Hi everyone. This is my first submission to Literotica. I started out not really knowing why I was doing this; only that I thought I wanted to. Previously I'd started another story for Lit after having what I thought was a pretty cool plot come to me in the form of a dream. Anyway, I lost steam on that project, but the idea of how dreams connect with reality stayed with me. I started this about two months ago. Hopefully it's a decent combo of the two S's (story and sex). Be warned: it's long.

Disclaimer: Placenames are real but mainly used only as points of reference, people are made up, and everything sexual occurs between adults over 18. Some aspects of sexuality in this story are unrealistic; this is a fantasy story set in a fantasy society, in a fantasy universe.

Thanks to RexBrookdale for being a great help with editing, making this story far better than I could have come up with alone. And a special thanks to the many authors who have influenced my writing. Here's my humble attempt to contribute to the Lit community. Hope you enjoy.

LTPC

***
Endangered
Endangered - Chapter 1 - LTPC
***

Susan ran down the lane, memory guiding her through the night as she clutched the boy to her chest. He was too big for her to carry for long, but she needed to get away and conceal her presence while she still had time.

Christopher sobbed quietly in her arms as she ran, not understanding what was going on. His father had told him to be good for Susan, and to remember that he loved him. He had then placed a hand on his forehead, causing Christopher to black out, the words 'Be hidden 'til you come of age' echoing in his head. Now, awakened by the sensation of being carried by Susan, he somehow knew he would never see his father again.

Susan was panting hard by the time she reached the end of the path, sweat dripping down her face. She put him on the ground and grabbed his hand. "Quiet Chris, we have to be quiet," she whispered. They stood silent in the darkness; Chris shivered slightly, staring out into the night, and did as he was bid.

Focusing on her inner strength, she muttered a spell she hoped would conceal her from elfin senses. The effect of the sudden energy drain made her stagger to one knee, which at least indicated the spell was doing something. "Okay Chris, now we have to run." Desperately, she pulled him behind her as they ran toward the forest. Just as they crossed under the canopy of trees at the forest's edge, their path was illuminated from behind by a gout of flame streaking into the sky, followed by a bestial roar.

"Father!" Chris cried out, twisting frantically from her grip before Susan regained her hold and clamped her hand over his mouth. She hoisted him up to carry him once again, moving unsteadily as exhaustion began gaining a foothold over adrenalin-fuelled exertion. The path twisted as they advanced deeper and deeper into the gloom. Behind them the roars continued for a while, mixed with the sound of fighting, before being cut off. Tears streaked Susan's face and mingled with her sweat, as she ran with her charge into the night.

***

Roughly 15 years later....

Chris was having a dream. It wasn't a good or a bad dream, yet it was an all-too-familiar one. He was in his room. He knew he was asleep; he lay on his bed, unmoving, unblinking, staring out into the darkness lit by a faint, sourceless, purple light. Presently he could make out the end of his bed, the bedroom door, and his closet. All of the colours were off, much darker than they should be. Objects looked malleable, insubstantial, almost liquid to the point of transparency. He gazed without moving, his eyes changing position every now and then. As the dream continued, he sometimes shifted in bed, rolling over to one side as he slept, facing a new view though most likely a mundane one such as a different expanse of his pillow. These times seemed interminable to Chris, and in the dreams he seemed only to be waiting until he woke up. Mostly he just thought about things: his girlfriend Annabel, homework, computer games, sex, farm work, school, magic, other Beings, dragons.... Anything to pass the dream time.

At the moment, his view revealed part of the forearm on which his head was resting. Unlike other objects, it appeared solid and wholesome, tinged with a slight purple glow. Chris had thought perhaps he was the source of the purple light. On closer inspection, as the hours of forced boredom marched on relentlessly, he realised the light was ambient, emanating from the air itself ... and yet he seemed to emit it, too.

Once, a few years ago, he'd dreamt he had seen his stepmother Susan open his door quietly and stand there, watching him. It had been exciting yet somewhat embarrassing to see her ghostly body lit by the purple light, her curves visible through her transparent nightgown. He had stared back, transfixed. While watching him she had leaned against the doorframe, arms clasped together in front of her, unwittingly presenting her breasts seductively to him. He had talked with her about his recurring dream, but not about this one.

The Ether, that's what she'd called it, the 'nothing between everything'. Everything in the Ether was a bleed-through from the Norm, a shadow of its real self. Whatever that meant. Susan had tried to explain that the Ether was like a sub-level of reality, the stuff between dimensions. Everything in the Norm had a small presence in the Ether; on the other hand there were entities in the Ether that weren't present in the Norm: wraiths, sprites, parasites, and plants, living off of each other and from the energy bleeding in from the Norm.

She hadn't known why his dreams took him there. Perhaps it was just part of being a dragon, she'd suggested, something about which he would find out when that side of himself became unlocked. As a witch, she could enter the Ether at will, but the energy costs for entering, exiting, and maintaining a presence in the Ether were very high, and might trap her inside it if she wasn't careful.

Chris shifted in his sleep, the new vista now revealing more of the upper part of his room. The silvery-white moss was growing back. When he had first seen the plant gaining territory along his ceiling, he had tried to scrub it off as soon as he'd woken up, but without any success. Susan had been ecstatic though, immediately retrieving a paint scraper, a ladder, and an enchanted glass jar from her 'magic room'. Spelling herself into the Ether, she'd disappeared before his eyes, only to emerge about a minute later, enervated yet triumphant, holding a jar packed with the white moss. He'd then had to carry her to her bed, and she'd even called in sick the next day, to give her time to recover. Apparently it was all worth it, though. Ether moss was supposedly very valuable as a magical ingredient.

Everything from the Ether was valuable, apparently. Not many Beings had the strength or will even to enter, much less use it effectively. Ether mages specialised in this, but despite her enthusiasm Susan wasn't interested in attaining the much vaunted specialised knowledge. She was happy enough with her lesser magic, plants, and potions.

Susan ... his childhood nurse and tutor, now the sole parent of a teenaged guy who, apparently, had a dragon trapped inside of him. Chris would have found this hard to believe had Susan not shown him things that couldn't be explained as anything other than magic. Then there was Jethry Dale, the old farmer in whose house Chris had grown up, and who had scared the shit out of Chris the first time he'd revealed himself as a Werecat. No wonder he'd seemed so spritely and quick; unnatural for any normal 78-year-old human. Chris sometimes teased Jethry that it was no wonder he owned a dairy, in response to which he'd hear Jethry suck in his breath with a hissing sound and throw him a look of mock-irritation. Then there were other things. For example, he could smell what other people couldn't, and he had a desire for gold and valuable objects. Sometimes he felt their presence nearby, even when not in sight, especially gold and gemstones. The sensation gave him a feeling of wellbeing and contentment. In fact, Chris occasionally went gold hunting in the mountain ranges on weekends, and his life savings outside of about a thousand dollars was in gold, concealed in his mattress. He'd been quite industrious and now slept on its comforting presence.

