The footsteps outside his door were hesitant, the knock when it came almost too soft to hear, at least for the ears of a human. But Garren heard it and he smiled ruefully. He'd wondered if Brenna would face him or if she would be too embarrassed by what had occurred between the two of them the night before.
"Come in," he growled, his voice low but with a hint of amusement mixed with something else. Could it be nerves?
"Do you wish for me to read to you, Master Garren?" Brenna asked him, pushing the door open just a bit. She was dressed differently tonight, having come to him straight from her bath, her hair still damp. She wore a thin blue dressing gown covering her night shift.
He could smell her scent from where he sat in front of the fire. It was slight but the feelings it triggered were so strong as to stagger him with the rush of lust and desire that filled his loins and his heart.
"If that is what you would like to do, Brenna," he growled, wondering how he would get to his bed with his cock now throbbing and hard with his passions.
He watched as she pushed open the door, his eyes roaming over the soft body that he'd seen intimately but had yet to touch. His heart lurched as he saw the look in her eyes. Uncertain and worried, the blue darkened almost to a stormy gray, they searched his face as if to determine his mood.
He tried to smile, but it seemed to be more of a grimace, baring his fangs to the nervous girl. "The book is there, Brenna," he said, pointing to the bedside table. "If you'll turn your back, I'll get into bed."
"Why should I turn my back, Master Garren?" she asked him softly, a hint of impish mischief to her tone. "I've seen every magnificent inch of your body, sir," she reminded him unnecessarily, though a blush suffused her cheeks.
"Magnificent?" he chuckled. "I shall keep you around as I grow older, dear girl. You can feed my sagging ego as this poor old body starts to decay." He gave her a stern frown, cocking an eyebrow at her. "Now turn around and wait until I say you may look."
She did so, facing the mirror that sat above the huge fireplace. With a small smile upon her face, she watched as he doffed his robe, dropping the soft fabric over the end of the bed before climbing into it and settling himself amidst the pillows. When he'd gotten comfortable, he glanced her way, meeting her avid gaze in the mirror.
"Why, you little minx," he growled, his laughter filling the room. "I shall have to watch after my modesty from now on with you around, shan't I?"
"I'm sorry, Garren," she said cheekily. "But you do have such a fetching bottom it's hard to resist looking." She came to the bed, perching upon the edge in her usual spot. She watched as he ducked his head, and if she didn't know better, she'd have thought he was blushing.
"Yes, well, shall we get on with the story? I, uh, marked the page after you left me last night."
She leaned forward, her breasts brushing against his arm as she took the book off the nightstand. For a moment, she thought she heard him groan, but she wasn't sure.
"Are you ready?" she asked, opening the book and skimming the page until she found where she thought they'd ended.
"Yes," he growled, his arm burning from the pressure of her breasts, his erect cock straining at the sheets so much he bent his knee to hide it from her sight. "Go on, read."
"Jeffery,"
* * * *
Nathaniel began, only to stop and stare at the man's tense back helplessly. "Haven't you ever wanted something, wanted it so badly that it wouldn't leave your thoughts until you had it? Then when you have it, you realize you only want it more?"
Jeffrey sighed. He knew what the master meant. He'd felt that way once about a woman and then had to watch her die. "Yes," he said softly.
"Then you understand how I feel?"
"Yes, I do, Nathaniel, but it doesn't mean it's what is for the best."
****
Melissa's eyes fluttered open and she looked around the deserted room. Nathaniel had gone and she was alone. She sat up, holding the duvet cover to her breasts and pushing her long hair out of her face.
Once more he had left her with no clothing, she thought, slightly amused at the situation.
Pulling the cover around her bare shoulders she moved to the edge of the bed, hearing a clatter as the tray Nathaniel had brought in earlier moved with the blanket. She reached for it, smiling at the different array of things he'd brought. There was a small pot of tea, now grown cold, bread sliced by a clumsy hand, some torn half way through. A chunk of cheese sat upon one side of the bread, one edge jagged as if it too had been pulled apart. Some apples and a thick slice of ham were on another plate.
There was no cup for the tea, no butter or jam for the bread. But the tray touched her heart anyway at the thought that Nathaniel had tried to prepare something for her, a kind gesture from a loving heart that beat in the breast of a beast.
She sighed, looking around the room to see if there was a cup or a glass that she could use for the tea. She was thirsty and hungry. Finding nothing, she tipped the pot until it ran into her mouth.
She swallowed a little then held the rest in her mouth for a moment, grimacing at the harsh taste. It was a strong mix of leaves, nothing that Melissa could recognize. Instead of swallowing the rest, she spit it into the chamber pot, wiping her mouth with a corner of the blanket. She would make do with an apple, she decided, shuddering at the horrid taste left upon her tongue.
Just as she was about to take a bite, the door to the room burst open and Nathaniel came in. She jumped, startled, and wrapped the blanket around her more securely.
"You're awake," he said, unnecessarily.
"Yes, sir, I am. I don't usually sleep during the day," she said, feeling a trifle shy around him, now that they were out of bed.
"Neither do I, but if it meant being with you, I'd spend my days in that bed gladly," he whispered in his guttural growl, walking toward her and cupping her chin in his big rough hand. He bent down, letting his lips rest against hers for just a moment, the kiss chaste and unhurried, more one of affection than of passion.
"Jeffrey talked to your parents, Melissa," he said when he finally lifted his head. "They are content with the matter and the monies that I sent them to compensate them for your leaving."
