DISCLAIMER: Still don't own anything from King Arthur…. Sigh.
A/N: Remember the "M" rating for this chapter.
Dagonet woke the next morning when the hut door opened and Adelaide poked her head inside. The young woman's eyes widened in surprise at seeing him in bed with Kiana but immediately brightened as she offered him a cheerful smile. She kept her voice low to avoid waking Kiana, "I brought some of mother's special honey bread and more tea." She quietly slipped inside and set the food on the table and picked up the pot of stew from the fire, "I'll bring something fresh midday." She looked at her sleeping friend's face and smiled again, "Thank you for talking care of her. She'll probably want a bath when she wakes. I'll be in my hut so you can get me to help." She pulled a fragrant chunk of soap from her dress pocket and laid it on the table before turning to leave just as quietly as she had come in.
He spent a moment watching the sleeping woman beside him before reluctantly getting out of the bed. He hadn't bathed since returning from bringing her home and Adelaide's mention of a bath made him realize he probably didn't smell the best. He gave the soap a sniff and grimaced at its sweet scent before going to his pack and pulling out the remaining sliver of soap he'd packed from Peronell's hut. He stood holding the soap while realizing the only way he would be able to bathe would be to haul her tub inside and bathe in the same room, or go to the creek and brave the cold water. While the prospect of another cold water bath didn't thrill him, he didn't think she would be ready to deal with him sitting naked in a tub in the middle of her hut either. Gathering up clothing to change into he left the hut to brave the cold water again.
It was Rowan who saved him from the river. The older man had been watching Kiana's hut from his barn and started walking towards the big knight when he stepped outside with spare clothing in hand. While trying not to draw excess attention he hurried toward the large man, "Sir Dagonet, a moment, please." He hurriedly approached and kept his voice lowered, "Adelaide said you've moved in with Kiana." He kept any note of judgment or complaint out of his voice and hurried on, "I imagine with her being sick you hadn't had time to do much for yourself." At Dagonet's probing stare he added, "I saw you heading towards the creek to bathe. I've a spare tub in the barn and can haul water up to heat there if you wouldn't mind." He didn't add that the spare tub was actually Peronell's tub that he had drug out of their hut after Adelaide told him where the knight had slept. He had been right when he guessed the big man wouldn't push over familiarity with Kiana by stripping down to bathe in her hut.
Dagonet wouldn't have normally allowed any person to serve him in such a manner but still held onto a twinge of anger over Peronell and, to some small degree, Rowan's part in sending them out into the cold. He gave a stiff nod and headed for the barn. As Rowan began hauling buckets of water in for the tub he looked around and almost smiled at the hilarity of taking a bath where his own horse was stalled. He only hoped he left actually smelling better than when he came in.
Once the last tub of steaming water was poured into the tub he hastily stripped and stepped into the water. Rowan had heated it hotter than he might normally would have liked, but it served to keep the chilly air in the barn from bothering him. He frowned as Rowan came up and approached his pile of clothes. The older man hastily said, "My wife owes you for her plotting and scheming. The least she can do is wash your clothes." He didn't wait for a response before turning and leaving the barn and the big knight to his unusual bath.
Dagonet scrubbed himself vigorously before allowing a short time to soak in the water. Leisurely baths were not something the knights could expect to enjoy often and despite the unusual location, he allowed himself a moment to relax and think. Had he been overly forward in moving himself into Kiana's hut? He'd been angry and disgusted with Peronell's plot to get him and Kiana under the same blanket away from prying eyes. As a younger man he would have been eager for such an opportunity, but knowing what Kiana had endured he hadn't wanted to rush her. Wasn't his moving into her hut and sleeping in her bed without asking her permission just the sort of rushing he wanted to avoid? His mind spun to deny the thought while his heart demanded that he not back down from the fragilely gained space with her. He decided that not asking her permission was less than honorable of him, but he wasn't going to move out unless she asked him to or seemed uncomfortable with his decision.
