Honor Bound

by Michelle Howard

  “Make amends?”

  “You wanted kisses in exchange for the food tasting better.“ He grimaced at that bit of nonsense. “I care not for that. I would make amends for the other, though.” He’d never lower himself to barter for decent meals. “The kissing is sufficient for my actions, yes?”

  She thought it over, her face turned away. He actually feared she’d refuse but then she nodded. Vaan relaxed, glad that she would not sustain her grudge with him.

  “You were angry when I dismissed you for the way you dressed, yes?”

  She reached for her cider and took a sip. “Not angry. Hurt.”

  “Hurt?” He probed and scooted closer on the bench until their legs touched. Vaan reached out and took the mug from her. He sat it beside his untouched plate. He would have this matter behind them. He missed her casual touches. Hurting her had not been his intention.

  Her lips pursed and she studied his face. “Yes.”

  “And kissing will assuage this hurt. Tell me.” The female had done nothing to warrant negative treatment from him.

  “All my life, I dreamed of the loving relationship I’d have with my mate.” She eyed him but Vaan had no words for her womanly feelings. He’d never bothered to concern himself with females. Perhaps, he would revisit his thoughts and pay more attention to the way of it. She sighed and continued. “True Unions bloom from intimacy between mates. Kisses encourage the intimacy to grow. Your refusal means you hold no interest in furthering the relationship we share.”

  He reminded himself of his promise. Kabanians did not have the intimacy she spoke of. “You will explain this intimacy and if it is reasonable, we shall do your kissing.”

  She burst into laughter in his face. Her neck arched back and her eyes closed while the sound poured out. Glad to have her anger behind him, Vaan felt a grin tug at his lips. This Mikayla was the one he was used to. Her humor a delight to witness.

  When she finished, she leaned in his direction and placed her cool palm on his chest. Vaan tensed but held still. He would show her his trust in this one thing.

  “I promise it is not bad.” She pursed her lips and pressed them to his before pulling back. “See?”

  Not at all. But he liked her body touching him. His toque hardened. “Show me again.”

  This time she closed her eyes when she moved her lips against his. Her tongue licked his lips and the unexpected stroke had his mouth parting. Her tongue took advantage of the opening and slid between his lips. Vaan stiffened but her other hand came up to wrap around his neck.

  Her fingers caressed the sensitive skin of his nape and gripped his hair. Vaan bit back an unexpected groan but her moan vibrated along his mouth. He enjoyed her busy hands and mentally renewed his vow to never cut his hair if she liked its length this much. The tip of her tongue ran over his, the forked end entwining with his and releasing. The texture felt different. Bumpy and slightly rough. When she pulled back, her eyes were glazed and his hands gripped at her waist holding her close.

  “Agreed. We will commence this kissing.”

  Her pleasant laugh warmed him. Vaan stood and picked her up. She squealed and her arms went around his neck. Liking the sound, he headed for the stairs and heard Balal ask, “did he make amends?” Someone ordered him to shut up.

  Mikayla muffled her laugh against his throat. Vaan nodded at the Warlord he’d assigned to the stairs leading to the upper level. In their bedroom, he slammed the door shut and without putting her down, latched the lock.

  “The evening meal is not over,” she protested.

  Vaan laid her on the bed and despite her words, her smile greeted him. “This will not last long.” He removed his harness, pants and boots.

  Mikayla pushed up on her elbows and grimaced. “I’m afraid of that. More kissing, then bedding.”

  Vaan had no need to think on this. He was full to bursting. Not relieving himself with her body next to his had been painful. “Agreed.” He rubbed his hand down his length and joined her in the bed. “Remove your clothes. I want to see you.”

  For once, she did not argue. Her tunic landed on the floor and Vaan managed to wait until she slid her leggings off. “We will kiss.” He mashed his lips to hers, only to have Mikayla push on his chest.

  “Allow me.”

  Vaan hesitated but for a moment then reclined on their bed. Her body slid sinuously along his and he restrained himself from touching. Her lips glided up his neck, her tongue adding a hint of wetness. He flinched.

