Once our clothing was out of the way, he leaned me back into the bed. Again going against expectation, he kissed me and began caressing my body, whereas I'd expected him to take me. I could see and feel proof that he was ready and wanting. I began reciprocating, feeling whatever part of him I could reach.
It seemed to amuse him that the solidity of his body turned me on. When he finally touched my moist center, I shivered and moaned. He seemed to relish my reaction to him. He teased me, toying about the entrance but not entering. Squirming, I said his name with a hint of frustration.
Which he rewarded, pressing his fingers deep inside. My back arched from the pleasure, and I gasped sharply. Much to his pleasure, he had me squirming and panting in just a small moment. Still, he was gentle, even when I dug my claws into his shoulders during an orgasm.
I gentled my hands, retracting my claws and trying to catch my breath. This is when he replaced his fingers with his cock. It was thick and long and certainly did fill me up. I moaned deeply at the sensation, continuing to moan as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
I wrapped my legs about his waist, as well, before his hands found my hips. Much to my surprise and delight, he decided to stop with the gentleness and began to thrust into me in earnest. Lifting my hips slightly higher, he found a deeper angle to hit.
I could no longer control myself, I went wild. Rubbing myself against him in any way I could, kissing him hotly and trying to get closer to him, to give him more access. It was only after our mutual climax that I regained any kind of composure. Panting, heart racing, I lay next to him in a sort of daze.
He stroked my head gently. I purred in response. After a moment, I noticed he'd fallen asleep. Finding that adorable, I covered us up and cuddled up to him, turning onto my side while facing away from him, also going to sleep. I woke just before dawn, feeling a warm mass behind me. I twisted to look at him.
After looking at his face for a moment, I noticed he was waking up. "Morning." He mumbled, "How'd you sleep?"
"Mm.. without dream or nightmare. You?" I asked.
"Eh, dreamed something. No idea what it was." He said, sitting up and beginning to stretch. Impulsively, I reached out and tickled his side. Reflexively, he caught me, pulling me in front of him. He paused. "Oof. Reflexes are on point today. You ok?"
"Get attacked a lot, huh?" I asked. "I'll be more careful to not trigger you.. and yes, I'm fine."
He settled me in his lap, "Yes. I get attacked quite a bit."
I leaned against him. "Do you like cuddles?"
"An embrace of a peaceful nature is far better than what I normally get. So yes, I do." He said.
I shifted until I straddled his lap, then wrapped my arms and legs around him, and tucking my head under his chin. "I only like to cuddle sometimes. But I'll do it if you ask."
"This won't remain a cuddle for much longer if you're like that." He warned.
"It can be both." I pointed out. "Good exercise."
He chuckled, grabbing my ass. "Who am I to pass up a good work out?"
I'd already felt him starting to press against me, I simply moved my hips slightly, and he was back inside me. I kept holding onto him, keeping my arms and legs wrapped around him. The gentle rocking of his hips started to drive me crazy. Groaning, I kissed him. He felt perfect inside me, almost like a missing piece.
Mid orgasm, he rose, hooking his elbows about my knees and raising my legs upwards. My shoulders pressed into the bed, and his hands locked into mine, pinning them by me head. This position granted him even deeper penetration, which he took full advantage of.
All I could do was hold onto his hands while he pounded into me mercilessly. I cried out his name breathlessly several times. This seemed to both boost his efforts and amuse him greatly. I heard him chuckle even. I came twice more before we finished. This resulted in the need for a bath, and one more round.
The man's recovery time was legendary. Which seemed to amuse him once I informed him of my opinion. We dressed ourselves and headed downstairs, where we had breakfast in the tavern. Once we'd finished he informed me he had a job to do, so he'd be heading out. I leaned my head against his arm briefly, chuffed and told him to be safe.
"Heh, same to you. Are you going back to the ruins?" He asked.
I nodded. "Yes, I will be. There's a lot to do to make it more comfortable. Perhaps I'll find a druid to grow some plants there. I'll also need to see if I can get a priest to lay the dead to rest."
