Chapter 69: Nice

I leaned closer to Treez.

She watched me come.

For someone who had spent the last few minutes pretending this was still an innocent picnic, she wasn't exactly making a heroic effort to escape.

Her hand remained in mine.

Her cheeks were already pink.

That mischievous little smile still hovered at the corner of her mouth.

Then, just before our faces met, magic rippled around us.

The garden vanished.

Or, more accurately, we vanished from the garden.

I could still see everything.

The grass.

The flowers.

The afternoon sunlight spilling across the open field.

A few distant people walking along the paths.

And Treez.

I could still see Treez perfectly despite the invisibility wrapped around us.

She looked exactly the same, except now the rest of the world had apparently lost permission to notice either of us.

I raised an eyebrow.

Treez smiled.

“Better to be certain than sorry.”

I looked toward the distant pedestrians.

Then back at her.

“Fair.”

Very fair.

Extremely fair.

Public affection was one thing.

Publicly doing what we were clearly considering was another.

I preferred my diplomatic reputation without an accompanying park scandal.

Treez lifted both hands.

Her palms settled against my cheeks.

Warm.

Soft.

Her black eyes stayed on mine for a moment.

Then she pulled me toward her.

Our lips met.

The first kiss was gentle.

Almost innocent.

Which was hilarious considering neither of us had innocent intentions anymore.

Treez's lips moved softly against mine.

Slow.

Testing.

Then she kissed me again.

Longer.

Her fingers slid from my cheeks into my hair.

I placed one hand at her waist.

Pulled her closer.

That changed everything.

The next kiss deepened.

Treez opened to me.

Her breath warmed my lips.

The little hesitation she'd carried earlier disappeared one piece at a time.

I smiled into the kiss.

She immediately pulled back slightly.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“That was not nothing.”

“You're getting bold.”

Her face reddened.

“I am not.”

“You turned us invisible so we could misbehave in a public garden.”

Treez narrowed her eyes.

“For privacy.”

“Of course.”

“Exactly.”

“Very responsible.”

She knew I was teasing.

I knew she knew.

Treez kissed me again to shut me up.

Excellent strategy.

My hand tightened lightly at her hip.

The other brushed along her side.

Her body pressed closer.

I broke away from her lips only to kiss her jaw.

Treez breathed in.

Then I moved lower.

A kiss beneath her jaw.

Another along her neck.

Her head tilted instinctively, giving me better access.

That was cooperation.

I approved.

My lips traced downward.

Neck.

Collarbone.

The exposed skin above her blouse.

Treez's breathing gradually changed.

Longer inhales.

Shorter exhales.

Every few seconds, she glanced toward the open garden even though nobody could see us.

I kissed near her collarbone again.

She shivered.

“You're still worried.”

“Someone could come closer.”

“They won't see us.”

“They might hear.”

Ah.

Excellent point.

I smiled against her skin.

“That sounds like your challenge.”

Treez grabbed the back of my hair.

“Do not make it worse.”

“Wouldn't dream of it.”

Lie.

Beautiful lie.

I leaned closer to her chest.

Treez smelled incredible.

Warm skin.

Flowers.

The faint sweetness of the wine we'd been drinking.

And something distinctly her.

I breathed her in.

Treez noticed.

“What are you doing?”

“Appreciating.”

“That answer explains nothing.”

“It explains enough.”

My hand slid beneath the opening of her blouse.

Treez stiffened.

Not in refusal.

In anticipation.

I waited anyway.

Her eyes met mine.

She nodded.

So I continued.

My fingers slipped beneath the fabric, tracing warm skin.

Higher.

Treez's lips parted.

I found the edge of her undergarment and slipped my hand beneath it.

My palm settled against her breast.

Treez inhaled sharply.

Her shoulders drew inward.

I squeezed gently.

Her breath escaped as a soft moan.

Immediately, Treez covered her mouth with one hand.

I looked around theatrically.

Nobody reacted.

No sudden shouting.

No crowds pointing toward the mysteriously noisy tree.

“So far, civilization survives.”

Treez glared.

I kissed her.

That solved the glare.

Her hand fell from her mouth and settled against my chest.

I kissed her deeper.

Hotter.

My palm continued moving slowly against her.

I already remembered which side she had told me was more sensitive.

Good information deserved responsible application.

When my thumb brushed there, Treez made another sound into my mouth.

Her fingers tightened against me.

I slipped my other hand beneath her blouse.

Now both hands rested against her.

Treez broke the kiss to breathe.

Her face had become beautifully flushed.

“Caled…”

“Yes?”

“You know exactly what you're doing.”

“Thank you.”

“That was not praise.”

“Sounded like praise.”

She shook her head.

Then looked down at her blouse.

Treez undid enough of the front to loosen it.

Not fully.

