do something, to get out of this room.

I told myself I was going for a walk. The fresh air would cool me and clear my head. Then I could go lay back down and maybe get some sleep. I crept as quietly as I could on bare feet down the stairs and through the back door into the yard. The moon was full and heavy with an intensity that lit the world up to near daylight making me feel self-conscious dressed only in a nightgown. The rooftops of the building, the trees and the garden shone in the stark detail only seen by the light of the moon. It was eerily quiet, only interrupted by the errant hoot of an owl and I started to feel this was a bad idea. I wasn't doing anything wrong, I could go wherever I wanted on the grounds, but still I stuck to the shadow of the tree line making my way around the grounds.

Gleaming on the edge of the larger forest to the east was the servant's quarters, housing the more undesirable workers far from the main house. It was a low building lined with small windows. He was sleeping somewhere in that building and I tried not to think about what he would look like lying in bed, if he was alone or maybe someone lying next to him. I shook my head and kept walking, heading toward the back of the building to stay in the shadows. There was no soft grass between the outbuilding and the forest, only dried leaves strewn with rocks and pine needles. I picked my way through carefully, regretting going barefoot now. A sudden sharp pain in my foot made me curse out loud and hop over to lean against a boulder on the forest's edge. It felt even more vulnerable there, clutching my injured foot, trapped between the building and the woods. I felt as if I was being watched from both sides and when I touched the bottom of my foot there was a wetness there. Great.

I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw a lean figure staring at me in the back doorway.

"You ok?" The figure asked. It was a voice I recognized.

"I hurt my foot."

Aren walked towards me, also barefoot and not wincing at all I noticed to my own annoyance. He took a close look at the foot I was holding.

"It's cut but not bad. If you'll come inside we can clean it up."

"Okay." I took his arm and together we hobbled through the door and into the first room on the left, a bedroom.

"Is this your room?"

"It's where I sleep," he said somewhat cryptically and left the room, indicating to wait there. I sat on the edge of the bed and saw... honestly not much at all. The walls were a stark white and the only furniture was a bed and a small stand beside it with a few drawers. There were no photographs, books or decorations of any sort really. Could it be that he had so little as a thrall or perhaps he just hadn't had time yet being so new.

He came back into the room and shut the door quietly behind him, holding a lit candle, a bowl and a rag.

Setting the items down, he picked up my foot somewhat abruptly, forcing me to lean back on the bed. I felt uncomfortable like this and tried to shift my weight to close my legs but he simply pulled me back into place with a stern look. That dark authoritative look was nothing like the one he'd worn in the woods earlier today, this one made me feel like a child being chastised. The rational part of my brain was indignant, but the opposite part felt a thrill at being looked at that way. I watched closely as he held my ankle still in his lap to clean the blood off.

Only the un-tattooed portion of his face was turned towards me in the candlelight. Viewing him like this it was easy to imagine he was just another young man finding his way in the world.

"I'm sorry if I offended you earlier," I said, "This is all new to me. I lived with my father in New Brunswick my whole life. He didn't think much of the... criminal justice system here."

"Then why come here?"

"Family politics... money. I don't know exactly. My father sent me to learn business from his sister."

"She is a brilliant businesswoman."

"Why would you speak so highly of her? After how she treats her staff, She's practically a beast."

It could have been the ghost of a smile on his lips then but I could just as easily have imagined it. "It's easy to make hard talk when you won't be punished for it. If you were in my position you may learn to see things as they are and not as you want them to be," he hesitated, "She may be a beast but she's also a brilliant businesswoman."

I watched him closely, trying to read his mind. After inspecting his work, Aren wrapped the offending foot in a clean towel.

"How's that?"

"Better. Thanks for your help."

"You're welcome. Now, why were you walking around behind the servant's quarters in the dark?"

"I... I just needed to go for a walk." Those black eyes were boring into me again, looking me over and assessing.

"Having more thoughts about ethics were you?" He was definitely smiling this time. It looked a little out of place on his face.

"Maybe," I breathed, staring him in the eyes. My heart stopped for a moment as he leaned in close and I felt the tip of his nose brush mine. Still he didn't close the gap, waiting for something.

Oh, fuck ethics.

