by L. A. Boruff
“Feelings? You mean the forest?”
“No. Humans can make each other feel things, good things. Like the feelings you call your allergies, but much nicer.”
And you think I have these feelings for you?” I asked.
“I hope so. Because I have them for you, very much.”
“So it’s not a terrible thing?”
“Does it feel bad to you?”
“Well, this is why I was confused. If it was like frosting, bad for me, but felt good, then I would have to stay away from you. But if these feelings aren’t an allergy and they aren’t bad for me, or you, then I’m glad because I don’t have to avoid you.”
“I can make you feel even better,” he murmured. His lips were close to mine, and I had a feeling it included kissing. I hoped it would.
“Can you?”
“I can, but you need to know I will stop whenever you’ve had enough. I may do things that will shock you or frighten you. Tell me when I do, Maebh, I don’t want to hurt you in any way.”
“I can’t ever imagine being afraid of you, Jack.”
He made a strangled noise, and then his mouth was pressed to mine, and my hands tightened in his hair. His tongue swept over my lips and I opened to him. He licked at my mouth, my tongue and he was right. This was good, this was more than good, this was like drinking a cold glass of water on a muggy day. His fingers smoothed down over my thighs, to the edge of my undershift before moving back up. But his hands were now on my skin and not on the material and the tingles became shivers. A peculiar noise came from the back of my throat. I was uncertain why his touch was making me want to move.
“Trust me, Maebh,” he spoke into my mouth and then moved his face to my neck.
I was breathing heavily. His scent, the taste of his mouth, and the feel of his fingers on my thighs were better than frosting any day.
“If it gets too much, bite into my shirt,” he murmured, and I was momentarily puzzled. But then his hands moved over my hips and under to cup my bottom. I gasped, not ready for the ache that began between my legs. He pushed his fingers between my bottom cheeks and spread them open.
“What are you doing? That’s not sanitary.” I stumbled over my words, confused because I liked the ripple of sparks his touch produced on me, despite where his fingers were.
“Trust me,” he murmured and claimed my mouth again.
His mouth had the ability to take all my thoughts and let them blow away with the wind. Nothing was wrong, everything was right. As long as it was Jack and only Jack.
His long, clever fingers drifted underneath me, and when they settled over that part of me hidden between the folds of flesh, I took him up on his offer of shirt biting. I saw stars or something. I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs, my head was spinning, my legs wanted to open wider, but they wanted to close tight as well. It was a rush of feelings I’d never experience, and it was growing with each stroke of his fingers. I was losing my mind, unable to keep still as I clung to his shoulders. The noises coming from my mouth were almost inhuman, and I was certain I was dying.
He wrapped his other arm around my waist, clutching me against him tightly. His face was pressed against my chest, and when I felt his tongue slide over the hollow of my throat, my head fell back and I shuddered violently. It was pain, it was pleasure, it was better than frosting. Much better than frosting.
It was too much, it wasn’t enough. I was floating and then the bed was under me and he was kissing me. But it wasn’t my mouth he kissed. But I didn’t have time to think how odd that was, because he nipped my chest his teeth. Only his hand over my mouth kept my cries muffled. He was dragging movements from me that I didn’t know I knew; making me beg for something un-named. But he knew what it was, and he was giving it to me. His mouth worked down my stomach and I grabbed my pillow to muffle my cries. I didn’t understand why he was kissing me this way, but I hoped he never stopped.
I had an image of kissing him in the same way and it made the ache between my legs intensify. My thighs parted as he knelt between them.
“I want to make you feel better than good.” His eyes were a molten jade flecked with silver, and I realised I’d never seen this colour in them before. “Please, trust me, Maebh. You have my word that I shall not take my pleasure with you tonight. I only want to give you pleasure.”
“I don’t understand. It aches, and I don’t know why, but it makes me want to…”
“To what?” His voice was low as he let go of my hand to stroke my hair away from my face.
