Maliuth: The Reborn (5 page)

His friend Galan just bowed again, “We will not do anything you would
not.” Then he hurried away.

“What do you think of Abondiel?” Maliuth asked as he hurried her along.
Alea didn’t know how to respond. When they had quickly left the temple, she was
shocked to see that they had been in what appeared to be a giant tree. Which
fit since she was an elf now, living on an Elven world.

They ran down steps that looked like they were carved out of the wood and
covered in leaves. At the end of the steps, there was a platform with multiple
bridges and they had taken the one leading to the right. Another platform,
another bridge…they had gone so many different directions that she lost track
of where they were. If that wasn’t fantastical enough, the darkness was broken
only by some strange plant based lanterns placed every few feet along every
bridge and on every platform. The earthy smell of plant life after a rain was
heavy in the air, along with the perfume of flowers. None of them smelled as
good to her as the unique scent that was Maliuth. With him next to her, she
would get a whiff of him every so often and it was intoxicating.

“Alea?” he went to slow down, “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” She hurried to answer, “I’m fine. Abondiel is very lovely. I am
just feeling somewhat overwhelmed.”

“I am sorry for the rush.” Maliuth looked at her and picked up the pace
again. “We are almost to my home and then I will feel better.”

After stopping for a brief discussion with his mother and father, Maliuth
had continued forward until they had finally arrived on a platform with no other
bridges. The tree in front of them was like all the others she had been seeing.
Very large with openings that looked like doors and windows. With a flourish,
Maliuth swooped her up and holding her against him with one hand managed to
open the door.

“This is my…” he caught himself and looked at her heatedly, “I mean
our
home.” Turning with her in the
entry, Alea got a chance to look around. The floors were natural wood, polished
to a shine. Beyond the entry, she saw a room filled with what appeared to be
chairs, couches and tables. If she didn’t know that she was standing in the
middle of a tree, she would have been able to picture this in any house on
Earth. The “ceiling” was about fourteen feet high, with light pouring in from
somewhere above. There was a staircase on the left that disappeared on the next
level.

Setting her on her feet Maliuth took her hand and pulled her into the
next room. “This is the lounge room.” He waved his hands to indicate all the
chairs and couches. Alea did wonder how they got all the incredibly soft
looking and colorful pillows, so she asked.

“There are insects that weave the material, and then our craftsman
collect it for the pillows. They use flowers to dye them the different colors.”
Alea wasn’t sure what insects they had on Prion, but one of the insects that
did that sort of thing on Earth had been arachnids. She hoped she didn’t run
into any here since they were one of her phobias. “At the center of Abondiel is
our trade and crafting community. I will take you there when things
are…settled.”

Alea pulled Maliuth to sit on a chaise next to her. “Can you tell me what
I can do to help?” She held his hand tightly, “I know that I am the reason for
things being ‘unsettled”. I want to know what we are facing.”

“I do not want you to worry about anything—”

Alea had a feeling where this was going so she hurried to make her wishes
clear. “I will worry even if you say not to.” Moving closer she gazed into his
eyes. It was a second before she could remember what she had been saying. She
had lost herself in the warm depths. “I am not going to be happy if you don’t
treat me as an equal. I want to feel like an equal partner. You need to be
honest with me.”

He appeared to consider her words then he moved even closer so that she
had to tilt her head back to keep eye contact. “I will do everything in my
power to make you happy. Honesty will be easy. However, telling you
everything
might go against my
protective nature.” He drew in a deep breath and Alea’s eyes flew to his chest,
still bare, inches from her face. Her mouth watered and she had the image of
her teeth sinking into his skin in a playful nip. Her tongue moving over the
silky flesh to taste him. “Alea?”

“Yes.” Her eyes flew back to his. Realizing he was watching her, she
tried to pull herself together. “You were saying?” She swallowed hard and
fought the urge to forget this talk and climb on his lap instead.

“The reason our position as mates is unsettled is because The Elder knows
you are a healer. Everyone saw your skills and the information will have spread
through Abondiel by now. It is customary for healers to be unmated, reside at
the temple, and follow the direction of the Oracle...or in reality, The Elder.”
He flexed his fingers and brought her hand to rub against his cheek. “We can be
still be separated for the good of the community. The King, who is a friend of
the family and Galan’s father, will arrange for us to go before the Council of
Three. The Elder will represent the Oracles. Once the council has decided, we
will have no option but to follow their dictate.”

Alea sat for a moment in thought, “How long do we have before the council
will meet?” She had always thought herself levelheaded, but the idea of losing
Maliuth made her want to run mad in the streets. In the case here on Abondiel,
run mad on the bridges.

