The Beast and The Swallow

The torrential rain still poured outside, but Noah could only hear the blood rushing through his veins and beating against his eardrums. His body tensed up, as if he was going to leap into an abyss. And he was. If he did what every one of his instincts urged him to do, there was no coming back. Elation and fear formed into an iron fist and punched him in the gut. What if he was imagining things? What if this was one of his lucid dreams? What if he did something wrong?

And yet, that small hand holding him felt so real, so true, so right.

A jagged sigh escaped his lungs, and when he breathed in again, her fragrance filled his nose – of soap, herbs, and of something… indescribable. Something that was distinctly hers. Swallowing with difficulty, he gathered the courage to turn around. And there she was – bathed in the rich gold of the lanterns; a goddess of light and innocence. The warm bath had given her skin a pink hue that bloomed not only on her cheeks but also spread down her slender neck and reached her smooth shoulder. Forever-blessed be the innkeeper's wife and her oversized nightgown, making it possible for him to indulge in such a mesmerizing view.

His gaze traveled along Lorelei's collarbone and then down. Under the home-woven fabric, two perfect mounds undulated in the quick-paced rhythm of her breathing. Completely entranced, he needed a few moments to realize how unseemly his action might be. He hurriedly lifted his eyes, only to meet Lorelei's and fall under their spell. In them, he read the same desire that was eating him up, body and soul. Just one touch, and she could be his. Completely, undeniably his.

He didn't dare move.

A crease wrinkled her brow as she frowned, the sparkle in her gaze dimming. Her perfect lips – soft, sweet, and plump like ripe cherries – parted. A shiver ran down Noah's spine. He anticipated the melody of her voice, yet dreaded the content of her words.

"Noah?" Her breathy whisper struck him like a lightning bolt. "Don't… Don't you want this?"

"I do." His voice came out hoarsely, but he was happy to be able to speak at all. He cupped her palm in his hands, the touch of her skin igniting an inferno in his very core. "You… can't imagine how much I'd like to stay."

"Then why…?"

"Because I don't want you to force yourself."

"I'm not forcing myself!" she countered.

Before Noah could react, she tore free from his grip. Her hands seized the front of his shirt, pulling him towards her. Their kiss was deep and desperate. Her teeth grazed his lip like she wanted to mark him, claim him as hers. And yet, her bold confidence couldn't hide the quaking of her frame. When they separated, she still held his shirt captive with feverish fingers, as if fearing he might escape.

"S-see?" she panted. "I told you. I want this."

"You are trembling."

"I'm not afraid!"

"But I am."

She blinked. Her incredulous expression called a wry smile to his lips. He cupped her face as gently as if she were made of glass.

"I'm scared… that I might hurt you," he whispered.

"Do you want to hurt me?"

"Of course not!" Noah was appalled, but then saw the playful flame in her eyes.

"Then I trust you. And you should know already that I'm not that easy to break."

Noah opened his mouth to retort, but her kiss drowned his protests. Lorelei's fingers dug in his hair. Her body leaned onto his, only two thin layers of fabric separating them. The incredible softness of her breasts pressing against his chest almost made him lose his mind. His arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her even closer. His tongue probed around her mouth, and she eagerly accepted it.

Emboldened, his hands roamed her back until they reached her ass and remained firmly planted there. The incredible combination of softness and firmness fanned the flames of his desire even further. While Lorelei was lost, drinking his every breath, he leaned slightly back. Positioning his thigh between her legs, he used the perfect grip he had on her behind to pull her up toward himself. The moan that escaped her lips echoed his own yearning. In response to his teasing, her fingers released his hair and slid down his chest. They fumbled their way toward his stomach, curiously tracing the muscles hidden under the cover of the thin linen.

Noah held his breath, savoring the inquisitive, feathery strokes. Suddenly, her hands became bolder, pulling on his shirt and slipping under it. The touch of her fingers on his bare skin evoked a stream of fire that flowed down his spine and gathered at his loins.

He wanted her! He needed her! The almost painful pressure building inside drove him mad. It demanded release! No. Not now. He wanted to taste her. Every part of her. Slowly. Passionately. He wanted to drown her in ecstasy.

One hand firmly planted on her ass, he used the other to cradle the back of Lorelei's head, further deepening their kiss. At the same time, his thigh moved ever so slightly between her legs, releasing another deep moan from her. Now, her hands became desperate. One tugged and pulled on his shirt, lifting it in an attempt to remove this annoying obstacle. The other continued to caress the tight muscles on his stomach and sides, its slender fingers following the groove of an old scar that marred his abdomen.

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Suddenly, the whole elation ebbed away from Noah's chest. He gently but firmly pushed Lorelei's hands away from his body.

"W-why?" she whimpered, her big eyes staring at him with apprehension and loss. "Did I…?"

"No!" He hurriedly kissed her. "It's me. I just… I don't want to… ruin your experience."

Bewilderment painted her flushed face.

"I…" He couldn't resist her inquiring gaze and turned his head aside, suddenly feeling the need to hide his disfigurement. "My body… is not a pleasant sight."

"My love…" Her words made him shiver. Her hand landed on his marred cheek, gently nudging him to look back at her. "I know what your body looks like under that shirt. I've seen it."

"Yes. But not… like this. Not when…" His voice betrayed him. He wanted to explain. To tell her that all he wished for was to give her the most perfect, most elating, most tender moment. That he wanted her to melt in pleasure, to forget all her fears, all the ugly and hurtful memories. But how could a disfigured brute ever accomplish this?

