the Leathermines

back to Chapter 37

 

There was moonlight coming in through the tall windows.  It was reflected and blocked a little by the walkway outside the room, but there was enough light that only a few candles were lit as Gem finished up braiding Laun’s hair.

Water had been heating while the evening meal had been held.  Laun was happy and relaxed and felt clean as she sat on one of the couches in the sitting room.  Her hair had not been tended to in several days and it took time for Gem to be able to work the brush and comb through before she could go from root to tip without a snag.  The thong that had held the hair up and back was used again to wind around and tie up the end of the braid.

Her man was sitting on the floor, working on Laun’s feet and legs.  She had on the robe from the Palace, one of the things that had really fit while she was there.  It was almost not big enough around and he was staring at the shadow he knew held her womanhood.  Laun enjoyed knowing that he was so focused on her.  She also knew that his jealousy was going to become a problem.

“Gem, do you know where my little bell is?”  She nodded and went to get it.  “Tie it on the end of the braid, please.”

Gem did so, with the silver ribbon it was still threaded onto, wrapping several times around the end before she made a bow.

Laun flipped her hair around and looked at it.  She smiled and pulled the hair out to the side.  “Wow.  It’s longer than I’ve ever had it.  It won’t be as long as yours, though.”  Laun looked back and to Gem, her blonde hair draped over her shoulder and past her waist.

“I have never cut my hair, Mistress.  I thought I would have to for my sacrifice, but I hadn’t gotten that far.”  Hazalam glanced up at Gem and Laun saw his eyes twitch before he focused back on Laun’s legs, and what was between them.

“Good.  May I brush your hair for you?”

Gem smiled and handed the brush and comb to Laun.  She came around and sat next to Laun on the couch and Laun started to comb through the long, silky hair.

Laun saw that her girl’s eyes were closed in enjoyment as she switched to the brush and did long strokes down the hair, pulling slightly as it caught on wayward small tangles.  The hair was straight and knot free after a while, but she continued to brush it out, the way the girls face looked when she could see it beautiful to Laun.

She finally put the brush down, picked up the comb again and put it in her mouth.  Laun was not as good at braiding hair as others, but she tried and took her time to make sure the plait was straight and smooth as she went.

Laun used the tip of Gem’s own hair against the blondes cheek when she came to the end and said, “I seem to have forgotten a tie.”  Gem took the end of the braid in her fingers and kissed Launs hand.  Laun leaned in and started to breathe on Gem’s neck, the assassin’s head going to the side and a sigh coming out.

Laun’s head went up as she heard a booted footstep in the corridor.  Hazalam stood and went to the door into the sitting room.  Gem went to the bedroom’s door, still holding her braid’s tail.  There was a hesitation before there was a knock on the bedroom door.

Laun did not bother to try to pull the robe closed.  She was covered, and as covered as the robe would go across her.  She did turn slightly as her back was to the curtained archway and slightly crossed her legs as she pulled them under her.

Gem pushed the curtain to the side and the Sergeant stepped through.  He went around the couch and saluted to Laun.  He was tall, his eyes on her from a great height.  She nodded and motioned to the end of the couch that Gem had just been sitting on.  He sat and seemed a little formal in how he was sitting.

“I am pleased that you had time to visit, Sergeant.”  Launs arm was across the back of the couch, her fingers tracing a seam between the carved wood and the deep brown leather.

Hun-Kan had a little sideways smile as he said, “The Lieutenant came close to ordering me to quarters, Lady.  I had to trade some watches to be here, too.”

Laun looked down briefly and said as she looked back to his eyes, “I hope it hasn’t cost you dearly just to be here.”

He smiled and tried not to look down at her cleavage.  “It’s been a while since I have been able to trade words with someone.  Longer since it was a woman.”

“That is a shame.  The military does seem to beat the spirit out of most people.”  Her hand went to support her head.  The bell hit the back of the couch as the braid slid over the edge, a slight metallic sound coming from it.

His eyes followed the braid down until he could not see it over the edge of the couch.  His eyes flicked to her cleavage and then back up to her eyes.  “I enjoyed watching you bring Senri down to a babbling idiot.”

Laun smiled, feeling a yawn somewhere that wanted to come out.  “He does let himself open for that type of thrust and parry.”

The Sergeant’s eyebrow went up.  “He did start it, didn’t he.”

