CHAPTER XIX #9
Lord Alexander looked to be in his early-thirties if counting by human years.
He was much younger than the group and definitely seemed to question the status quo of the Old Boy’s Club, though he did so with equal parts grace and indifference.
He never asked his questions out of malice or spite, but instead in a deep desire to listen to the answers given by the Discerni.
He was a pleasant surprise, one that I wouldn’t mind speaking to again.
And Lord Daniel…
Ancients, Lord Daniel.
Speaking my own words back to me, as if my heart had passed on to his.
He asked me what I wanted and inquired into my wellbeing concerning the Ancient.
That concern touched me and made me appreciate him all the more, and I know without a doubt that I would quickly accept his presence into any travel within Livyatan.
He has a resentment for the group that matches my own.
Ancients. How in the Old World is he still single?
A beautiful and strong Discerni Lord with a heart made of pure gold. The thought genuinely baffles me.
I sigh and watch as the stair previously hosting my Discerni friends makes its way back down and across the mountain, bounding towards me.
I push myself up in the darkness and look for Storm, not finding him in the black and grey mass above as I make the jump forward.
Stormfall finally glides into the open mountain just as I’m moving to the next step, his caw of assurance somehow letting me know that the rest of the group has safely made it to the tunnel.
I continue up the mountain, moving from step to step until the sound of strong, landing footsteps grace the stairs below me.
I glance down to see someone else climbing up, the way their leaps carry them forward alerting me that it’s a Discerni.
I quickly reach down to the dagger strapped across my thigh and maneuver my hands behind my back, not really believing that I’ll need it but pulling it out, nonetheless.
The Discerni below takes the stairs quickly, nearly two steps higher from when I first noticed. My eyes narrow on the familiar flowing brown hair and dark green attire when he comes into view.
“Keane?” I grin into the darkness, watching as he takes another leap onto the stair in front of him.
“It’s me,” he replies in amusement, head tilting up from three stones below, “you can put your blade away, Alexis.”
“I’ll meet you at the top,” I reply with another grin, glancing towards the final step that’ll lead me to the tunnel.
I leap off my stone and onto the last, smiling as I catch a draft of cinnamon and flowers.
I quickly sheathe my dagger and watch as Stormfall circles around me before taking a steep dive down the mountain to greet the Prince.
He flies around him in greeting as Keane’s dark figure leaps from one stone to another without a care, his own grin beaming back at Stormfall.
My final stone reaches the top of the mountain and I jump off into the tunnel, turning around to watch it move back down and towards the man I’m waiting breathlessly for at the top.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to join us.”
“Desmond and Lord Daniel are staying behind tonight, though the Leviathans have noticed our group’s departure. They may inquire and join us.”
“Ancients,” I roll my eyes.
There’s nothing less in the Old World than I want to see happen. That group does not deserve to grace our Palisades.
Keane stands strong on the final step, letting it carry him to the top.
“When was the last time you visited the Palisades, Your Highness?” I ask with a smirk.
“Years, Alexis,” he nods, eyes alight and holding mine as he jumps off his step.
He walks forward slowly as my own feet take a few steps back.
His gaze rakes down my neck and the thin dress covering my chest before landing on that perfect spot between my thighs.
I take another step back and shake my head in denial, knowing that look and what he intends as I quickly set off in a run through the tunnel.
Keane chuckles at my back, giving me a head start, and I barely make it halfway down before his arms wrap around my waist from behind.
He lifts me up and turns me in his hold, walking us to the side wall before crashing my back into the stone.
His hands lower to my hips in a firm grip before he quickly brings one of his thighs up between my legs.
I moan at the friction and throw my arms around his shoulders, letting him pin me to the wall with his chest against mine.
Keane leans in with a smirk, gripping my sides before his lips rest casually next to my ear. “Do you remember when you told me in Gaumond that you wished to see me standing under the Great Oak?”
“Yes,” I nod breathlessly, letting my body fall deeper on his thigh for support.
“Well I wish to see you standing naked on my balcony in the Palisades,” his tongue darts out to lick my neck, hips thrusting into mine, “I have a small residence here, Alexis. It’s been years since I’ve visited, but the next time I do will be with you.
I will take you under the open sky and high above the mountain where no one will hear your screams of my name. ”
“Fuck, Keane.”
