Chapter 313: Companion*
"Are you sure about this?" Rel asked, a sheepish smile lingering on his face as he stood outside the Chief’s house.
Luke nodded. "Yeah. I’ve already told him to head to the village by himself. We’ll be traveling with you."
Rel lowered his gaze before stealing another glance at the grand carriage rolling out through the gates, its polished frame pulled by a couple of magnificent horses.
"It would be far more comfortable if you traveled in that instead," he said quietly, well aware of the vast difference between the two carriages.
Luke smiled faintly. "Do you have a problem taking us back, Rel?"
Rel immediately shook his head. "Not at all. It’s just..."
"Then we’ll travel with you." Luke rested a hand on the man’s shoulder. "When the choice is between comfort and a companion I can trust, I’ll choose the latter every time."
Rel had already proven the kind of man he was. Even when the forest ambush had pushed everyone to the brink of panic, he had never once shown the slightest intention of abandoning his duty or fleeing to save himself. A man’s character was revealed when fear stripped away every pretense, and Rel had passed that test without wavering.
With that settled, they would be making the return journey with Rel despite having access to a far more luxurious carriage.
Those simple words struck a chord deep within Rel’s heart. He lowered his head in gratitude before saying, "I’ll go prepare the cart."
Luke nodded. "We’ll be ready to leave shortly."
Rel hurried off while Luke returned to the house, climbing the stairs toward their room.
The two guards remained stationed outside the door, standing as motionless as statues. It seemed they had every intention of remaining at their posts until Luke’s group departed.
As he pushed the door open, silence greeted him.
Everyone was still asleep, exactly as he’d expected after everything that had happened. Still, lingering any longer would only delay their journey. The sooner they left, the sooner they could put more distance between themselves and this place.
"Hmm?"
His eyes narrowed.
One of them was missing.
Just moments before leaving, Thea had been sleeping beside Laila. Now, she was nowhere to be seen.
Luke swept his gaze across the room before a faint sound reached his ears from the bathing area.
Frowning, he walked over and gently pushed the door open.
"Tch. What are you doing?"
A displeased voice rang out from inside.
Thea instinctively covered herself with both arms, glaring at him in annoyance.
She appeared to be trying to figure out how to bathe using the large water container in the corner.
Luke let out a quiet sigh and eased the door shut behind him.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked. "Any burning sensation? Dizziness?"
Thea looked away for a brief moment before answering, "I just feel feverish."
Luke’s brows drew together as he stepped closer.
"Let me check."
"Can’t you see I’m taking a bath?" she grumbled, hugging herself a little tighter.
Luke paid the complaint no mind. Leaning forward, he gently pressed his forehead against hers.
Her skin was still warm.
At such close proximity, he could feel the soft rhythm of her breath brushing against his face, carrying with it the lingering warmth of the steam.
"Anything else?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The defiance that usually lingered in her dark eyes slowly faded. Held by his unwavering gaze, her resistance quietly crumbled.
"My heart..." she murmured, matching his low tone.
"It won’t stop racing."
Luke hummed and lifted his hand, pressing his palm flat over her chest.
"Ah..." She exhaled as his fingers closed around her breast, thumb brushing the tight peak.
Her chest rose and fell faster against his hand while she locked eyes with him.
Silence lingered between them for a few moments before he leaned in and took her lips, tongue sliding past her lips as his hand squeezed harder.
She hummed when her back met the wall and his mouth sealed over hers.
His hands closed around her breasts, thumbs rubbing the peaks in tight circles.
Sweat and water slid under his palms as he worked them harder.
He shoved her legs open with his foot then drove his knee up, grinding it against her cunt.
"Nngh... I... I am letting you do this..." she breathed when their mouths broke apart, "...because you saved me."
Luke scoffed and pinched her nipples, rolling them between his fingers until she gasped.
"Like you could have stopped me even if I hadn’t saved you."
He released her mouth and dragged his lips down her throat, biting once before sliding lower.
His tongue dragged over the swell of her breast then closed around the peak, sucking hard while his hand kept the other nipple pinched and rolling.
She arched into his mouth, fingers digging into his shoulders as he licked and pulled at her until her hips jerked against his knee.
He let the bud go with a wet pop and moved to the other breast, sucking deeper, tongue flicking the tip while his free hand trailed down her stomach.
Her nails scraped his skin when he dropped lower, kissing the soft plane of her belly, tongue dipping into her navel before he sank to his knees.
He shoved her thighs wider with both hands and leaned in, breathing against her cunt for one long second.
Then his tongue dragged up through her folds in one slow stroke, tasting her fully before he sealed his mouth over her and sucked.
She clawed into his hair at once, fists tightening as her body lifted onto her toes.
He licked deeper, tongue pushing inside her then flattening to drag over her clit in steady strokes.
Her hips rocked against his face while her toes curled and her grip on his hair pulled him harder into her cunt.
He kept going, sucking her clit between his lips then licking through her again and again until her thighs shook around his head and she gasped his name through clenched teeth.
Just then, he got up and pulled down his pants.
Lifting her leg he lined his cock against her dripping wetness.
Thea gasped, "This...I-I am not prepared..."
Luke winked at her, "It would be our little secret." And with that, he slid his whole length in her inexperienced pussy.