Demon Within (27 page)

Eloise nestled her face against his neck, her body still shaking. Kai quickened his strokes as he neared his climax, feral grunts escaping his mouth with each deliberate stroke until his husky voice gave a final moan.

Waiting for his breathing to subside, Kai raked his jaw along hers and groaned softly. He squeezed her close and feeling her shiver from the cool of the wind and rain, withdrew and set her down to stand while he gathered the cover around her shoulders. Once she was enclosed in the warmth of the bed cover, Kai scooped her in his arms and carried her inside, laying her down on the bed. Closing the doors he re lit the candles that had been caught in the breeze then lay on the bed with Eloise, wrapping his arm around her. Nestling under his arm and draping her leg over his, her hand slowly moved over his skin.

‘How do you feel?’

She sighed at his question, molding her body closer into his heat as a content smile spread wide over her face.

‘Amazing.’

Kai tightened his arm around her then started to stroke her hair as he closed his eyes to rest. The slow teasing of her hair brought him to a comfortable, relaxed state. Eloise’s fingers traveled down his scarred chest to his abs, circling small blemishes. Kai released a sigh of contentment, reveling in her touch, and placed a single kiss on her head as he continued stroking her soft hair.

The content expression on his face brought a smile to Eloise. Staring at his mouth and blushing when she thought about his lips against her sex, she felt a sudden rush of excitement rush through her.

Kai noticed her sudden flush.

‘What are you thinking about?’

‘Nothing.’ She lied.

Narrowing his eyes, Kai cocked his head to the side. ‘Tell me.’

Feeling her cheeks turn a darker shade of crimson, Eloise chewed the corner of her lip before answering.

‘I was thinking about your lips, and where they were earlier.’ She giggled.

Laughing and grinning wide, Kai’s eyes widened. ‘Want me to put them back there?’

Without warning Kai rolled Eloise over onto her side and covered her with his body. He held her chin with his fingers and kissed her tenderly before bombarding her with a dozen or more kisses. Touching her hand to his face, Eloise stopped his kissing fest.

‘I’d like that, but, I should go back to my room. It’s getting late.’

Growling and pressing his forehead to hers, Kai knew she was right. It would be better if they weren’t found in the wedding bed before they were married. Although he didn’t have an issue with it, her father might.

Kai brushed his lips across her cheek and nestled against her. His thoughts of the afternoon’s events reminded him he had issues to resolve, not only with her father and brother, but also with Sabe. Regretting his fight with his trusted friend, he wanted to speak with him before he turned in for bed. He had to make a decision about Roulan and Eloise’s father, also the wedding; it might be better if it was postponed.

Kai looked into Eloise’s soft eyes. ‘Do you still want the wedding tomorrow?’

Eloise blinked. It wasn’t a question she’d expected to have to answer, and frowning, hesitated.

Noticing her frown, Kai felt his heart race. ‘Eloise?’

‘I want to marry you of course, but I don’t want to have my wedding day marred by the execution of my brother.’

In truth, he’d forgotten about Roulan and realized he’d have to rethink his decision. ‘I’ll spare his life, but he can’t go unpunished.’

Taking a deep breath, Eloise had to know what Kai’s intentions were.

‘What about my father? He didn’t have anything to do with this; it was all Roulan’s doing. He hasn’t betrayed you, would you continue with the alliance?’

‘Is that what you want?’

‘It’s what my father wants.’ Eloise didn’t care about the agreement if she was honest, she couldn’t care either way, but her father’s distressed state earlier upset her. If nothing else, she’d want it for him.

‘Then he shall have it.’ Kai smiled before laying a soft kiss against her lips.

Her smile showed him he’d made the right decision, but there was still Roulan to deal with.

‘What do you think we should do with your brother?’

She thought for a moment. ‘Could you send him away?’

Kai frowned.

‘I mean to fight with your warriors, like training or whatever it is they do. He’d serve a sentence, you could decide how long.’

