The Fire Inside

by Skye Ryan

  “It was a valiant effort. You fought the good fight, but you lost. It doesn’t matter what happens to my army and I can always find others willing to pick up where they left off. Before you die a horrible death, I want to let you know what I felt when I killed Kenneth. For a human, he showed some potential to be a warrior, but he was no match for me.”

  “He was better…than the both of us combined.” Jack made peace with his maker and was ready to join his ancestors in the afterlife. Rufus had him by the throat and then he saw something extraordinary. A knife was protruding out of his chest. Rufus was looking down quite startled by the invading foreign object.

  Rufus dropped Jack onto the floor and turned to face Jessica. With his last breath, he stalked his prey with the express purpose of making her pay. She stumbled back and landed in a position with no authority. He fell to his knees and reached out crawling to grab her ankle. He sensed this was the end but he took solace Jack was going to join him.

  Jessica shook free from his grasp. She grabbed Jack by his arms and dragged him through the fire like it meant nothing. She emerged from the smoking crater feeling like her brother was there with her holding her to a different standard.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Jessica watched him in the hospital bed and wondered why he was taking so long to wake up. The doctors and nurses were baffled. They had no idea why he had not woken up yet. They told her to be patient and this was entirely up to Jack to fight for the right to live.

  Jessica had her eyes closed; breathing deeply and then something grabbed her by the wrist. She was soon on top of him. She could feel the presence of his manhood under the thin sheet covering his body.

  “It looks like somebody is feeling better. I stayed with you all night and you really did scare me. You had severe burns, but they healed nicely which I’m sure the doctors are going to want to talk to you about.” Her thoughts were interrupted by his heated lips making contact with her own.

  Jack felt it was necessary to live for the moment and to seize opportunities with a firm and iron grip. He had lost his brother, but he had already grieved for him many years ago. His death was just the final culmination of their tumultuous relationship.

  Not thinking and only acting, Jack ripped off her clothes without even leaving a mark on her delicate skin. “I woke up and the first thing I saw was your beautiful face. I thought about all the wasted opportunity and this is my time to do something about it.” He hadn’t thought any further than that moment. Her clothes were in tatters, strips hanging off her like some wild animal had gotten loose in the hospital room.

  “I don’t think you could have done that again even if you wanted to. You don’t have to say you’re sorry because I know you’re not. You really had me going. I thought the curtain had finally fallen… I like you this way. Unchained and ready to do anything to get a piece of me” Jessica believed they had to hurry up, but she didn’t give a damn about any kind of interruption.

  “I’m only sorry because I got caught. It’s time for us to be with each other in the biblical sense, Jessica. I’m never going to have enough of you, you make me believe in miracles. I would give you a round of applause, but I think I can do a whole lot better than that.” The hospital gown he was wearing was merely in the way. He tore it from his frame to show her his heaving muscles including the one between his legs. The sheet was forgotten and their bodies were now against each other with only their breathing to give way to something unexpected.

  Jessica nodded her head, yes, but she wanted to have the strength to say no. She found herself lying on the bed with him decisively moving to catch each of her nipples in his mouth. She had pressed her breasts together and was now being inflicted with the lashing of his tongue.

  “I don’t know where you get the strength, but I’m not complaining. I can’t breathe and I don’t care. Take me away from all of this and show me a world of our own making.” She arched her chest into his face and held him steady with her hands on the back of his head. She pulled at the short hairs and scratched the back of his neck to hear his submission moaning from between his lips.

  “There’s nothing better than hearing a woman scream my name. I find myself completely enthralled by how easily I can make your body respond. We are made for one another and I don’t want you to ever to forget that.” He followed a wet line with his tongue leading the way. He circled her navel, dipped in momentarily and then felt the arrow of his excitement growing between his legs. He was ready to pierce any resistance found in his way.

  He lifted her from the bed with relative ease and pinned her against the wall with her legs around his head pressing her mound against his eager lips. His tongue searched inside her for the necessary moment of release. He found her soaking wet, her lips slippery and inside her was hotter than an oven.

  “Yes…you’ve always been the one. We have denied each other for way too long. God damn…you must have a blueprint of my anatomy. It’s the only way for you to know what buttons to push to get the desired results. I think you know what’s coming and I fear you won’t be able to hold me for very much longer.” Her last thought sizzled with her body now climbing the mountain of pleasure until she was at the peak.

  Jack felt her shaking and the feel of her heels slapping against his back was like a woman possessed. He had a devil of a time keeping her in place with his tongue still stealing kisses on the inside of her thighs. She had stolen his heart and had no intention of giving it back.

  Jessica suddenly found herself upside down and it was an interesting way to look at his prominent excitement. She didn’t even hesitate and gave him the same kind of lip service she had just received. She was moaning, sending vibrations up and down the length of the shaft and setting his balls on fire.

  She watched them grow in front of her eyes with all the blood rushing to the top of her head. She had already cum once, but Jack was still administering to her needs like a compassionate lover should. This was not foreplay. There was not even a word to describe what he was doing to her.

