Just One Golden Kiss

by M. A. Thomas

  As she carried on through the trees, she examined her surroundings, looking over her shoulder often and listening for any sounds. Ever since she had let a stupid golden ball cause her to fall into a well, she was more careful with her steps. But had it not been for the ball, she’d have never met Eldrich. She couldn’t help but laugh a little. He was a frog when he pulled her from the well after she agreed to give him whatever he desired! And what he had desired was her, a simple kiss that returned him to his true form. But that had not been enough for him; he had begged…demanded that she lie with him. And she had given herself to him that night and every night since. Yes, she admitted to the desperation and moment of weakness.

  Completely giddy, she reached a mass of vines filled with round and plump berries. Lela grabbed a handful and swallowed them. She continued eating until her stomach did not pang anymore. Then she went down to the river and splashed water on her face. She planned on gorging on fruit and bathing in the river all day.

  She undressed and sank into the river, letting the cold water refresh and cleanse her skin. She’d have to stay in the shallow end; the current was strong and she didn’t want to risk being swept away by it.

  The golden ball came to her mind. Despite Eldrich’s assurance that she was safe and that his kind no longer had a claim on her blood now that he had hidden the ball in the sea, she could not deny her lingering fear. Lady Rema had told her the truth. And the truth was that the ball, which vampires considered their god, had followed her since birth never making itself known to her until that day…the day it called her in the forest.

  Going underwater for a moment, she tried to shake off her fear. To no avail. Lady Rema had also told her that since the ball chose to present itself to her, vampires would come for her and drain her, believing that her blood could save them, make them human again. It was written in their sacred book that the ball would someday choose a human to follow and that that human’s blood would make them mortal again. Her poor mother had offered herself to them ten years earlier and in exchange they agreed to leave Lela alone. They had murdered her mother! And yet here she was in love with a vampire. Oh, mother, please forgive me. Eldrich is not like the rest of his kind. He truly loves me.

  She tried to quiet her mind and only think of Eldrich and their love for each other. Eldrich come to me, stay inside of me, drink from me, take my soul, I’m yours, now and forever.

  Touching her nipples with one hand and putting her other hand down below, she imagined Eldrich thrusting into her.

  She murmured, “Sweet prince, sleep and dream of me.”

  The sun’s rays on her face, her thoughts on Eldrich’s throbbing cock; she wished it was stroking her entire body. The sun came down harshly on her; sweat trickled down to her neck. Gasping and moaning, she continued masturbating; she felt she’d stop breathing if Eldrich spent one more second outside of her body. Chewing her lip, her insides burning she exploded.

  “Eldrich, yes, Eldrich, yes, my prince!” she screamed.

  Despite being a virgin when she met Eldrich, she was not naïve and had discovered how to release her ever-increasing sexual tension some years earlier. She had even stumbled upon servants in the kitchen or in the halls and she was not ashamed to admit that she had not looked away, but rather watched with jealous curiosity. For goodness sake, she had even seen vegetables inserted into a woman’s…

  She staggered onto the river’s bank and then collapsed. Shivering, she quickly dressed and then threw on her cloak. She’d rest for a little while and aim to catch up on her sleep since night time was no longer for sleeping, a thought that made her blush. Closing her eyes, she drifted into slumber. At this moment, she and Eldrich were one.

  Ruffling leaves startled her. Opening her eyes, she jumped to her feet, ready to yell for help.

  “Who’s there,” she asked.

  “No one you know,” a man said, coming from behind a tree.

  “I’ll scream,” she said, scanning the bank for a stick, a rock, anything with which she could defend herself.

  “Have I threatened you?” he asked, advancing to her.

  “You’re not wearing any clothes,” she said, bending down to pick up a stick.

  Grinning he said, “I’m not going to hurt you. My goodness why would I want to do such a thing? Besides even if I did, I’m afraid that scrawny stick wouldn’t be much of a protector. I’m sorry if I’m too blunt.”

