Talia and Isaac

by Lorraine Margaret

  “You are terrible, Abraham,” she murmured, but Isaac roared with laughter.

  “Careful, Abra, you don’t want to upset Talia when she has a sharp object in her hand.” Isaac nodded at the scissors and the three of them giggled like five-year-olds. It was wonderful.

  “I think I’ll check on the men. I’m sure you would like a few minutes alone together.”

  There was no innuendo in Abraham’s words, only consideration, but there was definite sexual intent in her mind. She needed a proper reunion with Isaac, a physical joining, a reaffirmation – but she would have to act fast. She took Isaac’s hair from Abraham as he left, placing it safely on the dressing table before crossing to the door and locking it.

  “If it pleases Your Majesty, I will give you the healing only true love can bring.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes at her bemused-looking husband as she pulled off her boots, making her intentions clear. His eyes widened as she fumbled with her belt.

  “I will be glad to be rid of your trousers, husband, they are far too big for me.”

  Her words were proved correct for as soon as she undid the belt the trousers fell unceremoniously to the floor. She stood there naked from the waist down, and Isaac laughed uproariously. It was hardly the most erotic striptease ever but it had a glorious effect. Isaac was smiling as if he didn’t have a care in the world and that was a miracle after all he had endured today. She giggled as she sashayed provocatively towards him, wiggling her hips and thrusting out her breasts.

  “What are you doing, Wanwisa? I think you have evil plans for me.”

  Isaac’s smirk was as salacious as ever and just what she needed to see, his mind mercifully unscathed by his trauma.

  “Oh yes, Your Majesty, my intentions are depraved.”

  She knelt before him at the foot of the bed, bending forwards so her upper body lay flat, her breasts squashed against the soft blankets. Isaac breathed in sharply, and she brazenly stuck her bottom out – and waited…

  She did not have long to wait for her reward…

  Isaac growled, a dark, masculine sound, brimming with primal lust. And he moved so fast he struck terror into her heart. Was he recovered enough for this?

  “Please, Your Majesty, perhaps you should lie comfortably and let me…”

  “I don’t think so, Talia, this is exactly what I need.”

  He knelt behind her and held her down as he undid his trousers. He was clearly determined to go ahead despite his injury. She pushed her bottom up provocatively, a silent invitation to take her. She needed no tender words or gentle foreplay, her sex heavy and wet, aching for the thrust of Isaac’s manhood. Sometimes only a hard fucking would do – and this was definitely one of those times…

  Isaac thrust inside of her without preamble, his strong hands squeezing her buttocks. He knew she was ready, knew she wanted this – wanted him. They had almost lost their eternity together, this was not going to be a gentle, tender act. This was primitive, twin souls reuniting with no inhibition or restraint.

  “I need this, Talia, I need you,” he groaned as he thrust hard and deep into her swollen sex. It clung to his manhood, adjusting to his enormous girth, her intimate juices flowing freely to ease his way.

  “I need you,” she gasped, “I always will. Bonded for all time, Isaac.”

  “Bonded for all time, Talia, for all eternity.”

  His thrusts became evermore urgent, ramming her against the bed. He grasped her hips, pulling her back onto him as he took her again and again and again. Her breath escaped in tiny gasps as she revelled in the feeling of completion. One with Isaac, her husband, her destiny…

  He pulled out of her, gathering her up into his arms as if she were a doll for him to play with. She was her king’s toy, a slave to his love. It had once been her greatest fear but now it was a dream come true to belong to him so completely. Anything he desired she would gladly do. She was pliant and unresisting as he flung her back onto the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. She opened them wide, as bold as any whore, and he thrust back inside her, leaning forwards to whisper in her ear.

  “I love you as no other has ever loved before, Wanwisa. I just had to look into your exquisite eyes.”

  His words were perfection, their connection absolute as they journeyed to the spirit realms together. She was not just Isaac’s toy, she was his treasured, beloved wife. His slave, his soulmate, his everything. She ran her hands over his muscled stomach, and their eyes locked as their lips met in an eternal kiss. I love you for eternity and beyond. His manhood jerked as he blessed her with his royal seed and her sex responded with an ecstatic climax of its own. Her muscles clenched around him, their shared pleasure a blessing from the spirit realms, the merging of two bodies and two souls. Long, intense and so, so sweet, the sensations lingered until Isaac became part of her. She no longer knew where he ended and she began.

