Thix was burning up. Jostled by the motion of the carriage, staring into the floor as her body and mind betrayed her. Gerard had been riding on top for the last few hours. Perhaps he was giving her space to think.
Her heart ached, but it didn't quell the fire in her belly or the images and memories that continued to arise in her mind. She tried her best to think of other things, she really did. Myths and legends from home. Her family. Where to forage for every different kind of herb, mushroom, and berry in the area around their cave. Even, in final desperation, Thix tried to dwell on the two years she had spent with her will and hope slowly being beaten out of her.
It didn't matter, none of it helped. As soon as her focus would slip, she would think back to last night in the tent.
If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the ghostly touch of his fingers running along her scalp. If she breathed in deeply enough, she could still catch the lingering hint of the perfumed fragrance he wore. Thix wrapped the red cloth around her more tightly and shook herself, as if in so doing she could shake away the vision of Gerard removing his shirt after the rain. She moistened her lips, and stopped at the barest trace of salt left from his naked sweating flesh.
Thix had allowed the heart-hunger to consume her, if that was indeed what it was, and now she was aflame from the inside out.
She had awoken that morning where she'd fallen asleep. Face resting against Gerard's inner thigh, enveloped in his heat and musk as he stirred awake. The beat of his heart throbbed against her cheek through his erect cock.
In an instant the night before had come flooding back to her, and with it that frantic aching hunger. Thix felt trapped. Frozen. Torn between the desire to flee running into the forest in mortification and horror, and the desire to mount him quickly while he was still hazy from sleep. She did neither. She lay perfectly still, while Gerard moved beneath her, his muscles going tight as he stretched and yawned. The blanket was pulled back, slowly enough not to hurt her eyes. Thix had to hold back a whine of yearning as Gerard stroked her hair with his other hand, and looked down at her. His cool gray eyes meeting hers, still bleary from sleep. For a moment they only shared the gaze in silence, until at last he spoke.
"Sleep well?"
There were so many meanings unspoken in those two words. Thix didn't know how to feel. She was furious at him, but more deeply she was still floating in that drunken haze of lust. She wanted to know what he thought he was doing to her. What he had meant by subjecting her to such torture.
"No."
A smile of amusement quirked his lips. "Do you still want?"
Punctuating the question, his manhood stiffened against her. Once more, Thix felt a part of her break.
"...yes."
"Alright. Good."
After that, Gerard had helped her back into her gown, and dressed himself. She was still horribly confused and tormented, not to mention embarrassed as he helped her outside into the sunshine. Still, Gerard was thoughtful enough to shield her eyes as he led her back to the shade of the carriage and offered her the cloak once more. Luckily, Theo had not yet been awake to witness anything. Gerard went to wake him up, and they broke camp.
Thix gritted her teeth, balling her fists around the soft fabric, and suppressed the scream that was building up in her throat. Bastard! She'd given herself to him, had quite literally begged, and he had left her in this personal hell. No. He'd actually and deliberately made it worse. She tried to seize upon the anger, let the offense and rage of it cleanse her. It didn't work. It was only mingled with the desire, so that she stewed in it and could dwell on nothing else.
The carriage slowed, and stopped. Thix rejected the urge to look out the window and see what was happening. No. She was angry. She would be angry. She would show she was angry. A short time later, the door opened. Thix didn't look at it, turning away instead.
"We are taking a rest Thix. Would you like to use your legs?"
"No."
She heard Gerard climb inside with her and the door shut. Silence. She didn't glance over to him, but stared resolutely at the opposite side from beneath her hood.
"We should talk."
Hah! They should talk. Oh yes. She really wanted to talk about it. About how he... ugh. Thix's face prickled uncomfortably with the rush of blood.
"How are you feeling?"
She didn't bother answering, but tucked her feet up onto the seat with her and drew the cloak tighter around herself like a cocoon. Hoping he would get the message. Maybe later, if her confusion and craving abated a little.
Maybe when she was a little less infuriated with him. Instead, she heard the softest rustle of clothing, and then he was sitting right next to her. Gerard's thigh pressed against hers. Fury and longing pierced through her. His voice was pitched low, just above her head.
"Thix... you haven't said your word. Do you want me to come in and get you?"
Her heart pounded in her chest. She debated for a moment. Should she give in and speak it? End this twisted game? Or stall, force him to pry her out of her shelter. She bet he was strong enough to peel the cloth out of her grasp. In the end she decided she was being childish, and released a held breath.
"I'm angry with you." "I can see. Why?"
Why?! Thix gritted her teeth.
"You! You... made me..."
"Did I?"
She shut her mouth. Well... it hadn't been what she wanted, anyway. She had wanted him and... well, she had gotten him in a sense. Thix squirmed and scrunched her face up in a pout, unable to fend off the memory of his hot shaft resting along her chin, cheek, noise, and the hollow of her eye. The gown beneath her bare bottom becoming wet with her fluids. Soiled. Disgraceful. Weak.
"Please, let me see you."
No! If he asked like that, so gently, it was too much. Thix resolved to get it over with and finally yanked down the hood of the cloak, but didn't have the nerve to look him in the face. Instead focusing on his chest, and the laces of the white shirt he wore. Gerard was without mercy however, and cupped her chin in his hand, raising her face to look up into his.
Why did he look more handsome today? It was still the same face. Same pebble gray eyes. The same long straight nose. Same damned golden human hair. Same mouth. Same infuriating and heart-rending gentle expression.
