Autumn Dawn (Fate's Intent Book 11)

by Bowles, April

  “What?”

  “I did see Seth. He just left a few minutes ago with a brunet babe on his arm.”

  I was overly surprised. We haven’t been able to get Seth with a girl for weeks. “What? Really?”

  “I know, finally right? He’s been in a serious need to get laid. It’s been awhile. So, what about you? I’m surprised to see you. Pick your reward of the night yet?”

  I turned my back to the table and looked over the crowd as I ate from a small plate with my fingers. “No. It’s hard to decide when there’s so many gathered in one place. I won’t bless just anyone, you know.”

  “Yes. I know but I’ve been seeing a particular blonde that looks like she would meet your qualifications.”

  “And you haven’t snatched her up?”

  “Blondes are more your thing not mine.”

  “Oh, right because of your mother. Well, I must be lucky then. Is it Lynn by any chance?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve never actually seen her before. Why?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I was hoping to. We haven’t really been in touch much since I left the Academy.”

  “I thought she was younger than even me. She might still have to attend.”

  “I guess that’s why there’s not many blondes here. Her father likes her home at a certain hour but I’m surprised I haven’t noticed the one you mentioned. Have you seen her lately? I hope she hasn’t given up on me.”

  Bryce just smiled and looked over the crowd. “No. I don’t think she left yet but I could be wrong. Oh, wait! There she is!”

  I turned my eyes in the direction Bryce was looking and shifted them around. “Where?”

  “Gold dress, bareback, fur wrap, thirty paces east.”

  I spotted her in the exact manner as he described and I could see all the way to her tailbone. She was very slim and elegant looking.

  “Fuck yeah. She’s totally doable from that angle. Good eye.”

  “Wait, it looks like she’s heading north. She might be breaking for the doors.”

  “Oh, shit!” I handed off my food to Bryce and started in a fast pace walk towards the door and the girl. “I owe you!”

  “Oh, yeah you do! Just hurry!”

  I took his advice and broke into a light run through the people, keeping my eyes on the back of the girl’s head so I wouldn’t lose her. She indeed was going to the door and I sped up to get to it in time.

  She left my sights for just a moment as she turned to walk through the main hall and I bolted out of the ballroom. My breaths were deep from the run and it made the girl take notice and turn to see who was following.

  I stood fully to see her face. Her light brown eyes were the highlight and I couldn’t look away.

  “Are you all right, my lord?” She asked.

  My eyes moved from hers and traced the front of her body. Her golden dress was draped low in the front almost completely down to her bellybutton and I moved my eyes back up over her breasts just covered in fur, trying to focus. “Leaving so soon?”

  She smiled and she had the face to smile. Her eyes squinted as her cheeks raised and her perfect little pointed nose wrinkled when she let out a quiet laugh. “It’s been a long night, my lord. Things get a little crazy if I drink too much.”

  “Well, crazy is good. I live for crazy and please, just call me Dirk.”

  “Anything you want, Dirk.”

  I built up the moment and watched her wanting smile. “Anything?”

  “If you’d like. I was just heading to my room—”

  “You’re staying here in the palace?” I hope my question didn’t sound rude but I’ve never seen her before, let alone thought she’d be allowed to stay here.

  “I’m an honored guest you could say. Makes this quite convenient, wouldn’t you agree?”

  I started to smile and stepped closer. “Very much so.”

  She turned and my eyes then traced the backside of her body and I couldn’t help but follow. It was like my feet had a mind of their own and I walked down the downstairs hall just a few paces behind her, thinking to myself of all the things I wanted to do with her petite little body.

  “Sorry that took so long.” We finally stopped in front of a door and she turned to me.

  “I’ll make it worth it.”

  She smiled while she opened the door and entered the room with me still behind. “I have no doubt about that.”

  She closed the door and turned to me, immediately kissing me like she didn’t want to waste any time either.

  I started stepping backwards from the force she used while her arms reached up for my neck and I backed all the way to the bed, sitting down on it. I pulled her down into my lap while our lips were still one and our tongues entwined. I put one hand on her bare back to keep her from falling while the other slid up her dress.

  She was already taking heavy breaths and reached for my coat. I moved my hands to get it off and our lips parted as I got to my feet with her being completely held up by one arm. I set her down gently on her feet with a kiss and I looked in her eyes. They were still like nothing I’ve ever seen and I couldn’t explain what was happening to me.

  This feeling I had was like no other as I stood in her presence and she smiled to my pause. “Having second thoughts? That doesn’t seem like something you’d do.”

  I finally blinked and shook my head. “No. I’m not.”

  The girl’s smile got a little bigger and she lifted up her right hand, unclipping two clips at her shoulders that held up her dress. It came loose quickly and the weight of the fabric straps strung through gold chains made it fall down and then she unhooked another on her chest amongst all the fur. She pulled it off her shoulders and she was now standing topless in front of me, her dress merely settling around her hips.

  My eyes drifted down from hers and traced the pattern of her body. She was quite petite like I’ve already guessed but I could see it more now, especially since she was standing in front of me like this but she was also very fit. I could see the muscles in her chest just over her perfectly portioned breasts and my eyes moved down to the contouring of her abdomen just a bit lower. She was beautiful.

