Rebel

The Northern Way

I woke up to skin.

As my drowsy eyes cracked open, I realized there was a bare back facing me a couple feet away. I blinked in confusion, only to rub my eyes and find the back still there. As I pushed myself up with my elbows, I realized who it was.

Valerya sat at the edge of the bed, bare skinned as she draped her hair over one shoulder. She struggled to braid her hair into a single braid, but she managed. Her freckled back was even paler than her usual skin tone.

The dimples located on her lower back appeared as she shifted. I swallowed hard, not use to seeing other women's body parts that wasn't their face or arms. Valerya still hadn't noticed my presence, and she bent forward to retrieve something on the ground without getting up.

I forced my eyes to look away, not wanting to be disrespectful. I cleared my throat, announcing my presence. Valerya looked over her shoulder with surprise, quickly replaced with a smug look as she realized it was me.

The bed didn't make a sound as she pushed herself off, turning completely to face me. I gasped as she showed herself completely to me. I blinked rapidly as my eyes flew to the bed, focusing on the thick wool sheets.

My eyes weren't quick enough to have noticed a glimpse of her beautiful body. She had lower undergarments on, but I still saw her curves and long limbs that seemed to glow in the candlelight. I remained staring at the bed, feeling my face burn.

"Scared to see a woman's body?" Valerya asked, clearly amused.

I pursed my lips as my eyes focused on hers, only there. Nowhere else. Despite my efforts on trying to seem unaffected, my cheeks still felt hot. "Put some clothes on." I grumbled, turning away as I swung my legs over the other side of the bed.

I faced the other side of the small room. Esmeralda rested in Asenka's bed, propped up with thick pillows. Which left Valerya's little sister laying next to her flatly. The two medium sized candles in Valerya's stood on each side of the room. I wondered how the smoke didn't effect her in here.

Perhaps they had airways for the smoke to exit the room to prevent suffocating. That could explain the small holes in the walls. Or maybe that was for something else. I knew I rambling with myself to get my mind off of a half naked Valerya behind me.

I continued to stay seated with my back to her. She made her way around the bed, which was really only a feather stuffed mattress. She had a loose blouse made a thin material. It was very see through, I could clearly see her chest from where I sat.

I rolled my eyes as I looked away. Her trousers were thickly made, already tightened under her animals fur boots. Valerya stood before me as she tied the blouse to cover her upper neck. "Good morning, Zaila." She said nonchalantly as if I had not seen her half naked.

"Morning," I muttered, matting my hair down. Valerya jerked her chin toward the door. "Come on. I will show you the washroom before everyone else gets a hold of it." She said as she started toward the door.

I pushed myself to my feet, shuffling toward my bag at the corner of the room where a wooden carved closet stood. I pulled out a towel and an extra change of clothes. I followed Valerya out the door. As we entered the main living room, I noticed all of our weapons were still laying on the rug.

The drapes were pulled back from the balcony, revealing bright lighting that flooded through the room. I noticed all the candles were burned out. The table in the middle of the room was round, big enough to fit a whole family.

Bo and Jako sat there, staring at Valerya's chest with opened mouths and wide eyes. She continued to walk past them, swaying her hips slightly. I quietly continued to follow her. I came to the conclusion that she knew she was pretty.