Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
The meadow was twilight, and Boreus held Autumn’s hand as they neared the villa. He could feel her reluctance, but she was still forging forward. She had another basket on her arm, more food for him, more mercy that Boreus wasn’t certain Auster deserved.
It wasn’t his mercy, and if Autumn wanted to offer it to Auster, he wasn’t going to get in the way. They made the door of the villa, pushing it open and coming face to face with Auster, who looked nauseatedly nervous.
He bowed, eyes full of trepidation. “You said I could decide what to do with my life.” He led them through into the living room where there were candles burning and an offering on the table.
“I choose to serve you; I will not be forgiven, and I do not expect to be. I will serve anyway. Until you choose to release me.”
Autumn nodded slowly, eyes locked on the offering for another moment before she turned that intense gold to Auster. “Your forgiveness is in their hands, East Wind. Not mine.”
“It is not their forgiveness that I speak of,” Auster said. “You are the one that I wronged the most, and the others will never forgive me until I have atoned for the wrong I did to you.”
“He is not incorrect,” Boreus said, squeezing her hand.
Autumn sighed, “and what do you think to do, East Wind?”
“Words will not work.” Auster said. “I know that now. You would not take my words, and I accept that. So I will act. I cannot draw the Prism Blade, but I can defend, I can guard, and if you will allow it, I will help you raise your home.”
“You begin to understand,” Autumn said quietly. “I will allow it. We will begin laying the foundation in the morning.”
He bowed, and Autumn left, Boreus trailing in her wake, shutting the door behind them. He caught up with her, taking her hand and looking at the tears on her face.
“Eleni cries for him.” Autumn wiped at the wet on her face. “I was less than nothing to him, but she mourns her love.”
“I think you were more to him than he was willing to admit.” Boreus reached and cupped her cheek. “At least now that he can see properly.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Autumn shook her head. “His forgiveness sits in your hands, and in Eleni’s.”
“And I will not consider it until he atones for nearly killing you.” Boreus said, stroking his thumb over her cheekbone. “Dance with me, Autumn.”
She tipped her head back, looking at him with a shaking smile as the mourning swamped her. Autumn put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him softly.
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her back, swaying in the meadow under the dark of the moon. There were crickets in the grass, and their tune was what they danced to.
“Boreus?” Autumn looked up at him. “Will you do something for me?”
“What do you need, love?” He looked back, seeing the trust in her eyes and being humbled by it. “What can I do?”
“Will you love me?” Autumn kissed him again. “Here? under the stars?”
“Yes,” he wasn’t going to question it. They hadn’t made love since Auster had returned, and he’d missed it like breathing.
Boreus kissed her again, firm and passionate, teasing her lips until she opened for him.
She tasted of pomegranates, sweet and wild.
It was intoxicating; he could kiss her forever.
But she’d asked him to love her, and he was going to go as slowly as he could. She was still dressed, and that wasn’t right. He wanted her skin under his hands. Boreus backed away, just enough to undo the brooches at her shoulders and let her gown fall away.
She shuddered, wrapping her arms around his neck, trying to hold herself steady as he slid slow fingers over her skin. She was so soft, it was his undoing every time she allowed this.
He touched her, kissing her until she couldn’t stand, until she was on the verge of flying for him. But before he could lay her out in the thick grass and make love to her, she dropped to her knees in front of him and reached for his pants.
He had to help her free his length to the cool night air, jolting when she touched him, stroking slowly. Boreus watched, not stopping her, just wondering what she was going to do. Boreus was just going to enjoy her attention.
She looked up at him, a small smile on her face before she leaned forward and took him in her mouth. He jolted, it was like lightning to the spine, the feelings she was making him feel as she moved over him.
He had no words, could only fist his hands so he didn’t grab at her and groan her name over and over. “Love, Autumn, my heart, please.”
She flicked her eyes up at him and hummed. The vibration went right to his center and he lost control.
The pleasure went on forever, burning through his veins until he collapsed to his knees and reached out for Autumn. “Your turn,” he husked at her, trailing a finger up the inside of her thigh until he found the evidence of her desire. Until he found the little bundle of nerves and started teasing.
Boreus didn’t want her to fly too soon, he wanted her mad with need and then he was going to bury himself in her sweet heat before they both flew together.
“Boreus,” she moaned his name, hips canting in time with his touch. “Boreus, I need you.”
“I know,” he whispered in her ear, kissing down her neck to her breasts, taking one of the hard little peaks into his mouth. He rotated his hand, thrusting two fingers into her clenching heat while he continued to stroke her.
She cried out, body jolting, but he slowed, not giving her what she needed to fly. Just teased her until she was a pleading mess there in the grass. Boreus laid her back, coming to hover over her and line himself up with her entrance.
It took nothing, no effort at all to bury himself in her, listening to her cry his name as the feeling took her over the edge.
Boreus loved her slowly, faster as her passion built again. Until they both flew, crying their passion to the stars that watched over them.