"Yeah, ghosts aren't easy to deal with, so it would be for the best. I know a good one I can send out there if you want." He offered.
"It's alright. I can find one." I said, "But thanks for the offer."
"Alright. Just try to find a free priest. Not one tied to the local church." Dirthin said.
"Oh, I'll do so, then." I said.
Once we paid and stepped out, he kissed my forehead and headed out. I waited for him to leave my sight before heading to the shopping district. There I began to hunt for the things I needed to clean and repair the town. Having successfully found what I needed, I started poking around, just to see what I could find. I ended up buying a bag, food, toiletries, and more clothes.
It was when I turned away from a vendor that I saw a person in cleric's robes walking with a white haired woman and a blonde child. I blinked, wondering at my luck, and walked over to the group. I caught them as the woman handed the child some eggy bread. I made sure they'd see me approaching. The child eyed me in an unfriendly manner.
"Excuse me, Cleric, might I have a word with you?" I asked, ignoring the child.
"Hmm? Uh, yes? What can I do for you?" He asked.
"I found some ruins recently that is filled with bodies.. I was wondering if you or one of your fellows of the cloth could lay them to rest." I said. "You see, I already was chased by ghosts and don't wish to again."
He seemed to light up. "Oh! You need me for actual priest duties!" He smiled at the woman, then looked back at me. "Yes I can take care of it for you." He cleared his throat. "About how many need to be laid to rest?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I think it's a relic of the war against the orcs." I replied. "I'm planning on cleaning it up and living there."
"Ah yes. I know of that place." He replied. "It's supposed to be impossible to get in though."
I tapped my pendant, "I had no reason to fear."
The woman grabbed the cleric's arm. "Is that willing?" Her tone was slightly hostile.
"It is not." I replied amused. "Nor is my being in this continent which is his play ground."
"I feel a little left out here.. what is the symbol?" The man asked.
"Let's talk privately." I said.
"Alright. I know a place, come on." The kid said.
"Goodness. Another unusual child." I said, following the adults and kid.
"Another?" Plight asked.
"Mhm. The day I arrived here I was taken to see a little Master that had a whole city built. And here's a little mature and take charge boy." I said. Keeping it vague.
The boy shrugged. "Gotta keep it mature for my line of work. If you ever call Isarial 'little master' don't do it in front of him. He's got a big enough head as it is."
"Ah. You all know him." I commented. "Then you're probably the priest Dirthin was going to ask to do the task for me."
"That- that's debatable. Dirthin doesn't tend to ask me for things. It's possible though." He said.
Once we entered a building, the boy indicated it was alright to talk freely. "This is a symbol of Asmodeus' ownership." I told them directly.
"Ah. Asmodeus again. He does seem to be everywhere." Plight said.
"Yeah. Especially this continent. The gods check him outside of this continent, so he really only goes if called." I explained.
"So we really are his personal playground. Why?" He asked.
"The gods turned away from this cursed land a while ago." I shrugged.
"That certainly doesn't explain how or why, but that's neither here nor there. I am still willing to do the job for you." He said.
"I most certainly appreciate it. I'll help with the burying. I just can't bless them." I told him.
"You said it's a relic of war?" The woman said.
"Yes. Uninhabited." I nodded.
"And you're going to live there by yourself?" She asked.
"Yes." I nodded, wondering why she was asking.
"Are you going to move people there?" She asked.
"Probably not, though I won't turn people away." I shrugged.
"Then if you'd permit it, in the future I may move there, probably with Plight." The woman said.
"That's fine." I replied.
"Haah. Performing priestly duties and house shopping on the same day. This will be an odd day. Were you planning on leaving immediately, or shall I meet you there?" He asked.
"Well, maybe you could point me in the direction of a druid? That would make it a simpler proc..ess... what's that expression, ah. You're a druid?" I asked. The woman had began to look very amused.
