First Interlude - High Summer

I awoke from a light doze as something stroked between my legs, something firm and supple and strong and covered with silky fur, and I moaned, pulling one knee upwards and tilting my hips into the caress. A low chuckle came from beside me, and I rolled my head towards my companion.
       Vejiita was also naked, sprawled gracefully on his stomach on the mossy ground, cheek resting on his crossed arms, a slight smile on his lips and his eyes twinkling with what looked suspiciously like mischief. His tail moved from my groin, teasing, trailing deliciously up my body to curl lightly across my throat. I shivered.
       *Little warrior...*
       I caught his tail in both hands and kissed it, burying my fingers in the soft fur, grinning as he gasped and closed his eyes, body tensing. Moving slowly up his tail, stroking and scratching very gently, I shifted to lie closer to him...

He'd come to my official residence two days earlier, in a foul mood, tired and angry. I never asked him what happened during his formal meetings and conferences - they were closed to me, and to be honest I had no interest in politics. I was fully aware of my position - I was here to provide for the King's comfort, to distract him from his official duties when he needed a distraction, to encourage him to relax when required, which he didn't do nearly often enough for my liking. I was here to give him my love and loyalty as well, to remind him that there was a living, feeling being behind his royal façade, that his duties and obligations weren't the whole of him - although it sometimes felt like it, even to me. He'd flung himself down onto the bed on his back, scowling, and glared up at me. I straddled his waist, running my fingers through the ebony flame of his hair.
       "Tough day?"
       He snorted. "Why is it that the highest posts always seem to be occupied by intransigent morons?" He shook his head. "No, I know why - because the positions are hereditary. An overhaul of the entire administrative system is needed, I believe."
       I stroked his face, and he nuzzled my palm - then peered up at me from beneath lowered lashes and bit gently at the base of my thumb. I gasped, and he smiled, reaching up to pull me down on top of him.
       "But perhaps not right this minute..."

An hour later, hot, breathless, panting and feeling thoroughly dishevelled (which was disorientating, since I'd been naked when he arrived) I slid my hands down his back to rest over the base of his tail and kissed him gently. He sighed, held me close and rolled onto his back, still hard within me, so that I was lying on top of him. His eyes were closed, and the scowl had gone from his face. He still looked weary, though, and there were traces of tension around his eyes. I traced the contours of his face with my fingertips, frowning slightly.
       *I wish...*
       *Hm? You wish what, little warrior?*
       I shook my head ruefully. "It doesn't matter, my lord."
       He opened one eye and peered up at me.
       "Speak."
       I chewed my lip for a moment. "Is it allowed for the King to take a holiday?"
       He inclined his head, considering it. Since ascending the throne half a year ago he'd had no chance to take a real break: the only diversions - other than me - he'd had were sparring sessions, and he hadn't even managed to make time for them every day. There were times, when he was deeply asleep and dreamless, that I could *feel* the exhaustion in his mind, a longing to leave the planet's problems to themselves for a while. No-one had expected him to take his rôle and its attendant obligations quite so seriously. I got the impression that certain members of his council were distinctly annoyed about his determination to keep a firm rein on everything that happened in his kingdom...
       "I should not..." But there was a hint of longing in his voice and in his eyes: he was seriously tempted.
       "It would do you so much good, Vejiita. You would come back revived and refreshed. Re-energised!"
       His raised an eyebrow, sardonically, the end of his tail twitching against my calf. "You will be staying behind, then?"
       My face fell. "My lord?"
       His eyes twinkled, and I grinned.
       "Are you saying I wear you out, my lord?" He smiled, and I sighed theatrically. "Ah me, how the mighty are fallen. I'd better stay here then..."
       The next thing I knew I'd been flipped onto my back and he was on top of me. Tickling!
       "Arrgghh!!! No, please, Vejiita... I hate that!!"
       Surprised, he straddled my hips and pulled himself upright.
       *You have kept that a secret! Did you not know the King's Companion should have no secrets from the King?*
       I grabbed his tail and began to knead and stroke. He gasped and moved lower, rolling his head back, his hands moving up my ribs to cup my breasts, thumbs spasmodically rubbing my nipples.
       *And how are you going to punish me, my lord?*
       One hand on my breast, the other reaching for my tail, he began to thrust into me, lowering his mouth to my neck as I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him even further into me.
       *Oh, I'm sure I'll think of something...*

