Chapter 16: High Stakes

I yawned as I stretched; feeling alive again after an extended rest.

"Yawning like that you'll definitely catch flies." Said Don. I leered at him and shot back.

" What I do with my mouth isn't any of your business Don." I mentally kicked myself for that reply. What kind of reply is that?! Why was it some things sounded better in your head? Don turned a bit to shoot me an enquiring look and said

"Hmm now I wonder; exactly what can you do with that mouth aside from defy me?" Honestly why did this have to be a topic? And it's so inappropriate I replied

"L-like I said-" he cut me off with a serious look and a low raspy voice.

"We can change that." I know he was the stoic type but that statement with that straight face! I felt my cheeks heat up and looked away from his serious gaze.

"Not funny." I said it as steady as I could; finding it suddenly hard to breathe.

" I wasn't joking." The tone in his voice was so soft I unconsciously looked back at him wide eyed; but he was now facing forward and I couldn't see the face he was making.

We were now on day 3 of our journey it's a strange thing travel, everything seemed to begin to blend together; When did the day end and night begin? Sometimes it was hard to remember.

The silence between us stretched on and I relaxed resigning my self to drawing on a note pad. It wasn't until I began to draw the facial features and hair that I realized I was drawing Amos; My hand went still and I stared at the page perplexed. What did I do to get his attention anyway? I think I would remember battling an existence that was probably 2 or 3 ranks below a demon lord! I mean he was on par with Don who's a Hero!

The image of him vulnerable and pleading played over and over in my head; No one had ever looked at me with so much love and desire.

A seed of guilt planted itself in my guts and I winched looking at the page in front of me.

"What is that vampire to you anyway?" Don's sudden question caught me off guard and I replied dumbly,

"What?" He half turned still holding the reigns in one hand and pointed at my picture. His face was carefully neutral but his eyes were cold.

"Do I even need to protect you?" He said it with a hint of anger that only further fueled my confusion

"What?!" I said again pure shock coloring my voice; I looked down at the page as the wagon came to a sudden halt. Before I could ask why we stopped; Don was in front of me, he snatched the page from my grasp and glared at me with angry eyes.

"What is your relationship with that vampire?!" Don grabbed me up from the wagons floor and shook me; all the while firing off questions without pause.

"How do you know him?! When did you meet?! Why does he act so familiar with you?!" My head was spinning as I began trying to settle down the overpowering force that was Don.

"S-! Stop! Stop shaking me!" He stopped but didn't let go. His eyes bore into mine with a furiosity I'd never seen before.

"If you knew him why did you hide it from me?! You guys must be so close!" I looked on in disbelief as Don continued talking like a jealous Boyfriend who caught his girl doing something she shouldn't be.

"You even drew a picture of him?! Man I must be looking pretty stupid right now getting in between your little captive play." He said with a slight eye roll. I lost it and began to laugh without restraint. This guy was unbelievable was he really so angry about the picture? I replied to his rhetorical question.

" Yeah you do look pretty stupid but not for the reason you think." I could feel his cold gaze without even looking and I sobered quickly.

"What are you hiding from me Eva?" I looked away suddenly noticing the lack of distance between us. His face was to close; I could feel his breath on my neck and my breathe caught; I swallowed hard.

"I don't even know where to begin on how to explain this bizarre situation. He knows me but I don't know him okay!" I hoped that was enough to get him to back off for the moment. His close proximity was doing things to me that I couldn't control. His domineering eyes flitted over my face and locked gazes with me. Why wasn't he moving away?

"Then why are you drawing him topless?" He stared me down causing my body to heat up and I wiggled uncomfortably.

"I-It's not like that. I wasn't paying attention and I guess I was thinking about.."

that night's events with Amos played in my head again. My body quivered remembering the feel of his tongue as it played with my body and teased at my in sides; the sharp pain that felt like I was being torn apart only to be swept away by unholy pleasures and adrenaline. Excitement and ecstasy that's all it could be defined as.

"Eva.. does that mean you think about him..?" The question didn't register;

My will was strong but my bodies needs were stronger. I wrapped my arms around Don's neck and began to kiss him in earnest.

I could see the shock and then desire on Don's face before it went back to neutral. He pulled me off him and held me back at arms length.

"Eva what are you doing?!" He sounded concerned and careful.

My voice was meek and my words came out between gasps.

"I ...can't ...hold on anymore.." I said and a dark expression crossed his face.

