Traveler (23 page)

He blinked in surprise before laughing softly, his eyes dancing with mischief.  “You should remember that I am more than willing to spank you if you get unruly.”

Aislin scowled and shivered a little.  “Please don’t mention spanking...”  The harbormaster had enjoyed that...a little too much.  She was going to have to tell him what happened, eventually...but that discussion was not going to be one she wanted to have with anyone anytime soon.  Unfortunately, if she wanted whatever this was to progress...she needed to tell him.

Alex pressed a soft kiss against her forehead, gently moving them both so they were more comfortable in the massive bed.  “As you wish, my dear.”  He was admittedly curious as to her reasoning...but he doubted either of them could handle another serious discussion tonight, not after the day they had had.  “Why don’t you get some sleep now?  I promise I’ll wake you before I head into work, alright?”

She nodded, letting out a small yawn as he held her close.  “Will you fall asleep with me?” she asked drowsily, glancing up at him.  “And I will...explain everything...tomorrow.”

He pressed another soft kiss against her forehead.  “Of course I will, Aislin.  Perhaps...I will call in to work...and then we can have breakfast in bed and just talk all day, hm?”  

She laughed a little.  “Is it selfish of me to ask you to do that?”  She giggled into his tank top.  “I just...after not knowing if you were going to leave or not...it scared the crap out of me, and it’s made me bold...and I just need you to know how much I want you to actually be here with me,” she tried to explain.  “But it’s much more complicated than that...isn’t it?”  She frowned.  “Well.  If I’m going to be sleeping in your bed again...” she grinned and disentangled herself from his arms, diving under the comforter of his bed, cuddling into the pillow she had slept on the other day, still smelling of her body wash.  “Yup.  This is the one.  Lilac wash, still here.”  She turned to look at him and smiled.  “You hadn’t washed it?”

Alex blinked in surprise before laughing softly, watching as she dove beneath his comforter.  “Well...I don’t think either of us really had time for that in the past few days.”  Blue eyes dancing with amusement, he climbed beneath the comforter, playfully tickling her side for only a moment.  “Hm...yes, it is a bit complicated....but I imagine that we can figure things out together.”

Aislin’s eyes bugged for a moment as he tickled her, making her throw herself at him to try to control the way his forearms moved.  “Now none of that,” she gasped.  “You know where that got us last time, right?” she admonished, though her eyes were glinting.  “And yes...we will figure it out together.”  She reached out to brush a hand over his cheek.  “I never thought I’d be here with you, like this.”
Especially not less than a week after really getting to know you,
she thought ironically.

“It’s rather hard to forget what happened earlier.” He murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist.  Leaning his cheek into her hand, he chuckled softly.  “I never imagined that this would even be possible, Aislin.  But...I’m glad that it is.”

Aislin wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her forehead against his.  “I know...all I can think about is how a certain someone wasn’t there, and could only listen to the show,” she said, sighing dramatically, her eyes glinting in amusement.  “But, I don’t know why in the world that would happen....but that show...mmm....it was wonderful...” she winked wickedly at him.

He stared into her eyes for a moment, amusement visible on his face.  “You are such a naughty girl...truly evil you are.  And yet, if I had given in to my baser instincts....”  A predatory grin crossed his face for a moment.  “Let’s just say that there would have been a different ending to the show.  But alas...it was not meant to be.  I suppose you will never find out how it could have ended.”

Aislin’s heart beat a little faster in her chest at his grin.  “I’m sure I’ll get another opportunity...” she winked at him and tried to muffle a yawn that threatened to escape again.  “Dammit, I don’t want to sleep...that means I have to stop talking to you.”  She pouted a little, looking into his eyes.

His fingers slid into her hair as Alex gave her a mischievous grin before leaning down and kissing her breathless.  Then he drew back just enough to murmur softly.  “I’ll be here in the morning, munchkin.  And besides...if you’re a really good girl, I might even be in your dreams...”

Chapter 14

Silvertongue stood in his reception room, a fire burning in the two-man-tall fireplace that dominated that small chamber.  It was ringed with obsidian, a precious metal here, and it bespoke Silvertongue’s status in this world that he had it available.  He was supposed to be meeting the husk of a man who failed in his mission; now, if only the man would show himself.  He paced his chamber in an ensemble all of black silk; form-fitting pants over a billowing black shirt with silver filigree only on the cuffs and collar, a cape of black velvet on his back.  He looked like death himself; an appropriate look, for this particular meeting.

