Shades of Gray Ch. 02

Selene slipped into the hot spring, relishing in the feel of the very warm water on her skin. She quickly began to wash away the sweat and dirt of two weeks of hard riding to escape the wilds and the terrible beasts which pursued them nearly every step of the way. After what she had endured as of late, the caressing warmth of the hot spring was a treasured discovery.

Selene's thoughts were very much on recent events and on the days yet to come. She was weary, yet grateful that her companions had successfully brought her this far across lands of unforgiving terrain and numerous dangers. Their expedition was now within known and charted territory, which put everyone more at ease. Salden, the kingdom of Selene's soon-to-be husband, King Jaren, was only a few days off; and soon the expedition would disband.

Moving to the edge of the hot spring, Selene picked up the bundle she had left on a ground and untied the twine around it. Within the cloth was an egg sized piece of soap- all that remained from the block she had started out with in Gerra over two and a half months ago. Lightly dipping the soap in the water, Selene ran it across her arms, underarms, shoulders and breasts before placing it on a rock while she dipped beneath the surface of the water.

When she came back up, she collected the piece back in her hands, working it across her palms to create enough lather to wash her face and work into her terribly dirty and oily brown hair. Oh, how she missed her bottles of fine oils and soaps- each with a separate use and exquisite scents. It was something to look forward to again when she became King Jaren's bride.

As thoughts of her future union filled her mind, Selene found the enjoyment of the bath begin to wane just a bit. She knew nothing of him, other than what the High Lord had told her. King Jaren was a widower with no children. He ruled a vast and prosperous kingdom bordering the lands of the Elves and Ogres.

"Veridias?" Selene said softly, knowing that the elf would be nearby and on alert.

"Yes, Lady Selene?" came his quick, yet casual reply.

Selene turned in the direction of his voice, scanning the area until she caught sight of his black helm leaning against the side of a sizeable boulder a full body length away. That was the only visible indication that he was indeed close and watching over her. He had taken it upon himself to stand in as her protector since the death of her bodyguard, Brennan.

"I have been wondering..." she began, but quickly faltered.

"About?"

"What you said...at the inn...that night."

"I believe I said many things that night, my lady," he said softly.

Selene flushed just a bit and looked away from the boulder while she once again submerged to wash the soap from her hair and face. When she resurfaced, she still could not see him; and decided he was sitting behind the large stone.

"You said there were half a dozen reasons that you were a better choice than the..." her voice shook a bit as she said, "guardian."

"I might have overstated," the elf said, his deep voice conveying a sense of rising discomfort. "Though, there were good reasons."

Selene thought about his confession, trying to decide just how much she wanted to hear those reasons. "Will you tell me?" she asked weakly.

"You have not thought of them?"

"No," she admitted. "I suppose I have been too distracted...and angry."

"That is to be expected. Ours has not been an easy journey."

She nodded in agreement, though it was unclear if he could see her or not. "So, will you tell me your reasons?"

"Is it really that important to you? Or do you now crave my conversation after fifteen days of silence?" There was heartfelt emotion in his words; and Selene knew that was a sign that her mistreatment of him since their night together had taken a toll on him. Her flush deepened, spurring a flicker of emotion within her chest. Though she now regretted her actions of late, at the time, she had felt quite justified.

"Would you prefer we continue not talking?" she asked, showing signs of her distress on her features and within the tone of her words.

A short pause followed this question before the elf responded. "No," he said, mimicking her tone. "I do not want that."

"If only you had let him take me, then perhaps my anger would have died sooner as we left him and that pitiable town behind us. Instead, I am faced with the memory of it every moment of every day since."

"You know my stand on this already," he said. "I did all I could for you under the circumstances, my lady."

Selene fought the urge to snap at him as anger once again claimed her senses. She had been fighting the same hard battle since he took her innocence. "Will you tell me or not?" she asked desperately. "Do I ask so much? Or are you unwilling to explain yourself?"

She nearly jumped with fright as his tall, slender form appeared atop the boulder. He stood rigid, staring down at her exposed body through the clear water. Her arms twitched, responding to the sudden need to conceal herself, but Selene did not follow through on the shameful action. She tried to stare back at him with as much determination as he stared at her.

"Very well...if you truly wish to know, I will tell you." Veridias took a step forward and dropped down from the boulder and beside the hot spring. It always awed Selene to watch him move so graceful and quiet- even when armored. The brightness of the setting sun, now blocked by the boulder, no longer muted the fine details of his black leather armor and handsome, angular features. His waist-long, dark hair swayed as he moved toward the pool and lowered himself to one knee before her. His dark gray eyes honed in on her bright blue ones holding them within the intense gaze.

"The guardian was not a bad man," Veridias began. "I'm certain he would have been as gentle as he could. However, his methods were ineffective in calming you. Precious time would have been wasted in reaching the end result if I had allowed him to continue chasing you around that room."

