Chapter 26 Kalmia #2
Something told Alex that she could tell him no and he would walk away without question, and that was what she intended to do.
However, she surprised even herself as she gestured to the seat across from her, and he sat, leaning back comfortably, placing one ankle over his knee.
Silently, the barkeep cleared Alex’s bowl and refreshed her ale, setting a second mug in front of her guest. She rarely indulged, needing to be alert and coherent at all times when on duty.
Today, however, she was not on duty and wouldn’t be traveling until tomorrow.
“Varon?” He tapped the left side of his chest, indicating he noticed the emblem on her leathers, a question in the word.
She nodded in reply. “Brynn, I presume.”
He swept his arms out to the sides as if to imply obviously.
“So, how do you find yourself in Kalmia?” Alex asked.
“Davin Monroe, Captain in the Brynn army. And you are?” He ignored her question, forcing introductions, holding his hand out to her.
Fine, he wanted to be formal, she’d give a little bit.
“Alex,” she answered simply, grasping his hand in hers.
He raised a brow at the lack of information she offered but didn’t push. She appreciated his complete acceptance of her answer with no pressure or expectations.
“What brings you to this fine establishment?” he asked.
Alex snorted, taking a sip of her ale before answering. “Strong currents.” Confusion showed on his face. “Currents?”
“Long story. One that I am not particularly inclined to rehash at this moment.”
“Fair enough.” He took a long pull on his ale.
“Won’t your friends get lonely without you?” Alex gestured to the group he’d been standing with earlier.
“I’m sure they’ll survive without my devilish good looks for a short time. Besides,” he looked to where she had gestured, “they are all deviants and bet me that I couldn’t get you to have a drink with me.”
“Oh, so I’m just a conquest then?”
“Not at all. More like an easy win. Una and I go way back, and the drinks were free, so I didn’t buy anything.” He grinned, and her lips twitched in answer. “And for all intents and purposes, we are drinking and sitting together; therefore, I win the bet.”
This time Alex truly did laugh. “Devilish good looks and intelligence. A rarity in men these days.”
“Oh, so you do find me devilishly handsome then? Good to know.”
Alex was saved from having to answer him when a large basket of steaming rolls plopped in front of them.
Her stomach rumbled in response. Una winked at her as she refilled their mugs again.
She turned to Davin next, “Don’t think I’m giving this one to you for free, too, laddie. You’ll be paying for this one.”
The grin he shot at Una made the muscles in Alex’s stomach tighten.
She hadn’t been lying when she had said he was good looking, and his easy going manner only added to his charm.
They fell back into conversation easily, discussing training styles and politics, even the noticeable shift in the demeanor of the provinces.
Alex even risked hinting at the issues with security and supply ships, without giving away vital details, and confirmed that Varon was not alone in their struggle.
The conversation was so damned easy. Ale flowed much like the conversation and the stragglers that occupied the inn for mid-day meal were replaced with field workers finishing their day's tasks, hot and in need of refreshment. Davin hadn’t so much as noticed when the rest of his group had departed.
The sounds of raucous laughter and jeers surrounded them but Alex barely noticed. How long had it been since she had just talked with someone, shared stories of her fellow guards, without needing to be somewhere or handle a problem?
As the volume of the inn grew, their chairs had moved closer, so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his thigh, pressed up against hers.
The ability to hear the other speak became increasingly more difficult.
Alex watched Davin’s hand flex as he gripped his pint, not to lift it but simply to hold it as if he needed to squeeze the mug to expel the excess energy building inside him.
His muscles rolled and the veins in his hand popped.
Alex momentarily lost the conversation, involuntarily licking her lips as her thoughts drifted to his hand, up the muscles cording his exposed forearm, and need speared through her.
What in the name of the Gods is happening to me?
He had asked her something, but the words never reached her ears, sifting away like sand through a clenched fist. Davin was grinning at her, open and unabashed, no ulterior motives or hesitation, just enjoying the moment.
The second her eyes met his, fire erupted inside her, desire swimming in his golden eyes, molten and hot.
Under her clothes, she could feel her body greeting the clear desire emanating off him.
Why shouldn’t she take advantage of the offer?
She had no obligations, no commitment, and she was undeniably attracted to him, her hardened nipples and the ache in her lower abdomen testament enough.
He held her gaze, one moment, two…three.
An unspoken conversation crackled in the air between them.
She stood from her seat and turned, looking back over her shoulder at him.
Davin’s smile filled with concern as he glanced down at the table, the empty mugs still yet to be cleared.
Alex took a step back toward him and whispered, her lips brushing his ear. "I may have drank my weight in ale, sir. But I'm still perfectly capable of deciding to take you to bed."