  “It’s fine. I won’t hurt you.”

  His toqa burned but she seemed not to notice and raised her legs to bracket his hips on both sides. She placed her kisses on his jaw, his nose and again brushed his mouth before nipping. Vaan jerked and grabbed her by her arms. “You will not give me your sakar.”

  Mikayla frowned but shook her dark head. Her diamond pupils dilated. “No venom. Just kisses.”

  He wagered the truth of her words before releasing her. His dagger rested under the pillow. He could reach it in time and stab her if she sought to attack him.

  Soft hands reached up and stroked his chest. Her head bent and placed kisses there as well. He could not take much more. The delicate touches of her mouth created burst of pleasure wherever it landed. “Enough kissing. I have need of you.”

  He flipped them and reached down to align his toqa with her opening. Wetness greeted his finger. He frowned at the unexpected occurrence but her hips arched beneath him and he could think no further. Vaan placed his rounded head along her slit and thrust forward. Her responding moan pleased him.

  Coldness soothed the burn of his manhood. He pumped faster and swelled within her center. Her core clasped him tightly. When her legs lifted, he reached down and gripped one tight to his hips. More wetness soaked his shaft, causing him to groan. “You pleasure me well, Mikayla.”

  Her hands buried in his hair and tugged. Vaan felt the familiar curl up his spine and the pressure below as his sac lowered. He drove forward one last time and his seed spilled from him.

  His head landed on the pillow and he ignored her tiny fists as they thumped his back and she cursed. He sensed her annoyance with him but tingles traced his toqa and he could only shudder above her as he hardened once more. “Again,” he growled.

  Vaan began with the kisses she wished and stroked slow and steady as her resistance melted. Her hands touched his shoulders and her nails lengthened. The scrape of claws down his back made Vaan shiver. His hips reared back and he slammed into her harder. Release boiled quickly and his seed burst from him before he could catch his breath.

  “Vaaan!” she wailed but his eyes closed in sleep.

  Chapter 12

  “It is time for your guard selection.”

  They were sitting at the evening meal and Mikayla had expected this. Her personal guards now worked as archers and she’d been confined to the hall and courtyard but never beyond the gate for the last two days. Miki shrugged her shoulders. She liked her old guards, yet knew her mate would do as he pleased. The Kabanian Warlords would sooner see her carted away in pieces than protect her. Vaan didn’t seem to realize this. Aside from the frustration boiling from the lack of improvement in their bed play, she didn’t have many complaints with the way he’d managed things.

  “I have assigned Balal as your personal guard.”

  She perked up. “Balal at least, likes me.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. Vaan’s brows lowered and his face darkened. He paused in his eating, which should have warned her. “Does he?”

  “No?” She nibbled her bottom lip.

  “Balal?”

  Blessed One, would he make an issue of such a small lapse. “Warlord Balal, I meant.”

  One brow hiked higher than the other. Miki wished he didn’t have the stupid hair above his eyes. The two hairy slants enabled him to say more with his facial expression than with his words.

  “Warlord Balal,” Vaan called without breaking Miki’s gaze. She shivered and knotted her hands in her l
ap, her appetite suddenly gone.

  “Yes, Overlord.” Balal approached the table and stood behind Vaan’s shoulder where Miki could easily see his face.

  Vaan reached up and cupped her jaw, turning her back to meet his dark gaze. “Do you like my bride, Balal?”

  “No, Overlord.” Not even a pause after the question.

  Miki flinched but Vaan wasn’t finished.

  “Who is she to you?”

  “She is my Overlord’s.”

  “Leave us.”

  Miki waited until the warrior’s steps faded. “You are cruel.” Her chest hurt. The pain spread and her breath hitched but she forced the tears back. Kissing had changed nothing between them. After the nights they’d shared, she’d hoped he would soften in his manner toward her. More fool she.

  “You are mine.” He released her chin and resumed eating.