There was silence for a moment.  Laun was waiting, but not sure for what.  She did feel an actual yawn trying to get out and covered her mouth as it escaped.

“I apologize.  I have been up since dawn and constantly moving has taken my strength away.”

He lowered his head and then looked back up at Laun.  “I should leave you, then, Lady.”

She shook her head.  “The trouble you are in for being here should not come for naught.  You deserve time and effort, Hun-Kan.”

Laun saw a flick of the corner of his lip and a slight coloring to his tan skin.  “If you are tired, I could put in the effort.”

Her eye went around him, looking and seeing things.  A small shaving nick under his chin was still oozing a little of his blood, but not enough to drip down his throat.  He had shaved his stubble completely off, a small tan line showing where he normally had some growth.  His hands were held together, fingers interlaced in his lap.  He had washed his hands, the line of dirt under his fingernails she had seen during the evening meal gone.  He had taken off the pouch and knife that had been on his belt when she had been introduced to him in the Great Hall.  There were still a few thongs on the belt, but many had been taken off, his ranked call-thong shining with small silver bits among the knots.  Laun looked down and saw that the boots he wore had a polish to them that outshone the riding boots he had been wearing earlier.

“You have already gone through much effort.”  She moved the hand supporting her head so that her fingertips slowly went down her cheek to her mouth and then trailed down her throat.  His eyes followed her fingers as her fingernails left light marks on her chest on the way to her cleavage, the robe covering and pushing her breasts together in an effort to be modest.  Her hand stopped, covering the tip of the scar on her breast and his eyes were riveted to her.  She leaned forward, cupping the top of her breast.

She saw his jaw start to work under his skin.  His dark grey eyes not blinking as she unfolded her legs from under her, the overlap of the robe painfully narrow.  His eyes followed her as she stood and held her hand out to him, palm down.

“Walk with me in the moonlight?”

His hand went up into hers and he stood.  He was tall and broad, but it all seemed to be muscle under his uniform.  Laun walked slightly backwards until they were clear of the couch and chairs of the seating group.  Gem had Laun’s slippers and put them on her as Laun stood, holding her other hand out to the Sergeant.  Hazalam was at one of the tall, glassed doors and held it open as Laun led the soldier to the walkway.

It was a warm night, but a slightly cooler breeze came through the opening where the broken glass used to be.  Laun put her arm through the Sergeant’s and they walked through the moonlit walkway, slowly.  His eyes were still on her, though they were back on her eyes and face.

Laun started where her mind had caught on something.  “You miss home so very much.”

“Yes, Lady.”  He looked at her and put his hand over hers on his arm.  They came to the end of the walkway and Laun went to turn to walk back.  Hun-Kan stopped and leaned on the stone casement of the arched window, keeping his hand on hers and looking into her eyes as she faced him.

“It is good to miss those we love.  It keeps them in our minds so we do not forget them.”  Laun went to put her hand on his cheek and he looked away for a moment, pulling out of her light touch.  Laun frowned in the moonlight.  “What troubles you?”

He looked back at her eyes and then at his large hand over her small hand on his arm.  “I don’t have a home any longer, Lady.”

Her hand went to his cheek and cupped it, the warmth of embarrassment to be felt but not seen in the night.  “Many of us have lost that in the last year.  You are lucky to have the Midlands corps to be your family...”

He glanced up and then down again.  “I have sworn to the Midlands to serve.  I did that years ago to prove to my father that I could survive without him.  But I did not-”  He had raised his voice and stopped.  “I did not want to fight against those I was supposed to protect.”

Laun could not get any closer to him without having her breasts or belly brush against him.  It was not the time to use those distractions.  “Your duty has been to the men you serve with, your Kingdom.  Who is King in some ways is beyond that.”

He looked at her in the moonlight.  “I was supposed to be heir.  I fucked that up by fighting with my father, and running to the military.”  Laun felt a tear fall onto her hand.  “Now word is that one of the Rosemond nobles took the land by writ.”

Laun wiped the tear from his cheek and drew her fingers down to his chin.  “That happened all over the Kingdom.  My people were lucky, in a way.  We lost some of our household, but we were able to keep the lands in spite of the Rosemond nobles who came to take it.”  Laun’s teeth flashed in the moonlight.  “A writ is nothing against a shortsword.”

