The next morning, Harold was surprised to find his brother, Wojciek, at his door grinning down at him.

  “Brat-I mean, Knight Captain, I’m surprised to see you. Is all well?”

  “Drop the formalities, Harold.” His brother continued to smile. “I have a special assignment for you.”

  Harold’s eyes widened in surprise and delight, “Wonderful. What is it?”

  “You’re going with me on patrol. You and I are partners.” His brother replied. “Hurry up and get ready.”

  Harold needed no further prompting. “Is this because the guard is short on men?” he asked as he yanked on his boots.

  “Who said that the guard is short on men?” Wojeciek questioned him with narrowed eyes, “No. This is because apparently a monster moved in. You’re the top of your cohort, so you’re the best choice to help me.”

  Harold grimaced, turning away so his brother wouldn’t see. Top of the class—and had his ass handed to him by a tiny slip of a girl.

  “Right.” he went back inside and buckled on his sword. “So am I the only one who gets to skip training with the Lieutenant general?”

  “For now.” Wojciek examined his nails, “We are planning on using the initiates to help reduce stress on the knights during daily patrols. The more experienced knights will be saved for nighttime patrols. Especially now that we are doubling up. But it will take time to determine the assignments. Every hunter will be jealous that you’re my initiate partner.”

  “I'm surprised you didn't pick Katarzyna.” Harold replied casually. He hated that Wojciek wanted to marry her. Having her for a sister would just be…weird.

  “While I would enjoy spending the day with that feisty creature, we may have–ah–had a bit of a spat recently.” Wojciek admitted, “I'm giving her time to cool off before I try again.”

  This cheered Harold up immensely.

  “Let’s get breakfast.”

  Harold walked with his brother to the cantina. Wojciek was everything Harold hoped to become and he was excited to work beside him. He couldn’t wait until he passed his rites and could fight side by side with his brother.

  Thinking about fights reminded him of his humiliation the previous night. As if his very thoughts had summoned her, he watched Katarzyna walk into the cantina, smiling and laughing with her friends. Bitch. Arrogant, stuck up bitch. While he may not have wanted her for a sister, he still couldn't behind she’d even had the audacity to refuse his brother’s offer of marriage! All because she didn’t want a husband who would outshine her and steal her glory and attention.

  When she glanced his way, he gave her the most withering glare he could. When she flinched and turned away, he relaxed and smiled. Good.

  They ate in silence. Wojciek wanted to get to work so he ate quickly. Harold followed his every example and did so as well.

  Within minutes they were on their way to the armory to pick their gear. “What’s going to be your weapon of choice?”

  “A longsword, of course. You?”

  “A classic. A longsword, of course. You know that you don’t have to copy everything about me, right?” Wojciek chuckled. “Even your little crush on the Lord Commander’s daughter is because of me, I’m sure.”

  Harold choked and started coughing, “I do NOT have a crush on that–-that stuck up bitch!” he roared. “Only the saints know why you do. You could do better.”

  Wojciek chuckled indulgently, waving Harold’s words away, “She’s the Lord Commander’s daughter. She has his blood flowing through her. We’d make formidable children. And a powerful alliance within the knights.” Wojciek replied calmly. “And she is easy on the eyes too. What crawled up your ass?”

  Harold grit his teeth glaring at his brother, “She doesn’t want you, so why are you bothering with her? She stubborn and arrogant. You shouldn’t waste your time. You should have a wife that worships the ground you stand on– you’re the Knight Captain, you’ll be the next Lord Commander!”

  “She is very stubborn.” Wojciek grinned as of he found that trait endearing, “And extremely arrogant. But she’ll come around. I’m not going to quit.” Wojciek replied with confidence, “But she’s been rejecting me for a while, why do you sound like you hate her now?”

  Harold hissed through his teeth, “I do hate her. Do you not feel the least bit of shame every time that stuck up bitch refuses you?”

  “You feel shame whenever she rejects me?” Wojciek asked amused.

  Harold was absolutely confused by his brother’s nonchalance, “Yes, don’t you?”

  Wojciek went into the armory with his brother and they each picked out a longsword and light leather armor. “I look forward to when you get your own forged blade.”