I roll my hips into his, letting one of my hands jut up to the back of his neck to pull his head closer.
“Sixteen, trouble,” he bites the sensitive area below my ear and then brings his tongue out to soften the damage, “sixteen times I’ve been denied you fully. Each demanding repayment.”
I groan and close my eyes, letting his lips on my neck tug violently at the ache between my legs.
Keane’s hands on my waist pull my hips against his thigh, grinding me over him as the friction rubs in the sweetest way.
I moan when those hands move more aggressively up to my chest, his palms cupping under my breasts as I arch my back against the wall.
Keane smiles against my neck, kissing and nipping hungerly, and flattens his calloused hands against my collarbone before he fiddles with the thin straps on my shoulders.
He pulls the straps swiftly down my arms, his hips thrusting into mine and pinning me tighter. His hands rake down the sides of my body as my bare breasts flush perfectly for him, the moans falling from my lips needing him to claim me quick.
“When, Keane?” I ask breathlessly.
Keane pulls away from my neck and glances down, his gaze falling to my perked nipples that are waiting for his torment. I push my chest forward and run my fingers through the back of his hair in desperation, greeting his throbbing cock when he thrusts it between my legs.
“When?” I repeat, grabbing his hair more firmly.
Keane brings his heated gaze directly on mine, his brown eyes intense and reading.
“You say the word, Alexis…”
He moves his hands slowly back up my body, skimming the sides of my breasts before he grabs both sides of my jaw.
“Say the word and we will be riding for Gaumond in swiftness. A slight detour to Woodlands, but one that has to happen.”
Keane watches me carefully, his eyes asking if I understand his words. He’ll ride hard with me to Gaumond just to spend the night under the Shadow Oak, then we’ll take the hard ride back to Bardot only to resume our scheduled travel to Woodlands.
I nod earnestly in agreement, knowing that I can’t wait much longer.
“Do you have meetings tomorrow?” my voice is quiet, flushed, eyes searching his as my heart pounds hard in my chest.
Keane nods, gripping the sides of my face as he leans down and takes my bottom lip into his mouth, “nothing that could not be postponed for a few days.”
I give a shuddering breath, “and the others?”
Keane kisses me deeply, one hand releasing my jaw as it moves slowly down my neck.
“They will just have to wait here for us,” he whispers into my lips.
“You and your ego,” I shake my head with a laugh.
Keane pushes his tongue into my mouth, kissing me with pure desire as both hands capture my breasts and squeeze them fully. He takes my nipples and twists them hungrily, capturing my moan on his tongue and sending a jolt of fire between my thighs.
“What do you want, Alexis?” he breaks away from the kiss, hands squeezing my chest again as his fingers play with my nipples.
You, my mind screams, always you.
I release his hair and trail my fingers down his neck.
“Two things,” I whisper, angling my needy breasts into his hands.
Keane doesn’t disappoint and squeezes them hard, breaking my gaze only to bring his mouth down on my neck.
He kisses and sucks his way to my collarbone, hands pushing my breasts up as he draws me into his mouth.
His hot breath sends shivers down my back as he takes my nipple with a fervent tug and nips down, a groan spilling from his lips when I moan his name.
“Ancients,” I lean into the wall behind me and arch my chest better for him, letting the heat and wetness of his mouth consume me. Keane sucks harder, his lips moving with such desire that I can’t help but grind into him, rubbing the full length of his cock up and down until we’re both panting.
“Let’s hear these two things, trouble,” he grins, pinching my nipple in a tease and making me cry out. I close my eyes and run my nails between his shoulder blades, causing him to bite back down on my nipple harder before he rolls it between his teeth.
“We leave tomorrow,” I moan, feeling his knowing grin against my skin.
Keane thrusts his hips into mine and drops his thigh, pressing the tip of his cock against my clit as I moan again.
“And the second?” he asks casually, flicking his tongue against my nipple.
I smirk, more to myself and what I’m about to say, and let my nails rake down his back.
“You won’t like it.”
Keane’s amused brown eyes meet mine as I slowly reach down to his waistband. I let a single finger skim just under the fabric and grin in a tease.
“Tell me,” he demands, tugging at my nipples roughly and smirking when my body twitches.