“We have one day at most. My father will work with the King to arrange
the time. I thought it best if we requested a meeting instead of waiting for The
Elder to push for one. It shows that we are earnest in our desire for
resolution.” Maliuth closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the perfume at
her wrist. When he opened his eyes, they were so dark as to be almost black. “I
will not lose you Alea. I cannot.”

“You won’t.” She assured him. She suddenly noticed a strange pulsing in
her shoulder. “Why is my shoulder sore now? The pain had cleared before we left
the temple.”

“It is the bonding tattoo. You might feel pain for a few days.” He flexed
his shoulder and Alea watched in fascination. There was something a little dark
and entirely sexy about a man with a tattoo. “In a newly bonded couple, the
tattoos will respond differently the closer to each other that we get.”

Alea moved so that her chest was inches from his. “How close would we be
required to get?” She licked her suddenly dry lips and his eyes flew to her
mouth. “For our tattoos to ‘respond’ to each other that is.”

Maliuth drew a shaky breath. “We…uh…would need to be closer.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Closer you say?” Shifting a bit until her breasts
were just touching his chest she asked, “This close?”

“Uh…closer.” His breath was ragged and the husky timber to his voice told
her that he was as aroused by her, as she was by him.

Shifting so that her breasts were flattened against his chest, her
cleavage bulging out the top of her dress, she teased. “Would you say this
would be close enough?” her voice was raspy and thick with desire. Her hands came
up to this shoulders to pull him more tightly against her.

“I think...” He began and she was suddenly straddling his lap. Her dress
had been partially destroyed from her rolling around the floor with the flaming
Oracle. There was a loud ripping sound, and she looked to see that the poor
gown had given up. Forcing her onto his lap was the death of the dress. It was
torn from hem to mid-stomach. Since she hadn’t been given any undergarments to
wear, that left her open and exposed to Maliuth’s devouring eyes. “That we
should do that thing again with our lips.”

“Kiss—?” Alea didn’t get the chance to finish. Maliuth was done talking.
He had certainly picked up enough about kissing to steal her breath. His lips
were hard and demanding, his teeth gently biting into her lower lip.

“Yes.” His mouth moved on hers, “I like this kissing.” He sealed his lips
more firmly against hers. His tongue flicked out and she met the advance with
her own. She could feel him trembling against her. He really did like kissing.

Now that they were private, she moved her fingers into the hair at his
neck and trailed them upwards toward his jawline. She could feel the slight
bristle of hair against her fingers as she rubbed them against his face. Keeping
him distracted by the kiss, she slowly let her fingertips glance against the
base of his ear, and then pulled them back. He froze for a second in their kiss
and she kept moving her lips against his, pretending she didn’t know why he
stopped. When he relaxed against her, and resumed their kiss, she positioned
her fingers and gently pinched one earlobe. He shuddered dramatically against
her, his lips stopped moving and she opened her eyes.

Molten emotion was boiling in his deep chocolate eyes. She had never seen
a male with a look like this on his face. “Maliuth did I do something wrong?”
Alea had sensed that the ears played a very sexual role here on Prion, which is
why she had protested anyone touching them before. With Maliuth she had wanted
to do anything she could to make him desire her and maybe touching the ears was
taboo.

“You are so perfect it is scary.” He rasped out hoarsely. “You have done
nothing wrong.” Digging his fingers in her hair, he kissed one cheek
reverently. “So tiny.” He kissed her temple, “So beautiful.” He moved to breathe
hotly next to her ear. “So desirable.”

Alea knew what he was going to do, and her whole body was shaking in
anticipation. Between one breath and another, he placed his hot mouth against
her neck just below her ear. She drew in a great shuddering breath. He pulled
her more tightly against his chest, her breasts plastered against him and her
back arched. His lips burned against her neck, and then he moved them to hover
along her earlobe. With every breath, he blew his exhalations along her ear and
her nerves screamed in excitement.

She was writhing in an agony of need on his lap. Her hands moved along
his back and onto his shoulders. Her hips moved against him of their own volition.
She wasn’t an expert in Elven anatomy, but whatever they were doing was causing
a massive reaction in his pants. She didn’t worry about the logistics of the
sexual act because she knew this body was made for Maliuth. Whatever they did
next was going to be pleasurable she had faith in him.

“My pants.” He gasped and her fingers went from his shoulders to work the
strange fastening of them. His fingers had gone there as well and all she
managed to do was tangle their fingers together. Deciding that holding onto his
shoulders might be more helpful. She moved her hands out of the way. He quickly
managed the fastening and went to stand. She locked her arms around his neck
and legs around his waist. His fingers were trying to push his pants out of the
way. With her locked against him, he managed to delve his fingers into more
than just his pants.

“We need to get to a bed.” He groaned when she clasped the rigid flesh
pressing against her. Letting her fingers feel out the shape and steely warmth
she was surprised that besides a wider girth, he seemed to be shaped similar to
what she was used to.

