The Toll (42 page)

“
I dinna do softness,
nugget,” Troll grumbled softly, making it all that much worse. “Ye
canna... I canna...”

With a resigned sigh, I stopped and
glanced down at him through hooded eyes, hardening my heart as much
as I could. “Softness? I won’t be asking it of you, or anything
else for that matter. I believe you’ve made yourself quite clear,
but I’ll expect your fidelity if you wish to continue this,” my
hand waved around for a moment, “arrangement.”

It would work for
me,
I decided.
It
would have to.
I could screw his brains
out in our dream space every few nights, then continue on with my
separate, merry life, as lovely as that is at the moment. Gossiping
villagers, so eager to judge and condemn, would be none the wiser.
And, most importantly, maybe I could buy myself some time, or build
up a huge mental wall, to ward off this huge Ornthren shuddering
under my fingertips, the one who’s thoroughly enthralled
me.

When Troll’s lips pulled back and he
went to snarl, I held a hand up to stay him. Surprisingly enough,
he complied.

“
As you’ve said before,
we’re bonded, stuck with each other, whether we like it or not.
There’s a...
pull
between us, I’ll admit it. I can’t stay away from you any
more than you can avoid me. I didn’t know about the curse then, but
I do now.” His face fell for a second, soon replaced with the
carefully blanked mask I’d become accustomed to. “And from the
looks of it, we’ll both pay,” as long as we both shall live, “but,
for now, all I want, all I’m asking for, is
this.”

Without waiting, I swiftly impaled
myself on his turgid flesh, inch after delicious inch, forcing my
sheath to accept his swollen length until he was buried all the way
to the hilt.

“
Nugget,” Troll choked out,
gripping my ass to massage the generously rounded globes,
tightening his grip to help lead in the dance as I rolled my hips
and ground down, quickly setting the pace.

My skin felt heated and tight, too
tight, the runes along my skin flaming electric blue, the faster I
went, pumping along his length fastidiously as I began riding him
hard.

Bodies slapping together loudly, harsh
moans and groans erupted from our throats, wet sex noises renting
the air, we didn’t care. Grinding down on him hard before pulling
back enough for him to almost slide out, I worked his thick member
hard, stopping only when he got too close, nipping and kissing his
lips voraciously until his impending orgasm abated, then starting
up all over again.

“
Teasin’,” he growled low.
“Just fuck me. ‘Bout to blow. Want ta feel yer cunt wrappin’ ‘round
me cock as I go. Ah, bleedin’... fuck! Like tha’!” Thumb reaching
up between us and pressing into my tightened bud, he rubbed it in a
teasing, quick circular motion, my sex rippling in response to his
frantic attentions. That was it and I flew over the edge with a
sharp cry.

A harsh bellow slipped out of Troll’s
throat as we both came, thick hands slapping to my hips to pin me
to him tight, grinding our sexes together almost painfully as he
gave me everything. Gasping as my body rippled in ecstasy, I fought
his hold, shuddering as I continued to climax, legs trembling,
rocking my hips grindingly back against him as he spilled his seed
deep inside of me. My troll-lover kept up his attentions, guiding
my hips, rocking into me slowly, until the last bits of pleasure
slowly ebbed.

Flopping back onto the bed, Troll let
out a deep, contented sigh, his happy rumble on par with a purring,
well fed cat. Leaning down slowly, careful not to lose our intimate
connection, my sex still grappling to milk his, I rested my head on
his wide chest, right over where his shriveled, uncaring troll
heart was supposed to be.

A long silence passed between us, but
I didn’t mind. On the contrary, I found it quite comfortable. We
can’t tear a strip off of each other when we’re both quiet. Sated
and quiet.

It didn’t last for very long, and soon
I was ready for another go ‘round. I couldn’t explain it, I just
wanted—no, needed—that intimate connection, to scratch that itch,
and only he could do it. I needed the hum of our bond rushing
through me, tainting my veins.

Still impaled on his thick cock, I
wriggled around a little restlessly. “Hope you didn’t actually plan
on sleeping at all in this little dream world we’ve got going
here.”

