Outside Blue Ridge High School, the lawn was abuzz with activity, flooded with students, teachers, and parents alike.

"Okay kids, gather in close for a picture!" Mrs. Kendrick instructed. "And Jerrik, no bunny ears this time!"

The friends and parents laughed happily at this remark, and Tyra, Sally, Jerrik, and Jamie all gathered close to pose for the camera. They wore matching long blue graduation gowns and matching smiles of pride and accomplishment. The ceremony had taken an hour and a half, and Jamie, as the valedictorian, had given a rousing speech filled with remembrances and hope for the future. Tyra had already known the speech's contents because Jamie had asked him to look it over, but there had been nothing Tyra could do to improve the speech.

Just like Jamie. Always devilishly happy to show Tyra that he excelled at any task.

"Say 'graduation'!" Mrs. Kendrick told them.

"Graduation!" the four friends said enthusiastically. Mrs. Kendrick snapped the photo.

"Perfect!" Mrs. Kendrick announced, smiling.

Sally came to her and hugged her mother. "Now I know why my mom is a professional photographer!" she said proudly. "I can't wait to see those pictures!"

Meanwhile, Jerrik had received an enthusiastic kiss from Atsayal, and Feadri had hugged Tyra. "You look dorky in this robe, big bro!" he said, grinning.

"Yeah, well, you look dorky all the time," Tyra shot back.

"It must run in the family then," Feadri declared. "Come on, get out of this getup so we can go to lunch with the others. Dad reserved a huge table for all of us."

The families of the four friends had decided to celebrate together, so they made a big group: the four Alwicks; Sally and her mother; Jamie, his parents, and his little sister; and Jerrik, his parents, and Atsayal.

"Wait, before I get out of the gown, there's something I need to do. Hey Feadri, can you take a picture of me with my cell phone?" Tyra had to hunt through the folds of the gown to find it, but find it he did, and he handed it over to Feadri.

"Of course! Now try to look cool for once," Feadri instructed as he held up the cell phone to take a picture. "Lemme guess, you want to send it to Elain?"

"You guessed it," Tyra said, and then he smiled for the camera. Feadri took the picture and then handed the phone back to Tyra.

"Here you go," said Feadri. "Now hurry and send it to him. He'll be relieved that his boyfriend is finally out of high school."

"Feadri!" Lissem admonished.

"What? I didn't say anything wrong," Feadri replied with a pout.

"I suppose not, but still, I'm not sure I like you making jokes about the situation," Lissem said with a frown.

Tyra just shook his head and took a few steps away from his family to send his message to Elain. When he was done, he sent it on its way.

That done, Tyra finally got out of the gown and joined his friends who were already waiting at his car. They carefully put their gowns into the trunk before they got in the car. Jerrik, who was sitting in the front passenger's seat, put a Bowzer CD into the player, and seconds later Jaydin's voice boomed through the loudspeakers.

Jamie blocked his ears with his hands and made a face, but Sally pulled away his hands and grinned at him. "Hey, you said that you could tolerate this song!"

"What?" Jamie shouted back, unable to hear her.

Tyra smacked Jerrik's shoulder and turned down the music. "Stop abusing my passengers, man!"

"Sorry guys!" Jerrik called over the lowered — but still loud — music.

"Only the gods know how I could put up with you guys for so long," Jamie grumbled.

"Cause we're your best friends?" Sally suggested, nudging him.

Jamie adjusted his glasses and coughed. "Seems so."

It didn't take long for them to reach the restaurant. It was a beautiful little place at the harbor, and the tables that had been put together to accommodate the fourteen guests almost filled up the room completely.

Tyra sat down between his sire and Sally, and just as they had ordered their meals, Tyra's cell phone vibrated.

It was a short message from Elain.

'Congratulations! I hope you have a beautiful day with your friends and family. I'll think of a special surprise for you tonight.'

Sally looked over his shoulder and whistled softly. "That sounds promising."

He whispered back to her. "Hush, you. My curfew is over as of tonight, but if you give them any ideas, they'll slap it right back on."

"Nah, I'll be silent as the grave," Sally promised, but then her lively face grew serious again. "By the way, I finally decided on a university. I'll go to Raylington along with Jamie."

"Hey, congrats!" Tyra said with a smile. "That's great! We're all set now, aren't we? You know, it's really great that we're all at least in the same city. We'll still be able to hang out."

"Of course. I mean, we're still neighbors... but I'd like to find a room in the university dorms. I guess I need a bit of a change." Sally smiled again, but it was forced.

"Change is a good thing, though, especially right after graduation!" Tyra said enthusiastically. "Now, how about an appetizer?"

