As we stomped and scraped our boots off on the mat by the door, Warden Hallum rose from his seat and approached. His cool eyes scanned us – taking a little extra time on me. I got the sense he was checking to make sure no mishaps had happened while I’d been out with the three of his men unsupervised.
“Hello,” I said, making sure to smile reassuringly at Warden Hallum in particular. “We’ve had such a lovely time together!”
It was true. I’d enjoyed being with Xennet and Dorn. Xennet was a weirdly wholesome brand of chaotic, and Dorn seemed to be a good-natured sort of grump. I could see myself being really good friends with both of them.
But…
That was it.
The only person who made my heart feel like it was being drawn rapidly on skates across a frozen pond, the only one I wanted to kiss (again)…
Was Rivven.
“I’m going to draw you a bath,” Rivven said. “Want to get you warm.”
“That’s alright!” I said. “There are kind of a lot of people here right now.” I didn’t want to abandon everyone and disappear for an hour in the middle of everything.
But Rivven must have taken my words another way. White flared in his eyes.
“I will stand at the door. No one will come in.”
He didn’t give me a chance to respond before he’d strode purposefully through the dining room and into the kitchen.
“What’s that? You’re going to have a bath?” Tasha asked, coming over to join us. Warden Tenn followed close behind.
“Apparently,” I said. “Sorry. Is that alright?”
“Of course! It’s freezing out there! You guys were gone for ages.”
“We were skating on the pond!” Xennet said. “Though Dorn spent most of his time flailing around and falling!”
“Nearly broke my own blasted tail,” Dorn muttered.
“Bath’s ready.” Rivven was back. “Go on in. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
A bath really did sound amazing right about now.
“Thanks, Rivven. I’ll be back soon, everybody.”
Once in the kitchen, I closed the door. The last thing I saw on the other side was the broad, muscled expanse of Rivven’s back as he dutifully stood guard.
Having him standing there made me feel even more secure than a lock would.
I realized then that I’d never trusted a man as much as I trusted Rivven, outside of my own father.
I could rely on Rivven. I cared about him. And I was most certainly attracted to him. Last night had proved that without question.
When I undressed and got into the bath, a really big part of me wanted to softly call his name. Invite him in. I doubted his big body would even fit in this tub with me. But we could try.
I could sit on his lap.
It would be awfully crowded. His big cock would be butting up against me. Hard again, like last night.
I shivered with pleasure at the thought, and at the sensation of the lovely hot water on my chilled body. It was only the fact that so many people were just on the other side of the door that kept me from slipping my hand down between my legs.
Despite not wanting to keep everyone waiting, I lingered in the water. I was surprised by how tired I was now. All that exertion out in the cold had left my limbs rubbery with use. Even though Rivven had been doing most of the work guiding me around the ice, my muscles had been clenching in new ways in order to help me keep my balance on the skates. And I was flipping exhausted as a result.
I was nearly asleep when a sound on the other side of the door had me dragging my eyes back open, sitting up a little straighter. It was faint. It sounded like someone being hushed.
