Chapter 19

The confusion Arlena experienced was unlike anything else. There was nothing that brought her happiness more than seeing him alive and by her side again. But the pain from the war weighed heavier than any joy. She didn’t feel a particular sense of satisfaction from seeing dragons defeated. Instead, she couldn’t stop thinking about how many of them were in pain and how many didn’t return. Dragon or elf, both were living creatures capable of suffering, and she still couldn’t believe that all of this was only for the sake of that round metal thing Boren called money.

"Is it over now?" she asked Boren while tending to his wound.

"What's over?" he replied.

"The war?" she clarified. "The dragons were defeated, and there are no more soldiers left. Does that mean the war is over?"

Boren couldn’t help but smile. "Unfortunately, that’s not how it works."

"Then what’s next?"

He exhaled, watching her hands gently caressing the inflamed skin around his wound. It was still painful, but at the same time, he found solace in her touch. "Reinforcements will arrive," he replied shortly, then hastened to explain. "More soldiers. More weapons. And then, we'll try again."

"And what if you're defeated again?" She withdrew her hands, meeting his gaze directly. "Someday the dragons will run out of soldiers."

"That’s unlikely. Elves will run out earlier," he said, immediately regretting his words. "Dragons are not accustomed to defeat. This time was an exception."

She dropped the cloth she used to wash his wound into the bowl of water and made to leave. Arlena didn’t really understand why she wanted to run away, but she knew she couldn’t be around him at that moment.

"Wait!" Boren grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to their bed. He wanted to say something soothing, to give her hope or at least to justify dragons, but the words eluded him. "You probably think that I’m a monster," he blurted out unexpectedly.

"No," she said softly, avoiding his gaze. "I don’t know. I don’t understand why it all has to happen."

He pulled her closer until Arlena lay on his bare chest. "Me too," Boren said calmly. "Me too." He caressed her hair, tangling his fingers in its soft waves, as his other hand started sliding carefully over her back. “But there’s nothing we can do. —Only keep playing by the world’s rules.”

"I missed it," she murmured sadly into his chest. "Your touch, and scent."

Boren didn’t reply. He slipped his fingers under her skirt and panties, gently stroking the cool skin of her buttocks. In one motion, he lifted her, bringing her lips to his while his fingers slipped between her buttocks and plunged inside her already moist pussy.

Arlena kissed him passionately. His taste felt dear and warm. She thrust her tongue as deep into his mouth as she could and arched her back to expose her pussy more to his fingers. His fingers moved slowly inside her as his other hand raised her dress and pulled down her panties.

"I want to feel you inside," she murmured. "How is your wound? Wouldn’t it hurt?"

"No, it’s fine," Boren replied. "Take off your dress. I want to see you."

She obediently straightened her back and pulled up the thin fabric of her dress. Tiny goosebumps covered her skin from the temperature difference, and Arlena felt her nipples harden.

"You’re so beautiful," Boren exhaled, caressing her body's skin. With the outer side of his fingers, he glided over her chest, warm stomach, and hips.

For a brief moment, Boren felt as if he were dreaming. The medicine Arola prescribed him for the pain made him dizzy, and the sight of Arlena’s naked body induced a slight vertigo.

"Are you alright?" Arlena touched his cheek.

"Kiss me," he whispered, his voice more of an order than a plea.

Arlena obediently bent her head and licked his lips, losing herself in his warmth. At that moment, she was ready to do anything to taste him again.

She didn’t let him take the lead; any movement might reopen his wound. So she rose on her knees above him and impatiently untied the laces on his pants. Still gazing into his eyes, Arlena pulled down the rough fabric of his pants and finally touched the scorching skin of his length.

Boren exhaled deeply and arched his back under her from the pleasure of her touch. With her warm hand, Arlena caressed his cock gently, but firmly enough for Boren to feel the impending waves of pleasure. He bent his neck up and moaned loudly. The tension within him was so strong that there was no more distinction between pleasure and pain, and as the rain intensified, so did his desire.

As if sensing his thoughts, Arlena rose on her knees once again and sat back on his cock, enveloping him deep inside her hot pussy. Only the thunder could muffle their moans. Finally, their long-awaited desire was fulfilled.

I can’t go through that again, Arlena thought, overcome by the shivers within her. If I lose him again, I’ll lose my mind or even die. It’s wrong, so wrong, but I need him to always be next to me.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his fingers touching her lips. "I missed you," Boren whispered. "So much…" He didn’t finish his thought as she kissed him passionately, quickening the movements of her hips.

"Touch me," she mumbled, still tasting his lips as she guided his hand to her breast. "Harder," Arlena's tone sounded more commanding this time.

He squeezed her breast firmly, and with his other hand, he grasped her bottom, urging her deeper onto him, penetrating her with a new force.

Nothing seemed to be enough for either of them.

The thunder intensified, and unwillingly, Arlena bit Boren’s lip, as if subconsciously wanting to punish him for leaving her. “Sorry,” she mumbled. But then, a wave of ecstasy crashed over her, and she surrendered to the gravity of their passion. Arlena scratched his shoulder until thin drops of blood appeared. “Oh,” she mumbled through the fog in her mind. “I’m so sorry…”

At the same moment, as she wanted to move away to inspect the new wounds she caused Boren, he pressed her closer to his chest and intensified his movements, penetrating her as deeply as he could in his uncomfortable position.

Their breaths and moans mingled with the noise of rain and wind, painting a beautiful picture of entangled bodies in the orange light of the silent candles.