Author's Note:

Some background info for you:

I took Trephas, the other centaurs, and Dezra Majere, from the Dragonlance book, Dezra's Quest.

While she's the wayward daughter of Tika and Caramon (as opposed to their other good and nice daughter, Laura, who tends the bar for them while her sister's off running out into the blue for mad adventures) she technically doesn't exist in my story, as she was never born. :)

Make of that what you will, I suppose. :)

~Sweet-Hearted SilverEars~

Chapter 16 Fated Love

It took Stagheart three full days and nights of travel, during which he did not sleep, to reach Darken Wood. He entered the trees, but was too tired to continue. So he sat down beneath a tree to rest, leaning back against the wide trunk and closing his eyes, immediately drifting away into dreams.

The next thing he knew he stood in a bright, sunlit glade, blinking and looking around. He smiled at the sight of a beautiful pool of crystal clear water, his sudden sharp gasp disturbing the peaceful silence briefly, watching in speechless awe as a unicorn stepped out from the trees into the glade to move toward him slowly.

"Stagheart," she stated softly in his mind, her voice gentle and compassionate as she looked at him.

"Forest Master?"

The Unicorn nodded, lowering her horned head for a moment in acknowledgement of her title. "I know why you have come here. You made the right choice, listening to Tanis half-Elven's advice."

"I did? Oh good. I am so glad."

"I have already sent your One Mate to find you, Stagheart. He will be there when you wake. But the task ahead of you will not be an easy one. I have told Trephas nothing of this. You must be the one to convince him that you are meant to be together for life."

"I promise that I will do my best, Forest Master. Thank you."

"You are most welcome, Stagheart. Now go to him, child."

Stagheart woke slowly, lifting his hands up with a yawn to rub the sleep from his still-tired eyes. He looked up just in time to see a chestnut-colored Centaur step into the clearing cautiously. His fetlocks were white, his long tail ash-blonde where it trailed behind him, flickering over his strong back legs in a clearly unconscious way. The skin on his human half was dark from the sun, gleaming and gorgeous over his well-defined muscles.

His waist length hair and short beard matched his tail, and he wore a bronze tork around his neck, bracers at his wrists, and a ring in his right earlobe. Two fingers were missing from his left hand, and his strong jaw and dark eyes combined to create the most handsome face that Stagheart had ever seen.

"Trephas.." he whispered softly, forgetting for a moment that they had not been introduced properly with his awe and the rush of emotion that he felt in his breast at seeing him for the first time.

"Thee apparently knows my name, human," the large male Centaur stated with a clearly suspicious frown in his direction. "But I do not know thine."

"I am Stagheart," he replied quickly, swallowing nervously before continuing to speak. "Formerly of the plains of the Qu`e-Shu. It was the Forest Master who told me your name, and that you were coming for me."

"Thee hast spoken to the Forest Master?" Trephas asked in shock. He got the impression that it was not easy to rattle this centaur.

"Yes," Stagheart answered, standing up with a slightly happy smile. "In my dream just now. She's very beautiful."

"Yes, she is," Trephas agreed, gesturing for Stagheart to come closer with his right hand. "We should go to my village. The Wood is safer then it once was, but it is still unwise to linger."

"Of course," he agreed, inching closer slowly, uncertain about what was supposed to happen next.

"Are thee frightened of me?" Trephas asked him with some amusement.

"No! Of course not!" Stagheart protested quickly, his face going hot with his embarrassment. "I just- Um.."

"Come," the Centaur instructed, gesturing again, seeming to take pity on him. "Get on my back and we will go."

Stagheart swallowed again nervously, but he nodded and moved closer, scrambling up onto Trephas's back with some assistance.

Swiftraven moaned softly, relaxing into Wanderer's arms as they embraced. The pair was kissing hot and heavy as they moved to lay down upon the blankets of their new shared tent, shedding their clothing quickly and laying skin to skin for the first time, clearly enjoying the new type of contact immensely.

