As we left the last shop, my coin pouch significantly lighter and my shoulders slightly less weighed down by the metaphorical burden of being under-equipped, Mara practically bounced along beside me. Her newly purchased scarf fluttered behind her like a banner, and her grin was as bright as the sun overhead.
"So," she began, turning to me with a glint in her eye, "now that we've handled all the shopping stuff, it's time for something way more fun."
"Fun?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Like what? More shopping?"
She gasped, feigning shock, "Can you even afford more shopping? I saw several things I wouldn't mind buying," she teased me, knowing full well I had run dry.
"No, no, no, let's hear what you have to say. I think we're done shopping for a while."
"I'm talking about the hot springs!" she pipped up, pulling me toward her and forcing us to spin around in a circle. It made me dizzy, but I still wanted to be closer to her. I was fine with all of this, but I also really needed to get clean. I was still coated in blood.
I slowed our spin to a stop before, blinking at her, "The… hot springs?" I had somewhat forgotten but I like this whole playing coy thing. It seemed to really get her amped up, and for once I was okay with that.
"Yes!" she said, grabbing my arm and tugging me forward. "You said you needed to clean up, right? Well, this is the best place to do it! Trust me, you'll feel like a whole new person."
"I don't know…" I trailed off, glancing down at myself and further witnessing my filth. Between the dried blood on my clothes, the dirt and grime caked onto my skin, and the weariness etched into my very bones, I probably looked like I belonged more in a graveyard than a relaxing spa. "I'm not exactly in the best shape for public bathing."
Mara waved off my concern with a laugh. "Nonsense! The hot springs are super private. They have separate areas for men and women, and they even have a mixed pool if you're feeling brave."
Her enthusiasm was infectious, but the thought of stripping down in unfamiliar territory made me hesitate. Then again, the idea of hot water easing the tension from my sore muscles was tempting.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," I finally relented.
"Great!" Mara beamed, practically dragging me toward the path leading out of town.
The walk to the hot springs was shorter than I'd expected, the cobbled streets giving way to a narrow dirt path that led into a secluded grove. The air grew warmer as we approached, a faint mist hanging in the air and carrying the scent of minerals and earth.
The springs themselves were nestled among smooth rocks and leafy trees, steam rising from crystal-clear pools that shimmered in the sunlight. A small wooden building served as the entrance and changing area, and the soft murmur of water filled the otherwise quiet grove.
"See?" Mara said, gesturing grandly. "Isn't it amazing?"
I couldn't deny it. The place had charm, the kind of beauty you'd expect from a fantasy novel, or, in my case, the world I now inhabited.
We stepped inside the building, where an older woman greeted us warmly and handed us towels. She explained the layout: men's and women's areas on opposite sides, with the mixed pool accessible through a side door.
"Let's meet in the mixed pool once we're ready!" Mara said, disappearing into the women's side before I could respond.
As I stepped into the changing room, the smell of cedar and soap greeted me, mingling with the faint mineral tang of the hot springs beyond. The space was modest, with wooden benches lining the walls and a row of neatly stacked towels beside small cubbies for belongings. I sat heavily on one of the benches, the simple act of sitting down sending a dull ache through my body.
I tugged off my boots first, staring at the worn leather for a moment before setting them aside. They'd carried me farther than I'd thought possible—through forests, across the main road, and over blood-soaked ground. Now they were falling apart, much like the person wearing them.
Stripping off the rest of my clothes was harder than I expected. The dried blood had stiffened the fabric, making every movement a tug of war against the evidence of my recent past. The sight of my skin beneath, bruised and scarred, wasn't much better. A patch of dried blood clung to my side, a faint reminder of a wolf's claw that had come too close for comfort.
As I stood there, bare in the quiet of the room, I caught a glimpse of myself in a polished metal mirror hanging on the wall. The reflection was almost unrecognizable—a pale, hollow-eyed man with disheveled hair and a body that looked like it had seen one too many battles. This body wasn't mine, not really. It was borrowed, stolen even. Yet, I was beginning to mold it into something else, something that felt more like me.
