Twenty-Two
Sound Asleep
Saber dreamed he was stuck in the scorching pits of Hades, searching endlessly for Adarias. Vile smelling demons grabbed and pulled at him, their claws digging and tearing his flesh from his body. Finally, a female who smelled like honeysuckle, pulled him from the fiery depths. She stood over him with a dagger. Watching. Gauging him. The dream quickly evolved to him ripping her clothing off and tasting every inch of her lush body, as he claimed her for his own.
It was late afternoon when Saber finally opened his eyes. Wincing at the pain still in his head, he sat up and groaned. Then he sniffed the air. Besides the stench of his own sweat, the sweet smell of honeysuckle reached him, along with another scent. Nostalgia swept him at the fresh, sweet aroma of baking that drifted through the air. It reminded him of when his mother and sisters used to bake.
What in all the realms is she up to?
He thought of taking a shower and cleaning up, then changed his mind and shifted into a half-form, then back into human-form. Never so happy with the ability to shift back clean and clothed, he was about to leave his room, when he glanced around and frowned.
The scent of honeysuckle was strong, as if she’d been here. Scowling, Saber walked over to the door and checked his warding. He let out a low growl. I must’ve been really out of it to have done such a piss-poor job. He was lucky she hadn’t come in and cut his heart out. The condition he’d been in, he wouldn’t have been able to protect himself.
Furious with his stupidity, Saber made his way to the kitchen, pulling up at the sight of his captive baking something … There was a dusting of flour on her nose and cheek that was endearing. Saber pushed the feeling away. Then his stomach growled, reminding him he’d not eaten in days. “What are you doing?”
At his words, the female jumped and dropped the baking slab and its contents on the counter, singeing her finger. “Ow! Damn,” she hissed.
Saber narrowed his gaze on her scarred finger, then met the fiery eyes glaring at him.
“I was hungry.”
Saber frowned and went over to the pantry. He noted the bare shelves, shut the door, and went to the food cooler. Yup, she was right, there was nothing much here. Closing the door, Saber rubbed his temple and faced his captive. “What is that?” he asked, staring at the crispy blobs on the baking slab.
“I combined the three items in your cupboard with water to make cookies … they aren’t great, but …” She shrugged and held up her burned finger.
Suddenly aroused, Saber bit back a groan at the desire to suck her finger into his mouth and ease her distress. “You should run it under the water.”
Saber turned on the tap. Hesitantly, the female he’d thought of nonstop for ten years, eased up beside him and stuck her finger under the icy-cold water. A moment later she moved away like a skittish cat.
“It’s not that bad.” She grabbed a utensil, and slid the cookies onto a plate.
Saber leaned back against the counter and watched her. Once again, the urge to reach out and touch her hair overcame him. Before he could act, she held the plate out to him. “Here, try one.”
She could have poisoned them, a voice said as Saber took a cookie. He held it, watching her. Unless she carried poison around with her, she wouldn’t have found anything to use here. As if sensing his thoughts, she smirked, grabbed a cookie off the plate, and staring at him, bit into it.
Saber raised his cookie and sniffed. It smelled like Elmondy nuts and Nectar. He took a bite, expecting to hate it, but it wasn’t half bad.
“Well?” she asked.
Without a word, he grabbed another, suddenly angry that he’d left her with nothing to eat.
“Where are you going?” she asked as he made his way toward the entrance.
Saber looked back at her. “To get some food.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed. “Just how long do you plan to keep me here?”
Saber turned away, frustrated with himself. She was his prisoner, he should be forcing her to talk, yet the idea made him want to destroy the world.
“What is your name?” she asked, making him pause.
“Saberthorn.”
“Well, I’m Tirah,” she called after him.
Tirah, he liked the sound of it.
Outside, Saber drew in a deep breath and tried to calm the raging urges he had whenever near Tirah. Once under control, he debated on where to go for food. He could go through a portal to another realm, but he didn’t like the idea of going off world and leaving her alone in his lair. Especially with his record of losing time. He finally made his decision, shifted, and took to the sky.
Saber quickly flew to the nearest town with a market, then loaded up on food items and other supplies. His head was once again splitting open. Worried that he’d black out, Saber hurried back to home. Even though he knew there was no way for Tirah to escape, he couldn’t help the irrational fear that she’d be gone.
Shocked to find her lying on the couch, Saber stared. She was sound asleep. Why wasn’t she pacing around, terrified? He set the bags on the counter, then walked over and watched the pulse flutter in her smooth neck and imagined licking it. His gaze drifted to her plump breasts as they rose and fell. Wonder what they’d feel like … Saber shook his head and was about to turn away, when he noticed the finger she’d burned wasn’t the only one scarred. All of them were. Not only that, she had no fingernails.