COF 17

 It was a small town, really nothing more than a rustic village, consisting of barely more than a few houses and a main street tacked on as an after thought. You could traverse from one end of town to the other in a matter of minutes, so tiny was it. But it had stores, a tavern, and most important of all, it had an inn. It was a simple bed and breakfast, with small rooms that were hardly luxurious. But they were clean, and warm, and offered a roof over one’s head. Much preferably to the coldness of the starry night sky.

The townspeople didn’t pay much attention to the duo, having seen plenty of travelers in their time. After all, this was the only village around for miles in either direction, a stopping point for those traveling to Flenceburg, or adventurers seeking to stock up on supplies before they left on their next big adventure. So it was without many second glances that the man in the ruined shirt, and the disheveled girl draped in a long black cloak walked along the town’s only paved pathway.

Lenneth followed Lezard, her arm stretched forward as she grasped his hand, clinging to him in her nervousness. They had been walking for hours now, Lezard’s spells battling the occasional monster that had the misfortune to come across the pair. Lenneth had even brandish a thick piece of wood, whapping a few across the nose, though for the most part her attempts at defense were pitiable, the girl lacking suitable weapons and adornments.

Her feet hurt, in agony from walking barefoot across rough, unpaved roads. Her skin was like ice, Lezard proffering his cloak to her, covering her from neck to ankle. It offered her both warmth and protection from leering eyes. She walked without complaint though, a companionable silence between them as Lezard led her to the inn. They entered, and the few diners at the tables turned to peer with curious eyes at the newcomers. Lenneth clutched the cloak closer to her, shivering as she felt their gaze pass over them both, lingering on her more than the wizard. It was times like these that she felt it a curse to be beautiful, it garnered too much unwanted attention.

Lezard seemed to be studiously ignoring the stares, doing his best to behave. He flashed a dazzling smile at the proprietress, a middle aged woman who had the gall to blush in the face of his charm. She had brown hair done up in a bun, strands of silver mixing in with the chestnut, and warm green eyes that widened when Lezard pulled out some gold coins from his pocket. It wasn’t often that she saw real gold around these parts, many of her patrons preferring to pay in copper, and the occasional silver piece.

“I would like your finest room.” Lezard was saying, meticulously counting out seven pieces of gold. “With dinner to be brought up to our room.” Two more pieces were added to the pile, his voice lowering slightly. “And a first aid kit if you please.”

The woman nodded rapidly, hands hovering over the money as though at any point Lezard would steal it back from her. If she thought his request odd, she did not show it. Perhaps she had her own thoughts as to why he needed a kit, bandits were common in this area, and the man and woman had the air of a noble couple. Perhaps their coach had been waylaid, the two just barely managing to escape with their lives. Her brow furrowed, wondering about the money, but quickly shrugged it off. Hers was to serve, not wonder why, and for the price he paid, he could afford to buy her silence.

“Right this way your Lordship.” She tucked the money into her apron’s pockets, coming round the counter. She gestured towards the staircase, almost falling over as she bowed lowly to Lezard and Lenneth. Lezard merely smiled, apparently accustomed to such behavior. Up the stairs they went, the woman bringing up the rear, urging them higher and higher, until they reached the fourth floor of the inn.

There were only two doors, the inn keeper hurrying forward to unlock the one on the left. “This right one leads to the bathroom.” She explained, holding the door open for the couple. “The bridal suite gets it’s own private bath.”

“Bridal Suite?” questioned Lenneth with a raised eyebrow. Her dismay must have sounded in her voice, for the woman’s face turned uncertain. “Is there a problem here?”

“No problem at all.” Lezard was quick to assure her. He went to stand next to Lenneth, sliding an arm around her waist. “Right honey?”

“Right…” Lenneth agreed, though she couldn’t mimic the wide smile Lezard was flashing to the woman. The innkeeper smiled back, relief evident in her face. “My name is Kayla…If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask!” Kayla turned with a curtsey, leaving the two alone. As the door closed shut, Lenneth quickly pulled away from Lezard, whirling around to glare at the room. She looked around in dismay, noting there was only one bed.