Grunting in reply, Troll shifted
underneath me, gasping when I clenched my inner muscles around him
tight. Lifting up and grinning at the mild surprise in his
slumberous eyes, my hands assumed the position—dug deeply into his
chest—and I started slowly rocking my hips.

It was going to be a long
night.

Watered Down

Eyes blinking open, body
slightly aching as my muscles protested any and all movement, my
eyes took in my surroundings and I growled in frustration. Glancing
down, I didn’t recognize the flowing, dark blue diaphanous gown
draping my curvy frame, but I knew this cave well. The bed, the
furs, the fire that was just beyond this room, if the warmth
bathing me soothingly was any indication. It would be roaring and
sparkling with blue and red tinted flames and magic dust, a life
all its own.
I’m under the
bridge.

“
Ugh. What now? More weird
dreaming? Can’t I just fall asleep for once?”

The sex dream would have
been a nice end to all of this...
Whatever
it is.
We’d gone two more times, Troll
finally calling an end to it by rolling me over and tucking me into
his chest, my back to his front.

With a grumbled, “Rest a minute, then
we’ll talk,” he’d buried his face in my hair, let out a deep
rumble, thick arms tightening, one banded around my breasts, the
other my hips, and let out a deep breath, promptly falling
asleep.

Leaning into his touch, I’d yawned,
unable to hold it back, my eyes slowly closing as one of Troll’s
hands covered my breast, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The
fingers of his hand at my waist had slowly slipped down moments
later, past my navel, slowly and very un-stealthily reaching down
to cup my sex. A few more minutes had passed and I’d lifted my head
enough to glance down at his handy work.

“
Comfortable now?” I’d
muttered sarcastically, squirming in his stifling embrace as I’d
tried to turn around to face him.

At my movement, he’d barked/mumbled
something out gruffly, yanking me towards him just as I managed to
turn, smooshing my face into his warm chest, throwing a thick thigh
over my hips to pin me in place. Nowhere else to go and no way to
escape, I’d soon followed him into the dreaming. His muttered, “No,
don’t leave,” and, “she’s mine. Kill you. No,” followed by the
mumbling of my name, repeatedly, was eye opening.

Rolling over quickly in my new
dreamscape, I promptly fell right off the bed, smacking the rough,
dirt cave floor with an ‘oomph’. This most definitely did not feel
like a dream to me, at all. What a way to awaken.

Stupid, magical beings,
stupid... magic in general.
Screeching
under my breath, I bellowed at the dark earth that made up the
walls as well.

Waking up. Hah. Could one
actually call this being woken up? I’m still dreaming!

There was an odd warmth in my belly
that I’d noticed for some time, not completely sated from the
frantic escapades of our earlier tupping, muted but still strong,
slowly gnawing its way back to the surface. Berating my traitorous
body silently as I grumbled under my breath, still pissy, I chose
to ignore it.

Sighing heavily, a delicious smell hit
my nostrils as I took in a deep breath of cool cave air, the spicy,
earthy, aromatic scent beckoning me. Lips pursing, I let out my
breath slowly, shuddering, and inhaled again, deeply.

“
Mmm.” A low moan slid past
my throat and I flopped back, limp as a noodle, legs see-sawing
restlessly as I writhed about on the floor. It was an instantaneous
reaction, and I melted into a warm puddle of goo, right then and
there.

No idea how long I’d lain there before
movement caught my eye, and I was swiftly scooped up into strong,
hot arms. Peeking my eyes open a slit, I eyed the male carrying me.
“You came back.”

Not meeting my eyes, Troll grunted. “I
did.”

“
Why?” Feeling oddly
sanguine, maybe a little
too
lax and lethargic, my hands went straight for his
neck as I rested my head on his thick shoulder, tracing the
colorful patterns swirling along his rough but somehow soft, dark
skin.

He didn’t answer, but the odd, passive
attitude whispering through me made it hard to get mad. Unable to
help myself, I snuggled a bit closer. My squirming didn’t go
unnoticed as Troll’s jaw flexed.

“
This a dream?”

“
No.”

