I eyed the human barbarian warily as I stepped into the cave leading to the pirate’s cove. I called him a barbarian, though to be perfectly honest that wasn’t an entirely accurate description of what he was. That assessment was a product of one of the unfortunate attitudes towards the lower races I’d picked up. I tried to be careful about those assumptions, but it was difficult after so many years of seeing humans prove themselves time and again as worthy of the barbarian name.
Though this human probably wouldn’t have considered himself a barbarian. Not in the way they reckoned it. Muscular men in loincloths wielding giant swords and attacking one another with no care in the world aside from where their next meal or their next mating would come from.
This one, at least, had once fine boots and wore a tattered shirt and pants that looked like they were well cared for but a far cry from the finery they’d started as. He also wore a belt with a buckle on it that bore some house sigil. Not that I could determine which house it was just from looking at that sigil. There were so many minor human noble houses scattered by the sundering that nobody could keep track of all of them. Not even the humans.
I could guess his story from a simple look. He was the son of a minor noble house. The sundering had hit him hard, had separated him from everything he once knew, and so now he wandered the world selling his sword for his next meal and probably holding himself to some outdated moral code that didn’t apply in the new realities of the world after the sundering.
But still, it also meant I could probably trust him. To a point.
Still, trust could be dangerous and I wouldn’t throw caution completely out. I was well aware it was a dangerous place I was going. I was well aware that the world wasn’t the perfect place that the Order would like to believe, to be cataloged according to their view of things.
I was aware of all of those things, and so that’s why I was keenly aware of the incredible danger I could find myself in if this strange human I’d only met once in a tavern was hostile. If he decided to cause trouble.
I prepared several nasty magic spells that would catch him by surprise if he should choose to try and take a high priestess. If he tried anything then I would at least make him very sorry that he tried, if not kill him out right. Assuming he didn’t have that little toy that negated my magic spells.
“My lady elf,” he said, sketching a quick bow.
My eyes narrowed. There was a rakish grin that crossed his face as he made that bow that told me his supposed show of respect was anything but.
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that mockery?”
He moved up from his bow and that rakish grin was still on his face. I had to steel myself. Had to suddenly concentrate on my breathing so that it didn’t start coming in quick gasps. This man was beautiful, there was no denying it, even if he was just a lowly human from what looked to be a noble house fallen on hard times.
“Merely showing my lady elf the respect she deserves,” he said.
His voice was deep, hypnotic. It had me swaying and I had to blink. I had to shake my head and concentrate on the business at hand. I was here on the Order’s business, and I definitely didn’t have time to indulge in impossible fantasies about lowly human nobles.
I sniffed and turned to enter the caves that led to the hidden cove. “Very well human, we must be about our business.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” Conlan growled.
I turned and looked at him, once again trying and mostly failing to control myself. Tried to control my breathing. I was not some novice to go mooning over a man of all things! Especially a human!
“And why is that?” I asked in a quiet voice. I wanted to laugh. He obviously hadn’t yet realized that I was easily one of the most dangerous women he was ever going to run into in the course of his travels.
“Lots of criminals, thugs, nasty people in there,” he said. “I’d hate for a pretty little elf such as yourself to get in trouble.”
This time my eyes lowered in a stormy expression. Who did he think he was? Pretty little elf? And yet even though I was indignant, even though I was angry, there was also a part of me that was undeniably flattered. My body was betraying me and a blush was rising to my cheeks. I felt a rush between my legs at his words. There was a part of me that was definitely interested in the promise that flirtatious smile offered, and the fact that this was a random guy I’d just met who I didn’t know much about didn’t seem to mean anything as I stared at him.
I pulled my hands away from the keyboard. I had to stop and catch my breath. This was so wrong. I was on the verge of going to a very dangerous place that I promised myself I’d avoid when I started in the role-playing community on this server. l shouldn’t be indulging in this fantasy.
I should go to a public role-playing location with him where I wouldn’t be tempted. I should be anywhere but where I was, continuing this role-playing session with a flirtatious man who got my blood pumping with just words on a screen! I paused in the quiet of the computer room. Made my decision. I reached my hands out, placed them back on the keyboard. Found myself transported back to the forbidden world.
I looked the human up and down, an appreciative glance that took in his rippling muscles, his broad shoulders, the way his armor barely covered all of the above. And yet I kept returning to that easy, cocky, rakish smile with his tousled mop of hair above it all. There was no denying it. This man was gorgeous. Not just for a human. He was one of the most gorgeous creatures I’d ever laid eyes on, and it was no surprise he was having such an effect on me.
Of course his attitude was infuriating. That ruined the other effects he was having on me slightly. But only just.
“What makes you think I can’t handle myself in a den of thieves such as this?” I asked. As I did I held my hand up and a small flame danced from finger to finger. His eyes widened for a moment, but that was the only surprise that he registered. I felt another stab of frustration. Usually when humans saw me working the elements like that it sent them running in terror, but not so with this man. He was calm, confident, collected, and he still had that cocky grin plastered on his face. Then again if I had an ancient artifact that wasn’t supposed to even exist that negated magic I’d probably have that same delicious smile on my face.