“I don’t know.” And that was what startled me. I never felt so unbalanced before, so unsure of what was happening, or what would happen. “I want to pull you closer, but I want to push you away as well.” I was frustrated with myself.
“My little snowflake, I want to melt you so badly,” he murmured and kissed my nose. “Would you have me stop? I will if you want me to.”
“I don’t think I do want you to stop, but I don’t know what you’re going to do. I’m confused and wound up like a clock too tight.”
“Everything you’re feeling is perfectly natural. It’s a gift given to us by Mother Nature to feel this way when we touch.”
“Why?”
“Because it feels good, and it’s how babies are brought into the world.”
“Babies?” Oh, no! I was not bringing any babies into the world. “No. I will not do that. I was lucky I was found by my father. I couldn’t bear it if any babies I bring to the forests were discovered by someone like Fiach.”
He buried his face in my neck, and it took me a moment to understand he was laughing at me and it stung. “Why are you laughing at me?”
“I am not laughing… okay, so maybe a little. But it’s only because I adore you, I love you, Maebh. We won’t bring babies into the world tonight, not for a long time, in fact.”
“Never,” I corrected absently. My mind had stilled on his word “Love”. My father loved me, and I loved him. But this must have been different. Did I love Jack? Like my father? No, it was a different feeling I had for Jack. I couldn’t describe it, but it felt like a shiny new gold coin. Precious and beautiful.
“I love you, Jack.” I frowned at him. “I love my father, but I love you differently.”
Jack’s eyes closed, and a smile tugged his lips. His hair sparkled with crystals in the moonlight. His pale face was beautiful, his long lean lines were beautiful. His heart was beautiful, and I realised it was who he was that I loved more than anything.
“Let me show you how perfect I can make you feel.” His eyes opened on the last word. I was falling into them. The deep blue was back, sparking with hundreds of crystals whirling and spinning. “Trust me to love you.”
I nodded and sucked in my breath as he lowered his head and kissed my lips. It was a feather touch, barely there and pierced me to my soul. I would give this half elf, half human anything I could. Everything I had, including whatever he wanted to do to my body. I gave over everything to him, and he saw it. I thought he was going to kiss my stomach again, but he didn’t. He kept his mouth on mine and trailed his fingers down over my chest. The points stiffened as they did when I was cold, but now they tingled as well. And when he tugged on one it sent a line of shock straight between my legs. The ache which had faded was back and making my hips cant upwards. I didn’t know why or how, but my body knew and so did Jack.
His fingers trailed downwards exploring my heated skin. When he dipped his finger into my navel it pulled a string that tugged at the ache making me cry out. He moved his mouth to my ear, and I nestled my face into his neck, my mouth against his shirt.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, making me shiver. “I have loved you for so long.”
“I’ve been allergic to you for so long.” That wasn’t what I meant, but his fingers were inching downwards, and my breathing was erratic. The ache was growing unbearable. My hips wouldn’t stay still, and I needed to feel more of his skin. I pulled his shirt up his back and he lifted aw
ay long enough to remove it. Then he was back over me. One hand sought out mine as his other lay flat under my navel.
“Maebh.” His voice was quiet, my name rolling off his tongue like water over a waterfall. “Bite me if you need too.”
His words shocked me. I’d hurt him surely, but then his fingers were gliding over the curls that lay between my legs. He stroked me gently, and I gasped, lifting from the bed at the indescribable pleasure it gave me. He pushed me back down, pinned my leg with his and used his foot to push my other leg away. It parted my folds, and his fingers began exploring me. It was wonderful, it was too much, it was sending sensations spilling through me. He was creating pleasure in me I had never experienced. I was… horror smashed the pleasure. I was growing wet down there, I could hear it over the noises he was making. He sounded as if he was getting pleasure from this too, but surely he knew what I needed now.
“Jack! I need the small room. I must go.”
He chuckled and swirled his finger through the growing slickness. “No, you don’t,” he whispered into my ear. “Your body is making it easier for you and me.”
