Aubreigne

by Sandra R Neeley

  “I’m very pleased to meet you,” Destroy said. “Brannaugh, welcome to our home.”

  “Thank you,” Brannaugh answered. “I was hoping you could suggest lodging for Zahra, Kamilah, and myself.”

  “Why do you need lodging? You already live in Whispers,” Destroy asked.

  “I would prefer to remain beside them. I’ve vowed my protection and providence. They will not want for anything while in Whispers,” Brannaugh said, not yet tipping his hand that Kamilah was his.

  “While in Whispers… you know that we do not allow humans in Whispers. Either they cannot be here, or if they’ve already arrived, they cannot leave,” Destroy said with a glint in his eye. He couldn’t help it, he felt the need to be difficult today, especially since they seemed to be so afraid of Gargoyles. He took it personally and used it as an excuse to act out.

  “Or we could kill them. The story you tell is that Aunt Carolena was threatened with death because Uncle Carnage brought her here and no humans are allowed,” Marauder said, as he and Zeke strolled into the kitchen, brought down the stairs by the scent of the food Rowan was preparing.

  Destroy barked out a laugh at his son’s remark.

  “Marauder, we do not kill humans,” Rowan said.

  “At least not the nice ones, not anymore anyway,” Destroy added.

  “Really?” Rowan asked, facing Destroy with her hands on her hips.

  Destroy grinned at Rowan before turning to face the two women. “I jest! I jest, we do not kill humans, and haven’t had to prior to now. Though it was once a rule that humans were not allowed here, much has changed. Welcome to Whispers.”

  “Thank you,” Kamilah said nervously.

  “Where is home, we could possibly return you to your home,” Destroy said.

  “They do not wish to leave,” Brannaugh answered for them. “But they need a place to shelter until I can build one suitable for them.”

  “Well, our home is available, but we have no extra bedrooms. I believe that most of the homes in Whispers that they would find suitable have no room. Carnage did tell me of Dima’s plans to build a home on the bayou near Gaston’s, but he’s not even started that yet,” Destroy said thoughtfully.

  Brannaugh’s eyebrows rose in surprise. He’d not heard of Dima planning to leave the dark swamp to move closer to Whispers.

  “We have an extra room. Shane doesn’t live at home anymore,” Zeke said.

  Destroy snapped his fingers. “There’s your answer! Enthrall and Felicity will have an extra bedroom,” Destroy said excitedly.

  “Of course! I’ll seek to make arrangements with Enthrall for a short while. I’ll begin my own home immediately, it shouldn’t take long,” Brannaugh said.

  Destroy smirked again as he watched Kamilah holding onto Brannaugh’s arm as though it were a lifeline, and Zahra regarding him suspiciously.

  Rowan shook her head knowing what was coming next. “Destroy…” she said, trying to head him off, but it was too late.

  “An excellent solution for all, don’t you think?” Destroy asked. “Enthrall and Felicity will be more than happy to host you. You don’t mind Vampires do you? Whole family of them there…” Destroy said as he watched them and sipped his water innocently.

  Zahra’s eyes narrowed as she watched Destroy toying with them. Finally she smiled and nodded her head. “I like you, Gargoyle! You have a sense of humor. Very good. You have put me in my place. I will not question your nature again,” she said, chuckling.

  Destroy was surprised when she rose from her seat and approached him with her hand extended. “I am Zahra. I am sure we will be great friends. I like you,” she said happily.

  Destroy smiled and took her hand in his. She was not at all put off by his personality, instead she seemed to like his sarcasm. He bowed over her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it the way he used to do with ladies of the court centuries before. “Welcome to Whispers, Zahra,” he said honestly. “May you be happy here.”

  “And he’s charming,” Zahra commented, chuckling as she made her way back to her seat at the table.

  “I am the most charming of all the males here, I’ll have you know,” Destroy said, now genuinely teasing her.

  “I have no doubt!” Zahra answered.

  Rowan finished cooking for them and served plates to all who sat around her table. They spent the rest of the afternoon visiting and getting to know one another.

