Page 26 of The Poison of the Earth
She squeaks in protest. “Please, Sire, you must not—”
“Hush, Allie, I mean nothing untowards, I promise you, I would never...” I carry her to my deep couches, pulling a blanket around her as I sit, crossing my legs under me, with her in my lap.
“What did he do to you Allie?”
“I... I misspoke, Sire, I would never accuse King Alder...”
“I’ve heard of many, many of his misdeeds. I would believe aught you told me, sweetheart. You are safe here. You can tell me.” My words get softer and softer until I’m damn near whispering into her insanely soft white hair.
She turns her face to mine, upset clear, “You just told me you were sending me away!”
I huff. “I would never send you away if you wished to stay! Besides, it would still be here, in Thistle Grove. I thought it was what you wanted.”
A tiny grin plays on her perfect lips. “So... I can stay? Here in the keep?”
“Of course, Allie. I merely thought you... considered it improper somehow, to partake in a... anything with me... if I was your captor or employer.”
“Oh, I do, very much so, my lord.” She blinks her big eyes at me.
I stare at her a moment, my heart downtrodden. And it hits me, I process the edge in her tone. And without thought, I dig my fingers into her ribs. She squeals and tries to jump up as laughter overtakes her as I tickle. “You’re teasing me, you sneak!”
She collapses into giggles, her little body squirming on mine delightfully. I immediately quit tickling and cradle her close, loosely, conscious for any tensing of her body.
She whispers, sounding a bit breathless, “Not teasing, Lonan. I did, I would think that. But... I... Goddess, I’m just so...”
My eyes search hers, silently begging her to say it.
“I’m just so drawn to you,” she whispers, and she blushes, looking down into her lap.
Against my better judgement, I say the thought echoing in my head, “And I you, Allie. I cannot explain it.”
She gazes up at me and slowly nods. Her head leans forward and I tilt mine down. She doesn’t retreat so I ease in. She angles her face upward and my lips are damn near against hers. I wait a moment, to see if she’ll shy away again, but she stays frozen, utterly still.
“Allie,” I murmur, like a prayer. “May I kiss you?”
“Yes,” she breathes, her fingers clenching in my shirt.
I lean in, letting my lips graze against hers in the lightest touch. A tiny sound escapes her, a pleasure sound, and an imageso intense and explicit hits me that I groan, lips parting. Allie leans into me, her tiny tongue touching my parted lips before retreating and I dive after it, tongue searching her mouth.
She makes a little peep of distress and pulls away slowly. I gaze down at her, my head buzzing and my dick hard. I lean in again to kiss her once more but she tucks her head against my chest, nuzzling in a bit and my heart softens even more to her. My head is swimming.I understand now.
I hold her silently for a long time, both of us just enjoying the simple touch of the other. The fire crackles and as the sun fully sets, the glow from the near full moon falls in the large windows. Her breath evens out and I wonder if she’s fallen asleep but when I tilt my head, I see her pale eyelashes blinking, her hand resting upon my chest.
Finally, Allie murmurs, “My lord, I must go. I need to sleep; I am at work early in the morning.”
My knee-jerk reaction is to beg her to stay, even like this, even with no more touching than this; and to tell her that I’ll tell Cook she’s allowed to be late. But even as the words hit my tongue half-formed, I realize how much she’ll hate that. I sigh and lower her legs carefully.
“Alright, sweetheart. But I have three questions for you,” I say as she stands and shakes out her brilliant green dress.
She smiles, “Ask me as you walk me to my room?”
I love this little spark from her so I nod enthusiastically. “First,” I say, as I stand and hold out my hand for her, “Did you have a hobby? At RedWater?”
She blinks up at me, surprised. We take the stairs together. “I... gardened. I love plant lore and growing things.”
I nod; makes sense for an earth Fae. I open my doors and lead her onto the second floor. “Next question, Allie. Do you prefer summer or winter?”
I look down at her as we head towards the wide staircase that leads to the first floor. She wrinkles her nose. “Neither. Fall is the best season.”
