The Phoenix Key 2 "Deliver Me"

\"The Phoenix Key\"

Deliver Me

By: Delilah deSora

Pagan_nyght@yahoo.com



Chapter 3



**



All of my life I’ve been in hiding

Wishing there was someone just like you



**



Ivan sighed wearily and quietly closed the heavy door behind him. He strode through the inner sitting room and entered the bedroom which was cast in shades of red as the dying fire sought to shed the last of its brilliance. Firelight chased up a thin strip of pale flesh on the slumbering form on the bed. Smiling faintly he followed the trail of firelight with his fingertips, chuckling softly as the other man murmured in his sleep and tried to bury under covers trapped beneath him. The murmurs turned to grumbles as the red haired man sought to untangle his wrists from their cloth bindings and Ivan took pity on him. Nudging broad shoulders forward he made short work of the snags and twists that had once served as a tunic. Trey snorted and pulled his arms under his head, falling back to sleep instantly.



Ivan stood and stripped off his outer tunic. Letting it fall to the floor he began a trail of discarded clothing on his journey to the bath. He’d had his father’s rooms redone and insisted upon the addition of an oversized pool, a creation that threatened to boarder on extravagance. It had taken the builders weeks to figure out how to install the sunken tub without undermining the roomlow low but in the end they’d figured out how to make it all work.



Sending a bit of magic over the water he twisted his hair up in a pile upon his head and stepped down onto the first ledge gingerly. Satisfied that the water would neither scald nor freeze him he moved to the middle ledge and finally to the bottom of the bath. Water lapped at his chest and he sighed in pleasure as heat soaked through to his muscles, forcing out the tension that had been building in them since he had awoken to the incessant nudges of a slave eager to partake in the spring that had risen around them.



Wadding to the edge of the bath he folded his arms and rested his head on them, letting the water lift his body slightly and sway it to and fro. He stared at the black floor allowing his mind run through the thoughts that clamored for his attention. Little by little the warmth of the water ate through his muscles and the steam that rose up carried him off in a grey haze.



A sudden surge of water nearly smashed his nose against the floor and he flailed in panic as the wave resided, threatening to drag him under. Clawing at the edge of the bath he turned to glare at the man who splashed through the water towards him.



“You move like a dog in a puddle!” He snapped, trying to recapture a strand of black hair that had fallen loose and threatened to dip into the water.



Trey grinned at him and moved forward, sloshing water about purposely before diving under. Resurfacing he brushed his water laden hair back away from his face as he shrugged. “Swimming was never a strong point with me. Besides,” golden eyes slid sideways suggestively and Ivan found himself backing away warily as his slave sidled closer to him, “isn’t the point of a bath to get wet?”



Ivan held up his hands. “Not if one wishes to go to sleep without spending hours lying on the floor before the fire drying.”



Trey seemed to consider his words for a moment before shrugging and lunging at him. Ivan cursed in dismay as large hands snatched the polished sticks from the mass of hair atop his head. Black hair spilled about his face and atchatched in stunned silence as it floated about him. He looked up to see Trey smirk at him and then dance away through the water. With a growl he snatched for the fleeing form, catching a few strands of blood hued hair that slipped from his grasped before he could get a strong hold.



His slave laughed and dodged him, creating waves of water that caused both men to scramble to keep their heads above the crests and try to regain the advantage as soon as a trough allowed them to touch bottom. With his superior height Ivan was able to catch the larger man about the arm before Trey’s feet could find purchase upon the smooth floor. Trey struggled to get away but a wave refracted off the nearby edge caught his face and he tumbled back in surprise. Ivan cursed as his prey dragged him under.



His scramble brought him in contact with slick skin and he felt hands about his waist that lifted him up and helped him break the surface. Spluttering he shook his head, hating the feel of wet hair tangled about his face and neck and glared down at the laughing man before him.



“Oh you think that was funny do you.” He hissed.



Golden eyes danced in amusement. “No?”



Ivan paced forward, backing the larger man up until Trey was forced to either step up onto the ledge or sit down on it. Trey sat and Ivan kneeled over him. Catching the stubborn chin he swooped down upon his slave.



