Shae stared into the campfire, trying to keep her eyes off Felix, who sat on the opposite side perusing a map he had purchased to help them find their way back to Messina. Whenever she wasn't focusing on doing other things, her eyes drifted to his mouth, remembering how it had felt against her own, and her lips tingled in response.

In their nearly three years together, she had never allowed him to kiss her. She had known it would be a bad idea. Last night had proved her right, since she could not stop thinking about what happened. What could have happened. Her body heated at the images her mind conjured. Feverish images of their bodies naked together in bed. Not in the impersonal, quick way their previous couplings had been—but filled with passion and kissing.

Shaking her head, she willed the visions away. She was an adult, not a lovesick youth—and her husband was in love with another woman. Their marriage had to remain the way it was, or she would risk her heart breaking. More than it already had. The thought came unbidden to her mind, and she groaned. I am not thinking about this. I'm happy the way things are.

"Are you all right?" Felix asked, and she looked up to find him studying her from across the fire, a slight frown on his face.

"Yes, thank you for asking." She tried not to look at his lips. She was most definitely not imagining them kissing a path across her bare skin. "Is the map any help?"

"It is. I believe I've found some smaller roads that will bring us home. We're less likely to be recognised if we avoid the larger towns, but we should still make good time." He smiled as he folded the map. "While the High Council is fully capable of dealing with matters while I'm away, I'd rather not have them in charge for too long. They tend to bicker when I am not around. I feel like the stern tutor, forcing them all to get along. And we are closing in on the Championship Games. The planning has been going on for the past year and a half, and I would hate to see us fail now. We are mere weeks away."

The Games had been a bi-annual event to foster camaraderie and togetherness between the kingdoms of Erya before the former High King had been murdered sixteen years ago. A friendly set of games where champions from the kingdoms could prove themselves and win prizes and fame. This would be the first one since then and a lot hinged on its success.

"I finally convinced the elves to join," Felix said with a sigh. "Their emissary appears not to hate me, which helps. Some of the other kingdoms are less than pleased, but we need to repair our relations with them. We cannot blame an entire nation for something one of their subjects did."

She nodded. "Deva was a Sorcerer. That he was also an elf is hardly important. He betrayed us all when he killed the High King and swore his allegiance to the Dark God."

"Exactly!" Felix leaned forward, waving an arm about in frustration. "But some of our fellow kinsmen cannot see that. The relations with the Elven Kingdom have always been strained, but Deva's actions broke any lingering trust. No one wanted to accept the elves' offer of help when we marched on Messina. There were so many rumours about how they were truly on the side of Deva and the Dark God."

"I wonder what people would have said if it had been a human corrupted by the Dark God."

"Who knows? People seem to enjoy drawing up the most preposterous scenarios." He smiled wryly. "Did you hear the rumour about me being a farmer's boy who lucked into becoming the High King because I happened to look like Prince Felix? And apparently, the real Prince of Ler is either dead or a prisoner of the elves."

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "Quite the turn for a farmer's boy. I think you've done well for yourself."

Felix's eyes widened, and he grinned. "What is this? Did my wife just crack a joke at my expense?"

"I'm sure you must be imagining."

His grin widened. "Hallucinations, surely. I will have a medic look at me once we reach the castle."

The mention of home sobered her. "I can't wait to see Mio again," she admitted.

Her heart ached to see their son again. She'd missed him immensely during their trip. It was the first time she'd been away from him, and it had been more difficult than she'd ever imagined. Fortunately, he had two wonderful nurses that she felt safe leaving him with. Still, she could not wait to hold him in her arms again.

"Me neither," Felix said. "It shouldn't be too long now. A few more days. I miss the little tyke too."

"Do you think he's missed us?" She hoped he hadn't cried for her at night. If it wasn't for the chance of seeing her home kingdom again, she never would have left him. And now their trip was taking longer than expected, which made her feel terrible.

"I like to think so." Felix stood and nodded towards a small waterfall next to their camping spot along a river. "I will quickly wash up, if you don't mind."

Not wanting to see him undress, she stood and grabbed her bow and quiver. "Go ahead. I will take a walk. Perhaps I can find some more berries or some kindling for the fire."

"Be careful!" he called after her as she entered the forest.

Felix stepped under the waterfall, pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't freezing. Cool, but not freezing. As the water washed away the dirt and grime from travelling, he felt refreshed, even if still tired. It was exhausting to always be on alert, making sure no one followed them. They should reach Messina in a few days, and while he looked forward to seeing his son and sleeping in his own bed again, he also dreaded seeing his wife retreat into her shell. He had no illusions that whatever progress he'd made during this trip would disappear as soon as they were home and fell back into old habits.

Dragging his hands through his hair, he remembered the feel of Shae's lips beneath his own. It was the first time during their marriage she'd allowed him to kiss her. He groaned as he thought of the previous evening. Getting drunk had not been the best idea of his life—but after that kiss, he couldn't even regret it. The memory of walking in on her in the bathtub flashed before his eyes and he could feel his body stirring at the image. Glancing around the forest by the riverbed, he guiltily moved his hand down to grip his length.

Shae was still away from their camp, searching for berries and kindling. He should have a few moments before she returned. Knowing he intended to wash, she'd take her time. He closed his eyes as he stroked himself, remembering soft lips beneath his, a supple body in his arms. With a moan, he increased the speed of his hand. Auburn hair tumbling down her back. Lean fingers gripping a bow with easy competence. He wouldn't lie; he loved strong, accomplished women who could probably best him in a fight.

A loud gasp and the sound of something falling to the ground forced him to wrench his eyes open. Shae stood at the edge of the forest, staring at him with her eyes wide and her mouth open in shock. It took him a moment longer to process everything and remove his hand from his groin. Orc's ass!

"Shae," he croaked, his voice strangled. "Shae... I—"

It didn't escape his notice that her gaze dipped to the part of him that was still erect and begging for relief. He should probably cover himself, but they were married. Let her look.

"I... I'm sorry! I thought you'd be finished." With a last glance at him, she turned around and disappeared back in between the trees.

He wished he was finished. Cursing, he strode out of the water, wondering how long his wife would stay away this time. It wouldn't surprise him if she'd be gone until the next morning at this point. He should have restrained himself. It had been too risky. But it had been a long time since he shared a woman's bed, and the kiss the previous night had not helped. He let out a groan. He really must stop thinking about that.

Pulling on his breeches, he picked up the kindling Shae had dropped at the edge of the trees when she saw him and brought it back to stack it next to their campfire. The sound of a twig breaking alerted him to someone's presence. Had Shae returned already?

~~~~~~

This sketch is sort of how I imagine Felix looking with his hair brushed back wet in that waterfall lol Ingrained in Shae's mind forever... (the odd extra lines and squiggles are me trying to give him some scars haha)