Chapter 21 Sleeping Beauty
Chapter twenty-one
Sleeping Beauty
Sorin
Lace is so beautiful, but when she sleeps?
The stress of the day falls away and peacefulness radiates from her form.
She is the only thing making this cramped cave bearable.
I hold her in the crook of my arm, her soft breaths echoing in my ear, her plush, soft pink lips open just a fraction.
So fucking perfect. She shifts, nuzzling deeper into my hold and I hold back a groan.
It feels amazing having her like this. To be touching her.
Her betrothal had me almost giving up on the thought of being this close to Lace but by fate or temporary insanity here we are.
I cannot lose her now. I squeeze her a little closer.
My mind cannot help but wander back to earlier.
Her soft ass in my hands. Her scent filling the room as she ground against my leg.
My vines encircling her beautiful breasts.
She felt so fucking good. My cock twitches, begging to be released and relieved of its frustration.
I let my head fall back against the cave floor.
Staring at the cave ceiling for a minute, I convince myself to let my eyes fall shut.
If her powers did not choose that moment to show themselves, I know we would have gone much further.
In a fucked way, I’m kind of glad for the cockblock.
It was too much too fast, and she deserves to have her first time on a bed or, at the very least, not in a cave of all places.
She’s so vulnerable right now and who’s to say her decisions aren’t being motivated by the fucking near death experience we just shared rather than her actual feelings towards me.
I pinch the bridge of my nose with the arm Lace is not currently using as a pillow.
I can’t fuck this up. I have been in love with Lace for as long as I have known her.
I vowed I would always protect her, would die for her if it came to it and that had nothing to do with her royal status.
Not long after that I met Sam. Sam had already been a part of the king's guard then and he convinced me to join him as well. I used this as an opportunity to learn how to protect Lace with more than my status but with my body as well. I became a master assassin, my vines allowing me to sneak into small places and kill quietly and effectively. Once Sam was assigned to Lace he informed me he had a calling when it came to Lace and it only made sense to include him in my vow. If I break Lace’s heart, not only would I not be able to forgive myself, but Sam would kick my ass.
As he should. My eyebrows furrow. I hope he is okay.
Knowing Sam is out there alone in this place has me worried.
I know he can handle it. He is the one who trained me, but still lone missions are much more difficult, and neither of us know what danger this place holds.
Opening my eyes again, I glance back over at the stunning creature in my arms. It feels wrong to be pursuing Lace without talking to him.
I twirl a piece of her hair in my fingers.
I hope Lace’s upbringing will not close her mind to being with the both of us.
We agreed we would both offer ourselves to her if given the chance.
If she wanted us both? We were not opposed to the idea.
Sam is already closer to me than anyone and sharing a woman is not out of our realm of experience.
We promised each other we would make it work.
Lace deserves all those her soul sings for.
If her prophecy holds any truth at all she will need an army to stand by her, and who better than those completely devoted?
We refuse to limit her, especially when such limitations could lead to death.
I shudder at the thought and allow myself to think of other things.
Her soft breasts pressing into my side have another image blasting into my mind.
An image of her between Sam and me. I can almost hear her pleading whimpers and feel her soft skin, my vines holding and caressing her while Sam teases her with his tongue.
My cock once again tightens against the restraints of my pants and I sigh, adjusting myself.
As exciting as the thought would be, it is definitely too early for it to be a consideration.
I don’t even know the depth of her feelings with me, let alone with Sam and I don’t want to scare her off or inadvertently push her to do something she would not be comfortable with based on my own desires.
Then there is the issue of her betrothed.
I grit my teeth. King Nikoli’s ambitions are always fucking up my plans.
Obviously, Sam and I knew the king would use his daughter in a political marriage, but we thought he would have given her a bit more time and, at the very least, explain her own fate to her.
In that time, we were going to confess to her our true feelings and let her decide whether she wanted to mark us as hers.
Instead, I get my tongue cursed against revealing the kings' plans or any mention of Lace’s fate.
If the prince can put aside his own agenda and assist in her rise to power, then I will let there be no reservations in Lace having another suitor.
Even if I do not trust the man. The power she holds needs people to channel through.
I fear the outcome if she is left to harbor it on her own.
If Sam and I play our cards right, everyone can be happy.
If not, we may cause the beginning of her ruin.
Or her ours. I can only hope everything works out without much bloodshed.
Releasing myself from the spell of those thoughts, I bring my gaze back to the corner of the cave, zeroing in on the noises around us.
The cave will be safe tonight, I will make sure of it.
Lace needs rest if we are going to begin our search for Sam tomorrow, especially without being caught.
Turning on my side, I hold her closer and rest my chin on her head.
Using what is left of my energy I encase the cave with half-dead vines.
They will alert me if they are touched. Satisfied at our makeshift alarm system, I drift into a light, dreamless sleep.