Capriones 8/30/2006

Disclaimer: We shall make use of several of the characters from The Slayers, none of whom belongs to us.

Chapter Thirty-Four – New Beginning

Lina waited, impatiently.

"Close your e-eyes," he chortled from outside the tent.

She could hear him huffing and puffing, dragging something heavy, and moving debris around. She could have picked up and straightened the tent while he was out, but it hadn't occurred to her. She cracked open an eye.

"Water? You're hiding water?"

He jumped up, hands on his hips, looking perturbed. "You peeked! Close them."

"Okay, but don't take much longer."

She heard the pop as a wine bottle was uncorked, and the soft gurgle as it was poured. She felt his light touch on her hand.

"You may sip this while you wait, but keep your eyes closed."

"Ummm," she purred, enjoying this treatment. "Hey, this wine is good. Where have you been hiding the good stuff all this time?"

"Under my clothes, but the wine I kept under my bed."

She could hear the humor in his voice and knew he was joking, but blushed anyway. She sniffed the air. "I smell roses."

"That's right."

Next, she felt his hands on her foot, tugging at her boot. "Need some help with that?" she asked.

"No."

He managed fine, removing her boot, repeated it on her other foot, and then peeled off her socks. She could hear a slosh and tinkling of water. Lina wriggled her toes in anticipation of what might be next.

"Kinda cold out. Oh..." she moaned with delight as warm, scented water dribbled over her foot. "What are you doing?"

"Washing my wife's feet."

"Oh."

No one had ever washed her feet before. It felt marvelous. Wife– she wasn't used to that term yet.

"How's the temperature?" he asked gently rubbing her instep.

"Water's fine," she managed to say, sinking into a state of bliss. "That's nice."

"I'm rubbing oil on your feet so they'll stay soft."

Lina fell backwards onto the bed, her foot in his hands. "Okay, no matter what I said before, I'm really, really, really yours now."

"You like this?"

"Xelloss, you have no idea how terrific that feels."

"I have a mind-field of ideas," he said, his voice husky.

"Heh, heh...," she chuckled.

His hands left her feet, and she heard the rustle of a towel. She liked this treatment, but wondered how making love to this man would be like. He seemed gentle, but she hardly knew him. She nearly paniced as that realization swept over her. What had she done?

As he wiped the excess off, his eyes roved over Lina's figure, laid out on his bed, connecting with hers.

"You opened your eyes," he said, not unhappily.

"You stopped massaging my feet. I wanted to see what you were up to."

His face appeared inches from hers, his body, partially pressed against her thigh and side. "I'm up to here, now."

He smiled and then slowly, gently kissed her lips. When her body went rigid, he stopped his kissing and looked into her concerned face. "You're quiet, everything all right?" he asked.

"Yeah! I guess, I'm just nervous."

He smiled and found her free hand. Intertwining his fingers with hers was a simple, but intimate gesture. He didn't want to lose their previous close connection. He needed to reassure her, and himself.

"Don't worry; we are going to be great."

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. When she sighed, he touched her hair and ran his fingers through the soft curls. He cradled her head to kiss her again gently, then harder. She broke for air and pulled away, her mouth open, and instantly Xelloss was back, running his tongue around her lips.

"Your lips are delicious," he murmured.

With his next kiss, he could feel her respond more, a hand rubbing his back, a leg resting over his.

"I think I could enjoy this," she told him.

Her words sent exquisite spine tingling chills running up and down his spine. With more of his body leaning on hers, he bent over and their lips locked in the most powerful kiss yet.

"Oh, Lina..." he moaned, his passion aroused.

Straightening, he untied his complicated sash and yanked off his tunic, exposing his chest, and then bent closer to within her reach. He left her to run her strong, little fingers through his lustrous hair, using both hands on the heavy purple fall of silk hanging down to his shoulders.

She truly wondered at her boldness as she tailed her fingers over his pallid skin, moving in circles from his shoulders to his waistband. Had it not been the most exciting exploration she had ever conducted and had his shudders and faint moans of enjoyment not been gaining in intensity, she might have lost the courage to remain. She pulled him into her arms, hugging him tight.

"What did I do? I'll make it up to you - I swear," he said quickly, his voice tremulous with uncertainty.

She kissed him deeply with all the love in her heart flowing out to him. She smiled thinking how insecure he was and how much encouragement he needed. She liked having power over him.

