I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
His lips brushed against mine, and the tension I had felt coursing through my body dissolved as I melted into him. Quickly, he removed any bit of fabric between us and pushed inside me seamlessly, holding me close to him. “I don’t like to fight with you.”
“Me either,” I mumbled into his neck, moaning as he thrust into me again.
His hands gripped my hips and pulled me into him. “I hate that I scared you. I hate that I made you feel unsafe. I just wanted to…”
I put a finger to his lips. “Shhh.” Replacing my finger with my lips, I kissed him deeply, wrapping my legs around his waist and pulling him into me deeper. “You were making sure I was safe. I know.”
“I love you, little one. You’ve made this life worth living again.” He nuzzled into my neck.
It hit me right then that my life had been a series of motions to get by. Always laying low to a degree to avoid drawing the attentions of my mother’s family. Always avoiding my true nature.
Kane made me want to be me. He made me feel like my life was worth living as me, not some watered down version of myself. As if I didn’t have so many other reasons to love him already, that one was a big one.
I gripped him as I inched closer and closer to climax. When he came, I did, too. It was smooth, engulfing, deep. Our bodies curled into each other’s, and our moans were low, deep, from the deepest parts of us. Something was different. Not worse or better than the sex we had been having. Closer.
My lips brushed against his earlobe. “I love you, too, Kane.”
He pushed himself up, looking at me with a smirk. “We should get ready. The men are gathering what we need for our travels. I need to inform them that you will be joining us as well as our extra stop.”
“When do we leave?” I sat up as he stood and began to dress himself.
The smirk returned to his lips when he saw me admiring him. He stepped up next to the bed, his thighs brushing against my leg that I’d swung off the side. “You keep looking at me like that, and we may never leave. I’ll just send someone for your herbs.”
I reached out and pushed his arm. “But then how would we make love in all those exotic places you’re going to show me?”
Desire clouded his eyes, and he leaned in over me again. “Careful what you wish for, little one.”
I laughed loud and pushed him playfully again. “Kane!” I squealed.
But my laughter was short lived. As I went to straighten back up, a shooting pain ripped through my abdomen. My hands flew to cradle the area, and I cringed, my breath sucking in fast.
All desire left Kane’s eyes, replaced by fear. “Auri? Are you alright?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine.” It was only a half lie. The pain was already easing. “I’ll get dressed.”
He put his hand on my shoulder, keeping me sitting. “No. I’ll send for Sarah. She can assist you while you stay put.” He paused, looking me over from head to toe. “Maybe you should not travel.”
“I’m going!” I nearly shouted my response.
“But…” He stopped himself this time, seeing my determination written all over my face. “It’ll be faster with you with us I suppose. You wouldn’t have to wait for our return for the herbs. I could give you what you need the moment we attain them.”
“Exactly.” I hadn’t realized that a tear had escaped and was traveling down my cheek.
He wiped it away with his thumb before reaching up to pull the rope that would call Sarah to the room. “Please wait for her. I need to go brief the others.”
I nod, a sweet smile tugging the corners of my mouth up as he kissed me softly before disappearing through the door. I’d seen the difficulty he had leaving me in that moment. But I also had seen the determination in him to keep me safe, too.
Before the door closed, I heard Wulfgar out in the hall. “With warning, I could leave the doorway when you and… your queen want to spend some intimate time together.”
“Why would you want to leave your post?” There was a slight hint of humor in his tone.
Wulfgar grunted. “I just…” Before he could finish, Sarah walked up to the men.
She bowed and nodded to each.
Wulfgar, his eyes fixed on the woman, shifted, standing up more and puffin out his chest. “Hello, Sarah.”
She blushed, nodding one more time and rushing into the room with her head down and a blush staining her cheeks.
“Sarah?” I said her name with amused questioning, wanting to ask about her reaction to him.
She waved it off and pointed to my hands on my abdomen.
I signed, “I am fine. Just some pain. Kane wants you to help me get dressed.”
I’d been working with her on American Sign language. While her sentence structure and broad knowledge was still a work in process, she’d been picking up on things rather fast. Something that pleased us both. Admittedly, Sometimes I signed a bit faster than she could comprehend, forgetting she was still learning.
She signed back, “Again please. Kane what?”
Just as I started to sign it all again, Kane came back inside with my new guard in tow. “Sarah, Auriena needs
