The Bonding

by Hansen, Victoria

  One would think he would be comfortable with this. After all, they had gone together to face a far worse situation, fully expecting they would both die. What had changed that since then he had become so protective of Kiri, as though she were any other fragile woman who needed a man's protection? She needed none. He remembered Jarrell, and how he had watched her spar with his burly friend. She had been so beautiful with her slender body rippling as she danced through deadly thrusts and parries. The oracle was right. Kiri was both woman and warrior. He would have to find a way to let her be both. She could still be his. She didn't have to be helpless too. It wasn't easy on him to admit his lady was better in a fight than he was, and could probably protect him better than he could her, but that was his pride, not something wrong with her. But damn it, I don't want her fighting, particularly not while pregnant. And, however much he might not like it, it was not his decision to make. He would have to trust her if he loved her, and trusting her meant believing she knew both when a fight was necessary, and how to keep herself and their baby safe if it was.

  Why, he wondered, did the two of them have to fight against their pride over and over as they learned to live together as a couple?

  Shaking his head at the foolishness of all humanity, Davin got up from his dinner and strode after his fiancée.

  She had already reached the apartment by the time he arrived. She had her back to him, sitting on a chair, her head down on the table. Every muscle in her body seemed to be tense, telling him not to get too close. He had never seen her this angry.

  Davin trailed his hand gently down the back of Kiri's bare arm. She jerked away.

  “I'm sorry, baby. I didn't handle that well.”

  “No you didn't,” she snapped, and then she sighed. “Neither did I, I guess. I just feel like, if I'm not a swordmaster, what am I?”

  “You are a swordmaster,” he replied. No one, least of all me, is going to take that away from you. You are also my lady.”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder. Her scars stood out white in the soft peach of her skin, but no hint of tears marred her complexion. “How can I be both?”

  “You are both.” He traced one long line down her cheek. “If you give up one, you'll be diminished. You must find a way to integrate the two.”

  “I used to know how,” she said with a sigh. “Do you know what the ideal is for women swordmasters? We were expected to be beautiful, literate, educated, and lethal. When I was a teenager, I was often held up as the example of what a female warrior should be. “

  “You still are, you know. You are still beautiful, still lethal.”

  “Did you know I was also educated, Davin?” she asked, raising one eyebrow. “I spent as much time in school as any other young girl. I've read everything from literature to war tactics to non-violent negotiation techniques to philosophy and religion.”

  “I didn't exactly know, but I realized you had a great deal of knowledge. I wouldn't have been interested in a mindless killing machine.” He smiled fondly. She thinks she's different from her teenaged appeal? Not a chance. “We've wandered rather far from the topic.”

  “No, Davin, this is the topic.” She captured his questing fingers and stared over her shoulder into his face until he met her eyes. “I need you to know I have the ability to make intelligent decisions. I have no desire to put myself or our baby at risk. We are in greater danger by doing nothing than by taking action. I agreed I will not seek Kaeli out. She will come though.”

  She's right, of course. “I realize that. I can't make myself like you risking yourself this way, but I know you'll be able to handle whatever comes. Did you know I love the warrior in you as much as the lady?”

  “Really?” Kiri finally turned around, facing Davin with wide eyes.

  “Yes. It was what drew me to you in the first place, you know. I was watching you spar with Jarrell, and do you know what I kept thinking?”

  Kiri shook her head.

  “It turned me on. I wanted you from the first time I saw you two fight.”

  “I remember that conversation.” One corner of her mouth twisted, pulling her scars to the left.

  “And every day afterwards I watched you and wanted you more. By the end of the first week, I was ready to grab you, even if you killed me for it.”

  “Why didn't you?”

  “I knew you weren't ready. I felt that if there were even a chance of us being together, it wouldn't help for me to be too forward.”

  “What an iron will you have,” she commented.

  “Not nearly enough. Kiri, would you do something for me?”

  “What?”

