In the wee hours, Arianda finally gave up trying to sleep. She had turned fitfully til all the ivory sheets and covers upon her bed were rumpled in disarray. She covered her sheer white gown with her favorite deep purple satin robe. She tied it haphazardly as her feet worked into slippers. Straight from her room, Arianda passed into the corridor. As soon as she entered the Great Hall, she paused, then took a sharp turn and padded down the stone steps into the dungeon below the Citadel Tower. If Maxwell heard her, and that was likely, he would not investigate. It was not uncommon for the Ladies and their guests to make night journeys through the castle.

She passed through the roughly hewn tunnel that rounded the outside of the Labyrinth and began to hurry now as she crossed the dark and sullen Arena. Regretfully, some of the occupants of the Beastiary were stirred up yet she barely heard the waterfall of the hot spring as she passed. Finally, she entered the grotto and felt the chilled air roll out to her in the perpetual ground fog there.

The ice dragon growled his usual greeting then stopped abruptly to sniff at the misty darkness. Arianda's voice drifted to him like gossamer. "Yes, Master Frost... It's Arianda."

His deep slow voice rumbled in the stone beneath her feet, it hissed in her ears and vibrated through her heart. "Yesss, M'Lady, and in your human form too."

"Yes, Master Frost. I hope I do not disturb your slumber."

"Of course you do, but I make no complaint of it, do I?"

She could hear him shifting toward her. She felt him nearer, but startled at his voice very close to her ear, close enough at least for his cold breath to whisper across her shoulder. "It has been too long, M'Lady." There was another deep rumbling as the dragon inhaled then exhaled his frozen breath. His magic of cold and light caused a section of the cave wall to glow, bathing himself and Arianda in a soft, almost moon-like silver. "I would see thy human form."

Arianda watched as his head turned slowly toward her. He was not overly large, for a dragon, but still he stood nearly twice as high as the Lady. His long tail curled around his haunches, the tip of it waving back and forth, making swirls in the low-lying fog. Frost's neck craned down so his jeweled golden eyes could take her in. He grinned a rather sharp-toothed grin then with a lilt in his voice he spoke again. "I have missed this form. I have missed thee. I hope you have been well."

"Yes, most sorry for not coming to see you more frequently, Master Frost, but we have been quite busy of late. I---" She stopped and looked down to where he had extended one curled talon. The sharp point of it slid behind the knot of her belt, setting the robe free to open and drape to either side of her.

He traced along the satin with the smooth back edge of the talon. "You were saying?"

She smiled and extended her hand to the back of his paw, lightly stroking his leathery blue skin. "I have missed you as well, Frost."

"Have you?" His voice sounded distracted for his gaze was on her hard nipples pressing the thin filmy white fabric of her nightgown. She shivered as his curled talon pressed just below her navel then slowly drew up til he brushed across the peaked fabric.

"You know, for such a large dragon, you can have a surprisingly soft touch." She looked up from his curled paw and the talon teasing at her nipple. He stopped his motion as his muzzle raised enough to let his gold eyes lock with hers.

"Is that so? I had rather thought of myself as harsh." He raised up to his full height, gold eyes glaring still. His tail twitched in the mist then lashed swiftly around to Arianda. Before she could move, he wrapped the narrow end of his tail around her neck, propping her chin up on the scaled blade at the very end.

There was a look of surprise on the Lady's face but no fear. She was in fact thrilled when he made moves such as this and he knew it. His voice growled at her to thrill her further. It was part of their game. "So what shall it be, M'Lady? Have you awakened this old dragon for kindness or harsh company?" With that, his head swooped down, putting him abruptly muzzle to nose with her. His gold eyes flashed into her sapphire ones. "Hm?" he rumbled.

"Cold... Master Frost. You know I come for the cold as only you can apply it." She looked at him almost pleadingly. "What may I offer you in return, Master Frost?"

His tail unwound from her neck and lashed through the air as he turned away from her. She was disheartened. Perhaps he was not in the mood to play, even though they hadn't for so long. "Frost?" she called after him.

