Word Count: 2114

~Aspen

I wipe the back of my hand over my forehead, breathing out slowly.

"I don't think I've sweat this much in my life," I mutter, looking over to my left, where Kastriv is finishing up the planting.

It's been a nice, calm afternoon. For once.

I want this. I want this everyday, with Kastriv here. We have settled into a comfortable silence often. It's mostly because I'm scared of what I might safe if I do stop and talk to him deeply.

Sometimes our fingers brush, our stares linger. It would be easy to turn and kiss him, to tell him I want him.

I don't think I'm going to have much luck holding off any longer. Kastriv has been patient, which isn't a surprise. He's gentle, sweet and kind.

Even if recently I've felt something else going on inside his head, that he is yet to let me see.

"You should be proud of what you've done," he says, gesturing over the plot that we have planted in. He is right, we worked hard on this and it seems to have paid off.

"Part of me wishes I didn't have to leave," I admit, peeling the gloves off my hands.

This Territory is nice. The weather is mild, and the citizens are kind, even if they are a bit nosy. But there is a constant reminder in the back of my head about who exactly is chasing me down.

It seems as though I'm destined to be on the run forever.

"Maybe we can stay for a while," Kastriv offers gently. I can hear the wary edge to his tone. He wants to push through that though, if it means keeping me happy.

I get to my feet, brushing the dirt off my knees. "I just hope Kaia is safe with her family right now."

It was a difficult decision to have Kaia go elsewhere. As much as I want her by my side through all of this, I can't risk anything bad happening to her. So she is with a distant family member who can take care of her.

"I don't think Oliver will chase her out of the Territory." Kastriv stands also. "Honestly I think he would rather just come straight for you."

I shudder. I hate that.

"Well, he already tried it. Hopefully seeing you and Keo scared him off." One can hope.

"Why don't you come inside, out of the sun for a bit." He holds his hand out to me, but I hesitate.

I'm not ready to go in yet, where I can sit around and be left to my own thoughts.

"I saw a pond just a little way down there. I think I'm going to go for a swim," I tell him, inching toward the path that leads down the hill.

Not only am I sweating, but some fun would be nice.

Kastriv casts his gaze off through the woodland area, nodding. "That sounds nice."

"Why don't you come join me?" I ask sweetly, fluttering my eyes lashes at him. He shakes his head, smiling. My flirting is hopeless, but I want to spend some time with him.

"I'll be down in a couple minutes. You go ahead."

I nearly stand and insist he comes now, but a devious idea pops into my mind that seduces me down the path and toward the pond.

With my toes touching the edge of the water, I strip off my clothing until I am in nothing more than just my panties.

It's freeing, having the warm air brush over my bare skin.

If I did any such thing while still being married to Oliver...I smirk at his reaction, knowing how furious he would be, and how I'm doing so right now and there is nothing he can do.

I wade into the water, allowing my body to get used to the temperature.

This is what I needed.

I lay on my back and float for a while, looking up through the canopy, at the light that sneaks past, bathing the surface of the water.

Eventually the sound of footsteps rustling along leaves has me looking up expectantly.

"Took you long enough!" I call out, watching Kastriv emerge. I sit up properly in the water now, soaking hair dripping down my back.

He makes it to the edge of the pond, drawing his gaze up to me. He startles, pausing in his spot.

I let him look over me, enjoying his attention.

"You...Aspen." The bite to his tone, the restraint is exciting. He wants me, and has to mentally and physically hold himself back from striding into the pond and taking me.

"What?" I ask innocently.

He blinks, continuing to stare with that darkening gaze. I continue to wade, aware of how the top of my breasts are grazing the surface of the water.

"I didn't have any swimwear, alright?" I give a half shrug.

"Are you certain you want me to come in?" He takes a step forward, the invisible tether of attraction between us snapping taut.

I want to break what is holding him back. I'm ready for him, can't he see that?

"Why? Do you not think you can handle it?" I tilt my head to the side, grinning at him, almost taunting him.

He releases a long, slow breath.

I watch him as he slowly unbuttons his shirt, shrugging it off. Admittedly my mouth dries at the side of the muscled planes of his torso, of those impressive arms that I want him to be picking me up with.

He kicks off his pants, keeping his underwear. I ignore the short rush of disappointment, continuing to smile at him as he finally joins me in the water.

"This is nice," he says, gazing past me through the trees.

"You can look at me, you know," I murmur, trying to coax that dark gaze back at me.

He looks down at his hands that he draws around under the surface. "I want to be polite."

"I'm your mate, Kastriv," I remind him bluntly.

His lips quirk up slightly, but he still keeps his gaze lowered. I want to reach out and touch his bare skin, to tug him at me. In the back of my head, though, there is a lingering thought that maybe he doesn't want me.

