by Lyra Shanti
"Calm down, Master Li," said Ji Wei. I'm sure she's fine. I saw her this morning. She probably went looking for berries, like I did."
Gan shook his head. "No, she cannot be left alone. She is the treasure of this clan. We must find her."
“But… we only just arrived, Master," Ji Wei said with a slight pout. "Can we at least stop for a rest?"
Gan looked around at the camp in the forest. A few of the female survivors had gathered around a fire and were making soup. Hardly any men had survived the attack. Only Ji Wei and an even younger boy seemed unharmed. He didn't see his cousin and best friend, Li Hu, which confirmed his suspicions; he had to be dead.
"What happened to Li Hu?" he hesitantly asked as Ji Wei handed him a bowl of fish soup.
The young man slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, Master. The last I saw of Li Hu was with you in battle. He has not returned since that night."
Gan nodded, then tasted the soup. It was hot and tasted more like lotus root than fish, but it suited his mood. He needed comfort, and the soup helped.
For a moment, the face of the priest flashed in Gan's mind. It too was soothing.
Was it all a dream? Gan wondered as he ate in silence. It had to be an illusion. No man could look or feel like that. And I wouldn't have done something so… inappropriate. That's just not me… is it?
"Master!" Ji Wei shouted, breaking Gan’s thoughts. "It's Elder Shi!"
Gan stood and saw his dear yue mu slowly walking to their camp through the clearing of trees. Setting down his soup on a large rock, he ran, then embraced her in his arms.
"Yue Mu Shi! You're alive!" he said while squeezing her gently.
"Yes, my boy, I'm here," she said with a warm smile and a kiss to his cheek.
Gan fought back tears as he looked at her, making sure she was in one piece.
"After the fire, I lost sight of you." Filled with grief from the memories of the attack, Gan lowered to his knees and bowed his head. "I'm so sorry, Yue Mu Shi. I could not save her."
Her sweet smile turned to sadness. "My beautiful Zhang Lu is gone, yes. But her spirit lives in the wind. I have seen her… at the white temple. I saw her, and she spoke to me."
Gan raised his left brow. "You went to the temple of the white dragon?"
"Yes, my boy. And the great priest there helped me to speak with her. He is very powerful. With his aid, I saw and heard her spirit. She told me that she is in the wind now, and that she and your child are safe."
Gan could no longer keep his emotions inside. Bursting with tears, he buried his head into his grandmother-in-law's stomach.
If only I could see her in the wind, he thought. Why did she not reveal herself to me at the temple? Why did I not feel her spirit? Does she hate me now? Unless…
Mortified at his thought, he stepped back from his grandmother-in-law and covered his mouth.
"Yue Mu, did you truly see her? Tell me, how did you know my Lu was there?"
She thought for a moment and then said, "No, I did not see her image, but I saw her with my heart. I felt her spirit, and the great priest interpreted her words."
Gan shuddered at the idea forming in his mind. "So… the priest, he spoke for Zhang Lu?"
"Well, he heard her words and told them to me, yes. But, my boy, believe me when I say that I felt it was her."
Gan nodded. "I believe you, Yue Mu. I just… I need to speak to the priest myself. There's something I need to ask him."
"And what is that, my boy?"
"I need to know if he can channel a spirit through his body."
If my wife came through his body that night, then it all makes sense.
After saying goodbye to his grandmother-in-law, he ran off into the forest, unaware of the fox in the shadows who followed closely behind.
Chapter 13: Morning After
S am slowly woke to the sound of birds chirping in the morning sun. She knew she'd dreamt about the priest again, but this time, it felt different. There was a disturbing emptiness in the dream, and it made her want to cry.
Brushing off the feeling, she turned over and saw his unbearably gorgeous face.
Oh my god! she silently exclaimed, having temporarily forgotten about the previous night. He's here… next to me… in my bed!
Resisting the urge to squeal, she looked around, as if she'd find a hidden camera crew. This can't be real. How did this happen?
Thinking back, she remembered the scrumptious duck dinner and the way he looked at her on the way back to the hotel. She then recalled the feel of his mouth, his hands, his rather well-endowed… Holy shit! I slept with this friggin god of a man. And he's actually really into me. No way. Am I still dreaming?
Jon stirred, interrupting her mini freak-out. Slowly, he rubbed his eyes and looked up at Sam, who was hovering over him with a goofy grin.
"Morning," he softly said with a smile.
"Morning," Sam replied, giddy and hardly hiding it.
Jon sat up and reached for her back. "So…"
"So…"
He laughed and said, "Did you, um… did you dream anything?"
"Oh, yeah… I don't know, maybe. It was… weird."
Jon raised his brow. "Something weird? Weirder than usual?"
