Bawdy Ballads

Obey

The feeling of warmth dragged me up from sleep. I never felt so warm sleeping. I tried to move but something tightened around my waist stopping me. "Scarlett," a deep rumble, froze me. I was lying cradled to Avery's chest somehow.

"Avery?" I breathed as I leaned up catching his gaze. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Yeah just a bit hungry," he confided. "You looked uncomfortable just lying next to the couch, hope it’s ok I moved you.”

“Uh, yeah . . . it’s alright,” I murmured awkwardly. It’s not like I could move away regardless, my body was still under his order to stay with him.

Silence stretched between us. I was unsure what to say to him. I'd never been around a person beyond my mom, her ex, and occasionally my Gran. It didn't help that my mind kept reminding me that he was completely nude beneath the thin blanket that divided us and of the pleasure he gave me at the lake.

“Did it scare you?” he asked heavily. My expression shifted in confusion. “Seeing me as a wolf . . . my shift,” he explained.

“Oh . . . no that didn’t scare me but why were you fighting that other wolf?”

He let out a slow breath that teased across my skin sending teasing tendril sensations down my body. “He was challenging my territory.” A tension filled the statement like there was something he wasn’t saying or couldn’t say.

“Is your territory near here?”

“Yes,” he said firmly, again it felt like there was something more in that answer I didn’t understand. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

“That day at the lake, I didn’t force you to do something you didn’t want, right?”

“Uh, oh, no,” I stammered as heat stole into my cheeks. “I definitely wanted it Avery.”

"I’m happy to hear that Scarlett. I kept replaying that day trying to make sure I didn’t accidentally command you into forced s*x," he murmured. His arm loosened and his hand began to rub gentle lines up and down my back over the cloak. My body went rigid. I felt his growing erection press near my apex. I wanted to move away but my body stayed still. "You smell conflicted, does my touch bother you?"

Yes! My mind screamed. I don't even know you . . . not really . . . and you're naked in my home while I'm laying on top of you talking about the night you gave me such intense pleasure even now my body grew wet with arousal . . . It's too intimate . . . too demanding. "Uh you said you were hungry," I reminded him, trying to change the subject for the both of us.

"If you don't mind," he agreed on a yawn. "Could you make me something to eat?"

My body relaxed as the first command left under his new one. "Sure," I murmured as I rolled from his touch standing up. His eyes scanned up my body intensely.

"Do you always wear that cloak?"

"Only outside," I admitted shifting my weight nervously. He sat up and the blanket slid down his bare waist pooling into his lap.

"Why?"

"My mama said our appearance frightens folks and frightened folk tend to aim to harm those that disturb them," I explained. "So, since I was little I've worn a cloak to hide myself."

"Even deep in the woods here? Who would find you here?" He asked dubiously. He leaned forward as if trying to peer beneath the cloak to see more of my features.

"You did, a few times," I replied, crossing my arms over my stomach.

His lips lifted dangerously and I took a step back. "Don't move ," he commanded and I went rigid. He tilted his head studying me. Something dark flashed in his eyes and I wanted to press my legs together to end the ache there. He drew in a breath and my heart hammered hard.

"You can't directly say your curse but you could tell me if I'm right if I guess it, can't you?" I thought about that before nodding. "I just want it to be said, Scarlett because at the lake . . .”

"I know you’ve guessed it."

He gave a nod. “I can smell when the brand controls the body," he explained. "Hold out your wrist." My body jerked to obey extending the rose scarred wrist to him. He sniffed it and I shuddered achingly. His hand circled my wrist pulling my arm out. His eyes lifted to mine. They were so intense my knees nearly gave out.

"Avery," I whimpered. I felt so anxious. My heart was racing wildly.

His lips brushed the scar so softly I jerked back instinctively. It burnt white hot from disobeying the command. "Scarlett," he growled. "Show me your wrist."

I held it out trembling. He stood from the couch dropping the blanket. My eyes fixed to a spot on the floor unwilling to see his nudity again with how fluctuating my emotions felt. He took my hand in a light touch. It was part of the oddness I felt from him. He could easily hurt me but his touch was so soft.

His thumb slid across my palm blooming gooseflesh down my body. "It looks inflamed," he observed. I froze seeing the shifting emotions play out through his expression. "She made you obedient, didn't she?"