Flight - 1

Flight

Copyright © 2010 by Amanda Steiger

All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used
or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written
permission except in case of brief quotations embodied
in critical articles or reviews. For information address
Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX
78680

Cover illustration copyright Skylar Sinclair

Used with permission

ISBN: 978-1-61040-077-0

Printed in the United States of America.

Torquere Press, Inc.: electronic edition / October 2010

Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press,
Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680

Flight - 2

Flight

by Amanda Steiger

Kell leaned forward, peering over the narrow, stone
ridge -- all that stood between himself and a thousand-
foot drop.

Far below, waves crashed against the jagged rocks at the
cliff's base, and gulls soared over the water, crying out
in their lonely voices. Overhead, a pair of much larger
winged forms circled in the cloudless sky: a young
couple on a mating flight, probably. Kell shaded his
eyes with one arm, watching them swoop and glide.

A hand touched his shoulder, and he gave a start.

"Relax," said a deep voice. "It's just me."

Kell turned and met a pair of familiar dark eyes. "Ash...
how did you know I was here?"

"Just a feeling.." Ash tucked his hands into the pockets
of his new robes. Unlike the tan robes of a youngling,
Ash's were a deep, vibrant blue, marking his new status.
His glossy-feathered wings, the same charcoal black as
his hair, were folded neatly against his back.

So strange, thought Kell, seeing Ash with wings. But
that wasn't the only difference. His shoulders and chest
had grown broader and more powerful since the Change,
and stubble roughened his once-smooth jaw. Not long
ago, they'd been of equal height. Now Ash stood about
two inches taller.

Flight - 3

"You've been spending a lot of time sky-watching
lately," Ash remarked.

"I guess so." Remembering his manners, Kell bowed his
head and touched his brow with the first two fingers of
his right hand. "Sorry," he muttered. "I keep forgetting."

Ash rolled his eyes. "I told you, you don't need to bother
with that silly formality around me. We're still friends.
Nothing has changed."

"I know, but... you're an adult now."

He shrugged, flexing his wings. "I'm still me."

Kell didn't reply. He turned back to the drop, hands
resting on the ledge.

Ash stepped up beside him. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine," Kell said, staring at the ocean.

"Kell...." One warm finger touched the underside of his
chin and lifted his face. When Ash's gaze met his, Kell's
heartbeat quickened, though he didn't understand why.
Those dark eyes searched his. "I know when something's
bothering you," Ash said, his voice low and gentle.

Just a month ago, that voice had been a silvery tenor,
like his own; now it was a deep bass rumble that seemed
to vibrate in Kell's bones. He lowered his gaze. "I'm
nineteen years old," he said.. "I won't be a youngling for
much longer."

Flight - 4

"You're worried about the Change?"

Kell hesitated. "What is it like? Does it hurt much? I
mean... I've heard stories, but it's always hard to know
who's telling the truth. I think the Mothers lie to us so
we won't be afraid."

Ash crossed his arms over his chest. "It feels different
for everyone. Just because it happened a certain way for
me..."

"Please," Kell said. "Just tell me."

Ash stared down at the water, his eyes unfocused. "It
starts as an itch between your shoulders. You'll want to
scratch, but they won't let you. The healers will take you
to the infirmary and give you potions that will make you
groggy. Then the pain starts." He paused. "For the first
hour or so, it's not so bad. Then the wings start to grow.
They'll probably tie you down, so you don't thrash
around and hurt yourself. I don't remember it very
clearly, since I was drugged throughout most of it, and I
think I lost consciousness a few times, but I remember
the moment the wings first broke through my skin. I
thought that I was going to die. But after that, it all
happened very quickly, and then it was over."

Kell shuddered..

"It's worth it, Kell. I promise." He smiled. "I wonder
what color your wings will be." Then his smile melted,
and a worried frown creased Ash's brow. "You're pale."

Flight - 5

Kell wrapped his arms around himself. "I don't want to
Change, Ash. I want to stay the way I am. I'm fine like
this. Isn't there any way I can stop it from happening?"

"Stop the Change?" Ash sounded mystified. "I doubt it.
And even if you could, is that really what you want? To
be a youngling forever while everyone else grows up?"

Kell clenched his fists and stared at the grass as tears
blurred his vision. "No," he whispered. "I don't know
what I want. I just wish it didn't have to happen this
way. I miss how it used to be, when we were always
together. And I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?"

"Nothing." A firm hand settled on his shoulder, and Kell
tensed, keeping his gaze downcast. He was afraid even
to voice his fears; that even after he himself Changed,
things would never be the same between him and Ash.
That adulthood would somehow destroy the bond they'd
always shared. Already, things were different between
them in a way that Kell found difficult to pin down.

Ash leaned closer, and warm breath tickled Kell's ear. "I
know it seems frightening now," he whispered, "but
once it happens, you'll wonder what you were ever
afraid of."

Kell looked up and forced a smile.

"Don't worry about it, all right?" Ash playfully ruffled
Kell's shaggy, acorn-brown hair. "Come on. Let's go
back to the town. Your Mothers are probably wondering

Flight - 6

where you are." He winked. "You won't have to put up
with that much longer. That's another nice thing about
having your wings. No curfews, no fussy rules."

"That will be nice," Kell said, though the cheerful note
in his voice sounded strained, even to his own ears.. He
followed Ash, one step behind... as it had been
throughout most of their lives, it seemed.

Between the cliffs and the town lay a few acres of field,
dotted with groves of apple and fig trees. Flocks of
sheep and big-horned wallies roamed, grazing. Beyond
the fields stood a sprawling collection of dun-colored
stone buildings connected by cobblestone paths: there
was the great, domed Hatchery, the tall spires of the
Temple. They stopped in front of the School, a loose
circle of low, flat buildings. The sound of young
laughter and voices drifted from within.

"I guess we part ways here," said Ash. "I'll see you again
tomorrow?"

Kell rolled a pebble back and forth with one toe. "You're
not sick of hanging around a youngling like me?"

"Of course not. Why would you say that?"

"I thought you'd have other friends now. Friends who
already have their wings."

Ash shrugged, averting his gaze.. "I've been avoiding the
other new adults."

"Really? Why?"

Flight - 7

"I just don't fit in. They all act so differently now. The
boys are butting heads like a bunch of wallies in mating
season. It's all I can do to keep out of fights. And all the
girls want to do is talk about the boys and giggle.. My
flying instructor says it's a phase and that it has
something to do with all the new chemicals in their
bodies."

"But then, why are you different?"

"Just a freak, I suppose." His tone was light, but there
was an odd, unfocused look in his eyes, as if he were
preoccupied with some troubling thought.

Kell opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment, the
School's main doors flew open and Sarya, one of his
group Mothers, bustled through. She was a plump,
middle-aged woman with scruffy wings the same tawny
brown as her hair. Kell quickly straightened, ducked his
head, and touched his brow respectfully.

"There you are!" She crossed her arms over her chest
and gave Kell a stern look. "I've told you before, you're
to inform one of us before wandering off on your own."

Kell shuffled his feet, his face growing warm. Did she
have to scold him in front of Ash? "Sorry," he muttered.

"And you..." Sarya turned to Ash, hands on her hips.
"Don't you have a flying lesson?"

"Yes, I was on my way there," said Ash.. "Kell was
walking with me."

Flight - 8

Sarya stared at him for a long moment, and Ash stared
back, his expression unreadable. "Take care that that's
all you do," Sarya said. "You ought to be spending more
time with the other adults.."

Ash's shoulders tensed. He drew in his breath as if to
reply, but said nothing.

