Chapter 13
Elpi s
Keyon squeezed a dollop of lubricant on his first two fingers and lowered them to my core. I was in too much pain to flinch, so I just watched what he did with muted fascination. He had large, rough hands, and seeing his calloused fingers landing so delicately on my sensitive skin made my belly flip from arousal. This male could decimate a foe, but he chose to treat me like a glass rose—or a glass moonflower, I supposed, as he would put it. Something about the tenderness in his touch lit a primal instinct in me. Something that wanted to let him mount me in exchange for his sweet dedication and protection.
Instead of pleasure, the migraine forced a wave of nausea through me, but I tried to stay focused on what he was doing. I didn’t know how long I could watch because my migraine had spread behind my eyes, but I desperately wanted to. I knew I’d be acutely fired up if I weren’t in so much pain.
His attentive fingers circled around my sex, dipping in between the different folds and sliding across the middle. My stomach contracted when he hit several very sensitive spots, and I reached for something to brace myself. When I found Keyon’s legs, I gripped them tight.
A puff of warm air brushed the left side of my face, and Keyon’s smooth voice crooned into my ear. “Relax, moonflower,” he whispered. “Spread your legs just a little bit more. Yeah, that’s better.” His voice was so soft and so close that it spurred my arousal, causing lightning to splinter from my ears to my belly and core. I let out a sobbing cry, almost unable to handle the stimulation. His voice… Oh, how I worshipped his confident, masculine voice.
His fingers continued to rub around in circles, and I began to get used to his touch. It was so intimate and exposing that, for a while, all I could think about was if he liked what he saw. For some reason, that was very important to me. My pubic hairs were growing back, but they were still short and prickly. I hoped that wasn’t a turnoff. It’s not like I had chosen for that to happen. What did other females look like?
I groaned through a wave of pain as my head throbbed, but I kept trying to turn my attention back to what Keyon was doing. It wasn’t very hard, but it was almost giving me whiplash. I raised a hand to rub my temple for a minute while he tended to me.
His hand rubbed in circles, spiraling closer to my opening. Finally, he dipped in the tip of his forefinger, and I gasped at the invasion. I tensed and returned my other hand to his leg from the shock of it. Keyon’s other hand slid around my waist to gently rub my belly. The action soothed me and sent warmth spiraling into my heart. He was tending to my emotions as much as my body, and that spurred some primal instinct. Perhaps it was better I was ill because otherwise I’d be tempted to turn around and ride his cock, not that I knew how to do that.
His finger slid in slowly until it was fully in, then he curled it and pulled it back out, dragging the tip through my channel on his exit. I bucked my hips at the sensation, uncertain what to make of what I was feeling. Everything was so intense! When he rubbed around my entrance again, I noticed that his fingers were dripping with lubrication, and I realized that the moisture had come from me.
“Look at your pretty nectar, moonflower,” he murmured into my ear, making me shiver uncontrollably. “Look at how shiny and wet you are for me. You’re practically dripping with need.”
This time, I moaned from a wave of arousal instead of pain, my belly clenching and flipping from his provocative words. He slowly plunged his finger back in, and I heard the slick sound of my arousal meeting his knuckle.
“Mmm,” he groaned lustfully into my ear. “And would you listen to that sound? Who knew you could hear a female’s desire?” He punctuated his point by lightly pumping his finger, making the slick noises fatten into squelching sounds. He groaned again, and I could feel his erection on my back. He was enjoying this too!
“You’re doing well taking my large finger, female,” he grunted close to my ear. “I wonder what else you might be good at taking someday?” He nuzzled his nose against my ear, and I arched my back with a whimper, beginning to go mad with desire. The pain lost its grip, left behind because all I could think about was him. I was surrounded by his masculinity. His massive, tanned, and carved arms were working in front of me, and his enormous cock was swollen against my back, twitching and throbbing. It was so hot that I could feel it through our layers of clothing.
He added a second finger, and I squirmed beneath his slow invasion, releasing a desperate cry. “Hmm, you like that? Are you enjoying my thick, battle-worn fingers raiding you? Are you enjoying the knight general’s attention, female?” he growled and lightly bit my ear. I gasped and arched again, nearly sobbing from bliss. I was overrun with emotion and thrilled with every word that sprang from his sensual lips.
“More!” I whimpered. I wanted more!
“More what, moonflower? Finger fucking or dirty talking? Or both?” he whispered.
