-Chapter Seventeen-

After his fight with Bishop Casavir left the Sunken Flagon and paced the docks, replaying everything in his mind. His thoughts roiled like froth on angry waves. He could find no peace. Nothing could calm him as his mind kept drudging up images of Lana and Bishop together, twining around each other in passionate embraces or mocking him.

Sleep did not come easily that evening when he finally drug himself to bed. Casavir tossed and turned throughout most of the night as images of all that Bishop had said taunted him.

Could they really have been together as Bishop said? Did she lust for the ranger, scream his name in pleasure? Had she betrayed and lied to me? Did she laugh with Bishop behind my back? He is always so blatant about his sexual prowess. Does she find that appealing? She laughs with him often and seems pleased to accept his advances. No, I cannot accept that, will not believe it! His thoughts ran in circles like a dog chasing its tail.

After finally being able to fall asleep, he was still in his bed late into the morning when his door slammed open, banging against the wall. He sat up abruptly as Lana stormed in and slammed the door behind her. Her face was contorted with rage, her fists balled up at her sides as she tried to contain herself.

"I will ask you again, do… you… trust… me?" she said in a low growl.

"I… What?" he uttered in confusion. He sat in his bed, staring at her while trying to clear his head.

"Khelgar told me everything. I know about you and Bishop fighting. Why did you do it?" she yelled.

"I, uh, my lady what are you talking about?" he was completely perplexed. He was not surprised Khelgar had told her about the evening but this was not what he had expected.

"I asked you if you trusted me. Do you trust me with Bishop?" she asked fiercely.

"Do you really think so little of me that I would do anythingwith him?! Am I so despicable to you that you would think I would screw him while I shamelessly flirted with you?" she said with hateful disgust.

"No my lady, but…" he stammered.

"But nothing! You did believe him or you wouldn't have risen to his bait!" she venomously spat, cutting him off.

He sat looking at her in dismay. He had no reply, she had been right. He had imagined them together and hated himself for believing it even for an instant.

"So you believe I must buy loyalty with sexual favors then? Is that why you stay, hoping to 'pick that lock'?" she taunted with unchecked malice. "Fine! Then so be it," she growled low, her voice filled with anger.

Before he realized what had happened, she covered him with her body. She straddled his waist as she ripped his blanket away and threw it across the room. Her mouth smashed into his but there was no passion in her kiss. She crushed herself against his bare chest, crushing her breasts into him. Her tongue thrust into his mouth, invading unmercifully as her fingers fumbled angrily with the drawstring of his linen trousers. She wrenched his pants open with a fierce tug. She thrust her hand down into his crotch forcefully. Her fingers grabbed him, digging in cruelly. She was everywhere, a tiger savagely devouring its prey. Her other hand gripped his back, her fingernails digging into his bare skin and pining him in her kiss.

His mind reeled, his senses warring with each other. He wanted her, wanted to respond and return her ferocity. His body arched against hers and he wanted to toss her onto the bed to finish what she had begun. All his pent up anger and frustration made him want to thrust into her, pierce her for all the times he had imagined her wrapped around Bishop. He raged as he thought of her legs twined around the ranger like she was now riding him. Casavir reached up and grabbed her hair, smashing her mouth harder to his own. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, plunging and ravenous. They tore at each others mouths like voracious wolves. He thrust his mouth into the crook of her neck, biting and sucking. She arched her back, moaning and ground her hips into him.

I don't want her like this! This is not the way; she will hate you if you do this now, his mind screamed at him.

As if she heard his thoughts, she leapt from his bed. Her face was a conflicted study of hurt, confusion and dismay. "I am sorry Casavir, so sorry. I… don't know what came over me. This was wrong," she said as an unchecked tear streaked down her cheek. Her eyes were rimmed with unshed tears. She looked away from him dejectedly and turned quickly to the door.

"Hold!" he called to her. She stopped and turned, her shoulders flinching at his commanding tone.

He rose from his bed and stopped in front of her. "My lady, please do not leave. Not like this," he said gently. He took her hand and led her back to sit upon the bed.

Casavir turned and looked at her firmly, "You cannot buy my loyalty. I have freely given it to you already. I did not want to believe Bishop, did not truly believe him but admit my imagination tried to get the better of me. I do trust you and have no doubts in you either."

She said nothing as a few more tears slowly fell. Casavir placed his hand over hers and asked, "Now I think you have something to tell me. Why would you believe I would not trust you?"

Lana sighed deeply, her eyes clouding with pain. "I am sorry. It's just… I'm so confused. Do you know why I have Bishop traveling with us, why I trust him at my side?" she asked.

Her question was not what he expected. "I admit I have wondered why he is with us. He does seem to not be worthy of trust or respect as a person although he is an excellent tracker," Casavir admitted grudgingly.

Lana chuckled slightly, "Yes, he is an excellent tracker and I agree that he makes himself very unlikable. Casavir, do you know how it feels when people despise you?"

Casavir looked at her in surprise, "I do not understand my lady"

A sad smile crossed her lips, "I know you do not. When people see you, they smile. People respect you without knowing anything about you; trust you without knowing you as a person. When they see me or Bishop, they cross the street to stay away from us. When I go to a merchant, they always follow me as if I will rob everything not nailed down. There is more to Bishop then you know and he has earned my trust. He is not as 'evil' as he seems if you give him a chance."

He didn't want to argue but still did not agree. At least now he understood and he could accept that.

She continued, "I don't know how or why he found out about your past and why he needs to taunt you so. I have spoken with him about this already and knows my displeasure. I cannot control him but maybe I can slow him down."

Casavir grimaced at the thought of her trying to handle Bishop; it churned his stomach at the implication. She noticed the look on his face, "And Casavir, there is nothing between he and I, nothing. It is you that I want to be with, no one else." She stared into his eyes, asking acceptance.

Casavir nodded in understanding. He placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He placed his other hand under her chin and turned her to him, capturing her lips with his own.

They kissed each other gently. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as close as he could, feeling the length of her body as she pressed against his naked chest.

Their kiss deepened. Their lips clashed passionately, tongues intertwining and dancing. Her arms wrapped around his torso, her fingers gently kneading his rippling back muscles.

Casavir bowed his head to kiss and gently nibble down her neck. He suckled her ear and blazed kisses back down her neck. She wrapped her fingers through his hair, clutching his head as he nibbled the crook of her neck. Lana moaned in pleasure as ripples coursed over her. She gasped in pleasure, her chest rising and falling rapidly as he continued to kiss her skin.

He removed her thin cotton tunic to reveal the cloth bands she wore underneath. Casavir lowered his head to kiss her exposed flesh and she shivered in delight. His hands explored her newly revealed skin, his touch scorching her as her need built.

He pushed her down onto the bed and gently lay over her, pinning her beneath him. He caressed her, letting his hands explore her flesh. He smiled, his eyes gleaming as he again began nibbling and biting, teasing her with his kisses and caresses. Her hands ran up and down his back, urging him onward. She wrapped her legs around his waist, writhing under him. Her raven hair cascaded around her head like spilled ink as she arched her back in ecstasy and need.

He made love to her slowly. He had longed for this moment, dreamed to have her beneath him like this. It was what he had searched for and not dared hope to find. He found where he belonged after all of his years of searching.