"Mmm.. Wanderer.." Swiftraven hummed contentedly, melting under his lover's body as they continued to kiss and touch each other eagerly. "I can not believe that we are finally married! By the Gods, it is a dream come true!"

"Yes, it is, my sweet," Wanderer said with a smile, then his expression turned serious as he whispered softly, tenderly in inquiry, "Will you give yourself to me?"

"Yes, yes! A hundred times, yes! A thousand times!"

Wanderer smiled down at him, slicking up the fingers of his right hand with the oil in a nearby shallow clay bowl that he had prepared earlier with his own hands for this very purpose. He then slipped his longest finger between Swiftraven's beautiful pale cheeks, pressing the wet tip to his virgin opening in a gentle caress. He was visibly pleased by the soft cry that his actions drew forth from Swiftraven's throat.

"Ahhh! Wanderer! Yes! Gods, yes!" Swiftraven whimpered, spreading his legs wider for him with eager soft whines and arching his back when he slid that same finger into him slowly, careful to be gentle with him.

He added a second finger, then a third, stretching him open. He withdrew his digits only when Swiftraven begged him for more, coaxing his new husband's legs to encircle his waist before starting to push into him carefully. He paused instantly when a sharp cry of pain escaped him in response.

"Are you alright, love?" Wanderer asked him in concern.

"Yes, I- I am alright. It hurts, but.. I believe that it is supposed to the first time."

"Yes, but.. I still wish to make it good for you if I can. Because it is your first time."

"It already is good, Wanderer. Because it's you. Because you're here with me. That's all that I really need."

Wanderer smiled, visibly flushing with pleasure before moving to kiss his lips. He coaxed him to relax and allow him in deeper with a quiet and eager whimper. He started to thrust his hips, going deeper still with ease now, causing Swiftraven to moan with pure desire and cling to him with a loud cry of joy. He shocked Wanderer with the volume his lungs achieved when he screamed his name as he came, tightening around him as he spilled his warm seed over his own lower belly with a ragged gasp.

Wanderer jerked, spilling himself deep inside his husband in reaction to the suddenly squeezing muscles of his already tight channel around his length. He groaned low as he went soft and slipped out of his entrance wetly, slumping atop him and staring down into Swiftraven's passion-glazed eyes with a lazy, contented smile.

"I love you, `Raven."

"I love you, too, `Wander."

Stagheart bit down on his lower lip, again, barely preventing winces and moans from shaking his body or escaping his throat. But he could not manage to stop his trembling, though he knew that Trephas could feel it where he rode through Darken Wood on the gorgeous Centaur's back, supremely grateful that he knew not of Stagheart's erection.

"One would think that thee hast never ridden a horse before, human," Trephas stated gruffly, though he did not glance back to look at him.

"What? I am from the plains. Of course I have ridden a horse. That is- I- I would hardly compare you to a horse."

"Many humans would do so."

"I am not most humans. I am Stagheart," he stated firmly, as though that explained it all perfectly well.

Trephas did turn his head to look at him at that, slowing his walk slightly as he did so, asking his temporary passenger, "What does that statement mean to thee exactly?"

"It means that.. this is where I belong. Even the Forest Master agreed with me, though I do know that I still have to prove my place among your people in order to be accepted here."

"Why would thee want to? Does thee not have any family where thee comes from?"

"No. No, I do not. All of my family is long dead, and my closest friend just got married, so there's nothing for me there any longer. I would really like to start over here."

Stagheart wisely left the 'with you' part of his sentence unsaid, knowing that it was too soon for such definitive phrases.

Trephas nodded, turning his head back around to face front, speeding up his walk again before saying, "That is for the Elders to decide."

Trephas entered the Centaur village with a sound asleep Stagheart draped heavily across his back. His head rested against the strong and bare lower back of his human half, the human male's arms draped around his waist. Trephas watched as a black and white coated Centaur walked up to him quickly.

"Trephas," he greeted him with obvious curiosity in his eyes when he glanced at the human, then back to his friend's face.

