Velvet Roses Ch. 06

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Dane asked.

She nodded, trailing a finger along the intricately carved scales of the creature's head. It really was a thing of beauty, and curious as to how it would feel in her hands, she opened her mouth to ask Dane if she could take it down off the wall. Yet before she could speak a word, he removed the sword from its display mount, then offered it for her to hold.

"You read my mind," she said, then wrapped her palm around the katana handle.

"Everyone that comes over here wants to hold this one. But only certain people are afforded the privilege."

"So I'm one of the chosen ones, huh?" A small smile crossed her lips. "You're making me feel special."

"That's because you are."

Lifting her gaze to meet his, she saw that he was watching her with his dark eyes. Something about the way he looked at her sparked insatiable desire within her, and she felt her body tingle in response.

Turning her attention back to the sword, she slowly unsheathed it, gradually revealing the blade until it was completely uncovered. After setting the scabbard gently on the floor, she held the blade at eye level, marveling at the incredible shine.

The weapon was heavier than she'd expected it to be, but she liked the way that it felt in her hands. It made her feel powerful, not to mention a little badass. She felt the warmth of Dane's body as he positioned himself behind her, and placing his hand on top of hers, he demonstrated how to properly grasp the sword.

"In order to get good range of motion, you have to hold it like this."

He manipulated her fingers so that they were in the correct position, then moved her hand so that the blade was at an obtuse angle.

"How's that feel?" He asked.

"Heavy."

"That's because you're clutching it too tight. Relax your hands, and bend your elbow a little."

Heeding his advice, she allowed her grip to loosen slightly, and found that it did in fact cause the katana to feel lighter.

"How about now?" asked Dane.

"Feels better. Definitely not as heavy."

"Good. Now that you know how to hold a sword, how about I teach you some moves?"

"Sure, I'm up for it."

Dane grabbed a sword from off the wall, and after unsheathing it, he positioned himself so that he was standing a few feet away from her.

"First thing I'll teach you is the downward strike. Watch closely, then copy what I do."

Dane moved his right foot forward, then lifted his sword so that it was parallel to the ground.

"Step forward, then cut to the heart level." He repeated the move a few times while reiterating instructions, then gestured to Jeneda. "Now you try."

She brought her foot forward just as he'd done, then lifted her sword upward and thrust toward his chest, yet to her dismay, Dane promptly admonished her.

"You're doing it all wrong. The tip of the sword is supposed to be at heart level."

"It is at heart level."

"No, it's pointing toward my balls."

Snorting in amusement, she directed her gaze downward and saw that the blade of her katana was indeed directed at his crotch.

"Good move if that's what you're aiming for, but the upward strike is meant to go through the heart," he said.

Jeneda rose her sword so that it was parallel to the ground, then lifted her gaze so that it met his, silently seeking his approval.

"Good. Now starting from the beginning, show me how to properly do it."

She repeated the move, this time directing the point of the katana so that it was aimed directly at his heart.

"Very good. Nice form."

Giving a pleased smile in response to his words, she awaited further instruction.

"Now I want you to attack me."

"Attack you?"

"Yeah," he said. "Just come at me with the sword, as if you're attempting to strike me."

Making certain to leave plenty of distance between her sword and his body, she gingerly thrust her katana toward his heart.

"Come on, you can do better than that," he chided.

Spurred on by his words, she aggressively swiped her sword in a diagonal motion, yet before the tip of her weapon could even reach heart level, Dane blocked her move.

The clanging sound of steel against steel filled the air as their swords connected, clashing so fiercely that Jeneda nearly lost hold of her weapon.

Yet just before it could slip from her palm, she tightened her grip, allowing her to retain hold of it. Impressed by his lightning quick reflexes, Jeneda lifted her brows, receiving a faint smile from him in response.

"In order to block your opponent, you've gotta be quick. Always one step ahead, or else they'll gain the upper hand."

She nodded, then pulled her sword back so that it was no longer touching his.

"Come at me again, and I'll show you once more," he said.

She did, and once again their katanas clanged noisily, yet this time she kept a firm hold on the handle of her weapon.

