Sorry its been so long.

Chap: building fire

They both looked away, awkward and unsure of what to do. Finally gathering her courage, Hay Lin tried to sound cheerful as she stood, saying, "Well, out of the both of us, I think I'm over dressed." She began to pull off her tank top.

Cedric swallowed hard, looking away to give her privacy. He had no experience whatsoever with women at all. How was he supposed to know what to do? His father had explained things to him when he'd turned thirteen, but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Actually, he thought to himself, it was a lifetime ago.

He shifted a little, cursing the weakness in his limbs. How was he supposed to do this as weak as he was? He pushed himself over till his back was against the wall, trying to brace himself. When he looked back up to the girl, he gasped.

She was naked but for a thin piece of white cloth over her nether regions. He couldn't help his staring as he took in her body. Long legs, graceful arms, and black silky hair so long that it reached past her hips. He looked up past her—he swallowed hard at the sight of her chest—and looked into her face.

What he saw made his heart lurch. She looked nervous and scared. But as she walked forward to his side, she gave him a smile. "Have you ever done this before?"

He shook his head.

"Oh, crud. Neither one of us knows what we're doing."

His eyes widened in shock. "You—you are a maiden! And you are willing to give me your virginity?"

She blushed furiously, sitting down by his side. "Well, we all loose it some way or another, right?"

"Shouldn't you give this to your husband?" He instantly regretted his words as he saw her shoulders slump. "No, I—I didn't mean to sound judging. I just"—he paused, trying to get this right. "I'm just surprised that you would give me something so precious."

"Nice recovery", she said, laughing a bit.

Hay Lin blushed fuchsia when he leaned in and kissed her. It was awkward and a bit stiff, but it was a start. She faced him fully, smiling at the nervous look on his face. "That was my first kiss."

"And mine as well," he replied. He leaned forward and kissed her again, lingering this time and applying firm pressure to her lips. "Better?" He asked.

She blinked lazily. "Yep. Much better." She leaned forward this time, opening her mouth to suck very softly on his lower lip. He gasped slightly, his lips parting. She didn't waste the opportunity, using her tongue and touching his own. He gasped fully this time, a startled look on his face.

She immediately pulled back. "Is that alright?" She asked, timid.

"Yes," he breathed. He pulled his arms up around her, bringing more skin into contact with his own. She ended up fully seated in his lap, her legs straddling his waist. Hay Lin gasped at the closeness and shook a little, nervous beyond anything she'd ever known.

He pulled back, looking into her face. "Are you afraid?" Cedric asked.

"Not really," she replied, a sheepish look on her face. "But my heart's beating really fast."

He reached out and took her hand, bringing it to his chest and letting her feel his heartbeat. "Oh," she gasped. "Your heart's beating fast too. You're just like me."

He smiled, and she suddenly felt the tremors running through his body. The girl returned his smile, "We can do this. We'll just go slow," she said.

He nodded. Then he sent his hand down her arm, following it up to her elbow, her shoulder, letting it rest at the juncture of head and neck. He cupped her cheek, bringing it closer for his kiss.

Cedric was scared and thrilled and seven different kinds of excited all at once. With more will than he knew he possessed, he forced himself to go slow, to show this girl that he could be more than the monster. To prove to himself that she was right to have such faith in him.

He rained kisses on her face, moving down to her neck, taking note of the shivering response he got in that sensitive area. She returned his kisses when he paused, nipping the skin of his shoulders, leaving little marks. He gasped at every nip and suck, his hands beginning to reach for her. She arched into his touch as he lightly raked his nails down her back, exposing her breasts to him.

With nervous hesitation, he slowly lowered his head down to kiss the first one, never breaking eye contact with her. Its like he's asking permission, she thought to herself. She smiled, giving consent as her hands began to wander, learning his body as he was learning hers.

When he began to suckle the skin there, she gasped in pleasure. "Cedric," she breathed. He immediately pulled back from her. "Am I hurting you? Should I stop?" He asked.

"No," she said, her breath beginning to come in pants. "Please don't stop. It—it feels---so good."

He went back to her chest, switching to the other breast. "I wouldn't want to neglect this one," he said, smiling. She could barely understand him at this point. Everything in her was reacting so strangely. Everywhere he touched seemed to tingle and get so warm, all of that sensation pooling somewhere lower on her body.

He shifted his legs so that they were bent behind her to support her. He leaned her back onto them so that he could see more of her body. Pulling back, he just looked at her, stunned.

Her skin was glowing, darkened in places with the marks he'd made on her. Her face was flushed, her hair wild and wrapping around her arms, twining over his body as well. He ran his hands down her sides, coming to her hips and slowly going down her legs.

"You're beautiful," he gasped. "Gods in the heavens, you're so beautiful."

She reached out and cupped his face in her palms, her heart expanding and melting at his words. "You are too," she said softly. She brushed the bangs off his face, smiling. "You're beautiful, too."

"That's for women," he said, laughter in his voice.