"Arhedion," Trephas responded with a nod and a friendly smile.

"What is it that thee carries?"

"This is Stagheart," he answered, explaining as they headed it the direction of Trephas's home. "He wishes to come and live among us. He has had contact with the Forest Master."

"With the Forest Master?" Arhedion asked in clear amazement. "An outsider? Really? This is rare news indeed."

"Yes, it is a rare occurrence," Trephas agreed.

The two Centaurs entered his small and simple hut-like home together. Arhedion watched curiously as Trephas laid the human male down gently on his back on his pile of blankets on the floor in the far back corner.

"Why would thee bring him here? Why not one of the guest huts at the center of the village?"

"I am not sure, really," Trephas admitted truthfully, the Centaur lowering himself to his knees carefully before laying down beside the make-shift sleeping space designed for one of their kind. "There is just something about him.. I do not want to leave him to wake up alone here."

Arhedion blinked at his friend's words, glancing at him quickly in clear concern. "Thee should be careful," he cautioned softly, moving to lie beside him then. "Does thee not recall so clearly any longer what happened with Dezra Majere? You were heartbroken, and that's why thee married the wrong one for thee. You have another chance now because of a stroke of Fate's paintbrush, but to make the same mistake again-"

"I appreciate your concern, Arhedion," Trephas spoke, surprising them both when he interrupted him gently, "But this is not the same as with Dezra. For one reason, Swiftraven has no family left, so there is no one to object to our possible relationship. For another, most of the reason that I chose not to fight for her.. I have never told anyone this, but.. I have never really cared for females for anything beyond friendship. I am not saying that anything like that is going to happen here. I am merely stating that I might be open to the possibility of it."

Stagheart woke slowly, feeling warm and contented, safe. He opened his eyes gradually to see that it was still dark outside the small hut that he could not remember entering. He was surprised, though he did not draw away, when he realized that he was so warm because his body was draped over Trephas's rounded belly. A thin blanket was also draped over them both.

The Centaur still slept. Stagheart didn't want to wake him, so he tried to lay still against him, but eventually he started to get overheated, wriggling against Trephas for a minute before throwing aside the blanket. He relaxed back against him then, flushing as his eyes looked downward, a small gasp escaping him when he realized something. Trephas was hard. Still asleep, but hard.

Stagheart's fingers on his right hand twitched without him realizing it, and he shifted his body so that he was facing the male centaur's hindquarters. He reached out with shaking fingers to touch his long, very long, firm length, caressing it lightly, curiously, before beginning to stroke the silky and hot flesh carefully.

Stagheart's eyes widened in shock when it hardened further beneath his touch, swelling larger still with a warm rush of blood as Trephas groaned low from deep in his broad chest. He was stirring from sleep now, and Stagheart felt the Centaur's warm left hand flatten over the middle of his shoulder blades gently as he turned his human half to watch him in shocked surprise.

"..Stagheart.." Trephas huffed softly at his touch, unable to hold in the sound somehow. "Thee, uhh.. Thee does not have to do that.."

"Well of course I do not have to," he replied, grinning as he continued to stroke and caress his horse-sized cock carefully. "I want to. You feel good in my hand. Warm.. Soothing. I like it."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then.. may I touch you as well?"

"Of course."

Trephas watched in silent and wide-eyed shock as Stagheart reluctantly stopped touching him long enough to strip out of his clothes. He tossed them aside before pressing his now naked body back against Trephas's warm belly and resuming the touching of his privates with the same hand as before with obvious eagerness, but also tenderness.

Trephas reached out with his left hand, slipping it around to Stagheart's bare chest to take hold of his left nipple, pinching, then rubbing it gently. He was strangely pleased when Stagheart's rhythm on his length faltered as his actions drew a soft cry of pleasure from his parted lips.

"Thee likes that, little human?" Trephas inquired of him with obvious amusement.