Just enough.

The fabric parted slightly.

Enough for easier access.

Enough for the top of her chest to show.

Treez looked around again.

Even invisible, she was embarrassed.

Adorable.

I leaned in.

Kissed the exposed skin between her breasts.

Treez's breath caught.

My mouth moved slightly to one side.

Another kiss.

Then another.

I gently shifted the fabric of her undergarment aside.

Treez's hand immediately found my hair.

Her fingers threaded through it.

I kissed along the curve of her breast.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Treez's breathing became shaky.

Then my lips found the most sensitive place.

Her entire body twitched.

She bit down on her own lower lip.

I kissed again.

Then teased with my tongue.

Treez's fingers tightened in my hair.

She was trying very hard not to moan.

Very hard.

Too hard.

Which, naturally, made me curious how close she was to losing.

I lingered.

Treez's head fell slightly backward against the tree.

Her eyes closed.

A quiet sound escaped anyway.

She immediately covered her mouth.

I smiled.

Her eyes opened.

“Don't.”

“I said nothing.”

“Your face said something.”

“That's a recurring problem.”

My hand left her chest.

Slowly.

Down her side.

Over her waist.

Then along one thigh.

Treez's breathing sharpened again.

My fingers slipped beneath the opening of her skirt.

She watched me.

I paused.

Treez didn't stop me.

So I continued.

My hand traveled higher.

The fabric of her underwear met my fingertips.

Even through it, I could feel the heat she'd built.

I rubbed gently over the thin barrier.

Treez immediately inhaled.

Her thighs tensed.

Her hand flew back over her mouth.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Still worried about noise?”

She nodded.

“Very.”

“Good.”

“That sounded evil.”

“Only mildly.”

I kissed her again.

My fingers kept moving.

Slow circles.

Light pressure.

Enough to make Treez shift closer.

Enough to make her knees weaken slightly.

She hid another moan against my lips.

I smiled.

Then withdrew.

Treez opened her eyes.

Confusion.

I leaned back.

“What?”

“You stopped.”

“Temporarily.”

Her expression suggested she disliked that word.

I shifted down.

Treez watched.

I kissed one of her knees.

Then the other.

Her legs moved apart slightly.

She lowered herself onto the picnic blanket.

Slowly.

The tree shaded most of us.

Invisible magic hid the rest.

From any outside perspective, our picnic blanket probably looked abandoned.

How wholesome.

I moved between her knees.

Treez lay back.

Her red hair spread across the blanket.

Her blouse remained partly open.

Her chest rose and fell noticeably.

I gently moved the last bit of fabric in my way aside.

Treez squeezed her eyes shut.

“This is embarrassing.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because you keep giving me reasons.”

“Excellent teamwork.”

She covered her face.

I laughed quietly.

Then touched her.

Barely at first.

Just enough to make her inhale.

My fingers moved slowly, exploring the response rather than rushing.

Treez's thighs shifted.

A soft moan escaped behind her hands.

I continued.

Gradually deeper.

Gradually more confident.

Her hips reacted almost immediately.

Small movements against my hand.

Treez tried keeping still.

Failed.

I liked the failure.

A lot.

Her breathing grew louder.

The first few sounds remained muffled behind her fingers.

Then one slipped free.

She froze.

We both looked toward the distant path.

Nobody reacted.

Treez exhaled in relief.

I moved my fingers again.

Her relief died immediately.

Treez moaned.

She covered her mouth with both hands now.

Very effective security system.

I changed the angle slightly.

Her whole body jerked.

There.

Interesting.

I repeated it.

Treez's eyes opened wide.

Another muffled sound escaped.

I smiled.

Her stare sharpened.

“You…”

“Hm?”

“You found something.”

“Apparently.”

Treez narrowed her eyes.

I adjusted my fingers again.

Her glare collapsed into pleasure.

Her head fell back.

Her hands pressed harder against her mouth.

I continued rubbing the place that made her lose control fastest.

Treez's hips lifted.

Then again.

She was fighting her own voice with enough determination to qualify as military training.

I was enjoying this far too much.

Eventually Treez sat up abruptly.

I stopped.

She stared at me.

Eyes narrowed.

Face red.

Hair slightly disorganized.

I shrugged.

“What?”

No answer.

Instead, Treez reached for my belt.

Ah.

Retaliation.

Excellent.

She unfastened it.

Much faster than last night.

Progress.

Her hand slipped beneath my clothes.

I inhaled sharply when her soft fingers wrapped around me.

Treez smiled.

Vindictive little thing.

She moved her hand slowly.

Up.

Down.

Deliberate.

Watching my face.

“Oh.”

Her voice dropped.

“You're already very hard.”

I nodded gravely.

“Yes.”

Treez continued the slow movement.

“And whose fault is that?”