  And they had been so very close to losing this wonder…

  “I love you as no other has ever loved before. Thank God, I have you back inside of me.”

  “It is where I belong.”

  “Where you belong,” she whispered as their lips trembled together, and the urgency and need were replaced by deep peace and contentment.

  “For eternity and beyond.”

  “For eternity and beyond.”

  Resolution

  Poor Talia was blushing furiously, her cheeks the colour of the finest rubies. The locked door had made their erotic escapade painfully obvious, and Abraham was nobly trying to ignore their crumpled clothing and the heady smell of sex in the air. Isaac grinned as he straightened his shirt for the umpteenth time.

  “My rest has revived me, Abra, I feel remarkably well now.”

  “I am pleased to hear that, Sire, I am sure Talia has taken extremely good care of you.”

  There was only the tiniest hint of amusement in Abraham’s eyes; he was far too much of a gentleman to indulge in ribald banter with a lady present. But Isaac was not. He smirked at his friend and raised his eyebrows, chuckling at Talia’s reaction.

  “Such a cruel, heartless husband.”

  She pouted prettily as she smoothed out her dirty, wrinkled shirt. The most exquisite being in the universe belonged to him. He stared at her in sudden awe, struck by his good fortune.

  “What did you say, Wanwisa?”

  He brushed the backs of his fingers over her neck, teasing her mercilessly. She sighed.

  “I am just a toy, a receptacle created for Your Majesty’s pleasure.”

  She had lost none of her wit. He stroked her cheek, and she rubbed it against his hand like an affectionate cat.

  “Yes, you are my precious, treasured toy, and I want to play with you every minute of every day until the end of time.”

  “As I wish to play with my beautiful husband until eternity and beyond.”

  Her eyes flashed in warning, forbidding any further references to toys. He chuckled. “But not with any fruit knives involved, I hope!” She giggled, turning her head to press her lips against his hand, and he wondered if they would ever leave the spirit realms again. Such harmony flowed between them now. A mortal king and his visionary queen existed in another plane of being and all because of true love.

  Abraham cleared his throat theatrically and smiled as they turned to him. “Rowan and Jenna are awaiting us, if you are finished here and ready for dinner?”

  Isaac was starving, his stomach contracting in protest at its lack of food, but that was the least of his concerns. His physical body could wait for its comfort. He had to behave like his Lokian wife and concentrate on his higher self, fight for harmony with Talia’s people.

  They walked the labyrinth of passageways again, but they were deserted no longer. A multitude of excited people had appeared, teeming masses intent on being the first to congratulate Talia and her king. Everyone knew Talia and Jenna were safe, and normal life had resumed in the Lokian village. At the moment that consisted of people lurking in every corner, waiting
for Talia and her new husband to appear. Isaac was not deluded, he knew Talia was the important one here. He was just the man she had deigned to marry, an appendage to the splendour of the greatest visionary alive. She clutched his hand and whispered soothingly in his ear, “It is always like this, we do everything together as a community. I know it can be overwhelming.” He stared into her turquoise eyes and squeezed her hand in thanks, his perceptive, empathetic wife. His head spun as they were greeted again and again and again by smiling auburn-haired, blue-eyed Lokians. Talia and Isaac, may you be blessed with many shared journeys to the spirit realms. Those sacred words were repeated time and time again, their warmth and sincerity most affecting. And there was something else, something new to Isaac. There was little deference or awe in the Lokians’ behaviour, to them he was just another man. They treated him with the courtesy and respect they would show any living being, his royal title unimportant. There was no grovelling on the floor, no deep bows or curtseys. To be treated as a man and not a king was a strange adjustment but not an unpleasant one. He would never be revered by the Lokians because of his position, he would have to earn their respect as he had with his wife. That would be good for him.