"By Mishakal, yes," Stagheart panted, trying his best to keep his fingers moving along his huge cock to bring him pleasure. "Please.. do not stop, please.."

Trephas smiled, continuing the pleasant torture of his nipple while slipping his other hand down over his chest then between Stagheart's legs. He coaxed him to spread his thighs for him, causing him to moan and wriggle his hips a little in response when Trephas's warm palm cupped snugly over his excited privates, making heat pool in his lower belly.

"Trephas!" Stagheart gasped out sharply, helplessly, his hips shifting forward slightly into his hand with clear need. "Please!"

"What sort of things does thee like?" the Centaur inquired with a smile.

"I- I don't know," Stagheart stammered, trembling at his touch still, admitting to him in a shaking voice, "I- I have never actually.. I mean, I have been training all my life for this moment, but now that it's finally here.. I don't know what I want for certain.."

"Thee means that.. Thine first time would be with me?" Trephas asked him, sounding uncertain for the first time. "Perhaps this is not such a good idea then after all.."

"No!" Stagheart growled, surprising Trephas with the intensity of his vehemence. "That is not what I meant! I want you! I have since I first saw you, and don't you ever doubt that! But as to the rest.. I just don't know. I think that I would like it very much if you were to guide me?.. To.. to help me discover the things that I like, and what I dislike.. I want that with you. More then that, but I think we should take this slow as well. Ease into it, for both our sakes."

"As long as it is what thee wants for certain?"

"It is."

"Very well."

Trephas shifted his smooth skinned palm over Stagheart's cock where his hand still rested at the tender junction between his thighs. His fingers pressed down on the firm and heated flesh carefully, causing him to hiss with pleasure and arch his back slightly so that his shoulders pressed against Trephas's firm chest. Then Stagheart gasped, his hand tightening around Trephas's hard cock as he tensed. A strangled whimpering moan sound escaped his throat as he felt the tip of an oil slick finger unexpectedly caress the opening between his firm cheeks that no man had ever touched before.

Trephas gasped softly, his long tail twitching with his shock in response when Stagheart's hips jerked hard at his touch. This dislodged the Centaur's hand, and Stagheart's stiff length slid along Trephas's own cock, causing the Centaur to groan loudly, unable to hold the sound inside.

"Ahhh, damn!" Stagheart gasped, nearly seeing stars. He began thrusting his hips again, deliberately this time, sliding their lengths together firmly. "That feels so good.."

"My fingers or my cock?" Trephas asked him quietly with a slight grin.

"Both, I guess. Though being touched there.. It sort of.. scares me.."

"Why?"

"I don't know. ..Probably because it never has been before.. And because the fact that I am allowing you to do that means that I have to admit to myself that I have deep feelings for you already. Not that I have any problem whatsoever doing so. Not at all. But I will still need you to help me through it."

"Of course," Trephas said reassuringly. "Uh.. About these feelings.. Exactly how deep are we talking here?"

"I love you," Stagheart replied bluntly, figuring that he might as well admit it now.

"But how could you possibly know that already?"

"I am not entirely sure myself, honestly. But I do know that I love you, and that's what counts, right? I mean, I looked at you.. And I just knew that you were the one. The one for me."

"But why would thee just jump to that conclusion? After all, thee are a human."

"Does that really matter to you?" Stagheart asked him, the sadness obvious in his soft tones.

"Does it not matter to thee?"

"No, it does not matter to me, Trephas. Why would it? You are beautiful, but it is not your body that I love. It is your soul. We are all the same inside. We all just want love."

"This is true," Trephas agreed, nodding his head slightly, surprised by the human male's intelligence. Though he kept that to himself, assuming rightly that he would be insulted by this thought. "Thee does realize that thee are essentially admitting that thee wishes eventually to join with a horse?"

"Mmmm.." Stagheart hummed softly, nodding slightly with a mischievous grin and sparkling eyes. "So I like a big cock. What of it? Bigger only means more pleasure."

Trephas blinked, staring at him with wide eyes, clearly speechless, but not offended.

