Chapter Forty-Four

KEYARA

Ash’s quarters were almost a miniature version of the great hall where they had greeted everyone. It, too, boasted a set of curved windows that looked out over the magnificent view.

Heavy crimson drapes were pulled to the sides, letting in the light of the afternoon sun. Soft rugs adorned the floor, giving the room a very cozy feeling.

The door they had entered was fitted into the side of the cavern wall, which curved up and met the rows of stone the tower was built from.

A chandelier was hanging from the ceiling where nature joined with the man-made structure, though the small lights inside were dark. They were not necessary with the brightness of the natural light in the room.

A large bed covered with pillows and furs was in what would have been the left corner of his quarters, but with the way the natural cavern had formed, it was more like an alcove.

It curved around the bed, creating almost a separate room. The ceiling above it was lower than the ceiling of the main room she stood in, though Ash could still stand under it with several feet to spare.

There was a small wooden door beside the bed that she assumed must lead to a closet. There was a fireplace on the wall to her right, with two small sofas in front of it that faced either side of a table.

On the table lay a tray someone had left for them, filled with fruit and cheese, along with two empty glasses beside a bottle of wine.

There was a large bookshelf built into the wall next to the fireplace with a large assortment of books, along with a scattering of personal trinkets.

She took a few more steps inside, not quite sure what to do with herself in such a fine room. Ash had pulled a mass of fabric from the wardrobe and approached her with it in his hands.

“Here, Key,” he told her, handing her a fine velvet dress.

She admired it briefly, running her hands over the soft fabric. It was a deep emerald color that matched his eyes.

“You’ll need something to change into. I asked Luca to have Jill gather some more clothes for you before we arrived.”

She nodded, holding it away from her body, suddenly very aware of the grime that clung to her skin from the trip here.

At least her current dress was relatively clean, she thought with amusement. That was one advantage of the nudity.

“Follow me,” he told her.

She blinked at him in confusion but followed him toward the sleeping alcove. He took the dress from her and placed it on the bed before passing through the door beside it.

She gasped at what was on the other side. It was not a closet after all. This room lacked any man-made additions to the structure save the door, though that did not take away from the impressiveness of what was inside.

A natural hot spring curved out in a half circle from the back wall. It was slightly taller than the cavern floor, creating a natural lip that held in the steaming water.

A trickle of water ran down one side, snaking away in a small stream that disappeared under the cavern wall. Moist steam filled the air with heat.

A tunnel in the ceiling of the cave let in a beam of sunlight, enough to fill the room with a soft glow. Beside the edge of the natural basin was a small table with a stack of towels and a bar of soap.

“Join me for a bath?” Ash asked her with a sparkle in his eye.

ASH

Keyara grinned at him and began to slip off her dress eagerly. He had hoped to impress her with the hot spring, and he was pleased to see her enthusiasm.

He laughed softly at her expression and removed his own clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor.

He stepped into the pool and held out his hand to her, helping her step over the small wall. The pool was deeper than it looked at first glance, and he didn’t want her to lose her footing.

The water came up to just below her breasts, and she let out a small gasp at the sudden heat.

“Too hot?” he asked her with concern.

“No, it’s perfect,” she replied, facing him and winding her arms around his neck.

He kissed her, the sudden contact of her skin creating sparks against his. He felt himself stir at the sensation and stepped away, not wanting to start something they would not have time to finish.

He pulled her along toward the back of the pool, where it joined the main cavern wall.

The back of his thighs bumped the natural shelf in the rock present there, and he lowered himself down, reclining against the gentle slope of the wall.

He spun Keyara around and pulled her against him, until her back pressed into his chest. Her head rested in the crook of his shoulder, and her legs floated freely in the water, his body underneath her keeping her afloat.

Her body peeked halfway out of the dark water, which lapped at her breasts rhythmically from the gentle motion of her feet.

Her nipples hardened to two tight, pink buds against her pale skin, and he found himself wanting desperately to taste them.

He could no longer escape the arousal he had tried to avoid, and he grew hard against her lower back, where it rested between his legs.

She flipped over when she felt it, sliding herself up his wet skin with a sultry smile until her mouth met his.

The scent of her desire mingled with the hot steam of the air, and he let out a soft moan as it overtook his senses.

He returned the kiss passionately for a long moment before pushing her gently away with regret.

“As much as I hate to say it, my love, we don’t have time before we have to speak to the pack.” His voice came out strained with desire.

“I can be quick,” she replied against his lips as she kissed him again, wrapping her hand around his erection and stroking it gently. He moaned again and kissed her back, all resistance leaving him.

KEYARA

His reaction to her touch thrilled her and flamed her own desire even more. She savored the feel of him in her hand, caressing the soft skin as it pulsed under her fingers.

Suddenly he growled lightly and grabbed her hips, breaking her grip as he pulled her closer against him. She straddled him, pressing her aching core into him and grinding her hips.

Their kiss deepened, and she felt him slip inside her. She was more than ready for him, slick from the water and the wetness of her desire.

They moved with each other in a rapid rhythm, his hands moving her hips as she rose and fell against him.

She was lost in the sensation of him filling her over and over again, letting out mewls of pleasure at each stroke.

After just a couple of minutes of pure bliss, she felt a warmth overtake her from within. She cried out as it moved through her body, leaving her shivering in ecstasy as it passed.

With one final thrust, she felt him empty himself inside of her with a groan. He rested the side of his face against the top of her head and drew ragged breaths, his arms still around her.

“See, I promised you I could be quick,” she laughed.

He smiled at her and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. “Tonight we will take our time,” he promised her when he finally broke the kiss.