  My eyes and mind were knocked off guard when I saw a small tip of black on her smooth white skin over her left hip. I took a small step back and pulled down the front of her dress to reveal it. My eyes widened when I saw the familiar Black Wings of Death mark embedded in her skin and the sight became blurred.

  I took a breath and the past flashed quickly through my mind, hearing my father’s voice echo. “Don’t get too attached to anyone—your fate remains with that of an Assassin as did mine.”

  I blinked again to regain clear vision and I took more steps away from her with a more panicked breath. “It can’t be.”

  “Dirk?”

  “You’re—you’re an Assassin.”

  She looked down at what I saw and covered her breasts with a sigh as she sat down on the bed. “That did it for you, didn’t it? I pushed you away.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me—Lana?”

  She met my eyes but still seemed shadowed with some regret. “I didn’t want you to treat me differently. I wanted to be with you like how you are with all the others and not have that pressure of Fate and destiny over your head. I just wanted it to be real.”

  “Real? You mean being used because that’s how I am with everyone else.”

  “It’d be better than thinking you have to.” She stood up, turning her back to me and put the fur wrap back over her shoulders to cover herself. “But it’s too late because now you know so you can go. I understand perfectly.”

  She hooked it back on as she went out the balcony door, not putting her eyes on me again.

  I remained in the room and didn’t think to leave. My eyes were focused out the door where she sat herself on the other side of the stone railing on the ground. Knowing who she was seemed to be making things more clear. It was the reason I felt something different around her that I couldn’
t then explain. It was meant to be. It was Fate and I took steps towards the outside doors. I couldn’t just let it go; I wouldn’t.

  “I’m not going to leave. I’m glad that I know. I would have hated myself if you just let me treat you like I have everyone else when you probably don’t even know why I’ve grown to do things that way.”

  I paused there behind her and just hoped she would say something but she wasn’t moving. Her head was rested up on her folded arms that were held up by her knees and that’s where she stayed. I let out a breath and almost turned away but then I saw her lift her head and I immediately stopped.

  “Then why?” She asked in a soft voice.

  “Well, I guess you could say it was because of you.” I stepped over the stone railing next to her and sat on it.

  Lana’s head tilted back to look up. “Because of me?”

  I nodded and lowered myself down to her level. “In a way. I was young when my father told me what would become of my future and I was actually hopeful. It was just before I started going to the Royal Academy when he gave me advice not to get attached to anyone because there would already be someone waiting in my future. I guess I took it a little too seriously by creating this persona.”

  “You haven’t told anyone about this, have you?”

  I laughed. “Fuck no. My parents don’t even know about the persona thing and I could never tell the guys the truth behind it.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m supposed to be the strong one. I don’t want them to see me as weak. It’s better if they see me as the selfish sex mongrel I’ve always been. They down on it but it’s a better respect. I hope my telling you all of this doesn’t make you think worse of me.”

  Lana smiled and leaned on me. “Of course not. I would never.”

  “This isn’t me trying to get in your bed either. You wanted to know so there’s the cold truth as bad as it is for me to say.”

  “Well, I’m glad you told me.” Lana still had her smile and hooked her arm through mine. “It makes me feel like we’re a little closer.”

  “You know, you’re right. Maybe that was a good idea. I didn’t want to treat you like the rest and as of now, you already know more than anyone has.”

  “Lucky me. So, we should get to know each other first then? It’s working.”

  “It’d be a good idea. I don’t know much about you besides your name, what you are and that you’re going to make it quite difficult for me to keep my hands off you.”

  Lana laughed and lifted my arm, putting it up around her. “You can put your hands on me. I don’t mind.”

  I returned the laugh and kept my arm where it was. “Okay.”

  “So, what do you want to know about me?”

  “I don’t know. Anything I should know?”

  “Well, let’s see, I’m probably not like most girls you’re familiar with. They had to tie me up to get me in this dress.”

  I laughed. “Really?”

  “Yeah, notice it doesn’t have sleeves? They just stripped me down, slipped it on and hooked it up. I didn’t get a say.”

  “Well, I like it.”

  “Sadly, I kind of do too. First dress I really ever wore.”

  “Ever?”

  “Oh, yeah, ever.”

  “I guess I’m just a bit surprised. Anything else?”

  “Well, there may be one thing you should know so you don’t freak out if something weird happened.”

  “Something weird like—”

  “Well, let me show you.”

  Lana turned towards me and sat in my lap. I became very aware in an instant and our eyes met. We were both looking deep into it and I began to hear a sound of purring coming from her.

  “You can purr?”

  “I can do a lot more than that but that’s one of my basic favorites. It’s my gift of animal abilities. I can use something they have or turn into one completely. It’s like your gifts only I wasn’t born with it. I’ve only had it for about a year. It’s for being an Assassin.”

  “Wow. That is good to know.”

  “Not getting too weird for you, is it?”