  Miki hissed and picked up her stemware. She pushed the fruit around on her plate.

  “Kavan will be your new personal guard as well.”

  “No Vaan, he hates me.” She shoved her plate to the side and made to stand.

  Vaan gripped her wrist. “Sit woman.”

  “You go too far. Do you want me to hate you?” Her voice rose with each word. People began to turn their way. Why was he doing this? Of all the Warlords, he chose Kavan?

  “Sit, Mikayla.” A sharp tug accompanied the order. She reluctantly resumed her seat.

  “You must trust that he will bleed for you willingly if ever it is needed. The only way to believe this is for him to guard you. First Blood could not give back the trust he rashly took away from you.”

  “I’m never going to trust him. He placed a sword at my throat in anger.”

  “Then I will kill him because a Warlord who can not be trusted serves me no purpose.”

  Miki’s jaw dropped. “You jest. He is your man. You trust him. What matters that I do not?”

  “What matters is that you are mine. We are mated for life. If you can not trust a man I set to guard you then you will not listen when he seeks to guide you and this could place your life in danger. If your life is in danger then I have failed you.” He started to eat then stopped and sighed. “I will not always be by your side to protect you. It is the purpose of the circle of honor. You must trust that my Warlords value your life as much as I do.”

  Vaan leaned toward her and placed his hand on her thigh. “Do you understand now why his actions in the circle were so wrong? You have lost faith in him and if it can not be restored, I have no need of him.”

  His way was a harsh reality. One in complete opposite of the life Miki had always known. Would he even be hurt by killing one of his loyal Warlords?

  “Yes, I would be hurt. But they all understand the consequences of their actions.”

  She must have spoken aloud. She would not let a man’s life be on her hands. “I accept him as a guard.”

  He stared at her a moment longer. The hand on her thigh tightened before he spoke. “I will not ask if this is because you believe you will come to trust him. I know you will lie.”

  Miki bit hard on her tongue. To protest would give credence to his words, so she remained silent and accepted his decree. He pressed closer and caught her off-guard with a kiss. Not a deep intimate kiss but a gentle touching of lips. Miki allowed the soft touch to soothe her ire and smiled. “A frivolous gesture, Vaan.”

  “You looked in need of a sign of affection.”

  She laughed. Tension slipped away like water gliding from a leaf. Her mate proved there was more to him than the tough warrior. Their beliefs and philosophies differed but nothing they couldn’t overcome. Vaan finished his food. Assa was there to collect his plate and smiled warmly. Even the servants were losing their fear of him.

  “I need to go into Luall, today.” The village boasted the best fresh fruit daily and she wanted more cloth and leather material for the sewers to provide Vaan and his men more clothing. None of the store of leggings and tunics they had, adequately fit the Kabanians tall frame. The washers complained about the effort to remove the grime and blood from their current leathers.

  “What is Luall?” He allowed the subject of guards to drop and reached for a piece of fruit, taking a large bite.

  “The neighboring Raasa village. It is a half a days ride each way by hapfe and we are in need of supplies.”

  He tossed the core on the table and stood. “Send a servant.”

  Miki rose to her feet. “I want to go.” She reached for his arm before he could walk away. His Warlords finished their meal and were getting to their feet. Miki lowered her voice. “Vaan, I have been limited to the grounds far longer than I am used to.”

  “No, Mikayla. I can not spare any Warlords to accompany you today. I need Balal and Kavan here.”

  Argan interrupted them without sparing Miki a glance. “Are you ready, Overlord?”

  Miki stared as her mate turned his back on her. She gritted her teeth, unwilling to end their meal on a negative note. Not with the connection they were creating. She wanted to move forward in the relationship. “Vaan, wait.” She caught up with them at the door. Argan glared with impatience but the other Warlords walked around them and left.

  Miki stretched on her toes and kissed her mate. “I will need to go to Luall soon, so make time to leave a Warlord for me in the next week or I will go alone.” She spun on her heel and headed to the kitchen. Agreeable and no arguments. She’d wait a day or two and then if her mate didn‘t provide an escort, she’d find someone who’d take her.

