Lienna.
I drifted back into consciousness a while later, my mind foggy and my body aching. I was alone once more, the bed empty beside me. Hermes was out of me already, and a chill had begun to settle in my bones. I tried to move, stifling a groan as pain exploded in every part of my body. Every muscle in my body was strained, and there was a dull throbbing in my neck where Hermes and Adonis had marked me.
As much as I hated to admit it, it hurt. The pain was a dull ache, a constant reminder of the intensity of our encounter. Sluggishly, I reached up my fingers to touch the marks, and gasped as I felt a pull right there. Despite the flash of pain that coursed through me, I couldn’t help the smile that touched my lips.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, immediately noticing how thirsty I was. My mouth felt dry and parched, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth. “Here… Have a glass of water,” a voice broke through my thoughts, and I stiffened.
At first, I thought it was all in my head, but when I felt a presence beside me, I turned to see Caspian seated next to me at the edge of the bed, a cup of water in his hand. His eyes were fixed on me, his expression soft and concerned.
I stared at him for a moment, my mind still foggy from sleep. My gaze drifted to the cup of water he was holding, and my throat constricted with thirst. I reached out a hand, taking the cup from him, and brought it to my lips. The cool water was a balm to my parched throat, and I drank greedily, feeling it soothe my dry mouth.
As I handed the cup back to Caspian, I asked, “Are you three taking turns with me?” The words blurted out of my mouth before I could stop them, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. Caspian’s expression didn’t change, but I saw a flicker of something in his eyes, a hint of amusement or curiosity.
“More like it,” he answered with a shrug, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he urged me to take the cup. I held my breath, gingerly accepting the outstretched cup and drinking the water. The cool liquid soothed my parched throat, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
When I finished drinking the water, I returned the cup back to him, and he continued speaking, his voice low and gentle. “We wouldn’t want to overwhelm you.” He cocked his head to the side, his eyes filled with concern as he asked another question. “How do you feel?”
I let out a soft sigh, wrapping my hands around my shoulders as I tried to find the right words. “Sore. Like I’ve been mauled over by horses.” I muttered, wincing at the memory of the intense passion I’d shared with Hermes.
Caspian’s expression softened, his voice sympathetic. “Sorry about that.” He muttered, his eyes filled with regret. He moved closer, pulling me into a gentle hug. I let out a sigh, feeling my body relax as I snuggled harder into him.
“Don’t worry, I have no plans of taking you until you’re well enough to handle it,” he murmured, gently patting my back. His touch was soothing, calming my frazzled nerves. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.” He added, his voice filled with understanding.
I nodded, grateful that he could be that thoughtful. We sat in a comfortable silence for a while, each of us content with having our hands wrapped around each other, listening to the sound of our breath. The silence was peaceful, a welcome respite from the intense emotions that had been swirling inside me.
But as I sat there, I began to feel a strange sensation, like a buzzing in my veins. I realized that I could feel both Hermes’ and Adonis’ emotions, like a gentle hum in the background of my mind.
“I can feel both Hermes and Adonis’ emotions…” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. Caspian’s hands stilled on my shoulders, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me.
Really? What are they thinking?” he asked, his voice low and curious, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I could feel his gaze on me, warm and gentle, as he waited for my response.
“Hmm, not sure. It’s a mix. On one hand, they seem happy but also jealous,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Caspian chuckled, the sound low and husky, and I smiled.
“Yeah, I wonder why they would feel that way,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with him.
“Yeah… I wonder too,” I muttered, my voice filled with mirth. We sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, as Caspian’s hands continued to massage my shoulders.
After a moment of blissful silence, I spoke again, my voice breaking the stillness. “Caspian?”
“Hmm?” He murmured, his hands pausing in their gentle ministrations.
“Where would you be placing your mark?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. Caspian stiffened, his hands freezing on my shoulders.
He slowly resumed his massages without answering my question, and I was forced to look at him, my eyes searching for a response. “You didn’t give me a response,” I said, my voice tinged with confusion.
Caspian turned to look at me, a serious expression on his face. His eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for something. “Do you want this to be over so quickly?” he asked, his voice low and husky.
I stuttered out a response, confusion written all over my face. “N-no, of course not!” I exclaimed, my eyes wide with surprise.
Caspian’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “I just, I just wanted to know,” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m afraid the other two might have taken the best spot already.”
“Not really,” Caspian muttered with a tiny smile on his face. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he continued, “You have your entire body, don’t you?” He asked, his voice low and husky. I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “I think I can find a spot that’s just as good, if not better,” he whispered, his breath sending shivers down my spine.
“Marks aren’t limited to the neck, you know,” he explained, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my skin. “It just happened to be the most visible part for a mark, which is why it’s highly favored.” I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized my ignorance.
“Oh… I didn’t know that,” I admitted, feeling a sense of embarrassment. “I apologize.” Caspian’s smile grew wider as he reassured me.