  Holding her and devouring her essence while his steel bar of manliness was slipping in and out of her mouth was making it hard to concentrate. He did his best not to feel overwhelmed by the vein throbbing and ready to expel the contents of his lust for her.

  They both joined in and found pleasure by satisfying their sweet tooth. He was not able to contain his seed which erupted and gave her no choice but to swallow the evidence of his arousal.

  She felt like a rag doll and was soon positioned with her legs in the air and his hands holding her ankles. He was standing on the floor with her ass perched on the edge of the bed waiting for penetration.

  “Jessica, together we can just let go and forget about the rest of the world.” He gave her one hard thrust and the top of his plum sized knob was the first to feel the burning intensity from within. It touched him and the heat moved along each inch until he was all the way inside of her. He stayed completely still, looking at her face and then pulling back out until only the head remained.

  “I know there’s no way for us to be ordinary and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It might be scary to be with each other. Don’t let fear give us any reason to give up the best thing we’ve ever had in our lives. You feel so good. It’s like you complete me.” Her legs were spread with his hands splitting her like a wishbone.

  “I look at you like this and I find myself wondering how I could have gotten so lucky. If one thing good came out of your brother’s demise then it has to be the two of us finding one another. These are new emotions for me and I’m going to need time to adjust.” They began to move together, with both of them becoming unhinged. The hospital bed bore the brunt of their force and her swollen lips showed just what kind of punishment she was taking.

  “I never want this to end, Jack… Jack… Jack…JACK!” Her mind was overcome and her body followed through, her pussy clenched down around him like an iron fist.

  The ring of fire surrounding his girth brought forth
the basic need to let things come to a natural finish. They really didn’t care about having an audience and screaming was the only way to release the adrenaline. They were breathless, but they continued to force themselves through the momentary lapse in judgment.

  Jack rumbled a low growl, but never stopped thrusting inside of Jessica which prolonged her desire to an unhealthy decibel. He felt himself prepare to explode and found her orgasm to be something too hard to ignore. They drove each other into a frenzy until finally coming to a heated finish with one final stroke. It made her eyes go wide with surprise.

  After the moment had worn off, they heard the banging on the door and thought retribution was at hand by one of Rufus’s followers.

  The nurse came in and found them in the bliss of their union. “Oh, my…I’m so sorry. I thought somebody was killing somebody in here. I apologize…my god… She was backpedaling, stumbling out the door and found herself smiling despite the fact she had interrupted them.

  Jack and Jessica looked at each other and began to laugh, feeling like life wasn’t so daunting anymore. It was better to be in one another’s arms.

  Two weeks later, Jessica found out she was pregnant and was relieved to see the spring in Jack’s step when he found out. They were going to be a family, but there was still one thing holding them back from the happiness they deserved.

  The factions had come to a strained peace agreement on the condition Jack was shunned and sent into exile. This was not negotiable and the death of Rufus had sent shock waves through the factions. They needed their pound of flesh. The only way to get it was to make sure Jack suffered the indignity of losing what he considered family.

  What they didn’t realize was his family was now Jessica and the baby on the way. He understood this was the only way and decided to placate those looking to make him pay. He said his goodbyes with promises to come back if things were to escalate all over again.

  They rode off into the sunset with Jessica wrapping her arms around Jack to let him know his sacrifice was not in vain. Being on his motorcycle was right where they belonged. They were going to be parents and this became their happily ever after.

  THE END

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  Future Lover

  CHAPTER ONE

  S he dreamed of flowers. She dreamed of herself standing beneath the gaze of a second sun, in the cradle of a verdant field whose blooms were full and bursting with life. The smell of newly plowed earth filled her nostrils and she breathed in deeply, bending down to touch the tall grasses around her and stretching her face up to the warm, vibrant rays. A shrill ringing suddenly invaded her ears and she dropped down to her knees. She could not escape its torment; she could not escape the loud, high pitched whistle of its presence. The fields slowly dissolved into nothingness and it was then that she jerked awake.

  The High Mother walked along the aisle, as was routine. She tapped her cane sternly along the cool, tiled floor, her footsteps echoing in a staccato rhythm as she inspected the beds. The old crone was no stranger to the errant girl who found herself missing at morn’ break; and she surely reveled in her duty to make examples of any who were not where they were expected. She stopped in front of a particular bed, her head swiveling and inclining just so, her eyes lighting in a manner that was neither pleasant nor filled with welcome, and Lia found herself shivering beneath the old woman’s gaze. The woman’s crisp Outlandian accent rode the air currents in hostile waves, and Lia shrunk back from the sound.

  “You are present and accounted for I see,” the high mother sniffed with obvious disdain, “That is—fortunate. You will help in the kitchens today.”

  “Yes, High Mother,” Lia replied, trying desperately to erase any hint of hatred from her tone.

  The High Mother nodded, and with another sniff and rapacious tap of her cane, she continued along the aisle between the beds, carefully inspecting each one. Lia slipped from the bed, her bare feet hit the cold floor and she suppressed a shudder. She began to make the bed, careful to tuck in the sheets and fluff the pillows. She then followed the line of women to the communal bath, patiently waiting to begin her morning ablutions. The days were beginning to blur, to blend together in a mosaic of duty and labor, and today, thought Lia, would be no different. Time had become of little consequence since The Uprising, and the girls, though still feeling the weight of The Probity over their heads, had chosen quiet acceptance rather than a marked death.