  As it would turn out, Zahra was no sheltered female and had a raucous sense of humor. By the time Enthrall and Felicity had returned home, she was completely relaxed and no longer concerned about who or what lived in Whispers.

  ~~~

  Aubreigne placed a pillow under Amilanu’s head, then covered him with the same coverlet that had come to her with the sofa. She sat with Amilanu for some time before the adrenalin from the day’s events had finally left her system, and she could barely hold her eyes open.

  She went to her bedroom with Rune always on her heels and brought back her own pillow and blankets to place on the floor beside the sofa where Amilanu slept. She checked on him once more before making a pallet for herself and settling down beside where he lay on the sofa, to nap for a while.

  Rune didn’t hesitate, he curled up at her back, his great head resting on her hip as she finally allowed herself to relax, lying on her side so she could watch Amilanu. She thought of the changes that had taken place in the last few days and the threats that had almost ripped them all apart. But now, her daughter was safe, Shane was safe, and unbelievably, so was Amilanu. She’d lost years off her life this day alone from the fear and stress that rode her hard until they were all three saved, but it was well worth it. She’d been prepared to give up more if necessary.

  Aubreigne curled into her blankets and allowed her eyes to fall closed on a sigh, welcoming the heavy sleep she felt coming on.

  ~~~

  Amilanu took a deep breath as he began to wake. He stretched his body this way and that, feeling for any new pain or unwelcome bed partners as had become his habit. He felt himself alone and opened his eyes to see where he found himself. Looking around, he realized he was in Aubreigne’s home.

  Right away Amilanu reached down inside himself, searching for The Dark One to be sure he was not near the surface and would cause Aubreigne no harm. On finding him gone, his lips spread in a wide grin, he was truly alone in his body. Amilanu sat up and moved his body this way and that, enjoying the long forgotten feel of just being himself. He swung his feet and legs off the sofa in preparation of standing, then froze mid-motion when he found Aubreigne sleeping on the floor beside him, Rune lying beside her, his large intelligent eyes watching every move Amilanu made.

  Amilanu smiled and reached out a hand toward Rune.

  Rune licked his fingers but made no move to leave Aubreigne’s side.

  Amilanu smiled as he looked down on her, completely safe and secure under her wolf’s watchful gaze.

  The emotion permeating every sense of his being for Aubreigne was a live thing on its own. His love for his mate, his passion for her, almost bowled him over with the strength of his need. He moved toward her, planning to slip into her blankets with her and wake her with a kiss, but then he remembered. He couldn’t touch her like this.

  She murmured in her sleep and Amilanu smiled at the sight of her sleeping peacefully, dreaming whatever she dreamed to make her smile like she was smiling. Quietly he rose and made his way through her home to her bathroom, nodding in approval when Rune stayed beside her, just watching him go. He turned on the water, allowing only the heated water to flow into the tub, then he got in and set to scrubbing his body until he was practically raw. He had to wash away all the filth, all the dirt, all the sins, before he could even consider holding Aubreigne in his arms.

  Three times Amilanu drained and refilled the tub, scrubbing his body each time until he was finally sure that he was clean. Then he refilled the tub once more just to laze in the water and give himself a moment to just be, to consid
er his future and the female he hoped would be the center of it. Leaning back against the back of the tub, he closed his eyes and got lost in the moment.

  The creak of the door opening had him opening his eyes and lifting his head.

  Aubreigne peeked inside the bathroom. “Amilanu?” she called.

  Amilanu smiled broadly. “I’m here, come, Aubreigne,” Amilanu said, welcoming her into the bathroom with him.

  Aubreigne pushed the door the rest of the way opened and stepped inside. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I woke and you were gone,” she said.

  Amilanu could read the distress in her face. “I decided I needed to bathe before I could even wake you. Do you mind?” he asked.

  “No! Not at all. I was worried when you weren’t beside me. I thought…” she stopped speaking, looking down at her hands rather than at the naked man soaking in her tub.

  “You thought I’d left you again,” he finished for her.

  Aubreigne raised her gaze to his but said nothing.

  “I am only myself now,” he said.

  Aubreigne smiled brightly. “I’d hoped so. But until you woke, I couldn’t be sure. I wouldn’t let myself believe.”

