Chapter 47: The Princess in the Spring

Dinner ended with the sort of quiet efficiency that came naturally to traveling knights.

Plates emptied.

Cups disappeared.

Chairs scraped against the wooden floor.

Then most of our escort began spreading through the town in rotating patrols.

Apparently accompanying the crown princess on a diplomatic mission also meant protecting whichever unfortunate settlement happened to contain her for the night.

Several knights remained stationed around the inn.

Others took positions near the streets surrounding it.

A few lingered downstairs.

The whole arrangement was very professional.

Very secure.

And, as I was about to discover, extremely inconvenient whenever privacy became interesting.

I wandered upstairs for a while, considered reading one of the books I had recently bought, then remembered something the innkeeper had mentioned earlier.

The inn had a spring bath.

Warm water.

Open sky.

Quiet.

My muscles had spent the entire day sitting in a carriage, which sounded easy until several hours of bumps and uneven roads taught your spine that wheels were merely rocks pretending to be civilized.

A bath sounded excellent.

I grabbed what I needed and followed the directions toward the rear section of the inn.

The spring bath occupied a private courtyard surrounded by tall wooden walls and natural stone.

Steam drifted lazily into the night air.

A few lanterns hung beneath the roofed walkway near the entrance, their warm light fading before it reached the far side of the water.

Above everything was open sky.

Stars.

Darkness.

No castle ceiling.

No soldiers staring.

No councils.

No queens threatening international war through letters.

Perfect.

I removed my clothes and entered naked.

The water came only to my knees while I walked across the shallow stone floor.

Warm.

Not painfully hot.

Just enough to make every muscle in my body immediately decide responsibility could wait until tomorrow.

I found a section where the bath deepened near the edge and lowered myself into it.

My back rested against smooth stone.

Water rose around my chest.

I let my head fall backward.

“Oh, yes.”

Beautiful.

This was civilization.

Not laws.

Not roads.

Not governments.

Warm baths.

Everything else was decorative bureaucracy.

Steam drifted over the water.

The air smelled faintly mineral, mixed with whatever herbs the innkeeper had thrown into the spring.

A few insects sang somewhere beyond the walls.

The town sounded distant.

Muted footsteps.

An occasional voice.

Nothing urgent.

For a while I simply sat there.

Eyes half closed.

Breathing slowly.

Rare peace.

Which naturally meant the universe was preparing something.

The bath door opened.

I looked over.

Then my eyes widened.

Leyra stepped inside.

Wearing only a towel.

Well.

There went relaxation.

Or perhaps relaxation had just changed departments.

Her golden hair had been loosened from the careful arrangement she wore at dinner, falling freely around her shoulders and down her back.

The white towel wrapped around her body just above her chest and ended high on her thighs.

Bare legs.

Bare shoulders.

Golden lion ears twitching slightly as she noticed me staring.

And the expression on her face?

Far too amused.

Leyra closed the door behind herself.

“Is the water pleasant?”

I stared.

“That should absolutely not be your first question.”

Her eyebrows lifted.

“No?”

“No.”

I pointed vaguely toward her.

“What are you doing here?”

Leyra smiled.

“This is a mixed bath.”

I paused.

Right.

The innkeeper had mentioned that.

Somewhere between hearing warm spring and immediately agreeing, I had apparently skipped the word mixed.

“I remember now.”

Leyra walked farther inside.

I looked toward the door.

“Where are your knights?”

Her smile became sweeter.

“Forget about them.”

I laughed.

“That usually becomes difficult when they’re carrying swords.”

“They aren’t coming inside.”

“Very reassuring.”

Leyra stopped beside the edge of the water.

Then looked at me.

“Turn around.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Princess.”

“Caled.”

“Fine.”

Gentleman mode activated.

Rare feature.

I looked away.

Behind me came the soft sound of fabric shifting.

Then footsteps across wet stone.

A quiet splash.

Water moving.

I kept staring toward the opposite wall like it had suddenly become the most interesting piece of architecture in Aphrodasia.

Leyra spoke from behind me.

“I heard bathing in natural springs is supposed to be good for your health.”

I smiled.

“I'm not a physician.”

“I know.”

“But I've heard the same thing.”

Water rippled nearby.

I glanced back.

Leyra was sitting several meters away.

The towel was gone.

Fortunately for her modesty, the water reached high enough to cover her almost to the upper chest.

