Chapter 35

35

The yearning to be together is rooted in the desire to leave behind loneliness.

~ Publican Dalrik

After Doc Penderbrock cleaned and wrapped the knife cut in her arm, Kaylina bathed and put on a night dress, then dozed in the chair in her room. A lamp burned low on a table, and Vlerion slept under a blanket on her bed. She opted for that word— slept —instead of admitting he was unconscious and hadn’t stirred since he’d spoken on that rooftop.

When Targon had returned with rangers to collect Jankarr’s body, he and his men had also carried Vlerion down from the building. It hadn’t been hard for Kaylina to talk them into taking him to her castle rather than their headquarters, probably because it was closer. It also sounded like the headquarters compound would need as much rebuilding as Stillguard.

With her help, Penderbrock had stripped Vlerion of his armor and torn clothes to treat wounds left by the prince’s army. There had been surprisingly few, given how eventful the battle had been. Penderbrock, puzzled that Vlerion was unconscious, had checked his head several times for lumps until Kaylina had admitted he’d been touched by druid magic. She was reluctant to explain her father to others—the world already thought she was an oddity—nor did she think Vlerion would want her detailing everything about the curse. If that ritual hadn’t worked… would he want people to know?

During one of the times she dozed off, the romantic adventure novel in her lap clunked to the wood floor. The soft noise made Vlerion stir, and she sat up, hoping he would waken.

Dawn hadn’t yet arrived, and she wouldn’t have been surprised if he slept through the day, but she couldn’t help but long for reassurance that he would survive. And that Arsanti’s magic had worked.

Vlerion’s eyes opened, and he sat up, the blanket that had covered him slipping to his waist. Chest bare, save for a couple of bandages, he blinked a few times as he looked around. His eyes were surprisingly alert.

With her own eyes more sleepy than alert, Kaylina smiled at him as she picked up her book to set next to the lamp.

“How are you feeling?” She looked at his bandages, though her gaze strayed to his bare chest, the handful of bruises not doing anything to mar his appeal.

She remembered him fighting, first as a man and then as a beast. In both incarnations, he’d been amazing, his strength, stamina, and agility allowing him to deliver far greater blows to his enemies than he’d received himself.

Not sure she should be ogling the chest of a wounded man, she looked into his eyes.

“Good.” Vlerion sounded surprised.

He lifted his arms and flexed his muscles experimentally. Then he pushed the blanket to the side so he could stand. Stark naked, he swung his arms and rotated his hips, all of which made it even harder not to ogle him.

“I’m fuzzy on what your father did to me, but I actually feel… amazing.” Vlerion looked curiously at her, as if she might know.

“Well, you were struck by lightning.”

His eyebrows rose. “It must have been invigorating.”

“It knocked me halfway across that rooftop.” Technically, a gust of wind had done that, but Kaylina doubted he cared about precision. “Do you remember… anything?”

Do you remember if my father succeeded in altering the curse ? was what she wanted to ask, but would Vlerion be able to tell yet? Arsanti had said he’d been successful, but who could trust a father who’d turned into a bird and flown away without saying goodbye?

Vlerion stopped swinging his arms and lowered them to his sides. “I… remember Jankarr’s death.”

“Ah.” That hadn’t been what she’d wanted to remind him of. She rose from her chair, stepped close, and wrapped her arms around him.

She could feel the vigor he’d spoken of, almost like a magical power that emanated from him. The power of the beast?

He didn’t seem close to a change—if anything, he appeared more calm and relaxed than usual—but she knew without a doubt that he was still magical. That which had always drawn her continued to draw her, and she had to resist the urge to let her hands roam, to let her hug of commiseration turn into an erotic exploration of his body.

“I also remember some of the battle,” Vlerion added, gazing toward the wall as he sorted through his memories, unaware of her rising desire. “But that’s also fuzzy, after… you know…”

After he’d turned into the beast. Yes, she knew.

“I’m sorry for all that you lost,” she whispered.

“Thank you.” Vlerion returned her hug, holding her close. “Given everything, I feel surprisingly serene. The aftermath of druid magic, I suppose.” He looked around the room and then down at her—or maybe at himself. “I also feel naked.” He sounded a little puzzled.

“The lightning,” she said, smiling.

“It ripped my clothes off?”

“Incinerated them.”

“ Really ?” Vlerion touched his bare chest, as if wondering why he hadn’t been incinerated.