After his bath he emptied the water away from the barn and rinsed the tub. As he was walking back to Kiana's hut he saw Adelaide leaving and stopped as she approached, "I left more food and medicines for her and helped her clean up." She frowned and looked up to meet his steely stare, "What goes on in there between you is none of my concern, but don't let her get up too soon or she'll catch more than an early winter fever." Her tone was firm but her eyes held a kind warmth that let him know she wished them nothing but good will. He gave her a brief smile of thanks and a nod of acknowledgement, "She'll get plenty of rest before I let her go out in this cold again."
Adelaide watched the big knight as he opened the door to her friend's hut and went inside. She had a big smile on her face as she remembered waking her friend and practically shoving her into a tub to clean her up before the man returned. Kiana had grumbled at her until she told her that she stunk from being sick and having traveled without bathing. By the end of the bath she'd stopped complaining and allowed herself to be tended to. Adelaide had changed the bed linens and put her into a fresh sleeping gown before making sure the hearth fire was heating the hut well enough to keep her warm. She'd left her sipping another hot medicated tea while sitting up in bed. Kiana's illness would be uncomfortable for a couple of days but certainly not serious. Her mother's herbal medicines would help keep her comfortable as well as soothe her since the big knight had finally decided he was not going to keep a distance between them anymore. She knew her friend might be a bit flustered by the sudden changes in her life but trusted the gentleness she had seen in the man to ease the way for her.
Kiana had been somewhat frustrated with her friend when Adelaide had insisted she get up and bathe while she had been sleeping as comfortably as possible. It wasn't until she had been told that she smelled of horse and sickness that she grudgingly got up and reluctantly left her warm blankets to sit in a less than full tub. Adelaide had seem to be in a great hurry as she scrubbed her hair and Kiana would have complained more until she was told that Dagonet might return some time soon. While she was rapidly becoming comfortable with his presence so close to her while she slept, she wasn't ready for him to see her soaking wet and naked in a tub. Adelaide had bustled around the hut hurriedly after her bath and Kiana was relieved when she was allowed to go back to her now freshly changed bed to sit and sip more of the medicated tea. The tea made her sleepy but calmed the raw pain from her sore throat. She was glad Adelaide had stirred her hearth fire as much as she had since her hair was still wet and she wanted it dried before she went back to sleep.
When Dagonet came back into the hut her stomach gave a small twinge of excitement despite the drowsiness from the tea. She could tell that he had also recently bathed and silently thanked Adelaide for her earlier persistence. He checked the pot left on the side of the fire to heat and noted it contained a honeyed soaked oatmeal, "You should be resting." He said firmly.
"My hair is still wet. If I lay down with it like this it will make my neck cold and stiff."
Looking around the hut he spotted the comb he had used in the past and brought it over. He sat on the bed and gently turned her until her back was to him before he began to gently run the comb through the wet and heavy strands of hair. At her sigh of contentment he smiled and relaxed to enjoy the feel of the silky strands as they dried and took on a healthy shine. Once most of her hair was dry he set the comb aside and gently pulled her back to lean against the front of his chest. When she relaxed against him he realized that the sleeping gown she was wearing was thinner than most and that he could feel every curve along her back as she pressed against him. As his body began to respond to her nearness he shifted himself back to keep his arousal away from her while silently cursing the desire he felt for her even as she rested in his arms still sick from the cold. Realizing that his discomfort was going to get worse as she remained so close to him, he carefully pulled back the blankets and guided her under them to give himself some space. Once she was tucked under the blankets he turned to focus back on the waiting pot of oatmeal. He quickly spooned out two bowls full for them and allowed his mind to drift while getting their meal prepared and to help calm his physical need for her.
Kiana hadn't missed his reaction to being close to her and had felt a dim sense of both anxiety and a strange thrill of longing. The medication in the tea Peronell had made for her did wonders to soothe her aching body and burning sore throat but it also made her very drowsy. Part of her wanted to explore this newly discovered physical sense while another part remembered her friend's caution to not begin anything with a man that she wasn't willing to complete. While she wasn't sure exactly what beginning anything with a man entailed, she was sure that doing anything while she felt so drowsy and sick would only lead to a problem for both of them. She had feigned ignorance of his obvious arousal and allowed him to tuck her under the blankets and go get their breakfast. Once his hands had left her shoulders she realized that she had felt another sort of achy restlessness despite the teas sedating effects and wondered if this was the beginning of the desire Adelaide and Peronell had spoken of.