Chris had finally become resigned, accepting that there was a dormant dragon inside him. It would come out eventually, a thought both exciting and terrifying. Once it emerged, he would truly enter the magical world, no longer appearing as a human to all supernatural Beings as he now did due to his father's protective spell. Susan had originally interpreted his father's incantation 'Be hidden until you come of age' to mean that when he turned 18, Chris would then be 'of age'. However, that birthday had come and gone uneventfully over a year ago, and his dragon remained hidden. The next logical target date, therefore, would seem to be his 21st birthday, assuming that the enchantment was intelligent enough to adapt to its environment. They were now in America, after all. Susan had brought Chris to live at the Werecat's farm outside of Laramie after fleeing Europe where his parents had died. However, she was far from sure, given that dragons matured much more slowly than humans.

Dragons ... his dragon was the reason he'd had to be hidden. According to Susan, they were almost extinct. Highly valued for their immense powers of spellcraft, longevity, strength, and healing, most were in hiding or under protection. Dragons overflow with magic: a dragon's saliva was a powerful healing concoction, his venom was the base ingredient in the deadliest poisons, and ... his spend was a powerful aphrodisiac that greatly enhanced sexual pleasure. Other parts such as scales, horns, and teeth would be extremely valuable to those involved in darker magic, but usually resulted in the death of the dragon during extraction. There were laws in place to prevent dragon hunting, an ultimately wasteful practice, but this didn't stop some from trying. His mother had died this way, and his father was killed for taking revenge on an elf royal who had hunted her down, or so the story went. Knowing that he would likely die and leave Chris with no guidance after his dragon emerged, his father had locked Chris's dragon inside him with the enchantment, effectively hiding it from the world until he had a decent chance. It was a decision made during a time of great desperation and with an overwhelming sense of loss. So, for all of the potentially great power, strength, cunning, and magic, Chris knew almost nothing about being a dragon, other than what Susan had picked up from his parents.

Chris dreamed he was bored again, staring listlessly at the roof as he lay in bed. Exams and classes had ended several days ago, so no school assignments crowded his thoughts and schedule. Other than the ceremonies and socialising, things he generally avoided, he didn't have any reason to attend. lf Annabel wanted to go, though, he would go with her. She was probably the only reason he hadn't been branded a complete loner at school; having an attractive, well-liked girlfriend had done wonders for his social image. He watched the ceiling some more before the dreaded view of his bedside table wheeled into view, the digital clock perched on top. Now he had to watch the countdown. He had tried turning the clock away from the bed before going to sleep. Ironically, he'd found that not being able tell how long was left till the alarm went off was infuriating. Thus, when the clock was all there was in view, it mattered.

The time ticked by. Only three minutes remained; Chris started to think about milking the cows.

5:00 am. He felt himself wrested from the Ether dream, the alarm sounding harshly in his eardrums. Despite being in the waking dream half the night, he felt rested. After moving his legs over the edge of the bed and sitting up, Chris reached for his drink bottle and downed the dregs. Walking over to the switch and flicking on the light, he stretched and yawned a bit, waiting until his eyes adjusted, and then checked himself out in the mirror. He was happy enough with what he saw: a broad and strong body, well-muscled but with a healthy layer of fat over the top. They were real muscles from working. As to the top layer, he was too lazy and hungry to bother with getting the fat off. There wasn't much of it, and it only obscured his six-pack abs a little; he didn't have rolls or pillows so it was all good. Annabel seemed to like him well enough anyway. He glanced at his penis. Extending out proud and thick with its morning cheer, the bulbous head bobbed at him before it started to gradually deflate. Watching his deflation was a strange yet somehow fascinating experience, such a fundamental change occurring right before his eyes. He would give himself a trim down there this morning, in anticipation of what he and Annabel had planned sometime in the coming days. He usually kept himself reasonably groomed, but losing one's virginity was certainly an occasion meriting some extra preparation.

They'd been together for the last year and a half, but hadn't done the deed. She had promised her family, despite not buying into their religious dogmas, that she would wait till she was 18 which was now a few months ago. Chris didn't especially mind. Despite the traumas he'd experienced in his young life, he had also learned that good things came to those who waited. Besides, she gave him blowjobs and he loved eating her out, watching her respond and listening as she came all over his tongue and fingers. He realised he was getting a bit of chub back just thinking about it, so before he could get carried away he got on with getting dressed.

Heading downstairs Chris put the kettle on, took a leak, made two mugs of coffee, and then carried one back upstairs. He knocked on Susan's door perfunctorily before entering and placing it on her bedside table. Stepping quietly, he moved to the edge of the bed and sat down. "Morning Mom," he said gently. She smiled and rolled over to face him.

"Hey sweetie, oh, you're the best," she said, sitting up against the headboard and turning the bedside lamp on. She reached for her coffee. Sweeping her long black hair away from her face, she looked up with a yawn, and he watched her sleepy blue eyes focus on him. "Did you sleep ok?"

"Yeah.... I had the dream again, though," he admitted. "Anyway, I'll go get started with Jethry. It should be a quick milking this morning, he left a few of the cows in with the calves last night."

"Well at least the dream doesn't make you tired," Susan said, frowning slightly at the thought of the recurring Ether dream. She'd tried countless times to reason it out, but still couldn't fully explain its existence. "So, breakfast at seven?" she asked. "That gives me plenty of time to check the plants and get ready for work, with time left over."

"Sure." Chris got up to head for the door then paused, "Want me to bring any milk up to the house?"

"I think we're okay for today; some eggs would be nice for breakfast though, don't you think?"

He nodded and strolled off out the door and downstairs.

Susan sighed, sipping at her coffee. They had such a good thing going. She wasn't his real mother, but she might as well have been. They had slipped into the roles so easily. Now, he was finished with high school and would be leaving the nest. She'd given him a basic education about the secret magical world he belonged to, but couldn't teach him magic; not while his dragon lay dormant, locked away. The heart of the conundrum centered around her awareness that she knew so little and yet had experienced the two worlds and their myriad dangers to her most beloved charge. Thus even though she didn't know much about dragons, she also couldn't trust anyone else to teach him.

It would break her heart if anything happened to her boy. "Pffft, hardly a boy anymore," she muttered under her breath. Her mind wandered as she sipped from the steaming cup. In the last year he had really bulked up ... they had even had to get him all new clothes. He ran some mornings and did exercises ... the farm work was the catalyst, no? Chopping wood, feeding out hay bales, lifting vats of milk ... had turned her boy into a fit, tall, broad-shouldered, handsome young man. It made her wonder if this stage marked his 'coming of age'; perhaps his unlocking would occur any day now.

The thought of the release of his dragon sent shivers down her spine. It would be a confusing and dangerous time, yet she was excited. Chris would likely become a whole new person, and she wanted to be there to watch, as the new young man came forth. Would he leave? Would he let me stay with him? Maybe he'd even let me use his powers to aid in magic? The thought of what that might involve made her blush, so she put it aside. Whatever happened, she would be losing her son. Susan finished her coffee and dressed. He was so sweet to bring coffee every morning before going to work. They had fallen into this routine only recently; it had happened all of a sudden one day last year ... he'd just shown up, cup in hand at her door that first morning, and had stuck to it every morning since then.

It was still dark out; she would check on the outside garden later. Yawning, she made her way down to the basement. Keying in the code for the basement door, she was hit by a wonderful floral fragrance once it opened. "They're actually flowering!" she twittered to herself excitedly.

Susan loved plants: they gave her almost everything she needed for her magic, were wonderful fun to grow, and made her a decent profit on top of her job as a lab technician. The entire space within the large basement had been transformed into a high-tech hydroponics system. Stopping first to check the pumps and filters at one end of the room, she then grabbed a basket and moved out under the lights.