I was going to ask what he meant, but his finger worked his way inside me, and I lost my mind. It was like being washed with fire. It was intense, exciting, and so addictive. I wanted more, I wanted to… I didn’t know what and it was making me sob into his shoulder.
His fingers worked in and out, twisting, and I couldn’t get close enough to him. I was clutching his back, digging my fingers into his smooth glorious skin. He was groaning as if I was paining him, but I was not in control of myself. He was. He was winding me up, taking me higher and higher until I felt I was going to die from frustration.
“Let go, Maebh, Let go. I’ve got you.” He was panting as he spoke into my ear, and I had a lucid thought that I was panting as well. But before I could think on it further, he moved his fingers until his thumb was moving in a circle slightly higher than were his fingers were. He sent a new rush of fire through me, and I strained upwards, desperate for…
“Come for me, Maebh, now.”
His words were a fire in my ear. His thumb was insistent and his fingers thrusting into me was all it took for me to shatter. I was flying, I was exploding. I couldn’t see, or hear, or think. I was immersed in the sweetest feeling of release. All my frustrations crested into an amazing release.
Jack was mumbling, holding me tightly to him as the sensations ebbed and slowly faded. I relaxed into him, my mouth against his neck.
“What just happened?” I still couldn’t breathe properly.
“You had an orgasm and a spectacular one at that. I thought I’d be leaving a different sort of white on the ground tonight, but all I need is to change my trousers.”
“What?” I didn’t understand him, but my brain and body were completely lax, almost comatose with a sensation that made me stretch under him. He could give me an orga… orgin... organise every day.
“That was better than frosting.” I cupped his cheek as he looked down at me. His eyes were a contented blue, the sparkles moving slowly.
“I think, one day we should combine the two. Frosting and sex.”
“Sex?” It was not a word I’d heard before.
“What we just did is part of sex. One day, it won’t just be my fingers inside you.”
“Oh. Not the frosting! That is not sanitary, Jack Frost!”
He laughed, muffling the sound in my neck. His teeth found my skin, and he bit, making me gasp. I swatted at his shoulder, but the nip didn’t hurt. It gave me a rush of pleasure.
“No, Maebh, it’ll be me in you.”
I frowned, wondering if he felt all right. He had just been inside me, his fingers. Maybe he was tired because exhaustion was creeping over me.
“Jack, we haven’t discussed the pots.” My words were mumbled, and as he wrapped himself around me, my eyes refused to stay open.
“Shh. It’ll be okay.” He kissed the top of my head. “Sleep, little snowflake.”
And sleep I did.
* * *
I waited for the king to call me all through the following day. I’d told him I could only work at night, but I hadn’t expected to be completely forgotten. A couple of times I’d tried to sneak out, but the guards that stood at the end of the corridor put me off and I’d crept back inside. I didn’t mind being left alone, but they’d forgotten to feed me, and I was ravenous.
Finally, just before sundown a lepling I hadn’t seen before came to my door to tell me the king would see me now. I was grateful to leave the small cramped room, but I was still unable to stand straight due to the low ceilings. The trip this time was much shorter, and I realised I’d been led on a merry chase the day before. When I entered the throne room, I was surprised to see Jack Frost standing before the king. His stance was casual, as if he was in the presence of an old friend and not the King of the Leprechauns. Taken by surprise I didn’t know how to react and decided it was best to appear as if I didn’t know him.
“You want this… human?” King Ludwhomp had his trusty disk in front of his mouth and the words boomed around the room.
“I do. A fair exchange, Sire.” Jack’s voice seemed to be louder than even the king’s. Crystals formed in the air as he spoke. They spun around him before moving to hang in the air above their heads.
“But if I give her up, my rainbows won’t be double or even trebled as Garbhan’s have the wont to do. I won’t be outshined in my own kingdom!”
