by Gina Manis
“It should be,” he sighs. “I might find you a deal somewhere. That one I told you about is on my mind. I don’t think anyone would have taken it. Too many pines to clear for livestock or fields. But it is still a magnificent property, and those pines are worth money to the people building.”
“But I don’t know how to cut down a tree,” I say.
“I figured that,” he says, looking back at me. “I guess I will have to show you.”
“You think I am strong enough?” I ask, knowing he couldn’t be serious.
“You’ll have to work on it.”
I smile. “How about you help me, and we will become partners?”
“Does this mean you want me to stay with you?”
“I’m still not decided.” I look away.
“Just let me know by frost.”
I roll over and bring my blanket over my head. “I’m tired, Arrow. I’m going to turn in.”
“Goodnight, Jenna.”
“Goodnight.”
I lie there for the longest time, listening to the fire pop and the rustle of wind in the trees. I am tired but a little hesitant to go to sleep. I dreamed of Bran last night, and my dreams of him are not every night. Going to sleep and realizing he might not be there, is kind of sad to me.
I will admit to myself that I would have liked to have gotten to know him better that first night. It is different being around him and not having a fear of his touch. I had wanted it, and it made me long for more, but all we ever do is kiss. He says it is the bounds of our first time together that hold us from doing more. I don’t know what that all means, but I have to accept it.
Bran has made me realize what I had given up on in life. A chance of love and family. Before, it didn’t bother me as much, but now, it is making me think.
Bran also made me realize that Arrow can help me, too, if I let him. I am trying but even after that night he took me up in the air, I still needed distance once I was back on solid ground. Arrow doesn’t like Bran, but it is only because he doesn’t see how much he helps me. Bran encourages me to move forward with Arrow each time we are together. I think he sees Arrow as a tool in helping me heal. He seems wiser than his cycles on this and there’s no telling how many women he has helped.
I am a little jealous of him being with others. He could be with another woman tonight, for all I know. Do they feel as I do towards him? I know Bran is extraordinary and I will not allow myself to fault him for what he does. He has done this for so long already, and I am just one more. Still, the urge to be more with him is there, even if it is only in my dreams.
◊ ◊ ◊
He is with me, standing in the prairie lands like we did that night we were together. It feels oddly like the first time with him in this dream, and I realize this is the fantasy dream, and he is not with me as he said in our last one.
“Why do you look so sad?” he asks me as he steps closer and takes my hand.
“This is the fantasy, right?” I ask him. “You are not with me tonight.”
He nods, “Just my memory tonight but… it is a good thing. Tonight is the first night you haven’t needed me to come. A sign of healing.”
“But I want you with me,” I tell him. “Not just a memory.”
“Jenna, the dream world has many states. Just because this is a memory instead of me with you doesn’t mean there is no benefit. Come and run with me. I will show you.”
“Where to?”
“To a waterfall, of course, with the little hiding place behind. I plan to kiss you all night long.”
“That long?” I ask playfully, enjoying this conversation even though this dream isn’t like the ones I have had with him over the past weeks.
“I’m afraid so. But don’t worry,” he whispers as he pulls me along. “I will keep it interesting.”
I wake up the next morning refreshed and happy, and I realize Bran was right. Reliving our memories of our first time was exciting again. They were fun and playful, with passionate embraces and soothing kisses.
Maybe meeting Bran is one of the best things that could have happened to me. I feel like, for the first time, I can move forward. For the first time today, I feel like I am leaving the past behind.
Chapter Sixteen
Jenna
“Did you get it?” I ask Arrow as he comes out of the claims office. Arrow told me to let him go in alone because he could get a better deal with my purse. He drops it back into my hands, making me think I didn’t get anything.
“You are now the proud owner of Pineview cabin,” he says, holding the paper in front of my face.
“My own place.” I snatch it away, reading my name on the deed. I’ve owned nothing in my life, and now I own a house and land. “But how? My purse is still full.”
“This has been abandoned for some cycles,” he says, taking my arm lightly as he leads us down the road. I fold the deed neatly and place it in my pocket for now. “All I had to do was pay some legal fees and back taxes. They signed the deed right over after that.”
“How much was it?” I ask him curiously, wanting to know how much I still had. I pull my arm out of his grasp as well. Though I have come to allow his touch occasionally, it still makes me uncomfortable. He says nothing about me pulling away.
“Little over a hundred coins,” he says like it isn’t anything.
Oh, gods! I have almost three hundred coins left? I can live off that for no telling how long. “We have to celebrate. How about we stay here for the night and we can get rooms? Have dinner in that café over there and strike out tomorrow morning.”
“Only if we can get enough supplies today,” he says to me. “I need to see about purchasing another sled and see about getting this one fixed. We might not be able to leave tomorrow.”
“Okay then, if need be, we will make it two nights,” I say, looking around. This place is nothing like the Star Kingdom. Everyone seems friendly, and they pass us by with smiles. It is different from what I am used to. The young men were casting glances my way, and they weren’t leers. “But let’s leave as soon as possible. I want to get home.”