  She glanced at the stick and was instantly embarrassed. And not just because of its size but because it reminded her of the night Eldrich had teased her with a stick, threatening to push it into her while on the roof of his house.

  “You’re not correct about my attire,” he looked down at himself, “I’m sure I’m wearing trousers. Do you not see them?” he asked, with a wicked laugh.

  Lela gave his trousers a glance, noticing the thickness between his legs. Flushing, she cleared her throat and centered her eyes on his bare chest. He had a cross necklace around his neck. Crosses were not permitted in the Kingdom of Barmoth. Her father despised the God of the Cross. The night her mother vanished, he had prayed to the God of the Cross and begged him for her safe return. His prayer went unanswered and days later he put forth a law prohibiting crosses. A death sentence awaited anyone caught with one. And here was this man displaying a cross without regard.

  “Who are you?” she asked, her stare on the cross.

  “Does this offend you?” he asked, pointing to his necklace.

  Swallowing, she said, “Crosses are forbidden.”

  Taking it off, he asked, “By whom?”

  “You can’t be serious,” she said with a slight chuckle.

  Letting it dangle from his hand he said, “I’m entirely serious. Now tell me, why do you believe them to be forbidden?”

  She seemed destined to continue meeting strange men in the forest.

  “Quit your ignorance. Why are you stalking me?”

  “My, you’re a vain woman.”

  “Then why are you out here?” she asked, frowning.

  “Forgive me, I didn’t know the forest belonged to you,” he said with a smirk. Picking up a stone and tossing it into the river, he then said, “I’ve learned two things today. One, crosses are forbidden and two, you’re the owner of the forest.”

  Blushing she said, “I should be on my way.” This strange man was not from Barmoth. But why was he here? Lela knew of other kingdoms but they were far, far away. And besides, no one dared enter Barmoth without first sending a letter requesting permission. And she could not imagine her father granting this man consent to come into Barmoth.

  “I’m sorry I frightened you,” he said.

  “No need to apologize,” she said.

  “You’re not afraid, then?”

  “I’m not.” She was lying.

  “I’m glad. Very well, until we meet again,” he said and started to walk away.

  “And why should we meet again?” she asked.

  He did not answer.

  “Wait,” she said. “Who are you?”

  Stopping, he turned to face her and said, “I’m one of the fallen, and your laws do not apply to me.” Then two sprawling, white wings appeared on his back and he took flight.

  “For goodness sake!” Lela exhaled.

  In all her years of roaming the forest, she had never witnessed a single extraordinary event and in the last few weeks she had encountered a golden ball, a frog who then became a vampire, and now she had just seen a man calling himself one of the fallen, whatever bloody hell that meant, spread wings and fly, yes, fly away right in front of her. Oh, and let’s not forget that the golden ball had chosen her to be the savior of all vampires and that had it not been for Eldrich, she’d most likely be dead. Just another day in the forest! Perhaps she should return to the castle and lock herself in the servants’ quarters for all eternity. Her curiosity for what else she had yet to experience prevented her from doing so. That and that it was her birthday and she’d not let a stupid flying, fallen pe
rson ruin her day.

  She decided to keep this particular incident from Eldrich. She had no idea how he would react. Better to keep it a secret. Oh and to the forest, please refrain from sending anymore odd and ridiculous things my way. She bowed and then took a peek at the sun. She must have slept all day! It was already low in the sky. She darted to the fruit vines. If she was going to indulge in passionate sex with Eldrich, she needed more nourishment. She gulped down fistfuls of berries and then raced home.

  Eldrich had asked her to wait for him in the house. If the sun set before she got home, her birthday night would be off to a horrible start. As much as she adored the sun, it seemed lately they were in constant friction with each other. Let me get home before you set, you chubby monster.

