The Taming

So Much for Rest

He put a hand to the back of Dorena's shoulders as he guided her toward the library. Hearing Elsabet hissing from the next floor, he realized what an insult to her it'd be to take this stranger into her sanctuary.

A place where she and I were intimate. Without looking up at the beautiful blonde hanging over the railing, he turned Dorena.

Let's take you somewhere else.

She's right to be offended by you going in there.

"Where?" Dorena watched their direction change in confusion.

Anywhere but there.

"The Parlor." He pointed. "Perhaps more comfortable." He cleared his throat on the lie, as he guided Dorena in. Leading her to the settee.

"Elengard!" He called.

The blonde elf materialized. Hands crossed demurely before her.

As always.

"Yes, My Lord?" She asked.

"Please help Dorena. This won't be an easy stay for her."

It's going to be very painful at first. As the toxins work their way out.

Elengard sniffed and her nose wrinkled. "Cimmerii?"

For now.

"Yes." He said. "But we're going to help her."

"Yes, My Lord." Elengard lowered her blonde head in deference.

Bless you for your willingness to trust me. He nodded to the elf woman.

"Please get her some warm bread and fresh cheese so she and I may speak."

"Very good." Elengard lowered her head and backed from the room.

Bast felt Elsabet's irritation as she paced her chamber above the foyer.

It's not what you think. But convincing her of that was going to be quite another matter.

***

Bast awoke from a dream with a violent jerk. So much for rest.

I need to go now. Sitting up he tossed back the coverlet. Gold eyes glittering like burning candles in the blackness, he blew a quick breath. Leaping from the bed resulted in a hiss from the corner of his chamber.

Objecting at my mode of dress, or lack thereof, no doubt. He glanced over his shoulder. Focusing on tugging on breeches and forcing tired feet into his boots.

There again, huh?

"Little Harpie, how many nights will you watch me as I rest?" He questioned dispassionately.

And why do you do it?

"You rarely sleep." She scoffed. Blue eyes gleaming in the shadows.

"But when I do, I always wake to you here...So my question stands." Still shirtless, he turned his head to her, awaiting an answer.

"Perhaps until I decide to do away with you." She said, contemptuously.

"If you can't cease thinking of lying with me. Then do so again." His tone enticed her as he tipped his head toward the bed. "See if it's something you can get from your system. A passing sensation you can chase off..."

It's not. He thought confidently. You crave me as much as I you. We're tied together. Knitted on some fabric neither of us understands.

"I'm speaking of killing you or not killing you."

You're adorable. You're not strong enough. He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Ha! If you'd devised a way to bring about my demise, you'd have already endeavored it." He said boredly.

Her eyes flared red. Glittering maliciously. His face didn't change, but the corner of his lips ticked, revealing his amusement.

"You laugh at me again." Venom tinged her voice.

He shrugged. Your annoyance is stimulating. You're equally as passionate about your fury, your beliefs, as you are when you lay with a man.

"Yet you seem to not have time to enjoy your usual taunting?" She remarked.

A vague glance over his shoulder, found her eyes blue again and face showing traces of disappointment.

She doesn't want me to go? He had a moment of disbelief. Before dismissing the idea as his hope.

"Unfortunately, I don't." Striding to her he offered her a hand up from where she crouched in the corner.

She looked at it as though it were contagious.

So, he reached around her. Hand brushing her arm as he pulled a lawn shirt from the armoire behind her.

Hissing, she reared back as though the contact seared her.

Recoiling from my touch. He paused, feeling slightly wounded but her sudden movement made her hair toss next to him. Giving him a tantalizing whiff of wildflowers. He inhaled deeply. Remembering drowning in that scent as he'd loved her on the library floor and then again in the plush linens of her bedchamber.

Lay with me again. You weren't recoiling then...

"Did you just smell me?" Her upper lip twitched.

Every chance I get.

"Absolutely." He pulled the shirt over his head. Once the neckline dropped over his shoulders, he found her standing a hairsbreadth in-front of him.

She'd crossed the room in an instant.

Without a sound. But he was unsurprised to find her there. His teeth flashed.

"You infuriate me!"

"Because you desire me!" He fired back. Head lowered accusingly.

She stepped back to put space between them.

Oh, no you don't! He moved predatorially with her as she backed away. Staying nose to nose with her to match her retreating step. His breath teased across her lips. He caught their faint tremble.

She wants kissed.

She needs to be kissed. Often...He growled low in his throat.

Making her gasp.

She just doesn't know it yet.

She swallowed convulsively. Her back made hard contact with the wall. She drew a fast breath of surprise when he slapped palms to the wall on each side of her. Caging her between his forearms and closing the gap by folding his body against hers.

Where to now, Lover?

Panic wrote over her face as she assessed if he attacked her.

No. Not to force you. To tempt you.

She went to hiss but only a squeak emerged.

He felt her self-disgust. "You wonder when you became prey? Such a mighty huntress, now besieged?"

"By a man-beast." She didn't bother denying it.

Good. You're at least admitting to yourself now that you desire me.

I'd call that progress.

"You're a little mesmerized by the danger." He ran his fingertips from her elbow up her bicep to her shoulder. Hand snaking to scoop her shoulder blade. Eyes pouring into hers as he brought her against him.

She involuntarily shivered.

Feeling her soft curves against him, he purred. Eyes burning gold. "Do you regret trying to drop me over that forest now?"

Over Phalanx Forest all those years ago...