The room was large, taking up much of the space on the fourth floor, with wooden floorboards and whitewashed walls of plaster. Little homey touches decorated the room, woolly blankets hand knitted covered the bed, large fluffy pillows propped up against the headboard, where hearts were carved into the wood. The predominant color theme seemed to be pink and white, with hearts and flowers decorating many of the paintings hanging on the wall. Thick red candles made of tallow, lined the windowsills, the white curtains blowing in the breeze from the open window.

“Well, isn’t this cozy…” Lezard said, going to sit down on the couch. He spread his arms wide, resting them on the back of the sofa, just watching Lenneth as she studied the room.

“Garish is more like it.” Lenneth muttered.

Lezard laughed. “Come now! It’s not THAT bad.”

“Lezard, there’s only one bed!”

“Yes, that’s usually the way of things in the bridal suite.” He said, sounding sardonic to her.

“You should have told her separate rooms.” Lenneth crossed her arms over her chest, cloak falling open to reveal a hint of her nightgown.

“My…whatever is the matter? Were you hoping to sneak out on me during the middle of the night?” His tone was teasing as he smirked at her. She let out a loud no of protest, with a fierce shake of her head. “That’s good to know. I’d hate to have to tie you up while I slept.” That only made her angry, her glare boring into him.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

He just looked at her, eyes dark and mysterious, his expression succeeding in making her further worry. Seeing her pale, he sighed and held out his hand to her. “Come here Lenneth.” She shook her head no. “I said come here!” Lezard stood, grasping her wrist, pulling her towards the couch. With a push on her shoulders, he sat her down, cloak sprawling out among the couch. His hands slammed into the cushions of the couch, one on either side of her, trapping her between his bent form. He opened his mouth to speak, when a knock came at the door.

Not waiting for an invite, Kayla swung in, weighted down with a basin of water, a first aid kit clenched between her fingers. She even had two towels strung across her shoulders, and she used her hip to maneuver the door open. “Dinner will be up in a bit…oooh…my…” A blush started on her face, misunderstanding the scene she had walked in on. “I’ll just uh…leave this here shall I?” She hastily set the items down on the table, heart hammering fast in her chest. “I’m so sorry for the intrusion.” She babbled, hurrying out of the room. The door slammed shut behind her.

Except for a turn of his head, Lezard barely acknowledged Kayla, his attention focused solely on Lenneth. “Now…where were we?” He asked the Valkyrie, noting how her thinly covered breasts peeked out of the cloak, an enticing image of white against black. “Ah yes…” He dragged his eyes up from that delightful vision, forcing himself to concentrate solely on her face. “I believe you were worried about the sleeping arrangements. Yes?”

“Yes…” She meekly agreed. Lenneth knew her eyes must be huge, staring at him so closely, trying not to look at his mouth,. She closed her eyes, desperate to block out the memories of the feel of his lips on her. She couldn’t repress the shivers that ran through her at being trapped in his arms. Surely Lezard could feel the fine tremors, and she wondered what he made of them.

“The bed is large…more than adequate enough for two people to share.” Lezard saw her eyes look to the bed, and knew she found it too small.

“No…” Lenneth shook her head. “I’ll take the couch…even the floor…”

“That is unacceptable.” Lezard interrupted her. “We will sleep together. Don’t worry…” He said, laughing to himself. “I won’t compromise your virtue…” He pulled away from her, much to her relief. “I promise to do nothing more than hold you in my arms…” Those amethyst eyes of him were filled with good humor, twinkling mischievously. “As long as you can behave yourself, I see no reason why we can’t share a bed.”

He heard her let out an angry scoff, as he walked across the floor towards the table. Eyeing the items the inn keeper had left behind, he placed a hand in the basin, finding the warm water had grown cool to the touch. He lifted the metal basin, and approached Lenneth. Kneeling down, he place it on the floor before her. She watched him curiously as he reached for her feet, placing them in the lukewarm water. “Lezard…”

“Shhh…” He said in reply, running his hands over the top of her feet. Dirt and a bit of blood mixed into the water, his hands lifting up her right foot, smoothing down the bottom side. She let out a hiss of pain, Lezard finding the sole of her foot badly scuffed, thin red welts sliced into the skin. “Your poor feet.” He murmured, hands moving to squeeze and massage her foot. His hand slid around, reaching the top, fingers teasing against her ankle, splashing water up higher on her leg.

“You won’t have to go barefoot much longer.” He added, hands still stroking and caressing. “Tomorrow when the stores are open, I’ll take you shopping.”