"You already have," she murmured a moment later.

They took turns undressing one another, bathing skin as it was exposed, finding old wounds, and laughing about their anxieties. At one point, Lina sat up considering how to remove his soft pants. Xelloss lay as if crucified, his arms stretched out beside him, his eyes watching her fumble with the odd ankle ties. Getting the last one undone, she pulled the socks down and off. She felt brave enough to go for his pants, but Xelloss held on to his waistband and smiled mischievously.

"Not until you are naked, too."

"Me first, eh?" She tugged off her pants proving her bravery, and held out the washcloth, abashed.

Her body flushed with pink as his eyes roved over her body. He smiled appreciatively and his eyes dark and lust-filled. With one lightening quick move he slipped out of his pants and embraced her, clutching her petite figure limpet-like to his chest.

"You are a dream," he whispered into her ear.

"Yeah. well," she muttered into his chest. "We both are dirty, sweaty messes."

"I don't mind," he said hoarsely.

"I do."

After bathing the last of their bodies, exploring tentatively the hidden, private parts, they snuggled under the blankets to stay warm. In the comfort of their cocoon, their hands and lips mapped new territory. Xelloss noticed that the ghost of his mother was no longer looming over him ,and Lina decided that getting to know him better would take time, but would be just fine. Before the night was through they made love.

The next morning was overcast, but the chilled air woke Lina up.

"Why is it so damn cold? Don't you have any stoves to keep warm?" Lina asked.

"No we don't. We aren't usually this far north in winter. Truth is, we were blocked by the Red Guard in spring. We went as far as we could. We aren't cold-weather people at all."

"I'm not either. Okay, so maybe we make up a big hot bath," she suggested. "Do you want a bath?"

With a smirk on his face he replied, "What is it with you and baths? Is it that you want to get your hands on me?"

Lina couldn't help blushing; he had hit the nail on the head.

"I'm right, aren't I, Lina-love?"

She couldn't look at him in the eye and looked down. He pushed her back onto her back, straddling her as he looked into her face, grinning. All his previous reluctance to make love had vanished after his success the night before. Gone was that niggling fear of failure and poor performance. Lina was an eager participant, firing his excitement futher.

"I turn you on that much?"

Her face flushed more as she nodded. He sank his weight onto her and kissed her passionately, his hands holding her head so that his tongue could reach her throat. Lina pulled him tight against her, their legs intertwining as she rolled him over and returned the depth of kiss, their hands trying to touch each other while keeping their mouths engaged. She slid her hands up his chest feeling his defined abdomen and chest and then back down, smoothing the soft downy hair at his crotch. Feeling him moan in her kiss as her hands rubbed over his nipples, she curled her hands over his chest and sighed. One of his hands slid from around her back to caress one breast and attacked the dark stiff nub with his thumbs. It was her turn to groan with pleasure.

Her voice husky with desire murmured to him, "I want you!" He looked up at Lina and gently cupped her chin. He wanted her to understand. "You don't know what it means to me - to be desired so much."

He wrapped his arms around her neck and embraced her, their warm skin pressed against each other as their kiss resumed. Passion and lust and love all mixed together, drowning in sensation after glorious sensation. Their bodies taking over as their minds filled will shared joy.

Time slowed down, their passion spent. When Xelloss tried to lift his weight from her, Lina gripped him tight, not ever wanting to be freed of that burden.

"Okay, you win," he said, settling against her, his head resting by hers.

Their breathing returned to normal as her hands gently caressed his hair. Xelloss tried to get up again and once again she pulled him back. She looked up as he lifted his head and gazed down at her, his eyes roaming around her face before looking deep into her eyes. He pecked quickly at her lips and when she tried to lift her head to take all those kisses and return them in a slow sensual one, he withdrew.

"If we're not getting up," he said, wearing a bemused expression, "at least let me pull up the sheets, my back is cold."

She released him immediately, ashamed of her selfishness. Xelloss once more pecked her lips and then lifted himself on to his knees, the cool air rushing in between them, chilling against her warm skin. He reached behind himself for the sheet and blankets pulling them up over as she guided him back down on top. Settling his chest over hers, she could feel her soft breasts pressed tightly against him. Lina pulled the blankets up over their shoulders. She felt Xelloss tremble as he initiated a long, slow and very deep kiss. Their heads rocked against each other as they tried to reach deeper parts, exploring, turning slightly, inching their way to their sides, arms locked around each other and guiding their movements from one kiss to the next. Lina felt happy and peaceful in his arms, safe from the outside world knowing he'd protect her, and she would protect him, her words few for the feelings bursting from inside her.

