Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
“Yes, Master,” I say, along with Arrod and Hemmen. Kipp nods. Raptor does, too, and I wonder if he’s having a hard time deferring to a master as a fledgling after being a full artificer for so long. He catches me watching him and winks, and I turn away, huffy.
I’m not thinking about me riding him on the hospital bed, with his cock buried deep inside me. I’m not thinking about his big hands squeezing my backside, making me feel dainty. I’m not.
Once dinner is over, I change into a sleep shift for bed while in the garderobe. It’s the only place I can get a modicum of privacy, but my sleep clothing is intended for coolness and not modesty. It’s nothing but thin straps and even thinner linen. After a moment’s hesitation, I toss my chemise over the entire ensemble. It’s hotter but at least no one’s going to ogle my tits.
As I exit the garderobe, I hear the clank of dishes in the kitchen and fight the urge to help Marta once more. She must be exhausted, but if I get caught…
“Don’t,” says a deep voice from behind me.
I turn, seeing the large form of the Taurian standing in the hall. He’s leaning against the wall, legs crossed, waiting for me to exit the garderobe, I assume. My face grows hot at the sight of him—his guild shirt is open and loose to his waist. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I can read the look on your face. I know you want to assist her, but if you do, those other two nitwits on our team are going to think you’re the hired help and not their equal. Trust me.” He eyes me with lazy insouciance. “It won’t kill her to do a few extra dishes on her own, but it’ll absolutely destroy your hopes of a career if your Five thinks of you as a maid.”
I hate that he’s right. I lift my chin and pluck at my chemise. “I was just changing, thank you very much.”
“Sure you were, sweetheart.” He pushes off the wall and grins. As I move to walk past him, he leans in close to me.
“I’m not your sweetheart,” I reply tartly, and head back to the dormitory.
“Little bantam, then.” He chuckles to himself.
A bantam. I know what those are. Every servant does. A bantam is a smaller fowl…and they’re usually quite fierce. I’d think it’s an insult, except he says it in that flirty, coaxing sort of way. Even so…I don’t like it. I fume at being so obvious—and for all the lusty thoughts I was entertaining—as I climb into bed and settle my pack under my bunk. When the scratchy, guild-issued blankets are pulled up to my chin, I stare at the ceiling.
This is all so different from how I’d imagined it would go when I thought I’d be a fledgling once more. I’d tried not to think too much about what it would be like without Aspeth by my side, now that she’s Sparrow and working for the archivists. I thought Mereden and Lark would be here. Kipp is, but so are two strangers.
And the big Taurian I fucked. He’s here, too, throwing a spanner into the works. Why did I not think things through? He’s a guild artificer, so it stood to reason that I’d run into him again. I didn’t stop to think what it’d mean if I touched him.
Now he’s climbing into the small cot next to mine. The wood creaks and groans as if in pain, and I want to look over and see if he’s as uncomfortable as I imagine. But if I look at him, I feel like he’ll suddenly know all my secrets.
Those secrets seem to be piling up by the damned hour.
There’s a tap on the side of the bed, and I roll over to see Kipp’s face hovering near mine. He wears an expression of concern on his small pointy face, and taps my bed again, then gives me a thumbs-up that also seems to be a question. Are you okay?
“I’m fine,” I whisper. “I just…I don’t know what I expected for this year. What about you?”
He shrugs. Gestures at both Arrod and Hemmen and rolls his eyes. Gestures at Raptor and shrugs, then flexes. I know just what he means. Raptor he might be iffy on, but at least Raptor is strong physically.
I nod. “I feel the same. I just…I wish Mer and Lark were here. And Sparrow. And maybe even Hawk.”
He eyes me with alarm.
“I’m not going to quit, I promise. If anything, it makes me even more determined.” I make a fist and hold it at the edge of the bed, as if I need to show him just how strong I’m going to be. I hate being a bother, but I need to get over it, I suppose.