Chapter Four
Raevar
Fuera Del Mercado – Danny Ocean
Two days pass beforeanything happens. I didn’t realize this trip would be stagnant. It’s almost like when you’re doing a marathon—where no matter how fast you go, it’s the stable, consistent duration that matters.
A person, petite but stunning, walks toward the water almost like it calls to her. I lean against a tree, picking at the stray grass on my pants. I’ve spent the better half of the last two days nestled right here, out of the sun and in the heat. It’s different here, the weather. Unlike with Solera, the sun doesn’t fuel me. It’s almost draining, like it steals my energy rather than takes what it needs before offering it back in return.
I think this is her.
Her skin is a peachy color, but not like human’s have, no. It’s truly like an actual peach. With oranges and pinks, and a little bit of red. Curls for days and thick thighs that indent as she moves, drawing me in. It’s as if she’s stolen all the oxygen from the air, and we’re not even in close proximity.
I swallow, my palms feeling damp and hot suddenly. It’s impossible to take my eyes off of her. The fact that it’s easy to imagine how her thighs would be squishy beneath my palms shudders through me. I’m mesmerized by her, the way she dances on the grass as if it’s a pillow of happiness.
Her legs bounce as she hops around. There’s no routine to her dancing, simply what feels right to her. The blades of green move in the breeze along with her, almost like they’re following her lead. It’s as if nature is attuned to her like Solera is to Vera.
It takes me a moment to realize the soft melodic sounds surrounding me is her singing. She’s not loud, but soothing, like she’s convincing the world that she’s simply a part of the forest, waiting for the world to capture her and force her to take route.
My heart hammers in my chest as the carefree woman bounces from foot to foot, twirling with a keen love for life. It’s not something I’ve witnessed before. Most people forget to truly live and experience what each realm offers. It’s not about escapism, but living within who is around you.
A breeze picks up, tickling across my skin and leaving goosebumps in its wake. It’s almost the same feeling I get in Solera. Like when Vera links in, her fingers digging into the dirt, or when she wiggles around in the grass, her body bare to the world as the vines wrap around her.
This woman seems so carefree and lively, and when she begins to strip, my face burns. She doesn’t shy away or struggle, methodically removing her dress and undergarments like this is what’s best about life.
There’s a part of me—I’m not entirely sure what part it is—that wants to remove Cin’s eyes from his skull. Pluck them like flowers, root and all. Because he knew she came here to swim... which also means, like me, he creeped on her while she undressed.
I don’t like that one bit.
I’m unsure why. I don’t know this creature from Solera, but somehow, she’s made me want to go punch my old friend.
I don’t allow myself to be seen. Instead, I watch her from afar like a creep. Part of me tells myself it’s so no one else can walk over here and see. That I’m being honorable.
But the smarter, more logical part tells me I’m making excuses.
Dulce dips a single toe into the water. Satisfied with whatever she did that for, she wades into the water, and I can’t look away from her body. Her thighs are wide, like she’d use them to crush my hips or face, and that’s all I want.
Where the fuck is this coming from?
My body shudders with pleasure at the visual. I know it’s wrong. For one, she doesn’t know I’m lurking. Two, I’ve never met someone and immediately wanted to fuck them. Three, she could hate me.
Why is that last thought so maddening?
I sneak closer, going toward a set of boulders lining the water as she swims. Her arms rise above the water as she backstrokes. Her breasts peek through the surface, her pert nipples with tiny barbells floating. And fuck, my body isn’t prepared for the desire consuming me. This is so wrong; it’s not consensual.
Yet, I can’t find the willpower to walk away.
I grip the necklace around my throat, acting like more of a collar, something that grounds me. It guides me, telling me to look away. Sure, it’s not really doing that, but it’s always kept me on the straight and narrow. Especially when my body heated for my queen.
Someone else I could never, ever have.
Now, it’s for a random stranger that has my heart doing all sorts of extreme sports in my chest. Unable to behave, I chance one more look at her.
She’s nowhere in sight, and I just know it’s the perfect time to leave. Cin didn’t mention she liked to swim naked, and that asshole will pay for watching her.
Like you just did?
Shaking my head with the disappointment fueling me, I crouch and decide to leave. I’m just like a stalker, unseen and wandering. I watch the view line, searching for her. She isn’t visible, and I rush to her discarded clothes, hoping tonight is a night she’ll go to this place.
Vex’s.
If not, I’ll simply have to try again tomorrow.
Near her discarded clothes sit solenas. Bright as the ones Solera has. The scent draws me near, and like the hedonist I am, I pluck one.
Inhaling deeply, I swear Vera’s scent is somehow rooted here too. Unable to deny myself the little indulgence, I set the flower on Dulce’s clothes, and clip the port-path onto her dress before rushing out of there. As I hit the tree line, I hear a loud gasp. Fear sinks inside me, wondering if I’ve been caught. However, when I’m peering over at her, I see that this entire time, she’d been underwater.
For whatever reason, I’m unsure, but I spare her one last longing glance and pull on my hair, forcing myself far away from her.
Vera would be so angry that I’ve already sullied my mission. Distracted by the first woman I’ve seen, and that’s not even the worst of it. The worst is the fact that I want to turn around and convince this divine creature to come back with me.
But not for my queen.
For me.