Tree Sprite

 Copyright © 2006 by Brenda Bryce

 Cover by Anne Cain

 ISBN: 1-59998-135-1

 www.samhainpublishing.com

  

 All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  

 FirstSamhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: August 2006

  

  

 Tree Sprite

  

  

  

 Brenda Bryce

 Dedication

 To the big O, who inspired this story and kept instructing me to add more boingy-boingy.

 Chapter One

 “Life stinks.” Daniel walked through the forest of tall, stately trees, bemoaning his life. “Wandering around with no home, no possessions, no money, no friends. Yeah, life stinks.”

 He sighed and skirted a shrub growing on the path. He had come here to the Thousand Year Woods hoping he would find one reason to continue to live. The forest was very different from his mountaintop home. Well, the mountaintop had been his home, but since its destruction with the eruption of the volcano, he was homeless. Shaking his head, he considered the incongruity of one of his kind being homeless. He couldn’t believe the bad luck. Out of all the mountains in the world, his had been the one destroyed. He was searching for a new place to live, hence the aimless wandering.

 “Heck, I’d be happy simply finding a companion.” Being the last of his kind infinitely sucked. No chance to mate with one of his own, and now he didn’t even have anyone to talk to. He was afraid if he continued to talk to himself, he would eventually answer back. “That would most assuredly be bad.”

 Grumbling, he scratched his side. The clothes itched from the ash of the eruption and the subsequent battle. “A bath would be nice, too.”

 He reached the edge of the forest, entering an enormous glade. Grass, flowers, a meandering stream and a single tree occupied the area. The stream rippled and burbled happily, and Daniel headed directly for it.

 Running right to the edge, he leapt into the air and cannonballed into the center of the crystal-clear water. It felt fabulous. He sank until his head was submerged under the water and scrubbed his hands through his hair to get rid of the remaining ash. Lurching to the surface, he sucked in a lungful of air.

 He stood in the waist-deep water, peeled off his shirt, swished it around until it looked cleaner, then tossed it onto the bank. The rest of his clothing soon followed and he spent a good while soaking. “Ah, bliss.” He hadn’t felt this clean in a long time. Floating until he started to fall asleep, he jerked awake and dragged himself out of the stream. Naked, he picked up his dripping clothing and stumbled toward the lone tree. It was short and the leafy branches dense enough to block all sunlight. It would make a great napping tree. He hung his clothing on the branches to dry, then curled up underneath the shade-making limbs on the cool grass and proceeded to fall into a deep sleep.

  

 * * *

  

 Within the tree, Oleafia opened her eyes. Something was different. Something had changed. Some onehad entered her glade. Hmm, this could be interesting.

 Oleafia had very few interesting things enter her glade. This, though, could be an opportunity. One she wouldn’t miss.

 She exited her tree on a central branch and looked around the glade. Sighing, she saw nothing had changed. All the other tree sprites were still shunning her. Nothing would ever change. On the verge of tears, she turned to reenter her tree, when she glanced down. Oh, Goddess. There was a human under her tree.

 What is he doing? At least, I think it is ahe. The being had curled into a ball and she couldn’t see the important parts that would enable her to tell what type of human it was. Curious, she crept closer. Closer. She was directly above him.

 SNORE.

 “ Augh!” At the startling sound Oleafia lost her hold on the branch and landed on the creature.

 “ Oof.” The grunt erupted from the being.

 As she tried to scramble off him, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her immobile. Trapped. Caught. It was definitely a he, she had seen his man-root as she dropped. However, that didn’t matter anymore. He had total control of her. She couldn’t…

 “Well now, what do we have here?” His smoky voice caused her to shiver as the heat of his breath whispered against her neck.

 “Please do not fell me, human.” She snuffled and lay very still.

 “Fell?”

 “Yes, cut me down. End my life. Expire me. Please don’t. I have done nothing to you. Oh, and I won’t. I swear. I mean you no harm.”

 “I don’t plan on killing you, girl.”

 “You don’t?”

 He sighed. “No, I don’t.”

 She turned in his arms, facing him. “Honest?”

 His eyes widened as he stared at her. “You’re a sprite.”

 Oleafia dropped her gaze. “Yes, a tree sprite.”

 “I can tell. You’re as beautiful as I have heard tree sprites to be.” He ran his hands over her back, making each bump and ridge tingle and ripple in pleasure. “And softer than I’d expected.”

 “I’m not beautiful. That’s why my tree is here and not with the others. I’m short and round, instead of tall and svelte. I am exiled.” With her long fingernail, she harried one of the two matching bumps on his chest. Interesting. It hardened under her ministrations. Surprisingly, her own chest started to tingle.

 He interrupted her chest fascination with a question. “What’s your name?” He spoke in a gruff whisper.

 “Oleafia. What’s yours?” She noticed his leaf-green eyes. Oh, they are very pretty.

 “My name is Daniel.” He didn’t take his eyes off her. “If you keep doing that I’m going to make love to you, little tree sprite.”

 Her entire body jerked in shock. “Make love? To me?”

 “Absolutely to you. Didn’t you hear me when I said you’re beautiful?”

 Looking at him through narrowed eyes, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself upright, legs spread, straddling his body. “I’m not beautiful. Ask anyone.”

 He groaned low in his chest, which she felt vibrate against her nest. The sensation caused her to squirm until she felt something poking her backside.

 “You are very close, Oleafia, to becoming my lover.”

 Her eyes widened, her curiosity aroused. “Really? You wish me to be your lover?”

 “My hard-on doesn’t lie, and it wants you sincerely.”

 “Hard-on? Show me.” She inspected him all over, wiggling and turning to see everything she could, but saw nothing resembling a hard-on . She did see dark hair so black it was nearly blue, the strong, granite-like features of his face, the hard muscles of his body. He was much more muscular than any male tree sprite she had seen, but not as muscular as the troll she’d glimpsed once or twice, who lived on the other side of the forest. She thought this male was just right. And his skin was smooth. Smooth as a new leaf. Over and over she ran her hands across his chest, enjoying the feeling. But nowhere did she see a hard-on. “Show me, please.”

 Grinning, he lifted her without strain, turned her, and faced her in the opposite direction, returning her to the straddling position over his body.

 Her smile widened. “Oh. So, that’s a hard-on.” She peered over her shoulder at his face. “Can I touch it? Please?”

  

 Daniel looked into the dark brown eyes of the tree sprite sitting on his stomach, asking to touch his cock. “Help yourself. But don’t grip it too hard.”

 “You speak strangely.”

 Considering her statement, he slid his hand along the smooth skin of her back. “I suppose I have spent too much time listening to humans. They speak differently than the mythicals.”

 She nodded, turned her gaze to his throbbing cock and skimmed the head, then ran her finger down the side causing the straining erection to jump in excitement. “Oh, it moved,” she murmured, shocked.

 “Yes. It liked it. Take it in your hand, little one.” He forced himself to keep his eyes open, wanting to examine her, not willing to forget a moment of their time together. She was beautiful. Gorgeous. Perfect. She had dark golden skin and her hair was a glistening emerald hue with dark brown highlights. She was very tiny. Standing, her head might reach the center of his chest, but he wouldn’t count on it. However, she was no thin, petite creature as he had heard tree sprites should be. Oleafia had soft, rounded hips, large breasts, and an ass his hands itched to grip as he plunged into her.

 She curved her soft hand around his shaft, squeezing lightly. “Oh, yes. Perfect.” He groaned when she began a stroking movement. Up and down. Slow twist and up. “Ah, Goddess. That’s so good.”

 And it was good, but he needed more. He slid his hand over her thigh and between her legs. She had a thick, silky pelt covering her mons, and he ran his fingers through it, petting her.

 She gasped and gaped back at him. “What are you doing, Daniel?”

 He slipped his middle finger through her folds and touched the bundle of nerves there. When she jumped, then wiggled her hips, he smiled. “Simply giving to you the same feelings you are giving to me.”

 “Oh. Oh. I think I understand. When I touch your hard-on, you get the same tingly feeling I do when you touch me in my bird’s nest?” She smiled softly. “Interesting.”

 “Sprites are very curious, aren’t they?” He couldn’t help but ask. He had to know if she understood what they were going to do.

 “Very much so, and I am perhaps the most curious, as I’ve been alone for a very long time. Will…will you make love with me?” She sat staring at him square in his eyes, showing him her sincerity and her intentions. “I would like very much to make love with you.”

 “I would very much like to make love with you as well, Oleafia. However, I don’t want to take advantage of you.” He sat up and turned her again to face him. “You must be fully knowledgeable of what we are about to do.”

 “Daniel, I have seen the tree sprites at the edge of the forest making love to each other. I know what it is and how it’s done; I just haven’t done it with anyone. But I would like to, with you.” Her pretty, brown eyes glowed with excitement. She placed her hand on his chest, leaned up, and pressed her silky lips to his.

 He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, crushing her body against his. Deepening the kiss, he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, not pushing for entrance, simply savoring her taste and texture.

 When she gasped, he moved on. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and past her teeth. Touching his tongue to hers, his taste buds sparkled at her flavor. She tasted very sweet, like honeydew nectar.

 While her kisses were tentative and untrained, she had no problems advancing the speed of their play. He ended up drawing the air in her lungs into his when she reached down and grasped his erection. He pulled his mouth from hers, dropping his head back into the grass, sucking in great gulps of air.

 “Oleafia, honey, slow down.”

 “No, Daniel. I want you inside me, now .” She punctuated the statement with a slow stroke of her hand.

 His eyes rolled back in his head involuntarily. It would probably kill him when he came, but it would be worth it. He moved his hand to the apex of her thighs, slicked his middle finger between the wet folds, and pressed on toward her portal. When she tilted her hips toward him, he inserted his finger slowly, deeply, enjoying the long, drawn-out groan she emitted.

 He slipped his other hand into her hair and pulled her back down to him. Rubbing his lips over hers, he waited for her to open her mouth. When she did, he plunged his tongue inside, teaching her, learning from her. He was in sensory overload and, working a second finger inside of her, he prepared her for his girth.

 She was tiny, and while he didn’t consider himself over-endowed, he was amply packing. In no way did he want to hurt her. He wanted her hot, wet and ready for him. Her feminine moisture slid over his hand and her hips moved on him with a jerking motion.

 Pulling his mouth from hers, gasping for breath, he looked into her flushed face. “Are you ready for me, Oleafia?”

 “Oh Goddess, yes .”

 He felt a chuckle bubble up at her enthusiasm, but restrained himself. Hands to her hips, he lifted her and, with her hand guiding his cock, pushed her body onto his. Slowly, ever so fucking slowly, she lowered herself onto his cock. The fit was still tight, so he reared his hips and pulled her down until his head popped past the ring of muscles and inside of her.

 “Ah, Goddess. You’re very big. More, give me more.” Her head was thrown back, her eyes closed. It was the hottest thing he had ever seen.

 She wiggled and tried to take more of his shaft into her hot, steaming passage. He drove up as she plunged down, until she had taken all of him. Her bush melded against his and when he moved her hips in a circle on top of him, they both groaned loudly.

 Oleafia took up the movement. It was devastating. He had to clench his teeth and think of snowstorms to keep from erupting. Crushing her to him, he pulled her upper body to lay on top of his. With one hand keeping her ass still, he moved his hips and slid most of the way out of her.

 When she made a dissatisfied noise, he turned her head, took her mouth, and pushed in deep. He loved the little squeal she made. He wanted to hear her repeat it. Again, he pulled from her. Pull, then press. In then out. Over and over.

 She was fabulous. In seconds she caught on to the rhythm, and he had to fight her for dominance. No way would he let her take over. He would be finished too soon, and he wanted it to last. This was paradise, and he wanted to stay right where he was.

 He took the hand away from her hair and slid it to her breast. It was heavy and full, spilling from his hand. He ran his thumb over the small nub at the front of the large globe. It reminded him of a branch with the end cut off, half an inch long, and as big around as the tip of his pinky. It wasn’t a nipple as such, but it was similar, and it reacted the same. He had an urge to take the nub into his mouth and see if she tasted as good as she looked.

 Who was he to fight Mother Nature? She was his Goddess and he would never think to disobey her. Without disengaging from Oleafia’s tight passage, or slowing his thrusts, he lifted her until he was able to latch on to her breast with his mouth. Taking her nubbin deep, he slowly laved his tongue over it. Ah, the nectar of the Goddess.

 Both grunting, trying to get more, take more, feel more of each other, they erupted into a frenzied movement. Thrusting, licking, sucking, it was incredible. More, more, was the battle cry and both struggled to meet it. Higher and higher they flew, closer to nirvana. He could feel the trembling begin in her womb and the walls of her passage and pressed harder, trying to join his soul to hers.

 As she cried out, long and loud, causing the birds in the tree to fly away, her body clenched down on his. He felt the ripples, the convulsions of her orgasm, hit her hard. It was beautiful, and it tipped him into his own release. Explosions, brighter than the sun, hotter than the volcano that had taken his mountaintop home, more electric than a lightning storm, hit him and froze him deep inside of her as he pumped everything he had into her.

 Oleafia collapsed on his chest, gasping for breath, eyes closed. It took him longer to relax his straining muscles, but he couldn’t resist the softness of her skin. He trailed his hands up and down her heaving back.

 “I knew you would be great,” Oleafia muttered into his chest between breaths.

 Daniel let out a short, tired laugh. “And I knew you would be perfect.”

 Chapter Two

 The sun sank behind the surrounding forest. The glade cooled quickly when the warming rays of the sun disappeared. Oleafia watched as Daniel checked his clothing.

 “They’re dry. Here, scootch over and let me lay the shirt under you.”

 “Why?”

 “So you don’t get cold.” He held the shirt out in front of him, and she realized he wanted to use it as a blanket.

 Smiling, she rose. “I have a blanket or two in my tree.” She pressed a hand to the tree and her whole arm slid through. Finding what she wanted, she pulled her hand back out and with it came a neatly folded blanket.

 “How did you do that?”

 He was looking at her with a very shocked expression on his face. Shaking her head and chuckling a little, she spread the blanket. It was big enough to wrap around both of them. “Space is different inside the tree. As it is my home as well as a living entity—separate, but connected to me by a life thread—I’m able to enter into a spatial anomaly large enough for me to comfortably live if need be.”

 “Interesting. Do any of your people live in houses?”

 “Houses?” Oleafia scanned her memory and a picture of a dwelling made up of sprite trees appeared. Aghast, she took a small step back from Daniel. “You make houses from felled trees?”

 “Not I. Some humans do, but I live in a cave high on a mountaintop.” He shook his head, features turning sad. “Well, I did live in a cave. A great explosion occurred in my mountain and the whole top blew off. A giant emerged from the volcano and the humans and creatures who lived in the area had to wage war against it. It was the giant or us. It took several days, but we finally prevailed. The giant is once again locked in his underground home. The people rejoiced and went home. My own home though, the cave on the mountaintop, was no more. I’m in search of a new home.”