Kell looked at Mother Sarya in bewilderment. "Ash is
my friend," he said. "He's been my friend for years. Why
should that change now, just because he's got his
wings?"

Sarya hesitated. "Things change when you become an
adult, dear," she said. "You'll understand when you grow
your own wings." She smiled, though the expression
didn't reach her eyes.. After a moment, she retreated into
the School. The doors creaked shut behind her.

Ash gritted his teeth, cheeks flushed. "The nerve of her!
As if I would..." He shook his head.

"I don't understand," said Kell. "We were just walking
together. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. You'd think.. But they all act as if it's
something abnormal now. They watch me like vultures
whenever I'm with you." He sighed. "Sorry. I'd better
go."

"You're angry," Kell said quietly.

Flight - 9

"No, I'm fine. Really." Ash gave him a strained smile.
"See you later."

Kell watched him walk away, his mind a whirl of
confusion. Things change when you become an adult.
Those words echoed in his mind, and bands of muscle
tightened in his chest, constricting his lungs until it
became a strain to draw breath. Vertigo swallowed him,
and he leaned against the wall, his eyes shut as he
struggled to breathe against the increasing pressure.

"I won't do it," he whispered to himself. "I won't
Change." Though he knew the thought was irrational,
the panic receded a little, allowing him to breathe. This
was his body. He would find some way to control it.

***

That night, Kell lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and
listening to the distant rhythm of waves crashing
outside..

He slept in a large room filled with rows of other beds,
all occupied by his age-mates. Their soft snores echoed
through the room, mingled with the occasional murmur
of sleep-talk or the rustle of sheets as someone shifted
position. Kell looked at the empty bed next to him,
where Ash had slept until just a few months ago.

He and Ash had been part of the same group since they
were old enough to leave the Hatchery. There were
about thirty younglings in all, a roughly equal mix of
males and females. There was no need to segregate the
boys and girls. The complications of sexuality did not

Flight - 10

begin until the wings grew and the necessary chemical
changes took place in the body. Younglings could feel
crushes, infatuation, but not whatever adults felt when
they went on their mating flights. Sex was as much a
mystery as the transformation process itself... and
something Kell had been too shy to ask Ash about yet.

He rolled onto his side, curling up, drawing his knees to
his chest and putting his head against them, as if he were
inside an egg. Just then, his back began to itch, and
panic fluttered in his chest. This was how the Change
began. The cells in his back would begin to multiply
rapidly as the wings formed beneath the skin. No. He
gritted his teeth and tried to will his body to stop. He
visualized clocks turning backward, baby birds climbing
back into their eggshells, flowers folding up into buds,
then retreating back into their stems. After a few
minutes, the itching stopped, and Kell's muscles relaxed.

He had done it: stopped the Change. Maybe he had more
control over the process than he'd thought.

A voice in his head whispered, But you can't stop it
forever. Sooner or later, it will happen. He pushed the
voice away.

That night, he dreamed that he and Ash were in two
boats on the sea, and the boats were slowly drifting
away from each other. Kell cried out and reached for his
friend, but Ash didn't seem to hear him.

Ash stood facing away, staring at the clear blue sky, one
hand shielding his eyes from the sun. His boat bobbed as

Flight - 11

the waves carried him farther and farther away. "Ash!"
Kell screamed.

Ash turned and smiled. "Swim over to me," he called.

But Kell couldn't. When he looked down into the water,
he saw shadowy shapes swimming just below the
surface, things with sharp teeth and glowing yellow
eyes. If he jumped into the water, they would eat him.

Then a wave hit the boat, overturning it, and Kell
toppled over the side. He hit the cold water with a
splash, and powerful jaws seized his arms, dragging him
down into the darkness.

He woke with tears on his cheeks.

***

The next day, after morning lessons, Kell told Mother
Sarya he'd be away for a few hours. "Where are you
going?" she asked him.

"The Square," he lied.

That morning at the breakfast table, he'd pilfered two
apples, a biscuit, and a thick slice of yellow cheese, and
stuffed them all into the capacious pockets of his robes.
He'd be gone for awhile.

He left the School around noon and walked through the
bustling town into the quiet, sunlit woods on the other
side. As soon as he entered the sheltering cathedral of
the trees, his tight shoulder muscles relaxed and the ball

Flight - 12

of anxiety that had been lodged in his stomach for the
past few days slowly loosened. The ground was soft and
spongy with moss beneath his sandal-shod feet.

Kell stepped over a log, making his way along the
narrow footpath that meandered through the trees. As
always when he was in the woods, he felt the burdens
lifting from his mind one by one and drifting away like
paper boats on the water.

Sunbeams filtered through the canopy overhead, and
dust motes spun lazily within, glinting like gold flakes.
This might be the last time I see the forest as a
youngling. He shook his head, denying the thought --
he'd made up his mind to resist the Change as long as
possible -- but a deeper part of him knew that such
efforts were just childish stubbornness, and in the end,
they'd amount to nothing. No matter how hard he
fought, the Change would win. And when it finally
came, his old life would be over. All the familiar little
routines and pleasures he'd taken for granted would be
gone. A new self would be born from within him. But
what about the person he was now? Would that person
just cease to be?

Ash said there was nothing to be afraid of. But was Ash
even Ash anymore? He'd seemed different since he grew
his wings. Or maybe it was Kell's imagination.

The thoughts circled over and over in his mind, then
broke apart and disappeared.. As he walked, a heavy
fatigue crept over him, turning his limbs to stone
weights. He yawned, eyelids heavy. A warm, sunny
patch of grass invited him to lie down, so he did. His

Flight - 13

eyelids sank shut, and he drifted off to the touch of
sunlight on his face, the cool tickle of grass against his
cheek.

***

When he woke, his forehead felt hot and his back itched
and burned as if he'd lain down in a nest of stinging ants.
Kell groaned and tried to sit up, but a wave of nausea
pushed him back to the grass. Cold sweat trickled down
his neck, and twinges of pain shot down his spine..
Shaking, he rose to his hands and knees, and his back
arched upward involuntarily. Something seemed to be
trying to push its way out through his skin.. With a gulp,
he reached beneath his robe with trembling fingers and
felt hot, prickly lumps on his shoulders, each about the
size of a grapefruit: the beginnings of wings.

Oh, please, no. Not here, not now. This wasn't how it
was supposed to happen.

The lumps on his back grew, pushing upward, straining
against the skin. Kell whimpered and pushed down on
them with his fingertips, trying to force them back, but
they continued to swell, pulsing against his fingers like
monstrous hearts.

He had to make it back to the town. They would give
him medicine, cool sheets, and a safe, quiet room. He
staggered to his feet, but he hadn't taken more than a few
steps when a wave of faintness washed over him,
dragging him back down to his hands and knees.

Flight - 14

The lumps beneath his skin grew larger still, and with
them grew the blistering pain.. He screamed, clawing at
his back. His fingers came away bloody, strips of skin
clinging to the nails, but still he scratched and clawed, as
if he could rip away the painful, alien things forcing
their way from his flesh. Tears streamed down his face.

A hot line of pain split his body down the middle, and
there was a sound like someone tearing a wet rag in half.
All thoughts vanished in a red tide of agony, and he
spiraled down into blackness.

***

Kell woke to a dull, throbbing ache in his back. He lay
on his stomach on a soft surface, and he hurt
everywhere. Where am I? He tried to open his eyes, but
the lids seemed glued shut.

He sensed someone leaning closer. A large, firm hand
smoothed back his hair. "Kell? Can you hear me?" The
deep, gentle voice enfolded him like a blanket, and
Ash's familiar scent tickled his nostrils.