“Why?” Alea was desperate to have him right now. She didn’t care if they
made it to a bed. “Here. On the couch.” She moved her lips against his chest,
licking and biting in her frustration.

“It is not proper.” He groaned louder when she bit his nipple a bit
harder than necessary.

“I don’t care.” Alea was relieved when Maliuth seemed to give up the
fight. He dropped back onto the couch with her seated in his lap. She made sure
to arrange her knees on either side of his thighs and then let out a started
shriek when he pulled her down and thrust up at the same time.

“I have hurt you?” he went to push her forward and sit up. She threw
herself more firmly against him and wound her hands into his hair.

“No.” She moved against the slight sting his penetration had caused, “I’m
fine.” She moved again, drawing herself back and forth against him. “It was
just a surprise.” She rubbed her breasts against his chest and kept moving.
“Tell me this is pleasurable for you.”

He must have decided that words were wasted and actions spoke more
clearly, because he once again plastered his mouth to hers and took over the
rhythm of their lovemaking. With one hand in her hair and one at her lower
back, he proceeded to rock into her.

Alea’s tattoo was again starting the pulsing she had experienced in the
Oracle Temple. If this is what sex was like, she didn’t think they were ever
going to make it out of Maliuth’s home. The sensations washing over here were
so intense she almost couldn’t catch her breath. Tearing her mouth from his she
gasped, “Maliuth.” Her body started to break apart and she wanted him to join
her. Without thinking, she placed a hot kiss on his ear and flicked her tongue
against it.

“A-l-e-a!” Maliuth jerked under her, his body going rigid. His already impressive
hardness swelled inside her until it was painful. Then his release warmed her,
the pain subsided and her insides spasmed in answer. The throbbing in her
tattoo pressed against his exploded and the intensity of her climax caused her
to pass out.

Maliuth struggled to regain his senses. What had happened? The last thing
he remembered was showing Alea around their home. They had gone into the
sitting room…it all came back to him in a rush. Opening his eyes, he saw that
Alea was lying against him. Her breathing was steady and she appeared unharmed.
There was the smell of lovemaking in the air, and Alea’s naked body was still
pressed intimately into his.

Taking care when he stood and carefully holding Alea against him, he
carried her to the second level master bedroom. Laying her on top of the
covers, he knew the first order of business was to get rid of the mangled
remnants of her dress. Since it was torn to mid-stomach anyway, he just took
the two sides and finished the tear. Now that the dress could be pulled away,
he paused. He wanted to examine her at his leisure. They had been so frantic in
their first encounters. He wanted a chance to see her body without distraction.

Starting at her tiny feet, he avoided the toes and soles of her feet
worried that she might be ticklish and he did not want to wake her. Instead, he
moved his fingers along the smooth skin of her calf until he reached the indent
of her knee. Tracing a line along her inner thigh, he reached the vee of her
legs and the moist residue of their lovemaking. Her black curls were glistening
and the fold of her sex were pink and inviting.

He could feel the hardening in his groin and hurried to move his fingers
to the gentle swell of her stomach. Splaying his hands on either side of her
waist, he let his fingers rub up the pale skin to just under her breasts. The
dress slipped away and his eyes feasted on the sight of her bare breasts. They
were an ample handful he was delighted to discover. The nipples were a nice
pale brown shade and when he tweaked them with his thumbs, they pebbled into
hard nubs. Plumping the flesh and distracting himself with her breasts hadn’t
eased the ache in his sex…it had intensified the pain.

Moving his hands along her shoulders and into her hair, he turned her
neck to one side to see her perfect feminine ear. Then he turned her neck to
see the other side. He wasn’t sure what Alea had done with her mouth on his
ear, but whatever it was, caused him to have such a reaction that he blacked
out. He had to know what she had done. Then he could return the favor and give
her the same pleasure. Although looking at her prone on the bed, it would seem her
release had been as intense. At least he could boast that he had regained
himself before her.

Deciding that Alea might need the rest more than his sexual advances,
Maliuth gently covered her in a blanket and went into the adjoining bathing
room for a shower. Being a single male, this room had the toilet in a separate
room from the shower and a single pedestal sink. Some homes had a large bathing
tub. He had just never seen the appeal to them. His shower worked just fine.
His mother had laughingly told him to wait until he had a mate, then he would
understand. He would have to ask Alea what her preference was.

Opening the shower, he adjusted the water and stepped under the spray. It
was a large space with a seat running along all three walls. You could sit
under the spray to wash, or stand at either end. There were two showerheads, so
it didn’t matter where in the shower you were. You would get as wet as you
wanted. Taking a handful of soap, he rubbed his hair and body with the suds
until he felt clean. The soap they used was environmentally friendly so that
the trees wouldn’t be damaged. Just as he was turning to let the spray flow
down his back, he felt a hand on his arm.

