It was late. Really late. Late enough so that Phoenix was the only one in his train car. Maybe the only person on the whole train. Thinking about it, he didn't seem to recall anyone else at the station he had boarded at. For some reason, it made him chuckle. A lonely, scraggily looking guy on a train to a remote mountain village in the middle of the night. Seems like something out of a horror movie or something.
The train started to slow to a stop and Phoenix looked out the window he was leaning against. It was too dark to really see anything but his own reflection though. Despite the trains still running, most of the lights at the station were turned off. Probably to keep from disturbing the citizens of the nearby Kurain Village.
He got up and stretched as the train came to a complete halt. The same pre-recorded message announcing their location that he had heard dozens of times before played over the intercom as he stepped off.
He blinked a few times to get used to now duller light as he looked around. "She's not here…?" He frowned slightly. "Maybe the train got here earl-"
Something suddenly crashed into his side, cutting his outer monologue off.
"HI NICK!" A bright and cheerful voice reverberated throughout the empty station.
"Maya, where on earth did you come from?"
She let go of his waist and sidestepped to his front. She had a huge grin on her face. "I hid in the shadows, like a ninja! Gotta keep you on your toes after all."
"More like give me a heart attack." He sighed, but smiled. "C'mere you." He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"Aww that's all I get?" Maya frowned. Phoenix honestly couldn't tell if she was serious or not.
Deciding (and hoping) that she was joking he took her hand. "For now yes. Who knows, there might be more later." He snickered at his obvious lie. Of course there would be more later.
She pouted but didn't object nor let go of his hand. "C'mon Nick, let's get going." She pulled him in the direction of station's exit.
The path to Kurain was quiet and rather beautiful. The village was set in generally traditional ways of life, so there was limited artificial light. The sheer amount of stars always amazed Phoenix, who lived in a light polluted city. If he looked up, he felt like he could see the heavens.
Forests surrounded both sides of the dirt path they so often took together. When they weren't talking, they could hear the woodlands come alive with the sounds of wildlife. Maya was used to it, having lived so close all her life but again, Phoenix was always mystified by even the simplest sounds. He was one of the only people Maya had ever met that wasn't annoyed by the sounds of cicadas.
They entered the village from the rear. Had Phoenix been there for a simple visit this wouldn't have been necessary. Everyone knows them as friends. No one, not even Pearl who had spent years of her childhood trying to get them together, knew that they were lovers.
It's not like they want to keep it a secret. Not at all. In fact they wanted more than nothing to come public with it. But with Maya's current political status as the Master of the Kurain Village Channeling Technique, they couldn't risk it being known that she was anything more than friends with a disbarred lawyer. While not the worst offense ever, as famous as Phoenix was as a defense attorney, they didn't want to take any chances.
As they snuck through the village to the Fey manor, they talked quietly. "So what did you tell Trucy this time?"
Phoenix groaned. "I left after she went to bed. I left a note on the kitchen table saying I had gone out for a late night poker game and might not be back til she's in school. I hate having to lie to her."
They approached the backside of the manor. "Hey, if I know Truce, she'll be fine." Maya reached for a wall and began pulling it to the side.
"Yeah I know but, it's just- what if this is the one time it's not fine. What if she needs me tomorrow morning or something? What if she begins to suspect something's up?"
"Ah you're worrying too much, Nick." She heaved at the wall one more time and it slid open to reveal a hidden passage. She gestured towards it. "After you."
"Yeah I know, I know…" He shrugged and entered the secret entryway. He stopped a few feet into the corridor to wait for Maya, who followed him and closed the door behind them. The corridor was pitch black, but they had traversed it so many times they knew their path by heart.
"I just really wish I could tell her. You two get along so well. I bet she would love to have a mom." Phoenix's voice echoed off the close quartered walls as they walked.
"Well she already calls me 'Mommy' anyways." Maya's voice was light and giggly. "What's stopping ya?"
"You know damned well why I don't tell her. I just don't want to get her hopes up in case something…happens."
They walked for a few minutes more before Phoenix stepped aside as Maya walked up in front of him. She began playing around with a wall that was before them, looking for another secret door. After she became Master, she figured out that Fey manor had a complex maze of secret passages in the walls while researching history that only the Master had access to. They were probably installed when the village was founded in the case of an emergency. That emergency never came to fruition and the fact of their existence slipped in obscurity. It was the perfect way to sneak in and out of the manor.
With a soft grunt, she pulled open the door that lead into her bedroom.
It was large and incredibly spacious, which would make sense considering how important she was. There were huge windows adorning one wall, but the shutters were currently closed tight. In front of the window was a large dresser and mirror. It was covered in all sorts of makeup stuff and brushes. The remaining walls were covered in manuscripts of some sort written in Japanese. According to Maya, they told the story of the village and channeling technique's founding. An oriental rug covered a good two thirds of the floor. A rather big bed rested against the wall they were entering the room from. Next to it on one side was a lamp and on the other was a bedside table with a small trash can next to it. There was also a ceiling fan and lamp with the light switch that controlled it being next to the actual door to the room.
