THE VROL TRILOGY

by SK Benton

  He was about to drift off to sleep when he was startled by a light knocking on his door. Jumping up, he sniffed the air, detecting it was Jennie. His heart raced with anticipation, not having the slightest idea of what was going to happen next. Then, calming himself, he thought she was just going to thank him for the evening. It was usually that way with her. Aside from her horrendous table manners, she really was proper.

  Quickly adjusting his pajamas, he went to the door and opened it, astonished to see her standing in the frame wearing only her white, military regulation tank top and a pair of pink panties. Her large, brown eyes reflected the light of the waning moon that hung in the sky outside his window. Seeing her wearing so little wasn't unusual. He convinced himself that it was nothing out of the ordinary. In the military, especially on vessels, women and men even shared the same showers - so conversing while in their underwear was a normal everyday occurrence. His subconscious mind told him that as a form of self-defense from emotional pain. If he kept his expectations at zero he would lose nothing.

  No big deal - she's just tired, he thought to himself.

  "Hi Max, you busy?" she asked softly.

  "Um, hi Jennie. No, ermm, not… really," he hesitated, while peeking out and looking up and down the hallway.

  "So, where's Liliana?"

  "Oh, I put her to bed. She tanked."

  "Yeah, I saw that. Hah, she's great. I think it's awesome that you…"

  "Shhhh…" she said as she quieted the commander.

  Then, quite unexpectedly, Jennie took a step forward, and wrapping her arms around his neck, kissed him tenderly. Surprised, but eager to hold the woman he had secretly loved in his arms at last, he brought her in close, and slipped his hands under her shirt, delicately tracing his fingers along her back. Then, without warning, she jumped up and wrapped her long, muscular legs around his hips and nibbled on his ear, whispering to him.

  "So, you gonna invite me in?"

  "Oh, you're invited. No doubt about that."

  Spinning around with the gorgeous dega in his arms, he kicked the door shut and gently set her down. Her feet touched the ground silently, much like a feline. Max could hear her heartbeat and his as they almost matched in rhythm. With his hands on her waist, he looked down, this time knowing he could, and gazed at her breasts, which were jutting enticingly through the thin fabric of her tank top.

  Will she? Can I? Oh crap. What do I do?

  "Max, look at me, sweetie," she whispered.

  "Um, yeah? I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting… you know. I thought you didn't like… me… like that."

  "I don’t like you, Max. That's why I'm here."

  "Huh?"

  Before he could say another word she had enveloped his mouth with hers, gently sliding her tongue over his. Max hadn’t kissed a lot of girls in his life, even though, aside from his awkwardness, he was handsome. However, after activating his lycan genetics he became much more than handsome, and Jennie saw it happen first-hand.

  He reached up and held her cheeks with his fingertips, ever so gently, and lightly stroked her perfect skin. It was the first time he really had a chance to caress her face. He had daydreamed of doing so on many sleepless nights, but it was happening for real. Max tried to be as gentle and delicate as possible. All he wished was for her to be pleased. He reached back a bit and ran his fingers over the edges of her ears, eliciting a murmur of delight from the beautiful woman. He didn't know at first if it was a good thing to do, as his experience consisted of awkward innocence and a couple of drunken make out sessions while in college.

  Jennie surprised him when she started to unbutton his nightshirt and delicately run her fingers over the soft, sparse hair on his firm chest. She purred as she used her fingernails to trace lines around the curvature of his muscles, and leaning forward and kissing his left nipple. Then, without hesitation, she took it into her mouth and started eagerly sucking on it. A pleasurable sensation he had never felt before in his life wracked his torso as he gulped lightly. Nature took over, causing him to reach down and try to cover his growing excitement, but Jennie was all too familiar with any reaction that would be caused by her attentions.

  Max tilted her head up and stared deeply into her eyes. They looked more enormous than ever in the sparse light of his room. They were liquid pools of cocoa lust, drawing him in and drowning him with their gaze. He wasn't that much taller than her, so he really didn't need to look down. He lowered his head a bit, and then forcefully pressed his lips against hers, mouths opening, as she reciprocated and joined her tongue with his in an un-choreographed dance of wet flesh, breath and desire. Flinging her arms around his neck and breathing heavily, she inhaled him in deep, wanting more of the man.

  Suddenly, she pulled back, giving him a mischievous grin, and within one second her tank top was off and fluttering towards the floor. Max gasped at the site of her breasts as the moonlight shone perfectly on them. They were even more magnificent than he had ever thought - and he had dreamed of them on many occasions.

  "Yeah, I know. They're pretty awesome, aren't they?" she asked rhetorically.

  Max lost the ability to speak for a moment, and he instantly knew what Donus was saying the night before when he had accidentally spied her naked. All Max could do was stare - until she pressed herself up against him. Taking his hands, she guided them up and prompted him to cup her large, firm, perfectly formed bosom. As he did so, she took her fingers and moved his thumbs around over her nipples, physically showing him how to massage them. He became thoroughly embarrassed, however, and tried to move his hips back a bit, not wanting Jennie to feel the involuntary reaction that was obviously jutting out of his pajama bottoms, straining the light, cotton fabric.

