Chapter Seven
Rillie
Rillie shrieked, covering her mouth with both hands.
“Rillie, hush!” Baelan said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. “It’s me, Baelan!”
Rillie took a deep, shuddering breath. The room was dimly lit with an oil lantern hanging from an iron loop in the ceiling, but she knew Baelan could see her bright red cheeks.
“You scared me!” Rillie said softly, narrowing her eyes. “Why did you have to frighten me like that?”
Baelan chuckled. “Why, I thought I was losing my mind,” he said. “When I heard your voice, your singing…I was quite sure I was imagining all of it.”
Rillie frowned. “That isn’t funny,” she said.
Baelan grinned. “No, I suppose it isn’t,” he said. “But I’ve found you – that’s what I cared about.”
Rillie blushed again, even brighter than she had when Baelan had pushed the door open.
“How did you do it?” Baelan asked. “How did you sneak on board?”
Rillie shrugged. “Last night, I did not sleep,” she said. “And when morning arrived and you did not appear, I thought that you might be on the ship.” Her gaze turned sneaky and she grinned. “And I could not help but climb on board and look for you. By the time I realized the ship had left the harbor, I had to hide.” She stretched and yawning, rubbing her shoulders. “I have been here all day,” she added in a grouchy voice. “My whole body is stiff and full of aches.”
Baelan snorted. He put his hands on Rillie’s shoulders and gently began to rub at the knots and tension. Rillie moaned softly and leaned into his touch. Her response stirred Baelan, and he felt his manhood twitch between his legs.
“We will be gone for a month,” Baelan said, avoiding the urge to look at Rillie’s chest, right below his eyes. “I cannot believe you are on board!”
“You cannot tell anyone,” Rillie said, whirling around and facing Baelan. “I would be killed! The queen…she would be so angry!”
“Aye,” Baelan said.
Rillie blinked. She realized that she was mere inches from Baelan’s face. Suddenly, the worries and threats of Queen Zornaya seemed very far away. She could see Baelan’s breath was coming hard and fast, just like her own. Her heart was thudding as she stared into his dark eyes and shuddered softly. Something inside of Rillie seemed to move and twitch as Baelan leaned closer and closer.
He’s going to kiss me, Rillie realized. When their lips met, it was better than anything she could have imagined. She wrapped her arms around Baelan’s neck and pulled him close. He tasted salty and smoky – like the sea itself – and Rillie moaned softly as Baelan slipped his tongue inside of her mouth. He pawed gently at her body, pushing her thin cloak off of her shoulders and moving his hands down her bosom. When his hands brushed against her breasts, Rillie shivered and moaned again.
Pleasure and arousal flooded Rillie’s body as the kiss grew deeper. Baelan put his hands around her waist and pulled her close until she was nearly on his lap. Beneath her, his body felt muscular and strong – Rillie had never felt so safe or protected as she did when Baelan was holding her. They moved together in a sensual rhythm with cues all its own, kissing and nipping at each other’s lips, tangling their hands in each other’s hair and gently pulling.
Rillie slid her hands until Baelan’s tunic and caressed his warm chest. His skin was smooth and hot and hairless, and softer than she’d thought it would be. She ran her hands gently over his muscles, stroking and rubbing his shoulders before lifting his tunic over his head and throwing it to the side.
Shirtless, Baelan looked as handsome as an ancient god. Rillie flushed when she realized she was staring at him. He leaned closer and kissed her again, gently flicking the tip of his tongue against Rillie’s lower lip until she moaned with pleasure. Baelan’s hands fumbled with the laces of her gown until it was loose enough to slip down her slender shoulders. As soon as Baelan pulled the rough material down to Rillie’s waist, she shivered. The air inside the storage hold was chill, but Baelan’s skin was soft and hot. Rillie pulled her hair out of the way and pressed her naked bosom to Baelan’s chest, soaking up his warmth. He tangled his hands in her hair and gently tilted her head back, exposing her pale neck and kissing it softly. Rillie shivered as arousal seized her body. She was aware of every cell, every nerve, twitching in excitement and anticipation.
When Baelan’s hands pushed Rillie’s skirts up, she gently reached down and held his hand.
Baelan looked into Rillie’s eyes. “Do you want me to stop?”
Rillie shook her head. She stared into Baelan’s sapphire orbs and took hold of his hand in her own, gently guiding it between her legs.
“Be gentle,” Rillie said softly.
“Aye.” Baelan’s voice was husky growl that made Rillie shiver. When she felt his fingertips against her most sensitive place, she bit her lip and moaned loudly.