 “That’s terribly sad. You fought valiantly and now you’re homeless. Where’s the justice in that?” Oleafia lay on the blanket and, holding one corner, beckoned for Daniel to join her. When he lay down beside her, she pulled his head onto her chest and tugged the blanket over them.

 “You are a conundrum. Words like ‘spatial anomaly’ pop out of your mouth without thought, then a word like ‘house’ stumps you. Why is that?”

 She sighed. “My knowledge is mostly from the tree and the other plants. They accumulate information, generation to generation, and happily share it with me. Spatial anomaly is something they understand, but house is foreign and heard of but never experienced.”

 “You talk with the plants?”

 “All the time. I have an affinity for them.”

 Daniel shook his head. “Must be a sprite thing.”

 “Perhaps.”

 Sliding closer, Oleafia pressed her body against his. Trying to fit her rounded curves into his muscled contours, she wiggled and squirmed until she had wedged herself underneath him. Happy now, and comfortable, she looked up into his eyes. The dark green color continued to stun her. Such a perfect summer leaf green. Unable to help herself, she touched her fingertips to the corner of his eye.

 “I love your eyes.”

 “My eyes? Don’t you love this?” He grinned mischievously as he pushed his growing hard-on against her hip.

 “Oh, I love that too.” She chuckled and pressed her palm flat against his cheek. Sliding her hand down his face, along his chest and stomach, she grasped his branch. It was such an interesting limb. She didn’t have anything like it on her own body and she wondered how he could walk without it growing and causing him to trip.

 She opened her mouth to ask him how he managed to make it grow and harden, but he distracted her by licking her under her ear. “Oh, Daniel! That makes me shiver.” She tilted her head away from him, thereby allowing him to do it again, at a better angle. This time, when he ran his tongue over the sensitive spot, she giggled. Having someone to play with was wonderful.

 “I love the taste of your skin. Everything about you is sweet with a hint of sunshine.”

 “My tree, um, doesn’t have to strain, ahh, to get the light of the sun through the other trees, the nutrients…uh, in the soil help us grow, and the stream keeps us from…from drying out.” Forming replies took away from the complete attention she wished to devote to the things Daniel was doing.

 The fluttering in her stomach felt wonderful. It tingled, and every time he ran his lips and teeth over the nape of her neck, small bolts of lightning rippled from there to her aching nest. “Is it dangerous?”

 “Is what dangerous?” He breathed warm air on her ear, bringing on uncontrolled shivers.

 “The lightning.”

 She opened her eyes when he pulled away from her. When she glanced into his face, he was staring at her with a very strange expression. “What lightning, Oleafia?”

 “The lightning you are causing to flash through my body. Trees don’t like lightning. It causes damage and could end the tree’s cycle of life.”

 His smile grew, slow and beautiful. “This lightning isn’t dangerous.”

 “Are you sure?”

 “Positive. Let me prove it to you.”

 She studied his face, looking for deception. Finding only sincerity and something that gripped her heart and wouldn’t let go, she nodded. “All right. Prove it.”

 Laughing, Daniel slid his hands into her hair and pressed his mouth to hers. Kissing was even more fun than it looked. She’d seen the other sprites kissing, and the moaning and groaning they had done had worried her. However, since they kept asking for more, she assumed it must be good, and it was. Daniel’s lips slid over hers and while his hardened, hers softened. Her head began to spin, she felt very lightheaded. Her breathing accelerated and her heart pounded.

 Of course, she had done this with Daniel already, but it had happened so fast, and it was so new, she hadn’t had a chance to pay attention to the actual details. Now, she was ready. Nothing was going to get by her. She would remember this for always. Long after Daniel left her lonely glade, she would have the memories to sustain her.

 When he ran his hand up her side and over her chest mound, she sighed and put the feeling in a memory box. As he pinched her nubbin with his strong but gentle fingers, her breath caught. While she ran her hands over his strong back, she put the memory in the box. But when he pulled his mouth away from hers and put it on her nubbin, then sucked on it hard and flicked it with his tongue, she groaned and pressed her chest toward him, begged for more, and tossed the box aside. She would do it later.

 For now, “Augh, yes! Again, Daniel, do it again.”

 Blessed Mother, he did it again, to the other nubbin. Restless, she ran her hands along his back and clenched into his soft hair. Pulling him against her mounds, she had the urge to yell at him to hurry. Hurry and do more. Hurry and touch more, touch harder, touch now . Hurry and please and thank you.

 None of these things could she get past her lips. She was unable to do anything but feel.

 Daniel continued to lick and suck on her nubbins and around her tingling mounds until she could scarcely breathe. He twisted his hips, enticing her to open her legs, and his body dropped in between them.

 Oleafia could not contain the groan that erupted from her as he rubbed against her. Oh the tingles had gotten stronger. Very nice. But wait. He had pulled his hips away from her.

 She opened her eyes to glare at him, but instead of leaving her as she had feared, he fit his hand in between them and touched her. Her eyes widened. He had pressed his thumb against her bud. Frantic fireflies flashed in her brain. Her eyes slammed closed so she could put all her concentration on the sensations moving through her.

 “Daniel…”

 “Yes, beautiful one?” He punctuated the question by inserting one long finger into her weeping, empty knothole.

 “Waughhh!”

 He chuckled and his warm breath tickled her neck. Before she could gather her thoughts to articulate, he slipped his finger from her body and inserted two .

 Her back arched as lightning blasted through her from her head to her feet. Hot flames licked at her skin. Air left her lungs in a rush and liquid gushed from between her legs.

 While her eyes were still rolled back in her head, he pulled his hand from her and pressed his hard-on into her as far as he could go.

 Her lungs sucked in air enough to allow her to scream as the fire ripped through her again and again while he pounded into her welcoming body. He called her name as he swelled within her and with one last deep push, she felt him wash her with his hot liquid. Her world imploded.

 Chapter Three

 Daniel felt movement underneath him. Carefully, he moved off his woman. Lying on his side, he left his arm wrapped loosely around her, keeping her close. He was nearly asleep when she moved again. Prying his eyes open, he watched as her hand rose and she skimmed it across her body.

 Curious, he lifted his head and gazed down at her. “What are you doing, Oleafia?”

 She cleared her throat and turned her head toward him. “I’m checking to make sure I have not turned to coal or ash.”

 He could not stop the laugh rising from his soul. She was beautiful in her honesty. After having dealt with dishonest elves, destructive giants and greedy humans, not to mention the other creatures and beings of this world, this one tree sprite was a fresh breeze cleansing the dusty corners of his being.

 “Well, I don’t know. Let me check.” He started at her thigh, running his hand across the front of her leg and the curve of her hip. With the tips of his fingers brushing against the kinky emerald bush covering her mons, he cupped the slight bulge of her tummy. “This doesn’t feel like coal. It’s soft and smells sweet.” Leaning over her body, he placed gentle kisses along her abdomen and the juncture where her thighs met her body.

 “That’s my bird’s nest. Daniel, what are you—?”

 “Wait, what do we have here?” Skimming his hands over her ribs, he nudged the undersides of her breasts with his thumbs. “Plump and ripe. No ash here.”

 “Oh, that’s my mounds.”

 She moaned when he drug his tongue along the crease he made from pressing her breasts together. He couldn’t help the smile that built up and crossed his face. As he continued to run his lips and tongue across and around her breasts, he considered how beautiful she was to him. His people were attracted to sparkling effervescence and Oleafia shone brighter than a finely cut gem. Her eyes glittered at him, her smile all but blinded him, and her inquisitiveness touched his heart. Feeling the need to show her how happy she made him just by being herself, he rained kisses and nips along her upper torso. Laving the tight nubbins and the curve of her breasts, he pressed his lower body down on hers to keep her from squirming. She tasted wonderful, but he didn’t linger. The uncontrolled movements her body made brought his cock excruciatingly sweet torment. He had to keep her still or he would go off before she was insane with pleasure.

 Lucky for him, his people had high sexual urges and a short recovery time. This little tree sprite seemed as starved for love and touch as he felt. Ridding them both of the worst of the intense needs was his main goal. Mentally, he chuckled. They may be able to have a prolonged conversation if he succeeded in his endeavors. He would love to get to know Oleafia. What she felt and how she thought, then sharing his own would be nice. That in itself was strange. He had never wanted to know someone as much as he wanted to understand his little tree sprite. Prior to his mountain home exploding, he’d been considered a loner and a recluse. Oleafia was starting to change him.

 But first…

 First, he was going to make his little tree sprite need him as much as he was beginning to need her.

 She had the softest skin. He couldn’t help but slide his hand from her breast—or mound as she called it—down her side, to her hip. Well-rounded, firm and a perfect, overflowing fit for his large hands, the cheeks of her ass pressed into his palms. He tilted her pelvis upward and kissed her softly protruding tummy on the way down, trying not to rush. He wanted—needed—to taste her.

 Controlling himself, he looked over Oleafia’s body to gauge her expression. Justifiably proud, he witnessed her unrestrained enjoyment. Her head rolled side to side, her green hair spread out around her face in a halo, and her eyes appeared pinched shut. She huffed through her parted lips, and her body tensed and released out of her control.

 “Yes. It’s good, isn’t it, Oleafia?” He punctuated his statement by running the tip of his tongue along her labia.

 “Yes.” She panted for air, licked her lips, then answered him. “Oh yes, Daniel. It is sooo good.”

 “What do you call this, Oleafia?” He slid his fingers between her labia and kissed each one.

 “My…my petals.”

 “And this?”

 Oleafia groaned when he touched her clitoris. “Augh, it’s a bud. All right? You are trying to fell me, I know it.”

 To reward her, he tipped her hips higher, which separated her feminine folds. Carefully, he pushed the small hood back and drew the bundle of nerves between his lips, then licked the tip of his tongue across it over and over.

 Gratified when her body twitched several times in response, he took the bud into his mouth and sucked on it, causing her to squeal. Her taste sizzled in his mouth. Juicy, a bit sweet, and a little tart, like a green apple, her flavor flowed into his senses. He had to get a better taste. Plunging his tongue into her fluttering portal, he licked and laved to his heart’s content while she moaned and muttered and whimpered to his delight.

 She was fast approaching completion and he didn’t want it to happen unless he was inside her. He slid back up her body, pressing kisses here and there, until he was able to fit his body into hers. She was slick with his saliva and her juices, he had no difficulties entering her with one hard thrust.

 Eyes on her face, he watched the changing expressions and knew when he hit the right spot. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened. Her body arched and her breath caught.

 “Ah, there it is.” Making sure he hit the same spot in her body with the head of his cock, he began the rhythmic in and out motions that would take them both to completion.

 It was cataclysmic. Every time with this sprite was fresh, new and different. He had the urge to keep her and spend the rest of his existence trying to figure out new ways to love her.

 Sweating, panting and as weak as a babe, Daniel rolled to his back and breathed. Or tried to anyway. The air filled his lungs in great gulps, and he felt a little lightheaded.

 Not sure if it was because of overexertion, or if it were lack of sustenance, he turned his head toward an equally panting Oleafia.

 “I am exhausted,” he admitted to her in a soft tone of voice.

 She chuckled. “Goddess. I have never been as tired as I am now.”

 “There are two more things we must do before we can sleep.” He forced his body into a sitting position.

 “What could those two things be, and where will I find the energy to accomplish them?” She shifted onto her side and, snuggling into the blanket, looked as if she were about to drop off to sleep.

 “Oh no you don’t. We need to wash up and eat something. I’m starving.” He got to his knees and reached for her.

 “Do I have to?”

 “Absolutely. We will both sleep better if we aren’t sticky and if you want me to keep up my stamina, I am going to need sustenance.” Taking her hand, he pulled her into a sitting position and to her feet.

 Coaxing her to the stream, he walked backwards until he stood in the center of the body of water.

 It was refreshing and only a little cold. Oleafia complained about the temperature, but he didn’t let that keep him from his task. Soon they were clean and heading back to her tree.

 “We need to eat. What is available and nearby? Maybe we can find some roots and berries?” Daniel felt as if he were starving. All the exercise had used up his reserves and now he needed fuel. “A soup would be easy to make.”

 “Don’t worry about scrounging. I have food. My tree is well stocked.” Oleafia passed through the veil and returned with fruits, vegetables, nuts, a huge salad and a container of juice. With great care, she laid everything out and Daniel looked over the fare with hungry eyes and a growling stomach.

 “I don’t suppose a tree sprite would eat meat,” Daniel mused, not worried, but curious.

 “No. We can’t eat anything with a heartbeat or their byproducts.”

 She filled two dishes with food and Daniel accepted one when she passed it to him. “It looks great. Thank you.”

 He glanced up when he heard her chuckle. “What?”

 “I don’t think I have seen anyone look at food with that expression of excitement before. When did you eat last?”

 Daniel had to think about it for a moment. “I’m pretty sure I ate yesterday, but for the life of me I can’t remember what.”

 “Daniel,” she admonished. “For shame. You should savor every moment. Whether it is eating, loving or whatever you are doing, enjoy it to the fullest.”

 “Is that what you do?” He watched her expression change to sadness. “What? What did I say?”

 “It’s nothing, Daniel.” She gave him a wobbly smile, but couldn’t manage to sustain it.

 “That’s just like a female.” He gave her a sly look, hoping she would take the bait.

 She did. “What’s just like a female?”

 “Sighing, whining, crying, then not telling us poor men what the problem is.”

 Oleafia’s mouth dropped open on a gasp. “I don’t believe you said that.” Setting her empty plate aside, she picked up a grape and threw it at him.

 He ducked and reached for her.

 A melon-sized dirt clod landed in the middle of the blanket and blew apart, dirt flying everywhere. Oleafia gasped and he lunged for her, rolling her underneath him in a protective manner. Eyes burning, he searched the area for enemies. There had to be someone nearby, the dirt didn’t throw itself.

 Alert, he continued to scan the vicinity the projectile had come from. A movement at the edge of the glade caught his attention. Daniel squinted and saw what could be described as a beanpole, skirting the tree line. Tall, thin, shapeless and insubstantial were the words pulsing through his mind. It had the same coloring as Oleafia, so he could only surmise it was a tree sprite, but at this distance, it looked like a tree limb instead of a sprite.

 “Oh, bother.”

 Daniel glanced down into Oleafia’s welling eyes with his own angry red eyes, and gasped. “Were you hit by shrapnel? Are you hurt? Where?” He ran his hands over her lush body trying to find a wound, and at the same time continued to protect her from any more assaults with his own body.

 “I’m not hurt, Daniel.”