That's all he needed to hear before his chair scraped the floor and he turned toward the stairs; Alex close on his heels. There was no hand holding to lead her. No whispered words to entice her feet to move with his.
Up the stairs, they passed the door to Alex’s room, but Davin kept going, stopping at the door just beyond, making quick work with his key to unlock it. Her feet had barely crossed the threshold when his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his lean body.
Turning, he shut the door with his other hand, following its motion with their bodies, pressing her between his hard chest and the door with only his arm bracing them.
His lips found hers a second later and she whimpered from the decadence.
This man could kiss. He delved into her, stroking her with his tongue, moving his mouth across hers, leaving no question about his blatant desire.
The hand not holding them together gripped the back of her neck, feeding her mouth to him.
Arching, she pressed against him, feeling the hard length of his erection push against her stomach.
Dipping, he slid his arm from around her waist, across her ass, landing behind her thigh, lifting her petite frame easily.
Pressing his knee forward, he pinned her to the door, freeing the hand that previously held her.
With that hand now freed, he gripped her hip and squeezed, the pressure of his thumb digging into her.
Desire shot from the point of his fingertip straight between her legs, forcing a guttural moan from her.
Throwing her head back, she offered her neck, which he happily accepted, trailing kisses in his wake, his other hand moving to cup her breast, where it pushed against him.
Desire coursed through her body, demanding to be satisfied. Rivka’s face floated behind her closed eyelids. Alex went motionless, her heart racing. Her mind reeled, panic setting in. What am I doing?
These were not the hands she wanted on her body, the fingertips she wished would trail down her spine, the lips she missed pressing between her breasts...
A strangled gasp shuddered from her mouth. “Stop”. It was barely audible but Davin froze and retreated, giving her space.
"Are you alright?"
"No." A simple truth. A devastating admission. "I'm sorry. I.... can't."
Disappointment flickered across his face, replacing the desire that had consumed him a few moments earlier.
“Ok.” He sighed, taking another step back, as if he didn’t quite trust himself to be near her.
“Ok?” Alex stammered. She had never seen a man be able to just turn it off like that. To not get angry or demand she follow through.
Davin watched her as she battled with her emotions, giving her time to process it all.
“I am not in the habit of forcing women into my bed, nor have I ever needed to. If you say stop, we stop.”
Relief flooded through her. He wasn’t angry. He seemed to be one of the rare gentlemen that she had often heard about, but rarely met.
“I am sorry.” She spoke, her voice laced with her regret. “I thought I was ready, but I just can’t.”
“Is there someone…” Davin started, only to be interrupted by a loud crash in the next room. Alex jerked her head in that direction, eyes wide. Bringing her finger to her lips in a silent bid for him to remain quiet, she leaned closer to the connecting wall.
"I thought you said this was her room." The gruff and annoyed voice obviously coming from beyond the shared wall.
"It is her room!"
"Well then, where the fuck is she?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?"
"Because it was your job to watch her!"
"Well, her shit is still here, so she has to be here somewhere. Let's go back downstairs and find the little bitch."
Two men. In her room. Looking for her?
The arguing faded as they moved down the hall, realization dawning on Alex quickly. She needed to get out of there and fast.
"I have to go. I have to leave now."
Davin’s commanding expression said enough. "Wait. Stop. Who the hell are you?"
"No one who matters. There's no time for this anyway. I've got to go. Now."
"If you won't answer me, then I'll have to come with you."
"No, you will not, you'll only slow me down." Alex already had the door open, the hallway clear.
Davin’s voice was closer than she wanted, his hand gripping her arm.
"The longer you argue with me, the more time you’re wasting.
Every one of those patrons downstairs saw you come up here with me.
How long do you think it'll take before they turn on you, a stranger, for an extra coin?
How long do you think it will be before whoever the hell that was comes here looking for you?
Stop being reckless and climb your ass out that window above my bed before whoever those men are realizes where you are. "
She didn’t bother responding to him, just jerked her arm out of his grasp and dashed for her room, praying that they hadn’t taken anything. Thankfully, her pack was right where she left it, her stuff laid out next to it, drying.
The Bound Queen had somehow been salvageable after her impromptu swim.
It was most likely due to being wrapped in her cloak but somehow not even the pages were warped.
She jammed it all back in unceremoniously and swung it on.
Alex climbed up onto her own bed and assessed the size of the window, pulling herself up by the ledge.
She may not have wanted to admit it but Davin had the right idea. Rough hands shoved at her legs and she almost yelped in surprise. Of course, he was still there. Fine. She didn’t have time to argue, and he’d likely not fit through the window anyway, so she’d let him help her.