It was easy to retrace her steps from the night before. Maybe it was the daylight that made the trek less daunting. Maybe it was the slight warmth from the day that made her walk less jarring.
Or maybe it was the steady beating of Calliope's heart, guiding her to her destination. To him. She felt silly, being so consumed by a man she hadn't even seen, by someone she'd only met a few precious hours ago. A Fae.
And she was going to let him have her in the most carnal of ways. Calliope couldn't find it in herself to be frightened by the idea, not when a more sinful emotion was eating at her, threatening to swallow her whole.
Whatever Thomas had seen in the woods, it was gone now. Or it had never been there at all. Maybe Thomas had been attempting to frighten her into staying home and within his reach. Men like him were manipulative and cruel, so Calliope was determined to not put a minor deceit past him.
Regardless, every whistle of wind or shake of a tree made Calliope tense, casting a wary look around.
Calliope walked for what felt like hours, though she knew she'd only traveled a short distance before she felt a distinct knowing. She wasn't alone anymore. Her frame shook from nerves.
It wasn't until Calliope felt the familiar brush of fingers sifting through her white blonde curls that she relaxed despite the perilous position she had placed herself in. The Bargainer pressed into her back, engulfing her in his unique scent. It was wholly masculine, a mixture of musk and winter. Crisp, with the faintest trace of... apples?
"You've returned sooner than expected, mouse." Calliope's brow furrowed at the remark. How long did he think it would take her to gain the courage to return?
He'd called her a mouse, but did he truly find her that meek?
"My mother is well," Calliope said in answer, knowing he would understand her statement. Her mother had recovered only after drinking the Bargainer's potion and as such Calliope had come to fulfill her obligation to him. She wouldn't cower and avoid her end of the deal, nor did she want to.
"Indeed." Fingers wrapped around her throat, gently squeezing in what Calliope could only assume was a move designed to frighten her. It had the opposite effect and she sighed, leaning back into the Bargainer's embrace, her head resting on his broad, hard chest.
The Bargainer's fingers moved to hover over her aching jaw. Her body lit up with want as those same fingers pet her skin a moment later, the touch warming her and soothing the slight pain from Thomas's rough handling earlier. Her eyes closed briefly, a soft noise passing her lips as the Bargainer's touch firmed.
Calliope soaked up the feel of his caress. No one ever showed her affection, even in the most innocent sense. Calliope hadn't realized just how starved she was for such simple contact until that moment.
She wanted more. She needed it.
"You reek of pathetic human male," The Bargainer seethed, stiffening before burying his face in her neck. Calliope froze, unsure of how he could possibly smell Thomas on her. There was another brief touch on her face, the same spot where Thomas had hurt her. The dull ache along her jaw eased before disappearing completely. "Did you want him to put his filthy hands on you?" The words came out nearly guttural, his lips pressed into her neck as if he was attempting to calm himself with her body. Calliope didn't know why, but the thought that she could help him in some way made her giddy despite their new conversation.
She shook her head and the Bargainer shifted, pulling her more firmly against him. "I told him to stop when he touched me."
"And did he?" He asked darkly. The wind seemed to blow colder at his question and an odd, ominous presence pressed in on her, almost as if it was also awaiting her answer.
"He did stop," Calliope admitted, knowing she was omitting the fact that it was only Thomas's mentor that had spared Calliope any true harm. "He won't attempt it again." Hopefully.
There was a long, tense pause as her hollow words drifted between them on the wind, almost as if the air itself knew she truly didn't believe her own declaration.
"Good," he said after an eternity seemed to pass. "I would hate to waste my time killing a male unworthy of meeting my blade."
Calliope shook her head again. "I wouldn't want you to kill someone for me. I'm not worth the trouble."
The Fae behind her remained silent for a time, finally taking his face from her neck and standing aloof behind her, though his hand returned to her throat, locking her to him. She hated the loss of his lips on her skin, greedy for more of his warmth.
"Why are you here?" He asked eventually, curiosity lacing his voice. Calliope's brow furrowed in confusion. Why was he being coy with her now?
"You know why I've come back to you."
"Do you intend to bargain once again, little mouse?" A brief, unconvinced laugh escaped him, the husky sound making her womb clench.
"I thought you could tell when someone means to bargain with you?"
"Typically I can, but something about you is different. Unique."
"You said that last night, that my scent was unique." Calliope reached up, her fingers tracing over his of their own volition. His skin was smooth despite the scars she could feel. Calliope could even feel the edge of calluses that marred his warm palms. Was he a warrior? He'd only just mentioned cutting down another man as if he did it with ease and something told her the Bargainer wouldn't be found tending to crops in a field.
The Bargainer's nose found the side of her neck, tickling her sensitive flesh. He inhaled, running his lips over her cloaked shoulder.