I walked over to a pool of hot water, a small reservoir that sat in the locker room. I dipped a bucket in and poured it over myself, taking a cloth and soap to scrub a lot of the muck off of me. I was able to remove most of the filth, not wanting to contaminate the spa with the gore of others. After I felt relatively clean, I made my way into the co-ed spa.
The steam greeted me first, warm and fragrant, curling around my face as I stepped out onto the stone path leading to the pool. The water shimmered, faint ripples catching the light filtering through the trees above. It was serene, untouched.
I eased myself into the water, the heat biting at first before giving way to a soothing embrace. The aches in my muscles melted away, the tension I hadn't even realized I was holding seeping out of me like ink into the water.
Leaning back against the smooth edge of the pool, I let out a long sigh, my eyes drifting closed. For the first time in what felt like ages, I wasn't moving, fighting, or planning my next move. The world could wait.
As the minutes passed, my thoughts began to wander. The steam rising around me felt like a barrier, separating me from the rest of the world, and leaving me alone with myself.
I thought about the bandits, the wolves, the holy warriors who might be hunting me even now. I thought about Mara—her boundless energy, her ridiculous curves. She put Morgana to shame, though I would never admit that, for fear of her retaliation. My mind swarmed to thoughts of Morgana's dominating presence but I forced them out of my mind, letting Mara into my consciousness. Her large ample breasts, the heavy curve to her waist, her deceptively thick thighs. I started to grow hard as I thought about her, this was the first time I really thought of her in a sexual way. She had just been a companion, but the way she took care of me took my breath away.
She was a stark contrast to me in every way, yet I found myself drawn to her. Maybe it was her optimism. Maybe it was her stubborn belief that everything would work out. Or maybe I was just tired of being alone. The water lapped softly against the edges of the pool, the gentle sound lulling me into a meditative state. For a moment, I almost forgot who I was, what I was.
I didn't even realize as she snuck up on me. Unbeknownst to me, she was treading over to my position, gliding toward me on the balls of her feet, nearly imperceptible, especially in my current state of relaxation.
Mara worked her way closer to me, and I still hadn't caught on. She slipped into the pool like some kind of deadly amphibious reptile, not causing so much as a single ripple in the water. She lurked closer, gliding through the water, her bare body gliding toward me.
I let out a sigh of relief as the steam overwhelmed me, filling my pores, and my lungs, the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders as I let the hot water take it all from me.
Before I knew it, she swam up onto me, perching on my thighs, sitting in my lap, though taking consideration of not landing too close to my raging manhood that I only hoped she had not yet seen.
"This is really nice isn't it," she chimed in, my eyes shooting open to see her inches from my face, a glowing smile on her face as my own face grew ten times as red, despite the heat. I tried to clench my legs together and hide my excitement from previous thoughts, but I didn't know if it was working. I placed my hands on her shoulders, trying to keep her from getting closer. This was all so much, and I really didn't know what to do.
Mara's sudden appearance on my lap sent a jolt through my entire body. I couldn't decide if it was embarrassment, shock, or something else entirely, but the sensation was impossible to ignore. Her grin was utterly carefree as if she hadn't just thrown me into the most awkward position I'd ever found myself in.
She leaned in slightly, her hair damp from the steam, sticking to her neck and shoulders. "You looked so relaxed," she teased, her voice a soft lilt. "Figured I'd join you and see what all the fuss was about."
"M-Mara," I stammered, gripping her shoulders as if she might float away. "You, uh… you're kind of… close."
"Oh, am I?" She tilted her head innocently, but her mischievous grin gave her away. "You don't mind, do you?"
I swallowed hard, acutely aware of the warm weight of her perched on my thighs and the very real danger of her noticing how much my body was betraying me. My hands tightened slightly on her shoulders, a desperate attempt to maintain some semblance of distance between us.
"It's just… a little unexpected," I managed, my voice straining as I replied.