He looked over his shoulder and down at her. "Come." is all he said. She gathered her robe closed again and hurried along after him.

They wound deeper into the grotto til he finally stopped at a platform of rock jutting out from the wall. To either side of it were small natural pools, rippled with droplets from the icy stalactites above. Water also trickled down the somewhat flat wall behind the platform.

With a low quiet rumble, Frost commanded. "Remove those coverings or lose them." Arianda knew he meant it. He would shred them from her if she didn't take them off voluntarily. She spared the robe, slipping it off and laying it aside on a dry rock. She stood only in the flimsy white gown, covering her to the floor, but sheer enough that even the dim light here made a perfect silhouette.

"You still have not told me what I may offer you, Master Frost."

"Amusement... and possibly your will, Arianda." He gestured that she should step up onto the platform between the pools. She did so, then turning to face him, arched a brow. "My will?" She laughed lightly. "I think not. It is who I am. It is the last---"

His quiet rumbling voice cut her off. "We shall see." His large paw shot out and none too gently pressed her back against the cold wet rock. She gasped and sucked in air, which permitted him to pin her ever harder. "Slip those delicate human hands into the shackles, Arianda." Her thin gown was now soaked, providing no protection at all from the rock or the chilled water on its surface.

"Is this necessary? shackles? I mean, you know I wish to be here. What possible---"

"Reach." He pushed on her stomach, forcing air from her and prompting her to stretch her hands up. Her hands slipped easily through the cuffs so she wrapped her fingers around the cold chains to hold her arms up there.

Frost's talons slowly and carefully dragged down the front of her gown leaving it in strips of torn silk, yet without piercing her skin. He drew his paw up again then with one sharp point, sliced the full length of the fabric. It fell away easily, hanging to the sides of her soft pale skin. She was so smooth to look upon except for the chill on her and her nipples hard from the air and his actions.

Arianda looked at the hungry gaze of Master Frost and wondered, not for the first time in their play, if he would ever go beyond toying with her. Deep from within the dragon there was a low hiss. As it grew louder and traveled up through him, she knew he was building his cold steam. He seemed to hold his breath a moment, then breathed out through his muzzle. She rattled the shackles as she turned her head and jerked against the cold blast of moist air. It forced a cry from her and brought a deep belly laugh from the dragon.

"Yes, amusement." His voice was thinned with humor. He reached up and snapped an icicle from the ceiling over one of the pools. This was not mineral stone, but a thick taper of crystal clear water, frozen at the core but dripping and slick from partial melting.

A blue leather paw grasped Arianda at the waist, while the other traced a cold wet line across her bare neck and down to rub the ice over her breast, letting her hard nipple pop from beneath it. She could not catch her breath quickly enough for each movement was shocking her system with its burning chill. Frost knew he had no need to lock the shackles. Her hands were gripping the chains til her knuckles were white. It was all that kept her standing.

The icy taper in his paw continued downward, pausing at her navel and painting a chilled water circle there. He breathed lightly upon it to freeze the drips then let her mounting body heat thaw the thin scales of ice again.

Her head was still turned aside, eyes now closed to feel all the sensations he granted her. Even though his breath was cold, the palm of his paw grasping her waist was comparatively warm. His long tongue was warm too as it slithered from his mouth to lap at her neck and trace her ear.

She felt his leathery muzzle against her cheek and his voice was lowered impossibly, so that it was hardly a whisper against her ear. "Arianda... Your heartbeat has quickened. I see the hastened rise and fall of your breasts." He hissed the last and let his tongue slip out to caress her neck again. She shivered then realized the melting ice taper was slipping between her thighs.

She braced but it only served to tighten her, making the entry of the ice a greater shock against the heat he had fueled within her. He did not pause as he progressed, sliding the ice in until she cried out and again rattled the shackles, for there was a moment of frozen pain as he reached her depth.

