Page 33 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

I’d mostly managed to keep myself from crying after my time with Gwen back at the courtesan house, but even that had left me feeling raw. The only thing that had lessened the lingering ache in my chest was being wrapped in the same arms that encircle me now.

Pressing a kiss on the side of my head, Vannaria whispers, “It’s alright, Mariane. You’re safe now.”

Chapter Fifteen

Vannaria

My intended words of comfort seem to have the opposite effect and instead cause Mariane to cry harder, her trembling hands clutching me even tighter. Unsure what else to do, I simply hug her back just as fiercely, tears pricking at my own eyes. She’d asked me to hold her after having sex with Gwen as well, but the vulnerability she’d shown then pales in comparison to the heart-wrenching sobs coming from her now, the sounds barely muffled even with how her face is pressed into the crook of my neck.

After a long moment, her grip on me loosens, breath ghosting across my skin as she lets out a soft sigh. I take that as a sign it’s safe to lift one of my own hands and begin gently running my fingers through her hair. The normally silky strands are matted with dried blood and dirt both and I have to take care not to tug at her scalp as I make a valiant attempt to untangle it all.

Having apparently noticed my intentions, Mariane slowly lifts her head, chuckling softly. “I don’t suppose you have a comb in that magic bag of yours?”

“Hmm. I might,” I say, following her lead and keeping the conversation light. “But I’d have to get up to check, and I find myself quite comfortable at the moment.”

“As do I.” Propping herself up on one elbow, she slowly trails her eyes from my face down to my still-exposed cunt, the wetness between my thighs a lingering reminder of what just happened between us. “But as much as it pains me to say it, we should probably put some clothes back on.”

“What do you mean?” I furrow my brows, feigning confusion. “I’m fairly certain we’re both still wearing pants. If you aren’t aware, those do count as clothing.”

She scoffs, the sound tinged with what I hope is affection. “Perhaps if we were wearing them properly.” Playfully rolling her hips, she smears a fresh bit of wetness smears across my upper thigh, the coarse curls between her legs tickling my skin and sending a shiver through me. “Which, we aren’t.”

“Hmm, I suppose you’re right.” I lift my own hips, attempting to grind myself against her as well, yet not able to from my current position. “However, I can’t say I find much issue with that at the moment.”

Golden eyes dance with mischief as she slowly trails her fingers down my chest. “Is that so?” Her gaze lowers, watching those same fingers travel closer and closer to my swollen cunt, our body’s natural lack of body hair making my fresh arousal even more obvious. “Well, in that case.”

Brushing a single finger through my folds, Mariane hums at the wetness she finds, then uses that same finger to gently circle my clit, her touch featherlight in comparison to our previous love-making. Unable to help myself, I let out a pitiful sounding whine, opening my legs wider to allow her more access to my cunt.

She giggles, the sound music to my ears after listening to her earlier sobs. “And here I thought you were a brave warrior. Yet, look at you. Reduced to a whimpering maiden at a single touch.” I grit my teeth, fighting back a true whimper at her taunting. Her eyes snap back up to mine, voice lowering to a breathless whisper. “How desperate are you, Vannaria?”

Without breaking eye contact, I press myself more firmly against the hand between my thighs. “Painfully so, Your Majesty.”

A familiar feral grin curls at Mariane’s lips. “I appreciate the honesty, my loyal subject.” The pressure on my clit increases, another finger added as she begins circling it faster.

Gasping, I lift my hips in a desperate attempt to seek more delicious friction.

She chuckles tauntingly. “It’s a shame. If we were wearing our pants properly I’d be able to slot my thigh between yours. Give you something to grind yourself against. But alas…” Her circles become tighter, rougher. “Seems you’ll just have to be satisfied with my fingers.”

Choking back another whimper, I force myself to reply, “Your fingers alone are more than satisfactory, Your Majesty.”

Mariane leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips before pulling away just enough to whisper, “Prove it.”

As if summoned by the words, an intense explosion of pleasure radiates out from my clit, shooting throughout my entire body when the sudden orgasm rips through me. My mouth opens in a silent scream, back arching and eyes clenching shut as I ride out wave after wave of aftershocks, skillful fingers drawing them out for as long as possible by continuing their gentle circling.

After what feels like an eternity, I bonelessly collapse back onto the hard ground beneath me. Breath still ragged, I force my eyes open, desperately seeking out Mariane’s gaze once more. I don’t have to search at all as it turns out, her stunningly beautiful eyes are already locked onto mine.

With a lazy smile curling at the corners of my mouth, and still attempting to catch my breath, I wheeze, “Do you find my…presented evidence…satisfactory, Your Majesty?”

“I did.” Seemingly fighting back her own smile, she lowers her head back onto my chest and shifts her hand so it’s fully cupping me between the legs. “Is your cunt satisfied now as well? Or does it still need further attention?”

I start to nod, then shake my head, a deep chuckle rumbling in my chest. “I can say with certainty that my cunt will happily receive any attention you offer it. But yes, for the moment it is satisfied.”

“Is that so?” She flutters her fingers, causing me to squirm in an attempt to escape the light touches to my overly sensitive clit. “I suppose that means we should probably get up then. I’m sure Adaman is probably getting tired of waiting on us. Assuming he hasn’t decided to wander off entirely.”

Craning my neck in the direction I’m pretty sure we left in him, I grin. “Seems you have more than one loyal subject, Your Majesty.”

Mariane lifts her head to also look towards the dapple grey horse happily grazing nearby, seemingly unaffected by the bodies still littering the ground. And both rounds of our passionate and rather loud love-making.

Ah. Love-making. Perhaps I shouldn’t refer to it as such. This could have meant something entirely different to Mariane than it did to me. Best not get ahead of myself before finding out how she feels about this latest development in our relationship. If it even is one. Traveling companions may be a more suited term. Relationship suggestions a certain level of–