Then Stagheart found himself flipped around abruptly. Trephas's silky and smooth lips pressed to his, the kiss hot, burning and determined. A soft cry of delight escaped him as the Centaur drew him as close as possible, guiding his legs to surround his lower belly where it blended into his horse half, his arms surrounding him so that he was pressed tightly to his bare chest.

Stagheart moaned long and low against Trephas's mouth, his arms twining around his neck. He opened for his wet tongue with a full body shudder, trembling visibly as he felt that same oil-slick finger again probing at his entrance carefully. It slipped within his body and started to thrust in and out of him gently, causing his hips to rock slowly. He matched the motion with a clearly hungry whine as his hard cock slid against Trephas's stomach, both of them shaking with the sensation.

"Trephas, ahhh!" Stagheart cried out sharply, pressing his hard length firmer against his belly. He began pleading with him just as he added another finger slowly so as not to unintentionally hurt him. "Feels good.. Don't stop!"

"One will not, I promise," Trephas actually grunted, the two fingers of his right hand speeding up under his control, thrusting deeper and faster within the passionate human male.

Stagheart moaned loudly, jerking against him, his cock rubbing hotly over the Centaur's lower belly again. Trephas felt every single muscle in Stagheart's body tense, the other male letting out a hoarse scream loud enough to wake the dead as he clutched Trephas close with his arms tightly. He was tilting his head back and closing his eyes as he came hard over his lover's firm abdominal muscles.

Stagheart whimpered softly, shaking with exhaustion against Trephas's warm body, going limp in his strong arms with a quieter, well-pleased moan. He was smiling contentedly as he felt a wide spread flash of heat over his left hip as the Centaur spilled his own generous seed in response to his climax.

"Ahh, Gods of Good, Trephas," he panted, his breathing still heavy, though starting to even out. He laid his head on the Centaur's right shoulder, his eyes so wide they appeared to pop out of his face. "That felt so.. Good!"

Trephas smiled, slipping his right arm over his back to hold him close, stroking his hair tenderly with his left hand, the one that was missing two fingers. He reassured Stagheart softly as his pleasure shakes gradually slowed, then subsided altogether. "You did good, sweetling. You were, are, very beautiful.."

"Thank you, Trephas.."

"You are very welcome, Stagheart."

Just then Arhedion came crashing into Trephas's small hut with a concerned look on his face. His expression turned to one of shock at the sight before his eyes, his best friend and the human hazy-eyed with pleasure and drenched in sweat and seed. "Trephas, thee-"

Trephas held up a hand to quiet him, reaching for the nearby blanket, gripping it in both hands. He used it to cover Stagheart's nakedness thoughtfully, mindful of his feelings. He then nodded to his friend to speak now as he drew his lover's blanket-wrapped form tenderly into his embrace.

"Trephas, thee hast lain with the human male?"

"Well, somewhat, yes," Trephas agreed calmly. "But we have not gone all the way. Yet."

"How can thee be so relaxed about something like this?"

"One was not at first, but.. It is decidedly easier to submit to it when someone tells one that they love one."

"He told thee that he loves thee?" Arhedion gasped, his facial expression turning to one of shock once more as he looked between them both rapidly.

"I am right here, you know, with you both," Stagheart complained, his voice unusually sharp as he looked with a steady gaze at the other Centaur that was across from them. "You are being very rude to me when I have done nothing to you. I understand your concern for your friend, but I want you to know that I would never harm him. I love him, and I left my former home to find him. While it's true that I had no family there, I did have a best friend, so it was still really hard. On him and me."

"One is sorry to have offended Thee," Arhedion said truthfully, apologizing and looking quite chastised. "It is just that such a relationship is very unprecedented and rare. It shocked me that Trephas told me that he would even consider it before this occurred."

"You thought about it before I even told you of my feelings?" Stagheart gasped, his eyes wide and liquid with surprise and pleasure as he looked up at him.

"Yes, one did."

"How come?"