She kept herself quiet when Dagonet handed her the bowl and ate slowly out of deference to her sore throat while being grateful for the first time in her life that being sick excused her from any need for conversation. Once he had taken her bowl she found that her eyes were becoming very heavy and she was all too happy to burrow deeper under her warm blankets to fall into another deep sleep.
Dagonet watched her sleep for some time before a restless energy began to consume him. He knew his time remaining in the village might be limited depending on when Arthur sent one of the other knights to come for him. He hoped to have come to some sort of clear understanding in his relationship with Kiana before then and couldn't ignore his body's insistent reaction to whenever he was near her. His longing for her had gone past just a physical ache. As he watched her sleeping he realized he wanted her connection to him to go beyond a moment of physical pleasure. He wanted her to return to the fort with him and silently vowed to do whatever he could to convince her to return with him.
He got up restlessly and took the dishes and pot outside to clean. Once they were clean he wandered back to the stable to look in on his horse. The big animal was enjoying his time in a comfortable stall and stood dozing as he approached. He didn't want to disturb the animal's rest and looked over to Anthes. The stallion had his ears pricked forward and was watching him with calm interest. He approached the stallion's stall cautiously remembering times when the animal would have charged unpredictably. The stallion only sniffed at him in curiosity and he smiled as he ran his hand along the horse's soft fur, "She's tamed us both." He told the stallion and spent a moment with the now calmed horse. He had no idea how she had managed to quiet such an angry and dangerous horse, but he was glad it had happened for both their sakes.
Having nothing to do in the barn he went back outside and pulled his cloak tighter against a sudden blast of cold wind. A storm was blowing in and he suspected a snowfall would come soon. His thoughts were interrupted as Peronell approached him somewhat timidly. She had his now cleaned clothes folded and wrapped up neatly and handed them to him, "Is the medication keeping her comfortable?" she asked softly.
He stared down at her worried eyes and realized she was probably as upset with Kiana getting ill as he had been, "It seems to be. It makes her sleep a lot."
Peronell nodded, "It should. Her body needs rest to get well. If I hadn't added a few additional herbs to help her rest, she'd be up now and keeping from getting well. Her fever has gone and now she'll need a couple of days before she starts back out in this cold." She looked up at the graying sky, "We'll have snow soon. Promise me that you'll keep her inside for at least a handful of days?" her eyes were anxious before she hastily added, "I swear to you this is no more plotting on my part. I've seen many a simple fever turn worse when exposed to the cold and wet weather."
Dagonet matched her stare up at the sky for a moment before he thoughtfully said, "You know I plan on keeping her inside." He met her anxious gaze with a level stare and added, "Best that you send me the herbs to prevent a babe from starting this soon." He knew she would know and have the necessary herbs gathered and mixed. It hadn't escaped his notice that the village wasn't filled with women heavily pregnant with children and babies of all ages around them. Either this village lacked in the normal drive that fueled men and women, or their healer had helped to reduce the numbers of unwanted pregnancies. His guess wasn't wrong when he saw the older woman flush before she spoke, "I sent some mixed in for her when you both left. I'll make sure she has more should you both decide to use them." She paused a moment before adding, "They work best if steeped in tea and used before you plan to be together." Her tone was less timid and more of a healer.
He nodded in understanding, "I've heard and known of such. Have you told her this as well?"
"Yes, she knows."
He stood still and quiet for some time and she turned to leave before his next question stopped her dead in her tracks, "What can you give me to calm my desire for her?"
Peronell's eyes were wide with shock, "Why would you wish to calm yourself?" she had to ask even as she suspected she knew the answer.
Refusing to allow embarrassment to get in the way of what he needed to know, he answered, "You know what happened to her. When she is near me I begin to ache for her. She is not a large woman and I am not a small man. I fear that my desire might bring back too many memories from what happened to her. I don't want her to fear me."
If she had been speaking with any other man Peronell would have laughed, or at least smiled, but this quiet knight had revealed a deep and inner fear to her as a healer and it was up to her to provide what assistance she could, "She fears the lack of being able to choose as well as the pain of what happened. Taneris forced her to submit to him, you will not." At his look of puzzlement she explained, "His act against her wasn't just about sex. It was about control and violence. Let her feel in control but don't hide what you're feeling. To do that would taint any trust you hope to build together. Let her discover your touch as being gentle without being demanding."