Phoenix entered first, and Maya followed, closing the door behind them quietly. There really was no need to though. Despite its size and the amount of activity that happened there during the day, only two people actually lived there. Maya, of course, and Pearl, who slept not only on the floor above them but on the complete opposite side of the manor that Maya's bedroom was. Despite that, Phoenix always felt a wave of anxiety whenever he entered Maya's domain.
She walked around her bed to the lamp and flicked it on. And although it wasn't the best light, Phoenix was finally able to get a good look at her.
Despite having known her for years, her beauty still took his breath away from him. She had aged superbly from the cute girl that he had met her as to the gorgeous woman that stood in front of him. While she didn't develop her sisters more…robust physical features, her figure (when she wasn't covered in her robes, that is) was everything that Phoenix could have wanted from a girl. She normally would have had her hair up in a complex display of hairdressing mastery, but as per usual when they met in secret, her hair was loose and dropped down to her mid back.
She turned back towards him and mildly shocked expression appeared on her face. "…You are not still wearing that dumb beanie."
"We go through this every time Maya…"
"Yes I know it's just," she climbed on the bed and kneeled so that she was eye level with him, "I'm still in awe that you wear that."
He smiled. "Always do. Never go a day without it."
"It was super hot out today though."
"Doesn't matter. You made it for me, so I always have it. With this beanie and my locket, I always make sure I have my two favorite girls with me every day."
Maya rolled her eyes and grabbed the beanie right off his head. "Nick, I swear you get even lamer every time I see you." She began to twirl it around her finger leisurely. "Also the fact that you somehow manage to keep your hair as pointy as a porcupine is incredible. You'll have to give me some hairdressing tips!" She laughed.
Phoenix growled playfully and pounced on her. What followed was a tickle war so intense, history books would probably have to be rewritten to include. And luckily for Phoenix, he was much bigger than Maya so she couldn't even dream of reaching him to tickle him back.
"Ahh Niickkk, stop!" Maya squirmed underneath him and managed to talk between spurts of laughter.
"Not until you give me my beanie back!"
"Fine, fine! I give!"
Phoenix sat up with a smug smile on face and took the hat from her. He glanced at it for a second before placing it on the bedside table.
"All the effort and you're not even gonna wear it?!"
"Nope."
"You're a real jerk, you know."
Phoenix chuckled and leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Yes, I know but I'm your jerk."
A spark alit in Maya's eyes and before Phoenix had any time to even process it, she pulled his head towards hers and kissed him deeply.
Phoenix didn't object and immediately returned the kiss in earnest. He felt Maya's hands run up and down his back. They stopped at the bottom and she tucked her fingers under and began pulling.
Phoenix pulled away from her and laughed as he sat up and allowed her to pull off his shirt. "Getting right to the point tonight, I see."
"Oh hush you." Her face was bright red and she dropped his shirt to the floor. "Help me get these robes off."
He rolled off her and she sat up. "Yes ma'am." She shot him a false dirty look from over her shoulder.
As Phoenix began to untie the elaborate bows and knots that made up robes, he mumbled under his breath. "This would be a lot easier if you wore lighter clothes you know."
"It's not like I really have a choice on the matter, Nick."
"Hey you're the Master, maybe you could suggest a wardrobe change." He undid the last of the ties and the robe sagged below her shoulders. Maya shrugged it off and it fell to floor next to Phoenix's shirt.
She was left only in a simple lavender bra and a matching pair of panties. Despite seeing her like this loads of times before, he still felt the heat rush to his face as he marveled at how beautiful she was. "You get more and more beautiful every time I see you."
She placed her hand on his chest. He expected her to say something romantic back and was caught off guard when she asked him, "Hey, where's your locket?"
"Oh, uh in my pants pocket. Why?"
"I thought you always wore it though?"
"Yeah…most of the time. I always have it on me but if I were to wear it when we were doing something like, uh, this I wouldn't feel comfortable. I thought I had told you that before."
"Nope! Honestly I had never noticed that you never wore it." She smiled and ran her fingers lightly down his chest, sending shivers down his spine. Her grin grew wider as she cast her gaze downward. "And speaking of pants, it's time yours come off."
"Geez no need to be so brash about it, Maya!" The words weren't even out of his mouth and Maya was fumbling with his belt buckle.
"'Brash' is my middle name though!" She stuck her tongue out at him. "Ah ha, there we go!" She undid the buckle and pulled the belt out the loops on his jeans. His face was red as an apple, but he helped shake his pants off and they too fell to the floor.
"Steel Samurai?" Maya tried to hold back a snicker.
