Chapter Twenty

With the fall of the ogre leader, the residual feelings of resistance were crushed in the few ogres still remaining, all of which chose to flee to the tunnel. The human traffickers never stopped moving throughout Jay’s encounter, and the group was left to watch in frustrated silence by the edge of the river as the longboats disappeared down the fast moving water channel, their boats laden with the crushed hopes of their captives. With gritted teeth, the team returned to the remaining victims, breaking apart the cages and freeing the few tens of those that remained.

Doing a final once over, Jay stowed away a series of what appeared to be contracts, messages, and manifestos of the operation that were hurriedly left behind.

With the vast majority of the ogres previously dispatched and the remainder having fled, the return route was as safe as could be, despite a mild sense of urgency to evacuate before the arachnids managed to break through the ogre barricade. Despite the malnourished and poorly treated victims moving with as much haste as they could muster, it still took a few hours of travel for the group to return to the central hub of the caverns.

Bane and Kara were both laden with children of the various species while Katie took up the rear of the group, ensuring everyone was capable of continuing while guarding against any potential enemy stragglers. Jay led the group, clearing the way of any potential threats and stationing himself to intercept any problems from the far tunnel. A noticeable, constant skittering could be heard echoing from the depths, rapidly raising Jay’s personal stress levels.

As the mass of people traversed the final room, making their way into the tunnel leading to the surface, the scratching and skittering began to intensify; the noise of which became clearly audible to the few remaining within.

“Don’t panic. Keep moving forward, I’ll handle anything that comes.” Jay’s façade of calm confidence kept the stragglers from starting a stampede, but the tension in the air spurred them to shuffle into the tunnel that much faster. “Katie, get them to the surface as fast as possible and have them start moving south-east towards that nomadic tribe we passed by on the way here. They need to be at least three miles away from the valley within an hour and a half. That’s the longest I can buy time.”

Jay was rushing around the large cavern, grabbing dirty straw, furs and bits of cloth, piling all of it a short distance within the corridor. The natural ventilation of the cave system had worked fine for the small number of flames and inhabitants thus far, however, a raging inferno would not only keep the man-eating spiders at bay, but rapidly pull all of the oxygen out of the air, allowing Jay and his charges to clear the area.

After his fourth trip Jay cut himself short, tossing a torch onto the small pile as a spider the size of a small dog skittered into view down the tunnel, temporarily blocked by the small amount of heat. He needed to work faster. The dry straw was quickly being consumed, and all of his oxygen with it. Three more trips later, dragging piles of material on furs, a roaring blaze covered the tunnel. Sweat soaked him entirely, and what little oxygen remained was quickly burning away as the fire blazed. Jay beat a hasty retreat, gasping in the cooler air as he sprinted up the tunnel to the surface.

An hour later, the group of survivors had cleared the valley, exhaustion and relief causing most to fall where they stood as the group briefly rested. It was regrettably short lived, as Jay urged them up and onward. This many people were a large target for predators, both man and monster, so getting them to a safe haven quickly was a top priority.

A day and a half later, the group of refugees stumbled into a small village, most passing out on their feet and snoring where they fell. There was no rest for the weary however, and Jay and Katie quickly departed with their Drenz companions. A report needed to be made to the guild and assistance sent to the village to help host the survivors until more permanent solutions could be attained. It was a week-long jaunt back to civilization, the return trip expedited due to the sudden decrease in ogre raiding parties, and a few days later found the human pair standing once again in front of the guild after acquiring lodging at the inn.

Jay strolled through the lobby, Katie hanging onto him like a shadow while he turned in the magic token that tracked the mission progress. Several hundred gold deposited into their bank accounts later, Jay was seated in front of the Vissily branch head debriefing the events of the mission, the acquired intel, and village request for support. Another couple hundred gold later, for valuable intelligence on the ogres, going above and beyond the mission requirements by wiping the encampment out entirely, and saving innocent lives, Jay and Katie departed the hall.

With an upgrade in rank for both of them, and a personal mission dispatch, Jay and Katie found themselves separated as they split to restock on supplies. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the two reconvened in their room to take stock, prepare, and eat a true meal for the first time in weeks. The new mission was an extension of the findings of their first. They were to head to Rike, the most western coastal city and the supposed base of operations for the slave operations. There, they would be briefed by the local branch with the details of their job.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was after retiring to their room that Katie ambushed him, a dagger pressed to his spine as they walked through the door.

“Jay, we need to talk,” was all she said as she sat him down and tied him up while keeping him dead to rights. Not a word was exchanged until Jay was firmly strapped to the chair and Katie perched on the bed in front of him where the first thing she promptly did, was break out into tears and swore at him.

“You stupid, dense, blockheaded, shit-brained idiot!”

And again, that was all that was said for several minutes as Katie cried and Jay sat in stunned silence.

“Am I not pretty enough? Smart enough? Dangerous enough? Why won’t you have sex with me?! Am I dirty? Is it because I was raped?!” And once more, Jay sat with eyes wide and mouth gaping in silence as she broke down sobbing. Finally finding his words after another minute ticked by.

“Katie, you know none of that is true. You’re beautiful, intelligent, obviously dangerous. I would never think you’re dirty or think less of you for what that animal did.”

“Then why? I’m not even asking for your love, I just want you to see me as a woman. From the moment you walked into that tent and pulled him off of me, I’ve loved you. It only grew as you took care of me, helped me grow, gave me people and friends and confidence and trust!”

Tears continued to fall as Jay sighed, a wistful, wry expression floating on his face.

