6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
Despite Kali’s determination to set a quick pace, she did agree to stop for a snack, twice at that.
Socks and her new friend were happy to eat our scraps, and I might’ve slipped them some berries from a bush we passed.
The other pagwai seemed to be sweet, much sweeter than my salty girl, so I didn’t mind having him along for the trek.
And we still managed to make it to Tunbrae before the sun had fully set.
An inn named the Rusty Wheel had their lights glowing from the windows, and music streamed through the open door, a beckoning sight and sound. The sign creaked as the wind dragged it back and forth.
The pagwai chirped as we got closer.
“I know, they better let you guys in with us,” I said, giving their ears scritches.
Kali lifted a brow and scanned them over. “Dice roll depending on the owners. I’ll be turning in the box here though. It’s a common drop site.”
“Innocent inn by day, derelict den by night,” I intoned.
She shook her head, a smirk lingering on her lips. “Don’t suppose you’d want to share a room, I’m assuming you’re not continuing a walk through the night to head home.”
My pulse sped. I’d take any more time I could get. “I’m not moving another foot. You already dragged me through the entire forest today. I’m exhausted.”
“This inn is also where one of the places I keep my storage,” she said.
“Did you need to retrieve something from there?”
She passed me a look, arched brow and all.
I shrugged, which lifted the two pagwais on my shoulders. “What? I don’t know the mysteries of your storage containers.”
“I had something mechanical you were interested in riding,” she commented.
The realization slammed in, and heat roared through me. “Where is it? We need to stop there right now.”
“At the Rusty Wheel,” she said. “So once we get a room…” Her gaze turned molten as she skimmed me over.
I swallowed hard. Yes, yes, yes.
Kali tilted her head toward the open door, and I followed her inside. The second we stepped in, an older woman by the bar raised a fist. She had wiry gray hair in a mist above her head, and she hunched over with a rag and scowl aimed our way.
“Out with the vermin,” she called.
I glanced around me. “Where?”
“No pagwais in this inn,” she said with a glower. “Don’t want them eating my customers’ food.”
Disappointment filtered through me. There went the hot night I had planned with Kali.
“Come on, Lynwell,” Kali said in a wheedling tone. “Can’t they at least sleep in the stable?”
Lynwell let out a grumbly noise, her skin forming new wrinkles in the process. Then she stared at Socks and her new friend on my shoulder one more time. “Fine, they can stay in the stable, but no spooking the horses.”
Truthfully, Socks and her friend would be better in the stable as there were ample places to shit rather than on the floor or in our bedding. I was satisfied with this solution.
“Let me go get them settled,” I said, striding toward the door.
“I’ll handle business,” Kali said, a twinkle in her eye that made me shiver.
I stepped back outside, taking a few minutes to scout out where the stable was—conveniently located behind the inn.
A few horses were already put up there, who tilted their heads out of curiosity, so I stepped in to an empty side area stacked with hay bales.
I tugged Socks off my shoulder, and her friend hopped right off onto the bale.
I stared at my little critter, who watched back with a sassy expression.
“I need you to sleep here tonight, not run off,” I said. “I can’t be racing all over creation for you again. If you’re a good girl, I’ll give you a feast of berries in the morning.”
Her ears perked up at the word berries, and I placed her on the hay bale to emphasize my point.
“Berries.” I patted the bale. “Stay here.”
She let out a snuffling sound and curled up on top of the bale. Her friend cuddled up with her, and within a few minutes, both of them started to look dozy, their eyes narrowing to slits as sleep tried to claim them.
I took that as my leave. Pagwais could sleep long stretches, and they’d gotten plenty of excitement today. Hopefully that was enough to keep them situated.
When I headed back into the inn, Kali was seated at a table with two mugs in front of her.
I took a spot opposite to her and settled in. “Manage to get your bounty situated?”
Kali grinned, her smile sharp. “The full amount. Found out what was inside too.” She nudged a mug toward me. “First though, a beer. Lynwell is bringing over stew and bread too.”
My stomach rumbled in response. “Oh thank everything. I was about to perish without a full meal.”
Kali smirked. “Couldn’t have that now. We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”
I shifted in my seat, my cock already stiffening. My nipples chafed the fabric of my shirt, so sensitized I could scream. To say I was excited was an understatement. I took a sip of the beer to cool down, which was crisp and delicious. “So what was inside?”
“You were right,” she said. “Some family recipes that had been tightly guarded for generations.”
I snorted. “Far more valuable than some shiny metals or pretty jewels.”
“So say you,” she responded with a wry expression.
Lynwell trudged toward us with two steaming bowls, a hunk of bread sticking out of each one. The scent caught my nose, and my mouth watered. Some sort of meat and lumps of orange and green vegetables stuck out, and the consistency was thick enough to hold the bread upright.
“Take it,” Lynwell muttered as she plunked the bowls down and then headed back to her bar without another word.
“Charming as always,” Kali called to her, and Lynwell let out a mix between a grunt and grumble.
I plunked a spoon in and blew on the surface before taking my first bite.
The stew was hot and delicious, and I didn’t care if Lynwell was grumbly as long as she served us stew like this.
Quiet descended between Kali and me as we alternated between bites of stew, of the bread, and sips of beer from the mug to wash it down.
After rushing around the last two days, I savored getting to sit in an inn where a fire roared from a cozy hearth, where we weren’t out in the middle of the woods and could enjoy a good meal.
The Rusty Wheel was all wooden beams and matching tables and chairs, and black metal accents framed everything in stark contrast. Not too many elves gathered here tonight, only a few of the tables full.
Most travelers were already in the middle of the Everend Market, whether at the cabins or the campsites, since the ever popular midsummer festival was still in full swing.
At this point, I was grateful my vacation hadn’t gone to plan. The vendors at the market would always be there next year, but this chance encounter with Kali certainly wouldn’t.
Spending time with her had been an unexpected delight from beginning to…well, I wasn’t ready for it to end yet.
Kali nudged a tote bag that leaned against her chair. “Managed to get into my storage as well.”
“That’s…” I trailed off, trying not to drool at the thought of what might be awaiting me. She’d proved she could play my body better than most.
“Finish your beer,” she said, a cocky smirk on her lips. “And then we’ll head up to bed.”
I lifted the mug to my lips and chugged.