Honor Bound

by Michelle Howard

  “Are we friends, Miki?” Tesai’s tone was sharper than she’d heard before, and his green eyes filled with anger. His behavior showed a pronounced change since the Warlords joined their home. This marked the third time he’d snapped at her. Once he’d gone so far as to glare at her. Many things had altered. Miki needed to make allowances. Her people continued to adjust.

  Miki wanted to say more but Tesai pushed past her with a shoulder, ending the conversation. Watching him go, she bit her bottom lip and replayed their words. None of it sufficient enough to explain his irrational anger. She’d talk to Vaan. See if he’d change Tesai’s position. Tesai took pride in his duty as guard. This had obviously been a blow to his image.

  She glanced around but her mate was no where to be found. Later. Later, she’d talk to him about moving Tesai.

  Chapter 13

  Miki came down for the afternoon meal and tugged at her clothing. Annoyance peppered her steps as she approached those remaining at the table.

  “Greetings, Miki.” Eran called out.

  Miki placed a kiss on his head and took a seat beside him. Vesa and Sera worked efficiently removing the plates left from the meal. Another servant placed a cider in front of Miki. She smiled in thanks but faltered when Tesai shot her way.

  Tesai shoved his empty plate away and leaned his elbows on the table across from her.

  “Greetings, Tesai.”

  Eran rose to his feet. “I will take a nap I think. My bones tire easily these days.”

  “Of course, No-No.”

  When he left, Tesai smirked. “Eran is not the only one who retires to his bed during the mid-day.”

  Miki lowered her head and began to eat from the plate Sera slid in front of her. Vaan had cornered her earlier to question which of her people had skills with building. He thanked her for her answer, ready to leave when she’d pulled him back for a kiss. Kissing, she realized belatedly, aroused her mate to the point of bed play. He’d rushed her to their rooms and spent himself quickly in her body.

  If only she received the same level of pleasure, Miki would not mind as much. Instead, he’d left her unfulfilled before he dressed to return to his warriors.

  “Do you enjoy him so much, you can’t control yourself?”

  Miki’s mouth opened in stunned surprised at the ill-mannered question. “Tesai.”

  Her friend rose to his feet. “Everyone is talking Mi…Su-Su.” He glanced nervously around before facing her. “They say you care not that Thenl will crush us. You have become besotted with your mate.”

  Miki’s meal curdled in her belly. “That’s not true. Vaan and his Warlords seek to help us. They’ve asked for nothing for themselves.”

  Tesai laughed but the sound held no humor. “They don’t have to. You have given them everything already.” The smile about his mouth taunted. He walked closer to Miki.

  “You must give them a chance, Tesai.” Her eyes sought his. The green of his pupils dilated. Miki stiffened at what she saw before the look faded.

  His lips parted to say something else and Miki feared the words he’d spill forth.

  “It is best you stand back from her, Raasa.”

  Tesai’s gaze widened and he darted a look over her shoulder. Miki turned to see Balal and Kavan cross the room. Balal’s look promised retribution if Tesai didn’t move.

  Miki got to her feet. “All is well. Tesai and I were just talking.”

  Neither Warlord appeared to believe her but it was Kavan’s ruthless stare that had her tensing. His anger at guard duty was palpable.

  Tesai stepped from Miki and bowed toward the men. Both ignored him but Balal’s hand reached for the handle of the knife at his hip. “He is now leaving.”

  There was no missing Balal’s meaning.

  “Good day, Su-Su.” Tesai left her alone to her meal, an unseen before swagger to his steps.

  Kavan followed to make sure he departed.

  Miki’s anger soared. Jumping to her feet, she pointed at Balal‘s chest. “You shouldn’t have interfered.”

  Balal maintained his stance. “He will bring you trouble, my lady. Heed my words. If the Raasa does not watch his step, the Overlord will correct his treatment of you.”

  Miki frowned. “Vaan has nothing to do with this.” Doubt plagued her.

  Balal sighed and clarified “It does not go unnoticed how his lack of respect for you grows. The Overlord waits out of honor for you.”