His look became distant as he remembered villages and women left in fearful and painful conditions, "You've given this advice before."
"There have been other women I've tended, yes. Honesty and patience will go further than any herbs I can mix." She turned to go back to her hut and stopped to look back at him, "She has been through a lot but is a strong woman. I'm glad you came back for her." She turned back to her hut and hurried back inside.
Dagonet watched her leave and tucked his clothes under his arm as he walked back to Kiana's hut. It was too cold out to spend time outside with nothing to do and he found that the idle time was unsettling. When he stepped back inside Kiana's hut he found that she was still sleeping and tried to keep his movements quiet as he put his clothing in his pack and dug around to see if there were any repairs or work that needed to be done.
"You aren't used to idle time." Her voice was somewhat raspy and startled him. She had rolled onto her side and was looking at him with a faintly anxious frown. He pulled a chair over close to the bed and sat down to avoid crowding her, "Our time is frequently spent out on missions, training, or some task in the fort."
Feeling a little useless for laying about in bed while her friends had been helping her, she sat up and started to swing her legs out of bed, "I've slept the night and part of this day…." She didn't get to finish as his strong hands caught her shoulders and stopped her. His tone of voice was gentle but firm, "Peronell told me to see that you get rest and stay indoors away from the cold. One night and part of a day is not much of a rest."
Pulling her legs back under the blankets she asked, "Why did you stay here with me last night?" it was a bold question. She sat very still and watched his face closely.
He met her eyes and saw curiosity but no anger, "I think you know the answer to that." When she would have looked away he gently touched her chin so he could look into her eyes as he added, "I've held no secrets about my desire for you. I would have you return to the fort with me to remain there until my time as a knight is done." He watched her eyes closely. There was no fear in her stare, only wonder and a soft acceptance. He wanted to kiss her but kept his distance knowing that if he touched her now he might not be able to stop. He let his hand fall away from her face, "If you want me to go, I will." He wanted her to know she still had a choice with him.
Kiana's head felt like it was spinning. She knew there was more to be said between them than the brief moments they had experienced together in Rowan's barn and on the road. She hadn't expected his sudden move into her hut and felt a warm rush of anticipation as well an awkward lack of experience. His directness both unsettled and thrilled her, "I want you to stay." Her courage faltered with the memory of Taneris' painful attacks and she couldn't meet his eyes when she said, "I just don't know how much I can do…..between us….." she couldn't finish as intensity of the shame and anger of the memories rolled over her. Snapping the blankets off her legs she abruptly stood up and went towards the hearth, "I'm getting more tea." Strong arms caught her and she found herself being pulled back into a warm embrace. She wanted to pull away at first as a rush of panic swept over her. His arms held her firmly, but gently, close to his chest and his voice was soothing, "You've no need to fear me. Be at ease and go back to bed. I'll bring the tea." The tea may have been an excuse to put some distance between them, but jumping up out of bed reminded her that her throat was still very sore and her body still ached.
Suddenly, she felt like a foolish young girl. This was a man who had endured much just to earn the time to come back to get her and she was acting foolishly. She turned in his arms and rested her head against his chest. The steady beating of his heart calmed her and she breathed a deep sigh as she wrapped her arms around him, "I know you would never do anything that will hurt me." She didn't need to add that the memories were what frightened her. She had been in his arms and felt his desire and he had done nothing to push her for more than what she could offer at that moment.
Dagonet felt her relax against him and was glad that she had been able to calm from her fear so quickly. He let his chin rest on the top of her head and tightened his embrace to allow her to feel security from his strength. He couldn't say how long he held her while simply enjoying the closeness of one he cared for when he felt her shiver and burrow closer into him for warmth which reminded him that she was wearing only a thin sleeping gown. Reluctantly, he let her go and steered her back towards the bed, "It's still too cold for you to be up dressed like that. I'll bring you some tea. Which herb packets do you want me to use?" he kept his tone mild and reassuring. Peronell had told him she had given Kiana the herbs to prevent a pregnancy and he wasn't going to push her into that sort of decision while she was still sick.
