by D. N. Carter
“He kissed me…and it meant nothing other than to serve and prove I felt nothing for him and it was you who I was thinking of…did you not see me pull away?”
Paul looked deeply into her tear filled eyes.
“And what of this Nicholas Templar I hear of?” Paul asked hesitantly.
Alisha sighed heavily and seemed to sink lower.
“He had just saved my life. You should be thanking him not condemning him. He jumped in front of me and took a crossbow bolt. We thought he was going to die,” Alisha explained as another tear fell from her face.
Paul could clearly see the hurt and emotion in her. More importantly he believed her. Trust that inner voice, he remembered, and right then he trusted it completely. The thought that she could have been killed flooded back into his mind. He moved closer and clasped her hands close pulling her nearer to him.
“I swear by all that I am or ever will be, I will never hurt you again. And I swear I shall always, if you let me, I shall always protect you…and if I had to, I would take three bolts for you, straight through my heart, as that would be preferable and less painful than to live without you in my life,” Paul explained with an intensity of meaning he had never expressed before. Alisha looked into his eyes.
“You hurt me…and yes…you had better not ever do that again for I would not…ever recover,” Alisha said and placed her hand upon his face gently.
Paul took her hand and kissed it. He opened the top of his undershirt and placed her hand upon his chest.
“This beats only for you. We may be young, and I know some will say this is just the intense emotions of first love, but this, this is so much more. You are a part of me. I cannot explain it…but I know I cannot exist without you,” Paul explained. He looked at Alisha smile as another tear fell. With his left hand, he wiped the tear onto his finger, then kissed the tear, it dissolving on his lips. Alisha raised his chin slightly. Quickly she sat back and pulled her dress top open, unlaced the front down to her stomach and hesitantly pulled the sides off from her shoulders, letting the wet dress fall to her waist. Paul looked at her wide eyed, his mouth open as she sat nervously in front of him half naked. Her breasts were firm and her nipples raised as she shivered briefly. She stared at him as he looked at her, his eyes falling upon her chest. Slowly she touched Paul’s chin to shut his mouth and both let out a nervous laugh. She held his hand and slowly placed it upon her chest between her breasts, her eyes wide. Paul could feel her heart beating fast. “I was foolish to listen to what others were trying to tell me. That if I truly loved you, I would let you go for your own safety… and…and the thought of never ever being able to hold you…touch you… it was too much for me to bear and a part of me died when I made the decision to stay away from you. And I am not ashamed to say that I cried,” he whispered.
Alisha leant toward him and slowly approached until their faces were almost touching. Gently she placed her face next to his and slowly pushed her cheek against his, both still holding their hands upon each other’s chest. Paul smelt her sweet perfume mixed with the smell of rain in her hair. He ran his fingers through her hair and then cupped his hand around her neck as she moved back slightly to look at him.
“Paul…you can touch me…for this is not wrong,” Alisha whispered and gently leaned in and placed her lips upon his. Both felt the other shudder as their bodies fired with excitement and anticipation. The tension between them was intoxicating. They held the soft kiss for a few moments before breaking away. Alisha licked her lips and broke into a nervous laugh. Paul looked at her beautiful face framed by her hair, her lips moist and inviting. He kissed her again and tasted her as she responded. He felt the overwhelming urge to pull her closer as she began to pull him closer too.
“Ali…we cannot do this,” Paul whispered looking at her intently.
A sudden bang hit the side of the door making them both jump and look that way. Outside Sister Lucy looked up again and mouthed ‘Father, forgive me’, having just thrown another stone. Paul looked down at Alisha as she stretched her neck, her back arched as she leaned backwards to look over toward the door. He studied her clear flawless skin that ran from her chin down to where his hand was still placed upon her chest. He looked at the gentle curve of her breasts either side of his hand, the rain soaked dress clinging to her waist. Slowly he leaned down and kissed her chest next to his hand. She turned and looked up at him.
