Natural Limits

Exultant in the plateau of my release, both sexual and physical, I held her close to me. There was a sensation of wetness, like water dripping onto my skin, which ran in thin rivulets for a bit before evaporating, making me question if I'd really felt it or not. It happened again and again, over my arms, shoulders, and chest. It wasn't until the sensation reached my face that I started to release Artemis, intent on examining the changes with my eyes.

"No. Stay."

The words swam into my brain and I shivered. It felt like the easiest thing in the world that I let the curiosity die, content to remain in her arms. I blinked lazily, my eyes drinking in the flawless beauty of my lover's skin.

Huh. What's that?

I frowned in confusion. Her once perfect skin seemed to ripple and shiver, the surface bubbling in a line that bisected one of her golden markings. My eyes widened in realization and familiarity. At night I could still feel the knife as it edge parts the skin, my instinctive dodge barely saving me from the stroke meant for my heart. I stirred again.

"Hush. Just relax." I did. "There you go. I told you Poppy, your burdens are mine to bear, even those that are etched onto your flesh."

I settled into her embrace, letting the magic of the cleaving crawl across our skin, a physical representation of our bond. Once the magic settled, I looked to my forearm, admiring the golden lines that blended naturally into my skin.

Although I like it better on her.

"Are you sure this was wise? I'm not always going to be this obedient Artemis."

"I think you might." She chuckled and ruffled my hair, before taking my face and bringing me into a kiss. Her hips shivered under mine, the muscles bunching and shimmying in exuberant genuine enjoyment. "I think I can make it worth your while," she whispered sinfully against my cheek.

My eyes lidded and I had to stifle a groan that started in the back of my throat.

Her eyes flashed with mischief, and she licked a line along my nose, right over the top of the golden tree trunk.

My eyes crossed and I faked an exaggerated frown before leaning forward and doing the same to her nose. She giggled with mirth, her arms settle over my shoulders lazily, enjoying our proximity. Then she perked up. "Ohhhh! I almost forgot," she gushed. Leaning over, she spilled me from her lap, propping herself up to the side, side-saddle on the ground. She patted at her lap. "Lay down," she ordered. "I've wanted to do this again for far too long." Shifting around, I lowered my head to her lap that smelled of sex. Her fingers met my scalp and she began to croon, a gentle tune in her native language that wafted over me. The lack of fear and sexual satisfaction worked in tandem, and I soon found myself unable to keep my eyes open.

"-you not to disturb me," Artemis's loud whisper woke me up.

Sometime during my nap she'd maneuvered us around so that I lay with my head on her stomach while she sprawled out on the ground, both of us taking comfort in our closeness and the quiet to sneak in a short sleep.

"But there's been an intrusion. We caught a Lefty trying to attack you."

I tensed slightly, Lefty being bunyip slang for a human.

"Was anyone hurt?"

"No, they were subdued without problem by dropping a net on them."

"One of yours?"

The jig is up.

"Probably. Short blonde that won't stop throwing obscenities?"

The scout tilted her head. "Yes. The lef-... The human is exactly as you describe."

"Sorry, she can be a real troublemaker. Always thinks she knows best. She also has something of a crush on me."

"Oh really?..." Artemis asked in a carefully interested tone. Sitting up, she turned her golden brown spotlights toward me. "And just how far did this crush extend?"

"Who's to say? A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell." I'd finally found a button I could push.

"Bring her here, I want to see this with my own eyes."

A disheveled and snarling woman was tossed unceremoniously into the grove a short time later.

"Leave us."

The guards tilted their masked heads into bows and left us alone.

With her arms bound Catherine had a difficult time squirming and shifting back to her knees until she saw me. Artemis' discarded wrap was around my waist to hide my junk, my lover choosing to stay nude.

"Captain!" She cried in joy at seeing me unharmed, before she noticed the markings on my skin. "No! They enslaved you!" Her voice was guttural and raw with indignation at the situation.

"The cleaving is not enslavement," Artemis muttered darkly. "Let's get this over with. Paul, go snap her neck."

Her command slid over me like water across a duck's back, barely wetting the feathers of my brain on its way by.

Silence reigned, Catherine's eyes fearful as she looked at me.

I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest and looking at Artemis. "That was a cruel trick."

She held her hands up apologetically, the motion made doubly effective by the swaying motion it imparted on her breasts. "It was the quickest way. Besides, she was sweet on you and I really want to punish her for that."

"Sweet? Punish me?" The bound woman muttered, thoroughly confused and off balance from her capture. "I don't understand. Why aren't you doing what she says?"

I softened my expression into what I considered my neutral commanding officer mask. "Just a lie told by the ruling council. One of many it seems. Why did you bring her here?" I asked Artemis.

"I wanted to see the relationship between the two of you."

I rolled my eyes, secretly thrilled at her possessive jealousy.

"And I have a message for her to take to the leaders. I trust you will be willing to go now that you've seen that we aren't mistreating your captain."

"But I..." She hedged. "How do I know you're not brainwashing him somehow?" She blurted combatively.

"Lieutenant..." I grumbled, exasperated. I could feel a familiar throb of a headache and pinched at the bridge of my nose.

"Nevermind, that's definitely him."

I shook my head sadly. "Cookie..."

"She's a little spitfire."

"You have no idea," I muttered. "I'm fairly certain she's the reason my hair's lost most of its color."

"I'm not that bad."

Raising my eyebrows, I gave her a blank, non-believing stare.

"What?! I'm not." She looked to Artemis for confirmation.

My bunyip lover threw her head back and laughed, stomping her feet firmly into the dirt. "Excellent. What's your name?"

"Catherine," she said cautiously.

"Catherine, I hereby name you ambassador to the Eastern Forest. From now on you'll be our point of contact as we negotiate the human's surrender. As your first order, you are to take this envelope to a Duke John Salinger. This amulet should get you through any locked doors." Artemis snapped the restraints and placed the two objects into the blonds hands.

Catherine looked between me and Artemis, uncertain about what'd just happened. "Is this really okay?"

I sighed, rubbing at my temples. "It's fine. Just follow her orders. She can be devious and she likes to tease."

"Poppy," Artemis whined, stamping her feet in frustration.

"Okay..." She slipped the amulet over her head, and looked back at me wistfully as Artemis hopped over to slip her arm around my back. "It's good to see you looking so happy captain."

I leaned my head against hers, her ear bending to flop into my hair as she did the same, giving me a fleeting touch of its softness.

"Say I take the commision, what's in it for me?"

"They don't throw you into their prisoners like an invader... Which you are," I suggested dryly.

"Right. That makes sense." Cookie still seemed hesitant and I decided she needed a kick in the pants.

"Lieutenant," I commanded her with my angry captains growl. She lurched into attention, chin straight and hands behind her back. "You will follow the lady's orders for the time being and we will figure out adequate compensation later. Dismissed!"

"Sir, yes sir." She sketched a salute before marching from the room.

I waited until she'd left before rotating to face my lover and take her fully in my arms. "Are you sure that was the best idea?" I questioned, still amazed that Artemis had somehow managed to return to my life.

Teasing fingers reached to undo the fabric around my waist. "It'll be fine. Now kiss me Poppy."

Following that command was the easiest thing I'd ever done in my life.

The End