 “Then why are you on the verge of crying?”

 Oleafia closed her eyes, which scared Daniel into sliding his fingers into her hair and tugging on the silken strands to get her attention. “Look at me, Oleafia. Please.”

 “I’m not hurt. Just sad.”

 She did look sad. Very sad. Her eyes were teary, her smile nonexistent, and her body trembled.

 He took one quick glance around to make sure no beings approached, and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest.

 “What has made you so sad?”

 “Now that they have your attention, you’ll be leaving me. That’s what’s saddened me,” she whispered as a tear slid from her eye to her hair.

 Chapter Four

 Oleafia tried to be pragmatic about the situation but couldn’t. She liked Daniel. With time, she could have developed deep, lasting feelings for him. But her interlude was over now. Finished. Done. He would leave her and she would have to watch him with the other sprites.

 Maybe she wouldn’t have to see them. Maybe they would go deep into the forest. If not, she would return to her tree and sleep. She didn’t want to see Daniel with the others, laughing, playing, loving. It would be too much for her to take.

 “Oleafia.”

 In response to his whisper, she raised her burning eyes to his ruby bright ones. She blinked at the eye color change, but who knew what happened to a human’s eyes when they got angry. She touched his cheek with a tentative hand and smiled sadly. “I understand, Daniel. I want you to be happy.”

 Another dirt clod landed nearby, spraying dirt over them.

 Tucking her face against his arm, she took a long, deep breath of his scent and committed it to memory. Pressing insistent hands into his shoulders, she tried to lever him off her body.

 He didn’t budge.

 Another projectile splatted inches from Oleafia’s head and sprayed over her face, causing her to flinch. A low rumbling snagged her attention. She had never heard such a deep, reverberating sound in her glade before. It echoed across the whole forest, and the repercussion felt as if it moved the air and the ground. Realizing where it came from, her gaze jerked up to Daniel.

 Her mouth dropped open to ask—something—but nothing came out past her shock. Sweet, kind Daniel was making the loud, scary noise. Impossible. He wasn’t big enough. He would have to be as big as a mountain to make the sound travel through the ground.

 Another dirt clod landed near them and she felt Daniel take a deep breath. Her eyes felt as if they’d popped out when he opened his mouth and roared , “Cease!”

 Birds flew from the trees surrounding the glade. Small creatures evacuated as fast as they could. Insects burrowed deep into the ground. As the echo of the order quieted, Oleafia wondered if she were deaf. She heard no sounds. Not even a leaf quivered against another. Complete silence.

 Blinking, Oleafia considered saying something. Probably not. He did say, rather vehemently, to “cease”. She could follow orders. While she’d been a sapling sprite, she had learned to obey any of the ancient’s directives. A birch switch stung even a tree sprite. Shuddering as she recalled those years, she tried to be as quiet as the dandelion seedpod floating by.

 Oleafia groaned when another clump of dirt thudded nearby. That one had rocks in it.

 Daniel let out a roar so loud, fish leaped out of the stream to see what was going on.

 Voices came from the edge of the forest. Oleafia had known it was coming but it still saddened her.

 “Come play, human. Play with us.”

 Oleafia blinked when Daniel answered, “No.”

 “No?” Oleafia was stunned. She’d been sure he would go to the other sprites. Everyone else who entered her glade had gone straight to them without looking back. But Daniel said no to them?

 “No. Absolutely not.” Daniel glanced down at her and the red eyes seemed earnest.

 Confused, Oleafia shook her head. “I don’t understand, Daniel. You don’t want to go and play with them?”

 He sighed and slid his fingers into her hair. The slight sting of the tugging caused her heart rate to speed up. It felt good. Pain felt good, what a novel idea.

 “Oleafia, dearest, I don’t plan on leaving you.”

 “But…”

 “I said I’m not leaving you and I won’t. Nothing can entice me away. Especially rude, childish behavior such as they are displaying.”

 “We aren’t rude. We are pretty.”

 The voice was close. Oleafia tilted her head and looked. Ashley stood near the shade circle of Oleafia’s tree. Oh, bother. This could be bad.

 Ashley was the epitome of tree sprite. Tall, svelte, beautiful. And egotistical, rude and greedy. But Oleafia had never known anyone to see past her pretty face and body long enough to find out about the bad traits. Sighing, Oleafia relaxed her body and waited to see what would happen.

 In a most surprising move, Daniel glared at the sprite. He didn’t look at her with longing, or as if he wanted her. He stared at her with great anger on his face. Interesting.

 “Were you the one throwing the dirt?”

 Oh, that’s forceful.The tone caused Oleafia to tingle. He looks so strong and commanding.

 Ashley, in her typical spritely way, giggled. Bah. It was enough to make a being sick.

 “Of course I didn’t. Juniper did. He has the best aim.” Oleafia saw the glare thrown her way. “I told him to aim for that , but he didn’t want to hit you instead.”

 “ That?”

 Oleafia interrupted at this point. “I assume she means me .”

 “Naturally, I mean you. You fat hag.”

 Oleafia grimaced up at Daniel. “Yes, she meant me.”

 Daniel winked at her. He had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his bright red eyes.

 “Oh, I don’t know.” He ran his hands over her sides and hips causing her to shiver again. “I like these curves.” Glaring at Ashley, he continued with a very angry rumble. “At least you aren’t built like a twig. All knots and bark.”

 Aghast, both Oleafia and Ashley repeated his words. “Knots and bark?”

 Sucking in a deep breath, Oleafia tried again. “You think she is knots and bark?”

 Daniel huffed with exasperation. “Of course I do. She is all bone and skin. Nothing to get ahold of, nothing to squeeze, nothing to cushion a body.”

 “But…”

 “No buts.” He paused and to her astonishment, he reached under her and squeezed her bottom. “Not unless we’re talking about this one.”

 Ashley broke in before Oleafia could loosen her brain enough to comment. “You mean you like this cow?”

 Daniel didn’t even look up. “Oh, most definitely.”

 “Well, I never.”

 “And you never will. Be gone, sprite.”

 Oleafia knew Ashley had stormed off, but it was such a minor thing, she registered it as she would a fly buzzing by. Momentary and inconsequential.

 “You really meant it?”

 “Meant what?”

 Distracted by his wandering hands, Oleafia took a moment to reform her thoughts.

 “Meant you want to stay with me. Here in my glade. Under my tree.”

 “Absolutely.”

 He took her breath when he kissed her.

 When he pulled back from the kiss, Oleafia lay stunned, mouth open a little, eyes closed, thoughts nonexistent.

 He chuckled, but she didn’t know why. When she managed to pry her eyes open she saw his expression was soft and…loving? It couldn’t be. She tried to stop her heart from wishing for his love, but was unable to keep the need from growing. It blossomed and bloomed beyond her containment.

 Apples to applesauce. This couldn’t be good. She had never given her love, but there could be no other explanation. It hurt. One day soon, he would leave. He might say he wanted to stay, for now, but saying it didn’t make it a lifetime commitment. And the whole concept of lifetimes… It was too hard to contemplate.

 She had him for now, though. And for now, she would make the best of it. Get a lifetime’s worth of love in the short amount of time she might have with him. Sighing, she wondered how short it would be. She had already had almost a whole day with him, which was a very long time for someone to stay in her glade. It wouldn’t be too much longer before he moved on.

 “Well, if that’s the case. I am going to make the best of it.”

 “Pardon?” Of course he looked confused. She had finished a thought aloud.

 “It doesn’t matter. What matters is we are together.” Wrapping her arms around him with every bit of her strength, she pulled herself up and kissed his neck and chest. Everywhere she could reach.

 “Very true. That matters to me very much. Being with you is the best thing to ever happen to me.”

 His expression seemed so earnest, her heart leapt, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe him and it must have shown on her face.

 “Oleafia, what’s the matter? I tell you I like being with you and you get sad. I don’t understand your reactions. Perhaps you should explain.” Daniel rolled over and pulled her on top of him.

 She sniffed and rubbed her eye with the back of her hand. “I told you I am shunned.” When he nodded, she ran the nail of her index finger around his tightening nubbin. “Well, it’s a pretty thorough shunning. When I was a small sapling, I wasn’t like the other sprites. I was as I am today. Short, round, ugly.”

 She put her hand over his mouth when he would have responded. “No, let me finish.”

 When he nodded, she continued. “Since the other sprites are tall and thin, I was different. Difference breeds contempt. And they had contempt of me, that’s for sure. I’ve never had any friends or even casual acquaintances. School was awful. Daily torment, name calling, and injuries. I sustained them all, and survived. As soon as I finished my schooling, I packed up my tree and left the forest. Before the three days a tree can sustain itself out of the ground ended, I transplanted to the glade they gave to me. Here I am alone and I don’t have to deal with their bias.”

 “But the glade is surrounded by trees and their sprites. How can you be alone?” He ran his hands over her back in a soothing manner, which she quite liked.

 “Just because they are there, doesn’t mean they come into the glade. Actually, they do come into the glade on occasion to tease me, as they did today.” Shrugging, she laid her head on his shoulder. “I know I don’t fit in, nor will I ever. I am me, and that’s all I will ever be.”

 “What you are is fine with me. I like you as you are.”

 She smiled and pressed a kiss on his shoulder. Fitting her body to his, she lay atop him, touching as many places as possible. He felt good. Like lying on her tree, only warmer and softer. She ran her hand over his smooth skin, so unlike the rough bark of the tree. Her palm tingled where she touched, he was very hot. Nice and warm, like a summer day at noon. She was tired. So very, very tired.

  

 Daniel knew when Oleafia dropped into sleep. The tracks of the tears she had shed still graced her cheeks. It pissed him off. Oleafia was such a gentle, kind, loving being that anyone who could cause her grief had to be evil to the roots. He had heard tree sprites were mischievous and curious, but not mean. Perhaps their roots were embedded in spoiled ground. It was the only explanation he could think of for the others to be so different from his sweet Oleafia.

 He ran his hand over the soft tangle of her green hair, covered them with the blanket, and raised his body temperature just enough to keep them both warm through the night. With gentle, calming movements of his hands on her soft body, he soothed Oleafia while she slept. Meanwhile, he wondered what sort of rock and stone beds were nearby.

 Any large bed would do, as long as they were accessible and transportable. The soil in the glade seemed stable enough for a large construction and would take a few simple tests to confirm it.

 After assuring himself there were no harmful beings within the glade—a byproduct of the wars he had recently been in—he draped his body over Oleafia, covering her. In this position, he could shield her body with his, and he would be able to leap into action if they came under attack.

 That was now a worry he hadn’t had before a couple of hours ago. He would have to stay vigilant. They may have retreated for now, but the jealous sprites would be back with reinforcements.

 His eyes narrowed and a slow, toothy smile crept across his face.

 He couldn’t wait.

 Chapter Five

 Dawn lit the sky with her brilliance. The birds twittered and sang. The glade creatures emerged from their hidey-holes and greeted the new day with fervor. Dew misted everything and gave it a crystalline glow.

 Daniel had awoken in paradise. He stretched, joints cracking, and yawned mightily, looking around the peaceful glade. Beautiful. Serene.

 He had slept better than he had since the eruption. He felt stronger, more relaxed, and happier than…well, than ever. Unable to remember a time he felt as good as this setting made him feel, he shook his head. Life had been dull and uninspiring before he had come here. At his last home, he had stayed in his cave most of the time. Only leaving to acquire food and the items he couldn’t make himself, such as fabric. Here, there wasn’t even a human settlement for leagues. That was all right with him. Humans were singularly the most destructive beings on the planet. He loved nature in all its beauty. Even when she sent destructive storms, she was impressive. Violent electrical storms were a wonder to behold and he loved to watch them. That is, from the safety and warmth of a well-built home.

 But here and now, Mother Nature was at peace. Calm. Yes, it was beautiful here.

 Turning away from the beauty awakening around him, he looked down at the beauty still sleeping.

 “Oleafia, time to get up.”

 She groaned, stretched, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

 Laughing under his breath, he shook his head and left her to sleep a little longer. He would use the time before she woke wisely. He craved meat, but didn’t want to offend his little vegetarian by making her watch him eat it.

 Pulling his dry clothes from Oleafia’s tree, he dressed and went in search of food.

  

 * * *

  

 Oleafia woke alone. Rolling over onto her back, she looked in the tree branches but didn’t see his clothes.

 He had gone then.

 Yawning, Oleafia stood, folded the blanket, and placed it in her tree.

 He hadn’t even said goodbye.

 Her eyes passed over the glade in front of her. No sign of him. But no, she could give him the benefit of the doubt.

 “Daniel!” If he hadn’t left, he would hear her call.

 She waited for his answer. What she received instead was unwelcome.

 “Dan-i-el.” A high-pitched, mocking voice came from close by.

 Oleafia sighed. “What do you want, Ashley?”

 Ashley’s laugh sounded wicked. “Did you lose the male? There’s no surprise. What would he want with a fat stump like you? He’s probably in the forest joining the real sprites now. Perhaps even looking for me .”

 “Did you come only to torment me, or is there another reason?” Oleafia kept her face bland. Ashley had brought several reinforcements into the glade with her. Any emotion would be fodder for their assaults. Keeping her hurt and despair from these sprites was imperative.

 “Isn’t she disgusting?” Ashley’s eyes flared as she waved in Oleafia’s direction. “She can’t even keep a man for more than a day. Actually, I’m surprised he stopped at all. Maybe he felt sorry for her.”

 Oleafia stayed quiet and listened as the others enjoyed themselves.

 How anyone could find enjoyment in another’s torment was something Oleafia had never understood. Perhaps tearing down others made the abuser feel better about themselves. It was difficult to imagine Ashley having low self-esteem though. She had a very high opinion of herself and told it to everyone. Ad nauseum.

 Shifting a little so as not to be noticed, Oleafia reached into her tree. Pulling out an apple, she took a large bite of it and watched Ashley and her copse of sycophants. Five sprites had accompanied Ashley on this endeavor. She only knew the name of one, the male, Juniper. He alternated between glaring at Oleafia—after of course, staring at her body with a lascivious expression—then gazing at Ashley with adoring eyes. Oleafia rolled her eyes. How Ashley kept hold of his leash, she didn’t know and didn’t care. But if he keeps looking at me that way…

 “Juniper.”

 All noise stopped.

 Oleafia hadn’t initiated a conversation with them in decades. Simply bringing their focus to herself was unique, catching their attention.

 “Me?” Juniper put a finger to his chest and looked around, stunned.

 “Yes, you.” Oleafia stepped away from the tree, ran her hands down her ample sides and watched his eyes heat. “Do you think I’m ugly?”

 Gratification hit her hard as Juniper’s mouth dropped open and his eyes glazed. “Uhh…”

 Ashley’s eyes widened, then narrowed into a glare. “Juniper.”