“You are already thinking of it as home, and you haven’t even seen the place,” Arrow says, looking at me.
“Arrow!” A young, feminine voice shouts out from across the street, and we both turn and see a woman waving her hands in the air. She jumps off the platform, maybe more of a float to the ground, and comes running over, throwing herself into his arms.
I am a little shocked, but it is clear she knows him and well by the way he hugs her back. She is pretty with a lovely dress. Her hair is light in color, unlike my darker features.
“I'm so glad you are back. It has been boring around here without you,” she says, moving back and looking into his face with excitement.
“It has had you to keep it lively, I am sure,” he says and turns to me. “Jenna, I would like you to meet my sister, Katy. Katy, this is my friend, Jenna.”
“Oh, it is nice to meet you,” I say, feeling relieved that she is his family.
“And you,” Katy says, smiling and looking at Arrow. “You say you are friends?”
“Yes, just friends,” Arrow reproaches, and I can’t help hiding a smile behind my hand. This had to look like we were together to the people who knew him. I thought about trying to save him.
“I wanted to settle here, and Arrow was coming this way. It made sense for us to travel together.”
“Oh, so you must be coming from the homestead office,” she says, smiling. “Where at?”
“Pineview cabin,” I tell her, excited. “Arrow says he knows where it is and is going to take me.”
“Pineview?” She smiles and looks back at Arrow. “Why that is… just a day’s walk from our parents' place. You will have to meet them.”
“Arrow and I were just talking about celebrating tonight. Would you care to join us?”
“I would love that!” She says. “My husband Charles and
I plan to stay tonight. I know a great little place we can all go.”
“Charles?” Arrow questions her. “What happened to Simon?”
“Oh, Simon is at home,” she says, smiling at him. “You’ve been gone a long time, big brother. Your little sister has herself two husbands now.”
“Both of them?” He says, almost in shock at her.
“Oh, hush up!” Katy hits him in the arm. “Simon and Charles don’t mind sharing. They are brothers, after all. And besides, they thoroughly enjoy it.”
Arrow throws his hands up in the air. “Why isn’t Simon here then?”
“Well,… we didn’t want to bring the little one,” she says, and I thought Arrow was going to fall to the ground. “I needed a day in town, and Simon doesn’t mind if Charles and I make it a night. He has plenty of milk anyway, and he is a doting father.”
“Katy, I can’t believe you. You always had those two wrapped around your finger. I should have known you would end up with both.”
“I have to go,” she says, laughing at him and turning to me. “How about we meet in the lobby tonight and go to dinner? I can’t wait until you meet Charles, and I am dying to get to know all about you.”
“Sure,” I say. She kisses Arrow on the cheek and rushes off after that.
“That is your sister?” She seems nothing like Arrow.
“Half-sister,” Arrow says, looking down. “My father had two wives.”
“What?” Now I am shocked. “When were you going to tell me? Hopefully, before we reached their door.”
“Just my mother and father,” He says. “Katy’s mom passed away during childbirth. My mother raised her, and my father never took another wife.”
“Oh,” I say. Star Kingdom has demanded its women to marry two men. It wasn’t necessary until the sickness swept through the kingdom. It had been harder on women, and because of it, the king made it a requirement. I never intended to follow that law and it is one reason I left. Despite that, I’m intrigued by Arrow’s parents. Why did two women marry the same man if they didn’t have too?
“Come on. Let’s go see about buying a sled and preparing another,” Arrow says, and we go about our business for the day. We go to check into the hotel a few hours later.
“I’m sorry, but we only have one room,” the clerk informs us. “It is a bridal chamber.”
“Are you serious?” Arrow asks him. “When did this place become so busy?”
“We have had a group of stage performers in the area this week. Tonight is their last show if you would like to catch it.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely, Arrow. Can we?” I’ve never seen a stage performance before. They came to the kingdom but the performances were always so crowded. I didn’t think it would be the same here.
“Yes, we can,” Arrow says, but turns back to the clerk. “What about the cottages? Don’t some of them have two rooms?”
“They do, but they are all booked also.” The clerk says. “You are lucky the bridal chamber isn’t taken. Would you like to book it?”
“Yes, of course,” Arrow says and pulls out the coins and signs the book. “Can you have hot water brought up for a bath?”
“Sure can, sir. Would half an hour be okay?”
“That will be fine,” he says and turns to me. “Come on, Jenna.”
He didn’t look pleased to be sharing a room with me. I say nothing, but I am curious. It is in my nature to be so.
In the past several weeks, Arrow and I have started to bond. I am not as hesitant to be close to him now, but we haven’t started physical training yet. I am beginning to enjoy his company, even if we didn’t talk so much.
We walk up to the room, and Arrow unlocks the door, holding it open for me as I enter. I gasped at the size of the room for a suit and almost laughed when I saw how big the bed is.
“It is so big,” I stare at the monster in the center of the room. Arrow sits our bags in a chair and looks over to the bed and back at me, smiling. “You could fit a dozen people in it.”
“More like half a dozen,” he says and chuckles. “You need a little room to move around.”