Kell tried to speak, but he couldn't think clearly enough
to form words. His lips moved, and a faint groan
escaped his throat.

Ash's fingers combed through his hair. "It's all right. Just
relax."

"Hurts," he murmured.

"I know. But the worst is over."

Flight - 15

"I was so scared." Tears stung behind Kell's closed
eyelids.

"You're safe now. I promise." The warm, slightly rough
pad of a thumb touched the corner of his right eye, then
his left, wiping the moisture from his tear ducts. "Can
you open your eyes?"

With an effort, he pried his heavy eyelids open, and a
dim blur greeted him. As he strained, Ash's features
came into focus. Kell blinked. Within moments, his
vision seemed sharper and clearer than ever; he could
see every long, black lash framing Ash's eyes, every
fleck and striation in those dark brown irises.

Dazed, Kell looked around. He was in a small room. A
lantern glowed in one corner, and there were shelves
lined with bottles that were filled with different-colored
liquids. The infirmary. He moistened dry lips with the
tip of his tongue. "What happened?" he whispered.
"How did you find me?"

"I heard your screams.." Ash helped him to sit up and
held a mug to his lips. "Drink this. It will help."

Kell sipped the bitter mixture, leaning against Ash for
support. Ash's scent and warmth calmed him. Looking
down at himself, Kell realized he was naked beneath the
bed sheets, and heat rose into his cheeks. But of course -
- the Change had ripped apart his old robes. Once he'd
finished the medicine, Ash carefully lowered him to the
bed, onto his stomach. Kell turned his head to look at
Ash over one shoulder.

Flight - 16

"I'm glad you're all right. For a moment, I thought... "
Ash's voice trembled. He touched Kell's face, one broad,
rough palm resting against Kell's cheek. His eyes burned
with a feverish intensity, and Kell stared back, trapped
in that gaze, held by the strength of the emotion there.

Ash's thumb brushed Kell's lips, and Kell blinked in
surprise. His vision went fuzzy again as his awareness
narrowed to that single point of contact, and his lips
tingled beneath the touch.

Then Ash's hand slipped away, and he averted his gaze.

Kell lay still for a moment, his cheeks flushed, his lips
still tingling. His whole body suddenly felt warm for no
reason he understood. He licked his lips and tasted a
faint, lingering hint of salt from Ash's skin. That's what
he tastes like. Kell wondered why his heart was
suddenly beating so fast.

Ash cleared his throat, his gaze still averted. "Can you
sit up?"

He tried and fell back with a groan. "My body feels so
heavy."

"You need to get used to the weight of your wings," said
Ash. "It will be hard to move around for a few days, but
you'll get stronger."

Kell glanced at his right arm, lying on the bed next to
him. It looked the same as before, yet somehow, his
whole body felt alien and new. Gingerly, he lifted one

Flight - 17

hand and patted his back. His fingers encountered
something stiff and prickly. Feathers. He pulled his hand
away and saw flecks of dried blood on his fingertips. A
soft gasp escaped him.

"It's all right. Your wings still need to be washed, that's
all," Ash said. "Let me." He filled a bowl of water from
the brass basin in the corner and took a wood-handled,
coarse-bristled brush from the cabinet. After dipping the
brush in the water, he slowly, gently began to brush
Kell's matted feathers.

It took several hours, but Ash worked patiently,
tenderly. By the time he was done, a basket filled with
bloodstained towels and rags sat by the bedside, and the
water in the basin was cloudy and reddish.

Kell remained groggy and relaxed throughout. The
medicine had made his thoughts fuzzy, but he didn't
mind. The pain had receded to a dull ache, and it felt
nice just to lie there and be washed. Ash's touch was
gentle, a familiar, comforting anchor. The drugs -- or
perhaps simple exhaustion -- took away any
embarrassment he might have felt at being naked. But it
was Ash, after all. Hadn't they swum together in forest
pools when they were children? Hadn't they seen each
others' bodies more times than they could count? Hadn't
they slept next to each other for years, climbing into
each other's beds to whisper together under the blankets
or comfort each other after bad dreams?

Except everything was different, now.

Flight - 18

"There," said Ash.. He rinsed his hands and wiped them
on one of the last clean rags. "Your wings will be dry in
a few hours. By then, you should be feeling strong
enough to get out of bed."

"What color are they?" Kell murmured.

Ash hesitated, gazing down at Kell's wings. He touched
one, smoothing the feathers with his fingertips. "They're
white," he said softly. "White with dark brown tips."

Kell closed his eyes. He'd done it. He'd crossed the
threshold into adulthood.. He didn't know what to think
or feel. "I'm so tired," he whispered.

"Sleep."

"Will you stay with me?"

"All night."

***

Warm, callous-roughened hands slid over Kell's skin.
Soft lips trailed kisses down his neck, over his chest...
then a hot, wet mouth latched over his nipple and
sucked. He moaned, writhing, as that mouth tugged his
nipple harder, holding him on the thin, shining line
between pleasure and pain. Those hands were
everywhere on him, touching him, claiming him. Then
those strong fingers curled around his maleness. A jolt
of heat shot through his body...

Flight - 19

And Kell woke with a soft gasp. He lay in bed, heart
thumping, and stared at the window of his new
bedroom. That dream again. His maleness tingled oddly,
and a flush suffused his skin. He rolled onto his side as
the strange, exhilarating sensations slowly faded.
Reaching down, he brushed his fingers lightly over his
cock, trying to recapture those sensations, but it wasn't
the same. He noticed a damp patch on the sheets and
winced. He'd have to change the bedding again.

After a few minutes, Kell climbed out of bed, the sheets
slipping away from his naked body. He stood, his back
to the full-length mirror against his bedroom wall, and
flexed his wings. They were huge, a head taller than
Kell himself, and their feathered tips nearly brushed the
floor.

Almost a week had passed since his Change, and he still
wasn't accustomed to those wings. It felt like carrying
around a second person on his back. And they were
constantly in the way, bumping into things. His new
robes were specially cut to accommodate the unwieldy
appendages, but even so, getting dressed was a
challenge.

It was easy to see why so many adults chose to wear
only a loincloth in warmer weather, but even if the
season hadn't made that impossible, he would have been
too shy. He'd grown acutely self-conscious of the other
changes in his body.

He looked down at his chest and shoulders, examining
the additional muscles he'd gained over the past few
days. Being able to flex and flap a pair of heavy wings

Flight - 20

required a lot of upper body strength. To compensate for
all that growth, his body needed a lot more food, and his
appetite had grown along with the rest of him. It seemed
that all he'd done since his Change was stuff his face.

He turned away from the mirror and stepped into the
small, adjoining bathroom. Once he'd washed up, he
grabbed his dark blue robe from the bed. After a few
minutes of grunting and struggling, he managed to pull
his wings through the slit in the back, and the robe fell
in loose folds around his body.

He left his room and walked down the hall, past the
other dormitories.

After his Change was complete and he'd recovered
enough to walk, he'd been moved to a large building
called the Quarters, where most of the other new adults
lived. Eventually -- once he learned to fly and chose a
trade -- he would have a home of his own. But for now,
he had a small room in the dormitory wing. The building
was divided in half, with females living on the east end
and males on the west, though they shared a few
common areas, like the meal hall. Now, talk and
laughter drifted from the open doors as the residents
assembled for breakfast.

Long tables and benches filled the room from wall to
wall. Kell took a clean plate from the stack near the door
and scanned the room. He spotted Ash sitting in his
usual corner at the far end of the table, buttering a slice
of bread. A girl with snow white wings and daffodil
yellow hair stood next to him, smiling and talking.