 Juniper blinked, not taking his eyes off Oleafia’s roaming hands. “Huh?”

 “Get over here, right now.”

 When Juniper didn’t respond right away, she repeated the order with a growl in her voice.

 “Yes, Ashley. Call your pet. Matter-of-fact, why don’t you and your herd go play somewhere else?”

 “ Herd?”

 Oleafia smiled when the whole troupe screamed that. It was gratifying to have made them as angry as they made her on a regular basis. Having a broken heart with nothing to lose was quite liberating. She had finally found the temerity to fight back.

 “Hmm, maybe you aren’t a herd. Perhaps I should have said lemmings.”

 Instant pandemonium.

 Oleafia laughed. Yes, this was quite fun. Oh, she knew she would pay, but for the moment, she was winning.

 “You siren. I will get you for this disrespect.”

 “Siren? Did you call me a siren? Why, thank you very much.” Oleafia preened. “I know I’m lovely, but a siren? Who would have ever thought?”

 “Aughhh!” With that, Ashley had had enough. She charged Oleafia, head down, arms and fingernails extended. “I will claw the skin from your fat backside.”

 “See, even you want a piece of me.” Ducking, Oleafia sidled out of the way of Ashley’s flailing arms.

 Ashley turned and ran at her again. Oleafia waited until her nemesis was within reach, knocked her hands aside and grabbed her around the waist. Before Ashley could squirm away, Oleafia tightened her arms and jumped into the air, landing full body onto the screaming sprite. All the air rushed out of Ashley.

 All the fight as well.

 Oleafia pushed up on her hands and knees and looked down at her squashed victim. “Oh, what a pretty blue. Ashley, are you going to leave me alone?”

 Ashley, not being a bright sprite, shook her head and gave Oleafia a breathless, evil look.

 “Good.” Oleafia pushed herself upright then planted her bounteous backside right on Ashley’s chest and stomach. Ashley made a satisfying “gah” sound. “Impressive, I didn’t know you had any air left.”

 Having subdued her nemesis for a moment, she turned her attention to the stunned sprites. “Now, I would like to ask you all a question.”

 “You can’t sit on Ashley,” one of the females whined. “It isn’t right.”

 “Answer my questions satisfactorily, or I will bounce.”

 From more than one mouth came the question, “Bounce?”

 Oleafia demonstrated. Without using any part of her body except her leg muscles, she leaped into the air a few inches and landed hard back on Ashley’s chest and stomach. What little air she had wheezed into her lungs, rushed out.

 “Bounce. Now, do you answer the questions, or do I get to have some fun?”

 Oleafia caught every one of them with a glower, making sure each knew they were included in her anger.

 Bounce.

 “Wait. Don’t do it again. Please. We’ll answer.”

 “Good. What do the Elders think of you coming to my glade to harass me?”

 One male stepped forward. “They encourage it. They suggested that they want you out of the glade so they can have it.”

 Oleafia sighed. It was as she had suspected, but had hoped one day she would be welcomed back to the fold. Dreams die hard.

 “And what will you get out of my leaving?”

 A younger sprite with a green tinge to her skin spoke next. “Well, Ashley gets this location for her tree. Where your tree is? She’ll get it.”

 “A bit convoluted, but I understand. And what do all of you get?”

 “We get—”

 “She said—”

 “I want—”

 Oleafia held up a hand to stop their chatter. “If I know Ashley, she will reap the rewards and you will get nothing. Or next to nothing. You will be allowed to continue worshiping at her dainty feet, while she lives in luxury. Is this correct?”

 Juniper’s shoulders dropped. “Probably, but she has promised us part of the glade.”

 Shaking her head, Oleafia made sad tsking noises, then gave a good bounce in retaliation to the sharp nails digging into her side. That took the fight back out of the birch.

 “Go back to the Elders and tell them they gave me this place, and here I will stay until the end of time.” Standing, Oleafia gestured toward Ashley. “Take her and get out of my glade. Don’t come back.”

 Head up, shoulders straight, Oleafia entered her tree.

 It didn’t take long for the others to grab Ashley by the arms and start to drag her away. Oleafia observed them as Ashley convinced the group to stop. She yelled at them and pointed toward Oleafia’s tree several times.

 Just what I need, more trouble.Why couldn’t they leave her in peace?

 It didn’t look as if peace were what she would get this day. Ashley picked up a rock and threw it in the direction of Oleafia’s tree.

 Good aim.The rock hit the tree trunk square on. Good distance too.

 As the rest of the group searched for ammunition, Ashley screamed slurs and threats Oleafia couldn’t hear. Her tree didn’t allow sounds from the outside to penetrate. It was a blessing she couldn’t deny.

 Shuddering, Oleafia turned away, unable to watch anymore. She knew when she emerged from her tree, the area would be near devastation. Repairing her glade had become commonplace. She smiled with false humor. Yes, she had a true green thumb.

 Touching her things, keeping her mind calm, she wandered around her tree. Rather spacious inside, it had a comfortable seating room, with chairs stuffed with laurel and moss. Fur had been donated by the animals and she had weaved it into soft material, which she used to cover the furniture and her bed.

 Why couldn’t sprites be as giving and tolerant as the animals? She sighed and wandered into the eating area. A wooden table and chair the tree had grown for her, sat in the middle of the room. Along the outer circumference of the room stood a cooler and a water-dispensing unit. The cooler had a nice wooden door she had polished to a beautiful sheen. She could almost see herself in it. Opening the door, she looked inside. The water from the underground stream kept the cooler very cold and the fruits, vegetables and juices she acquired stayed fresh for days. Grabbing an apple, she went to the water-dispensing unit and lifted the handle. Cold water poured from the spigot into the basin.

 As she wondered what Daniel might be doing, she washed the apple, then stopped the water flow.

 “Probably found someone else to stay with by now.” She looked around, startled. “Oh great. Now you’re talking to yourself. That’s what company will do to you. Make you insane.”

 Shaking her head, she wandered into the bedroom, bypassing the cleanliness room. Since she had washed in the stream, she didn’t need to bathe. The oncoming depression, though, made the bed a comfortable place to brood.

 I should go back to sleep. There isn’t a whole lot to look forward to. Taking a bite of the apple, she reconsidered. There is the cleanup of the glade. I could do it once the others leave. It was something at least.

 She might have stayed outside and faced Ashley again, but healing from wounds took time and Oleafia didn’t feel like having her body injured on top of soul-deep hurt.

 The reverberation of rocks and other large, unidentifiable debris continued to pound the outside of her tree. Exasperated with the whole situation, she hoped they didn’t break any branches off. Grafting them back on wasn’t easy.

 Oleafia caved in to her frustration and threw the half-eaten apple across the room. As it thudded off the wall and bounced on the floor, a hard jolt rumbled below the ground under the tree, shaking everything, hard.

 “Ah, tree rot. They won’t have to worry about having to get rid of me after all. It’s an earthquake.”

 The rocking, rolling and jerking of her tree continued and she held on to her bed with all her strength.

 Chapter Six

 Daniel entered the glade, took in the chaos in one glance, and felt himself begin to overheat. His skin tightened and stretched, his mouth gaped in a long roar. As he scouted around the area, he looked for, but didn’t find, Oleafia.

 “What have you done?” His words echoed and when he stomped his foot, the ground rippled. The wave crossed the field fast and knocked the sprites off their feet.

 He leapt into the air, his wings causing downdrafts that kept him aloft to land between the sprites and Oleafia’s tree. His massive body towered over the sprawled beings and Daniel snarled down at them, eyes glowing a feral red. Opening his extra large mouth, he snapped his jaws closed several times to demonstrate how easy it would be for his three-foot long teeth to snap the sprites into pieces. Turning his head so one huge eye settled on Ashley, he growled long and low. “Where is Oleafia?”

 “ Augghhh!”

 The sprites seemed unable to form actual words. Every time they opened their mouths, screams emerged.

 “Tell me now, or I will crush all your bones.” He pounded his massive foot into the ground, causing another ripple. He was struggling with his altered being. It wanted to chomp, rend, decimate. It wanted its mate back. Daniel barely retained control enough to speak.

 “Ah-ah-Oleafia’s in the tree.”

 Daniel tilted his head toward the male, Juniper. “Is she harmed?”

 “N-n-no.”

 “She had better not be harmed in any way. This is your only warning.” Daniel stepped his large body back far enough to let the sprites clamber to their feet and run away. As soon as they reached the forest, he turned back to Oleafia’s tree.

 “Oleafia!”

 She didn’t answer.

 “Oleafia. Let me see you.”

 Still, nothing from the tree.

 Daniel’s body cooled and relaxed into his man-form. He knew she was inside the tree, he could follow her scent to it.

 He didn’t smell blood and hoped this meant she was unharmed. Unable to enter the tree, he had to wait until she emerged. He wasn’t sure how the whole tree thing worked, but he didn’t think he could use force if she didn’t want to come out.

 Deciding he could be patient, he retrieved the food he had gathered and brought it back to the shade of the tree. Sitting and leaning his back against the rough bark, he ate a pear and thought about the whole solitary sprite situation. He’d never heard of an ostracized sprite, especially one who had done no wrong. Thievery, murder and destruction of other sprites’ trees could lead to the—as Oleafia called it—felling of the convicted sprite’s tree. Without their birth tree, the sprite would wither and die in a short amount of time.

 At least, that’s what everyone said. Not all the rumors were true. Some were only stories. That happened with all species. Some truths mixed in with exaggerations. It made negotiations difficult at times. One wrong gesture could start a war. Daniel shrugged then reached for another piece of fruit, thinking that unless one was a warmonger, wars wouldn’t be what one tried to negotiate.

 Deciding it might be a while before Oleafia ventured out of her tree, he made himself comfortable and closed his eyes.

 He knew he had slept only by the sudden knowledge that someone stood nearby.

 His eyes flashed open and he stared at the three elderly people standing quiet and serene in front of him. Two men and a woman. Each had the years they had lived imprinted deep in their faces. Their hair was long and gray, their clothing, dress-like, covered them from neck to toe and stretched to their wrists. They gazed at him with no discernable expression.

 “Who are you?” Daniel studied the stately creatures. They looked like sprites, but they were very sedate, which caused him to question the assumption. All the sprites he had met thus far were very active.

 “We are the Elders. We have come to find out what it will take to convince you to leave the glade. Riches? We can give you that.” Their voices were as wind blowing through the trees. Soft and soothing. It detracted from the impact of the actual words.

 Slow and easy, he stood, reached up, grabbed a branch and held on to it. “You want me to leave. For money. Is this correct?” He kept his eyes on them, trying to see past their blank faces.

 “That is correct.”

 “Why?”

 They paused and looked at each other as if in confusion. “Why?” They had turned back and addressed him as if there hadn’t been a pause.

 “Yes. Why do you want me to leave the glade?”

 “Ah, the curiosity of humans. We understand. You do not belong in this glade. It is time for you to leave.”

 Daniel waited for more, but after a short time, he realized they thought they had answered his question. Shaking his head, he elaborated. “And who is to say it’s time for me to leave?”

 “We do.”

 “Sorry, I’m going to need a lot more incentive to leave than it’s time and you say so. Give me the real reason why you want me gone. Does it have to do with Oleafia?”

 He had hit a nerve there. They each flinched at Oleafia’s name. Not a big flinch, but they reacted nonetheless.

 “All right. So, Oleafia.” He paused when they flinched again. “Interesting. What is wrong with her? Why is she ostracized?”

 “If we give you the answers you seek, will you leave?” One of the Elders had stepped forward to pose the question.

 Daniel thought it over. “Perhaps.”

 The Elders discussed the situation amongst themselves, then turned to him. “Oleafia has taken something which belongs to us.”

 Daniel laughed. “And what has she taken which you believe belongs to you?”

 Again they put their heads together. The female spoke for the first time. “The glade.”

 “And how does a tree sprite take a glade?”

 One of the males sighed. “She was born different. She isn’t a true tree sprite. When she was banished here, things had been different. Now we must get the glade back.”

 “This is too confusing. Start at the beginning.”

 When they began, Daniel started to pace.

 “Several decades ago, a green fairy passed through our forest. She was looking for a new home. We did not want Fern here, but she promised to get rid of a boring beetle infestation for us. We allowed her to stay for a season. She was…useful to us at the time.”

 Daniel stopped them. “Green fairy, as in magical creature, can make plants grow?”

 “That is correct. A male sprite by the name of Elm struck up an inappropriate relationship with her while she worked on our situation. She was supposed to have moved on once the infestation had been eradicated, but Elm wouldn’t hear of it. He was our most esteemed guardian and we didn’t wish to cause him to withdraw his protection. They went against protocol, mated, and produced Oleafia. The whole situation was horrible, but there was little we could do about it without endangering ourselves. The fairy died when the halfling was still a pod, and Elm followed her out of despair, leaving the podling to survive on her own.”

 “On her own?” Poor Oleafia.

 “She wasn’t of our kind. We did not feel it was necessary to interfere.”

 “What are you talking about? She was a baby. The least you could do was take care of her.” Daniel was becoming incensed. He could feel his body temperature rising. Now was not the time to allow his alternate form to take over. He needed the rest of the story.

 “So said the wizard who came through. He told us that if we raised her through sapling to adulthood, he would bespell the glade to keep her separate from the forest from that time onward. At the time, it was an agreeable answer to our dilemma. We could not kill her or abandon her. We do not fell trees, and our laws forbade it. The glade was not in use, so the wizard’s offer was a good one.”

 “You sent her to sprite school, then banished her here, where she could see you, but not interact?” Daniel had never been more disgusted in his life, but didn’t let it show on his face.

 “You understand. Good. She received her education and when the time came, the wizard returned. The halfling removed her tree from the presence of the true sprites and replanted here. The wizard then cast a spell which forbade any trees crossing the border of the glade and forest. At the time, we thought it was to keep her from returning to the forest. Now, we aren’t positive that was the single outcome of the spell. The trees of the forest sprites can’t cross the spell line either.” The elder paused in his recitation.

 Taking a deep breath, Daniel stared at them, wondering what the situation might truly be. “Answer me this. If Oleafia packs up her tree and leaves the glade of her own free will, what will happen?”

 “Why, the spell will be broken, her tree will die and we would have possession of the glade.” The elder who spoke had the nerve to smile at him. “So, you understand our goal. Will you assist us?”

 “She would die without her tree.”

 “Perhaps not. She is a halfling tree sprite.”

 “But you aren’t positive she would live.”

 The Elders shook their heads. “No.”

 “Why do you want the glade?”

 “Water. There is not enough water under the forest to sustain it for much longer. The glade has underground reservoirs of fresh water.”

 So, that’s it.He could surmise the entire goal of the Elders in that one word. Water.