She began the squirm. The ice within her was aching. It was gradually growing painful. She twisted against the cuffs but his paw held fast to her and his muzzle kept her pinned against the rock wall. She could barely hear his words for her mind was overcome with the extreme cold that began between her thighs and extended seemingly to her core.

"Arianda... there is a way you may repay me."

Her voice was slow to rise from her throat but finally it did. So hard to think. So difficult to form words with the ice aching between her legs. "Yes, Master Frost?" She swallowed hard for now the ice within was moving, sliding in and out of her. Somehow it was easier to tolerate as her own warmth melted it thinner.

"Give me a mate."

"Pardon?" She turned her head but that only served to press her cheek against his leather muzzle. "I know of none. No other dragons near, nor have I seen them at auction, I---"

His voice hissed in her ear again with added chill. "Need not be of my own ilk. Were it easy, I would have found one on my own. You must find a mate for me. Perhapssss...." His tongue lashed warmth beneath her ear as she felt the icicle slip from within her. She relaxed in relief though still pondering where she might find a mate for a dragon.

She offered, "Perhaps in the beastiary. Is there none there who would serve?" She still could see nothing but his long neck and shoulder yet she felt him shifting closer to her.

"No. Perhaps there is another..." He leaned his head back and craned his neck to the side until his tongue shot out and twitched between her legs. His paws slid along her hips and easily lifted her from the rock platform, though she hung onto the chains still for balance. The rough leather on the top of his head brushed across her breasts as she jerked within his grasp.

The long hot tongue snaked between her thighs as his grasp beneath her parted them. She was dripping remnants from the icicle as well as her own wetness. She called out as his hot tongue lashed up through her soft folds and the rough texture met her smooth nub. She could barely hold the chains when his tongue began to work into her. As it progressed his muzzle nosed in between her thighs. His cold labored breathing chilled her on the outside while the heat of his agile tongue explored deeper inside. Her breasts heaved and stomach flexed as his work between her legs pushed her further into an abyss of pleasure.

"Yesss.... " She hissed now. "I will find a mate for you... sssomewhere..."

His chuckle vibrated through his muzzle pressed between her thighs. His tongue was extracted abruptly and it was some moments before Arianda's eyes opened halfway to see that he was looking back at her. He had a way of smirking, despite the long snout. He did so. His eyes glittered to her. "Perhapsss, Arianda... you already have."

Her eyes flashed. She had no notion how he must be equipped. Yes, it had crossed her mind but she hadn't had opportunity to... Her eyes roamed over what she could see of him. He was a large beast, nearly twice her size. She could never accommodate... "I doubt, Master Frost, that this is possible." Considering other creatures, such as horses, and comparable sizes and... No, this would not be possible, not without killing her.

He continued to grin as he watched this contemplation cross her face. "So sure are you? You think you can come here as you wish and let me please you with my ice then wander away? Let me toy with you and taste you, then leave me with my own need still intact?"

Would he? Was this the moment when he would go beyond the amusement? She released the chains and slipped her hands from the shackles, sitting then in his strong forelegs, his paws beneath her. "Let me go, Master Frost. Set me down and I'll trouble you no more."

His low voice vibrated through his large body and radiated to her too. "Hmmm.... I think not." He sat back and leaned against the opposite rock wall, bringing her with him til she sat astride his ribbed belly. It was soft and warm beneath her. He was rather a lean dragon, more lizard-like, unless sitting this way, sort of curled up on himself. She sat within this curl. His paws slipped from her cheeks and around to hold her thighs, talon tips lightly pressing into her skin. He made it clear she would not be going anywhere until he gave her leave.

"Master Frost, I have not seen you nor any other of your ilk but I am certain---"

"Bah! You are certain of nothing!"

She drew back as the cold blast of his words jostled her. She blinked and looked at him again. His gold eyes were narrowed.