It sounded fair to Eloise. Roulan had stolen from Kai and broken a trust, he should now work with his warriors to fight for Kai. It would at least save him from a flogging or whatever else they did.

Kai’s face was still before he suddenly grinned. ‘I think that would be a fair punishment.’

He had no idea how well Roulan could fight, but he’d struggle to keep up with his warriors no matter how skilled he was. They had a strenuous training regime and he relished in the thought of it.

‘I’ll speak with your father and make him a new offer. If he agrees to Roulan’s punishment, then we’ll continue with the alliance.’

‘What if he doesn’t? Eloise frowned.

‘Then he can return to Brightstone without my support, Roulan will be kept here for a minimum of one season in the cells.’

It was a fair deal in her opinion, but he’d left out one important point.

‘What about me? Us?’

‘You’re not going anywhere, I’m keeping you.’ His sensual lips curved into a hint of a grin. ‘If your father has any sense, he’ll choose to send Roulan off with my warriors. Don’t you think so?’

‘Yes, I’m sure he’ll find that acceptable. You’re not serious about keeping me are you?’

This brought a frown to his face. ‘Of course I am, you promised, remember?’

Not giving Eloise change to speak or make a noise, Kai kissed her, soft and slow. Her hand slipped to his neck, while the other up his back, her fingertips teasing over the hard muscles.

She wasn’t going anywhere, whether her father chose to stay or leave, she didn’t care; because she was marrying Kai of Darkmide tomorrow and nothing was going to stop her.

Kai’s large hand moved down her neck, his fingers barely touching her soft skin, moving to her breast. Feather light and barely there, he circled her nipple causing her to whimper into his mouth. Breaking the kiss and staring with wicked intent Kai slowly pushed his thigh between hers, settling himself. His muscular body, filled with raw power and energy, should not possess such tender caressing hands, but Eloise was pleased he had. If Eloise didn’t leave now, she’d still be there in the morning, enslaved by his kissing and passionate love play.

‘I don’t want to go, but I have to.’ Eloise moved her hand across his jaw, hoping he didn’t kiss her again.

Kai groaned in disapproval.

‘I have to go now… if I don’t-’

‘I’ll keep you up all-night.’ Kai chuckled. ‘But I know you wouldn’t mind.’ He raked his lips across hers, teasingly. ‘Would you?’

Eloise giggled. ‘No, I wouldn’t.’

Pausing to capture the look on her face in his mind, he kissed her one last time.

‘I need to apologize to Sabe; I’ll go and find him after you’ve gone.’

‘Why, what did you do?’

Sighing and lowering his eyes he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her, reluctantly he confessed. ‘I hurt him; it was just before you came in.’

‘Oh Kai.’ Eloise pressed her face close to his. ‘You can make it right, do it now.’

Kai nodded and agreed it was better to deal with it now rather than later. He wouldn’t sleep anyway knowing there was an issue between them. Dragging himself away and picking up her dress from the floor, he grimaced.

‘I think you’ll have to wrap a blanket around you.’ Showing her the torn ribbon that should have fastened it. ‘Sorry.’

‘I’ll still wear it; I’ll just have to run very quickly.’

Laughing and snatching the dress from Kai’s hands she turned towards the wash room before being pulled back.

‘Where are you going?’

‘To get dressed.’

‘You can do it in here, I can help.’

Raising both brows, Eloise smirked. ‘Then I’ll never get out of here.’

‘Probably not.’ Kai grinned. ‘You’d better hurry. I’ll have a look down the hall and see if anyone’s about before you make a run for it.’

Stealing another kiss before letting her go, Kai picked up his towel from the end of the bed and covered himself. Slipping quietly into the hall he didn’t see anyone and hurried back.

‘It’s all clear.’ Kai called to Eloise in the washroom.

After a few moments Eloise appeared clutching the front of her dress against her body, looking like she’d just crawled out of bed.