“Shopping?” She repeated the word as though it was alien in concept to her.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never been shopping before?!” Her nose crinkled up cutely, as she thought about it. Lezard laughed, delighted at her reaction, even as she shook her head no. “I’ve always had things given to me, or could create whatever I needed from thin air.”

“Then I am about to introduce you to one of the greatest pleasures a mortal woman can enjoy.” His hands moved up higher on her leg, sliding up underneath her gown’s hem to touch her calf. Once again Lenneth felt a shiver that had nothing to do with coldness, solely built on the dark promise in his words and the strong touch high up on her leg. He molded the flesh there, flexing and digging his fingers, cutting off her protests with the magic of his massage.

Slowly, hands wanting to linger, he let his fingers slide down the smoothness of her leg. He then picked up her left foot, showing it the same care as he had the right. He kneaded her heel, fingers seeming to ease out the weariness she felt, the water washing away her pain. When he started to move up her leg, she stopped him, placing her hands on his shoulder. “Thank you…but no…” She shook her head, and repeated. “Thank you.”

“Very well Lenneth.” He stood, shaking his hands, droplets of water spraying in every direction. He strode to the table, picking up one of the towels, drying off his hands on the coarse material. His fingers then flew to the buttons of his shirt, and it was with some alarm that she realized he was undoing them. She wanted to protest, but found her words died before they reached her lips, upon his shirt coming off. His back was burnt scar tissue, skin reddish and bruised. Lenneth gasped, and could only hope it didn’t hurt as bad as it looked.

Before she knew it, she was on her feet, approaching him. “Oh Lezard…” She knew better than to try and touch him, not without cleaning the wound first. She came around to his front, eyes on his face, her concern keeping her from checking out the rest of his body. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” She demanded, hands on her hips. “You’ve been walking for hours with such a wound!”

“It’s nothing…” He tried to tell her, but she wasn’t having it. “Sit down this instance!” Lenneth ordered, pointing at the bed. He turned, set to make some teasing remark when he saw the worry on her face. His tongue silenced, he nodded his head at her. He walked to the bed, climbing onto it’s downy soft mattress. He perched near the foot of the bed, just watching her. Lenneth picked up one of the clean towels, taking a pitcher of fresh drinking water in her other hand.

“Now lie on your stomach.” She ordered, setting the water down on the small bedside table. Lezard did just that, a blissful sigh escaping his lips as he felt the softness of the mattress. He watched Lenneth out of the corner of his eyes, seeing her pour some of the water onto the towel. The bed shifted with her weight, as she knelt on it’s edge, a soft touch of the towel against his back. She was gentle as she wiped, cleaning his back as best she could, dead skin peeling away to reveal healing pink flesh underneath.

Lenneth worked quietly, eyes intent on her task, dabbing at his upper back. Occasionally she poured more water on the towel, it’s cool liquid feeling refreshing against his aching back. Soon she left his side, going to retrieve the first aid kit. He laid there, counting out the minutes it took for her to return, first aid kit in hand. He listened to her open it, hear the snaps of the lock, and the sounds of her rummaging through it’s contents. She let out a pleased sound, finding bandages and several types of medication inside.

“Now this might sting at first…” She said, smearing some cream onto her hands. “But it will help the burn heal.” He felt her hands slowly touch his skin, causing him to bite back a pained sound, the man preferring to suffer in silence. Still he must have tensed up, for her hands hesitated, and Lezard had to nod at her, give her a weak smile of encouragement. Again her hands touched him, and there was pain, but also relief, the cold cream feeling wonderful against his dried skin.

She began working it into the burns, massaging him much like he had her, hands kneading and caressing. Lezard could feel a moan working it’s way through his body, feel him wanting to arch into her touch. Across his shoulder blades went her hand, fingers rubbing the skin there. She added more cream, and continued, looping down low on his backside, caressing the indent of his spine. Her hands did not stray from the injured area, though he long for her to touch him elsewhere with every fiber of his being. The pain he felt in his back was minimal compared to the exquisite torture of her fingers being so close, caressing him in so innocent a manner.

When she stopped touching him, it was more than he could stand, Lezard grabbing at her wrist when she tried to turn back to the first aid kit. He didn’t know why she turned surprised eyes to him, why his touch would be so unexpected to her. Didn’t she know by now what she did to him, how her very nearness got his blood boiling, enflamed with a fire that burned more deeply than anything Hel could toss at them?

