His mouth was soft, tender against her cheek, then her ear, and finally her lips. Heat spread through her, she couldn’t hear anything over the rush of blood in her ears. He pushed her back, leveling himself slowly over her as he pressed her into the spongy ground. He clasped hold of her face as he kissed her with a reverence that left her breathless.
She couldn’t think straight. He encompassed all of her senses as his hand enclosed her breast. A gasp escaped, something inside of her seemed to snap as her fingers dug into his firm back and she pressed closer to him. She was lost in a sea of need. He was so strong and powerful and yet he touched her with a tenderness that was humbling and shook her to her very core.
His arm wrapped around her waist, he lifted her as he pulled her against him, and leveled himself more firmly between her legs. The buttons of her shirt had come undone; he bent to press tender kisses against her chest. His dark hair blended in with the night surrounding them, but the light of the moon highlighted the planes of his face. She couldn’t get enough of watching him as he moved over her. She dimly thought that perhaps she should stop this, they’d never gone this far, but then she realized she didn’t want to. She wanted this; she wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
He was back over her, his mouth claiming hers as she shook and trembled, and clung to him as pleasure swamped her. Heat flooded her; she was unfamiliar with the sensations coursing through her body as she grasped his solid biceps and tried to keep from completely falling apart. Everything was right in his arms. Right now, in this moment, there was no fear but only the love they shared.
And then Gideon released a snort. Braith froze above her, his mouth stilled upon hers as his head slowly came up. His bright gray eyes latched onto hers, burning with excitement and frustration. She was torn between longing to continue, and the reality that they were not alone.
In the end, it was Braith that made the decision. His hands trembled as he buttoned her pants and shirt back into place. A sense of loss filled her as he slowly moved off of her. A muscle ticked in his cheek as he pulled her against his side, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple as he lay next to her.
“I lost my head; I shouldn’t have let it go so far. I tend to lose myself in you.”
She thrilled at the admission. “I wish it had gone farther,” she confessed.
He chuckled as he nuzzled her hair. “Do you know the constellations?” She shook her head as she turned her attention to the brilliant sky above them. She struggled to ignore the yearning that still thrummed through her body, but a deep ache remained. “That one, with the three stars at the end, and the four grouped together like a cup is the Big Dipper.” Aria settled against him, comforted by the deep timbre of his voice as he pointed out the different constellations.
***
“Dad!” Aria squealed in delight as she raced across the clearing to the man standing in the middle of it. David’s face came alive with pleasure; his smile lit his features as he braced himself for the impact of her body. He grasped hold of his daughter, laughing happily as he enfolded her in a big hug and spun her around.
Braith warily eyed the people surrounding them as he made his way forward. He wanted to grab Aria from her father, pull her back, nestle her at his side where she belonged, but he fought the urge as her father placed her down and cradled her cheeks with the palm of his hands. The humans studied him, shifting uncomfortably as they whispered among themselves. These were not the humans of The Barrens. These humans had been abused and terrorized by vampires. They knew only fear toward his kind.
“Are you ok?” Aria’s father demanded.
“I’m fine,” she replied with a brilliant grin that eased the knot in Braith’s chest. He wanted her back, but her happiness was far more important at the moment.
“Where’s William?” David asked worriedly when he realized his youngest son was not present.
“It was too tricky to move everyone through the forest, immortal or no, they’re unbelievably loud,” she informed him with a mischievous smile. “William stayed in the caves with them.” David’s hands tensed briefly on her face. “He’ll be fine dad, I promise. We’ve been with them for awhile now.”
Her father’s gaze flickered toward him. Braith knew David disapproved of their relationship but he didn’t care. The man was not going to tear them apart. “I see.”
“Hellion!”
She released her father as her brother Daniel broke free of the crowd. “Daniel!”
She was laughing as she threw herself into his arms. Braith bristled, his fingers twitched as his jaw clenched. It was her brother, he reminded himself fiercely. Even so, it took everything he had not to pull her away from the slender man hugging her. Unlike his siblings, Daniel’s hair was wheat colored but while he didn’t share their coloring, he did have the same bright blue eyes that William and Aria possessed.
“Dear Lord you stink!” Daniel blurted.
Aria laughed loudly as she took a step back from him. “We’ve been wandering through swampland for the past three days.”
“That would do it,” Daniel agreed.
“I’m sure you’re eager to clean up.” Though her father said the words to her, his gaze was intent upon Braith.
“Very much so,” Ashby agreed.
There was a shifting among the humans, and then Max stepped forward. Anger surged through Braith. Hope spread over Aria’s face and lit her eyes as she took a small step toward him. Max held her gaze for a weighted moment before he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Aria’s shoulders slumped as despair settled over her. No matter how much he didn’t want her near Max, he hated to see her upset in any way. He would like to shake some sense into the selfish bastard, wanted to kill Max for making that crestfallen look appear on her face. Daniel watched him warily as Braith stepped forward, his arm brushing against hers as he offered as much comfort as he could right now. Aria turned to him; tears burned briefly in her eyes before she blinked them back and forced a smile.
