Chapter 1

As the sun sank, Badger Happily Toiling trudged along the dirt road. The dust of the road joined the dust of countless construction projects ground into his overalls and worn shirt. A dilapidated felt hat perched atop a short crop of straw hair to complete his ensemble. The hat, like the rest of his clothes, had surrendered to the dirty brown of the dust.

Badger dejectedly pondered his future. He'd found a few odd jobs lately, but nothing significant since the water works project had ended a couple of months ago. Leaves Whispering in Wind, the craft manager, made it clear that unless he found a way to contribute to the community, he was out at the end of the month. There was some talk of one of the noble families buying land near Passion Mill for some grand project, but so far, no hirings. He'd been out speaking to some of the small holders and business owners trying to find something. The discussion with the infrastructurist had been promising, but ultimately disappointing as he didn't have quite enough skill with pipe fitting.

He had continued to plod along slowly, until out of his eye he saw someone standing in the field beside the road. As he looked more closely, the figure resolved itself into a naked woman beckoning to him. He startled. What was an attractive woman doing out here this late? She was young, probably in her mid twenties, but even a child would know the folly of being outside a bounding after sunset. Surely she risked shadows, demons and who knew what else, unless her passion was quite strong and well grounded in her community's web. However, he'd never seen her before, so her community must not be close.

With a chill, he realized that he ran all those risks too. His lover's work had been about as successful as everything else in his life recently. Badger realized with dawning horror that the demon before him risked nothing, and that his only chance lie in running for all he was worth. With a burst of fear and speed, he pelted down the road. She followed, running slightly faster than Badger with no apparent effort.

Badger redoubled his efforts. The demon, for at this point he was almost certain that is what she was, continued to out-pace him slightly. Two more times, Badger reached within himself and found more strength and speed. Each time, though, the demon matched and then out-paced his effort. Soon he would reach the rise over which he could catch sight of Pine Hills; he doubted he would make the community before she caught him, but he might see the chance of safety one last time. However, even this was not to be. With a burst of speed he would not have guessed possible, she over-took him. He found himself struggling to come to a stop to avoid running head-long into the demon. She reached out a well-manicured hand and grasped him to prevent his fall.

"Hi, Badger Toiling," she said as her face broke into a beaming smile. "It's such a pleasure to meet you!"

Badger panted heavily, his heart pounding with terror and exertion. By this point he had given up. She had her hands on him, and she was so fast he had no hope of escape. He hoped the end would be quick, although every story he'd heard suggested otherwise.

Badger had to look up slightly to catch the gaze of his captor's dark brown eyes. He would meet his end eyes-open with full awareness of what was to come.

The demon waited calmly. A minute passed and Badger realized that he was not yet dead and had not even been hurt. Perhaps he had entirely misjudged this situation. Still, how did she run so fast? How did she know his name? Eventually, he regained control of his breathing enough to speak.

"Who are you and how do you know my name?"

"I'm Lucinda. I'm your demon bride," she said. She looked at him shyly, her lashes falling briefly, and continued: "That is, if you'll have me."

"That's not funny!" Badger said. "I thought that's exactly what you were. I thought you were going to drink my soul!"

Lucinda laughed. "You're silly. You eat souls, not drink them," she said. "Besides, I'd only eat your soul if it was the thing you most wanted in all the world."

Badger was confused. She seemed so serious, and she still hadn't explained herself. This was far beyond what he would tolerate as a joke.

"Enough!" he said. "This is far too serious for a prank."

"No, of course not. I really am a demon bride, and you really are my mate. Why else would someone wonder around naked and alone out of a bounding this late? How else could I run that fast? Also, how else could I do this?" she asked as she leaned forward to kiss him. As their lips touched, Badger knew without any doubt that Lucinda loved him unconditionally. There was nothing she would not do for him, nothing she would not give him that was hers to give. Tears leaked down his face: he had never felt so valued or desired in all his life.

His stomach clinched as he realized that he could think of no better explanation. He'd heard of really strong connections in a web of passion, but he was sure that he didn't share anything like that with Lucinda, and besides, such connections could only help open one to feelings that were present. Her complete all-encompassing love was unnatural. He was confused; apparently demon brides played with their food, but even though it must be true, he found it impossible to believe that Lucinda would do that to him.

Lucinda stiffened and pulled Badger into a hug. "I'd never trick you," she said. "Take the time you need to trust me and decide whether you want me. Go to Pine Hills tonight as you planned, take a lover, and open to your passion. Then decide whether you want me as your mate."