She grew whatever took her fancy or was useful, including some of the rarer magical species. The one that had flowered overnight was a 'Night Heart' that she had grown from seed; its flowers could be harvested for use in powerful sleeping draughts and anaesthetic compounds. Humming happily to herself she picked a few flowers to dry, and then a few more to keep fresh from which to make a tincture, before doing the rounds to check the other plants. Her work complete, she headed upstairs and outside into the early morning sunlight to work in her garden, glad that it was summer.

***

Chris was glad it was summer, too. Laramie was bitterly cold in winter. Set on an alpine plateau, there was snow on the ground much of the year. At the moment though, he was comfortable in just his overalls. The herd of 40 cows cycled through the milking machines, kept happy with portions of hay. It was almost 6:30 am by the time Jethry silently showed up. Chris sensed him. Turning his head he acknowledged the old man watching him from the gate. "What took you so long this morning; you sleep in?" Chris jibed.

"Must have," Jethry replied cheekily. After all, old age had some advantages ... although, as a Werecat he wasn't really aging. "Besides, you've got everything in hand," he said, nodding in the direction of the cows. "Are you going to school today? If you've got time, there's some thistles coming up in the Western bull field."

"I'm going to school; there aren't classes, but Annabel will be there. They have some sort of event for leavers all day. I'll take a look at the thistles when I get back," he said as he unhooked a cow and let her out.

"Ah, to be young, to be young," Jethry smirked good naturedly. "That girl has you wrapped around her finger." He liked to tease Chris a little sometimes; it was fun to watch him get flustered.
Chris blushed a little but managed to think up a retort within a respectable timeframe. "I do okay. Besides, being with Annabel beats grubbing thistles all day or hanging around with a lecherous old tomcat."

"Hey, I'm not that old," Jethry retorted. As to Chris's other accusation, he couldn't deny it. They stayed companionably silent for a bit as Chris got another cow hooked up.

Trying to be thoughtful, Jethry waxed serious. "Chris, be careful with her. She's a sweet girl but once your dragon comes out, things will be different. She's only a human and our world is all or nothing."

"I know Jethry," Chris replied, looking up at the Werecat. "I've thought about it quite a bit. When I didn't go dragon last year, it kind of messed up our plans. Susan and I thought that by now we would have moved to Denver for my training and to get protection 'til I could fend for myself. Now it feels like I'm just waiting around for it to happen. I don't know what to do with myself and honestly I didn't think things would ever get this serious with Annabel." He paused for a moment to push up a loose milking cup. "Besides, at the end of the summer Annabel will be going away to Denver to get her chef's qualification." He found it a little ironic that he would be the one being left behind.

"I'm sorry about that, Chris. Probably for the best, though. Besides, you belong with your own kind," Jethry said quietly. It's pretty brutal for humans in our world, he thought to himself. He'd seen all sorts of mistreatment of humans in his younger days as a wandering tom. Things had gotten better in recent years as humans advanced and bloomed, to the point where they now actually presented a real threat to Beings. In direct proportion to their advanced development, care was increasingly required to keep them oblivious. Ironically, many long-lived Beings maintained the old stigmas; humans were still considered livestock, or property by some.

Jethry's last comment raised Chris' hackles a bit. "At the moment she is my own kind. Besides, what does that even matter?"

"It matters more than it should," Jethry said. "You aren't human Chris, even though you appear to be. Who knows what will happen when your dragon comes out? It could be very dangerous for her." Jethry didn't like what he was saying but it was important to pursue the subject; he was the closest thing the boy had had to a father over the years.

Chris simmered quietly for a moment, digesting the good sense in the Werecat's warnings but hating that it made sense at all. He liked Annabel a lot ... loved her, perhaps. "I know that Jethry," he said, his words followed by a frustrated sigh. "At least we have this summer before she goes away."

"Hunh!" Jethry grunted jovially before breaking into a tune, "Summer loving, had me a blast...."

"Gawd, make it stop!" Chris laughed, glad that Jethry had switched back to his humorous side.

"Just promise you won't knock her up with a baby dragon or something," Jethry joked.

"I ... we aren't ... haven't...!" Chris sputtered before realising Jethry was now laughing heartily at him, leaning against the gate for support. "Awww, screw you, ya dried-up old fart. You're just jealous," Chris joked self-consciously, his face on fire.

"Sounds like there's not that much to be jealous about. I thought you two had been at it for months the way you reek of each other," wheezed out Jethry as he recovered from his belly-aching laughter.

"Soon enough, my furry friend," Chris retorted, chuckling now.

"Bold words. I'll expect details," Jethry said, accompanied by a wiggle of his scraggly eyebrows.

"Yuk yuk yuk! Old man, you need to learn to use the Internet so your frustration doesn't overflow. Besides, I thought Susan said you and Ms. Ashford had a thing? And what about one of the Stevens girls?" Chris laughed as Jethry's face contorted into an expression of comical sorrow. The Stevens were a family of Werecats, the only other such Beings in the local area. They weren't aware of Chris's situation, thinking he was Susan's non-magical human son.

"Nah, that old tart's cats didn't like me, and none of the Stevens pride girls are interested in an old creeper like me." He paused. "So. The Internet, you say...?"

"I've said too much," Chris chuckled, standing up from checking a cow's teat. "I'm pretty much done here and all you're doing is standing around. You can finish up."

"See you tonight then," Jethry said. He watched Chris make his way to the chicken coop and then back to the house. He smiled. Chris was hard working, quick, and good-natured. If anything, the old tomcat thought, he could use a bit more backbone; but the dragon would take care of that.

Mid-thought, Jethry froze. Suddenly experiencing an epiphany: he envisioned Chris, mature, looking a man and mostly acting like one. If he was still a virgin ... Well, maybe when one 'comes of age'.... That was certainly one way Chris's father's spell could be interpreted, by Jethry at least. Susan needed to know about his theory.

***

Breakfast was delicious if uneventful. Chris followed it up with a shower, giving himself the aforementioned grooming, then changed into his usual school outfit of black jeans, t-shirt, and black boots. His short blond hair did whatever it felt like. A hoodie went into his pack but was unlikely to see use; it would be warm today. He looked forward to the possibility of Annabel wearing a dress, deciding to text her and ask.

He got a reply to his text, just as he and Susan had loaded themselves into her Subaru wagon at 7:40 am.

"Just for you babe. X...."

He grinned stupidly, then sobered quickly. Susan had seen his expression and asked what the text was about. He ducked the question with a shrug and a little mumble. She wasn't fooled, giving her son a smirk and a playful poke in the ribs before he started the car, the grin back on his face.

They drove in silence for a bit before Susan spoke up. "So, what are you going to do this summer, now that school's over?"

"I don't know Mom, I know we talked about me going to college ... but there's no point if I might have to drop out halfway through." He paused for a moment, then let the rest of his train of thought come rushing out. "And I thought about becoming a sheriff a few years ago, remember? But, like you said, the same thing applies. Everything is moot till the dragon comes out. I guess I'll just get on with my life, do some stuff I enjoy, and get a job till this all gets resolved. Besides, for Annabel and I, this summer is our last time together, unless we want to try long-distance. We're going to make it count."

