Grabbing my map again, I look at the marked springs nearby. It doesn’t mention whether it’s just a pond or hot spring. If it’s the former, I suppose I can get some water, heat it over the fire and wipe myself with a towel. If it’s the second… that would be heaven.
Armed with a change of clothes and a container for water should I need it, I go to the springs.
The closer I get, the foggier the air becomes. My lips tip up. Perhaps luck will shine on me and itishot water.
The mist clouds my vision as I step towards its source. Warm steam floats in the air. My coat is already on the ground. My sweaters join it within seconds. My hands quickly work off my pants and I shrug them off. Entirely naked, I dive right into the hot pool of water.
“Agh!” A voice shouts. Afemalevoice.
I quickly come up for air, shaking the water out of my hair and rubbing my eyes.
The steam is still semi-obstructing my view. But I can see enough to make out the outline of a female. A naked female.
Water drips from her wet hair, falling onto her bare shoulders and chest. With one hand, she’s hiding her breasts. With the other, she’s swinging a knife toward me.
The murderous weapon barely registers as I move closer to her. The sharp tip makes contact with my shoulder, but not even that pain can shake me off course. How could it when I feel like I’m staring at a dream?
Perhaps I’m sleeping right now.Yes, this isn’t real life. This is just another one in my long string of dreams.
“Nyk?” Her eyes widen in shock as she quickly pulls the knife back. A few drops of blood roll down my chest, the pain finally registering in my brain.
Not a dream?I frown. But… That would mean she’s here. That she followed me, that she…
“Moe?” I whisper.
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Aguilty smile pulls at her lips. Before she can confirm or deny it, I move with lightning speed, pulling her into my arms.
Her chest slams against my own, her hands falling to her side. Her nipples brush against my skin, and an electric current runs through me. Her breath catches in her throat, as she releases an audible gasp mirrored by one of my own.
My hands are wrapped around her back, touching her bare skin. It’s soft. So damn soft.
A sigh escapes me as I close my eyes, simply enjoying this moment. My body reacts. Of course it does. I’d have to be dead tonotreact. Especiallybecauseit is her. But I try to quell those biological impulses. After all, it’s just a normal physical reaction. It usually happens whether she’s clothed or not anyway.
Instead, I focus on the moment, on this closeness that might not happen again. I glean every bit of information out of it that I can. The scent of her, clean, fresh, a little fruity. The feel of her skin, soft, warm, comforting. The rhythm of her breath, which calibrates my own.
She’s so small in my arms, fitting so well in my embrace; just like a box finding its lid.Notthat she’s in any shape or form a lid; that would be preposterous. Goddamn it! Why is mymind going on such tangents? Instead of finding some beautiful, heartwarming metaphors, I liken her to a lid?
But she is the only lid that fits me.The only one that matches. Any other would be obsolete.
Eyes closed, I lean forward, pressing my forehead to her shoulder. I breathe in and out, feeling every bit of the essence of this shared air; of this shared time.
I’d be lying if my instinct isn’t to do other things. To move faster. To explore more of her. To feel her lips upon my own. To?—
“Nyk—” Her voice is muffled, but it’s quickly followed by a shove an an annoyed click of her tongue.
Her hands push against my shoulders, seeking to part me from my place of being.
“Not yet,” I whisper in her hair. “Let me stay like this for a bit more.”
She doesn’t stop struggling. In fact, she brings her knee up and kicks me between my legs. Already aroused, the blow makes me wince in pain.
I open my mouth on a soundless scream before I bite hard on her shoulder.
“Nykander!” She cries out in surprise.
My heart beats fast in my chest as the pain slowly subsides.
