Blood Revenge

Chapter 17

When I woke the next morning, Iwasn't furious like I'd promised Anders, I was grateful. Nomatter how we fell asleep, I always woke to find Anders using mystomach as a pillow. I smiled down at his brown locks and was morethan elated to know he was there and alive. I turned my head to viewReif, shirtless and lounging contentedly on his stomach. I wonder ifhe realized his hand was resting on my breast. I lifted the armclosest to him which was surprisingly not pinned beneath him andgently stroked his cheek. Reif.He stirred onlyslightly, sighing, but his hand didmove, so I let it go.

I was content to waste away theday, just lying in bed with the two men who meant the most to me inthe world until I heard an urgent knock on my door. It made me jumpat its suddenness and I tensed. Reif's head shot up and he took adeep breath. "Stephanie." He identified the knocker, visiblyrelaxing.

"What the bloody hell does thegirl want so sodding early in the morning?" Anders complained, theknock obviously waking him too.

I sighed. "I'll go find out,"I said as she knocked again.

"Mama!"

"It seems you're requiredeither way," Anders teased, allowing me to slide away from him andyanking mypillow down to prop under his head.

"Don't forget she's yourswhen she's in trouble," I said, giving his forehead a quick kissand climbing over Reif to exit the bed.

"Of course, luv," Andersagreed in his 'I'd rather stay alive than argue' tone.

Reif chuckled as I walked to thedoor and Steph knocked again. "Steph, what is so urgent?" I askedswinging open the door.

She was still in her nightclothesand she looked frantic. "Can I speak with you privately," shehissed, her wild eyes locking on mine and conveying her anxiety.

I stepped out of the room andclosed the door behind me. "What is it?" I asked, getting nervousmyself.

"Oh, Mama, I don't know whatcould have happened. Reif never came to bed last night. Have you seenor spoken to him?" she was so upset her hands were shaking. "Wehaven't slept apart since..." she stopped herself, her cheeksreddening.

"I'm so sorry, Stephee," Isaid, gathering her in a hug. "We got so distracted, we didn'ttell you. Reif slept with me and Da last night."

Her breath let out in a raggedsigh then she pulled away. "Wait, what? Why?" her relief wasslipping to jealousy.

"I was so upset over Stefanthat your father found it prudent to trick me into a calming spell.Reif came to investigate my vulnerability and I asked him to stay. Itwas nothing against you. I honestly wasn't thinking straight. I'msorry," I apologized.

Her face softened. "I'msorry," she said. "I didn't mean to get possessive. I know whatReif means to you and what you mean to him. I suppose I just gotscared when he just disappeared. After what happened with Da..."

"Do you want to see him?" Iasked sympathetically.

"Please." She noddedemphatically.

Reif, Stephanie wishes to seeyou. I projected. Makean excuse and get out of there. I knew they weren't ready to spill to Anders about theirrelationship.

Thank you, Stasia.Reif sent me a wave of warmth to flit around in my stomach. It feltlike the first time Anders had told me he loved me. That giddy,happy, up in the clouds feeling and I smiled.

No, thank you.

Reif slipped out moments laterand Stephanie fell gratefully into his arms. "I was so worried,"she almost sobbed.

"It's alright, Lubit,I am here. What is the matter?" he soothed, kissing her softly.

I smiled and quietly slipped backinto the bedroom where Anders waited for me. "What was all thefuss?" he asked as I crawled back into the bed with him.

"Woman things," I waved itoff jokingly.

He let it drop. "So, how is mylittle warrior this morning? Better, I hope. You're no longertrembling."

"Thanks to your spell," Isighed, cuddling up next to him.

"I told you you'd thank me inthe morning." He smirked, giving me a tender kiss on the forehead.

I scooted up and brushed my lipsagainst his. "Oh, great and knowledgeable mage," I teased.

"And don't you forget it,luv." He grinned, accepting my kiss whole heartedly.

"Or what?" I askedsuggestively.

"I don't know. Chains, somerope," he mused.

"You don't need to chain meup to take advantage of me," I purred, pressing my body againsthis.

"Where's the fun if you canjust escape?" he asked tracing my curves with a finger.

"In the chase." I broke freeof his embrace and bolted across the room.

He threw up an arm and I wasstopped by a soft, invisible wall. It was like running into water.When I'd slowed down enough that he knew I was in no danger, hetwisted his wrist, standing up from the bed. More invisible bondswrapped my wrists and ankles. "Uh, uh, uh," he scolded as heapproached me. A dangerous look played over his face. I nearly meltedas he grabbed me tightly around the waist and pulled me roughlyagainst him. "Behave yourself, or playtime's over."

A desperate moan escaped mythroat and when he asked if I would comply, I nodded slowly, my fistsgripping into his pants. I looked up into his deep green eyes, darkwith passion. "Anything."

I felt the bonds slide away likewater off my skin. His kiss was harsh, demanding and I opened mymouth to him. Before I knew it, I was swept up. He pushed me backwardtowards my vanity. We bumped it roughly, knocking various things tothe floor with a rattle and smash. Uncaring, I allowed him to lift meand plunk me down on my backside on the surface, dislodging even moreof my things. I scooted forward as his hands roved up and down mybare skin under my shirt and he kissed and bit at my neck.

We broke away long enough to shedwhatever clothing we had standing in our way and returned toravishing each other. When Anders plunged himself deep inside me, Icried out and arched my back. He held me aloft so I wouldn't crackmy head on the mirror just behind me. His free hand slid up over mystomach to my breast and around the back of my neck so he could pullme back to him and press our lips together urgently.

We were wild, untamed and notvery subtle. It had been too long since Anders and I had gotten sovicious, so zealous. It was as if we needed to be touching each otherto continue existing, like each breath I exhaled, he took in. It wasecstasy. As we finished, Anders' breath exhaled in a long raggedsigh. "Blimey, Ana, that was..."

"Breathtaking," I finishedfor him, collapsing with my arms around his neck as he chuckled.

"That about sums it up," heagreed, dropping to the floor and pulling me down on top of him. Ilaughed clumsily.

"I can't feel my legs," Iprotested.

"How do you think we wound updown here, luv," he chuckled, brushing my wild hair out of my face.

His eyes practically danced withelation as I stared down into them. "You are magnificent." Ismiled. "I'm so glad you're the one my heart chose to love."I knew from what I'd heard last night when they'd thought I'dbeen out of it that this was exactly what Anders needed to hear.Stefan's return was making him feel pushed aside. I laid my headdown on his chest over his heart. "Your heart sounds glad, too."

 "More than you know, littlewarrior." He wrapped arms around me and hugged me close.