by David Aries
“Quiet!” Titania yelled. “You selfish bitch. Don’t you think I want to?! It’s what you deserve, but… I can’t do it. How can I kill my own mother?!”
“Have you forgotten what I’ve done?!”
“Of course not. It doesn’t change a thing. Even though you abandoned me, even though you’ve killed so many, I can’t do it. You’re still my mom, no matter what.” Tears trickled down Titania’s face. She snorted, wiped them away. “Besides, unlike you, I’m no killer.” She turned her back on Magnesia and walked away. “We’re done here. Let’s go.”
“Alright,” I said, following. Watching Titania break the vicious cycle should have made me happy but it was impossible to crack a smile while anguish polluted her gaze.
As we reached the door, Magnesia spoke up. “You shouldn’t turn your back on an enemy.”
We jerked around, ready for round two.
Magnesia lobbed a trinket across the cockpit.
Titania caught the object. It was a threadbare, red bracelet. “You still had this?”
“Reinforcements will arrive soon,” Magnesia responded.
“Why did you still have this?”
“This is your last chance to escape.”
“Answer me!”
One didn’t come. Magnesia stared but didn’t open up.
“Come on,” I said, pulling Titania’s hand. “We have to go.”
Titania surrendered and let me take her. We rushed through the ship and back to the roof. With the Imperious immobilized, all that remained was getting back to the others.
What goes up must come down. I scooped Titania up and jumped off the ship. My plan was for us to gracefully descend back to ground level.
The reality was closer to falling.
Titania squealed as we plummeted. My flying ability involved heading in one direction very fast. That didn’t work on the return trip unless we felt like becoming a splatter on the floor.
I sure as hell didn’t.
“Jake, do something!” Titania hissed, squeezing me with everything she had.
That was more like the girl I knew.
“I’m trying,” I said, kicking my legs. Skydiving was exhilarating but I really wanted a parachute.
The ground got closer and closer. The moment of impact rapidly approached. If I didn’t act fast all we’d achieved was going to go up in smoke.
I used the propulsion of the boots to flip my body around, so my feet were aiming at the ground. The boosters shot but our velocity was too strong. We kept going. It was a race against gravity.
“No, no, no! Not like this!” Titania squealed.
I bit down and gave everything I had. Titania had overcome her own mother. I wasn’t gonna lose to fall damage.
We were about to hit when our direction shifted. The rockets won out. We bounced up moments before touchdown.
“Yes,” I cheered, disengaging the boosters. We’d made it!
A second later, we crashed down from our new smaller summit.
I groaned. Stuck flat on my back with another person’s weight on top of me. It was a serious case of déjà vu, right down to feeling grateful for my life.
“We’re alive?” Titania said, crawling onto solid ground. “We’re alive! You did it!” She jumped back on, hugging my neck.
“Great,” I grimaced. “Always happy to help.” Despite my half-hearted celebration, I was over the damn moon. Somehow, we’d made it.
Titania kissed her bracelet as the wagon sped in our direction. They really were alive. It was our victory. This time, for real.
Chapter 24
A marooned Imperious was no excuse to linger. We raced off and didn’t stop until the plains were a distant memory. Esther finally took her foot off the gas once we were hidden deep in a gorge. That was when it sunk in. There were no more surprises in store. We’d opposed the city of Grabadon and escaped to tell the tale.
“We did it!” I cheered, throwing my arms in the air.
Esther hugged me. “I’m so proud of you.”
I squeezed back and twirled her around. It’d been a bumpy ride but we’d made it.
“Hey, what about me?” Titania huffed.
“Like I could forget about you,” Esther said, dragging Titania in with a big kiss on the head. “You were amazing.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled, cheeks lighting up.
I grinned and ruffled her blonde hair. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Same goes for you.”
We did make quite the team. Esther had saved me that fateful day, but since then it was Titania who’d bailed me out more times than I could remember. And I liked to think I’d done the same.
