AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The question was so unexpected that my thoughts stumbled. “What?”
“My sense of topography is horrendous. I only know of three major villages in Far Shore: Pinsky, Vance, and the capital. Are we traveling to Pinsky or Vance, by chance?” She winced as if silently begging me to say yes.
But I couldn’t. I had to swallow guiltily before murmuring, “No, my lady. We travel to Blayton.”
Her cheeks turned an ashen gray. “The capital, then? Where the king lives?”
The king in which even she knew she should never go near. He was her brother’s sworn enemy. Being in the same city as him would be beyond dangerous.
It took everything I had to keep my feelings in check and blocked. Remaining as calm as possible, while my heart pounded hard, I gave an imperceptible bow of my head. “Aye,” I rasped. “Where the king lives.”
But I’ll die before letting him get close to you; I swear it, I promised silently.
She nodded again, paler than before. “Then I agree with you,” she started. “It’s probably best that I cover my tattoo as soon as possible.”
We’d just reached the forest and I could hear the waters of a small babbling brook up ahead through the trees. Knowing exactly which stream we approached, I grinned.
“I’ll do you one even better than that, princess.” Remembering one of her grievances about desiring a wash, I said, “How would you like to bathe before getting a complete makeover?”
16
Nicolette
“Oh God,” I moaned.
This felt divine.
I tell you, nothing—nothing—felt as good as cleaning in the rocky stream of a small but glorious waterfall after going dirty for nearly a week.
Another groan flowed from my lungs as I ran my fingers through my wet hair and rinsed out the scrubbing salts I’d smothered it with. I had used all the salts I’d packed from home, but it was worth it to clean myself.
Farrow had rummaged through my clothes before leading me down to the stream so he could pick out appropriate Far Shore garments, as he’d referred to them. So a jewel-blue dress and leather boots awaited me on the shore to change into. But I was hesitant to leave the water just yet. It was simply marvelous here.
And cool.
The one stream we had at home down in the village of Mandalay was always so warm and temperate. The bracing feel of this water was kind of invigorating and refreshing. It made my nipples harden like fresh berries. After living my entire life in a desert, it was fascinating to experience my first true chill.
It was kind of erotic, truth be told.
I glanced down at my puckered breasts and slipped my palm over the heavy lumps.
Soon, I might actually get Farrow to do this with his hand. Picturing him out there in the trees somewhere, watching me, I turned a little more aggressive, plumping the flesh under my fingers until a sharp ache pierced me between the legs.
“Mmm.” I sank deeper into the waterfall, until the stream gushed around my hair, over my shoulders, and then chased my hand down as I left my breasts and moved toward the aching throb between my legs.
The fantasy was so fresh and clear in my head; I leaned against the rock wall of the falls and tipped my chin up until the shower hit me on the forehead. Only my face, breasts, and a bent knee broke through the curtain of water.
I pictured Farrow worrying about me because I was taking too long. Spoiled princess and all that.
“My lady,” he would call as he approached, but of course, I wouldn’t hear as my ears were currently under the roar of the babbling brook. So he’d wander closer. “Nicolette?”
And then he’d jar to a halt when he saw me, my breasts beaded and ready for his mouth with water clinging to my flesh, waiting for him to lick it all away. Some of my hair would cover other portions of me, teasing him to move closer and see more. He’d gulp and watch as my hand moved between my legs.
I’d open my eyes and catch him standing there, his gaze hot and needy. So I’d reach toward him, and say, “I’ve found a spot I can’t quite reach. Help me finish cleaning, would you, my love?”
“But of course, princess,” he’d answer, with the front of his animal-skin kilt tenting madly as he started toward me, and his eyelids heavy with arousal. “Whatever you need.”
It was all so vivid and real in my head that I opened my eyes, hand already stretched out of the water for him, only to find no one on the banks of the stream watching me but a squirrel who’d paused halfway up a tree to gape at the weird human touching herself in the water.
