by MJ Haag
I jumped from the tree and ran back the way I’d come. The nymph was nowhere in sight. I ran up the steps to the manor, eased open the door, and slipped inside. I didn’t slow as I sprinted up the steps to my room or when I opened the doors to his room. I closed everything behind me before diving under his bed.
Long minutes passed. His roar from outside rattled the pane, and I began to doubt the wisdom of my impromptu game. There hadn’t been any wisdom. I’d done something completely outrageous to distract him from his arousal. And where did that leave me? Under his bed. Just as I thought to creep out and find a safer place, the door to my room slammed open. I heard fabric ripping and furniture crashing. I trembled, regretting my spontaneity.
The door to his room flew open, and I held my breath. I heard him move around the room. I didn’t try to look and follow his progress. I held completely still.
Suddenly, his hands closed around my ankles, and he yanked me from under the bed. I stared up in shock at the beast’s face, which hovered just inches from my own.
“Found you,” he purred.
“That’s because you cheated,” I said in a rush, unsure of his mood. “You didn’t count the proper amount of time.”
We stayed still, gazing at each other. So many emotions flitted through his gaze that I couldn’t even begin to speculate their meaning.
“Go,” he said suddenly, pushing away from me. “Leave me in peace.”
Without hesitation, I quickly scurried to my own room. As soon as the doors closed, a thundering crash came from his side.
I’d thought to flirt with him but had only done so with honest praise. I stared at the doors wondering what had gone wrong.
Chapter 7
After two days of quiet avoidance—on his part, not mine—I finally found him in the kitchen, waiting near a set table. I approached cautiously and stopped a good distance away.
“Sit,” he commanded. “Eat.”
“No, thank you,” I said softly.
He grunted in frustration but did not growl.
“Why not?”
“I seem to upset you no matter what I do or say. Then you upset me, and suddenly you’re wearing more of my food.”
He snorted and studied me for a moment.
“A bribe then? What price do you ask to sit and eat with me?”
“A full meal without any food decorating your fur?”
He nodded with a slight smile curving his lips.
“Answers,” I said.
“To what questions?”
“I’m not yet sure. All I ask is your calm honesty. Instead of stating something isn’t my concern, tell me why you do not want to answer the question.”
I moved toward the table, knowing he would do as I asked.
“Why did my statement about liking it here upset you?”
“I thought it a lie.”
“You no longer do?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He sighed gustily and pushed back his plate.
“Because...of so many reasons.”
I took a bite and waited. He didn’t disappoint.
“You don’t hold back what you’re thinking. And, you are willingly risking my anger to speak truthfully. Though I’ve given you enough cause to leave, you haven’t yet done so. You do not act resentfully toward me, nor do you make outrageous or selfish demands when given the opportunity. What else can I think, but that you really do like it here, with me,” he said softly.
I smiled widely at him.
“Well, there aren’t many places I can go about my day naked,” I teased. “Perhaps that is the draw.”
He gave a half laugh and started eating. I dared to hope we were actually becoming friends. I reached for a covered plate to see what else he’d made.
“Wait, it’s—”
Too late, I touched the hot dome and burned two fingers. I hissed in pain. The beast moved quickly to my side, kneeling by my chair.
“Let me see.” Not waiting for me to move, he reached for my hand.
The tips of my fingers pulsed red. He brought them to his mouth, his tongue flicking out to swipe at the pads. My heart gave an odd flutter as my chest tightened. He licked the pads again, taking with him more of the sting. Heat crawled up my neck, and a strange warmth started in my middle. I frowned at him.
“Thank you,” I said pulling my hand free. “They feel much better.”
His gaze held me, and he slowly nodded, an unknown emotion lighting his eyes.
What did he see when he looked at me?
* * * *
After dressing in a plain dress for the day, I led the beast on a walk to visit the old tree that had spoken to me twice.
“What was your life like here before Rose enchanted everything?” I asked, sitting on the bank of the pond.
“I honestly don’t recall the details. I drank fine wines and liquors, entertained many guests, played games. Why do you ask?”
“What of your family?” I removed my slippers then pulled up my skirts before stepping into the water. It chilled my skin.
“My father died long before Rose enchanted me. My mother...she left not long before Rose came.” He cleared his throat. “Mother was ill and went south looking for help. She died years ago.”
“You’re alone.”
“I was,” he said.
My stomach grew warm at his sentiment.
“How deep is this water?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Not at all. Why?”
I grinned at him, waded a few feet out, then kicked water, hitting him fully in his face. He sputtered indignantly for a moment before chasing me into the water in a cascading splash that thoroughly soaked me.
Scooping more water to splash at him, I waged war. His splashes far surpassed mine for the next several minutes.
“I yield,” I called, finally.
His matted, wet fur clung to him, and I shivered under my waterlogged dress.
“Would you kindly have a hot bath waiting for me in my room?” I asked with a stutter.