Kiana looked towards the hearth and saw the bag of medicinal pouches Peronell had packed as well as additional pouches Adelaide had brought earlier in the day. She sat on the bed and tucked her legs under the blankets, "I'm not sure what herbs Peronell put in each of those packets. If you would bring them here I can check and tell you which ones to use." When he handed her the packets she carefully opened them and sorted them by their medicinal values. When she came to the packet that held the herbs used to prevent pregnancies she hesitated for a moment before adding them into the mix she wanted him to use for her tea. He was sharing her hut and she wanted him to stay. His embrace and touch had set of a feeling deep inside that she had never experienced before, but knew intuitively that he was feeling the same. She wanted to explore more and knew where such things led. She handed him back the bag and several of her own mixed packets, "These will do for the next teas. I can make up more as I feel better."
He took the bag and packets without comment and set a pot of water to heat. When he turned back to the bed he saw that her eyes were shut and that she had finally allowed herself to rest. He remained silent as the water heated enough to steep the herbs into a tea. When it was ready he carefully brought the mug to the bed and gave it to her. She took a small sip and abruptly grimaced at the taste.
"I forgot that some of those herbs can get bitter once they've dried." She handed him the mug and looked past him until she spotted a small pot of honey on the table, "Would you add a bit of honey to this?"
As he went to the table, the disjointed memory of her forcing herbs with honey into his mouth made his smile, "I remember you making me take a foul mix of herbs mixed in with honey once." He added honey to the tea and brought it back to her.
Kiana was smiling as she took the mug and took a tentative sip. It was still bitter but the honey helped, "I remember you refusing to drink any of the medicines Vanora and I made for you."
They shared a smile and sat together in silence as she drank the tea. Kiana handed him back the mug as the herbs made her sleepy again and she lay back down to sleep. She gave herself up to the healing rest knowing he would remain in the hut to watch over her.
Dagonet watched her fall back asleep and sat back to simply look at her. Her time in the village had filled out what once had been gauntness from overexertion and stress in her life at the fort. She had been too thin before and now had gentle curves which filled out her figure and only enhanced her appeal. Her bone structure was too fine for her ever to be a large woman and he wondered at her family breeding to produce such a seemingly delicate woman.
He was glad she had the time in the village to heal from the damage done to her in the fort and relieved to know she had been learning the healing lore. He hoped to keep her out of the tavern when they returned to the fort and wondered if her new skills as a healers apprentice might be of some use. As he pulled the leather scabbard off his sword for repair he vowed no man would ever call her a whore again and walk away without a broken limb.
Time passed quickly into nightfall as he worked on the leather repairs and he was startled when she spoke, "I'm going to need to go out for a few minutes. Can you hand me my cloak?"
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her why she wanted to go outside when he realized she had been inside the hut all day with no chance to go out to the privy. He retrieved her cloak from the hanging rack of clothing and handed it to her.
Kiana was glad he hadn't decided to insist on her staying inside since she didn't want to have push the issue just to go outside for a personal break. She wrapped the cloak tightly around her and stepped outside. The sudden cold bite of air chilled her and she hurried her steps along.
"What are you doing outside?" Peronell's voice sounded nearly panicked.
Kiana stopped and looked to her friend who was carrying a covered pot towards her hut, "I still have to go out to take care of personal needs." She said in exasperation. She knew Peronell felt guilty about her plotting to get them out together but wasn't about to let her get up in arms over a short trip outside her hut. She continued on and hurriedly finished her business knowing Peronell was probably at her hut scolding Dagonet for letting her outside.
When she stepped back inside her hut she went straight to the hearth to warm up and noted another pot of stew was waiting to be served. Peronell was busily straightening her bed and moving about the hut. The older woman kept sending nervous glances at the big knight and Kiana realized the two were at an uneasy truce. Sighing in frustration she said loudly, "I'm going to be fine. Peronell has apologized and I'm not one to hold onto a grudge." She walked over to the big knight and looked up at him, "Will you not let it go?"
