Chapter IV: To Experience Love

Jak went back home that night, an awful lot on his mind. Ashelin met him at the door and instantly went for his pants, but Jak brushed her away. "Jak? What's wrong?" She asked.

"I... I don't feel very good." Jak lied. It made him sick that he couldn't even be honest with his mate anymore. He could tell Keira anything, but not the woman who was going to be the mother of his children.

Ashelin looked concerned. "Jak... are you sure you're alright? You've been acting so strange these last few days."

"I promise, everything's fine." Jak said with a smile.

Ashelin sighed. "Don't worry, I went through the same exact thing with my first mate."

"Really?" Jak asked, disbelieving.

"I was nervous too. But I grew to like him. We were like friends." Ashelin said.

Even as she spoke the words, they disgusted Jak to no ends. They sounded terribly wrong. "I don't know what it is, but I'll figure it out."

Ashelin nodded. "Okay, I understand." With that, she left Jak alone.

When she was gone, Jak sat down on the couch and pondered the new state of mind he was in. Ashelin's words weren't that strange. Most mates did become friends. But the thought of it disgusted him. It was wrong, in a way that he could even begin to explain to himself.

An image passed unbidden into his mind... an image of himself and Keira in that alley. That's how things should be. Jak's conscience told him. The life you're living now is a sick lie. You and Ashelin may be compatible mates that will make great Warrior children, but that's not the way it should be.

"But what other way is there?" Jak wondered out loud. "There is no other way, is there?"

Do what your ancestors did. His conscience answered.

"I have no idea what they did!" Jak said.

Think about it.

Jak did. His ancestors experienced love, a feeling stronger than like. A feeling like the one he felt when he kissed Keira. He closed his eyes, trying to forget everything he had been taught, to just listen to his instincts. He remembered that feeling he had when he kissed Keira. What would I do with that feeling? What is love?

Suddenly, the answer hit the elf like a brick wall, and he felt a sudden sense of clarity unlike any he had ever felt before. It was like the clouds opened up and the answer was given to him in a divine vision. He knew what love was, and why he felt that way for Keira, and not for Ashelin.

He wanted to take Keira as his mate!

The very thought was revolutionary to the Warrior. The Council had been choosing mates for a century, and it never occurred to him that people might want to choose their own mates. He had never heard of such a thing.

That's why it felt so wrong when he mated with Ashelin. Mating had something to do with love; it just wasn't something that produces children. He didn't love Ashelin, but Keira, a young mechanic that he wanted to take for his mate. He loved her, so he wanted to mate with her.

But, still, the idea scared him. If he and Keira mated, they would be breaking Haven's most important laws. Both he and Keira would be executed for this. The Council never made exceptions with their rules. If they ever found out that he wanted to take someone other than Ashelin for his mate... his life would be forfeit.

Jak heard the beginnings of a storm outside; it only seemed to mirror the storm in his heart. He sat there in silence for several minutes, watching the eerie flashes of light play across the house and listening to the booming sounds of thunder.

Finally, the elf seemed to come back to life. He rose from the couch and moved out the door. It was raining heavily, but he didn't seem to mind. He moved swiftly down the empty streets. Even the Warriors that were on patrol had retreated from the rain. He made it to the Slums, a single destination in mind.

He knew where Keira lived, that's where he was headed now. He eventually made it to her house and saw the lights were still on. A good sign. It was no good if she was already asleep.

He went up to her door and knocked, loudly enough to get her attention, but quietly enough as to not attract unwanted attention. The fewer people that knew he was there, the better.

After a few seconds of waiting, the door opened and Keira stood in the doorway. "Jak?" She asked in surprise at seeing the soaking elf on her doorstep at eleven o'clock at night. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk with you." Jak said. "Can I come in?"

Keira stood back and let Jak into the house. He sighed with relief when he stepped out of the rain and into the warmth of the house. "What is this about?" Keira asked. "It's really late."

"Keira, I went home today and thought a lot about what you said on love." Jak said. "I think I've figured it out! I think I know what love is!"

"How... how did you...?" Keira began to ask.

"Remember when we kissed in that alley? I remembered that feeling and forgot everything society had taught me... I listened to my instincts and I realized what love is!"

"Well, what is it?" Keira asked enthusiastically.

"I want..." Jak paused, trying to come up with the right phrase. "I want to be with you." Keira still seemed confused. "I want to be with you as an elf should be with his mate. Keira, I can hardly fathom the feelings I have when I'm with you, but I think... I think I love you."

Keira was speechless. "Jak!" She finally said.

"I... I know it sounds crazy, but I want you as my mate." Jak said, taking her hands in his.

"But... but Jak, you've already got a mate, and I'm not a Warrior. If we mate, the Council will kill both of us!" Keira said.

"I don't love Ashelin, I love you." Jak said. "And I don't care about the Council anymore. I'll face them myself will Haven's entire army behind them. But I can't ignore my love for you... it will drive me insane."

Keira looked into his eyes... his beautiful blue eyes, and almost cried. "Oh Jak... I love you too. I felt it the moment I met you. But... if we do this, it could destroy us."

"Keira, you said you wanted to experience love, even if it's only for a second, even if we'll explode. Then let's experience that together." Jak's hand moved slowly, he started to take off her shirt.

Keira grew nervous. She stopped his hand. "Jak? I don't know. I've never mated with anyone before."

"I won't hurt you, I promise." Jak said softly. "I love you, Keira Hagai."

Keira still seemed worried for several seconds, and then she smiled. "I love you too."

Jak smiled warmly and resumed taking off her shirt. As soon as the fabric hit the ground, Keira pulled the elf into another kiss, which quickly deepened into a passion-filled make-out session.