  At this, Harold smiled wistfully. He, too, looked forward to it. “I think I want a glaive… but for now, a longsword is what I have the most skill with.” He looked at all the weapons displayed on the walls, glinting in the light. He could almost hear each one begging to be used, to be unleashed to kill the monsters that preyed on humanity.

  “A polearm? I like it.” Wojciek complimented his brother’s choice of weapon. His own forged weapon was a longsword. He’d almost picked a oversized bastard sword that seemed closer to a club, but he didn’t have the Lord Commander’s girth and stature to swing it quickly. And if he’d picked a bastard sword, he’d have wanted one just as large. But it would have been impossible for him to wield it effectively.

  Once they exited the room, Wojciek continued their conversation. “When she rejects me, I don't feel shame. Maybe something more along the lines of annoyance and frustration. She’s foolish for wanting to be a huntress. I just hope that she realizes that before it’s too late.”

  “Me too.” Harold admitted. “How long will you wait for her?”

  “Why? So you know when to strike?” Wojciek shoved Harold playfully. Harold saw a nerve pulse in Wojciek's jaw. His brother wasn't entirely joking with him.

  Harold glowered again, “No. I just don’t want you to put your happiness on hold forever. I want you to have a wife and children– what Tata and Mama have. Whatever. Do what you want.” His brother was as stubborn as that fucking girl. Maybe they deserved each other after all.

  They walked the rest of the way to the gates on foot. Their assignment today was simple. Walk half the day away from the castle along the road. Then walk back. The boredom would be mentally straining. But they did have a responsibility to protect the roads.

  “Why are you so obsessed with Katarzyna Najberg?” Wojciek pointedly asked. “You’ve always enjoyed poking at her, but this anger is new.”

  “I’m not obsessed with her! It’s not my fault I am stuck with her everyday playing at being a knight!” Harold snarled back. He was not going to admit that he’d lost to that bitch again. And she had fucking followed him and tried to comfort him! Like she fucking pitied him! BITCH!

  “Uh huh.” Wojciek settled his eyes ahead of them. It was going to be a long day.

  “She’s not good. She’s stupid and reckless and has no head for tactics! She’s going to get someone killed!” Harold ranted.

  Wojciek didn’t say anything, just let Harold rage.

  “She’s probably going to get me killed! Damn her! And have you seen her fight?! During that game she fucking threw a tarp on you! A FUCKING TARP! It was the most idiotic, asinine, foolhardy, reckless bit of garbage fighting! She didn’t communicate with any of us– she just ran in! Got fucking Stanislaw killed!”

  “Yes. She does seem to have the teamwork of a feral dog.” Wojciek agreed in a thoughtful tone.

  “Right?! How is anyone supposed to work with her?! Fucking princess.” Harold grunted, finally wearing himself out. He fell silent, too.

  “Right, but none of this is new. Why are you so upset?” Wojciek asked after a few quiet minutes.

  Harold rubbed a hand over his face. Why was Wojciek pushing this? Why couldn’t he just let him be angry? “Because… She beat me again. I sparred with her after training last night. And she beat me. Again.” Harold’s shoulders slumped with shame, and he had to fight against the hot, angry emotions that stung his eyes. He was not going to cry like a girl, like Kasia, in front of his brother.

  “You lost to her again?” Wojciek laughed. “Is that all?’

  Harold shoved his brother. How dare he fucking laugh at him?! “What the fuck do you mean ‘is that all?!’ I’m the top of the class! I’ve trained harder than she ever has! I can throw her across the fucking yard, but for some reason I can’t beat her in a duel! And the look of pity she gave me! I fucking hate her!”

  “You’re ashamed that you lost to a girl? Or to the Lord Commander’s daughter?”

  “The girl part. It would have been an honor to lose to one of the Lord Commander’s sons.” Harold grumbled.

  “I understand. And it does suck to lose to a girl. I guess that I haven’t told you how many times that I’ve lost to Tamira. I swear she’s a monster.”

  “Well and the fact that Katarzyna is an absolute disaster in everything else! She is fucking crazy- a tarp, really? She shouldn’t be able to beat me! Have you seen how tiny she is?! A fucking breeze could knock her over! Tomira is at least large for a woman!”