"No, not at all," she said, her voice surprisingly serious. "Men have beauty too. But its different from women. Men have grace and strength in their beauty. Its like the character of their souls' show in their faces, and that's what makes them beautiful." She leaned in and kissed him once more. "Your soul shows to anyone who looks. I saw it there even when you were under Phobos' control. He could take your body, but he couldn't take your soul away from you. You are beautiful, Cedric, you always have been."

He couldn't help the tears that spilled from his amethyst eyes as he shook his head. "How can you say such things to me?"

Hay Lin just smiled, taking a fist and bopping him lightly on the top of his head. "I just can, okay?" She kissed him again, deeper this time, drawing back into the passion they had created.

More kisses and touches were shared, a fire growing between them. The more he moved against her, the more she felt the need to rock her body against the hardness she felt beneath her. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she rolled off him for a moment, getting her panties off as fast as she could before coming back to him.

Suddenly he reached up, holding her off him. He was shaking and panting, barely in control at this point. He had never wanted anything so badly in all his life as to have the girl in his arms. But he still had enough control left to gasp out, "Are—you sure?"

She looked him straight in the eyes and nodded. "I want this. I—I want you. Please, Cedric!"

He finally loosened his grip, letting her body slide down onto his. She braced herself on her knees, positioning it to let him into her. Both of them shaking in passion and fright, they slowly began to come together. He groaned at the feel of her heat surrounding him, head thrown back in unbelieving pleasure.

She gasped suddenly as he hit a barrier. "Cedric," she said, worried. "It doesn't fit."

"What?"

"I—I think, it doesn't fit."

He tried to understand her before he realized what was going on. "Hold on to me," he said, pulling her close. She wrapped her arms around him, tucking her head into the crook of his neck. "Hold on," he forced out through clenched teeth as he prepared to move.

He then turned and kissed her cheek, laying his head onto hers. "Forgive me," he breathed, and in one hard thrust, punched through her maidenhead.

Hay Lin cried out in at the feeling of a deep powerful sting going through her. "Cedric," she said, tears coming from her eyes. "Cedric, it hurts."

"Shhh," he crooned, his entire body shaking at the effort to hold back. Gods above, she felt so good around him. He forced his body to still as she adjusted to him. She pulled back to look into his face, and he winced at the sight of her tears. "Are you alright?"

"Y—yes," she breathed. She knew that it would hurt a bit, but hadn't imagined it would feel like this. She also knew that it would get better as they went along, so she looked him in the eyes again, letting her need show through. "P—please, kiss me."

He obliged, kissing her deeply, his tongue thrusting forward and mimicking what his body wanted to do so badly. She began to respond, her hands roaming over his back and chest. She even began to play with his hair, fingers twining into his blonde locks.

He cried out at the feel of her body all over his, eyes clenching in pleasure as she shifted her legs around him. Slowly, so as to not hurt her, he began to withdraw, going out almost all the way before pushing back into her. She moaned at the sensation, her hips moving to meet his. They began to build a rhythm, both crying out at the feel of it all.

Cedric panted, his body beginning to glow weakly. Hay Lin's began to glow in return, steady waves of silver light coming off her body like mist. The light slowly crept around Cedric, winding around him, soaking into his body until it finally matched the intensity of her own glow.

The girl finally screamed as the tension that had wound so tight in her body shattered, scattering lightning bolts of feeling from her head to her toes. Cedric wasn't far behind, shouting his satisfaction. Slowly, they came back to themselves, holding on to each other for what felt like dear life.

Cedric was amazed. That had to be the most incredible feeling he'd ever had. He straightened his legs, keeping the girl tucked safely in his arms. Moving so that he could lay her down, he set her gently on the floor, curling up beside her to share his warmth.

Her eyes slowly blinked open, and she found that her entire body felt oddly drained. "Cedric," she said weakly. "Are you okay?"

"Better than 'okay,' my lady," he said softly. He brushed the hair from her face, leaning over to look at her better. "Are you alright? You seem very tired."

"I think—its from the essence. Mine went into you," she panted, trying to catch her breath. "I'm gonna sleep for a little bit, okay?"

"Absolutely," he said. Suddenly a thought came to him, and he could have kicked himself for not asking sooner. This was going to sound awful coming when it did. "Um, your pardon, my lady, but"—he paused trying to think how to phrase this, but couldn't think of a better way than—"what is your name?"

She looked at him oddly. "You don't know?"

He blushed bright red in embarrassment. "No. My apologies."

"Its alright," she breathed, visibly getting sleepier by the second. "I'm—Hay Lin..." her eyes couldn't stay open anymore and finally closed in sleep.

He smiled, tucking her body around his to keep her warm. "Pleasant dreams, my Lady Hay Lin."

()$&

The Mage smiled as she felt the energies shift and change within the cell. "Well done, Hay Lin." She waved her hand and sent a magical burst of energy to the other Guardians. They would need to know that their friend was alright.

)(&$

Please review!