Unfortunately for my self-control, water was transparent enough near the surface to suggest things without properly revealing them.

An evil substance.

She leaned against the stone.

Closed her eyes.

Then sighed.

“It is relaxing.”

“Very.”

“I understand why travelers like places like this.”

Steam curled around her golden hair.

She looked peaceful.

Not crown-princess peaceful.

Actually peaceful.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Her tail floated lazily behind her in the water.

Leyra opened her eyes.

“For a moment, you can forget why you're traveling.”

I nodded.

“No Agran.”

“No negotiations.”

“No assassination warnings.”

“No factions hoping we fail.”

I raised one finger.

“No two-week carriage ride.”

Leyra smiled.

“That too.”

“Most terrifying threat so far.”

She laughed softly.

Then stood.

Completely.

My eyes automatically moved.

My brain processed approximately half a second of water running down pale skin before honor, survival instinct, and the knowledge that Leyra could secretly beat trained fighters unconscious all shouted at once.

I turned my head.

Very quickly.

Behind me, Leyra laughed.

Not loudly.

But enough.

I heard her moving through the water.

Closer.

One step.

Another.

The soft push and pull of the spring followed her.

Then she sat beside me.

Close enough that our shoulders almost touched.

“You know…”

I glanced toward her face.

Leyra looked entertained.

“I didn't tell you to turn away that time.”

“I’m a gentleman.”

Her mouth twitched.

“You?”

“Occasionally.”

“I’ll record the date.”

“Please do. It might never happen again.”

She laughed.

The sound blended with the gentle movement of water around us.

I looked at her.

Really looked.

And realized she was already watching me.

Her blue eyes stayed fixed on my face.

Not shy.

Not even particularly subtle.

“What?”

Leyra tilted her head.

Then said with complete seriousness, “You are annoyingly handsome.”

I blinked.

“Annoyingly?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds like a personal problem.”

“It is.”

I smiled.

“Well, you're inconveniently beautiful.”

Her eyebrows lifted.

“Inconveniently?”

“Extremely.”

“How?”

I glanced lower for half a second.

Then back to her eyes.

“You're making it difficult to relax.”

Leyra's smile changed.

Teasing.

Dangerous.

“Really?”

“Very.”

One of her hands moved beneath the water.

Then rested lightly against my stomach.

Her fingertips touched my abs.

Ah.

There it was.

Another member of the International Association of Women Touching Caled's Abs.

Their membership was growing rapidly.

Leyra slowly traced one ridge.

Then another.

Her smile remained playful.

But color was appearing in her face.

Cheeks warming.

Confidence fighting embarrassment.

Beautiful match.

She murmured, “How tense?”

I leaned toward her.

Our faces came close.

“Extremely.”

Then I kissed her.

Soft.

No rush.

Just one warm touch of lips.

Leyra followed when I started pulling away.

Her mouth found mine again.

Another gentle kiss.

This time, I began moving my lips slowly against hers.

Leyra matched me.

Carefully.

Still less experienced than I was, but learning.

Her fingers continued drifting over my stomach.

I reached down.

Caught her wrist.

Leyra opened her eyes without breaking the kiss.

I guided her hand lower beneath the water.

Slowly.

Giving her every chance to pull away.

She didn't.

Her fingers reached me.

Then stopped.

Her eyes widened slightly.

I smiled against her lips.

“Remember that tension?”

Leyra looked downward.

Then back at me.

“That is your ‘little fellow’?”

I grinned.

“Very sensitive about his height.”

Her mouth twitched.

“That description seems dishonest.”

“I prefer humble.”

I guided her hand around me.

Her fingers closed cautiously.

Warm.

Soft.

I showed her the motion.

Slowly upward.

Then down again.

One measured stroke.

Then another.

Leyra watched our hands beneath the water.

Her cheeks turned deeper red.

But curiosity won.

It usually did.

I loosened my grip.

She continued without me.

Tentatively at first.

Then more confidently.

Her hand moved along me in the rhythm I had shown her.

I breathed in.

Leyra noticed instantly.

A tiny smile.

“Oh.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What?”

“You reacted.”

“Very observant.”

She repeated the same movement.

My stomach tightened.

Leyra smiled wider.

Trouble.

Then she shifted upward.

Water streamed down her body.

This time I did not turn away.

She had not asked.

And I was a gentleman, not a saint.

Her breasts rose fully above the water.