The dinner was a great event, one that would be remembered by all present in the years to come. They ate, talked, and laughed together as though they were one large family, which in a sense they very much were.

But underneath all that happiness was a bit of melancholy, too. A new chapter in the life of the four friends was about to start, but the old one was closed now for good and with it the last remnants of a carefree childhood. Now they were truly adults, ready to continue on the way they had chosen.

The evening grew late, and when Jamie's little sister started to get sleepy, they decided to call it a night.

"Now the real parties can begin!" Jerrik said with a hoot. They knew of multiple parties being hosted around town by their classmates.

"Yeah, this was just a warm up," Tyra agreed, grinning at his best friend.

"You have a good time, Tyra, but don't do anything reckless," Lissem told him.

"No problem, dad," Tyra agreed.

The four graduates said goodbye to their families, and together with Atsayal they headed out again. It was a beautiful, clear evening, and the air smelled of approaching summer although it was still cool.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, where should we go?" Jerrik asked. "Timothy is having a pool party, but I think it's still too cold for that. Maybe to Jessica's? She has a karaoke machine..."

"I hope you guys don't mind," Tyra began as he gave his watch a quick check, "but wherever we go, I'm only going to stay for an hour and a half. Then I need to go meet up with Elain."

Jerrik ribbed him with a big grin. "Hehe, private celebration, huh? We certainly won't keep you from getting lucky tonight! I mean, it's high time that you..."

"Jerrik, could you please keep it to yourself if you ever hope on getting lucky yourself again?" Atsayal interrupted.

Jamie just groaned, and Sally was silent.

Tyra could feel his ear tips burning yet again. He prayed he'd grow out of the blushing some day soon. "Right! So, where are we going? Jessica's sounds good to me. Her house is huge, and lots of people are going to be there."

"Sounds good — as long as you don't sing, Jerrik!" Jamie warned. "I remember the last time you tried to on New Year's eve, and my ears almost started to bleed."

"Hey, it's not my fault I'm not one of the Bowzer boys," Jerrik defended his honor.

Atsayal pulled him to the car. "I'll keep him from singing," he promised.

A few minutes later, they were on their way.

When they arrived, Tyra enjoyed the party and spent time with his friends and classmates. Everyone was in a great mood, and spirits were running high, which made for an exciting evening. However, most of his thoughts centered on what came after the party.

It was a big day for Tyra in many ways.

~*~

Shortly before midnight, Tyra arrived at the Velvet Shadow. The line at the front entrance seemed endless, but luckily he didn't have to bother with it. He just took the side entrance again and squeezed through the dancers until he reached the elevators. After a short ride up to the tenth floor, Tyra stood in front of Elain's apartment door and knocked.

A few seconds later, the door opened. "There you are," Elain greeted him with a smile. Tyra noticed that the room beyond the door was only illuminated by candles and the crescent moon that shone through the large windows. The normally austere place looked much more inviting and romantic.

Elain himself looked different, too. He was missing his glasses, and instead of his usual suits or casually elegant clothes he wore a shiny black shirt with an unbuttoned collar and black trousers that seemed to be cut like tight jeans but consisted of the same, satiny material as the shirt.

"Wow," Tyra breathed. "Hi there, sexy." He entered, and Elain closed the door behind him. Tyra wanted to reach out and touch Elain, but he was struck with a sudden bout of nerves. Elain looked absolutely scrumptious, but Tyra didn't want to seem so overeager that he couldn't even spare the time to talk.

"Marithia gave this outfit to me on my birthday ages ago in the hope I would go dancing again, but I've never worn it," Elain said, looking a bit unsure himself.

Tyra smiled. "Remember when we first met? I couldn't convince you to dance with me then." He reached out and took one of Elain's hands and tugged him closer. "Think you'd mind dancing with me now?"

"Not at all."

Soft music was already playing, and they took the first steps together. Elain noticed that Tyra was a good dancer, gently indicating the direction. And the thin satin of his shirt let Elain feel the warm hand laying on the small of his back in a notably sensual way.

Together they glided smoothly through the open space of the apartment, and Tyra quietly enjoyed the feel of having Elain in his arms this way. They danced together effortlessly, and Tyra was delighted with the way Elain seemed to respond to his movements with so little effort.

"This is a really nice surprise," Tyra said with a small smile.

"I thought you might have had enough wild parties for one day, so I figured we should take it slow," Elain answered, leaning a bit closer to Tyra when the song changed, indicating an even slower rhythm.

Tyra's breath caught in his throat at the feeling of Elain cuddled so close and leaning against him. It was as if something clicked into place for him, something permanent and irreplaceable.

"Sounds good to me," he whispered.