A waver of a smile was on his face.  “The thing of it is, I don’t even know if my younger brothers are still alive.  Father said that he would rather have the youngest inherit from him than me after we parted.”

Laun did press in slightly, her belly against his hip as she ran her damp fingers against his lips.  “Parents are infuriating.  I have been told siblings can be, too.  My condolences on your loss.  I hope you can find your brothers again, Hun-Kan.”

He nodded, his lips parting and then kissing her fingertips.  He held her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm, a thrill going through her she was not expecting.  He started to kiss down to her wrist and then he sucked on her skin, her pulse point giving away her raised heartbeat.  He moved and she found her arm was around his shoulder, his arm around her waist.

His lips were warm and he kissed gently even though his arms were strong and held her tight against him.  Her head was tilted up and back to be able to kiss him.  One of his hands went to the back of her head and wound fingers around her braid.  She readied a pressure point blow, but he just held her by the back of the head, kissing her deeply.

His hand went down her back and he did pull on her hair, but his mouth went down the side of her neck and to her shoulder as her head turned with the light pull of her braid.  He brought a hand up to her shoulder and pushed the robe off, his fingers under the fabric hot on her skin.  He drew his hand down to the top of her breast and she sighed at the touch.

The strength he had and he was being very, very delicate.  He had been given several opportunities to be swift and take the advantage.  He did not go the easy route and was exploring her as they stood there in the moonlight.  The robe soon fell to the stone below as his hands had exposed more and more of her skin.

She felt a finger trace her shoulder scar, the callus catching her skin slightly.  She looked down to her shoulder and saw that the battle wound almost glowed in the moonlight.  She stepped back slightly, turning in the moonlight so that she could see if more of the scars did the same.

His hand went to her breast, his large hand cupping while his thumb ran along the scar.  He went to one knee and pulled her to him, his arm around her, holding her and supporting her as his face went between her breasts.  She could feel his breath and tongue and her head went back as he gently stroked and licked everywhere but on her nipples.  He rubbed his chin on the top of her belly and gently kissed there, too.

There was a kick from inside and then Laun felt a little movement.  Her hand went to her belly and she felt safe in the Sergeant’s arms.  Laun mentally pulled back a little bit and thought about her safety.  She glanced towards the room and saw two shadows that were almost concealed and let herself relax again.

“He’s strong,” Hun-Kan said before nuzzling one of her breasts.

Laun gasped as the sensations coming through her nipple was like lightning running through her.  She wanted to know what he was doing so that she could teach Hazalam.  It was teeth and tongue and pressure and breath all at once.  She was going to comment back about the babies, but forgot what she was going to say before it came out.

The hand on her back started to go down and she felt his hand cover her ass.  He squeezed slightly on one side and then moved to the other side.  Both hands were then on her butt and she felt as though he was about to pick her up with the way he was lifting and squeezing.

She had to steady herself on his shoulders as her head started to spin.  It was not from hunger or sickness.  She needed to remember to breathe.  He was creating sensations in her that she was very much enjoying.  So much so that she had to concentrate on her breath so she would not pass out.

He looked up at her and she thought she saw...  It was wishful thinking.  Fount was defending Salam-Dir, not kneeling at her feet.

“Are you well, Lady?”  His low voice had concern in the rumble.

It was almost the right rumble, too.  A pang of guilt went through Laun for her men, her loves.  “I think I need to sit.  You seem to have taken the rest of my strength away.”

“As you wish, Lady.”  He stood, picking the robe off the ground.  He shook it out slightly and draped it around her shoulders.  He put his arm around her and supported her against his body as they walked back to the open door.

Laun felt him pause as they were a few steps into the sitting room.  There was no one but them there, Laun turned to him and looked up into his eyes.  “The moonlight does make things easier, doesn’t it.  If you wish to go, I will not hold anything against you for you have been wonderful in your attentions so far.”

He looked down at her and shook his head.  “Please, may I stay the night?”

It seemed odd to Laun that someone who had just been kissing her and fondling her in the moonlight would ask her permission to stay the rest of the night.  She smiled and nodded.  “I would like that.”  She tilted her head and said, “As long as you don’t get into trouble for it, Hun-Kan.”

His sideways smile said much.  “Thank you, Lady.  And please, I’m Hunter.  Hun-Kan is sort of a nickname I was saddled with years ago.”

Laun blinked and smiled.  “Hunter.  You seem to have captured your prey tonight.”  She moved and the robe started to slide down her body again.

