"Why?" He did not understand this at all.
"My father. When I left he extracted a promise that I would come back. I was in pain, and desperate for some sign that he cared, and he took advantage of me." An neal sat up, looking down at him. "But I did promise. And I keep my word. That much they cannot take from me."
He frowned. He really did not understand.
"You are shamed?" he asked, reaching out to touch An neal's scars.
"Yes. And banished. But since I promised my father I would come back, they will open the city gates for me one day a year so I might see him."
"But why would he want to see you if he is a part of the ones who banned you?" It made no sense.
"Because he is my father, and I love him, despite his faults." An neal smiled, but it was forced. "As you do with me, I suppose."
"I would never force you to do something you did not wish," he answered immediately, fingers moving over the marks on An neal's cheeks.
"I know. You are fierce, but kind. Whereas my father, well, he is soft enough on the surface, but has never been a kind man." One of An neal's hands came up to hold his. "I love you."
He rumbled, unhappy still that An neal would go back to the place where they hurt him. "I love you, An neal." He frowned. "I do not like you going there."
"I do not like it either." The frown on An neal's face was pained, but then his man brightened. "But this is your chance to stay himself for a bit."
"He doesn't want you to go either."
"I am sure not." The hand on his moved to his wrist, absently petting the thin skin there. "Yet I must, and I will, and I hope you will come with me."
"I said I would. It will be hard though. I know I cannot touch you there and I will want to."
"We will find a way. We will only be in the city one day." An neal leaned to give him a kiss. "I like when you touch me."
He smiled. "Me, too."
To prove it, he slid his hands over An neal's cheeks and then down over his arms. "I like touching you a lot, An neal."
"Oh good." Another kiss fell upon his lips, this one deep and full.
He purred into An neal's mouth, hands wrapping around An neal's arms and pulling him close. The sound seemed to enflame An neal, and the man reached up to hold him in place, hands sliding into his hair. The kiss bruised his lips, An neal's tongue pushing into his mouth and catching his.
He purred again, dropping back onto the ground and pulling An neal with him. An neal came down with him, holding him down to take kiss after kiss. There was heat and hard against him, rubbing, letting him know that An neal was ready for him. He pulled An neal's clothes away, not caring if he tore them. One day An neal would not insist on wearing the stupid things.
No protest met the rending of the cloth, only An neal's gasping breath and hot skin. "Oh. Feris."
"An neal. Mine," he growled.
"Yes. Yours. Never forget that, Feris." Hot and sweet, the touches of An neal's hands and lips, and of the shaft between their bellies.
"I do not forget, An neal." He did not know how it worked with men, but he did not forget what was his.
An neal moaned, hips snapping, pushing against him. "My Feris."
He purred. Yes.
Soon An neal was giving him the liquid and heat of his release, painting his skin with it. It called his own release from him; with a roar, he offered it to An neal.
They fell together, An neal stroking his skin lightly. "I am sorry, Feris."
"Sorry, An neal?"
"For all of the trouble I cause you."
He shrugged. "I knew being friends with a man would be trouble and I took you in. You are mine now. No trouble is too much."
"Oh." An neal looked at him, those grey eyes bright with moisture. "My Feris."
He growled lightly and gave An neal a kiss. "Your Feris. And you are my An neal."
"Yes. And together we will see this through. Somehow."
"I will not let anything happening to you."
"My protector." An neal curled close to him, skin on his skin, warm and sweet. "How did I ever live before you?"
"I do not know." It was true, An neal was just a man and when they'd met, An neal had made many stupid man mistakes. Now though, An neal was growing smarter, Feris teaching him. And An neal had Feris now to protect him, look out for him.
And he had An neal to make him cake and make love with him.
It was good.
Even if An neal did want to go back to the city for a day.
~Chapter Fourteen~
The spring greening was truly upon them, and several days before Feris had growled at him and told him to stop putting off this trek to the city if they must go, or they would be caught in the snow on the way back. Feris was no doubt correct, and Anneal had reluctantly packed all of his belongings, storing what he could not carry in his own tiny cave, the one Feris had found for him.
After Feris had marked their territory well, over and over, and sealed his tiny cave with a rock, they were ready to go.
With his pack on his back and Feris beside him, Anneal set out south, each day of travel making the knot in his belly worse and worse. It would take some weeks to get there, and if he kept on like this, he would expire from the feeling of it long before they arrived.
His Feris knew, he always knew, and spent a good deal of time quietly walking beside him, a watchful, soothing presence. At night they slept together, curled tight, and he often woke from nightmares with his hands clutched deep into Feris' fur, crying great, silent tears.
After their second run of seven days, Anneal called Feris back to him on the trail early in the afternoon, knowing that soon they would begin to see people. He could tell by the change of terrain. They neared the lowlands.