“No. I think the lightning was mostly funneling power into my father. After we got you here, I helped Doc Penderbrock remove your clothes so he could treat you. They were ripped and bloody anyway, due to…”

“The beast.”

“Yeah.”

She mulled over a way to ask him if he could tell if the curse had changed.

Maybe he was also wondering that because he lifted a hand to stroke the back of her head, then cleared his throat with surprising diffidence. “Would you like to also get naked?”

Still in his arms, Kaylina leaned back so she could look into his eyes. They held wariness, curiosity, and was that trepidation? Maybe he wanted to test whether lust would still bestir the beast.

“Of course, you don’t have to undress.” Vlerion gazed down at the curves under her night dress.

As always, his interest lit flames that had already been smoldering within her. A thrum of excitement coursed through her at the thought of finally, finally being with him.

“If you simply stand here in my arms with your appealing parts pressed against mine a little longer, we’ll find out.” Vlerion smiled, but that trepidation lingered in his eyes.

“Should I… get one of the elixirs?” she felt compelled to ask, though she didn’t want to dampen his libido—to dampen anything. She wanted it to be safe to join with him.

Was it?

“No more potions.” Vlerion slid his hand from her head to trail down her side, brushing her through her night dress.

Her nerves lit with pleasure, the stimulation driving away her weariness. Oh, how she’d longed for him to touch her—to be able to touch her without repercussions.

“Okay,” she whispered.

“I want to test… I want you.” The hint of a growl in his voice sent a titillating rush through her. She wanted him too. But did that growl indicate the beast? Or only his interest as a man?

Kaylina peered into his eyes again, looking for that glint that entered them when he was on the verge of changing. Vlerion gazed back at her, his humanity intact.

He lifted a hand, as if to unlace her night dress, but he paused and raised his eyebrows. Silently asking if it was okay. If she trusted him not to turn.

“I want you too,” she whispered aloud, giving her permission.

“Good.” He reached for her laces as he lowered his mouth to kiss her, his lips hungrily taking hers.

His passion almost surprised her, making her think of a pent-up panther that had been locked in a cage and finally released, but his touch roused her swiftly. In the scant seconds it took him to slip off her night dress and pull her against his hot, hard body, she was pressing eagerly into him, kissing him back. She matched his passion as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, molding herself to him.

Without breaking their kiss, Vlerion lifted her and laid her on the bed. She kept her grip on his shoulders, pulling him down with her so their bodies would stay together, deliciously close.

His hands slid over her bare skin, raising gooseflesh as he stroked and cupped, eager to finally explore her. Equally eager, she ran her own hands along his muscled planes, relishing the heat of his body, the intriguing mix of smooth skin and raised scars. Her mighty warrior had survived many, many battles to be here with her tonight.

Vlerion’s lips and tongue caressed her as his hands roamed, he as intrigued with her body as she with his. There was no hesitancy in his touch, no question of whether things would go awry this time. She found herself trusting that, trusting him . Maybe he could already tell the beast wouldn’t arise.

She hoped so because she longed for this, for him. She couldn’t imagine stopping again.

She slid her hands over his firm flesh, exploring him as she’d never dared before. She luxuriated in running her fingers over the hard bulges and indentions of his muscles, the taut tendons of his neck, the fierce masculinity of him . And his mouth—it tasted so good against hers, so tantalizing as his lips and tongue moved against hers.

Before long, she squirmed in his arms, her breaths quick, her hands flexing around his hard shoulders. His lips tasted magnificent as they kissed, and she inhaled his warm scent, reveling in his aura of power.

When his fingers trailed over her bare breast, teasing her sensitive flesh, she shifted toward him. The heat in her core intensified, his every touch stoking the fire within her. His hand slid lower, and she trembled with anticipation.

She remembered being in the hallway with him, her back against the wall, his mouth pleasuring her. She wanted that again but, this time, longed for him to find his own release, as well.

Hoping to convey that, she kissed him hard, willing her thoughts to wash over him. She wished him to know how badly she wanted this for both of them.

A hint of magic warmed her, adding to the flush of desire she already felt, and maybe she did manage to share her thoughts with him.

“Kaylina,” Vlerion rasped, shifting over her, his hard length pressed against her. “You’re impossible to resist.”

“Don’t resist,” she whispered, her mouth against his. “Take me.” She pressed up against him, so delighted, so aroused, that she could scarcely wait. “Hard.”