Flight - 21

Kell froze, watching. He couldn't make out the words,
but the warmth in her voice was obvious. Ash chuckled
in response to something she'd said, and she placed a
hand on his arm.

Kell tensed. Heat spread through his chest as if his heart
had been replaced by a ball of fire, and his stomach
tightened. He didn't understand his own reaction. Ash
was just talking to her... but Kell didn't like her smile or
the way her hand rested on Ash's arm. A possessive
touch, as if she were marking him in some way. He
wanted to run up to her and swat her hand away from
him.

He took a deep breath and reined in his emotions. This
was crazy. She wasn't doing anything wrong. He walked
over and said, "Hello."

The girl glanced at him. "Hello," she said. "And you
are?"

"Mara, this is Kell," Ash said. "He's my best friend."

"Oh. Pleased to meet you." Her tone was oddly frosty.

Kell chewed his lower lip. "Am I interrupting
something?"

"No, not at all," Ash said. "Sit down."

Mara cleared her throat, looked down at Ash, and said,
"Well, I guess I'll go sit with my friends. Talk to you
later, all right?" Her hand lingered a moment longer on

Flight - 22

his arm, then slid away, and she retreated to a table of
other girls.

The blazing heat in Kell's chest receded, and his
stomach unclenched. Somehow, the sight of her walking
away was satisfying.

Kell sat, grabbed a fork, and began piling sausages and
cheese onto his plate. "Who was she?" He tried to sound
casual. "Your friend?"

"Oh, that's Mara." Ash took a bite of his bread. "We
aren't really friends."

"She seemed very friendly with you. Not that there's
anything wrong with that," Kell added quickly.

Ash shrugged. "She's been practicing her flirting skills
on me." He glanced at the table where the group of girls
huddled, whispering and laughing together. "After a few
days, she'll probably start batting her lashes at some
other boy." He chuckled. "Just wait."

"Oh. Well, that's good. I mean, uh...." Kell flushed. "I
don't know what I mean, really."

For a moment, Ash studied his face, gaze sharp and
intent, and Kell squirmed self-consciously. It seemed as
though those eyes could look right through him and
pluck the thoughts out of his mind -- as if Ash knew
about his strange reaction, knew and understood it in
some way that Kell himself did not. Then that dark gaze
slid away. "You have your first flying lesson today,
don't you?" he asked.

Flight - 23

Kell stuffed a sausage into his mouth. "Mm-hmm."

Ash picked the crust off his bread. "Do you know who
your instructor will be?"

He swallowed. "I, um..." Beneath the table, he began to
rub the toes of one foot over the other, an old nervous
habit. "They asked me if there was anyone I wanted.
Anyone I wanted to teach me, that is."

"And what did you say?"

"I asked them if I could have you."

A moment of silence passed, and Kell looked up to see
Ash staring at him intently again, a strange expression
on his face. "You want me to teach you?" he asked
quietly. "Are you sure?"

Kell's mouth had gone dry. His gaze lingered on Ash's
lips: full, firm lips forming the shape of a bow. He'd
never noticed how perfect the shape of Ash's mouth was.
It seemed like an odd thing to pay attention to, but
suddenly, he couldn't look away. He fiddled with his
fork and knife. "I know you've only been an adult for a
few months," he said. "I know it's a lot to ask. So if you
don't want to, I understand... but I'd feel most
comfortable with you."

Ash was silent for a long moment, and Kell's stomach
sank. Then Ash nodded and said, "All right. After
breakfast, we'll go to the Steps."

Flight - 24

"Great." Kell's heart thumped, and his stomach seemed
to be filled with restless moths. He realized that he'd lost
his appetite, despite the fact that he'd been ravenous a
minute ago. "I, uh... I'd better go get ready." He stood
and turned too quickly. One of his wings knocked the
milk carafe off the table. It hit the floor, spilling.

"Watch it!" someone snapped.

"Sorry." He grabbed a handful of cloth napkins from the
table, crouched, and hastily began to mop up the puddle.
He felt as if every eye in the room was focused on him,
and his face burned like a torch. He sensed someone
crouching next to him and looked up to see Ash with a
handful of napkins, wiping away what Kell had missed.
Ash smiled at him, eyes warm, and Kell's stomach did
another flip-flop.

They left the meal room together. Kell's arms were
folded tightly across his chest, hands hidden in his
opposite sleeves as he watched Ash from the corner of
his eye. Despite Kell's recent growth spurt, Ash was still
taller than him, and broader too. Even those hands
looked bigger than before, the fingers long and thick.
For a moment, Kell remembered the heat of that palm
against his cheek, the pressure of a calloused thumb
against his lips, and his cheeks flushed. He touched his
lips lightly with his own fingertips, but it wasn't the
same.

Tucking his hands into his pockets, he cleared his throat.
"Thanks for helping me clean that up," he murmured.
"The milk, I mean. I'm always knocking things over
since the Change. I feel like a fool."

Flight - 25

"Don't worry about it," said Ash. "You're still getting
used to your wings."

"It's not just that. My whole body is different. I feel so
big and clumsy." Kell sighed. "Girls are lucky. Aside
from having their wings, most of them look the same as
they did before the Change. They don't gain so much
height or muscle."

"They grow in other ways," said Ash. "Like here." He
cupped his hands beneath his chest. "That seems to be
all the other boys want to talk about now, is how much
the girls' breasts have grown and how much they'd like
to touch them. I don't get it." He paused. "Actually, I'm
starting to wonder if I really... like girls. In that way."

"What do you mean?" asked Kell, trying to sound
casual, though his heart rate had spiked again.

"I don't know," said Ash. "I hear the other boys talking
about what they'd like to do to girls, and it just doesn't
excite me. Maybe whatever happens to the other males
when they get their wings just isn't happening to me. I
haven't really talked about it with anyone, but I know it's
not just my imagination. I'm not like the others." He
opened his mouth as if to say something else, then
closed it, staring straight ahead as he walked.

Kell gulped. This conversation felt somehow important,
though he didn't fully understand how or why. "Maybe
I'm like that, too," he said slowly. "I mean, I haven't
really been thinking about girls any differently than I
used to."

Flight - 26

"Well, you only just Changed," said Ash, avoiding his
gaze. "Maybe it takes awhile to happen."

"Maybe." His heart sank. Somehow, he felt as though
he'd been pushed away. He wished Ash would look at
him.

Ash's gaze remained fixed straight ahead as they left the
Quarters.

Ash led him away from the edge of town, down a
wandering footpath threading its way through grassy
fields, over the swell of a hill. The Steps were precisely
what they sounded like: a series of small, rocky cliffs
leading down the hillside like a giant's staircase. Ash
stopped at the edge of the first step. Kell looked over the
edge. The drop was about fifteen feet.

"This is where most of the new adults go to learn flight,"
said Ash. "If your wings won't hold you the first time,
you won't have very far to fall. Now, the first thing you
want to do is stretch out your wings. Flex them a bit.
Like this." Ash dropped into a crouch, rested his weight
on one knee and planted a hand on the ground to steady
himself as he spread his wings wide. He arched them
upward, high over his back. Kell awkwardly copied him.
"Feeling limber?" asked Ash.

Kell nodded.

"Watch me closely." Ash undid the sash of his robes and
slipped them off.

