Page 69 of A Lick of Flame

I shake my head. “No. I will have to spend a lifetime making up for it. Beastfae are not permitted to kill for sport…only for food, and then only when the utmost respect is given.”

“You didn’t kill for sport.”

“It was for sport,” I say, a little too harshly.

“To them, it was for sport, not for you. For you, it was a matter of survival.”

I nod. “Yes, I suppose that you are right.” I know that she is and yet I can’t move on. The guilt is eating me whole. Perhaps when my dragon is ready to forgive me, I will be ready to forgive myself.

“Of course I am right.” She smiles. “She is a dragon who knows what she wants.”

“Her daughter is no different, it would seem.”

Her eyes get hazy again. “I hope Raila will understand why I have to break this bond. I pray that she will be able to forgive me in time.”

“Like you just told me, it’s a matter of survival for you to break this tether. It is not a matter of choice. It will be hard on Raila for a short while, but she will be fine. If she is anything like her mother, she is made of sterner stuff. Now, do you want to go first, or shall I?” I ask her.

Maya’s eyes narrow. “First? What do you mean?” She sounds skeptical, even looks at me through narrowed eyes.

“I want nothing more than to bathe in the pool.” I look over at the large body of water. “I want to get rid of every stitch of clothing and wash all the travels from my skin. I’m sure you feel the same?”

“Yes…that sounds nice.” She bites her lower lip.

“We could go in together.”

She gasps. “Together? Fully clothed, you mean?”

“There is nothing like swimming naked in a cool body of perfect water.” I look longingly at the pool.

Maya gasps again.

“I take that as a no.” I laugh harder. “You are modest.”

“You say it as if it’s a bad thing.”

“It isn’t bad at all. I find it endearing. Shall I go for a walk? I’ll give you space and fully protect your innocence, I swear.” I put a hand to my heart.

Maya thinks on it for a few minutes. “Perhaps you should go first, just in case there are any biting creatures in that water.” She looks into the water like she’s looking for a sea monster. There is fear in her beautiful eyes.

I laugh. “Biting creatures? What kind of creatures are those exactly?”

“I don’t know.” She smiles. “Crabs or fish. One of the fishermen once told me about fish with teeth…they devour the flesh of creatures who venture into the water, swimming in great schools.”

I laugh some more and shake my head. “No, I can assure you that there are no such creatures in that pool. I would know since I have swum in it many a time. I will go first if you would prefer it.” I stand and peel off my tunic, tossing it onto the log next to her.

I note how she watches me intently, her gaze moving to my naked torso. Her eyes heat before she looks away. Was that desire?

Something flares inside me in return. Something I ignore. I think a cold bath will do me good.

“I don’t mind if you stay,” I say, turning and pulling my breeches down. I know that it will scare her off. She gasps loudly, and I smile. “But I know how modest you can be, so perhaps you’d prefer to go for a walk.”

“You are insufferable,” she growls. I hear her footfalls as she walks away at a near run. And to think this timid little thing was thinking about breaking her maidenhead to do away with the tether. I think not. She’s too sweet, too innocent. She deserves to be wooed, to be loved and treasured. Allowed, like a delicate bud, to slowly open, giving itself and its beauty freely, willingly, and with abandon.

My cock stands tall just thinking of her wanton and needy. Of Maya giving herself with complete abandon. I think of how her legs would feel wrapped around my waist. Of how she would sound in the throes of ecstasy. I would love to see her eyes filled with wonder and delight as I pulled her first orgasm from her.

Hell’s teeth, now my balls are tight and throbbing.

Need, the likes of which I have never felt before, unfurls inside me. I wade into the pool, turning as the water hits mid-thigh. I see the smallest movement behind one of the bushes as Maya ducks out of sight.

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