“Perhaps we can go somewhere a little more private,” Braith suggested.
“Yes, of course,” Daniel said. “This is one of the few areas in the swamps that aren’t just water and mud. It’s not very hospitable but there are some homes here and we’ve erected temporary shelters.”
The crowd parted as Aria’s father led them down the street of the small town they had taken residence in. David led them into the ramshackle remains of a small house. Braith watched Aria carefully as she picked her way over some broken boards. He was braced to grab her if they happened to give out. David stopped to speak with a few younger men before leading them into what remained of the living room.
“Is there a lake around here?” Aria asked.
“Yes, but I’ve instructed them to heat water for a bath.” Her face lit, joy spread over her as she looked eagerly at Braith. “For all of you.” Braith felt almost as excited as she looked. “I thought you would prefer to talk after you were clean.”
“I sure would,” Ashby agreed eagerly as Jack entered the room. “Look at what the cat drug in!”
Jack’s nose wrinkled. “I’d say the cat mauled you and hauled you through sewage from the smell and look of the five of you.”
“And feel.”
Jack grinned; he grasped Braith’s hand firmly as he clapped him on the arm. “Good to see you brother.”
“You also.” Jack released him; his smile grew as his gaze raked Gideon’s miserable, filthy form. “Well now, this is a pleasant treat.”
“Wish I could say the same,” Gideon retorted.
Jack laughed loudly as he shook Gideon’s hand and then Xavier’s. “Long time no see.”
Xavier simply bowed his head briefly in response. Braith stood stiffly, immobile as he watched three young men carry in five separate wooden tubs. It took almost a half an hour before enough water was brought in to fill them. Aria remained by her brother and father, the brilliant smile never left her face as they talked.
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“Go on,” David urged her when the last of the water was brought in.
Braith was aware of the fact that four of the tubs had been taken into one room, while the other had been kept separate. Aria looked at him as he took a step toward her. “Wait,” David said sharply.
Braith’s hands fisted at his side. He could control his need to pull her away from them but he wasn’t going to leave her alone and vulnerable while she bathed. He didn’t trust most of these people, and he sure as hell didn’t trust Max. The boy was lurking around here somewhere and he’d almost killed her once.
“Not alone,” Braith growled.
David looked as if the top of his head was going to blow off. Braith stepped closer to her, pressing against her arm. “Its fine dad,” Aria assured him. “It’s not what you think. He won’t even be in the room.”
“She’s not going in there alone.”
“Aria is perfectly capable of taking care of herself!” David snapped.
“I know she is, and she’s also perfectly capable of getting herself into trouble.” Aria shot Daniel a dark look as he guffawed loudly. “I don’t trust these people. I don’t trust Max. Whether you like it or not, she is not going in there without me to stand guard.”
“Braith!” Aria hissed as her father’s eyes narrowed in rage.
“Who the hell do you think you are!?” David demanded.
“Hers.” The simple, startling answer knocked some of the anger from David. Daniel’s mouth dropped as Ashby shook his head. Xavier watched intently and Gideon simply strolled out of the room toward the other tubs. Jack dropped his head into his hands and began to massage his temples. “And she is mine.” He touched her arm gently, nudging her toward the backroom. She hesitated, seemingly torn as she gazed from him to her father and back again.
David didn’t protest anymore, but his jaw was clenched in displeasure as his gaze bored into Braith’s back. The room they had brought the tub into was small with a single window in the back. Braith closed the shutters, locking them into place before turning back to her. Steam rose from the tub, a small sliver of soap had been set on the floor on top of some towels and clean clothes.
“A little diplomacy goes a long way,” she murmured.
“They have to understand…”
“He’s my father Braith. I know you don’t understand what that means, not in the same way that I do, but he loves me. I’m his little girl. This is hard for him, it’s hard for Daniel and William, but it’s especially hard for my father.” She was right, he didn’t understand that. “You need to be nicer, and more patient.” She tilted her head, peering up at him as she smiled faintly. “Do you think you can do that?”
He grasped hold of the collar of her shirt and pulled her closer. “I can try, for you.”
“Just for me?”
He grinned. “I sure wouldn’t do it for anyone else.”
She laughed as he began to slide the buttons of her shirt free. He slipped it from her shoulders and tugged it from her arms. He touched her shoulders briefly and turned away before he couldn’t. He listened as the rest of her clothes fell away before she slid into the tub with a groan of pleasure. It was excruciating torture. His teeth grated, he stepped into the doorway, leaning against it as he fought the urge to turn around and go back in there.
His body was so taught with strain from not looking that he didn’t know she had approached until he felt her fingers slip between his own. He relished the supple feel of her skin against his as he pulled her against his chest and held her close.
CHAPTER 14
She was sound asleep in his lap, her hand curled against his chest, her head resting in the hollow of his shoulder as she breathed slowly in and out. As she slept, the tension of the day faded from her features making her appear even younger, more vulnerable, which only made him worry for her more. Max hadn’t appeared again since he’d rebuked her earlier and Braith hoped that he never did.