"You're the one who gave them to me in the first place!"
"Yeah I know, I just didn't expect you to be wearing them." She leaned up against him causing him to fall back and rest against the pillows at the head of the bed. "Not that you'll be wearing them for long anyway."
"What's gotten into you tonight?" He couldn't help but smile at how forward she was being. "Normally I'm the one in charge…"
She gently placed her finger on his nose. "Exactamundo, Nick. It's time for a change of pace." A look of devilish glee appeared in her eyes. "And don't tell you don't like it, because I can see that you can." Her eyes darted downward for a quick moment.
Phoenix chuckled and grabbed her chin. "Now, now I never said I didn't like it." He kissed her and when she started to kiss him back, he stuck his tongue into her mouth.
He ran his hand through her hair absently before tightening his grip and spinning her over so that he was on top again. She looked surprised to have been dethroned, but didn't say anything.
Phoenix reached behind her back and began fumbling with her bra strap. He became flustered when he couldn't undo it and Maya had to pull it off herself. They had been doing for this for how long now and he still can't take off her bra?
He placed a hand on her now exposed breast and her gasp of pleasure sent a shockwave through Phoenix's entire body. He grinned and put his other hand on the other one. He placed gentle kisses all over both of them, with Maya quietly squeaking with each touch of his lips. Pinching her nipples made those squeaks grow louder.
He leaned in and began to kiss her neck. Her fingers dug into his back, and Phoenix briefly gave thanks that her nails were trimmed. Maya softly moaned his name as she brought her hands to his waist and began to remove his boxers. He shook them off and they fell to the side. In return, he lightly brushed his fingers over her skin and removed her panties. But not before rubbing her a bit through them to tease her a bit.
He leaned back a bit to get a good look at her. Her hair was frizzled a smidge and her breathing a little heavy, but by god she was perfect.
"You doing okay?" He always made it a point in asking her. Her comfort and consent was more important than he could put into words.
"Yep!" And there wasn't the slightest hint of annoyance in her voice. They had decided early on in their relationship that communication was of critical importance. "But now it's my turn."
She sat up and grabbed his shoulders. In a swift movement, she switched positions with him again. His back was against the headboard of the bed and he felt completely helpless. When she said "change of pace" she meant it. She was never this assertive. But it was definitely something he could get used to.
His body tensed up as he felt her grip his member. Her fingers were small and delicate; it's amazing that she was able to bring him to his knees with them.
His heartrate began to accelerate as she started to move her hand up and down. Involuntary noises escaped his lips as he arched his head back in pure bliss. She brushed her thumb over the head as she quickened the pace of her strokes and Phoenix think straight. He closed his eyes, absolutely content.
His eyes immediately shot open again though as he felt a wet and warm sensation envelope his manhood. Although he knew what he was going to see, he glanced downward anyway. His already rapidly beating heart picked up the pace when he saw her head bobbing up and down; her silky black hair sprawled all over her face.
"M-Maya…" He managed to lowly breathe out her name.
She glanced up at him, with her mouth still around him. Releasing him briefly, she pulled the stray hairs out of her face and pushed them behind her ears. "Is something wrong? Am I hurting you?"
He shook his head. For a brief moment, all his lust melted away and was replaced with unconditional love for the woman in front of him. "I love you." He had said those words to her so many times they've probably lost all their meaning but here he was saying it again. And he truly meant it with all his heart.
Maya's eyes softened slightly. "I love you too, Nick." She smiled at him then turned her attention back to his groin. She placed a gentle kiss on his tip but wrapping her whole mouth around him.
The sudden sensation caused Phoenix cry out. She continued to toy with him, sometimes taking it out of her mouth and slowly and tenderly rubbing it. Sometimes she would lick his entire length as if it were a popsicle and it drove him absolutely crazy. She was playing him like a fiddle.
He placed his hand on top of her head and moaned her name as he felt himself reaching his limit. And just as he thought he was finished…she stopped. He was at the very tip of climaxing and she stopped.
He glanced down and saw her peering up at him with a mischievous grin. Phoenix was honestly confused. "What on earth are you doing?"
She sat up and leaned up against his chest. "Teasing you, duh." She kissed him delicately. "Now, you got a condom?"
"Oh yeah!" He had nearly forgotten about that. Which, in hindsight, wouldn't have been a good thing. He leaned over the side of the bed and dug around in the pockets briefly. "Ah ha, here it is." He pulled the little square out of a pocket and sat back up.
Maya grabbed it and quickly it on him. It's something she's since they first got intimate- she'd always be the one to put it on him.
Phoenix started to move forward with the intention of pushing her down, but Maya acted first and for the third time that night, Phoenix found himself against the headboard.
