The water here is not moving too quickly. There is only low vegetation, so a wolf would not be able to sneak past without being spotted. She should be able to bathe in private and be relatively safe.
Nia begins unbuttoning her dress, and while I have seen her in her undergarments, I do not know if she will be removing those as well. If that is the case, then I am sure to keel over dead. I am not strong enough for this, and the lack of sleep is making me dizzy, or maybe it is her peeling the dress down her long, slender legs?—
Shit.
I tear my dagger from its sheath and hand it to her. “Take this.”
Even her fingers closing over the hilt makes my groin ache. “Why? Where are you going?”
Away from you so I do not pounce like a wolf in heat.“To give you privacy. If anything comes near you, scream. Go for the kill. Throat, eye, heart. Do not hesitate.”
She nods, and I leave before I make a complete fool out of myself. I do not go far, just to where the river bends and I can no longer see Nia. The vegetation here grows a little higher. I push it away, clearing a path for myself to the river. There is a splash followed by joyous laughter.
Shit.
I drop my pack and force myself to build a fire to warm her when she is finished. Even when the flames are steady, I cannot get the thought of Nia bathing out of my mind.
I did not anticipate that listening to her would be almost as torturous as watching it happen. I might very well lose my mind this day.
I adjust my stiffness in my trousers, but concealing the effect Nia Quill has on my body is becoming impossible.
Perhaps this frigid water will do the trick. At this point, my own desperation will be my downfall.
I strip and throw myself into the river, but still my desire remains. Nia is sure to be finished soon, and with the way my body stiffens at the thought, I might have to stay in this fucking river for the rest of my days.
I scrub my hands down my face, frustrated by my own lack of control.
There is only one way to relieve this ache, and I am not proud of taking myself in hand, but there is no choice if I am to keep us safe. Holding her hand is distraction enough. I am withered from exhaustion and cannot let myself lose focus for even a moment. When this pressure is gone, I can resume my duty once more.
I grip myself in my fist. Four strokes are all it takes to end my throbbing desire.
That is until her laughter drifts around me once more.
Shit.
Smoke billows from what was once our fire, the flames no longer visible.
Dammit.
I make my way to shore, through the vegetation, to where I left my clothes and rucksack. When I bend down to retrieve my pants, one of the tall plants whacks me across the face. I rip it out of the ground, roots and all.
Why must this world conspire against me?
Surely my lies were not terrible enough to deserve this level of torment.
The moment I stuff my legs into my pants, my face begins to burn.
At first, I believe it must be shame that has lit me ablaze, but then my hands begin to catch fire.
I go to the river and try to use water to put it out, but?—
Shit.
Something is terribly wrong.
28
“Thornius Nettilus, or thorny nettles, can be found near rivers and streams. Whatever you do, steer clear of their blue leaves and stalks.”