"You will let me leave, let me just walk away?"

"Of course."

"You aren't much like stories of demon brides, trapping weak lovers and consuming their souls."

A shadow crossed Lucinda's face. "Stories are always incomplete."

Badger asked, "May I take a look at you before I go? I'm the only one I know who has ever seen a demon bride and lived to tell."

"Of course. As long as we both live, I am your slut. I delight in your enjoyment of my body."

Badger stepped back and examined the woman before him. She didn't look very demonic. She was voluptuous, boasting large tits and full curves. Her face was very expressive. At the moment it was beaming brightly at him, a child-like joy dancing behind her eyes. However, he saw signs of past sadness in the corners of her lips. Her hair was very close cropped. She smelled of the woods, excitement and sweat.

Badger imagined losing himself in the softness of her arms, his mind supported by the joy of her love. He imagined taking her, filling her, marking her as his. Reluctantly, he supposed that fucking a demon probably wasn't such a good idea. Eventually after he had had his fill of gazing on Lucinda and running his hands across her smooth skin, he broke away and continued towards Pine Hills.

His encounter with Lucinda had brought forth a bounce in his step and he made much better time than over the last hour. Partly, he was delighted to feel valued, to feel important. Partly, he was afraid of the close call and couldn't believe that somehow she had let him go.

Soon, he reached the weathered door of Pine Hills community house three. He hoped to slip inside unnoticed, but Mossy Stone, the defense manager for the community, met him at the door.

"Where have you been?" Stone asked. "First bell was five minutes ago."

"I've been looking for work. Leaves in Wind has been after me to contribute or move on. I got turned around."

"Well, you're really lucky. I would not be out at night were I you. Look, though, I think I can help with that at least. Ocean Pearl is yours for the evening. She asked that you take her in her room; she is waiting there now."

Badger smiled: Ocean Pearl was no small prize. He was a couple of years her senior, but they had never been lovers before. She had both a mother and father, and they both had money. If he recalled correctly she worked with her father as a banker.

She was attractive. From what he had heard she was an accomplished slut and a good fuck. If Stone had offered Pearl to him yesterday, then his entire month would have brightened. Between Lucinda and Pearl, things were really looking up.

"Thank you very much," Badger said.

"You are welcome. I care about maintaining our bounding." Badger would have felt even warmer if Stone expressed care for Badger himself.

Badger walked toward Pearl's room. He looked forward to a night with a woman in her own place instead of yet another evening in a common dormitory.

He found her squatting naked in her door finishing a small offering to the boundary of her room. "O, there you are," she said. She examined him critically and said, "If you want five minutes to throw on something cleaner and freshen up, I guess it won't hurt."

Normally Badger would have been embarrassed at this point that his lover found his appearance and clothes wanting. He realized though that Lucinda's love and confidence for him remained an ever-present feeling in the back of his head. She believed in him and he could believe in himself. Pearl might not comprehend that he didn't have any better clothes. Sometimes he had more-recently washed clothes (although regrettably not at the moment), but what he had was long-past the point of cleanable.

"I have few enough clothes, and after a while the clothes forget everything but dust."

She laughed nervously. "Well, come in. We'll have them off soon enough. She took a step back and he entered her room. She wrinkled her nose. "Although perhaps you'd like to take me to a shower and have me there first?" she asked.

Here too was an excellent opportunity for embarrassment and discomfort. Truthfully, he'd love to wash off the smell of fear, dust and travel. However he was sensitive to how someone who had more money and was more successful viewed him. Before Lucinda he might have challenged her, asking if she were uncomfortable being given to a construction worker, or asking if she were uncomfortable with an honest day's sweat. Both of them would feel horrible and their connection as lovers would be off to a bad start. It would become a duty and dread to both of them.

Today though, Lucinda valued him; it wasn't the end of the world if Pearl thought him smelly. Besides, she was absolutely right. "I bet you have access to shower stalls. Are they big enough for two? Or would you rather me take you in front of everyone under one of the shower heads in a common bathroom?"

"O, certainly we can use my family's bathroom if you'd like; yes, the shower is big enough for both of us. Although I don't mind if you'd take me in front of everyone," she said. "Look, I may be bungling this. I just want you to have an opportunity to feel your most comfortable."

She grinned wickedly. "If I've messed this up and made you feel uncomfortable, perhaps you'll have to spank me."

He laughed. "That's not really my style, but perhaps you could clean and take care of me in the shower."