Flight - 27

Kell stared.. Ash wore only a small, tan loincloth.
Without the bulky robes, the changes in his body were
much more evident. Gone was the skinny, gangly youth
from Kell's memories. Now, every inch of Ash was solid
and muscled. His wide chest tapered down to a dagger-
slim waist, and his dark wings, rising from those
powerful shoulders, seemed to fill the sky. The loincloth
snaked between his round, firm buttocks, covering only
his groin... where Kell's gaze lingered, taking in the
bulge of organs beneath the snug cloth. Warmth rose
into Kell’s cheeks, and he fidgeted.

Even at rest, Ash's cock looked startlingly big and thick.
Kell had seen him naked before, when they went
swimming together as younglings, but a male's genitals
also grew significantly larger after the Change.

Kell wondered what it would be like to hold Ash's cock
in his hand, to feel its weight and girth... then wondered
why the thought had entered his mind and why it made
him feel so strange. He gulped, his stomach a tight ball,
his pulse hammering in his throat. His gaze darted away,
and his chest tightened with the irrational fear that Ash
had somehow seen the thought in his eyes -- that if he
looked at Ash's face, he would see revulsion.

"Kell? Everything all right?"

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his
gaze darting around like a panicked mouse. "Fine." His
voice emerged a little breathless. "Just nervous, I guess."

"Don't worry, we'll take it slow. Now, watch me." Ash
took a few steps backward and spread his wings. He

Flight - 28

took a deep breath, visibly bracing himself, then dashed
forward. At the edge of the drop, he leaped into midair.

Kell's breath caught in his throat and he watched,
spellbound, as Ash soared into the sky.

His wings beat in powerful sweeps, carrying him
higher.. He flew in a wide circle, swooped down, and
landed beside Kell in a crouch, knees bending to absorb
the impact.

Only a few months into adulthood, thought Kell, and
Ash already had the grace and power of a veteran flyer.

Ash straightened. "You get the idea," he said, smiling..
"Pretty simple, really. Just remember to land in a
crouch." He chuckled. "The landing took me longer to
master than the flying."

Kell tried to respond, but his mind was a blank. His eyes
were drawn downward again, over the length of that
perfectly sculpted body, the flat, taut stomach, and the
firm thighs rounded with muscle. His heart was
pounding so hard it made him dizzy.

Ash stood facing him, hands on his hips. "Do you think
you're ready to give it a try?"

Kell's eyes widened, and he jerked his gaze away from
Ash's groin. "Just like that? Aren't you going to coach
me more before I start actually flying?"

Flight - 29

"The thing about flying is that no one can really teach
you. You learn by doing. A flying instructor is just a
supervisor, really."

"Um... I guess I'm ready, then," he said, though he'd
never felt less ready in his life.

"All right," Ash said, "take off your robes."

Kell blinked. "What?"

"Those bulky things will only weigh you down. You'll
have a much better chance of staying in the air without
them."

Kell bit his lower lip. Of course, he thought. He'd known
that... yet, somehow, it hadn't occurred to him that he'd
have to strip down in front of Ash. Slowly, eyes averted,
he slipped out of his robes and dropped them to the
ground. Like Ash, he wore only a loincloth beneath it. A
loincloth which felt suddenly too tight. He glanced
down to see his maleness straining against the thin cloth.
It hid so little, it may as well not have been there at all.
He turned quickly away, hoping that Ash hadn't seen,
and stared into space, trying to control his breathing.

"Kell?"

"Just... give me a moment." He focused his mind away
from Ash, thinking about math problems, about the
characteristics of amphibians, about dry, boring essays
he'd been forced to memorize for class. When his
loincloth no longer felt as if it were about to burst, he
took a deep breath and said, "All right, I think I'm

Flight - 30

ready." He turned to the drop, staring down. "So I just...
leap?"

"You'll want to get a running start," said Ash. "Back up
a little."

He nodded and took a few steps backward. Taking a
deep breath, he focused on the edge of the drop. Then he
dashed forward and leaped, spreading his wings wide.
For a moment, as he hung suspended in midair, he felt a
rush of excitement. Then he crashed to the ground.
Groaning, he slowly picked himself up and gingerly
spread his wings.

Ash landed beside him. "Don't worry," he said, "almost
everyone falls the first time. You all right?"

"I think so. Nothing seems to be broken."

"Good. Then let's try again."

And so it went. On the third try, Kell was able to stay up
in the air for a few seconds. On the fourth, his wings
caught an air current which buoyed him up, and he
flapped them frantically, rising higher. For a brief,
thrilling moment, he was flying. Then he looked down
and saw how far below the ground was. A paralyzing
jolt of fear shot through him, and he froze, unable to
breath or think.

Then Ash appeared beside him. "Keep your wings
moving!" he shouted above the rush of wind.

Flight - 31

The voice broke Kell from his trance, and he flapped his
wings frantically.. Together, he and Ash rose higher,
higher into the sky. A gust of wind pushed Kell
backward, and he beat his wings against it.

"Ride the air currents!" Ash called.

Another gust of wind hit him, and Kell spread his wings,
letting it push him upward. He raised his eyes to the
clouds, and a sense of awe filled him. He was flying.

When Ash guided him back to the ground a few minutes
later, Kell was trembling with exhilaration and fatigue.
He flopped onto the grass, panting, and closed his eyes.

Ash sat next to him and chuckled. "That wasn't so bad,
was it?"

"It was amazing," Kell breathed, opening his eyes. He
sat up and stretched out his wings.

"We can try again in a little while," Ash said. "For now,
just rest. You'll find you can stay airborne longer as you
get more practice, but for now, limit yourself to a few
minutes at a time. You've never used those muscles
before, so they'll tire easily."

Kell nodded. "Thank you, Ash," he said.

"My pleasure." Ash stretched his wings, and Kell
watched a bead of sweat trickle down his neck, over his
broad chest, leaving a shining trail. Kell's eyes followed
the bead of water as it ran down Ash's stomach, over the
tiny indentation of his navel.

Flight - 32

Kell's loincloth suddenly felt too tight again, and panic
fluttered in his chest. Ash would see it and be disgusted
with him. Frantically, he looked around for his robes,
but they were nowhere to be seen.

"Kell? What's wr..." Ash fell silent as his eyes focused
on the bulge beneath Kell's loincloth.. His pupils dilated,
and a flush rose into his cheeks.

Kell swallowed hard. He looked away, dizzy, his head
hot as if he had a fever. He covered his erection with
both hands. "I'm sorry.." This had been a mistake. He
had never felt so exposed, so painfully aware of the
awkwardness, the strangeness of his new body, with its
reactions beyond his control.. He wanted to curl up and
vanish.

Ash's fingertips touched his cheek. "What's wrong?"
That voice was soft, gentle.

Kell couldn't bring himself to meet his friend's eyes. "I
don't know," he murmured. "I feel hot and dizzy and...
strange. I think I might be sick." He knew that wasn't it,
but it was the only explanation his fumbling mind could
produce.

Strong hands settled on Kell's shoulders, and Kell tensed
as Ash leaned closer. Warm breath caressed his neck.
"You're trembling," Ash whispered.. Those lips moved
close to Kell's ear, almost touching it, and that deep
voice seemed to fill his head. He could feel it vibrating
in the depths of his ear, and those vibrations -- along
with the pressure of hands on his bare skin -- triggered a

Flight - 33

rush of heat. Dizziness washed over him, his stomach
swooped, and blood rushed to his groin. Ash's hands
tightened on his shoulders. "Tell me what's wrong."

Kell closed his eyes, and his tongue crept out to wet dry
lips. "I'm afraid.."

Ash's lips brushed his ear.. "Of what?"

"Of this new body. And of what you might be thinking
about me right now."

