Blood Ward

Chapter 35

I woke the next morning feeling alot better. Speaking with Reif had eased a lot of my worries. Ilifted my head off of Anders' chest and saw he was still sleeping.The book he'd been reading was lying face down on his chest. Ismiled, pushing the book onto the floor and reached up to kiss hisneck and nibble his ear.

My attentions did not gounnoticed. He woke with a sharp sigh then he chuckled sleepily. "AmI dreaming?" he asked reaching up and putting hands on my hips as Istraddled him.

I laughed too, leaning down tokiss his lips. "Not unless I am too."

"Oh, good," he smirked. "Soyou're feeling better then?"

"I saw Reif," I explained."But I don't want to talk about him." I rubbed my hands downhis chest to his stomach.

"Me either," he agreed.

We were like our old selves, ourlove making was light and teasing. When we'd finished I said, "Thatwas nice."

"I think I like waking up to abeautiful woman willing to take advantage of me," he said while Iwrapped my leg around his and turned his chin so I could kiss hislips.

"Because you're sodefenseless," I mocked, grinning.

"Against you, I am," he said.

We lay there, enjoying ourmorning for hours until we were forced to get to fee ourselves andBeast. I felt really good, able to enjoy myself and my situation. Ieven got involved in a game of dice with some crew members, drinkingand laughing to pass the time. Later on, I reluctantly left the gameand made my way sloppily down to my cabin, amidst protests from mynew friends.

"I see I won't be enjoyingyour company tonight..." Anders said smiling as I stumbled into theroom and closed the door behind me.

I crawled onto the cot on top ofhim. "We could make an assepshon," I slurred.

Anders laughed and patted myhead. "No, no, luv. You rest and sober up, I'll continue with mybook, okay?"

"Okay," I pouted rolling nextto him and I don't remember much after snuggling up close to hisbody.

When I came to in the morning,Anders was not around. I assumed he had left to get some breakfast.When Beast jumped up on the bed and started licking my face, mystomach rolled over.

"Down, boy," I said pushinghim away and trying to breathe around the smell of his breath."Blimey, what did Anders feed you?" I realized my head waspounding too as I tried to sit up. Abandoning that idea, I floppedback down and threw my arm over my eyes and groaned.

"Somebody's feeling theirdrink," Anders teased, coming into the room with a cup of water. Heknelt by the cot and stroked my hair. "Head or stomach, luv?"

"Both," I moaned as he handedme the water.

"See what happens when you getout of practice?" he teased. "Drink up, you'll feel better."He kissed my head and left me alone.

I lay most of the morning andsome of the afternoon, trying to get my stomach to settle. My headwas fine after a few hours. Anders checked in on me every once in awhile. "This is awful," I pouted, one of the times he stepped in.

"It's just your stomach now,yeah?" he asked sympathetically.

"Mmhmm." I nodded.

"Perhaps the drink triggered atouch of sea sickness," he offered. "Maybe some fresh air, awayfrom this one's breath," he suggested, tossing his head towardBeast who raised his head and whined.

I nodded again and he helped meto my feet. I leaned heavily on him as we made our way slowly to thedeck. "Make it stop," I whimpered as the ship rocked.