“Thank you,” Blair said, bowing her head. She’d changed from her extravagant gown back into the baggy overalls she loved so much. They looked right on her. “Thank you for everything.”
“It’s cool. Don’t mention it,” I said.
“But you saved me from that life. Even though I asked you not to. Then you saved me from the Imperious. I can’t thank you enough. I’ll always be in your debt.” Blair went bow crazy. Her messy twintails swung everywhere.
“Stop. We aren’t interested in debts. Ain’t that right?”
Titania nodded. “Yeah! Like I was gonna ditch you.”
“Plus, we couldn’t have escaped without your rocket boots.”
“They were totally awesome. Make me a pair.”
“You’re scared of heights,” I reminded her.
“I am not!”
“You were quivering like a baby.”
“For the last time, I was cold!”
Blair snorted. Her angelic giggles burst out.
Our squabble came to a swift conclusion. It was hard to quarrel when Blair was making such a sweet face. Her adorable features were wasted worrying about the small stuff. She was at her best with a smile.
“They might be a pair of numbskulls but they aren’t wrong,” Esther said. “We don’t need your thanks. It’s natural to help a teammate in need.”
“Teammate? You mean me?” Blair squeaked.
“You’ll be traveling with us from now on. Sounds like a teammate to me.”
“But I’m not a fighter.”
“That makes two of us, darling,” Dessa giggled. “It’s never stopped me.”
“Only ‘cos we can’t get rid of you,” Titania said.
“So rude! You’d be heartbroken if I upped and vanished.”
“Good riddance.”
Esther sighed. “You’ll need to get used to this. If you can manage that, welcome aboard.” She offered Blair her hand.
Blair hesitated but couldn’t hold back. She swarmed Esther’s hand with all six of her own. “I’m Blair! I’m no good at fighting, but I’m good at fixing things. I’ll do everything I can to keep the wagon in tip-top shape. P-please, take good care of me!”
I ruffled her messy hair. “We will. No need to be so formal.”
Blair flashed a warm smile. The best of smiles.
“I believe this calls for a celebration,” Dessa giggled, pulling a bottle out of who knows where.
And celebrate we did. We put all our worries to one side and toasted our victory. It had been a long hectic day but I couldn’t deny it’d been a good one.
***
Evening had come and gone, consumed by a party for five. It’d been a lot of fun. Turned out Blair was a terrible drinker. Not the most surprising revelation ever.
With darkness blotting the sky, things had settled down and people had slipped off to bed. After an exhausting day, I felt like doing the same. But I couldn’t. My presence had been requested. I slumped on the couch, awaiting the scheduler’s arrival.
“Hey,” Titania said, shuffling over. She was wrapped in a cocoon of blankets. Only her face was showing. “Can I sit there?”
“Like you have to ask,” I responded.
“Thanks.” She settled in next to me and… that was pretty much it. Not a word, even though she’d asked me to stay
up after hours.
“So… crazy day, right?” I said.
“Totally,” she replied. “It was non-stop.”
“Tell me about it.” Arena in the morning; airship in the afternoon. Ramses had made us work for our escape.
The conversation ground to another halt. For somebody who had asked to talk, Titania wasn’t doing much of it. She didn’t even look at me.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Of course,” Titania squeaked. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You know why. If it’s any consolation, I think you did the right thing. Sure, she did some messed up stuff, but she’s still your mom.”
“Stop,” Titania squawked, waving a hand in my face. “You’re gonna ruin the mood.”
“There’s a mood?”
“There’s supposed to be,” she grumbled, fidgeting in her cloth shell.
It didn’t take a detective to notice she was acting weird. I leaned over. “You sure you’re okay? Your face is red.” I rested my hand on her forehead.
Titania jolted away. “The fuck are you doing?!”
“You’re burning up.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“If you’re sick, you should rest.”