  Talia was radiant, smiling up at him, her eyes luminous as she thanked yet another well-wisher. He suddenly felt exhausted as if he could fall asleep on the spot. His ordeal had left him weaker than he cared to admit to his new wife. He was sapped of all energy, his body heavy and listless, but his exhaustion was combined with exhilaration and euphoria. It was a surreal combination and increased his feeling of otherworldliness, his mind too drained to comprehend the strange new world it was living in. There was so much wonder to absorb, the otherness of life in the Lokian village both bewildering and bewitching. He was determined to immerse himself in Lokian culture, understand Talia’s background so he could make her truly happy.

  “Rowan and Jenna are waiting in here, Your Majesty.”

  Isaac nodded to Bernard who seemed remarkably at home, talking and laughing with a group of Lokian men underneath a tall oak tree. If his valued friend and advisor could adapt so quickly then so could he.

  “What the…?”

  A familiar, insistent cry rang out; an ear-piercing screech, a greeting…

  “Epiphany!”

  “Epiphany is here?” Isaac was stunned. The bird had accompanied Talia on her mission, he had not imagined it.

  “Of course, Your Majesty. Epiphany is extremely fond of you. He remembers you introduced him to me. He was worried about you and insisted on accompanying us here.”

  An angel hawk had been worried about him? Isaac was sure he didn’t look very regal at the moment, his mouth was hanging open like a fool’s.

  “Epiphany.”

  The hawk appeared at the open window opposite, perching imperiously on the sill.

  “Come!”

  Talia held out her arm and the bird swooped elegantly towards her, landing as gently as a mouse, his piercing golden eyes intent on Isaac’s.

  “You see, Your Majesty? He is relieved to find you safe and well.”

  Epiphany pushed his head hard against Isaac’s chest, demanding his attention. Totally bemused, Isaac slowly lifted his hand to brush his fingertips lightly over the hawk’s snow white neck.

  “Taking your life in your hands there, Sire.”

  Isaac grinned at Bernard. He had escaped the terrible threat of castration but might now lose his fingers to Talia’s spirit animal. Ah, well… He smiled at his beautiful wife who was chirruping softly to the bird. “Good boy, Epiphany, that’s right, be gentle with my husband, he is infinitely precious to me.”

  Good God. He had to face Rowan and Jenna and somehow negotiate a blissful future for them all through a haze of tears! It wouldn’t do. He hastily blinked them away, firm in his resolve. These next few hours were vital. This was for Talia.

  “Shall we?”

  Abraham gestured to the open door and Isaac nodded as his friend stepped back to let them enter the room first. They were greeted by enormous welcoming smiles from Rowan and Jenna who seemed to find nothing unusual about having a bird of prey in their midst. There were no chairs in the tiny room, only huge soft cushions that covered most of the floor. Jenna and Rowan were nestled amidst them, her head resting on his shoulder, their hands tightly clasped together. Rowan seemed relaxed now his wife’s attacker was dead and chopped up into tiny pieces. He rose to greet them.

  “Please, don’t get up.”

  Rowan smiled and nodded at Isaac as he sank back down beside his wife.

  “Oh, Talia! Your hawk is so much happier now you are reunited with Isaac. It is delightful to see.”

  The haunted expression in Jenna’s eyes had lifted now she was safely home. It was exactly what Isaac needed to see. All the suffering and trauma of the day were eclipsed by the radiance of her smile, and he stared for a moment, transfixed by her quiet serenity. Talia’s guru Clyde stood just inside the door and was crooning softly under his breath, his eyes shining as they examined Epiphany.

  “Yes, Epiphany was so worried about Isaac, weren’t you, sweetheart? But you’re happy now, aren’t you?”

  The hawk pecked gently at Talia’s caressing fingers, a bird of prey’s version of a tender kiss. The three Lokians nodded gravely as if everything Talia said made perfect sense. Isaac felt as if he had wandered into a different universe and once again it was not an unpleasant feeling…

  “Isaac, husband of Talia, you have a pure and adventurous spirit. Your soul seeks meaning and spiritual growth.”

  Clyde’s impossibly wise yet kindly eyes bored into Isaac’s, leaving him vulnerable and exposed. Just like Talia when she looked at him… This was a Lokian gift – and an unnerving one. They had the ability to sense other people’s deepest dreams and desires – and their most terrible fears. Being with Talia had accustomed him to this strange sensation of spiritual nakedness, and he was able to look peaceably back at Clyde without fear. The old man chuckled.

