Renaissance

Episode 11

*Autry’s POV*

So much happened in the last 30 hours or so. I had a lot of arrangements to make for my mate. And also, I had to take her to bed. She probably hasn’t been sleeping comfortably for over three months. I was able to feel her physical stress. As I took her upstairs, I planned to get her to bathe, make sure she got her much-needed sleep, make all the arrangements for her room to be re-located, and work on her acceptance in our training sessions. I wanted to have everything ready by the time she was awake, hopefully, no earlier than tomorrow. I wanted to show her all the love and care in the world, which she very much deserved already. 

I opened the door to my room and led the three of us in. Damon, dropping in the bags on the sofa. 

“Damon, would you mind giving us some privacy for the time being? I bet you are exhausted too. Get some rest. I need you well-rested.” I said as nicely as I could muster in this exhausted state.

“Sure, see you tomorrow,” Damon said and quickly left, closing the door behind him. I asked Cecelia to unpack her belongings, and she didn’t argue with me. She seemed nervous for some reason. So  I prepared some camomile tea for her, which lightened up her face instantly. 

“How did you know?” she asked. 

“I didn’t; you just seemed tense. Camomile tea is great for that.” I answered simply, while walking towards the bathroom. 

I started a warm bath for Cecelia. It would help ease most of her aches, from sleeping on the ground for so long, in wolf form. Then the bed would heal them overnight. 

“The bath is ready,” I said, giving her two towels. “Hurry now. It’ll help to relax you.”

“Is it really okay?” she asked with concern. 

“yes, come,” I said, pulling her by her hand. When she was in the bathroom, and the door was closed, I linked Kenneth.

Ken, are you up?

Yes.

I need help arranging a few things. 

Coming right up! he said. Of course, he had no idea yet.

No, I’m not alone. I’ll send the instructions via e-mail. I said, trying to start the computer. 

I’m glad you’re back in the game. Finally, Damon and I were distraught. He said obliviously. 

I started writing in the mail all the details I wanted to be done. Where will her new room be located and what kind of furniture to put in… so on and so forth. Ken indeed was the most rested person amongst us, so I demanded him to work overnight and have everything ready by noon the next day.

Just as I was about to send the mail, Cecelia came out from the bath. I looked up only to see a goddess who was namely my mate.

The towel I lent her was tightly wrapped around her beautiful hourglass figure, secured over her breasts. Her hair was down, covering her bare shoulders painfully for me. She was slightly whqqqçblushing. So-damn-cute! I thought to myself. I tried to think of something else to prevent getting a b***r.

"You're earlier than I anticipated," I stated just matter of factly.

"If I stayed there a second more, I'd fall asleep. The bath was so relaxing. Thank you for letting me use it." She said, diverting her eyes to the floor. She slowly walked towards me, causing my heart to race a million miles. I got utterly disappointed when she walked past me and towards the bed, where her clothes were neatly folded now.

"You realize that the mate bond works two ways?" She almost asked. Catching me dumbfounded for a second.

"What?"

"Your feelings…" she simply shrugged. And it was my turn to be embarrassed.

"I am so sorry Cecelia. I can't help it. You are my mate." I said.  "Wolves usually complete the mating process right after they find each other, I am okay with waiting until my last breath, but Godric apparently has other plans." I sighed. "And you being the Goddess that you are, doesn't help to keep my need to devour you in check either." She looked back down at her clothes.

"I am no Goddess." 

"Oh, but you are!" I said with a shy smile. I was sure it looked odd on me, being the self-centred jerk I was. "I'll take my turn in the bath, relax and take the bed to sleep. The sheets are clean."

"Thank you." She said softly, and I went to the bathroom. 

I brushed my teeth before heading to the tub. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she didn't drain the water. I hopped in quickly and just let the now lukewarm bath relax my muscles. I've been unable to do this for a long time and had to admit it felt wonderful.

I want little mate. Godric demanded.

No. She's fragile.

Maybe, but she needs-

Shut it, Godric! She needs an understanding mate, and I plan on being just that! I know it's painful. I feel everything you do, remember? She needs us to be supportive. Not for us to r**e her. I shooked my head. Just keep it in if it's not going to be useful.

I felt him retreating into the depths of my mind. He was pissed? So I'd just let him be! I was determined not to hurt her again, ever!

I took my time before taking the plug off to drain the water down. I stepped out and into my room, grabbing a towel and wrapping it for decency on my way.

I stepped into the room. I expected Cecelia to be asleep by now, but she was sitting in the bed with a book on her lap and once again devouring me with her stares. I smiled. 

"Couldn't sleep?"

