She saved me. She didn’t know me, had never met me, yet she took care of me like I was kin. I know I’ll never be able to adequately express my gratitude. How can I? Her actions were heroic. They deserve heroic rewards—and I have nothing to give in repayment.
As I replay our time together, my mind keeps coming back to the ride to the palace. Her legs pressed against mine. Her arm around me. Her hand sliding up my thigh …
Before I realize what I’m doing, my hand traces Cara’s path on my leg. I start at my knee, then slowly slide up. My heart rate picks up, and my breathing shallows. I don’t quite know what’s happening to me, why I’m like this when I think of her, but I find I rather enjoy it.
When I get to the spot in my memories where we were interrupted, my narrative shifts. Rather than stop where she did, I keep going. I inch up between my legs until I reach the patch of coarse curls at the apex. My body jerks when I brush my fingers over a small lump at the top of the now-wet folds, sending an electric rush though me, and I zero in on that spot. Faster and faster I rub, picturing Cara lying next to me.
While I've had these desires in the past, this is something completely new. I've explored my body before, learned what feels good and what doesn’t, but this marks the first time I've pictured a specific person while doing so. Her touch, her scent, her laugh, her smile. She smiles so often, yet when it’s directed at me, I always feel like I’m the only person in the world she’s smiling at, like that smile is reserved only for me.
The more I think about Cara, the more aroused I become, until I give in to my urges and slip two fingers inside myself, pumping them in and out as I squirm on the bed. Tiny gasps and mewls squeak out of my mouth. I clamp my other hand over it to stifle myself, though I doubt anyone can hear through the thick wooden door.
I arrive at a thunderous climax, and to my horror I end up soaking the sheets in the middle of it. I scoot off the wet spot and lie there, panting, until I've caught my breath. When I'm finally able to move, I get up and strip the soiled sheets in shame. What will Cara think if she learns I wet the bed my first night here?
After a half hour of searching, I find fresh sheets. I make the bed, then panic again when I realize I have no idea where to dispose of the dirty linens. I hastily stuff them in the darkened fireplace and ignite them with my gifts.
There. No evidence.
Well, none save for the smell. It’s not the same acrid scent of urine; it’s sweeter, almost pleasant … and unfortunately, it lingers even after I’ve eliminated the bedding. I heave open one of the heavy windows, hoping to air out the room before anyone else comes in.
It takes over an hour for the rapid thudding of my heart to slow to a normal speed. By that time, it’s well into the night, and I hope Cara doesn’t have early breakfast planned for us. I drift off to sleep listening to the chirping of insects outside.
***
I wake with a start as someone climbs into the bed with me. I summon the flames to protect me, but before I can release them I catch the person’s scent.
Cara.
Her toned arms wrap around me, enveloping me in a warm hug, and when she snuggles close I realize she’s naked as well. I freeze, unsure of what to expect.
“Been a long night,” she whispers into my neck as she nuzzles into me. “Overthrowing the establishment to claim my throne early, it turns out, requires a lot of administrative work.”
What is she talking about? “Um … okay.”
Cara slides a leg over mine, and I worry that she’s going to continue what she started on the road to the palace. I don’t know what to do if that happens, how to reciprocate—or even if I’m one hundred percent sure I want to. Despite my earlier fantasies, when faced with the reality of her body next to mine, I panic.
“I’m glad I can just lie here with you like this. No expectations. It’s nice.”
With that, her breathing shallows, easing into a light snore.
I lie there in silence for several moments. I don’t know what this means for the two of us. Are we a couple? Did something happen the last few days to indicate that, and I missed it? So many questions, and the only person I feel comfortable with is out cold from exhaustion.
Chapter 13
Cara
By the time I got to her chambers, Sable had already long since dozed off. I felt bad for startling her awake, but her body relaxed as I held her, and she didn’t exactly reject my presence in her bed. Instead, she snuggled back in kind.
From the faint scent of pheromones in the room when I arrived, I could tell she had been engaging in some …extracurricularactivities while I was busy. Not that I blame her, but it makes me wonder if she had been alone or if someone had been with her.
My heart seizes at the thought of Sable being intimate with someone else. It’s not a feeling I’m accustomed to, and I decide I don’t much like it.
Could Marra have come to visit Sable while I was gone? No … Marra may be a wild young thing, but she seems the type who is more interested in bedding power, not novelty. A new woman available in the palace, no matter how gorgeous, wouldn’t be enough of a draw for her to make a move. Not if she couldn’t get anything out of the exchange. And though I’ve only known her a couple of days, I highly doubt Sable would be the one to initiate something. No, she must have been alone.
The thought of Sable masturbating excites me, but not enough to make me try anything with her … yet, that is. She needs special handling.
All in due time. Now is the time for asserting dominance and quelling rebellion, which I’m sure isn’t too far off. The multitude of official decrees I signed off on will probably be met with resistance.
These thoughts circle in my head as I drift off, but the rest of my night is blissfully free of dreams. When I wake at dawn still wrapped around Sable, I can’t help but smile. What use is there for depressive musings when I have a world of light right here in my arms?