"Nuh uh," she placed her forehead against his, "I said I was in charge, Phoenix, and I mean it." He was going to say something but her usage of his full name made him keep his mouth closed. He could count the amount of times she's called him 'Phoenix' on one hand. And to be honest, it was incredibly hot when she does say it.
Realizing there was no way out of his predicament, Phoenix decided to just roll with it. They held each other's gaze for a few moments, silently asking each other if they were ready.
Maya lifted herself off of him slightly and he slumped down a bit so he was no longer in a sitting position. She moved down his torso and gave him one last glance before sitting. They both gasped as he penetrated her.
"You okay? Want to continue?" Phoenix's voice was hardly louder than a whisper.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She smiled at him reassuringly. "Just a bit out of practice."
Phoenix put his hands on Maya's waist as she began to move. Shocked moans escaped their mouths and through the ecstasy Phoenix realized how long it had been since he had felt her like this. He was out of practice too.
Through gritted teeth, Phoenix was struggling to keep his voice down. He never liked to make a lot of noise; all his years of being a lawyer made him naturally loud and they couldn't risk being too noisy. Not to mention he didn't want to drown out Maya's voice. Her moans and yelps of sexual pleasure were music to her ears.
He lifted his head to look at her. Her eyes were shut tight and her hair was sticking to her shoulders. As she moved, her breasts bounced rhythmically up and down and her face was bright red in color. A steady flow of noises were exiting her mouth and a small sliver of saliva was falling down from the edge of her mouth. Phoenix realized just how into it she was getting.
Overcome with a sudden surge of lust and passion, he tightened her grip on her waist and pulled her forward. Maya yelped as she toppled over and Phoenix immediately wrapped one arm around her back and the other around her neck as he planted a heavy kiss to her lips. All the while, he had begun moving his hips to match her pace.
Their tongues wrapped and intertwined around each other's and their lips would only part for brief moments for tiny gasps of breath. Phoenix removed his arm from around her neck and wrapped it around her. Her skin was hot and sticky from the sweat, but he honestly couldn't care less. Their passion and heat and love for each other continuously bounced off each other, fueling their desires to please their lover.
He hugged her as tight as possible without hurting her as she suddenly picked up speed. She broke their kiss as a sudden moan rang through the room. "N-Nick…I'm-" Her voice cut off as another involuntary noise left her lips.
Phoenix grunted in understanding. Honestly, he felt like he was close to finishing as well. But he didn't want to. His main concern was making Maya feel as good as possible. But he couldn't ignore the pleasant numbness that was building up in his lower body.
Maya screamed his name as she reached her tipping point. Her movements came to a stop, but her noises didn't. Phoenix, having seen that he had satisfied her, allowed himself to move faster than he had before.
His vision went white as his body became swamped with absolute pleasure. He thought he may have said Maya's name but he wasn't sure.
When the room came back into focus, Maya was right up in his face smiling at him. Her face was bright as a light and he couldn't help but smile back.
She rolled off of him and burrowed herself under the blankets. Phoenix sat up, removed his condom and tossed it into the trash can next to the bed. Crawling under blankets as well, he hugged her and brought her as close to him as possible. Sighing happily, Maya turned around and placed her head under his chin.
They were silent for a while and the only sound that filled the room was the sound of their heavy breaths.
"Do you know what time it is?" Phoenix had his eyes closed and didn't move as he asked her.
"Nope."
"We should probably check."
"Yeah." But neither of them made an effort to move.
Once Phoenix realized that at least she wasn't going to move, he groaned in defeat and sat up. He looked over the edge of the bed and grabbed his phone from his pants pockets. "3:45 AM. Morning routine starts at 6 o'clock, right?"
"Yeah."
He flipped open his phone and went to set an alarm. "That gives us two hours." He snapped it shut and dropped it to the floor. He leaned back down on his back and Maya rested her head on his chest.
"When did you start growing a beard?" Her question caught Phoenix off guard.
"What?"
She rubbed her finger under his chin. "You have some whiskers there, Nick. You look scruffy."
"Hey pal, I'm not scruffy!" He chuckled at his own dumb joke. "But in all honestly, I didn't even notice. I'll probably shave after I get home."
"Your spikes are also falling apart."
Concerned, Phoenix ran his hand through his hair. She was right. All the physical activity and sweat must've been enough to actually loosen up the hair gel he used every morning. He couldn't recall having ever worn his hair down when he wasn't sleeping.
"Shhh let's not worry about that for now." A wave of exhaustion suddenly overcame him and all he wanted to do was sleep. He turned to the side and touched his nose tip to her. "I missed you."
Maya ran her hand down his head and under his jawline. "I missed you too, Nick." She kissed his nose before sitting up and turning off the lamp on her side of the bed.
In the darkness of the room they huddled together, in an effort to stay as close as physically possible to each other. And although sleep overtook him almost immediately, Phoenix's last thought of the night was her shining face and how much he loved her.