"Well, what are you needing a druid for?" She asked.
"I was hoping to make the ruins more like a jungle. Where I'm from is covered in trees." I explained.
"Well, sounds like a chance to show my pupil how to grow plants." She smiled at the blonde boy. "If you're up for it."
The boy debated for a moment before shrugging and commenting he was available. So I said we were free to head there now. When heading there, I rented two horses for them, because at least the woman and child would be heading back tonight. We casually chit chatted along the way, the child and I on one horse, the priest and druid on the other.
We also made proper introductions. The priest is Plight, druid is Nia and child is Dean. I ended up telling them a little more about how I'd come to meet Isarial. Starting with running into Dirthin, and ending with my starting a relationship with him. Then I contacted Baana. I told them I needed a sack of rice, some rice seedlings, some tree seeds and some pinecone lilies.
Once we arrived, I recieved what I'd asked for. Pleased, I gave Nia the tree and lily seeds before helping Plight with the corpses. Hours after we'd started, I was drenched in sweat. The effort of digging the holes, transporting corpses and such had worn on me, especially in the hot sun.
"Maybe you should take a break.." Plight commented, offering me some water.
"I'm fine.." I panted, reaching for the water. I fainted instead.
I woke some hours later, feeling much cooler with damp fur. I was in the room I'd cleaned. I got up and went to find them all. When I left the building, I noticed jungle trees towering above the house. I was pleased. Continuing on, I found all the bodies had been moved. When I reached the area they were being buried, I saw Dean sitting, eating a snack, and the adults burying the bodies.
I apologized, and Nia recommended I take it easier on my body. I'd fainted of heat exhaustion she said. That was most embarrassing. I helped finish burying the bodies and Plight did his ritual and prayers for them. Either way, thanks to all the help, we got all the bodies handled. Even the one from the basement. All buried and blessed.
Nia told us all this place had once been called Wellspring Town. So I said I'd call it the Wellspring Villa. I started to begin reconstructing the broken parts of the walls, when I asked if they could give me a hand with planting the rice shoots. I explained what it was, and they helped me form and fill the paddies; flooded fields.
Their help allowed me to not worry about it. I paid them for their time and efforts. Well, I paid Dean and Plight. Nia split hers between the two. Nia then asked if I'd like further help repairing the place, which I declined, saying they'd done more than enough to help me already. But they are welcome to visit.
With that, they headed out. In earnest, I began fixing the walls. It was later in the day, and much cooler. I worked until it was late in the night, it's not like the dark was any different to my eyes than daylight. It was part of my Devil's Sight. Anyways, I made myself a small meal after building the wall, and headed to bed.
The next day, I finished repairing the wall and started on the courtyard, which I tore up, and began digging it out some. I took a break to make myself some lunch and took out my communication device. After thinking it over, I contacted Jaden, mainly out of curiosity.
"Hello, Jaden. This is Vexie. How goes your investigation?" I asked.
"The investigation is going fine, except the ones who hired these people aren't on this continent. If makes it a little difficult." He said.
"Which continent are they on?" I asked.
"Still trying to determine that. I've found some matching things but nothing concrete." He said.
"There are many continents." I said.
"Indeed, but nothing tells me it's taking them longer than a month to reach any of them." He said.
"I see. Alright, well, I should get back to what I was doing." I replied.
"Alrighty. Er, where are you? I can try to keep you more informed." He said.
"Hm. Well, I found a destroyed town called Wellspring Town." I said. "I decided to make it my home."
"Oh, what an interesting goal. Well, now that I know where you are I can keep you more informed." He said.
"Mm.. locals say it's cursed, anyways it's West Northwest of Valor's crest. Don't mess up paddies if you come." I told him.
"Paddies? What do you mean?" He asked.
"It's what rice fields are called. Rice grows in flooded fields called a paddy. Mm, rice is a type of grain." I explained.
"Mm. Not much of a farmer, myself." Jaden said.