" You get this turned on just thinking about him?" His voice was grim but it only made me even more impatient. I simply nodded no longer caring; What was the point in lying anyway? No man had shown me that level of pleasure before. I didn't even know you could feel such euphoria from pain.

He only hesitated for a moment before he snatched me into his strong embrace. he began to kiss me and strangely it felt passionate causing the moisture between my legs to pool. I pulled at his armor trying to take it off until he finally pulled back from me and began to take it off himself; I followed his lead and disrobed. He pulled me onto the floor of the covered wagon right after; pausing only once to take a look at my naked body. What is he thinking?! Does he like it?! Why do I care? I'm terrible, this is so perverse but I can't help myself! I squeezed my eyes shut and felt a sudden press on my lips; upon opening them I saw Don staring right at me and he kissed me once more with a passion. His eyes glinted as he forced my lips to part; His tongue played in my mouth while his hands roamed down to part my legs; my body rose and fell beneath his touch. The thought of being touched brought back Amos's words "Do you enjoy his touch so much?" My mouth said The answer before It ever registered the thought of it.

"No.." I said it between kisses and Don shot me a confused look before he positioned himself between my legs.

What I wanted was to be rid of this unnatural hunger that has seemed to develop with in me. Whatever Amos did to me it has made me into this..

"I won't fit completely unless.." he trailed off as he prodded my entrance. Causing me to push on him and moan with need

"This is unfair to me you know. I can't enter you fully; yet you seem so set on impaling yourself on my dick." I gave him a pout and he looked uneasy. Was he worried about hurting me?

"I want it, no I NEED it. Fix me please." I begged desperately giving him the cutest and most earnest look I could muster, Was this really me? Did I even care? I needed to quench this hunger or I'd never be able to think straight again!

Just as Don nodded and pulled back to thrust; the covered wagon shifted dangerously. Don got to his feet immediately already rearing to fight; he grabbed his sword and jumped out of the back of the wagon naked in full day light. I heard the unified howls of what sounded like a very large pack of wolves.

Why now?! I mean sure we are kinda sitting ducks parked here on the trail side but this is to sudden.

I heard the growling and snarls and immediately went to settle the oxen. Peeking out I was shocked and terrified. The size of these black wolves were huge and vaguely reminded me of the forest guardian. However these were smaller in comparison.

They seemed to be ignoring the oxen for now and focusing solely on Don. He dodged, parried, and countered with all the confidence you'd expect from a hero. Not wanting to be useless I summoned my magic and shot off a current of fire at the wolves; causing confusion with in the ranks of the pack. Don took this opportunity to do a special attack.

"Intersecting lights!" He shouted. His movement speed increased to the point I couldn't keep track of him. All I saw was wave after waves of lights shaped like crescent moons coming from the left and right; they collided and exploded. I fell back into the wagon feeling the force of the shock wave. The oxen reared in protest and moments later Don returned; He shot me a look and then we both began to laugh. We both got dressed no longer in the mood for pleasure; He gathered the hides of the wolves and we were off.

"I hope we reach the next village soon. With so many pelts we can make a killing." I eyed him teasingly and replied mockingly

"Wow you're actually a broke hero." He let out a heavy sigh and said in a pained voice.

"It's not my fault you can blame my fiancés. It keeps them out of my hair for a bit I suppose but only one of them is another adventurer and the other 3 happen to be of noble lineages." It sounded tough being the Hero. But it was his coin and they weren't married yet. What were their parents doing that they would cut off their own children.

"But as nobles shouldn't their parents be helping to?" He gave another heavy sigh.

" I wish but they are living at my estate and I'd lose much face as the hero of I asked for help. True my reserves run deep thanks to high stakes jobs. But because I worry about them I don't dare touch the coin I put into those reserves. So any coin I make from basic stuff like this is what I use. We should be able to get a room and food no problem." I take in everything he says until something catches my attention.

" Don't you mean rooms?" I ask suspicion in my voice. He looked at me and a roguish smile spread on his face.

"No I meant what I said." My cheeks heat up and I glare at him.

"I'm not one of your many brides you know!" His gaze dropped to my lips and He swiftly pulled me into a deliciously rough kiss; Keeping my head in place with a strong hand he forced my lips to part allowing his tongue to dominate my mouth. He released me after a moment and said

"I know, but that's why I....we can do this for a little while longer, can't we?" His hand cradled my head as his eyes seemed to wander over my features. What exactly is this? What have I gotten myself into?!