A Whisper in the Woods (Fated Folktales #1)

28. Chapter 28

Chapter twenty-eight

Leena

B efore I knew it, I was awake, and the sun was rising. I’d slept the rest of the day and through the night. Bratan was still holding me, peacefully asleep. I leaned back just enough to comb my fingers through his dark hair. He was almost childlike when he slept. No one would ever know he was capable of turning into a monster larger than the forest itself, with strength as deadly as it was ferocious.

My fingers fell to his lips. Warmth filled my blood, and almost like he’d sensed it, Bratan’s eyes fluttered open in a tired daze. “Good morning, little dove.”

My cheeks burned. “Hello.”

He leaned forward with a kiss, not holding back despite it being so early in the morning. I soaked it up—every taste, sensation, and movement—basking in this tiny moment of tranquility before my mind wandered back to unpleasant things.

He moved on top of me, kissing more deeply by the second. My hands slid beneath his shirt, scratching up his back until he hissed with pleasure. His eyes were wild, his teeth gritting, somehow both pleasantly and like a stalking beast. Sparks danced in his eyes, along with something else.

“I’m going to devour you,” he growled, diving into my neck with a sensual bite. There was a pleasant flash of pain, and I moaned as he scraped his teeth down my throat. “But don’t worry little dove. You’ll enjoy every second of it.” I uttered a sound as he made his way to my ear. “I won’t stop until you’re completely satisfied, from the basest of your primal desires to each fantasy that pops in your head.” He bit my earlobe. My toes curled, my chin tipping up with the arch of my back.

“If you’re trying to distract me from what happened last night—”

“It’s working,” he finished, smiling against my neck. I felt the pleasant threat of his teeth against my flesh.

I giggled, throwing my arms above my head. “Yes. I hate to say it, but it is.”

“Good.” He pushed his thumbs into my hips, pulling me up against him like he always did. And every time, I crumpled in submission. He licked the top curves of my chest and up my throat until he made it to my mouth. He sucked on my bottom lip, biting it before sliding his tongue along mine and sucking on that too. My arms fell limply against his shoulders, but I still managed to kiss him back with a passion that almost equaled his. With every fiery pulse of desire, we moved.

I writhed with him, moaned with him, tore off his clothes, and helped him tear off mine. I kissed him and thrashed against him and cried out until—as he’d promised—no desire was left unfulfilled. We didn’t stop until every burst of light had left my body—every spark of pleasure and heady release.

My head was still spinning when I let out a long, satisfied sigh. The back of my hand fell on my forehead. “You’re wicked. Do you know that?” My face was warm, as was my entire body, every inch of flesh and bone. I couldn’t get myself to open my eyes. I was goo. Completely useless, happy goo.

“Of course I do,” he said. “What a silly question.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, but he didn’t even let me do that without it being tended to. He sucked on it for a fraction of a second, just long enough to let it slide between his teeth and leave me pleasantly shocked and laughing.

“Leena.” His voice was low, and he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “Do you know how much I adore you?”

The warmth along my face deepened. “I think so. If it’s as much as I adore you.”

He leaned in, forehead almost on mine, our noses near touching. “It’s so much more than that.” I hummed in response as he kissed me. This time it was soft, sweet, and just for a moment. He leaned back, winking at me before getting out of bed. I watched his bare form move to the wardrobe. He peered at his clothing options as if he were examining a wide range of clothing that didn’t look uniform and identical.

“Is it really hard to choose your day’s attire? You wear the same thing every day.”

“I do not,” he said, still sifting through the wardrobe. “I’m offended that you’d even think such a thing, my queen.”

“I know you have at least a handful of the same pairs of trousers and at least a dozen of the same tunics. I thought you used the same cloak each day, too, but I now realize you probably mix it up. I’m sure that they’re all similar enough that I wouldn’t know the difference, though.” He grabbed the garments he needed and closed the wooden doors.

He looked at me impishly as he made his way to the side of the bed. “You have me all figured out, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.” I tried to be coy as I rose from the bed, not expecting the swift spank he gave me on my way up. I let out a high-pitched yelp.

“You naughty thing.” He nipped at my chin before throwing his tunic over his head. I enjoyed watching his muscles move, with or without his tunic on. It was almost as nice as the peace that came with our time together. It was hard to believe anything could go awry.