"What do you suppose I am?" He asked. "What do you suppose a dragon is?" Frost's grip on her thighs eased up and she thought to move but now was curious. He continued without letting her even try to answer. "We are ancestors of many creatures but more obviously both birds and reptiles. I would wager your knowledge only takes into account the furry beasts... and as you see..." He grinned and drew his paw up to let the leather back of it brush across her still exposed breast. "I am not that."

She caught his paw in her hands and held it up between them. The joints of his toes and the talons at the end of each were long and thick. His paw was nearly as large as both her hands together. She rubbed with her fingers and he hummed a sigh of pleasure. "But, Master Frost, all things being relative... skin or scales or feathers or fur... Your size is my concern."

He chuckled and she jostled on his belly with the laugh. "Dear Lady, you make another mistaken assumption." He curled forward more, nearly sitting on his haunches again but not quite. He let her fall back against his clasped paws and held her cupped against him. Now as she was partially reclined, he could again let his gold eyes drift down to view her still glistening softness. He whispered a chilled breath and she shivered, drawing her knees up more comfortably but not closing off his view.

"Have I not explored this cavern of yours many times?" He briefly nuzzled between her thighs, eliciting a soft moan from her. "Have I not slipped my tongue within you and let it know the breadth and depth of you?" His tongue curled out and slowly parted her lips then tapped her nub before snaking its way into her. She laid her head back and splayed her hands over her own stomach as he probed her. Her moaning became sorrowful when his hot tongue slipped out of her again. "Then think you that I do not know whether I can mate with you? Harsh as I might like to portray... I would not injury you beyond your wish, M'Lady Arianda."

She knew why he said it that way, of course. Even as his words recalled the incident, his tongue twitched out and licked across a thin scar upon her belly. He had put it there, but only on her request. She could not afford to get caught up in the nostalgia however. There was another consideration at hand. She gazed up and looked at the gold eyes which stared back at her from the blue leather face.

Her voice was quiet as she searched his face. "But I have not seen... Why have you not expressed this desire before, if you have deemed it possible?"

His broad grin preceded another belly laugh. "When have you asked what you may do for me? We dragons are a patient lot. I thought perhaps you would eventually offer... a favor."

Now she felt a bit ashamed. All these years she had come to Frost's lair and taken pleasure from him with no thought for what she might do for him, over and above his amusement. Hesitantly she committed. "Then, Master Frost, I would serve as more than entertainment, if it is still your wish."

"Hmmm.... " his low voice vibrated beneath her again. He fluttered his wings out to either side and lay back against the rock wall. His hind legs lay open and tail unfurled across the stone, though the blade tip was twitching. "Perhaps the lady would care to dismount the dragon and peruse his wares before final agreement?" He closed his eyes and waited to feel her slide from his ribbed belly, which she did.

She stripped off the remnants of her gown and nakedly stepped between his legs. She could see nothing but more ridges as his belly seemed to extend to the base of his tail. Then, as she watched, Frost moaned lightly, and the head of his penis appeared from beneath the last belly ridge. Only then could she see the opening and realized that, like only a few mundane beasts she knew of, his member was retractable. Her eyes grew wide as the snaking penis emerged from his body. It was the approximate thickness of a man's but most assuredly longer and what control he seemed to have! As much as his delicious tongue perhaps.

Her hands gingerly slid over the last few belly ridges then fingers tentatively slipped along his length until they reached the smooth tip. In awe, she whispered, "Master Frost... It's beautiful." This was true, for like the rest of him his serpentine penis was a rich blue, though like his belly, somewhat lighter and smoother than the rest of his leather skin.

He whispered too, for her touch made him catch his breath. "I thank you, M'lady." He meant to convey his thanks for her appreciation as well as her fingers' attentions.

Arianda knelt there between his hind legs and continued to feel the wonder of him. Beneath the warm skin she felt the muscles ripple as he controlled his own movement, twisting through her hands and tapping her palms. "How shall you... How shall we proceed, Frost?"

His snaking member slid from her touch as he curled forward. When she looked up at his face, his gold eyes were partially closed. He was caught up in the pleasure of her acquiescence and tender touch. "Best, I think..." He was having difficulty forming words. "Best if I slip over you, M'Lady... that is... behind, I think... Perhaps, yes."