This man was as infuriating as he was beautiful!
“I’m not saying I don’t think you could turn any of those ragamuffins into a pillar of fire if you saw them coming at you,” he said.
I nodded and smiled in satisfaction at that admission. But that smile soured at his next words.
“Of course you have to be able to see someone coming at you to turn them into a pillar of fire. That won’t help you much in those pretty robes if someone comes up behind you with a knife.”
“Then what do you propose I do?”
The human stepped forward from where he’d been leaning against the cave wall and he stretched his massive shoulders. He lifted his arms up above his head which gave me a clear view of his incredible muscles. I realized I was staring, captivated, with my mouth hanging wide open and quickly remedied that situation. I was not going to sit here and stare at this man like some hormone addled novice, no matter how beautiful he was!
As he stepped forward he clearly eyed me up and down with something more than the professional interest of someone who’d been hired to act as a bodyguard. I blushed and looked away as he eyed me, then realized what I was doing and anger flashed through me.
I forced myself to meet his eyes, to ignore the thrill running through my stomach at that eye contact. I forced myself to channel some of the fury I was feeling at the casual way he was addressing his elven betters.
“I have no doubt what you’re interested in, human,” I spat out.
He looked me up and down once more, and there was hunger there. And there was something else. Amusement?
“I’m simply giving my lady elf the same consideration she’s been giving me ever since she first l
aid eyes on me.”
I blushed. So he’d caught me looking. Interesting. Very interesting. He was far more perceptive than I would have given a human credit for. There were hidden depths to this one, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“Very well human, I am the one who has hired you but I assume you are about to present me with terms despite the fact that I am the one paying you to do my bidding?”
He sketched another bow. “My lady elf is quite perceptive.”
My lips turned to a frown, but I decided to let this particular dig slide. Maybe if I just ignored him referring to me as his “lady elf” he would tire of the jest and stop using it entirely. I could hope, at least.
I reached into the pouch at my side and pulled out a gold mark. I held it up in the fitful torchlight that illuminated the entrance to the pirate’s cove.
“This is one gold piece. I imagine that will be enough to feed you for a week if not longer. Maybe even get you some proper clothes. You get one of these at the beginning, and another when we are finished if you desist in this ridiculous insistence on dictating terms to your employer,” I said.
“No.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You really are a fool for all your finery. I’m not here for gold. I’m here because you intrigue me my lady elf. Besides, what’s to stop me from just killing you and taking all of your gold?”
I tried to control myself at that admission that he was here because I intrigued him. I tried not to read too much into that despite the way my mind was screaming and my body was consumed by a raging fire. I tried my best to bring both mind and body under control, but it was difficult.
“You won’t kill me. And not because I would kill you for it or because I intrigue you enough for you to keep me alive until it’s no longer convenient. No, you wouldn’t do it because it isn’t the right thing,” I said.
The human, Conlan, moved forward with lightning speed. So fast that I let out a yell of surprise. I didn’t know it was possible for humans to move that fast! One moment we were standing in the entrance, I was in control of the situation, and the next moment he was pressing me up against the cave wall. His body pressed against mine and it felt so delicious. It would’ve been a welcome distraction if I wasn’t so terrified that my life was about to end. His face was inches from mine and that hunger was back. He’d been so fast I hadn’t even had time to work up a spell, though I had plenty of time to prepare a fireball or some other nasty surprise now, but I didn’t. Something stopped me.
He’d pressed me against the wall, but he hadn’t actually made a move to slit my throat. A man who moved like that could easily have done so. A man who moved like that could have killed me and left me to be looted by whatever robbers followed him. And yet he hadn’t. He was just staring down at me with that smoldering hunger in his eyes. That burning lust barely contained. I wanted to reach up and kiss that handsome face with his shaggy hair, and I had to pull my hands away from the keyboard at that thought.
What the hell? This was definitely getting hotter and heavier than I’d ever gotten before, and yet I couldn’t deny how it was making me feel. I was so turned on that I’d been pulled out of virtual reality and back into the real world. That hardly ever happened. And it was also having one hell of an effect on me back here in the real world. I almost expected there’d be a wet spot on my gaming chair when I got up, but no, that couldn’t possibly be the case.
Still, I was so fucking turned on. Moisture was definitely gathering in my pajama bottoms. I reached down and traced a finger lightly along the edges of my pussy lips and I nearly jumped. Just running my fingers down there was enough to set off an electric shock that ran through my entire body. It was enough to cause me to let out a quiet gasp. A quiet moan that was an unmistakable moan of pleasure.
Good thing Samantha decided to go to a bar down the street.
