Chapter 7: Chapter Seven: Dirty Games, Hidden Gold, and Bitter Plans
Thomas woke in the dark, the faint chill of morning creeping through the gaps in the walls. Lyra lay beside him, her hair splayed across the pillow, her bare body a soft contrast to the rough, threadbare sheets. He rose quietly, leaving her to sleep as he stepped outside. The streets were still, the early hour casting everything in shades of grey. Thomas crouched near a puddle, his fingers sinking into the wet, cool mud. He paused, feeling the familiar urge, but this time he shook it off. Today, his thoughts were elsewhere.
He cleaned his hands and made his way back inside. Lyra stirred as he returned, her eyes fluttering open to meet his. She watched him curiously, her gaze following him as he moved about the small room. Thomas dug into a small pouch he had tucked away, pulling out a bundle of dried herbs he'd bought days ago—a blend of sage, mint, and a few local plants he didn't quite recognize but knew would soothe a sore throat.
"You need something for that cough," Thomas said, crushing the herbs in a small bowl, mixing them with a bit of water to form a thick poultice. The strong, earthy scent filled the room, sharp and medicinal. "This should help."
Lyra sat up, intrigued, her eyes tracking his every move. She watched as he dipped his fingers into the mixture, smearing the cooling paste over his length, his cock twitching at the odd, invigorating sensation. He stepped closer, his breath hitching as he guided her head forward, pressing his coated shaft to her lips.
"Take it," Thomas murmured, his voice low, filled with an unspoken need. Lyra hesitated only for a moment before her lips parted, wrapping around him. The herbs were bitter, their taste sharp on her tongue, but she sucked him in without complaint, her mouth working slowly, drawing him deeper. Thomas groaned, the sensation strange but thrilling as her tongue slid over the poultice, each movement soothing and arousing at once.
Lyra's eyes fluttered shut, her mouth moving with a deliberate, unhurried rhythm, savoring the taste as she worked him over. Thomas watched her, his hand tangled in her hair, guiding her motions as he lost himself in the feeling. The herbs tingled on his skin, cool and a little numbing, adding a layer of sensation that sent shivers up his spine. Lyra's coughs were muffled against him, her throat working around the bitter mixture as she took him deeper, her soft, desperate noises vibrating against his length.
Thomas couldn't hold back, thrusting gently, savoring the wet heat of her mouth, the herbal scent mingling with the raw, primal smell of sex. He pushed her to take him as far as she could, every inch of him slicked in the bitter balm. When he finally came, it was with a low, guttural groan, his release thick and heavy on her tongue, mixing with the taste of the herbs.
Lyra pulled back, wiping her mouth, her eyes meeting his with a look that was a blend of satisfaction and gratitude. Thomas kissed her forehead, feeling oddly content as he dressed and prepared to leave. "Keep drinking the tea I made from these," he said, nodding toward the herbs. "It'll help your throat."
Thomas made his way to the cookhouse, where Marla was already waiting. She had a certain look about her today—tired, annoyed, and yet eager all the same. The cookhouse was quieter than usual, the normal morning bustle replaced by a tense silence that Thomas could feel as soon as he stepped inside.
Marla wasted no time with pleasantries. She grabbed him by the arm, her voice low and urgent. "Before the day starts, I need it," she said, her tone more demanding than asking. She pulled him toward a corner, her hands already working on his belt, her impatience clear. Thomas let her do as she pleased, leaning against the counter as she sank to her knees, her mouth warm and eager.
She took him in with a fierce hunger, sucking hard, her head bobbing with an almost desperate rhythm. Thomas closed his eyes, the sensation overwhelming as Marla's mouth worked over him, her tongue swirling around his shaft, her lips tight and relentless. She moaned softly, the vibrations sending jolts of pleasure up his spine as he thrust gently into her mouth, his hands gripping the edge of the counter for support.
Marla didn't stop until he came, swallowing every drop with a satisfied hum. She pulled back, wiping her mouth, and grinned up at him. "Now that's a good start to the day," she teased, getting to her feet. But the usual lightness was missing from her tone, replaced by something darker, more troubled.
