A few hours later, my ankle was snugly wrapped, I savored a soothing bowl of soup, and indulged in a refreshing nap. I was nestled in the dical hut, tucked away in a cozy room while Oliver diligently prepared herbs in the adjacent space. His redies worked wonders, easing most of my discomfort. He crafted a supportive brace for my ankle, elevating it to reduce swelling, and applied an anti-inflammatory paste that worked like magic. Honestly, he was quite the capable doctor.
Just then, a knock echoed at the door, and in strode a tall, lean figure. He had a strikingly athletic build, with long, thick golden blond hair cascading down to his mid-back. His robins egg blue eyes, frad by a dark outline, held a soulful depth, and his face was a captivating blend of handso and beautiful. His sun-kissed skin hinted at endless days spent under the sun, and his chiseled abs were on full display beneath a gray pelt skirt. Adorable rounded ears perched atop his head matched his sandy brown hue, and a long tail with a fluffy tuft swayed behind him. I couldn’t help but scan his flawless physique for a mate marking, but found none. He caught my wandering gaze as he surveyed the room, flashing a dazzling grin that revealed perfectly straight white teeth and four sharp fangs that remained hidden when his mouth was closed. He appeared to be a lion beastkin, or at least that was my best guess. What on earth was such a magnificent specin doing here?
He made his way toward , just as Oliver strolled in right behind him. A wave of relief washed over at the sight of Oliver’s composed deanor. But wow, the height difference between the two was quite sothing! "Perla, et Titus. Titus, this is Perla, our newest guest. Titus is part of the Adventurers Guild council. While he may not be the most active in quests, he certainly keeps himself busy with guild affairs. He’s in town to handle a few things and was invited to the sa dinner as you, so he kindly offered to escort you after I ntioned your injury. We’ve been friends for years; he used to visit here with his father, and I trust him completely."
With a playful grin, he bent down to tousle Oliver’s hair.
"I can’t believe you still haven’t figured out that you shouldn’t do that!"
"You’re not really bothered by it. On that note, could you swing by the adventurers guild? There’s a party that ca through earlier today. They’re not in imdiate danger, but they’re definitely looking worse for wear. To be honest, I’d rather skip dinner, but the others insist I need to eat, so I might as well make the most of it. She ntioned she wanted to talk business, but I have a feeling it’s just her trying to reel in as her mate again."
Oliver assessed him closely and noticed a cut on his side. "Co here, let check that out."
He brushed it off with a casual smirk, "Just a scratch, nothing to worry about." Still, he strode over confidently as Oliver grabbed so pain-relief and disinfectant from the jars.
"Don’t underestimate the risk of infection," Oliver cautioned, dipping a clean cloth into water to gently clean the wound.
I felt like a voyeur, watching the adorable, shorter guy tending to the chiseled, shirtless man. My eyes were definitely enjoying the view.
Titus caught my gaze and flashed a knowing smirk, casually pushing his long blond hair behind his shoulder, giving an even better look. My cheeks flushed at being caught, but at least he didn’t seem to mind my admiration.
Once Oliver applied the ointnt, he was ready to wrap up the injury, but Titus halted him. "I can’t have a bulky bandage around my stomach; it would hinder my shifting and show weakness, which is not an option in my profession."
"If I don’t cover it up, it might get infected," Oliver remarked.
I paused for a mont, nibbling my lower lip, and realized that making a good impression on a council mber of the Adventurers Guild could only work in my favor.
"I might have a solution if you’re open to it." I produced a large area band-aid, perfect for his little scratch, which was more of a gash that warranted my biggest band-aid. I held it up, and both of their gazes snapped to .
"This is a sterile covering for injuries that adheres directly to the skin around the wound, so it doesn’t need to wrap around the injured beastkin at all."
Oliver dashed forward, his face lighting up with wonder and excitent, a stark contrast to his usual slightly timid deanor as he boldly snatched the band-aid from my hands.
"Is this real? This is amazing! How does it work?" he exclaid, examining it from every angle.
Titus approached with the poised stride of a top predator, his intense gaze fixed on the band-aid.
