The Lost Storm

Chapter 35 - The Couch

As he led the mare back to his little cottage, he thought of what he would do with the sleeping little beauty astride the saddle. He did not want to be too cruel, but she put a knife into a soft spot for him, and he was already weary of her. He did not take her seriously when she said she would kill him to get what she needed; that was his own fault for not believing the little vixen. 

They got closer to the little barn where he kept his chickens, sheep, and a pair of cows to let the mare rest. He took the Princess off the saddle and said to the mare, "I will be back to relieve you." 

Carrying the Princess in bridal style, he took her to the cottage and laid her down on the couch in the little living room. He quickly went back to take the saddle off the mare and offered her some hay, and water, and grabbed some rope before closing the barn door. Going back into the cottage to find the Princess lightly snoring, he made the rope work around her tiny hands. Before letting them go, he looked at them and turned them here and there only to find that they not only made his hands tingle but perfectly fit into his. 

His breath hitched in his chest and by the time he could get it back, he was gasping for air. Not wanting to realize what he just gathered, Isadora stirred and started murmuring. He kept quiet to make sure not to disturb her, when she finally finished he draped a small blanket over her and threw another log into the fire. Going upstairs, he put on some pants and a black tunic. He went to bed after checking on her again. He could barely sleep knowing she was downstairs and questions started to form rapidly: What had she gone through to get to him? What has she seen? What does she know? How long has she been on her own? Is anyone looking for her? And more importantly, what does she want with him?

They left him reeling and sleepy.

Waking up with the sun, he went downstairs to check on her: still lightly snoring.

Grinning, he made his way to put another log in the fire. Grabbing some fresh berries he picked yesterday and a bowl to make porridge over the fire, he started pouring ingredients and getting them warm. Grabbing a bucket, he went outside to feed the animals and squeeze some milk. When he was done, he went into the cottage and checked the porridge. While he was stirring it, he heard the Princess starting to stir and glanced back. 

She smelled something delicious being cooked and felt a warmth around her and decided to crack her eyes open, only to see a sexy back crouched towards a fire. She rolled her eyes as she remembered who the sexy back belonged to and everything that happened the previous day.

"Good morning, Princess. You slept all through the rest of the day yesterday and I made porridge with fresh berries," he said without turning around to look at her.

"Ummm...," she lifted her hands as if to mention the rope around her wrists.

As if knowing what she was talking about before turning around, "Only if you promise to behave."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes again, "Behaving is for children, I know how to act accordingly."

He grabbed a small bowl and put porridge into it along with some of the berries, "Not to worry. I will feed you."

She opened her mouth to protest, but quickly closed it realizing she hadn't eaten almost all day yesterday.

He stood up, towering over everything in the small room, and knelt by her. Slowly he spooned the porridge and blew on it, finally giving it to her. She opened her mouth and quickly fell in love with the warmth that he fed her. It was bursting with flavors and spices, so sweet and salty at the same time. She almost groaned but stopped herself before giving the wrong idea.