  “You’re probably right. You should be banished in shame for losing to her.” Wojciek laughed.

  Harold made a face.

  “Or,” Wojciek continued, “you could remember that she is the Lord Commander’s daughter. She isn’t a pushover when it comes to a fight. And sometimes, we are just unlucky.”

  “She shouldn’t be a huntress. She’ll never achieve your potential. And she is dangerous to those around her with her attitude. She’d be far better as a mother. But she isn’t a bad fighter…Creators help any children you have by her. I cannot picture her as a mother.” Harold shuddered, shaking his head. “Maybe you should fight her. I thought I could show her how weak she was and I failed. But you wouldn’t. I think I was actually getting through to her until she beat me. Now she’s strutting around, full of confidence that she can be a knight.”

  “That’s a little unfair, don’t you think? Imagine the Lord Commander coming to fight you. No. If I beat her it will have no effect. I have far more experience. It won’t demoralize her like you can. Harold. It’s okay that you lost to her. She’s been training to be a huntress as long as you have. It doesn’t mean that she’ll be a better hunter. Or even a good one. You need to respect that she knows how to fight. Or you will keep losing.”

  Harold mulled over Wojciek’s words, nodding slowly. “Thanks.” he said finally.

  “You would tell me if my courting her bothered you.” Wojciek framed it as a statement.

  It caught Harold so off-guard that he tripped. Wojciek politely pretended not to notice.

  “I would tell you if it bothered me.” Harold grunted. It did bother him, but he didn’t know why it bothered him. Therefore, the feeling could not be trusted and didn’t matter.

  “What?! What do you mean we’re still under lockdown?! If Andrew, Janine, and I are all together, isn’t that good enough?”

  “No, Katarzyna, you’ll still require an escort.” Captain Erik replied, unmoved. He stood in front of the gate barring their exit.

  But that’s so embarrassing! I want to go kiss Isaak… What was she going to do? What ‘escort’ would ever let her sit and be courted– and did she want someone sitting there supervising her courtship? And that was assuming Isaak didn’t take one look at her and her babysitter, laugh, and walk off.

  “The Lord Commander’s orders. Or should I tell your Ojciec that you don’t want to comply?” Captain Erik seemed to enjoy teasing Kasia about her father being Lord Commander.

  Kasia humphed and folded her arms, looking at the ground sullenly, “No, Captain.”

  “The monster has only attacked at night. And it is as bright as that polished leg of yours right now.” Andrew had known Captain Erik for far longer than his education at the castle. Their families were old friends. “Besides, we’re hunters too. We’re going to protect the villagers.”

  Erik chuckled. “Not without a real knight with you, children.”

  “I’ll go with them, brat.” Ivar came striding up, flaming red hair glowing like a red halo around his head. “Babysitting is much more fun that gatekeeping.” he elbowed his brother playfully in the ribs.

  Kasia smiled weakly. It was really nice of him, but… maybe she would just go and tell Isaak she could never see him again, goodbye forever? “Dzi?kuj? Ivar. That’s very kind of you.”

  “It is my pleasure, little Kasia.” Ivar smiled kindly. “Shall we?”

  Kasia’s heart withered with every step closer they took to the inn. When they arrived, she couldn’t make herself open the door. Andrew opened it for her, giving her a sympathetic look.

  “Everything all right?” Ivar asked, confused, “You’re acting like we’re about to go to your funeral.”

  “I was…being courted. I imagine arriving with a babysitter is going to end that quite abruptly.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Ivar roared with laughter, “This is adorable. I am so happy I get to watch. Don’t mind me, I won’t make it too obvious that I’m listening to every word you two say.”

  Kasia whimpered and went to turn around and leave, but Janine grabbed her and shoved her through the open door. Kasia stumbled through, staring daggers back at Janine.

  “Kasia! Andrew! Janine! My three favorite children.” Sondra greeted them brightly. “And hello Ivar!” She didn't treat any of the knights like strangers. “I know what their usual is. What can we get started for you?”

  “Whatever fresh meat that you have.” Ivar smiled.

