McClellan Sharron - The Given.txt Page 2

  alive, and so greedy. Or was it only herself?

  Talon stood behind her, his great size as tangible as if

  he touched her.

  But he did not. He waited.

  For what? For her? Passion rolled through her again,

  urging her to act, to complete that which it wanted. Naiveté

  pleaded caution. “Would you like me to touch you?” she

  asked, wanting to be forward but not sure how.

  Talon turned her around to face him. “If you want to,

  my little one.”

  Little one? “My name is Aria. I may be inexperienced,

  but I am not a child.”

  Talon pulled her close, resting his rough cheek on top

  of her head. “It is an endearment, not an insult, but I will

  do as you wish.” Suddenly, he swept her off the floor and

  into his arms. “Now, do you still want to touch me?”

  “Do you want me to?” Aria wrapped her arms around

  his neck, praying he would not drop her. “Is it proper?”

  Talon shook his head at the comment “How did you

  get to be so innocent? Others are eager when the ritual is

  upon them. Sometimes frighteningly so.” His lips quirked

  into a smile. “Why so innocent, my Aria?”

  She blushed. Her name sounded sensual on his lips.

  Rich as wine. “I have come to the Tower only recently. I do

  not know the ways of which you speak.”

  “Where did you live before?”

  “In the Laini settlement.”

  Talon nodded. “Ah, the mountains. I hear they are

  given to superstition and follow the old ways—the ways

  before the Goddess brought us wisdom and

  understanding.”

  Aria bristled at the comment, but she could not deny

  it. “It is true. When my family found out about my mental

  abilities, they sent me away. They do not suffer Trancers

  to live among them.”

  It surprised her to see compassion in his eyes at her

  comment.

  “So, you never knew about the ways between a man

  and a woman?”

  “As I told you, I have heard stories, but no more than

  that. I want to please you, but I am unsure of what to do.

  Fearful.”

  “Name your fear, and I will conquer it.”

  He would kill fear for her? A smile lit upon her lips.

  “That I will disappoint you and, therefore, disappoint the

  Elders.”

  Talon placed a soft kiss on Aria’s lips. She was so

  sweet. Her eyes were the color of the first leaves, and her

  skin was as soft as the petal of a flower. She was also

  frightened. She shivered at his touch. “You could never

  disappoint me.”

  At his reassurance, her body relaxed in his arms. “Can

  you kiss me back?” he asked.

  “If you would like.”

  “I would. Very much.” He bent his head down again

  and hid a grin as her lips reached for his, answering his

  request. His other Givens had been kissed before, and

  some more than that. But not this one. No, she was untried

  in all ways.

  Their lips met, skimmed each other’s flesh with the

  tenderest of touches.

  Now, he did smile as she pulled away, breathless and

  fearless all at once. She was wonderfully brave, trying to

  appear calm when he knew her body trembled at the

  thought of their upcoming union.

  He touched her lips with his again, gently forcing them

  apart, not giving her time to react in fear. Slowly, he tasted

  her. It was a heady feeling. She tasted like wine and bread.

  Like new honey. Like a Maiden who had never been kissed.

  She stiffened at the gentle intrusion before she melted

  into him.

  Soon, he would melt into her. He hardened at the

  thought, straining against the clothes that confined him.

  “Aria?” He spoke her name against her lips.

  “Umm,” she answered, her eyes lidded.

  “It is time.”

  Her eyes shot open. “Time? I thought we would eat

  first.” She wiggled loose from his arms and ran to the

  table. “See, here is fruit and more bread.”

  He closed the distance between them. “No more food.”

  “How about wine?”

  “Certainly no more wine. I want us both to have our

  wits about us for what is about to happen.”

  “We may get hungry.”

  He sat down in one of the heavy wooden chairs and

  pulled Aria onto his lap. “We shall feast on each other.”

  “We could get thirsty.”

  “I will quench your thirst.” Talon nuzzled her, biting

  the soft spot where slender neck met pale shoulder.

  “But—”

  “But what?” Talon kissed her ear.

  “If you get thirsty it could interrupt your

  concentration.”

  “The only thing interrupting my concentration is you,”

  Talon replied. She shifted abruptly as if wanting to leave,

  and compassion overwhelmed him. She was frightened,

  but tradition gave neither of them a choice. There was

  just one way to alleviate her worries now—push past them

  and continue with the ceremony. “Now, let us see how I

  can interrupt your concentration.” He stood up, taking

  her with him.

  Swiftly, surely, Talon carried Aria over to the bed and

  laid her on top of the silken covers. The firelight flickered

  over her, burnishing her skin.

  “I am afraid,” she whispered.

  “I know, but your fear will leave soon enough. Trust

  me in this.” Unbuckling his sword, he set the scabbard

  aside, unsheathed the blade, and placed it on the bed

  above Aria’s head with its razor-sharp edge facing them.