She rubbed his belly again and nodded then reached aside to get the rag of her gown. Bunching it on the stone floor between his legs, she crawled onto her hands and knees and looked back over her shoulder and up to him again. "Please, Master Frost... let me repay you for the pleasure you have given me." It was a risk. If he lost control of himself, she could handle his thickness perhaps, but his length would tear her. Still, she felt she owed this to him and in any case, her body wanted this, a curiosity and urge too strong to release now.

He nodded as he curled forward until he rested over her on all four paws. She could feel his soft belly rubbing against her cheeks. Despite her experience, she was a trifle nervous. Frost sensed this and lowered his muzzle to her shoulder, hissing his cold breath in her ear "We usually do this in the air." She smiled. It was what she needed to break the tension.

He shifted and she felt his heat twitch between her legs. When his tip tapped her, she gulped. His head was pressed to her cheek. His tongue lashed out and slithered over her shoulder seeking her breast. When she began to moan with his lashing at her nipple, Frost flexed his wings and slipped himself just inside Arianda. She gasped for he was indeed as much as she could take. Yet, so far, it was a pleasurable pain.

Frost did not move for long seconds. His breath had gotten shallow too. When he began his progression again, Arianda's fingers flexed in the cloth of her tattered gown. He moved within her then withdrew and pressed in again, a bit further. Gradually, with this halting movement, he worked his way in, helped her accept him, at least as much of his length as her depth would allow.

When he was pressed hard at her core, he paused again. "Arianda?" His voiced trembled through them both. He was concerned for she seemed to hold a long breath but she released it in a hoarse, "Yes." It was enough and all she could say to confirm that having him fill her was bearable.

He balanced on his other paws as one slipped up beneath her, rubbing across her stomach then holding her up against his soft belly. His haunches hardly moved at all as he began his slow strokes within her, always careful not to exceed his previous depth. Yes, he wanted to bury himself in her, but knew he could not do that without injury. This would serve. The most sensitive part of him was twisting in and out of her, wrapped tightly in her muscular convulsions. Already he began to feel the sparks of lightning in the pit of his stomach.

Arianda was panting. Her hands barely pressed to the cave floor now as Frost held her. She shifted with his motion inside her. Her long hair had fallen forward, brushing the floor as his strokes quickened. If he had truly been patient for so long, she knew his work would not last, and in a way she felt relief at that, for he was pushing her limits. Finally her arms curled up across his paw holding her. She shuddered as his thrusts began to force her over the edge.

Her muscles began to grip around him. He felt the rush of release building furiously. One short blast of cold air crossed her shoulder as she curled and convulsed against him. Her voice wailed out, echoing in the cavern. At the sound of her voice and intense gripping around him, the dragon felt the rush of his seed burst to fill her. His own deep moans became a low roar. His cold breath was momentarily warm and dispersed the soft white mist hovering on the stone floor. His wings fluttered open as far as the narrow cavern allowed, further disturbing the perpetual fog. His long tail lashed around, curling to wrap Arianda to him. Slowly, as they crested, the dragon drew his wings in close and rolled gently onto his side. With much reluctance, from her body and his own, he slipped from within her and pulled her up to nestle her with his forelegs. Her panting moans were now nearly whimpers. She shook within his grasp, shivering with the last shock waves of her own pleasure, however stressful it may have been on her body.

When he had mind to speak and energy to move, the smooth curve of a gleaming talon brushed her cheek, pushing back a lock of copper from her face. His breath was cold again, though his voice was still hushed. "There are times when I wish I had your human softness."

Arianda grinned, though her eyes remained closed. She whispered sleepily, "You just did."

It would be well past morning's light before the Lady Arianda climbed the stairs and returned to her chambers.

(Click on candle to return to the Great Hall)

Dragon's Tail Grotto

Night Visitor

Hungry Eyes Part 2