Maria entered unaccompanied a short while later. “You wanted to see me?”
“Relax, we only wanted to have a little informal chat now that you’ve settled in. Come, sit with us,” Rohanna said, patting the seat between her and Tikanna. “So, we hear that Zepharos has taken you on quite the adventure.”
“I’ll say. He pushed me hard and got me to do things I didn’t realize I could.”
Rohanna leaned forward, her eyes sharp. “Did he force himself on you?”
“What? No, I don’t mean like that. I mean he motivated me to not give up. To run harder, and faster, and farther than I thought possible, but he did it in the most supportive and considerate way he could. At least, considering the circumstances. But force himself on me? He has been nothing but a gentleman.”
The women shared a glance.
“We did notice the way he looked at you,” Tikanna noted. “He desires you, that much is clear. And while he has been improving himself, we only ask because he has always had a bit of a reputation.”
“I’m well aware of that. He told me about his past. How he used to be. And you’re right, there is an attraction, and one I’ve very happily participated in, but on equal footing. Hell, he was so dead-set on not crossing any boundaries of propriety that I practically had to jump him to—uh, sorry. TMI.”
The old woman cocked her head. “TMI?”
“Too much information. I didn’t mean to?—”
Tikanna laughed. “Girl, it’s been a long time since I’ve taken a lover. These days, living vicariously is about all the excitement I get. So don’t you worry about any of your TMI.”
“Still, I’m speaking about things I should keep private.”
“But you are happy?” Rohanna asked. “You feel safe? Seen?”
Maria’s radiant grin told them more than words could. “It’s been amazing.”
“Well, then, we are glad for you. For you both. Now, tell us more about your arrival on our world. Your Raxxian experience, recapture, and transport to the arena, and, of course, what happened at the games themselves.”
“Okay, but you’d better buckle up. It’s been a pretty wild ride.”
She sat and told her tale, urged to go into great detail, especially about her treatment as a forced competitor at the games. The women knew of them, of course, but neither had ever ventured out to attend them in person. Only Zepharos had made the trek. But he was a man of the world, and much as he appreciated the Oraku ways, he also reveled in travel. Technology. Novelties and excitement. And, it seemed, their guest had provided him with a reason to indulge in all of that.
The women talked for hours, then Maria was shown to herlodging. It was a simple but very cozy structure that looked like a yurt from the outside, but it had been decked out on the inside into something more akin to what she’d imagined a magical Bedouin desert camp might look like. Cushions and low seating, candles, and colorful tapestries. It might not have been quite as lavish as the spa, but it was wonderful in its own way.
She headed out and walked the village a bit, taking in the sights and meeting the locals as she simply wandered without any destination in mind. This was her unwinding time. Her chance to let her body fully prepare for the completion of her runes in the morning.
Zepharos found her a short while later while out for his own mind-clearing stroll.
“I see you are exploring,” he said, his eyes flashing a look of barely contained bodice-ripping heat that made Maria’s nether bits tingle with delight.
She managed to contain herself, not jumping him then and there but rather taking his hand with a warm squeeze. There were too many questioning eyes around, and this was his home. She would be on her best behavior. For now, anyway.
“I was just enjoying this place. You’re lucky to have grown up somewhere so tranquil.”
“Some of us would call it boring, but your point is taken. And the more I travel, the more I do appreciate the beauty of it here. The lack of commotion. Mind you, Ilovethe commotion, but sometimes some peace and quiet is nice too.” He turned for a side path that appeared to lead out of the village. “Come on, I want to show you around while it’s still light out.”
He did just that, guiding her through the woods he’d played in as a boy, the streams he swam and fished in. The natural springs where he and the rest of the village soaked in giant communal baths. By the time they returned to the village it was finally growing dark and the smell of food filled their noses.
“Wow, that smells amazing.”
“Dinner is nearly ready.”
“They’re not doing this for me, are they? I don’t want to impose.”
He put his thick arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “No, it isn’t. We eat as a village, sharing everything as has been done for generations. And speaking of food, it’s time you sampled some Oraku fare. It’s not as fancy as what we ate last night, but little is. I do, however, find it quite delightful in its simplicity.”
“That sounds great. Lead the way.”