“Of course,” he said, leading me to the front door. A trail of water marked our progress as we made our way to our rooms. He left me at my door with a bow and went to his own suite.
A large tub waited for me, steam rising from the water. I gladly peeled off the dress and sank into its depth with a sigh. Not a moment later, the door behind me clicked open then closed again.
“Do you mean to watch me bathe?” I asked, resisting the urge to turn around.
“I do,” he answered softly.
I felt a twinge of pity for him. He meant to face Rose again. I nodded and submerged myself, rewetting my hair.
Bravely, I shifted to my knees, counting on his restraint. My top half cooled in the air as I reached for the soap. Closing my eyes, I lathered my hair, arms over my head. A soft noise on the carpet gave away his move to see more.
Blaming my trembling on the cool air, I rinsed my hair then started soaping the parts of me still out of water. Curiously, my nipples hardened when my palms passed over them. A tingle shot from my breast to my pelvis. I repeated the motion, analyzing my reaction. I’d washed myself before. Why was this time different?
A blush of pleasure warmed my face, and I rinsed the soap away, aware of my audience. When I opened my eyes, he did not stand before me.
Behind me, the door once again clicked open and closed.
“Good luck,” I whispered in the empty room before finishing my bath.
* * * *
I felt him lay on the bed beside me at some point during the night. I rolled toward him and laid a hand on his chest, feeling the fur.
“What happened?” I murmured in sleepy disappointment.
“When I closed my eyes I pictured you but...” He sighed. “It wasn’t enough.”
Reaching up, I stroked my fingers along his shoulder.
“We will try again,” I promised before giving into sleep once more.
* * * *
I rode
to the Water just as the sun crested the horizon. Two gold coins rested in my pocket, a gift from the beast. This time I didn’t bother with the stables, but rode straight to the Sisters’ house. The guard at the back door nodded to me when I dismounted and tied Swiftly to the tree.
“Not a word of this,” I whispered to the creature.
Swiftly nickered softly, his eyes on the house. In the shadows behind the guard, I saw a very naked Ila waiting for me.
“If you’re good, I’ll invite her to take you for a ride. She doesn’t wear any underthings either,” I said with a light laugh. He made an odd non-horse noise and shook his head as I walked away.
“We’ve been waiting for you to return,” Ila whispered as she wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace.
“I should have come sooner, but my master demands so much of my time.”
“Things are well?”
“Yes. But I do have a purpose for my visit.”
“Come, let us bathe.”
I nodded and followed her down the steps.
Aryana did not wait in the tubs as usual, but Ila didn’t seem surprised by it.
“I’d grown so used to Aryana down here that it’s odd without her,” I said as we walked through to the back room.
“She is still sleeping,” Ila said.
As she helped me rinse, I broached one of the subjects on my mind.
“My master gifted me with some coin, and I had hoped to purchase some of the oil you used in my hair. I like the smell of it.”
“Of course,” she said as she poured water over me to rinse the soap away. “I make it myself.”
“It’s lovely.”
Ila laughed lightly.
“I will make a new scent just for you.”
I thanked her as we dried.
“I have another question,” I said after a few moments of quiet. “You’ve explained pent energies. I’m wondering if a woman could have pent energies, too.”
I’d watched their demonstration with Gen, and after my interaction with the beast, I deduced sight and touch of a woman and her body contributes to a man’s energies. But would the same work for a woman? The beast had alluded that it was possible. But, if so, did the beast have the knowledge to try and build the enchantress’s energies? I thought that might be the crux of the problem in achieving a full night of pleasure. The beast was certainly able to find his pleasure but could he find hers?
Ila smiled at me.
“Yes, we can. Though, we don’t become angry like men do when it occurs.”
“How do a woman’s energies become pent?” I wanted to help the beast, but part of me was plain curious after his remark.
Ila made a slight coughing sound.
“Perhaps we can discuss this when you came back for the oil? I should have it ready by midday. It should give you time to visit your sister.”
Reluctantly, I agreed and went to visit with Bryn.
Bryn excitedly spoke of all the people she’d met now that she’d engaged herself to the baker’s son. She gushed about how the baker himself treated her as a daughter and often took her on a tour of the bakery to explain the business further.
I tried to ask about the babe, but it seemed to upset her otherwise bubbly mood so I quickly asked about the wedding again. She spoke of her wedding feast guest list and Blye’s growing success as a dressmaker.
“She wanted me to ask if you could find her some more embellishments for hats or if you might have more of that thread,” she finally finished.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I promised, standing to leave.
I walked Swiftly back to the Sisters. Ila again met me at the door and handed me a vial the size of my palm.
“You don’t need to use much. Apply it when your hair is wet, and comb it through.”
I grinned at her and gave her the two gold coins.
“This is too much,” she said with a rough gasp.
“An advance for the next order. Please give anything that remains to my father.” She seemed mollified by that.
