Page 11 of The Dragon King's Bride
Along our way, we pick up some leeks and mushrooms to eat alongside the meat. The sky has gone completely dark by the time we reach camp. We get started making dinner almost immediately.
I hold the leeks and mushrooms we gathered beneath the waterfall. The pouring water rinses off all the excess dirt, leaving the forgeable items clean enough to eat. Behind me, Kaiser slices up the meat into long strips and skewers them on top of two of the leaner sticks. I copy his maneuver with the vegetables, slicing them up and placing them on the skewers as well. We each take a stick and roast them over the fire. By the time they’re fully cooked, my mouth is watering. They smell absolutely delicious.
“Yum,” I comment as I chew off a piece. “This is really good.”
“It’s alright,” he shrugs, “the food at the palace is much better, though. Unfortunately, this is the best we can hope for with no herbs or spices.”
“It’s a lot better than my usual meals.”
My words cause Kaiser to frown. “That won’t be the case for much longer.”
I shake my head at him and roll my eyes. I don’t understand why he’s bothering to delude himself. We both know I’m not likely to make it past the final round. After this, Kaiser will be monitored. He won’t be able to help me get past his advisors’ tricks the next time. My stomach and heart both drop as this truth sinks in.
“What does your usual meal look like, just out of curiosity?” Kaiser asks. He and I finish eating at about the same time. We immediately repeat the steps and cook a second round of skewers.
“I usually boil a pot of water before I leave for work. I use a bowl of it as a porridge for breakfast, the rest I leave for soup. The vegetables and meat cook in the pot while I’m at work.”
“Is that all? You only eat two meals a day?” Kaiser’s voice is laced with concern.
“We tend to snack on the crops as we work,” I respond, a smile forming at the corners of my mouth. “Don’t tell anyone, though. Technically, we’re not supposed to be doing it.”
Kaiser laughs. My heart races as I see him smile. The flames glittering in his eyes as he grins makes him look handsome and devilish at the same time. “I see. So, I suppose I should really be asking you what you’d be snacking on this time of year?”
“Oh that’s easy, then,” I tell him, my mouth turned up in a cheeky grin of its own. “It’s bristleberry season right now. If I were at home, my belly would probably be so full on sweet berries that I’d have to force myself to eat dinner.”
Kaiser’s grin softens. “That sounds nice. I’ve never plucked my own berries, but I’ve seen families doing so when I’ve visited the outskirts. They always seemed to be enjoying themselves. I remember being so envious that they got to spend so much time with their parents.”
“Yeah, I have so many good memories of picking berries with my father when I was younger. They’re still my favorite fruit to this day.”
The two of us spend the rest of dinner telling each other stories about the things we got up to when we were younger. It’s an interesting conversation. We had such different childhoods that it’s fascinating to learn how the other half live. Still, there’s an undercurrent of mischief in both of our stories. It’s enough of a similarity that the stories still feel relatable, even though they’re about what feels like a whole other world.
When we’re finished eating, we throw our sticks in the fire. I can’t stop myself from letting out a loud yawn. “Tired?” Kaiser asks. He reaches out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. I feel myself blush as I nod. He notices my glow, but says nothing about it. It’s been a long day. I need to replenish my magical reserves.
My heart begins to hammer as I look towards the fur on the other side of the cave. For the first time, I realize what spending the night camped out with Kaiser really means. We’ll need to share the same bed. Today our interactions have been innocent thus far, but I still remember what happened between us the last time we were alone in the dark.
Kaiser smiles at my reaction. He turns back towards the fire. “Get some sleep. I’ll keep the fire going for now.”
I nod and scramble beneath the fur. Closing my eyes, I can hear Kaiser poking at, and putting wood on the fire. I try to get some sleep, but I can’t seem to calm my racing heart. It isn’t long before Kaiser joins me. Now, I’m really not going to be ableto sleep. I don’t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved when Kaiser simply settles in beside me. He’s not touching me at all.
I continue to lay there for an indeterminate amount of time. I can’t help but wonder, can Kaiser see I’m as stiff as a board? Can he hear my pounding heart over the rush of water and the crackling flames? A splash of water from the waterfall hits my face and I shiver. Suddenly, an arm hooks around me. I let out a squeak as I’m pulled back and tucked against the solid wall of Kaiser’s chest.
“Better?” he breathes into me ear. I shiver again for an entirely different reason this time. My nipples tighten beneath the fabric of my dress as heat begins to build between my thighs.
“Kaiser…,” I trail off, my voice thick with lust. I turn towards him and wrap my arms around his neck. My body presses itself against him as I pull him into a kiss.
He growls and seizes control of the kiss almost instantly. He’s as impatient as I am, and I realize he’s been waiting just as long as I have to do this again. Our teeth clack against each other as we deepen the kiss, tongues tangling in a tempestuous dance. His movements are fervent and consuming. It’s all I can do to keep up the pace.
I can feel his hands traversing the length of my body, leaving a trail of fire wherever he goes. My dress is yanked down past my shoulders until my breasts spring free. He immediately begins pawing at them, grabbing them with a force that is both firm and tender at the same time. A thumb grazes one of my nipples and I moan. I can feel him smile against my mouth and he repeats the action. Blood is pooling so rapidly towards my center that it’s making my head spin.
My fingers graze against his hair and back as he continues toying with my body. He’s swallowing down each of my moans and whimpers as I reach a level of ecstasy I’ve never felt before.Just when it feels like I can’t get any warmer, I feel Kaiser’s other hand dip beneath my dress. His fingers glide up the inside of my thigh and I begin to pant. When they finally reach my center, my eyes spring open as I cry out.
For the first time, I notice how bright it’s gotten inside the cave. Every nook and cranny is visible. It’s like it’s midday in here, rather than the dead of night. My glow is entirely out of control.
I remember that there are probably still men outside looking for us, and a sick feeling twists in my guts. As much as it pains me, I reach down to grab Kaiser’s wrist before he can continue. He gives me a questioning look as he pauses his movements. I break away from the kiss and take a deep breath.
“Kaiser, we have to stop. Look at my glow, it’s going to get us caught.”
He sits up and looks around with wide eyes. Apparently, I’m not the only one who failed to notice how bright it had gotten. He sighs and lets out a wry sort of snort. “I can see that. Damn.”