“I’m not sick. It’s… urgh!” Titania retreated into her blanket shell. All that stuck out was her blonde hair. “Why’s this so hard?”
I tilted my head. What was she on about? I shrugged and patted her back. “Whatever it is, I’m here.”
“Stop rushing me!” Titania huffed. She shuffled, face peeking back out of the opening. “Jake? D-do you like me?”
“Yeah,” I replied.
“Really?!” she said, bouncing up. Her ruby red eyes twinkled.
“Of course. You’re a good friend.”
The radiance drained from her face. “Stupid. That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s what you asked.”
“No. I didn’t mean it that way. I meant it… you know. That way.” She shimmied back into her cloth sanctuary. “I know I’m not as nice as Boss or as pretty as Dessa, b-but you’ve called me cute before…”
My eyes widened. All logic pointed toward it being a bluff. When I first arrived on Terix, Titania was in favor of putting me down. Sure, our relationship had evolved over time, but to this? I couldn’t believe it. Yet my heart picked up the pace.
Titania squirmed within her blanket shell. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Of course you don’t. I’m short, aggressive, flat. Not to mention the horrible things I’ve done…”
“You’re still going on about that?” I said.
“It’s true,” she mumbled.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Titania looked away. It would take more than one night in a cell to mend all the scars which marked her heart.
“You know I don’t hate you,” I said. “Quite the contrary. I like you too.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“Like hell I am.” I tilted her head toward me. “You’re cute, strong, passionate. What’s not to love?”
“Love?!” she squeaked.
“That’s right. And I can prove it.”
“How?” Titania asked. Her red eyes found the courage to look at me.
Words weren’t enough. However, I didn’t need them to prove my point. I cupped her small chin and kissed her dark lips.
At some point, I’d wondered how kissing an orc would feel, on account of their tusks. Turned out they barely registered. Titania’s plump lips overshadowed everything else. They were so soft, especially for somebody concerned she lacked feminine charm. It was a woman’s mouth, without a shadow of doubt. A wonderful woman at that.
Kissing her for minutes on end would have been a treat but I didn’t linger. I didn’t want to overwhelm the virgin smoocher.
A taste alone left her stunned. Titania’s usual complexion was missing in action. A heated replacement spread as far as the tips of her pointy ears. Her matching colored eyes stared at me with no hint of the glare I knew well.
“You kissed me?” she mumbled.
“I kissed you.”
“Really kissed me? Kissed me like you like me?”
“Sure did.”
“I’m not dreaming? This is really happening?”
“Do I need to prove it again?”
After a short internal debate, Titania nodded.
So much for ‘bluff’.
I gave her another taste. This time, I stayed and enjoy myself a little. If a near peck was enough to overpower there was no reason for me to be coy.
Her face grew hotter and her eyes got wider. For a moment, I worried I’d fried her circuits. I wasn’t sure where to find her reset button.
Suddenly, she pounced. No more sitting back and taking. Titania went on the attack. The starter course wasn’t enough for her. Her appetite was wetted and she hungered for more.
I was, of course, happy to give. I introduced her to the next level. My tongue weaved between her lips showing her how far a kiss could go.
Her response was clumsy but brimming with enthusiasm. She sucked on my tongue and rubbed it with her own.
As long as you have passion you don’t need experience.
We separated when she got too breathless to continue. She gasped for air and looked at me with gooey eyes. “That was real. This is real. We’re really doing this.”
“Glad you noticed,” I said.
“Shut up. It’s just… I can’t believe you like me.”
“Same here. Didn’t you hate my guts?”
Titania winced. “It’s… that was a long time ago! I’ve changed. You’ve changed me.” She shed her blanket cocoon, revealing what she had on underneath. Nothing. Not a damn thing. She was as naked as the day she was born with a body that couldn’t be compared. Whoever deemed her not feminine enough hadn’t seen her in this light. Sure, her breasts weren’t large, but her body was stunning. Petite, yes. Boyish, no. Titania was a pear-shaped delight I couldn’t look away from.