Feris came and rubbed against his legs before shifting. "Are you sure you must do this, An neal? Himself can smell that you are not happy."
"I must." He knew Feris did not understand, would never understand, and that made the support that much more precious. "Let us make camp early today. By tomorrow we will hit the trade road, and I wish one more night alone with you before we do."
"And I will be himself once we are with people, yes?"
"Yes. I think that is best. The traders mostly will not care, but as we get closer to the cities, himself would actually be easier to explain." He leaned briefly against Feris' strength, feeling horribly guilty.
"Whatever you want, An neal." Feris' arm slid around him, pulling him close.
"I want you." He did. The need for Feris was close to the surface every moment of the day, more and more when he thought of how careful they would have to be once among men.
Feris purred for him. "Yes, An neal. I want, too."
Heart warming, the ache in his belly abating for the time being, Anneal took a kiss. "We should make camp. Then we will slake the need I have of you."
"Yes, An neal." Feris shifted again and took off, coming back moments later. "There is a good place to the east. It is not far."
They made their way to the place Feris picked out, which had trees and a stream, and was indeed a fine camp. They ate a cold meal of meat and bread, and took no time at all to settle, as Anneal decided against a fire. After cleaning up the remains of their meal, Anneal sat close to Feris on their bedroll, hand coming out to hold Feris'.
"You are nervous. Worried. If anyone tries to harm you, himself will not let them."
Once again he was reminded of why he loved Feris. He smiled. "I am not worried about me, Feris. I worry about you. I know you do not like men, and I will not see you harmed for all the world."
"I will not leave you, even if there is danger. I am going with you."
"I know." Absently, he played with Feris fingers, his own sliding through, petting. "I want you to. I just... I fear for you." He turned, putting an end to their talk with a kiss.
Feris' opened to him easily, eagerly, his lover never turning him away.
The taste was just what he craved, just what he needed to s
oothe his constant worry. Salty and wild and so Feris that it hurt. Feris' hands slid though his hair and then down, pulling at his clothes. The clothes were gone soon enough, and it felt good to be nude again, something he had grown more and more accustomed to. Feris was hot and sweet against him, and when their cocks brushed together Anneal moaned aloud. Feris groaned in reply, pushing him onto his back and lying on top of him. Feris rubbed them together.
"Oh! Feris. Love." The heavy weight, the smooth skin, all of it was addictive.
"Yes, An neal. Love you."
Feris began to lick at his skin, teeth scrapping as the rubbing became urgent. He reached between them, gathering up their pricks and squeezing, his other hand stroking Feris' back. Feris made a great noise, pushing hard into his hand, teeth closing over his nipple. Arching, crying out, Anneal moved faster, stroking them both. Sensation filled him, made him shake.
The biting turned to sucking and then Feris threw back his head and roared, heat spilling over his hand. His own climax was almost a surprise, spilling out of him in great, forceful jerks. A loud, glad cry escaped him, and he collapsed beneath Feris, stroking that smooth skin.
Feris purred, nuzzling and licking his neck.
"Mmm." Utterly boneless, Anneal lay still until the worries came creeping back, making him sigh.
Feris growled softly and rolled off him. Then he was pushed over onto his stomach and the strong hands began to rub at his shoulders.
"Ohhhhhh." A long moan came from him as Feris massaged his shoulders and back. Felt so good. Eased him. Feris muttered, something about stupid promises and stupid men. There was no answer he could give that would not prove him as stupid as Feris accused him of being, so he simply smiled and put his head on his folded arms and let Feris care for him. "I love you."
"Love you, An neal," Feris said gruffly, a kiss placed between his shoulder blades.
"Even when I am stupid?"
"Even when you make me angry or hurting."
He struggled against Feris' weight, turning over. "Am I hurting you now?" Oh, he hoped not. He hated for his own difficulties to cause Feris pain.
Feris looked surprised. "No."
"Oh. Oh good." Relaxing once more, Anneal crossed his arms behind his head. "My front needs your touch, too."
Feris looked at him. "Which part?"
Anneal pointed to his lips. "Here."
"Here?" Feris' thumb slid across his lips.
"Mmmhmm. And here." His own fingers found the nipple opposite the one Feris had played upon earlier.
"Not here?" Feris asked, fingertips rubbing across his reddened nipple.
His breath rasped out on a gasp. "There too."
"Yes, you are red here."
Feris bent and licked, tongue flicking across the tip of his nipple. Then he was given an almost shy look and Feris said. "It looks as if you were bitten."
His Feris was teasing him.
Oh. That Feris felt comfortable enough to play in such a way. It warmed him. "Yes. By a wild animal."
"A wild animal?" Feris looked around. "I do not see any wild animals, An neal."
"There was one here not long ago. He growled at me." Anneal smiled up at Feris, feeling much better.
