Raised by wolves: Chapter Thirteen

It took me several minutes to relocate my bedchambers through the maze of corridors. I stood in the doorway my hand on the doorknob for several breaths afraid of what I may or may not find inside. I prayed to Talos that Vilkas was inside sleeping that he wasn’t missing just resting.

I opened the door slowly; the room was empty and untouched. This was unsettling, I do not believe he would be gone from my side so willingly; he had made it quite clear that he couldn’t bear the thought of not being around me. Ulfric had something to do with this I could feel it in my bones.

I stormed from my chambers to his door and knocked as loudly as I could. After several seconds with no answer I tried again even louder. Still no answer, I took a deep breath and braved a return to the dining hall, but aside from a few servants and guards it was completely empty. I gritted my teeth in frustration, why was it when I needed the man he wasn’t around but when I didn’t want or need him I couldn’t seem to get rid of him?

I stormed back to my chambers and paced the length of the room. It was almost midday Soon everyone would be gathering in the great hall for the Tibedetha celebration. The midday and evening meal were to be joined together for a feast that would go on for several hours. There would be singing and dancing and piles upon piles of food to feast upon. I, in my new dress would be presented to the subjects of Windhelm and the nobility of Skyrim. Would this day ever end, I wished I had never gotten that invite. I crossed to my closet flinging the doors open wide, I pulled open drawer after drawer till I found what I was seeking. That damned gift that had started this whole affair; the circlet that Ulfric had sent me.

I pulled it carefully from the drawer; the jewels glimmered as the light hit them. Sapphires sparkled almost winking at me. I stormed to the fireplace set on tossing it into the flames when it dawned on me… THE CLOSET!

I absentmindedly threw the headpiece on to the bed and rushed towards the wall next to the closet. I ran my fingers along the seam of the wall looking for a hidden latch or button or anything for that matter to open the hidden doorway. Finding nothing I kicked the wall in anger bruising my foot in the process. I howled in pain as I hobbled around the room and into a chair where I sat massaging my sore toes with my hands.

The wall opened with the barest of sounds. I stared into the darkness my foot slipping from my fingers falling to the floor. I rose from my chair and crossed to the passage way. It was pitch black inside; using my magic I summoned a glowing orb to light the passage for me. Slowly I stepped inside my foot touched a floor tile that sank slightly under my weight. Behind me the door quietly shut. With the light to guide me I searched along the opposite wall with my fingers and along the floor with my feet until I stepped onto another tile that moved. The wall in front of me swung open silently into what, I could only assume, was the high kings’ chamber.

I stepped inside the room, his bed sat in the middle of the room on a platform. Next to the bed sitting a tub of water was the King himself. I stood there, frozen unable to remove myself from his chambers. Watching Ulfric rise from the water with fascination, rivets of water trailed down his pale skin. My eyes followed a single droplet; it dripped from his hair down his well muscled back, over his well formed buttocks, down his thighs and back into the water. He leaned over slightly reaching for and grabbing a towel. He rubbed his face and hair dry, I watched mesmerized as he stepped out of the tub and hitched the towel around his waist.  My breath caught in my throat and he turned to face me, a sexy slow grin sliding across his face.

“Are you enjoying the view?” he drawled his green eyes piercing mine. The sound of his brogue breaking the spell I was under. I raised my eyes up from the towel that was slipping down his hips and swallowed. What was wrong with me? For someone not trying to give him the wrong impression I wasn’t doing a very good job of it.

I blushed, “Forgive me, milord; I seem to have interrupted you at a bad time.”

He stalked towards me slowly. “Any time spent with you Arianna is never a bad time,” he purred.

I stepped backwards and my foot hit the pressure switch shutting the passageway behind me. I was trapped between the wall and Ulfric. What the hell had I gotten myself into? I searched with my foot for the pressure switch to reopen the passage way, he came closer still and I turned my back to him. Blocking the sight of his beautiful body from distracting me, I did not need or want any more temptations in my life two was enough… three would be…impossible.

Ulfric’ shadow blended into mine on the wall, his breath caressed my ear and his body heat emanated against my back. I shivered.

“Would you like out lass?” he murmured against my ear, his breath caressing my cheek. I nodded swallowing hard. His right hand snaked around my waist and pulled me taunt against him. I stood motionless afraid even to breathe. Slowly he turned me around to face him. “I will show you the way out for a small price.”

I frowned pulling back from him, “What price?”

“A kiss.”

My jaw dropped open in shock, “A kiss?”

“Yes, a kiss. Nothing more nothing less, it is after all owed to me after our interruption last night.”

I thought back to the night before. Had we been about to kiss before Vilkas interrupted us? Perhaps it had been Ulfric’s intention last night but not mine. However, did I want out of this situation badly enough to grant him a kiss?

“All right,” I breathed.

His eyes sparkled in merriment as he cupped my chin with one palm and pressed the other into the small of my back, forcing our bodies even closer together. His mouth descended upon mine, inch by slow inch until they were less than a heartbeat away. I closed my eyes and waited. My heart raced, was it nerves or anticipation? No…wait maybe…damn it.

Was he waiting for me to close the distance? I cracked open my eyes and stared up into his compelling eyes, yes he was. I took a deep breath and sent a silent prayer to Vilkas and Farkas for forgiveness. Then I pressed my lips against the Kings.