Though tonight, the idea of any other was honestly repulsive.
You’ve already got me on my knees, Captain. What more do you want?
I wanted my fist inherhair. I wanted my cock downherthroat. I wanted to hearhermoan my name so many times that she forgot how to pronounce herown.
Too much.I wanted too much tonight. Too much for my own good, and far too much for hers. I needed to be way more careful, far more precise in this game she and I had been playing movingforward. Her companionship was far too important to lose in favor of my aching cock.
I wasn’t sure exactly when that had happened. At what point had Arken become so… integral to my well-being? How was it that the tendrils of her Light seemed to permeate even my darkest of Shadows, illuminating pieces of myself that I’d once thought were lost?
The parts of me that laughed. The parts of me thatdreamed.The parts of me that felt… worthy.
“Fuuuuck,” I groaned, pressing my forehead against the wall as the tea kettle began to whistle and howl.
I didn’t know how or when the girl had become so important to me, but at the end of the day, all that mattered was that she was. And though I literally did not have the capacity to avoid flirting with her altogether, Iwouldbe more careful in the future. I would be more realistic about my own limits. I had ruined a lot of good shit in my life, but I wasn’t about to ruin this.
After a deep breath, several cups of tea, and a few chapters of a bone-dry military strategy book, I had managed to calm myself into a more rational state of mind. Feeling anchored now, I penned a quick note and summoned Hekate—Arken hadinsistedI give my mail sprite a name, lest Bluebell feel “isolated in his identity”—and sent off the reminder.
Don’t forget to stretch, Little Conduit.
Evenmymuscles were aching after today’s strenuous activities. Once Arken had gotten into the swing of things, I had dragged another striking dummy over, running through drills of my own. For a while there, the two of us had trained in quiet tandem, occasionally exchanging quick nods, having our silent conversations as we checked in with one another every now and again. I think we’d trained for nearly four hours today—over double the amount of time we typically spent.
But if there was one thing that I knew about Arken Asher: you donotstop that woman once she’s on a roll. I would rather brush a wyvern’s teeth than ever try to interrupt the momentum that she seemed to thrive on. Besides, her energy had been infectious. It always was.
My raven returned, carrying a curl of creamy white parchment and Arken’s flowing cursive.
What exactly should I be stretching, Captain? Be specific.
I snorted. That right there was exactly why I’d waited to simmer down—I knew she wasn’t done with me yet. Still, I felt my blood reheat…becauseshe knew what she was doing. I tore a slightly larger scrap of parchment from the pile I kept stashed on the counter.
Stretch out your legs in particular. They worked pretty hard today. Looked pretty, too.
I resisted the urge to say anything more suggestive than that, though visions of Arken up against a wall, stretching one leg above her head were dancing around oh-so-prettily in my mind.
Are you asking me to spread my legs for you? How very untoward.
Very untoward, yes. But not nearly as untoward as I wanted to be. Still, I spun the pen between my fingers, ideating on just how far I wanted to push the envelope.
Asking? No, I’m not asking.
Smirking to myself, I took a sip of my tea, wondering if she’d pick up on the more subtle innuendo I was offering. It was only a few weeks ago now that she’d let slipjust enoughof a reactionin casual conversation that implied she and I might have… very compatible tastes in the bedroom. And considering it was taking her quite a bit to reply… I had a feeling my response might have met the mark.
Five or ten minutes later, Hekate returned to my shoulder.
Maybe next time we should incorporate the stretching as part of the cool down, if you’re going to be so very demanding about it. I can only get so flexible on my own, perhaps you could assist with that?
I’d hate to pull a muscle.
Abyss take me.
If you want my hands on your thighs again, Asher, all you have to do is ask.
Or, you know. Beg for it. But I held my tongue in that regard, because if she escalatedthatkind of conversation, I would be out the door in about 3.5 seconds.
Like you could keep your hands off of them either way. Anyhow. I’m off to take a bath and spread — I mean, stretch my legs, as instructed.
Enjoy your evening, Captain.
Devious little thing. But a bath did sound divine right about now.