But it could, and I was worried there was no way around it.

Suddenly, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. The warmth of my flesh quickly cooled with the drop of my stomach.

“Bratan?”

“Hmm?” He was focused on fastening his trousers. I tried gathering what I wanted to say next, but my mouth was dry.

“Have you received any word on my grandmother and how she’s doing?”

His hands stilled. “Yes, I have.”

My chest went cold; I rubbed it as I nervously asked, “Well? ”

“I had one of my men look into it. She’s being fed, and she isn’t hurt…”

“But?”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “She’s struggling. I’m sure she’s worried about you.”

“What?” The word was a squeak, and I tripped stumbling to him and grabbing hold of his arm. “How do you know?”

His brows were heavy as our eyes met. “He observed her for a while. I’m sorry, Leena. I wish there was something I could do.”

“Is there?” I quickly asked, and he frowned. “Is there something you can do?” I clarified. My heart was wild as I awaited his response.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Can you do something to help her?” My voice was loud and shaky, and I finally blurted the question that’d been burning in my mind for weeks. “Is there any way she can live here with us?”

The silence that fell between us was thick and stifling. Finally, his jaw set, and he said, “I’m not sure. I’ve had…difficulties with your old village’s matriarch. I don’t think she’d allow it.”

“Can we at least try?” I squeaked, and he offered me a gentle smile.

“Of course, little dove. Just not right now. I have to clean up some messes and ensure you’re protected. After that, we can try. ”

It wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but it was a start, and it wasn’t a definitive ‘no.’ “Can I at least see her?”

Again, there was stifling silence.

“I’ll look into that too, but Leena, I don’t think you realize how precarious things are right now.”

“Then tell me! I’m so sick of being in the dark! Why won’t you tell me anything?”

His head drew back. “I had no idea you were so upset. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

“By not telling me anything?” I was aware how loud my voice was and that my arms were wagging in the air, and that I was still bare. I must have looked like a maniac. But I didn’t care.

“I’ll explain things when the information is less murky,” he grumbled, and I could tell he was trying to keep his voice steady.

“At least let me come with you. If you want to protect me, you can do so while I’m out with you, and maybe you can teach me to fight in case something ever goes wrong.”

“Absolutely not,” he snapped.

A shot of rage flashed through me. “Why? Aren’t I a Keeper of these woods, too?”

“You’re the bride of the Leshy,” he said firmly. “I’ll protect you. You don’t need to fight.”

“I want to fight. Don’t treat me like a delicate flower.”

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Why are you so stubborn?”

His eyes narrowed, but I didn’t break eye contact. Finally, he sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

I crossed my arms, anger swelling in my breast. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Are you done being childish?”

“No. You’re frustrating, and if you don’t teach me to fight, I’ll find another way to learn.”

“Good luck finding someone who will help you with that,” he said flatly, and I glowered.

When he sat on the bed with a groan, I decided to switch tactics.

I walked to the other side of the bed and crawled to him slowly. I didn’t stop until my lips were a whisper away from his.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have to follow the rules then, isn’t it?”

I felt the quickening of his breaths, the flustered movements of his chest. “What are you thinking, you little minx?”

My lips parted. His eyes closed, and his mouth opened. “You’ll teach me to fight, or I’ll be very naughty.”

I felt the flicker of his smile. “I like it when you’re naughty.”

“If you want this naughty side of me, then you’ll teach me to fight.”

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “You aggravating creature.” He gripped the hair at the base of my skull, and my head fell back in quiet euphoria. His breath was hot on my throat. “How could I ever say no to you? ”

“You can’t,” I said, but I was flustered. The words barely made it out.

He snarled and dove into my lips, knocking me over until we rolled in a flurry of kisses. When I pinned him below me, I cocked my head and gave him a triumphant grin.

“You’ll always do what I say. Right?” I asked, making sure my voice was husky as I trailed a finger along his jawline.

He growled, lightly biting it. “I’ll give you all that you desire.” He dragged his bottom lip up my fingers and bit my wrist. His eyes found mine as he licked it. It was a good thing I was fully satisfied.

“Good.” I kissed him one more time and rolled off him. “Then let’s get to it.”