Susan listened quietly. They'd talked about some of this over the years, yet still she felt a pang of sorrow knowing that he was stuck in such an awkward situation.

Chris watched the road and continued confessing his frustration and ultimate resignation. "I think I love Annabel; but it's not fair to stay with her without revealing what's going to happen to me." He glanced at Susan and then back at the road. "From what you told me, I can't protect her as my familiar unless I'm a dragon. But she isn't allowed to know about Beings unless she's a familiar. It's a Catch-22. She probably won't even want to be with me afterwards, anyway. I don't want her memory altered, so ...." He sighed and swallowed. "Perhaps it's best if we go our separate ways when she goes to Denver."

"I'm sorry Chris," Susan said. This was the first time she had heard Chris say he loved Annabel, though she'd known he'd cared for her. "I wish there was an easier way. But yes," she gestured as she spoke, as if sorting the different points, "when you turn into a dragon, your life will be thrown upside-down. We'll have to move, get new jobs, and you'll start getting your magical training. There are also probably going to be people trying to use or capture you, unless the revelation of a newly-emerged male dragon miraculously stays a secret. It's not going to be safe for you ... let alone Annabel."

"I know, Mom. There isn't really any way around it," Chris agreed dejectedly. He kept his eyes on the road ahead; currently it was straight and flat, no traffic in sight.

"I'm also sorry I couldn't do more. I mean, I taught you the basics about the different races and our laws but I can't teach you about magic when you can't use it." They'd gone over all of this before, but it didn't make it any easier. Unconsciously she rubbed a palm along the tops of her thighs. "I can't even teach you about dragons; your parents hired me to teach you about being human."

"Susan." He paused, waiting to continue until he could see peripherally that she had turned to look at him. "You've done just fine. Thank you for raising me all these years, for being my mother. I know it was probably dangerous and you weren't obliged to do it so thanks. I love you."

She turned away from him as he glanced over. Tears sparkled in her reflection in the window. He pulled off to the side of the road, undid his seatbelt and hugged her close across the divider, stroking her long hair hanging loose down her back.

She sniffled a bit before pulling away. "Christopher, don't you dare talk about us like you are a burden to me. I did it because I love you. Watching you grow up has made me so proud, even if I'm not your mother." She tried to sound steady but her voice wavered. Pulling herself together and wiping the tears away, she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek before hugging him tightly for a few more seconds. "Okay let's get going, I don't want to be late. I've got to set up two undergrad labs before lunch."

***

They drove the rest of the way to Laramie, chatting amiably. Susan described her discovery that morning of the Night Heart in bloom. Chris then asked her to tell him more about the mid-Western magical territory under Lady Narlakis. Susan quizzed him about the various races of Beings: Elves, Weres, Wizards, Elementals, Fairies, Vampires ... the list went on. Chris knew the basics such as inherent characteristics, abilities, and predilections. His experience with Beings was extremely limited; aside from Weres, so far he hadn't met any. He'd had to interrupt his recitations of memorized facts upon their arrival at the university. Chris drove up the wide, curved driveway and dropped Susan off with a quick hug goodbye.

There were still about 40 minutes before school started at 9 am, so he and Annabel would have time to just hang around together for a bit. He parked in the lot a few spaces down from her car. Getting out and locking it up, Chris noted the unaccustomed lightness of his backpack without his books. He debated leaving it in the car, but decided to bring it for his hoodie; it was actually still a little crisp this early. There were celebratory banners everywhere, wishing success to the Class of 2013. He walked around the edge of the nearest building and spied his target amongst the few students milling around out front.

Annabel was leaning against the low brick retaining wall along the front lawn, talking with Steph Lawlill, an attractive classmate who was apparently also going to Denver in the Fall. Chris only had eyes for Annabel, though ... and her dress: light blue with white floral patterns and a few small red blossoms. It left the snowy skin of her arms and shoulders bare, hugged her slim waist and then followed the flare of her hips, before finishing just above her knees. His gaze took in her form, detouring to follow the waterfall of silky, curly brown hair hanging down to the middle of her back, then back en route down her form to her shapely legs and feet, drinking her in. She wore a pair of strappy sandals that exposed more pale skin, covered throughout the cold Winter and Spring. Chris marvelled, spending a final few quiet moments gazing in appreciation at her amazing ass. How did I get this lucky?

He'd approached from behind with quiet steps bordering on stealth, but when he got close she spun around with a wide smile on her face. Steph had seen him coming and had given her a signal. "Gotcha," Annabel said. "You can't sneak up on me." She'd missed him at school yesterday and was delighted when he'd texted her that morning with the request about the dress; it was perfect, in fact, for what she had planned. She took a step closer, looking up at him admiringly. He always looked so damned handsome with his strong jaw, blue eyes, and messy blond hair. His body called to Annabel too: broad, solid, all of that exquisitely dense muscle under his skin ... so heavy when he lay on top of her. She loved that he wasn't entirely skinny either; he had some healthy padding over the firm muscle. Once, Annabel had overheard the coach talking to one of his teachers; apparently it was a 'crime' Chris wouldn't play football, but she'd felt she understood his disinclination. After all, he was a bit reclusive. And anyway, he was usually busy on the farm after school, or hanging out with her. Occasionally she received envious and even raunchy comments about him from other girls. He was hers though. Her big, sweet, caring boyfriend, and she planned to keep it that way.

"Wasn't really trying to sneak," Chris denied, frowning, initially embarrassed at being caught; but then couldn't help but return her beautiful, infectious smile. "Hi Steph."

"Hey Chris, see you guys in the auditorium," Steph replied. She walked off to leave Chris and Annabel in their own little world.

"Do you like the dress I wore for you?" Annabel asked coyly, giving her hips a side to side twist to raise the hem slightly, knowing full well that he did like it. The hungry look in his eyes when she teased him, made her feel powerful. Truth be told she was chilly in the dress; but it was worth it to see the transparent, stupid adoration spreading across his face right then.

"You're so beautiful, Dee," Chris said quietly, stepping forward to envelop her in a firm hug. He loved using his pet name for her, it fit perfectly. She'd once called him 'Snake Eyes', teasing his bad luck. He'd retaliated with 'Doe-EyEs' and thus Dee was born. In his arms, she was the perfect height to bury his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent mixed with notes of vanilla from her perfume. Speaking of which, he caught a waft of her excitement on the air. He'd recognise it anywhere. Chris squeezed her tighter, slowly rubbing a hand along her lower back. "You're a little bit wet aren't you?" he whispered conspiratorially into her ear.

How does he always know? she wondered, his deep-voiced whisper sending a frisson of excitement through her. She would have been happy to stay in his embrace all day, bound up in his big arms while his gentle stroking sent tingles up her spine and heat to her core that was starting to feel definitively ... steamy. Annabel had reached a decision last night ... one that she'd realised was long overdue. Therefore, she could hardly be blamed for feeling a little anticipation, could she? In response to his whisper she gave a little wiggle, pushing her small breasts into his chest and nuzzling his neck slightly. In that moment, Annabel wished she was more well-endowed up front, with something more to mash into her man so to speak; but such is life. He didn't seem to mind.

She pulled away from him slightly, and moved up on tiptoe to whisper what she had decided yesterday. "Today," she breathed, giggling when she felt him tense once he understood her meaning.