It was only with the slightest pull that she resisted him, allowing him to easily slide her across the sheets. He pressed her against his front, feeling the cotton of the cloak brushing against his bare chest. “Lezard…” Her tone was wary, and she was hardly reassured by the smile he flashed her. His fingers went to the clasps of the cape, and before she knew what was happening, it was on the floor, leaving her before him in her skimpy night dress. She felt her stomach do nervous loops at the look of desire that flashed in his eyes, those purple orbs lazily looking her over from head to toe.

“That’s really a quite fetching look for you.” Lezard told her, eyes lingering on her chest. His other hand went to her waist, a light caressing touch across her belly. It did nothing to calm down it’s nervous activity, making her feel as though she had butterflies in her stomach.

“I look a mess, and you know it.” Lenneth said, feeling she was in desperate need of a bath.

“A bit of dust and dirt can’t mar your beauty in my eyes…” Lezard replied. He was leaning in close to kiss her, lips brushing against her neck. She placed a cream covered hand against his chest, trying to push him away. “Lezard…you promised…” She chastised him, her words slow and hesitant as she leaned in to his kisses.

“Did I now…?” He tried to remember his earlier words, hands grasping at her, holding her tightly to him. “You make it hard to think…”

“Do try to remember…” Lenneth urged him, feeling him rain kisses up and down her neck. He kissed his way up to her chin, mouth covering hers to swallow up any protest she might make. A moan echoed out of hers, and he eagerly drank it up, tongue darting forward to capture hers. His hands were on the move, feeling her up, searching out her curves, squeezing and fondling them.

She was letting out a gasp of pleasure, when a knock came at the door, sounding shy and timid. “Don’t answer it…” Lezard said, his voice a sexy growl. He tried to kiss her again, when she turned her face and shouted out an all too relieved, “Come in!”

It was Kayla with their dinner, the woman’s face turning a shocked pale white at the sight that greeted her. Lezard, his face buried in Lenneth’s neck, had his hands on her rear, her skirt bunched up underneath them. Lenneth flailed about, trying to dislodge herself from Lezard’s arms. She nearly fell on her back onto the bed, when he abruptly let go of her, and the look in his eyes said he was considering joining her, audience be damned.

“Dinner smells good…” Lenneth eased off the bed, knowing she was close to babbling. “What is it…?”

“Roasted ham…potatoes au gratin…” Kayla’s voice was strained, her eyes drifting towards Lezard. They widened in appreciation as they took in his shirtless chest, lingering over the flawless skin of his front. So enamored with the sight of Lezard, she didn’t notice Lenneth approaching her, almost spilling the food onto the floor, when the girl went to take the tray from her. “I’m so sorry!” She gasped, reluctantly drawing her attention away from the man. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me…”

Lenneth flashed her a kind smile, setting the tray on the table. Over by the bed, Lezard stretched, arm reaching up high above his head, pants settling low on his hips. Like a moth to a flame, Kayla’s eyes were drawn to him, the woman licking her lips in nervous appreciation. Lenneth was taking a testing bite of the meat, seemingly oblivious to the show Lezard was putting on. “It’s very good.” She told Kayla. “Did you make it yourself?”

“Oh yes…” Kayla replied, watching as Lezard approached them, a sulking look on his face. “I prepare all the meals for the guests myself.” Lezard reached the table, sparing a cursory glance at the food. The inn keeper inhaled sharply, shivering at the dark look in his eyes, even as she enjoyed seeing his beauty up close and personal. “If…if that will be all…?”

“Wait one moment…” He reached out to catch her by the arm, stopping her turn to the door.

“Y—yes?” Her heart beat a bit stronger for the feel of his hand on her skin, the woman wearing a light blush, thinking at her age she shouldn’t be so affected by the handsome youth.

“We require transportation. Can you arrange it for us?” He patted his pocket, coins jingling meaningfully.

“Oh yes…” Kayla said, the sound of money casting a different sort of spell on her. “Anything you need, I can get it for you.”

He graced her with a smile, strained though it was. “See about hiring us a private coach for tomorrow afternoon.”

“To Flenceburg sir?”

