Lucius then raised his chin as if scenting something in the air, making me ask,
“What is it?”
“Fuel,” he replied, before clicking his fingers and igniting what must have been old torches left deeper within the cave, and that ominous darkness now started to illuminate with a warm orange glow. I had to say that it looked far less foreboding now there was the warmth of fire light, one that also made it easier for Lucius to walk inside and navigate his way deeper into the cave. I would have questioned how Carn’reau and his men would get up here, when I remembered what Lucius had said.
“What about the rest?”
“They will remain and set up camp below,” he replied, making me look behind to see that parts of the forest had started to glow where they were already building fires. Of course, I couldn’t see much more than that as we travelled further inside, and soon it was easy to see that this cave had been used many times over as its own camp. Especially when we came to larger part of the cave, as there were remnants left of a natural fire, one circled with larger stones. One that ignited with another flick of his wrist, and following a magical thought was lighting up the cavern and creating a warm space around us.
Lucius let my legs fall before setting me on my feet and walking over to a pile of wood, where he picked up a few logs and tossed them on the fire, which made sparks float up like little lightening bugs. It also made me jump and I think it was because Lucius’ actions seemed so methodical, making it difficult to know how to act. But then he came up behind me and with his hand spanning my stomach, he pulled me back against him and whispered in my ear,
“Relax, I won’t bite this cold ass of yours… at least not tonight.” I shivered when he added this last part. But then my whole body actually shuddered when he added in a stern command,
“Now strip.”
3
Forgiveness
The moment he said this I tensed until I felt his hands pull back one side of my cloak, so he was free to slip part of my dress off one shoulder, then he placed his lips there and whispered against my skin,
“Here, let me help you.”
After this his other hand snaked up my body, starting where he had his palm flat against my belly, moving it up the front so his hand lay flat in between my heaving breasts. Once there, he slowly took one end of the ribbon that was keeping my cloak in place, and started running it teasingly through his fingers as he kissed his way up my neck. I don’t know why but I was frozen to the spot, not daring to move in case I broke the spell he had lured me into. In fact, it was only when I felt the quick tug at my neck and my wet cloak fell from my shoulders that I came out of my dazed and lustful state. Of course, the sound of it slapping to the ground helped as it echoed around the cave, telling me that any noise we made would surely travel, seeing as it seemed to amplify our actions.
“I don't think that's a good idea,” I said with my shoulders shaking, but Lucius informed me sternly,
“No, what isn't a good idea is having my girl freezing in wet clothes, when they could be drying by the fire and I could be warming her with my body.” This was backed up with actions as with every word said he gathered up fistfuls of my skirt. One that was soon resting at my hips before there was enough material in his grip to pull it straight over my head, leaving me naked. I shrieked in surprise when the cold hit my skin, but he quickly turned me around and plastered my freezing body to the front of him. Then, before I could complain, his wings shot forward and enveloped me in a blanket of feathers, making my eyes widen in shock. Eyes I raised up to his, showing my surprise as his wings closed in tighter. Wings that were large enough that they covered both of us, even reaching over the top of his head. As soon as we were completely covered, I looked to the side to see the warm glow of the fire shining slightly through