21. Ambrose #2
I led us to a secluded area beside the river, where draping willows grew on the bank.
Walking through the swaying branches, I took my dry clothes from Zeth and set them and my glasses on a nearby rock.
We removed our shoes before I spread the blanket out beneath the tree.
Beside us, the river gurgled over rocks and pebbles, and above us, the orange haze of sun rays filtered through the leaves.
This was perfect for a peaceful evening.
“I missed this,” Zeth said as he turned toward me and began to untie my undershorts. “The City was so dingy and fast-moving. I much prefer a lazy day out in nature.”
His fingers grazed my bare stomach, making me gasp. It took me a moment to focus on what he’d said as he tugged at the fabric around my waist. “Yes, it’s beautiful…”
“You’re beautiful.” He gazed fondly at me, and I bit my lip against a smile. “And cold. Let’s get these wet things off, shall we? I don’t want you getting sick. Then we can get dressed and lay on the blanket for a while. Sound good?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
When Zeth moved in close to me, I thought he might kiss me, so I closed my eyes.
Instead, I felt his lips gently kiss one of my eyelids, and then the other.
As his mouth pressed against my forehead, goosebumps spilled from my neck and along my arms. I savored his sweet kisses all over my face as my waistband loosened.
The wet fabric fell from my hips to my feet.
When his lips reached the skin beneath my earlobe, I sighed with pleasure.
“I-I thought you were just changing my clothes,” I stuttered.
“You’re right, I am. Never said I can’t indulge in you while I do. Can’t help myself.”
My eyes popped open to see him staring intently at me. That stare reminded me of our time in the Ivory Room. He’d undressed me there too, just as he was doing now.
I waited patiently while Zeth turned for the rock to sort through my dry clothes. He found my trousers first and took a knee to hold them out for me to step into.
I placed my hands on his solid shoulders and followed his lead. Sliding the dry fabric up my cold calves, Zeth stopped to kiss each thigh before covering up the spots and tugging the waistband onto my hips.
His mouth pressed beneath my belly button, and the hot steam against my skin made me suck the air through my teeth.
As Zeth stood up, he fastened my buttons while he pecked soft kisses all the way to my neck.
He was certainly indulging, and it was getting me aroused.
But knowing we shouldn’t go further out in the open, I was perfectly content to just receive his teasing kisses and gentle caresses while we got dressed.
This slower pace allowed me to value Zeth’s care.
Wanting to indulge in him too, I combed my fingers through his damp hair, admiring his dark strands. “Mm, you’re so handsome, Zeth. Those girls at the river seemed to think so too. I saw how they were all swooning over you, especially that one you smiled at.” I pouted a bit, hoping he noticed.
He gave me a funny look and caught my hand to kiss the tip of my pinky. “I was just being nice to Hattie’s friends. I wanted to feel welcome, so I smiled.”
I furrowed my brow as Zeth shook out my shirt, letting his words sink in.
From what I’d seen from him lately, and even as kids, Zeth seemed to worry about others liking him.
He sometimes put on a facade around people, then he’d fall back into being himself when he was with me.
And yet there were times he tried too hard to please me, as he’d told me recently.
Going along because he didn’t want to lose me. I never realized…
Was he doing that now?
“Here, I can see you shivering already,” Zeth said, holding my shirt out for me.
I suddenly drew my arms in. “Do you… really enjoy this?” I asked. “You’re not just doing it because you think you have to?”
Zeth smoothed his knuckles against my cheek. “I want to be here with you. Ensuring you’re safe gives me pleasure, and today turned out to be an adventure I didn’t expect. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing right now.”
His response reassured my unease. Sighing softly, I moved my arms to slip them into the sleeves. “You’re such a good lover, Zeth. I’m sure you had many admirers in the City who were smitten.”
“Admirers?” Instead of explaining further, Zeth grabbed my arm to kiss the inside of my wrist before fastening the cuffs. His silence had me wondering as he made quick work of my shirt buttons.
When he was done, he moved back and paused to count on his fingers, deep in thought, and my forehead creased in surprise. That many lovers?
When he counted all ten fingers, Zeth caught my eye with a playful half smile while he tucked in my shirt. “The answer is zero.”