  “Make it double.” Andrew requested. “They’ve been trying to kill us with exercises.”

  Kasia, again, gave a weak smile and just went and slumped in one of the chairs by the window. She intended to keep her eyes on the horizon to avoid the company.

  “Well that’s going to get old fast. She’s so dramatic.” Janine whined.

  “Yeah. She is. Poor little Kasia.” Andrew whispered back playfully. He looked around the tavern but didn’t see the stranger.

  Ivar was clearly enjoying himself watching Kasia throw a fit over being babysat, “So, who is the strapping young fellow?” He stage whispered to Andrew and Janine.

  Janine snorted, “Well he’s definitely strapping, but, uh… he’s not exactly a ‘young fellow’.”

  Andrew shook his head. “I don’t see him here. Sondra, where is the woodsman?”

  “Andrew! NO!” Kasia hissed at him angrily from the window, waving her hands as if she could stop the words from reaching everyone.

  “Probably still asleep in his room. You all got here quite early today. And he is a late sleeper.” Sondra replied.

  Kasia folded her arms and scowled like a child, “I don’t want to talk about him.”

  Ivar and her friends just laughed, making Kasia sulk even harder. Ivar began to poke Kasia and tickle her every few minutes, trying to make her laugh. Kasia kept swatting his hands away irritably, but then seemed to realize how ridiculous she was being and relaxed a bit.

  “Why not wake him like last time?” Sondra suggested as she brought their breakfast over. Unsurprisingly their ‘usual’ was ready. “I’ll bring your double once it’s ready.”

  She set down plates for one, two, three, four, five people?

  Kasia stared at the extra plate, then up at Sondra, who was grinning at her.

  “Like last time?” Ivar glanced toward Kasia, grinning, “How did you wake him last time, Katarzyna?”

  Kasia huffed, getting to her feet, “I knocked on his door.” and she went up the stairs to do just that.

  Only she didn’t, she locked the door behind her and ran to his sleeping form. “Hey, Isaak.” she gently placed a hand on what she thought was his shoulder.

  “Good morning, My Lady.” He rolled over to face her and as he did so the blanket rolled down his body. Again his torso was laid out before her. The sunlight in the window traced every contour. The shadows perfectly accentuated his form.

  Kasia bit her lip, hopped into the bed and kissed him desperately.

  “So… we aren’t supposed to tell the villagers this, to avoid a panic, but a knight was killed. And now, none of the initiates are allowed to leave the castle grounds without a full knight babysitting them… so… I have a babysitter. Downstairs. Right now…” Kasia seemed to shrink a bit, her shoulders hunching, “so… if you want to spend time with me, it’ll all be chaperoned from now on.” She waited for him to say, ‘I’m sorry, you’re beautiful, but that sounds awful. Goodbye.’

  Isaak kissed her back, “That sounds awful!” A wicked twinkle glimmered in his eyes. “Let’s jump out the window.”

  Kasia’s eyes lit up. She considered it, then shook her head, deflating. “I want to…but Ivar will report it to my Ojciec, and the Lord Commander will punish me…”

  Isaak cocked his head to the side. The side of his neck nearest to her was exposed and just as perfectly formed as the rest of his torso. “Those two, you often mention them in the same sentence.”

  Kasia lost her train of thought for a moment, eyes on his neck. She was imagining kissing and licking the length of it… “Yeah…” should she just fess up? “...Because they are one and the same.” she winced slightly, completely uncertain about how he would react.

  “Your father is the Lord Commander?!” Isaak choked dramatically, then laughed.

  Kasia chewed her lip and nodded shyly. “Yeah… Will you forgive me for not introducing you? You said the only reason you came here was to meet him and my Wujeks, and if I sped that up…then you would leave sooner. Jeeze that sounds really bad when I say it out loud.” She fidgeted guiltily.

  Isaak laughed cheerfully. He caressed her hand, soft, intimate, and inviting, “Brave the jump from the window and I’ll forgive you.”

  Kasia bit her lip. What would the punishment be for sneaking off? “Sondra has already set a place for you. Why don’t you come eat with us?”