"Really?" Chris asked, heart pounding at the idea. He guided her away slightly, holding her shoulders so he could see her face. Her expression mirrored his excitement, without a hint of hesitation.

"Yep," she said with a smile. "It's high time. I'll drive us back to your place after school."

"Fuck," Chris cursed quietly as he fantasised for a few seconds, staring at her. "Fuck," he repeated when he realised his dick was rapidly expanding against his jeans.

"Yes Chris, we're going to fuck," Annabel whispered teasingly before bursting into laughter at the shocked look on his face. She stepped back up close to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his firmly. Her tongue slipped just along the edge of his bottom lip, enough to get a little taste of him. Chris responded instantly, returning her kiss for a few seconds before separating, giving her soft lips a parting peck and looking deep into her brown eyes, seeing love reflected back.

"I think I love you, Annabel," Chris suddenly admitted. It was out before he realised he'd said it aloud; her eyes had been his undoing and now he felt vulnerable yet elated.

Annabel saw the searching look in his blue eyes as she squealed in delight and jumped up to cling to him, legs around his waist. He stumbled back from the impact of her weight, then steadied them both and held her tightly as she peppered the side of his face with kisses. Joy flooded her entire body at his words. I love you. I love you. I love you, was repeating over and over frantically in her mind, the heartfelt words expressed through her kisses. Freezing for a second when she realised what she was doing, she calmed herself and pulled back to look at him again, still supported by his strong arms around her waist. "I love you too Chris," she said more seriously.

Chris's heart soared. It felt amazing to declare himself and have it returned so enthusiastically. His ear felt a bit wonky from her close-range squeal but he dismissed the irksome ring, smiling so widely he thought his face might break. He gently kissed her again before setting her back on the ground, mindful of them making a scene. Thankfully there weren't many around to notice. He ran his hands up and down her arm and noticed the chill and goose flesh on her bare skin. Vulnerable. Of course, she's cold, she's human. He flashed to the conversation he had had with Jethry this morning. 'You aren't human Chris, even though you appear to be. Who knows what will happen when your dragon comes out? It could be very dangerous for her.'

"You're cold," Chris stated, a little sombre now, his former elation shattered.

"Sure," Annabel replied with a giggle. "But I couldn't care less." He had finally admitted it to her. "You love me," she whispered conspiratorially before laughing giddily.

"Yes. I do," he replied, as if stating a fact, his response lacking an accompanying grin. He pulled his backpack off of his shoulder and retrieved the hoodie for her.

She accepted it gratefully and put it on. It hung baggily around her tallish, slim frame, reaching down to just below her butt, yet she hardly noticed, distracted by the sense that something had cut short his post-admission high.

"Okay babe, let's get going," Chris put an arm around her waist and guiding them toward the auditorium. He needed to find a secluded spot and have a serious talk with his girlfriend.

Something might have dulled Chris's good mood, but Annabel was the happiest she had been in her life. She leant against him as they walked, absolutely content, floating in the clouds. Her heart was happily thumping, recirculating good feelings all through her body. Skin tingled wherever he touched her so she pushed in closer to his side.

As they walked together, Chris pondered how to explain. He had to do something; he couldn't selfishly lead her on without giving her some sort of warning. Sighing, he leaned over as they walked, pressing his lips to the top of her head. He really did love her. Thrills coursed his body as he felt her awkwardly pulling herself tighter to him. She loves me! part of his mind continued to shout gleefully, while another part dreaded what would happen next, all the while rehearsing what he was going to have to say.

***

The auditorium was empty. Chris pulled Annabel up the steps to the second-to-last row, then along it to the seats in the furthest corner. He sat for a minute, collecting his thoughts frantically as she snuggled into him.
He's tense. There was something wrong, but she couldn't understand what could have him this wound up. "What is it, Chris?" she asked as the disquiet seemed to escalate, threatening to envelop them both. Slowly, she sat up in her chair and turned to look up at him.

She knows. Chris panicked, almost reaching the point of chickening out. "Okay, where to begin, ah ... shit," he said in a flurry of words as he tried to steel himself. Annabel looked at him confused, a slight frown marring her pretty features. "Okay. Ummm, just listen Annabel, please just listen. I have to tell you some stuff. Serious stuff about me but I can't explain it all right now, I'm not allowed to. God this is going to sound so stupid but I don't want you to get hurt – "

Annabel cut him off. "Chris! I know you're not stupid enough to be breaking up with me right now, especially after what we just said; so what the hell is this about?" The unease grew inside her at the pained look she saw plastered across his face as he avoided her gaze.

"No! God no, I don't want to break up with you babe, I love you," Chris assured, meeting her eyes momentarily before dropping them again. "Look.... Just.... Fffsssshhhh," he felt freaking terrified, hands wringing and clammy in his lap.

"Hey," Annabel quietly reassured. "It can't be that bad, just tell me." She reached over and took hold of one of his hands. The strength with which he clasped hers in his now-clammy grip almost made her wince; maybe it was bad.

Feeling slightly better, Chris forged ahead. "Alright. This will sound strange and stupid but it's the truth. Okay? Well, at least part of the truth, I can't tell you the rest now." He paused to see if he could gauge Annabel's reaction.

She just nodded.

"I'm in hiding," he resumed, focusing on making his explanation as clear as possible. "I didn't do anything wrong, but some ... people might hurt me if they knew who I was."

"Like witness protection?" Annabel interjected, then cast furtive glances around the auditorium, looking around like she feared eavesdroppers. This was more serious than she'd thought.

"Not really," Chris answered. "Please Dee, I can't tell you the whole thing. In a few years something is going to happen to me and I'll stop hiding ... but my life is going to be flipped upside down, it could be very dangerous."

"Why? What's going to change?" Annabel asked, confused. "Why can't you tell me?"

"I can't tell you because if I did and those people found out, you'd be in danger." Chris said it pleadingly, hoping it would be a good enough reason. "Annabel ... believe me, it's very dangerous. My parents were killed for something to do with all this."

"Your parents were killed?! Who by? Wait, Susan isn't your mom?" Annabel was incredulous. It all seemed unbelievable; but the desperation in Chris's voice, and the way he was wound up so tight convinced her he was being sincere. The part about his parents and Susan really threw her, though. Annabel had known Susan for years; they got along great, and she knew they both loved Chris. How could Susan not be Chris's mother?

"Susan is my mom but not my biological mother, she was kind of my nurse till I was four but when my parents were killed she looked after me and we've been in hiding all these years. I can't tell you what happened to my parents, honestly I don't know the whole story anyway," Chris paused to work out Annabel's expression. "I guess ... oh, I don't know. I had to tell you that stuff before we go any further. I love you Annabel, but in a few months you'll go away to college in Denver... I don't want to lead you on."

"You could come with me," she said hopefully.

"No, I need to stay hidden. Besides, you won't want to be with me after this whole thing comes to light," Chris said dejectedly.

