Chapter 1

Nathan sat looking out over the lake with his back against a tree in just his underwear, which were cut in a boxer like style. He really liked their loose fit.

As he sat with no other clothes on but those, he watched as Ariel bathed in the lake. She was standing topless in not quite waist deep water.

The afternoon sun was soon going to set, and combined with the amber autumn colors, seemed to make her red hair look that much brighter.)

She had long since cut her long hair that used to hang down well past her hips so that it was now shorter than it used to be. It now just reached past her shoulders to a little higher than the middle of her back and wasn't much different than how most of the women around them wore theirs.

She had cut it just a touch shorter when they first arrived in the area three months ago.

She also no longer wore it in a French style braid, but kept it pulled high and tight in a free swinging ponytail. She said that she liked the braid better, but she adjusted to this new style that was common around them because it was close to what she liked.

But right this minute it was hanging freely around her head as she turned her head to the side to wash it.

And as Nathan watched her, he couldn't help but feel himself starting to grow hard at the beautiful sight of his wife topless as she bathed. He still found her truly incredible. And he was so grateful to have her in his life.

Watching her as he did, he again took notice of her proudly hanging breasts and her narrow waistline. She didn't have the softness that most women had, but she wasn't overtly or heavily muscular either.

She was lean and had just enough muscle definition to show off her curves and valleys to her greatest advantage. She had a sleekness that one couldn't miss while watching everything she did.

Her breasts were still as large as they had ever been, without being too large for her frame. Nathan couldn't help but think that they were still warm, firm, and soft to the touch. And he did enjoy touching them as much as possible.

But even from here, though he couldn't see the dimples or green eyes that he knew she possessed, he couldn't help but call them to his mind's eye as he completed the picture he thought of as perfection by her.

No man could want for a more beautiful companion he always thought.

As he managed to briefly tear his eyes from her and look away, he once again took notice of the letter off to his right side lying folded in the thick grass.

They were able to eventually find someone in the port town that would hold any mail they received for them until they returned back this way every few months to check.

It took awhile because they needed someone they trusted enough to do this for them, and it didn't hurt that most were taken with Ariel either. But they didn't appear to abuse the trust them place in them so far, and they of course paid them well to hold the letters.

But in keeping with their taking no chances as well, their oldest child, their daughter Rayne, had sealed the letter with a high level magic that couldn't be opened unless by a very high level mage or by the ones it was intended for, Nathan and Ariel.

She then wrote her letter using Blue magic so that it would look like blank paper to anyone normal or again not a very high level mage.

The plan was for her mother to be able to receive the letters if needed as well, but her father would be the only one to read it in case someone got a hold of the letter after it was unsealed.

Though that was the plan, strangely they found out that Ariel was also able to read the letter, but she couldn't write one like it.

It must have been her enhanced eyes that allowed her to do this. They were still exploring and finding out the full scope of what she was capable of with her newly and magically enhanced body.

They already found she had extremely well developed low light vision. If any light existed at all she could use it to see clearly with. And her hearing was not to be discounted by any means.

But they took all the precautions they could, and they felt they were doing the best they were able to given the circumstances. They needed to stay in contact with the family.

In the latest letter Rayne had mentioned that everyone was doing well, thanked them again for the gifts they had sent to them and that they loved them and were getting a lot out of them, and said that they had finally told all the kids and their mates what happened.

Galen was having a fit because of who all knew, but they felt it was truly unfair and cruel to let close family believe she was dead. Galen finally relented but wasn't happy about it.

They had taken a trip to the academy to see the boys and to the Sisters of the Sacred Blade guild to talk to the girls.

The boys took it well and they didn't tell anyone what was going on. But they already heard the rumors of what their grandfather did with the Dragon and it only made them that much more popular with the staff and fellow student body.

Like their father and grandfather, they seemed to be fighting off the young, and in some cases older, co-ed females who seemed to be after them with a mission.

Before just hearing the reference to their grandfather was enough to attract the girls, but now the young ladies were determined to be the only ones for the boys when Aric became more famous.

But so far they were staying concentrated on their studies. Rayne said that they told them they didn't have time to party with the women if they wanted to surpass their grandfather. And knowing the boys Nathan believed them.

But they were very glad to know that their grandmother didn't get killed as the reports suggested to them. But just knowing that if they let it slip she was alive could get her killed ensured the boys will never speak of it to anyone.

The girls took it hard at first when they thought Brianna was dead. Especially after they just were taken as slaves and freed.

But once they found out that their grandfather ensured that she was safe, and that both of them were alive and well, the girls were better.

But Rayne felt the need to let Cassie and Anne-Marie in on the secret since she knew that Beth would eventually find out as well.