I caught her wrist gently.

“Yours.”

“Mine?”

“You're extremely cute.”

Treez's face immediately heated again.

Wonderful.

She tried looking away.

I didn't give her enough time to recover.

I stood.

Then offered my hand.

Treez looked up.

Took it.

I helped her to her feet.

Then guided her toward the thick trunk of the tree.

Treez understood before I said anything.

She placed both hands against the bark.

Looked over one shoulder at me.

Her expression became nervous.

Excited.

Both.

I stepped behind her.

One hand settled at her waist.

The other carefully gathered her skirt upward enough to keep the fabric out of the way.

Treez's breath caught.

She shifted her underwear aside herself.

That little act of cooperation sent a pleasant jolt straight through me.

I leaned closer.

My chest brushed her back.

“You sure?”

Treez nodded.

“Yes.”

I positioned myself behind her.

Then pressed close.

The first movement drew a moan from her immediately.

Treez's hand flew from the tree to her mouth.

I stopped for a second.

Her body adjusted.

Then she whispered:

“Keep going.”

I did.

Slowly.

The closeness deepened.

Treez's fingers curled against the bark.

Her breathing became unsteady.

Another moan slipped past her palm.

I held her hips.

Then began moving.

Measured at first.

Giving her time.

Treez's body shivered almost immediately.

She lowered her forehead toward the tree.

Her shoulders moved with each breath.

After a few moments, her hips started answering mine.

Small movements.

Then stronger ones.

Finding the rhythm.

Matching it.

I smiled.

“Quick learner.”

“Don't talk.”

“Still embarrassed?”

“Yes.”

I increased the pace.

Treez's answer became a muffled moan.

There it was.

My hands stayed firmly at her hips.

Holding.

Guiding.

The rhythm built.

The tree remained steady in front of her.

Good tree.

Strong contribution.

Treez's body moved between my hands and the trunk.

Her face nearly touched the bark each time the motion became more intense.

I slowed slightly to adjust.

Treez immediately moved backward toward me.

I laughed.

“You're very eager for someone trying to stay quiet.”

She made an irritated sound.

Then I moved faster.

That irritated sound became something else entirely.

Treez pressed one hand harder over her mouth.

Her other stayed against the tree.

The rhythm increased.

Her hips tried keeping up.

Mostly succeeded.

Every now and then she lost it and simply let me control the movement.

I could hear every breath.

Every little sound she tried trapping behind her fingers.

And the harder she fought to remain quiet, the more exciting it became.

Which was probably morally questionable.

But currently very entertaining.

I increased the pace again.

Treez's shoulders trembled.

A sound almost escaped too loudly.

She bit it back.

Then whispered:

“Slow down.”

I leaned closer.

“What?”

“I can't control my voice.”

That was not helping me want to slow down.

At all.

I moved again.

Deeper.

Faster.

Treez gasped.

Her knees nearly bent.

She recovered.

“Caled…”

“Still okay?”

“Yes.”

Immediate.

But then she added:

“Someone could hear.”

I looked around.

Invisible.

Garden mostly empty.

Still, sound remained sound.

Treez's voice became more urgent.

“I can't hold it anymore.”

Her head turned.

She looked over her shoulder.

Those eyes.

That expression.

Begging.

“Help me stay quiet.”

I stopped.

Damn.

As much as I enjoyed watching her struggle, that face was unfair.

Treez turned her head farther.

“Please.”

Well.

I was many things.

A monster resistant to cute pleading was apparently not one of them.

I pulled away.

Treez inhaled.

Then I placed both hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around.

Her back met the tree.

I kept one palm beside her shoulder.

Treez looked up at me.

I slid my hands toward her hips.

Adjusted her position.

She shifted willingly.

Opened her stance enough to make room while keeping herself balanced against the tree.

Her hands came to my shoulders.

I moved close.

Treez's eyes widened slightly as our bodies met again.

A moan immediately rose in her throat.

She looked at me.

Begging again.

This time I understood.

I moved.

Faster than before.

Treez's mouth opened.

I kissed her.

The sound disappeared between us.

Perfect.

Her hands tightened on my shoulders.

I kept the rhythm strong.

Treez moved with me.

Her body followed mine as best it could.

Every moan went into my mouth.

Warm.

Breathless.

Desperate.

She kissed back harder.

Her arms wrapped around my neck.

Then tightened.

Pulling me closer.

The tree supported her from behind.

I supported everything else.

Her legs trembled.

Her balance shifted.

My hands held her securely at the hips.

She kissed me as though that was the only thing keeping her quiet.

Probably because it was.

Whenever I pulled away for air, Treez immediately made a sound.

Then dragged me back.

I laughed against her lips.

She bit mine.

Again.

“You keep doing that.”

“Then stop laughing.”

“Impossible.”