  “Do your exercises here, so I can watch again. I almost forgot how thrilling it was.” Kiri hesitated. “It will help me understand how all the different parts of you fit together. Maybe your injury, and the weakness that came from the treatment, made me see you differently, but you don't need that level of care anymore, do you?”

  “Not right now, but, Davin, I will again, soon. When the baby is large inside me, I won't be able to do all I can do now, and after the birth, I'll be weakened for quite a while. I'll have to rely on you then.”

  “We rely on each other, remember? We guard each other's backs.”

  She grinned, and the sight of her relaxing shoulders pleased him. “Right.”

  “So will you, baby? Will you do your dance for me? I would love to see it again.”

  She regarded the narrow and furniture laden main room of their apartment. “It's a little tight in here for swinging a broadsword, but I think I can come up with something. Move the sofa against the wall so I have room to move.”

  * * *

  While Davin rearranged the furniture to create an exercise area, Kiri considered all that had been said between them. She had demanded, and rightly so, she still believed, he see her for the warrior she was. Maybe it was also fair for her to see him as the man he was. It was difficult for men to accept strong women, she knew, and he was trying. He did deserve credit for that, and for his apology; maybe even a reward. She remembered when he had forgiven her so much. She could forgive him this. What was the best way to repair this little hurt? Ah, of course. She slipped out of her clothing, unbraided her hair, carefully placing the spikes on the table, and went to stand in the center of the room.

  Davin gasped softly, but she ignored him, as though he weren't even there. That was part of the game. Concentrating on her magic, she pulled a wicked curved dagger out of the air. For a long moment, she stood perfectly still, drawing her attention deep into herself, making her body, mind, and spirit subject to her will. It had been a long time since she had fought with a dagger, and she hoped she remembered enough to make a good show at least.

  * * *

  Davin watched, transfixed, by the spectacle of his naked lover wielding a magical knife. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders in crinkled chestnut waves. She stood still as a snake, unmoving, not even seeming to breathe. Then, in a moment of heart-stopping violence, she slashed the air with the blade. Her movements were controlled but blindingly fast as she grappled with an unseen enemy, twisting her lithe body around to one side and the other, stabbing, kicking out. There was an odd movement when she swung her head, and he realized she was not used to fighting with unbound hair. Had there been an opponent, she would have just skewered him with her iron spikes. But this was for practice, there was no opponent. Just one very aroused man observing a master at work.

  Kiri jumped, twisted, and dropped to the floor, not with a loud thud, but softly. He doubted the downstairs neighbors heard anything. And then, abruptly, it was over. She went perfectly still, her breathing controlled, normal.

  “Kiri?”

  She rose gracefully to her feet, the wildness still in her expression. With her exotically tilted, feral green eyes, and her high cheekbones, she looked almost feline. He took a step towards her and then hesitated, not sure she was safe. Kiri, it seemed, sensed his nervousness and laughed, low and deep. Finally he was beginnin
g to understand. She could kill him if she wanted to, but she didn't want to. She had chosen him to be her lover, not her victim.

  Davin steeled himself and walked over to his beloved, shedding his clothing as he went and pulling her into his arms. The magic knife vanished instantly as he kissed her hard and deep, sweeping his tongue into her mouth. The kiss was a challenge. She may be the winner in battle, but in the bedroom, I'm the master. She accepted his kiss for what it was…an attempt to find equal footing. She didn't fight him for supremacy. That had never been her goal. Instead, she seemed to enjoy being plundered by his tongue.

  “Gods, baby, you are so sexy.” He smoothed her hair back from her face. “Did that move you were doing have a name?”

  “Cobra and mongoose,” she replied in a terse, harsh voice. She's still in battle mode.

  “Ah, yes, I can see why. You know, you're still the ideal of the woman warrior…beautiful, smart, and lethal.”

  Kiri sighed and the tension fell away from her. “If only you could have seen me before. I was really beautiful then.”

