30/5/07

Title: The Care and Feeding of Flying Boys

Author: Squeezynz

Chapter: Nineteen - Far from the Madding Crowd

Author's Note: Here be fluff and all the good stuff. Nothing madly graphic, but not exactly coy either.

My muse has returned with a vengeance and demanded this long overdue, albeit shorter than usual, interlude.

Enjoy.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

He was floating, his body suspended and surrounded in warmth, his limbs supported and cradled in silky liquid that lapped and stroked his flesh in ways that raised goosebumps on his arms. Slowly he opened his eyes and stared up, into a world wreathed in spiraling tendrils of steam, the trees far above indistinct, shafts of sunlights failing to do more than give the air a ethereal glow. Blinking, he stayed as he was, staring up into nothing, his body floating free as if encased in the softest feather bed. As the seconds ticked by he started to frown, memory intruding and reminding him that he'd been shot trying to escape from Hook and his men, that someone had been with him, his last memory of them both plunging towards a massive dune, a scream following him into the darkness.

"Wendy!" In the blink of an eye Peter Pan went from soothing lassitude to fierce tension, his limbs thrashing to bring him upright in the warm pool of steaming water around him. Disorientated, he ran his hands over his body, finding a puckered scar where the musket ball had buried itself in his thigh, another quick check revealing that the long crease across his shoulders had left nothing to mar the smooth skin across his back. "I'm in a healing pool." Astonished that Wendy would even know about such things, let alone be able to find one, Peter couldn't help grinning at his own good fortune, his hands raking through his hair as he turned full circle looking for his rescuer. "Wendy?" All around him the steam continued to waft up into the air, Peter unable to see much beyond the reach of his arm, the water unbroken in all directions. Looking up he tried to gage the position of the sun, but the canopy and dense fog made that task impossible. Deciding that action was better than just waiting, Peter struck out across the pond, swimming strongly in a direction he hoped would bring him to a bank and maybe some answers. He felt invigorated and full of energy, his arms and legs stroking strongly through the still water, a darker shadow indicating that he was surely approaching the edge of the pond, a few final kicks bringing him to shore. Still there was no sound of anyone nearby, even the birds remaining silent as he rose to his feet and walked out of the healing pool, water streaming off his naked limbs. The forest around him started to appear out of the mist, the vegetation glistening with moisture, the sun becoming brighter the longer he remained out of the pond. A shaft of sunlight pierced the fog and shone down on the ground, highlighting a circle of lush turf, a figure curled up at it's center.

"Wendy!" Peter's relieved shout didn't rouse the girl laying on her side, her arm tucked under her head for a pillow. Peter dropped to his knees beside her, his eyes sweeping up and down her form, checking for injuries or any reason other than sleep for her to be laying on the ground. She looked peaceful, her arms relaxed, her free hand laying on the soft grass palm up, the fingers open. Taking that hand into his own, Peter raised it to his lips and softly kissed it, glad to feel warmth in her touch, Wendy obviously very much alive and uninjured. His gaze roamed over her features, noting the way her lashes rested on her cheeks, her lips half parted with the peep of white teeth behind. Her cheeks were tinged with pink, a curl of her hair laying softly against her jaw, his finger finding the errant lock and brushing it back. Keeping her hand trapped with one of his own, he let his free hand explore, stroking her hair, then down her cheek, pausing to rest over the pulse in her throat, acknowledging the beat of life flowing through her. She looked so fragile and vulnerable, but somehow she had managed to bring them both to a place of sanctuary after enduring capture at the hands of the pirates, and the unwanted attentions of Captain Hook in the process. Now more than ever he wanted her to stay with him and be his Queen of Neverland. As his fingers trailed over her warm skin around the neckline of her thin shift, he felt an upsurge of emotion, his heart feeling full to bursting with something wanting to break free, no longer wanting to be denied or suppressed, his body humming with expectation and want. More than anything he wanted to see her lashes lift so he could drown in her sky blue eyes again, his own bright with excitement and anticipation. He had never felt such a strong emotion before, the closest he could equate was when he'd been in the midst of a fierce battle, his blood singing and his body flowing with the force of the blows traded between him and Hook, the exhilaration of a rousing fight making him laugh in the face of danger, sure of his ability to win the day and carry all before him. What he felt for this one girl was similar but so much more, his heart pounding and his mouth dry as he gave in to the feelings swamping him. Nothing and no one made him feel this way except this girl, his Wendy, and he wanted to shout it out loud, his body so tense he was almost shaking.