  Amilanu sat forward in the bath, his arms folded on the side of the tub as he concentrated all his attention on her. “Believe, my Aubreigne. It is just I inside this body.”

  “That makes me very, very happy,” she admitted.

  “Can I get you some food? Some drink?” she asked, anxious to take care of him.

  “Maybe later. I feel surprisingly strong for having had The Dark One torn from me,” Amilanu said curiously.

  “Lily. She healed you. She’s got Lore’s powers,” Aubreigne explained.

  “Ahh, I see. I’m not this strong all on my own,” he chuckled.

  “No, you had help,” Aubreigne said, smiling and nodding, before suddenly realizing she’d tracked him down in the bath and stood speaking with him as though he was fully clothed and presentable. “I’ll leave you to your bath,” she said, turning for the door.

  “I’d rather you didn’t,” he said, speaking up quickly so she’d not leave the room.

  Chapter 29

  “You would?” she asked, not turning toward him, but stopping in her progress to the door.

  “I’ve spent so much time alone, dreaming of you, wanting to hold you, wanting to claim you for my own, that now I find I can’t stand being apart from you. Not even just a room or two away,” Amilanu admitted.

  Slowly Aubreigne turned to face Amilanu. “I feel the same,” she confessed.

  “Will you forgive me, Aubreigne. Now that you know all I’ve endured. All I’ve been a part of no matter how I fought it. Can you see past it?” he asked, almost afraid of the answer.

  Aubreigne breathed deeply and nodded. “I can, I do. Those choices were not yours. I forgive you. I forgive you!” she said emphatically, remembering him begging for her forgiveness that he might be freed.

  Amilanu smiled at her. “And will you have me? Now that I am only human again. Now that I have nothing to offer you but myself. Will you have me? Take me to husband, become my wife?” he asked.

  Aubreigne’s whole face lit up, her heart was pounding in her chest. She let out a little squeal and ran toward Amilanu who lifted his arms to catch her as she climbed into the tub with him fully clothed. He laughed as she hugged him as tightly as he did her, stopping his laughing only long enough to press his lips to hers.

  “I love you, Aubreigne. I knew the moment I saw you that you were mine. And though I knew I was no good for you, I could never stay away,” he said, kissing her over and over again.

  “I love you, Amilanu! I knew that you were mine as well. I’ve waited for you for so long,” she said, kissing him and cupping his face in her hands. “You’ve made me so happy,” she said.

  “And you me. I’ll never disappoint you, nephesh. I’ll never take you for granted. I’ll live every day with you as my focus, your happiness my aim. You will never want, I will take care of you for as long as I live,” he promised, kissing her again.

  “And I you. I will love you forever,” she promised. “Never apart.”

  “Never apart,” he echoed.

  Aubreigne leaned forward and kissed Amilanu, tasting his lips with the tip of her tongue until he opened and let her inside.

  Amilanu grasped her head in his hands and kissed her passionately. “I can’t wait,” he whispered huskily. “Please tell me I don’t have to wait any longer,” he said as his eyes skimmed over what he could see of her body through her soaking wet clothes.

  “We don’t have to wait any longer,” she whispered. “Help me take these off.”

  Amilanu hurriedly worked the buttons of her white blouse as he waited restlessly to see the soft flesh hinted at beneath the wet clingy fabric. Once he’d gotten the blouse unbuttoned, Aubreigne peeled it off herself and dropped it to the floor beside the tub. Then she raised up on her knees to unbutton the skirt. Once it was free of its clasps, she stood and allowed it to fall down her hips and into the still warm bath.

  Amilanu scooped it up and wrung it out briefly before dropping it to the floor as well, all the while keeping his eyes pinned to a naked, wet Aubreigne. “You are beautiful,” he whispered, lifting a hand to stroke her belly.

  Amilanu leaned forward and placed a kiss on her stomach, then her hip bone. “I need to know all of you. I need to be surrounded in all that is you — your scent, your taste, your touch,” he murmured, skimming his fingertips up her ribcage toward her breasts. He gently lifted the weight of her small breasts in his palm. She was a small woman, and as such had small breasts, but on her body they were quite ample. “Perfect,” he whispered, straightening his back and lifting up just enough to capture one nipple in his mouth.