Lezard laughed then. “As if there is anywhere else worth traveling to in these parts.” He winked then, handing her some money. “I’m sure this will be more than adequate.” She gasped at the amount he handed her, thinking it too much. “The rest you can keep as a tip…provided we are not interrupted for the rest of the night.”

“Of course my Lord.” She eagerly pocketed the money, thinking this rich man was providing her with enough money that she could retire for several months and not be any poorer for it. “My Lady…” She turned, bowing her head at Lenneth, before she went to leave the room. The door swung shut, and once more Lenneth was left all alone with Lezard.

With a predatory gleam in his eyes, Lezard leaned against the suite’s door, fingers searching for the lock. He found it, and with an audible sound it clicked close. “I should have done this sooner.” He commented.

“I’m glad you didn’t…” retorted Lenneth, pulling out a chair. “I’m starving!”

Indeed, so was Lezard, but it wasn’t for food alone. Although the delicious aroma of the inn keeper’s cooking was awakening something in his stomach, making his belly let out soft rumbles of hunger. It was with a sigh that he grabbed a chair, spinning it around so that he straddled it’s back, joining Lenneth at the table. “Lezard…” Lenneth cut off a slice of the ham for herself. “Just where are you getting all that money from? Your pockets are like a bottomless pit!”

“You’re actually pretty close to the truth…” He said around a mouthful of potatoes. “It’s a spell I worked out…a link to my personal coffers.”

“So you’re not ripping off Ms. Kayla?” Lenneth sounded relieved.

“I think I’m insulted.” But he smiled as he said it. “Do you really think so low of me to rip off honest, hard working folk?”

“What I think is…that…you’re capable of just about anything…” Lenneth said, not wishing to get into a fight with him. He nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. She didn’t need to list his many crimes, they hung unsaid in the air around him, a reminder to Lenneth that she was alone with a very dangerous man. No matter how sweet and charming he could pretend to be.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

It took some time for the story to be fully told. Arngrim spoke of dark, stormy nights, of betrayal and murders, of a school teacher and her husband killed as a sacrifice of love offered up to the Goddess. How he lured Lenneth to his tower with those deaths, delighting in her anger and taunting her with the knowledge of her true origins. It was a tale built on the bodies of elves, of the countless women he had sacrificed, murdered, all in order to build the perfect vessel to house his divine lover’s soul.

It was also a story with a twist, of how this black hearted knave had rode to her rescue, saving her soul from complete annihilation. How her body, crafted from the dead elves had been given the gift of growing, to surpass her divine limitations, and become something so much more. The Lord Creator.

“How ironic it is…” Mystina mused, stirring her drink with her pinkie. “He saved her, and in turn she saved you…bringing you back.” She tittered, a gaily high pitched laughter, that drew eyes towards the table. “I’m sure he wasn’t counting on her using his gifts to bring a dead love back to life.”

Lucian sat there, eyes wide, just taking it all in. “Wow…” Aeila said, a stunned whisper across her lips. “I had no idea of the full story.”

“That man…” Lucian began, his body shaking with fear for his Lenneth. “…is sick! A murderer, a torturer…a…a..” He trailed off, not wishing to say it. As if voicing his fears would make them come true.

“Indeed.” Arngrim gruffly agreed.

“And you believe he has her?” asked Lucian, not wanting it to be true. Preferably would be Brahms, at least the vampire had no claim to stake on Lenneth’s soft flesh. No, he only wanted the Valkyrie’s power, and not her…not her…Lucian slammed a fist onto the table, feeling the wood splinter on impact. His face was stormy, an angry snarl on his lips as he thought of Lezard touching Lenneth, of kissing her.

“Calm down lover boy.” Mystina said. “No use taking it out on the table.”

“Save your anger for when you confront him.” advised Arngrim. “You’ll need it.”

“Yes.” Mystina nodded. “He may not be much when it comes to fighting hand to hand, but he is a formidable opponent with his magic.”

“I’d like to pound the little creep, even if he doesn’t have Lenneth!” announced Aeila, stifling a shudder. “It makes my skin crawl to think of what he could be doing to her at this very instant…”

“Aeila, don’t.” Arngrim rested a hand on her shoulder, giving her a meaningful nod in the direction of Lucian.