Rayne said that Cassie was too close not to be considered family in the complete sense of the word. And Annie-Marie needed to know because she was in charge of the girls and she would notice something wasn't right when the girls didn't seem to grieve like they should.

Both of them understood the need for secrecy for their fellow Sisters life and they said they would never tell anyone else and would carry the secret to their graves.

But Rayne also said that Annie-Marie just shook her head and asked "What will that man do next? I find myself often wishing it had been me that had found him all those seasons ago." when told of both the whole story killing of a dragon and of Nathan saving Ariel's life.

The secret would just stay with immediate family members and never be spoken of unless Nathan and Ariel change their minds or something changes it for them.

But the best news of all was that Rayne and Matt conceived another child recently, and while Rayne was only four months along, if it was a boy she said that they would named him Aric Nathaniel Spencer.

They originally wanted to wait until his birth before they said anything, as Rayne would be forty seasons at delivery. But Rayne said she already knew it was a boy so to expect his name to be that.

That made Nathan and Ariel very happy to hear. They knew before long they would need to sneak back for a visit and see their newest grandchild.

The only other new news was that the city was unhappy to hear that Aric left to wander the lands after the apparent death of his wife.

A few of the single, and some not so single, women of all ages wanted to fill what they felt was an available open slot with him for his next wife and they were all very disappointed they wouldn't get the chance.

But the city guard had the Dragon stuffed, mounted, bronzed, and then had it positioned in front of the opening to the city gates.

They also commissioned a new plaque to be made to replace the old one that now hung over the Dragon's head and read:

The city of Mariner's Deep

Home of Aric Griffith, Battlemage and Dragon slayer!

And his wife Brianna Griffith the Scarlet Blade and city guardian!

Rayne said that the grandchildren were never so happy to be known as their grandchildren than they were from the honor the city gave them all. The city experienced an influx of tourists and new residents wanting to see the dragon Aric had slain.

But knowing of the honor really didn't make much impact on Nathan as he laid back and closed his eyes.

He was just enjoying one of the few autumn days of rest they've had since they landed in the new city an entire continent away and planned to enjoy it with his wife of over forty seasons.

"So I see that you are no longer interested in watching any of the scenery around you," said Ariel softly as she approached Nathan.

He was still sitting with his eyes closed leaning back against the tree.

Without opening his eyes, Nathan could feel her standing over him and blocking out the late afternoon sun that was previously shining on him.

"No, I could never grow tired of that sight. I was just remembering when we first came here a few months ago and what's changed since then," said Nathan as he slowly opened his eyes and looked up.

Ariel was still naked, but had dried off as she approached him. She had pulled her wet hair back into a ponytail once she stopped to face Nathan. Her hair had an almost blinding sheen to it while still wet and her clothes and weapons were lying in a neat pile not too far from Nathan, next to his own.

As Nathan sat looking up at her he once again felt himself growing hard.

He had no idea why his libido had never decreased for her over the seasons, but he had to admit he loved the fact that it hadn't either. He couldn't picture not wanting her every day if possible. But she was always able to make him grow just by a look.

As Ariel stood over him watching his reaction she had a small smile on her face.

She could see his desire for her rising as he slowly looked her over and she also could see his shorts prominently tenting now as well.

She always enjoyed that she could get his complete attention whenever she chose to over the seasons, and was still very happy to know that this would never change either.

"You know, it's been almost two days since we were last together don't you?" asked Ariel softly with her eyes half open as she lowered herself still naked to straddle his lap.

The one thing he immediately noticed as she slowly lowered herself was that she continued shaving for him down below. But of course Nathan didn't realize that he wasn't the only one who enjoyed the feeling of her going bare.

As she seated herself on him she knew nothing short of a fire burning around them would pull Nathan's attention from her. And even then he might not care. But to be fair the same could be said for her as well.

Once fully straddling his lap Ariel started to slowly kiss his lips. As she did she slowly ran her hands through his thick curly brown hair with its single silver forelock and started massaging his scalp with both hands.

She then started to slowly move her right hand down his head, to where she then placed it at the base of his neck, to hold him in a much more insistent kiss than she started with.

Her left hand slowly moved down to where it was now lightly touching his chest.

Before long her kisses seems almost hungry in her determination to be with him and Nathan started to enjoy himself as she aggressively went after him. She has always been the most aggressive of the pair and that is what he has always enjoyed the most.

And while she was doing this, he was slowly reaching around with his left hand to cup his wife's naked buttocks and with his right he was slowly and softly massaging her breast, but doesn't come anywhere close to her nipples at all.

He intentionally softly squeezes and caresses his way around her breasts but refuses to touch them.

He then places his hand on her waist and travels slowly from her waist, across her flat stomach, and back up to caress and squeeze her breasts while still avoiding her nipples.

After a few moments of this he starts to feel her squirming around in his lap on his cock.