“Must be apples falling…and Paul…we can do this…I have wanted you for so long…so please take me this night,” Alisha said softly as she placed her hand upon his face again, and then ran her finger down the scar on his cheek. “I love you, Paul.” He moved her finger away from the scar. “Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you,” she whispered.
“Those are profound words…but I must confess, as you know, ’twas but a fence that attacked me,” Paul laughed back, which helped relieve some tension as Alisha laughed. Paul pulled her closer and started to kiss her neck. She moaned quietly as she lay back fully upon the bench, moving so that her legs moved upwards. She kicked off the loose sandals from her feet. Her hands and legs were shaking slightly. “Are you cold?” Paul asked.
“No…I am just a little part terrified, but I trust you,” Alisha answered and smiled.
As Paul positioned himself between her thighs, she opened her legs to wrap around his back, her dress falling down her thighs and to her waist revealing her legs completely. Paul paused as he rested upon his elbows and looked into her eyes as his groin pushed against hers, his heart beating fast. He had waited so long for this moment and dreamt of it in so many different ways, how he would make love to her.
“What is that?” Paul suddenly asked as something poked him in his groin painfully.
Alisha looked down, and then laughed. Quickly she shuffled herself to her side slightly, and removed the three bladed dagger she carried everywhere. She raised it so he could see it.
“You hurt me again…this is what you face,” she smiled and placed the dagger gently down upon the middle table. She repositioned herself again beneath Paul. “I can feel you want me,” Alisha smiled and raised her eyebrows knowingly as she gently thrust her thighs up and down slowly making Paul smile again. She had read some of her father’s books, not that he was aware, on the subject of love making in preparation for this very moment, a moment she had dreamt of so often as well. Raja had spoken many times of the art of love making and right now she knew and felt in her heart that she would not disapprove of what they were about to commit to. However, she was still filled with excitement, apprehension and feeling slightly scared, as she knew she was about to let a man enter her body with all the unknown fears of possible pain. It was a huge moment of vulnerability but she trusted Paul to be gentle with her. Paul was surprised at their total lack of embarrassment with each other. It all felt so right. Not at all a sin as some would say. Alisha stretched her arm down, pulled at her undergarment and released the side clip so it fell away as she pulled it out from under her. She became more nervous with anticipation and bit her lip as her eyes darted back and forth looking at his. Paul was clearly very nervous too at the act they were about to commit as he shook slightly, but he felt totally at ease being naked with her. She was a part of him. He used his right hand to pull down his undergarment trousers. As he lowered himself, he could sense her naked skin against his. A bead of sweat started to form on his brow as he held his own weight on just his left arm. “Enter me, Paul, please…,” she whispered in his ear. She moved her hand down and used her fingers to part herself, the feel of her own fingers sending shivers of delight through her and she moaned as her thighs seemed to push upwards involuntarily. Paul moved slightly to face her, then placed his lips upon hers gently and as he did, he guided himself very slowly until he could feel the wet warmth of her inviting body begin to wrap around him. Gently he eased himself down and into her further, her warmth enveloping all his senses sending a tingling sensation throughout his
body. Alisha moaned more as she closed her eyes and used her legs to pull him inside her deeper. She had never been with any man nor wanted any other and now she was with the one man she loved more than anything in the world. She winced in pain letting out a slight yelp as she felt him push inside her. She held him tighter and buried her face against his cheek for a short moment. She stopped moving for a minute before starting to gently shift her position beneath him.
“Am I hurting you?” Paul whispered.
Alisha opened her eyes. They filled with tears.
“No…’tis a strange kind of wonderful, it felt as though it hurt, but not really painful,” she whispered and let out a slight laugh. She pulled Paul tighter against her as they both began to push back and forth against each other gently. Their hearts beat so fast they could each feel the other’s. Paul suddenly stopped and looked deeply into her eyes searching for every hint of emotion in her. “Why have you stopped?” she asked so quietly.
“What if you fall with child? I could not do that to you.”
