Warlord's Ward

At Rest

I must've cried myself to sleep. Because I found myself slowly waking. Realizing it was pitch black outside beyond the shutters in the distance. Silvery moonlight searing down over the Training Gardens below.

Where mages learn to kill wolves. I thought bitterly.

Warlord's mages.

The room was so dark I could hardly see anything inside save where that moonlight seeped into to cast over the floor between the window and the table, he'd had all his herbs on before bringing me in here.

I realized there was deep, masculine breathing next to me. Warm even breaths along my neck. And a heavy, hairy leg strung over my smoother ones. A large hand palmed one of my breasts and his body was steaming hot next to me. Warming me despite the open window.

He's too close.

How'd I fall asleep with my biggest threat so near? I had no idea. I squinted to peer at him.

I couldn't see him at all in the darkness. Only feel him next to me. It surprised me he'd let me cry and let me sleep.

He hadn't shouted at me to shut up or shown annoyance at my tears.

Merely stated that he'd hoped he wouldn't break me. And then let me sob until I fell into an exhausted slumber.

I noted the sensations of his body next to me.

His limbs were heavy. That leg strung across me had to way as much as both of mine. I could feel the fuzz of hair on his chest brushing my shoulder as he breathed. His hard abdomen rested along my forearm at my side, and I realized that there was a soft mound of skin along the back of my hand.

Realizing what it was, I yanked my hand away.

***

Making his even breathing cease.

I woke him. I knew without him saying a word.

I shouldn't have moved. I stayed painfully still. Hoping that if I moved no more, he'd think I'd only jerked in my sleep.

He reached up and traced my hairline at my temple with a finger. Guiding a tress which had fallen over my face, back behind my ear. Tucking it away. And though I couldn't see him in the dark I could feel his hard look studying me.

I knew I could adjust my gaze and let my wolf peer out which would allow me to see clearly in the black room but decisively give away my state of wakefulness. So instead, I looked at him through cracked lids. Unable to see him.

But I noted that his eyes didn't luminesce with an animalistic glow either.

But he can still see me. It boggled my mind imagining what he was.

He's more than a wolf. More than a mage.

I'd never heard of anything like him before. Never seen a creature who left a smokey trail when they moved, as he did.

His hand which had been lightly resting over my breast curved to scoop the weight of it. His thumb massaging the underside. After taking his time with that he began to slide that palm down the flat of my stomach and over the side of my ribs. Molding my body as he trailed his touch lower.

I felt my breathing coming faster and tried to hold it. Hoping he'd not notice.

***

Calm down, Jade. I told myself. Trying to level my heartbeat and breathing.

But his hand lifted so only the very edge of his fingertips trailed my hips and the fine bones of my pelvis. Just grazing over the top of my nest of hair guarding my sex.

I let out a heavy breath and heard him chuckle softly. He knows what I'm doing.

He knows I'm awake. I bit my lip. Panicking.

"That looks tasty. Let it go so I might have a nibble." His deep voice rumbled so quietly it took me a moment to realize he was speaking. Then a second longer to realize he was talking about my lip.

Because he can see me chewing on it. I was mortified. Feeling my cheeks heat.

"Turn your head to me and release it." He directed.

Unsure what else I could do, I obeyed. Turning my face his direction.

Without preamble he snatched my plump lower lip between flat even teeth.

I yelped and thought to yank back but realized I'd only hurt myself. I froze.

He's not hurting me. I registered.

His fingers slid through the soft hair between my hips and down to the folds of skin near my opening. He lightly trailed his fingers down the slit and found I was already moist enough that it was seeping onto the velvety skin there.

My body was readied whether I was or not.

***

I felt like I couldn't move with his dangerous hold on my lip. He could bite through it in an instant.

Despite his firm hold on my lip, it wasn't enough to be painful.

He tugged it slightly before releasing it.

With a low growl he rolled over the top of me.

Without thought, my legs instinctively opened to drop his sharp knees between them to keep him from digging in. Sending his pelvis flush against mine.

Already, I could feel his hard length between us.

"Please, don't." I whimpered.

"Ssh. Stop saying that." He put a finger to my lips to silence me.

***

Don't. I willed him. Squinting my eyes closed.

"Ah, ah. Jade. You're with me. Mine. There'll be no wishing or pretending to be elsewhere. You're right where I want you..."

With that the room bloomed into silvery light. Looking like a star had exploded before us. Casting the room in dim light.

In reaction I yipped and threw an arm over my face. Wondering if a flame would fall on me or burn my eyes.

After a moment, I peered under my arm and saw Warlord staring at me with those probing blue eyes. His hand palm up with his fingers curled up into a teepee.

He made the light.

To see me.

"Warlord..." There was a begging note in my voice.

Don't take from me what I'd give a mate. I stared at him wide eyed. Wanting to speak quickly and tell him all the reasons I didn't want him to do what he was considering.

His hand snapped over my lips. Covering them as he lowered to look into my eyes. Nearly nose-to-nose with him. Making me feel like he was utterly inescapable.

Then I felt him entering me.