"Absolutely!" she said smiling.

Badger felt good about himself. He'd managed to hear her when she said she was trying to help and had not let his insecurity get in the way of receiving that message. She was already naked and he soon joined her. She led his way to the nearby bathroom, wiggling her ass as he followed behind.

He took an opportunity to examine her more closely as she adjusted the temperature of the water. She was slender with small, perky tits and thick brown hair. Her hips were somewhat pronounced. Badger appreciated her expressive face as she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. Soon, the water was ready and she motioned him into the shower.

Pearl was silly enough that Badger felt himself relaxing and smiling. She used her body to soap his torso, playfully rubbing against him. He relaxed into her touch, and her hands as they explored and cleaned his body. When he was at last clean, they began to play in earnest. She pressed her tits against him, as her hand found his cock. She smiled as she rubbed her body and jacked him.

Soon she was on her knees before him, his cock in her mouth. Badger had his hands on her as she bobbed on him. She was good: her lips were responsive to his need and she had no trouble keeping up her work. He enjoyed looking on her as she sucked, water running down her hair and back.

"If you want to be fucked, we might want to go to your room before I come."

"Hmm," she said as she flicked her tongue against his glans, grinning at him. Reluctantly, though, Pearl slowed her efforts, kissed his cock and stood. He turned off the water and they stepped out of the shower to dry themselves. He led the way back to her room, his cock standing proud before them both.

She spread herself before him on her bed. He bent toward her, his breath stirring the curls of her bush. He inhaled, smelling the clean freshness of the soap atop an underlying hint of the musk of her excitement. Her lips were slightly engorged, the tip of her clit peaking forth.

His cock was quite hard and he was filled with lust. He was happy that he'd managed to connect with Pearl, to step past the problems caused by class and his frustrations. Truthfully though, his lust was half for Pearl before him, and half for Lucinda wherever she might be. He imagined slutting for the demoness, offering thanks with his passion for the help and joy she brought into his life. However, Pearl was before him now and he would not waste Lucinda's gift and fail to actually act the part of the respectable slut and lover for Pearl.

His tongue darted out teasing her cunt lips. Then he began to lick in earnest, exploring her cunt and clit. She pushed herself against him, squealing as he played her body.

She asked him to mount her; she said she took great pleasure from fucking. He slid forward, lips connecting as he offered her taste back to her. His cock found her and he entered.

Badger's lust was great and he was tempted to pound her quickly. However, he decided to savor the experience and stroked slowly. He adjusted himself so he could cup her tits, thumbs against her nipples. She bucked under him, throwing herself into their joining. Eventually she shrieked her release, her cunt clinching against his own cock bringing him over the edge.

After they recovered, Pearl rolled on top of him. She rubbed her cunt against his belly, smearing the cum dripping from her across them both. "That was fun, thank you," she said. "I heard that you were surly of late," she said. "I was a bit nervous when I heard you were given me."

"I've had a rough time," he said. They lay together, Badger rubbing her back. He told of his trouble finding work and of the resulting frustrations in his life.

She expressed sympathy. She talked of the importance of keeping offered lovers at a level of professional detachment. She could not directly help him. He understood. He imagined it would be really awkward to be stuck with a lover who was begging for a loan. However, she said that she did often become aware of jobs and she absolutely would pass along any that seemed to fit.

Badger was pleased that she was happy to host him for the night. He drifted toward sleep. He wondered how Lucinda would feel about the joy he took in Pearl. He was worried that a demon might not understand the importance humans placed on being open and available sluts and lovers. However, he continued to feel her reassuring support and love in the back of his mind. He hoped that was a real connection, not just some delusion on his part.

The next morning, Badger woke refreshed and ready to face the day. He'd see if there were any jobs to find. He also wanted to visit Lucinda; he was concerned that seeing her again was a bad idea, but he couldn't get thoughts of her out of his head. He decided he'd try and get some real answers from her.

Then he realized that he had no idea where to find her. It seemed unlikely that she spent her entire life wandering around that field where she caught him the previous evening. Well, perhaps that was for the best. He'd spend some time later searching and then hopefully when she failed to appear it would be easier to move on.

Badger went to find Mossy Stone to note that he'd potentially be out late. He didn't tell Stone that he was searching for a demon: that would surely end badly. Stone was not supportive of Badger's request. "That seems like a really bad idea, Badger. When things are rough is no time to be taking risks; you need to reinforce your bond to this community."