For Elain it was the same, although he still couldn't truly believe it was happening. After all those years, all those disappointments, all the self-doubting whether he truly deserved to be happy... and now he was here with Tyra, who really cared for him in a way nobody ever had. And Elain wanted to have Tyra beside him like he wanted to see the sun rising every morning.

Three little words formed in his mind, word that were so often used and abused and not really meant, and he wasn't ready to say them yet to Tyra. But the realization, warm and fragile like a newly hatched bird, lay safe within him for now.

As the next song ended, Elain gently pulled Tyra's head down for a kiss.

Tyra eagerly complied. He halted his dance movements so that he could focus on Elain and their kiss, pouring all the emotions he felt into it. He raised his hands to hold Elain's lovely face in them, and he felt Elain shift forward so that they were pressing together all the way from lips to thighs.

When they pulled back from the kiss, Tyra watched as Elain's eyes slowly started to open again.

"Elain? I don't want you to think I'm saying this just because of the heat of the moment, so I want you to take a deep breath and listen carefully, okay?" Elain took a calming breath, but small frown of confusion appeared on his brow. Tyra caressed the little crease away with the pad of his thumb. "I love you. I really, completely love you, and I want to be with you always. So if you're taking me to bed tonight, you'd better be ready to keep me."

Elain was about to ask if Tyra really meant what he said, if he was sure... but he didn't. This moment was too precious for doubt, and the solemn look in Tyra's usually sparkling eyes was enough to convince Elain that his lover truly meant what he said.

"I wasn't planning on ever letting you go again," Elain answered softly.

A small and joyful laugh bubbled out of Tyra's chest. "Good," he replied happily, and he kissed Elain again, this time with much more urgency and demand. At the same time, he lowered a hand to slip it up under the back of Elain's sinfully silky shirt so that he could get his fingertips on the even silkier skin beneath it.

Elain shivered a bit as the shirt slid over his skin, followed by Tyra's warm hand. It felt wonderful, and the kiss tasted even sweeter if that was possible. No, tonight they wouldn't stop halfway since Tyra seemed very sure of himself now.

"I think you haven't seen my bedroom yet," Elain remarked when they both gasped for air again.

Tyra shivered eagerly. "I think I'd love to see your bedroom." So Elain took Tyra's hand out from under his shirt and used the captured hand to guide Tyra along behind him.

Elain's bedroom was like the rest of his apartment with light-colored walls and sparse decorations. Everything was illuminated with candles, too, and their soft light made the otherwise strictly functional room inviting. The only real luxury Elain allowed himself were satin bedsheets that shimmered in a dark red.

"Elain, before we lose our heads," Tyra started, "I was wondering...well, I'm not sure how you want to do this. I have protection with me, but I think you probably already know that I'm completely clean." He managed not to squirm in place where he stood, but he rubbed at the back of his neck self-consciously.

"Normally I'd insist on protection, but I guess it's alright without since I'm not in seasonals and believe I'm too old to get pregnant." Elain pulled him toward the bed. "So don't worry."

"Hold on," Tyra said, and he resisted Elain's attempt to pull him along. "Clothes first," he suggested, and he set about attacking Elain's slick black outfit. Elain cooperated, and soon Tyra had his lover standing before him, naked and obviously aroused.

But Elain didn't have any patience with Tyra still being clothed either, so he started undressing the sire as well. Since Elain hadn't gotten a chance to explore his lover thoroughly the last times, he now took it very slow and caressed each newly exposed part of bronzed skin.

Tyra sighed, closed his eyes, and firmly reminded himself to be patient and enjoy the moment. In this, he would follow Elain's lead. So, gathering his resolve, he strove to control his eagerness and allow Elain to explore at his leisure.

As Elain touched and teased at his bellybutton and gave him a quick, open-mouthed kiss just to the side of one nipple, he wondered if he'd manage to get through the night with his sanity intact.

Elain finally had mercy on him and unzipped Tyra's pants to get him out of it. When the sire was completely naked, too, Elain gave him a gentle shove so that Tyra landed on the bed and crawled on top of him to continue his explorations.

Tyra's body was flawless with beautiful skin over hard muscles, giving away a person who loved to do sports. Elain kissed his way down from the navel to Tyra's well-sized member. As he already knew, it fit nicely into his hand, but now he could give it some special attention with a few teasing licks.

At the feel of the warm, wet tongue on his aching member, Tyra gasped out Elain's name. He writhed against the sheets, but that proved to be a new and special torture of its own. The red sheets were extraordinarily soft against his skin.

"Elain, please, you can't — I can't take it if you — gods!" he exclaimed as Elain took the tip of his member into his mouth for a brief but mind-shattering suckle. When Elain paused to smile up at him, Tyra moved quickly. He reached down and wrapped his arms around Elain and pulled him up to lie next to him. He buried his head in Elain's neck and hair and simply held on for a moment, willing himself to be still and not to start thrusting against his partner's thigh until he came like the overeager youth he was.