He started rubbing outside my channel, starting from the top and running down the sides. His fingers travelled in rotating patterns and seemed completely honed in on my body’s reactions. “Let’s find out what you like, female. Let’s see where you like to be touched. Ravaged.” Whenever I leaned into what he was doing, he stayed there for a while. If I relaxed, he’d move on to try something else until I reacted again. For someone who hadn’t touched a female in a long time, he was completely in control. It was like he was in my head—like we had a deeper connection.
“Mmm, you are so beautiful. So wet. It’s a pity I can’t just fuck you right now,” he murmured, lapping at my ear. His tongue was warm, soft, and wet. I gasped at his unexpected words and experienced a colossal surge of arousal, which made me feel like something was building within my core. My mouth hung open, and my head leaned back as my mind searched for that feeling, desperate to hang onto it.
“Oh, you like it when I talk about fucking you?” he groaned and pressed into the swollen flesh at the apex of my sex. I gasped and clawed at his legs. “Well, I like to think about fucking you. You have such a fine, tight pussy, but thinking about plunging into it risks me coming all over your beautiful dress.” I nearly kicked my legs as I tried to arch into his hands. I was gasping for air, unable to stop panting. He leaned his mouth in closer so his lips brushed my ear upon each syllable. “I’d just paint that entire dress white…”
“Keeeyon!” I whined.
“Mmm, yes? Have we found a winner here?” he whispered and rubbed more into the swollen flesh. I scrabbled at his legs, whispering and chanting his name like a prayer. The sensation growing within me itched and writhed, like it wanted to blossom and be free. I wanted to water it and let it bloom. I needed it to bloom!
“Would my moonflower like to come?” he growled and licked my ear again. “Would she like to spill her beautiful nectar all over her dragon’s hand?” He continued to rub at the same pressure and pace, making the itch swell intolerably. I wept and nodded in desperation.
“Keyon! Keeeyon! Please!” I begged. I was so afraid to lose the sensation. I was close to something... I just didn’t know what! I just knew that I wanted it with a fierceness I’ve never experienced .
“Gods, Elpis, you are so fucking enticing. Look at you writhing under my hand. I can barely keep myself from mounting your perfect body,” he rumbled, continuing his ministrations. “I want to pound into you and spill my seed. Claim you for myself. No one but me would ever touch you again.”
“Ah…” I moaned louder as I got closer to blooming. “Ahh…” I arched more, and my muscles clenched. A short, disbelieving mewl escaped from between my lips as new sensations unfurled.
“That’s it. Come for me, Elpis, my moonflower. Come for me. Your knight general commands it,” he snarled.
I was slammed by a new experience—ecstasy. Pleasure rolled through me in a hot, engulfing wave as my core blossomed. I threw my head back into a hard chest and yelled. “Ahhh! Ahhhh! Ahhhh!” I cried through each wave of pleasure that assaulted me. A finger rubbed into my flesh, prolonging the pleasure that swirled through me. Each rapturous surge sent me arching and bucking as I tried to savor the experience.
A hand moved to massage a breast over my dress, and I leaned into it, enjoying the combination with the rippling, carnal euphoria. The blossoming slowed, and I faded back into a hard chest, panting and smiling like a fool.
My head fell to the side, heavy, and I savored Keyon’s scent. He smelled so good, and it was starting to remind me of something, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. My heart pounded like it fought to recover from the experience, and the dragon’s hand slid from my breast back to my belly, stroking it gently with his thumb. I listened to his own heart and breathing, lulled into a sense of complete contentment.
“Good work, Elpis,” Keyon said softly, his demeanor returning to normal. “How do you feel?”
I’d forgotten I had a migraine. When I checked in with my body, I realized I was completely fine. “I… feel much better!” I said with surprise. “Just sleepy,” I added with a yawn. He chuckled, a low rumbling noise that would have me lted me had I not been so tired.
“That happens when you orgasm,” he replied. “Let’s get you to nest now.” He adjusted the blanket and covered me up when I lay down to sleep. “Wake me if you need anything. I’ll be right here, moonflower.”
He placed the canteen of water between us and extended a wing over himself as he settled to sleep. I felt bad he’d never gotten a chance to finish today. He said he’d been really pent up too. I’d have to take care of him soon.
He had the most glorious cock I’d ever seen, and I was quite keen to try it. What would it taste like? Which of my techniques would he like the best? He had been very receptive to them in the bath. I smiled broadly, remembering the shock on his face and the profanities that ran from his mouth. It was so funny that it took all my effort not to laugh.
In the meantime, I needed to rest, and I tried not to think about all the naughty things he’d said to get me to orgasm. I was unique-looking, but did he really think I was beautiful? Did he want to claim me as his own? I wondered how much of it, if any, was true. Would I ever know?
