It was too early when it felt like someone was trying to steal her pillow. Isonei whined and tried to cling onto it before realizing it was Draeseth's side.
The Torgan started to kiss her hair. "You have a moment longer to sleep. But if you want me to bathe I need to run the water."
"Do you know how?" She rubbed her eyes and looked up at his annoyed expression.
"Are you trying to tease me again, woman?"
"No, it was a genuine question, but if your blood is already flowing to other places you might need some help thinking about which valves need turning." She could see he was trying not to look amused and it sent her into a fit of giggles as he pulled away.
"Teasing me, my jewel, when I have limited time to answer you properly will get you punished." He stood looking down at her with what was probably supposed to be a stern expression. But he was enjoying himself as much as she was.
"If you offer me another night with the Beast of Kroscur as punishment I will never stop teasing you, my flower wine."
Draeseth laughed in his throat as he pulled her to where he stood and rolled her onto her belly. "I should put you over my knee but where you are will work as well." Pressing one hand into her back to hold her down he brought the other down on her cheeks, striking each twice as she gasped and struggled at the sting of his hand.
"Draeseth!" Her face was flushed as she looked up at him unsure if she was horrified or aroused.
"Are you going to tease me again, woman?" His eyes were glittering and the wicked curve of his lip almost begged her to.
"Yes, but I might wait until we're in the bath."
"Woman. You acted so horrified at the thought of having my hand applied to your perfect blue ass." He pinched her, making her squeal as she tried to get away. The Torgan held her in place effortlessly with one hand.
"It sounded awful! That you would want to hit me and expect me to think it was amusing baffled me." Isonei kicked trying to get out from under his hand and away from the pinching and poking fingers he was tormenting her with.
"Do you enjoy being at the mercy of the Beast of Kroscur?" He teased as he pinched her again.
"When you're not pinching and poking me so spitefully, yes!" She tried to twist and kick him.
With a growling grunt, he flipped her over and climbed on top of her pinning her to the bed with his weight. "Good." Draeseth's demanding kiss made her remember her sore lip immediately but she couldn't bear to pull away from it. He sighed as he pressed his face against hers. "Go run the water, woman."
"I would, but I seem to have a very beautiful beast weighing me down." Isonei placed gentle kisses on his lips, "I wouldn't dare ask him to move."
"Why is that?" He began to kiss along her jawline.
"Because he might." She murmured as he kissed just below her ear. "And I think I would prefer he stayed."
"Woman." His breath was hot on her skin as he started to kiss her neck with a gentleness she wasn't accustomed to from him.
A timid knocking came from the closed bedroom door and she felt him tense before he pushed away from her and cracked the door only enough to look through, blocking her view as she sat up curiously. "What?"
"The-the Lady, we thought she might-might want a bath."
"You may draw one and depart." Draeseth shut the door and held it closed for a moment. The way his jaw was clenched almost made her think he was afraid.
"What's wrong, my flower wine?" Rising from the bed, she came to him to stroke his back.
"Look in the mirror, my jewel." His voice was quiet and he remained in front of the door as she moved to the mirror with a growing sense of trepidation.
The sight in the mirror made her feel dizzy. Her neck and throat were mottled with bruises. "It looks like you were trying to kill me last night. Gods, the bruises." The bites on one side of her neck were much darker than the other but all of it together looked horrifying.
"I was too rough with you."
"No!" She hurriedly tried to reassure him and he smiled faintly. "I enjoyed it, my magnificent beast, but I bruise easily."
"I don't know which I like better, when you call me your flower wine or your magnificent beast." His eyes moved over her hungrily. "But if they see what I've done to your beautiful blue skin, my jewel, they'll never let you leave with me."
Nodding, she darted into his arms and buried her face in his chest. "None of my dresses will even come close to covering this, my Draeseth."
"I should have brought you a dress from Torga. But I came with as little as I could. We were told not even to bring our own servants."
"Do you think you hide me under your cloak and take me out that way?" Her fingers traced his tattoo.
"I will try if no other solution presents itself." Draeseth paused, thinking for a moment. "Do you have a cloak?"
"Yes, but it's for cold weather, I was told it's cold in Torga all year."
He snorted, "No, it just doesn't get as wretchedly hot as it does in Ara. Show me your cloak."
Reluctantly, she stepped away from him and looked in the chests until she found the cloak. Warm golden-brown sueded leather lined with white fur. Lifting it out and pulling it over her shoulders, she frowned at her reflection. It was far too warm to wear it without looking strange, but with the fur, the worst of the bruises were covered when it was clasped.
"The cloak will do. You favor pale colors, and white, my jewel?" Draeseth sounded amused.
"I do, but I don't think the cloak will work. It's too warm."
"It will do. If you argue with me you'll wear nothing beneath it."
She could feel her face flushing. "How could I have mistaken you for prudish, my magnificent beast? You are depraved."
"I've spent too long without your skin under my hands. If I could keep you with nothing between your skin and mine I would do it."
Opening the cloak and facing him with a smile, she asked with as much sweetness as she could put into her voice, "Even as much as I tease you?"