A tentative knock came on his reception chamber, and a predatory smile crossed Silvertongue’s face.  “Come in,” he said simply.  

A young man with bright blue eyes and blonde hair walked into his room, an expression like he had continually smelled something foul for the past two years permanently on his face.  He bowed deeply, one hand resting on the pommel of the sword at his hip.  He was dressed as a fop, truth be told, in some bright blue court finery of some kind, white lace peeking out of his collar and cuffs.  
Disgusting.

“Cedric,” Silvertongue began without preamble.  “It’s about time you showed your face.  But...you’re one female short of what you had promised me.”  Green eyes became flinty.  “Where is the girl?”  

“Taken by pirates, your Majesty,” Cedric murmured, still looking at the floor.  “The cur who took her struck me down to prevent me from following her...and then when he promised she would be at the island chain, by the time I got there I find she had...mysteriously disappeared.”  He twisted his lips up in a snarl.  “I will kill this pirate, your Majesty, to get the girl back.”  

Silvertongue stopped his pacing for a moment, his green eyes narrowing, darting back and forth in his face as he thought for a moment.  “What was the name of this pirate, Cedric?” he asked softly, staring into the fire.  “Did you hear a name, in your travels on the islands?”  

The young man paused, thinking hard for a moment.  “Yes...they called him Captain.  Why does it matter what the pirate’s name was, Silvertongue?”  

“Because now I can find him,” Silvertongue replied, his smile growing.  He had heard of this pirate, tormenting the high seas for twelve years.  Silvertongue wanted to meet him.  “We will find out all about this pirate...and then we will reclaim our little Bird.  And then...then our true prize will show itself.”  He knew the Dragon prince had escaped twelve years ago...now he just needed to find him.  But, this little Bird would provide the most optimal bait.  Then, Silvertongue’s coup would finally be complete.

***

Aislin had had the best sleep of her life, wrapped up in strong arms.  Granted, she had never slept in a man’s arms before, and the last time she had been comforted by someone like this her mother had let her cry herself to sleep in her arms when her boyfriend had broken up with her.  It felt odd to be so cherished, and valued, in such a short period of time.  But then again, maybe she was looking too much into it.  It was just a kiss, right?  And falling asleep in his arms.  She stirred as the sun came up, mumbling sleepily about how she didn’t want to get up, didn’t want to snap back into reality just yet.

Awakened long before the sun rose, Alex had laid there, idly running his fingers through her long hair.  A faint smile twisted his lips when he heard her mumbling sleepily.  It was rather adorable to watch if he was honest with himself, and yet he really should get out of bed, if only to deal with his job before she woke up.  Holding back a sigh, he carefully settled her onto the pillows before kissing her cheek softly.  Hopefully, she would still be sleeping when he came back.

Rising silently from the bed, he glanced once more towards Aislin, an affectionate smile sent in her direction before he left the room.  He needed to call the school before it got too late.  Taking a deep breath as he reached the kitchen, Alex groaned softly in disgust.  Well...the chinese food needed to be gotten rid of before his house smelled absolutely horrendous.  Grumbling under his breath, he began shoving the unopened containers in a garbage bag, intent of getting rid of this before he did anything else

When he was satisfied that the stench of old chinese food was out of his kitchen, Alex turned his attention to what he had originally gotten up to do.  He needed to handle his job...but honestly he didn’t feel like dealing with his boss this early in the morning, especially not after the past couple of days.  The woman bothered him incessantly with invites to dinner, and he simply hated dealing with the looks she gave him.  Deciding not to even bother speaking with the woman, he grabbed his cell phone and fired off a quick text, claiming that he had been diagnosed with strep throat.  That would give him several days off, time he needed to help Aislin and for the two of them to figure out what they were going to do.

Aislin went to move to snuggle closer to Alex, and then she opened her eyes when she realized he wasn’t there.  A frown crossed her face and she lifted her head from the blankets, yawning a little bit as she looked around the room.  There was no sign of her wayward guardian.  Softly, she stood from the bed, stretching as she moved, walking out of his bedroom and into the living room, looking around with sleep-tousled hair and still-drowsy eyes.