The shadows came into the room and the glass door was closed.  The curtain to the bedroom was held back as Laun led the way into the chamber.  Lamps had been lit and set along the walls providing a glow but more shadow than light.  Laun kept her eyes on his as they came to the bed.  He put his hands down her back and held her to him and they kissed again.

He seemed to be kneeling, but Laun found that she was up in his arms, the gentle strength holding her in the air.  Hunter held her to him, kissed her and then set her on the bed.

“Please forgive me Lady.  I seem to be overdressed.”  His belt hit the floor.  He started to undo his uniform jerkin and Laun used the time to scoot a bit more to the center of the bed.

It took a little time for him to undress.  She could see Hunter’s body mostly in silhouette as he moved.  It was a pleasant muscled shape and he moved without regard to the two servants in the room with them.  He was at the end of the bed and easily crawled up to her.

His body was warm as he lay next to her.  He ran his hand up and down her, warming her and thrilling her.  He leaned in and breathed on her neck and then started to suck and bite.  Laun let the sensations take her and turned off her critical thinking as he stroked her breasts and belly and worked his way down to her thighs.

He pulled back and asked, “May I touch you and make love to you?”

“That is sweet.  Yes.  And yes, please.”

His hands went to her fur and she could feel how wet she already was.  He kissed her and started to finger her and she moaned into his mouth.  He worked his mouth down her, taking time and stopping often to lick and suck.  He reached her crotch and she gasped.  Her hand went into the hair in the back of his head as he started to go after her womanhood.

She was only the sensations that he gave her.  He had a technique that would change, keeping her gasping and writhing under him.  She did not know how long he was down there, but it was long enough to bring her to the very rim of her orgasm several times.  He would back off and change what he was doing and then send her to the edge yet again.

She was riding that edge and then, even though he had backed off again, she was still there, and then over.  Her hands were clenched in the pillow under her head, pulling it around to her face.  She could still hear her rising voice, the growl she had flowing out raggedly from her throat.

She felt her ass being moved and then he was in her.  She was still orgasming.  She had not fallen off the peak as he held himself in her, his legs under her and his large hands on her hips.  Her back arched and she felt more waves going through her.

She had to breathe again.  She had let herself get too close to blacking out.  She took in large, deep breaths, still feeling herself before the crest of the wave had fallen.  He was thrusting into her, holding her above the bed by her hips, taking her weight and her contractions easily.

He moved his arms under her back, leaning into her as she started to recover from her orgasm.  He continued to thrust, but it was not pounding, it was not the final release.  Launs legs tensed slightly as she felt him start to move them both.

He was now under her.  Her hands landed on his chest, her legs to either side of his hips as his hands held her up.  She took the reins of the action.  Her tired legs moved her up and down on him, his strength adding just a little stability to her motions.  She tried to look at him, to concentrate on bringing him pleasure.  Her tired mind and body worked against her and she felt his thick shaft going in and out of her, his hands supporting her as her thighs screamed at her.

Her back arched again, her hands going behind to his legs to either side of her.  She was peaking again, her breath coming out as if she was becoming a snake.  Her teeth were clenched together and the voice she had was being forced through them.  The wave broke and she called out wordlessly.

She was still having waves of sensation blocking out everything around her as she found she was on her back again.  Hunter was above her, a glint in his eyes as his breathing became shallow and his strokes deep.  Laun felt his weight as his body clenched.  Her hand went to his chest above her and they looked eye to eye as he struggled to hold back.  Laun was able to move her hips even with his weight and did the move that always set off- Fount!

He bellowed as he thrust into her.  He could not keep his eyes open and the face he made looked like he was in great amounts of pain.  She felt how deep he was inside of her and it was painful for her.  His arms shook on either side of her as his own waves of pleasure took his strength from him.  He opened his eyes, panting and shaking.  He looked at her and Laun’s mind clicked back into action.

She moved slightly and he collapsed to the side.  They were both breathing heavily as Laun rolled towards him.  He put his hands on either side of her face and pulled her in to roughly kiss her, sharing hot breaths between them.

He wrapped his arms and legs around her, holding her, keeping her warm in the curtained bed as they started to breathe normally.  She smelled him, breathed him in and she could smell the currying soap he had used to shave above his sweat and musk.  She had used the lavender scented woolen’s soap from the Palace and could smell herself above that.