  “Oh, no. You’ve come to the right person for experiencing weird. I’ve had that my whole life since everyone in my family has gifts. It just makes it perfect that you do too. Things shouldn’t be that weird for you either.”

  “Nothing about you would be. Can I see it?”

  “See what?”

  “Your fire.”

  It sounded like she’s been waiting a long time and I didn’t want to disappoint her. I held up my hand and let the flame flow through my fingers. I could control it better these days and didn’t really seem to need to get mad to use it.

  “It’s beautiful.” She said softly.

  She reached towards my hand and I panicked when her hand lit up.

  “Oh!” I doused the fire in mine and tried putting it out as quickly as possible with my shirt. “I’m so sorry! Are you all right?!”

  She laughed and I was utterly confused.

  “Dirk, it’s all right! I’m all right. Don’t worry.”

  “But I should have burned you.”

  “Should have if I was a normal person but I’m not so it’s okay. Your fire can’t hurt me.”

  “Is that another gift?”

  “It’s more of a protection. It was your father’s idea that your mother generously went with.”

  “Really? So, I can’t hurt you?”

  “Nope. I can’t produce it like you can. Instead, I just don’t get hurt by it.”

  “I’m glad. I’d never want to hurt you.”

  A breeze passed by, chilling the night air and Lana got a shiver up her spine since it was already completely exposed. “Okay, that was cold!”

  I got my arms around her and started to get up. “Then perhaps it’s time to head inside.”

  Lana let me pick her right up and I carried her inside the room where it was warm. “Thank you. Ah, I should probably change into something I can sleep in.”

  “Okay, um, well, I guess I’ll leave you to it and see you in the morning.”

  I walked passed her to the door but she took my arm. “Dirk, you don’t have to go. Maybe I’d like you to stay.”

  “I thought we were going to get to know each other? I didn’t want to mistreat you.”

  She smiled as she stepped closer and put her hands on my chest. “Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t stay with me and maybe we do know each other well enough.”

  My eyes shifted around the room and I was a little suspicious. “Is there something you want? You can just say it with me.”

  “I do want something. I’ve waited a long time for this since I knew and I don’t want to let it go. I want you, tonight, now but only if you’ll stay. I know you don’t usually do that but we both know it’s different this time, don’t we? I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

  I was looking in her eyes through her whole speech and couldn’t refuse it. I nodded my head and brought my hands up to her cold arms. “Okay. I think I’ve been needing you just as much.”

  “So, you’ll stay with me?”

  I nodded again and touched her face with my right hand. “I won’t ever leave unless you want me to.”

  Her eyes became just a bit watered and her head shook lightly but quick. “No. Not ever.”

  She pushed herself up on her tiptoes and found my lips with a kiss. I put my arms around her and we held each other tightly for just a moment.

  “I’m glad.”

  She reached up to her head and unraveled her hair from the tight bun, letting it fall. That’s when I saw it. I thought she just had red ribbons in her hair but it was actually red strands of hair like mine mixed in with all her blonde.

  “What’s this?”

  She looked down to see me touch it and laughed. “Oh, they’re my rewards to mark my accomplishments when we were training. I grew up in kind of a dull life but when I saw this color, I just fell in love. Your mother approved. Is it ok
ay? I don’t want you to think that I might be your sister or something.”

  “No. I wouldn’t think that. I love it as well. You look beautiful.”

  She smiled in the most perfect way and the timing was perfect. I wanted her and knew it wouldn’t be like an act of my ways. I treated her very gently with a great amount of passion while I completely got her out of her dress and laid her back on the bed.

  She was becoming relax yet anxious to finally have me and I started kissing her neck, slowly guiding my lips down her body. Lana’s breaths became deep yet still slow the lower I got and she sucked a deep one in quick when my tongue struck the sensitive skin of her femininity. Her hips raised with a loud moan and I got my hands around them, holding them down while I kept my tongue movements smooth and slow.

  Lana brought her hands down towards my head and got a handful of my hair, pulling it towards her. I stopped and looked up to the command. Without words, I read her eyes and started kissing back up her body while I inched my pants off over my hips. Lana held my neck and pulled my lips down into hers when I was close enough and she helped get my pants off with her feet.

  I made the moment completely different than I’ve ever had before and pulled back, looking her directly in the eyes while I slowly penetrated her body. She moaned with every inch she was given and I marveled by her response to it that I wanted that feeling to last as long as I could make it.

  I planned to do everything different this time around and took it slow with her. I made sure I stayed as gentle as possible with my hip thrusts over the slow steady motions she was making with hers. I didn’t want to hurt her by mistake with my massive strength. She already meant something great to me and I used this opportunity to show it.

  The longer it lasted, the more worked up Lana was becoming. She begged me for more with her own movements and her cries of extreme pleasure. Our sweat was mixing together causing a full body lubricant that stimulated both of our erotic senses and fire ignited off my back.

  Lana hugged her legs up around me and she was still begging for it. That’s when I took her right leg and put it up on my shoulder as I continued to thrust my hips hard. Lana’s pleasurable heavy moans got louder as she tried to keep a grip on my slippery skin but I didn’t let up. I submitted to her desires and my aggression was getting more and more intense.