Tossing his cell phone on the kitchen table, Alex stretched a bit before walking into the hallway.  He blinked in surprise before smiling at the adorable sight of his charge standing there all sleepy and a bit confused.  Chuckling softly, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.  “What are you doing awake?  I was just about to come back and join you.”

Aislin leaned back against him, closing her eyes a little.  “Well, unfortunately for you, Mr. Bookman, your damn early morning schedule has rubbed off on me.  So welcome to the new world of having an eighteen-year-old up at the buttcrack of dawn.” She stretched again.  “I think I’m going to shower...before we begin our discussions for the day.”  She smiled up at him.  “Are you okay with that?”

He laughed softly, playfully running his fingertips along her stomach.  “That’s fine, Aislin.  Go ahead and shower...and I’ll see about getting something together for breakfast.  Considering how many meals we missed in the past few days, I’m sure you’re starving just like I am.  Pancakes?”

She shivered at the feel of his fingers on her stomach, and then she smiled.  “I’ll be quick, I promise.  And pancakes sound fantastic,” she murmured, then darted into the bathroom with a grin at him.  She pulled the door shut behind her but it didn’t latch, slowly showing a gap in the door that Aislin was unaware of.  She slipped out of her pajamas, not realizing until she had already gotten into the warm shower that she didn’t bring any clothing with her into the bathroom.  Well, if that didn’t make for an awkward run across the living room when she got out, nothing would.  She let the shower run over her, the smell of her lilac soap permeating every one of her senses.  She felt clean, and even with the bruises darkening on her arms, she felt for once valued.  

He watched her leave with an amused look on his face, noticing that she hadn’t gone back to her room for clothes.  Debating silently as he moved through the kitchen, he pulled out everything that was needed for breakfast before finally coming to a decision.  He set the ingredients on the counter before leaving the kitchen to walk down the hallway.  While he didn’t want to keep going into her room without permission, he was quite sure that she wouldn’t mind him grabbing her a bathrobe.  On second thought, she might mind if he went through her things in an effort to find it, no matter how nice of a gesture it was meant to be.  Quickly changing direction, he went into his bedroom and grabbed the black silk robe he rarely bothered to use, not really minding if she borrowed it.

Reaching the bathroom door, Alex paused for a moment, noticing that it hadn’t closed all the way.  It would be so easy to simply push the door open and walk in...but that really wasn’t fair to his...charge?...girlfriend?...student...or rather, whatever she was to him.  She would decide when she wished to show herself to him.  He smiled faintly before rapping his knuckles on the door, taking care not to push it open.  “Aislin...I’m going to leave a robe for you on the door.”

Aislin pulled the shower curtain around herself, peering out from it to smile at him. “Thank you, Alex,” she murmured.  “I forgot to grab clothing...but thank you so much for thinking about me.”  She winked a little and then pulled the shower curtain back, humming softly to herself as she finished soaping up and then rinsing off.  Still humming, she turned the water off, basking in the warmth for a moment as she prepared to get out of the shower.

Gods help him...that girl was going to be the reason he lost his mind! Leaving the robe on the hook just inside the door, he returned to the kitchen in a hurry.  He quickly got to work, busying himself with preparing the batter for pancakes to keep from thinking about her in the shower.  While the first set was cooking, Alex had started to cook the bacon, occasionally stealing a piece when it was done.  In between flipping pancakes and stealing pieces of the best food known to mankind, he managed to pull out everything they would need...the plates and silverware, glasses, etc.

Aislin dried off gently, wincing at the bruises that she still felt, and then she slipped on the silk bathrobe.  It felt like a whisper against her skin, like it wasn’t even there.  A small smile crossed her face as she put the pendant that Alex had given her around her neck, fingering the delicate phoenix there gently.  She loved it.  Grabbing her pajamas in her arms, Aislin walked out of the bathroom, her blazing red hair damp from the shower, walking past the kitchen and trying not to let him see her until she came out of her room dressed.  She knew that he did have feelings for her now, but that didn’t mean she needed to torture the poor guy.