Page 133 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Erm.” I sat up then, looking around the cave system. “Shit, I actually don’t know.”

“Who brought you, Alouette?” He laughed as I nodded.

“I had to walk through a long tunnel, and she said to meet her back at the door, but obviously I decided to wander off instead.”

“Good job I found you then.” Kaius stood, giving me a good look at his tattoo-covered ass before he held out a hand. I took it, large hand engulfing mine, and let him pull me up into his hard body. His hand cupped the back of my neck, as I tilted my head back to look at him.

“You can stare at my ass all you want later. For now, let me get you back to Alouette before she comes looking for you and threatens to cut my dick off.” My laugh echoed around us at the faux horror that filled his face.

“That would definitely be a shame.”

“I’m glad you agree,” he said with a wink, tugging me back into the warmth of the water.

Preparing myself to begin the swim back as we got deeper, I noted that while my toes were barely scraping the stone floor,Kaius’ head and shoulders were still well above the surface. Letting go of his hand to keep myself afloat, I pushed from the bottom, eyes flicking around the cavern in the hope I would recognise the way I came in.

Kaius’ laugh filled the air, and I turned towards him as two large hands gripped my waist, careful not to press into the lowest edges of my healing skin and pulled me through the water until our bodies were once again pressed together. My legs wrapped around his waist automatically as my hands landed on his hard pecs, and I leaned back to look up at him.

“I can swim, you know,” I managed breathlessly.

“Oh, I know,” he said, eyes widening suggestively.

“How long have you been in here?”

“Long enough.” He winked, as he started to walk through the water.

“You’re a total creep, you know that?” I said, though I couldn’t deny I liked the thought of him watching me.

He threw his head back, laughing again, the sound sinking into my skin. Droplets of joy that slipped into my soul.

“I am, but only for you, Goldie.” His hands tightened on my waist before they slid around me, my body fitting seamlessly against his. My face was tucked just under his chin as I breathed in the smell of cedar and fresh water that clung to him. I could still feel him hard under me, his shifting movement rubbing his dick against me with every step.

The water began to drop around us as he walked up towards the smaller space I entered from. My legs tightened, and I gripped his shoulders as the water no longer supported my weight, but he smirked at me, hands running over my wet skin to grab hold of my ass and keep me in place as his steady steps carried us fully out of the water. I released my hold of him, sliding down his body and ignoring the way the water dropscascading down his tattooed skin made me want to lean forward and lick them from his abs.

Reluctantly looking away from his body, I searched for my clothes, not loving the idea of putting the dirty things back on after my time in the pool. Certain I’d left them right at the edge of the water, they had gone.

I really don’t feel like walking through the palace naked.

Kaius moved to a cluster of rocks tucked next to the wall and picked up a towel, that I was a hundred percent hadn’t been there earlier, wrapping it around his waist before turning to me. His eyes slid hungrily over my body as he walked towards me, and I fought the urge to cover myself from his hooded gaze; there was little point in that now.

Let’s not focus on the fact I haven’t seen a razor in a few weeks.

He brought a second towel with him, lifting it to my skin and running it over the water that clung to me. I reached to take it, but he pushed my hand gently away.

“Let me, Goldie.” His silver eyes pleaded. I could see the rivers of magna reflected in them and I nodded my permission for him to continue.

He rubbed the fabric over me, long fingers grazing across my exposed skin and sending pulses of magik somersaulting through my body at every touch. My heart was racing wildly as I stood bare before him, the heat of the cavern nothing compared to the way my skin flushed under his gentle caress. Something so different from the desperate passion of earlier yet still as intimate.

Maybe even more so.

Kaius stepped behind me, scrunching my hair in the towel and stopping the water from dripping down my back.

He was taking his time, this moment between us stretching on, and I wondered how it would transfer to the world outsidethis cave. The one where I was a prisoner in the palace that he had brought me against my will.

Tears stung the back of my eyes as the weight of my time here dropped heavy onto me, and I found myself not wanting to leave.

Would it be so bad to carry out the rest of my time in this cave, within the water that could so easily wash away my pain?

Kaius moved away, and for the first time since I had entered the cave, I felt cold, despite the heat that was pumping hard through my veins at the memory of his touch. He returned before I had needed to search for him, towel still wrapped around his waist and a bundle of black clothes in his hands. I grabbed the panties from the top of the pile before he could protest and pulled them on, ignoring the way he bit his lip to hold back a smirk. As I straightened, he held up the soft dress in his hands and slipped it over my head, my hardened nipples pushing against the fabric.

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