“Hush,” Baelan growled. He pressed his mouth to Rillie’s to stifle her cries as she moaned louder and louder. Rillie could feel that she was wet and slippery between the thighs, and she instinctively spread her legs as Baelan’s fingers grew more insistent. His touch was delicate, soft, and intoxicating all at once. Rillie rolled her eyes back in her head as Baelan rubbed her womanhood.
“I cannot wait,” Baelan growled. He took his hand away and Rillie gasped – she wanted more, she needed him to bring her to completion. Rillie watched as Baelan fumbled with the laces at his trousers, pushing them down his muscled hips. When Baelan crawled between Rillie’s legs and steadied himself with a hand against her hip, Rillie gasped. A sudden, sharp pain ripped through her and she cried out as Baelan slid inside of her, his manhood buried to the hilt.
The pain only lasted a second. As Baelan began to rock his hips against Rillie’s waiting body, the pain melted into a warm pleasure that felt better than sinking into a warm bath. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close and kissing him gently as her pleasure grew.
Baelan groaned and bucked his hips, tossing his head back. Beads of sweat flicked from the tips of his hair over Rillie’s body. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the musky, sensual aroma that had filled the room. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled him even closer until they were locked together.
Baelan pushed Rillie’s hair away from her face and stared deeply into his eyes. When she looked into his beautiful face, Rillie felt a powerful rush of emotion and pleasure surge through her body. It felt like something was gripping her between the legs, again and again, in a delicious spasm that made her cry out and twitch. Baelan’s own pleasure followed behind – he paused for a moment, arched his back, then thrust in deeper than ever before. Rillie could feel every inch of their bodies together. She felt filled with a happiness unlike she had ever known.
Afterwards, Baelan gently rolled over and pulled his trousers up to his skirts. Rillie flushed as she fumbled with her skirts, blotting herself dry between the legs, and then hastily laced up the bodice of her gown.
“Did I hurt you?” Baelan asked softly. He flushed. “It has…been a while since I was with a maid.”
Rillie shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “It feels strange, though.”
Baelan raised an eyebrow. “What feels strange? The art of love?”
Rillie flushed hotly. “No, not that,” she said. “Talking. Now.” She bit her lip and shivered. “I feel as though what we just did was more intimate.”
Baelan snickered. “It was.” When he saw her tremble, he put an arm around her and pulled her close. “Are you cold, Rillie?”
Rillie sniffled. “Only a little,” she said. She sighed. “How I wish you could stay with me tonight! But I am sure you will be missed if you are not in your bunk.”
Baelan frowned. “Unfortunately so,” he said.
Rillie sighed softly and leaned against Baelan. “I wish you did not have to go.”
Baelan put an arm around Rillie and pulled her close. “Aye,” he said. He sighed. “We need to think of a solution to get you off this ship – there’s no way you can stay on board for a month, without anyone else noticing.”
Rillie was silent. “I should not have done it, I know,” she said, shaking her head. “I just…”
Baelan gently put a finger to her lips. “It is done,” he said. “And there is no use worrying about it now.”
Rillie nodded.
“I promise you, I will think of a solution,” Baelan said. He got to his feet and pulled his tunic over his head. Rillie stood and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering.
“I hate to leave you,” Baelan said. “But I should return to my bunk.”
Rillie nodded. She clung to Baelan for a long time. When he left, she sank down among the boxes and cargo and tried to get comfortable.
No more than ten minutes had passed before she heard footsteps. Her heart began to pound and she quickly glanced around, looking for a hiding place. But Rillie hadn’t even had a chance to move before the door swung open. Baelan stood there, holding a folded blanket and a cloth bag.
“You need these more than I,” Baelan said, passing the thick blanket over. It was wool, and Rillie wrapped it around her shoulders and clung tightly to the folds. Baelan reached into the bag and handed her a few pieces of salt pork. “This isn’t very good, but I’m afraid it’s all I have,” Baelan said. “I am sorry it isn’t more.”
Rillie shook her. “No, I appreciate it,” she said softly. “Thank you.” She bit into the rough shards of meat and chewed.
Baelan grinned and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Sleep well,” he said. “I will check on you tomorrow, whenever I have the time.”
Rillie nodded. She felt hopeless and frightened, but knowing that Baelan was nearby comforted her immensely. When Baelan left her the second time, she blew out the oil lamp, curled up in her borrowed blanket, and quickly fell asleep.