As if able to hear his unspoken thoughts, his yearning, Wendy's eyes slowly opened, the thick lashes blinking once, then twice as she gazed sleepily up at him. A slow smile curled her lips at the corners, the smile echoed by Peter until his widened to a blinding grin. He still held her hand in his, her fingers now pressed against his chest over his heart, its pounding felt through the layers of muscle and skin. Keeping her held there, he slowly lowered himself to the grass, stretching out his long body beside her, the sun warm on his flank. Wendy watched him, her eyes fixed on his, her fingers curling under his to stroke the velvet soft skin so warm and alive to her touch.

"Wendy..." Peter whispered, his gaze intent on hers while he bridged the short gap between them, his lips finding hers in a soft kiss before pulling away.

Wendy thought she must be dreaming, awakening to find a handsome young god laying down beside her, the air still misty and magical, a single shaft of sunlight illuminating his head into a golden riot of curls, almost blinding in their brilliance. Then the light vanished as his head shaded her vision, his lips, so warm and compelling finding hers in a chaste kiss that left her feeling like wax melting before a flame. All too soon the kiss was over and she found her gaze drawn back to his, drowning without reservation in his ocean colored eyes, their sparkle as bright as stars.

"Peter?"

"Yes Wendy?"

"I've decided...to stay here...here with you..."

"You have?"

"I have...if you want me to."

"I want you to."

For a second time, Peter lowered his head and captured her lips with his own, the kiss lasting longer this time, pleasant tingles starting to chase each other over Wendy's body, parts of her starting to ache with a pleasurable pulse. Peter released her fingers, allowing her to smooth her palm over the skin stretched over his chest and up to his shoulder, the texture like sun-warmed silk under her finger tips. While lips slanted and explored over and over again, fingers and hands explored sensitive flesh, Wendy finding hard muscles beneath the gold skin, Peter marveling at how soft her skin was, her shape fitting against his as if made just for him. Pulling apart, they stared at each other in wonder, chests heaving as lungs tried to draw in a breath.

"I've never felt this way about anyone," he whispered, pulling Wendy into a close hug, his cheek against her hair. Enfolded in his arms, Wendy felt completely safe, all the confusion and terrors of recent events forgotten in the surge of sensations firing her nerve endings and making her flush with heat from her scalp to her toes. Wanting more, she wrapped her arms around him, loving the feeling of closeness and intimacy, their bodies only separated by her thin shift. Peter was kissing his way back to her mouth, his lips hot and urgent against her skin, his hands smoothing over the fabric covering her body, Wendy eagerly pushing against him to bring them closer.

"Do you truly want this?" Peter asked, his breathing labored and his heart pounding. Wendy stared back at him, her eyes bright.

"More than anything I've ever wanted before." Threading her fingers into his hair, she drew his head back down, her lips parting to allow him access inside, their tongues meeting and dancing, entwining in a new intimacy that sent tremors down their spines. Heat bloomed everywhere they touched, Wendy squirming to bring him closer, Peter holding her so tight nothing could have been passed between them. With his control slipping, Peter pulled back, releasing Wendy from the kiss and allowing them both to catch their breaths.

"Wendy...will you...will you..." Peter gasped, his body demanding he do more than just share his kisses with the girl plastered against him.

"Will I what," Wendy managed to get out, her questing hand suddenly grasped by Peter and guided down his body. To her everlasting surprise, she felt no shame in wrapping her fingers around the hardened flesh they encountered, her gentle touch bringing a hissing gasp to Peter's lips, his neck taut with straining tendons as she tentatively stroked him.

"Will you be..." Fighting hard not to become completely distracted by what she was doing to him, Peter gritted his teeth and plowed on. "Will you be my..." a squeeze of Wendy's fingers made him incoherent, sparks igniting behind his eyes and a growl issuing from his throat.