Maybe that's why he is apprehensive...

"The last thing I want is to push you." His brow furrows. He doesn't mention Oliver, about the relationship I was stuck in that I should still be recovering from, but I can see it in his eyes...

"You're not pushing me into anything," I assure him gently, reaching out to touch his shoulder, feeling his damp skin.

The thought of Oliver still haunts me. I'm not entirely over it, and I'm not sure I ever will be...

But being with Kastriv isn't what I am afraid of.

"I know," his tone deepens, as his gaze shifts up to me. "But I want to."

My breath catches in my throat. His attention doesn't fall from me, keeping me pinned. Excitment, tinged with a little fear begins to bubble up in my stomach.

A smile slowly pulls at my lips. "I kind of want that too."

"Come here," he orders gently.

His dark eyes don't move from mine, as I slowly wade over to him. What does he have planned for me? The look in his eyes is constantly tempting me, seducing me...I'm certain he has thought up plenty of sinful scenarios for us to play out in his head.

I don't stop my advance until my bare chest is pressed against his, my lips so close to his I can feel his warm breath brushing against them, tempting me.

Once I kiss him, I'm not sure I'll have it in me to stop.

But right now, I don't care.

He wraps his hand through my hair, lips brushing tentatively against mine.

I'm not sure which one of us accelerated the kiss first, but in one moment it was soft, careful and sweet, and the next, my breath has almost been completely stolen from my body, Kastriv tongue sweeping through my mouth as if he owns it.

I hold onto his shoulders, digging my fingers into his skin. With one hand on my hair, the other on my waist, he keeps me pinned against me, kissing me until I eventually pull away, gasping for air.

He moves his mouth down my face, to my neck where he kisses and sucks on my skin, teeth grazing along the surface in a way that has my toes curling.

Despite the cool water, I'm burning hot, drawing my hands up to the back of his head, unable to touch him enough for my liking.

His mouth reaches my collarbones, and then lower, to my breasts, which hang just above the water's surface.

I can feel him hesitate, giving me a chance to say no, to decide I've had enough.

Arching my back, I urge him on. Oliver never touched me like this, at least not since the beginning of our relationship, and since then, I'm touched starved.

Just feeling Kastriv's touch is bringing me to the brink of insanity.

My eyes roll back, uttering Kastriv's name on my lips as his mouth covers my nipple, his tongue drawing over the sensitive area.

Grabbing his head, I pull him away from me, looking down into his eyes, clouded with lust.

"We should...do you want to go back up to the house?" I ask breathlessly. I don't want it here, in this pond. I want him back at the cabin, where we can both be comfortable.

And for once, I can fully enjoy my mate.

His eyes flicker. "Sure."

He grabs me, cradling me in his arms before he strides from the pond. He doesn't bother retrieving our clothing, stalking up the path and back to the cabin.

I smother my smile against his skin, looking at our planted flowers before we get back up to the cabin.

Kastriv lets me down to my feet, holding me in front of him by my shoulders. "Tell me we should take it slower."

"I know that's what I should want, that it's healthy, but I really don't think I want that," I breathe.

An almost feral look comes about him. He lurches forward, grabbing my face, drawing me in to kiss him again.

He wastes no time being gentle and sweet, his passion for me evident in the way he kisses me as if the world will end if he doesn't.

My back bumps against the edge of the dining room table, my hand reaching out to brace me up as the weight of Kastriv's strong body presses against me.

Suddenly my hand slips on something, and I nearly fall back.

Kastriv grabs me, stopping my fall, helping me straighten. I turn, looking at a bunch of letters Kastriv brought in earlier splay out. The one at the very bottom catches my eyes.

"What is this?" I mumble, picking it up.

Kastriv looks over my shoulder, frowning. "A letter, I'm guessing?"

I turn it over in my hand, flinching at what is written. "It says 'from Oliver'."

"We shouldn't open it..." he mutters, frowning down at it.

"Of course we should open it."

I know it's going to be bad. But my fingers itch to open it, to know what he has to say to me. And what if it's about Kaia? What if he got to her, and he's going to kill her unless I return to her.

I'll do it...I'll leave Kastriv if I have to. To save her.

"But if we don't open it, we can pretend like whatever it says doesn't exist," Kastriv says, although I know he wants to open it, that he is wondering what horror Oliver wants to subject us to next.

"We really should see."

I tear into it, pulling out the letter from inside. Kastriv looks over my shoulder as I lay it down flat against the surface of the table.

Aspen,

You are cordially invited to a ball I am hosting in three days at my usual place.

Your attendance would be greatly appreciated, along with the Noble, Kastriv. There, you shall give the appearance that we are still married, and that I am simply loaning you to the Noble.

Unless of course, you do not wish to attend, and the world shall learn about what you truly are.

Yours truly,

Oliver

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