Kai pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, groaning softly against her neck, he didn’t want to let her go, but he had to speak with Sabe. He had some apologizing to do and just hoped he’d forgive him.

Releasing Eloise he remembered the wedding dress and snatched it from the bed before ushering her out of the room into the hall. Kissing her one last time he watched her run up the hall before turning back into the room.

Quickly dressing and heading down the hall, he marched towards Sabe’s room. The door was ajar, and he could hear Kiera in there too. Gently pushing it wider he hovered in the doorway, looking pitiful as Sabe stared at him.

‘Can I come in?’

Sabe took a deep breath before waving him in, glancing to Kiera he gave her a simple nod, in the understanding that she could leave. She glared at Kai as she approached the door; Kai halted her exit then sidestepped to address her.

‘Thank you for showing Eloise to the bedroom earlier. We’ve sorted everything.’

‘I’m glad to hear it, now you just have to sort everything with my brother.’

Kai felt the sting of Kiera’s tongue.

‘That’s why I’m here. I need to apologize to both of you.’ Moving closer towards Kiera, he opened his arms to hold her but hesitated. ‘Forgive me?’

There wasn’t anything Kai could do to make Kiera mad at him for too long, although on this occasion he’d over stepped the boundary. Looking up at his face and seeing his eyes, desperate for forgiveness, Kiera couldn’t refuse.

‘You’re forgiven.’ Grinning, she placed a hand on one of her long knives at her hip, drumming her fingers over the hilt with a raised brow.

Kai expected to pay, she always made him pay.

‘Alright, you win.’

Kiera stepped into Kai’s open arms and hugged him, she hated arguing as much as her brother, especially with Kai. She leaned her head to his chest and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

‘Thank you.’ Kai whispered against her ear.

As she pulled away, he kissed her quickly on the cheek. Surprised, as he’d never done that, Kiera blushed then pushed him away.

‘I’m going to bed. If we have a wedding to attend I want to look my best.’ She exited with a grin.

After she’d gone, Kai took a few hesitant few steps towards Sabe.

Sabe remained seated and pulled his shirt around his neck, covering the bruises that started to appear.

‘My friend, I’m sorry.’

‘That’s good for a start, continue.’ Waving his finger at Kai.

Frowning, Kai sighed ‘You were right, and I’m sorry I hurt you.’ He swallowed hard, but at least Sabe was prepared to talk to him.

‘I’m not going to execute Roulan; I’m going to send him to train with the warriors, his father can choose if he still wants to keep our alliance by agreeing with his punishment.’

Sabe raised brow.

‘Me and Eloise thought it would be a good alternative to… well…you know.’

Relaxing into the chair, Sabe nodded his approval. ‘I’m impressed. So I take it, the wedding’s back on?’

A wide smile covered Kai’s face. ‘Considering I’ve just… um…yes…it is.’

Shocked, Sabe’s mouth gaped. ‘You didn’t?’ Jumping up from the chair he watched Kai nod…then grinned. ‘Well, I wasn’t expecting that!’

Kai raised his brows. ‘So, we’re good now?’

‘Hmm… I think I need more groveling.’

Chuckling, Kai stepped towards his friend and gave him a bear hug, groaning, he squeezed him. Sabe batted him away.

‘You’re not going to kiss me are you?’

‘You should be so lucky.’ Kai slapped his arm and widened his eyes at him. He noticed the bruises on Sabe’s neck. ‘I’m getting worse.’

‘I have to agree with you.’

‘You’re the closest thing to a brother I’ve got; I can’t let it happen again.’

Watching his friends anguish, Sabe had to agree with him. The last day or so he’d been even tetchier and while he’d often annoyed Kai, he’d never turned on him.

‘With respect Kai, you have a brother.’

Kai frowned.

‘Well at least a half-brother.’ Warily Sabe continued, folding his arms.

‘It seems Teila knows an awful lot about angels and such things, and the woman from Stonegarth, Ellanor, claims your father was an angel, I think we should look into this further.’