The Flame of Catalina

Surprise

Chay's POV

I woke up face to face with Finnr snoring quietly. He held me in his arms, and I felt his chest rise in steady breaths. In the low morning light, I looked up and could just make out his handsome features. He looked his age when he slept. When His face was relaxed like this, he looked vulnerable. Almost like me.

We were only a few years apart in age, but it was like he lived several lifetimes compared to my meager seventeen winters. I wondered what type of training he was forced to do that made his eyes so hard when he gave orders. I wondered what his life was like before the royal guard found him.

And then there were my ever confusing feelings towards him.

Things were getting complicated with Finnr the more I saw of him. He may have taken Garin initially, but he’s overfed us to the point of weight gain and encouraged Garin to experience fun even while being forced on the journey. We only slept because of my nightmares, and he never tried to push me to do anything. Then his proclamation to protect me from the crown had my stomach doing this weird flip.

On top of that, I couldn’t deny we had some physical pull towards each other as well. I didn’t know at any point whether I wanted to grab Garin and run out of instinct or have Finnr grab my chin and devour me until I couldn’t breathe. It was getting harder to see him as the enemy, but I knew I had to stay on my guard if I wanted to get me and Garin home.

As I stared at him, his eyes popped open and stared back into mine. I blushed at suddenly being caught so outwardly ogling him.

“Good morning.” His morning voice was rough with sleep and something inside of me melted.

“Good---” my voice cracked, and I tried again. “Good morning.” 

He smiled knowingly before slowly dragging his fingers from around my waist as he moved to get up. My breath caught in my lungs, and I waited for him to get out from the blanket before daring to move.

“I will meet you two outside.” He said before moving out of the tent.

At this point, getting ready for the day and getting into the carriage was routine. I woke Garin up and we dressed before moving out of the tent to eat. Once everything was packed, we took off. By the end of the day today, we would be at the capitol.

Again, we did not stop until lunch, where it was a short break before continuing on.

Unlike the last two days, Garin joined me in the carriage after we ate, and I would lie if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed that Finnr didn’t try to sit back here with me today.

I told myself it was for the best, but when the sun was further toward the west horizon my skin itched with annoyance. Garin slept while I was lost in thought when the carriage stopped moving. It was still too soon to be at our destination and my anxiety spiked.

I woke Garin up, needing him to be ready to run. Finnr had mentioned that it was dangerous for us to travel. What if our party was getting robbed? Before I started panicking, Finnr appeared at the door and opened it.

“Come we are making a stop.” He said and stepped away from the door. Garin and I exited, and we were ushered to follow as Finnr led us down a path through the snow and trees. As we walked further off the path, the air became humid and then suddenly warm. I heard running water before I saw pool that fed into a stream.

“A natural spring. I doubt you have ever had the honor of bathing in warm water, and I thought this would help you two relax before ending our trip.” Finnr turned to me and spoke.

He had a big smile on his face when he saw the excitement shown on my face. I moved towards the water, then noticed him stripping clothing in my peripheral vision. I turned back towards him to ask him what he was doing but the words died on my tongue.

Finnr stood with his leather armor and shirt off. His well-defined arms flexed under my gaze as my eyes swept over his impressive biceps up to his broad shoulders. His flat stomach was layered with muscles that only gods could have sculpted. The lines of his body followed the length of his torso ending in a V shape that led into his pants. He was covered with different scars, all just adding to his intrigue as a successful knight at such a young age.

Someone with his face could not have that kind of body. The combination was lethal. My legs nearly buckled at the sight of him. I really wanted to know what his training looked like now. I stared too long, and he cracked a smirk. He didn’t even need to say anything. But of course, he did.

“Why are you just standing there?” That brought me out of my trance.

“I can’t! You are around! Absolutely not!” Garin already stripped and ran into the water.

“Chay, you need to get in here! It’s like nothing we ever experienced! Stop being shy; it’s like to stream at home. But pleasant! I would bathe more if it was like this” Garin shouted out to me.

“I uh” I wasn’t sure what to say because it was a lot different with Finnr around.

“Here” he said. He turned away, stripped and also entered the water. Not before I caught a glimpse of one very toned rear end, however. “I will look away. The men are at the carriage resting. I will even stay in my own side.” He met my eyes before saying” Come in Chay.” His last statement was a quiet command.

I couldn’t find it in myself to say no when the steam tempted me. I would hate myself if I just walked back to the coach, so with quick hands, I stripped, folded my clothing, and took my first step into the water. It was warm. I never experienced natural water like this before. I moved further into the water until I was submerged to my shoulders. Garin chose to swim around the water, following the stream as it bent behind some trees.