  There, just a hundred feet from her was Eldrich’s house. Focusing on it, she increased her pace, a little part of her found this race with the sun electrifying. Reaching the steps, she took a second to glance at her nemesis. Ha! I won.

  She flung the doors open and made for the house’s main living area. Standing in front of the fireplace, she inhaled and exhaled, pushing up her bosom, tightening her stomach muscles and straightening her back.

  Darkness arrived. She hadn’t had enough time to light the sconces. She couldn’t see anything. In the next moment, someone grabbed her arm, spun her around and pressed her to a wall.

  The candles on the chandelier, which hung from the ceiling, suddenly shone golden shadows into the room. Ah, yes, lit by magic.

  “Straddle the wall,” Eldrich said.

  Her birthday night was about to begin. In shadows, she did as he said.

  “Now undress for me and then spread your legs.”

  And she did.

  He got down on his knees and placed his head under her…sweet Gods, he slid his tongue into her and moved it in ways that made her cry out his name. “Eldrich, oh, Eldrich, I thought about you all day,” she said, gasping for air.

  Licking and sucking her, he moved her legs wider apart and then bit into her inner things.

  She held onto the wall for all her life.

  When he’d had his way, he stood and said, “Turn around and look at me.”

  He was standing in front of her, holding his enlarged cock.

  She breathed in and rubbed her face, her heart pounding.

  “Tell me what you want me to do,” he said, masturbating himself.

  “What do you want to do to me?” she asked.

  “No!” he said.

  “Have I offended you?” she asked, placing her hand on his chest.

  He tilted his head to one side. “Love of mine, you will never offend me. I want to please you in every way, especially today. Did you think I forgot about your birthday? Ask anything of me,” he said, kissing her.

  Oh, how she loved this creature. This beautiful creature with whom she wanted to stay until she took her last breath.

  She shifted down on him and moved his hands. Then she captured him in her mouth, sucking and taking him in deeply.

  “Princess, love,” Eldrich said. “I want to enter you.”

  She stood and straddled the wall again, raising her buttocks to him.

  “Let me enter you,” he said.

  “Drink first,” she said, moving her hair to one side.

  “I’ll go mad if you refuse me much longer.”

  “It’s my birthday and you will do as I say,” she said, taking his hand and putting it between her inner thighs.

  He inserted his fingers into her.

  “Drink, my love,” she said, whimpering and swiveling her hips as he swirled his fingers inside of her.

  “Let me enter you. Do you understand what I’m capable of if you make me suffer too long?” He nipped her neck and pressed his cock on her.

  She was certainly testing their boundaries. And she didn’t care. She wanted more of him…she wanted all of him.

  “Beg me,” she said.

  “I beg you…dear sweetness of mine, I beg you. What do you desire?”

  “Take me deep into the forest. That is what I want.”

  He lifted her in his arms and in the next moment, he was transporting her through the woods, moving quickly, his speed amazing her. She felt as if they were flying.

  “Go far, my love. And when you have left the Kingdom of Barmoth, set me down and have your way with me.”

  They came to a stop and he put her down.

  “Prince of mine.” She lied on the ground, fondled her breasts, pinching her nipples and whispering his name. She then flipped on her stomach, elevated her lower half, holding herself up with her elbows she broadened her legs for him.

  “Bloody hell,” he said, pressing his stiffness against her.

  “Oh Eldrich, you’re not…”

  “Yes, let me.”

  “I wasn’t going to stop you,” she said, her head down.

  “Ask me for it,” he said, slapping her.

  “You’re cruel,” she said.

  “Tell me you want it,” he said, hitting her again.

  The slight pain she was feeling from his striking her on her buttocks warmed her entire body. She’d never allow him to take it too far, that much she knew about herself. But she also knew that right at this moment, she desired more. And she had no intention of stopping him from entering her from…bloody hell.

  “Oh yes, I want it,” she whispered.

  “Louder.”

  “I want it!” she yelled.