“I don’t want to rush with you,” Vlerion said, but his breaths were quick too, his muscles coiled with barely restrained power.

“We can go slow later,” she whispered, twisting and shifting under his continuing touches. “I want?—”

He slipped his hand between her thighs, making her gasp. Yes, that was what she wanted. She spread her legs in invitation, craving more.

Vlerion growled his approval, or maybe his desire, and lowered his mouth from hers so his tongue could trace her damp skin, finding sensitive flesh that quivered under his touch. He licked and sucked his way along the curve of her breasts, taking her nipple in his mouth even as his fingers found her core.

Gasping again as sheer pleasure swept through her, she forgot her explorations of his body. She needed to grip his shoulders, to hang on to him as she trembled. He sucked gently, then teased her with an exquisite nip that ignited raw need in her. She couldn’t keep from crying his name, urgency making her thrust toward him.

He smiled against her skin, then descended lower, his tongue trailing down her abdomen as he ignited her every nerve. Her muscles quivered, her need intensifying. She arched toward him, wanting what he’d given her before, wanting more this time.

As he had in the hallway, he descended lower, bringing his mouth to her core. He gripped her hips, capturing her, and breathed in her scent as he tasted her fully. His movements were almost frenetic this time, his body taut with his own need. There was no potion lessening his libido.

She caught herself looking to his eyes, afraid the beast might come, but when their hungry gazes met, Vlerion was present with her. Full of lust and even a little savage, perhaps, but he was still a man. A man who’d wanted her for as long as she’d wanted him. There was so much tension in his body that she expected him to give up this prelude and spring upon her at any moment, to satisfy his own great need.

Kaylina wanted that, but she wanted this too, for him to complete this exquisite preamble that would lead to their joining. This time, he could have her afterward; he wouldn’t change into the beast. She groaned, wanting him so much. His every lick and touch made her fire blaze hotter, and she caught herself gasping for air—for him.

He sucked at her, nearly taking her over the edge, before shifting back to teasing strokes of his tongue.

“Vlerion!” she cried, panting now, her need making her impatient.

It crossed her mind that this was where things had gone wrong before, where the beast had risen. Maybe they should have stopped, but he delved hungrily into her, and she couldn’t do anything but pant and writhe, unable to form words.

“Gods, Kaylina,” he said, almost a snarl as he kissed and stroked, licking her so provocatively, making her whole body shake as he carried her closer and closer to her climax. “You make me so…”

“Crazy,” she gasped, bucking into him.

He slid his tongue fully into her as he gripped her hips, probing, thrusting, and she lost the ability to form thoughts. She simply reacted, pushing toward him as her aching need built and built.

He was panting too, seeming as aroused as she by his intimate touches. She rubbed his scalp, longing to do more for him, but it was hard to think about anything but her own intense pleasure.

When he sucked in the most exquisite spot, she found her release, exploding like one of the cannonballs blasting toward the castle. She imagined the fireworks of a beam blowing it out of the air as she crashed over the edge, her ecstasy even more euphoric than the first time.

“Hard,” Vlerion said, finishing his sentence. He surged up so they were face to face, his powerful body hard against hers.

“What?” she panted, thoughts scattered as waves of pleasure kept sweeping over her.

“You make me so hard ,” he growled, his eyes fiery with his own need.

She glanced down, eyes full of his straining length pressed against her, eager to sink into her. The desire in his gaze was so intense that she longed to quench it, to bring him a release that would make all the months of waiting worth it.

“I need you,” he rasped, “to be ready again. To take me.”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pushing her body against his.

“I’m ready for you… all the time,” she said, kissing him. It was too difficult to speak, to convey that she woke up dreaming of him, needing him, every morning, and she fantasized about him whenever they were together, embarrassingly ready for him more times a day than she could count.

He lowered his hand, stroking her again with his fingers. Checking to make sure she was indeed ready? Even that innocuous touch made her throb, more than prepared to accept him. She clenched around him and nodded her eagerness, kissing him again as she stroked him, willing him to feel the same amazing pleasure she had.

“I love you, Kaylina,” he said, almost in wonder as he shifted his length to enter her.

So eager to have him enjoy himself that it hurt, she pressed toward him, willing him to drive into her. She wanted him to experience ecstasy such as he’d never known with another woman.