  She's crazy. “If only you could really see yourself now. Come with me.” He took her hand and pulled her into his bathing room.

  * * *

  Kiri glanced at the large bathtub that sat along one wall. What fun we had in there. At the far end of the room a full length dressing mirror hung on the wall. Davin set Kiri in front of him, so every inch of her was perfectly displayed.

  “Know your worth, baby. You're still beautiful. Look at yourself. You have a gorgeous body.”

  “I've always thought I had a good figure,” she said modestly.

  “It's glorious. Look at these shoulders and arms, strong but not bulky.” He caressed her as he described her. “Tiny, perfect breasts with such lovely pink nipples.” He took hold of the buds with his hands and rolled them gently between his fingers, making her gasp.

  “Some men like big breasts,” she pointed out, and he could see how she struggled to form coherent sentences. Good.

  “Not me. The small ones have a better shape. Yours are just right. On your slim frame, large breasts would look silly. And then there's this tiny waist. But how is it that such a slender, muscular woman would be blessed with curvy hips and a little round bottom?” He cupped her backside and gave a gentle squeeze. “And then you have perfectly smooth thighs, not a dimple anywhere. Such lean strong, thighs and long legs. But baby, I don't want you to overlook this beautiful face.”

  “Scarred face.” She tipped her head forward, hiding in her hair.

  “Yes, but still beautiful.” He pulled the chestnut strands away, revealing her again. “You look more like a warrior because of your scars. No one will see you as helpless or ineffectual now. And you still have amazing green eyes, a lovely nose, pretty checks, and a soft, kissable mouth. None of those things has changed. You're beautiful, Kiri, from your lovely brown hair to your perfect scarred face to your lean warrior woman's body. Every inch is lovely. Can you not see that?”

  “I'll try. I do believe you see it.”

  “It's a start.” Davin pulled a small stool out from the cabinet beside the mirror and sat down, pulling her onto his lap.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, trying to resist.

  “Showing you something else that's beautiful,” he whispered in her ear. He hooked his feet around her ankles and spread wide, so her swollen pink flesh was revealed in front of the mirror. Kiri blushed and looked away.

  “No, baby. Don't be shy. See how lovely you are?” Davin wormed his hand between their bodies and stroked gently, spreading the dark curls wider, giving an unobstructed view of her wet, glistening folds.

  His face over his shoulder wore a wicked expression as he breathed into her ear, “Show me how you like to be touched.”

  “Davin, you know,” she replied. “I never had a partner but you.”

  “You don't need a partner for pleasure, Kiri. Be honest. During all those long years, did you never… touch yourself?”

  Kiri's blush deepened, but she dared to admit, hesitantly, “Yes.”

  “Often?”

  “Every chance I got. It helped with the loneliness.”

  “Show me.”

  * * *

  Did she dare? What a wicked thing to do. She glanced in the mirror. Her clitoris was large and darkly swollen, desperate to be stimulated. And why not? Slowly, hesitantly, she slid her fingertips into the luscious folds, sighing with relief as she stroked the delicate bud. She closed her eyes.

  “Open, baby,” Davin ordered. “Look at yourself.” She opened her eyes and moaned at the sight, and then moaned again as Davin's thick fingers slid along the folds and sank deep into her tight opening. She couldn't look away as they worked together at her pleasuring. The myriad sensations brought her quickly to a wild orgasm, and she watched herself go wild, twisting and squealing as her belly contracted.

  Sated, she let her head fall back against his shoulder. He kissed her cheek.

  “You are lovely, sweet girl. I can't think of a prettier sight…well maybe just one.” He grasped her around the waist and pulled her until she was standing, straddling his lap.

