The Werewolf Order (Erotica)

Lucas busts through the tavern door, out of breath like he ran from the castle, “Queen Sheynne sends word that King Irron demands to see the Princess, in the Meadow tomorrow evening. She has sent word to the General to prepare for war,” he swiftly walks over to Rick and the others, dropping his voice even though they are alone, “She has asked me to ride to Geofen. The Queen wishes for me to bring Prince Phillip to the neutral ground but keep him out of sight so that he may see the true nature of King Irron. I don’t know why but she thinks that if he sees Mora tell Irron the engagement is off, that they will side with Sceadu. She said,” he shifts uncomfortably, looking at Rick, “that she would like Prince Varickan to accompany her and Mora to the border tomorrow.”

Mora suspicions are affirmed. Queen Sheynne was hoping that Mora’s presence would spur Rick to claim his place as Prince and that they would fall in love. She now knows that because the Queen asked her father to simply give them the opportunity, not demand or threaten like King Irron, that he complied. She doesn’t, however, understand what path her father means for her to travel so that everyone can ‘rest in peace.’

“Yes, the Prince shall accompany them,” Rick replies. He squeezes Mora’s hand.

As Lucas begins to leave, Daniel and James come back. They walk into the bar, the look of disbelief on their faces. James speaks first, “That Captain Franklin of yours,” he says to Mora, “I hope that all men of Derven aren’t as…” he doesn’t even know what to say. He throws his arms up, looking to Daniel for help.

“I think he likes Sari,” Daniel spits out.

“What?!” Sari shrieks; despite her attempt to look disgusted, her face turns bright red.

Daniel and James sit down; seeing Sari’s face they continue with the full intent of embarrassing her, “Oh you should have heard that man!” Their faces crinkle with a disapproving look and they attempt to mimic Franklin’s gruff voice, “Does she have a husband?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Is she seeing anyone?”

“What does she like to do?”

“I bet a woman like her has to be so strong in order to beat down all of her suitors.”

Sari, grinning uncontrollably, buries her embarrassed face in her hands. Lucas, Daniel, James and even Rick can’t help but snicker at her expense. She peeks out at Mora, looking for help.

All Mora can do is smile. She loves Franklin like a brother and wouldn’t ever approve of anyone less tough than Sari, “I told you so. Ever since I’ve known that man the more he complains about something the more he likes it. And,” Mora adds quietly so that only Sari can hear, “Even though he can beat most men by pure strength alone, he hasn’t yet come up with enough cunning to win a fight against his sister or I.”

The group of friends tries to laugh and joke, making the best of the ominous situation that the new day brings. Having already accepted Mora as one of them, she begins to open herself up to the idea of having friends who don’t care what her title is. The fact that they welcome her and treat her as an equal instead of a superior makes her feel like a true person. As the dawn approaches everyone begins to grow somber, knowing that they will soon be at war. Todd packs a few supplies for Lucas’ trip. He reluctantly says good bye, hugging Mora to reassure her that he is glad to have gotten to know her, “Even if you emasculated me in front of everyone when you beat my ass into the ground.”

James and Daniel playfully shove her, James saying somewhat apologetically “I’m still not sure who would win, in a fair fight between you and Rick.”

“My wager is on you though,” Daniel winks.

Mora smiles and says jokingly, “If Rick and I ever were to fight again-and I don’t think that we ever will-it would be to the death.”

Sari shifts uncomfortably in front of Mora, waiting for Rick to walk Daniel and James out. She avoids her eyes, mumbling, “Do you really think that he likes me? I don’t know how that would work, with us living in two different countries and all…”

“Love will always find a way,” her reassuring voice captures Sari’s attention, “I mean, look at me-I never thought I could love someone but from the moment I saw Rick… I was doomed. And I was engaged to his enemy; I was stuck between a rock and the ground with no way out. But, it found a way and now I am free to give my heart to whom I please.” Mora smiles to herself, scarcely able to believe that she has finally found her match.

Sari squeezes her shoulder, now sharing her smile, “We will all ride with you to the border tomorrow.” As she walks past Rick to leave the bar, the bounce in her step is noticeable.