"It's okay," Elain whispered and rubbed Tyra's back soothingly. "I just couldn't resist. Take a few deep breaths."

Tyra gave a hard, full-body shudder and then complied with Elain's suggestion, breathing in deeply through his nose and then exhaling through his mouth. And he continued to work on his control, taking in Elain's unique fragrance as he breathed. It was a clean scent, one of soap and a shampoo that smelled of the sharp and salty ocean air, but beneath that was the warm smell of sweet spices.

When he felt a little calmer, Tyra pulled his head back and gave Elain a bashful smile. "I think I'm okay now," he said.

"Don't look at me like that," Elain warned jokingly. "Or I'll have to be the perverted old man and tease you again." He gave Tyra a kiss on the nose.

Tyra narrowed his eyes. "Were you doing that on purpose?" He started stroking Elain's back with one hand in long and steady motions.

"What on Wyndrah gave you that idea?" Elain gave him an innocent look that wasn't very convincing before he let his hand wander from Tyra's back to his buttocks.

Tyra gasped, but instead of letting himself get overwhelmed again, he fixed Elain with a firm stare. "Well, if you're going to play dirty, that means I can, too," Tyra replied, and he mirrored Elain's caresses on his own body, letting his hands wander down to Elain's buttocks to test the silky flesh he found there.

Elain closed his eyes briefly and gasped. "You're a really fast learner," he said. "Why don't you show me what you intend to do next?"

"Mm, and isn't it nice that I'm a fast learner?" Tyra murmured. "You can teach me aaanything you want." Tyra gently nudged Elain to lie down on his back. "You can train me to be," Tyra kissed Elain's jaw "your" a kiss on one nipple "perfect" a kiss on the other nipple "lover."

At Elain's hum of pleasure, Tyra decided to continue what he was doing. He gave small, sensual kisses all over Elain's upper body, and meanwhile, his hand slowly slid down across Elain's toned tummy.

"If you continue like this, I'm afraid... there won't be much to teach you any more," Elain gasped. Tyra started to get the hang of teasing his lover, too, and Elain wasn't sure if he should be frustrated or happy about this. He slightly arched his back to get closer to Tyra's ministrations.

"Oh, I don't know," Tyra demurred. "I bet there are lots of things you could show me." Tyra slid his hands through the soft curls at the base of Elain's member, and then he took the shaft in his hand and began to stroke it slowly. "I mean, I know there are a lot of ways to pleasure your partner, but I have to figure out what you like best. Mmm." Tyra hummed in pleasure at the way Elain arched his body sensually as he touched the lifebearer, and he pressed his own cock against Elain's hip. He was so hard now that he ached with it. Forests, he had to keep talking to keep his wits together and focus on Elain.

"How about this?" Tyra asked, and he moved his hand down to cup Elain's firm sac and carefully stroked the loose skin there. "Is this good or not?"

Elain moaned, which was answer enough. "I doubt you could do anything I don't like," he whispered. "But if you don't want me to tie you up and get on with it myself, I suggest you stop teasing me and get down to business."

Tyra froze for a moment, debating about how to proceed. However, Elain made himself very clear by spreading his legs wider and tilting his hips. Tyra swallowed hard and slid his hand down farther, exploring very new territories now. With one fingertip, he found the opening to Elain's body, and he gasped to find it warm and already slightly wet. His cock bucked in excitement against Elain's hip as if saying yes, yes, that's the place we want!

Tyra explored slowly and carefully, delighted with this new discovery.

Now Elain was the one to take deep breaths and keep his calm. Nobody had touched him so intimately for ages, and for a moment it was strange and almost unfamiliar. But he relaxed quickly since Tyra's touches were very careful and unhurried. Elain spread his legs even wider to encourage his lover, and he pulled Tyra's head down for another passionate kiss.

Tyra kissed Elain, but most of his focus remained on what his hand was doing. Soon he shifted his position so that he was partly kneeling over Elain, which allowed him to have both his hands free to do even more touching. With his newly freed hand, he carefully touched that little spot between the shaft and balls that had proved so helpful the first time he had given Elain a blow job.

He gave the spot a firm little rub. "Is this the right spot? Or is it the other one?" he asked eagerly.

Elain instinctively put a hand over his own mouth to muffle a little scream. He had always been incredibly sensitive there, and the long abstinence had only added to this.

"Forests, you're too good at this," he hissed between clenched teeth. "If you don't stop... I'll embarrass myself by coming right now."