Thomas watched her, sensing the tension. "Something on your mind?"
Marla sighed, brushing her hands on her apron as she leaned against the counter. "It's the boss," she said, her voice dropping. "He's got his claws in this place deep. Everyone knows he paid off the City Watch to keep it. Killed the old owner, bribed his way into power. And he doesn't care what happens to the rest of us as long as his pockets are full."
Thomas frowned, the thought of the boss's smug face tightening his chest. "We could take him out," Thomas said, testing her reaction. "Run this place ourselves."
Marla shook her head, her expression a mix of fear and resignation. "You think it's that easy? We'd need a fortune to keep the Watch quiet. They don't work for free, and they don't take risks unless they're paid well. We'd need enough to bribe them, and enough left over to keep this place running." She met his gaze, her eyes hard. "That's more coin than we'll see in a lifetime."
Thomas was silent, weighing his options. He could feel the pouch of coins at his side, the hidden wealth that had kept him fed and satisfied all this time. It was his safety net, his guarantee of comfort in a world that offered so little. But it was also a tool, a means to an end if he was willing to risk it.
"Marla," he said slowly, the words heavy on his tongue. "I've got the money."
She stared at him, disbelief flickering in her eyes. "Enough? To buy off the Watch?"
Thomas nodded, his expression serious. "Enough for that, and more. But it has to be worth it. We need to know everything. Where he gets his supplies, who he pays, where he's vulnerable."
Marla hesitated, her gaze searching his. She was torn—between fear of the boss's wrath and the temptation of freedom, of having something she could call her own. "I'll see what I can find," she said finally. "But this isn't just some little gamble. We mess this up, we're dead."
Thomas nodded, understanding the gravity of their plan. They were diving headfirst into dangerous waters, but he was ready. For once, he felt like there was more at stake than just surviving another day.
The day passed in a haze of work, tension simmering between them as they exchanged knowing glances. By the end of the day, Marla pulled him aside, her expression softening as she leaned in, their lips meeting in a slow, heated kiss. It was a silent promise, an acknowledgment of the risks they were about to take, but for a moment, all that mattered was the heat of their bodies pressed together, the taste of her lips lingering as they parted.
When Thomas finally made it home, the evening had settled into a quiet calm. Lyra greeted him with her usual smile, her throat still scratchy but her voice a little clearer. Thomas wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close as he kissed her softly, savoring the small comfort of her presence.
"I got some more of those herbs," he said, pulling the bundle from his pocket. "They'll help." He crushed them again, mixing the pungent leaves with water, forming a fresh paste. This time, instead of asking her to drink, he smeared it along his cock, the cool, bitter poultice coating his length.
Lyra looked at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but she didn't hesitate. She took him in her mouth, her lips wrapping around him, the herbal taste sharp and bitter on her tongue. Thomas let out a low groan, the coolness of the paste adding a strange, new sensation as she worked him over, her throat soothingly warm as she sucked him slowly, deliberately.
Each movement of her mouth was careful, attentive, Lyra taking him deeper as the poultice dissolved, its medicinal bitterness mixing with the salt of his skin. Thomas guided her with a gentle hand, his hips moving in a slow rhythm, savoring the wet, healing slide of her tongue. Lyra's eyes fluttered as she bobbed her head, each motion smooth and soothing, and Thomas felt the tension of the day bleed away, replaced by a deep, calming pleasure.
When he finally spilled into her mouth, it was slow and steady, his release mingling with the herbal bitterness that lingered on her tongue. Lyra swallowed, her throat working carefully, and Thomas could feel the tight knot in his chest ease as she pulled away, wiping her lips with a quiet smile.
They lay together afterward, Lyra's head resting on his chest as Thomas gently traced circles on her back. The weight of the day faded as he listened to her soft breaths, the faint rasp of her throat a reminder of the world they lived in but also of the small, tender moments they could still enjoy
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