Dagonet saw the worry in her eyes and pulled her into his arms to hold her close. His voice was reassuring, "It is done." He could feel the coldness still on the outside of her cloak and stepped closer to the hearth to let the fire warm her while he kept her tucked into his embrace. He wouldn't have thought he would be the type to show his affection so openly, but found that holding her calmed him. He was rapidly becoming accustomed to having her close and felt a strong sense of protectiveness sweeping over him. He looked over her head at the older woman and offered her a nod to let her know his words were meant for her. Kiana would be well and it wasn't in him to remain angry for long.
Peronell offered the knight a smile as she watched her young friend snuggle closer into his arms. His anger was frightening when it had been directed at her, but she could see that it had faded and was being replaced by a stronger emotion now directed at Kiana. She kept her delight to herself as she set bowls out on the table, "I'll stop by in the morning." she said before hurrying out the door.
Kiana laughed softly and rested her cheek against his chest, "You've scared her." She told him distractedly. His s steady heartbeat and strong arms were becoming more vital to her by the minute and she wondered at the newly discovered closeness. She felt the rumble of a chuckle in his chest before he answered, "I don't suspect she'll remain so for long. That woman is used to being in charge."
Any answer Kiana would have made was spoiled by her stomach growling. Grimacing, she reluctantly stepped away and picked up the bowls from the table, "I would have thought I'd be less hungry since I've slept the day away." Seeing his beginning of a frown she held up her hand, "I know, I need the rest to get well." She smiled as she filled the bowls and set them on the table.
Once they were seated she took a bite of the stew and smiled, "Peronell cooks really good."
Dagonet agreed and set to eating the stew eagerly. While Sameal cooked well enough at the tavern, Peronell's skills far surpassed his and he enjoyed the change. They were halfway through their bowls when Kiana paused to ask him, "I saw your scabbard out, do you need help on the leather repair?"
"You know leather craft?"
She gave him a soft smile, "Not as much as some, but well enough for passable work." She didn't add that most of her skill had come from helping her father mend the leather tack from the horses.
Retrieving the scabbard from where he had left it leaning against the wall, Dagonet set it on the table and pointed out several areas split on the leather from exposure to the elements and hard use, "None of these are too bad yet, but need attention now that I have some time."
Kiana studied the scabbard and noted that he had been painstakingly skillful in the start of his repairs. She wondered at his patience for the work since most men wouldn't have wanted to spend hours doing the fine stitching he had been working on, "You did this today?" she asked.
"Jols has a better hand at it and normally takes care of such repairs."
He had started to pull the scabbard off the table before she laid her hand on top of his to stop him, "I can work on this." She told him. She looked up into his eyes and added hastily, "That is if you don't mind. Peronell won't let me out for a couple more days and I can't keep sleeping."
He let her take the scabbard from him, "You'll be saving me from the stitching. I've never been fond of doing it." He didn't add that he'd set to doing the repairs out of boredom and idly thought of what he could do to keep busy now that she would be taking over for him.
Kiana left the scabbard on the table and finished her stew. When she was done she got up and served him a second bowl while enjoying the feeling of being useful instead of lying about. She set the pot aside to cool and heated water for more tea. Her throat wasn't as sore as it had been in the afternoon and she wanted to keep the medicines working to prevent it from coming back. When the tea was done she added more honey and brought the mug back to the table to drink. She was quiet as she sipped the tea. She wasn't used to having a man so intimately close and had no idea what to say without making useless chatter.
Dagonet sensed her discomfort and while he was one who could spend a night in quietness and contemplation, he knew enough about her to know she preferred some social conversation. He knew she would hesitate to pry at him and decided to take this opportunity to learn more about her, "Where were your parents from?"
Kiana blinked a bit in surprise before answering, "My mother was a native Brittan and my father was a Spaniard who had worked for Arthur's father as master of his horses and stable."
Dagonet thought back to the man he had known only briefly before his time of service to Rome had been completed. The man had been completely devoted to the horses under his care and the fine animals he and his brother knights rode were a direct result of his careful management. That also explained her abilities with the horses and on horseback, "I remember him." Having finished his stew, he took the bowl to the hearth and set it aside to clean later. He rejoined her at the table and asked her, "Was your village like this one?"
Kiana's eyes were sad as she answered him, "It was similar, but out farm was on the outer edge so my father could raise his horses out on the open pastures."