“Oh! Ooooh…I’m so sorry…” Aeila exclaimed, hands flying to her face. “I didn’t mean to imply that he would…well you know…it’s just I’m sure he’s been nothing but proper around her…right Mystina?” She looked to the mage for help, feeling she was digging herself in deeper.

“…Hmm…Frankly I don’t know what Lezard would do around his dream girl.” Mystina said, her words doing little to ease Lucian’s turmoil. “He’s never been the type to keep his hands to himself.” She made a face, clearly speaking from first hand experience.

“I have got to go to her!” cried Lucian, rising to his feet.

“Calm down!” Mystina grabbed at his arm, trying to pull him back into a sitting position. “Rushing out of here won’t accomplish anything…you need the God’s permission to go down to Midgard.”

Lucian slumped down next to her, putting his head in his hands. “Platina…” He mumbled to himself, the name unknown to the trio watching him.

“Didn’t you two go talk to someone about Lezard?” asked Aeila, eyes uncomfortable as she watched Lucian rocking in his seat. “Freya perhaps?”

“No.” Mystina sighed. “No such luck. We got…” She remembered Arngrim’s warning. “the other one…you know…” She looked around, feeling paranoid. “Odin” was the word she mouthed at the Dragon Girl.

“You got an audience with Lord Odin?!” Aeila cried, causing Mystina to let out an annoyed sigh. “There was a reason why I avoided saying his name, you ninny!” She glared, wishing Aeila’s brain worked as fast as her mouth did.

“Odin…” Lucian looked up at this. “Not him again…”

“I take it you’re not a fan?” asked Arngrim.

“Hmph.” Lucian let out a stilted laugh. “Hardly. I don’t trust him. And with good reason. He comes back and suddenly the Gods are willing to forget about Lenneth. Are we even going to go after Brahms now?”

“I dunno…” Arngrim shrugged. “Hrist is still going through with her preparations. I’d say war is likely at this point.”

“I’m far too beautiful to fight in a war.” Mystina ran her hand through her hair, her nose tilted up in the air. “I’d much rather go confront Lezard.”

“I just want to find Lenneth!” Lucian glumly put his face down on the table. “At this point I don’t care who has her, as long as I can get her back.”

“I did not get the feeling that…the Elder God, cared much about her return.” Arngrim stated. “Indeed he seemed more bothered by the fact that we knew something about that troublesome wizard…almost as though he wished we didn’t have this knowledge…”

“If only there was someone we could talk to besides him…” Mystina sighed. “You wouldn’t catch me going near that throne room again, even if you paid me. That God is scary!” She shuddered, remembering the steel like grip he had had on her chin.

“You could always try Freya again…” suggested Aeila.

“How?”

Lucian raised his head, eyes hopeful. “I’m…I suppose friends might be pushing it, but I’m on speaking terms with the Goddess. More than that…we’re working together to find out what happened to Lenneth.”

“You think she would help investigate Lezard?” asked Arngrim, surprised that this mortal had managed to befriend the Fertility Goddess. Call it what you like, but a mortal becoming close with a God was something that did not happen very often.

“She promised to help me as best she could.” Lucian shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt to ask.” His lips twisted, a small smile on his face. “She might even let me tag along.”

“If you need back up, you know who to ask, right?” Mystina was nodding in agreement to Arngrim’s question. “We’d love to help, anyway we can.” She said.

“Thank you.” Lucian’s smile widened, became brighter. “I’m glad to have met you guys…” He held out his hand to them, and each in turn clasped theirs to his, a firm hand shake of new friendships being sealed.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————–

The hours quickly passed by, the night growing later and later, as Lenneth tried to delay the inevitable. Her eyes kept going to the bed, giving sidelong glances to Lezard who was sitting at the table looking nonchalant. He had been surprisingly well behaved after dinner, keeping his hands to himself for the most part. She saved herself from blushing, doing her best to keep the memories from returning, the experience as vivid in her mind as the instant it happened, bringing heat to her body, a yearning for him that left her feeling dazed and confused.

Instead she stifled a yawn, not wanting Lezard to take that as a sign she was ready for bed. She rose from the table, stretching out her limbs, feeling his eyes on her. Self conscious, she turned, going near the open window. The breeze blew against her skin, chilling her, but it also kept her awake, kept her eyes from drooping shut. “I’m going to take a shower.” Lezard announced, his voice loud in the quiet of the room, making her jump.

