Page 64 of A Velvet Kiss After Dark

A slow smile built up around the corners of her mouth, and it was she who leaned in once again to press a soft kiss to each side of his ever-growing beard. He smelled rich and manly, the aroma whimsically spiraled inside her making her feel lightheaded and dizzy at these many new facets to him she was only now uncovering wholly.

Feeling as though she ought to say something, yet deeply aware there were very few words remaining in her normally bounteous vocabulary, all Tabitha could do was smile gently at Kánnérd and press another soft kiss against his lips. His mouth parted for her, and it was she who swept her tongue inside and brought forth a groan of decadence from within him at the wickedly delightful touch. Warmth, wetness, her tongue tasted his before sliding away so she could burrow herself against his large form and press her nose to his thickly-walled neck to inhale his unique scent. Their breaths were both heavy as their beating hearts rapped in tandem and for what felt like a very long time they simply sat there, holding each other.

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Soft, gentle woman, whatever do you do to me?

This heart that flutters near my heart

My hope and all myrichesis,

Unhappy when we drawapart

Andhappybetween kiss and kiss:

My hope and all myriches-- - yes! -- -

And all my happiness.

Fleeting, fetching, and wondrous, that's how Kane would describe the kiss shared between them and the woman he wanted to mate with for life, as the essence of grace and purity imbued poetry in his mind like the loftiest of T.S. Eliot's works.

Not hard or forced or rough, but the gentle touch from this timid lady stroked his soul aflame and imbued her essence upon him forever. Kane would forever cherish this female. He would forever disavow all that she found contemptible about him to ensure she'd remain at his side with impunity.

Like with all grand moments, this one was exactly that—a life-changing moment. For only mere milliseconds into the deft, observant press of her graceful mouth against his, did Kane know that he'd found his peace, his home, his life source and reason for being.

And then he just simply held her, felt her, streamed his rough hands as delicately as he could across the unwounded parts of her that he could reach, discovering the delineations in her ribcage, in her collarbone, in her hips, and inner thighs—until those thighs did quake with desire for him, trembling for something he couldn't give her hear, and harboring within him a rampant lust to scorch her with his fiery passion and feel her combust in his arms.

Yet, all their gentle play came to a forceful halt as the shouts of battle and mayhem bellowed from outside the monastery and the echoing roar of the red dragon squelched any and all dream states he and his beloved had been engulfed within. They had company, he just didn't know if it was for good or for bad.

Kane jolted to his feet and raced for the entranceway with his newly found sword at the ready and the heavy metal helmet mashed atop his head in a snug fit. Any protection at this point was better than nothing. He snatched a wooden chair from a nearby alcove and pushed it under a high-up window so he could stand atop it and look out. A grand smile took up his entire face at the sight of what he saw.

Kane called out to Tabitha who moved far slower and more tentatively behind him.

"We have help, it seems!" he shouted.

Tabitha's eyebrows rose curiously, but she said nothing as he removed the wooden bar across the front doors and shoved them open with a well-timed push.

Outside in the courtyard, Alexis and Seth stood surrounding the remaining ruby dragon which they'd just slaughtered. They each wiped a blood-stained mouth with their sleeves as they'd dove to drink upon its fresh blood for sustenance. The creature was littered with dozens of arrows and massive red gashes from Seth's sword which had punctured and skewered it wide open.

"Great work!" Kane hollered, feeling a renewal of energy that made him forget all about the burning pain that stretched across his body.

Alexis nodded at him and holstered her bow. "Easy enough. These dragons are a violent lot, but they're weak in the neck, eyes, and underbelly, as you can see."

Seth held his dripping sword loosely at his side, his breaths still sawing from the workout. "We made it, though we apologize for arriving late."

"We do have some unfortunate news, Kane," Alexis said, her voice as cold as ice. "Graham's wound festered soon after this one's air-magic attack." She nodded to indicate Tabitha. "I am afraid he is no longer with us, and I was forced to bury him near the swamp."

Kane's entire body stiffened. Any joy he'd felt at the slaying of this deadly beast and the conjoining of his future maiden's mouth with his became bleak and stark.

"That can't be correct," Kane said flatly.

Graham couldn't just be dead. A hollow ache took up residence inside his ribcage and he rubbed it idly as he struggled to understand how his greatest friend, the behemoth werewolf with the big heart, could take such a turn for the worst.

"I'm afraid it is," Alexis said, her gaze free of any emotion and lacking any normal humanity or moral gumption. It was as if everything she said or did was as cold as her silvery-white hair.

"You buried him?" Kane spoke, his words etched in misery.

"I left him at the swamp, partially covered in leaves as a makeshift burial. I am sorry for your loss, but his wound had reopened after the wind attack, and as it was already quite festered, he couldn't shapeshift to recover. He died quickly, Kane. I am sorry."

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