"I love you."

"I know."

She pounded him on the arm, starting him to laugh.

"Okay, okay. I'll say it: I love you, too. There, now stop hitting!"

"That's better," she said, sighing.

Tired and contented, wrapped in the arms of the one she loved, feeling his gentle breath on her cheek, she drifted off to sleep. Eventually they moved from the tent to eat, but not much else.

The next morning, they sat opposite each other, sipping coffee, milk, and eating leftovers of the previous nights' meals. Lina looked into Xelloss' ageless face, and then reached out to touch a trail of hair he'd missed when he had pulled it back into a ponytail and was now hanging down one side. He smiled again, his eyes hardly open at all.

"What's," he paused to set down his cup, "...up?"

She returned his smile. "Nothing, I'm just looking at the man I love."

He smiled and arched his back, his arms out stretched to the limit. As he collapsed back into himself, he said, "Vacations are nice, but returning from them is going to kill me!"

"You get used to it. Notice how great this day is?"

He looked around and drew another deep breath. "Especially this morning, which you mostly slept through. It isn't as pleasant in the dark winter months but in summer when the sky is bright and the sun is just coming up it's nice to feel its warmth on your face. Everything smells fresh and the fields glisten with the morning dew. You'll have to join me for morning walks."

"Sure... Okay, but I have to tell you, I don't normally do mornings well." She quickly drained her mug and put it on the table next to his. "Xelloss... this morning and the night before that and ... all ... I want to tell you..." she began hesitantly. She studied his face as she struggled for words. "When we...I just wanted to say ..."

He reached out and gently massaged her shoulder, stopping her fight for what to say, his eyes bright and wide open.

"It's okay, love. I wanted it too," he said. "And thoroughly loved every minute." He smiled shyly and kissed her lips, following a quiet, whispered, "Thanks."

Xelloss sat back and ate a slice his apple pie, letting the brightness and warmth anchor him. "Nice of Sylphiel to bake this before they all left. What foresight!"

Lina smiled and swallowed her milk. "Yep, she's a good one to have on the road. Great cook and inventive when it comes to making do with what she has to work with."

He smiled and took another bite.

"You smile a lot, I noticed," Lina remarked. "You happy that much?"

"You know better than that, Lina," he said, setting his fork down. "I have learned to enjoy every good moment when it comes, and this is one of them."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it? I'll savor it too."

The two sat, relaxed and comfortable, wrapped in their cloaks. They were seated outside the main camp the route from Madiran part of the perspective. They were expecting Valgaav, Gourry, Filia, and Sylphiel to return, leading many of the Capriones back to the settlement. Everything in the camp worth keeping would have to be collected. There would be many hours of packing to look forward to this day.

"So, what's your big dream now?"

"You mean, other than going back to bed and making love all over again?"

"Yes, you sex-starved idiot," Lina said, not without the pleasure of his sentiments.

"Well, first off, starting a family– one with lots of kids."

"Seriously."

"I was serious, but there's more to it." Xelloss thought a moment, and then said, "The old ways are over. I never went to school, but our children will. I traveled constantly and often had to hide in the forest. But I see our children buying houses and living differently, whatever they choose. They will mix with other kids and intermarry."

"But that will dilute the culture."

"Probably, but on the positive side, I think we can integrate and participate in the mainstream of Seyruun culture without compromising our identity."

"Possibly," she said with a shrug. "Say, I meant to tell you... I'm sorry about wasting your nice forest, and all."

"I'm glad you are," he said.

Lina was about to chastise him for not being more accepting of her apology, expecting elation at least for her grand act of contrition, when she noticed movement in the distance. "Look! Here they come. Time to get back to work."

"Yes, the honeymoon is over, I guess," he said, sighing.

"Don't you believe it!" she said, laughing as she hopped off her box seat and embraced her husband.

End Capriones, Chapter Thirty-Four, End Capriones– Final

Next... Capriones and the Return of Rezo!

... if you are interested in discovering the true identity of Copy Rezo...