Trey’s mouth opened obediently under his and Ivan ate at the chapped lips hungrily. The force of the kiss pressed the red haired man back until his head rested upon the lip of the bath and Ivan moved with his slave, pressing their chests together as he licked and nipped at the mouth beneath his. Hands filtered through his hair and Ivan focused his attention on the neck bared before him.



He knew exactly where to press hard sucking kisses to get the most desirable reaction and he set about stimulating every one of them. When he had finally migrated to the area where neck met shoulder the man beneath him was gulping for breath in a way that sent shudders through the muscled body.



Smiling against one of the large red marks he’d branded onto his slave’s skin he reached between them to find another piece of flesh that was hot with desire. A thoroughly pleasing cry escaped swollen lips as Trey arched against his touch. He gave into the silent plea and gave the hardening cock a few rough strokes before releasing it and pushing away from the ledge.



Trey blinked a few times and watched him silently as he waded across the bath to the small stairs. He could feel the golden gaze as he climbed out of the bath and retrieved the robe that hung by the door. Pulling it on he moved to one of the benches and sat.



“Come.” He ordered, raising a hand.



Trey waded over to the edge and pulled himself up without use of the stairs. Ivan smiled, enjoying the play of muscles beneath the pale flesh. Thin white scars appeared to ripple as the muscles moved and he contented himself with studying them as Trey knelt at his feet and gingerly licked at his fingertips.



Ivan bit back a groan as he slid a finger into the warm mouth and was greeted with a talented tongue. His fingers were strangely sensitive and each pull on the trapped member caused an answering pull from another appendage. However he couldn’t repress the moan that his slave caused when Trey caught his thin wrist between both hands and placed long licks along his palm, nor could he stop the soft cry when white teeth nipped lightly at the cutting edge of his hand.



Pulling his hand free, Ivan drew his firebird forward to press a kiss to his forehead. Trey slipped from his grasp and he hissed in surprise as breabreath blew across his nipple. The strong body pushed against his, urging him back against the wall and he relented. Water laden hair brushed across the outsides of his legs, leaving cool trails in their wake. Ivan murmured as his slave’s tongue drew roughly across the sensitive nub. Raising his hands he tangled long fingers in the red hair, clinging helplessly as his firebird suckled.



Trey smiled to himself as he rubbed his cheek against the hardened flesh, enjoying the sounds his master fought to withhold. Kissing his way down he paused to tease Ivan’s navel, making his lover tense and squirm underneath him as he laved the sensitive area. The hands entwined in his hair pushed at him and he relented with a quiet laugh.



Falling back to his knees he draped himself across his master’s lap, looking up coyly. Ivan’s eyes were dark and he shivered as a hands slid down across his face to cup his chin. A thumb teased his lips and he caught it between his teeth, nipping it lightly. Ivan withdrew his hand and he found himself being nudged back against the damp floor. His breath caught in his throat as fingers stroked along the inside of his leg.



Warm lips caught his and he groaned into the kiss as a satisfying weight settled across his chest and stomach. His master shifted and he cried out in pleasure as their erections ground against each other. Ivan growled against his mouth and he pushed back, wanting more contact. When sharp nails grazed across the flesh between his legs he hissed in pleasure as his muscles tensed.



Ivan’s tongue searched his mouth as fingers scratched lightly at his entrance, making him pant. A second hand rubbed small circles across his stomacelaxelaxing tense muscles. When a finger slipped inside of him he mewed and pushed against it. Ivan laughed softly, kissing the corner of his mouth.



“Eager are we?”



Trey felt himself flush and turned his face causing Ivan’s lips to leave a searing trail across his cheek.



His master chuckled and licked the shell of his ear. “Do you want this?”



The hand on his stomach dropped lower to tease the head of his cock andy rey reared back in surprise, impaling himself upon the second finger that teased him. They brushed against the spot inside of him and he cried out as pleasure sang through him.



“Do you?” Ivan whispered, crooking his fingers and drawing a ragged cry from his slave.



Trey trembled, trying to reconcile the feelings of being both teased and impaled. His fingers clawed at the slick stone, trying to find something tangible to hold. “Yes,” he gasped out, throwing his head back as Ivan’s hand stroked his cock, “please, yes.”