I had a choice to make. I could pull away from the computer. I could disconnect. All it would take is closing down the game client and then I’d be free of the immediate scenario, but I wouldn’t be free from my feelings. I’d be thinking about Conlan, thinking about this forbidden role-playing session that was quickly spiraling out of my control, all night long. It was clear this was going someplace I hadn’t ever gone before with someone I role-played with in-game. It was clear that this particular role-playing session was becoming something more. It was becoming something deeper, hotter, far more passionate.
I made my decision. My hands moved back to the keyboard. I stared up into the eyes of this dangerous human who was staring down at me, his muscular arms to either side of my head. My breath was coming in ragged gasps. My nipples were pressing out against my dress and my body was betraying me with its arousal.
I wanted to say that the reason I didn’t vaporize him was because I was worried my magic might blow back on me. The problem with setting things on fire is that it didn’t do much good if you were in close proximity to the fire that was being set. I wanted to say that the reason I didn’t turn him into a pillar of fire was because I didn’t believe in killing unless someone was obviously threatening my life. Of course this situation could almost call for that. I could even blame that little anti-magic surprise he carried with him if I wanted to.
But that was all bullshit. No, the real reason I didn’t incinerate him where he stood was because I was intrigued. I was excited. By a human of all things. If anything, that intrigued me even more. I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on, I wasn’t sure why my body was betraying me like this, but I couldn’t deny how I felt. I couldn’t deny how incredible this was.
I looked up at him and smiled. “Point taken.”
He grinned. He pulled back and I wanted to cry out in disappointment as his body moved away from mine.
“I’m glad we have an understanding,” he said. “You hired me to guard you and I’m going to do that. That means that you do what I say while we’re in there and follow my orders with no questions. The fact that you’re the one paying me means nothing if you get a knife in your back because you think some flashy magical fireworks will save you from a crafty pirate who’s used to working in close quarters.”
I nodded. I tried to ignore the thrill running through me at the way he was casually taking command. Casually ordering me around. I should be furious, but instead I was just incredibly excited.
He gestured towards the entrance to the cove. Deeper into the cave. I glanced at the dark entrance, lit only by the fitful burning of the torches, then back to him. Did I dare go in there with him? Did I dare descend into the darkness and all the potentially forbidden pleasures that it offered?
I moved forward and I could hear him following behind me. I smiled, wondering where this was going. Because this certainly was unlike any dungeon run I’d ever been on before.
8: Into the Pirates’ Den
I was keenly aware of how close he was to me as we made our way through the tight confines of the dungeon. The cove was actually a series of caves that led deep into the rock and came out on the other side of a series of impassable mountains onto a sheltered bowl with beautiful open water that provided a perfect port. A perfect port for the kind of criminal activity that only pirates could be up to.
I had no idea if there was anything even close to it in the real world, but I didn’t ever concern myself with those sorts of questions even though there were entire forum threads dedicated to the real life inspirations for in-game geography. Anyone who looked for reality in their video game design was doing it wrong.
The tight confines meant he was right up against me. I could feel his heat, see his sweat glistening in the torchlight. It was pretty hot down in these caves, and before long I was slick with sweat as well. I reached up and loosened my dress which wasn’t at all modest but I was beyond caring about modesty.
And I was wet and slick with more than sweat every time I got close to him. I could smell his intoxicating scent. I could feel his rippling m
uscles so close to mine. I felt lightheaded every time I came near him and I wanted nothing more than to rip his clothes off and have my way with him.
I couldn’t believe I was having these sorts of thoughts for a mere human! I was a high elf priestess, and yet all I could think about was this human and how much I wanted him.
His hand shot out across my breasts. The contact was unexpected and amazing. I found myself breathing hard, and that hard breathing made him realize exactly what he was touching. He turned and looked down at me, only instead of a blush rising to his cheeks like it should have for any proper gentlemen, like it was for me at the moment, he just grinned and leaned closer to me.
“Need to be careful,” he said. “We’re coming up on an ambush point.”
I nodded and prepared a couple of spells. My fingers started to glow but he shook his head and moved his hand away from my chest. I sighed in disappointment at the loss of a contact even as in my head I was screaming at myself for being an idiot in more than one way
In-game, in my characters head, I was an idiot for having these feelings for a human. Out of the game, sitting in my chair and staring at the screen losing myself in this scenario I was an idiot because I was carrying on like this, because I was getting so turned on by a man who was just some pixels on a screen. Sure he was incredibly hot if his picture was actually him, and that the jury was still out on that, but mostly I was turned on because he had a talent for writing that got me worked up more than any porn ever could.
Conlan looked down at me and grinned. His eyes were zeroed in on the spot where I’d loosened my dress, where I’d pulled it down so that my breasts were showing a little more. I smiled to myself.
We stopped at a spot where the cave started to widen. Where it turned a corner. In character, in world, I peered at that turn wide-eyed, not knowing quite what was waiting on the other side. Was it an ambush?
Boy Meets Geek Page 6