"Bullshit, Chris, I love you; so don't turn this around on me. I want to be with you and as long as you still love me, that isn't going to change," Annabel scolded, angry that he was cheapening her feelings for him. "I'm going to Denver in autumn and I want you to come. If you don't that's up to you, but I've got all summer to convince you, and I haven't even started trying." She suddenly shifted in the chair and moved over to face him. Straddling his lap, she leaned up and mashed her lips against his. If this was so serious she would give him something to fight for ... prove she wanted them together. Her tongue demanded entrance to his mouth and she nipped his bottom lip, pulling herself closer when he tried to get away. After a moment Chris relented and opened up to her, lifting his arms up and around to hold her. Annabel slammed her tongue home and they were locked in a slippery duel for a few moments before the kiss mellowed. She moaned quietly and broke for air with a gasp, holding his face in her palms.

"I can't come to Denver," Chris started.

"You will," she countered.

"It'll be dangerous."

"You'll protect me."

"I'll change."

"And I'll still love you."

"Fine," Chris relented, "don't say I didn't warn you." The smile on his face told Annabel he was happy with the outcome. Unable to dissuade her, Chris could do nothing more than appreciate her devotion. Although she by no means knew the whole picture, he didn't feel like he was taking advantage of her anymore.

"I'm sorry about your parents," Annabel said, lowering her hands to play across his chest absently.

"It's okay. Susan is a great mom," Chris said. His own hands on her waist weren't idle either, thumbs stroking her soft tummy through her clothes.

"So ... Susan's your mom now and you're in hiding. Something important is going to happen to you and some people might want to hurt you?" Annabel clarified.

"Pretty much."

"And you can't tell me because it would put me in danger. If this is a joke I'll frickin' kill you, Chris."

"Yes, yes, and no joke. I'm deadly serious. Damnit, sorry, that last was an accident."

"Give me something here, Chris. A clue; what's it all about?"

"Magic," Chris said truthfully, knowing she wouldn't understand. He watched her eyes widen in surprise briefly, before she brushed it off as his way of deflection.

"Whatever. I'll entertain this craziness on the condition that you seriously think about coming to Denver with me. I don't care about all that other stuff." Annabel sighed a little, adding, "And stop petting my tummy, you know it fires me up."

"Okay," Chris replied a little sheepishly, stopping his thumbs yet he still had to touch her, and settled for attempting to encircle her waist with his hands.

"So, here's what's going to happen," Annabel stated more lightly. "You're going to kiss me. We'll stick around here for a while. I'll drive us to your place. We'll have sex, and you'll be damned pleased about it."

"God I love you," was all Chris could say before they were at each other again, lips locked passionately, only coming apart when people started to enter the auditorium.

***

The rest of the day flew by surrealistically. There was a farewell speech given by the principal, and then one by a guest speaker from out of town who emphasised the importance of doing what you loved and not letting opportunities pass by. Lunch was a barbecue for the graduating students, staff, and faculty who didn't have classes with the younger grades. Everyone was saying goodbye and making plans for the summer, while Chris and Annabel sat together and snuck kisses when they thought no one was looking. They talked to a few friends and made plans to go to a leavers party the following Saturday. By 2 pm they were ready to go.

Chris drove Susan's car to the university lot and met Annabel there by the curb at the entrance; Susan had her own keys and would drive home after work. Annabel had purchased her own car last year, ostensibly to drive to work at Mishroy's Steakhouse where she was a chef's assistant. Her parents hadn't liked it but it was her own money. She and Chris had taken advantage of the freedom and privacy it afforded them over the past year, to Annabel's parents' consternation. She loved her parents dearly, but honestly couldn't wait to be out of their stuffy, rigidly pious house for good.

Chris got in and they drove off in nervous anticipation, toward the farm.

"Your parents?" Chris asked, feeling like he had to run a checklist to assuage his nervousness.

"At work. They don't know I'm staying over, but I'll deal with that in the morning," Annabel replied. "Susan?" she asked.

"She's cool, we've done stuff before when she's at home, she must have heard us. Besides, she won't be back for hours," Chris confirmed. "Protection?"

"I'm on the pill, you've got the condoms."

"Jethry?"

"Will either be asleep or listening at the door," Annabel joked.

"You're probably right about that," Chris chuckled. "You're sure you want to do this? Even after what I told you today?"

"Yes, Chris, you're not backing out now. We're going to lose our virginities and it will be wonderful. Besides, I've practically been frothing at the mouth all day," Annabel said huskily, squirming in her seat in an attempt to scratch her delightful itch and wind Chris up.

"I know," Chris admitted. "I can smell it."

Annabel stared at him for a few seconds before putting her eyes back on the road. "That's hot," she breathed a moment later.

They drove for a few more minutes in silence until they turned down the long driveway.

Chris asked, "How are we going to play this?"

"We're going straight upstairs," Annabel replied.

As soon as the car was parked, they got out and practically raced to the house. Chris held the door for Annabel, then followed her close up the stairs, placing a hand on her firm behind, feeling her body move. The hand felt scaldingly hot to Annabel, who happily accentuated her stride for him.

Reaching his bedroom they fell upon each other, wildly kissing as Chris pushed her back to sit on the bed. Standing above her, Chris removed his t-shirt and Annabel reached for the hem of her dress before he stopped her. "Can you leave it on for a bit? You look so gorgeous like that," he asked tenderly.

Annabel looked up at his impressive stature with desire smouldering in her brown eyes, knowing what he wanted from her and happy to oblige. Chris had a thing for getting blowjobs while she was still fully clothed. "Okay babe, just get your shoes off already," she said, giggling as he almost fell over in his rush to comply.

As he stood, sans footwear, she rose from the bed and ran her hands along his solid chest and down his abdomen, hinting at where she would go soon. She could feel the strong muscles tensing under the surface as she explored her man lovingly, stepping closer to get a taste, kissing across his chest and toying with a nipple while her hands snuck to play with his jeans-entrapped erection.

She was torturing him, sending tingles across his skin and shivers up his spine while his stiff penis lay cruelly imprisoned. He gave a desperate groan as the feeling of her skin and silky lips made him shudder in anticipation. "Please Dee, you're driving me crazy," Chris panted. "Please, suck me." Mercifully, Annabel kneeled, trailing kisses down his slightly padded abdomen as her hands undid his belt and zip.

Lowering his jeans and boxers as one, her prize sprang into view, erect and bobbing. Leaning in slightly and looking up, her wide chocolate pools held him transfixed as she placed a kiss on its thick head. Annabel thought his penis matched his physique perfectly: above average in length, built wide and heavy. It was nice and big, just like he was.

He gasped as she opened wide to envelop the crown within her wet heat, bucking his hips slightly in reflex and bringing a hand to lovingly stroke her cheek, pleasure coursing directly to his brain. She lowered her soft lips along the shaft toward his root, tongue slowly lashing around his head and savouring his natural taste. On her upstroke she made sure to apply suction and just a hint of teeth, revelling in the laboured breathing, groans, and facial expressions she could draw from him as she methodically built up her pace. Annabel couldn't take him all the way in, having tried previously but finding the challenge too great; instead, she used one hand to grip him near the base and jerk him slowly as she entombed his cock in her sweltering mouth.