"Yes Peter, my love...I will." Biting her bottom lip, Wendy administered a long, final stroke before Peter snatched her hand away and pinned it to the grass behind her head.

"And I will be yours, Wendy Darling, for ever and a day." Having made his declaration, Peter sealed it with a kiss, his body shaking with desire and need. Wendy was in little better condition, her breathing hectic, her face flushed and her body aching unbearable. Using her hands to push against Peter's chest, she made him sit up. While he looked on in some confusion, she sat up as well, rising to her knees and pulling her shift over her legs to bunch around her waist. Feeling a blush suffuse her whole body, she grasped the hem in both hands and whisked it over her head and away, bearing herself to him, her hair falling down in glorious profusion about her face and shoulders. For a minute neither moved or spoke, Peter in awe of seeing her, Wendy too overcome with shyness to utter a sound.

"You're beautiful," Peter finally managed to say, his hand finding the curve of her cheek, feeling the heat in her skin as he leant in to kiss her.

"I've never...with anyone else...I don't know how." Wendy whispered, her breathing erratic.

For a second they stared at each other, the decision hanging in the air before them. Then Peter smiled and Wendy smiled back.

"Neither have I...but we have all the time in Neverland to find out." Leaning forward again, this time together, they met in the middle with their lips, arms and bodies following until they lay entwined on the soft ground, the scent of crushed grass mixing with the exotic scents of the steaming jungle around them.

This time there was no coy hesitation, no drawing back or reserve between them. Together they forged a path of desire, skin coming alive under gentle caresses, legs parting to allow the most intimate of joining, lungs straining to draw in enough breath before sensation carried them away to paradise.

With her legs wrapped around his waist and shudders of pleasure coursing down her spine, Wendy Darling bid goodbye to the last shreds of her innocence, her heart beating in time with the young man seated most firmly inside her, his flesh joined with hers in an unbreakable bond. Slowly, very slowly muscles started to relax as fingers ceased to clutch at flesh so urgently locked in passion. Hearts started to slow, they rhythm going from a gallop to a steady beat as soft kisses and murmured words brought them both down from the heavens to land gently back upon Neverland soil once more. Salty, slick skin responded with goosebumps to the damp air still swirly around, the sun now invisible beyond the canopy overhead. Unable to bear the thought of parting, they lay as one, Peter's head resting in its natural place against her shoulder, Wendy's hand stroking the tousled curls, now damp with sweat, back from his brow before tracing one winged brow across his forehead.

"I love you," Peter breathed against the pulse beating under her skin, "I've always wanted to know what that word meant, having heard it said so often in both your world and mine. Now I know..."

"I love you too..." Wendy sighed, her body welcoming his as a warm blanket against the slight chill, her contented sighs drawing his attention back to her chest, rising and falling before his eyes. Fascinated to simply watch her breath, Peter traced a loving finger over the delicate flesh of her breast, his own flesh already hard again despite being fully satisfied only minutes before. He moved and caught a wince pass over Wendy's face.

"Are you hurt? Did I hurt you?" He made to withdraw at once, but Wendy clutched at him, keeping him within her, her lips smiling at his concern.

"It was to be expected Peter, and I had been told there would be some...discomfort."

"I did hurt you. You should have told me to stop."

"I could no more ask you to stop than expect the sun not to rise. I wanted this too, Peter, and I don't regret that."

"But..." He found her fingers stopping his lips from uttering more words.

"I can feel you Peter, inside me and against me, in my heart and in my body. I wanted this, as much as you, maybe more so. What pain there might have been is gone and I think..." She wriggled beneath him, making him tense and bit his bottom lip. "I think we could try again, if you feel up to it...just go a little more slowly this time."

"Whatever you wish, my Wendy, my Queen."

This time the loving was slow and gentle, their movements a less frantic race to completion, so that Wendy forgot all about any discomfort, instead throwing her head back and crying out his name as passion once more tossed her up to the clouds, safe and secure in his arms until his kisses brought her back, her body and mind relaxed and complete, the lovers falling asleep in each others embrace, both in awe and satisfaction that the future appeared once more to be on the right path.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

...tbc