Chapter 12 Willow #3
Stepping back from where he was tending to the fire, he moves over to stand right in front of me, making me tilt my head way back so I can look up at him.
“Yes, my tiny treasure. I am the chief of Redmere. When I was voted in, after my fathers’ passed, I made it my mission to make sure our island is a safe and perfect place for everyone who lives there.
” He reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind my ear.
“Hopefully, that will one day include you.”
“Oh,” I whisper in response as I stare into his deep green eyes. I can tell he’s waiting for my response, and I’m unsure why knowing that he’s the one in charge, not only lifts a small weight off my shoulders but also does something to my insides.
My stomach tightens, and I feel myself growing damp between my legs.
I inhale sharply, realizing that it’s desire I’m feeling so strongly.
I’m not sure why him being chief is so appealing, but it is.
Maybe it helps to solidify that he can not only protect me physically, but he has the authority to do it as well.
My father had been the leader of our cult, which is probably similar to a chief. Everyone had to listen to what he said, even if they didn’t agree. And of course, nobody could ever voice their disagreement.
But with Ronan… he is on my side. He doesn’t want to sell me off to some old man, or force me to serve his people.
Or at least, I hope he doesn’t.
Staring down at the bundle of large leaves that one of them had brought into our cave for kindling, an idea starts to form in my mind.
For the past twenty minutes, the three of them have been debating the pros and cons of sleeping on the strange bed of grass tonight, instead of the cold, hard floor.
Not that it was big enough for more than one person, anyway.
Careful not to expose myself, I bend down and pick up two large flat leafs and a smaller long one, then move to the unused wood pile and find a small twig.
It doesn’t take long to piece it all together.
This isn’t exactly sewing, but that is something I’ve been doing since I was old enough to hold a sewing needle.
This is the same, but with more primitive tools.
I manage to tear the long leaf into strips, to use as thread, then I poke holes in two large leafs, and thread it through. I have to tie a few together, but I’m left with an extremely basic loincloth, with one leaf hanging down the front, and one down the back.
“What’s that?” Bo asks, and when I glance up, I realize all eyes are on me.
“Oh, um…” I glance down at the contraption and suddenly doubt fills me.
They’re gonna think it’s stupid.
“I just thought that maybe you’d want to let your coverings dry overnight,” I say, glancing at his crotch. “And maybe you’d want to wear this while they dry.” I hold it up around my waist so he can understand what it is.
“You made this for us?” he asks, slowly reaching out to take it from me, his eyes wide.
“You don’t have to wear it, I just thought—”
“No,” he interrupts me, shaking his head. “I love it.”
“I was going to make one for each of you,” I say, lifting my gaze to the others, who nod in approval. A wave of relief fills me that they don’t think it’s stupid.
“We will make one for you,” Hawk says as he moves to the leaf pile and starts selecting a few leaves carefully.
“She will need one to cover her breasts as well,” Ronan says as he joins him, making the tips of my ears grow red.
Deciding to distract myself from them, I set to work making two more loincloths for Ronan and Hawk. Before I get very far, Bo steps up to us and throws his arms out wide, his chest puffed out with a look of pure happiness on his face.
“What do you think?”
Glancing down, I see he’s removed all of his coverings, now only wearing my loincloth.
My eyes widen, realizing how much more of him I can see now.
I hadn’t realized how big he is. With only a thin strip of leaf thread around his hips, his thick thighs are fully on display.
I can also see a trail of hair on his lower abdomen that seems as if it’s pointing right down between his legs.
He turns around, and a squeak of surprise leaves my lips, realizing how little that leaf actually covers.
His butt cheeks are on full display, and I stare at them in shock.
I’ve never seen a man’s ass before. I’ve never seen most parts of a man.
But there is something about those firm-looking cheeks that has my fingers twitching with the need to know what it feels like.
“You like it?” he asks, as he spins back around to face me.
“I think it’s too small,” I say as my cheeks heat and I lick my parched lips.
He grins at me before moving to help the other two.
I use the biggest leaves I can find to make the next two, but that isn’t saying much. Once they’ve finished with mine, we exchange them and turn our backs so we can all change.
The one they’ve made for me has two large leaves weaved together to lie across my chest, with the thread tying around my back.
They made my loincloth the same way I made theirs, leaving me feeling just as exposed as before.
Except now I can at least squat down without it riding up and revealing myself.
“Can I wash this off now?” I ask Bo, pointing to the poultice on my arm.
He shakes his head and frowns. “I think it’s best you keep it on overnight. Some of those bruises were pretty dark.”
I really didn’t want to sleep with this stuff on me. It has hardened and makes me feel dirty, not to mention the smell. It isn’t bad, but it has a strong herbal smell that I don’t exactly like.
After Ronan adds more wood to the fire and everything is laid around it to dry, Hawk takes my hand and leads me over to the back of the cave, away from the grassy spot.
He sits down and leans against the wall before patting his lap. “Come, sit.” I do as he says, sitting down in his lap, and he wraps his arms around me. “You’re going to sleep here tonight, so get yourself in a comfortable position.”
“Oh! But you can’t sleep sitting up,” I say with a frown.
“I can and I will. You get yourself comfortable.” I hesitate for a moment, but seeing his inviting lap and his arms held out for me, the invitation is irresistible. Once I’m settled in his lap, I glance at the others, wondering where they will be sleeping.
Ronan moves to lay down right beside us, his hand coming up to gently grip my ankle. I expect him to give it a squeeze and let go, but he doesn’t. Does he plan to hold me all night?
Bo sits beside the fire, but stares into the waterfall, and I realize he’s on guard duty.
“Goodnight Bo,” I call over to him.
He turns his head, a smile on his lips and whispers, “Goodnight, little one.”
I reach down to rub my fingertips over Ronan’s hand as I whisper, “Goodnight, Ronan.”
“Goodnight, Willow,” he says in return.
I tilt my head up to Hawk and smile. He’s so handsome with his deep hazel eyes and his long brown hair tied back at the top of his head.
“Goodnight, my angel,” he says, his eyes dropping to my lips, making my heart flutter.
“Goodnight, Hawk,” I whisper back before dropping my gaze and resting my head against his chest.
A very large part of me wants him to kiss me, but fear holds me back. Fear of what? I don’t know, but fear nonetheless.
I close my eyes and let the warmth and safety of his body send me into the best sleep of my life.