They spent the next several hours talking as she told him about her life in the village while growing up. He laughed as she told him how her mother had disapproved of her riding her father's horses and how she used to sneak out to go ride. He shared with her his memories of growing up in Sarmatia before the Roman soldiers had come to collect him and Bors to be used as knights for Rome. She had reached across the table to squeeze his hand when he told her of receiving news that his parents had died while he had been out on a mission. He hadn't been free to leave to see to their burial and had mourned their passing in private.
His voice was soothing as he began to tell her stories of the early years in the knights training and some of their early exploits and pranks on each other. The sedating effects of the tea and his voice began to make her feel sleepy and she felt herself beginning to nod off to sleep while still sitting in her chair at the table. She hadn't been aware of his silence until she felt his arms slide under her knees and around her shoulders to pick her up. A small part of her wanted to be alarmed, but she quickly shoved that aside to bask in his strength. When he put her on the bed she slid under the blankets and fell asleep almost instantly.
Dagonet had watched her become more and more relaxed while they spoke and felt an inner sense of contentment. When he saw her nodding off to sleep at the table he picked up and put her onto the bed. He had meant to ask her about his sleeping in her bed but realized she had fallen asleep almost instantly. He studied her peaceful expression as she slept and made his decision. He pulled his outer tunic off and removed his boots. After setting his sword and dagger within easy reach he slid under the blankets and pulled her into his arms. As he was drifting off to sleep he felt her snuggle in closer to him and heard her say, "I'm glad you didn't leave."
Dagonet woke to the sense that someone was watching him. He had spent too many years on missions to mistake the feeling and held himself still as he strained his other senses. He could tell that dawn was just beginning to break the horizon since there was less darkness than usual. He couldn't hear anyone outside and knew the villagers wouldn't be up and outside yet. A faint touch along the side of his face startled him and his eyes snapped open to see Kiana propped up on an elbow looking down at him. She had a faint smile on her face and he realized that it had been her fingers lightly trailing along his jaw line that woke him.
Her hand was still close to his face and held up indecisively. Her eyes held a mixture of curiosity as well as indecision. Grasping her hand in his own, he brought her fingers back alongside his jaw. She met his eyes and gave him another smile before gently trailing her fingers back alongside his jaw line and further down the side of his neck. He carefully held himself still as her hand trailed over his chest. Desire for her sharpened his gaze and he deliberately kept his movements slow as he lifted his own hand to mirror her touch along her face and down the sensitive skin of her neck. He saw her breath catch and felt her pulse under his fingertips increase.
Her lips parted as she drew in a shaky breath and he gently pulled her down for a kiss. The tension seemed to flow out of her body and she melted into his embrace. His own body had grown hard with his rising desire and he fought the urge not to roll her under him and continue as he desperately wanted. He had no idea why she had suddenly started this with him, but vowed he would only go as far as she was comfortable or stop before he lost control.
Kiana met his eyes and saw both caution and desire in their stormy depths. Waking up next to him made her feel safe and bold at the same time. He had woke to her tentative touch and she had been afraid he would pull away since she had no idea what she was doing. When he brought her hand back and invited her touch she grew bolder and allowed herself to feel the prickle of the overnight growth of hair along his chin which faded to a smoother skin along his neck. He still wore a shirt, but she could feel the firmness of his powerful chest as she ran her hand across his broad chest. He was a powerfully built man with muscles forged out of years of sword training and fighting, yet he had always held her with gentleness. When he touched the sensitive skin along the side of her neck she felt her breath catch at the sudden rush of newly discovered sensations.
It was easy to relax into his kiss and she was content to let him lead her as his hands stroked down her back towards her hips. He shifted as he pulled her to lay more on top of him, letting her feel the hard evidence of his desire. Any momentary sense of fear was rapidly replaced with a tingling and warmth between her thighs. As his hands returned to capture her face for another kiss she heard herself utter a breathy moan. Her own hands trembled as she ran them over his chest and arms.
She felt him go still under her and opened her eyes to look at him questioningly. His gaze was tender as he asked, "If we keep doing this I won't be able to stop. Is this something you want?"