Suddenly, I wasn’t so happy about him leaving me somewhere to rehabilitate. I didn’t like the thought of being away from him. Maybe it was because he’d saved me? No... I didn’t think it was hero worship. It felt deeper than that. Well, I had time. I’d see where these feelings would lead. I just hoped it didn’t leave me heartbroken. I was ready for something to turn out right for once.
I wasn’t sure why, but I was incredibly shy when I woke the next morning and remembered what Keyon had done to make me feel better. Maybe it was because it was the first time I’d ever received pleasure instead of giving it. I’d certainly made some odd noises and moved in strange ways. Maybe I was feeling self-conscious about that. As I quietly nibbled on some food, I wondered how similar the female orgasm was to the male one. We certainly didn’t seem to emit anything other than our natural lubricant. Maybe I’d ask Keyon someday.
“So where are we going again?” I asked as we walked. “Some kind of cabin?” My strides required more effort when our route turned into an incline, and I hoped I could keep up today. Traveling had been a brutal reminder of how out of shape I was.
“Yeah, that’s right. I own a cabin on the mountain, and it’s one of the places Leofwine and I agreed would be safe to meet at should anything happen. Since something did happen, that’s where we’re going,” he said with a sigh, pocketing his hands. How they fit in there I’d never know.
“And after the cabin?” I asked curiously, looking up at him.
“I don’t know. Outside of what’s going on at the castle, I’m anxious about those symbols on your neck. I don’t think anything like that should go unchecked,” he said with a worried expression and brushed some locks away from his eyes as he looked straight ahead.
I ran my fingers down my neck. I couldn’t feel anything. It was just smooth skin.
Soon? my mind thought, and I wondered if it would be. “Who could look at it?” I asked.
“I’m not sure… we might want to go straight to a coven. There’s just so much happening right now. At least the king doesn’t have jurisdiction on coven grounds, so if we were in trouble, we could be safe there, at the very least.” He looked down at the ground for a moment and kicked a rock out of his way. “I wish I could be in multiple places at the same time. I feel like we’re in for a long haul, Elpis. I’m really sorry. I really wish I could get you somewhere safe to live peacefully.”
I supposed that I was a burden. Without me, he could just fly to any location. The realization stung, and I grabbed my chest. I was slowing him down.
“Maybe I could hide somewhere in the wild while you go fly off to see what’s happening?” I offered. He bristled at that and shook his head aggressively .
“No fucking way,” he growled. “I’m not leaving you on your own. Forget that completely.”
“I could stay at the cabin,” I suggested, but he shook his head again.
I sighed and tried to think of another idea, but nothing came to me. “I’m sorry, Keyon. I hate that I’m slowing you down. I can tell how stressed you are,” I said morosely.
“I can cope with stress, Elpis,” he replied sternly and tensed. “I can’t cope with harm coming to you. I’m not going to let you get hurt.”
The notion was sweet, and I was reminded that I still wanted to relieve him. That would help with stress. Maybe when we stopped for lunch? I blushed at the plan, not sure why I was so bashful about it now. Great Moon Goddess, I’d pleasured many… this shouldn’t stir me so much.
The closer it got to midday, the more nervous I became. It occurred to me that I’d never initiated a session, just ordered to clients who were already erect, and Keyon had already been working away at himself when I volunteered. Would he react well, or would he decline? I guess I’d find out soon.
I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress when we stopped for lunch, fixated on my plan. We ate some of the meat he’d roasted last night, which was still pretty good. I wasn’t sure how long meat would last—probably not much longer. I suppose that Toast would hunt for us again.
When Keyon finished his meal, I scooted over to him and placed a hand on his knee. His gaze slid to my hand, then moved to meet my eyes. “Whatcha doing there, Elpis?” he asked casually, but there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
I let my palm travel up his thigh. “Finishing what I started?” I breathed out, making sure to keep my torso low but tilt my chin up so he could look down my dress. I’d made sure to tie the bust particularly tight before this and lift my breasts enough to maximize my cleavage. I trailed my fingers over the growing bulge in his pants and watched his throat bob as he swallowed.
My palm cupped his covered erection and slid upwards, pressing pleasure into his length. I repeated the act with the other hand, alternating until his head tilted back to the sky. I pulled at the strings of his pants but was interrupted when sobbing cut through the forest. I groaned and went limp, resting my forehead on his thigh.
“It’s not fair!” I complained. Keyon swore every single profanity I’d ever heard in my life and gently moved me off so he could stand and secure his pants. I followed behind as he irritably hunted for the source of the crying.
Our frustration evaporated when we saw a female dragging a male’s body through the woods. She was crying, in a near panic, and a hint of madness was riding the sounds escaping her throat. I recognized her curly blackberry locks at once and raced to her.