Tyra's face flushed as he took in Elain's expression, and he panted harshly. He rubbed his own member against the curve of the lifebearer's hip. However, despite their eagerness, he stopped his actions and pulled his hands away to brace them on the bed and get his bearings back.

When he felt like he could speak again, he whispered hoarsely to Elain. "Actually, I think we both almost embarrassed ourselves." He adjusted his position again. "Are you good? Can I continue now?"

"Yes." Elain smiled encouragingly at him as the tension slightly ebbed away. He reminded himself to keep a clear head since he should be the one to help Tyra along the way, but the sire's actions so far were absolutely perfect in their eagerness to please. He just hoped that this generous attitude wouldn't vanish with Tyra's virginity.

"Okay, I'll try to be gentle now," Tyra said, and he slid a hand between Elain's legs again. This time when he found the delicate opening, it was twice as wet as before, and Tyra sighed in appreciation. Gently, he began to press a finger inside, past the tight ring of muscle. Elain and Tyra both gasped at the sensation.

Heat. Forests, it was pure heat.

Elain suppressed a shudder. It felt wonderful, and as Tyra pressed deeper, a spark of pure pleasure raced through Elain and made him moan again.

Forests, how did the young sire know all this so well although he claimed to never have done this before? It was incredible.

"Deeper," Elain hoarsely demanded.

"Deeper?" Tyra asked even as he sank his finger in further. "Is this okay? Should I try two?" Although the going was easy thanks to the natural lubrication, the passage was tight even with just one digit pressed inside, and Tyra could feel little flutterings of muscle against his finger.

And there was still a special little spot that he had to find. So far it was eluding him. Perhaps with two fingers...?

Elain just nodded. Tyra carefully added a second finger, and just as he was about to ask again of he was doing this right, Elain arched his back and whimpered, digging his fingers into the bedsheets for support.

So that was it? That tiny lump right there that felt...when Tyra tried it again, Elain whimpered a second time and restlessly shifted his hips so that he was basically ****ing himself on Tyra's fingers. Tyra couldn't imagine anything sexier than Elain in the throes of passion. "Gods, you're beautiful," Tyra whispered. Elain seemed to be enjoying what he was doing, so he kept it up, and he tried to start scissoring his fingers the way he'd read he was supposed to do. But meanwhile, his body felt as though it was on fire, and the only way he could keep it somewhat manageable was to shift and press and rub his chest and groin against Elain. "Love you, love you so much!"

"Tyra..." Elain whispered, losing his ability to form coherent sentences. It felt so good, and he wanted more, and if his lover didn't take him now, Elain would go crazy!

He finally grabbed Tyra's shoulders to hold him still and look him into the eyes. They were as passion-glazed as his own, and with trembling fingers Elain traced the lines of Tyra's face. "Just... do it, please."

Tyra tried to make a verbal reply, but he couldn't manage it, so he merely nodded. He placed his body on top of Elain's and settled his hips between Elain's open and inviting legs. Elain immediately wrapped his legs over Tyra's hips, and the young sire shuddered in delight. Then he took his own neglected member in hand and placed it at the entrance of Elain's body and began to press forward. He met with some resistance at first, but at the feel of the wetness against the crown of his cock, he gasped eagerly and began pressing in further, moving to match his hips with Elain's like two pieces of a puzzle.

Elain had some difficulties relaxing at first since he had almost forgotten how it felt to be penetrated. He experienced some small discomfort due to Tyra's size, but just for a moment. Then the tip of Tyra's cock brushed Elain's prostate, and Elain eagerly pushed against the sire, this time unable to stifle a little cry.

At the sound, Tyra froze in place, suddenly alarmed.

"Are you okay?" he asked urgently. "Did I hurt you? Oh gods, I'm sorry! I went too fast."

"No, you didn't," Elain managed to reassure him, wrapping his legs tighter around Tyra's body and clinging to him for dear life. "Just don't stop!"

When Elain shifted and moved like that, Tyra couldn't possibly have denied him. He gasped at the sensation. Forests, it felt as though Elain's passage was trying to squeeze the life out of him! He gave a few short and shallow thrusts as he tried to adjust to the new experience, and every motion he made shot fireworks through his pelvis to the rest of his body. He groaned, and it was a sound somewhere between rapture and agony.

Those still uncoordinated thrusts made Elain moan again, but this time in frustration since they barely missed his pleasure spot. But they helped to relax him even further so he stopped squeezing Tyra. Elain pulled his lover closer to him again, kissing his sweat-glistening forehead and silently telling him to relax as well. This wasn't a contest to be won.

Tyra sighed at Elain's kiss, and although he couldn't stop himself completely, he focused on controlling his breathing and evening out his motions. However, he couldn't control some of the erratic thrusts of his hips. It was truly as though his groin had found a life of its own. "Is...is this okay? Should I...? Oh—!" Tyra exclaimed as his body suddenly lurched forward with a strong thrust.