"Well, I mean, it was about that priest again, but… ugh. Do we have to talk about it?" Donning a mischievous grin, Sam straddled his lap. "I'd rather think about other things."
Jon smiled and let out a soft moan. "Oh, I see. Didn't get enough last night, huh?"
"Oh, hell no. I haven't had sex this good since… well, maybe not ever!"
Jon laughed, then looked deep into Sam's eyes. "I want you," he said in a low, penetrating voice.
Sam nearly climaxed on the spot.
"Take me! Hard!"
Jon smiled wide. In a swift motion, he pulled her down on the bed, then positioned himself behind, clutching her hips with his powerful hands.
Oh god, yes, thought Sam as he dove into her opening. Pushing inside again and again, Jon grabbed her bottom, making Sam claw at the sheet. She was already at her limit, but Jon felt like heaven, and she didn't want it to end.
"Don't stop!" she nearly screamed.
"I won't," he grunted while thrusting. "But I…"
"What? You what?" she asked, annoyed but curious.
"Sam… can I… go in your ass?"
"What?" she said, turning her head back to look at him.
"I just… want to feel what it's like inside your beautiful ass."
Sam smiled. He looked sheepish and adorable. She wanted to reach orgasm and was afraid she wouldn't that way, but she was admittedly a bit turned on by the idea.
"Okay…" she softly replied, "but I've never done that before."
"I'll be gentle, I promise."
Jon slowly pulled out, then sweetly kissed her anus with the tip of his penis, letting his natural wetness anoint her sensitive skin. Sam let out a moan. She didn't expect it to feel that good.
As waves of pleasure circulated through her bottom, she felt him push a little inside. She expected it to hurt. Instead, the pressure of his wet, hard phallus made her burn with desire. Something about it felt natural and right. After he dipped in and out a few times, she wanted him beyond comprehension. Arching her back, she growled, "I need you! All the way!"
"Are you sure?"'
"Yes!"
Jon did as she commanded, and Sam released a wild scream from the depths of her soul. She worried for a second that someone in the next room might think she was being murdered, but as the ecstasy pulsated her entire lower half, she barely cared.
Jon screamed soon after, releasing his orgasm in a tidal wave inside the walls of her ass. Following his lead, she grabbed her clit, jerked it vigorously, then came harder than ever before.
In and out, they heaved, breathing together as one.
"Jon…"
"Yeah?"
"I… think I'm in love with you."
Sam felt tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. She didn't want
to feel like this… so vulnerable, so helpless to a man she'd only just met. But the tears wouldn't stop.
"Oh, my Samantha," said Jon as he gently pulled out. "Sweetheart, don't cry." Lying next to her, he pulled back her long, layered bangs and touched the side of her face.
"I can't help it. I'm pathetic."
"No, you're not," he said with a kind smile.
"Yes, I am. We just met, like, a few days ago. This is stupid." Sam wiped her eyes and sniffed, trying her best to look away from his gorgeous, blue eyes.
"Hey…" he said, lifting her chin to look at him. "If it makes you feel any better, I feel a little pathetic too."
She gave him a doubtful smirk. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. Sam… I have no idea what this is between us, but it's real, and it's intense. And… I think I love you too."
Sam wanted to cry yet again. She felt her throat starting to ache, threatening to close. She looked away, hoping it would help her gain control.
In response, Jon wrapped his strong, warm arms around her back, hushing and cradling her, as if she were a frightened child.
"This is crazy," she whispered into his neck.
"Yep," he whispered in return. "But crazy is kind of my thing. I'm good at it."
Sam laughed and looked up at him, marveling once again at his beauty. "You are? I bet I can out-crazy you."
He laughed. "Oh, I doubt it. In fact, in my last role, I played a psychotic mercenary."
"Really? You don't seem like that type at all. That's, like, terrible casting."
He gave a hearty chuckle. Sam could feel the deep sound resonating from his chest, exciting her body and soul. Who is this man? she wondered. Why does his every move get to me like this?
"Maybe," he finally replied, "but I did my best." He looked at her with a dazzling smile.
Unable to stop herself, she gave him a passionate, tongue-filled kiss. "Back inside me. Now."
Jon grinned devilishly as he mounted on top, picking up her legs by her thighs as he gently slid into her behind.
After another round of sensual ecstasy, they both desperately craved a shower. It started off innocently with Jon playfully washing Sam's chest, but soon enough, it turned ferocious yet again.
How am I going to survive this? Sam asked herself as she received Jon in her ass once more, this time standing up and leaning against the shower wall. It was almost too good, too much to absorb.
Just as they burst with overwhelming euphoria, she unexpectedly saw a strange vision in her mind. It was the priest again. He was standing in the rain, holding what looked like some kind of clawed glove, dripping with blood.
What the hell?
Turning to look at Jon, who seemed blissfully unaware, she wondered if she was actually losing her mind.