Soft.

Full.

Beautifully shaped.

Droplets ran slowly down them before falling back into the spring.

Leyra watched me looking.

Her face became scarlet.

But she did not cover herself.

Instead, her hand around me continued moving.

That took confidence.

I liked it.

My hands reached for her.

Both palms settled against her breasts.

Leyra inhaled sharply.

I massaged them gently.

Feeling the soft weight.

The warmth of her skin.

Her hand momentarily faltered.

Then resumed.

I smiled.

“Distracted?”

“No.”

I squeezed slightly.

Her lips parted.

“Liar.”

Leyra leaned toward me.

Kissed me.

Harder this time.

I returned it.

Our mouths opened.

The kiss deepened.

I brushed my tongue against hers.

Leyra moaned softly.

The sound disappeared between our lips.

Her fingers tightened around me.

I pulled away just enough to whisper.

“Quiet.”

Her eyes narrowed.

She clearly did not appreciate being told what to do.

Which naturally made it more entertaining.

I lowered my head.

My lips touched the upper curve of one breast.

Leyra stopped breathing for a second.

I kissed her there.

Then slightly closer to the center.

Another kiss.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Her fingers moved through my hair.

I continued.

Along the soft curve.

Closer.

Until my mouth reached her sensitive peak.

Leyra gasped.

Her hand around me suddenly accelerated.

Interesting feedback.

I let my tongue tease her gently.

Leyra shivered.

Her arm wrapped around my neck.

She leaned closer.

Her breath reached my ear.

Another slow motion of my tongue.

Her hand moved faster.

She moaned quietly.

I closed my mouth around her.

Leyra's fingers tightened in my hair.

“That…”

Her voice came out breathless.

“That feels really good.”

I smiled against her skin.

“Excellent review.”

“Don't ruin it.”

I laughed softly.

Then continued.

Her body responded beautifully.

Every kiss.

Every slow pull.

Every movement of my tongue.

Her breathing deepened.

Her hand kept working beneath the water, though the rhythm became increasingly inconsistent whenever I found something she particularly liked.

Eventually, I caught her hips.

Leyra looked down.

“What?”

“Come here.”

I shifted our positions.

The water moved around us.

I guided her backward until her shoulders rested comfortably against the smooth stone ledge near the bath wall.

Then I moved above her.

The shallow section allowed me to brace myself easily.

Leyra lay partly submerged beneath me.

Golden hair spreading across wet stone.

Chest rising above the water.

Eyes locked on mine.

For several seconds, we simply stared.

No joke.

No talking.

The air between us had changed.

Her hand found me again beneath the water.

Slowly resumed moving.

My own hand traveled down her side.

Across her waist.

Then between her thighs.

Leyra's breath caught before I even touched where she wanted me.

Her legs shifted apart.

Invitation.

I brushed her carefully.

She shivered.

A quiet moan left her.

My finger pressed closer.

Then slipped just enough inside for her body to react.

Leyra gasped.

Her hips lifted instinctively.

I lowered my head again.

My mouth returned to her breast.

Her free hand immediately went into my hair.

I moved my fingers slowly at first.

Gentle.

Testing.

Watching her.

Leyra's eyes closed.

Her hand around me tightened.

Then moved again.

I gave her another slow motion.

She moaned.

A little louder.

Her body was already warm from the spring.

But something else was building under her skin now.

Tension.

Pleasure.

Need.

I increased the rhythm.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

Leyra's breathing changed.

Her hand in my hair clenched.

The other one kept moving around me, though the rhythm became less organized.

I kissed her breast again.

Tongue teasing.

Then my fingers moved more firmly.

Leyra cried out.

The sound echoed faintly around the bath walls.

I lifted my head.

“Quiet, Princess.”

Her blue eyes opened.

Already slightly unfocused.

“Just keep doing what you're doing.”

I blinked.

“That wasn't quiet.”

“I don't care.”

Oh.

Well.

That answered that.

The crown princess had apparently abandoned operational security.

Pleasure had overthrown the government.

I returned my mouth to her.

Sucked more firmly.

Leyra moaned again.

My hand between her thighs kept moving.

Faster.

A little deeper.

Then back.

Keeping the rhythm that made her body react the strongest.

Her fingers pulled against my hair.

Hard.

Her other hand, the one that had been pleasing me, slowed.

Then stopped completely.

Excellent sign.

She had forgotten about me.

