by K. L. Thorne
“For fu– No, the pole you cook on over a fire? It's called a spit.” He laughed, holding his rib. “Honestly, it's like I found you under a rock or something.”
“You essentially did. Until I met you, I had no idea how little I knew - about everything!” Lori responded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Lephas shuffled on his knees, rabbit meat in hand, to snap off a sturdy looking stick that was shooting up through the snow. He pierced through the rabbit's flesh with the wooden spear and moved to sit next to Lori by the fire. He unbuckled his sword belt, getting comfortable, and hid the weapon nearby.
The lean-to was just close enough to be able to sit in and feel the fire's warmth, but not so close to be a fire hazard.
“Get my pack. There's a metal pot in there somewhere,” Lephas instructed, holding the rabbit over the flames.
Lori dutifully pulled the bag between her knees and searched through it.
“This one?” She held the pot up.
“That's it. Now fill it with snow and pop it on the fire. Not too close or you'll burn yourself. I don't know whether you know this, but fire is really hot.” He grinned.
“Smart ass.” Lori glowered playfully and packed the pot tightly with snow. “Now, don't tell me, but is this going to be drinking water to fill up the water skin?”
“There's hope for you yet, Princess. Just make sure it's boiling before removing it and letting it cool or it won't be sterile.”
She obediently placed the metal pot in the embers of the fire and started rummaging through the pack once more.
“What are you looking for?” Lephas asked, watching her curiously.
“This.” Lori's hand emerged with the bottle of whisky.
“To celebrate a successful day hunting?” He gestured to the rabbit.
Lori laughed, popping the stopper on the bottle “Exactly. To real food – and not dying!” She took a small sip before handing Lephas the bottle.
“Now that's a good toast – to not dying!” He grinned and took a swig from the bottle himself.
“That's... Not whisky.” Lori coughed.
“Well, not just whisky is probably more accurate,” Lephas agreed, his voice hoarse and eyes watering.
“What is that stuff? It's noxious!” Lori exclaimed.
“Probably homemade moonshine, mixed with whisky and a couple of other spirits.” Lephas laughed.
He turned the rabbit over so the opposite side lay in the flames. It was already crackling nicely and delicious aromas filled the air around them.
“Hm, it's still alcoholic I guess.” Lori took another sip, wincing.
They sat in a comfortable silence for long moments, watching the rabbit cooking and passing the bottle of unidentifiable spirits between them. As the last of the daylight abandoned them, small, fine flakes of snow began to fall.
Lephas sighed. “Great. Snowing again.”
“I know it makes things difficult for us, but I still think it's pretty.” Lori smiled softly, gazing up into the darkening night sky.
“I guess.” Lephas glanced across at her. The faerie had her face upturned, watching the snow falling. The snow may have been pretty, but she was stunning. He swallowed and turned his attention back to the rabbit meat, reaching for another sip from the bottle.
Lori tended to the water pot, allowing it to bubble violently for thirty seconds before hastily removing it from the fire. She placed it in the deep snow, a foot or so away. The ice melted away quickly surrounding it.
“I think it might be done.” Lephas pulled the rabbit from the flames and looked over it carefully.
“I'm starving,” Lori whined, sitting up on her knees eagerly.
“Me too.”
He pulled his gloves off and carefully began picking the carcass apart. He handed a juicy piece of leg meat to Lori and the girl didn't waste any time. She took a big greedy bite. It was hot, but that didn't seem to faze her.
Lephas watched the faerie eating as he eagerly devoured his own leg piece. He liked her enthusiasm for food, he found it endearing. There was nothing he hated more than a woman who pushed a few salad leaves around and then claimed she was full.
Lori finished her first helping quickly and was reaching for the second with grease from the rabbit all over her cheeks. He smiled to himself.
They ate quickly and in silence, betraying their hunger. Lephas felt his energy returning as his stomach filled.