“Do you have a moment to speak?” I asked, hoping she still might explain how a woman’s energies become pent. Her appearance at the door, and the fact that they now had customers made it unlikely.
Ila glanced to her right, and Aryana stepped into view.
“We need to leave some mystery for you to discover on your own,” Ila said. “If we reveal all of the secrets of seduction, it takes the magic from the moment.”
“Seduction?” I tested the word, trying to recall a meaning.
“Not something generally discussed in polite company. The art of persuasion in which the end result is...” Ila looked to Aryana.
“I believe fornication would be the best word choice with our Benella.”
Neither would say any more. With nothing further to discuss, I left.
* * * *
When I returned to the manor, in my frustration, I slammed the door to the kitchen.
“This is unusual,” the beast said as he entered the room. “What vexes you so?”
“Have you ever heard of the Whispering Sisters?” I asked.
“Yes, but why have you heard of them?”
“It is where my father teaches. And, I’ve made a few friends there. At least, I thought they were friends.” I sat heavily on a chair. “They’ve been an invaluable source for information. There are things they know that have helped me understand—”
“You’ve been receiving advice from whores?”
His sudden upset surprised me.
“There is no need to yell. How else am I to learn about these things? Men are complex creatures on their own. Throw an enchantment on one, and he is impossible.”
He took a slow, deep breath, and I waited for him to calm.
“Why are you upset with them?” he asked.
“As I mentioned, they’ve been open with their advice. Until today.”
“What did you ask today?”
“How do a woman’s energies become pent? I understand fucking, as you put it, but don’t understand where the appeal is for the woman.”
He made a choked noise and immediately left the room.
“That’s about the reaction they had,” I yelled after him. “I don’t think it fair that everyone is keeping this knowledge to themselves.”
Really, how was I supposed to help him when I didn’t know?
Chapter 8
I stared into the darkness long after I blew out my candle.
“Benella,” the beast whispered nearby, startling me. “Would you like to understand how a woman’s energies become pent?”
“Yes,” I said with frustration. I didn’t see how he could accurately enlighten me, though, given his lack of success with Rose.
“It will take time,” he said. “Several days perhaps. And I cannot tell you, I must show you.”
Ah. So perhaps his lack of success with Rose wasn’t due to his understanding but his technique. Showing would be beneficial.
“And I will need to touch you. With no restrictions.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.
“No fornication,” I warned.
“No, Benella,” he said with a softly amused calm.
“You have my permission, then,” I said, very curious as to what exactly he would do. “But only on the condition that you will stop whenever I tell you.”
He lay next to me and pulled me close like he’d done so many times before.
“Agreed. Now, sleep,” he whispered, the furred tips of his fingers stroking the skin of my arm. It felt so good, my eyes soon drifted closed.
During the night, I woke to his touch on my bare stomach. It remained feather light, but insistent. It traced a pattern skimming the bottom side of my right breast before dipping and barely brushing the curls between my legs.
I frowned, worried. His erection pressed into my backside.
“Relax,” he whispered, moving his touch back to my arm where it caused less concern. Again, he lulled me to sleep.
In the morning, I woke next to him, my gown gone. His hands roamed over my stomach and arms. A burst of heat ignited in my stomach when his fingers brushed over a breast, just missing the nipple.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning,” I returned, uncomfortable and ready to ask him to stop. But he stood without me asking.
His eyes ran the length of me, and my heart stuttered.
“I’ll leave you to dress,” he said.
With a slight grin on his lips, he walked to his room and closed the connecting doors.
I lay there for a moment, stunned. He’d touched me and walked away. His control relieved me. Yet, if that was an example of how he attempted to build Rose’s energies, no wonder it didn’t work.
Dressed in trousers and a shirt, I met him in the hallway.
“Interesting choice of clothes. What do you have in mind today?”
“I thought we might fish again.”
“Lead on,” he said willingly.
Remembering my comment from the last time we left the safety of the walls, he offered to toss me over the wall, which I quickly accepted. My stomach churned in delight as I sailed through the air. I landed with a light bounce in the vine net. Once it released me, the beast landed softly by my side.
At the river, I rolled up my pant legs, dangled my feet in the water, and sat back to think. The beast’s skills were lacking and the Sisters wouldn’t help me. I didn’t have many other options to try to help him. Bryn would ask too many questions if I approached her, and I wasn’t sure if Blye had the experience.
“You’re very quiet,” he said from beside me.
“I’m trying to determine our next course,” I replied distractedly.
Did I dare speak with Rose to find out where he was lacking? She’d spoken very frankly regarding his efforts before. But what if asking upset her? Would I then end up as a beast, too? Not a very pleasant prospect. Speaking to her would be my last, dire resort.
“What do you mean?”
“To help you last a full night with Rose. I’d thought perhaps if we could improve your skill at building a woman’s pent energies, we might succeed the next time, but I’m not knowledgeable—”
“Improve my skill?” he sputtered indignantly.
