She was doing this for herself. Taking whatever Bane gave and she’d have no regrets.
After his clothes were in a pile on the floor, Bane eyed her from her head to her bare feet. He inhaled and seemed to savor whatever scent was filling the air. Arousal. Lust. Her heart raced faster as Mischka walked toward him with a sway in her hips.
As soon as she was in reach, Bane grabbed her and gave her a hug. A hug. Not the passionate embrace she’d expected. That didn’t mean his body wasn’t aroused, though, because it was. His cock was hard and thrusting against her midsection.
He rested his head on her shoulder and spoke. “I’m sorry for what Gordo did to you and sorry I didn’t kill him sooner. It seems like all I do is apologize to you.”
More tears attempted to rise but Mischka forced them back and slid her hand into his hair. She tipped his head up from her shoulder in order to look him in the eyes. “No, that’s not true at all. I should be apologizing to you.”
“You already did. The day Jaron accused you, you told me you were sorry.”
It wasn’t enough. Couldn’t be. “But...”
“I don’t want another apology.” Bane said, not letting her finish. “That’s behind us. I only want you...as mine. Will you accept my silk, Mischka Yensik?”
He knew her full birth name. She forced down the lump in her throat from his deep formal tone as he repeated his request. “Yes. Gladly. Whatever it is, whatever you want, I accept because I love you.”
Love. At least she thought it was love blazing back at her from his eyes. This was what she’d been searching for her entire life. Her mouth trembled and she locked her jaw to hold in her sobs. He was who she’d been searching for.
Bane nodded and took one step back. When she started to follow, he shook his head. “Wait.”
He retrieved a knife from his pants and clasped it between his teeth then his gaze moved up and he held his arms straight above his head. Silk strands shot out from both of his wrists and latched to the ceiling in a wide patch. Wide eyed, Mischka couldn’t take her gaze off of the webs. She’d seen him weave his threads a few times but it had been nothing this large.
He twisted his hands about quickly in a manner that appeared instinctive, forming a single braid with the two trails. A sharp jerk of his right wrist freed the attachment from those glands leaving a thick rope behind. He looped it about his left forearm and clasped the knife there while extending his right toward her.
“Come closer, Mischka.”
Shivering yet fighting the small spiral of fear, she approached and gripped his hand. Bane smiled tenderly and curved his arm about her waist.
“Hold tight,” he whispered.
It was all the warning she got before he proceeded to spin them in a dazzling display. Mischka squeaked as the room became a blur and latched on to Bane’s waist. Fearing she might fall, she buried her face in his shoulder.
His muffled laughter bounced her head and then he groaned. They were entwined front to front and her breasts were mashed into his chest. Mischka opened her eyes and glared when her vision stopped whirling.
The silver-white webbing he had used to cover her the night they’d first sex shared now looped about both of them at the mid-section in a thick swath. Bane nipped at her bottom lip, his left arm still entwined about the rope hanging from the ceiling, his other hand holding firm to her waist. “Don’t want to drop you. Ready?”
She hadn’t known dropping her was an option. Starting to doubt her eagerness to give him her trust, Mischka muttered, “Sure, why not?”
He laughed and suddenly launched them toward the ceiling. Mischka screamed then closed her eyes tight and clutched him in terror as he flipped them upside down. Just when she thought she would be sick they settled against something soft that cushioned her back. She opened her eyes and glanced around. He’d put them in his bed. The bed that hung in the air.
It took a minute for her stomach to settle. “Do you have to do that all the time to get in the bed?”
He grinned. “Not usually as fun.”
How did he expect her to get in without him? Or was she supposed to? There were so many questions and she was unnerved about not passing whatever test this was. “Bane, maybe—”
He kissed her quiet. Mischka sucked at his tongue on a moan and relaxed. They licked, kissed and ate at each other’s mouths. When Mischka sensed herself needing more, she opened her eyes. Bane hovered above her. A quick check showed the silk unraveled about their hips.
“Was that it?” Somehow she was disappointed. The night he’d performed the fila telarum had been captivating and erotic.
“You wanted more?” Bane asked with an arch of his brow.
With her arms free, Mischka lifted them to his shoulders. “Um...its fine. I just thought...you know—the fila telarum...”
Bane fell to his side and laughed, the sound loud and boisterous. Mischka slapped at his chest until he caught her hands and nipped her fingertips. She tried to roll away, but he held her still for his embrace and nuzzled her cheek before waving a hand around them. “These are my silk, Mischka. By accepting my silk, you agreed to spend your nights in the bed I created for both of us.”
He took her hand, placed it on the bed and she realized it wasn’t an ordinary bed. She struggled to shift about and studied where Bane had put her hand. The support structure and basic framework was made entirely from his webbing. She was essentially counting on a web to withstand their combined weight and not crash to the floor. Panic surged and she sat up abruptly, causing the bed to sway.
“What if we fall? What if it doesn’t hold our weight?” It was a serious possibility as she looked over the edge and contemplated the distance to the floor.
Bane leaned toward her and swept her back into his arms and settled them safely back on the webbing. “It took me two years to create this bed. I used my strongest silk and with each weave, I sealed it with the satae secreted from my glands. When I finished, I had my maman come to look over my work. Offering your silk to a female is not to be taken lightly and I wouldn’t risk my Chosen’s life without knowing this was safe.”
At a loss for words, Mischka found her heart softening. “Bane.”
He lay down and settled Mischka on his chest. “I’m glad you like the fila telarum because I plan to do it again. Many times if you’ll let me.”
Remembering how calm she’d felt, Mischka had no doubt they’d do it often. Bane teased his hands through her hair and unraveled her bun. A slight push of his foot set the bed swinging lightly. It didn’t take long for his naked length pressed against her to revive her desire. Mischka was easing her hand toward his cock when the room spun and darkness filled her vision.
All around them was inky black. Mischka gasped as tendrils of fear stirred. The bed had enclosed them in a narrow cocoon of some sort. She jerked and twisted about.
“Easy.” Bane kept her still. “This is part of it.”
Mischka took a deep breath and settled. As soon as she stopped fighting, the bed started to vibrate around them. Was the bed trying to kill them by smothering them? Bane slid a thigh between her legs and nudged her face up. It was difficult to see but she squinted and just made out his features.
“I know you have a fear of small, dark spaces. The silk is going to constrict shortly. We’ll be immersed for a short period.”