The Bonding (17 page)

“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 beginning 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.

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 Davin 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?”

“Of course. I grant permission,” the girl said with an indulgent wave of her hand that was undermined by an extravagant eye roll.

“Lie down on the couch.”

Davin stood so Kiri could lie down. “Now,” Jaya said to her brother, “make your magic into a golden sheet, soft as silk. Good, just like that. Now let it fall softly into Kiri's belly, here.” She placed her hand low on Kiri's abdomen, between her hip bones.

He obeyed, concentrating intensely. “I don't know what I'm seeing here. I haven't studied women's internal organs that much.”

“Yes, but you know the feel and taste of Kiri, of her magic and her soul.”

“Yes.”

“Find the spot that doesn't feel like Kiri. It's small, like a seed, but you should be able to feel it.”

Jaya watched Davin's expression change from concentration to wonder. “Oh, there she is. So tiny. Kiri I can see our daughter.”

“A girl? I didn't see that. Jaya's magic joined Davin's. “You're right. She does have a female feeling. Congratulations you two.”

Davin scooped Kiri into his arms and kissed her sweetly. She clung to him, both of them overcome as it hit home for both of them exactly what Kiri being pregnant really meant.

Jaya knew she shouldn't watch, but she couldn't look away. What a striking couple they made, Davin with his silver hair, handsome face, and tall strong, body, and Kiri, shorter, slender, and beautiful, but with scars that couldn't be ignored. It was incredibly sexy to watch them, especially when Davin visibly opened Kiri's mouth with his tongue. She would have to interrupt. She was quite sure neither of them wanted her to see more. “Ahem.” She cleared her throat. The lovers broke apart and Jaya said, “Davin, you can kiss your lady another time. She and I have to go. I'm going to dress her up and fix her hair for the festival.”

“Sure, have fun. Make my baby beautiful, Jaya.”

“She already is beautiful, Davin.”

“I know, but see if you can make her believe it.”

“I'll do what I can.”

As they walked down the street, Kiri asked hesitantly, “Did you really mean what you said, Jaya? Do you think I'm beautiful?”

“Yes, so beautiful it almost scares me,” Jaya replied honestly. “I'm afraid to introduce you to my man. He likes strong women.”

“But my scars…” Kiri protested.

“What about them?”

“They're so noticeable.”

“Yes,” Jaya conceded, “but they draw the eye. You can't be ignored. You know, Kiri,” she added with deliberate casualness, “I have a way with scars. I doubt they can be removed altogether, but I might be able to make them lighter, maybe shallower, so they aren't so distracting. If you don't want to, I understand, but if you're interested…”

“You know, it's funny.” Kiri said, stroking the uneven surface of her face, “if you had asked me when I first got them, I would have begged you to fix them right away. They made me feel broken, like even more of a victim. But as time went by, I realized they're symbols of my strength, not my weakness. I don't love them, and I certainly try not to dwell on the time when they were made, but they're part of me now. I don't think it would be right to get rid of them.”

Jaya didn't answer. Kiri's brave words made her want to cry.

Did you know Davin thinks they're beautiful?”

Jaya shook off her emotional state. “That sounds like him.”

“Why?”

“He wasn't there to protect his mother and sister when they became ill,” Jaya explained. “He told me if he had been there he would have hidden them away from the plague, kept them safe. But he wasn't there. His father didn't act fast enough to remove them from the village, because he was busy trying to prevent hysteria. I think Davin likes the fact that you're strong enough to face danger on your own, and you don't need his help.”

“But he has helped me,” Kiri protested, looking perplexed. “In fact, without him, I would have died fighting the creature, or killed myself right after to prevent the poison of the bite from destroying me. He did protect me.”

“I know, and I think he likes that best of all. You're strong enough to defend yourself but you also chose to let him help you. You decided to live because he loved you, and that may have been the kindest thing anyone has ever done for him. You really showed him how valuable he is.”

Kiri didn't reply. She seemed to be digesting that bit of information thoughtfully. As she processed her thoughts, she moved her face…and grimaced. “There is one thing you could help me with, Jaya, if you're so inclined.”

“What's that?”