"What do you mean?" Trephas asked him, clearly shocking Arhedion with his use of you. Though he should not have been. You was only used by Centaurs toward someone with which they were more intimate then any other person.

"Well, I thought, or I was hoping, that you did not notice, but… While you let me on your back, before I fell asleep, I was kind of.. ..hard. It was just.. it felt good to touch you, that's why. That.. I could not have prevented it."

"Of course not," Trephas agreed, not looking as shocked as he perhaps should have, confirming without words that he had felt Stagheart while he was on his back as he continued to stroke his new lover's hair tenderly. "Such is purely a physical reaction, though you clearly felt more then that as well."

"Trephas?" Arhedion said quietly, interrupting their moment gently. "Thee should take Stagheart's petition for thine hand before the council. Thee knows how they are about respect, and something this big will not hold for long in this little village."

"Thee are correct. We shall go before them tomorrow while they are in session."

"And next on the council's agenda.." one of the older Centaurs of the tribe stated while he shuffled through the papers that lay on the long shining mahogany table in front of him. He looked suddenly shocked as he continued reading out loud. "Is the petition of one Stagheart, a human formerly of the plains, for the romantic right to the hand of Trephas, one of our honored warriors. Shall we have them sent in?"

The other Centaurs on the council nodded in agreement, and he motioned for the large double doors of the hall to be opened, admitting Trephas, Stagheart, then Arhedion, the two Centaurs standing on either side of the human male with clear protectiveness.

"Stagheart, formerly of the plains?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thee hast petitioned us for the right to lie eternally with the centaur Trephas?"

"Yes, sir."

"May we inquire as to why it is that thee wishes this? Wish to lie with one not of your kind?"

The council was surprised when Stagheart visibly flinched at the question, pain filling his eyes as he looked back at them. "Why does this matter to you all so much?" Stagheart asked sadly. "Even Arhedion at first. I mean no disrespect, but.. Should not love extend beyond title and station? Beyond race, even? It is not as if it was my choice to be born human. None of us get to chose that."

"Thee means to say that Thee loves him? Really loves him?"

"Yes, I really love him."

"Is there one that can confirm this love?"

"That is why one came," Arhedion spoke up respectfully. "As all know, Trephas is my best friend, so one would never lie to anyone regarding him."

"Of course. Thee may continue."

"One can specifically attest to their love for each other, as I found myself in Trephas's hut yesterday eve just after they had engaged in physical activities."

"We see."

"Yes, though, they did not go all the way."

"Can thee, Stagheart, state why it was that thee did not go all the way with Trephas, when it is clearly what thee wants?"

"Well, I-" Stagheart began, blushing bright red in embarrassment as he stammered and flushed deeper. "I think that Trephas was being gentle and taking it easy on me, because I- because I am very much pure. Very.. Virginal, if you will."

"Thee mean to say, that thee has not lain with another human male?"

"No, I- I have not. I.. I wanted my first time to be special. But now I know that I was waiting for Trephas. Whether I knew it or not, it was always him that I wanted. That I needed."

"If one may speak.." Trephas requested respectfully then.

"Of course, honored warrior. You may speak."

"I thank thee. One was being gentle to Stagheart, for one did not wish to harm him in any way. He has given me his love and trust, and as such, pain would be a poor way to repay him for it." The elder Centaurs nodded all in agreement, gesturing for him to continue speaking. "When Stagheart and one first spoke, just after we met, he told me that he had spoken to the Forest Master in a dream, and that she supported him living within Darken Wood."

"Is this true, human?"

"Yes."

"Is that all that she said to thee?"

"No. She was very kind to me, and informed me that I need not worry for she had sent Trephas to protect me and bring me here."

"Did she say anything about what your relationship with Trephas would be?"

"Yes," Stagheart replied, noticing his lover's surprised look out of the corner of his eye. "She said that she supported my love for him, but that I would have to be the one to convince him that we are meant to be for life.."

"Stagheart?.." his Centaur lover asked him softly.