"Ok. As I said, don't mess them up if you come. I'll have to hurt you." I said.
"I'll do my darnest to stay out of the fields." He promised, sounding amused.
"Good." I said, hanging up.
After I ended the contact with him, I finished cooking and ate my meal. Next, I took a brief nap in a tree before returning to working on the courtyard. Unfortunately, even working until late at night, I didn't finish it. I did the same the next day working on the courtyard all day. At least I was laying out the stone by this point.
The next day I finished working on the courtyard and began the process of transporting water to fill the quartyard, making the dug out and stone covered parts into a pool. It was slow going. I only managed to fill it a quarter of the way before I started taking down other buildings, and using their materials to fix different ones.
When I woke the next morning, I returned to filling the courtyard with water. My fourth trip was interrupted by a portal opening near the courtyard. I watched as Dirthin emerged from the portal, it shut promptly behind him. I hopped down, and walked to him through the water, dumping the buckets in as I went. Then hopped up on the side near him.
"Hey, Handsome." I said, leaning my head against his arm for a moment.
He scratched around my left ear and said, "Hello, Beauty. Seems you've been busy."
"A little bit. It's hot here." I complained. "I figured securing the walls was most important."
"Walls are important if you have enemies to keep out." Dirthin said.
"I don't have enemies here." I said. "Well, probably."
"Well, if you have no enemies I'd suggest some nice shrubbery." Dirthin said.
"Mm. Do you want a tour?" I asked.
"Sure." He said. "But do I have to tip my tour guide?"
I grinned at him, "Oh, we can work something out.."
"Ominous. I like it." He said.
I laughed, "Do you like the jungle trees? Do you climb?"
"Not since I was a cub, but I think I still got it in me." He said.
I took him on the tour, showing off the pinecone lilies and the paddies. Then took him up on the wall, where we walked the length of it, and I told him my plans for the area, and pointed out places I'd repair further or tear down. From the wall, I hopped onto a tree branch. It was nearly twenty feet from the wall.
I walked backwards making room for Dirthin to join me. He leapt easily clearing the distance. Standing next to me, he smiled and said, "Well, I can still jump."
"Very nice." I said, turning and walking along the branch before climbing higher in the tree. Having reached the top, I looked around and noticed I could see Valor's Crest from here. He joined me, of course.
"Well, that's a nice view. You could spy on me all day." He laughed. "Then again, you probably got plenty to do around here to stay busy."
"Did you want me to spy on you?" I asked. "I do have Devil's Sight."
"No, no, simply joking." He said.
"Phew. Good. I'd hate that." I said looking the other direction. "Ooh, the ocean is pretty."
"It is, but I'm not much of a fan myself. Just means lots of sand and fur combing to me." Dirthin commented.
I tucked myself against him, and placed my arms about his middle. I had said I'd try and give him cuddles. "I can make you a meal, since I have rice now."
"Hmm.. alright. I have been curious about this rice stuff." He said.
"What do you think about my courtyard?" I asked.
"It's very different from the local look. It's refreshing. You got an eye for design I guess." Dirthin said.
"I was thinking of putting fish in the watery part of the courtyard." I told him. Then I looked back towards the ocean. "So what's that darker green area?"
"That would be a swamp." Dirthin said.
"Never been to a swamp. Maybe I'll check it out sometime." I noted.
"Well, if you're gonna do that, stop by the guild and pick up the quest related to it. Apparently there is a town there that everyone has lost contact with." Dirthin said.
"I can do that. I thought it may be annoying to cuddle you. It's not really." I said.
"It's because I take such good care of my fur." Dirthin said. "You're pretty nice to hold yourself."
I snuggled him a little and purred. "There's so many different foods I can make for you."
"Well, we'll have to get busy and try some of those out." He said.
I stretched against, "I could start cooking now."
"Alright. You need any help?" He asked.