  No such luck.

  She cooed and reached down while she nibbled on his chin and continued to press herself into his chest. Once she got ahold of him her eyes lit up and she let out a light laugh. Jennie saw him naked in his cell the night before and was impressed. But this time it was a completely different situation - and reaction. Now she was extremely impressed - and heating up.

  Using her new leverage she gently pulled him over to his bed, where she sat on the edge and contemplated what to do with her handful. He looked down at her for a moment, but then made the decision for her. Dropping to his knees, he buried his face into her chest, targeting her swollen nipples. Desperately, he kissed and licked her luscious body, running his hands over every square inch of skin he could touch, and then slowly moved downward, concentrating on her perfect tummy. He had no idea what he was doing - it was pure instinct, but he could tell from her reaction that whatever it was, he was doing it right.

  Jennie was breathing heavily; her heart was pounding, and she wanted him. Bad. She had wanted him for quite a while, but she wanted it to be perfect.

  This was the only time it would happen, and she needed it to be just right.

  Leaning back, with her moonlit face mildly contorted in ecstasy, she pushed his head down slightly as she wrapped her legs around his shoulders.

  There. Right…there. Oh. My. God.

  After about fifteen minutes Max pulled his moist face up and looked at her eagerly. His heart was slamming in his chest like a jackhammer - screaming for her. But Jennie's reaction was completely different, being on the receiving end of pleasure. Her body had gone into overdrive. Max had unknowingly brought her to the brink five times, and she wanted more; she wanted it all. Moving upwards he pushed her further into his large bed, but needed no help - she fell backwards with a giggle. He again gazed into her eyes and saw nothing but sincerity, so he felt he needed to be honest with her too. She snickered as she wiped her wetness from his mouth and cheeks, and was surprised when he lightly sucked her fingers clean. Then he held her hands and drew her in close.

  "Jen, I think there's something I need to tell you, just so you know, alright?"

  "Shhhh," she said, as she put a finger to his lips. "It's fine, you don't need to tell me anything. Just… enjoy, alright sw
eetie? Make love with me."

  "Really. I have to tell you. I'm… a virgin. I hope you're not disappointed."

  "It's ok, baby. Come here. We have all night."

  ###

  The following morning the sounds of chirping birds filled the air as a gentle auditory reminder of the new day, accompanied by the sun rising up from behind the castle.

  Max awoke to find the unclothed figure of the most beautiful woman he had ever met (or kissed) lying next to him. Her hands were in a prayer-like position between her cheek and the pillow, with her legs together, knees tucked-in slightly, and her bent arms covering her breasts. Most men would have done a private and silent fist-pump, but Max felt instant terror ripping through his system.

  Oh my God, what if she wakes up and has regrets about what happened last night? What if it was all just a fluke?

  He sat up with his eyes practically bulging out of his head - nearly paralyzed and staring straight ahead for a full five minutes as the pendulum on the wall clock tick-tocked away. While he waited for the inevitable, scenarios ran thought his head - she would wake up and just want to be friends, saying that she was overcome by the battle, or that it was her way of thanking him for risking his life to save hers.

  Shit, she admitted she didn't like me. I was a pity lay.

  In either case, he didn't feel worthy of her - he believed her so completely out of his league it was almost ridiculous. So when delicate fingers gently touched his cheek and started stroking it lightly he almost passed out from shock.

  "Good morning, sweetie. Slept well?" she asked breathlessly.

  An instant feeling of gut-wrenching relief rushed through his body as he looked down at her amazing and stunningly beautiful face. He relaxed slightly, scooting down so that he could gaze directly into her eyes. His heart was still beating so fast it sounded like a chip shredder, and Jennie could hear its cadence roar with the lone, unrequited love from a man who deserved so much more, yet only thought of others first.

  "Yeah, best night ever," he quietly said. "How about you? Slept well?"

  She moved closer to him and set her head upon his chest while tenderly tracing lines with her fingernails over his taught, well-formed stomach, softly moving her cheek across his skin, trying to bring him back down to earth.

  "Yeah, same here. Best night ever, baby."

  "Jennie, um, last night. It was my first time. I hope you weren't… disappointed or anything."

  She lifted her head, gave Max a surprised look and nearly started laughing out loud.

  "Are you kidding? That was the most amazing night of my life! I'll be surprised if I can run on the training field tomorrow."

  "Huh? You mean I didn't suffer from comparison?"

  She shot him a sharp, penetrating glare that instantly caused him to regret his words, but her face softened into a smile and she leaned forward, giving him a light kiss.

  "No comparison, hun. I was a virgin too."

  "When?"

  "Last night, silly!"

  "But… I…"

  "No worries, baby. Most guys assumed I wasn't. Not many girls like me save themselves for the perfect man. Besides, you only lose your cherry once."

  "The perfect… cherry… huh?"

  "PhD, but not too bright, eh?"

  She smiled and snuggled up to him again. Then, lifting her head slightly, she looked into his eyes and said, "I had a little discussion with Draagh and Krynos last night, after you tip-toed off to bed. I asked them some questions about…. how people do things around here, you know, with couples and stuff."