 “You have endorsed the harassment that’s been going on.” It was a statement. He knew the answer, but he wanted confirmation.

 “My offspring, Ashley, does the bidding of the Elders.”

 Daniel’s brow rose. He wasn’t surprised to learn the female elder was Ashley’s mother. They did have similar features.

 “You will continue the harassment until she leaves.” Again, a statement.

 “We need the glade, but can’t bring our trees inside the spell until she has evacuated of her own choice.” The Elders folded their hands at their waists as if awaiting his acquiescence.

 That, they would never have.

 “Oleafia has endured enough from you and your kind.”

 “What?” They sounded so shocked, Daniel almost laughed.

 “You’ll not be able to force her out of the glade you have made her undeserved prison. It is her glade now and you will stay out of it. You’ll instruct your sprites they are no longer welcome in the glade for any purpose.”

 “Who are you to think you can dictate to us? We are the Elders of the tree sprites in this forest. You are merely a man. One single man does not have the wherewithal to demand anything of us.” Their voices were no longer soothing. They now resembled the scratching of one branch against another.

 Daniel laughed outright, making sure it sounded loud and obnoxious. “I have the power to demand everything of you.”

 “Impossible. We do not believe you. You came to this glade alone. You have no army, nothing. There is yourself and no one else. You can’t think to defeat the multitudes of sprites who live in the forest.” The Elders laughed at the notion.

 He supposed they thought they had the right. He was alone, a single being. But…

 “Didn’t Ashley and her friends warn you about me?”

 That stopped the laughter. They looked at each other with questions in their eyes and on their lips, then shook their heads.

 “Warn us about what?”

 “Warn you of what I am.” Daniel felt his body begin to overheat and his breathing deepened.

 “And what are you?”

 Daniel didn’t bother to answer. He showed them instead.

 Chapter Seven

 The large creature leapt into the air, frightening the Elders into screaming and running away.

 “Demon.”

 Laughing, the demon flew across the glade following them, shooting balls of fire behind them. He didn’t let the flames touch the ground, not wanting to damage Oleafia’s home, but set them to pop waist high to an arrogant tree sprite. He couldn’t kill them, much to his dismay, because his tender-hearted tree sprite would not approve. Besides, the ash these wasted tree sprites would leave in their wake might be bad for the glade.

 When they reached the relative safety of their forest, Daniel lifted higher, skimming the treetops with his leathery wings. He let out a roar and a flame roasted the sky inches above the treetops. The topmost leaves curled from the heat. The roar shook the branches and screams emerged from the ground.

 “Hear me, sprites. I am the guardian of the sprite you call the Halfling Oleafia. You have no right to her glade and you shall not trespass. If you do, I will burn down your trees in retaliation.”

 He circled, shooting out a long stream of fire in a demonstration proving his capability to follow through with the threat. He would, too. No creatures were going to threaten his Oleafia and get away with it.

 Having made his point in graphic detail, he returned to the glade and shifted. Walking under the branches of Oleafia’s tree, he was thinking about the greed of others and didn’t duck fast enough. He was thumped in the forehead by a protruding branch.

 Rubbing his head, he glared at the offending tree limb. The air left his lungs in a rush. Surprise caused his eyes to widen and his body to freeze. The branch bore a striking resemblance to a phallus. A pretty decent-sized one, as a matter of fact. Measuring near the size of his own cock, it was perfect in detail and form. Damn, someone was an artist. A good one.

 He considered the question for a moment, still rubbing his head. Deciding to ask Oleafia about it when she came out of her tree, he sat, leaned against the tree, and closed his eyes.

 Unable to sleep, Daniel glanced up into the tree and reached out for one of the phallic branches. Breaking it off, he was left with a ten-inch member. Hmm, he could do something with this. Imagining how he could use this on his Oleafia, he smiled and soon nodded off.

  

 * * *

  

 Oleafia stood in the doorway of her room, a hand on each side, bracing herself for another earthquake. They had come from nowhere and seemed to have gone the same way. It was the first time she had felt this strong of a quake in her glade and hoped it hadn’t harmed any of the resident creatures.

 She waited for a few minutes longer, then, looking in every direction for falling debris, left her doorway. Wandering around her home, she picked up a spilled bowl and placed it in its spot, and adjusted a picture of a pretty flower. No damage had been caused by the quake and she was glad.

 Checking the damage to the glade was her next priority. She still hadn’t assessed the damage Ashley and her group had caused either. Grabbing a large bag from a hook near the exit, she left her tree and tripped over Daniel’s outstretched legs.

 “Daniel. What are you doing here?” She sat up and stared at him, stunned.

 In no hurry, he opened his eyes and shot her a slow, sexy smile. “I was sleeping until you threw yourself at my feet.”

 Shaking her head, she picked up her bag and stood. “I mean, what are you doing here at all? I thought you had left.” She looked around, pretending she wasn’t thrilled to see him again and that her heart rate hadn’t sped up to nearly jumping out of her chest. As nonchalantly as possible, she began to pick up rocks and other debris that didn’t belong, so she could return them to their places. The mess had been minimal, thank the Goddess, and shouldn’t take her long to repair.

 “Why would you think I had gone?”

 Glancing at him, she saw he hadn’t moved from his position against the tree. He looked relaxed and calm. She, however, had a riot of emotions shooting through her and she had difficulty sorting them out.

 “I woke and you weren’t here. I thought it meant you had moved on.”

 “And you reacted how to this news?”

 Oleafia turned to face him, threw the bag to the ground, and glared at him. “I took it badly, all right? Is that what you want to hear?”

 “Yes. I want to hear that you would miss me if I had gone.”

 “Oh, that’s just mean. Why did you come back if you left? To torment me, too?”

 Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Did they hurt you, Oleafia?”

 She shook her head and sighed. “No. They didn’t hurt me. I got some of my own revenge, then I went into the tree. That’s when they started making this mess.”

 Daniel made a soft humming noise. “What did you do to them?”

 Oleafia sent him a wicked look. “I sat on Ashley. She couldn’t talk with me sitting on her chest.”

 Laughing, Daniel stood and reached for the bag. “Good for you. I’m sure she deserved it.”

 Oleafia thought about the things the sprite had done to her over the decades. “Yes. I suppose she did.”

 Still smiling, he looked up into the branches of her tree. “Tell me something.”

 Oleafia glanced at him. “Ask and I will try to answer.”

 “What’s with the cocks in your tree?”

 “Cocks?”

 “Yes, these.” He pointed to one of the branches, and Oleafia blushed berry bright.

 “My tree… Well, it…” Deciding to answer against her best judgment, she blurted out the explanation. “My tree is an extension of me. When I think of what I need, it grows the item. When I thought earthy thoughts, it decided I needed those .”

 “But you never used them?”

 “While they look good, I don’t think I would be able to use them for the reason the tree wished them to be used. I was afraid of splinters.”

 Daniel stared at the formation for a moment and a wicked smile grew on his face. Oleafia was afraid to ask what he was thinking. “You know,” he said in a slow, silky tone, “I think I can keep it from splintering. A little sanding, a little fire, and it should work fine.”

 “Daniel.” Shocked, Oleafia swatted his arm and moved away, embarrassed.

 “All right. We will save the experience for another time.”

 She was very glad when he let the subject drop and took the bag from her hand.

 While he held the bag open, Oleafia began putting more things into it. If a piece of ground or a plant had been damaged by the sprites, she laid her hand upon it and opened her heart. When she pulled her hand away, the area was repaired and a feeling of well-being surrounded her from the spot. Smiling, she would move on to the next area in need of healing.

 “Wow, Oleafia. It looks as if it had never been touched.” Daniel’s voice held something different. Awe.

 Waving a hand in dismissal, Oleafia shrugged it off. “It’s not anything special. I have always had an affinity with animals, plants and the earth. They like me, I like them, so we help each other out when necessary.”

 “Oleafia, I have never seen any being who could do what you just did. They might be able to affect a small repair job, but not complete healing in a few seconds.”

 “That’s strange. I have always been able to do it.” Oleafia’s brow arched in confusion. It wasn’t such a big deal, and she didn’t see why he was making it into one. “It’s easy.”

 Daniel snorted. “For you, maybe. But for everyone else, it’s an impossibility.”

 “But the other sprites…”

 “The other sprites can’t do what you can. They can’t even get rid of boring beetles on their own.”

 “You’re kidding, right?” He had to be. It wouldn’t make sense that she would be so very different than the rest of her kind.

 “No, I’m not. Tell me something. Did the other sprites ever tell you about your parents?”

 “Now what made you ask such a strange question?” Her hands fluttered uncontrolled for a moment, then she clasped them tight in front of her. “Unfortunately, no. They said my father was a great warrior named Elm, but nothing about my mother. Why?”

 He was acting very strange. He had begun to pace, hands behind his back, head down.

 “When I got back…” he paused and glared at her, “…from getting food, I found Ashley and the gang causing a ruckus. I shooed them off and while waiting for you to come out of the tree, the Elders showed up.”

 Oleafia gasped. “The Elders came here ?”

 “Yes. Those officious, greedy assholes came here.”

 Shocked, Oleafia jumped at him and covered his mouth with both hands. “You can’t say things like that, Daniel. They will hear.”

 After placing a gentle kiss into each one, he moved her hands. “I don’t care, Oleafia. Let me finish my story, then you will know why I don’t fear them.”

 “But—”

 “No, let me finish.”

 Nodding, Oleafia sighed. Never had she thought anyone would do anything against the Elders’ wishes. This was very strange.

 With great detail, Daniel described the Elders’ visit to her glade. He had scarce begun when she sat down hard. Unable to comprehend, she asked questions, which he answered to the best of his ability.

 Oleafia first was very, very angry. She was screaming, throwing, hitting mad. Of all the things she’d had to put up with, the harassment, the assaults, the mockery…this was the final straw. She was angry with everyone from her father, to the wizard, to the sprites. Now the single thing she had, they wanted to take. She was ready to confront the Elders for their attempted thievery.

 Daniel caught her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. It was enough to calm her down and allow her to think with any degree of coherency. “It’s not fair, Daniel. I have spent the majority of my life in misery and alone, just so they wouldn’t have to deal with someone different. I’m not evil, I’m basically a nice person, but they never cared.” She drew in a deep breath and sniffed. “I don’t see how they can think of themselves as good or nice when they act like that.”

 “I know, sweetie. I know.” Daniel tightened his arms around her, and she felt his lips in her hair.

 Her resolve firmed. “I’m not going to take it anymore. If they come here, they will get a fight.”

 “You don’t have to fight, Oleafia. You are a healer, not a fighter.”

 Oleafia turned in his arms and raised a brow at his proclamation. “You think I can’t fight? Let me tell you something; the ability I have for healing, I also have for destruction.”

 When Daniel blinked, Oleafia nodded. “That’s right. I have rarely used it, but I have the ability.”

 “Well.” Daniel looked as if he didn’t know what to say, so Oleafia saved him the trouble.

 “If they don’t stay out of my glade, there will be war. And I’m not afraid of them anymore.”

 “If you think you’re going to be fighting alone, you’re crazy.”

 Her heart pounding, she tried to see inside him. He was saying what she wanted to hear, but was he telling the truth? “Rotten roots, I don’t know.”

 He took her by the arms and gave her a little shake. “Goddess. Your head is as hard as your tree. Understand this, woman, I’m not leaving. Not now, not ever. You’re stuck with me, got it?”

 Oleafia couldn’t stop the tears flowing from her eyes. “Even if you wanted to stay with me for your lifetime, it won’t be for my lifetime. I’m a sprite, no matter what else I am, and as long as my tree lives, I live. Even if you stay with me, I will eventually be alone again.”

 Daniel laughed. Oleafia stared at him, mouth agape, sure he hadn’t understood her.

 “Daniel, you’re going to die and leave me alone. How can you laugh?”

 “Oh, I will die, but it won’t be for centuries.” He continued to chuckle and brought her into his arms for a tight hug.

 Looking up into his face with questions on her lips, she ran her hand along his shoulder. “Explain, please.”

 Oleafia held her breath when he shook his head and smiled.

 “Haven’t you figured out what my alter being is?”

 “Alter being?” Her forehead wrinkled and she frowned. “You aren’t a human male?”

 “Have you ever seen any other humanoid creatures besides tree sprites?”

 “Well, no. Only a troll, and he always looks the same.”

 “Honey, there are beings of every shape and form, and most have at least one form that can pass as human.”

 “And you are one of those beings?” She couldn’t imagine anything of the sort. Humans were humans, mythicals were mythicals. What else was there?

 “Yes. Absolutely I’m one of those beings.”

 “What? What type of being are you?” She felt a sense of curiosity and not a bit of disbelief. Also, a tendril of excitement and…hope.

 “Oleafia, you’re going to love this.” He walked her to her tree, pressed her against the trunk, and stepped away. Well away. Far enough that the shadows of the tree branches didn’t touch him. “Now stay there and watch.”

 As Oleafia made herself comfortable against her tree, she put her hand to her heart. It was beating very fast. She felt it pounding beneath her skin.

 He took off his clothing, chuckling and winking at her. “I am going to have to take up your habit of not wearing clothes. Would definitely make it quicker.”

 “I wear clothes in the winter. It’s cold, and I need the protection.” She watched him as he revealed the strong, sexy body that had been hidden by his clothing. Shaking herself, she looked into his face and intercepted a knowing smile. “Uh, quicker for what?”

 His smile grew into a wicked grin. “Exactly what you’re thinking about.”

 Oleafia felt the skin of her face heat in embarrassment. “Okay, yes. That would be a good thing.”

 Daniel blew her a kiss, closed his eyes, and let his head drop back. With his fists clenched, his breathing began to deepen.

 Then, he started to change.

 Chapter Eight

 “Oh! You’re a dragon.” She could see the features starting to form while his body grew and grew until he was bigger than her tree. He was a dark olive-green color, with scales that changed when the light hit them in a multicolored hue of emerald greens, peacock blues, and every shade in between. “Oh, Daniel, you’re beautiful.”

 He shook all over and coughed once. At least she thought it sounded like a cough. A puff of smoke came from his mouth when he made the noise, so Oleafia decided it was a cough. She eyed his massive body, her fingers tingling. The need to touch the colorful scales overwhelmed her.

 Taking a step forward, she held a hand out. Pausing, she gazed up at him. “May I?”

 His booming voice rocked the tree and the ground. “Naturally. I’m yours to do with as you wish.”

 “You have been causing quakes in my glade, haven’t you?” Missing pieces to an unseen puzzle started to fall into place.

 “I don’t know about quakes, but I have changed a couple of times since I’ve been here.”

 “It explains a lot of things.” She reached her hand out and laid it on his side. He had a large body, short legs, long neck and tail, and dangerous-looking teeth.