Elain's breath caught in his throat at the sudden wave a pleasure Tyra's movement had caused. His fingernails dugs into Tyra's back, leaving thin marks.

"Yes!" he moaned. "Forests, Tyra..."

Tyra moaned and happily complied. He braced himself on his elbows to either side of Elain and simply let his lower body take control, and he gave long, powerful thrusts that ended in grunts and moans from both of the lovers. Tyra alternately cursed at the sensations and praised Elain for giving them to him. When the demands of his body became nearly unbearable, he began to lose control of his motions once again, although he continued to thrust deeply. Tyra shuddered as his orgasm overtook him, and he groaned out Elain's name.

Elain wasn't going to last much longer, either. He felt Tyra's climax deep inside him, the trembling of the sire's body spreading through his own as well. He was hyperaware of the friction their sweat-slickened bodies made with every movement, taking him closer to orgasm as well. Thankfully Tyra didn't stop his thrusts, although they became erratic again, and Elain met each of them with a push of his own hips.

"Tyra, please," he begged, his own voice distant and hazy in his own ears.

Even as his body quaked with delight, Tyra continued on, thrusting deeply into the lifebearer's passage, unable to get enough of the fluttering and squeezing of Elain's passage around his cock. But even in his pleasure, he heard Elain calling out to him, and he reached down to grasp Elain's shaft and press and rub his thumb against the wet tip of it. "Come on, Elain!" he demanded in a roughened voice. "Come with me, beloved, come on!" And he thrust harder, shifting and trying to find a way to put more pressure on Elain's internal sweet spot with his throbbing cock.

The combined sensation of added pressure inside his body, Tyra's hand on his cock, and hearing those words drove Elain over the edge immediately. His whole body went taut like a bowstring as he shouted Tyra's name, his vision going black for a moment from the intense pleasure.

As Elain came, the tightening against Tyra's sensitized cock made him give a hoarse grunt, but then Elain began to relax beneath him, and Tyra was finally able to slow down...

...slow down, but not stop.

Apparently, his youthful body wasn't quite finished yet. He tried to stop, but every time he paused, some little sensation like the puff of Elain's breath against the sweat on his neck or the light touch of Elain's fingertips on the nape of his neck made little electric shocks travel to his groin and tell his body to give another tiny thrust. He was able to gradually recover his breath, and Elain seemed to be recouping beneath him, too.

"Elain?" he queried tentatively.

The lifebearer opened his eyes again and smiled warmly. "Still here. I think I have to give my favorite student top grades in all subjects so far," he said a bit breathlessly.

Tyra gave a little embarrassed laugh. "Thanks, teach." He placed little amorous kisses along Elain's neck and shoulder. "Elain...um, would it be okay if I kept going? Or, mmm," Tyra paused to give a slightly more urgent thrust, "do we need to stop to clean up?" Both of their bellies were covered with Elain's release.

"I'll have to wash these sheets anyway," Elain answered. "And to get cleaned up, I would have to let go of you, and that's unacceptable, I'm afraid." He gently stroked through Tyra's now mussed hair and along his ears.

"Oh, the ear!" Tyra gasped out softly in surprise, and he leaned his head into the touch and gave Elain a forceful thrust.

That almost distracted Elain from his task of driving Tyra crazy again, but he tried to breathe steadily and continued to stroke the ear tips with gentle fingers. "Should I stop?" he asked teasingly.

"No! No, keep doing that," Tyra said, and he kissed Elain's wrist. He pressed his body firmly against Elain and tried rotating his hips in short motions from side to side.

That friction sent new sparks of pleasure through Elain's body, hardening his erection again. He lifted his hips a bit to meet the motion and tugged at Tyra's ear to pull him a bit closer. "Would you mind rolling over?" he asked, voice already hoarse from pleasure again.

Tyra shivered at the request and the feel of Elain's breath against his ear. "Anything, nng, anything you want," he replied. He rolled over and pulled Elain with him, but in the process his erection slipped free from Elain's body.

Elain sat up, lifting his hips a bit so he could sink down on Tyra's cock again. In this position, the penetration angle was different, deeper, but it also required more work from Elain now. He pushed himself up on his knees and then sank down again with a moan.

Tyra sighed in delight and relaxed back against the pillows, looking up and admiring Elain. A pleasant flush was spread across his normally composed features, and his dark red hair was rumpled from being pressed against the sheets. Resting on his back as he was, it was much easier now for Tyra to lift a hand and trace it along the graceful curve of his side or the soft skin of his stomach.