“There’s nothing to apologize for, and like I said before, I’m not in a hurry to mark you,” he said, his voice filled with understanding. “You’ve barely recovered from the last two.” I nodded, feeling grateful for his consideration.
I laid back on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The sound was soothing, calming my frazzled nerves. True to his words, Caspian didn’t mark me immediately, and we spent more time conversing and just laying together.
When hunger struck, we had food, and I even went up to meet the rest. Adonis and Hermes were surprised Caspian hadn’t marked me yet, but knowing his character, they were sure he would do it at a later time.
I fell asleep again while they were discussing, and when I woke up, Hermes and Adonis were nowhere to be found. Caspian seemed dressed to go out, however. His hair fell freely over his shoulders, giving him a more youthful appearance.
My heart pounded at the sight, but I immediately brought my focus to the situation at hand. “Where are you going?” I mumbled, rubbing away the dust in my eyes.
He turned to look at me, a corner of his lips curled up. “A walk, the weather is lovely,” he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “Would you like to join?” He asked, his eyes sparkling with invitation.
“Of course…” I blurted out, jumping to my feet. Caspian smiled when I let out a slight wince at the soreness still radiating between my legs. He helped me get clothes suitable for our outing, his hands gentle as he assisted me.
Moments later, we were walking out the door into the woods, the fresh air and sunshine a welcome break from the intensity of the last few days. Falling into steps with Caspian, I let him lead me into thebowoofs while we talked about everything and nothing.
Out of everyone, Caspian’s company had to be the one I enjoyed the most, and I couldn’t help but treasure the moments I had with him. Maybe that’s why he was my favorite out of all three, though I would never admit it out loud. The thought sent a flutter through my chest, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the serene surroundings.
The forest was peaceful and beautiful, with sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled shadows on the ground. We walked farther than intended, our footsteps quiet on the soft earth. By the time Caspian noticed his error, we realized it would be a long way back. And the good weather that prompted us out wasn’t looking so good anymore. Storm clouds had quickly gathered, a rumble of thunder in the distance.
Caspian looked up at the sky, gauging the weather before turning to me. His eyes were narrowed slightly, his brow furrowed in concern. “We should probably find a place to hide and wait this out, what do you think?” he asked, his voice low and practical.
“That sounds like a splendid idea,” I said, and he quickly moved forward, his long strides eating up the distance. We had barely gotten anywhere when the first raindrops began falling, hitting us like stones. I gasped in shock as the sun was still shining, but the air had grown cold and wet in a matter of minutes.
Caspian immediately grabbed a hold of my hand, pulling me forward. His grip was warm and firm, and I felt a surge of gratitude towards him. “Quick! Come, there’s should be a cave up ahead,” he said, spurring me on.
Seconds ticked by, and the rain became heavier, beating down on everything. The sound was almost deafening, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Luckily, we found a hiding spot. It was a small cave with a very tiny entrance, but when we crawled in, we realized it was much bigger inside. The air was cool and damp, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me as we escaped the torrential rain.
The rain had grown into a full storm now, and though I only spent a few minutes underneath it, I was already soaked to the bone. My clothes clung to me, heavy with water, and I began to shiver, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. I blew air into my hands, rubbing them together in an attempt to warm myself, but it was no use. I was freezing.
Caspian reached for my hands, holding them in his warm ones as he moved closer to me, his body heat radiating off him in waves. I felt a surge of gratitude towards him as he enveloped me in his warmth. Just then, I felt the concerned emotions of Hermes and Adonis, and soon enough, they were speaking to me through the mind link we had formed.
“Hermes and Adonis are worried about us. They want to look for us,” I said to Caspian, who was barely inches away from me. The rain was pelting down with a vengeance, creating a white film that was hard to see through. Caspian’s eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed in concentration.
“Tell them not to worry…” He growled back, his voice low and husky. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I relayed the message.
Floodwater had begun to flow through the cave, and Caspian suggested we seek higher ground. I followed him, feeling colder by the minute. I wanted to ask him why, but froze when I saw the desire reflected in his eyes. His jaw was clenched, and whatever I wanted to say was forgotten as I lost myself in his eyes.
I gulped, gasping as Caspian pressed his body against mine, erasing any space between us. His arousal pressed against my abdomen, and my eyes widened as my heart began pounding in my chest. Surely, he wasn’t…?
As if he knew exactly what I was thinking, he lowered himself, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. His hands went behind my neck, pulling me even closer as he deepened the kiss. I felt a rush of excitement, my body responding to his touch. The storm raging outside was nothing compared to the one brewing inside me.
Pulling away slightly, he gazed into my eyes, his throat bobbing up and down and as he prepared his request. “Can I mark you here, now?” He growled and my throat went dry, my heart fluttering in my chest.
I flickered my gaze across his face and swallowed, making my decision. “Yes, of course. Please do.”
The words had barely made it out my lips when he smashed his lips on mine, taking me once more…