CHAPTER 536: SMALL ROOMS

Mason went and helped Becky get the shower on, getting a ‘thanks’ and a quick peck on the lips on the way out. It would have been innocent enough—if she hadn’t been stark naked, and looking like a girl who’d stolen a sweet.

He kept a hold of himself and didn’t take the bait. He closed the door and went back to the bed, back to massaging Demi’s feet and legs. She had the long, plush white towel wrapped expertly, but it hugged her figure so well it didn’t matter much. She took deep breaths and sighed as Mason touched her, and he wasn’t sure if this was ‘clever’, or just self-torture.

When her eyes opened, still half lidded, she bit a lip and slid a foot up Mason’s thigh. The touch sent a thrill of excitement straight up his spine, but he still refused to let his dick think this was happening.

He was no stranger to his girls getting competitive when it came time for affection. And there was a very good chance this was going to blow up in his face if he pushed.

But Jesus Christ it was difficult.

He glanced at the foot and then met Demi’s newly bright green eyes.

“We aren’t alone,” he said. Demi’s beautiful face scrunched and she covered it with a pillow.

“I know. It’s just. Hard.”

“It’s getting there.”

She peeked out to give him a look, then covered her face again, voice muffled as she talked.

“I realize I told you I didn’t mind about…your other girls. It’s just…that was in theory, and now it’s reality. And I don’t even know her. When we’re alone I don’t know what to say.”

“It’ll get easier,” he said, still rubbing her feet. “There’s also alcohol. Doesn’t do me any good but if you want you can…”

Demi jumped up and reached for a pitcher, giving it a sniff before pouring a big cup and throwing it back.

“Uck.” She stuck out her tongue and made a face like she’d swallowed a lemon. “I think it’s brandy.” She’d also spread her legs a bit too much for the towel, and Mason’s gaze crept up her thighs. She noticed and snapped her knees together, giving him a different kind of look.

“We’re not alone, remember?”

“No idea what you mean.”

Demi grinned and poured some more mystery booze, leaning back against some pillows and wiggling her feet. Mason snorted and went back to massaging. He wasn’t sure if he should talk about whatever happened through that green portal or not. Or about her experience in the ‘raid’ so far. Or about the social struggle with the other players…

“Just ask whatever you want to ask,” she said, watching him over her cup. He frowned, wondering how much was just insight and how much was magical scent reading. He supposed he’d never really know.

“Guess I just wanna know how you are. It’s been a wild few days.”

Demi smiled and nodded, eyes going far away.

“I’m OK,” she said, trying for more words once or twice without any success. She met his eyes. “I think my new god wants me to seduce you.”

“Mission successful,” he said, and she drank to hide her smile. He shrugged as he spread her toes, satisfied when she groaned in pleasure. “Well. My god told me to watch out for your feminine wiles. I assume you have some.”

Demi laughed, still watching him with those eyes. Her legs started spreading again, and Mason blew air like it didn’t affect him.

“Please. Been there, done that.”

She made a sound of mock outrage and kicked his arm, and he yanked her towards him with a hand around her calf. The towel pulled up enough she was exposed to the waist, and Mason leaned over her until his lips touched her ear.

“Anyway, who says I didn’t seduce you?”

“We’re, um, not alone, remember?”

Demi’s chest was heaving, her legs squirming as she tried to get the towel pulled down. Mason had meant to move back and tease her, but lust and aggression were on the loose now.

He breathed her in and licked her from chin to ear before he thought about it. She shivered in more than just surprise, but this time he managed to pull away. Barely.

He helped adjust her towel and scoot her back to the pillow, grinning when she gave him a very frustrated scowl.

“That was amazin’,” Becky called loudly, water stopping as the shower swung open. “Way better than our system showers. We gotta upgrade, get one of them…doohickeys.” She stepped out with her own towel, wet hair left wild and free to dangle around her shoulders. “Don’t suppose they have a brush or somethin’. My hair’s in wet dog territory.”

“I’ve…actually got one,” Demi said, pulling away from Mason like he was poisonous. She gave him a half apologetic, half panicked look. “It’s…home made, so…oh and um…” she swallowed and took a breath. “I should have said something. It’s not like…conditioner, it’s more like just…plant oil. But I’ve got like…a de-tangler. It works pretty good. If you want.”