“Then it is Allah’s will…I need no ceremony or piece of parchment to sign that I am yours. I have always been yours…and I always shall be.” She smiled, leaned up and kissed him again and pulled him even tighter and started to move herself more vigorously.
“Ali…no…no…slow down…I…I…,” Paul tried to say as Alisha held him tightly. She smiled broadly seeing the look on his face as he tried to control what was happening to his body. He shook and tried to grit his teeth as Alisha overwhelmed his senses. He jerked several times as convulsive waves swept throughout his body. He closed his eyes tight. Alisha slowed down her movements, still smiling as Paul also slowed his movements. She could feel the throbbing pulsating sensation from Paul inside her as he came. She placed her hands upon his hips and pulled him so he could not withdraw. After a few moments he opened his eyes and let out a relieved laugh and shook his head, sweat beading down his face.
“Does that make you feel better?” Alisha asked as she placed her hand upon his face.
Paul just nodded his head yes as he took his weight on his arms and looked at her for several moments, her face flushed red as she smiled.
“I cannot believe my luck. I am so sorry that was over so quickly, for you have not been properly pleasured,” Paul whispered.
“Paul, you know such things of a woman?” Alisha joked. Paul looked at her puzzled. “That is not a problem. We can try again and practise this as many times as we wish, and my pleasure comes from giving it to you,” Alisha laughed softly and bit her bottom lip mischievously. Paul kissed her again, placing his hand beneath the small of her back and pulling her up closer to him again.
Outside, Sister Lucy pulled her ear away from the side of the caravan and immediately started to walk away towards the chapel.
“You had better not hold me to account for this…but this was necessary… and so it all begins…at last,” she whispered aloud, looking up at the stars through the widening gaps in the night clouds.
Alisha and Paul moved to the bunk, completely removed their clothes and made love again as they explored and enjoyed each other, stroking and kissing tenderly. Alisha had imagined what Paul would look like and now she could look at every part of him as he was doing the same with her. It had not been painful, disgusting, submissive or smelly as some of the stories Alisha had been told made her fear. When she sat on top of him, she was able to control how she moved. When she writhed up and down slowly with such movements, Paul thought he was going to faint with the rush of sensations flooding his body. He felt he had truly become one with her. He looked at the curve of her hips, the smoothness of her skin and the obvious pleasure on her face. She dug her fingers into his shoulders accidently scratching them as her movements became faster. She thrust herself harder and leaned down upon Paul completely, her breasts pushing against his chest which only added to the sensation of pleasure, their faces side by side. She bit her lip trying to keep herself quiet as she had her first orgasm, and uncontrollable spasms overwhelmed her senses. Breathless, she just remained on top of him, her eyes closed as she caught her breath. Paul could not stop smiling as he ran his hands up and down her back and felt every part of her. Paul went to move.
“No! Don’t move…please,” Alisha whispered breathless still with her eyes shut, her body making involuntary movements with every slight move Paul made. She smiled and shook her head slowly next to his. She kissed his neck and relaxed her weight upon him.
Without any further words needing to be said, they just held each other and slowly they began to fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms totally naked. Paul fell into a deep sleep; a sound sleep he had not experienced in many years. Alisha wrapped her leg over his and just watched him as he slept; eventually falling asleep herself as the sun began to rise.
By mid morning, Paul and Alisha were still sleeping soundly when Taqi arrived on Paul’s horse. He dismounted and ran towards the caravan.
“Taqi…stop just where you are, young man,” Sister Lucy called out.
Taqi stopped immediately and looked at her.
“Sister Lucy…I must see Paul….Ali is not in her chambers,” Taqi explained out of breath.
“I know that,” she replied and indicated with a nod towards the caravan.
“What…she is in there…with Paul…but how?” Taqi asked confused.
“It is no mystery. I came and fetched her myself. You can go back and tell your father and Philip they are fine,” Sister Lucy said and folded her arms.
“But…in there…together…all night?”
