“As long as they replace him with someone just as competent,” Warna said, suddenly realizing that the keep seemed farther away than it had before. She hated to admit it, but she was tiring.
There was a sudden warmth as Verice put his hand on her lower back. She glanced up to find that he was giving her a serious look. “We did too much for your first outing.”
“No, no,” she protested. Odd. It wasn’t that he was pushing, but that warmth at her back seemed to strengthen her steps. “I’m fine,” she insisted, afraid that he’d use that as an excuse to put her off. Delay...other things. She didn’t want to delay, didn’t want to wait one more moment for—
“We’ll eat,” Verice said firmly as he led her into the keep.
Warna opened her mouth to protest, but then her stomach grumbled. The corner of Verice’s mouth quirked and she had to laugh at herself.
“I’ll have it brought to our room,” Verice said. “Head that way. I’ll be right behind you.”
His hand lifted from her back, but Warna could still feel its warmth as she started up the stairs, feeling light of heart. Which may or may not have had anything to do with ‘our room’.
She managed to slowly climb to the second landing before Verice caught up with her and swept her up into his arms.
“Verice,” she protested even as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Save your energy for other things,” he mock-growled.
Warna laughed, but a soft tendril of warmth wrapped around her that had nothing to do with the heat of his skin, and the strength of the arms that held her.
Nothing at all.
They hadn’t beenin their chambers for more than a brief moment before there was a knock at the door. Verice noticed that Warna’s hands trembled while the servers set out their meal.
He was confident that it was anticipation. Or nervousness. So, he kept the talk light as their food was served, and the servants excused themselves. Nothing too serious; observations about the dogs, and the gardens. The dangers of working around rantha thorns.
Warna responded, and relaxed as they ate and talked.
He owed her a boon for so many things; that much was certain. If she wished to have him as a lover for the duration of the Festival, it was his duty to oblige. That she was inexperienced put an even greater responsibility upon him.
He’d slept with inexperienced women before. Never a human; but from what he understood human women were no different from faella. He wasn’t concerned about that. What he wanted more than anything else was to make sure Warna experienced nothing but pleasure at his hands. She deserved nothing less.
He’d teach her all the pleasures he knew. It wouldn’t touch him the way it would touch her, but he’d take the utmost care of her body and her heart.
As soon as she’d finished eating, he pushed back his own plate, stood and stretched, enjoying her wide-eyed attraction.
“Food’s improved since the kitchens reopened,” he observed as he reached for the side buckle on his armor.
“Far easier to cook on-site,” Warna said. She stacked their plates, and was frowning at him, watching him as he fumbled with the buckle. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Stuck,” Verice muttered, as he tried to work the strap free. “Not sure what’s—”
“Here,” Warna huffed a breath. “I’ll do it.”
She moved closer, bending her head as she reached for the leather strap. Verice held his arm up high, letting her do the work.
“There,” she said as she unfastened the buckle. “That wasn’t so hard—”
Verice leaned in. “My thanks,” he said softly.
She lifted her head, startled.
“Help me with the rest,” Verice lowered his arm, brushing her hair back off her face and tucking it behind her round ear. “There’s another,” he pointed to the next buckle.
Warna blushed, her cheeks pink. “I see,” she said, and started to work on the next strap.
Verice turned to give her better access, but he used the movement to his advantage. He lowered his head, so that his breath mingled with hers, and gently stroked the soft skin of her neck.