"You're so beautiful, Elain," Tyra said on a sigh, and he rolled his hips with Elain's next downward motion.

Elain arched his back, thus getting an even deeper angle. He had to steady himself when his vision got hazy again.

"And you're too perfect for words," Elain whispered, realizing too late that he had said this aloud, even in the heat of passion. But it was true, and he wouldn't take it back.

"Mm, I'll have to work hard to live up to that," Tyra responded with a smile. Then he took Elain's erect member in hand and began carefully teasing the flushed cap, stimulating Elain with circles and squeezes and little taps against the sensitive opening at the very tip. "How's that? Is that okay?" he asked as he tried different techniques.

Elain had to grab hold of Tyra's waist for fear of losing balance. The intense sensations made him gasp for air, and for a moment he thought he would come again.

"Gods, Tyra," he rasped, and he barely managed to ask the question he had been wondering about since they had started. "How... do you know about all this? A lifebearer's sensitive points, I mean. It's not... something you learn in biology class."

Tyra paused in his teasing to look up at Elain and hesitated just a bit before confessing. "I ordered a book a while back, before we ever broke up. It had...unh!" Tyra grunted as Elain gave an enchanting little swivel of his hips. "I thought I should...un...pick up some tips about how to...well..." Tyra wasn't quite sure how to explain that he'd wanted to find out how to get a lifebearer sexually worked up.

"You got a manual on how to excite me in bed? Tyra, that's..." Elain laughed. "You're really impossible!" That said, he rotated his hips again and squeezed his inner muscles.

"Oh, gods, yes!" Tyra hollered, and his whole body went taut for a moment, but then Elain relaxed, and so too did Tyra, although he panted helplessly beneath his lover. "It was a general book on lashran sexuality. Mmm, Elain, can you do that again?"

"What, this?" Elain squeezed again, enjoying Tyra's reaction almost as much as he enjoyed the feeling deep inside him.

It was an absolutely beautiful sight to have Tyra looking pliant and sexy beneath him. The candlelight played on Tyra's wet skin, making it gleam like polished gold, and those hazel eyes glowed seductively in the twilight of the room.

"Yes," Tyra hissed through his teeth. Beneath Elain, Tyra began to buck and roll, working to help establish a rhythm despite his prone position. He took Elain's member back into his right hand and began teasing at the tip of it again, and with his other hand he took a firm hold of Elain's slender hip.

Elain's careful control was slipping again as he moved faster, each time pushing himself higher to sink down again with a moan, meeting Tyra's movement and giving him a slight squeeze again. His thighs were beginning to strain a bit, but it was insignificant at the moment. All that mattered was that he continued until they both couldn't last any longer.

Soon they were moving too frantically for Tyra to keep up his more delicate ministrations, so he settled for taking Elain's hardened cock in his hand and stroking it firmly in time with their motions. "Elain, love, more!" Tyra called out. He needed more leverage to really start moving, so he lifted his knees and planted his feet on the bed, and he started thrusting upward with twice as much strength, meeting Elain's fluid down stroke.

Elain cried out as Tyra suddenly drove upward, forcefully hitting his prostate at the perfect angle. The combined sensations were almost too much, and this time Elain knew he could last only seconds.

"Tyra, I'm..." He was unable to finish the sentence as orgasm threatened to overcome him.

Unable to respond verbally, Tyra simply heeded his lover's plea and kept up what he was doing, thrusting upward and shoving himself into Elain's warm and inviting body again and again until he was sure he would die of the pleasure. Finally, Elain gave a cry and shoved his hips downward, pinning Tyra to the bed with his bodyweight on Tyra's hips, and Elain came, spilling his release on Tyra's stroking hand and torso.

The resulting clench of muscle around his member was too much to bear. Tyra cried out and followed Elain into bliss only moments later.

After the last waves of climax had rolled through them, Elain fell on top of Tyra, panting and barely catching himself on his arms. He saw little stars dancing before his eyes, and his legs and hips where almost numb, but he didn't care in the slightest.

"Forests bless your manual, Tyra," Elain said, still out of breath.

Tyra let out a weak chuckle. "I'll write the author a thank you note," he responded. He wrapped one arm around Elain's back, accepting the lifebearer's weight settled on top of him. His other hand, though, the one coated with drops of Elain's release, he brought to his mouth to lap up the sweet taste of his lover's seed. The taste was even better than he'd remembered.

Elain watched him for a moment with lazy eyes and smiled. "I guess we'd better get cleaned up," he remarked, carefully disentangling himself from Tyra. His legs felt a bit like jelly. Well, it was only fair that he was out of shape where sex was concerned.

For a moment, Tyra was hypnotized by the flex and sway of Elain's ass as he walked away from the bed, but as he disappeared into the bathroom, Tyra stretched and moved to follow after him. As he stood up from the bed, he noticed immediately that his back was tired and a little achy.

