Warlord

move up over me, but I lifted my hands to stop him. "Is this fair, my Warlord?" My voice was thick with my own passion. "I want to see you, my Keir." He paused, then eased back to stand by the bed. His eyes on mine, he started unbuckling his belt. I stood then, and started to work on the lacings of the quilted tunic. The garment parted, to show the base of his throat. I leaned in, and licked the pulse that throbbed there. Keir closed his eyes and lifted his chin, granting me access. I continued, nuzzling the column of his throat, and then moved off to the side where my mark still marred his skin. I lapped at it with the tip of my tongue. "My mark, my warlord."
    "Yours." Keir's voice crackled as he answered. "Yours, my warprize." My fingers fumbled with the lacings, until his chest was exposed. I'd lost the bit of gurtle fur, so I settled for running my fingers over his skin, circling his nipples, scratching over them lightly with my nails. Keir moaned, and grabbed my hips, pulling me close enough to feel his length. His mouth took mine for a moment, but I broke the kiss, and slipped from his arms. "Not fair! I've yet to see my prize." Keir growled, but stood still, letting his arms hang by his sides.
    I smiled, and reached up to ease the garment off his shoulders. His muscles flexed under my gentle touch, as the cloth fell to the floor. But I wasn't pleased to see deep bruises on his shoulder. He'd taken at least two rough blows there. It was a deep purple and black, but the skin wasn't broken. The lover within me stepped back, the healer came forward. "Seems Essa and Wild Winds aren't the only ones to conceal their hurts." I stepped around Keir to get a full look. "Can you lift the arm?" Keir sighed, then slowly raised the arm. He seemed to have full movement but with enough pain to make him wince.
    I turned and reached for my satchel. "Strip, and I'll tend to this." I heard clothes rustling as I dug through the mess in my satchel. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
    "No. Those were the only blows that got through my guard," Keir grumbled. "Only because there were three of them."
    I pulled out the thick paste I was looking for, and clean bandages besides. The water was still warm in the buckets, so I soaked one of the bandages, and wrung it out.
    Keir was on the edge of the bed, naked. He had such a look of patient suffering on his face that I almost laughed out loud.
    I stepped in close. "This will only take a moment, and it will aid the healing. You'll feel better in the morning." I smeared the paste over the bruising.
    Keir placed his hands on my hips. "I know something that will make me feel better well before morning." He leaned forward, and kissed me between my breasts.
    I placed the warm wet cloth over the paste, and pressed lightly with my fingertips. The familiar smell of bittergrass rose from the warming paste.
    Keir wrinkled his nose.
    "Just a bit longer." I stepped back to clean my hands. "The heat helps it go into the skin." Keir heaved a false sigh of frustration, which turned into a yawn. He blinked as he gave his shoulder a glance. "Why does it smell so bad?'
    I rolled my eyes, and reached to tug him up off the bed. "I'll remind you of those words when you can move with ease in the morning." I nodded toward the bed. "Pull back the bedding."
    "I can move with ease now," Keir growled as he pulled back the blankets. I put my supplies back in my satchel. Keir stood waiting as I peeled back the bandages. The paste had been absorbed into the skin, leaving a green tinge, and a faint odor. "I'll treat it again in the morning." Keir's arm snaked behind me and pulled me close. He kissed me hard. I let the bandage flutter to the floor, and held on to him for dear life. His mouth was warm and he explored mine eagerly. I responded with enthusiasm.
    We were on the bed then, a tangle of arms and legs. But I could feel a tremble in Keir's arms even as he moved us under the covers. I knew what I needed to do.
    I wiggled around until he was flat on his back beside me, his mouth on my breast. I pressed in close, enjoying his touch, moaning as his hands explored my body. Finally, I kissed him, moving my hands to his chest, tweaking his nipples.
    He murmured his pleasure as I slowly let my fingers trail down his chest, to circle his birth-hollow, and then continue on until my hand covered him. He was hot and hard beneath my palm. His hips flexed slightly, trying to increase the pressure.
    I leaned in, and put my lips to his