7. A Lover’s Demonstration
A Lover’s Demonstration
“Surely we have to be nearly there now,” Cypress grumbled, her head dropping back on her shoulders. Strands of her dark hair whipped across her face with the breeze.
After another in the saddle, she had long ago become bored with the constant rippling landscape of trees and farmland. They’d left the foothills of the mountains where the Castle was located days ago, though Cypress had been in uncharted territory–for her, anyway– for over a week.
“No, we are not nearly to the Wylds, Lass. But we are nearly to Dorne Towne. There will be an inn, a real bed, and maybe even some companionship to loosen your loins,” Torren drawled, running his tongue along his teeth, shimmying his shoulders.
“You’re an incorrigible rake, you know that?”
Torren smiled, “I love to love, is that so bad?”
Cypress shook her head. “I’ll take a real bed and be glad for it. What you do on your own time is none of my business.”
“Don’t tell me you’re a prim and proper thing now,” Torren jibed, “I thought you had tasted life most thoroughly?”
Cypress decided he was just trying to get a rise out of her, so she smiled.
“Are you looking for instructions?” She asked, giving him a look of mock concern. “Do you need to know how to bring a lady pleasure? Or do you prefer men? I can help in either case. Perhaps give you an example to follow, and proper instruction while you’re with your lover, if you need?”
Torren sputtered, a flush rising around his neck.
At the sight of his embarrassment, Cypress couldn’t contain her laughter any longer. Tilting her head back, she roared with it, hand clutched over her middle.
“Alright, alright. You’ve had your fun,” Torren groused, nudging her with his foot from where they rode side by side.
“Like I said, Thief. You’ll find a woman is adept in a great many things,” Cypress sang, urging her horse forward.
She heard Torren swear softly to himself, but then he and his horse were once more beside her.
“You’re sure there will be an inn?” Cypress asked without looking at him, instead gazing up through the trees, watching great, fluffy clouds inch across the sky.
“Yes. I stayed there on my journey to the Keep.”
Cypress filed that nugget of information away for later. “Is the food any good?”
“I’m sure it doesn’t compare to castle fare, but it was hearty. Warm and didn’t send me to the Mother clutching my middle,” Torren replied, directing them down the right side of a fork in the road.
“Will there be a heartbroken maiden waiting for you at the inn?”
Torren laughed, throwing a rogueish grin her way. “Nay, Lass. The company I keep knows I don’t stay long.”
Cypress hummed. “So you do need my instruction if you don’t leave even a single maiden heartbroken and distraught by your departure.”
A glance toward Torren made her lose control again, laughter bubbling up at his angry face. “Did I say something?” Cypress asked, trying to regain her composure.
Torren ran his teeth along his bottom lip, then shook his head. “No, Lass. Perhaps you’re right, and I will need that demonstration.”
It was Cypress’ turn to turn red, it seemed. She choked on her spit, startled laughter leaking out once more. “Indeed,” she managed, Torren chuckling alongside her.
“Care for a bit of fun?” the thief asked, glancing her way.
“What do you mean?” Cypress responded, leaning on the pommel of the saddle.
“Race you to the Inn? It’s at the end of this lane,” Torren said, pointing down the path through the trees.
Cypress scoffed. “What are we wagering?”
“I win, you give me a demonstration?” Torren proposed, waggling his eyebrows. At Cypress’s glare, he amended the wager with, “Alright, alright. Loser pays for dinner.”
“You’re on,” Cypress replied, urging her horse forward with the slightest squeeze of her thighs.
Seren shot off like an arrow, hooves finding easy purchase on the worn-down road through the trees. It was truly just a path, the dirt packed tight from so many years of use that grass would never grow.
The thundering of hooves not far behind informed Cypress that Torren was close.
She kept her seat, her arms moving in time with Seren’s neck, giving the horse her head.
The distance between Cypress and Torren increased by every stride, until she saw the wooden sign hung from a large tree with Inn scrawled across in large letters.
The building behind the tree had to be it, so Cypress turned Seren toward it. At the last moment, her horse slid to a stop, prancing in place. Cypress turned just in time to see Torren arrive, slowing his horse to an easy walk before the Inn.
“Looks like you owe me dinner, Thief,” Cypress smiled, breath leaving her lungs in a rush while Seren tossed her head. Cypress loosed her grip on the reins, allowing the horse to walk about a little in order to cool down.
“Seems like it,” Torren agreed, arms crossed over the pommel of his saddle.
“Don’t tell me you’re a sore loser,” Cypress chided, her horse circling his.
“Merely reacquainting myself with my dignity,” Torren retorted, making Cypress throw her head back with a laugh.
“Come on, Princeling, lead the way to the stables,” Cypress said, motioning him forward.