 His skin quivered when she ran her hand across him. It was slick and soft, not rough at all, and she liked the feel of the heated scales. “You’re warm.” She glanced up at his large eyes, so much higher than hers.

 He lay down and curled around her, enveloping her in his heat. “It is a side effect from the flame production.”

 Oleafia smiled. “You make flames?”

 “Flames, balls of fire and super-heated air.”

 “Hmm, a dragon of many talents, I think I like that.” She sent him a wicked grin and, borrowing a leaf from his tree, winked at him. “And did you use these special abilities on the Elders?”

 “You bet I did. I shot fireballs at their asses.” His large head shook in anger. “I told them that if they crossed the barrier again, I would burn down all their trees.”

 “Overkill, but I’m sure the threat was effective.”

 She watched the changes in the large dragon head as he glared in the direction she knew the Elders lived in the forest. It seemed strange, but his expressions were almost the same as when he was a man. He looked different though. If she hadn’t seen him change, she wouldn’t have believed the man and the dragon were one and the same.

 She examined every part of him while he continued scanning the glade. Her body shivered. He was sexy in this form as well. It was difficult to restrain from rubbing her body all over his, taking his scent as her own. The reaction was a little bit shocking, and she wasn’t sure where it came from. Perhaps it was his animal magnetism.

 Whatever it was, it was beyond her ability to fight. Hoping he wouldn’t notice, she pressed her upper body against his side. He was very hot, and her skin tingled where their bodies touched.

 “Having fun?”

 Oleafia opened her eyes and looked up at Daniel. “Yes.”

 She felt his laugh vibrating through her. Unable to stop a groan that rose from the depths of her being, she pushed back just enough that nothing but her nubbins grazed his scales.

 “Gah!”

 He broke into delighted laughter, almost sending her into orgasm. “Good grief, woman, I think you’re enjoying yourself entirely too much since I can’t participate.” He leaned down and flicked his giant forked, snake-like tongue across her body. “Oh, baby, you taste good.”

 His tongue flickered over her again, leaving heat in its wake. Something in his saliva perhaps was the cause of the slight burning sensation. She would have to think about it later. Right now, she was enjoying the tingle.

 “That’s it.”

 Oleafia jumped back and her eyes flew open. “What’s it?”

 “We’re going for a flight. Otherwise I will try to make love to you in this form.”

 “And that’s impossible?” Darned curiosity. Sometimes it was too hard to control.

 Daniel tilted his head in a considering way. “Perhaps not impossible, but the logistics would have to be worked out first. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”

 Oleafia sighed. “All right.” She perked back up. “Did you say we were going to fly?”

 “Absolutely. Hop on and hold on tight. Sit in front of my wings, and don’t block them.”

 Excited, Oleafia followed his orders to the letter. She stepped on his foreleg and straddled his back without touching his wings. He had a line of green-gray hair trailing down the back of his neck that he instructed her to hold on to.

 “Won’t it hurt?”

 “No, I won’t feel a thing. Go ahead and get a good grip. I wouldn’t want you to fall off.”

 Taking him at his word, Oleafia wrapped her hands in the hair and clamped her legs on his sides. She shrieked when he gave an experimental shake.

 “Only making sure you’re on good.”

 “You are going to pay for that. Count on it.”

 Oleafia decided she probably didn’t make a very threatening being, sitting on top of a creature three times her size and sporting a wide smile. She couldn’t help it though, she was happy.

 Daniel stepped further away from the tree and she felt the muscles in his back surrounding his wings tighten. He flapped his wings once, and they were airborne. A few more, and they were circling the glade.

 “Whoooaah!” The yell erupted from her throat before she could stop it. “Did you have to do it so fast? Couldn’t you have given me some warning first?”

 They shot through the sky at a dizzying speed. Oleafia laughed in excitement, and it echoed back to her. The joy in the sound startled her. She hadn’t been this happy, ever.

 As they flew around the glade, she saw for the first time the barrier that kept her tree in and the other trees out. It was a shimmering aqua color and it reminded her of a soap bubble. The colors swirled in the sunlight and it was beautiful. It seemed strange, but she didn’t feel any anger when she looked at it. It was…well, it was like a safety zone for her. The security of the barrier kept her from losing her pristine home to the grasping sprites.

 “Oleafia, look down there.”

 He tilted, and she saw patches of sprites digging up their trees. “Well, that’s strange. I wonder what they’re doing.”

 “Looks like they took my warning to heart. I’m sure they won’t be going far. You said they could have their trees out of the ground for up to three days, but they will perhaps spread out to find fertile ground.”

 “Yes perhaps.” She watched them and waited for some emotion to rise. None did. “I will wait for when they leave, then go start the healing of the land. I don’t understand how they could have let the situation get so bad.”

 Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know, but not everyone is as connected to the life force of the earth as you are. You’re unique in that. With your empathic abilities, you realize everything is alive and has conscience. Other beings don’t see that, and they don’t take the same care to preserve nature’s bounty.”

 “How can they not see that without the land, air, plants and animals, our own survival is in jeopardy?” She watched as the sprites carried their trees away to greener pastures, leaving behind an area lacking in nutrients, short of plants and littered with the things they didn’t want to take with them.

 It was going to take a while to heal the land, but she could already see animals venturing into the abandoned zone. Taking it as a sign, Oleafia nodded, happy. The land would heal, she had her home, and she had…

 “Daniel?”

 “Yes?” He had circled the area and they were flying back over the glade, preparing to land.

 “How long are you going to be staying with me?”

 Shaking his head, he landed in the glade. After she slid from his back and onto the ground, he changed…and he was glaring at her.

 The expression sent her on the defensive. “What?”

 “You still don’t trust me, do you?”

 “What are you talking about? All I did was ask how long you would be staying.”

 His eyes narrowed and his look turned from angry to mutinous. Oleafia decided right then not to make a dragon feel mutinous ever again. It was scary even in his man form.

 “And that’s precisely my point. I’ve stated repeatedly that I’m staying here. I’m not leaving. I will build a house and we will make young. Lots of young. Do you understand, Oleafia?”

 Oleafia nodded, then shook her head. “No. Daniel, you’re talking about a permanent relationship. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

 When he burst out in inventive curses, her eyes opened wide. When he cursed her , she got angry. “You stop right there, Daniel the Dragon. I will not take that sort of abuse from anyone ever again. Call me dense again, and I might have to do something about it.”

 He stepped close to her and grabbed her by the upper arms before she could blink. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

 Oleafia looked into his red eyes and quivered. She felt a tendril of fright, but was even more aroused. His very strength was exciting to her. Without hurting her, he had lifted her off the ground. She put her hands on his chest, marveling at the heat he put out when he was angry. Daniel was, without a doubt, holding a tight leash on his alternate being, and the contained power amazed her. He would make a strong mate and father.

 Where did that thought come from?

 She continued to stare at him, mouth agape, unable to say a word because of the realization that a fierce mate was exactly what she wanted. Someone who would protect his family with his life. A male who had the sheer strength to keep them safe from any and all threats. Daniel was that male. His level of anger told her he was serious when he said he was staying. He believed it, he knew it. How could she do anything but believe in him ?

 “Well, I’m waiting.”

 Oleafia ignored his angry words and launched herself at him. She hit him with her body, wrapping her arms and legs around him like a baby opossum. “Oh, Daniel.”

 He staggered, then caught his balance. Pushing away enough to see his face, Oleafia laughed, delighted.

 “Crazy sprite. What’s gotten into you?”

 “You.” She rained kisses over his face, giggling and wiggling against him, hoping he would take the hint. “You’ve gotten into me, and I’ll be keeping you there if you don’t mind.”

 Now Daniel stared at her , mouth open, stunned expression on his handsome face. “Huh?”

 “I said that I have decided to keep you. You’re going to stay here, with me, build a home, raise children…all of it.” She put her hand over his mouth before he could respond to her outlandish statement. “No. I’m not going to let you argue your way out of it. You came to my glade, seduced me, and stole my heart. You have to face the consequences. Get used to it.”

 Daniel glared at her for a moment longer. After what seemed like forever, he shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I can tell the rest of my life is going to be one of confusion and a complete lack of control.”

 “But one filled with love and laughter.”

 As Oleafia pulled him to her for a deep, lingering kiss, she caught one last comment muttered under his breath.

 “I’m counting on it.”

 Chapter Nine

 Daniel took control of the kiss. His woman was going to drive him insane before she was through, and come hell or high water, he was going to enjoy every second. Starting now.

 Tightening his hold around her waist, he pulled her in as close to his body as he could. He wanted to feel her nakedness pressing against him. Her body was warm and soft and he couldn’t get enough of it. He probably never would.

 When Oleafia tried to push back from him, he at first didn’t let her. He licked her lips to savor the taste of her, then with a little nip to her bottom lip, loosened his hold. She stepped away from him, smiled, and turned. She sashayed to her tree and waited for him to approach her. Daniel wondered what the sexy little sprite could be up to, but gathered his clothes and followed her nonetheless. She took his hand in hers and tugged.

 “Huh.” He couldn’t contain the sound that escaped him when she tugged him into her tree. “Goddess’ eyeballs.”

 Oleafia laughed at him and his curse, but he didn’t care. He was seeing her home for the first time. He was inside a tree. How golden.

 Her living space was neat and tidy, though appeared lived in. A pillow was out of place, a knitting project had been set aside on the sofa, a forgotten teacup perched on the end table. The room they had entered was a comfortable-looking sitting room. He noticed the plush cushions on the furniture and vowed he would examine her sofa and her home in greater detail. Later.

 Right now, though…

 “Where do you sleep?”

 Oleafia laughed again, but she directed him into her sleeping chamber. He wasted no time getting her onto the bed and under him.

 Starting at her stomach, he kissed his way across her torso and up to her breasts. She gasped when he took her taut nubbin in his mouth and lapped at it with his tongue. There was a film of sweat coating her, and it tasted of nectar. It was very pleasant, and candy sweet. He let her nubbin go so he could lick her skin to gather the dew. This dragon had a sweet tooth and his sprite was a tasty treat.

 He came to the realization that he hadn’t spent enough time on her before. That was about to change.

 He slid across her chest with his mouth, laving the skin between her breasts, and subjected the other to a thorough cleaning. Oleafia seemed to appreciate it, if her unsteady breathing was any indication. With wicked intent, he changed his tongue into his dragon one and let it flick across her nubbin. The squeal that emerged caused him to chuckle, but he didn’t stop. His snake-like, split-end tongue tasted her as his man one could not.

 He savored her flavor and teased her with tickles of the tip of his tongue. Using his hand to manipulate her free breast, the other arm went around her and behind her back to lift her to him.

 Groaning in appreciation of the great access he now had, he deepened the caress.

 Oleafia, he realized, wasn’t simply lying there, accepting of his loving. No, she was participating to the best of her ability. Her hands slid up his back and into his hair. The sting of her pulling his hair registered as one more stimulation in the myriad of sensations.

 The groans and grunts she emitted sounded like music to his ears, and as he ran his hand down her abdomen to the soft green patch of hair at her mound, he couldn’t stop from grinding his rock-hard erection against her thigh.

 Slipping his fingers through the hair and swollen lips, he touched the bundle of nerves he found there. She arched again and he pressed one finger inside her. She was so slick, hot and silky, he couldn’t help but want to slam his cock into her. He held off, but it was close.

 He slid a second finger into her, stretching her. Her scent rose between them and his head spun. He was very close to losing it and had to turn his head away to take a breath free of their combined odors. It was almost too much.

 “Daniel. Please.”

 His eyes shifted back to her and soaked up the sight of her hanging on to her own climax by her fingertips.

 “Please what? Please do this?” He punctuated the question with a deep thrust of his fingers and a thumb to her clitoris.

 Her hips jerked and began to move in time with his hand. “Oh yeah, baby. That’s it,” he crooned to her in a soft voice. “I love to watch you come. Come for me, Oleafia.”

 With a strangled scream, Oleafia did as he instructed. The walls of her pussy clenched and trembled around his fingers and the gush of liquid coated his hand. He groaned, unable to contain it, but didn’t close his eyes, wanting to see her expression as she continued to crest.

 When she started to relax, he kissed her, wanting to taste her. Her arms, which had loosened their grip, tightened again around his back.

 “Daniel, oh how I love you.”

 He almost didn’t hear her, he had let her mouth go to rain kisses along her cheek, to her ear. If she hadn’t whispered it right into his ear, he would have missed it.

 “Good, because I love you too, you stubborn sprite.”

 Oleafia pushed at his shoulders, and he let her roll him over onto his back.

 As she wrapped one leg over his waist and straddled his stomach, she pinched a nipple, causing him to jump.

 “Do you have to qualify it?”

 Daniel laughed and skimmed his hands to her hips. “Absolutely.”

 Oleafia made a huffing noise, which turned into a cut-off shriek when he lifted her and pulled her down onto his hard-on. He pressed deep, until her nest and his dark hairs mingled.

 “Oh, yes. That’s beautiful.” He had been watching her face, and when her eyes glazed and her mouth dropped open, he reveled in the knowledge he had caused the lack of coherency. “Damn, that’s hot.”

 Her nubbins tightened even more and goose bumps erupted all over her body. Her shiver transferred into his own body, and the combination of sensations—hot pussy and goose bump shivers—played havoc with his nerve endings. He was very close to exploding, but he was going to fight it as long as possible. He hoped he could hold his orgasm off until Oleafia came again. With that goal in mind, he rolled them both over without slipping out of her.

 He began a deep, slow in and out movement that felt so good, his eyes rolled back into his head. “Oh yeah, this is the best.”

 If Oleafia responded with more than a grunt and a moan, he didn’t hear it. His motions sped up. Putting his hands under her hips, he canted her to get the best penetration. When she began muttering, “Oh yes, yes,” he knew he had gotten the right spot. Maintaining the angle, he dug his knees into the bed and kept up the rapid pace he had set.

 Oleafia gripped him by the upper arms and pulled him down to her for a long, deep kiss. They only broke it to catch their breath. He could feel his balls tightening in preparation, but he cursed and held it off long enough to reach down and stroke her into orgasm.

 She screamed her release and he sighed and exploded into his own. It washed over him in waves traveling up his spine. Gritting his teeth, holding his breath, he reveled in the sensation.

 An image flashed behind his closed eyelids of Oleafia rounded and glowing with his offspring. His body reacted by erupting again.

 Spent and nearly comatose, Daniel let his body collapse onto Oleafia’s. When he landed on her, air whooshed out of her and he struggled to shift off her soft body. “Sorry, didn’t mean to squish you.”

 They were both breathing heavy, but she rolled to her side toward him and placed her soft hand on his heaving chest. “I didn’t mind. I just hadn’t expected it.”

