The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

24

Erik was setting up pillows on the floor like we had last time. I smiled and leaned against the bedpost, watching as he puffed up some pillows and set the trays of food on the floor in the middle of the pillows and cushions. Erik's head tilted to the side, and I heard him laugh.
"I hope you are hungry," he said as he uncovered our trays of food.
I smiled. "Starving," I said and walked to sit beside him. Erik's eyes slid up my naked legs and tracked up my body.
"Lexi..." My name left his lips in a surprised whisper. I lowered myself to the floor beside him. It was almost as if he couldn't help himself. A look of bewildered awe took Erik's feature as he reached out, his fingers sliding up my legs, grazing against my skin.
"So smooth," he mumbled as he leaned forward. His lips brushed against my skin and I sucked in a breath. Erik sighed, his hot breath warming my skin as I slid to my knees. Erik's hand pulled me forward, his lips pressing to mine. Hooking his hand under my knee, Erik pulled me forward making me straddle him.
"Erik-"
He pressed me closer. "Just tell me when to stop," he breathed, his hot breath melting across my skin as his tongue touched my Mark. My eyes fluttered open and watched as the shadows danced against the ceiling.
Erik's hands slipped under my shirt slowly, giving me every chance to stop him. When his hands settled on my skin, his fingers warped around my hips he sighed in content as he kissed his way up my jaw.
"I want you, Lexi," he told me.
I blinked. My breath was even and deep. I felt my legs quiver around him. "Erik," I said his name again but this time it came out as a moan. "Erik, stop,"
I gasped when Erik groaned, almost in frustration and leaned away from me, dropping his hands to his sides where they dug into and gripped the fabric of the pillows and blankets beneath him.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked me. "Did I do something you didn't like!"
I felt myself blush. "No, it's not that..."
Erik reached and touched my face. "Tell me," he said. "Be open with me."
I looked up at his emerald green eyes and wished I could just melt away into the sense of safety they provided me.
"I want to... I do, but...I'm scared," I told him. It was the best I could come up with and it was as best a truth I could come up with. It wasn't a lie. I was scared. But not for the reasons Erik may think.
Erik leaned back and dropped his hands to the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head. His hard, perfect muscles were like satin covered steel. He sighed and reached for my hand and placed it over his rapidly beating heart. "I'm scared too," he told me and I frowned.
"You are?" Somehow I found that hard to believe. "Erik Modori, one of the most powerful people in the world, is scared to take his Mate?" My tone had taken on a teasing tone. Erik's hand wandered to my neck and he gripped me there, his fingers closing around my neck gently. I watched his eyes fill with some kind of emotion I didn't recognize.
"What did they do to you?"
Erik had always done well to avoid talking about the subject of my imprisonment. It was downright uncomfortable to talk about. I supposed it made sense he wanted to know now. It had been almost four months since Liv had come for me.
"Won't you tell me?" he whispered. His hands slid down my neck. I felt the blood leave my face and I looked down at my hands.
"You won't look at me the same," I told him. "Once you know, you won't ever look at me the same and I'm not sure I'm ready-"
Erik growled, his hands pulling me closer, my legs stretching over his midsection.
"Impossible," he promised me.
I fought the urge to burst into tears. Erik sighed. "I'd like to know," he insisted.
I shook my head, no longer able to look him in the eye. "Why?" I asked him. "Why now? Why does it matter?"
Erik traced his fingers down the side of my neck. "Because," he said, his voice was low. "I don't want you to ever fear me, Lexi! Not now, not ever-"
I shook my head. "I don't fear you," I reminded him and Erik laughed. His body rippled under me and then he sighed. "I'm serious. I don't want you to ever fear me and I don't want to do anything to traumatize you."
I looked down at my hands resting on his chest. "I know."
Erik sighed and reached for the bottle of wine. Once he had it open he handed it to me and I took a swig. Before I could do anything, Erik hooked his hand around my neck and pulled me forward. His lips found mine, a small moan leaving his mouth.
"I want you," he whispered breathlessly. His voice had taken on a desperate tone as his lips wandered over my jaw and down my neck. Goosebumps rippled over my skin and I felt like I was about to burst into flames. Perhaps Erik had been right. Perhaps I was about to go into Heat.
My heart pounded in my chest and I felt all giddy and happy. "Let me have you," he pleaded. I leaned away, my hands coming up to his face to look at him.
Before he could answer, I pulled him forward and kissed him.
Erik sighed in content, his hands turning hard on my skin. Erik leaned away, breaking off the kiss, our breathing heavy. His upper body pushed me away gently as his arms snaked around my back. I blinked. His eyes seemed elsewhere, like he was listening to someone else. "What?" I asked him. "What is it?"
"Something is wrong," he whispered.
I leaned away, listening both with my ears and mind. "Someone had left the Rose Court without permission."
I frowned. "Who?"
Erik sighed and stood up. "Jon," he said and helped me slip on a cloak. "Your brother."