Daniel was talking quietly, pointing at some of the designs and drawings he had created. “These are all of your cave systems?” Gideon inquired.
“Not all of them,” David answered. “These are the ones closest to the palace. We had others, but some have been lost to cave-ins, and others are too far from the palace to be of any use.”
“Are there often people within them?” Ashby inquired, glancing nervously at Braith.
“What do you mean?”
“The cave system where the troops are hiding had a man inside of it.”
“That’s not unusual, many know about the caves and the food supply,” David told him.
“It looked like he’d been there for awhile.”
“I suppose some may stay below hoping to avoid the king’s troops. It’s why we retreated into the swamplands. The king’s raids have become more frequent and aggressive since you left the palace.” Braith held David’s steady gaze. “The man in the cave, what did he do?”
“He attacked Aria,” Braith growled.
David’s eyes widened, he leaned forward on the table. Braith lowered his head and inhaled her sweet scent. The soap she’d been given smelled of honey. Beneath it he could smell the faint hint of his blood as it flowed through her veins. She was the most enticing thing he’d ever smelled, and he needed her soothing effect right now.
“Why would he do that?” David inquired.
Ashby glanced nervously at Braith, but seemed satisfied that he would remain calm while holding Aria. “Apparently he hadn’t seen a woman in awhile.”
“Did he harm her?” Daniel demanded.
“He tried, but she’s fine.”
“And what of the man?” David inquired.
“Dead,” Braith said unremorsefully. “Anyone that injures her will meet the same fate.”
David sat back as he studied them. “What exactly is it that you intend for my daughter? What do you think you can give her?”
“Anything she desires.”
Gideon and Ashby shifted nervously, well aware that this conversation was drifting into treacherous waters. Xavier leaned forward, his dark eyes eager as he absorbed the discussion. “I can see that she loves you, and though it’s baffling and astonishing to me, I think you love her too. But I don’t see how any of this can work. Will your people accept her? Do you have plans to make her a vampire?” David nearly choked on the word vampire but somehow managed to get it out. It was apparent the man found the thought abhorrent.
“Most do not survive the change; I have no intention of inflicting that upon her.” Gideon, Jack and Ashby winced, Xavier quirked an eyebrow as he gazed at Aria.
David’s frustration was nearly palpable. “Then what do you intend? To watch her grow old and die? To have her be an outcast among your people? Tell me Braith, what will you do when she dies?”
“I’ll find a way to die also,” he said simply.
Gideon groaned as he shook his head, dropping it into his hands. Ashby closed his eyes as Jack folded his arms over his chest and sat back in his chair. Xavier remained unmoving, he’d known there was a bond between them but he hadn’t known the extent of that bond until now.
“But you have been voted the leader; your people will follow you…”
“Or Jack,” he interrupted sharply. Despite his every intention not to, he found himself leaning forward as he met David’s incredulous gaze, and Jack’s completely aghast one. “I will lead them into battle, I will lead you all into battle, but I have not hidden the fact that I do not intend to lead afterward. Not unless Aria is at my side. I will stay long enough for whatever leader you elect to settle in, and then she and I will leave. I will not expose her to a life of unhappiness.”
“I don’t want it,” Jack blurted.
“Neither do I,” Braith snarled in frustration. “I never have, but I accepted it, and I did it. I’ve done my duty for the past nine hundred years, I’ve done everything expected of me and I will continue to do it until this is over, but someone else can step up afterward.”
“I
t will be difficult on her, to grow old while you don’t,” David told him.
“I know that.”
“You could let her go.” Braith stiffened as fury ripped through him. Aria’s fingers slipped beneath the buttons of his shirt to press against his flesh in an attempt to soothe him. They had woken her. “It would be best, for both of you, for everyone involved if you let her go.”
“It’s too late for that.” He had managed to regain enough control to answer without smashing the table before him.
“I don’t understand why. I know it will be tough, the last thing I want is to see my daughter unhappy, but she’ll be hurt no matter what. There’s no way to stop that now.”
Her heartbeat had increased; the scent of her fear assailed him. “Ashby can explain it to you,” he said bluntly. Aria gasped as he rose swiftly from his chair. Staying here was only going to annoy him further and he had promised her that he would try to be nicer. “Does it matter what room we take?”
David’s jaw dropped. Aria’s lashes flickered against his neck as she opened her eyes, he could feel the heat of her skin against his neck. He bit back a groan, he didn’t understand these human customs, or perhaps they were simply family customs, but he was becoming increasingly frustrated with them.
“I’ll sleep on the floor,” he grated, hoping that would help to ease some of the tension that filled the room. He swore that once this whole mess was over he was going to build her a house that no one else would ever be invited to.
“Third room on the right, there’s a small cot in there,” David responded in a choked voice.
“I’ll get you some blankets,” Daniel volunteered.
“You can put me down Braith.”
He held her for a moment longer before lowering her feet to the floor. She hurried to her father, pecked him on the cheek and gave him a hug. Braith was fascinated by the look of love on David’s face as she spoke with him. He sure as hell had never seen it on his own father’s face. David patted her arm reassuringly as she kissed him again and rejoined Braith.