Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 85

The Phoenix Tangyue stared apprehensively into the face of his beloved Nuwa. For he still loved her, even after all of this time, everything that had happened, everything he had done. He couldn't give up on her. He had tried to forget her, tried to move on, tried to make a new life in the West. It was all emptiness without her.

He hadn't planned to use the red string. He knew that it was wrong, but she was turning hysterical, and she wouldn't let him talk. He saw her close her eyes, and then open them, and it was like looking at a different person.

"Tangyue!" she cried out happily.

She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"I've missed you SO much!" she declared. "How could you leave me alone for SO long?" she asked him, pouting.

Tangyue's heart contracted painfully. This was an illusion, but it was what he wanted most. He let himself squeeze her in a brief hug, and then he gently pushed her away, creating some space between them.

"I just want to talk to you, Nuwa" he said quietly. "Can we go back inside, and have a conversation?"

Nuwa pulled him inside, leading him by the hand, and then closed the door behind him.

"What do you want to talk about, Tangyue?" she asked.

Tangyue sat back down at the small table, and gestured for her to sit across from him. She went over to the bed, and sat down there instead, giving him a stubborn look.

"I know this isn't you, it's the string" Tangyue began, his voice a little sad. "But I also know that you will remember what happens, once the string comes off again" he told her.

She nodded, running her hand over the collar of her dress, pulling it open wider, baring part of her chest. Tangyue cleared his throat.

"I just want to tell you that I am sorry" Tangyue said earnestly. "I never should have listened to my Uncle. I trusted him more than myself. When he advised me to do those things, I knew that they were wrong, but I let him talk me into doing them anyway" he explained remorsefully.

Nuwa nodded again, giving the appearance of listening, at the same time untying the belt of her dress. She pulled it open, one side at a time, revealing her naked body to him.

Tangyue groaned. She was making this so hard on him. He wanted nothing more than to take her right now, but it wouldn't be right. He stood up quickly, trying to turn away, but he couldn't stop himself from glancing back.

"Don't you want me?" she asked him, pouting.

She lay back on the bed, her weight propped up on her elbows, one knee up and the other leg down. Her dress was completely off and tossed aside. Tangyue nodded, closing his eyes and swallowing hard.

"Then what's the problem?" she asked, arching her eyebrows.

"I can't take anymore from you" he told her in a pained voice. "It wouldn't be right."

"I'm asking you to give me something" she argued, "not take something away. It's my birthday" she pouted again.

Tangyue closed his eyes and groaned again. Mentally he scolded himself, telling himself not to do this, as his body moved towards her, not listening. Finally he struck a compromise with himself. He would only give her pleasure, but take none for himself.

He knelt down at the edge of the bed, placing a shaking hand on her leg, pulling it towards him. He kissed the flesh of her thigh, and then hooked her leg around his neck.

"Oh, Tangyue" she breathed. "My favorite thing? For my birthday?" she asked hopefully.

He nodded at her, unable to articulate speech. She slid her body around so that both of her legs were over his shoulders. He kissed her inner thighs hungrily, her taste and smell familiar to him, even after all of these years.