  She sighed and slowly began to clean her teeth in the basin in front of her. Once she was done, she followed the others to the wading pools. There, she scrubbed her body with the scentless harsh soap as well as her long thick hair. She dried herself with the cloths and brushed her hair back into the customary severe bun. She pulled on the habit, its coarse material was heavy and thick, and she pulled it up over her simple muslin gown. Morning prayers were soon to come, and everyone, including Lia, quickly finished dressing and scrambled to their places. The High Mother stood and watched silently from her perch, her sharp eyes picking out the slightest bit of disobedience and she descended the stairs slowly, her cane striking the spotless marble as she walked.

  “What are the three things women must suffer?” she asked and their eyes were cast onto the floor, careful not to make eye contact.

  A jumble of voices began in earnest and was cut short with a sharp tap from the cane. “Silence! You all are the epitome of laziness! This is what idleness brings you. Again. What are the three things women must suffer?”

  Silence reigned for a moment before voices lifted up harmoniously, their cadence and rhythm in sync. “Sacrifice, obedience and purity.”

  “And why are these important? Why are they the cornerstone of our society?” she pointed her cane at a woman whose startled jump seemed to infuriate the High Mother. “Tell me! Why should these things be held holy?” she said, her face close to the woman who visibly swallowed and lowered her head.

  “S-Sacrifice is our burden, obedience is our duty and purity is our gift,” she replied and the High Mother sniffed, her face filled with scorn and disdain, but nevertheless, she nodded and walked away. The woman relaxed a bit and Lia could see her release a sigh. She had narrowly escaped a punishment this day.

  “These things have been taught to you, not as punishment, but for your freedom. Freedom from the excesses of a life filled with the emptiness of sin. You will all attend your prayers with the Com’esh Ta. For today is a special day. The councilmen will be in attendance today. I expect the grounds to be pristine, the abbey scrubbed and you all will be on your best behavior. These men shelter and protect us. I expect you to show your gratitude.”

  Everyone nodded curtly and Lia raised her eyes a bit to glance over at the row of bowed heads, and she managed to hold in a grimace and a sigh. The women soon lined up and began their slow walk to the church, and Lia followed suit, her long heavy gown sweeping the floor and making her feel oppressed with its scratchy, thick material. She resisted the urge to pull off her hood, and instead pulled it tighter about her face. She could hear the trill of the songbirds as they circled the enclosure outside, and the small bit of light she could see was shining through the gaps of stone. She continued following the line of women before her, and soon they were filing into the cathedral. She repeated the actions of everyone in the line, including bowing before the statue of the leader of the Empire, and being sure to kiss its feet three times. The High Mother watched with rapt attention before turning on her heel and marching off into the inner sanctum.

  Lia and the others knelt down and faced their prayer pews, each head bowed in contemplative prayer and introspection. The Com’esh Ta, with his billowing robes and bright red hood outlined in silk and reflective, organic Corvinithian gold, came to stand before them, he took a moment and then began to speak.
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  “We are all servants of the Empire. Our duty is to ensure the greatness and bounty of our lords over the tyranny of radical sin and terror. We are here this day, to pay tribute to the leader and his kind, to thank them for their supreme sacrifice in protecting us, feeding us, and clothing us, for we are unworthy in their presence.”

  A chorus of “And they shall abide,” rang out through the cathedral and Lia only mouthed the words, feeling as if she could not say them.

  “Let us pray dear children. Let us pray for the souls of the lost, for those who refuse to see the light of goodness and freedom, for those who resist the guidance of the Empire and sow the seeds of their destruction.”

  Lia half-heartedly mumbled her assent along with everyone else, her mind began going back to the dream, of how the sun felt on her skin...

  She took in a breath and opened her eyes to see the swish of a robe near her and realized the High Mother had stopped near her pew. She held her breath, hoping the old woman saw nothing amiss. She breathed a sigh of relief when the woman walked away to inspect the other pews before her. She looked over to her left, at the only slotted windows in the entire cathedral, the light was shining along the floor and outside…outside she could see the bodies of the fallen, their loose limbs moving in a macabre dance in the breeze. She had been rather fond of Lucinda, the leader of the insurrection. She had a calm, gentle manner and a way about her that seemed to make their punishments tolerable. But now, she was just an example, her body strung up as a reminder to all the cost of resistance.

  She quickly cut her gaze to her folded hands. She wanted to be brave like Lucinda and her cohorts, but deep down, she was terrified. She couldn’t fathom attempting an escape or a coup the way they did. She remembered the way Lucinda had smiled, her demeanor easy and relaxed as they tightened the noose, as if finally, she had found true freedom. A small ripple of disquiet ran through Lia as she remembered the thin blonde, along with the niceties she often gave to her, the extra food, the bandages and balms whenever Lia had been whipped for some small infraction and left in the cold, dank dungeons. And even the spare blanket here and there when Lia had chills and fever.