  ***

  Miki lasted another week into her mating before she decided once again she needed to take matters into her own hands. Food had not provided much motivation other than to make everyone miserable. This time, she’d confront Vaan directly with her wishes. She found him as usual, glaring at everyone during the training. “All is well?” she asked when she came up on his right side.

  He grunted, never moving his eyes from the circle of men. A light sheen of sweat covered his neck and shoulders. His imposing figure did not invite conversation. Standing with his arms folded over his chest and legs spread apart, she almost changed her mind but thought of what she wanted. She leaned on his arm and with a small hop, managed to kiss his cheek.

  He rolled his eyes as he did everyday when she kissed him outside the bedroom and graced her with a look. “Do you have need of me?”

  Miki gave him a flirty look from the corner of her eyes. “Perhaps.”

  His nostrils flared and she knew she had his attention. Her mate loved bed play. Loved it so much, he took Miki three times each night until she was sore. Her goal should please him. Or her if given the chance.

  He turned to face her fully. “I can have Argan take over.”

  Miki’s gaze dropped to his leathers and she could see the outline of his thickness. His mind veered in the right direction. “I want to check out the Hapfe stables. One of the hands said one of the mounts went missing.”

  His brow lowered and he unfolded his hands. “You ride?”

  Miki shrugged. “If I have time, I go out when I can. Lately with Thenl and all that has happened, I haven’t been able to. “She turned to lead the way to the stable.

  “Hold,” he grasped her elbow lightly and waved his hand to catch Argan’s attention. Miki held her breath as the Warlord approached. Female stares followed the distant Warlord. If she strained her ears, she’d probably hear sighs of appreciation.

  “You will keep the practice going for another hour and then relieve the men.”

  Argan gave a sharp nod. “Where will you be if someone has need of you?”

  “My bride wishes to check the stables and assure herself that all of her animals are accounted for.”

  “Mate,” Miki corrected.

  The two shared a look Miki couldn’t decipher and Argan clapped Vaan on the back. The stable wasn’t far from the hall but it was on the outer side of the gate. A large group of Raasa huddled around half built material at the entrance of the gate. Sweat slickened their heads and stains lined the tan tunic and pants they wore. Laughter and a feel of camaraderie surrounded them as Balal wielded a heavy tool while a Raasa held together a board.

  As she and Vaan drew closer, someone called out. “Greetings Su-Su, Overlord.”

  Miki smiled and waved but Vaan signaled to Balal. The young Warlord walked over eagerly. He bowed to Miki and inclined his head to Vaan.

  “How does it go?” Vaan asked.

  “Well, Overlord. It should be finished in another night. We will mount it and began using immediately.”

  Miki had no idea of what they spoke. She glimpsed something long and heavy with bolts and screwed pinions. Whatever the case, it looked to be laborious work and well on its way to completion.

  “I trust you.” At Vaan’s words, Balal’s grin split his face.

  Her mate prodded her forward and a few more guards on the top walkway of the gate waved and called to her. By the time they reached the stables, Vaan was already pulling on her clothing.

  “Wait.” Miki held her hand up and backed away toward the stalls. He
continued to stalk her, a look of determination on his face.

  “You claimed a need for me. We will take care of this.” His hand went to his crotch and he rubbed at the growing bulge.

  Miki licked her lips and her back hit the wall of the first stall. He’d corned her on purpose by the wicked twitch of his lips. She focused on her first reason for bringing him in here. “I keep thirty hapfe for travel and occasional fun. Wessel informed me that one of my favorite females went missing for several days. He feared telling me, thinking I’d be upset.”

  Vaan braced his arms on the wall behind her, pinning her in. “You care for these animals?”

  His questioned seemed sincere. Miki nodded. “I raised and nurtured Hapani from a youngling when her mother died giving birth to her. The others add value.”

  He leaned his weight into her and the musky scent of him filled her nostrils. His toqa throbbed against her hip and moisture dampened Miki’s thighs. Vaan lowered his head and murmured in her ear. “But the animal is back now, yes?”

