Skyclad Whispers

By Ari Thatcher

© Ari Thatcher 2010

Ana stood alone, skyclad in the clearing, raising her arms to the hunter's moon. The cleansing ritual purified her soul, freed her mind.

From behind her came whispers, the spirits of the Old Ones encouraging, discouraging, she never knew for sure.

And he was out there. As his gaze traveled up the backs of her legs the skin there warmed, and then her buttocks. He must be circling the clearing. His warmth brushed over her hip, stroked her belly and came to rest on her breasts.

Focus.

He knew he should not have come. This was her time, hers and the Goddess's. His energy kept her earthbound when she longed to soar. She closed a door in her mind, keeping him out.

After her prayer she lowered her arms and gave thanks, then walked toward the oak tree where she'd left her cloak. The whispers fell silent and in their place crickets sang, a much more calming sound.

From the shadows she saw a pair of golden eyes. She froze. The creature's black coat blended in the night but she knew it well. It often appeared in her clearing.

The black leopard growled as Ana slowly reached for her cloak. Its eyes glowed less than two feet away. There was no chance of escape if it lunged.

She drew in a deep breath, both to calm herself and to keep the cat waiting. Her hand hovered above her garment as she pondered her next move.

Then, in one swift act she grabbed the cloak and tossed it over the leopard while leaping around the tree and breaking into a run. Heart pounding, she followed the familiar path toward her cottage, holding her breath to listen for her pursuer.

Its initial cry faded into the night and the only sound she heard was her feet hitting the dirt. She knew the cat had freed itself by now and would gain on her in no time. Her body tensed, waiting for the blow she knew would come.

She felt the air shift and ducked to her left, hitting the grassy ground hard as the leopard soared past. Lying uncomfortably on her hip, she dared not move.

The cat landed gracefully on the path and calmly turned toward her. Its gold eyes stared as it lowered its head. Ana held her breath and waited.

In the moonlight she watched it crouch, ready to spring, and she closed her eyes. When it hit, it bowled her onto her back. Daring to look, she stared into its face, felt its breath on her chin.

"Please," she whispered, although she wasn't sure for what she begged. Her breasts swelled in anticipation of her lover's touch.

The cat lowered its head, sniffed at her neck and laved along her jaw. Its growling purr rumbled in her ear. She gasped at the rough sensation on her skin.

The breathing in her ear changed and Karl took his human form, braced over her on his hands and knees. "Did you hurt yourself when you fell?" he asked.

"Not badly. I doubt my hip will bruise. I do wish you would just wait for me in the cabin."

"And miss out on the harvest moon? Making love to you under the trees and the stars?"

She ran her fingers through his black hair falling over his shoulders. It always seemed softer after he shifted. His little game had become a routine for them and she wouldn't admit how much it turned her on to know he watched her from outside the clearing.

His warm tongue trailed down her neck to tease her nipple, making the skin around it tighten. She arched, trying to force herself into his mouth. Silently begging him to suckle. He answered by pulling her entire breast between his lips.

As he shifted to lie beside her, he ran his hand down her side. "Anastacia, you are still the most beautiful creature I've been blessed with the pleasure of knowing."

Taunting her, his fingers brushed across her belly and skirted her curls to stroke her thigh. "I love your smile when you open your eyes to see me beside you in the morning. Your laughter when we talk."

She opened her legs to him, telling him what she wanted, but he continued to tease her, to touch her everywhere else. "Why are you making me wait?"

"Who's making who wait?" He dipped a finger into her wet heat and she cried out in relief. Then he pulled away to stroke the back of her thigh.

"You, you're killing me here. Love me, baby, please." She lifted her hips in appeal.

Lowering his head he sucked her nipple briefly. "I do love you. I've loved you forever and you know it. You love me, yet you make me wait."

Her hips rocked and she tugged at his arm. "No, I'm not. I want you now. I need you now."

"You have me now, and always." He kissed the ticklish spot below her ear. "But don't keep me waiting. Marry me, Anastacia."

The tension in her body drained. Why did he always return to this? "Baby, please don't spoil this. There is no point in talking. We've been over it before. I don't believe in marriage."

Ana cupped the back of his neck to bring his lips to hers. She tasted then, nibbled the fleshy lower lip and smiled at his purr of delight. She knew his buttons as well as he knew hers.

They fitted each other like no one else. In her eyes they were mated already. No piece of paper could make them more so. This discussion was as old as the oak towering above them.

She found his erection and wrapped her fingers around it, squeezing gently. Spread the moisture on his tip. Stroking, she listened for the change in the sounds that escaped him. "I want you inside me," she whispered.

"Soon." His fingers pushed inside again and began a slow rhythm. "As soon as I have my answer."

Her legs spread as if asking him to enter. Electricity pulsed from his touch, lighting her on fire. She let the moment take her away, focused on nothing but how he made her feel. The knot inside her grew, and poised to explode when his thumb brushed over her swollen nub.

Then his hand left her. "Marry me."

She cried out. "Don't stop."

"I've only paused. Waiting for your answer."

"It's a piece of paper. It means nothing to me." Her voice held all the anguish her body was feeling at being cut off from completion.

"It's a ceremony. It means as much to me as you do."

She sighed. He knew the laws of the court meant little to her. The law of the universe was her guide, a larger, more encompassing rule.

As she considered his plea, a calming warmth washed over her, along with a realization. He mattered more than any laws. Giving him this boon would enrich her, not deplete her. Still, she cringed at giving the courts power over her.

She lifted her gaze to his. "A handfast."

"A what?"

"A handfast. I will wed you in a handfast ceremony. No court."

Taking her hand in his, he studied it as he kissed each fingertip in turn. "You'll marry me in a ceremony. With witnesses."

A smile stretched her lips. He knew her too well. "Yes. In the town square if you please, with everyone invited. With the priestess presiding."

Those sensual purrs of his stirred, making his body vibrate against hers. "And you will be my wife." He placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I will be your wife. For all time."

His growl startled her as he captured her mouth in a flaming kiss. Years of buried emotions unleashed, and she couldn't get enough of his touch. Her hands roamed, looking for a place to land, but wanting to feel all of him.

Karl lay between her legs, taking her swiftly, driving deep. Her hips rose to meet him and in an instant, she was on the edge again. She clutched his butt, desperate for completion.

He thrust deeper still, stroking in and out. Her cries rose in pitch, tension spreading through her. When she thought she could take no more, she shattered, ecstasy filling her along with his cries of completion.

As his body relaxed, his weight became heavier on it and she welcomed the pleasure. She wrapped her arms tightly around his ribcage and planted a kiss on the side of his head.

With a sigh, she smiled. Her husband for all time.

The End

Watch for more stories from the village of Whispering Valley, beginning with Threshold of Desire.