"Show me next time and I will growl back." Feris growled and then bent and quickly nipped at his unabused nipple.
"My fierce love." He gasped again, arching up.
"Yes. And you are mine, An neal." Feris bent again, mouth closing over his skin just above his heart, pulling up a mark.
"Feris!" He was no longer playing. He did not think Feris was either. With another growl, Feris' mouth closed over his, the kiss fierce. Happily returning the kiss, Anneal wrapped his legs about Feris' waist, holding them together.
One of Feris' hands stayed next to his head, the other moved between them so Feris could touch his nipples some more. Ever since he had showed Feris how good it felt, his cat man had been fascinated with the tiny bit of flesh, and Anneal could not complain, though sometimes they got so sensitive they almost hurt.
"Feels good, An neal?"
Breathless, he stroked Feris' golden hair. "Feels beyond good, my Feris. I... so good."
Feris purred, hands moving over his skin. He returned the touches, his hands sliding over the skin of Feris' back, urging his lover on. "Want you, An neal. I... ache."
"Oh." The need in him was sharp, immediate, and he wanted to share himself with Feris in every way.
"Feris. We need. Have we..." Anneal blew out a frustrated breath. "Oil. Feris. Where did you pack my oil?"
Feris frowned. "I thought... you want to cook?"
Oh. Laughing now would undoubtedly upset Feris horribly, so Anneal kissed him instead. "No. I know just the way to ease your ache, my Feris. But I need the oil to do so."
Feris was still frowning, but his lover went to his pack and dug around, bringing him the vial of sweet oil.
"Thank you." He gave Feris a soft kiss and a happy smile, easing the frown from that dear face. Feris was going to... well. He simply would not believe how good what they were about to do felt.
"Give me your hand," he said, unstoppering the oil.
Feris put his hand out immediately -- no matter how confused his Feris was, the trust was implicit, immediate.
He used the oil to thoroughly wet two of Feris' fingers, then set the stuff aside, but within reach. He brought Feris' hand back to his body, pushing that big hand between his legs. "I want you to put your fingers inside me, Feris."
Feris' eyes went wide, his hand pulling back. "I will not hurt you."
Well. That went over well. Perhaps he would have to show Feris. He reached for the oil once more. "It does not hurt. Let me show you?"
Feris looked at him suspiciously enough but nodded.
He coated one of his own fingers with the slick stuff, and turned onto his side, pulling his legs up as he reached behind. Feris watching him so closely made it so charged, so anticipated, that the first touch of his own hand behind his balls made him moan.
"An neal..." Feris' voice was hushed.
"Yes." That single finger pushed in, and he did not wince, though he wanted to. Spirits! It had been a long time since he'd done anything like this. Perhaps it was good that he was doing the first bit of stretching. When the finger was in, deeply seated, Anneal forced his eyes open, so he could see Feris.
Feris' eyes were on him, amazement painting the beloved features. Feris reached out, fingers touching him so gently where his finger went into his body. "This does not hurt, An neal?"
"No." He could barely breathe. "Feels so good. Will feel even better when it is you."
He took his own hand away, pushing Feris against him. "Please?"
Feris' hand slid against his balls, stroking the skin beyond. So gentle. Then one finger pushed against him, sliding all of a sudden in. "Oh! An neal!"
"Yes. Feris. Oh." The feeling shot up his spine, exploding in his head. Anneal opened, relaxed, let Feris in.
"So hot. So soft. So tight."
The obvious care Feris took with him, the hushed awe in Feris' voice, it left him gasping, on the edge of tearing up. "The other, Feris. Put both fingers in me."
Feris pushed another finger in, again gentle but insistent until suddenly it went in, making Feris gasp once more.
So full, so much. And it was Feris, which made it much more intense than it had ever been before. "Feris. Love. Oh. Now move them."
"Move them?"
"Your fingers. Hold them together and move them out a bit, then in." He could barely hold himself together enough to speak, but Anneal wanted all of it, wanted Feris deep inside him.
Feris did as he asked, hesitantly pulling his fingers out just a tiny bit and then moving them in again. When he moaned, Feris did it again, a little more this time. His body tightened, then loosened around those fingers, and his cock throbbed so hard he cried out, shaking as he held himself back by force of will.
Feris' fingers pulled away quickly. "An neal! I hurt you!"
/> "No. Oh, Feris no." He sat up, hand going to Feris' cheek. "It felt so good. I almost spent. And I want to wait."
Feris nuzzled his hand. "It was good? An neal is not hurt?"
"It was better than good. It will be even better." Anneal put his hands to Feris' shoulders and pushed, so that Feris was the one on his back on the pallet, Feris' legs just slightly parted. "You wish to touch me inside now?"
Once again, his shaft beat so hard with a rush of blood that he thought he would spill. "Not this time, love. I have another plan."
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