"Look at me, Kell." When Kell didn't look up, Ash
gripped his chin between a thumb and finger and lifted
his face. "Open your eyes." Kell obeyed, and as soon as
Ash's gaze met his, he couldn't look away. That dark,
steady gaze pierced him, anchoring him in place. "You
have nothing to be afraid of," Ash said softly.

Kell's teeth caught his lower lip.. "You're not disgusted
with me?"

"I could never be disgusted with you." Ash's thumb
pressed gently against Kell's lower lip, tugging it out
from under his teeth. That slight friction sent a jolt of
sensation through his body, making him weak-kneed. A
tiny sound, almost a whimper, escaped Kell's throat.
Ash's gaze remained focused on his, holding him. "Do
you want to know something, Kell?" he whispered.

"What?" Kell whispered back.

Those dark eyes burned into his. "It's not girls I think
about. It's you."

Flight - 34

Tiny, electric chills raced down his spine, and his eyes
widened.

Ash leaned closer, gaze focused on Kell's mouth. Then
those lips touched his, the barest brush of flesh on flesh,
and that soft contact sent a wave of pleasant weakness
through Kell's body. A sigh escaped him, and his eyes
slipped shut.

Ash's lips pressed more firmly against his, and stubble
scraped Kell's chin as Kell's lips parted under that
steady, warm pressure.

Ash was kissing him. The thought lit up his mind like a
flash of lightning, and stronger shivers rippled down his
spine. Little flurries of pleasure spun through his chest
and coiled low in his stomach, behind his cock. He'd
seen people kissing before, of course, but until now he'd
never understood what made it such a popular activity.

The very tip of Ash's tongue touched his lips, traced
their shape, then slid between them. The shock of
wetness and heat scattered Kell's thoughts in every
direction. His heart thumped as that slippery tongue
explored the inside of his mouth in slow, careful strokes,
as if memorizing every inch of him... then Ash pulled
back, eyes closed.

Kell noticed how long his lashes were, how lush and
dark. Ash exhaled softly and opened his eyes..

"I liked that," Kell whispered. His lips were still
tingling.

Flight - 35

"Me, too," Ash whispered back, his voice hoarse and
deeper than usual. His knuckles grazed Kell's cheek, and
his thumb touched the corner of Kell's mouth. He leaned
forward, his gaze focused on Kell's lips, then claimed
them again.

The first kiss had been gentle, hesitant. Now, Ash
devoured Kell's lips, suckling the upper, then the lower
one, plundering Kell's open mouth with his tongue.

Kell moaned against him. The wetness of saliva, the
scrape of Ash's stubble against his lips and cheeks, the
scent and taste of him, that slick tongue rubbing against
his -- so many new sensations flooded his brain, filling
his senses to the brim until it became almost unbearable.
His cock throbbed, painfully engorged.

One thick, calloused finger brushed over his nipple, and
Kell gasped at the unexpected jolt of pleasure. The
nipple tightened and hardened until it felt like a pebble,
and the areola puckered as it sometimes did in the cold...
but right now, he felt anything but cold. Ash's thumb
circled that throbbing nub, and a jolt of heat shot straight
to his cock. When they finally broke the kiss, he was
panting, his lips swollen and acutely sensitive.

Ash stared at him, heavy-lidded dark eyes smoldering
with need. "Even before I grew my wings, I think I
knew that you were the only one I wanted, the only one I
would ever want to be with like this."

At those words, Kell's eyes widened. Though they'd
been friends for years, he'd always seen Ash as above

Flight - 36

him -- cleverer, stronger, more independent. When Ash
had gotten his wings first, it seemed only natural. In
taking the first steps into adulthood, many fledglings
severed old ties, old friendships, and forged new ones. A
part of Kell had feared that Ash would now soar above
and away from him, leaving him behind forever. "You
want me?" he whispered.

"Only you. And judging by this..." He reached down and
cupped the bulge between Kell's legs. "I think you want
me, too."

Kell's mouth fell open. He tried to speak, but a low
moan was the only sound he could produce. Ash was
touching him -- there -- and it felt good, impossibly,
unbelievably good, even with a layer of cloth between
them. His erection twitched against Ash's palm, and
fresh heat rushed to his groin, making his already
swollen cock ache and his balls feel tight and tingly. The
sensations were all so new, so strange and
overwhelming. Amidst the flames of desire, he felt a
tiny, cold trickle of fear.

Ash froze, a touch of uncertainty in his expression. His
gaze searched Kell's face. "Do you want me to stop?"

"No," Kell whispered. His heart thundered in his chest.
Nervous and uncertain though he was, the thought of
stopping now was almost unbearable. He needed that
touch, needed Ash's skin against his, Ash's hand on his
cock. "Keep going. Please."

Ash took a slow, deep breath and nodded. "Lie down,"
he said softly.

Flight - 37

Kell licked his lips, heart racing. He lay down on the
grass, on his back, and propped himself up on his wings.
Ash straddled his knees and undid the ties of Kell's
loincloth, letting it slip off. For a moment, Ash just
stared down at him, and Kell felt his face growing
warmer and warmer. "You've gotten a lot bigger since
the Change," Ash remarked.

Kell lowered his gaze shyly. "So have you."

Ash touched the underside of his chin, lifting his face,
and looked into his eyes. "If I do anything that hurts or
makes you uncomfortable -- even a little -- just tell me
to stop, and I will. All right?"

Kell gave a tiny nod.

"Promise?" Ash's voice held a hint of urgency, and Kell
wondered if Ash, too, was nervous.

"I promise."

Ash's fingers glided over Kell's chest and stomach,
leaving tingling trails on his skin, then stroked his thigh,
coming tantalizingly close to his flushed, straining cock.
Then one fingertip grazed his balls, and Kell gave a
start. When the finger pressed a little more firmly
against the sensitive flesh, pleasure spiked through him,
and his cock jerked involuntarily. A bead of clear fluid
welled from the slit at its tip. He lay still, eyes wide, as
Ash massaged his balls in a slow, circular motion.
Pleasure radiated outward from the point of contact and

Flight - 38

spread through him like warm honey. Ash watched his
expression intently. "How does that feel?"

"Good," Kell whispered breathlessly.

Ash's gaze focused on his erection, and warmth rose into
Kell's cheeks. He fidgeted, self-conscious; he could
almost feel the gentle pressure of that gaze against his
cock, like something tangible..

Ash ran his thumb lightly over the bulbous head,
collecting the bead of moisture there. Then, slowly, he
curled his fingers around the swollen shaft.

Kell gasped at the sudden, intense burst of sensation. It
felt even better than having his balls touched. When
Ash's fingers slid up and down the length of his cock,
stroking him, he gasped... then moaned again.

Was this what sex felt like? He'd had no idea. It was
incredible -- strange and sweet and overpowering, like
some potent drug. Or did it only feel so good because it
was Ash doing it -- Ash, whom he trusted and loved
more than anyone? His eyes closed, and white sparks
burst in the darkness behind his lids like firecrackers.
His nerve-endings sang under those smooth, sure
strokes.

Meanwhile, Ash's other hand traced little circles on his
throbbing balls. One finger slipped farther back and
touched a sensitive spot just behind his sac. A hot jolt
went through Kell's body.

Flight - 39

"How's that?" Ash asked, his lips moving close to Kell's
ear.

"G-good."

Ash lowered his head, and his warm breath caressed the
tip of Kell's erection.

Ash's eyes stared deeply into his, and a wave of vertigo
washed over him. That finger was still behind his balls,
pressed against that sensitive spot.