"Yes, Trephas?"

The three of them had left the council chambers and were on their way back to the hut that the two of them had spent the night before in together after their amorous activities.

"Did the Forest Master really say that she supported our relationship?"

"Yes, she did."

"Then why did you not tell me thus?"

"Because, I do not want you to agree to love me because she says that it is alright. I want you to love me because you want me for me. That would be like someone saying that I only want you because you are a Centaur. Such would be a filthy lie. I do not feel this way for any of the other Centaurs. I have never felt this way before you. You make me happy. When I am around you, I- I feel complete, whole."

Stagheart gasped softly in response when Trephas scooped him up into his arms gently, holding him close and kissing him as he walked into his hut. Arhedion fell back and thoughtfully left them to themselves. Stagheart moaned low, trembling in Trephas's arms as the Centaur lowered himself carefully down onto the blankets so as not to drop him. He wrapped one arm around Trephas's neck, the other around his waist as they continued to kiss hungrily, heatedly. Stagheart began thrusting his hips against Trephas's lower belly with a quiet whining-whimper of pleading against his mouth.

"Trephas.. Please! I- I need you inside me!"

"Of course, sweetling. Lie down on your back and spread your thighs for me?"

"Yes.." Stagheart agreed breathlessly, panting slightly as he lay back and opened his legs. The move left him aching and venerable as he stared up at him with needy eyes.

Stagheart arched his spine and tilted his head back, his lips parting as he cried out sharply when he felt two oil-slick fingers at his entrance. He began whining softly, needily, as they slid inside of him slowly and gently, beginning the process of stretching him out tenderly.

Trephas added a third finger, his eyes widening slightly when Stagheart choked out his name hoarsely, thrusting his hips, slamming his body down onto his fingers with a ragged plea of desperation and love. "Tre-Trephas! Huahhhh, plea-please! Do it, I beg of you! Inside! Need you inside!"

Trephas groaned low, withdrawing his fingers and reaching out to take hold of Stagheart's slender shoulders. He guided his beautiful body to lie close on his side, just along the firm line of Trephas's warm belly. Stagheart seemed to understand what his Mate wanted from him without the need for speech. He shifted his right leg up and over the Centaur's body so that his long hot cock slid firmly into the crack of his warm and smooth skinned backside. The contact soothed and comforted them both immensely, though the intense desire, the need for copulation was still there.

"Take a deep breath, Stagheart," Trephas instructed him softly, his eyes gentle. He smiled when Stagheart nodded nervously and obeyed him, relaxing against the Centaur with a soft murmur of happiness.

Trephas placed a gentle guiding hand on his human lover's warm hip, starting to push Stagheart's lower body closer. He buried the fingers of his other hand in the other male's short dark hair tenderly, lowering him down onto his large cock slowly and carefully. Stagheart cried out sharply, his eyes widening, irises visibly expanding with the painful stretching as just the head of his Centaur's thick length forced it's way into his tightly muscled virgin hole. He was panting and grateful when Trephas stopped immediately, feeling sweat droplets rise on the skin of his bare back with his agony.

"Are you alright, sweetling?" he asked Stagheart with clear concern, his hand stroking over his sweat slicked hip with soothing motions.

"Ju-Just.. Just gi-give me a moment- Just a mo-moment.." Stagheart panted out heavily in reply, pain and pleasure both present in his voice in equal measure as he trembled against him and under his hand. "Da-damn.. It hurts!"

"I am sorry, my sweetling. Should I pull out?"

"No! No, just- Just let me breathe for a moment. Gods, I- Feels like a fist up there!"

Trephas did not speak in response to that, just continued to hold his shaking form close, his hands caressing everywhere on him that he could reach.

Stagheart's breathing slowed after awhile, evening out and allowing him to relax again gradually. "Al-Alright.. I- I think I am.. good, I am good. Feels good again. Please.. I want you to move, just- Just go slow, okay?"

"I promise."