Chris was in a state of lusty delirium, slowly thrusting into the ring her pretty lips made around him as she engulfed his shaft in hot, moist, pleasure. With the pink gloss on her full lips and her beautiful, happy eyes, she excited him far beyond simple physical stimulation. He panted, moaning in ecstasy, a light sweat forming on his brow as his abdominals clenched and he struggled to hold back. Her sweet lips were stretched near their limits to encircle him and seal him in her hungry mouth, but her eyes were always his undoing: brown, loving, and twinkling up at him from beneath her eyelashes, holding his gaze throughout, her intense expression begging him to come too soon. She looked so sensual, kneeling in her pretty dress, lips around his shaft while her tongue worked its unseen magic. His picture of her as a nubile innocent was corrupted by her lusty stare and those little sounds that escaped from her lips, as she tried to smile while her tongue traced the ridge of his cockhead. A tingling in his sack warned him, and with a strangled groan he very reluctantly pulled back from the blissful edge, and with his last bit of willpower, he fought to free himself from her hungry suction. "God you're amazing," Chris blurted as he regained his breath and composure.

Annabel grinned happily, wiping spittle off her chin, knowing she had almost had him, and delighting in the act of pleasing him. Her own breath was uneven, cheeks and neck flushed beautifully, sex aching delightfully; it felt like she was about to melt into her panties. She needed attention immediately. "Chris, undress me," she demanded.

Swift to oblige, Chris lifted her up from where she knelt and ran his hands under her dress, then up and over her slim frame, relegating the dress to the floor. Those strong hands brushed around her ribs to unclasp her bra at the back, sending tingles anywhere he touched. Her small breasts were revealed, protruding only slightly from her chest with tiny brown areolas and matching, now-puckered, nipples. Chris gave each beautiful little cupcake a swirl with his tongue and a gentle suckle, drawing a whimper from Annabel who, he knew, was very sensitive when she got this wound up. She wore a padded 32A most of the time but Chris would have happily played with her cute, rounded little tits all day. After a while he kissed down along her tummy to her navel, relishing her soft and smooth skin. She loved it when he worshiped her belly button with half-erotic, half-ticklish tongue strokes; it always made her insides clench. Reaching the top of her slightly frilly white panties, he nuzzled into her fragrant humidity wafting through the moistened fabric. His hands stroked over her firm, peachy ass, catching the edge of the fabric and pushing it along to bunch at her ankles. She quickly stepped out of them.

Exposed, Chris kissed a smooth, milky thigh before he ran his tongue over her swollen pussy lips, collecting her familiar, delicious taste. He rested his nose in her trimmed patch of brown curls and brushed the tip lower to occasionally tease her excited clit. "Fuck! Ooooohhh yes ... Chris ... oonnnhhhaa ... that's so good," Annabel exclaimed as bliss rocked her body and she grabbed his hair a bit roughly, pulling his hot tongue further into herself. Chris got the message, parting her petals and delving into her juicy pinkness as moans and profanities spilled out of her sweet mouth. He pushed his tongue inside and laved then thrust deeply for a few minutes, as she writhed on his face, building her up then retreating to swirl his nimble tongue over her clit, triggering her climax with a little suction. Annabel screamed out her pleasure unintelligibly, her entire body wracked with waves of bliss as she held herself against his mouth. Eagerly capturing the slickness escaping her quivering pussy, he savoured the essence of her womanhood and its salty fragrance with hints of tangy sweetness. As he tasted her pleasure, delivered by himself, he made sure to support her shaking body as the orgasm drained her.

Slowly he laid Annabel down in the middle of his bed while she caught her breath, small aftershocks making her beautiful body twitch every few seconds. Chris left her there to retrieve a condom from his drawer, undoing the package and rolling it down over his meaty shaft. He then joined her, lying on the bed, kissing her breasts, then up along her collarbone to her delicate neck, and finally to her lips. Still in a pleasure-induced stupor, though recovering quickly, she kissed back sloppily but with fervour; he was already lighting another fire within her. Annabel need him inside her, longed to feel his big cock filling her, taking her. "Now ... Chris, I need you now," she moaned, desire tingling through her body wherever they touched.

Delivering one more kiss and whispering his love in her ear, Chris got on his knees and positioned himself. Annabel opened her snowy legs wide and high. Shaft in hand, he ran the head along her slick lips, bumping her clit, making her wriggle and arch. Despite the apprehension she felt, she looked up at him and gave a nod, knowing it would hurt but that he would be gentle. Chris shuffled forward slightly, his butt resting on his heels, thighs flush against hers. He put a reassuring hand on her waist, stroking her tummy while the other positioned himself at her scorching entrance, her swollen pink lips already kissing the very tip. She placed a hand over his and gave it a squeeze: she was ready. Chris trapped her gaze in his own and slowly pushed his hips forward, groaning as her lips parted reluctantly to accept his thick crown. They gasped in unison as the entire head submerged completely, continuing slowly, deeper through her narrow, untried channel. Chris held himself still when he reached her maidenhead. How incredibly tight and soft she was! Looking down at their joining, Chris marvelled at how wide her pink little pussy had stretched to accommodate him.

"Do it quick," she whispered.

Chris looked at her and saw the determination in her eyes. Gripping her waist firmly with both hands, he pulled himself out slightly, his shaft coated with her juices. She gripped his wrists in final approval. Looking into her eyes, he pulled her down onto him as he shoved forward quickly, tearing aside her barrier and sinking deep, almost to his root with an unintelligible shout. Annabel shut her eyes tight and whimpered through the pain as Chris lowered his torso on top of her, holding her close.

"You're so brave," he told her gently between heavy breaths, holding himself still inside her. "I love you so much ... and Annabel ... oh god you feel so amazing.... thank you!" As she adjusted to him Chris tried to distract her, kissing her ear, neck, and finally her lips. She kissed back more enthusiastically as the pain slowly dulled, replaced with a decidedly satisfying fullness. She experimentally clenched, feeling him tense up and suck in a ragged breath in response. Reaching down along his body to her sex to feel around their joining, she discovered that he had not sunk himself to the hilt; a little yet remained outside of her.

"Okay ... I think I'm ready. Chris, I can't believe how full you make me feel ... just ... go slow, okay?" she panted, reaching up to wrap her arms around him, letting her legs relax and fall further toward the bed.

Slowly he pulled out a few inches, her pussy clutching at him, then gently thrust back into her, making a little headway. Trying again he was almost undone when she decided to clench him tightly, preventing his escape.
"Fuck, you're tight Dee! Gnnnghhhhaa ... stop! I'm not going to last!" he warned, pausing deep within her until he could regain control. Gritting his teeth, he pushed forward till she engulfed him completely, watching her eyes widen at the sensation of pleasure.

His head gently butted up against the entrance to her womb, as deep as he could penetrate. There was a little splash of pain as he pushed to the hilt, but Annabel cooed in delight, the last of her pain washed away by waves of euphoria, feeling every inch of him. "Holy shit, that's deep ... Chris, I can feel you in my belly."

Holding himself there, he basked in the feeling of being completely inside her sweltering, tight pussy, his balls against her flesh and his body pressing her down into the bed. It felt so right to be like this with her, as intimate as possible. Annabel was also enjoying the sensation, his thick shaft was filling her completely, twitching slightly every now and then, sending pleasure coursing through her body. She rotated her hips experimentally and felt it stir her insides delightfully, touching places she was unaware had existed. He felt so nice and heavy on top of her, sinking them both down deeper into the bed.

Slowly, he pulled out. Annabel whimpered as he withdrew, fighting for every millimetre he removed, but then squealed with joy as he surged all the way home again. Tense with the effort of holding his impending orgasm back, he thrust in, withdrew to his head and re-sheathed fully, repeating stroke after stroke into her velvety depths; and was rewarded with the honour of watching Annabel's monumental sexual awakening, up close.