I let out a laugh. “You don’t have to say that just for me. I imagine you must have had other lovers before.”
He shrugged his scarred shoulder. “Nah, I was too busy working, and no one else struck my fancy the way you do. Though…” he trailed off, looking away into the trees, “There was the mayor’s son… he did try grabbing my program during the opera.”
“Oh, really? Do tell me m—”
Zeth cut me off with a claiming kiss to my lips. I clasped the back of his neck and pulled him against me, but he broke away too soon. As our eyes met, we both panted softly.
“And what about you?” he asked, embracing me so tightly, there was no way for me to get away. “How many lovers have you had?”
I hesitated as I focused on his mouth, all red now from where I’d kissed him so roughly. I didn’t want to talk about this, but he deserved to know since he asked. “Besides you? Three…”
Zeth stilled, and I froze, awaiting his answer.
“Only three men to beat up? That’s not bad,” he finally said. “So that means you’re the more experienced one between us. You better start telling me if I’m doing things wrong.”
“With that mouth of yours? You can do no wrong.” I winked. “Thank you for dressing me. And you?”
“I’ve got it. You lay on the blanket. I’m not done with you yet.”
My stomach fluttered from his demand, and I complied without question.
Moving onto the blanket, I laid on my side and watched Zeth get dressed.
There was something incredibly alluring about watching him pull dry clothes over his gleaming skin, even more so than watching him take them off.
It was the way he moved, how he tugged the fabric on and buttoned his shirt, all in my presence.
When Zeth was done, he joined me on the blanket.
I grabbed his arm to pull him against me, and he returned the embrace, supporting my head with one arm and wrapping his other around my middle.
Content, I turned my face to watch the swaying branches from above, and Zeth pressed his forehead against my ear with a soft sigh.
I closed my eyes, listening to the rustle of the leaves and the sounds of crickets chirping in the grass.
The gurgling river before us soothed my mind.
The tranquil air was ripe with something magical I couldn’t explain, as if I was connecting with Zeth and the nature surrounding us.
I wanted to stay here forever with him, exposed and free in these woods without any obligations tying us down. For this quiet moment, it was just us.
I drew in close to Zeth as we basked in the solitude. I had this urge to take care of him as he did for me. By choosing me, he took a risk of losing financial security. I wanted to help him in some way, and a thought occurred to me about what he could do to earn money.
“Zeth,” I started, and he turned his head, waiting. “Have you considered… going to the hiring agency? They can find you jobs, not only in Everdeen but a few surrounding towns as well. Nothing too far.” The last thing I wanted was to be separated from him again.
“Hm,” he grunted, glancing up at the leaves with me, seemingly at peace, but I felt his heart pick up beneath my hand. If not for being so close to him, I might have believed his confidence as he said, “I’ll go tomorrow and knock their socks off.”
“I’ll go with you if you’d like, during my break. But I suggest leaving your socks on. First impressions and all that, you wouldn’t want to stink up the room.” I poked his ribs playfully.
Zeth’s grin eased my worries about him as he shifted on his side to brush his nose against mine.
“Thank you, for supporting me, for challenging me. You push me to experience life, and I find myself wanting to do new things with you. Like swinging on ropes. I want to bite you in all the same places as my kisses, and…” He slid his strong hands down my back and cupped a cheek.
“And slap your ass to make you mine. Is that alright?”
My body lit with excitement. “I like the sound of that. You can fuck me if you’d like, too.”
“Mm, you have excellent ideas. Never stop telling me what to do, you hear?”
“Deal.”
We both grinned, and then Zeth regarded me for a long moment, his golden-hued eyes searching my face as if I was the most valuable thing in his world. There was sincerity in his gaze as he said, “I adore you, Amby.”
I grabbed Zeth’s collar and tugged him to my lips. “I’m so glad you’re mine,” I murmured, before giving him a passionate kiss. Then I curled against Zeth’s side so he could wrap his arms around me as I laid against him. He ran his nails lightly over the fabric of my shirt while I held him close.
I closed my eyes against the setting sun and cherished his warmth as if it was something I might lose. But my heart was steadfast, and I knew I would never lose Zeth Washer again.