  “You love your wife, King Isaac, you hear all she has to say and revere the essence of her spirit. It is exactly what Talia deserves – she is a unique and exceptional soul.”

  “She is a miracle. I am the luckiest man alive.” Isaac’s voice was fervent, and Clyde’s smile broadened. He nodded softly.

  “Yes, you are, as Talia is the luckiest woman. You have both been blessed. The spirit realms move in mysterious ways but they always have a plan.” Clyde turned his eyes to Talia. “Isn’t that so, little cherub?”

  Little cherub. Talia’s relationship with the old man was enchanting, she looked at him as if he was the wisest, best-loved grandfather that ever lived. And he clearly adored her.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Thank you, Clyde, for your beautiful words. You see the truth of my husband’s spirit.”

  The old man caressed the angel hawk’s snowy white chest. “A spirit that is one with yours, little cherub. May you be blessed with many more shared journeys to the spirit realms.”

  Isaac’s mouth fell open again as Clyde winked and ushered them over to sit on the cushions opposite Jenna and Rowan. More shared journeys to the spirit realms, more. Clyde knew. He saw inside their souls, saw the very essence of them. Well, he was Talia’s teacher, his spiritual gifts must be exceptional.

  “I do hope you are feeling better, Your Majesty.”

  Talia scowled and opened her mouth as if to speak, but Isaac crushed her hand in his.

  “Ow.” She whimpered and shot him a sad little glance, but he simply smiled and turned to Rowan.

  “Much better, thanks to the tender care I have received from my beautiful wife.”

  Talia glared ferociously at Abraham as he bit his lip, clearly remembering the locked door of her hut and all that must have gone on behind it. Thankfully Rowan was oblivious.

  “Please, have a drink of tea before we go for dinner. There are things that need to be said.”

  Yes, there are, many things. Isaac nodded, squeezing Talia’s hand again as she tremb
led beside him. This meant so much to her, he had to make it work, ensure her future happiness with her people. As Clyde served tea, Epiphany soared from Talia’s arm, circling the room, before perching majestically on the windowsill. The Lokians didn’t react at all and Isaac shook his head in silent wonder. This truly was a different world. They sat with Abraham on the cushions facing the three Lokians and drank tea Clyde had made from herbs and flowers of the forest. It was delicate and calming, with the scent of lavender and the taste of fennel and camomile flowers. The fragrant brew calmed Isaac’s senses, the sweet scent as relaxing as the taste. He made a mental note to learn its ingredients, certain its calming effect would prove invaluable when negotiating treaties with visiting dignitaries.

  “Jenna has told me everything, and I am indebted to you for looking after her so well after her terrible ordeal.” A soft choking sound escaped from Rowan’s throat, and Talia’s hand tightened around Isaac’s. He squeezed it again, his eyes fixed on Rowan’s. “You did everything you could to aid Jenna’s recovery, and now we can look forward to a future with no long-lasting damage to her spirit. It will take time, but Jenna is sure her emotional wounds will heal, she is determined not to let one evil man taint her life.” Rowan sucked in a deep breath of air, his eyes flashing dangerously as he mentioned Jenna’s attacker. It would take time for his emotional wounds to heal as well – and Isaac understood completely. If it had been Talia… He suppressed a shudder and stared calmly into Rowan’s eyes. “I hope you will accept my sincere apologies, Your Majesty, we treated you appallingly, it was not the Lokian way. I am ashamed and sorrier than you will ever know. I will not make excuses, but I hope you can understand why we behaved as we did. Clyde saw your soldiers take Talia and we naturally assumed the worst.” Rowan sighed and stared Isaac straight in the eyes, his gaze honest and unwavering. “Your Majesty, everything we did was motivated by the desire to free our precious women, rescue them from the torment we were certain they were suffering at your hands. When we abducted you our need for justice had never been stronger. Crimes against humanity must be punished, it is the way of the spirit realms, the natural order of things. We wanted only to rescue Talia and Jenna and rid the mortal world of an evil soul.”