  Aubreigne gasped and arched her back toward him, her hands holding him to her as he explored her body.

  He kissed her breasts, and ran his hands down her back as he kept her close in his arms. Eventually his kisses made a path for her waist, then her hips, and when he could stop himself no longer, he pressed a kiss to the soft curls between her legs. “I want to kiss you here,” he said, his deep voice rumbling with his need.

  “Yes,” Aubreigne whispered, canting her hips toward him.

  Amilanu licked his lips, then lifted one of her feet, and placed it on the side of the tub. “Don’t move,” he ordered. Amilanu ran his hands from her legs up her body, allowing his fingers to trail over her most sensitive skin.

  Aubreigne’s body was on fire. She wanted him to take her in every way possible. It had been a long time since she’d been with anyone, and even then she’d never felt this connection, this draw to the man who couldn’t stop touching her.

  Amilanu raised his eyes to hers and locked his gaze with hers as he wrapped his right hand around the back of her thigh and scooted forward, licking his lips as he moved. His left hand had been holding her raised leg in place on the side of the tub, but he moved that hand as he approached her, cupping her, hot, wet flesh in his hand as he opened his mouth and flicked the small nub he could see peeking at him, swollen and throbbing as it stood out, waiting for his attention.

  Aubreigne moaned and let her head drop back at the sensation of his tongue on her body.

  Amilanu smiled as he pressed his face against her, his lips opened wide, covering her sensitive flesh in the hot, wetness that was his mouth. He pushed his thumb deep inside her, matching the rhythm of every swipe of his tongue with it.

  It didn’t take long for Aubreigne to start trembling, calling Amilanu’s name as she buried her hands in his hair, while pressing her body against his face. “Yes!” she called out, “yes, don’t stop!”

  Amilanu didn’t answer, he couldn’t, he wasn’t about to stop for a few simple words. She’d figure out soon enough he wasn’t going to stop.

  Amilanu sucked her clit into his mouth and flicked it with his tongue, while at the same time withdrawing his thumb and pressing two fingers into her. That
was all she needed.

  Aubreigne’s body seized up, squeezing his fingers tightly as she moaned her pleasure aloud, her nipples hardening and her body trembling.

  Amilanu kept his tongue and lips on her body until she was putty in his hands. Finally he reluctantly pulled away from her, taking her foot off the side of the tub, and tugging her gently down into his arms. “Alright?” he asked.

  Aubreigne nodded.

  “Here, sit across me,” he said, guiding her into a sitting position on his lap. “I need to be inside you,” he said urgently.

  Aubreigne nodded and lifted herself off his lap so he could line himself up. As soon as she felt the tip of his cock pressing urgently against her, she started to let herself slide down, taking him all in.

  Amilanu held her hips in his hands, squeezing the flesh there as she engulfed him. Her small, tight body, holding him snugly inside her left no doubt. She’d been made for him, and him for her. They fit like a puzzle. “Alright?” he asked again.

  Aubreigne looked at him with her eyes opened wide, her lips just separated. He was more well endowed than any male she’d ever been with. She was completely filled. Experimentally she flexed her hips causing Amilanu’s breath to catch.

  Amilanu squeezed her hips in his hands and ground his teeth.

  Aubreigne rolled her hips, and he responded, thrusting into her. Deciding that this was good, with no danger of hurting her from his size, she nodded.

  “Once I start…” he began to explain, trying to let her know he’d not be able to stop if she needed him to.

  “I need you to move, you won’t stop, just move,” she begged.

  Amilanu didn’t wait any longer. He leaned against the back of the tub and kept her pressed down over himself as he rocked his hips like a madman, forcing himself even deeper than either of them thought he’d reach inside her.

  Aubreigne braced her hands on either side of the tub and lifted herself enough to be able to meet Amilanu thrust for thrust. They were both lost in a race to finish what they’d both needed, wanted, since the day Amilanu had glimpsed her leaving Carnage’s home.