  Isaak sighed, “Are you sure? It’s only a few feet. You’ll barely feel it.”

  Kasia scratched her head, “I’m not concerned about getting hurt, I’m… I don’t want to anger my Tata.” She could tell that the idea of a chaperone really didn’t sit well with him. “Don’t worry about it. Hopefully this chaperone business will end soon.” She kissed his cheek and got up to leave.

  His hand shot out and he grabbed her wrist tightly, a flicker of desperation on his face there and gone in an instant. “Then we won’t run away. Stay here. With me.”

  Kasia heart fluttered and she squeezed his hand back. She would get hell from her father, but this wasn’t breaking the rules. “Okay,” she smiled brightly. She pulled his blanket down to cuddle into the bed with him– but he was completely naked.

  Kasia shrieked and flung herself out of the bed, crashing to the floor. “You’re not wearing pants! Gods—you’re not wearing anything! Please! Put on some pants!” She wailed, shielding her eyes with her hands.

  Down below, Kasia could hear Janine and Andrew howling with laughter. Actually, it sounded like most of the inn was. Fuck. Well, at least they heard her asking him to put clothes on, not take them off.

  Isaak laughed raucously as well. "I guess that I'm lucky that I actually slept with a blanket last night. Otherwise you'd have fled the moment that you opened the door."

  He stood up casually to look for some pants. "Are you sure?"

  Kasia peeked through her fingers at him. He was just as perfect below as he was above. "I'm sure. We aren't having sex so I shouldn't be seeing you naked." She said it with a slight question in her tone, asking if he still understood the situation had not changed.

  "Yes, little miss ‘not before marriage’." The tone of his voice was teasing, so Kasia knew it wasn’t a reproach.

  Kasia smiled, pleased. "Yep."

  It didn't take long for him to grab his pants and put them on. Immediately after he reached for his shirt.

  "You can leave that off, if you want." Kasia blushed.

  "Peeking?" Isaak smirked at her. "Would you like me to?"

  Kasia’s face grew hotter, "Yes. I'm pretty certain I can't get pregnant from admiring your physique, despite my best efforts."

  "Would you like to try?" He struck a pose for her but couldn't hold it because he burst out laughing.

  Since his lower half was covered, she rose to her feet and skipped over to him and began 'groping' his chest. Fuck those were solid! "Hmmm, nope, still not pregnant." She chirped.

  He smirked and reached out to grab her chest with both hands and squeezed, “And now?”

  Kasia yipped in surprise and jumped back. Her cheeks were flaming. Her body was hot all over. She pressed her hands over her flat stomach, “Oof- I don’t know. That might have done it.” she joked, trying to calm herself down. It wasn’t such a big deal– she was wearing clothes and had done the same to him… shyly, she walked back into range of his hands. Would he touch her again?

  Isaak grabbed her waist and deftly spun her around and pulled her back into him. His arms wrapped around her as his bare chest pressed against her back. He rested his chin on her head, “I’m glad that you chose to stay.”

  Kasia hummed in pleasure, leaning her full weight against him and closing her eyes. "Me too. I'll get in trouble for it, don't get me wrong, but it'll be my Ojciec punishing me, not the Lord Commander. But this is worth it." she turned around in his arms, taking one of his hands in hers and led him back to the bed. She pulled him down onto the mattress then cuddled up to him, her tiny frame fitting perfectly in the space between his arm and torso. “So what shall we do today?”

  “I’ll need suggestions. I’m stuck on one idea.” He joked playfully.

  Kasia huffed, “One idea that I’ve told you isn’t going to happen. Not unless— well, you don’t seem like the marriage type.” It was a tease, but it was also a probe into what kind of man he was..

  Isaak laughed. “What type do I seem like?”

  Kasia sensed his amusement at her question. Ahh, well, that answered that.

  He rolled her over, making sure that her hands were pressed against his chest as she lay on top of him and kissed her.

  Kasia happily returned his kisses with eager affection. “Hmm, you seem like… a ghost. Passing in and out of people’s lives but never staying. Definitely not husband material.” she wrinkled her nose at him.

