The Beast and The Swallow

When the silk ribbon covered Lorelei's eyes, her heart quivered in doubt. She had acted so confident before Noah, but in the pitch darkness that entrapped her, she felt completely lost and alone. Panic slowly poisoned the butterfly elation of their intimacy. Doubt snuck in. What if it was a mistake? Before her blinded eyes danced the images of her brother, of his lecherous friends, of Master Argente. Everything she had tried to suppress flooded back in - the sounds, the sensations, the smells, the terror.

Like the wretched ribbon, the dusk of the stables had robbed her of her sight. Among the hay, horses, and old leathers, those noble lordlings, with their stench of liquor and their lewd laughter, had been more vile and repulsive than a band of lepers. Their touch had felt so dirty; their thirst – so unbridled. To them, she had been an easy conquer. A servant meant to satisfy her masters' appetite and be grateful for their attention.

The same murk had also reigned in Master Argente's room, yet it nurtured another type of monstrosity – cunning and poisonous like a snake. His shadow carried the fetor of love-herbs and unquestionable dominance. His touch was steeped in the desire to break and control not only her body but also her mind.

The vivid images of the past threatened to swallow her. With mouth drier than sand, she couldn't speak or scream. Her hands twitched in a desperate desire to claw at her face, while her stomach twisted as if punched. She abhorred the helpless darkness that shackled her and dragged her back into the pool of nightmares. Oh, how much she wanted to rip off her eyecover and run away.

No!

She was not going to do it! Enough fear! It was so painful and tiring to be a slave to her past. It hurt her and the one she loved. A single step, a single deed. That was all she needed to start regaining control of who she was. Of who she wanted to be.

Only quick, shallow sips of air managed to squeeze through her clogged throat, but she fought against it. One deep breath after the other. In and out, in and out. The hypnotising rhythm slowly brought her peace, and something else. Noah's scent still clung to her skin - calming and safe. The warmth of his touch also lingered behind, reminding her that nothing bad was going to happen. No one was forcing her this time. It was her own choice. She had been the one to call upon the darkness. Binding her eyes was the least she could do for the man she loved so much that it hurt. He had earned himself her sacrifice. No. This wasn't a sacrifice. She had claimed herself and was now giving her body and soul to the one she desired.

A deep, broken sigh fell from her most-beloved lips, returning Lorelei back to the world of light. The throaty sound, carrying so much relief and desire, caused shivers down her spine. Her heart fluttered again, this time in anticipation, her earlier fears paling into oblivion. She could imagine Noah's face – his perfect teeth chewing on his lower lip, his brows drawn in a final bout of hesitation. Sensing his doubt in himself, still lingering on the superficial illusion of beauty, pricked her heart. That fool! Her precious, noble man. Her love. Her life.

She took a little step toward him. Her legs shook, but she doubted no more.

Silence. Another sigh. Then came the soft rustle of fabric. His shirt was thrown away.

Her body ignited. Goosebumps spread over Lorelei's skin. She could see him in her mind – bear-chested and bathed in the shine of the lanterns; a statue of dark teak, perfectly sculptured by nature and nurture. And to finish that image of perfection, there surely was a tiny droplet of sweat, pearling down the hills and crevices of his abdomen, leaving a glistening trail behind. She swallowed. Her hand instinctively stretched out, yearning to touch the steely muscles hidden under the velvety sheath of his skin for the first time, not as a physician bandaging his wounds, but as his wife.

Lost in her fantasies, she missed Noah's quiet steps. His strong arms wrapped around her; an unyielding prison she never wanted to leave. The blood coursing through his veins was calling her, and she responded in kind. His familiar scent filled her nose again, stronger this time – of musk, sandalwood, and cinnamon; of peppermint and pine. Fire and ice! It was intoxicating! Not a perfume, but a dangerous drug that captivated her mind and body, erasing all thoughts but one. She wanted him! She needed him!

As if guided by her desire, his fingers started moving. His hands squeezed her breasts, not hard enough to cause pain, but with just the right pressure to make her gasp and tremble. Their caresses made the fabric of the nightgown scrape against her body. To her horror and delight, her skin became even more sensitive than it already was. Every stroke was a prick of lightning. His fingers left behind trails of yearning. A new, unknown feeling started building up in the pit of her stomach. The need inside her became a storm, a whirlwind, captured by an alchemist in a fragile vial. It was maddening! Amazing!

Unable to hold back, she moaned, but her breath halted abruptly, only to morph into a gasp when his kisses contoured her neck. More! She needed more of his touch. More of his lips. More of him! And as if reading her thoughts, Noah's hand slipped between her legs.

Ice. Fire. Surrender.

More!