“Fear not again, young Taqi. Do you think I would deliberately leave two madly in love young things like them alone…in a caravan…all night! Come on…I am a nun for heaven’s sake.”
Taqi looked at the caravan surrounded by apple trees that gently swayed in the breeze that was blowing. An apple fell from a tree and hit the top of the caravan. The thud woke Alisha. With alarm she heard Taqi and Sister Lucy outside. She shook Paul awake. Quickly she placed her hand over his mouth to silence him. She sat naked, her breasts just inches away from Paul’s face as she stared at the door. Both listened as they heard Taqi and Sister Lucy speak.
6 – 59
“They are simply resting after talking all night. You can tell everyone that I mediated and I sat between them. They sleep separately and I have kept watch so there is nothing to worry about here. Now leave them in peace and run along quickly,” Sister Lucy explained as she placed her arm around Taqi and ushered him back towards Adrastos.
“But…can I just check?” Taqi asked as Sister Lucy placed her hands upon her hips and frowned coldly at him. “Okay…I shall go. And they are all right…no stabbings…no beatings and pulling hair?” Taqi joked. Sister Lucy hit him playfully and shooed him away.
As Taqi mounted Adrastos, he waved, pulled the reins and trotted off back down the main track. Quickly Sister Lucy headed for the caravan.
“And now I am telling lies…Lord, we shall be having words later,” she said aloud as she waved a finger to the sky.
Paul leaned up and kissed Alisha on the chest and started to massage her breast gently. She let out a slight laugh as he pulled her closer. Suddenly the latch went on the door, Alisha pushed Paul down hard as she pulled up the sheet to cover herself and hide Paul just as Sister Lucy poked her head into view. Alisha sat bolt upright holding the white sheet up to her chin, her mouth wide open in shock and alarm.
“Morning, you two love birds. Right, listen up and listen up well, lest you see me cast into the streets no longer a nun. Paul…sit up and look at me!” Sister Lucy said and raised an eyebrow as Alisha blushed. Paul went to move but she held the sheet tight so he could not. Sister Lucy raised both eyebrows. “When you have quite finished, Paul.”
Paul moved sideways and raised his head up from the corner edge of the bunk as Alisha pulled the sheet tighter to keep herself covered. Red faced and hot he sat up next to Alisha, his arm behind her back.
“Sister Lucy�
�I…we were…,” Paul exclaimed as his face became redder.
“No need to explain. I know what happened here…and do not worry, your secret is safe with me. I do not condone what you have done…but I do understand it. Whatever you tell your fathers, you must say that I came and got you last eve, Alisha, and brought you here. I forced you to sit and discuss matters…and that I was present at all times. I did not leave until after I had put Alisha to bed, you on the bench, and after I had sat at the table all night until I saw your brother arrive…is that clear?” she explained.
Paul and Alisha looked at each other, surprised.
“But why…why would you do this for us?” Alisha asked puzzled.
“I am still asking myself that very same question, for this night I have most definitely bent and broken a few vows…that is for sure. But I think it will prove worth it for all of us. I would say you have about an hour at most before your fathers return to collect you. Do not let me down and forget what I have told you to say,” Sister Lucy demanded and gave them both a stern look. “And do not mistake this for a ‘happy ever after’ ending.”
“Why…are we still to be in trouble?” Paul asked as he pulled his arm tighter around Alisha.
“No…true love does not do happy endings, as genuine love never ends,” Sister Lucy shot back with a look of hardness that did not match her words. Quickly she stepped down and closed the small door shut. As the outer latch engaged Paul and Alisha looked at each other and smiled broadly and started to giggle quietly as Paul pulled her to face him. Alisha straddled him and put her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes.
“I have never felt more alive than I do this minute. I love you, Miss Alisha Al Komati…I love you,” Paul laughed as Alisha moved her hips and then gave him a long lingering gentle kiss on the lips.
“And I love you, Mr Paul Plantavalu,” she said softly. “Now let us try this again before we go shall we…. if you are up to it…though be gentler for I am a little sore?” she laughed.