“Maliuth?” Alea had joined him in the water. “Do you mind if I join you?”
he was surprised at her hesitance.

“Of course I do not mind.” He moved so that she could be under the
showerhead he had been using, and turned on the other side too. “I would have
brought you in myself but you were resting.” He looked her over and saw that
although pale she seemed okay. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine.” He saw a faint blush color her cheeks. “Is sex between partners
always so intense?”

He made sure her hair was wet and started soaping it, “I have never had
such a release before. That could be because the connection I have with you is
unique as my mate.” His tattoo was starting to throb faintly now that Alea was
once again close.

“I like the sound of that.” He saw that her eyes were scrunched closed, “My
mate.”

Moving her under the water to rinse her hair he worked his fingers
through the black strands. “You are mine. No one can change what we have, or
take you away from me.” His voice had gone rough and he did not care. “I will
fight all of Abondiel to keep you.” Her hair was rinsed and he pulled her close
in a fierce hug. Groaning at the reaction his body had at her nearness. He
turned her away from him and placed her hands against the wall. Grabbing the
soap up again he whispered, “Let me get you clean.”

His intentions were honorable. His original thought was to wash Alea’s
body. Then his soapy hands worked over her curves and his good intentions flew
out the window. Instead of just soaping her, he massaged her muscles until she
sighed happily.

“That feels really good. My tattoo was acting up again, but the massage
helped.” Her voice was soft and he worried she might fall asleep again.

Thinking to get finished in case she did, he hurried to scrub her back.
Then added more soap and put one hand between her legs. His fingers soaped the
soft curls, the water running down his arm washed away the suds as he rubbed.
Against his better judgement, his fingers found the soft folds of her sex and
slide across them. He told himself that he was just making sure she was clean.
Her breathing was quickening and she was pressing back against him.

“I think you missed a spot.” She rasped out, her back arching. Her hands
slid down to the seat and her legs spread wider. Her black hair was sleek and
sticking along her back.

“Here?” he moved the hand between her legs to cup her mound. He rubbed
back and forth to make sure he hit every nerve.

Alea gasped, her hips flexing against his hand, “Yes, there.” She moved
again, “There is also a spot…a bit…deeper.”

“Deeper you say?” His fingers pulled back along her folds to find her
wet, and not from the shower or soap. “Around here?” his fingers played along
the folds, not moving to penetrate, just tease. “Or here?” he kept moving his
fingers tauntingly close, then away again.

“I am mated to a tease!” Alea grouched, then gasped when a thick digit
sheathed in her channel. Moving his finger in mock love play, Maliuth reveled
in the sounds he was able to draw from Alea. Her body was straining and
pressing back against him for more contact. He knew they needed to move this
into the bedroom, but he couldn’t make himself stop touching her.

“We need the bed.” Maliuth groaned loudly when Alea pressed harder
against his fingers. Her body was so tight and he strained to get closer.

“What is with you and beds?” Alea laughed throatily, “There is plenty of
time for a bed.” Looking over her shoulder, her blue eyes flashing with desire
she taunted, “Here. In the shower.” Trying to reach for him, she was only able
to graze her nails along his thigh. “Please.”

That was his undoing. Taking her hips in a tight grip, he rubbed the tip
of his erection against her wetness. Being in the shower had made him wet, but
there was a special lubrication that Alea created and he wanted it all along
his shaft. He moved himself back and forth along her folds until he was
satisfied with the results. Then holding his shaft in one hand, he pressed steadily
into Alea. His other hand wrapped in her hair.

It was such an exquisite feeling. Her body squeezed him so tightly he
knew he would never get tired of the feeling. Her skin was so soft and she made
the sexiest growl of protest when he pulled back. When he found his rhythm, he
moved both hands on her hips to hold her steady. He was thrusting so hard he
worried that her gasps were from pain, but she did not ask him to stop.
Instead, she was pushing back against him eagerly, her hips answering every drive
of his.

Feeling the tightening in his balls, he thrust deep and stopped. Twisting
to sit on the bench, he brought Alea with him. She ended up sitting forward on
his lap, her legs draped along either side of his thighs. In this position, he
could finally play with her glorious breasts like he wanted. Taking both of
them in his hands he massaged and tweaked the nipples until Alea was writhing
on his lap. Her hands were clawing at his thighs and her gasps were echoing
loudly in the shower.

Feeling her stiffen on his lap, he put his mouth against her neck. She
turned her head and her mouth found his ear again. She bit his earlobe and her
tongue flicked out. Again, he felt his erection expand and he exploded in
climax. Their tattoo’s brushed against each other for a split second and the
resulting intensity caused him to go slack. He lurched forward and twisted to
land on his back with Alea draped on him. His last thought was that he hoped
they didn’t drown in the shower.