BLOOD OF KHARIS

CHAPTER 16: WOMAN

"How do you feel?" he asks, the question taking her by surprise.

How does she feel? She thought he didn't care.

"Speak freely," he continues. Instead of her to get her hopes up, she probes further.

"I don't understand what you -"

"Ambrosia informed me of your unconsciousness after the meeting."

Looking into his eyes, she replies, "I am well, not dead as you can see."

Leonidas nods looking past her at the bookshelves.

"You started reading"

"I did. I had no choice but to desperately wait for you every night, but you hid...like a child," she says, murmuring the last part.

"A child?"

"As the Lord of this manor, if you simply do not wish to speak with someone you can easily have them removed. But you remained out of my sight, and I am a bit confident that whenever you perceived my scent coming from one way, you went the other."

Arching an eyebrow at her, he responds, "Who do you think you are?"

"The insignificant human that saved your manor," she says.

Frowning he commands, "Don't call yourself that."

"Insignificant? I'm not using any words you haven't. It's not a lie," she shrugs.

"It is. I need you."

Kharis looks at him, her heart skipping a beat at his words, but then she registers the meaning, looking away.

"Of course. Without my blood, you will go mad and I promised to -"

"No. I need you, Kharis," he says carefully. Drawing her eyes to him, she sees that his are filled with something she cannot explain. Stepping closer between her legs which are spread due to her position, he bows his head, slowly laying a kiss on her chin, and neck, the woman, sighing in contentment.

He looks back up at her before pressing his lips against hers. Startled, Kharis takes a second before reciprocating his advances, her hand, moving into his hair. His lips feel warm against hers, but she has no idea what she's doing. It has been ages! Luckily his lips leave hers going back to her neck, leaving wet kisses, sucking on her skin. Pulling her close against him, she feels it, his bulge, a panicked moan leaving her mouth.

"My Lord," she whispers, realizing they have broken boundaries, boundaries she wishes were never there.

Leonidas ignores her, pushing up her dress, his hands caressing her thighs. Kharis gasps, pushing him back, his eyes meeting hers.

"What you're doing is unfair," she says suddenly feeling disgusted with herself.

Confused, he cocks his head to the side, waiting for her to explain.

"I know I am but a mere slave but that doesn't give you the right to have your way with me."

"You weren't complaining earlier," he states, trying to understand why she's suddenly like this.

"My mistake. You already have a woman but you choose to go behind her back and fiddle with another? I am not the kind of woman that will entertain that. I will not break the heart of another woman, and I despise men who philander"

Another woman? His woman? He has a woman? Philander?! All this is news to him.

"Kharis-"

"I respect your wishes and I'm, quite frankly, flattered by your desires, but they must end here. I am trying to work things out with Arne so I suggest you confess and apologize to your woman soon."