It was a maddening craving. The insatiable thirst of a desert wanderer met with a spring of water. Noah began nibbling her earlobe. His fingers worked tirelessly between her legs, every touch sending waves of pleasure through her. The sweet, painful yearning in her core swelled to an elation her fragile frame could hardly contain. Seeking release from this growing pressure, her body started moving on its own – desperately rubbing against Noah's as if wanting to transfer some of this unbearable heat to him. But it only made matters worse. Her back was met with a wall of steel; a furnace burning even hotter than her. A suppressed growl reverberated in his chest, his grip tightening and drawing her even closer. Something even harder pressed against her ass, and she knew he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. His touch became bolder, rougher, impatient. This drove her almost to the brink. Her hands glided over his. She had to drive them away, those daring, torturous things. One pull, and she was going to be safe. Instead, she pushed them down even harder. Her body could no longer fight the surge.

The vial shattered. The storm raged free. Liquid bliss swept her mind into oblivion. Arching her back, she let out a deep, guttural moan. Her body quacked. All strength left her limbs and flowed to her pounding heart, making it race even faster.

Exhausted and happy, she let herself fall in Noah's embrace as he tenderly supported and guided her through the darkness. A gentle motion and she found herself lying on the bed. Its softness lulled her into a colorful half-dream, but then, a voice drenched in desire whispered:

"May I continue, my lady?"

Noah's warm breath fanned the just-extinguished embers inside her. Continue? What more could he do? How could anything compare with the elation she was already feeling? Of course, he had to continue!

She tried answering, but her tongue had forgotten the ways of human speech. Only a longing whimper escaped her lips, yet he understood. Every fibre of her being danced in an ardent throb. Where! Where was he? Just as the anticipation was becoming unbearable, she felt his hands running down her sides, trailing and savoring her curves. He was a harp player and she - his instrument, responding to each feathery touch.

Finally reaching the hem of her nightgown, Noah's palms slipped underneath. Lorelei held her breath. This was their first contact unobstructed by clothing! She bit her lip. The feeling of softness from his fingertips was in such stark contrast with the rough calluses nestled between his thumbs and forefingers. These coarse, tickly patches felt strangely pleasant as they traced her thighs and hips. Her arousal grew. Under his guidance, the flimsy piece of fabric, the final hindrance in the way of his explorations, was tossed aside. The cold air bit Lorelei's feverish skin.

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She was completely naked! Before him! Dear Fathers! There was nowhere to hide!

Heat painted her cheeks. Breath after breath, her breasts rose and fell in soft waves. Her knees pressed together in a final bout of shyness, while her nails dug in the sheets in search of support. She could feel his gaze fixating on her. Was she too plain? Did he enjoy the view, or was he disappointed?

Her answer came in the form of Noah's lips, closing around her right nipple. She gasped at the heavenly sensation as his tongue swirled around, as he sucked on it. A moment later, his teeth nibbled at the sensitive flesh, bringing up new waves of pleasure. His hand gently circled up and down her belly, each time reaching further and further down. Finally, it landed between her legs again. She tensed up, a small bolt of lightning jolting her frame. He was rubbing the same spot he had teased through the nightgown.

No! It was still too sensitive!

A wordless whimper was all she could muster. His movement was unrelenting. Lorelei could feel something warm slowly oozing between her legs. Then suddenly, his finger slipped inside her. Her body tensed, and her thighs clamped around his hand.

"Don't be afraid." He released her nipple and said in a hoarse voice. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

The next second, his lips found hers. The deep kiss was a gust of wind, driving away the clouds of fear. Between her legs, his finger began gently probing in and out while his thumb circled and rubbed her clit. Lorelei's mind slowly ebbed, engulfed by this new experience. When his second finger joined in, she welcomed the tightness. Her hips bobbed in the rhythm of his strokes. Her tongue entangled his as she ravaged his mouth, breathing in his every breath.

When the new climax came, her shout was swallowed by their kiss. Her hips lifted from the mattress, hungrily chasing after that salacious touch of his. The sheets twisted in her grip as she allowed herself to be carried away by the slowly dying waves of pleasure. Their mouths finally separated, and Noah pulled away, earning himself a disgruntled whimper.

Sprawled on the bed, Lorelei propped an arm over her hot forehead. She was drenched in sweat and dripping wet from Noah's devious teasing. She could hardly move a muscle. Her whole body was a twitching, overly sensitive mess. One more touch, one more outburst of pleasure, and she was going to shatter. Yet she didn't want it to end. So when Noah's hoarse voice reached her, her whole being tensed with anticipation.

"Lorelei, may I continue?"

"D-don't… you… dare stop!"

A broken, guttural moan resonated from the depths of his chest, equal parts relief and barely held back desire. It penetrated Lorelei to the bone, making every fibre of her ring in joyous expectation. Her toes curled, and a squirmish wave spread up her calves, traveled along her spine, and ended as a prickling in the tips of her fingers. The arm covering her eyes jerked involuntarily, lifting up her blindfold ever so slightly. And through the narrow slit, she finally saw him.