"You see how I did that?" He asked.

She nodded in response, and after they'd both pulled their swords back, Dane rose his katana high over his head.

"Now I'll attack, and you block." He gave brief pause, then asked, "Ready?"

She barely even had time to nod before he brought his sword down in a swift and aggressive manner, causing her to panic in the process.

Completely thrown off guard and filled with adrenaline, she brought her weapon upward in hopes that it would clash against his.

Yet to her disappointment, the blade of her katana completely missed Dane's, leaving her fully open to his downward strike.

Before his sword could hit her, Dane brought it to a halt, then giving her a stern look, he said, "You weren't even close to blocking me."

"I'm only a beginner, Dane, give me a break."

Jeneda was hoping that her sharpened tone of voice would send a loud, clear message that she wasn't to be badgered, yet to her surprise, the words she spoke resulted in his lips tugging upward.

"You're angry," he said. "That's good."

"What are you taking about? I'm not angry. Maybe a little annoyed, but definitely not angry."

"Alright then, annoyed."

"And since when is being angry good?"

A full blown smirk had now spread across his lips. "Normally it's not. But I just find it interesting to see this other side of you."

"Well It's good to know you're entertained," she sarcastically said.

A light chuckle passed his lips. "It wasn't my intent to seriously upset you. But in order to become skilled at something, one must be passionate about it."

"So that's why you're being so hard on me. I thought you were being a dick, just for the sake of it."

He grinned. "You'd be a good sword fighter. I can tell."

"You think so?"

"Yep. Like any beginner, your technique isn't all that great, but you've got pretty decent form. Plus you've got a little spunk in you."

They maintained eye contact for several long moments before Jeneda felt a flutter of excitement in her belly, followed by a heat in her loins. She didn't know what it was about sparring with him, but it brought out a feral side of her, and in turn, caused her to crave sexual fulfillment.

She didn't have to be a mind reader to know that Dane was feeling a similar way, and knowing how adept he was at sensing the energy of others, she switched her focus to the sword in her hands, then got into a blocking stance.

"Let's go again," she said, while slightly raising her sword.

Her words caused Dane's eyes to dance with amusement, and he lifted his katana and got into a stance. She watched his hands closely, waiting for him to make the first move, and as he swung his sword in a short, clipped arc, Jeneda quickly maneuvered her own katana so that it would block his strike.

Their weapons clanged noisily as they met, the sound reverberating through the room. For a few moments, they did nothing except stare into each other's eyes, each waiting for the other to attempt another strike.

Then suddenly, with a quick twist of his wrist, Dane jerked his sword upward, maneuvering it aggressively against Jeneda's own katana. The force of his blade against her own caused the weapon to fly out of her hands, and it landed against the ground with a thud.

In what seemed like a split second, he gently pressed the tip of the sword between her breasts, forcing her to move backward until her posterior bumped against the wall.

Then adjusting the position of the weapon, he placed the flat of the blade firmly against her chest, pinning her to the wall.

"Now what do you do? How do you defend yourself?"

Wishing like hell that she could slap the maddening smirk off his face, she stared fiercely back at him, simultaneously in awe and agitated by the effortlessness with which he'd been able to disarm her.

"Knee you in the balls."

His smirk deepened. "That might work, but if this were a real fight, I'd have already slit your throat open."

"Lovely," she said in a sarcastic tone of voice. "Don't look so damn smug, though. You're fighting a girl, so I wouldn't be so proud of myself if I were you."

This drew a loud chuckle from his lips and he said, "So what you're saying is, a female could never effectively protect herself in a sword fight against a male."

"Not an unskilled one," she shot back. "But if I was properly trained like you, I'd probably kick your butt."

This time he released a full blown laugh. "You're so damn cute. I love sparring with you."

"Yeah, I can tell," she said.

He removed his sword from her chest, and after setting it aside, he said, "I think we've had enough sword fighting for the day. Let's do something else."

Knowing full well just what was on his mind, she flirtatiously asked, "Got any ideas?"

"Yeah, I got a few."

