131 Life with you part 6 (1/2)

Arei nudged Jos awake as they neared the inn. She'd fallen asleep against his chest. ”Wake up, kitten. We've made it back.” He jumped to the ground first then lifted her down. He took her hand and guided her to the bar. ”When possible, could you send dinner and the bath to our room.” He nodded to Jos who was holding one of his hands in both of hers and leaning her head against his arm. ”As you can tell my bride is tired from our trip.”

The voice of the Irish sailor chimed in from somewhere behind them with rude comments. Jos clung tightly to the hand in her grip as she looked around the room. Those men were trash. the worst of worst. She could smell their bad deeds from here. She glared at the man as he made jesters to her.

”Come, kitten.” Arei said tugging her hand lightly. He followed her irritated gaze to the table. ”Looks like the landlord here has yet to take out the trash.” He called out loud enough for the barmaid and the men to hear before making his way up the stairs.

Shortly after entering their room, the maids brought in food and water and the stable boy the large tub. ”I'd advise ye take the bath first. The stew is still boiling.” The last of the maids said, trailing her eyes over Arei. He nodded a dismissal. Once the door closed, he watched as Jos sniffed the soaps the maids had left. After the third, she smiled and dipped it into the tub and lathered it as Arei had shown her the night before. He was about to make his excuses and leave the room when she asked.

”Would you wash my hair again, like last night?” A heavy blush crept up her neck as she asked.

Arei frowned. ”I don't think that's a good idea, kitten. Things between us have already overstepped the boundaries.

”Please?” she whispered. She fumbled with the bar as it nearly slipped from her fingers. The soft light of the fire flickered backlighting her nervous features.

Arei dropped the saddlebags by the table and walked to her. He took the soap from her hands and brought her palm to his chest pressing them against his pounding chest. ”Feel what you do to me?” He asked huskily. ”You couldn't possibly understand the strains being this close to you with out having you is.” He softened his grip on her hands but didn't release them.

Her head tilted as she looked from their hands to his troubled eyes. ”Strain? But why? You have me, I'm right here.” She said not understanding.

He released her hands and cupped her face in both his large hands. ”Yes, you are right here, but I don't believe you understand what you're asking...” He ran the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip. ”Every time you ask me for things like this, every time you brush these lips across my body...” He met her confused but heated gaze, ”Anytime you look at me like you are right now.”

She furrowed her brows, her hands still resting against one massive peck. ”Then show me, show me what it is I'm not understanding.”

She shook her head before giving a timid answer. ”I have seen them pressing their lips together and touching.” She snarled her nose. ”But it's not the way you touch me or kiss me... It's not like... lovers...”

Arei frowned, ”It is exactly like lovers, kitten.” He searched her eyes only finding confusion and innocence there. ”Kitten, have you ever kissed another man?” He stroked the pad of his thumb across her lips watching as her eyes shut and her lips parted under his touch.

She shook her head against his light hold. ”No... physical contact is not necessary to lore prey.” Her words broke as a moan risked escape. When he remained silent for several minutes, her eyes flickered up to meet his. ”What is it?” She asked in surprise, seeing confusion in his expression for the first time. ”I can show you, if you like.”

The urge to scoop her up and carry her to the bed that very second, was pushed aside only slightly by the intrigue of seeing the mysterious lore of the siren's she'd learned to use so well. He lowered and pressed a light kiss to her lips before whispering against them. ”I believe I'd like to see that.”

Jos let out a ragged breath. She closed her eyes and focused on her body, blinking when she felt the slight shift in her appearance. She took a step back and gently brushed his hands away from her.

Arei stared in aw as the beauty before him began to glisten under the faint glow of the fire. Her dazzling aqua eyes brightened, radiating their own faint light. He narrowed his eyes to her mouth, but her lips were closed. He glanced around the small room before looking down at her in amazement. ”I swear, I can hear singing.” He took a step to her, but she turned not breaking their eye contact. He followed as she walked toward the window and then as she backed onto the bed and scooted to the center. Once he was crawling across it after her, she closed her eyes and the faint blue glow died off along with the melodious music that had been filling the room. He shook his head as if to brush away a fog. He cupped her face bringing her eyes back up to meet his. ”That was amazing. I wouldn't have guessed you'd be able to control me like that. I'm much older than you and in no way easily influenced.”