Honor Bound (13 page)

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.”