Turning her head Adira looked at Kahil, who was snuggled with a sleepy smile into his pillow, tucked warmly up in bed beside her. After having woken up and finding herself unable to sleep again, Adira quietly rose from the bed then walked over to the balcony. Her eyes instantly lifted to the stars, inhaling the gentle breeze which tickled at her neck and chest.
Closing her eyes Adira tilted her head back, absorbing the cooling night air before sitting down on the balcony ledge, looking down over the wide plains where the bright moonlight shone down upon the surface, almost making it gleam like silky water.
Still unable to relax and weary herself into a sleepy state, Adira decided to take a walk. She slid on a dress over her shift then slipped into some simple shoes, glancing over to Kahil before silently leaving the room.
Her light steps carried her through the halls without ever making a sound, a shadow among shadows. Glancing around Adira decided to try a flight of stairs, not knowing where they led to. Something caught her eye, a slight shift that stopped her in her tracks, hand resting on the wall as her foot stood on the first step, eyes narrowing slightly. Then she heard a quiet rustle, like a cloak snapping against someone's legs. Her hand pulled away from the wall and she followed the direction of the sound.
Adira stopped, still frowning as she looked left and right at the new corridor. A brief glimpse of a robe caught her eye to the end of the corridor to her right so Adira took off running, hurrying to catch up. When the shadow led her up a flight of stairs then through several more hallways, she called out. "Who is there?" They did not answer, merely paused at another flight of stairs next to an open balcony before disappearing up them without so much as making a sound.
Racing forwards Adira sprang up the stairs, intending to catch whoever it was leading her on this wild goose chase but when she stood before a door, there was no one in sight. She frowned then turned back, going to the small opening and looking down but there was no one there either. They had either slipped away through the window before she had noticed them or gone through the door.
Deciding to check, Adira quietly slipped forwards and reached out, twisting the ring to lift the latch on the other side then stepped inside. The room was filled with the warm glow of firelight, transforming the dull stone slabs to blocks of precious amber. There was a bookcase off old volumes, neatly ordered and also a desk that looked out of a window to the host of stars, the crescent moon just in view.
The only thing was, the room was not empty. From the bed tucked in a shadowed corner, someone lifted their head then stood, frowning from under the hood. "What are you doing here?" Altair demanded in a quiet voice.
"I was led here by someone. It wasn't you, was it?" Adira looked around Altair's room with interest before looking back at him. He did not answer. "No. I suppose not." She swallowed then looked away, beginning to retreat away. "I'm sorry I disturbed you."
"Wait." Adira lifted her eyes to Altair, pausing in her plan to escape. "Come here." For a moment Adira did not obey, narrowing her eyes to Altair before stepping inside and closing the door with a soft click before turning and taking a single step forwards. Then she arched an eyebrow at Altair who shifted then approached her with one long stride before stopping also. "Did you see who it was?"
"No." She took another step before stopping, her hands hanging limply by her side. "I don't know why they led me here."
"What were you doing wandering around at night?" Altair shifted closer as his eyes wandered over her frame slowly, drinking her in. The firelight made her skin look warm and inviting, practically begging him to reach out and touch her.
"I couldn't sleep." Her voice dropped until she was murmuring richly, holding her ground. "Or am I meant to be confined to my room until I can be escorted from these lands."
"Perhaps. I'm still contemplating simply killing you and having done with it." Altair growled but a smile tugged at his lips which he tried to hide as he took the last step before they were directly face to face. Swallowing the lump in her throat and ignoring the tight twist in her gut Adira lifted her hands and gripped Altair's hood.
His own hands darted up and caught her wrists as she tried to push back his hood, stopping her but after waiting a few moments, Adira pushed forwards again. This time Altair's grip slackened and she lowered his hood, allowing his face to be touched by the light of the fire. Instantly her heartbeat began to quicken its pace.
He looked down at her passively, forcing all expression from his features but he was beginning to struggle, the hard skin of his mask beginning to crack under the soft gaze of Adira's eyes and the slight drop of her mouth as she looked at him with a quiet awe.
Adira closed her eyes, still holding onto Altair's hood, to absorb his comforting presence. She inhaled quietly, sighing before moving to turn away. A strong grip slid around her waist and pulled her back, causing Adira's eyes to fly open as Altair lowered his head then pressed his mouth against hers, drawing her close with an unrelenting hold.
A soft gasp left Adira's mouth as she felt this man's mouth move against hers, coaxing her to answer with firm and hot lips against her slightly cold ones. Before she knew what she was doing Adira had strengthened her grip on Altair's hood and lifted herself closer, feet leaving the floor as Altair lifted her up and wrapped her legs around him.
Moaning into Altair's passionate kiss, the woman arched into him, gripping on tighter which in turn drove Altair insane with want. She had no idea what she did to him, how he had managed to keep himself away from her all this time, he'd never know.
