Once we retrieved my backpack from the reception, I strolled alongside him under the cloak of night. The sky was a vast canvas, dotted with twinkling stars that illuminated our path. Instead of hopping into a carriage, we opted for a leisurely walk to his cozy little home just a stone's throw away. As he draped his jacket over my shoulders like a true gentleman, I took a moment to savor the warmth and the comforting scent, leaning into him with a sigh of contentment. Unlike me, he appeared unfazed by the biting chill of the wind that danced through the streets.
Nestled in the heart of the city, he resided in a quaint little estate, just a leisurely 15-minute stroll from the grand palace. This charming abode, set in a modest neighborhood, featured a small wooden porch that welcomed visitors with a single step into his cozy apartment. The decor inside was distinctly masculine and refreshingly minimalist—not too sparse, yet not overly cluttered either. As I wandered about, searching for the perfect spot to continue our dance, he drew closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind. One hand rested just below my chest while the other gently brushed my hair away from my neck. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my shoulder, followed by the soft caress of his lips. With my eyes closed and my head tilted slightly, I let out a soft, contented sigh, feeling perfectly at ease in his embrace. He delicately unclasped the necklace that adorned my dress, placing it carefully on a shelf, only to replace it with a stunning new piece—a dazzling, oval-shaped crystal in a rich shade of purple, set in a delicate silver frame, now glimmering around my neck.
"Even if it doesn't quite match your beauty," he murmured softly. I turned in his embrace, a wave of emotion washing over me, and gazed into his eyes as my fingers danced lightly along his sides. Before long, I felt his hands weaving through my hair, guiding my head closer as he pressed his lips to mine.
When we finally pulled away, I noticed he had already unfastened my dress, a blush creeping onto my cheeks as I instinctively tried to hold it up with one hand. "Where can I freshen up?" I asked playfully, a grin spreading across my face. He simply pointed towards a door, a smile lighting up his features. I couldn't help but think how adorable he looked. With a tender caress of his cheek and a soft kiss, I slipped away into the bathroom, my heart fluttering with excitement.
In the solitude of the bathroom, I let my dress cascade down to the floor, leaving me standing there, bare in a man's domain. A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in my mind as I gazed at my reflection. 'Am I about to make a colossal mistake?', 'Where are my weapons?', 'Will he appreciate what he sees?'. And the most troubling of all, 'What if he turns out to be just like Tarlyn?' Panic gripped me at that last thought, and I fought to dispel the negativity before it brought tears to my eyes, my fingers brushing the crystal pendant around my neck for comfort.
As I fumbled through my backpack for some lingerie, I inadvertently unearthed Nimri, who had made himself quite at home among my undergarments.
"NIMRI!" I yelped, hastily trying to shield myself from his curious gaze.
"Everything alright in there?" came Ykril's voice from the other side of the door.
"Yes, yes! All good!" I replied, my words tumbling out in a rush as I turned back to Nimri, who was grinning at me with that familiar, drooly smile. "Why don’t you go play outside or head back to the Tavern and keep annoying Sanise?" I suggested. After a moment of indecision, he seemed to get the hint and slipped out through a crack in the door.
With a sigh of relief, I sank onto a small stool by the bathtub, taking a moment to collect myself. After a brief pause, I stood before the mirror once more, holding the delicate lingerie up to my body with uncertainty. The shopkeeper had assured me that any man would be eager to rip them off me, but I couldn’t help but wonder what purpose such garments truly served. With a resigned shrug, I slipped them on, ready to face whatever came next.
With a slight bow of my head and a deep inhale, I stepped out of the bathroom. The flickering glow of the fireplace danced in the room, where he sat, poking the flames with a stick. A wave of uncertainty washed over me as I lingered in the doorway, my mind racing with doubts.
'What if he’s changed his mind? He’s still fully dressed...' I swallowed hard, my gaze dropping to the floor in embarrassment. My fingers fidgeted nervously in front of my stomach, unsure of what to do with themselves, when suddenly, I felt his gentle hand guiding my chin up to meet his gaze. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured, a radiant smile lighting up his face before he leaned in and kissed me.
In stark contrast to what the saleswoman had suggested about the lingerie, he didn’t rip it away in a frenzy. Instead, he was gentle and deliberate, a refreshing change from the rough, submissive Drow men I was accustomed to. His tender caresses sent my heart racing, and the warmth of his natural scent enveloped me like a dream. I nestled closer, wrapping my arms around him, savoring every precious moment of our shared passion.
A tempest of delightful chaos whirled through every nook of his apartment, uncovering positions I never thought possible. In a playful, sultry duel for supremacy, we finally tumbled into his bedroom, collapsing onto the bed, utterly spent. As I nestled against him, my head resting on his chest and my fingers tracing delicate patterns on his belly, I basked in the warmth of his tender caresses gliding over my back. In that blissful moment, a thought flickered in my mind—distracted from the fact that he had filled me with his warmth and that I should sip the Tear of the Virgin potion to lessen the chance of pregnancy—what if I chose to build a life with him? He was so affectionate, nurturing, passionate, and romantic. Deep down, I felt he would never cause me harm. I realized I was surrendering too easily to the kind of romance my mother had always cautioned me against. But in that instant, I was unbothered.
The vision of a shared future danced in my mind—raising children, savoring simple joys, perhaps even opening my own tailor shop. But before I could fully dive into this daydream, sleep wrapped around me like a cozy blanket, and I drifted off into a blissful slumber.