She giggled, the sound light and melodic, cutting through the thick steam around us. "You're so stiff, Lucian! Literally and figuratively." Her eyes flicked downward briefly, and my heart nearly stopped.
I cleared my throat, scrambling for some semblance of composure. "A-Anyway, uh… yeah, the springs are nice. Really relaxing. So relaxing, in fact, that maybe I was hoping for, you know, a little space to… reflect."
Mara leaned back slightly, her hands resting on her knees, so desperately close to my cock as she studied me. "Oh, don't mind me. I'm just here to soak." She shifted her weight slightly, and I fought the urge to flinch.
Her relaxed demeanor was disarming, almost frustratingly so. It was like she was completely oblivious to the tension crackling through the air, or worse, she was doing it on purpose. I wouldn't have put it past her.
I leaned back slightly, trying to create some distance between us without being too obvious about it. "You, uh… seem pretty comfortable," I said, my voice coming out more strained than I intended.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked with a playful shrug. "It's just water, Lucian. Nothing scandalous about a little shared relaxation, is there?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My thoughts were a scrambled mess, caught somewhere between frustration and a lingering awareness of just how close she was.
Mara tilted her head, her damp hair falling over her shoulder. Her expression softened, her teasing grin giving way to something more genuine. "Relax, Lucian. It's just me. You don't have to be on edge all the time." She pressed closer, her bare breasts pressing against my chest and nearly sending me into a catatonic state. I was losing my mind with this, I just wanted to take her now, but the other part of me felt like I had to distance myself.
She pressed her face against mine, nose to nose, pressing into me as her womanhood slid against my throbbing member before her eyes lit up. She nipped at my lip and pushed away with a heavy blush on her face.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to–"
I also struggled to speak, "It's fine, just y'know, normal–"
"Yeah of course," she replied shifting to my side and staring off into the distance.
"I'm sorry too, the springs are really relaxing, and I appreciate you bringing me here," I stuttered, trying to establish normalcy in the situation
"Mmhmm," she replied, still staring off, her face as flush as mine. And then we sat there in silence for quite some time, she didn't touch me, and she didn't move closer, but she was already so close, so I guess it was something that she didn't move away.
When we felt thoroughly relaxed, despite the new sense of stress, she said she was getting out and to close my eyes. I didn't, of course, but I pretended.
As Mara stood up, rivulets of steaming water cascaded in mesmerizing patterns down her luscious, toned body. Beads of moisture clung to her soft, rounded curves, highlighting the tantalizing dip of her slender waist and the alluring swell of her breasts.
With a coy, bashful smile Mara turned to step out of the hot spring, her long, shapely legs glistening in the misty air. She grabbed a fluffy, oversized towel, wrapping it around her body. The plush fabric draped across her ample bosom, the towel's edge barely concealing her cleavage.
Mara's damp, golden-yellow hair clung to her face and shoulders, a few stray locks curling around her blushing cheeks. She walked towards the changing room, her hips swaying rhythmically with each step. The towel rode up slightly with every movement, exposing more of her creamy, toned thighs and the tantalizing curve of her rear. Mara's damp hair bounced gently with each step, clinging to her slender neck and shoulders.
As she reached the edge of the hot spring area, Mara paused for a moment, allowing me a final, unobstructed view of her alluring silhouette. She stretched her arms above her head, arching her back slightly. This action caused her towel to gap open slightly at the front, offering a fleeting glimpse of her soft, cleavage and exposed nipple.
With a final, coy smile, she passed through the doorway, her laughter echoing off the tiled walls. The sound of her retreating footsteps and the swish of her towel faded into the distance, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and the lingering scent of her perfume mingling with the steam.
The steam from the hot spring slowly dissipated, revealing the empty spot where Mara had been sitting on my lap mere moments before. The water rippled and churned as if still disturbed by her presence. I was left with the vivid mental image of her dripping wet, naked form, and the lingering heat of her soft curves pressed against my body.