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Arelyn Aurora
Lyn didn’t understand what Kayden meant for a moment. When she realized, she wanted to be upset but she’d been the one that mentioned it so she kept her voice light and teasing when she said, “You did. Are you happy?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, a feeling of dread filled her. She tried to push it down but her mind wouldn’t let her. She depended wholly on this man’s good graces and couldn’t stop the fear anymore than the tears that spilled from her eyes.
What had she done? What if…
Kayden’s smile vanished and he sat up with her, pulling the blanket from under them and handing it to Lyn.
“I’m satisfied.” His voice was gentle and should have been reassuring. "Which is as close to happy as I can get right now."
The words came out unbidden, half whispered, her fear still getting the better of her. "What will you do with me now?"
He wiped away her tears, and she knew by the look in his eyes that he understood what she was feeling. She clung to his next words like a lifeline.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with you. But I know what I won't do." He took her hand in his. "I will not hurt you. I will not kick you out. And I will not humiliate you. You are a free woman, Lyn. I don't know what will happen because I'm not the only one who decides that."
He pulled her into his arms and lay back down. "Just don't cry, please."
She let out a shaky breath, feeling foolish. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." Again she whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's fine." Kayden's voice remained gentle.
She took a breath and then another, trying to get her emotions under control as she laid quietly in his arms. Lyn needed something else to focus on and his words about being a free woman came back to her.
"You've said it a few times that I'm a free woman. What does that mean? From what you said women aren't given the same agency as men here. I don't know what free means in a society like that."
"You get to decide. You have options. Stay here, in Ascor, which is mostly desert and be more or less equal." That would mean leaving him and that thought bothered her more than she wanted to delve into at the moment. "Go to Estrary, which I don't recommend right now, or come home with me. You're free, you're not a citizen of my country which means our rules don't apply. You won't be equal to men, but you can decide who you want to be and what you want to do."
She sensed there was more to it than what he was saying but it made her feel better to hear it explained. Lyn gave him a small kiss on the chest since it was the closest thing she could reach.
After a moment, she said, "I seem to have a knack for ruining a wonderfully passionate moment." She looked up at him. "I'll make it up to you, if you'll let me."
Kayden frowned. "Make it up to me?" He took a deep breath. "You just escaped from a sadist. You were a captive for years. You've been tortured and raped. Now you are in a world where the first thing you hear is that you entered a situation only slightly better." His gentle kiss on her shoulder threatened to bring tears to her eyes again. "And you threw yourself into a man's bed just because he looked nice. I understand you're afraid. But the only thing I can offer is my word that I won't hurt you."
Lyn focused on the part that made her smile and playfully hit him on the shoulder. It was so light that she didn't even feel a sting in her finger. "You might be a handsome man but I didn't throw myself into your bed because you look nice. I like you, Kayden. I enjoy your company and… I feel safe with you." She needed to remember that last part when she was feeling out of sorts. "Neither of us knows at the moment what the future will bring but we can enjoy each other's company now." She took a breath. "I wasn't like this before, up and down. Confident one moment and worried the next."
Lyn looked up at him but Kayden's smile looked sad. She wondered what he was thinking and for some reason she didn't think it was the words that he spoke next.
"I don't know how you were before. But you're a likable woman right now."
She didn't know what to say to that so she asked, "Do you mind if I sleep here tonight?”
Kayden covered both of them with the blanket. "You can stay. But I can't promise I won't wake up with an erection." He kissed her neck and hugged her waist.
That made her smile. "I don't mind..." She should say more, warn him about her nightmares or if she stiffened when he touched her but she was so tired and she felt herself drifting off, feeling safe in his warm embrace.
Lyn woke to hands touching her, rubbing her belly and stroking her nipples. At first she didn't remember where she was and she stiffened slightly, waiting for the pain. There was always pain but there wasn't any now. Everything came flooding back to her.
“Kayden,” she whispered his name, a soft breath of air. Turning, she looked up at the man. His sleepy aroused look had her smiling. She could get used to this. Waking up in this man’s arms.
She reached up and kissed him. As if that was the permission he was waiting for; he kissed her back and started moving his hands with more intent.
Kayden's hand, which wasn't occupied with her breasts, slid down to her clit and rubbed it lightly a few times before he slid a finger inside her. The palm of his hand kept just the right of pressure on her clit as he stroked inside her. He waited until she was wet enough, he pulled out his finger and pressed his cock against her opening. Kayden looked at her waiting. Permission. He wanted her permission. Her heart swelled and she kept her eyes locked on his as she said, "Please, don't stop."
He moved lazily but steadily, slowly driving them towards the edge.
Lyn cried out in pleasure as her release took her and she felt him jerk inside her not long after. She lay in his embrace for as long as she could, not wanting to move. Not wanting to let him go but she didn’t protest when he moved away.
She watched him as he got out of the bed and dressed. "We should have breakfast."
She agreed but she was enjoying looking at him. "Yes, I just need to go to my cabin and change." She dressed in her clothes from the day before and kissed him lightly before leaving.
Washing up as best she could and dressing quickly, she stepped out of the cabin and grinned to herself as Kayden let her walk ahead of him.
"Lyn," he started when they sat down, "I hope you know that this doesn't mean we have a relationship of any kind."
Lyn's smile turned a little sad. "I know. Can we enjoy this time while we travel and worry about the rest later? You're a king and I'm… nobody." The waiter came and took their breakfast orders before Kayden could respond.
When he was gone, she focused on the man across from her. "I don't expect more from you and you've already given me your word. If you don't want to continue I won't question it." Kayden didn’t respond, lost in his own thoughts, and Lyn fiddled with her napkin and silverware.
Their food was delivered and after a few moments of eating, Lyn looked at Kayden. “You asked me about birth control last night.” She slid the leg of her pants up and showed him the anklet. From the angle it laid, only part of the scar there was visible under it. She dropped the pants leg. “That prevents pregnancy but it’s also Reskald’s mark that he owned me. It’s magically enchanted so I can’t remove it myself and it can’t be simply cut or melted off. You don’t owe me anything, Kayden but I thought I might ask. Do you know anyone who could help me remove it?”
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