Timeless

Devon

“Ugh,” the spinning was making him dizzy.  

“Do you need help?” an unfamiliar male voice asked.
   
“I can do it myself. I'm not useless,” Devon declared. He was tired of always needing help and being useless
   
“Suit yourself.” This guy was laughing at him! “Shouldn't you be afraid I intend to harm you?”
   
“Haven't been afraid of that since looking down a dragon's throat.”

The man stayed silent.
   
Pulling himself up, Devon began searching for knots. When the only one he saw was near his feet, he tried to reach it but fell back, causing more swinging and spinning. While hanging there, Devon could only get glimpses of the guy who had spoken leaning against a tree a little way off.
   
Devon tried to untie himself until his arms were numb and his stomach muscles couldn't lift him any more. At least he was working out.
   
“Are you finished helping yourself?” The stranger. Somehow Devon had forgotten he was watching him struggle.
   
“Yeah. Sure. At least stop this infernal spinning.” Devon was queasy. He closed his eyes to see if it would help while his arms dangled.
   
He could hear what sounded like hoofbeats. Must be riding a horse.
   
Hands then grabbed Devon's ribcage and turned him gently. “Is this better?”
   
Opening his eyes, Devon saw a bare, toned chest directly in front of him. Tilting his head back, Devon followed the lean muscles of the guy's stomach until they disappeared in…fur? Hell. This guy had horse hooves. A centaur.
   
Turning his head so he could see the guy's face, Devon realized the chestnut fur on his legs was darker than his skin. The guy's hair was nearly blonde, as were his eyebrows. The eyes under the eyebrows were the exact same shade as evergreen trees.
   
As Devon realized he was admiring the centaur's looks, he mentally kicked himself. DUDE! You're not gay. Centaurs are SUPPOSED to be attractive.
   
The centaur smirked as if he knew what was going on in Devon's mind.
   
“So. Would you help me down?” Devon asked when it became apparent that the centaur was just going to keep staring at him.
   
“In a moment,” he said as he pulled Devon's face up towards him.
   
Being kissed by a centaur while hanging upside down was NOT how Devon saw this going. But that is what happened. The centaur's lips were firm yet soft against Devon's.
   
Twisting his hand in Devon's unkempt hair, the centaur got him to open his mouth on a gasp, allowing him to take control. After what felt like forever, the centaur released Devon's mouth.
   
Devon's already flushed face was even brighter now. “This is not what I meant when I asked for help. Do you normally kiss strangers caught in traps?!”
   
Looking amused and pleased with himself, the centaur replied, “Only the delicious looking boys caught in mine.”
   
If Devon wasn't upside down, his mouth would have been hanging open. “You set this thing!?” He chose to ignore the 'boys' comment.
   
“Of course. I just didn't expect something as adorable as you to get caught in it.”
   
As Devon just stared at him, the centaur remembered, “Ah. I should be getting you down.”
   
Instead of answering, Devon rewarded him with a ‘duh’ look.
   
The centaur lifted Devon, putting one of Devon's arms around his neck. “Now hold on,” he said as he reached up and easily undid the knot Devon had tried to untie for half an hour.
   
As the vine around Devon's legs came loose, the arm around the centaur's neck was the only reason Devon didn't hit the ground. Before his muscles gave out, the centaur had his arms lifting him so that he was being held bridal style.
   
“Tariq. Put down our friend.” Corvinus!
   
Well I know they won't let me out of sight again. Devon thought as the centaur replied.
   
“I'm afraid if I do he will end up in a heap on the ground. He spent quite a bit of time upside down.”
   
They know each other!
   
Devon could hear growling as the centaur he now knew as Tariq turned towards Corvinus. It was like the ground was rumbling.
   
“Jax. That's enough,” Corvinus reprimanded the agitated dragon.
   
I didn't know Jax could do that.
   
Tariq's hold on Devon tightened as he spotted the large, scaled man. “Why have you brought one of them here, Wanderer?” Tariq's tone had changed to one of anger and disgust, instead of familiarity.
   
Nodding towards Devon, Corvinus said, “I am leading both of them to a new location. The boy you hold has some affection for this dragon and refused to leave him behind.”
   
With a snort, not unlike a horse, Tariq replied, “You seem to have an interest in this boy if you are willing to risk angering the largest herd of centaurs on this continent.”
   
“Hey. Tariq, right? Maybe putting me down is a good idea.” Devon suggested in an attempt to defuse some of the tension.
   
Tariq's response was immediate, “No.” He then turned and began walking away.
   
“Hey! What are you doing?” Devon protested. “Where are you taking me?”
   
Struggling, Devon realized his legs were still tied, even though the rope holding him in the tree had been undone. He finally managed to look over Tariq's shoulder at where Corvinus and Jax were. Corvinus had his hand on Jax's upper arm in a gesture of restraint, preventing him from interfering.
   
What's going on? Corvinus didn't seem to mind the centaur walking off with Devon.
   
Once Tariq was out of sight of the clearing, he began to gallop. His speed increased as he went. Devon decided being carried by a centaur was as equally terrifying as flying on a dragon. Running at trees at 40 mph was just as scary as flying 300 feet above the ground with no seatbelts.
   
Turning his face towards Tariq's chest, Devon began to get used to the pace. As he did, he began questioning the centaur with whatever relevant questions he could come up with.
   
“Where are we going? Why do you hate dragons so much?” A pause. “How much farther? How do you know Corvinus?” Still no reply.
   
“What's your favorite color? Do centaurs vomit? I heard horses can't, so I was curious.”
   
Still no answers. Not even an acknowledgement. Devon began trying to come up with more questions for the silent centaur. As he thought, Devon didn't realize that Tariq had begun to slow.
   
What caused him to notice was Tariq repositioning his hands. The way the centaur had turned him had one arm under Devon's ass, supporting his weight. The other had slid up Devon's back until Tariq's hand was in Devon's hair.
   
“What are you doing? Why won't you-.”
   
Tariq stopped Devon's questions with his mouth. This kiss was more intense than the previous one, but it lasted less time.
   
As he released Devon, Tariq said, “If you insist on talking so much, I will have to find more interesting ways to occupy your delicious mouth than with kisses alone.” Chucking as he saw Devon's face he added, “I believe you might enjoy it, too.”
   
Choosing not to verbally respond out of fear the centaur would make good on the threat, Devon just nodded vehemently. Devon wasn't sure what Tariq had in mind, but he preferred not knowing, even if he did enjoy it.
   
With a disappointed look, Tariq returned Devon to the way he had been carrying him originally and continued walking.