"My precious fool!" More than her words, her shy smile blinded and confused him. She freed her hands from his hold and took a small step away from him before motioning to the back of her head. A single pull and her gorgeous hair spilled over her shoulders, freed from the prison of the ribbon. As he watched mesmerized, her cunning fingers bound the colored stripe over her eyes. "Look. Now, I can't see anything you don't want me to."

"Oh, Lorelei!" For the longest of moments, he couldn't say anything more. A thigh knot clogged his throat, suffocating him, yet his heart fluttered like a captured bird finally leaving its cage. "You… Are you sure?"

"I don't need to see you to trust you." She said confidently, shaking like a leaf. "I am yours."

A dam broke in Noah's chest, the flood of emotions wiping away any traces of doubt. How could he hesitate when she was braving her own fears for him? In a swift motion, he took off his shirt, throwing it to the ground. The quiet rustle of the cloth alerted Lorelei, who tilted her head in the direction of the noise. The next moment, she gasped when Noah suddenly hugged her from behind.

"You are mistaken, my lady," he whispered in her ear, indulging in her amazement from his sneaky approach. "Tonight, I'm yours. Your word is my command. Your wish is my wish. If at any time you want me to stop-"

"You… impossible man!" she interrupted him, leaning her back on his chest. Her ass rubbed against his growing erection, nearly driving him insane. "Won't you stop talking?"

"Yes, my lady," he breathed on the nape of her neck, making her shudder.

His arms wrapped tighter around her waist, and he breathed in the scent of her hair. Its silky waves caressed his bare chest – a wondrous sensation he had only dreamed of. His lips slowly found their way to her neck, where he kissed and nibbled her smooth skin, not hard or rough to leave a mark, but enough to earn himself a needy moan. At the same time, his hands started moving. Reverently, he cupped her breasts and began massaging them through the coarse cloth of the nightgown. They were perfect – soft, firm, and just the right size to fill his palm. He noticed with delight that her nipples had hardened under the teasing of his fingers. A jagged moan escaped her lips, and he decided it was time to move on.

Nibbling her earlobe, he kept his left hand on her breast. His fingers pinched her nipple just a bit harder so that his touch would heighten the friction of the cloth. A sharp intake of breath was his reward. He continued rolling her pebbling nipple between his thumb and index finger, all while his right hand slid down and down until it lay between her legs. Even through the fabric, he could feel her dampness.

Gods! He craved her so much! The fire in his loins yearned for release. His mind was on the verge of blacking out. But it wasn't the time yet. She wasn't ready. He swallowed dryly and smiled. There was still work to do.

While his left hand continued its sensual exploration, he carefully guided his right index finger to the center of her dampness. Lorelei jolted.

"Should I stop?" he breathed in her ear.

"D-don't you dare!"

His smile grew wider. His finger became bolder. Pressing and probing against the fabric, it found its way between her nether lips and brushed against a hard, small nub. Lorelei's entire body shook, and her knees softened, but he didn't allow her to fall. His left hand held her tightly, switching its teasing grip to her other breast. Finally finding its target, his index finger began slowly rubbing her clit. Soon, his middle finger joined in, and his pace hastened. It was excruciatingly difficult to hold back and not to probe her oozing depths, but he prevailed. It was her time of pleasure, not his. And pleasure she had!

Under his touch, she gasped and trembled, her legs wobbling like those of a newborn fawn. Her body seemed to instinctively know what to do to drive him on the brink of madness. Her ass grinded against his erection, its pace quickening in tune with the motion of his fingers. She threw back her head, leaning on his shoulder, her sweet moans tickling his ear. Two pearly hands found their way on top of his own, as if wanting to guide him. And when she arched her back and tried to muffle her cry, he almost erupted with her.

But he wasn't finished yet.

Guiding the swaying Lorelei to the bed, Noah carefully laid her down. The nightgown was damp from sweat and passion and stuck to her body. In the flickering light of the lantern, he could see everything – the hard nipples, bobbing up and down with every heave of breath; the alluring curves of her hips still slightly shaking and moving as if searching for his touch; the fold in the fabric he had created right over her slit, taunting the entrance to her depths. And then there was her face – lips parted, cheeks flushed, eyes still tightly bound by her ribbon. She looked so defenceless. So gorgeous. So maddeningly beautiful.

Noah bit his lips and took several deep breaths to calm himself; an impossible task, but he had decided to endure. Very carefully, he climbed on the bed and leaned over Lorelei.

"May I continue, my lady?" he whispered in her ear. A needy moan was all he received, but the message was clear.

With utmost reverence, his hands slid under the cover of her nightgown.

Another moan.

His palms brushed her thighs and up her waist as he rolled the useless piece of clothing out of the way. Finally peeling it off and throwing it away, he gave himself a moment to marvel at the woman of his heart. The milky skin was now gilded by the lanterns and shone like a rare piece of silk. Every curve, every slope and mound, was the Gods' finest creation. He trailed his fingers across her flat stomach, making her tremble. She did feel like made of silk and fire. His caress continued up until he reached her plump breasts. Now, without their cover, they looked even more perfect with the tiny buds blooming atop each of them. His throat bobbed. He leaned in closer, his breath making the little pink nubs swell even more.

"N-Noah…" Her whimper was music to his ears.

Without hesitation, his lips hungrily took in her nipple.