As he pulled out, he kissed her cheek and resumed washing her from behind with a fluffy, pink sponge.
She took a deep breath, deciding not to tell him about the vision. Sam didn't want to ruin the moment, nor whatever was blossoming between them. Besides, she figured it was probably just a random fear and not important. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.
Rebelling against her fears, Sam held Jon's face and kissed his lips from the depths of her soul.
Even if I did hurt him in some sort of past life, it doesn't matter, she told herself. We're here now, and I will love him better than anyone else can. I swear it!
Chapter 14: Questions
"W hat do you know about my wife?"
Sa stared at Gan, shocked that his unreachable warrior had returned to his remote temple. "Excuse me?"
Gan stood in the entryway with hands folded and expression grim. He looked stoic and angry. "Did you or did you not tell my grandmother-in-law that you can speak to the dead?"
Sa took a deep breath and was about to respond when Gan added, "Did you interpret the words of my dead wife?"
Sa shook his head. "I did not interpret her words, no. I simply heard what she spoke. I had not met your wife before, but her spirit is near, hovering in the wind. She seems to be looking for guidance."
Gan's eyes widened, and his lips curled. Without warning, he grabbed onto Sa's silk collar, then pushed him inside the main room and against the wall. "You are a liar!" he yelled.
Sa breathed hard, feeling a bizarre mix of fear and attraction. Looking away, he yelped, "I do not lie!"
Gan growled, then let go. Taking a deep, quivering breath, he folded his arms again, staring at Sa with fierce, dark blue eyes.
Sa gathered himself and adjusted his collar. "Your wife's spirit is near, and your grandmother-in-law walked all the way here from your burnt village. I pitied her and gave her tea. Then, I heard your wife's voice and helped them to converse. I only sought to bring them peace."
Gan relaxed his disbelieving eyes. "You can truly hear spirits? My wife's spirit?"
Sa nodded.
Gan gulped. "Then… what about… that night?"
Sa slowly shook his head. "That night? What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean!" Gan snapped.
Sa quickly realized the warrior's reference. "Ah, you mean the night we became two made one?"
Gan shrugged and nodded, looking away.
Sa gave a sigh. "Why don't we sit for tea and talk this through?"
"No," said Gan, "I'm not going to stay long. I just… I only want to know one thing."
Sa raised his left brow. "Yes?"
Gan took a deep breath, then said, "Did my wife… did Zhang Lu come through your body that night? Is that why we…"
"No," replied Sa, expressionless. "Her spirit did not enter my body. I would have known."
"Are you sure?"
Sa turned away. For a moment, he doubted himself. Had she actually possessed him? Was that why he was so restless that night?
No, he thought. I would have known the difference. I cannot blame an innocent spirit for my own needs and actions.
"You may not like this answer, my friend, but what I did that night was of my own volition. It was not the words or deeds of your late wife. It was mine."
Gan's face wore the weight of his confusion. "Then... what happened? Why did you… why did we… I just don't understand." Defeated, he slowly sat down on a meditation pillow and lowered his head into his hands.
Sa sat on his knees in front of his baffled guest. "I simply fell in love with you."
Gan looked up at Sa with wide, startled eyes. "What? Why… why me?"
"Because you are the black dragon. I am the white. We are two halves of the circle, and we are drawn together… to dance in the infinite dance. It is simply… fate."
Gan's mouth fell open. "You are mad!" Quickly rising to his feet, he briskly walked toward the front entrance. Stopping, he turned around to face Sa. "And I couldn't possibly be a black dragon. That's crazy. If you mean that I carry a dragon-like spirit, I appreciate the compliment, but even that is ridiculous. I couldn't even stop invading bandits! If I were like a dragon, I'd have burned them all to a crisp!"
Gan had reached a level of shouting Sa was not prepared for. Nonetheless, he remained calm, telling himself that his warrior needed the emotional release. He would not stop him. Instead, he nodded and listened.
Gan began to breathe heavier as he looked around the room with tearful eyes. "You don't know what it was like! They came out of nowhere and surrounded my village in the middle of the night. They had fire-tipped arrows and skilled swordsman. I don't know how they got past my guards, but I lost my wife that night. I lost my best friend, my child, my whole family! And worst of all, I know I was betrayed, but I do not know by whom, and I can't change a damn thing!"
Gan fell to his knees and grabbed his face, finally releasing all his pent up anger and pain with boundless, unstoppable tears.
Sa wanted to reach for him, to hold him close until the pain at least slightly eased. But he knew he could not. Not yet, anyway.
When he feels he can trust me, I shall unabashedly give him all the love my sad heart has accumul
ated over the years in this lonely temple. Until then, I will merely offer my wisdom and guidance.
"My friend, listen to my words," Sa began tenderly. "Even a dragon cannot predict evil."