"No-I… just…" the room filled with the delicious scent of her arousal, tempting me to do things that would end up in her screaming my name on top of her lungs.

"Little mate…" I said, trying to control the urge to jump in the bed and rip her new-and-too-decent pyjamas apart and took every drop of willpower in me. 

"I wondered if I took the bed, where you'll be sleeping?" She blushed and looked down "then I couldn't sleep at all, so I borrowed a book from the shelf." 

"Obviously, I'll be taking the couch," I said, starting to dry off my hair. I watched as her eyes grew double in size and back. 

"Well," she said softly ", we can share the bed if you want to." It was a shallow whisper, almost inaudible. But I heard it anyway.

"Little mate, I'm afraid I might not be able to control my urges if you are that close," I admitted it honestly. 

"I want to trust you wouldn't do anything that  I'm not willing to cooperate, though." She said in that whisper again. I sighed. She wanted to trust me. She was exposing herself to me just like this. 

Godric, did you hear that?

Yeah,

Well? Will you be able to keep yourself in check?

I will try my best. You're right; we can't do anything which will hurt her. She's just too valuable to rush anything.

Right… behave! She needs us close.

Right.

"Okay, I'll lay with you," I said. Turning my back to her and walking into my tiny closet to get dressed. When I came back in some shorts and a t-shirt, I saw she moved slightly to the left side of the bed, laying now, maybe even asleep already. I sighed. 

I went to the other side of the bed, which was closer to the door, and got in, barely using just the exact amount of space my body needed to put some distance between us. Her back was turned to me. I tucked myself in, trying not to wake her, but she swiftly turned her face to me, eyes closed. She was the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. 

"I know it's okay, Autry. Relax and get some sleep…" she said, and I didn't know if she was talking in a dream or, in fact, addressing me. But her words helped me relax a little, anyway. I closed my eyes, and sleep took over my consciousness instantly.

*Cecelia's POW*

I woke up without opening my eyes. I felt so refreshed, energised and content, almost like a new person. I was so warm and comfortable. It felt like I slept on the clouds with feathers as my blanket. I slowly opened my eyes to find out that I was asleep on… I jumped in surprise. And hastily jumped out of bed.

"Oh-God, oh God, oh God…" I was screaming.

"Cecelia.. please", Autry begged.

"No, no, no… I’m so, so, so sorry!" I buried my face into my palms. I was literally strangling him! I was sleeping ON HIM! WHAT THE HOLY GARDENS!

"Cecelia, it's okay." He said again, hastily rushing over to me. I was relieved a little to see he was fully dressed, peeking from between my fingers. But my panic was still there.

"It's clearly not!" I squeaked. 

"Cecelia, will you please calm down?" He was trying to let my hands loose from my face. "Look at me, Cecelia, please." He pleaded; a sudden sadness crushed my heart like tsunami waves. I slowly lowered my hands.

"I am so sorry, Autry. Oh my god, I'm so ashamed!" I said.

"Why?" He asked softly. "Because you hugged me in your sleep?" I felt blushing so severely; I was sure I was turning into a beet.

"That's not a hug! I was practically using you as my bed!" I squeaked again. I couldn't believe it.

"Cecelia, I don't mind…" he trailed off with a sad face.

"But in fact, you should! You warned me it would be difficult for you. And I reassured you nothing would happen, only to… strangle you?" 

"I was happy and comfortable until you started shouting." He pouted. That's when the realisation hit me on the face. I was making too big of a deal?

“I’m sorry,” I said in a whisper. Letting my arms drop to my sides like a dead octopus. I hung my head. He cautiously hugged me, and I let him. 

“It’s okay,” he said, resting his chin on my head. “I slept like a baby. I didn’t even realise it was your presence that kept me so comfortable and warm until I opened my eyes to find out,” he explained his side of the story. “And I was delighted until you jumped out of the bed like I was a ghost and started shouting…” I let his calming scent and touch bring my heart rate to normal. 

“I was so comfortable as well.” I softly said into his chest. Every drop of hate towards Autry left my brain that instant. I now -and I know that happened a little too quickly- believed he was a good man who had a misjudgement once. Was it enough to sentence someone for eternal torture? Was it enough reason to infect my soul with the foul thoughts of revenge? This felt like it was where I belonged all along, in the arms of this man. The man who appeared out of the blue and saved me from the hands of my own mother, whose memories were altered into complete rejection of my very existence. He might not have done any heroic fights, but if it was not for him, chances were, I would still be chained in that cold dungeon cell. I took a deep breath of Autry’s scent in, calming me even more. I felt like jelly now. 