“Mmm.” Ivan murmured, dipping his head to nip at a hard nipple. Removing his hands he pushed Trey’s arms up over his head, crossing them at the wrist. When he rose up onto his knees the robe caught on his elbows, splaying it wide about them like soft wings, cutting them off from the world.



Trey’s fingers curled into fists as he fought to keep them crossed above his head as Ivan lifted his hips across his lap. He hissed as his master teased him, probing slightly but not truly entering him. Ivan laughed and pushed into the tight body, placing his hands on either side of his slave’s chest to bring their faces together as he waited for the suddenly tense body to relax.



“So impatient.” He chided mischievously.



The red haired man growled and pushed back, determined to get beyond the sharp pain to the plane that promised insane pleasure. Ivan winced at the sudden pressure and pulled back slightly to realign himself. He pushed forward slowly, waiting for the correct moment. When the man beneath him let out a keening cry and arched off the floor he smiled and repeated the motion. Closing his eyes he worked against his slave’s sweet spot, enjoying the tremors and constriction that played across his cock in response to the touch.



Giving into his body’s desire to go faster Ivan dropped to his elbows, pressing his mouth against the curve of neck and shoulder. Trey’s particular brand of breathy cries danced through his ears, bringing out the desire to claim the flame haired creature totally. With a snarl he shoved into the body beneath him sharply. Trey responded with a shriek and Ivan found his arms captured as his slave writhed, torn between the need to escape the almost painful pleasure and the need to have more of it.



Ivan reached between their bodies and gripped the cock, giving it a firm tug. Trey’s body froze for a moment but a second stroke was all that was needed to melt suddenly tense muscles and make him thrust back against his master’s invasion.



A hand slipped from his forearm to catch the back of his neck and Ivan allowed himself to be pulled forward into a searing kiss. The willfulness of his slave threatened to tear his control from him and Ivan sped his strokes, rolling his thumb over the head of Trey’s desire and earning him a deep growl as Trey bucked up into the touch. The sudden movement jarred Ivan inside of him and Trey’s breath hitched as the strange angle flung him over the edge.



Ivan gritted his teeth as a painfully tight grip captured him for a few seconds and stalled his rhythm. The muscles holding him relaxed only to tighten again and he pulled back to push in as deep as he could. Forcing his way through caused the correct sensations and he cried out softly as he lost control.



Warmth spread through his body as his muscles tensed before suddenly turning butter soft and dropping him across the broad chest. He lay panting for a few moments before he managed to catch his breath. Murmuring in appreciation he let himself drift in the soft haze as his body sorted itself out.



He came back to the feeling of someone stroking his hair and he resisted the urge to purr at the touch. Instead he satisfied himself with licking at the already fading marks he had placed upon the pale skin. With a sigh Ivan finally gathered enough energy to stand and heappeappeared into the main room, his slave only a heartbeat behind him. Retrieving a blanket from the pile of winter covers, Ivan indicated he should spread it while he saw to the dying fire before moving to lie down beside the larger man.



Smiling sleepily, Trey pressed a kiss to his master’s shoulder before crowding the black haired Tsar and laying his head down upon his arms. Ivan snorted and nudged him over to reclaim some of the blanket.



Trey watched him from the corner of his eye for a few moments before building up enough courage to ask his question. “Did you speak with her?”



Ivan was silent beside him for a time. “Yes.”



“And?” He urged, sitting up on his elbows.



Ivan shook his head. “I can’t undo the spell. It is too complicated.”



“But surely you can try!” Trey insisted.



Sighing, the Tsar rolled over onto his side, reaching up to touch Trey’s cheek. “It has been tied into her very being. I might unweave her soul if I try.”



Trey fell silent beside him and Ivan pulled his lover’s head onto his chest, running his fingers through the damp curls. “I am sorry, love.” He whispered, letting his hand fallstrostroke the broad shoulders.



Trey rubbed his cheek along his master’s chest. “What . . . what does the spell do?”



Ivan’s fingers tightened and Trey winced slightly at the sudden pressure.



“It is a transfiguring spell.”



Trey frowned and peered up at him. “Transfiguring?”



Ivan nodded. “It is a spell that forces something to change form.” He frowned as the man next to him suddenly stiffened. “What’s wrong?”