"So, you thought it better to throw me on the bed and let me scream and cry?" Selene said bitterly.

"It was not my intention to hurt you," Veridias insisted, an edge to his tone. "Was the act so terrible- really? Only a little pain and it was over."

Selene did not reply. She lowered herself neck-deep in the water and contemplated his words. She did not recall the pain being so miniscule, but she knew it had only lasted a few short moments.

"Another reason," he continued, "was I thought it best that your first experience be with someone you knew and could trust. Once we had done what was necessary, I gave you the choice to end the encounter or continue. You made your choice; and I abided by it. That kind of trust cannot be placed in a stranger."

"True," Selene whispered, her hands emerging from the water just long enough to push loose pieces of her hair behind her ears. "You did let me choose."

"Also," he continued, hardly noting her admission, "since you are to be married, it is worth noting that the probability of you conceiving a child with the guardian was substantially more likely than with me."

Selene stared at him, wondering why he thought that way. Was there a reason that he could not have children? Or was it something to do with their difference in race?

"Why is that, Veridias?"

Her question seemed to amuse him. The gray within his eyes began to swirl. "Because most humans do not have an aptitude for magic. Elves are magical beings, Lady Selene. Our children cannot thrive without its nourishment."

"Has that been proven?"

"It is a widely known fact," he said, firmly.

"You sound a bit smug, Veridias," Selene said, finally looking away from him. "Does it please you to know you can seduce human females recklessly with no need for concern or propriety?"

The amusement left his eyes. Selene suspected that her words had been too harsh. She waited for him to express how angry he was at her.

"I think you know me better than that," he said, pushing to his feet. He turned and walked away from her, disappearing around the side of the boulder again.

Embarrassment warmed her features as she finally wrapped her arms around her naked body. She did not know what prompted her to say such mean things to him.

"The others are probably tired of waiting to bathe by now," Veridias said from behind the rock. Selene thought he sounded a bit aggravated.

"I will hurry," Selene said, once again lowering her voice to a near whisper. She moved to the edge and slipped out to perch on a rock, which was still warm from the day's exposure to the sun. She ran the piece of soap over her legs and across her middle before attempting to lather her back with a series of precarious stretchings. "I will let you bathe before we head back to the camp," she said. "You must badly want out of that armor after so many days."

"I am fine," was his curt reply. "Magic allows me to move comfortably while encumbered as well as keep myself clean."

"Can all elves use magic that way?" she could not help asking.

"Yes, though our magic differs somewhat from each individual."

She looked back toward the boulder, realizing that she was truly interested in hearing more about Elven magic. "I've heard of sorcerers among your people. Do the warriors use magic as well?"

"Of course we do. Elves use magic for just about everything."

Selene slipped back into the water, glad to be immersed in its warmth again as she washed away the soap.

"I have never seen you cast a spell," she said.

"My kind of magic does not require words or gestures," he said, his voice once again sounding closer. Selene looked up, catching sight of him as he approached the spring from the opposite side. He was carrying her robe.

Selene admitted, "Magic sounds very complicated." She tried not to think as she exited the water and stepped into the robe that he held up for her. She tied it quickly and turned to face him. "Have you ever cast a spell on me?"

He considered her thoughtfully, holding back his words for a while, causing them to have greater meaning. "Yes...I have."

She had not expected an affirmative answer to her question. A twinge of nervous energy shot through her chest as more questions surfaced. "When? How?"

He sighed, perhaps regretting his admission. "That night, when you finally opened your eyes, I was able to...affect you. I eased some of your pain."

Selene's skin seemed to crawl at his words. He had used magic to lessen the pain. Meaning, it could have been worse. Another question came to mind and she voiced it before she had given it careful consideration. "If we had continued...would you have used your magic to make me enjoy it?"

Veridias stepped closer, reaching out to touch the side of her face with his hand. "I cannot give pleasure," he said. "You must want it. Only then can we become connected in our gratification."

The combination of his touch, words and closeness made her heartbeat quicken. "But most humans do not have magic," she stammered, trying to think clearly as her body warmed of its own accord.

"I can connect mentally with a willing partner, Selene. They can be human, elf or any other humanoid. A mental connection allows you to share thoughts, feelings and sensations. I would feel your pleasure as well as my own."

"And I would feel yours."

"Yes."

His eyes were trained on her features, studying her expressions. Selene's skin felt warm beneath the robe and her legs trembled. What was happening to her? Was he using his magic right now to cause these reactions? Her chest began to tighten and her head seemed to swim with images. She recalled his nude form and the strength of his limbs as he held her down. The memory of his body heat and intimate touches nearly caused her to black out from waves of vivid sensation.

"Veridias..." Selene called out in panic, reaching for him to steady herself.

He pulled her to him, lowering them both to the ground. "Do you want this?" he asked her, trying to meet her fearful eyes. "Are you willing?"

