LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 23: Dare You to Kiss Me
"Come and sit by the fire." Baer reached out his hand to help her up.
Loveday hesitated for a long moment before taking his outstretched hand. He grinned as he pulled her to her feet.
"Ladies first," he ushered her across to her own fire to take a seat.
She noticed with annoyance that he had scooped up her dagger and hidden her sword somewhere.
She sat down by the fire, facing the ocean. Thank god the barking of the fur seals seemed to have stopped for the night.
It was deceptively peaceful with the crackle of the flames and the lapping of the waves, like a scene from a romance novel, she thought. She briefly imagined what it might be like if she was an ordinary girl, and this man was her honey, instead of an armed soldier sent to hunt her down.
She sighed heavily. That was a life she was not fated to enjoy…
"My fish looks burnt because of you," she complained, looking at the blackened bass which was curled up on a spit over the fire.
"It'll be fine under the skin." Baer took the fish off the makeshift spit and expertly skinned it, passing the delicious looking flesh to Loveday on his scabbard.
She sniffed it. "Mmm. That smells good," she licked her perfect lips, watched steadily by Baer. "Would you like some?" she asked him politely. He had prepared it after all.
"You eat first."
She pulled the fish in half with her dainty fingers and handed him half.
"Thank you, Cherry," he accepted the fish, inhaling it before she had even started eating her half.
She looked at him in shock as he wiped his beard with the back of his hand. That look of amusement he wore when he was looking at her was getting annoying. What did he mean by it?
"I take it you don't want me to cook my seal for you?" he asked, clearly still hungry.
"The one you took me out with? No. Was it necessary to hurl a dead seal at me to knock me off my feet? What are you, Cro-Magnon Man?"
"It might not be pretty, but I always get the job done." He didn't look at all contrite. "What's your real name, Cherry?"
"I'm not telling you," she said primly.
"Oh ho ho. I have to earn it huh?"
"Yep."
"Well we have a long night ahead of us. Plenty of time to get to know each other." He settled back against a rock. He had no intention of sleeping.
Baer pulled out a small flask and handed it across to Loveday. "Give this a try," he challenged her.
She pulled out the stopper and sniffed it suspiciously, making a face. "What is this?"
"It's rice wine. Here, I'll have some first if you're worried I'm gonna poison you."
Loveday handed the flask to Baer, who took a long swig before handing it back to her. She had never been allowed to drink alcohol before; women were not allowed to drink. She had been very much looking forward to breaking this rule. She gave the brew a final sniff before swigging a mouthful.
"Paah! Oww! That burns!"
"Just sit with it," he laughed. "The burn turns into a pleasant warmth."
He was right. After half a minute the burn had changed to a mellow heat. She took another swig from the flask.
He laughed. "Alright, alright, slow down there you lush. Take it easy."
She flopped back onto the sand, staring up at the starry sky. "So pretty," she breathed.
"Not as pretty as you, Cherry," he said seriously, watching her with a predatory look.
"How could I be as pretty as a sky full of stars?" she laughed, gesturing at the beauty above them.
"I honestly don't know, but somehow you are," he smiled.
"Pass me that flask," she turned to face him, noticing his burning stare. She took another swig. "And don't look at me like that," she slurred.
"Like what?" he teased her.
"Predatory. Like you want to eat me."
"Mmm. What a good idea. Just say the word, Cherry."
"Don't be crude."
"I'm just a man, Cherry, not a saint. How about we play truth or dare?"
"Okay," she smiled up at the sky, enjoying the warm glow of the alcohol.
"What do you want? Truth or dare?"
"I'll have dare." She knew he'd ask her her name if she chose truth.
"I dare you to take off an item of clothing."
"I thought you'd choose something like that, you pervert!"
"Why did you choose dare if you knew?" he chuckled. "You clearly want to get your kit off," he rested back on one elbow, undressing her with his eyes. "Don't let me stop you."
"Hmmph." She stood up and shimmied out of her panties. They didn't hide much anyway, and she still had her skirt to cover her girly bits.
Baer gave a low growl of desire, not bothering to disguise the 'predatory' look she had correctly identified. He hoped she didn't look further and also identify his raging hard-on.
"I hope you're not just going to keep daring me to take my clothes off," she grumbled drunkenly. "Truth or dare, Baer? Baer, truth or dare?" she rhymed to herself. The alcohol had really kicked in now…
"I'll have dare."
"I dare you to…" she was drawing a blank. "Finish off that flask," she said grandly.
He laughed fondly. "I have a very large tolerance for alcohol, in case you're thinking this will get me drunk and you can have your way with me." He polished off the flask.
She wasn't silly enough to think that that much alcohol would incapacitate him.
"I was hoping you'd dare me to take my briefs off. Truth or dare, Cherry?"
"My name's not Cherry, and I'll have dare."
"I dare you to kiss me."
His fiery gaze threatened to devour her. She knew this was a match that once struck, could not be blown out.
"Too scared, huh?" he taunted her.
She glared at the soldier. He thought he could dominate her in a kiss, did he? Well, she would show him a thing or two!
She jumped to her feet and walked over to the fellow, dropping to kneel between his legs where he reclined against a rock.
His heart started to rocket. She was actually going to kiss him? He hoped he could hold onto his self-control with a woman this beautiful. He braced himself.
She leaned in and grabbed his face, entwining her fingers in his beard, then she pushed her lips hard up against his, surprising him with her strength.
This innocent little miss who had never kissed anyone before in her life thought she could out-kiss him did she? Big. Mistake.