“I hate the way the scars pull at my lips. I can hardly smile, and it feels terrible. Do you think you could just fix that part?”

“I would be happy to try.”

Jaya escorted Kiri into an attractive apartment building with pretty fall flowers blooming outside it. They climbed two flights of stairs and entered through a heavy wooden door into a sunny yellow main room. As they took a seat on the comfortable leather furnishings, Jaya called, “Be sure you're dressed, Soren, before you come out. I have company.”

“I will,” a deep voice called from behind a door on the left side of the room.

“Is he still sleeping at this time of day?” Kiri asked softly.

“No,” Jaya said, and smirked.

“Oh you're so bad,” Kiri laughed, and Jaya waggled her eyebrows. The door opened and Kiri's jaw dropped.

Jaya couldn't help smirking at Kiri's astonishment.
I bet he's the tallest man she's seen
, Jaya thought as her man ducked through the doorway. He was massive, over six and a half feet, with a shiny bald head. His expression was serious and stern. “Hey lover, what's with the grumpy face?” Jaya said, wrapping her arms around his waist. He hugged her gently and then tilted her face up. She stood on tiptoe to receive a brief kiss. His expression softened.

“Nothing. I'm just hungry. I'll go get some food now, if it's okay with you two.”

“Go eat,” Jaya laughed. “Kiri and I are going to be busy here for a while.”

He waved and left.

“My gods, is that Soren? He's
huge
!” Kiri flopped back on the sofa.

“He sure is, and believe me, Kiri, everything is in proportion.” Jaya lifted one eyebrow.

“How on earth do you two…” Face flaming, the warrior woman stuttered to a halt.

She's so adorably shy.
“It was difficult at first, but we've been practicing for five years, so we've figured out some things. Now it's amazing. I think I've been ruined for any other man.”

Kiri just shook her head. There was nothing to say to that, really.

“Now hold still a minute while I work on these scars. Just the lips?”

“Please.”

The warm glow of Jaya's magic penetrated Kiri's mouth.

“They're particularly deep here. That's why they pull so badly. Whoever did this must have hated you a lot.”

“I killed her husband. Remember the man I told you about the other day, the one who hurt me?”

“Oh gods, you story just gets worse doesn't it,” Jaya sighed.

“No, not since I met Davin,” Kiri replied.

“Well I'm glad,” Jaya said, only half paying attention as she found the severed ends of nerves and muscles and bound them back together with threads of pure, self-sustaining magic. “No one should suffer like that.”

“The oracle said it was necessary so I could become the weapon they needed to destroy Shara. They also said Davin and I were made for each other, and we needed to commit quickly in order to be effective. That's why we fell in love so fast, and why our bond is so strong.”

“Oh.”
Sigh. There's no dissuaded their rush. Even the gods are on their side.
Jaya cursed as a slippery bit of flesh escaped her magical manipulation. “Don't talk for a moment, please. I need to see how this severed muscle should reconnect. It's a tiny one, but really important. Got it. I'm done with your lips, but if you'll let me fix the area between your nose and your chin, it will really free up your facial movement. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” Kiri agreed. There was a final burst of warmth and Jaya said, “Take a look at that.”

* * *

Kiri walked into the bathroom and looked into a small mirror.

“Oh my gods,” she said. The scars on her forehead, nose and cheeks were unchanged, but the area around her mouth was almost clear. Jaya had stopped in exactly the right place to make it look natural. Kiri hadn't seen her own mouth in years. She had only been able to see the deep cuts in it. She still looked hard and tough, but there was a hint of feminine softness to her now. She opened her mouth, testing its flexibility. A tiny pull, but nothing like the grotesque bunching of scar tissue she used to feel all the time. She puckered her lips into a kissing motion. It was almost seamless. Kiri burst into tears.

Jaya rushed into the room. “What is it, Kiri? What's wrong?” She wrapped her friend in her arms.

“I forgot what I used to look like. You did make me beautiful. Thank you, Jaya.”

“Oh Kiri, I forgot about your pregnancy hormones. You like it though?”

“It's perfect.”

“Great. Here's a handkerchief, and now let's work on that hair.”