Chapter 53: Bedtime Stories

[Primus].

Everyone knows dragons are only make-believe. So why is my sister making us chase one?

She invites us to dine with her in the grand hall and we are treated to finely cooked venison and the best wine from the valley. She waits until we are well and goodly sated before she goes over the details of her plan.

"You will need to travel the entire perimeter of my land of course, and then move inward towards Pinnacle Mountain where the most reports of sightings have occurred." She leans forward. "I know it will be inconvenient for you, adding another week or two to your stay. I am indebted to you both for looking into this matter," she smiles appreciatively.

Ana seems very sincere.

But when she looks away, there is a flash of mischief in her eyes that reminds me of our childhood together. She often got a similar look on her face right before she tried to do something that would get me into trouble with our father and half of the kitchen staff.

Once dinner is cleared, we spend the rest of the morning drinking wine and telling stories by the fire. Millie is an excellent storyteller, a talent I didn't know she had. She leans up against me as I play my lute to go along with the tone of her tale and I feel a touch of a connection between us, a jolt of electric current that flows from her into me. She feels it too, her eyes widening and her words taking a sharp edge as she relearns how to breathe.

What was that?

Ana looks over at the two of us and smiles her secret smile which blooms across her face as she witnesses our interaction. She's up to something.

Afraid to move, Millie and I stay completely still, trying to forget the incredible feeling of what it felt like when our skin touched for the briefest of moments. Taking deep breaths I keep the careful distance between us.

That tingle energized me from my heart to my groin and I'm afraid of what I might do if it were to happen again.

Because I want to feel that again. Over and over and over again until every part of me has touched every part of her.

And even then I might not be satisfied.

Did it feel that way for her as well? Does her body crave my touch as much as I crave hers?

I try to relax into the music, letting my mind go blank, but the scent of her fills my nostrils as her voice undulates, with the last words of her epic and tragic tale of two lovers, destined to me and be separated throughout time.

Ana leaps to her feet clapping and smiling at the two and I snap back into this moment, remembering that I am here to visit my sister and spend a few more days with Millie. Even if the only way to do so is to chase a fantasy for gold that doesn't exist, I'd rather do that and stay near her than watch her leave.

A servant comes to show us back to our rooms. Millie wishes us both a good night and then heads into her room to rest.

Ana places a hand on my shoulder. "Leon," she looks thoughtful, her eyes reflecting the red glow of the dying embers as she brings my attention to her. "I can see why you like her. She's a gem."

I blush, looking down at my feet. "Am I that obvious?" I sigh. "Because she seems to be completely oblivious."

"Have you tried talking to her about it? About what you feel."

I want to laugh at her question, yell at her about all the times I've tried to express myself and failed, Or all the times I did, but turned it into a joke. Instead, I simply say, "She hates me."

"Are you so sure," Ana raises her eyebrow as the corners of her mouth twist up in amusement. "Because I saw the way she looks at you when you're not watching."

"And..."

"She wants you, Leon," she shakes her head. "But it goes against her better judgment. What is it about you that she finds so abhorrent?"

"If I knew that, I'd have won her heart by now, don't you think?"

"Perhaps," she reaches down to clear the empty wine glasses. "Or maybe she's told you but you weren't listening. For all you know, she's waiting up there for you to say or do the right thing so that she can melt into your arms."

"Not likely," I snort. "Every time I even mention the idea of us being in any other type of relationship, she tries to hit me. Or she laughs in my face. She thinks I'm joking."

"Are you?"

"Sometimes," I admit. It is hard when the mood between Millie and me shifts, especially since I know that I'm the only one who wants more.

"Stop."

"Stop what?" I ask confused.

"Joking," my sister clarifies. "You need to be honest with her and make sure that she understands that you mean it. She's scared too, Primus. You need to give her a chance to...

"Who's Primus?" Why did she call me by that name? Oh gods my head hurts.

My sister looks pale as she reaches forward and places a cool hand on my forehead. "Leon, I'm sorry, wrong name. I was thinking of someone else," she apologizes. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," I groan. "My head feels like I hit a wall." Looking down at the three empty bottles of wine, I shake my head. "I had way too much wine. You know what, let's just stop talking about this. I'm getting a headache and I need to sleep."

"Consider what I said," Ana calls after me as I make my way up the stairs. "Don't wait too long, Leon. Tell her soon. She's waiting to hear it, even if she doesn't know that is what she is waiting for."

"But what do I say to her?" I demand.

"The truth you ninny!" She laughs. "Without joking, without mockery or sarcasm. Be honest and be vulnerable. Show her your heart."

Show her my heart. But how do I do that if I was taught to hide it? A lord is not permitted to wear his feelings on his sleeve--it makes us too vulnerable. Besides, having feelings hurts. I'd be better off closing my heart instead.

As I pass her door, I place my hand on the wood. It opens slightly.

Standing before me is a vision.

Her hair is completely unbound and floats around her shoulders in small golden ringlets. Her body is bare, except for a long chemise that comes to her knees. The light behind her glows warmly, revealing the silhouette of her lithe body as she moves from side to side.

Eyes closed, she reaches her hand up the front of her chemise and I watch in astonishment as she places a finger between her delicate folds. Holding my breath, I watch as she strokes herself back and forth, her eyes closed as her other hand finds her breast and begins to squeeze.

She looks exquisite, standing there, pleasuring herself. She doesn't know that I'm here, and I shouldn't watch, but I can't back away. To do so would alert her to my presence and break the spell of her body caressing her curves, the scent of her desire ripe in the air.

If I were a gentleman, I'd turn away now, leave while she is so distracted in her pleasure that she might not hear the sound of my footfalls.

But I am not a gentleman. Not anymore.

I'm not sure how long I stand there, watching as she pants and moves, dancing alone to the rhythm of her hand on her body and the small sounds from her small, moist mouth. She places a finger inside of her and begins to thrust and I feel my member growing hard, my hips rocking slightly as she moves, She places a second finger within her core and stops, gasping as shivers from head to toe.

"Leon," she exhales as her eyelids flutter and she rides the edges of her bliss. "Yes."

I take a step back as my member twitches in response. She smells so good that I want to devour her. I want to lick her fingers, place my tongue where her hand just was, and suck until she screams my name. I want to watch her eyes roll back for the reality of me, not just the fantasy.

I shouldn't be here. The last thing I need is another reason for her to hate me. If she sees me spying on this private moment, I will never be allowed close enough to make her mine.

Holding my breath, I take a large step back, pulling the door closed.

Good, she didn't see me.

The floorboard creaks beneath me and I stop stunned.

"Who's there?!" she sounds panicked.

She opens her door and looks at me incredulously. "What do you want?"

"This," I reach forward, pulling her to me, and kiss her.