As Adira felt the cold wall press into her back, she pulled her head away and rested it against the solid support as Altair lowered his head to her neck. He'd kissed her there before but now he wasn't holding anything back and it was pulling feelings and reactions from Adira she never knew could happen. This was unlike anything she'd ever experienced, nothing had made her feel so alive and lustful before.
She was aroused from her thoughts as a hand slid up the back of her leg, moving her skirts out the way and instantly a loud moan burst from her as she clung onto Altair closely. He let go of her but continued to kiss and bite gently on her still tender neck, removing his belt and robes to drop them on the floor.
Instantly Adira pulled back to look at him properly. Her hands gently ran over his broad shoulders, tracing a few of his scars as he looked down at her quietly. "We don't have to go any further." Altair said to her gently, lifting a hand to run the back of his hand down her cheek before tucking her hair behind her ear. "Just say the word." She rolled her eyes at him then pushed against his chest, forcing him backwards with surprising strength.
Altair grinned then pushed back against her shoulders, wrestling with her as she slowly managed to spin underneath him then rise up, pressing her lips to his. Distracted Altair found her waist, groaning low as she pushed him back. When the back of his knees touched the bed they both fell backwards, Adira remaining on top of him.
Whilst she began to grow more confident, kissing his neck, chest and torso Altair reached around her and drew off his boots, tossing them aside also before reaching for her dress. Adira drew back, sliding the outer layer from her body as Altair turned her over onto her back, lips still locked together.
As Altair's hands wandered, Adira threw back her head and let out the sounds that had been bottled up inside her for many years. She had lain with Hassan before and it had been pleasant enough but this…this was something else entirely. "Why does this feel different?" She gasped, turning her head into Altair to tug on his ear with her teeth. "Why haven't I felt like this before?"
"Because, my sweetly innocent Adira, you did not have me as the man between your legs." Altair purred richly, causing her to groan with desire as he leaned back and slowly ran both hands over her shapely legs like he had always wanted to. He'd waited this long to get this far, he'd be damned if he was going to rush a single moment of this. Leaning down again he captured her lips, running his tongue over her mouth before sweeping inside, surprising her greatly. "Adira, I need you to be sure about this. If we do this, you won't be able to escape. You'll be mine forever." Altair warned her seriously as she shuddered with pleasure from his touch. "After tonight, if we go through to the end, you'll become mine and mine alone. I won't let you run away from me." Pausing, Adira thought as she looked up at the man who was settled comfortably between her thighs. Did she really want this man? The answer was yes, but forever? The strange but powerful feeling returned to Adira, pulling her closer to Altair through an invisible bond.
"What are you saying, Altair?" She asked him slowly, reaching up to trace his scar.
"You'll be mine, Adira. Mine and no one else's." His head lowered and gently kissed her cheek, wrapping her in his warmth. "I want all of you for always, beloved, not just for one night. You mean more than that to me." Tears began to fill Adira's eyes and she chocked on her words.
"Even after what I did to you?" A hand rose to her face to brush away her tears.
"Yes." He replied quietly. "I forgive you for what happened, Adira, you did only what you thought best to protect your son. Anyone would have done the same. I'm only sorry I hurt you." His eyes looked down to her neck as he gently stroked the inward curve of her throat. "I hope you'll forgive me." Staring up at Altair, Adira blinked a few times before dragging his head down to her and kissing him hotly, biting on his lower lip as he shifted closer.
"I want to be yours, Altair. I…I think I've fallen for you." She whispered to him as he pulled backwards and kissed her collarbone. He stopped and looked up at her, blinking gently at her.
"Really?" She nodded her head.
"I…I loved Hassam, in a way, but this is so much more..." She couldn't find the words so she frowned, trying to find them. "It's different. More vibrant, more real." Her hands slid tenderly over his back, stopping at every scar to trace them several times, coaxing Altair's eyes closed as he relaxed into her caress. "I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable."
"No, you haven't." He assured her in a low voice. "Adira? You're not the only one who's fallen. Though I think you fell from heaven itself to find your way into my arms." Adira blushed and giggled slightly at Altair's charm. "So I'll ask you one last time, because after this I won't give you another chance to change your mind." He knew this was a lie, he'd stop at any moment Adira asked him to, but she didn't need to know that.
"I think you're stalling now." She teased him with a smirk. "Are you really that shy?" His eyes flashed brightly at the challenge, smirking back at her.
"You're going to regret challenging me, Adira." He growled in her ear then lifted her legs around him, sliding his hands over her dress before tugging it over her head as she could gasped with surprise. With a shy blush Adira tried to cover herself with her hands but Altair pinned them down, teasing her neck with tender kisses until her eyes had fluttered closed and she relaxed into this new level of intimacy.
As the flames at the hearth slowly began to die, the intense flames that burned between Altair and Adira only grew bolder and brighter. Slowly the fire died to simple glowing coals before all that remained were the cinders and cold stone, the moon now the only source of light that spilled into the room.