 He took her hand from his chest and brought it to his lips. After placing a kiss in the center of her palm, he settled her hand over his thumping heart. “Your bed is very comfortable. Thank you for sharing it.”

 Oleafia laughed. She seemed to be laughing at him a lot. He cracked one eye open to glare half-heartedly at her. “Why do you keep laughing at me?”

 “You are cute when I’ve mixed up your brains with loving.”

 Daniel sighed. “When I get the strength, you are going to pay for that comment.”

 He dropped off to sleep with her laughter ringing in his ears and heart.

  

 * * *

  

 Oleafia watched him sleep for a long while. Eventually, she decided she wasn’t going to sleep, so she got up and wandered into the sitting room.

 A movement outside her tree caught her attention.

 When she exited her tree, she saw Ashley stacking twigs and dried branches around the base of the trunk.

 “What are you doing?” Oleafia blinked, surprised her voice sounded calm when she felt anything but.

 Ashley jumped guiltily, took a deep breath, straightened, and turned toward Oleafia. Her face was filled with hate and anger, and Oleafia saw a flint in one hand.

 “Oh, Goddess. You are trying to burn my tree.” Shock held her immobilized. Of all the attacks she had withstood over the decades, never had anyone tried to destroy her tree.

 “That’s right. I’m sick of you. You get everything. You live in the beautiful glade while we crowd around the edge of it, packed in like rats in a burrow. Now we have to move our trees while you stay here, hale and hearty. You have the best and aren’t willing to share. It isn’t fair.” Ashley came closer to Oleafia while she ranted.

 “But...” Oleafia wanted to tell Ashley the others weren’t the ones shunned, she was. They stayed away from her on their own decision, and Oleafia had no choice in the matter. But the words stuck in her throat.

 “No buts, termite bait. I’m going to rid myself of you and your tree, and take over the glade. It’s going to be mine . I will live here where the water and nutrients are good and everyone will want to deal with me . I will have the power and be adored. You’ll see.”

 Laughing hysterically, Ashley shook her head. “Oh wait. You’ll be dead. You won’t see anything.”

 Without giving any warning, she quit laughing and leapt at Oleafia, wrapped her hands around her throat and began to squeeze.

 Oleafia couldn’t breathe. She was going to die at the hands of this mad sprite. She struggled to get free, but couldn’t break Ashley’s hold. The edges of her vision began to darken when she raised her hands and pressed them on Ashley’s chest.

 Immediately, her palms started to tingle and grow hot. A green glow emerged from her hands and grew to a bright flare of emerald light. Oleafia had to close her eyes against the glare, and she heard Ashley scream. The pressure on her throat lessened and Oleafia took a coughing breath of air.

 Her head spun and she must have fainted, because the next thing she knew, she was lying on the ground, coughing, and Ashley lay crumpled beside her, crying.

 “What did you do to me?”

 Oleafia didn’t know what had happened. She shook her head. “Are you all right?”

 Ashley sniffed and shrugged. “I don’t know what you did, but something has changed in me. I don’t hate you anymore.”

 “Really?” Oleafia had never been able to discern why, but Ashley had always hated her for some reason or another, and now she was saying she had no hate left? Very strange.

 “I’m trying to hate you. Believe me, I want to hate you, but I can’t. It simply isn’t there anymore. Whatever you did, you changed me.” She seemed to contemplate the idea for a moment, then sat up. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to go home to my tree. I may not hate you anymore, but I still don’t like you.”

 Oleafia groaned and sat up herself. “I understand. Just don’t come back please, and we won’t have any trouble between us. Okay?”

 Standing, Ashley snorted. “I would prefer never to see you again, as well.”

 And that is the last Oleafia ever heard from Ashley.

 Crawling to her feet, Oleafia moved the branches and twigs away from the base of her tree then went inside and got herself a drink of water. It relieved her burning throat.

 A roar from right behind her caused her to choke on the water as she screamed.

 She dropped the drinking cup and turned. Daniel stood behind her, glaring with bright red eyes at the bruising around her neck.

 “I will kill whoever did this to you, Oleafia. Tell me who I need to tear apart.”

 Attempting to soothe him, Oleafia pressed herself against him. “I took care of it, and I don’t think she will be back.” Quickly, before Daniel could go after Ashley, she described what had happened.

 “And you believe this happened? A change of heart?” He  sneered but he was listening, so she answered him.

 “Yes. The glow was similar to the one I use to heal plants, but stronger. Brighter. I think it did heal her.”

 Daniel stared into her eyes as if he could see the truth written there. She tried to look as earnest as possible to let him know she believed what she told him.

 After a long, tense moment, he nodded and relaxed. Oleafia exhaled in a mighty sigh, glad it was over, then shrieked when he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. As he carried her into the bedroom, she placed her hand experimentally on her neck and concentrated.

 A bright green glow accompanied them into the bedroom and Oleafia laughed.

 “Good. Now I won’t have to kill anyone.” Daniel proclaimed as the bedroom door slammed shut. “I have something for you.”

 “A present?” Oleafia grinned. She had never received anything from anyone before.

 “A present for both of us.”

 His smile seemed a little wicked and Oleafia couldn’t wait to find out what he had for her. “Does it have to do with hard-ons?”

 Daniel chuckled. “I suppose you could say that.”

 “Let me see, please. This is so exciting.”

 “You go lay down and I’ll give your present to you.”

 Oleafia ran to the blanket and quickly situated herself on her back.

 Daniel approached her, still with the small smile gracing his handsome face. Oleafia’s heart pounded, wondering and waiting to know what he’d do next. He was so inventive, showing her all sorts of things she had never even thought of.

 He kneeled by her feet, spread her legs and placed her heels close to her bottom.

 “What a pretty sight.”

 The air hissed through his teeth as he spoke. It affected her in a way she’d never expected. Bumps rose on her skin as if she were cold. Every part of her tingled. Her breathing quickened and his eyes moved to her heaving mounds and stayed there.

 “Very beautiful.” Whispering now, barely able to be heard, he kept his eyes on her and placed his hands on her ankles.

 Oleafia’s entire body shivered like a branch in a strong wind. “Daniel.”

 “You are so responsive to me, Oleafia. I see your need reflected in your eyes and I feel as strong as a mountain.” Sliding his hands over her skin, he reached her knees, then across her thighs.

 “Touch me, Daniel.” Her hands clenched on the blanket, trying not to reach for him in an attempt to force him where she wanted him.

 “Momentarily, be patient.”

 Oleafia’s eyes rolled back into her head when he ran his hands over her hips and to her tummy. For one heartbeat, two, he caressed the slight bulge of her abdomen. He seemed to enjoy her weight unlike any of her own species. She too felt as powerful as a giant when he touched her.

 With one hand, he reached for her mounds. Caressing and tweaking her nubbin, he distracted her. The first she knew of her present, he had it in his hand and had begun to slide it back and forth on the skin of her thigh.

 Oleafia’s eyes opened and when she could focus them, they widened. He had one of the branches the tree had formed for her. It looked a bit different, though, than when she’d last seen it. “You’ve done something.”

 “Yes. I used fire to strengthen it and sanded it to make it smooth. It will never chip and leave sharp edges.”

 “What do you plan to do with it?”

 His grin widened. Oh, he is so beautiful.

 “This is our new toy.”

 “You will use it in my body?”

 “Most assuredly. And you will enjoy every moment of it. Trust in me, Oleafia.”

 Oleafia took a bracing breath. She did trust him. With all of her being, she believed in him. In answer, she relaxed her body and smiled at him.

 He leaned down and kissed her deeply. When he let her mouth go, he gazed into her eyes with his own sparkling ones. “Thank you.”

 “Thank you , Daniel.”

 One last pecking kiss, then he rested back onto his heels. “Let’s find out how well this works, shall we?”

 “Yes, please.”

 With the cock-branch, he parted her nest folds. It slid across the nerve knob and sent a shiver through her. It felt very good.

 Repeatedly, he ran it over the sensitive skin and nerves until Oleafia begged him to enter her. “I’m so wet for you, Daniel. I need you inside me.”

 Her knot-hole pulsed with her heart beat, harder and stronger, until she couldn’t catch her breath for begging for him.

 Gentle as anything, he dipped the bulbous tip of the cock-branch into her knot hole. Her body clenched around it, not wanting to let it go, wanting it deeper.

 Slower than sap running through a tree, Daniel pressed the phallus into her. In a little, then out again. In farther, then out again. In even more until she felt it butt against her insides. Her eyes shot open wide and she stared at Daniel. “Oh, yes.”

 She felt full. The ridges on the branch rubbed against her inner walls, stimulating them until her hips thrust against it. “Daniel, it feels good. So good. More, give me more. Faster.”

 He heard her pleas and gave into her wishes. His thrusts became harder and faster until she could feel her completion approaching.

 Daniel slowed his movements and she whimpered. “No, don’t stop.”

 “Shh. Let’s try something different.”

 Breathing through her mouth, she tried to understand his words. When she did, she shook her head. “More.”

 “I’ll give you more.” He slipped the branch from her knot hole and slid it down to her bottom hole.

 Her eyes widened. “Daniel!”

 “Relax, and push out.”

 She stared at him for a moment, then pushed. The phallus slid past the tight ring of muscles and into her.

 “It stings.”

 His movements slowed and he pulled out partway. “It will get better.”

 “Yes. When you go out, it feels good.”

 His smile looked indulgent. “I will make it go deeper, then I can make it feel good.”

 “All right.”

 Doing just that, he slid it in deeper, occasionally tugging it partway out, then going farther in. By the time it was all the way in, Oleafia no longer felt any pain. Only pleasure. More pleasure than she had ever felt.

 It could get no better. Or so she thought.

 Daniel rose over her, kissed her, and the nudge of his own hard-on against her nest caught her attention. “Daniel, are you going to…?”

 “I’m going to make love to you while the cock is inside of you.”

 “Good. I need you, Daniel.” She wrapped her arms under his arms and around his back, lowering him to her. “Now. I need you so much.”

 “Lift your knees to your body, Oleafia. It will make it easier.”

 Maneuvering herself into position, knees to chest, Oleafia watched down their bodies as he lifted himself enough to get the right angle. Tenderly, he slid the phallus out of her body partway, then slid his own inside.

 “Ah, ah, ah.” Her head tipped back, exposing her neck, and her eyes rolled back. “Yes. More.”

 He pressed in until his balls rested against her skin, then began to retreat. As he did, he pushed the phallus into her bottom hole. Quickly, he had a rhythm of thrust and retreat of both himself and the phallus in synchronicity.

 Oleafia could only experience the lightning and flame as it shot from her head to her toes. More and more, he gave her. Harder and faster he moved. Oleafia screamed and crested, her body exploding into a million pieces.

 Peripherally, she heard Daniel shout and felt his body pulse within hers.

 Slowly, she came back to herself. Breathing took precedence. Her mind stayed calm until she felt him slide from her body and pull the cock-branch from her gently.

 “Daniel,” she breathed through her parched lips. “Thank you for my present.”

 “I knew you’d like it.”

 “I have something for you, as well.”

 His brow arched. “Really? What?”

 She laid her hand over her rounded stomach. “You may have to wait a little while for it.”

 His eyes sparkled and a joyful roar shook the birds from the tree.

 Epilogue

 The wizard smiled as he stared into the scrying bowl. The young sprite/fairy had done well for herself. The dragon would keep her safe and their home in the glade would stay protected with the magical barrier. The wizard tugged on his beard as he remembered the day he erected the barrier. He’d known when he’d arrived there all those years ago, the little girl would need a safe place to live. The sprites she had been growing up with were not known for their understanding of anyone’s differences.

 He had sought her out and created a protected home for her. It was the only thing he could do for her, unfortunately. His life and livelihood precluded him raising children of any sort. If he tried, loss of everything would soon follow. Making sure the child thrived was something he could do. Since that day, he had watched over her. She had grown into a beautiful creature and he had rejoiced when the dragon entered the glade.

 The wizard knew this dragon was the man for the young sprite, good, strong boy that he was. His protective instincts would let nothing harm his mate. And that was a good thing.

 Curious, the wizard swirled the liquid in the scrying bowl and gazed into it. His smile widened when he saw the image that appeared of the future.

 A large, stone home had been erected in the glade. It in no way damaged the environment, but was grand and sturdy. There was a huge center courtyard with one short, round tree, and several smaller trees surrounding it, filling the space.

 Rambunctious children in various forms rolled, wrestled, hooted and hollered in the glade. They were playing a rough and tumble game of tag and making the most of the area around the home. The wizard shook his head when he finally managed to count them all. Eleven. There were eleven children.

 One smaller child sat and began to cry. When the children’s mother came out of the house, they all rushed to her. Their father stepped in front of her at the last second to keep the children from knocking her over.

 “You must be careful of your mother, children. You don’t want to harm her or your future sibling, do you?”

 A chorus of “No, Father” sounded and he picked up the crying child and petted her.

 Their mother ran her hand over the child’s back and soothed her as well. “Why are you crying, little one?”

 “They wouldn’t let me play wif them.”

 “Well,” huffed her father. “I suppose you will have to play with me. Come, change for Papa and we will fly.”

 As he set the small child down, she changed into a small dragonlet and watched as her father turned as well. They leapt into the air and flew around the glade, laughing and tumbling, while the others looked on. Several of the children changed as well and joined them.

 With love and happiness in her eyes, the mother beheld her family for a few minutes, then went to the edge of the glade and knelt down, slow and with great care. Her large stomach almost tipped her over, but she managed a comfortable position on the ground. Hands glowing, she placed her fingers into the dirt, healing it, helping the flowers grow.

 The children who had opted against flying, knelt with her and plunged their hands into the ground as well. The abandoned area around the glade glistened, healthy.

 The wizard chortled. He would have dragon/tree sprite/green fairy/magical great-grandchildren. How wonderful. They would thrive and grow strong inside their family and he was proud.

 With a small adjustment to the spell maintaining the barrier, the children would be able to take their trees beyond the dome if they so chose. He couldn’t have great-great-grandchildren if the children couldn’t broaden their horizons, could he? Absolutely not. A moment’s time, and a few words spoken, the children, their trees, and any they chose to grant permission, were able to pass through. He was only seeing to the future progeny.

 Curious now, he wondered what his other grandchildren were up to and swirled the liquid in the scrying bowl.

 Brenda Bryce

 Able to leap short shrubs in a single bound; can drive every teenager in the neighborhood wherever their hearts desire; will cook a healthy meal in a moments notice. These are only some of the superhero things Brenda does for her family. Writing is done while in the mini-van, waiting for whomever she is picking up, while hiding out in her office, and whenever she gets a free moment or two. No matter how long a story takes to write, Brenda hopes you enjoy the little bit of imagination she has to live with daily. Oh, the voices…

 To learn more about Brenda Bryce, please visitwww.brendabryce.com . Send an email to Brenda atbrendabryce@gmail.com or join her Yahoo! Grouphttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nightsweats to join in the fun with other readers as well as Brenda.