Biting his lip, he looked her up and down, his eyes darkening with desire. Then taking a few steps forward, he closed the distance between them and pulled her against his lean, hard body.

Pressing his forehead against hers, he gazed deep into her eyes, then weaved his fingers through the strands of her hair. Their lips were only inches from touching, and as he lightly brushed his mouth against hers, she lowered her lids to half mast.

He ran the pad of his thumb against her cheekbone, then pressing his lips softly to hers, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. The kiss they shared was slow and passionate, tongues dancing intimately as each allowed their hands to explore each others body.

His fingers weaved into her hair, angling her head so he was able to kiss her even deeper, and as their oral embrace intensified, she gave a little moan.

Lost in the taste and feel of his mouth, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her crotch against his arousal, sending a clear signal that her body yearned for his attention.

With not a doubt remaining as to what she desired, Dane pulled back from the kiss and took her by the hand, leading the way to the bed.

They'd barely reached it before his hands were all over her body, pawing her with an urgency which caused her heart rate to quicken.

She felt his palms coast along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs before moving up to cup her fleshy backside, and as he gave each cheek a gentle squeeze, she tipped her chin back, enticing him to capture her lips.

The kiss they shared was hot and wet, their lips moving slowly as they savored the taste of each other's mouth.

Restless and impatient, their fingers fumbled with buttons and zippers, gradually removing each article of clothing until they were stripped down to their underwear.

With nothing more than the thin material of their undergarments between them, Jeneda became acutely aware of the heat that was radiating from his body. She also couldn't help noticing that a look of hunger had come into his eyes, and as his fingers found their way to the front clasp of her bra, the fabric parted, exposing her firm breasts.

Dane stared covetously at them for a moment before dipping his fingers beneath the waistband of her panties, and after guiding the fabric down her legs, he pushed her back onto the bed.

Her heart quickened as he climbed on top of her and she parted her legs, feeling her inner muscles clench in response to the sight of his steely erection.

The mere thought of him filling her pussy with it caused a familiar ache to build in her core, and as he positioned himself between her thighs, she gently bucked against him. His lips quirked in response to her eagerness, then maneuvering his head so that his lips were against her neck, he began trailing kisses down the length of it.

Upon reaching her breasts, he slowly dragged the tip of his tongue over her left nipple, flicked it a few times, then captured it in his mouth and greedily suckled it. Then he turned his attention to her other breast, and after licking, sucking, and fondling it to erection, he brought his mouth to meet hers.

Their lips fused, tongues tangling and thrusting with an almost desperate need, and as he shifted his hips against hers, she knew that the moment of penetration was steadily nearing. As the anticipation built, every nerve in her body came alive, and the kiss they were sharing became hotter and wetter.

Forced to break apart by the need for oxygen, they locked gazes. Several moments passed while they simply stared at one another, speaking no words as they languorously ran their hands along each other's naked bodies.

As his palm coasted along the swell of her breasts, her fingers traced the line of his cheekbone, and she found herself struck by the beauty of his face.

It wasn't just his jet black hair and pale skin, but also his hooded eyes that entranced her. There was something behind them that greatly intrigued her, and she sensed there was a dark and dangerous side to him. Nothing too extreme she was sure, but just a bit untamed.

This only increased her arousal for him, and placing her hands on his back, she slowly glided her palms down the length of it. As she lay there beneath his warm body, she couldn't help thinking about how just a few weeks earlier they'd been perfect strangers, and now here they were, stretched out nude on his bed.

While his body was lean and sleekly muscled, hers was soft and womanly, and the contrast of his pale skin against her darker hue was visually arresting.

Although they were eagerly anticipating the moment when their bodies would merge, they were perfectly content to kiss, caress and stare into each other's eyes, knowing that the buildup would only heighten the sensations that they felt.

Completely oblivious to anything but him, she relished the feel of his breath against her skin, loving the way it slightly tickled her flesh as he placed gentle kisses on her neck. She also enjoyed the sensation of his hand as it followed the hills and dips of her body, and as his fingers made contact with the slick moisture between her thighs, a small gasp escaped her throat.

