It began with soft touches and gentle holds, but quickly turned into something more passionate. There was a hunger between us that felt endless, as if we could never fully satisfy the longing we shared.
More times than I cared to admit, I found myself on my knees, with Caz standing bare before me. I teased and tasted him thoroughly, taking pleasure in his pleasure. He did the same for me, pulling me down onto a blanket spread over the mossy forest floor. He told me to prop myself on my elbows and hike up my skirts, then buried his head between my legs, sending waves of heat through my body. Sometimes, Caz took me sweetly among the trees, other times, he pressed me against the base of a trunk greedily.
Caz always knew exactly what I needed.
Today was one of those days he had bent me over and taken me with lust. My knees trembled as I clung to the mossy hill, our bodies moving together. In moments like this, all I could feel was bliss.
But all good things eventually come to an end.
When we finished and untangled ourselves, we settled into a quiet embrace. I was the first to speak, my voice a whisper.
“Summer’s end is almost here.”
“It is,” Caz replied. “But think of all we’ve done. You’ve nearly mastered reading, and we’ve charted most of Brier Len’s forest, at least the parts the Academy needs for now.”
“That’s true,” I said. “What will you do next?”
Caz’s fingers drifted through a patch of grass, brushing thethin blades.
“I suppose I’ll do whatever my Master and the Academy ask of me.”
“Right.” The sadness in my voice was impossible to hide.
“I’ll need to pack and report back to the Academy within the week. I’ll admit, the thought of returning doesn’t excite me,” Caz said, clearly disappointed. “I’ve grown quite attached to Brier Len.” His green eyes met mine, and the meaning behind them was clear enough.
“I’m not thrilled about it either,” I said heavily. Then I teased, “Why not just stay with me?”
Caz laughed, his smile spreading like sunlight. “Why not just come with me?”
I gave a playful eye roll, though my heart pounded in my chest. “I know you can’t stay,” I murmured, pressing myself closer to him, “and you know I can’t leave.”
Yet the thought still burned inside me:What if I did?
Ready to drawthe world with me, Odessa?
As Caz’s last days in Brier Len approached, the words he had whispered to me months ago spiraled through my thoughts. No matter how many times I reminded myself that this was always meant to be temporary, that once his assignment was over we’d have to say goodbye. But it didn’t prepare me for the hollow his leaving would carve in my heart.
Maybe this was the outcome I deserved. I had been foolish to play such a dangerous game, using pieces of my heart as stakes.
This morning, Caz and I had breakfast at sunrise once more, though all his work could have been done back at the inn. Tomorrow, he would be gone. Neither of us spoke of it, but we both felt time slipping away. We wanted to savor every last moment.
I’d miss Bellona too. The beautiful mare had brightened my mornings with her gentle nuzzles and softhuffs.
I had never been so disheartened by something outside my control. I wanted to scream, to shout at how unfair it all felt.
But I was skirtsfolk, and skirtsfolk belong in Brier Len.
“I have one last surprise for you,” Caz said, sitting on the blanket with his elbow propped on his knee. His green eyes studied the horizon, admiring the blend of yellow, orange, and pink. He looked every bit like a scholar lost in thought.
“You do?” I asked, tilting my head. “What is it?”
“Well, if I told you, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise, would it?”
“Come on, spoil it for me.”
“Fine, fine.” Caz chuckled, the sound filling the air. “It took some time and a few favors, but I managed to get my hands on one. It’s a novel. One I think you’ll adore.” He turned to face me. “Your very first book. The first one in all of Brier Len.”
“Really?” I said, breathless. “That’s so thoughtful of you.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