Kiana hadn't intended for her exploration to turn into such desire and felt herself wanting more than a couple of kisses and restrained touches. She wanted to feel the power she saw thinly veiled in his eyes unleashed. While the memory of another man pinning her down and hurting her flashed through her mind, she felt him begin to shift to set her aside.
"Perhaps we should wait until you are feeling better." His voice was strained as he began to roll away to sit up. He was offering her a way out with her passing sickness as an excuse.
She almost let him leave the bed as indecision and uncertainty tore at her. As he shifted forward to stand she reached forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her voice was a soft plea, "Don't go."
He paused in rising and kept himself still. He hadn't missed the faintly fearful look in her eyes when he asked her if she wanted him to stop and he swore he would leave her alone, even if his own body was demanding otherwise. He closed his eyes and paused a moment before turning to look into her eyes. He could see the desire and uncertainty there, "Kiana, if I stay with you in this bed I will take you. Is this something you are ready for or really want?" He had to make sure she understood what he meant as well as offering her the choice to end this before it went too far.
His words served to both reassure and excite her. He was offering her the choice she hadn't been given before and the knowledge freed the remaining knot of anxiety in her stomach. With an aggressiveness she hadn't know she possessed, she held his face between her hands and brought her lips down to meet his in a demanding kiss.
The effect on him was immediate. He turned back to her and when his arms circled around her this time, she felt the hard play of his muscles as he pulled her close. He kissed down her neck alternating between kissing and soft nips which caused her to gasp and shudder. She eagerly raised her arms to allow him to lift her sleeping gown up and over her head to bare herself to his heated gaze. There was no sense of modesty with this man, the appreciative look in his eyes told her that he liked what he saw.
He allowed her to pull his shirt up and over his head and allowed her free reign to touch him as she pleased. His body felt like it was on fire and her touch fueled it beyond reason. He held her close as he rolled them onto the bed and braced himself up on an arm while he looked down at her. She was everything he could have imagined, and more. He brought his lips down to continue his assault on her neck as his hand gently cupped and stroked at her breast.
Kiana arched into his touch and felt an urgent sense of restlessness beginning. She had heard that a man's touch could be pleasurable but what he was doing was far beyond her expectations and she wanted more. As he continued to kiss and touch her she moaned restlessly and reached for the ties at the front of his breeches. He caught her hands and gently pushed them aside as he undid the ties and pushed the breeches free of his legs.
As his weight settled between her thighs she felt herself arching up towards him in anticipation. He was gentle as he slowly filled her and she moaned again with the pleasurable feel of his body joining in hers. When he began to move inside her she thought she might come undone with the sensation. All explanations fell short in describing the tingling rush and spiraling warmth his gentle thrusts were creating within her. He had braced himself on his elbows above her and she could see the strain in his face as he fought to keep a slow pace for her. She didn't want him slow, "Dagonet…Don't hold back." She gasped and arched her hips up to take more of his thrust inside.
Her plea released him from his restraint and with a low moan he began to take her as his body had been demanding. He could feel her under him and knew he was giving her as much pleasure as he was feeling. Her breathing had turned harsher as she gasped with pleasure and he felt her beginning to tremble. He knew his own climax was rapidly nearing and he made his thrusts deeper and more powerful to bring her along with him. He heard her cry out and felt her tightening around him and knew she had reached her climax before he felt his own overtake him in powerful waves. He ground himself into her as wave after wave washed over him and he filled her with his life's essence.
Kiana came down from the pleasurable high slowly and realized he held her tightly against his chest in an almost crushing grasp. She could hear the pounding of his heart and allowed herself a moment to enjoy its steady rhythm. He slowly lifted himself away from her and rolled to the side to keep from crushing her. The sudden chill of the sweat drying on her body made her shiver and she quickly snuggled in close to him. She closed her eyes and sighed in contentment.
Dagonet looked down at the woman laying in his arms and felt his chest tighten with a strong emotion as well as an intense feeling of closeness and connection with her. She had given herself to him and he had no doubt that his touch had brought her pleasure as she had done for him. As he drifted back off to sleep he vowed that he would keep her safe and happy for as long as he lived.
A/N: Yay! They finally got together! I have two endings possible for this story and am debating which way to go with this….reader thoughts are always welcome and appreciated.