Chapter 27 Azahara #2
“Fuck—” he called, his hand gripping her neck and forcing her deeper into the kiss.
Her breast was in his hand, the nipple between his index and thumb, pinching it and causing her to gasp louder. The bite against her lip sent shocks of pleasure down her back and between her thighs.
All she wanted then was for him to take her again.
She brought her hand down to find his cock, fingers wrapping around it like a present. He threw his head back and gasped, only driving her to navigate it towards her slit.
Then as if the gods threw the middle finger at them, several knocks came at the door. “Go away,” Kaed said, putting his hands on her hips and squeezing them. She could feel his eagerness to push her down and slam inside of her.
Again, several knocks, but harder this time. “I swear to the gods.” He clenched his jaw.
“Room service!”
Azahara let out a pained laugh, leaning over him and removing her hand from around him.
“Room Service!” Again, several knocks.
“I may commit murder,” Kaed said, his nails biting into her hips, causing her to yelp.
“Go, we can finish later.” Kissing his cheek, she leaned away from him. He stared at her, his face flushed and a pure devilish look in his eyes. “I am hungry...” Licking her lips slowly, she gave him a wink.
“Fucking goddess above,” he groaned.
“ROOM SERVICE!” Another several knocks, nearly beating the door down.
Kaed jumped from inside the tub, his rock-hard cock nearly taking her out on the way. She laughed and dunked into the water, rinsing her lathered hair. Not only was she turned on, but she felt cleaner than she had in a few days.
When she came up, she heard scuffling. “Sir! Your clothes!!”
She laughed again, slipping back under.
They had both finished that night; dinner, that was.
Azahara had devoured the duck when a wave of exhaustion hit her.
She attributed it to the heavy meal, as she had experienced a similar feeling the night before.
Kaed, being the gentleman he was, didn’t give her a hard time about it.
They continued to enjoy each other’s company, conversing about the upcoming day and discussing their expectations for the meeting with the king.
Azahara knew nothing of the man except how he fed the rich and cared little for the less fortunate. His people outside these walls knew he was a terrible leader. It hadn’t been better before him, with his father being a tyrant. She supposed she’d take the lazy king over the conquering kind.
She woke before Kaed and just as the sun was rising. He had shifted, and she told him to sleep in. She needed to do something, and it would be better if she did it alone.
She descended the four flights of stairs to the lobby in her all-white silk pajamas.
The soft swishing of her pants filled the otherwise quiet hall, which was occasionally punctuated by snores and grunts from the sleeping patrons.
Broan was in the process of cleaning the last of the dishes when he noticed her approach.
“Azahara!” He set down the glass, wiped his hands, and hurried over to greet her.
Broan was a middle-aged man with gray hair and a matching beard.
His broad upper body hinted at a previous life of physical labor, possibly chopping wood.
He embraced her warmly, and although her initial instinct was to pull away, she allowed his comforting gesture.
“I’m so sorry,” he said sincerely, gently releasing her from the hug instead of dragging her forcefully like he had done the day before when they first entered the Idle Fox. “Come, let’s have a seat and catch up.”
Azahara nodded in agreement and followed him to an unoccupied table. Surprisingly, there were still patrons drinking, while others lay sprawled out, passed out on various pieces of furniture and the floor.
Seated across from Broan, she nervously fiddled with her fingers.
There was an undeniably peculiar feeling that accompanied encountering someone from her past whom she couldn’t remember ever meeting.
She had always been concerned about running into someone she had met before; it was why she rarely stayed in one place for too long.
Her time here, it truly must have been special for her to stay.
“Do you remember the accident?” She had anticipated this inevitable question and had given some thought to her response before coming downstairs.
“I don’t.” You came down to talk, Azahara, so do it.
She swallowed roughly before continuing, “They said the Gorruk attacked my home, and I survived, but it left me with amnesia. My brain subconsciously blocked out the memory and wiped out more than it wanted. At least, that is what I think happened.” She disliked lying, but Illyan had put her in this predicament.
Broan gave her a genuine smile. “You were always a fighter.”
Summoning her courage, she asked, “Can you tell me about... me?” She hesitated, feeling somewhat awkward about asking, but she recognized the value of gaining an outsider’s perspective on her past self.
Illyan had been rather tight-lipped about her previous lives, only sharing the essential details of her life.
“Jee-wiz,” Broan muttered, placing his hand on his forehead and gazing at her. “You really did forget.” There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she nodded in confirmation.
“Of course, little bee. You worked here as a waitress for about eight months, and you truly left your mark on our lives. You came seeking busy work, wanting to ‘escape your reality’, at least that’s how you put it.
You quickly became part of the family.” His words carried warmth and nostalgia. Her eyes burned as she listened.
