Charm Of Sensuality

Chapter 22

Eden sighed as she was lead into a wide living room area. She had been instructed to stay here until told otherwise.

She rolled her shoulders and flexed her fingers. She was tired. Her whole body felt like jello. Learning incantations and using magic were so much more draining than she had thought it would be. Growing up, her grandmother had shared songs with her of asking tbe earth for it's help. Songs of thanking the earth for what it gave and never taking without giving even a tiny bit of yourself in return.

Now she was being taught to do the opposite. To take and give nothing. To demand and receive through seduction and charm.

And not to mention that her mind had been on Kane all day. Seeing them cart him off after branding him was an image she could not forget. This was all her fault. If he hadn't met her, this wouldn't have happened.

Suddenly a large cloud of smoke appeared, followed by a gushing wind that nearly knocked her over. 

Abril was before her, an arm wrapped around Kane's shoulders. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. He was drenched in sweat, his eyes from the whites to the pupil, completely red.

"Kane?" She whispered as she reached out for him.

"He needs rest." Abril said as he moved forward, lifting Kane as much has he could. They moved toward a string of hallways that led to a large bedroom. 

Everything was draped in black, deep purple, and off white. Kane groaned as he climbed into the wide four poster bed. His breathing was labored, his chest rising and falling. Eden moved toward him, running her hands across his face, wiping away at the sweat.

"I'll see what I can do about the hex. But, Eden, I make no promises. You're both in deep," Abril mumbled before he disappeared, leaving behind a blistering wind.

Kane sighed, before sitting up. He groaned with action. Eden stood beside him, silent. Guilt written across her face. Kane pulled her in between his legs, his hands resting on her hips.

"Did they hurt you?"

She frowned, holding his face in her hands, "You're the one that's hurt. I'm not worth this."

He chuckled but the movement made him wince. "You're wrong. You're worth so much more. You forget I've been trained for much worse, sweetheart."

"What can I do to help ease the pain?"

He ran his hands up her backside, before reaching up and unhooking her cloak. The tight black dress on her body showcased every curve. He leaned toward her, his lips brushing hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to kiss her slowly, pressing her so tight in his arms that he stole her breath away.

He trailed kisses down her cheek, across her jaw, and onto her neck. His hands caressed her body as he unzipped her dress. She pulled away, stepping back, "Wait, no. You're hurt."

He frowned. Sighing softly, "What hurts is that I can't hold you the way that I want to."

Eden ran a hand across his cheek, "Let me change your bandage."

He kissed the palm of her hand before he instructed her on what to do and where to find a clean wrap. She sat beside him, his back turned toward her. She unwrapped the blood dried bandage, her hands pausing as she caught the sight of the brand. It was pink, skin seared and peeling. Blood oozed from it at all angles. Her stomach turned. It didn't look like it was healing at all. The branding had happened hours ago and it still looked raw, as it just happened.

How had he been able to endure something so painful?

She reached out a hand, focusing all of her energy at her finger tips. Kane tensed before his body crippled over. He groaned, swiftly turning to grab onto her wrist. 

"Stop it, Eden."

She stared up at him. Tears in her eyes. "Let me heal you. I can do that much. I've learned a lot already."

He released her wrist and grabbed her by the shoulders. He kissed her gently.

"It can't be healed with magic. It's hexed. The brand is hexed. It will heal, I promise you that but it will do so in its own time."

He pulled her against his chest as her tears began to spill. Running his hands up and down her back.

"Get it out. Don't hold on to all this pain. While we're here, I will still be your primary protector. Abril saw to that. Nothing can be said or done to stop that. A Knight's contract is binding. You don't have to worry about me."

She shook her head, pulling away from him, a look of determination on her face. "You're always protecting me. It's my turn to protect you. If they want me to be a Dark Witch, that's exactly what I'll be. I'll be the best, so you never have to worry again."

He stared at her for a moment before chuckling. He cupped the back of her neck, yanking her toward him to kiss her. The kiss was hard, passionate, and full of a silent desperation to get closer. Once they parted they were both breathing hard. "Not being able to make love to you might be harder than I thought."

She stood, pushing away from him. "I can make a pallet on the floor."

He grabbed her wrist, snatching her back onto the bed. She laughed as she bounced onto the bed's surface. The frown on his face didn't last long before he was smiling down at her. "Take off that dress and come here. Although I can't do what I want, I can still taste you."

Eden stopped laughing, sitting up to look at him.

"No, we don'-," he cut her off, leaning down to kiss her on the neck, "Actually, you can keep the dress on. I like it on you."

He slid his hands up her hips, yanking the dress up as he moved. She twisted onto her stomach, trying to get out of his grasp. "Kane, no, your back is bleeding and I know you're in pain. We don't have to do anything but hold each other."

He ran his hand over her backside before cursing when the dress wouldn't budge. He ripped the material from the hem, exposing her naked skin. "No panties?"

She turned to look back at him, her mouth wide open in shock. "Did you really just..."

He leaned down to kiss one of her ass cheeks and then the other, "Don't worry about it, baby. You're in a realm of magic, clothes can be mended. Besides, I can't imagine you dressed in Black every day. We'll have to nip that shit in the bud. You may be forced to join our ranks but I'll be damned if they take your freedom of color away. I'll get you a wardrobe of filled with color."

He pushed one of her legs up, licking at her inner thigh from behind. She reached down to push at his head, "Kane, you're hurt. We should be prioritizing you right now. Please."

"And if I told you this is prioritizing me? Sweetheart, fuck this branding, if I don't get to at least touch you tonight, I might actually die."

"Kane," she chastised on a whisper.

"Eden," he mumbled as lifted her hips up as he ran his tongue over her skin from behind. "Hips up. Let's not argue, sweetheart."

His words and the gentle exploration of his hands and mouth on her skin pulled all of the complaints from her. The stress of the day disappeared, fading away into the background as his lips, hands, and words brought her to ecstasy.

She fell asleep in his arms, dreaming of her grandfather standing in their garden. His voice a whispery echo, saying, "Don't forget the light, baby. Never forget the light. Darkness can't be, without a little sunshine."