His paced thrusts rubbed everywhere inside her and started to stimulate her engorged clit, eliciting a series of joyful little sounds from her lips against his neck. She came alive, moaning, whimpering, clutching, grasping, kissing. As she bucked her hips to meet his thrusts, he felt his full testicles tingling, drawing up in anticipation. The delightful build-up made him pump more forcefully into her inflamed pussy and pull her tightly to him with an arm underneath her back. Annabel reciprocated, instinctually wrapping her legs around him to spur his actions, arching and nipping at his shoulder.

This was so much better than she had ever dreamed. His wonderful cock touched everything inside of her, even kissing her cervix gently when he'd pushed as deeply as he could. They were built perfectly for each other. She felt herself building quickly under his masterful thrusts, her pussy fluttering, leaking a trickle of juices she could feel seeping down between her cheeks as she sped toward her climax. Mashing their bodies together and moaning her pleasure into his ear, she needed to feel him come with her.

"Oooaaahhhhaa! Yes! Come for me, Chris ... oh, shit I'm going to come too.... I love you," she squealed brokenly, panting with exertion and bucking on the edge of orgasm. At her words, Chris thrust harder for a few strokes until Annabel's entire body quivered and tensed. "Ohhhh gnnhhh ... aaah!" she managed as her pussy clenched, releasing a gentle stream of joy as her entire body tensed and released, toe-curling pleasure exploding behind her eyelids.

Her spasming almost unseated Chris, who shoved himself firmly to the hilt with a muffled shout as thick ropes of come surged up his shaft into the condom. He held himself at full depth as her delighted snatch milked his cock. He looked down at her, drinking in the absolute beauty of a woman coming beneath him as he came and came, groaning and mumbling in total abandon until he'd spent his last spurts.

As Annabel gradually relaxed, he stirred himself slowly in her hot core, and gave a few short, experimental thrusts with his softening cock, prolonging the pleasure. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before kissing slowly with a new depth of feeling. Finally he pulled back and reluctantly exited her spent pussy with a slight plop and an accompanying whimper. Chris noticed a small amount of blood, so discarded the condom and cleaned them both with tissues from his bedside table. Annabel was staring up at the ceiling as he lay back down beside her, pulling her into his chest and nuzzling her hair.

"That was amazing, thank you," he said reverently. All she could muster in response was to press her lips into him sleepily and make a contented little mewl.

Encircling her soft body, happy tiredness started to overcome him too. Chris felt fantastic; his only small niggle was a strange feeling in his chest and stomach. It felt unsettled, like there was something moving slightly inside him ... not enough to cause concern in the aftermath of great sex, he dozed with his arms wrapped around his lover. A man now by any definition, he had finally come of age.

***

He was woken sometime later by his own hyperventilations. Something was very wrong. A searing heat rattled around in his chest, burning his insides and making sweat drip off his naked body. He knew it was his dragon, felt it instinctually as it burned hotter still, like white-hot, molten metal jumping inside him. He struggled not to scream in pain, his mind racing as the dragon inside burned away the barrier between them.

Annabel was still somehow asleep, snuggled to his feverish skin with her face almost touching his heaving chest.

Get away from Annabel! This was happening too soon! She wasn't prepared to accept his dragon, hadn't yet taken his warnings seriously, would hate him, be terrified.

Rolling away from her and off the bed with a thump and a strangled cry, he started crawling toward the door, sobs wracking his chest as the fire spread from his chest to the rest of his body. He didn't get far before collapsing with a gurgling moan.

"Chris?!" came her worried cry. She had awoken abruptly, her heart pounding, alone in the bed with noises of agony nearby.

The room was darker, an hour or two must have passed but it was still light outside. Squinting through the dimness, she spotted Chris's form where he lay face-down on the floor, twitching and crying out. She sat up and flicked on the light on the bedside table, then scrambled out of bed and over to him. "Oh my god!" Kneeling beside him on the floor, Annabel reached to touch his shoulder but withdrew suddenly. His skin burned her fingers. "You're burning! Chris, are you alright? Can you hear me? What happened?" she queried in a panic.

During a lull in the intense pain, he took the opportunity to warn her. "It's happening," he croaked, his throat dry and cracked. His flesh seemed to be sloughing down his oesophagus to feed the fire in his chest. She had reached for him again, so he invested his last remaining energy in the next words, "No! Annabel get away from me!"

She backed up a bit, moving more out of shock at his reaction to her presence, than in obedience to his desperate warning. Annabel froze as she witnessed what happened next.

Suddenly, the pain stopped; he had half a hope that it was over, when something powerful surged into his mind, and his limbs began thrashing. The dragon was in his mind now, struggling with its own consciousness, mentally digging its claws and teeth into him and holding fast. Chris choked, tears streaming down his cheeks, helpless as he felt his own soul surrender, ceasing its weak resistance. Gradually, the dragon quieted. It had won.

Like water that had stilled only momentarily, both felt the rippling sensation as it started merging with him, pouring itself into him, just as he was poured into it. Mixing and stirring together, they blended to create one Being, one soul. With a feral roar of triumph echoing through every chamber and crevice in his mind, Chris became complete. Unbeknownst to him, his body had simultaneously begun undergoing its own transformation.

Annabel stared as a rich purple colour, originating at the base of his neck, spread out slowly across his back. His face was obscured from her view, yet she could see the flush of deep purple as it spread up his head, turning his skin and even his hair purple. His body seemed to be growing slightly, though she couldn't be sure. As the purple transformed his arms, Annabel got definitive proof that he was growing; and in its wake as it passed, it left his muscles slightly more defined underneath.

However, this was forgotten as she watched a line of what looked like ... scales, blossom and spread down his neck and across his spine; a smaller set growing outward and another smaller still following those. Ever smaller scales now spread, halving in size and halving again and again, until a few inches from his backbone, they had grown so small that she couldn't even make them out. The ever smaller scales spreading away from his spine soon caught the advancing purple, travelling down over his buttocks and thighs, around his ribcage and down his arms. His once-fair skin had completely turned purple, with gradations to slightly paler amethyst in front as it spread around his ribs across his belly. Meanwhile, larger scales travelled down his spine, becoming smaller as they reached his tailbone and stopped altogether. One final, narrow scale emerged, much longer than the last two combined, accented by four unique, creamy white-coloured bumps along its sides and one at the very tip.

Something rippled at his shoulder blades. Suddenly, Annabel snapped out of her half-conscious state, her overloaded mind scoffing at this new development in her lover. This can't be real, I'm dreaming. Annabel was about to try pinching herself when she remembered the dull ache in her slick nethers and other newly well-used muscles. Looking down briefly she inspected the sticky evidence of her wonderful deflowering, her sex puffy and sore. Convinced that it was all real, panic and confusion flooded her brain. What the hell is going on?!

The answer came to her as she looked back at Chris, a large pair of leathery purple wings that she had been watching in disbelief as they grow out of his upper back, were complete and now lay, folded neatly. The upper joints raised above his head, the lower tips brushed against his sculpted purple ass, each ending in a razor-sharp, hook-like, white claw.

"Magic...," she breathed.

***