"Sure." I said. We released eachother and began climbing down the tree. I set up the kitchen and started getting ingredients ready, directing him on how to prepare them. I managed the rice myself, and soon we were cooking, which he showed to be quite skilled at. Then I mixed the sauces we needed to go with certain foods.
It took us around two hours, but we had a feast style meal ready for ourselves in the dining room. Excitedly, I prepared on a spoon what I called a perfect bite. It had my char siu, which was a moist barbecued pork, and some rice with some green onion. "Try." I encouraged him, tail wagging.
He smiled, "Alright. Let's see what we have here." And he took the bite. It seemed to appeal to him. In fact, he seemed to like all the dishes he'd helped me prepare. Though he also didn't like plain rice by itself.
There was enough food that we both got full and there was some left over. "I learned something about you." I grinned.
"Oh? And what have you gleaned, hm?" He asked.
I hopped up and went back to the kitchen, fetching a small soufflé like cheesecake and bringing it back. "Have one bite?" I asked.
"Sure?" He said confused, and taking a bite. "Alright. Now can I have the rest of it?"
"Nope." I said, grinning broadly. But I held out another bite to him.
He took the bite. "Alright. So you have learned something. I do enjoy my sweets."
I kissed his cheek and gave him the cheesecake. "Isn't it so good and fluffy?"
"It is. It is extremely fluffy." He agreed.
I happily waited for him to finish his dessert. I felt too full for much else. It was a silly thing to be so happy about. Once he'd finished he asked if he could help me in any way.
"Isn't this your time off. Shouldn't you relax?" I asked.
"My time off is essentially for me to decide. It's not like I have to run off to do a job when he assigns it." He said.
".. Why do you want to help?" I asked.
"Haven't tried construction before, figured why not." He answered.
Unsure how to take that, I said, "Alright. You can help, but you must rest, too."
"So what can I do for ya?" He asked.
I tidied the table, disposing of the remaining food, and placing the dishes in the sink to do later. "Well, I still have to fill the courtyard with water.. but you said you want to try out construction, so you can help me build up the destroyed houses, and destroy the others that I'm not keeping."
"Destruction does come easy to me." He said with a smile.
I kissed his cheek and said, "We'll see." I brought him out with me, and pointed out which places I needed destroyed. Practically all of them, frankly. I got to work reforming the blocks I was gonna use to make the foundations of the houses. He did a marvelous job of destroying the houses.
By the time I finished lining the foundation. I was started to feel off. So I found a shady spot to cool off. "Hey, come rest a moment." I called to him.
He set a large hammer down, wiped his brow and walked over, sitting down next to me. "Phew. The heat really sneaks up on ya."
I nodded, "Yeah. Got a case of heat exhaustion a few days ago."
"Well, I'm glad you're alright. Heat exhaustion can kill you if it's bad enough." He said.
"Oh. I just kinda passed out. Nia and Plight saw to it that I was fine." I said, embarrassed.
"Wait, Plight? Ha!" He found that amusing.
"Yeah. Nia and her apprentice helped gro the trees and seedlings. And Plight helped me get rid of all the bodies, and laid them to rest. Nia actually talked about moving here." I informed him.
"Mm, that could be food for them." He said.
"I don't even think they'd bother me much because she seemed to like the idea of few neighbors. And it makes the villa a little safer." I said.
"Yeah, it's always good to have a priest around." Dirthin agreed.
"Plight seemed super thrilled about..." my voice trailed off. I felt magic shift near us and saw a portal was opening near us. I stood up, quickly, nearly protective.
He stood up, and lifted the hammer. "Either we're about to have some company or some fun."
There was a knock from the gate as three Tigrine stepped from the portal. I knew them, of course. My aunt, Baana and a cousin Shere. My eyes locked on Baana.
He looked at me, "Yeah, I don't know these ones. Is it company or fun? It's never both."
"This is Baana, a servant, my aunt Nakti Dayit, and her oldest son Shere." I introduced them to him, without intrucing him to them. "If you would see who is at the gate?"
