Chapter 9
The more time I spent with Embry, the more I began to realize how I was feeling about her. It wasn't that my feelings for Skye had changed, simply that I could appreciate Embry for who she was and what she offered me. Embry was playful, easy-going, and fun, very different from how she initially presented herself. I found that I had not been a special case, she had a cold exterior to most people she met for the first time. We were close in age and had a lot in common, it was very easy to get along with her.
The lessons began after that, I was assigned to Embry for a week to do whatever she told me to do. Thankfully, she didn't overly abuse this power, she took the time to explain to me basic medicines and poisons and how to treat people with common injuries. We spent a couple of days working with the caravan's doctor, whom I was unaware had a close friendship with Embry. He assisted in providing texts and supplies, for which he was compensated by Embry in a number of ways. I was surprised at the number of connections these women had within the caravan, I would have never imagined the myriad of ways in which they operated in order to supply themselves. It wasn't only the days that were busy, but very often the nights as well. I didn't realize it at first, but they were conditioning me, training my body to want physical attention, to be accustomed to consistent work. Embry was easing me into gleaning information from people in return for favors, we would practice each night, working carefully on wording, which questions to ask, how to ask them, and, most importantly, how to defuse a situation that was developing. All of these concepts were taught in very basic means, she was simply introducing me to them in order to assist later instructors I would have.
"Good," she smiled at me, "We're done for tonight."
I nodded and stretched, yawning.
"Don't tell me you're tired already," she gave me a devious glance from the feather bed where she was seated.
"Not at all," I said standing and approaching her.
"You're such a bad liar," she shook her head and stretched out on the bedding. I laid out next to her on my stomach, face down, I was beat. "How did you ever make any sales?" she was just prodding me now, I sighed into the bedding.
"It was my charm," I turned to her smiling, before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her to me. She laughed, kissing me,
"Also bullshit."
I paused,
"How did you know my other secret? I'm very adept at bullshit."
She smiled and shook her head,
"If you're tired it can wait until tomorrow, I don't think it will kill you to miss one day."
I was a little shocked, granted we had been busy for almost an entire week, but this was the first time she wasn't insisting on pulling my clothes off.
"Are you being nice or are you sick of me already?" I knew if I played with her a little, she'd be more receptive. Embry was the type that if you didn't overwhelm her with seriousness, she would open up.
"I don't want to push you, that's all." she brushed some hair from her face and when her eyes fell on me they were soft, too soft. I cocked my head, looking into her eyes and seeing concern, seeing something more. Her expression changed suddenly, she turned and rolled away from me, out of my grasp. She saw that I was catching on.
"Embry," I reached for her and put my hand on her hip
"Go to sleep," she said simply, "Tomorrow will be busy."She reached for the lantern and blew it out, placing it a small distance above her head where we wouldn't hit it.
This wasn't good enough for me. I was impatient and young, I didn't understand when to let well enough alone and I wanted an answer. I curled up behind her and knew I had to be gentle, tactful, or I would be pushed away. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her back against me, she pulled my hand to her chest and wrapped her fingers in mine. I knew; I understood then. I didn't have to ask, I shouldn't have, but curse my curiosity, curse my need to know. I moved close to her ear, whispering,
"It's not like you to just let me off the hook like that,"
She was silent and still, but I knew she was listening.
"The way you look at me, the way you treat me, you're being too soft, I've noticed."
At this she sighed angrily, and looked over her shoulder at me,
"Do you want me to force you to do things with me every single night?" She was almost indignant, this wasn't even what I was arguing about and I was shocked she was becoming so defensive, but I should have been wiser, more understanding.
"Embry," I said flatly, "We both know you wouldn't do that."
"Oh?" She rolled on to her back, "How can you be so certain?"
"Because even when you're pissed off, you still hold my hand."
She fell silent, I felt her fingers move between mine, as if she was wondering whether or not to release me. Her chest rose and fell quickly and I could feel her heart pounding in her chest where she had me clutched against her. She sighed.
"I'm such a fool, I should have stopped the moment I knew."
My hand had escaped her grasp and landed gently on her cheek, turning her toward me. I felt her chest shake and tears on my thumb. I was terrible. My attempt to play and prod her had hurt her more than I could have ever imagined.
"I'm so sorry, I never meant to..."
She touched the outside of my hand and shook her head.
"I know," she said, "but that doesn't make it hurt any less." I could hear it in her voice that she was trying to fight the tears.
I felt so guilty, but there had to be a way to make this right. I moved close to her this time and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to me.
"I don't need someone to tell me that I fucked up, that I did the wrong thing," she reached around me and wiped her eyes again, "I don't need you to tell me that it will be ok, or lie and tell me you feel the same." I felt her take a shaky breath. "I really don't need you to give me shit for it either."
"What do you need?"
she chuckled, pulling away gently,
"I need you." she kissed me gently and I could feel the tears falling, running down her face. I wiped them away with my hands and kept her there with me, I wasn't going to let her go. I rolled her onto her back and put myself on top of her. I reached nearby to a small bowl where she kept her mint and put one in my mouth, I felt her smile as she continued to kiss me. She sat up and pulled me into her lap. I couldn't help but chuckle, she was eager as well. She tugged at my shirt, lifting it up over my head before I reached down and began to undo her boustier. She leant into me, almost pushing me over backward, and trailed kisses down my neck to my chest as she undid my support from the front with one very skilled hand. Her lips were like silk on my skin, gentle and caressing. I glanced down to see the forest staring back at me alluringly in the dim moonlight, appropriately chasing the mildness of her lips.
"Cheater," I said breathlessly, leaning back up. She smiled deviously and supported my back as I leant back in toward her. The support slipped from me and into her hands. "Tonight it's my turn," I slipped out of her lap and reached for her belt. She was quick on the draw and was reaching for mine as well. I had become much more adept at undoing them in the last week. I pulled it from her, placing it next to her, she had already started on my pants. I was already barefoot, anticipating going to bed as it was, I wiggled my way out of my pants, kicking them away from me before I was atop her again. I reached for the mint once more, pinching it between my fingers before rubbing it gently into her skin.