  "Oh… you did? I'm kinda confused. Last night you said you came here because you didn't like me," said Max, who was quietly freaking out and barely managing to slow his noticeable trembling. Doubts again stormed into his mind, overtaking any semblance of logic. Confusion couldn't begin to define what he was feeling at that moment. His methodical, scientific mind was instead in emotional mode. It hadn't permitted him to slow down and put the pieces of what Jennie said together. He was overwhelmed with pain, anguish, love, hope, lust and a host of other conflicting emotions. And to make it worse, her taste lingered on his tongue - it was delicious. It was like manna from Heaven and he wanted more.

  Jennie took his hands into hers and attempted to calm him, thinking it was absolutely adorable that he was so agitated. She pried open his clenched fists and placed his palms onto her soft, ample chest so he could feel her heartbeat which was, surprisingly, also quite rapid.

  "Yup, I did say that. I guess I was a bit vague. Sorry, sweetie," she responded. "I don't just like you, Max. I adore you. Feel my heartbeat. I never, ever thought I would be this nervous with a man. Especially the man of my life."

  Max's eyes grew large with understanding.

  Then, with a gentle smile and a look of total devotion she said, "Commander Maximilianus Xavier Gunnarsson, of the Azul Military Scientific Research Division and of the Rhönen Dominion, victor of the Battle of the Blood… my Max, the man who risked his life to save me from those nasty vampires; the man who changed my life and showed me that there is so much more out there - I choose you as my mate, to be with for the rest of our ridiculously-long lives. That is, if you'll have me, you know, you being an all-important werewolf commander and mage and all that stuff. Oh, and Liliana comes along too. She's part of the package."

  Aw, I worried for nothing. Holy shit… she just proposed to me!

  Congratulations, my boy!

  Draagh! What the Hell? Get out of my head!

  Oh, sorry…

  Instantly relieved and feeling overjoyed (while pushing his grandfather's uninvited commentary out of his mind), he put a finger to his lips and jokingly acted as if he had to think it over, causing Jennie to yelp, "Brat!" She rolled over on top of him and started to playfully slap him on the chest. He remembered the last time she did that - after he had killed Ladros. And then they almost kissed. Almost. But this time he could do so much more. She was his, and he was hers - forever.

  He laughed and took her into his arms, pulling her perfect body in up against his. Then, after gently running his lips across her full, dark eyebrows and softly nuzzling her face with his nose, he stared deep into those baby browns that had him mesmerized since day one.

  "Jennie, I've been yours since you stopped threatening to kill me. Oh, and can I say it - you know, finally, that I love you? I… erm… I have for a long time."

  "Gawd, Max. I already knew that - but yeah, you can say it… I want you to tell me every day."

  "Te amo, Jennie Gunnarsson. Te amo."

  "I love you too, baby, but we'll have to discuss that surname thing," she said with a wry grin while gingerly scratching his ear, almost causing him to start comically kicking his leg. Max pulled his head back and tried to look serious.

  "Well, the law here specifically states that a child must have the surname of her fa--"

  "Ok," she interrupted laughingly, "Gunnarsson sounds kinda kick-ass anyway."

  "Oh it is! Do you know the origin of the name Gunnarsson? It actually comes from--"

  "Max - shut up and kiss me… dork."

  No one in the castle saw either of them until well beyond the lunch hour.

  Epilogue

  Both Max and Jennie believed they were to soon leave the Dominion after having defeated Vladros, but Draagh informed them that since they had a number of years in which to prepare for the Vrol, they would stay for a while and continue training. This came to their mutual delight, and especially to that of Liliana, who was quite enjoying the fact she had a new family she loved very much. She was also very proud of her new name - Liliana Gunnarsson, of which she made everyone aware - specifically the meaning of her new surname; son of warrior.

  While the little girl dutifully attended her classes, and was receiving some extra lessons in science from her brilliant, adoptive father, Jennie had implemented a training program, teaching the lycans to use the power gauntlet along with limited cantuses that would enhance the glove's already formidable dest
ructive capacity. Dominion weapons makers were busy replicating gauntlets, which Draagh would then imbue with the ability to harness magic particles, or nanobots as Max and Jennie called them.

  Max delved into the art of war, and learned all he could about recon, battle strategies, guerilla warfare and other complexities that one in a leadership position would need to know. He trained his Special Forces group to work with him - in and around his magical abilities - to harness them to their benefit, but not to rely on him, as he did have certain limitations, and wouldn't always be around.

  Days turned to weeks, and weeks into months. During that whole time there was one thing Max wanted to do - he wanted to give Jennie a classic wedding. So, after they had been in the Dominion for five lunar cycles after the Battle of the Blood, he conferred with Krynos and made arrangements to have a ceremony in the gardens outside of the throne area of the castle. It was to be attended by the entire Dominion, and Max even insisted that some normals be invited - specifically those that had assisted in the Battle of the Blood, as well as the families of those who met their untimely end at the hands of Vladros' forces.