"I do not...know. I am scared," she admitted, hardly hearing her own words over the sound of dual-pounding heartbeats. "It is happening so fast."

"We are connecting. Your body is willing," he said, leaning close to place his cheek against hers and whisper in her ear. "You do not have to be afraid."

Selene felt like she was quickly losing all control of herself. It was so overpowering. But did she want it?

"Salden. King Jaren," she said, her breathing quickly turning into a pant. "I should not do this." Her mind was trying to reason as images and sensations flooded through her. She felt the softness of her own skin through his touches and the stirrings of emotion within her, no, his breast. They were melding and still she tried to deny the emerging arousal they shared.

Selene felt his mouth at her throat, kissing and caressing her flesh. His hands slipped under her robe to knead gently at her breasts. Her head fell back as a moan escaped her lips. At that moment, she could think of nothing more torturous than for him to stop touching her.

Yes, I am willing, she thought, casting out all guilt to make room for the sharing. Veridias was not feeling guilty. His emotions and thoughts were laden with raw desire. She saw conjured images in his mind as he thought of the many ways he could have her. These images drove them deeper into their shared passion.

Magic or no magic, he was becoming uncomfortable in his restrictive armor. Selene pulled back as he released her. Together they worked feverishly to remove the black leather pieces and the cloth garments underneath. Then his erection swelled in anticipation as they came together once again in a desperate embrace.

"Is it always like this?" Selene asked, clinging to his muscular body and laying a trail of kissed down his neck, chest and stomach as she lowered herself to a kneeling position in front of him. She pulled from his mind what he wanted her to do. He was also panting as she gripped his erection in her hand and began to pull lightly on it.

"Each connection will be different."

He moaned loudly, working his hips against her hand. His pleasure flooded through Selene and her vagina also ached as if she was touching herself too.

"Oh, oh," she screamed, finding herself building up to some big explosion that she had never experienced and, therefore, could not describe. Her need was deepening- the need to feel his touches all over and inside of her. "Please," she pleaded, never imaging before now that she would beg a man to invade her womb.

Veridias moved quickly to join her on the ground as she stretched out before him and spread her legs. As he had the previous time, he guided his penis to her opening, but paused to look up at her. The swirls of gray within his storm cloud eyes were whipping about in a frenzy. "This will hurt," he told her, "but we will endure it together."

With a nod, Selene accepted his length as he drove it greedily into her warmth. They both shook with the impacting pain, working through it slowly as Veridias made his thrusts. Selene reached up and grabbed him, pulling him off balance and down onto her. She bucked against him, marveling in the simultaneous firing of their nerve endings. They were moving too quickly toward a climax. They both realized it would be over soon, but could not exert enough will power to slow down in their desperation to reach the height of their passion.

Moan after moan escaped them as they moved in unison, amplifying their desire with each harried movement. "Aaaaaaaaaah," Selene screamed, as Veridias orgasmed, spilling his seed inside of her. A few moments later, as he was continued to pump savagely against her cervix, Selene climaxed with another scream of pleasure that was echoed by Veridias.

The world seemed to slow down then as they lay together in a tight embrace. Their minds began to part, pulling back slowly from the other in a sad, mournful fashion. Veridias's softening penis slipped from Selene's opening, furthering their separation; and finally they met each other's gaze. Selene saw the calming of the storm clouds in his eyes as the last of their connection faded away.

"That was...very powerful," Veridias said, looking equally satisfied as well as disappointed in the wake of the encounter. "Are you all right?"

Selene studied him, unsure how to express the mixture of her emotions now that he was no longer reading them directly from her. It was obvious that they had become caught up in something that neither of them expected to happen. "I'm sore," she admitted, feeling the telltale signs of embarrassment writhe in her chest and deepen the flush on her features. "I am all right though."

He nodded, also looking uncomfortable. Looking toward the hot spring, he pulled away from her and moved to a sitting position. "The others will probably be looking for us."

"They should not have trouble finding us," Selene said, also sitting up. "We were...loud."

Veridias nodded, but did not look directly at her. Perhaps feelings of guilt and regret were settling into his thoughts.

"It is all right," Selene said immediately, reaching to touch his arm. "It just happened; and you said it yourself, we were willing." Her words helped to ease her own pains of guilt, even if they did nothing for him.

"That is true," he said, offering a smile. "It was not my intention to..." he began.

Selene interjected, "I know. It just happened." Their minds had combined long enough for her to know his motives. He had been driven by attraction as much as she.

She watched him climb to his feet and start to dress in his cloth garments. She stood also, moving quickly to the hot spring as his sperm dripped down the inside of her thigh. In moments, he was collecting his helm and the other pieces of his armor. Selene washed herself quickly, scampering back into her robe and adorning her slippers just before familiar voices called out in the distance. Veridias returned the calls of their comrades, reassuring them that all was well. Then the couple walked back to camp together, feeling oddly alone.