I took that as a compliment.

I kept going.

Leyra's hips began moving against my hand.

Searching.

Meeting every motion.

Her breaths came shorter.

Quicker.

Steam drifted around her flushed face.

Water lapped against the stone with every movement.

I watched the control disappear.

Princess posture?

Gone.

Elegant composure?

Dead.

Royal dignity?

Currently floating somewhere downstream.

Leyra whispered my name.

Then louder.

“Caled…”

I increased the pace.

Her body shivered.

She suddenly pulled my hair.

Hard enough to bring my face upward.

Our lips nearly collided.

Then she kissed me.

Hungry.

Desperate.

Her mouth opened against mine.

I kissed her back while my hand continued below.

Leyra moaned into my mouth.

Her legs tightened around my wrist.

Her body shook.

She pulled away just enough to breathe.

“I'm almost…”

Another motion stole the rest of the sentence.

I smiled.

“Almost?”

Her eyes narrowed weakly.

“Don't.”

I moved faster.

Leyra gasped.

“Yes.”

Her nails pressed into my shoulder.

“Don't stop.”

So I didn't.

The rhythm became relentless.

Her hips trembled.

Her breathing broke.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

Then the tension inside her snapped.

Leyra cried out.

Loud.

Very loud.

Her entire body shuddered beneath me.

Her thighs tightened.

Her fingers locked into my hair.

One long moan echoed through the bathing courtyard as pleasure overwhelmed everything else.

I slowed gradually.

Letting her ride through it.

Small aftershocks continued trembling through her.

Her chest rose quickly beneath my mouth.

Then slowly.

Slowly.

Finally, Leyra relaxed.

Her head sank back.

Eyes closed.

A blissful expression replaced everything else.

I brushed damp golden hair away from her cheek.

For a few seconds she simply breathed.

Then her eyes opened.

She looked at me.

Something had changed.

Heat still there.

Embarrassment mostly gone.

She reached toward my face.

Her fingertips rested against my jaw.

Then she whispered, “Use me.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Leyra swallowed.

“However you want.”

Her eyes stayed on mine.

“I’m yours now.”

Well.

That sentence deserved respect.

I smiled.

“If the crown princess personally requests it…”

My hand traveled toward her hip.

“…who am I to refuse?”

I started shifting position.

Then footsteps thundered outside.

Fast.

Several sets.

Armor.

Oh.

No.

A fist struck the bath door.

“Princess!”

Another voice followed immediately.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

Leyra's eyes widened.

I froze.

The knight outside continued.

“We heard your voice!”

I looked at Leyra.

Leyra looked at me.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

She glared.

Then raised her voice.

“I’m fine!”

Silence outside.

Leyra hesitated.

Then added, “I just tripped.”

I stared.

Tripped.

That was the strategy.

The crown princess had apparently been defeated by soap.

I leaned toward her ear.

“Tripped? Really?”

Leyra's entire face turned red.

“Quiet.”

Outside, one of the knights asked, “Are you certain, Princess?”

“Yes!”

She sounded far more offended now.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

Another awkward silence.

Then finally, “Understood, Your Highness.”

Footsteps moved away.

Not far.

Of course not.

They were definitely standing somewhere outside now wondering how tripping had caused a noise like the princess had briefly discovered religion.

Leyra closed her eyes.

I smiled.

She opened them.

“Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“I know what you're thinking.”

“I'm thinking your acting career may be limited.”

Her glare deepened.

Then she sighed.

“I don't think we can continue.”

I looked toward the door.

“Because the armed men stationed directly outside are now alert?”

“Yes.”

“Cowards.”

Leyra laughed softly.

Then stood.

Water streamed down her body again.

This time neither of us pretended modesty existed.

She stepped away.

Retrieved her towel.

Wrapped it around herself.

Then looked back at me.

Her cheeks were still flushed.

But that teasing smile had returned.

The dangerous one.

The fighter beneath the princess.

“Finish bathing.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“That's an order?”

“Yes.”

“Very romantic.”

“Quickly.”

She stepped toward the door.

Then glanced over her shoulder.

“And go back to your room.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

Leyra smiled.

“I have something waiting for you.”

That got my attention.

“What?”

She stopped.

Her confidence wavered.

Just slightly.

Then her face turned red all over again.

Leyra lifted one index finger.

Pressed it against her lips.

Her blue eyes stayed on mine.

“Me.”