  “Y-yes,” she stuttered and arched her neck to the side. Warm lips nuzzled her as he placed a gentle row of kisses up to her ear. Blessed One, he learned fast. Kissing her aroused him to a fevered pitch because he connected it to the wetness between her legs.

  “Then we have no need to worry.” Vaan slid his arms from the wall to her waist and pulled her against his front.

  Miki gasped. “But shouldn’t you ask questions. Find out if someone’s been in here?” Her mate defined security conscious. To ignore this particular breach was unlike him.

  “I will put one of my Warlords on the matter first thing.” Having said all he wanted, he picked Miki up and laid her on the straw covered ground. His body crowded hers as he crouched over her.

  Miki glanced around. The smell of hapfe competed with the scent of freshly cleaned straw. Light streamed through the crack in the stable door. Anyone could walk in on them. Including Wessel who worked with the hapfes. “Vaan, we should go somewhere private.”

  He snorted and tugged on her tunic in frustration. “Remove this.”

  Miki pushed his fumbling fingers away from the laces on the side of her new dark blue tunic. “Wait. I wanted you here so we could talk first.”

  Vaan paused. “We will talk when we finish.” His fingers slid into the waist of her leggings and pulled them down. Once he bared her lower half, he used his weight to still her movements and settled between the vee of her legs.

  Miki placed her hand on his face to block his descending mouth. “Vaan,” she shrieked when he kissed her fingers. “This is important.”

  Vaan dodged her hands and buried his face against her collarbone where he trailed kisses against the sensitive spot along the crook in her neck. “Have to talk,” she murmured as her resistance melted.

  He froze and lifted his head from her shoulder. “You wish to talk now? My toqa burns for you.” He thrust against her for emphasis. “Why would you invite me in here if not for bed play? I kissed you,” he added.

  “The hapfes.”

  Vaan cursed and rose to his feet. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You play games. I am not pleased.” The glare he shot her way added to her guilt.

  Miki got to her feet and jumped in front of him before he could leave. This wasn’t going at all as she planned. “Just listen to what I have to say.”

  He stepped around her and Miki scrambled to stop him. “Vaan, please.”

  To her relief, he stopped feet away from the door. His head bowed as he ran a hand through his loosened hair. “Do you want me?”

  The low voiced question stopped her in her tracks. “Yes.” Despite the fact he took his pleasure without her. Despite the fact he spent more time with his Warlords than her. Miki wanted him. Wanted him with all her heart. “But I want pleasure, too.” The last few times they’d been together she showed him how to use his tongue when they kissed. He proved an eager student. If she showed him the other things that came with the sex act, she knew Vaan would excel there as well. “I want pleasure from our bed play.”

  Vaan turned around with wide eyes. She loved his eyes. Loved his curled eyelashes more. “Pleasure is not guaranteed for a woman. She is but a vessel to bear a warrior strong sons.”

  Forgetting her partial nudity, Miki planted her hand on her hips. “Clean dishes are not guaranteed and but vessels from which to eat.” She took a step closer to him and continued. “Clean covers on the bed are not-”

  His lip twitched but he maintained his stern look. “This is like the kissing, yes?”

  “Yes.” Finally, he got it. His words signaled an end to his anger. Miki eased her posture and smiled.

  “If I do not agree, I will need to make amends soon, yes?”

  She shrugged her shoulders and closed the gap between them. “Why don’t we skip those parts and go straight to amends.” Miki unbuckled his chest harness and tossed his sheathed sword toward a pile of straw.”

  “Mikayla,” he growled at her lack of regard for his weapon even as he reached for her.

  “You can spend hours tonight cleaning and sharpening it like usual.”

  He huffed a laugh and ran a hand through her hair to hold it back from her face. He stared into her eyes for a beat in time and sighed. “What would you have of me, bride?”

  Miki’s smile stretched across her face. “Mate.”

  His eyes glanced upward then back. “Mate.”

  Miki was so excited, she couldn’t contain her joy. She jumped into his arms and he caught her about the waist and walked them back to the spot in the straw. “Caresses, soft touches, and more of your kisses.”

