Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I point at the steam escaping above. "I was curious where that was coming from."
Her head tilts up, and she laughs, the sound that of pure joy. "Incredible. I've changed my mind. I definitely want to live in these caves."
"I am pleased."
She flashes me another delighted look and then leans over the waters, peering in again. "Those piranha things aren't here, are they?"
I had the same concern initially. "The water is still and clear. I threw in a bit of leather earlier and nothing happened. It should be safe."
Her happiness changes to such yearning, and her hands go to her tangled hair. "Can I…can I have a bath? Or are we saving this for drinking water?"
"It is your water. Do as you please."
Aidy beams at me. "Thank god. I have felt so grimy. And my hair is disgusting. I just want to wash all over." She pulls on her clothing, tearing at the straps that bind it to her body. My gaze goes there immediately. I had hoped she would want to show me her happiness in some way…but I am quite happy to just watch her bathe. She pulls one leather tie free and then pauses, glancing down the tunnel behind me. "Um, what about the snow-people? Do we need to worry about them joining us?"
I move a step toward her and tug on another one of her leather laces. "They think this cave is mine, remember? They won't enter. You have your privacy." I pull the lace free and her skirt—comprised of multiple skins piled around her waist—falls to the ground.
"God, I never thought I'd be so happy to hear that." She finishes flinging off her furs, tossing them into a pile at her feet, and then kneels to pull her makeshift boots off. As she does, she glances up at me. "Are you going to bathe, too?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Absolutely. I prefer both of us freshly bathed and clean. Have you seen my nail beds? They're horrendous." She tucks her fingers down against her palm and displays her short, square nails to me.
"I see nothing but perfection," I tell her, admiring the bounce of her breasts as she stands.
Aidy snorts. "Then you need to have your eyes examined."
"You can examine them for me."
Her laughter peals, and she shakes her head as if I have said something amusing. "You, get naked. I'm jumping in." She holds her nose and then jumps into the water, feet first. There is a bit of a splash, and I watch her sink down a little, and then Aidy swims gracefully back to the surface, her hair sleek and dark against her head. "Oh my god, this is amazing."
The sound of her voice, husky with delight, is enough to make me groan. I kick off the last of my furs and grip my cock in my hand as it juts forth, impossible to hide.
She glances up at me, her eyes sly and knowing. Her hand splashes as she lazily treads water. "Are you getting in or not?"
As if I could resist her.
I jump in, and immediately it is like treading through too-thin sand. I sink. And sink. This…is not right. I claw at the water, trying to fight my way back to the surface, panicking. How is this so difficult? Am I going to die because I foolishly jumped into water, thinking I would float?
A hand grabs my arm and pulls me upward—Aidy.
I emerge from under the water with a gasp, clinging to the side of the pool.
"Why did you jump in if you don't know how to swim?" she shouts. "What the fuck, Corvak?"
"I didn't realize until after I jumped that I had no such knowledge in my memories." I hold on to the rocky lip, water streaming into my face from my mane. "But you do?"
"Yes! A lot of people grow up swimming where I'm from." She puts her hand on my back. "You scared the shit out of me."
"I scared the shit out of me, too," I admit. "Whatever shit is."
A laugh bubbles up from her throat. "Never mind." Her hand roams over my wet shoulders, down my arm. "Are you all right now?"
"As long as I hold on to the ledge." I experiment, allowing one hand to float free, and my body is light thanks to the water. With one hand and keeping my foot against the side of the rocks, I'm able to float next to her easily. The warmth of the water is pervasive, sinking into my body and relaxing me all over.
Aidy's smile grows brighter, and she gives a happy little shiver. "This is the best thing we've found here. I'm so happy right now." She swirls around in the water and presents her back to me. "Help me scrub?"
"Scrub?"
"Just rub my skin. We don't have soap so I'm hoping the heat and some rubbing will get rid of any dirt." She lifts her wet hair and runs her hand over her neck.