I stared without restraint, captivated by her beauty. I’d seen her naked before, but this was different. This was her first time longing for my attention. My time as an accidental voyeur was over. Finally, I enjoyed Titania’s body without guilt.
“W-well?” she squeaked, forced into action by my prolonged silence.
“Stunning,” I said.
Titania pulled the blanket over her chest. “Don’t mock me.”
“I meant it,” I said, coaxing her to drop that pesky sheet. There was no reason for her to be ashamed. Be it her small, perky breasts, her flat stomach, her curvy hips, or her powerful legs, Titania was a beauty. Where my blood surged was proof of that. Heated thoughts raced through my mind. Resistance was impossible. I brushed a hand over her chest.
She tensed but didn’t throw me off.
Her breasts were petite but that didn’t stop them being soft. They felt wonderful sinking around my fingers. Her nipples were the exception. The more I touched the harder they got.
“Does that feel good?” I asked, even though the answer was obvious.
Titania nodded while doing an awful job at hiding her moans.
I grazed my fingers across her demanding nipples.
She squeaked. A jolt seemed to rush through her, ending with her leaning into my hands.
Her needy expression was so sweet I couldn’t help giving her what she desired. Not that it clashed with my wants. Her breasts looked so delectable. I gave my fingers a break and used my mouth.
Titania’s voice exploded. “Jake!” She cradled my head, whispering that same word over and over.
It was bait for my primal desires. Every gasp increased my hunger. I slid a hand down her abs and through a small triangle of hair.
“W-wait,” she said. “Y-you’re gonna touch there?”
“Am I not allowed?” I asked while tracing my finger just above my prize. The amount of heat radiating from between her thighs hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Titania chewed her bottom lip
and whimpered. She trembled in what could have been fear or excited.
Something told me it was a little bit of both.
“You better make it feel good,” she mumbled.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” I answered, making that precious first contact. It was so soft; so wet.
She stiffened under my touch and did her damnedest to hide the accompanying moan. It was as if she wanted me to tease her.
There was no way I could stop. I took delight in kissing her chest and getting to know her mound. Finding her weak spots was a breeze. Her reactions weren’t subtle. The twitch of her muscles was an open book. Despite her best efforts, Titania couldn’t hide her pleasured mutterings.
When I found a spot that made her squeal, say, her clit, I gave it extra attention.
Titania scratched my back as her chin burrowed into my shoulder. She moaned into my neck. “Jake, stop. It’s coming, it’s coming. I’m gonna wet myself.”
Call me a jerk if you have to but I didn’t stop. I showed no mercy. I touched, I rubbed, I sucked, I toyed; I did everything I could to drive her over the edge.
It worked.
She cried and bucked against me. Her teeth dug into my shoulder in a desperate attempt to withstand the rush of pleasure. There was no stopping it. Her orgasm struck, soaking my hand.
It was about as subtle as everything else she did.
Technically, the pleasure was all hers and I didn’t feel a thing. The reality was different. The thrill I got from making her cum was like nothing else.
Titania’s body convulsed throughout her intense orgasm. Once it subsided, her legs buckled.
I supported her weight and helped her onto the couch.
She had quite the dreamy expression. Her eyelids were heavy and her pupils lacked focus. Each breath was a deep beg for oxygen. Her blush hadn’t subsided, not even a little.
It was the sort of face that made men fall madly in love.
“That was quite the climax,” I teased.
Titania squeaked and looked away. “No. There’s no way. I didn’t cum. That’d be too shameful.”
“Really?” I said, showing my juice-soaked hand. “Looked like one to me.”
She shook her head and refused to so much as glance in my direction.
Embarrassment suited her. She was too damn cute. I pulled her close and nipped the tip of her blushed ear. “Are you sure? Because I’m really in the mood to give you another.”