“O…okay…” Lenneth nodded her head.

“Don’t go wandering around…” He advised her, heading out the room. The door swung close, Lenneth making no move to approach it. Instead she moved toward the bed, thinking now was her chance. If she could pretend to be asleep before he came back, well…She chewed on her fingernails nervously, thinking to avoid another passionate scene with him.

Lenneth went towards the bed, pulling back the wool blankets. She slid in under the cotton sheets, wrapping herself up as best she could. The Valkyrie lay on her side, facing the edge of the bed. Her eyes fixated on a nearby painting, of a young couple, locked in a lover’s embrace. She sighed, shaking her head, not for the first time that night wondering why the best room in the inn had to also be the Bridal Suite.

It wasn’t long before Lezard returned to the room, having taken a quick shower that was sure to be one for the record books. She heard the door opening, and quickly shut her eyes, doing her best to feign sleep. She heard Lezard moving about the room, heard the click of the lock, felt the breeze die down from the window as he shut it closed.

She heard his footsteps approach the bed, his voice softly calling out her name. She kept silent, feeling him place a hand on her shoulder, trying to shake her awake. Felt his hands on her body, raising her up so that she was half sitting in his embrace, saying her name louder. Lenneth stayed limp as a rag doll, breathing lightly as he held her. She felt his hand smoothing back the hair from her face, felt a kiss grace her forehead. Her eyes almost flew open when he gently sat her back down on the bed, shifting her to the side, as he climbed in next to her.

“I know you’re awake.” He said to her, fingers touching her back, teasing along the edge of her night gown. “Your breathings different when you sleep…”

Lenneth let out a sigh, and opened her eyes. “Is it really?”

“You’re less tense when you sleep too.” He told her. The Valkyrie rolled over to look at him, and froze. He was still wet, fresh from the shower, his hair wet and slicked back. That wasn’t the problem. What caused her to stiffen was the fact he was clad only in a beige towel, it being wrapped securely around his waist, stopping just past his knees.

“For Snotra’s sake Lezard!” Lenneth exclaimed in alarm, ready to leap out of the bed. “Put some clothing on!”

“Why?” His smile was hardly innocent. “I’m quite comfortable this way.”

“Well I’m not…” She folded her arms over her chest, trying to glare at him. It wasn’t working, and her eyes kept getting pulled to his waist, seeing the soft fuzz of brown that started low past his belly, disappearing into his towel. She gulped, dragging her eyes away from that sight, Lezard laid on his side, just watching her watch him.

“Like what you see?” He asked, a teasing edge to his voice.

“No!”

He smiled at that, thinking the lady did protest too much. “I’m sleeping on the couch.” Lenneth announced, picking up a pillow in one hand. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, intent on claiming a blanket for herself when one of Lezard’s hands snaked out. He grabbed hold of her wrist, the pillow falling to the floor, as he yanked her back onto the bed. “There’s no need to do that…” He said silkily, hands pinning her against the mattress. “The bed is quite big…” As were her eyes, wide and nervous staring up at him.

“Lezard…” His hands were on her, tracing the lines of her face, the wizard staring down at her with a naughty smirk on his face. She started to wiggle vigorously against him, trying to get free, and he leaned in close, lips brushing against her ear. “Lenneth…” He said in all seriousness. “If you don’t stop all that thrashing around, my towel might fall off.” That stilled her, the girl’s mouth dropping open in shock. He claimed her mouth then, kissing her soundly and possessively. She was shocked when he broke away, laughing at her.

“Sleep Lenneth.” He ordered, hauling her up against his side so that they lay spooning against each other. His arms came about her waist, holding her against him, letting her feel the muscles of his body through her thin night gown. “I won’t tease you anymore for tonight…”

Lenneth didn’t exactly relax against him, though she did let out a relieved sigh. It seemed he remember his promise after all. It was when she was almost asleep, that his next words came out, mischievous in nature. “Tomorrow however, is a new day…”

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

To Be Continued…

God…I hope no one thinks I’m bashing Aeila…I dunno why I made her a little gossip…but she’s one of my favorites. Fave party to use in the main game is Aeila, Arngrim, and Mystina…(Or Shiho for a mage.)

Naked Lezard for the win! “winks”

Snotra—Norse Goddess of Prudence.

—Michelle