“Lady from the store!” I cried, accidentally spooking her. “What happened to you?” The female dropped the male’s arms with a shriek, crumpled into a ball, and covered her head. “Nay! I won’t hurt you. It’s just me. It’s the Reborn you helped! Elpis!”
“Reborn?” she asked with a sob and hazarded a peek. She held her arms out like a hatchling, desperate for comfort, and I gave it to her. I dove into her arms and hugged her fiercely, rocking and shushing her while she shed her tears. I held her inconsolable form for about a half an hour while she wailed. I knew what her sounds meant. I knew what her body was saying. All the sex slaves came in like this after their first time. This female had been raped.
She hung onto me as if I was her world and nothing existed past me. She seemed to be blocking out everything else, and how she had managed to drag a male during all of this was beyond me. As I kept her in a tight clutch, I glanced over at Keyon, who was investigating the still male. He looked up and met my eyes with a dark expression.
“He’s dead,” he mouthed so the female didn’t have to hear it out loud. She probably knew that already.
Stricken, I petted her hair and asked, “I can’t remember your name. I’m sorry… What was it again? ”
She buried her face more into my chest and sobbed. “Adelais…”
“Oh… that’s right. I remember. What happened, Adelais? So I can help you.”
Her body shivered as she bawled, but after a little while, she calmed enough to share. “B-Bertram and I w-were making a d-delivery to the castle when some s-soldiers came and s-started asking questions,” she said, shivering with broken nerves. “They w-wanted to know if I s-saw a R-Reborn traveling with the knight g-general.”
I looked worriedly up at Keyon, who flinched at the mention of his title.
“I l-lied b-but th-they could tell I w-was lying and threatened to k-kill Bertram!” She fell apart for another minute, shaking and sobbing in despair. “I tried t-telling the truth and s-said I didn’t know where you were, b-but they killed Bertram anyway and…. and…” She hung her head and completely collapsed against me, losing all her strength to stay upright. I kept her propped up and waited until she was ready to continue.
She whispered hoarsely, “Once they believed I knew nothing, they… they…” She gripped my dress like she was hanging from a cliff. “They took turns and left!” she shrieked the last words out and fell apart. With a shocked, broken heart, I held and rocked her, moving my gaze to Keyon again. He was livid—wings out and blue flames licking the corners of his mouth.
“Were they the king’s soldiers, Adelais?” he asked as gently as he could through his rage. She nodded, and he swore, walking away so he could vent his fury.
“When was this?” I asked as I stroked her hair.
“Yesterday evening,” she said between sniffs. “I dragged Bertram off the road because I didn’t want anyone looting his body.”
“That must have been so hard, Adelais,” I murmured. She nodded, and I could tell she was beginning to fade. Her body was here, but her mind was going somewhere else, somewhere she thought was safer—the numb place. “Should I take a look at you, Adelais? Clean you up a bit?” I offered.
She nodded vacantly, and I laid her down. When I collected the canteen, soap, and a sponge, I returned to Adelais and lifted her skirts just enough to care for her. I sighed sorrowfully when I noticed that her underwear was missing. Pouring some water on the sponge, I lathered it with soap so I could wipe her clean. I removed as much as I could of the blood and emission, wishing I could rinse her out too. Hopefully there was a bath at Keyon’s cabin. I certainly wasn’t going to leave her here.
The sounds of a large creature digging came from behind, and I turned to see Toast burrowing into the ground forty feet away from us. He delicately pulled Bertram’s body into the deep hole and buried him. Toast then launched into the sky and scorched the top of the tree he was buried near, making sure to put out any fires he created. When he landed, he went toward a tree to shift, and Keyon came out from behind it, fully clothed.
“So,” Keyon said as he came toward us, “I’ve created a body tag for Leofwine. I’ll tell him about Bertram, Adelais, so he’ll come back here to recover the body and return him to his family.”
“Thank you,” Adelais whispered.
“I’m guessing you’re not a dragon-shifter since you’re still out here. Cat?” he asked, picking up his bag again. I handed him his canteen, and he stared sadly at the sponge in my hands.
“Yes…” She was barely here.
“Alright, well, you’re coming with us to the cabin, then. We should arrive there tomorrow. My colleague is meeting us there; he’ll take you home. He’s one of the best people I know, Adelais. He won’t hurt you, ok?”
“Ok…”
“Alright…” Keyon sighed and retreated to give Adelais space. I knew Toast didn’t like eating cat-shifters. Would he be ok traveling with one? I helped Adelais to her feet so we could begin our hike up the mountain. My heart was breaking for her.