“If there was one thing I can say, it’s that you had a strong spirit. Someone as beautiful as you can attract both wanted and unwanted attention, but you never lost yourself. You always stayed grounded in your truth.”
She leaned in, eager to know more. “What was my truth?”
“That you were strong and independent. You didn’t need anyone, not even us, and that’s what made the bond between us stronger,” he replied with a warm smile. “But there was one time you needed us, and I remember it vividly. For you to ask for help, it had to be something serious.”
Her curiosity deepened. “What happened?”
“Someone came looking for you, quite the ladies’ man, at first, from what I recall. We thought he was someone from your past, so we told him you had left the kingdom and headed home. But he knew we were lying when he returned and nearly destroyed half the tavern.”
“I am so sorry…” It was her fault, whether he tried to deny that fact or not.
“It’s okay, you never accepted pay for your work, so it balanced itself out. Plus…” He leaned against the table with his elbows. “You were the only reason he didn’t burn it down.”
“What did I do?”
Broan laughed loudly, stirring some of the patrons who were trying to sleep.
“You beat his ass!” The shock on her face caused him to laugh again.
“Does that surprise you?” She nodded, and he shook his head exasperatedly.
“Oh, man. You came through that door, and we aren’t sure how you did it, but you punched him clear across the room.
We chalked it up to you being hopped up on adrenaline.
The shock on his face was priceless, little bee. ”
She was starting to see a trend with the bug names. “Did he fight back?”
“Oh no, sweetheart, when he got up, everyone stood around you. Not that you needed it. He stood and looked at you and the group and decided for the best to leave. We never saw him again, and then shortly after that, you left. You said you needed to spend your birthday with family, and we never saw you again.” There was sadness in his eyes, and it filled his tone.
Leaning back, she dropped her gaze to her hands.
“It took time for us to come to terms with the fact that you weren’t coming back, but the time with you had been wonderful.
We would have taken more of it if we could have.
So, when the colorful Fae said you were outside and I saw you, it was as if nothing had changed, except…
” There was sorrow in the lines of his forehead.
“You weren’t the same girl that walked out of here five years ago. ”
“I’m sorry…” Her heart hurt for him and the Azahara he knew. “You seem like someone I would have loved having around.”
Broan raised his hands and chuckled. “Don’t apologize for something out of your control, and let me rephrase. You aren’t the same girl; you are a stronger version of our little bee.”
A soft smile played on her lips.
“The one thing that you always would say is that, while you find solace by yourself, your one weakness is the inability to allow people in. Seeing you with not only one, but three companions, has made you stronger. I know it has.”
She could have cried right then, believing that nothing he could say would lead her down that emotional path. But then, he rose from his seat and swiftly retrieved something from behind the bar. In a matter of seconds, he returned to her side.
“Here,” he said, extending his hand, which held the very picture Illyan had seen of them.
In the photo, Broan sat on the steps of the Idle Fox, surrounded by several people, all wearing bright smiles. Seated beside him was a familiar face, gazing back at her. Bright blue eyes, a mop of curly red hair, and a cheesy smile: Azahara.
“I couldn’t…” Her hand trembled as warm tears streamed down her cheeks. Broan was there to gently swipe them away, ensuring they didn’t fall past her chin. “It should stay here, where it belongs.” The memory of her in this place.
“I think you need it.” His large hand rested on her cheek, catching the tears that fell. “We won’t ever forget you. We don’t need a photo to remind us.”
Goddrick had taken so much from her, but this was a new type of pain that she never wanted to have. “Thank you.” She choked on her words, letting the sorrow release its hold on her. “For everything you have given me.” Her heart hurt, and she needed it to be healed.
She felt the table shift, and the seat beside her was occupied. Broan put his arms around her, holding her close. “You gave without expecting anything in return. It’s about time someone did the same for you. Plus, it’s just a photo.” It meant more to her than just a piece of paper.
It symbolized a life stolen from her.
Broan released her, and she sniffled, leaning back. “I’ll make sure everyone is aware of what happened and that they give you the space you need.”
Smiling softly, she nodded and once again thanked him.
For the next several hours, she asked questions about her short time with them. While she could have continued all day and night, they had to prepare to see the king.
Before she headed back upstairs, Broan mentioned that they had talked about celebrating her return that night but offered to resend all the invitations if she wasn’t comfortable.
Azahara didn’t want to spoil the mood, and she figured they would likely need some way to unwind after meeting the king. She gave him the go-ahead to proceed with the party but also requested that they grant her the courtesy of stepping away if she felt the need to do so.
He acknowledged her request, showing excitement at the prospect of the night ahead. Leaving him to his plans, she returned upstairs, where a fully awake Kaed awaited her.
“Shall we get this over with?” he said with no hint of a smile.
“Glad to see you’re as excited as I am.”