“Garbhan will no longer make rainbows which could outshine Your Majesty’s.” Jack started moving around the room, apparently unbothered by the spears and swords the guards held. He was much braver than me and I sighed as my heart fluttered in my chest.
“And how do you know that?” the king demanded, forgetting the disk and squeaking.
Jack ignored it, which was a wise thing to do in my opinion. He trailed his fingers through the air and frost formed over the wall, creating patterns both beautiful and intricate.
“Garbhan is no longer in the Emerald Isle,” Jack declared with a flourish of his hand and more beautiful crystals sparkled in the air before fading away.
“Where is he?” boomed the king.
“At this precise moment, I am unaware.”
“What?” King Ludwhomp’s patience was at an end. “I demand to know where he is.”
“I disposed of him,” Jack replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. “I sold him.”
“You kidnapped him as well? And stole my pots of gold? And for what? A human?” King Ludwhomp shuddered in revulsion. “But what do you want her for? Can she bring you good luck with frost?”
“I have no idea,” Jack said affably and turned to face the king creating a web of frost over the floor. “Whilst the Emerald Isle is a beautiful land, Sire, it is not the only land. Humans fetch a fair price in some cultures.”
“Price? You mean gold?”
I shivered at the greedy expression that crossed the king’s face. I trusted Jack to get us out of here and not to sell me off to some distant land. I didn’t have the same confidence in King Ludwhomp.
“Indeed. But alas, gold will serve you no good if you don’t have the pots to put them in. Sire.” Jack faced him, his head lowered slightly. Every strand of hair on his head was coated with ice, it was a dangerous beauty. It matched the deadly look that now rested on his face as he regarded the king. Icicles formed from Jack’s fingertips like pointed daggers.
“I will if I have you killed,” King Ludwhomp squeaked, his face was puce in anger. But Jack laughed, a chilly, creepy, icy laugh that even made me shudder.
Ice crept from under Jack’s feet, overlaying the previous frost and turning the floor into solid ice. Except for where I stood; my feet remained on the wooden floor. He looked at me and I hoped he could see just how much I adored him.
A guard moved, lifting the spear in his hand. Before I could warm Jack, the spear was frozen in mid-air, encased in ice. Jack winked at me, the wickedness in his face just added to hi
s beauty, and I bit my lip. Those ‘not allergies’ were back, and it really wasn’t the right time.
“Attack!” squeaked the king. “Attack him; you fools!”
Jack laughed, and I watched in amazed awe as every guard in the room froze to the spot, enclosed in a web of frost. I could see their eyes blinking in surprise. He hadn’t killed them; they were just imprisoned.
The king scurried down the steps and I laughed as he hid under his throne.
“Stop! I’m but a humble ruler merely bringing brightness to the world. Take the human, take her with my blessing and pity a poor man like myself.” He started sobbing loudly, but I knew he was just a coward and not at all humble.
“Thank you, Sire. I knew we’d arrived at a mutually satisfactory conclusion.”
Jack clicked his fingers and two black pots frozen in ice appeared on the floor. “Everything in this castle is frozen at my command. But it’s not lasting; your guards, your subjects, they will all be free by the morning sun.”
“And my pots?” came a squeak from under the throne.
“Yes, even your pots. I wish you well, Sire.”
Jack spun on the spot, came towards me, and catching me around the waist, he lifted me into his arms.
“Come, my little snowflake.” He kissed my nose and then he was whisking me through the palace and out into the sunshine.
I put my arms around his neck. “You are clever, Jack Frost. When did you get his pots?”
“I didn’t.” He smirked at me. “Those pots are your father’s—empty of course.”
“Oh. Where are the king’s?”
“In his hat still. I called his bluff. He had no way of checking in front of his guards otherwise they’d all know where he kept his gold, despite it being where they also keep their pots. I whispered into his ear that I stole them from his hat. He had no reason to doubt me otherwise how would I know where he kept them?”
“Oh, you are cunning, but I do love you.”
“Good, because I love you, my little frosting.”