"It is unique, mouse. I find your scent quite decadent when it isn't covered in grime and the stench of a desperate male."
Bolstered by his admission, Calliope spoke again. "Are we to complete our bargain today? I'm ready."
"Perhaps I did not make myself clear enough, little mouse. I require your first born. You are not yet pregnant."
"I know." Calliope's hand wandered to the neck of her cloak and she unclasped it, letting the heavy material fall to the snow covered earth. She was unsure how she'd grown so bold as the chilled air stole her breath.
She wore only a thin cotton nightgown that fell mid thigh, leaving her arms, most of her legs and her upper chest exposed.
Before she could lose her nerve, Calliope turned around, slipping out of her shoes quickly. Her bare feet settled on top of her cloak, keeping her toes from going numb in the snow, though she wasn't sure she even noticed the temperature as her eyes found the object of her budding desire now standing a few feet from her.
As Calliope's eyes met the Bargainer's, her mouth dried and her heart skipped a beat, she was sure of it.
Long, flowing black hair, as dark as the night sky, hung well past his wide shoulders, most of it hanging loose while several long braids fell around his head. Gray eyes pierced hers, his strong jaw clenching as he took in her less than modest clothing. Everywhere his gaze traced over her body, Calliope felt a distinct heat begin to rise.
He was even taller than she'd first thought, with muscular thighs encased in black breeches, black boots and a black cloak that hung from his massive shoulders. Even the shirt beneath was black, contrasting with his pale complexion.
The Bargainer appeared before her like a god of death, cold and cruel until his eyes warmed the further they wandered down her body. Calliope's core tightened at his carnal perusal, slick gathering between her thighs at the hungry expression that flitted across his face.
This was the same man she'd imagined in her dream. She remembered him clearly now.
How was that possible? How did she know him before seeing him?
"Little mouse," he began roughly, the wind ruffling his thick strands of hair and revealing the pointed tip of his ear. She'd never seen anyone look so graceful and yet rugged in her life. It was a heady mixture that left her reeling with want. "You misunderstand our agreement." The Bargainer took a step toward Calliope and she shivered, though she couldn't be entirely sure it was from the cold.
"How so?"
"Your first born is not intended to be my offspring."
"I-" Calliope's face grew warm with her embarrassment, her anticipation collapsing in on itself as horror dawned. He hadn't meant to put a child in her womb? Only for her to bring him one born from another man? "You don't want me?" Calliope blurted the question, feeling even more of a fool at the hurt so easily detected in her voice.
She should feel relieved that she'd misconstrued his meaning.Relieved. Yet, all she felt was disappointed and humiliated.
He took another step forward, like a predator stalking its prey, until he was standing in front of her. The heat of his body replaced the chill in her bones. Invading her space, his hands cupped her face, and the pads of his thumbs rubbed her cheeks. "I did not say that."
"Then help me complete our bargain," Calliope whispered, uncaring that she seemed desperate. She was desperate. She would make a fool of herself a hundred times over for the chance to be the Bargainer's partner for even one evening. Calliope stared up at him beseechingly, her hands fisting in his luxurious cloak.
"It is unwise for a human to mate with one of the Fae," he stated harshly, though he allowed her hands to wander over his broad chest, leaning in to nuzzle her cheek as if he couldn't keep from getting closer to her. He was lean with firm muscles, only adding to Calliope's belief that the Fae male before her was a warrior of old.
Someone to be feared.
But Calliope only felt desire at the knowledge that she was flirting with danger, coaxing a wolf from its den to feast on her.
"I don't care if it's unwise."
"You will," the Bargainer replied ominously. His fingers trailed to her throat, her collarbone and finally her chest. He teased the edge of the thin cotton, parting her nightgown to reveal more of her creamy flesh. Thick fingers traced over the swell of Calliope's breasts as the Bargainer's eyes locked on hers. "Humans often grow too fond of my kind, wishing for more than a few nights of passion. Hoping to entice us to stay forever, but the Fae are not beings to be kept, nor do we dwell long with mortals. It will not work in your favor and the longing will never go away when I am finished with you. You'll spend the rest of your mortal days aching for me," he whispered. "Wanting me."
"Would that be so bad?"
The Bargainer shook his head in disbelief, his voice guttural as he stated, "I will ruin you for anyone else, little mouse."
Calliope already knew she would never marry, at least not in her village, and the odds of venturing off into the world to begin anew as Penelope had were slim to none.
She wanted to experience passion. Pleasure. She wanted a night she would never forget as long as her boring existence continued. And she wanted all of those things with him.
The Bargainer.
Calliope sucked in a breath before she quietly admitted, "I want you to ruin me."
The Bargainer stared at her, his expression unreadable, but Calliope could sense his interest, could see the fire burning in his gaze, so she repeated the words that would change her life forever.
"Ruin me."