  “Oh my gods,” Kiri moaned, knowing what was coming. Davin lowered her back down over his erection and pressed in one smooth stroke all the way inside her. Gods, he's huge, she thought. Even though she was drenched, he was almost too big. Certainly he was terribly deep. The stool was low to the ground, and Kiri's feet easily touched the floor. She pressed herself upward hesitantly and lowered down again. Encouraged by Davin's groans, she repeated the process, again and again until she was riding him. In the mirror, they could both see his straining sex, wet and glistening with her moisture, and then it would disappear inside her, only to emerge again, even wetter than before. Davin reached around her body and, mimicking her earlier movements, worked the swollen bud until she all but screamed, squeezing him so sweetly that it only took another thrust or two before his orgasm joined hers.

  In the aftermath of an ecstasy beyond words, Davin lifted his lady easily in his arms and carried her to their bed. It had been a long and emotionally overwhelming day, and both of them were ready to sleep, the way they both slept best, together.

  Chapter 17

  The next morning the lovers woke late. Kiri felt a little shy about their wild sex the night before, and about sleeping naked all night.

  “Feel funny, baby?” he asked, trailing his fingers over her breast and down onto her belly.

  “A bit,” she admitted.

  “Don't be,” he urged. “You were the prettiest thing I've ever seen.” He soothed her with a long wet kiss. Then he got up, dressed, and left, returning with a tray of hot breakfast, which they shared in bed. He wouldn't let Kiri get dressed though. Well fine, she thought. They'd eaten together in the nude before, and Davin had undressed himself before joining her in bed. After breakfast, they took a long hot bath together, washing each other, which naturally led to caressing, followed by a fast but devastating round of lovemaking with Kiri leaning over against the bathroom counter while Davin took her from behind. By the time they got around to getting dressed, noon had come and gone. Davin would have liked to stay naked and play with Kiri all day, but it wasn't to be. This was the day of the new wine festival, and Jaya would be arriving soon to help Kiri with her clothes and hair.

  Davin wanted to make love once more before Jaya's arrival, but Kiri refused. Being caught naked and embracing once had been enough for her whole lifetime. Instead, when the knock came on their apartment door, both Davin and Kiri were respectably dressed, sitting side by side on the sofa, holding hands and talking about nothing.

  “Hello, lovebirds,” Jaya quipped, not fooled for a moment. She and Soren had spent an interesting night too, interesting enough that she was a trifle sore in many places, but she tried not to show it, “how was your day yesterday, after I left?”

  “Gods, what a day,” Kiri said. “We decided to make offerings at the temple and see the oracle. Then I told D
avin about the baby.”

  “Good. How are you taking the news of your impending fatherhood, big brother?” Jaya smirked.

  “I feel like I've been kicked in the head,” he replied, “but I'll live.”

  “Do you want to see your baby?” she asked.

  Davin looked bewildered. “What do you mean?”

  “Kiri, will you let Davin use his magic to look at the baby?”

  “Davin doesn't need to ask,” Kiri replied. “It's always fine.”

  “Thanks for your trust, baby,” he said, smiling at her, “but I do need to ask. I always need to.”

  It seemed Kiri was beginning to understand what a truly big deal it was that he had tapped her magic without permission. She made a face at the two Koralians. “It didn't feel like a violation to me, you know,” she said.

  “I know,” Jaya replied. “And that's very sweet, but…” Davin's words suddenly registered. “Baby?” Jaya asked, appalled, “What the hell kind of endearment is that? How condescending!”

  “I don't mean it to be.” Davin stroked his lover's cheek and she glowed with the pleasure of his touch. “Jaya, Kiri never got to be anyone's baby. Her father died before she could know him. When other little girls were playing princess and wearing ribbons in their hair, Kiri was learning to use a sword. She's a damn fine warrior, but I feel sad for that little girl who never got to be. I want to spoil her.”

  Jaya looked at them doubtfully.

  “I love it when he calls me baby.” Kiri cupped Davin's cheek in her hand. They shared a mushy-eyed glance that made Jaya want to gag. Never mind the cow eyes you were giving Soren last night while he… “Fine I give up. So, Kiri, can I show Davin how to look inside your womb?”