They held each other for a while until Laun moved a little and put her hand on his neck.  She looked into his face, knowing that this was Font’s brother.  Larger, stronger, but with the same eyes and the strange shyness around her.  And the training.  But he had at least five years more under his belt.  Laun smiled at the thought.

“Are you well, Lady?”

“More than well, Hunter.  And please, if you would, call me Laun.”  She felt the pulse in his neck still racing.

He kissed her and was more gentle than his post-orgasmic kiss.  “If I had known you were there, I would have come home more often.”

Laun stroked his face and saw the sadness behind the quip.  “Helmic would have liked that.”

He had his half-smile.  She could see it even in the shadowy gloom.  “I didn’t say who my father was.”

Laun traced his eyebrows.  “It’s in the eyes.”

He closed his eyes and let Laun trace her fingers along the various ridges of his face.  Her fingers stopped at his lips and he opened his eyes again.  “Laun... how was my Father?”

She tried not to flinch as she remembered the only time she had been face to face with Helmic.  “Angry and bossy.  But worried about the household til the end.”

Hunter nodded.  “He never did let anyone close enough to see how hurt he was after Mother died.  I should have-”

Laun kissed him.  “You did what you did.  None of your siblings could stand him either and had left before the coup.  Think about that.”  She kissed him again and felt a different relaxation in him.

He kept his eyes closed as he said, “If I could find them...  I don’t even care what side they are on.”

She didn’t feel anything but honesty in him, but she could not say anything.  She stroked his head and spoke in a quiet way.  “I am sure you will find at least one of your brothers.  They are looking for you, too.”

He smiled a little.  He was falling asleep.  Laun kissed him on the forehead and whispered, “I need to go to the privy.  I’ll be right back.”  He nodded slightly.

Laun went off the side of the bed and headed for the bathing chamber.  She really did need to pee.  Gem was there and helped Laun to clean up.

Laun leaned against the stone tub.  She did not want to go back to bed, though she was so exhausted she had to sleep soon.  It hurt her in her heart to have just made love to one of her Love’s brothers.  He had been very good.  Good enough to let her just feel, not think for a while.  He may be an ally.  She could not think like that.  Until he was actually turned, he was the enemy.

Gem handed Laun a mug with water in it.  Laun drank and found that the water was gone before she tasted it.  Laun took Gem in her arms and hugged her.

“You treat me too well.  Thank you.”

“It’s my job, Mistress.”

Laun looked at the blonde in her embrace.  “Is there someplace in the rooms for you and he to sleep?  I know I need sleep, you must be exhausted after looking after me.”

Gem leaned into Laun.  Her head went to Laun’s shoulder and she said, “We found a small hidden room that I think was used by servants before.  We will be out of hearing, though.”

Laun kissed Gem on the forehead.  “I do not completely trust him, but I don’t think he will harm me.  Go get some sleep.  And let Hazalam sleep, too.”

Gem looked up and kissed Laun on the mouth.  “Yes, Mistress.”

Laun found and grabbed one of the towels and went back to the curtained bed.  Hunter was still just about in the same place on the bed, but his eyes were open.  Laun climbed up and sighed as she pulled back the covers and slid under.

“I wasn’t sure if you would want it, but I brought something to clean up with.”  Laun placed the towel at the head of the bed as she moved under the linens and quilt.

Hunter put his hand on her shoulder.  His voice was sleepy.  “I was so focused on getting you into bed that I wasn’t thinking before...”  His hand went over the quilt to the lump that was her stomach.  “Your Lord...?”

“Not the pillowtalk I was hoping for.”  She pulled down the covers and pulled his hand back to her belly.  “I share my title with no one.  I love the father, but I am my own person.”

“Who is the father?”

“If I say, he will be in danger.  I will say that he loves me, too and would not harness me with a marriage.”  Laun looked down at her belly.  “At least, before I was kidnapped, he would not.”

“You are right, not the time to be talking about this.”  He pulled back the covers under him and then pulled the covers up over both of them.  Hunter kept the top part down and offered his arm to her as a pillow.

Laun moved over and felt her body relax against him as his arms went around her.  “Thank you.”

He rumbled back, “My pleasure, Laun.”

Laun felt herself fall into sleep, thinking of Edgar and Fount.

 

The next morning, in Chapter 39 .