Samis came slowly awake with a feeling of utter contentedness. Terregan's arms were wrapped securely around her and a thick soft blanket lay over them both making a warm cocoon that she snuggled even further into. Samis still felt a little like this was all a dream but the wonderful ache in her loins told her it was not. Now she wondered what they would do next. Terregan had said he wanted her to bear his child. What if she couldn't become pregnant? Would he want her anyway? What was going to happen now? Suddenly her feeling of content evaporated. What was she doing laying here in the arms of one of the most powerful sorcerers in centuries? Terregan had told her himself that she shouldn't trust him. Doubt began to creep its way into her heart. Last night had seemed like it was meant to be. Even her gift had seemed as if it pushed her toward what had happened. Samis felt close to tears. She didn't know what to do.
Terregan watched her face as she woke. It warmed his heart to see her small smile, but as he watched her the smile faltered. It was replaced with a worried frown. Samis' face was so expressive he could almost tell what she was thinking simply by watching the emotions that flickered across her features. He almost laughed as a look of desperation overrode every other emotion. Samis was such an innocent in this terrible contest of wills between himself and the Emperor Augustine. It was just one more reason for him to hate the man. His absolute disregard for the damage he did to others made him a monster in his own right, but the means by which he carried out his wishes were the most monstrous of all. Terregan would have lost her forever if Augustine's thugs had decided to attack her anywhere but beside the great Blackweld Forest, his own lands. He simply couldn't bear the thought.
Samis caught a lip between her teeth, worrying it until she made it bleed. What was she going to do? Her mind told her to run, run as fast as she could away from this place, but her heart and even her gift told her to stay. She had given her body to Terregan and if she was honest with herself her heart as well. He just felt so right. Samis couldn't help thinking of something her mentor Dunen had said to her one time after extracting her from a bit of trouble she'd gotten herself into. Dunen's kind eyes had crinkled in amusement at her in that way she loved so much as he said "Samis my dear, you trust your head entirely too much. Your heart should be your true guide. It will never lead you astray". The least she owed him now would be to listen to his advice. The weight on her heart she hadn't realized was there suddenly lifted. No matter what happened, she would stay with Terregan as long as he wanted her. If he decided to cast her aside when, or if, she quickened with his seed she would deal with that when the time came.
Terregan watched her stormy expression clear with trepidation. Samis had come to a decision and he feared what that decision might be. How could he explain to her that he had given her his heart long before she was even born? In all fairness he had no right to give her that burden. What she did now had to be her decision alone. He desperately needed their child, and even if it destroyed any chance he had to gain her love he would see that it happened, but her feelings toward him had to be her own choice. He could not bring himself to force her to love him, though the power was his to do so. Fear of her rejection made his eyes sting with tears.
Samis had turned to see if he was awake yet and was caught off guard by the tears in his eyes. What had caused him such anguish? She lifted her hand to his cheek in a soft caress and his expression changed utterly with that one simple gesture. With a start Samis realized that he had been watching her all along, seeing her troubled expressions as she thought about what to do. It hit her with a jolt that he was worried about how she felt. Samis had to reevaluate everything she thought about this man. For some unknown reason he actually cared for her. The care he had taken with her last night should have been proof enough but his tears made it more real somehow. She knew without a doubt then that she had chosen right.
Samis' soft caress, the concern in her eyes, made his heart sing with joy. She had decided in his favor. He wanted to shout his elation to the world but instead drew her to him for a passionate kiss. Her lips were so soft and welcoming he felt a surge of lust rocket through his body. He had lain with hundreds of women in his long years but none had had the effect on him that Samis did. It was as if her body had been made for him alone. As he deepened their kiss her tongue tentatively flicked out to meet his own. Emboldened by this he cupped her small round buttocks in his hand, squeezing gently. Her soft moan turned his passion into a roaring blaze and he let his kisses wander across her cheek to the supple skin of her neck.
Terregan's large hands roamed across her body leaving trails of fire in their wake. Even though she was still rather tender from their coupling last night she felt that wonderful ball of pressure awake again in the pit of her stomach. Feeling a little surer now she explored his lean body with enthusiasm. Every time her hands caressed him he would shudder slightly and Samis reveled in her ability to make him do so. Letting her hands wonder down to his semi-erect organ she wrapped her fingers around the silky shaft and stroked him gently. Terregan groaned softly into her ear and she suddenly wanted to know very badly how to please him, how to make him cry out in passion. In order to do that she had to ask him what he wanted but was a little daunted by the prospect. It struck her just how little she really knew about loving a man.
Terregan felt her hands hesitate in their ministrations and leaned up on an elbow to look into her face. Samis ducked her head and blushed fiercely under his scrutiny.
"What troubles you, little dove?"
"I don't know what to do to...to please you," Samis felt like an absolute fool but he only smiled a breathtakingly charming smile and cupped her face in one of his huge rough hands.
"Your very presence pleases me Samis."
This warmed her heart but it wasn't what she wanted to know.
"Thank you, but what I meant is, well, teach me how a woman pleases a man's body," Samis wished she could melt into the soft mattress. This was mortifying. Terregan looked at her with and intense expression for a moment before he nodded.
"You should not be embarrassed by your curiosity Samis. I would not have you feel as if you could not talk to me about anything you wished," Terregan nearly lost his composure as she turned an even deeper shade of red. Such a sweet little thing she was. He said a silent thank you to the Gods for their gift of this woman. "There are many ways to please a man. Your hands were pleasing me greatly just now. You could also use your mouth to give me pleasure."