  Leaning over her, one hand on each side of her body, he

  gazed into her eyes. Neither moved as Talon spoke. “I am

  the Giver. Do you accept what I have to give?” The ancient

  words hung like a heartbeat between them.

  “I am the Given. I accept.” Her quiet voice filled the

  room.

  Talon breathed a sigh of relief, glad to see Aria was

  stronger than her fear. Straddling her, a knee on each

  side of her thighs, he reached down and untied her robe,

  letting the pale cloth fall away from her body. “Open your

  eyes, Aria,” he commanded, his voice husky with promise.

  “See how pleased I am with what you are offering me.”

  Aria peeked through her lashes, and Talon chuckled

  to see her eyes widen further when she saw the evidence

  of his desire, straining against his leather breeches.

  “Now, I will feast.” The hunger in his tone spoke of

  neither bread nor fruit but of Aria. “See, your breasts are

  ripe and waiting for me.” He leaned down to suckle upon

  a pink nipple.

  Aria moaned at the sensations that radiated from

  where Talon kissed her with his lips and teeth. Her

  stomach twisted into a knot, and the area between her

  thighs constricted with each sensual tug. “What are you

  doing?” she managed to ask with a little gasp.

  “I am tasting you. You did worry I would be hungry.”

  He placed a hand under her waist and lifted her closer to

  his mouth.

&nb
sp; Aria whimpered with pleasure as he continued to

  ravish her, captivating her with one sensation after another

  as he made a path from one turgid nipple to the other. It

  was exquisitely uncomfortable, and she wanted more.

  “Magnificent,” he murmured, pulling away from her

  heated flesh. “You are magnificent.”

  Aria’s answer was another little moan, of both pleasure

  and chagrin, as Talon’s free hand pushed her robe off her

  shoulders, pinning her arms by her side and leaving her

  exposed. Warmth made its way from her toes to the top of

  her head, and she knew she blushed. “Are you sure this is

  part of the ritual?” she stammered.

  “Anything I can do to pleasure you is part of the ritual.

  Do you enjoy what I am doing?”

  Aria nodded. “But I feel odd. Hot and nervous all at

  once.”

  Talon chuckled. “Then I am doing it right.” Still

  straddling her, he sat up and pulled his rough shirt over

  his head, throwing it to the floor. Pulling Aria up to him,

  he slid her robe off, freeing her arms and laying bare her

  body, before he lowered her back onto the bed. His broad

  chest shadowed her from the firelight as he slid down her

  body, skin gliding over skin, and laved her bellybutton

  with his tongue.

  Aria bolted upright. “This cannot be right.”

  Talon glided back up her body, now damp with heat

  and his tender ministrations, and kissed her, urging her

  back, “Does it feel good? Does it feel right?” His hands

  stroked her from shoulder to waist.

  She pressed against him, her body urging her to finish

  what her mind doubted. “Umm, yes, but I have never heard

  the others discussing such matters.”

  Talon’s brow furrowed at the comment. “Forget what

  the others have said. The Given ceremony is different for

  everyone. I will not hurt you, and nothing we do is wrong

  as long as it is pleasurable.”

  Aria wanted to believe him. She brushed a single strand

  of hair away from his face and saw something unexpected,

  concern and caring. Did he care that she enjoy this

  experience? It was not a prerequisite that she did. Only

  that she get through it and begin her new life as a woman

  within the group. Some enjoyed the ritual. Others simply

  endured it. It did not make a difference when the results

  were the same.

  She saw it mattered to her Giver. Anxiety lifted like a

  weight from her heart. She took his hand in hers and

  kissed the palm, noting its scars from previous Given

  ceremonies. “I am ready.”

  He nibbled on her neck. “No, not yet, but you will be.”

  His hands, experienced in pleasure, roved over her body,

  learning every inch. His mouth followed not far behind,

  tasting and licking and nibbling, until Aria found herself

  begging Talon to finish what he had started. Her skin was

  as sensitive as the air before a storm, and her insides

  were wound tight. She was sure she was dying, and only

  Talon kept her from crossing over to the other side.

  “Now you are ready,” he whispered. Moving to stand

  at the end of the bed, he pushed his leather breeches down

  his legs and to the floor, kicking them aside. When he

  straightened, Aria’s eyes widened at the sight of his

  erection pressed hard against his abdomen. Coming back

  to bed, he nudged her thighs apart with his knee and

  settled against her. He stared into her eyes. “I am the

  Giver. Do you accept what I give to you, freely and with no

  reservations?”

  Aria nodded, frantic that Talon do something,

  anything, to make her complete—even if it meant causing

  her pain. “I am the Given. I accept with no reservations

  and more than freely. I am begging you to give to me what

  you must.” Her nails dug into his back as he reached down

  with one hand and placed himself at her entrance. She

  glanced downward. “Will it hurt? You are so…” She

  hesitated, unwilling to offend her lover. “…large.”