  He continued to kiss her as he spoke. He switched between passionate kisses and tender. “Would that be so terrible, if I gave you wonderful memories to last a lifetime? Would you hate me? Or cherish our moments together?”

  Kasia thought about it while they kissed, “I think I would be all right with that. But I do hope to find a life partner someday, and since that will not be you, do you care if I allow other men to court me as well?”

  He pinched her ass through her clothing. “Oh? You have someone in mind? Playing the field, My Lady?”

  Kasia made a small squeak and giggled, “No, I don’t think so. But it hardly makes sense for me to close myself off to someone who is looking to find a partner as well, since you are not. Does that bother you?”

  “It seems only fair, I suppose. But I warn you, even with my permission you’ll find it hard to look at anyone else. There is no one like me in all the world.” He purred. He tugged gently at the bottom of her shirt as they kissed. “Are you not overheating? I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable in my… home.”

  Kasia laughed and held the hem of her shirt so he couldn’t lift it higher, “No, no, greedy man. That’s for my husband.” She resumed kissing him. She could feel him growing excited through his breeches.

  She sighed, staring into his beautiful eyes, “Tell me, what would you do if, when you tried to leave, I followed you?” Maybe she didn’t need a husband. Maybe this was enough. She could be a hunter and travel the world with him and then leave whenever she wanted. She knew it wasn’t realistic, though. Eventually he would tire of her withholding her body and move on to someone new. And she wasn’t certain she would ever tire of him. Perhaps she ought to end things now, before she grew so attached she turned into some pathetic, weeping creature, begging him not to leave her.

  “If you’re asking if I would stop you, I would not.” He kissed her gently. “I believe in freedom. I act according to my desires. I wouldn’t deny you acting according to yours. I believe in seeking pleasurable experiences. And I believe in taking advantage of creating good memories whenever I can.”

  Then he kissed her deeply and passionately as his hands explored her body.

  What an interesting way to live, she thought. Unfortunately, women cannot be so free. Men do not want wives who have known other men… But I have no idea when I will find someone to love and share my life with– why not have fun now? But…I want an Andrew. I want what Janine has with him. It’s one thing to have fun and hope that it could lead to more. It’s another to spend time knowing that it won’t… but, he would never stop me from living the life I want. Wojciek would. Probably marrying any of the knights would. Are my dreams so impossible that I must choose between traveling, hunting, and adventure or the joy of marriage, a family, and a companion to share all that with?

  “You’ve given me a lot to think about, Sir.” Everywhere he touched caused the temperature of her body to rise even higher. Her back arched, pressing her breasts against him as his hand passed along her sides and spine. Her body ached to give into him. This man—he was the physical embodiment of temptation and sin. It would be so easy to let go of her restraint, just for a little while…But the consequences would destroy everything. She needed to remain strong. “I think it's much easier for you. None of your good memories will grow into a child in nine months.”

  “It is such an amazing gift that women have. To create life.” Isaak spoke reverently. This took Kasia by surprise. Everything was a game to this man, but now he spoke with the highest respect in his voice. “The power of creation. The power of the gods, themselves.”

  Kasia’s body stiffened slightly, and she pulled back from him, studying his face. “There are many men who believe that is all a woman is good for. That the sum of her life and purpose is to use that gift.”

  Pain reflected on his face. “Have I said something to upset you?”

  Kasia immediately softened. She was taking out her anger at Harold and Wojciek on this man– assuming that he viewed women the same way. “I’m sorry. Recently I have been… sought by a man who feels this way. He, and others, tell me I am selfish to want to be free. To want to hunt and to travel. That it is a waste of my gift as a woman; that the greatest good I can do is to marry and bear my husband many children… and that I should want nothing else…

  “I do want to marry. And, perhaps, someday have children of my own. I don’t know. I know that I don’t want that right now. I want to live, to see the world,to pursue happiness outside of a woman’s purpose. I am sorry for reacting so harshly… your words— it just made me feel like they were speaking to me through your mouth.”

  The pain in his face receded, “I believe that creating life is the most sacred and selfless act a woman can do.”

  His fingers caressed around her waist at the hem of her shirt He continued to kiss her and rub his lips against hers as he spoke. “And I also think that you should live life how you want to. Whatever the expectations.”