The snow began to fall heavier and big flakes fluttered all around. Without the howling winds from the day before, it fell silently and serenely.
The rabbit was picked clean in no time and washed down by a healthy swig of miscellaneous alcohol. Lephas sat back, leaning on his arms, and Lori sat beside him with her gloves removed as she picked rabbit from her teeth.
She sighed happily. “That was good.”
“Glad we caught the 'poor bunny' now?” Lephas teased.
“I still feel a little guilty.” She smiled and turned to address the pile of bones. “Sorry Mr Bunny. You were delicious.”
“How much of that bottle have you drunk already?” Lephas laughed as he shuffled backwards so he was sat further underneath the cover of the lean-to. He noticed that Lori had already laid out the thin travel mattress, as well as a woollen blanket he had forgotten he'd packed.
Lori didn't answer but held up the bottle. Almost a quarter was absent already. The faerie took another swig and passed it across. Lephas placed the bottle to the side, out of the way.
The potent alcohol mix had already begun to affect him, spreading warmth through his extremities. He dreaded to think what affect it was already having on the slight, slip of a faerie.
“I need to pee,” she announced unceremoniously, getting to her feet. She had clearly forgotten she was sat under a cover and hit her head on the lean-to before stumbling out into the snow.
He laughed. Are you going to be alright? Be careful.”
“Yeah.” Lori grinned, her cheeks were rosy. Was that with embarrassment or intoxication? Lephas couldn't tell.
He watched as the girl disappeared out of view behind a tree and gazed up into the night sky to watch the large flakes of snow dancing down.
Lephas dragged his satchel closer and untied the water skin. He tipped the dregs of the contents out into the snow before reaching for the now cool metal pot. He carefully poured the fresh water in.
As always, his unoccupied thoughts turned to Lori.
If someone had told him a week ago he would be sat in the middle of the woods, getting drunk with a faerie princess, he would have laughed and asked what they'd been smoking.
Yet he couldn't feel unhappy about it. Lephas supposed it was probably the warmth of the fire, the full stomach and the alcohol, but he was strangely content.
He had a broken rib and was lost in the forest, things were far from ideal, and yet he sat with a smile on his face.
“I survived!” Lori exclaimed as she approached the camp with her hands raised above her head triumphantly. She stumbled a little in the deep snow but remained standing.
The faerie knelt and crawled back inside the makeshift tent before flopping heavily onto her back.
“Wow, I’m spinning,” she remarked.
“I think you’ve had enough to drink for one evening.”
“Yeah, maybe you're right.” The princess sighed sadly. She tugged her jewelled hair tie from her hair and clumsily shook it free.
Though full of debris and knotted in places, Lephas still enjoyed looking at her beautiful golden hair when it was loose. It was so different to anything he had ever seen.
Lori noticed him watching her but the demon didn't look away, just took a moment to appraise her.
“What are you looking at?” Lori laughed with a dazzling smile that made his stomach churn.
“Nothing. I just like looking at you.” He smiled and turned back to the fire.
After a few moments, Lori sat up and tucked her feet underneath her. She crawled on her hands and
knees towards him. Without hesitating, the faerie leaned in and placed a soft kiss against his cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked, looking at her from the corner of his eye.
“I just realised I hadn't thanked you yet,” she said softly, her voice was almost a whisper.
“For what?”
“For everything,” Lori’s large, beautiful eyes gazed at him with sincerity.
Lephas felt embarrassment flaring up once again. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure what to say. Thankfully Lori took the option of speech away from him, leaning in once more to kiss his mouth.
She pulled away and surveyed him with a thoughtful pause before decisively creeping closer. She lifted a long leg over his body to sit gently in his lap, facing him.
Whilst his tired, moonshine-addled brain caught up with the situation, Lori took his face in her hands and lifted his chin to kiss him again.
When they broke momentarily for air, Lephas finally found his tongue.
“You're very welcome,” he whispered. Lori pressed in for another kiss and he felt her lips curve into a smile against him.