Stagheart nodded, the tightness around his eyes easing, relaxing further under the Centaur's calming touch as he pushed into him deeper. His innocent body strangely opened to take the rest of him inside without much resistance at all.

"Is it okay now?" Trephas asked him softly, kissing his lips tenderly as he stroked his hair.

"Yes.. Yes, I am alright," Stagheart replied with obvious truthfulness. "It's okay, now. I feel fine. Feels good."

"Very well. When you are ready, then, you can start moving your hips on your own. That is really the only way that this can work."

"Yes, I know," Stagheart agreed with a slight grin. He was trembling as he stared boldly up into his lover's eyes, creating a connection that went deeper now, so deep as he rocked his hips slowly to take him in further. "This is.. good, I am good."

Trephas smiled, just holding him close as he moved to take his hot cock as deep as was possible without pain. Stagheart's eyes closed tightly as he moaned long and low, his human face twisting with pleasure and joy, clearly feeling alive and one with his Chosen Mate. Soon he was panting and shaking hard, as was Trephas, their passion-slicked bodies writhing and moving against each other as best as they could without his Centaur hurting him.

Stagheart arched his spine and tossed back his head as he screamed loudly and came, spilling his warm seed over Trephas's flanks. He moaned weakly when Trephas grunted as his thick cock surged deeper inside of him before his lover gave up his seed as well. They lay there together after just resting, smiling contentedly and touching each other with loving hands as they recovered from their joining. A soft whimper of loss escaped Stagheart's lips as Trephas's now limp cock slipped free from his body wetly to land on his left thigh, pulsing still and sexily hot against his bare skin.

"Wow.." Stagheart whispered with a hazy-eyed smile up at Trephas as the Centaur tenderly stroked his hair and carefully cleaned them both of seed. "That was- just, wow.. I love you.."

"I love you, too. And yes, it was very wonderful. Very special. Are you alright, though, my Stagheart?"

"I believe so, yes. I- I feel pretty good, actually. There is not too much pain. Just pleasure."

"Too much pain?" Trephas inquired sharply of him, pulling him up along his body to stare deeply into his eyes. "You mean that there is pain?"

"Well, of course there's some pain," Stagheart said with clear perplexity. "I mean, you are huge, Trephas, and I am not.."

Stagheart gasped softly, shocked and surprised when Trephas abruptly flipped him over onto his bare belly before him effortlessly. He then yanked his hips backward, though carefully, not wanting to hurt him even as he wanted to examine him for hurts. Stagheart whimpered, trembling as he was exposed, his still-damp opening revealed to his gaze. He whined shakily as his cheeks were parted and the warm, damp cloth was pressed to his hole again, soothing him as he was cleaned and taken care of.

Trephas ran a comforting hand over his lower back, a low moan of disappointment escaping his parted lips when his Centaur pulled the wet towel away from his still-tingling channel. He was surprised when his lover's hand was suddenly filled with tension, fingers unconsciously digging into his skin as Trephas gasped. He whispered softly, pain in his low voice as he spoke, "Oh, sweetling.. You are bleeding!"

"What?" Stagheart said in surprise, shuddering with pleasure as his Centaur touched his opening gently. "It can not be much. I feel pretty good. Wonderful, even. I can see the stars of love, Trephas, my heart. Do not worry for me. I love you, and I am stronger then I appear to be. I chose you, my own, and I will never allow you to abandon me."

"Abandon you?" Trephas gasped, pulling him up and around by the shoulders until they were staring into each other's eyes. His expression was fierce and loving as he pulled Stagheart closer so that his human male's head was pressed against his bare chest, resting there as Stagheart closed his eyes. His human was clearly feeling at peace from his gentle, soothing touches on his arms, back, and plump backside. "I would never leave you. I will never give you up. This I swear."

"Good. I love you, Trephas, so much!"

"As I love you, Stagheart," his Centaur promised, his voice and eyes soft. He was loving and gentle as he drew him closer into his embrace, tight and secure, safe from the world. "Now and forever."