“Kat, it has nothing to do with you. I haven’t been intimate with anyone in over four years.” Longer than that, but whatever, he added mentally with an audible sigh before making eye contact once more. “I can’t dedicate myself to anyone, won’t until I know more about what my purpose is which is why I can’t commit myself to someone, it wouldn’t be fair to them if I can’t give all of myself.” He paused briefly to ensure she understood before continuing. “It’s also why I won’t have sex with anyone. If there’s an accidental pregnancy I’d feel obligated to give up on all my plans to take care of the mother and my child.” Once more he paused to take a breath before plowing on. “Beyond all of that, I have intense feelings for and promises with Talli. I can’t betray our relationship.”

The two sat in silence as Jay watched the young woman process everything he divulged. This was by far the most truthful heart-to-heart he’d had with anyone in this world so far, he only hoped to let her down easy. Which was why, he was utterly confounded when instead of more tears Jay suddenly found himself looking up into a beaming smile as she straddled him in his chair, foreheads pressed together.

“If those are your only concerns, let me allay your fears. I’m not looking for you to promise yourself to me. I’m perfectly fine with my feelings going unrequited, I only wish you to see and treat me as the woman I am, I won’t ask for commitment, at least not until you’re ready and willing to give it.” She rushed on, not giving him a chance to have a word edgewise. If she didn’t get it all out now, she knew he’d stubbornly refuse to listen.

“As far as pregnancy is concerned, you truly are a dolt.” She fished a small engraved pendant out from beneath her shirt, dangling it in front of his eyes. “This is a sterilization charm. It is somewhat expensive, but are fairly common for anyone of decent means, easily acquired from any magic shop. They even sell them in the guild store.” She giggled at his bewildered stare as the little token spun slowly in front of him, amused as the realization he could have been committing plenty of acts of debauchery with no consequences for years inevitably flitted through his mind. “Nobody told you about them because we didn’t want you finding warmth in other women’s beds, and everyone else most likely assumed you knew. It’s fairly common knowledge after all.” She straight up laughed in his face as it sunk into a sulky frown. All those beautiful noble girls. All wasted.

“As for your relationship with Talli,” her laughter faded as a gentle smile replaced it before she kissed him, causing him to freeze and stiffen in surprise. “You big dummy, men of power and wealth have many wives and concubines. She told me weeks ago when she realized she actually loved you that as long as you agreed, she would be fine with it.” She kissed him again, a bit more feverishly, her tongue probing as he opened his mouth on reflex. An unintentional moan left his lips as his little brother hardened beneath them. It had been years after all, and the sudden intimate stimulation was doing wonders for the pleasure center of his brain.

Katie pulled away, slipping off his lap while nibbling on her bottom lip. After making sure he was watching she slowly pulled her shirt over her head, casting her chest wraps aside to let her bust bounce free, her small, pink nipples already hard with desire. She quickly dropped her pants next, excitement driving her forward as she once more settled on his lap fully nude, his hardened length apparent as it pressed against her inner thighs.

“Jay, make love to me?” It was a question, a request for permission, and a plea all wrapped in one.

Jay was already breathing hard, his mind in overdrive as it tried to process everything, attempting to both find an escape while also trying to shut down to a primal urge. When she softly kissed him again, it broke any resolve he had left as he kissed her back, reflexively pushing his hips up despite his clothes. Weeks of teasing topped with years of abstinence broke the dam, flooding him with desire. Katie giggled as she fingered the dagger still in her hand, slitting the bonds holding him to the chair.

Jay stood immediately, throwing her on the bed as he tore the clothes from his body. He leaned over, kissing her with passion before reigning himself back in. Desire flooded both of their eyes, but this wasn’t meant to be a fuck. He didn’t want it to be. She had asked him to make love to her, and he would grant that request.

And so he slowed down, kissing her gently once more before working his way down her neck, sucking gently before moving farther down her body. He paused briefly to palm her perky tits, tweaking one nipple as he nibbled on the other, causing her to gasp from the sensation. Moving down he kissed and suckled on her firm stomach before finding her entrance bare, legs spread wide to accommodate him as he breathed out lightly before licking along the outside of her sex. She was already wet with anticipation, well lubricated and ready for him but he still felt the need to show his willingness to please her, so he gently went to work, not digging too deep into her, but ministrating to her small puffy lips and her small clitoris, puffed out and begging for attention.

He spent a few short minutes below, much to her very vocal pleasure before returning, making his way back up her body in a similar fashion, ending with a breathless kiss as she pulled him in close. No words were exchanged, simple eye contact as he lined himself up with her entrance and slowly pushed in, small kisses passing back and forth and he pressed forward gently until bottoming out inside of her.

Every moment was pure torture of pleasure of the highest order for him. Her insides seemingly scorching him as he settled, gasping as her muscles squeezed and rolled to accommodate him. It was everything he could do not to blow his first load as he sat there breathing heavily, staring down at his partner’s perfect body and their connection.

And then she shifted and he lost all control, his orgasm rapid and uncontrollable, his whole body shuddering while she gasped as his seed poured into her. He panted briefly, neither moving for a moment before he slightly pulled out before slamming his still hard cock home, the sudden movement catching Katie by surprise, a moan and shiver of pleasure of her own crept up her spine. The dam broke once more, and began moving in earnest, still holding back as to be as gentle as possible. This was to show his affection and feelings, to answer her own, and so he did, slowly making slow love to his beautiful companion, quickly bringing her to her own completion as she gasped, hands grasping the bedding as her own orgasm rolled through her.

The rest of the night passed in a similar fashion; various sexual positions, cuddling, and sweet murmurs passed between the two new lovers before both fell into exhausted sleep in the hours of early morning.