Armana's Gift

ZEVAN

He groaned awake and didn't want to move. He could smell the healing salve and pressed his face deeper into his pillows, desperately hoping he really hadn't come back to her. He should have gone to the male barracks, they would have handled it. However, he nearly snarled, if the pillows were here, he must have come back to their room.

Finally, he grew some courage to get his arms under him and push up, so that he wouldn't need to roll over onto his back.

"Zevan! I thought it would be at least a couple more hours!" He felt her come up to his side and he bit back a growl. He didn't want her to see him like this.

"I'm fine, I need get up and stretch," he barely going the words. And hoped she understood what he was saying since he barely understood himself.

She backed off from him, and he tried to smile at her. It was unsuccessful, he knew it, but he tried. By the skies, he gritted his teeth against the pain.

"Did you treat my wounds?" He hissed, trying to bend down at get some stretching start, which nearly tore his back open.

"Yes, and don't do that! You're going to reopen everything!" She pushed him back on the bed and he couldn't fight her. He sat back on the bed and tried not to fall on his back. "You have to rest! You don't have to leave here for several more hours! So kee-"

"Who gave you the salve?" He knew a few of the males had it and some females but he wanted to know who helped. He needed to.

"Reshan, the owl... I called for warm water to clean up you personally and someone must have told him." She was firm with him and it surprised him. He wanted her to stay away from this stuff and here she was, fighting against to take care of him. His heart was a little touch. Normally, Reshan treated him and no got in Reshan's way. "So, he showed up a little later and gave it to me." He watched her throat work, swallowing. Her own fear, he guessed. Seven hundred years ago, she wouldn't have feared him. Not for being an ass to her anyways.

"I'll have to thank him later," he groaned in agony from his back but with the salve, it would only take a couple days. The salve didn't have a numbing agent though, they couldn't find anything to give that effect here in Krilos. He was sure some of the Krilosi's magically inclined would be able to do it but none of them would ever help a slave.

"I did," she whispered. "Don't worry."

"And..." He fought with the words, fought with the need to say them. "Thank you."

He watched her blush, that pink and rose tint spreading across her cheeks.

"No reason to say thank you, Zevan." She whispered softly, her voice caressing his name in a way that made him want horrible things to her curvy body.

Suddenly, he hated the name. It wasn't his birth name but he knew better then using his birth name. Had known better since the day he was captured and sold. When was the last time he'd heard it? When Reshan figured out who he was? He didn't remember. Zevan was a Krilosi name and it worked. But he wanted her to say his name and that made him stupid.

"Liam," he whispered hoarsely, his eyes locked on her. "My real name is Liam. You can use it here."

He watched her eyes widen and she nodded slowly.

"Liam... ?" She tested the name and he knew she wanted more.

"That's all you're getting tonight in terms of my name," he whispered softly, reaching to grab her hand and pull her closer. He was nude, since she had forced him to strip to treat his wounds. Once he got a hold of her, he pulled her to stand between his legs. "Use it only here," he kept going, running his free hand over her waist and hip.