Taking back some control, Lephas sat forward and grasped Lori beneath her bottom. The faerie arched her back, draping her arms over his shoulders and deepening the kiss.
As he kissed her harder, Lephas could feel his self-control slipping away like sand in an hourglass. He smoothed his hands over her behind and squeezed the generous flesh.
Lori sat back a little, but didn't break the kiss. She clumsily started unbuttoning her fur jacket.
“You'll get too cold,” Lephas warned breathlessly between kisses. Lori just responded with a soft grunt and opened her clothing.
She had an elaborately decorated woollen tunic underneath her jacket. Lori grabbed one of his hands and guided it to cup her breast, squeezing reassuringly before moving her own hand to stroke his nape.
Lephas groaned, pleasure spiking through his body. Contrary to his expectations, the faerie was not wearing any form of bodice or corset. Her body was soft, warm and compliant beneath his touch. Her breasts were modest but in perfect proportion with her tiny ribcage and narrow hips.
The demon shuffled uncomfortably as his body began to respond to her. He brushed Lori's tongue with his own and the faerie shivered, squirming in his lap restlessly.
Lephas growled with frustration and removed his hand from her chest. He cupped her underneath her bottom again, this time taking her weight easily. She gripped him tight as he flipped her over to lay her gently onto her back.
They found one another's mouths once more and Lephas rested his hips between Lori's spread thighs. The girl arched up to him immediately, sending shock waves of arousal shooting down his spine.
Whilst his hands dipped under her tunic, hers flew to unbuckling his leather chest piece. She wore a thin silk vest beneath, but other than that his palms met with a delicious expanse of soft skin. She also had her navel adorned with a jewelled metal post, he noted with interest.
“Your hands are so cold!” She laughed, her voice hoarse.
“Sorry. They'll warm up in a minute.”
Whilst Lori struggled with his buckles, Lephas dipped his head to kiss her neck and ran his hands slowly over her body beneath her tunic. The faerie arched her chest towards him, her body pleading him silently.
He shuddered and cupped both breasts. He squeezed them gently, cursing under his breath when Lori moaned.
Lephas continued to kiss her neck, alternating between gently massaging and brushing his thumbs over the faerie's tightly budded nipples.
It was too cold to strip down too far, as much as he would have liked to see her unclothed. They would have to make do like this.
Lori continued to fight weakly with the buckles on his armour. “Please...” she panted. “Let me touch you.”
Lephas reluctantly removed his hands from her body and sat back on his haunches to undo the leather straps for her. A hungry expression crossed her face as she reached up to run her hands under his shirt and over his chest. The muscles tensed and flexed involuntarily beneath her soft, warm hands.
The demon shifted from between her thighs to lie beside her. She rolled over to meet him and kissed him heatedly. Lephas raised a shaking palm and ran it underneath her tunic to squeeze Lori's breast once more.
They kissed for long moments until Lephas eventually released Lori's flesh. He smoothed his palm down the length of her torso, delighting in the quivering his touch elicited.
When his hand reached her flat stomach, he kept going and slid his fingertips gently between her skin and the waistband of her leather leggings.
Lori broke her mouth away and pressed her lips together. She looked nervous; Lephas' own heart hammered so hard in his chest he was surprised she couldn't hear it.
“Is this... Can I?” he asked dumbly and kissed her cheek.
The princess nodded and rolled onto her back, bringing her one knee up and parting her legs a little.
Lephas kissed her again for reassurance before slowly sliding his hand further beneath her clothing.
Though he couldn't see her undergarments, he knew just from running his fingers over them that they were made from fine, expensive silk. They had frilly bits on them.
Lori sighed shakily and rested her hand on top of his forearm. He wasn't sure if it was encouragement for him or because she was hesitant – maybe small parts of both.