Todd begins to lock up behind her when Mora notices Rick standing only a few feet away; he heard their conversation. “Doomed, huh? From the moment you saw me?” He walks to her, his hands deliberately lingering on her skin as he slides them around her body. He doesn’t ask if she needs help, he simply picks her up and cradles her in his arms, walking to the stairs.

She rests her face in his chest, her fingers grasping his shirt tightly, “I wanted to tell you… but I couldn’t. I am so sorry that I wasn’t honest from the beginning.”

“When I first saw you in the castle, standing before me half broken, weak and timid-I knew that there was more to you,” his voice softens as he recalls the first day they met, “I knew you would be the end of me. I have known many women but the moment I gazed into your eyes-I was lost to this world. My life could never be complete without you.”

As they enter the bedroom, Mora wraps her arms around his neck. He gently lowers her body to the ground behind the screen. His hands wander from her waist, up her sides and arms to her hands, where he unclasps them from behind his head. Still holding on to her hands, he twirls her before him, pressing her back into his chest. Her body is still weak from all the blood she lost and she isn’t able to get undressed by herself. She can feel her skin tingle with excitement when his hands wander over her stomach to her vest. His fingers trace the vest’s path up to her shoulders, where he takes hold of it to pull it off. With his touch sliding under her shirts and up her back, Mora feels her knees begin to get weak; she leans herself against him after he takes her shirt off. Being a gentleman, Rick slips her night gown onto her, remaining behind her, so he only ever sees her bare back.

With the gown drifting down her length, Rick crouches behind her so that he can help her with her pants. Mora is forced to turn toward around and lean over his shoulder when her knees finally give out. As he takes liberties with the path his hands follow up to her waist, she lets her own trace their way down his back and latch on to the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up so that she can put her face against his skin. When he gets her pants down, he wraps an arm around her thighs so that he can lift her slightly to pull them off of her feet. After he sets her back down he begins to rise but she doesn’t let go of his shirt until she succeeds in pulling it off over his head.

He gathers her up into his arms, letting his face get buried in her hair. Carefully, he sets her down in the bed as he had done for the past four nights when he tended to her shoulder but instead of climbing in after her, he turns and snuffs out the lights. Mora waits and though she finds it hard to hear anything over the pounding in her chest, she knows that he stands in the shadows, unsure what to do.

“Will you lie with me?” She asks the darkness. There is a pause as Rick hesitates. The bed shifts beside her when he climbs in. Large, strong hands find her body and pull her close. She turns to him, drowning his lips with hers. Never before in her life has she felt so safe, so complete. As her hands trace the lines of his chest, she wishes this moment would never end. Rick presses his hand into her lower back trying to melt into her flesh. She forces herself closer, wrapping her leg around his waist.

She can’t think of anything she has desired more, anything she has needed so badly before. Her body pulses with passion, voice airy when she tries to catch her breath, “I want you.”

“You have me,” he whispers, face buried in her neck. His hand slides up her thigh, fervently gripping at her skin. She tries to tug at his pants but their bodies are so entwined she can’t free her hands. She bites at his shoulder, frustrated at the listless pace of their passion.

“I want you to take me,” she clarifies, surprised by the amount of sternness in her voice. Her ravenous appetite for his body consumes her.

He rolls, turning her onto her back. Though he presses himself against her and his hand wanders from her thigh further up her gown to her ribs, his kisses slow, the frantic desire behind them softening. He continues to hold her tight, but rests his cheek against her chest. She starts to fear that she did something wrong, but his voice, husky with restraint, calms her worries, “Believe me when I say I want to take you, but… we need to wait until the time is right.”

Mora’s body groans with impatience, but she knows that he is right. She wraps her arms around him, tangling her fingers in his hair; she tries to quell the yearning inside herself. Knowing that she now has Rick and that he has her, she assures herself that there isn’t any reason to rush. There is a proper order in which things need to be done and she must first tell King Irron to his face that she wants nothing more to do with him. Then she will be free. DECEPTION

*****

She awakes to the sweet sound of Rick’s voice accompanied by the caress of his hand on her face, “Time to get ready, Mora.”