Mmm, I'm going to feel that tomorrow, Tyra thought with some amusement. He quietly followed Elain through the open door to the bathroom.

Like the bedroom, the bathroom had only one luxurious piece among the otherwise frugal furniture: a jacuzzi tub big enough for two people. Elain turned the water on and then looked over his shoulder at Tyra. "It's not the most efficient way to get cleaned up, but I'm not overly fond of having sore muscles tomorrow."

"That is incredible. You have a jacuzzi in your bathroom," Tyra said in awe. "I can't believe it."

"Why not? But it's the first time that I invite someone to join me," Elain said, smiling.

"Then I'm happy to help you test it and make sure it's just right for two," Tyra said, returning Elain's smile. "Come on, let's get cleaned up, and I'll try not to get you messy again."

That statement merited a raised eyebrow and a smirk as Elain pulled out some washrags from the cupboard. But they managed to get themselves cleaned up without any distractions.

Meanwhile, the tub was already filled with water. Elain turned on the jet streams and got into the tub. The hot water felt wonderful as he sank down in it, relaxing his sore muscles immediately. He held out a hand invitingly to Tyra.

Tyra took Elain's hand and climbed into the tub, and he sighed with delight at the feel of the warm water swirling around his tired muscles. "Feadri is going to be so jealous when I tell him you have a jacuzzi tub. He rants and raves that one of his friends has one."

"Well, if I can get things sorted out with your father, I'd like to get to meet your brother," Elain answered. "And your friends — that is, if it's alright for you. I'm not the most social of persons, but I want to be on good terms with the people who are important to you."

Tyra looked closely at Elain, trying to judge whether he meant it or not. He knew his boyfriend guarded his privacy carefully. But Elain seemed sincere. "Just...be prepared when you start meeting them. There are a lot. Family, friends, and some extended family, too. And pretty soon a new little brother." Tyra thought about it a moment. "Maybe we'd better introduce you to people gradually. My life might turn out to be like a social ant hill for you, comparatively speaking."

"I guess getting to know them bit by bit would be better," Elain agreed, a bit taken aback by the prospect of socializing with so many people. However, they wouldn't be business partners or self-centered VIPs he had to entertain, but important people in Tyra's life. And Elain didn't want to keep Tyra just for himself. The thought was tempting, but it would be wrong. What the young sire needed was someone to support him, not patronize or jealously guard him.

And maybe Elain would even enjoy it, meeting new people along the way. It would be a refreshing change.

But for the moment Elain pushed those thoughts aside and just enjoyed the steaming water surrounding him and caressing his skin with every little wave. Soon he discovered, however, that it wasn't just the water, but also Tyra's hand, although the sire tried to look innocent enough — a feat he still accomplished perfectly.

"What?" Tyra asked in response to Elain's raised eyebrow. "I'm just trying to help. Where would you like a little Tyra Rub Down action?" He let his hands roam curiously over Elain's back as if he could find the right place by some sixth sense.

"I can hardly refuse such a generous and selfless offer," Elain remarked, trying not to smile again. "And I'm sure you can find the right places by yourself."

Of course this was an invitation for Tyra to change his actions from a proper back rub to some more arousing touches. Elain returned them with enthusiasm, and soon the bathroom floor was rather wet from their splashing around.

When they finally managed to get out of the tub, they were rather exhausted, but clean and relaxed again. Elain pulled out a few huge towels to wrap into, and they stumbled back into the bedroom.

Tyra climbed into bed and pulled Elain into his arms. "Okay, now you really know me on a completely intimate basis. Not everybody gets to see me when my hair's down, I'll have you know." Tyra flicked some of the longer damp locks, which normally were done up in spikes, out of his eyes.

Elain used the chance to comb with his fingers through Tyra's now baby-soft hair. "It suits you," he said. "And as you've probably guessed, absolutely no one gets to see me like this. And if you're truly sure about us, no one ever will besides you."

"Oh, I'm definitely sure about us," Tyra murmured, and he ran his hands possessively over Elain's naked skin. "And I like knowing you're all mine." He gave Elain a brief but passionate kiss. "And I'm yours, too."

Elain gave Tyra a gentle smile as soon as their lips parted again. "I love you, Tyra," he whispered, finally able to say what he'd known deep down for so long but had been afraid to admit. But now Elain understood what it meant to give his heart away and yet feel more complete than ever before in his life.

Whatever the future might have in store for them, and despite all difficulties they'd surely face, they now belonged to each other.

END

Thank you for reading! Tyra and Elain will return in "Chasing the Light". I'll start posting it in a few weeks.