  

 A wild Northern Ice Dragon and the girl who raised him save the life of a fierce, shapeshifting royal black dragon, only to have him save them in return…with his love.

  

 The Ice Dragon

 (c) 2006 Bianca D’arc

  

 Coming August 29, 2006 to Samhain Publishing.

  

 Third book in the Dragon Knights series.

 When a royal black dragon falls under enemy fire, only the wild Northern Ice Dragon and his unlikely female rider can save him. Half wild, like the baby Ice Dragon she calls friend, Lana is a rare and powerful dragon healer. She saves the life of the royal black, only to learn this most sacred of dragons is half-man, able to shift from one form to the other at will.

 Roland is king of all dragons and humans in his land but he’s far from home, mortally wounded, and his only refuge is the incredible woman who has saved his life and her young wild dragon friend. Lana is the purest form of magic to him, heaven to his senses in both dragon and human form. He knows almost from the first moment that he wants her for his very own.

 But a warlord plots in the north, seeking to kill the dragons, who protect the northern border, and overrun Roland’s peaceful kingdom. Lana and her incredibly skilled Ice Dragon friend are the only ray of hope for the knights and fighting dragons of the Northern Lair. Just as Lana is the only love Roland will ever know. He can reunite her with her lost family, but can he win her heart and make her his queen?

  

  

 Are you all right?

 Tor’s young voice sounded through Lana’s mind though she knew he addressed the black dragon, panting on the ground. She jumped off Tor’s back and went to Roland, her hands outstretched to stop the new flow of blood from the wound in his side.

 I will be. I just need to rest.

 Can’t stay here, though. It’s too cold up here for Lana.

 Between the two of us, we will keep her warm enough for tonight. This is the safest place for us right now. There’s no way Salomar’s men can climb up here after us.

 Tor seemed to consider. You’re right! You’re smart, Roland.

 The black dragon chuckled while Lana worked on his wound. She was tiring fast, giving him a great deal of her energy, but he really needed her help.

 “It’s not as bad as I’d feared. You need to rest though, and this place is a good one. I’ll make do with the furs.”

 If you can drag that dead wood over here, I’ll start a fire for you. They won’t see it way up here and even if they do, there’s nothing they can do about it.

 Lana smiled and made a dash for a good-sized fallen pine log, but it was too heavy for her. Tor saved her the work by plucking it up in one talon and dropping it neatly in front of the black dragon. She scooted out of the line of fire, and within moments, Roland gave her a roaring fire that would last a few hours at least. Taking the few furs she’d managed to grab with her travel pack from Tor’s back, she made a bed of sorts for herself.

 Come here,Roland told her quietly, closer to me. I’ll keep you warm.

 Lana shook her head and laughed. “No, thanks. Tor has nearly squashed me too many times for me to sleep near a dragon ever again.”

 I promise I won’t move a muscle. I’m fully grown, Lana. I do have some control over myself, contrary to when I was Tor’s age. He’ll learn to settle down as soon as his bones stop aching from the growth spurts.

 “So that’s why…”

 When dragons are his age, they are growing fast, particularly while asleep. The bones ache slightly as they expand and movement is the only way to relieve it. He doesn’t even know he’s doing it. It’s instinctive.

 “There’s so much I don’t know about dragons.”

 You’ve done very well with him for a novice, Lana. Your love has guided him. That’s the most important thing. He has a kind heart, even after all he’s been through.

 Lana couldn’t respond around the lump in her throat. She moved her furs closer to the black dragon and jumped slightly when he raised his good wing over her head. It was starting to snow lightly.

 Under here, Lana. I promise I won’t hurt you and you’ll be warm and safe while you sleep.

 Lana was skeptical, but it really was freezing at this altitude. She could barely feel her feet as it was. Snuggling into the furs, she allowed Roland to wrap his good wing around her, tucking her into his side. He was right. It was toasty warm next to his hot body and the snow sizzled into steam as it touched the wing over her head. She looked out on the snowy sky, the small fire burning steadily in front of her and realized in that quiet moment, she was comfortable and completely warm for the first time in years.

 “You’re a good dragon, Roland. Thank you. After I sleep a bit, I’ll try another treatment on your side. I’m too tired now.”

 That’s fine, little one. Sleep now. We’ll worry about everything else in the morning.

  

 Roland dozed, careful of the woman at his side. She felt right, cuddled next to him. She unconsciously stroked his flank with her face and hair as she moved slightly, her hands coming to rest in the ticklish spot just where his wing met his body, but he didn’t move. He liked the feel of her small, gentle hands on him. Perhaps too much.

 He became aware of warmth seeping from her into him that should not be. Taking quick stock, he realized she was reaching out to him with her healing ability, even in sleep.

 Lana, sweetling, wake up. You have to stop trying to heal me. I don’t want you wearing yourself out on my account. It could be dangerous.

 “What?” Her voice was drowsy, still half-asleep as her hands subtly stroked him.

 Pull your power back, little one. Do not expend your healing energy like this.

 “But I’m not doing anything.”

 You are. I feel it, Lana.

 “No.” She faced him, coming out from under the shelter of his wing to meet his gaze. “I feel no power drain.”

 But I feel your heat. The heat of your healing power.

 “That can’t be.”

 Roland remembered then, a legend of his family. It didn’t seem possible that this little, unexpected woman could hold the powers his family had thought lost for generations, but then, stranger things had happened since he’d flown north. This would require a great deal of thought on his part and he didn’t want to trouble her with the magnitude of the discovery until he was certain.

 It’s all right, sweetling. Go back to sleep. I must have been mistaken.

 She moved back under his wing, settled back against him and was soon asleep. Roland watched carefully, gauging the energies flowing once more from her to him and back again. He knew then he wasn’t mistaken. Relaxed and out of immediate danger, they were feeding off each other in an endless loop. Neither would suffer ill effects from this kind of innate healing, or so the legends held. This was a rarity among rarities. No pair had formed this kind of bond in centuries, but it seemed this big-hearted, self-trained healer was doing so. It was a miracle. Or perhaps, he thought with a dragonish snort, it was magic.

  

 Will this Elven warlord be conquered by lust?

  

 Lords of Ch’i

 (c) 2006 Ciar Cullen

  

 Available August 8th, 2006 at Samhain Publishing.

  

 Cast out by an usurper to her clan’s throne, warrior Silver SanMartin throws herself at the mercy of her compelling enemy, Jet Atraud. The sexy warlord rules his Elven clan with an iron fist, but Silver finds she lords some power of her own. Jet can’t keep his eyes—or his hands—off his lovely captive.

  

 In a battle to gain self-control and maintain his ten-year oath of celibacy, Jet tries to focus on the task at hand—conquering the enemy clans. Despite his strong will and best intentions, Jet cannot ignore his growing love for Silver. But can a sworn enemy be trusted?

  

 Silver looked up again, and a shock of electricity ran through her at Jet’s intense stare. He looked from her eyes to her lips, and let his gaze wander to her breasts, pushed high by her gown. His eyes burned as she he assaulted her senses.

 “You’re rather strong-willed, Silver. I don’t buy your apology for a second. And I think I rather fancy that about you. You’ll make a good bodyguard. What do you think of the gown? It’s been in my family for many generations.”

 “Lord?”

 “Yes?” He continued his sexual appraisal of her and her breathing quickened in longing. She let her gaze wander down his smooth stomach to his rigid cock, straining against the black silk wrap. Surely he can hear my heart, it’s so loud .

 “Do you like what you see, Silver? You can’t seem to pull your gaze away for long. Do you know the whole time we’ve spoken, the whole time you’ve cried over the conflict and your brother, you’ve filled the room with your lust. You’ve stared at my mouth and my chest, my stomach, wondering how it would feel, how it would be between us. Am I wrong?”

 “You are quite wrong, Lord.”

 He laughed a little and motioned her to come closer. “I’d like a closer look at you in my ancestor’s garb. You must admit, it suits your figure, which is…” Jetre took in a quick breath. “Adequate.”

 “Adequate? My figure is adequate? Why are we discussing my body? Your oath, your…”

 “Have I broken my oath, Silver?” He worked his fingertips from her collarbone across the swell of her breasts. His touch blazed a fiery trail across her skin and his energy seeped into her veins. Which burns , she wondered— the touch of an elf or the touch of a lord? He slowly unfastened the clasps of her dress until he exposed her breasts. His calloused fingers and palms brushed across her skin like a kiss as he cupped one breast in each hand. His moan stirred her to quivering. He caressed her as if he’d found a priceless treasure he’d sought for a lifetime. Silver fought the sensations he evoked, but surrendered and cried out when he rubbed his thumbs on her nipples.

 “Jetre.”

 “Yes?” He continued his slow circles. “You find this unpleasant? Should I stop?” Jetre looked at her from beneath his dark lashes as he leaned in to suckle on one breast. His hot mouth assaulted her senses, his tongue darting across her nipple, his lips pulling and pinching. A low groaning sound came from far away, and Silver realized in shock it was her moan, her lust filling the air. She laced her hands in an errant strand of his luxurious hair and pulled it towards her face, smelling his scent—dark spices and male magic. When he moved to her other breast, the new pleasure sent her to the brink of orgasm, and he kept her hovered there for minutes. He broke away suddenly and looked into her eyes.

 Silver panted, aching, throbbing, ready to push him to the ground and assault him. “You’re no virgin.”

 “How dare you. Do you understand how you insult me, Warrior?”

 “I honestly couldn’t tell you what I think right now if my life depended upon it.”

 Jetre arched a brow. “It will come to you.”

 Silver’s hands shook at the conflicting, overwhelming emotions consuming her. This man, this gorgeous man, her sworn enemy, now her master—was he seducing her? No, simply playing with his prisoner. No more, certainly. A tiny dagger of regret pierced her heart. Silver shuddered, the memory of his mouth on her still making her tingle, still making her throb and moist and ready.

 What I wouldn’t give to lay with him, to feel him inside me…She cursed to herself. Too late, he heard it.

 “Tell me, let me hear what you want.” His voice grew low and languid, his eyes nearly hidden beneath his black lashes. “Tell me what kind of lover you imagine me? What draws you? My look? My manner? Or my power?”

 All of those. None of those. Don’t let him hear any more.Thoughts poured out, desire and longing overwhelming her, betraying her.

 You’re the most beautiful creature. Take me now or leave me be. I don’t want to feel this way.

 “Yes you do.” His voice was such a low whisper Silver thought she might have imagined hearing him speak.

 Jet sat up straight, eyes now wide, spell broken. “I’m not one to take advantage of my position with a woman, with anyone. You aren’t required to placate me in a sexual way.” Jetre snorted. “Perhaps that’s only my ego. I couldn’t stand the thought of forcing myself on a woman. I’ve always assumed no woman would reject me, which is quite disturbing. Perhaps you don’t want me?”

 Silver groaned. “Don’t mock me, Lord, you read my thoughts clearly enough. It’s bad enough that I’ve betrayed my kind. Don’t make me betray myself.”

 Jetre ignored her words and stood, pulling the cord from his hair.

 That’s his way? Play with me for a moment, send my world reeling, and dismiss me like a scrap of garbage.

 “You’ll help me dress now, and we will eat and drink with the soldiers and their families. I intend to speak to the crowd of your presence here. Some of it will annoy you, badly, especially when I speak of your brother. Try to show restraint. Understood?”

 “Yes, Lord.”

 He turned and nodded. “Silver, in private, you may call me Jet. I’m a little less formal than most of the lords.” He held out a finger. “In private, mind you.”

 She nodded. “Jet.” She tested the nickname on her tongue.

 “One thing.” Jetre turned away again. His voice was quiet and Silver struggled to hear him. “Was it right? Did it feel right, what I did? When I kissed your breasts?”

 It was the last question she expected from him, the most amazing thing. The great Lord Jetre, wondering if he had given her any pleasure. How to answer him?

 “Because my ten years end in a matter of days.” He pushed his hand through his hair and laughed at himself. “I don’t want it said the oath made the lord incapable. How embarrassing. Is this your nature—to bring out the inner truths of a person?”

 “How will I protect you from the women who will storm your quarters when your oath is complete? They’ll be more dangerous than Fire and Metal combined against you.” And how will I bear to watch it?

 Jet laughed. “As appealing as that picture might be, I must pick only one. The second part of the deal.” He shrugged.

 “I see.” A small knife poked at her heart unexpectedly. No doubt the woman would be Wood and was probably already betrothed to the lord. An elf, of course.

 “You didn’t answer my question.” Jet toweled down and Silver turned away. From the corner of her eye she saw him step into his dark leather pants and pull on a thin, collarless, long-sleeved, black shirt. He went to the dresser and placed a kohl stick against each eye, blinking and wiping the excess from his cheeks.

 “The woman will be quite fortunate, Jet. I hope that satisfies your ego.”

 He inclined his head and smiled very subtly. “It does. Might I practice on you again some time?”

 Silver closed her eyes. The pain came in very faintly, like the smell of a coming summer rain shower on the breeze. She wanted her sworn enemy, and she meant nothing to him. A plaything, a practice toy. Well, there are worse fates than being the whore of such a man.

 He pointed to his tall boots and Silver brought them to him, helped him push into them.

 “You did something terrible to me when you branded me, Jet. I know you did. You say you wouldn’t force a woman, but you charmed me in some way.”

 Jet looked up at her, puzzled. “Nonsense.”

 “I don’t believe you.”

 Jet pointed to the dresser and his heavy, white-gold pendant, the Wu Xing symbol of his clan, the symbol of the Way of Ch’i. Silver brought it to him and fastened it around his neck. She bit back thoughts of Kilé and how she had fastened his pendant many times.

 “Not many call me a liar without punishment. If Jaine or Art were here, you’d already be bleeding.”

 “Yes, my lord. Based on my brief encounter with your formidable sister, I believe you.”

 “Now my hair.”

 “What about it?”

 “Brush it.” He rolled his eyes at her.

 “This is fucking awful, Lord.”

 “You’ll get used to it.”

 Silver went to the dresser, grabbed a brush, and pulled a cushion behind Jetre’s. She brushed his beautiful hair, wishing she could bury her face in it.

 He turned suddenly and grabbed her by the neck. “I heard that.”

 She cried out softly, even though he didn’t hurt her.

 “They’ll have to wait a few minutes more.”

  

 Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

 It’s all about the story…

  

 Action/Adventure

 Fantasy

 Historical

 Horror

 Mainstream

 Mystery/Suspense

 Non-Fiction

 Paranormal

 Red Hots!

 Romance

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 Young Adult

  

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