Slowly, Ash lowered his head, mouth opening, and his
lips closed around the head of Kell's cock. A tiny sound,
almost a whimper, escaped Kell's throat as that hot, wet
mouth engulfed another inch, then another.

He let his head fall back, lost in pleasure as Ash's mouth
slid up and down the length of his maleness.. He pushed
upward instinctively.

Ash placed his hands gently, firmly on Kell's hips,
holding them down as he sucked..

Kell writhed on the grass, mouth open and panting. He'd
never felt anything like this -- never dreamed that such
sensations existed. Ash's mouth worked harder, faster.
The pleasure coiled low in Kell's belly built and grew, a
steadily increasing pressure behind his balls... then it
burst forth and crashed over him like a wave. He cried
out as his hips arched off the ground and every muscle
in his body went rigid. His eyes rolled back in his head.
For a moment, everything was a blank. Then the world
tumbled back into place around him, and he collapsed to

Flight - 40

the grass, bathed in sweat. He felt weightless, as if he
floated on a cushion of air.

His eyes opened, and he saw Ash looking at him
intently. Ash leaned toward him until their faces were a
mere inch apart, and Kell could see his own reflection
staring back at him from those dark eyes. Gentle fingers
smoothed his hair back from his sweat-damp brow as
Ash placed a soft kiss on his lips.

He tasted faintly of salt. "What just happened?" Kell
whispered breathlessly.

"You came." At Kell's blank look, Ash added, "You had
an orgasm."

Kell blinked. "Oh." He'd learned about orgasms in
biology class, and he'd heard people whispering about
them, but none of the childish rumors or dry, textbook
explanations had prepared him for the reality. Nothing
could have prepared him for that. "So that's what they
feel like," he heard himself say. His own voice seemed
to be coming from far away.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked.

"Yes." Kell took a deep breath, bringing himself fully
back to reality. His teeth pressed into his lower lip.
"Have you ever had one of those? Orgasms, I mean."

"On my own, a few times. Never with another person,
though. I wanted my first time to be with you."

Flight - 41

"I'm glad," Kell said softly. "I wouldn't have wanted to
share this with anyone else."

Ash wrapped his arms around Kell, pulling him close
against his lean, hard body. They lay together in the cool
grass, Kell's head tucked under Ash's chin, Ash's dark
wings wrapped around him in a feathery cocoon. Kell
couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so warm, so
secure. If this was a dream, he wanted it to last forever.

"I love you, Ash." The words left his mouth before he
was even aware of what he was saying. He'd never
spoken those words to Ash before, yet it felt so natural,
as if he'd said it thousands of times.

Ash stroked his hair. "I love you, too." His arms
tightened around Kell's body..

Kell pressed his cheek against Ash's chest, feeling the
steady, powerful beat of his friend's heart. He lost
himself in its rhythm. His eyes slipped shut, and he
dozed in Ash's arms. For awhile, he drifted in and out of
a dream in which he was soaring through the sky with
Ash at his side, feeling the rush of wind in his wings and
through his hair.

What had he been afraid of? he wondered drowsily.
Losing himself? He hadn't lost anything; he had gained
something precious. His only fear now was that it would
disappear the next morning like a dream.

Ash's fingers trailed lightly over his lips.. Impulsively,
Kell wrapped his mouth around one of those long
fingers and sucked it, tasting the salt and warmth of

Flight - 42

Ash's skin. The finger slid free of his mouth with a slight
pop. Kell nestled closer and felt something hard and hot
pressing against his belly. He looked down, then up at
Ash, questioning silently.

"Don't worry about that," said Ash.

"But you're..."

"I know this is all very new for you. I don't want to
overwhelm you. We can save that for another time."

Kell shook his head. "I want to. I want to do... like what
you did for me. Can I?"

Ash hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

After a moment, Ash nodded and sat up. Reaching
behind himself, he undid the knot the held the loincloth
on, and it slipped away.

Though the loincloth hadn't concealed much, seeing him
without it still sent a shock through Kell's system. Ash's
cock rose from a patch of dark curls between his thighs,
long, thick, and red, crowned by a mushroom-shaped
head. The squiggle of a vein stood out on the shaft,
pulsing visibly, and below it his balls hung, round, dark,
and full.

Kell gulped and tentatively caressed the head with one
fingertip. Ash's hips twitched. Slowly, Kell's fingers
trailed down the length of the shaft, brushing against

Flight - 43

Ash's balls. He lingered there, focusing on the slightly
rough texture of the sac beneath his fingertips, then
traced tiny circles on it, as Ash had done for him.

A faint groan escaped Ash's throat. "Yes," he breathed.
"Keep going."

Kell's tongue crept out to moisten his lips. Then, slowly,
he lowered his head, his lips parting. He licked the head
of Ash's cock and tasted a hot burst of salt.

Ash's breath hitched in his throat, and his fingers dug
into the grass. Encouraged, Kell licked him again -- a
long, slow, wet lick from the base of his shaft to the
head. A pearl of clear fluid glistened on the tip, and
Kell's tongue swept it away.

He paused, looking into Ash's eyes for reassurance.

"More," Ash whispered.

Kell's heart thumped. Slowly, he opened his mouth
around the head of Ash's cock, then wrapped his lips
around the hard, hot flesh. His own spent cock stirred
and began to swell again at the feel of Ash pulsing
against his tongue. So much flesh. It filled his mouth,
stretching his lips as he slid them down the length of the
shaft, until the head butted against the back of his throat
and a sensation of choking forced him to stop.

He pulled back a little and tried to recall how Ash had
done it -- but he'd been so overwhelmed at the time. All
he could remember was that sweet, wet heat, the moist
slide of Ash's lips against hungry flesh. Clumsily, he

Flight - 44

bobbed his head, trying to mimic what Ash had done.
One tooth grazed the head.

Ash tensed, breath hissing softly through his teeth.

Kell pulled back, his face burning hot. "I'm sorry," he
murmured. "I'm not doing it right, am I?"

"You're doing fine."

Kell bit his lower lip. "Are you sure?" His chest
tightened in a spasm of anxiety. What if he hurt Ash by
mistake? "How did you know how to do it?"

The flush in Ash's cheeks brightened.. "I read some
books."

Kell blinked. People wrote books about this sort of
thing?

"Once you get used to it, it's not hard," Ash said, his
voice strained and breathless. "You just have to be
careful with your teeth."

"Let me try again." He opened his mouth and engulfed
Ash.

It was trickier than it looked -- keeping his teeth out of
the way took some concentration, especially considering
how big Ash was, and once, his tooth caught on the edge
of the large, fleshy head, making Ash tense up again.
Gradually, however, Kell lost himself in the rhythm of
his movements, the feel of Ash in his mouth, so hot and
hard. His cheeks pulled inward as he sucked the salty

Flight - 45

flesh, relishing the taste, the wet slide of the head
against the roof of his mouth... though no matter how
deep he took it, he couldn't seem to get the whole thing
inside.

Panting, Ash gripped Kell's wrist, pulled Kell's hand
toward his cock, and curled the fingers around the base.
"Like this," he whispered hoarsely.

Kell made a muffled sound in reply. He kept his fingers
wrapped firmly around the base of Ash's erection as he
bobbed his head, wetting the length of the shaft with his
saliva. His tongue traced the raised ridge of a vein.
Remembering how good Ash's fingertips had felt on his
sac, he cupped Ash's balls. They felt full and heavy in
his palm. His thumb massaged them, and a low groan
rose from Ash's throat.