He was nervous too, more so than he could ever remember being. It wasn't like this was the first time he had been intimate with a woman, but he felt a fine sheen of sweat break out on his brow. It was just as well his hand was hidden beneath her clothing because the demon was sure it would be shaking.
He dipped his palm further, gently stroking his thumb and forefinger over the edges of the material where it met with her skin. Lori's thigh muscles trembled.
Lephas took her mouth gently with his own once more, sliding his tongue into her whilst simultaneously stroking the pads of his fingers over her core. Not just silk – wet silk.
The princess lifted her hips into his touch and he groaned deeply. Feeling like he was going to internally combust if he hesitated any longer, Lephas deftly lifted the crotch of her underwear away. He pushed it to one side and exposed her completely to his attentions, albeit with her trousers still fastened.
He ran the tip of his index finger from the bottom of her sex, right the way up. Lori's hips jerked involuntarily as he skimmed across the sensitive, swollen bud at her apex. She laughed breathlessly at her own reaction.
Though she was already more than sufficiently lubricated, Lephas deliberately avoided any penetration; though he ached to know what he might have the pleasure of sliding inside one day. Instead he focussed his attentions where he knew from experience they would be more welcome.
He adjusted his hand into a more comfortable position and, using his thumb and middle finger, spread her sex open to him a little more.
Lori panted softly, opening her legs further. It was the only encouragement he needed. Lephas briefly dipped his index finger back down to her core to gather the wetness that had bloomed there, before gently brushing it against her most sensitive spot.
After a few trial circles, he was confident he had his fingertip where she wanted it. He sped the movement up a little, changing between lazy circles and gently stroking back and forth, up and down.
He would give her a bit of time to adjust and determine which way she liked the best. He was sure she would let him know, one way or another.
Lephas leaned over to capture her mouth once more. This time the faerie failed to kiss him back. She was considerably distracted; her lips remained pressed together, her body tensed and breathing shallow. Her nails dug into his forearm. The demon moved on to trail soft kisses over her cheek.
“Is that alright?” he whispered and kissed down from her ear to her neck.
Lori didn't answer, just moaned wantonly. He was going to take that as a yes. Lephas fought a grin and
continued to pepper kisses down to her shoulder and back up.
It wasn't long before the faerie was impatiently rocking her hips in a silent request for more. Lephas took the speed of his stroking up a few notches whilst trying to keep his touch as gentle as possible.
Lori's trembling intensified and she turned on her side, hiding her face and resting her forehead against his chest. Soft cries and moans escaped her with every stroke.
He was so hard it was almost painful but he held steadfast. She had made no attempt to touch him and he wasn't going to push that on her. Not yet at least. Besides, he wasn't in this for himself right now.
“Oh, please!” She squealed. “Don't stop.”
Lephas groaned. He couldn't wait to hear her say things like that when he was inside her. That would probably finish him off, right there.
Lori gasped and shook, spreading her legs wider still. Though his wrist had long begun to ache the demon pushed on, desperate to see her reach a climax.
With his free hand, he brushed the hair from her face. He knew she was getting close now and he wanted to see her, to watch her face when he got her there. She fought him, trying to hide away.
“Let me see you,” he panted.
“No! I can't, I just–”
“Don't act like you're all shy,” he chastised with a breathless laugh. “A bit late for that, isn't it? Let me watch you come. Don't hide from me now.”
Lori paused for a moment before begrudgingly rolling over so she was flat on her back again, with both knees raised and spread. He had never seen her face so pink and sweaty, even when they had been running for their lives just the day before.
She scowled at him but he soon erased it. Her ire dissolved into ecstasy as he petted her faster still.
He watched her pert breasts rise and fall as she fought for breath, her hard nipples showing prominently through her tunic.
“So close...” she hissed between gritted teeth, her brows knitted with pleasure.
Despite his initial intentions, Lephas' desire finally overcame him. He moved his hand and pulled away from her apex. In one smooth motion, he slid his middle and ring fingers inside her. He had barely breached her entrance when she came - hard.