“Autry,” I said softly. 

“Hum?” 

“Can we lay in bed a little more?” I asked shyly. He looked at me from above, clearly puzzled.

“Well, that was my original plan. That’s why I asked Damon to bring in some food,” he said. “But are you sure?” I nodded. 

“Yes, and I’m sorry for all the commotion. I was just very startled.” I elaborated. “I never slept with anyone, let alone with a man.” I watched as his eyes turned pitch black, played there a moment, studying my face, and then turning back to their green colour. 

“Cecelia,” he said my name like a prayer, stirring my insides, and I felt sudden wetness in my core. He inhaled audibly “you’ve got to stop tempting me.”.

I just raised to my tiptoes and reached to his lips, kissing him once again. This time, I wasn’t searching for answers; I already found mine. Although, he probably was still oblivious to this fact. I loved how his lips felt so soft, how he didn’t try to advance further. He was just letting me kiss him. And I did just that, kiss him. My hand climbed up to his dishevelled hair, its fingers brushing through his hair.

“Cecelia,” he said without breaking our kiss “if you don’t stop…” I pushed my tongue from in between his lips to make him stop talking, and it apparently worked because he made the sexiest growling sound there was. He grabbed me by my waist with both arms, pushing me against him and slightly lifting me off the ground. I used the opportunity to wrap my legs around his waist. “We have to stop.” he tried to warn me again, and I just clung on even tighter to him. 

I felt hot! SO hot! I thought I was ready for him to have me. But before any such occurrence was possible, the door was knocked once, and his brother kicked it open, hands full with a tray of food. Causing us to awkwardly stop and look at him. After a moment of us trying to get out of our trance, I jumped off of Autry’s arms, hustling myself into the bathroom. 

I heard from behind closed doors Autry scheduling his brother regarding "waiting for a response after knocking a door" and something in the lines of "he should be thankful that they are brothers". I also heard Damon apologising a hundred times. As I heard the door close, I left the bathroom hesitantly. Autry was so angry, and I didn't know how to deal with it at all.

I slowly stepped inside the room; I could see Autry’s angry face very clearly, which to my surprise, lightened up when he caught my glimpse, and he shyly smirked.

“I’m sorry for my stupid brother,” he said, scratching his scalp. 

“Don’t worry; I bet he never thought we…” I trailed off. I wanted to say I bet he never thought I would jump on you like that on the first opportunity. But I kept it in. I sighed. I wanted to jump on him still, but all the atmosphere was gone now, and I didn’t want to look like a b***h. 

“What is going on in this pretty little head?” he asked, startling me as I didn’t realise he came so close while I had my own inner struggle.

“Nothing…” I said, but my voice cracked so bad. 

“Well, I was thinking if you would be willing to continue what we were doing?” he asked with that maddening husky voice of his that caused cramps through my body. I just stood there, looking at him. I didn’t know what to do, how to act. Me 20 hours ago and me now were two different personalities. It was insane. I gulped, unable to detach my eyes from his. 

He slowly leaned in. I had no intention of rejecting his advance. I waited, just the way he did. He stopped, his nose just about to touch mine. He caressed the back of my neck with his hand, barely touching it at all. His eyes were fixated on mine. My body was responding to his sweet torture, wanting more of it. 

I closed my eyes. And opened them again. 

“What do you say, Cecelia,” he asked in a whisper, his lips were brushing mine, and his breath smelled like a freshly harvested mint garden. I shivered. His hand travelled its way with non-touches from the side of my neck, through my arms and back up, causing goosebumps all over. A moan escaped my lips.

“Tell me, Cecelia, what do you want?” he asked again. He was determined to hear it out loud.

“I- want…” I trailed off

“You want what, Cecelia.” He asked again very calmly. 

“I want you to k-ki-kiss me,” I said. On cue with my request, Autry’s lips started to put feathery little kisses all over my face. Bendis was going crazy in my mind. She was pushing me to tell very - very dirty things to our mate, which I was not even able to imagine. But this torture was starting to irritate me a lot. I let an unsatisfied growl escape my throat. 

“What is it, Cecelia? I thought you wanted me to kiss you,” he whispered, through the course of his kisses, onto my face, his breath tickling my skin slightly. 

“I want-” I stopped, trying to put it into words. What was it that I want? His little game was burning my insides, making juices come from between my legs and soak my underwear. I wasn’t able to think clearly. “I want more,” I said, unable to define what it was that I wanted, even in my head.

“How much more do you want?” I was crazed by that moment… I wanted all!

“A lot” was all I dared to answer. 

“Than a lot shall I give!”