"I’ll show you how it’s done," I said, locking my gaze with his striking robins-egg blue eyes. A flutter of nerves danced in my stomach as he tilted his head and stepped closer, making it all too easy for to reach out and touch him. The mont my fingers brushed against his skin, it was like a jolt of electricity surged through . His skin was warm and taut, perfectly molded over well-defined muscles. I wanted to savor this mont, but I knew I had to keep it brief.
With a quick flick, I peeled the paper off the band-aid and pressed it firmly against his skin, ensuring it was secure. I lingered a bit longer than necessary, rubbing it just a touch more, knowing this might be my only chance to feel him like this. My hands tingled with excitent, and as I reluctantly began to withdraw, he captured my hands in his large, calloused grip, his gaze still locked onto mine.
A hint of confusion crossed his face as he leaned in, inhaling the scent of my hair. The heat radiating from him, the intoxicating aroma, and that undeniable masculine energy enveloped , making it hard to resist the urge to leap into his arms. The chemistry crackled between us, so potent that it felt like we might ignite if we gave in. When he finally pulled back, his eyes mirrored my own surprise at the intensity of our connection, leaving breathless and yearning. What was happening to ?
He took a step back, shaking his head slightly as if to dispel the hunger that flickered in his eyes. His muscles tensed and shifted, a testant to his resolve to distance himself from . Then, his gaze dropped, captivated by the band-aid I had placed on him. He traced it gently with a fingertip, intrigued by its texture. anwhile, Oliver’s nostrils flared as he observed the two of us with a hint of caution. He cautiously advanced, and Titus shot him a sharp glance before Oliver maneuvered around , careful not to make contact. I raised an eyebrow at their peculiar interaction but decided to let it slide for the mont. I wasn’t one to stir the pot over oddities unless they escalated into sothing more significant; I preferred to avoid confrontations, though I would certainly defend myself and others if the situation called for it.
Oliver inched closer to Titus. "Can I touch it?"
Titus shrugged, maintaining a composed façade that made question whether I had misread the tension from earlier.
Oliver reached out, his fingers brushing the band-aid, and he gasped in delight. "This is incredible! Do you have more? I’d love to buy every single one you can spare."
"I don’t have many on hand, but I might be able to get so more. They co from my village. I left a few with my belongings back ho."
Titus cleared his throat with a deep rumble, causing Oliver to step back. At that mont, Oliver’s eager expression was so close that it blocked my view entirely.
"I’m ready to take you to your village, hoping you can secure a supply of these for . I’m prepared to offer you a handso paynt for any you can provide, and if you can establish a steady supply, I’d be keen to set up a long-term deal with you through the adventurers guild. Additionally, I can supply you with any materials you need to produce these band-aids."
"That’s incredibly kind of you! I’m happy to make an effort to secure more supplies for you, but if that doesn’t pan out, I’m open to covering your escorting fee with so of what I currently have. I really need to get to Duarte Village this week, as I have so urgent matters to attend to that simply can’t be delayed."
He paused for a mont, then gave a firm nod. "I’ve got a few other responsibilities to handle here, but I can pass off the rest to my team. Your situation is pressing, and securing those supplies is a top priority. If that works for you, I’ll be ready to leave by morning. I’m familiar with Duarte Village, and since it’s a bit of a trek, an early start would be wise."
Oliver gazed at , his eyes wide with fear and urgency.
"I want to take Oliver and Sam along, but I need to have a chat with Pala about Sam first."
He scowled and muttered under his breath. "How crucial is this for you?"
"It’s quite significant. They’ve both been there for , and I want to show my appreciation."
He gave a firm nod. "Good things deserve good responses. So, if Pala decides to stir up any trouble, count on to step in and negotiate. The sooner we sort this out, the sooner we can hit the road. Now, are you finished here for the mont? I’ll take you to dinner to kick off this eting."
He strode toward with undeniable confidence, effortlessly scooping up into his strong, defined arms, pressing against his firm, warm, and perfectly sculpted chest.
Coming Next Ti: Dinner with Pala
Reviews
All reviews (0)