  “I think you are only saying that because you are not trying to get me to bear your children. Wojciek is.” she said glumly. She studied him, trying to glean his age. “Do you want children?”

  He grabbed her hips possessively and looked her directly in her eyes. His eyes were alight with fire. “I would enjoy making children with you. But isn’t it early for such a conversation? You don’t even know if you like me.”

  “I like you just fine, Isaak.” She reached up and poked his nose, enjoying the hungry way he was looking at her, “But I would never have children with someone who is going to wake up one day and leave. I deserve better, and my children would deserve better.”

  “Which is why it’s too early for such conversations.” He bumped his forehead against hers, “Stop thinking about the future. For at least a moment, stop planning and plotting. Be here with me. Right now. In this moment.” He murmured, his eyes alight with desire for her.

  Kasia rolled her eyes, “I wasn’t asking if you wanted to have children with me, I was just curious if you dreamed of having a family some day. I am trying to learn about you. You know all about my dreams, but I know nothing of yours. But, I suppose learning can wait…” She nuzzled his face and resumed kissing him.

  “Mmm.” He let out an audible moan as her lips came into contact with his. “I am living my dreams, every day.” His fingertips played with her hem, trying to sneak a touch of her bare skin.

  Kasia’s eyes lit at his words. How badly she wanted to finish her training and begin her adventures now. But her Tatu? said she wasn’t ready, that she needed to wait. But this…this right here was something she didn’t need to wait for.

  She spread her legs to either side of his waist, squeezing him. She made a soft sound when his wandering fingers touched the bare skin of her torso and continued kissing him.

  His hands explored deeper underneath her clothing, awakening Kasia to just how magical something as simple as a touch could be. The feel of his skin against hers was magnetic.

  Eventually his hand brushed the bottom of her breast. He immediately pulled back from her. “Sorry!”

  Kasia smiled at him, her thoughts thick and languid like honey. Her cheeks were flushed and her voice was hitched, "Thank you. I…have decided that just touching is fine. But nothing below my waist." She gently reached beneath her tunic and found his hand on her ribs, covering it with her own. She guided him to move his hand over her small breast and encouraged him to squeeze.

  He did so gently, cupping it in his hand. His eyes remained locked on hers as he did so.

  First she felt panic. The part of her mind that she has been training all her life to never let a man touch her was ringing every alarm bell.

  Isaak seemed to sense this and did not do more, but neither did he stop, allowing her time to confront the emotions she was feeling. She half expected her Tatu? to pop out of the wall and tell her how disappointed he was in her. Or the creators themselves— wasn't it they who made this rule?

  But that didn't happen.

  And despite her fear and panic, there was also excitement. She could feel how different it was to be touched here—her body physically responding to it, nipples peaking beneath his touch sending all sorts of good feelings though her.

  There was a happiness, too. A joy that came from allowing herself permission to govern her own body and not another. She was choosing to share this part of herself with Isaak. This moment, and all the emotions and sensations held within it, belonged only to Isaak and herself.

  When the panic had given way to leave only warmth and affection in its place, Kasia kissed Isaak to let him know she was okay.

  He leaned into her, his body pinning his hand in place as he caressed her and kissed her, his touches becoming more heated.

  They remained locked in a passionate embrace for most of the morning, until Kasia's belly began to growl. "Well, that's my cue to return to my handler." She laughed. "I look forward to our next meeting." And she began to push him off of her, trying to wiggle out from beneath him.

  “May I join you?” He asked as she did her best to slip out from underneath him. He managed to steal several kisses off of her neck in the process. His own stomach rumbled when she finally did escape.

  "Oh? I thought the presence of my escort was too offputting?" She arched an eyebrow at him in challenge.

  "It is, but you have stoked my appetite."

  Kasia smiled at him crookedly, "I don't think they're serving what you're hungry for."

  "Are you?" He growled dangerously, making Kasia's legs tremble.

  "Nope." She said in a voice that was far more confident than she felt.

  "Pity. Well then I'll just have to eat whatever they're serving."

  Kasia held out her hand for him, "In that case, I would love for you to join me."