Chapter 19

She is a true wonder, taking me into her mouth that way. If I hadn’t been her first time under the blankets myself, I wouldn’t believe she’d never done it before. But I can already sense her body tuned in to mine, speaking the same language, so I’m also not surprised.

I hold Simka in my lap as I find a place to rest in the spring. It’s the perfect temperature, just hot enough that it doesn’t burn. My human gasps as her lower body slips under the warm water, and her eyes clench closed in pain. I rub up and down her thighs, over her belly, wishing I could touch her down below the water but knowing she’s far too raw. Along the edge of the rock spring are a variety of soaps, and I scoot along the stone to grab one.

In silence I clean my mate’s body, every inch of it. She steadily relaxes into my arms, and her head drifts to my bicep with a satisfied sigh. I worship her, relishing the soft give of her under my hands, the way her chest rises into my touch as I brush over her nipples. I can’t help leaning down to suck on them, and her moan fills me with the deepest pleasure possible. As troubling as it is to imagine putting a whelp in this small woman, and what that means for the future… I also crave it in my soul. I palm each of her small, pert breasts, then smooth my hand over her belly, my cock rising again as I picture her as ripe and round as her sister is now. She giggles as it pokes into her back.

“Already?” she asks, eyes twinkling. “My jaw is a little sore. You’ll have to wait.”

I can’t help but laugh. She is mischievous but also honest, my Simka. I’ve longed for her my whole life and never even knew it.

Then it’s my turn. She cleans me all over, even running her soapy hand down my ass, between my cheeks. This piques her interest, and she explores the puckered hole there with her finger. My mate’s curiosity about my body is limitless.

“Maybe another time,” I tell her, and she nods quickly before moving on. I can’t wait to explore every bodily pleasure with her.

When she’s finished, I take her into my lap again and lean back in the water, drawing her against my chest. We lie like that in silence, listening to the gentle sound of the spring flowing in. Occasionally I scoop up hot water and drizzle it down her chest, between her breasts, and she curls up against me closer.

Is this what happiness feels like? I could simply drift away into it, the warmth and pleasure of bathing with my mate.

“I want to go back.”

Simka’s voice startles me out of my doze. I blink a few times. “Go back where?” I ask.

Her eyes drop down to her lap. “Home.”

My heart sinks. Gorren will never let her go back to her village. And even if he did… I doubt her family would accept me. Not an ugly old troll.

I sit up and embrace her, locking my arms tight around her. “You can’t. You know Gorren won’t let you, and if we escape…” I kiss her collar bone, then nuzzle it with my nose while I hold her tight. “This can’t exist out there.”

Simka kicks the water, sending it splashing. “But I have to. My dad needs to know I’m all right. I can’t let him wonder forever.”

What is it like to have a parent, to have that bond with a family member? If I’m honest, I’m a little envious.

“I’m sorry.” That’s all I can think to say. Unless we plan to sneak away like we’d once wanted to, she’ll never get to see home again. And out there, there’s no future for us.

Simka turns her head, burying her face in my armpit. There she stays, silent, until we’re both wrinkled from head to toe and much too hot. She still doesn’t speak as we climb out and sit on the edge of the spring to let our bodies dry. It’s not as cold as I would expect, being inside a frigid mountain at this altitude, but it’s like some supernatural power is keeping it warm.

I’m being selfish, I know. I want to stay because here, maybe I can keep her close to me. But Simka can’t be trapped. She longs for freedom and independence.

As I stroke her short hair, my resolve clicks into place.

“If leaving here is truly what you want, more than anything…” I take a deep breath. “Then of course I’ll help you.”

She tilts her face up to mine, eyes bright. “You will?”

I would do anything for her. The realization is both my deepest and most terrifying truth.

I nod. “We’ll find a way to get you home.”

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