Warsworn

stiffened, even as he chuckled. With a slight turn of my head, I gently licked his earlobe, then bit down.
    He jerked, breathing hard. "Ah. Perhaps not."
    I laughed.
    Keir smiled, and swung me up into his arms.
    "Keir," I protested, knowing that he wasn't yet fully re-covered. But he ignored me, carrying me into our sleeping area to place me on my feet at the end of our bed. Even that had been an effort. I could feel the barest tremble in the muscles of his arms. I stilled his hands at his side.
    "Let me."
    He sighed in contentment as I started to unlace his leathers. Keir had insisted that he be armored for the senel, but had left it to just his black leathers. I took my time, nuzzling his face and neck as my fingers slowly exposed his skin. He was such a contrast, the hard muscles of his arms, the calluses on his hands, the soft skin of his stomach. There were scars, but they were as much a part of him as anything else, and I explored it all, with fingers and lips. With a groan, he stopped me, and with a few quick movements he had me naked and on the bed.
    "Keir," I hadn't finished, he was still half dressed, but he silenced me with his mouth and did his own exploration, using his hands to touch every inch of my skin. There was an urgency there, a desperation that I answered, moving under him, hungry for more. I cried out when he moved away, but he only stood to strip away his trous, then he was back in my arms. I'd thought our loving would be long and slow, but the fire between us flared bright and wild. He entered me hard and hot and we never paused, urging each other on and on, striving until we both cried out, shattering into a thousand bright pieces of pleasure. Keir rolled to his side, pulling me with him, keeping our bodies pressed tight together. We lay quiet, until our breathing eased. My whole body tingled, heated where his skin touched mine, cooled were the air caressed my exposed skin.
    Keir stroked my back and it was my turn to sigh in contentment as he nuzzled my ear. His hand traveled down my back to rest lightly on my ribs. "You lost flesh."
    "You as well," I whispered. I moved my hand over his ribs. "It will return, as we heal." I looked at him through my lashes. "Although some heal faster than others." Keir gave me a sly smile. "I save my strength for the important things." I laughed, breathless with delight at his teasing.
    "You light from within when you laugh, Lara." He stroked my face as I blushed. "I've missed that."
    "There's been little to laugh at lately."
    He nodded, and drew me closer. "Truth, Lara."
    "We've lost so much." My voice broke as I thought of all that had happened.
    "We've won as well," Keir offered. "We've learned more of each other, and our peoples. It's strengthened us."
    "At a cost."
    Keir moved us so that his body covered mine. "There is always a cost."
    "I just," I swallowed hard. "So many died, and we—"
    "We lived." Keir brushed the tears from my cheeks, and followed with soft kisses over my face. I clung to him, rejoicing at his touch.
    Gently, softly, we explored each other, murmuring words of love and reassurance as we gave each other pleasure. The ache in my heart eased and I forgot my fear and guilt. Beyond our tent walls lay pain, problems, and death. But within these walls, within Keir's arms, lay strength, love and support. The wonder of that was evident in every touch of his lips to mine. But more wondrous still was that he seemed to draw the same from me, craving my love as much with his heart as with his body. Making me a true partner, Warprize to his Warlord, woman to his man. Who could know that I would find that in the arms of a conquering Warlord?
    Our mutual pleasure was drawn out this time, less frantic than the last, but no less sweet. Keir nuzzled my breasts, teasing me with hands and lips as he explored them. I wasn't as ample as the women warriors of the Firelanders, but Keir seemed satisfied. Goddess knew, I moaned at his touch, responding to every caress.
    When he drew my nipple into his mouth, I gasped, digging my nails into his back. He chuckled, pleased at my reaction. But I'd learned well, and let my hands drift down his back, to tease the downy hairs at the base of his spine. He growled low in his throat, much to my satisfaction. It wasn't a shattering this time, more of a slow dissolving into bliss. Keir lay there, eyes half shut, breathing heavily as I cleaned us and then pulled the bedding up over our cooling bodies. He drew me close