  Talon smiled, his teeth white in the dimming firelight.

  “You will feel a pressure, but no pain. Then, once you are

  used to me, you will feel pleasure. I promise you.”

  She nodded acceptance.

  Talon gritted his teeth and pushed against Aria, the

  thin membrane that proclaimed her Maiden’s status

  blocking his path.

  He pushed harder, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

  Her breath came in little pants. “Do I hurt you?” he asked.

  His promise to cause her no harm pained him, but he

  meant to keep his word. He was ready to die from lack of

  fulfillment, but if she were not ready then he would

  withdraw and continue to prepare her.

  “No,” Aria replied with truth in her voice. “Just

  pressure, as you promised. It is the anticipation that makes

  me tremble.”

  “Then let’s end the wait, for both of us.” He kissed her

  forehead. “Open your eyes, Aria. I want to see your soul

  when the change occurs. I want to see you change from

  maiden to woman.”

  Aria opened her eyes.

  Talon kissed her brow again. “No pain. I promise.”

  She leaned up and kissed his mouth. “I trust you.”

  “I will guard that trust.” Reaching down between them

  with one hand, he found the button of flesh he knew would

  bring her ecstasy. Slowly, firmly, he stroked it with his

  thumb.

  “Talon,” Aria cried. “What is happening?”

  She bucked against him and cried out. Her eyes locked

  with his, caught up in passion. Her slim legs wrapped

  around his hips.

  “Aria,” Talon cried hoarsely. Reaching for the Warriors’

  blade that rested on the bed above them, he gripped it,

  letting the razor edge slice his palms open. Blood for blood,

  as he simultaneously broke through the barrier that hid

  his Given’s depths.

  Aria’s cries sounded, and convulsions gripped his

  member as he slowly pressed his full length into her. He

  let go of his blade, the burning wounds in his palms

  keeping him focused. Gritting his teeth, he pulled away

  before he let himself sink back into her. He continued the

  rhythm, holding his own pleasure at bay until Aria’s cries

  became wilder, and she tightened around him again. He

  watched her, loving her eagerness, her lack of guile.

  She arched her back, and he knew she was oblivious

  to anything but the pleasure that coursed through her

  body. Passion and innocence in one woman, she was

  everything he wanted but had never had until now.

  Her fingernails raked his sides. It was time for his

  suffering to end. In a maelstrom of light and pleasure, he

  spilled himself into her with a cry, hearing his Given call

  his name as she reached her release.

  Carefully, he settled his weight onto Aria as she still

  convulsed around him. Her cries grew breathy and weaker

  until she gave a great sigh, and her body went limp.

  Holding her to his chest, he
rolled over onto his side, taking

  her with him.

  Unwinding the strips of cloth that bound his hair, he

  coiled them around his hands before he pulled her closer.

  His dark hair fell over his shoulder to mingle with her red

  curls. His chest tightened as she snuggled against him,

  and the desire to protect her crashed over him. He stroked

  her hair, comforting and protecting her, cherishing his

  Given with every murmur, as she fell asleep in his arms.

  ***

  Aria woke to find the morning light streaming through

  the windows and her back pressed against Talon’s chest.

  She wiggled with pleasure, enjoying the warmth of his

  body. He rewarded her with a sleepy murmur as his well-

  muscled arm pulled her closer.

  She brought his hand to her lips for a kiss. Uncurling

  his fingers, she unwound the cloth from his hands and

  traced the hairline cut he had received during the ritual.

  The ritual. Now she knew of the pleasure that could

  occur between a man and a woman. Languidly, she

  stretched, mentally scoffing at the previous dreams and

  fears her Giver had put to rest.

  She turned over and gazed at Talon. He was as

  impressive in the morning as he had been in the deep of

  night’s passion. She reached out and traced a scar that

  ran from the corner of his eye to below his jaw. She had

  not noticed it yesterday. Today, it showed white against

  his tan skin. A Warriors’ mark. Later, she would ask him

  to tell her the story of the battle, but for now, she wanted

  to indulge. Feeling coy, she kissed him. His lips were warm

  upon hers. “Wake up,” she murmured.

  He replied with a grumpy, “No.”

  She pressed her lips against his again, prolonging the

  moment until he awakened and returned the kiss. He

  tasted like wine and musk. Like sex and love. Hard and

  ready, he pressed against her stomach.

  “Aria.” Her name was husky on his lips, a plea for her

  to welcome him into her body.

  She answered by throwing her leg over his and guiding

  him into her welcoming depths.

  Her breath hissed from between her lips as he filled

  her. “Talon, please,” she begged. “I am eager for you.”

  The only reply was a low chuckle as he supported the

  small of her back with his hand and rocked against her.

  Aria thought she would die as Talon sensuously

  assaulted her body. Her heart raced, and her soul flew as