"No! Absolutely not! I won't allow it!!"
       Vejiita folded his arms across his chest and glowered at Radittsu. "Do not presume to tell me what I may and may not do, captain."
       Radittsu dropped to one knee, head lowered.
       "Your pardon, sire." He looked up, scowling. " I still say you can't go. Not alone."
       "I will not be alone. Leteetza will be with me."
       The big male glanced at me, his expression clearly pleading with me to talk some sense into the King. I turned to Vejiita.
       "It might be a good idea if he came with us, my lord. You know I'm nowhere near strong enough to be any kind of decent sparring partner for you. But Radittsu and I together..."
       He frowned thoughtfully, gesturing to Radittsu to rise.
       "The idea has merit. But even together you wouldn't be enough to provide real competition."
       Radittsu leapt in while the going was good. "Let me gather a small company, sire. Myself and maybe three others? We'd be there if you wanted to spar, but otherwise we wouldn't disturb you."
       Vejiita smiled slightly. "I cannot fault your concern... Very well. Have yourselves ready by tomorrow morning."

It had been a long day. Vejiita had spent most of it trying to make sure nothing would go wrong while he was away. Back at the residence he gave last minute instructions to an aide, then dismissed him and stripped out of his official costume with a sigh, lowering the heavy royal insignia onto a bureau. Naked, he stretched slowly, tensing and then relaxing every muscle in his body as I watched, his tail curling tightly then swinging free. I bit my lip and told my libido to behave itself. Not that that did much good.... I tried to distract myself.
       "So where are we going?"
       He held out a hand and conducted me through to the bath, waiting until we were both lazing in the warm water before answering.
       "A place I used to escape to as a brat. You'll like it."
       "Where is it?"
       He pulled me to him, wrapping his tail around my waist and my tail around his wrist under the water, and I gave up trying to be rational. Quivering as he slid into me, I hardly heard his "You'll find out tomorrow..."

I could almost hear Radittsu groan as we joined his small but powerful group the next morning. Vejiita had donned a simple black sleeveless body suit and black boots. No armour. Not even gloves. I grinned apologetically at the big male, shaking my head in mock despair. He glowered, then sighed, obviously resigned to making the best of it...
       It took the transport three hours to reach our destination - a small lake in a valley in a deep forest. Completely unspoilt: we had to fly from the transport, there was nowhere for it to land. With instructions to return in ten days, the pilot was dismissed and we headed towards the ground, landing on the lakeshore.
       Radittsu looked around him, senses focussed, for a few minutes, then nodded approvingly. I agreed with him - I couldn't imagine a less threatening place (well, not in the open air, anyway).
       It was beautiful. Across the lake a small waterfall cascaded from a low cliff: around us tall trees reached skywards, the bushes at their base filled with ripening fruit. Vejiita turned to Radittsu.
       "You will camp here. There is game enough in the immediate area for our purposes: you'll enjoy the hunt." He glanced at me, smiling. "We do not wish to be disturbed. Unless we say so, of course."
       "Where will you be, sire?"
       He raised his eyes to the cliff. "Up there."
       I could see the relief in the big male's eyes: we wouldn't be too far away.
       "Very well. Will you hunt your own food?"
       "I think yes. To start with, at any rate."
       Radittsu nodded, and as he turned to his three subordinates Vejiita swept me into his arms and took off, heading for the source of the waterfall.
       He landed in what must surely qualify as the perfect glade - shaded by trees, the stream that fed the waterfall murmuring between rocky banks, deep soft moss underfoot, a low screen of fragrant flowering shrubs along the edge of the cliff... It was idyllic, and I said so. Vejiita smiled and swung me to my feet, reaching to peel off my bodysuit. I chuckled.
       "You don't waste time!"
       He kissed my throat, nipping lightly at my collarbone, and I forgot whatever else I was going to say.

So now we're lying here, naked in the double suns-light, wholly relaxed, our tails twining slowly and luxuriously around each other, and I've never seen him so content. Later I'll ask him how he found this place, and what happened that he felt he had to escape here. And in a minute or two I'll roll over and learn his powerful body all over again with my hands and my lips and my eyes, and we'll make love. Maybe later we'll swim: diving from the clifftop would be exhilarating, and there are fat and tasty-looking fish in the lake...
       As I watch him he opens his eyes, those beautiful, intense, shimmering eyes, and I smile.
       *Happy?*
       He smiles back. *Yes, Leteetza.*
       I twine my fingers through his and wish this could last forever...

© 2001 Joules Taylor

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