Keira's hands found the belts on Jak's chest and clumsily undid them, clumsily because she was still kissing the man she loved. His weapon clattered to the ground. But she didn't stop there; next she went for Jak's shirt. They pulled away from each other just long enough to pull Jak's shirt over his head before they dived back into the recesses of their love and passion. Jak quickly got her bra off and he took a second to simply stare at her naked upper body.

And then he scooped her up in his arms, bridal-style, and began to carry her back to her room. Keira couldn't reach Jak's lips anymore, so she made due with his neck. He moved into the room, gently laid her down on the bed, and then went back to close and lock the door. While he did that, Keira finished undressing.

Jak got that idea also and removed the rest of his clothes as quickly as possible. After they were both completely naked, Jak crawled in next to her, stopping occasionally to kiss her skin.

"Jak?" Keira asked suddenly to get his attention as she ran her hands across his rain-dampened chest, the she-elf could see the love and lust in his eyes. "I love you, Jak Mar, and I trust you."

Jak took her hand in his. He was suddenly aware of how small her hand was compared to his. "I would rather die than hurt you." Jak said. "If I start to hurt you, just tell me."

"Jak, I trust you." Keira repeated. "I know that I'm safe with you." They kissed again.

Their first kisses in the other room had been quick, desperate things, as though they were afraid the other would disappear. Every one of their movements had been the same desperate motions. But the pace had slowed down, now was the time to slow down and enjoy the experience.

Their kisses were slower now, an attempt to stretch out each moment as long as possible. Each kiss tasted, lingered, separated, and then rejoined with even greater passion then before.

The elf couldn't believe the pleasure assault on his senses. He had been with Ashelin, but this was a completely different experience. He and Keira hadn't even started yet, and he was overwhelmed... overwhelmed by the feelings that assaulted him; by the want... the need to be with Keira in the way an elf should be with his mate... a joining not for procreation, but for their love that they shared.

Gently, Jak shifted their bodies until he hovered over her yielding frame. Keira's hands ran over his rain-dampened skin, simply enjoying the feeling. She looked up at her soon-to-be-lover. "I love you." She breathed.

Jak simply smiled and didn't say a word. He leaned down to rejoin his lips with hers. As he kissed her, he thrusted into her, drawing a gasp from her mouth and she dug her fingers into his back.

Jak stopped and didn't move as he gave her the time she needed to adjust to the closeness... the intimacy.

Keira had felt a small amount of pain when he first penetrated her, but the pain soon gave away to the pleasure. She gazed into her lover's eyes. They were ready.

Jak started to kiss her again as they began mating with each other. Jak was in constant amazement. It had never felt this pleasurable with Ashelin. That was when he was sure... mating was for those who were in love. It felt a million times better.

And then his thoughts were swept away. There wasn't room for rational thought anymore, only feeling after feeling. He didn't think about the consequences of their mating, nor the fact that they could both die for this. The only thing that mattered in the whole world was Keira, the beautiful she-elf that loved him.

Keira's experience wasn't much different from Jak's. Jak was the only person on the planet, this room was the universe, and that night lasted an eternity. He took, and she gave, and then he only demanded so much more.

Every time their eyes met, they knew. This was what love really felt like, and they had fallen in love with each other.

He thrusted into her, harder and deeper then before and Keira felt a cry escape her lips, his name. Hearing his name in a pleasure-induced scream only seemed to excite the elf more.

Sweat mingled with the rain water that all ready drenched Jak's body, but Keira loved it... she loved all of it, she loved all of him.

And then, after what seemed many lifetimes, the orgasm hit both elves. The feeling that now consumed them was so overwhelming that they both let loose screams of extreme pleasure.

And then, as soon as the after-effects of the mind-numbing orgasm faded away, cold reality settled in; so they embraced each other and wept. They wept because they knew that if someone ever discovered what they had just done, they would be killed. But, at the same time, they were filled with happiness because, even if they were fated to die for their love, they would have known the wonders of true love. The confusing jumble of emotions overwhelmed the lovers, so they simply wept.

Finally, Jak looked down at her, and he couldn't help but think that she looked beautiful in the dim light, covered in sweat, her damp hair plastered against her forehead, and her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. "I love you, Keira, so much." Jak breathed.

Keira smiled through her tears. "I love you too."

The couple laid there in silence for several minutes until their gasping breathing returned to normal.

And then, suddenly, Jak started to get up. "I've been here too long." He had to get back to his house before Ashelin woke up. If Ashelin discovered that he had been out all night, it would only be one step away from finding out how he felt about Keira.

"Jak!" Keira cried, taking his hand and stopping him from leaving. "Stay with me... please."

Jak hovered at the edge of the bed, unsure of himself. His mind screamed at him to leave. But his heart screamed even louder for him to stay. He eventually grew deaf to his mind's protests and slipped back into the bed with her. "Okay, Keira, I'll stay."

Keira pressed her naked body up against his, desperate for any sort of contact with her lover. "Jak? What will be do if they catch us?"

"I don't know." Jak admitted after a slight pause. "We may have to leave Haven City forever."

"Leave Haven City?" Keira asked in horror. "Where would we go?"

"There are a few small villages out in the deep Wasteland." Jak said. "But it would be best if we're never caught."

"This isn't fair!" Keira hissed suddenly. "I love you so much, and I just want to be with you, but I can't."

Jak touched her face and kissed her. As he pulled away, he brushed some of her damp hair out of her face. "I'll find a way for us to be together. I promise."

LES: (le sigh) True love. (double le sigh) Well, that's the end of Chapter IV, now moving on to Chapter V in which everything starts to go wrong for out two young lovers. Catch ya later! Light-Eco-Sage, over and out!