I leaned forward the final inch and pressed my lips against his. For a moment nothing else existed but that point where our bodies met and extended. It was electric and incapacitating. I wanted more and snaked my tongue out to brush his lower lip, an inquiry. He obliged and parted for me to enter and taste his mouth. My kiss became demanding, probing his mouth, sucking on his tongue until my hand reached up if it's own volition taking a handful of that dark silky hair. Still, Aren kept his hands planted firmly on the bedsheets. That was his expectation then, that I wanted his submission, perhaps from others who wanted him as an obedient plaything. With his true name they could force him to do anything, but that was far from what I wanted. Pulling back for a moment I swung my leg over him, nestling the cleft between my legs onto the stiffness under his loose pants. I gently took his hands from the bed and placed them on my ass. Then slowly I began to slide my mound over the hardness I found there with help from his strong hands grasping my cheeks and pulling me towards him.. I was already soaking wet and there was so little fabric between us all it would take was a sharp tug and he'd be inside me.

It wasn't enough. I wanted him to take me. Every time his mouth found mine I teased him with a wet lick not letting him latch on. Finally, there was a deep growl from his chest and his hand wound through the hair at the back of my head, holding it tight. He kissed me in earnest then, holding me to his body and forcing his way into my willing mouth. A long, low moan escaped from my lips into his and I felt him tense up. Lightning fast I was flipped onto my back and he had me pinned to the bed with my legs still wrapped around him. I felt then how much larger he was than myself and how much stronger as both my hands were held above my head in one of his own.

He stopped kissing then and watched me as he ran his free hand over my body, his eyes still intense but heavy lidded with arousal. I arched against his hand as it cupped my breast and his thumb ran over my hardened nipple through the sheer fabric. He let out a frustrated sound and pulled the nightgown up, finding bare skin below. Each touch sent an electric shiver pooling in my core. Now I wished my hands were free to roam over his bare chest but I was held tightly so that I could only writhe and buck underneath him.

His hand dipped lower and disappeared into my panties.

He gave a satisfied groan as his hand cupped my mound. "You're so wet."

"Please," I begged into his mouth.

I gasped as he licked my open mouth and rimmed his fingertips around my opening. There was an ache deep inside of me and I could tell it wasn't lost on him. He was hard as steel, pressing against my thigh.

"What do you want?"

"I want you inside me," it came out as a harsh whisper,"Please give it to me."

Impatient now he grabbed the thin panties and ripped them away. It only took a moment for his heavy member to swing free of his pants and press at my entrance. In one long thrust he was inside me to the hilt. My eyes rolled back for a moment in pleasure and I bucked wildly trying to urge him on. He freed my hands to wrap his fingers in a fistful of my hair and the other around my waist, holding me tight to him. All I could do then was hold on as he began to fuck me in earnest. Each thrust was a loud slap and he bared his teeth in what could only be described as a snarl. I held on for dear life with my claws buried in his back, a long string of moans and gasps being driven out of me. The way he was filling me and his tight lower belly brushing against my clitoris with each movement, I knew I couldn't hold off for long.

"Oh god, I'm close," I gasped out.

Hearing this he increased his pace making me climb higher until I fell over the side with stars flashing in my eyes. My mouth opened in a voiceless scream and my climax took me completely. Somewhere in the background of my own release I felt Aren tense up. The feeling of my inner muscles clenching around his shaft were too much. I felt him grow larger as he emptied himself deep inside me with a rumbling growl.

It took a moment for both of us to catch our breath but when I did his black eyes were softening from something primal back to human.

"You okay?"

I nodded and held my grip on his back. He was still inside me and I didn't want this to end just yet.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

He smirked. "I think I'll survive."

Leaning down and kissing me gently I felt him stir inside me.

"Mmmm been a while?"

"Since I was with someone I actually wanted, yes."

I knew he was referring to someone he had been indebted to at the Duke's court, maybe more than one someone he had performed sexual favors for. Maybe he was doing the same thing with me now. There was no way to know for sure and at the moment I didn't particularly care so I kept my mouth shut.

"You should go soon but stay with me for a little while longer," he said, rolling onto his side and pulling me against his chest. We lay there quietly for quite awhile holding each other as I listened to his slow steady breathing.

In that moment I made up my mind, no matter what he'd done, I wanted to make him free. I would do whatever it took to make him free.