Using the pad of his index finger, he traced the line of her weeping slit a few times before slowly pushing his digit inside her slick, tight passage. His eyes didn't stray from hers for even a moment, and as his long finger probed her tight, slick pussy, she arched her back, tangling her fingers in his soft hair.

"Dane."

His name came out as a whisper, and a lustful whimper passed her lips as he removed his fingers from her silky passage, then shifted his body on top of her. This gave her the chance to feel his hot, firm penis against her thigh, and she knew from the feral look in his eyes, that he'd reached the pinnacle of arousal.

Resting on one elbow, he wrapped a hand around his cock, then guided himself into her opening with a slow, deep thrust. A husky groan passed her lips, and as he began to pump inside her, she held onto his firm butt, rocking her hips in time with his thrusts.

Clearly wanting to relish every minute, he lightly rolled his hips, gradually building the pace as she moaned and writhed beneath him. His mouth hovered hotly over her lips, and as he looked down at her, she gazed up at him, losing herself in his intoxicating stare.

His lips brushed lightly against hers before he trailed the tip of his tongue along one of her swollen pads. Then tenderly, he probed her mouth with his tongue, skillfully manipulating its movement so that it matched his slow, sensual thrusts.

Melded as one, their bodies moved in a rhythmic swaying motion, hips rolling with urgent need as carnal moans filled the space around them.

The heat between them steadily increased, resulting in a light sheen of sweat on their bodies that only further enhanced the delicious friction of skin against skin.

His gentle, tender thrusts were steadily becoming faster and more possessive, and with each buck of his hips, the mattress creaked beneath them, mingling with the sounds of their lovemaking.

Each rhythmic push sank him deeper into her, and as he continuously impaled her soft, pliant body, her cries grew louder.

His voice slid over her skin like satin as he urged her on, whispering erotic words in her ear as she clutched desperately at his hips.

The sensation of his deep voice vibrating against her skin, combined with the feeling of his stiff shaft pumping feverishly inside her became too intense for her to handle, and with a ragged cry, she came undone.

Jeneda's body quaked violently with the force of her orgasm, her muscles creating a vice grip around him that milked his thick shaft.

Not slowing his ministrations for even a moment, he mercilessly plunged his cock in and out of her taut hole. Helpless to do anything except lay boneless beneath him, she weakly whimpered, digging her nails into his shoulders as he picked up speed.

He allowed himself a few more hard thrusts and then climaxed, releasing a low, drawn out groan as he pumped her full of his seed.

Completely spent and drained of his fluids, his body went limp and he collapsed uselessly on the mattress beside her.

Although her sexual appetite had been completely satiated, Jeneda couldn't help but feel aroused at the sight of him sweaty and panting, and she languidly ran a palm along his glistening chest. A contented murmur passed his lips, and taking her hand in his, he placed a soft kiss to the inside of her wrist.

They lay quietly face to face, her fingers idly tracing the lean muscles of his chest as his hand lovingly stroked her bare arm. They were at a loss for words, but for different reasons.

Jeneda was silent because she was simply enjoying the moment for what it was-the aftermath of a very intimate moment during which they'd pleasured and enjoyed each others bodies. In addition, she was also coming to the realization that she was no longer just smitten, but actually beginning to feel an emotional attachment to him.

She didn't know what was going through Dane's mind, but as she looked into his eyes, she saw they were filled with sadness, and was suddenly reminded of the somber mood he'd been in upon arriving to his apartment.

Their mock sword fight and the passionate experience they'd just shared had caused her to forget all about the worries which seemed to be weighing so heavily on him. But now that they were laying in silence with nothing to distract them, she was once again faced with reality, and she knew the time had come to ask him some questions.

"Something's bothering you, isn't it?"

As the words left her mouth, his expression grew serious, and he briefly shifted his eyes downward. Then allowing his gaze to once against meet hers, he spoke.

"Yes, but I can't talk about it, so please don't ask me any more questions."

"Come on Dane, don't brush this off. Talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because It's complicated."

"You think I won't understand?"

He said nothing, only stared deep into her eyes.

"Well, I guess that gives me my answer," she disappointedly said.