Becky looked between them on the bed. “Hell yeah I do. Haley’s got good stuff but I forgot to bring some, and my hair goes crazy on the road.”

Demi smiled shyly, held out a hand, and appeared a well-made little brush and a clay jar.

“How the…” Mason looked between her hands and eyes. She winced.

“I’ve got a little storage. Did I not mention that?”

“You did not. We could have carried more magic spider guts.”

Demi winced like this was why she hadn’t said anything. Becky walked over to check out the brush, flipping open the jar to give it a sniff.

“Smells pretty good,” she said, taking a scoop before brushing it through her hair. “Wow. You made this? It’s like a real thing you’d get in a store.”

“Yeah.” Demi shrugged, but looked pleased. “I had way too much time. And back home we made a lot of things like that.”

“Us too. Well, not me, but my Momma and her family did. She grew up poor as a church mouse. Wouldn’t spend money on anythin’. Called my Daddy her ‘rich husband’.” The memory made her laugh and light up in a way only Becky could, but she sobered quick. Mason knew it was because she was remembering her family, and their absence. He gave her leg a squeeze, and she blew out a breath. “Anyway. Thanks for the brush.”

“Sure.” Demi was eyeing her drink again, and Mason felt the Haley shaped hole beside him. When the answer came, he wasn’t sure if it was wisdom or cowardice. But he decided giving the girls a minute to talk without him made sense.

“Shit,” he said. “I forgot I wanted to talk to Phuong and Carl before morning. Should only be a few minutes. I’ll be right back, OK?”

It wasn’t a lie. Or at least it was almost sorta true, as of a second ago. Becky shrugged and kept brushing like it was no big deal. Demi stared with eyes that shouted ‘you son of a bitch liar, don’t you leave me!’.

Mason got up and left her, trying not to seem like he was running away.

**

He really did talk to Carl and Phuong. The former groaned and sat up holding his ribs, an empty jug of wine by his bed.

“What I wouldn’t give for a fucking aspirin,” he said.

“You’re a tough old man, Carl. I’ll tell Sylvie how you roughed it.”

“I’m not that old. Or tough. And I tell Sylvie how amazing I am all the time. It doesn’t help.”

Mason grinned, but was reminded the poor bastard had to deal with his own woman problems when he got back home—an elven bride, and the toughest human woman in Nassau. With maybe the exception of Haley.

“Listen,” he said, “about the whole ‘elven bride’ thing. If it’s really gonna be a deal slash testicle breaking problem, we can…” he shrugged, “make a small exception. Call it a delay. Put it off a year or two. Or maybe…”

Carl shot up like a cartoon character, crossed the room, and actually hugged him.

“Ow,” he said, still holding on. “I shouldn’t have done that. You’re like a terminator in a flesh suit.”

Mason pat the man’s back, then pried him off.

“It’s just a delay. Sylvie already gets everything she wants and it makes her extra annoying. And we have a lot of fucking elves.”

Carl put up his hands, and Mason sighed and said goodnight, then walked to Phuong’s room. He accepted it was never happening. But maybe they’d get a lot of civilians and players joining them from the east. Maybe soon ‘numbers’ weren’t going to be a problem, and they’d balance out the genders a little.

He found Phuong shirtless and practicing his sword patterns, waiting until the man took a pause.

“Don’t you sleep?” he said. “I thought old men at least took naps.”

“Look who’s talking.” Phuong’s sword vanished like a damn light saber. He smiled and gestured to his table. “These goblins even have tea, if you’d care for some.”

“I won’t stay,” Mason said. “Just wanted to get a sense of what you think we should do come morning. I figure the Engineering Guild is how we finish things. But we could swing by the other cave first. The ‘highborn’, or whatever it’s called.”

Phuong quirked a brow and nodded.

“Since this is a question that could have waited until morning, can I assume your room feels suddenly…small?”

Mason flopped into a chair by Phuong’s table.

“Maybe I’ll have that tea.”

The older man grinned, already moving to get two cups and a kettle from what looked like a damn hotplate.

“Becky’s right. You can be very annoying,” Mason said. Phuong nodded like that was true, then poured them their drinks and sat with a happy sigh.

“I used to like cross words,” he said. “Strange that I should miss that more than most things. Do you know any good riddles? I’d settle for a joke.”

Mason rolled his eyes and drank his tea. Then he tried to think of a riddle.

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