“I’m not sure I want to sleep in it,” I say, moving to the couch and sitting down. “This seems comfortable.”
“I’m sure it has been well used, too,” he says, watching me as I stand back up. This room didn’t seem right now, with Arrow in it with me.
“Isn’t there another place to stay?”
“Yes, there is, and no, we will not be staying there.” He tells me and moves to the bed, jumping down on it. “I am tired and going to take a nap. Your bath should be up soon. Wake me when you're done so I can bathe, too.”
I look to the screen area where the bathtub sits behind. “You’re not going to leave me alone?”
“I’m tired, Jenna,” he says, bracing himself on his elbows. “I thought we were past this.”
“We are,” I say, knowing he is talking about the touching thing. “It’s this room; it has this vibe about it, and… it’s so intimate.”
“I know it is, and I am sorry,” he sighs and lies back down. “Try not to think about it.” He mumbles something after that.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing,” he says, throwing a pillow at me, and I catch it. “Good reflexes. Keep on those toes.”
I smile at him, knowing he is trying to distract me. “Go ahead and rest. I will wake you when I am done.”
“Thank you for not kicking me out on the street, my lady,” he says, settling down and closing his eyes.
I go about unpacking a few things I purchased at the market. It isn’t long before three women show up at the door with buckets of water. I let them in, and they hurry to fill the tub and are back out before I know it.
I walk around the screen and dip my hand in, seeing that it is good and warm. I turn to the vanity and light the candles in the large holder. It is a beautiful and even romantic atmosphere in this part of the room. I peek around the side of the screen and see that Arrow hasn’t moved. He must be sleeping.
I remove my clothing and take my hair down, ready to give it a nice long washing. Slipping into the tub, I try to be quiet and not disturb Arrow. I lie back and relax for a little while. The water coming up over my entire body feels so delightful, and I haven’t had this pleasure in a long time.
I have missed this. I hate to be dirty, and this luxury I have had to give up for some time. The warm water on my skin has me thinking of Bran and the way the wind touches me in my dreams. Bran’s touch is just as calming as the water ripples in this tub.
My dreams have turned sweet and the nightmares have disappeared. I have only dreamed of Bran a few times, and he makes them safe and fun. We talk a lot about many things and even some of my past. He always ends our night together with a gentle kiss, and I wake up with a smile.
Arrow has touched me a few times since that night at Brit’s and Ruff’s home when we danced. I didn’t feel as calm with Arrow, but I think it is because he holds himself back. There seems to be something he doesn’t want me to see about him. Bran is more like an open book.
When Arrow took me into the sky, one fear had outweighed the other and I held unto him for dear life. What I discovered was how powerful Arrow is. Physical strength has always been the biggest turn off of mine with men. I know Arrow can’t help the way he is built. He is a male element, and they were born to be bigger and stronger than humans.
He seems to like to argue with me also. We work together well, but we disagree on most things. At times I don’t know if he is serious or just playing with me.
With so many things I don’t like about Arrow, I can’t stop myself from thinking about him. We have been together long enough for me to make a list of things I do like. How he always saves any extra fruit for me because he knows I prefer it over the meat. Or how he beams when he is teaching me something. I love how he describes the mountains in colors that I can actually see them.
&n
bsp; The most important thing is he seems to care for me genuinely. He tells me Thomas put him up to this and that he owes him. It sure seems like a lot to do for someone he doesn’t care about. I’m not sure how I should feel about Arrow caring for me. How do I?
I have known Arrow for three cycles and yet, I am just now getting to know him. More often, I want to put my guard down with him, but I hold back. Why doesn’t Arrow open up to me like a book? Should I try to open it?
Chapter Seventeen
Arrow
The knock on the door wakes me. I close my eyes, determined to rest because the Gods know I don’t want to think of what Jenna is doing behind that screen.
She is just coming around to allow me to touch her, but I know she is not ready for anything else. Training her is much harder than I thought it would be. She allows me to touch her some, but I am quick to move away when I see her tense. I force myself not to linger or smell her hair, and I try to keep plenty of distance from her even when I am close. I am surprised she hasn’t pulled away from me more than she has.
I smell the match and open my eyes, and they land on the lighted screen in front of me. What the hell? Jenna is lighting the candles along the wall, and I can see the entire silhouette of her. This room had to be set up on purpose like this. Oh, Gods, no. Don’t torture me.
It does because I can’t help watching Jenna slide the shirt off her shoulders. Oh no. I look away but only for a second, long enough to see her breast wrap go flying in the air. “Look away, you ass,” I tell myself, but I can’t do it.
Jenna reaches down and unsnaps her pants. My eyes travel over those perfectly round hips as she slides them down. She turns and I’m not sure if she is facing me as she lifts her arms, undoing her hair. I watch it fall loose around her, just skimming the top of her backside.
I can’t take the ache from my hard-on any longer and undo my pants to relieve the pressure. Jenna is climbing in the tub, and her breasts are pointy, I can see even from here. I need some relief and take my erection in hand. It is wrong to relieve myself like this, but I have been hard for three days now.