Page 23 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

The blonde in question pouts, but Mariane nods. With that same lazy smile still on her face, she says, “Well in that case, did you happen to find any new clothes for me?” She glances at the clothing spread all over the floor. “Seems a waste to put the ones I’d borrowed back on if I could change into something that actually fit me instead.”

Unable to help myself, I let my eyes trail over Mariane’s naked form as I rise from my chair. “I did. I’ll go retrieve them now. Be back in a moment.” Crossing the room, I give her breasts one last glance before cracking the door open and slipping out into the hallway.

Once I’ve collected the large sack full of clothes I’d picked out for Mariane, and taken a moment to compose myself, I exit my room, nearly running into yet another disheveled courtesan walking down the hallway, shoes in hand. Muttering a quick apology, I give the woman a nod before stepping up to the door next to mine. Not wishing to make the same mistake twice, I rap my knuckles against it a few times instead of just entering.

There’s a soft chuckle, then Mariane calls out, “Come in.”

Exhaling a heavy breath, I push the door open. The blonde is gone, her dress no longer a pool of fabric on the floor. Mariane, however, is still sitting on the bed, wrapped in a sheet with her knees pulled up to her chest. Stepping into the room, I close the door behind me and move toward the beautiful woman who has consumed so many of my thoughts as of late.

I make sure to keep my eyes firmly on hers as I hold the bag of clothing out to her. “I didn’t know what you'd prefer to wear, so I purchased several options. Mostly travel clothing and a bit that is reinforced in case we get into another skirmish.” With the softest smile I’ve ever seen on her face, she takes the bag from me. Doing my best to ignore the way her fingers briefly brush against mine, I continue, “I did also purchase a dress and a few skirts, in case you’d wish to wear those instead. At least while we’re in a town.”

“Thank you, Vannaria. I really appreciate it.” Holding up the sheet shielding her nakedness with one hand, she begins rifling through the bag with the other.

Taking that as my cue to leave her to dress, I turn for the door. “You’re very welcome. I hope they’re to your liking.”

“Wait.” My foot freezes in midair at her request. “Can you… Can you stay?” I glance over my shoulder at her, brows furrowed. She sighs, slowly lifting her own gaze from the bag in her lap. “Not to watch me dress, or to… I find myself not wishing to be alone right now, is all.”

Letting out the breath I’d unintentionally been holding, I give her a nod of understanding. After locking the door, I sit back down on the chair I’ve become intimately familiar with. Closing my eyes, I relax into it, listening to the soft rustling of fabric coming from the bed across from me.

Regardless of what happened the last time I was in this chair, I have no intention of making Mariane uncomfortable. She specifically asked for my presence, not my eyes on her. Though, in all honesty, after what just happened, I’d likely be willing to give this woman anything she’d ask of me.

*Ahem. Please tell me you at least intend to ask Mariane why she allowed you to watch while she fucked the woman our coin paid for.*

I make sure to keep both my sigh and response contained to only our mind. *Aren, has anyone ever told you not to look a gift horse in the mouth?*

They scoff. *You can accept a gift while also taking stock of any complications that might come with it. A horse with bad teeth is unlikely to be a reliable mount, after all.*

Even though our eyes are closed, I still roll them. *Perhaps if you got laid more often you’d understand. Sometimes, when you’re caught up in a moment of passion, you make choices that you wouldn’t otherwise. I’m sure this was nothing more than that.*

*You’re right, Vann. Aren does need a good fucking. Maybe then they’d quit being such a sour puss all the time,* Rayne comments, her presence previously going unnoticed.

Predictably, Aren lets out a pained sigh. *Your suggestion is noted and will likely be ignored. I have better things to do than waste time getting fingered by a stranger. But Mariane is no stranger. If we intend to be traveling with her all the way back to her home forest, we need to know–*

“You can open your eyes now. I’m dressed,” Mariane says, pulling me from my mental conversation, and accidentally cutting Aren off in the process.

As I slowly do as she says and open my eyes, I have to choke back a gasp. She’s chosen the outfit I’d selfishly wished I would be allowed to see her in one day. Tight black leather trousers tucked into shiny new boots and dark blue shirt poking out from under the thin grey leather armor covering her chest and abdomen, with matching bracers on her forearms.

My gawking is interrupted by Mariane clearing her throat.

Quickly shaking my head to rid myself of the spell her beauty had momentarily put me under, I dart my eyes up to hers and clear my throat. “You look wonderful. Apologies for staring.”

With a smirk tugging at her lips, she quirks a brow and says, “Oh, back to the apologies are we? And here I’d thought we’d moved past that already. Especially now, considering…” She trails off, teasing expression faltering. “As a matter of fact, I should be the one apologizing to you. For asking you to stay earlier. That was inappropriate of me and–”

Unable to help myself, I begin to laugh. “I’m the one who barged in on you two unannounced. If anything, I should be bowing before you, offering you lifelong worship in exchange for allowing me to witness such a glorious sight.”

Her smirk slowly slips back into place. “Hmm. As nice as that sounds. I have a much simpler wish you could fulfill. If you’re feeling charitable.”

Grinning, I stand from my chair and place my hand over my chest. “Anything Her Majesty wishes, I shall happily provide.”

*You are ridiculous, have I mentioned that lately? Completely, ridiculous,* Aren grumbles. I ignore them.

Mariane laughs softly, then her eyes drop to her hands, which are now tightly gripping the sheets on either side of her. “Will you… Stay with me tonight?”

My eyes widen in shock, even as my head automatically dips in a nod. “Alright.”

I don’t need to question her further, her previous request for me to stay while she changed had been answer enough. She clearly feels unsafe here. Which is understandable, even if she likely won’t admit it.

She takes a shaky breath, and in a whisper so soft I’m only able to hear it due to my heightened hearing, asks, “Can you also…hold me? Right now, and while I sleep?”