"Eh, sure. Guests all around." He said casually. Heading towards the gate.
"Vex. I see you lived." Shere commented.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't recall inviting any of you." I replied.
He took a step towards me, but my aunt placed a hand on his shoulder. She offered me a paper. "Go on."
I didn't look at it or take it. I noticed Dirthin had let the people at the gate in. He seemed to direct them towards the mansion, and then he came back. My aunt switched to our native language. "+I must insist you read the contents and sign+"
"I will not. It's obvious what it says. Baana, I am very disappointed in you." I said. Refusing to exclude Dirthin from the conversation.
Dirthin looked at me, "Everything alright here?"
"It's tense-" I began.
"Right, well, my little cousin has been missing for nearly four months." Shere interrupted me. "We need her back home. She is.. how would you say.. basically our princess."
"Princess, hm? Sorry, I'll wait my turn to speak." Dirthin said sarcastically.
"Good you understand." Shere said.
"Don't talk to him that way." I snapped. "He's not some bitch off the street."
Baana stepped back nervously. Her eyes rested on mine. Dirthin seemed to be restraining himself. I touched his arm lightly. "You needn't subject yourself to this. You can go inside if you want."
"And what? Miss all the lovely fun and conversations with family?" He replied, his annoyance showing towards the end of his sentence.
"You can beat up Shere. It might be fun. They are just here to try to take my legal birthright because claiming everything else isn't enough for them." I said, rubbing his arm soothingly. "It really is just drama, and I'm sorry that you've been bothered by it."
"So I shouldn't kill them. Alright. I'll let the drama continue." Dirthin said.
"You're just a lionfolk. Hardly a threat." Shere said.
Dirthin leaned on his hammer. "I am a Leonin. If you want to test out how big of a threat I am.. by all means."
Shere began to say something else, but my aunt interrupted him. "Vex, if you aren't going to even look at the paper, then come home with us so you may at least be back. As Shere said, you've been gone a while and your betrothed would likely prefer it."
"I do not have a betrothed. I refused that, too. But cute attempt. Just go home before I decide that your relation to my late mother isn't enough to not end you." I threatened. "And do keep in mind that I have no remorse over killing your other two sons."
She stiffened. "Be that as it may.."
"No." I said, grabbing my pendant.
Shere, who had witnessed Hell's flames toching his older brothers, stepped back. My aunt's eyes widened slightly, and they used a scroll to leave.
"If anything like that happens again, by all means, just let me know and I'll end them before they even say anything." Dirthin said.
"They'll probably target you next." I said, dropping my hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize they'd come."
He chuckled. "I am not concerned about a few more people putting me on their hit lists."
"Are you ok?" I asked, ears down.
"Yes, I'm fine. I should be asking you that." He said.
"The other visitors are people you know?" I asked.
"Apparently James sent some researchers to check out that room you were talking about." He said.
"Ah. Then do you want to see?" I asked.
"Oh, heck, why not." He said.
We headed that way, and I saw the group circling from the left. "So you went in the general direction and missed the whole assed missing part of the wall??" I picked fun at them, waving a hand at it.
"That is a rather large hole. Rather hard to miss." Dirthin noted.
"We"re researchers. We aren't paid to be observant... we're paid to study." One of them said.
"Ah. So you know nothing of thermonuclear fusion?" I asked.
"Ehm.. Indeed we have no idea what that is.." they said.
I lifted a shoulder. "I know the words, don't really understand it myself. Anyways. It's this way."
I took the men to the stairs and to the trap door. Opened it and led them to the room I found Trevor in. "If you need anything read to you, say so. There is nothing I can't read."
Dirthin looked around. "This is bizarre. Who made all this?"
"I dunno. But I did find a body in that room." I said. Pointing at the bedroom. "This was where the warforged was."
"Well if you don't mind, we'll get to work. Hopefully we'll be done soon." The researcher said.
"That's fine." I said. "Just don't mess with the machine in the next room. We might all die."