He slid into her, slowly at first, making sure she was okay, but his raw power coiled in him, and she knew he wanted more. He wanted her fast and hard. She nodded, willing him to take all the pleasure he could.

Like the panther she’d envisioned before, he sprang, plunging in deep, filling her like no one had before. The delicious friction took her from her earlier satisfaction to needing him all over again.

A groan of pure intense pleasure escaped him as he withdrew just enough to drive in again. They rocked together, panting each other’s names, inarticulate growls and words matching their frenzied motions. She came again before he, his stamina on the battlefield extending to stamina in this arena, but she clung on, giving everything he needed even as satiation filled her. She wanted this for him so badly that she kept stroking him, kept kissing him, giving him everything he must have wanted since they first acknowledged their attraction.

Finally, he threw back his head, roaring like the beast as he exploded into her. Kaylina whispered words of love, her legs wrapped around his hips, capturing him even as he kept her pinned. Neither of them was leaving the other.

“Never,” she whispered, kissing him on the neck as the tension finally left his body, and he emanated vast satisfaction.

“Hm?” He nuzzled her ear as his breathing returned to normal.

“I’m never leaving you,” she whispered. “And you’re never leaving me.”

“So certain, are you?”

“Yeah.”

“Because of your druid powers?”

Feeling a little naughty, she said, “My tits.”

He laughed softly, his breath warm against her neck. “They are amazing.”

“And only for you.”

“I know.” He sounded smug. “Your legs are still clamped around me.”

“I like you between them.”

His eyes gleamed. “Good.”

Arms wrapped around Vlerion, legs tangled with his, Kaylina rested her face against his chest, their bodies damp in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Daylight shone through the window, the sun having risen—and then some—while they’d been busy enjoying each other’s company. A thousand tasks awaited both of them, but Kaylina didn’t want to get out of bed, didn’t want this time to end.

“Maybe we won’t be disturbed for a while,” she murmured. “After all, you were struck by lightning. Nobody should expect you to take on kingly duties for a couple of days, right?”

“I’m sure Targon will show up soon, wanting my help.” Vlerion tightened his arms around her, probably also wishing they could stay in bed together longer.

A knock sounded at the door.

Kaylina scowled. “If that’s him, I’ll shoot him with my sling.”

She must have spoken loudly enough to be heard through the door because the words that wafted through sounded nervous. “Ms. Korbian? It’s Sevarli. The castle is a huge mess, but Frayvar and I got the kitchen tidied up enough to make breakfast. A couple of rangers who said they have to be stationed here now to protect Lord Vlerion helped. Well, we convinced them to help. With bribes. Anyway, I brought up some bacon and biscuits if you’re hungry.”

“That sounds lovely,” Kaylina called and was about to get up to go to the door, but Sevarli must have taken the words as an invitation to enter.

Vlerion swept a blanket over them as the girl walked in.

“Oh, my apologies.” Sevarli looked away from them but continued inside to deliver a tray.

It held a basket of freshly baked biscuits, jam and butter, perfectly crisped bacon, and two cups of steaming coffee. The mixture of aromas tantalized Kaylina’s nose and made her stomach growl.

“That smells amazing ,” she said. “If Frayvar doesn’t ask you to marry him one day, I will.”

Sevarli blinked.

“I might object to that,” Vlerion murmured, watching Kaylina through his lashes.

Kaylina plucked up a piece of bacon and put it in his mouth. His stomach growled at the first taste.

“Maybe not,” he amended.

She laughed and grabbed a piece for herself, hurrying to say, “Thank you,” to Sevarli.

She was already backing toward the door. “You’re welcome. I’ll see to it you’re not disturbed for a while,” she promised as she shut it.

“You’ve hired quality staff.” Vlerion’s slice of bacon had already disappeared, and he was eyeing the rest of the plate.

“Oh, I know it.”

They scooted into a sitting position to enjoy the meal, and Vlerion gazed contentedly at her as he sipped his coffee.

Kaylina slathered biscuits with jam and butter for both of them but paused as she handed one to him. “You realize… that because you’re still cursed to turn into the beast, and I’m still an anrokk … Are you bothered that we’ll never get a chance to know if we’d be attracted to each other the same way if not for the magic drawing us together?”

“No,” Vlerion said without hesitation. “I’ve known for a while that the magic is what brought us together; it’s not what keeps us together.” He brushed her hand as he accepted the biscuit. “Are you bothered?”

“No,” she said, also without hesitation. And she wasn’t.