  ***

  Miki felt a surge of pride for getting in the last word. Sera and Vesa cleared the dishes from the table. Miki rushed to help them. Assa came out with a wet cloth and began scrubbing the spills from the table.

  “How goes it, Miki?” Assa’s smile spread across her face and she winked at Miki.

  “All is well.” Miki stacked the dishes in a neat pile for Sera who carried an overloaded tray to the kitchen.

  Vesa snickered and Sera returned with an empty tray which they placed more dishes on. Another wave of giggles occurred until finally Miki sat down the mug she’d grabbed. “What is with you all?”

  “Come on, Miki. Tell us.” Assa put the tray on the table and sat on the bench her expression eager.

  Sera and Vesa joined her and both nodded. “Yes, tell us what it is like with the Kabanians.”

  A slight flush warmed her cheeks. “I’ve not been with the Kabanians.”

  Assa waved her hand. “We mean your mate. How is he between the sheets? We want to know.”

  “You can’t be serious?” Miki fiddled with the hem of her tunic. Were they attracted to the Warlords?

  “They are so different. Not at all like we imagined. At first, I was scared to stay in the room and serve them. But this morning one of them smiled at me.” Assa admitted.

  “Yes,” Sera agreed. “We are not the only ones to notice they do not growl at us as much anymore.”

  “Our males hate it,” Vesa piped in.

  “Tesai hates it most,” Assa said with a roll of her eyes.

  Miki sat beside her friends. What they said made no sense. “Why would Tesai hate them? Have the Warlords singled him out?”

  It was Assa, as always, who spoke first. “Tesai hates the Warlords but he really hates the Overlord.”

  “What has Vaan done to Tesai?”

  “You can not be this blind, Miki. Tesai has always wanted you but now he can never have you. In fact, the Overlord has made it very clear that if Tesai so much as breathes in your direction, he will grind his face in the ground.”

  Sera and Vesa gave a dreamy sigh. “It is very telling, his feelings for you.”

  Tesai wanted her? Not true. They were good friends since childhood and never once had he given her reason to think his feelings encompassed anything more than friendship.

  “And,” Assa put in, “your Overlord put him on the gate as a guard on the over night rotation. I thought Tesai would shoot venom, he was so angered.
”

  “Now tell us, how is he in the bed? Does he give you pleasure until you can not walk?”

  Something like that. Instead, Miki said, “I should speak with Tesai.” Leaving them to finish cleaning, Miki went in search of her friend. It wasn’t hard to find him.

  Tesai stood in a circle of men. They laughed and joked with one another while watching the Warlords train with those Raasa who showed skill. The number had increased to twenty when Vaan realized her people would never match his in experience. As soon as Miki approached, they straightened and bowed slightly. All except Tesai but then she had long since not required him to bow to her. “Su-Su.”

  Tesai reached for her then pulled his hands back sharply. He searched the yard and Miki followed his gaze. Vaan stood not far away, his eyes on them. A shiver rolled down her spine but Miki ignored her mate and turned to Tesai. “How are you?”

  “Do you really care how we are?” His cold tone gave her pause.

  The others shuffled their feet, avoiding her gaze. Miki maintained her composure. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t care.”

  Tesai rolled his eyes and smiled. “My apologies. The day has been a busy one. All is well.”

  Miki relaxed. “I heard you have moved to the gate. I will talk to Vaan this evening. You’re one of our best guards and should fight with the others when Thenl returns.”

  Tesai frowned and hunched his thin shoulders. Had they always been thin or was it because she now compared everyone to her mate’s large frame? “I don’t need you to speak on my behalf,” he snapped.

  “Tesai, you speak to the Su-Su,” one of the men corrected and glanced fearfully over his shoulder toward Vaan who continued to stare and make no effort at discretion.

  “All is well. Tesai and I are friends.”

  The silence became awkward until Miki dismissed the men. When they were gone, she leaned close. “What is it, friend?”