The next morning Hydrangea woke up feeling much too warm. She threw the blankets off and heard Bastian exclaim softly behind her. She gasped in relief at the cool morning air, though it was still quite humid.
"What's wrong?" Bastian muttered drowsily from behind her.
"Can't you feel how hot it is?" She asked, looking down at her thin dress that was now coated in sweat.
"No. It's quite nice actually." He responded and she felt him stand up.
She sighed and tore her useless nightgown off before she stepped into the pool. She caught Bastian's chuckle from behind her, "Is this another pregnancy thing?"
"Must be." She rested her head against the bamboo rim of the pool and listened as Bastian wandered the room behind her.
The day and what they had to do all rushed back at the same time. 'Oh, Ratri-kar…what do you expect of me?' She complained. What could she say to the queen?
She could use words. She always had in the past. She sighed and rose from the water. She had avoided getting her hair wet, but her body still dripped in the muggy atmosphere. Walking across the bamboo floors and mats she could feel Bastian's eyes on her, and she was tempted to walk straight towards him and see what he would do.
But she resisted. She opened the chest that she had retrieved her nightgown from and but her lip when she couldn't make heads or tails from the strips of fabrics inside.
Bastian appeared behind her, his hands finding her waist and his lips greeting her temple. One hand remained on her hip while the other reached around her and grabbed one of the larger pieces of fabric and he began to dry her off.
Her cheeks flushed and she watched him with parted lips. Without a word—his soft touch was enough to communicate—he dried her legs entirely. Her toes curled when he reached between her legs and her cheeks burned when she wanted to roll right into him.
He chuckled and left a kiss on her thigh before continuing onto her stomach. His touch was torturous along her breasts. They didn't hurt at the moment and seemed to be electrified. At every touch or stroke she inhaled sharply.
He was trying to do something sweet for her and she was ruining it.
When he had finished her arms he wrapped the towel around her back and shoulders and gave her a tender kiss. She smiled and leaned into him, gladly taking what he offered.
Bastian broke it and her smile widened at how breathless he was. She was breathless as well, but she very much wanted to keep going. Her breasts wanted his hands to hold them and her core was throbbing painfully. Maybe she could convince him that they could just have one quick go at it.
Her eyes went to the bed and he grasped her chin, he clicked his tongue while mirth danced in his molten eyes, "We have to meet with the king and his queen, remember?"
She huffed and sigh and visibly slumped, "I know, but—can't we just…please?"
Bastian's lips spread into a grin that had her belly fluttering, "I promise you that once we get back home that you won't leave our bed for weeks."
The dark, promising look in her eyes made her long to plant kisses all along his beautiful face. But…he was right. They had things to do. Responsibilities. And when they returned home, she would have him all to herself.
Hydrangea sighed, "Alright."
He smiled again and gave her another quick kiss before he began to pull out more fabric from the chest. Bastian was already dressed in a long black tunic with a stiff shirt over top of it.
She speculated the fabric, it didn't suit her husband very well. He looked better in free flowing clothes. But it was respectful to wear the native clothing whenever visiting another country.
Her thoughts went to Viskogorny and then to Selva and her brow furrowed. Bastian was already wrapping a colourful green skirt around her waist. It was lined with soft grass and embroidered with gold.
"Bastian?" She asked and he hummed in response. He seemed rather focused on dressing her. She would've smiled had her thoughts not been so distracted. "Will we help Selva or Viskogorny when get back?"
He stopped for a moment before he began tucking in the skirt. "I'm not sure. Our country will be in a precarious state. War of any sort would be extremely dangerous. And Mathuba is my main concern—by breaking off the connection the Lords have with them, they could start a war in itself."
She nodded. He began to wrap a piece around her torso. "How do you know how to do this?" She asked and his eyes flickered to hers. She straightened, guessing the answer.
"I've lived here for long periods of time." He answered.
Jealousy pricked her chest, cold and poisonous. She had had nightmares of another woman being with Bastian. The thought made her sick. He was hers and the idea of another woman touching him as she touched him made her want to burn the woman to the ground.
"I'm sorry."
She blinked awake from her jealous haze and saw him staring done at her with a pained gaze. She sighed and raised her hand to hold his cheek, "It's in the past. It's…it's only an uncomfortable thought." She finally said. It felt good to finally speak her thoughts aloud.
He nodded and pecked her temple again. Her skin always fluttered all over when he did that. It was precious and cherishing.
After placing a cardigan over her shoulders that pinned together at her wrists and underarms, they departed from the house.
Hand in hand, they walked down the front path compiled of smooth stones inlaid in the damp mud. A small bridge stretched across a thin, trickling, green creek.
When they arrived at the circular gate a rustling to their right both caught their attention. Hydrangea felt Bastian's grip tighten and she positioned herself so that he could protect her from whatever lurked beyond the leafy bamboo.
But no threat was creeping towards them. Only Aidana emerged from the green stalks and Hydrangea breathed out a sigh of relief. She could also feel Bastian relax beside her.
"Did you discover anything?" Bastian asked.
Aidana's blue eyes shifted between them before she answered, "The queen resides in the woman's court, so only women may enter. The queen is also surrounded by her suitors. I suggest that I accompany her majesty while you discover what you can." She nodded at Bastian and Hydrangea saw his lips thin.
"Very well." He replied stiffly.
Aidana nodded grimly and Hydrangea was curious as to where the woman's normally light demeanour had gone.
They ventured further down the path and to the dock where a ferryman met them. They all boarded and were all soon on their way to the centre of the country.