  With one arm around her hips, he lowered them both to the ground. Her back landed softly and her mate poised above her.

  He pulled on her tunic and quirked his brow. Miki showed him how to undo the lacings along the sides. He peeled the top off and sighed with pleasure. Miki bit back a chuckle. It pleased her that Vaan enjoyed her body and made no secret of it. “You ask a lot, mate of mine.”

  She said the one thing guaranteed to secure his agreement. “It will make me really wet down there.”

  He leaned back. Desire battled excitement in his eyes. “You speak truth?”

  Miki bit her lip and nodded.

  “Then I shall caress you, touch you and kiss you all over.”

  Miki laughed again but the sound cut off as Vaan’s mouth covered hers. His tongue licked gently at hers just as she’d taught him. Miki undulated beneath him. “Remove your leathers.”

  He did so eagerly and returned to her side. His hands squeezed her breasts and she moaned. Miki stroked his chest and his masculine nipples. The flat disc hardened and his breath caught. She smiled and pushed him to his back as she eased her way down his torso.

  “Mikayla, I can not kiss you from there.”

  “Let me show you another use for kisses.” He stiffened but held still as she caressed his toqa, her hands running up and down his length. Fluid leaked from the tip and she used her fingers to catch the drops and rub along him until his slick flesh pressed in and out of her fist.

  “Trust me.” Miki smiled and lowered her head. She sucked on the head and his whole lower half bucked.

  “Blessed One. What are you doing?” His eyes reflected the desire curling in her belly.

  She let him slide from her mouth. “Kisses, soft touches and caresses.” With those words, she returned to loving him. Mikayla wanted this. Wanted the deep connection with her mate. Her mouth circled the tip and then took him to the back of the throat. His head snapped back on the ground and his heels dug deep into the straw.

  Miki used the fork in her tongue to flick from inside. Vaan cursed when she pulled up. Miki licked him softly and curled her tongue around his throbbing length.

  “This is more than a kiss, mate.” His words were throaty and Miki enjoyed pleasing him this way.

  “Kiss me.” She climbed on his lap, her breasts swaying.

  ***

  Vaan ran his hands down his mate’
s naked form. Her words drove his passion higher. Never had he concerned himself with a woman’s pleasure but he admitted the wetness between Miki’s legs felt good on his toqa. And the wetness came when he spent time kissing her during their bed play.

  He squeezed a full breast and the flesh plumped from his attention. Her hands roamed his body as she explored him with her delicate touches. His desire to kiss her returned but she moved away from him to kiss his stomach.

  “Mikayla, I can not kiss you from there.”

  Her smile scored his insides and her next words had him calling on his warrior’s training. “Let me show you another use for kisses.”

  His mate exceeded his expectations. Her mouth licked and sucked his toqa as if she fed from him.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered when she was done and sat as if to ride him.

  He rolled her to the bottom and kissed her breasts in between squeezing the plump flesh. Her back arched off the floor. Unlike a Kabanian female, his Mikayla constantly moved during their loving. He trailed a path of kisses up her neck. She showed an extreme sensitivity to his kisses in this spot. He lavished her with his attention, using his tongue and nipping slightly.

  “Vaan,” she cried out and ran her hands down his back. Nails pricked his skin. He pushed between her legs and rubbed his toqa along her creamy center. She was as wet as she promised. He leaned forward and pressed deep. She took him with no resistance. Tight and wet. Her legs climbed his waist higher, her heels digging in his back. Vaan rocked his hips and her eyes widened. He drove forward and her lips parted.

  “More, Vaan. Give me more.”

  Vaan thrust harder. Her breath came in pants. He stared down at her breasts as the mounds bounced up and down. Vaan choked back a groan. His sac lowered and his hips pumped faster.

  “No,” her fist hit his shoulder. “Not yet.”

  She asked for the impossible. He reluctantly pulled out of her tempting flesh. “Show me how to touch you like you touched me.”

  Her eyes frowned until he palmed her toque. “I would touch you here and give you the pleasure you seek.”