“Ok Finnr, you can turn around” I said when I was ready. He turned and his light green eyes had turned almost molten emerald. Even though we stood at a short distance, I felt like one could cut the tension with the knife Finnr carried on his person, when he was dressed.

It really was unfair how attracted l was to him. How was I supposed to stay strong when I was at my most vulnerable? We were naked, covered only by the warm water around us, and when his eyes connected with mine, I felt like he could read every emotion I felt. How was I supposed to defend myself against the enemy when he so clearly caused my breathing to pick up and my core to start pulsing.

“Chay.” His voice was rougher than usual, and I was grateful my knees didn’t give out from the sound. I snapped out of my thoughts and realized My eyes had been tracing the parts of him above water.

I cleared my throat, but before I could apologize, he closed the gap between us and grabbed my face with both hands. His eye moved to my lips and back up to my eyes, and I was met with his dilated pupils. I almost felt physical pain waiting for him to make a move. My tongue darted out to wet my lips and I looked down at his unconsciously.

“Tell me to stop” was all I got before his lips smashed into mine. Like I would right now. The slip of his tongue past my lips took me by surprise, this being my first kiss. I follow his lead though, trying to copy the pressure he used against my lips. It was hard to focus too much on technique when he made me feel so hot and frustrated and needing.

My hands snaked their way into his thick hair, and I couldn’t help myself when I tugged a little as we kissed. He groaned in my mouth, and I felt another spark hit my core directly. The kiss intensified as both of us got caught up in the tension that had been building for days.

He turned me around, so my ass connected with his growing erection.

I gasped at the sudden hardness pressing against me. It made me feel so hot, I thought I could combust in that very spot. He pulled my earlobe into his mouth and bit it. I squeezed my legs together to relieve some of the building pressure.

He felt my legs squeeze, so he moved both of his hands between my thighs to part them. My legs relaxed at first but when I felt his finger touch my intimate part, I snapped my legs closed. He looked down at me, eyes searching for a reason for the rejection.

“I’m not ready for uh, I’m sorry, I just can’t” As if sensing I wanted to pull away, his hands moved back to my waist to hold me in place. I turned my head to look up at him.

“I don’t need this to be about me. I just want to make you feel good. Please let me.” His eyes pleaded with mine as he waited for my answer.

I barely nodded and his hand reversed course, heading up my body. His hand cupped my breast and began thumbing the already stiff n****e. My eyelids felt heavy as his other hand tilted my face to expose my neck. He starting kissing his way from my cheek, and down my neck.

At the tender skin where my neck and shoulder met, he sucked, making me push harder into him. He took that as an invitation to continue and he bit down where he’d been sucking. I almost didn’t recognize the moan I made as mine.

Finnr’s lips pressed against my shoulder and his erection grinded into my ass as he continued playing with my n****e. Then, his other hand started moving down my stomach. His light touch almost tickled but caused my core to pulse with anticipation. I almost whimpered when he stopped just past my navel.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until his breathily chuckled in my ear and said “Breath Chay. I can’t have you passing out before we even began.”

I exhaled and his fingers met my slit. He drew lines up and down, careful to put just enough pressure at the top where my core waited to be touched. I squirmed, trying to adjust his hand to meet my needs. I was panting and I felt his smile on my neck before I heard him tsk.

“Patience. We will get there.” His finger drew that line again, but this time slipping past my lips. He sucked in a breath “Gods, you are wet.”

I nearly cried when he gathered some of my wetness and brought his finger back up to my core. At the first brush of his finger, my hips started moving on their own. The sensation was something I never experienced. My eyes closed, and I chased the pleasure his finger brought as it brushed up and down.

My whole existence was focused one that one spot, so I was unprepared for the contact of Finnr’s teeth on my neck again.

“Finnr, please” I begged him. I wasn’t even sure what I was begging for. I just needed the release to this build up.

He groaned in my ear and started moving his hand opposite to my grinding, doubling the pace. My legs threatened to give out from how tense they were, and Finnr’s free arm came around me to hold most of my weight. After seconds of this pace, the pressure hit its peak, and my orgasm came on hard.

My head lulled to the side, and I focused on catching my breath. Finnr just held me upright, taking in the sight of me post orgasm. When I came out of my daze, he settled me on my feet to face him. Just he opened his mouth to say something, a sharp scream came from the near distance that sounded like Garin.