  He dipped his fangs into her neck and then he started going into her, unhurried and oh so carefully. What she was feeling was absolutely without a doubt maddening bliss. She had once seen one of the male servants do this to a woman while another man did the same to him, all three of them grunting and crying out with delight. She’d gone to bed that night aroused and ready to explode. And now here she was and it was more intense than she imagined.

  “Do you want me to stop?” he asked, gently thrusting into her. “Am I hurting you?”

  “Keep going,” she said, clasping down on her lower lip.

  “Even in my sleep, I dream of you, your lips, your breasts, your skin, your touch…it makes me go crazy,” he said.

  “I want more of you,” she said.

  “And you will have all that you want,” he said.

  “Oh, Eldrich, I can’t stand it.”

  “Are you enjoying what I’m doing to you? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She licked and chewed her lips and arched her back and erupted.

  He then liberated himself on the small of her back.

  “You killed me,” she whispered, turning on her back.

  He fell next to her and pulled her to his chest. Tenderly stroking her nipples, he asked, “What else will you have me do to you?”

  “Cradle me,” she said. “I want to rest in your arms.”

  “Is that all you want?”

  “For now, only for now,” she said.

  Lela and Eldrich held each other in silence. The stillness of the dark forest comforted her. She wondered where they were, to what kingdom had they crossed? Her teachers had taught her about the different known kingdoms of the world. Some scholars believed that there were undiscovered kingdoms, hidden and too far for any human to reach. They claimed that the witches of Barmoth knew where they were and that they traveled there often in search of new ingredients for their potions and spells.

  Lela wondered if the witch who had cursed Eldrich, turning him into a frog because he would not lie with her, had gone to another kingdom to learn how to cast a spell on a vampire. Everything she had read in books about vampires stated that they were near-immune to a witch’s spell.

  Lela didn’t know whether or not undiscovered kingdoms existed. Her teachers taught her that there were only thirty kingdoms. She had memorized each one.

  A screeching sound interrupted her thoughts.

  “Keep quiet,” Eldrich said, coming to his feet.

  “What do you think made that sound?” she whispered, ignoring him.
r />   “Don’t move,” he said, sniffing the air.

  She had never seen him do that.

  “Let’s go,” she said.

  “It’s too late. Whoever is out there knows we’re here.”

  “Is it another vampire?”

  “I’d already know it.”

  “What then?”

  “I’m not picking up its scent. Stay behind me.”

  “I’m scared,” she said.

  “I won’t let anyone harm you.”

  She buried her face in his back.

  “Make yourself known!” he said.

  A man and a woman holding torches walked toward them.

  “Apologies,” the woman said. “I tend to get carried away when…” She giggled.

  She had long golden hair that came down to her ankles.

  “Yes, please accept our apologies,” the man said, extending a hand to Eldrich.

  It was the flying man. Feeling instant heat on her cheeks, Lela lowered her stare.

  Eldrich said, “We didn’t know anyone else was around here. It is we who should apologize to you.” Then he placed his hand in Lela’s and said, “We should go.”

  “Oh, no, please stay,” the woman said. “We never have visitors and well, as much as we do entertain ourselves,” she winked at the flying man, “we’d love it if you joined us for dinner. I have a stew cooking.”

  Lela was tempted to shout a fast, yes, we’d love to! She couldn’t decline a stew, for goodness sake. Her mouth salivated.

  Eldrich sensed her eagerness and answered, “We kindly accept.”

  “Hooray!” the woman yelled. “Come, follow us.”

  She removed her cloak and offered it to Lela.

  Blessed Gods, she had forgotten she was naked and so was Eldrich and what’s more they hadn’t brought any clothes with them. My goodness, she felt utterly foolish.

  “Thank you,” Lela said, wrapping the cloak around her body. “I’m quite humiliated.”

  “Don’t be, you’re pretty. Now, if you were an ugly distorted hag, well, by all means you’d be right to be embarrassed,” the woman said.