Trey buried his face against the pale skin, trying to slow his breathing. “How did she come across such a fate?”



Ivan hesitated but decided to let the matter rest for the moment. “She refused a man who sought to make her his wife. In a fit of rage he placed the spell on her.”



Trey relaxed slightly, his hands absently drawing half conceived patterns against Ivan’s skin. “What does she turn into?”



Ivan sighed as the question he feared most was finally been voiced. “A firebird.”



Trey pushed up onto his elbows and stared down at the black haired man in surprise. “A firebird? You’re sure?”



Ivan nodded. “I have seen it. With the fall of night she looses her human form and is forced to become a firebird. That is what took me so long in returning.”



He paused when he realize that the red haired man was visibly trembling. Frowning deeply he rose up and reached for out to his slave but Trey pulled away from him and huddled next to the fire. Ivan rose and knelt next to him.



“What’s wrong?” He demanded, disliking the feelings that were welling up within him.



A powerful tremor ran through the pale body and Ivan wrapped his robe around them both. Trey turned his face against his shoulder, golden eyes guarded.



“It must be horrible, to be forced to lose your very form.”



Ivan gritted his teeth, suddenly understanding his lover’s reaction. Cupping a pale cheek he kissed the man’s forehead. “She feels it is a better fate than the Koshchey offered.”



Trey blinked uncomfortably. “Koshchey?”



shr shrugged. “She does not know the name of the man who cast the spell but he must be a truly powerful mage so she chooses to call him that.”



“She doesn’t know anything of this man? Why did he wish her for a wife?”



“Her skills with needle and cloth are not easily surpassed. He came first to buy her wares but once he saw her he decided he wanted all of what she had to give. All she knows is that he offered to make her a Tsarina and spoke of a palace with gardens and riches.”



Trey shuddered against him and Ivan drew him closer. “Shhh, love,” he whispered, stroking and kissing the curve of his face, “I have allowed her to stay for the night. Why does this bother you so?”



Trey shook his head. “You said you could do nothing for her.”



Ivan sighed. “I do not know enough of the spell to unweave it. If I could find someone who knew a spell similar to it they might give me a clue on how to undo it but I fear I know no one with that sort of power.”



Another shudder ran through his slave and Trey buried his face against his shoulder. “Dedumil does.” He whispered. “And . . . and he has gardens.”



Ivan blinked as pieces fell together. Biting back another sigh he shook his head. “Dedumil is far too foolish to be a Koshchei.”



Trey struggled to push away from him but Ivan refused to be moved. “I have seen it!”



Ivan froze. “What?”



Trey pushed weakly at him again. “I have see him force others into a different form.”



A new frown crossed Ivan’s face. “Truly?”



The red haired man nodded silently.



Ivan released him and reclined back, staring into the fire thoughtfully. “I did not realize he had such power. Perhaps he can give me the clue to undo this spell.”



A small gasp escaped Trey and he blinked in surprise. “Don’t tell him!”



“But . . .”



“Please! I don’t think he should know. He . . . he takes pleasure in such things. I do not wish to see Maryushka made into such sportrey rey begged.



The black haired tsar chewed lightly at his lower lip. “If I am to undo the spell I may need his help.” He warned.



Trey bowed his head. “At least do not mention her or why you need it, then. Tell him that you are simply interested in it because of a tale.”



Ivan studied the red haired man silently, an unsatisfactory combination of suspicion and jealous boiling up within him but he forced it away with a wave. “I will send word to him tomorrow, as you say. But enough of this,” he stood, urging Trey up with him and pushing him gently towards the bed, “let us get some sleep and forget the tles les of the world for a bit.”



Trey allowed himself to be nudged along and pushed onto the bed where he curled up on the side. Ivan tsked in irritation and pulled at him until he relented and joined the taller man in the center. Despite the warmth of the body next to him Trey felt cold. He lay awake long after his master’s breaths evened out and slowed. Images and memories he’d hoped hadn fon forgotten played through his mind and he shuddered.



They made him feel dirty on a base level and when he failed to push such thoughts away he slipped out from under the covers, checking to make sure he hadn’t woken the sleeping tsar. Quietly he slunk around the bed and padded to the bath, knowing it would make no difference to the stain he could feel on his very soul but not knowing what else to do.