Kell raised his eyes and drank in his friend's expression -
- the pleasure-dazed look in those half-lidded eyes, the
flush in those cheeks, the way those lips parted as Ash
panted for breath. Excitement tingled at the base of
Kell's spine. Ash looked almost drunk.... because of him.
Kell had put that heated look in those eyes, and the
knowledge sent a warm rush of pleasure through his
chest, a giddy sensation of power. He slid his lips up and
down the length of Ash's shaft, pulling back until only
the tip remained in his mouth, then engulfing it until the
head almost brushed the back of his throat. His tongue
swirled over and around the smooth flesh.

Ash's chest rose and fell with each breath. He moaned
again, his eyelids fluttering... then, reaching out, he

Flight - 46

touched Kell's cheek with his fingertips. "Wait," he
whispered.

Kell's chest tightened, and he raised his head. "What is
it? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. No, it feels incredible. But... there's something else
I wanted to try.."

Anticipation fluttered in Kell's stomach. "What is it?"

Ash hesitated. "I want to be inside you."

"But you were..." Then Kell fell silent as he realized
what Ash was talking about. Whispered rumors
resurfaced in his mind, bringing a flush to his cheeks,
and his heartbeat quickened. At the thought of doing
that with Ash -- at being joined in such an intimate way
-- heat spread through his body, and a tremor ran
through him. An image flashed behind his eyes: Ash's
hard body atop his, sweaty skin pressed against sweaty
skin, wild, tangled dark hair clinging to damp shoulders
as Ash pushed into him.. Taking him. In his mind, he
saw Ash's lean buttocks shudder and clench as slim hips
rocked against Kell's ass -- saw that organ, red and
engorged, slowly sliding in and out. He imagined how it
might feel inside him, the friction and pressure. His own
cock, already rock-hard, swelled until it seemed it would
burst, and his breathing quickened.

Ash must have mistaken his reaction for fear. He
smoothed Kell's hair and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Never mind. We don't have to do that if you don't want
to. I just thought...."

Flight - 47

"I do." Kell licked his lips. "I do want it."

Ash's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

Kell wrapped his arms around Ash's waist, and his
erection pressed against Ash's smooth, taut stomach. "I
want to try. Show me. Please."

For a moment, Ash didn't reply. His gaze searched Kell's
face... then he nodded, as if he'd found what he was
looking for. His pulse hammered visibly in his throat.
"All right."

Ash licked his finger, wetting it. His hand glided down
Kell's back, between Kell's buttocks, and one fingertip
grazed the small, tight opening nestled there.

The contact sent electric tingles through the nerve-
endings in Kell's rim, making him gasp and tense. He
looked into Ash's eyes, breathless, as the finger circled
his hole, then pressed against it and slowly slid into him.

It felt... odd. Not bad, but not exactly what he'd
expected. He squirmed, very conscious of the length and
thickness of Ash's finger inside him, the way his tense
ring of muscle clenched around the knuckle of the
intruding digit. Ash waited, just letting him get used to
the sensation, then pushed a little deeper.

"What does that feel like?" he asked quietly. His gaze
never left Kell's.

Flight - 48

"I don't know." Kell squirmed again. "It doesn't hurt, but
it's not like when you touch my...." He glanced down at
his cock, unable to speak the word, and lowered his
lashes shyly. Just talking about this sort of thing aloud
was new and unfamiliar. Suddenly self-conscious, he
looked around.

"It's all right," Ash said. "There's no one out here. No
one will bother us." He moved the finger a little deeper
and pressed something... and an unexpected, sweet ache
of pleasure spread outward from that point. Kell's eyes
widened, and his mouth fell open. Ash smiled. "There it
is." He rubbed gently.

A low, hungry whimper escaped Kell's throat. "More."

Ash pushed another finger into him and opened them,
stretching the tight passage. Kell winced at the slight
twinge of pain, but he didn't want it to stop. He pushed
back against Ash's fingers, trying to bring them in
contact with that sensitive place inside him once more.
Then Ash withdrew his fingers, and he cried out in
protest. "Shh." Ash kissed him softly. "Just wait."

He grabbed his robes from where they lay on the grass
nearby, fumbled through the pockets, and pulled out a
tiny glass jar. After unscrewing the lid, he scooped out a
dollop of thick white cream and spread it over Kell's
cock. "Roll over."

Eager, Kell obediently rolled onto his stomach and
rubbed his erection against the grass, needing
stimulation. Ash parted the cheeks of his ass, and long
fingers -- now coated with the slippery cream -- plunged

Flight - 49

inside his body. He gasped at the shock of cold, then
pushed back against the fingers and felt a deep flash of
satisfaction as the tips pressed against that magic spot
within. It wasn't exactly like having his cock touched,
but it was just as good. Maybe better. And knowing it
was Ash doing it -- Ash's fingers inside him -- sent a
swirl of giddiness through his body and heart.

Still, something in him wasn't satisfied. He wanted more
of Ash inside him, more pressure against that place.
"Keep going," he gasped, "please."

Those fingers slid out of Kell's body, and Ash positioned
himself over Kell, breathing hard. A moment later, Kell
felt a steady pressure against his opening, something
larger and blunter than a finger. Kell tensed, and Ash
froze. "Kell?"

He swallowed, hard... then nodded. He couldn't stop
now. In spite of his nervousness, he didn't want to stop.

Ash pushed forward, and Kell's ring stretched as that
huge, hard cock slid into his slicked hole. He gritted his
teeth, fingers clenching on the grass. There was
discomfort -- a dull, slowly growing ache and pressure,
coupled with smaller, sharper twinges as Ash's cock
stretched him wider than he'd ever been stretched. Then
the head butted up against that spot, and he gasped.. The
ache receded, replaced by a gently swelling pleasure as
Ash began to move within him. Kell pushed back,
panting, taking more of that thick organ into his body.
When Ash reached down and wrapped a hand around his
cock, a soft moan slid past his lips. Ash's palm, still
slippery with the creamy lotion, glided up and down his

Flight - 50

length, and the sweet ache within him joined with the
primal sensation of pressure around his shaft.. He
pushed forward into Ash's hand, then back against that
cock, his hips rocking as tiny, hungry sounds escaped
his throat. He could feel Ash's cock pulsing inside him.

Then Ash whispered his name, and that single, soft
syllable pushed him over the edge. Thick, white come
spurted onto the grass, and his body clenched tight
around the hard length inside him. Ash let out a hoarse
cry as he thrust into Kell again and again, then went
limp, panting, atop him.

Slowly, Ash pulled out, flopped down on the grass, and
wrapped his arms around Kell.

Kell lay his head against Ash's chest and felt the steady
thump of his lover's heartbeat as Ash enfolded him in a
cocoon of dark, feathered wings. His mind spun in dizzy
circles. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so
exhilarated, so happy. He closed his eyes, and the world
seemed to go into free fall around him, but Ash's arms
held him close and safe as he floated, weightless, in a
haze of bliss. It was even better than flying.

"Can we do that again sometime?" Kell murmured
drowsily.

A deep chuckle reverberated in Ash's chest. "Anytime
you want." He nuzzled Kell's cheek. "They say it's even
better when you're in the air."

Flight - 51

Kell's stomach fluttered at the thought -- the ecstasy of
flight coupled with the wet, raw excitement of sex.
"You'll do that with me?"

Ash's eyes sparkled. He wrapped his arms around Kell
and rose to his feet, Kell clutched tightly against him.
His wings spread and flapped.

Kell gasped as Ash leaped into the sky, each wing-beat
carrying them higher. Smiling, Ash held him tight and
kissed him deeply. The world sprawled out beneath
them as they soared, locked in embrace..

The End

Flight - 52