Lifting my head slightly, I eyed him
critically. “You sure?”

“
Nugget.” Frustration
evident, exasperation a dead giveaway as he growled under his
breath, I continued on, unfazed.

“
Yes?” My fingers paused
briefly and my free hand wrapped around his wide neck. Head
slumping back to its original position, voice fairly purring, I
glanced up at him beseechingly.

The corner of his cheek started
jerking in a familiar tick, and I strained towards him, planting a
swift but solid smooch on the irritated flesh, nuzzling the spot as
Troll froze and jerked back, clearly startled.

“
What’s the matter?” I
couldn’t hide the mirth in my voice as my eyes danced warmly.
“Afraid I might nip you?” Chuckling under my breath as he gave me a
look that said exactly that, I nipped his chin when he would have
pushed me farther away, possibly setting me down. My arms tightened
reflexively, assuming he was thinking just that.

“
What’s wrong wit ye?”
Troll muttered, a note of worry seeping into his voice.

“
Nothing. Uhm, at least, I
don’t think... so.” My brows furrowed and I had to think about that
for a moment. “Actually, I feel good.” Peeking up at him, I smiled
slowly. “Really good.” Licking my lips slowly, I leaned in and
would have kissed Troll square on the mouth if he hadn’t pulled
back at the last second. This only served to make his scowl darken
as he studied me.

Blinking as my body lit up
at his stern glare, my eyes glazed over and I felt very, very warm
all of the sudden, particularly in my nether regions.
Mmm. Warm. He’s very warm. Yum.

If at all possible, I would have
climbed even closer, pressing us chest to chest, heart to heart,
sex to sex. My lady parts fluttering at the mere idea, my whole
body lit up, a pleasurable shudder wracking me at the mere
idea.

“
Where were ye before?”
Scenting my intense arousal, Troll paused, licking those thick lips
I wanted so badly to lean up and take a bite right out of.
Mine.

“
Then why do I want you to
take me so bad?” I mumbled, rubbing my forehead tiredly. A small
headache was forming, right behind my eyes, but I couldn’t, for the
life of me, figure out why.

“
Before, nugget. It’s
important.”

Ignoring the pounding in my head, I
fought his hold, managing to straddle him in the process so he had
to grip my back and ass or let me fall.

He grabbed my hips, instead, plucking
me off of him and away before gently plopping me down.

As he stepped back I felt his loss
keenly. Breath coming in harsh, gasping pants, I felt my lower lip
tremble as my eyes started to water. A moment of panic swarming me,
I ran at him, slamming into him hard enough to send him rocking
back a little on his heels as my voice cracked on a sob.
“NO!”

Troll let me cling to him for a moment
before he gripped my shoulders, forcing me back.
“What’s-”

“
Wrong with me?” I cried
noisily. “I don’t know!” A loud wail ripped from my throat and I
reached for him again. “I... I... I cursed him! Okay? Trystan did
it, and I cursed him! I cursed Trystan, and my family! I wanted
them to feel what I felt, know what it’s like! I cursed everyone!
And then I ran, and then...” As the whole sordid affair spilled
from my lips, tumbling out without any warning, I couldn’t meet
Troll’s eyes.

Once finished, I gasped out a sob,
shaking like a leaf, snot and tears streaming down my face in a
horrible mess. A large bit of cloth came over my face, smothering
me, wiping everything cleanly away. For a second there, I’d fought,
assuming he was thoroughly through and sick of me, ready to smother
my sniveling butt, snuffing me out like a candle, as it
were.

“
An old crone?” I could
make out Troll muttering faintly as he tossed the cloth
aside.

Sniffling and hiccupping, tears
streaming down my face in a fresh wave, eyes on the ground, I
nodded. “She met me at the small pond in the clearing by the woods,
and let me stay with her until the storm let up. Insisted,
actually.”

Lifting my chin with a nudge of his
hand, I slowly looked up. At Troll’s close proximity, I closed the
distance between us, wrapping my arms around him tight as I pressed
my lips determinedly to his. “Please,” I muttered against his
hardened lips, “make it all go away. Please.”