Noah stood at the foot of the bed – silent, naked, and so incredibly handsome that Lorelei forgot to breathe. The tousled black feathers of his hair couldn't obscure his smouldering gaze completely. His gray eyes were drinking the unobstructed view of her naked shape like he was a skilled craftsman – mesmerized by a nearly-finished masterpiece, yet fearful to lay the finishing touches should he destroy the fragile beauty he had created. His sculpted chest glistened with sweat and made him look gilded in the lantern twilight. Even the horrid scars marring his otherwise perfect skin were embellishments, encrusted on a precious vessel to heighten its value. The muscles on his flat stomach contracted and relaxed under their silken cover with every breath he took, as their master continued to fight his urges and instincts. For her. So that he wouldn't hurt her. Yet his desire was unquestionable.

Lorelei's gaze continued its inquisitive roam past his navel and followed the trail of short, black hair that ran down his lower abdomen until it reached its predestined goal. Her heart skipped a beat. She had treated enough male ailments and had also looked at plenty of drawings in Master Levi's journals, but to see Noah fully erect before her, because of her, was an unknown territory. Maybe she should have been frightened by its size, or the way it twitched like it possessed a mind of its own. But all she felt was curiosity. And need.

Was he in pain? His member looked so rigid and swollen. What would it feel like to touch him? Run her fingers around the thick shaft and along its bulging veins? Her thighs rubbed against each other. How would it feel to have him inside her? Was it going to hurt? Was it going to feel good?

Noah slowly climbed onto the bed. The old frame creaked under his added weight.

Dear Fathers! He was finally going to do it!

She felt his hands landing on her calves as he began softly stroking them up and down. Each stroke reached just a bit higher, until his palms rested on her knees. He gently parted them and let his touch slide to the inside of her thighs before curving outwards to reach for her hips. Lorelei exhaled sharply as he pulled her in, positioning himself between her legs. His erection rested just on top of her opening. The heat it radiated was incredible! Yet this first contact with him made her shiver uncontrollably.

"Don't be afraid." Noah bent over and kissed her. "I know it's not easy, but try to relax. I'll be as gentle as possible."

"I… know."

"Tell me if it starts hurting."

Biting her lip, she nodded. The bed creaked, and Noah leaned over her again.

"Should I stop?" His warm breath kissed her cheek.

"N-no. Go on." She grabbed the sheets like they were her last lifeline. "I… I'm ready."

"Liar." His mouth silenced her further protests. He started caressing her thighs again. When his lips separated from hers, she could see them curve in that seductive half-smile she knew so well. "You are not ready. Not yet."

The grip on her hips suddenly tightened. In an excruciatingly slow movement, Noah's erection began sliding over her entrance, from the tip to the hilt and back again. The steady movement ground against her sensitive clit, releasing a wave after wave of pleasure into her lower body. To make matters worse, Noah managed to pry open one of her hands' death-grip on the covers and directed it to her abdomen. Something soft, slick, and hot brushed against her palm, and she knew that she was touching the tip of his member. Noah guided her hand to cup his length, and she could sense him tremble from her touch.

His pace quickened. Lorelei let him use her hand to stroke his erection, bolts of desire numbing her body. She wanted to hold him tighter, to feel him better, yet she was afraid of hurting him. Her fingers were quickly covered by slippery liquid, making her realize that he was completely coated with the product of her own lust. In that moment, Noah's shaft slipped from her grip, and she felt his tip at her entrance.

There! She wanted him there so badly! Dear Gods!

Lorelei felt her insides stretching, welcoming him. A bit of pressure. A slow, gliding motion. Heat. Panik. Confusion. The shear of flesh against flesh. A feeling on the brink of pain, yet carrying unknown satisfaction.

"It's over, my love." The deep melody of his voice accompanied the feathery caresses he gave her abdomen. "The worst is over. We are one. Can you feel it?"

Of course she could! This glorious sensation of fullness. His heat radiating inside her. Her fingers stretched out, feeling the spot where their bodies connected.

"Does it hurt?"

"N… N-no!" She wetted her lips, fighting to put her thoughts into words. "Can… Can you… mgh… con… continue?"

He didn't reply. Instead, his hips moved, ever so slightly, pulling him a few inches out of her before he slid back in. Again and again. Gliding in and out. Stronger. Faster.

Lorelei's legs locked on his hips, pushing him further and further inside her depths. He released her sides and looked for her hands, their fingers entangling in a desperate hold. Her breasts rubbed against his chest, adding a new layer of pleasure. His weight pressed down on her – entrapping yet elating. Her sweat was his. The pounding of his heart reverberated inside her. Their breaths mixed. His moans were her cries, as he penetrated deeper and deeper until he reached her very core. His wet hair brushed against her cheek. Her nails dug into his hands.

With a desperate, pained roar, Noah arched his back and finally released inside her. Liquid ecstasy melted her mind and body. Nothing else existed except the two of them, their bodies entangled, their souls in unison. Lorelei's world was in shambles. Her mind – an empty abyss. Thrust after thrust, he marked her as his. Jolt after jolt, she devoured him and claimed him as hers.

When they finally slumped exhausted in each other's embrace, oblivious slumber granted them a moment of respite.