I increased the pace.

Treez's body jolted.

Her arms tightened around my neck.

Her attempt to move with me gradually fell apart.

She tried.

Lost the rhythm.

Found it.

Lost it again.

Eventually she gave up trying to match everything and simply clung to me.

Her breathing came fast against my cheek.

The heat between us intensified.

Treez's voice slipped free in short bursts whenever the kiss broke.

Then she whispered:

“I'm close.”

I slowed just enough to look at her.

Treez immediately shook her head.

“No. Don't slow down.”

I smiled.

“Understood.”

I resumed.

Harder.

Treez gasped.

Her nails pressed into my back.

The kiss became messy now.

Less coordinated.

More need than technique.

She pulled away just enough to speak.

“Inside.”

I heard her.

But I wanted no ambiguity.

I looked at her.

“Are you sure?”

Treez nodded quickly.

“Yes.”

Her breathing shook.

“Please.”

That was clear.

I smiled.

“Your wish is my command.”

Treez managed a breathless laugh.

Then I kissed her again.

And stopped holding back.

The rhythm intensified.

Treez's nails dug into my back.

Her whole body reacted.

Every movement pushed another muffled sound against my lips.

She tried kissing me properly.

Couldn't.

Pleasure kept breaking her concentration.

Her mouth would meet mine, then part with a gasp, then return.

I kept one hand firmly supporting her hip.

The other moved up her back, holding her close.

Treez shivered.

Once.

Then again.

Her arms tightened around my neck.

I could feel her approaching the edge.

So was I.

The pressure had been building steadily, and now every movement made it harder to hold back.

Treez's forehead fell against mine.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

“Caled…”

I answered with another kiss.

She trembled hard.

Her body tightened.

Then the tension broke.

Treez shuddered against me.

A cry tried escaping.

My mouth caught it.

Her fingers curled against my shoulders.

Her legs weakened.

I held her.

Kept her steady.

My own limit hit immediately after.

I pressed close.

Stopped holding anything back.

Release rolled through me.

Treez clung tighter.

For several seconds, neither of us moved properly.

Just trembling.

Breathing.

Holding.

The world outside our invisibility felt impossibly distant.

Flowers.

Sunlight.

People walking somewhere beyond the tree.

None of it mattered.

Treez calmed first.

Her body gradually softened against mine.

Her grip loosened.

Then her head fell onto my shoulder.

I held her there.

Her breathing brushed warmly against my neck.

Slowly becoming steadier.

My own breathing followed.

For a while, neither of us said anything.

Treez simply rested against me.

I rubbed one hand along her back.

Eventually she moved.

Slowly.

We separated.

I immediately kept one hand at her waist because her legs still looked suspiciously untrustworthy.

Treez noticed.

“I'm fine.”

“You're leaning on me.”

“For comfort.”

“Sure.”

She gave me a tired glare.

Very cute glare.

Treez began fixing her clothes.

Skirt lowered.

Undergarment adjusted.

Blouse closed.

Buttons.

Fabric.

Every piece gradually returned to where respectable society expected it.

I fixed my own clothes.

Belt.

Pants.

Everything back in order.

A miracle.

Treez looked over herself carefully.

Then looked at me.

“Do I look normal?”

I studied her.

Hair slightly messy.

Face still flushed.

Eyes suspiciously bright.

“Define normal.”

“Caled.”

I laughed.

“Mostly.”

Treez immediately fixed her hair with both hands.

She smoothed the red strands.

Adjusted her blouse again.

Straightened her skirt.

Then took several deep breaths.

By the time she finished, she looked surprisingly composed.

Almost.

The blush remained.

I smiled.

She pointed at me.

“Do not.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“Your face.”

“Chronic condition.”

Treez looked around.

Then finally released the invisibility.

Magic faded.

The world returned to us.

Or rather, we returned to the world's ability to notice us.

From the outside?

We looked innocent.

Completely innocent.

Just a man and woman standing beneath a tree beside a picnic blanket.

Treez leaned back against the trunk.

I stood close.

Two people having a private romantic conversation.

Nothing suspicious.

No evidence whatsoever that several minutes earlier she'd been trying desperately not to alert half the garden.

I glanced around.

A couple walked along a distant path.

Someone read beneath another tree.

Two children chased something through the flowers.

Nobody was staring.

Nobody pointing.

Nobody summoning guards.

Perfect.

Treez noticed too.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Then she looked at me.

Her black eyes narrowed.

“You are troublesome.”

I smiled.

“Interesting accusation.”

“It is accurate.”

“Counterargument.”

“What?”

“You let me cause the trouble.”

Treez stared.

Then her lips betrayed her.

A smile.

Small.

Warm.

She stepped forward.

Wrapped her arms around me.

Then buried her face against my chest.

I blinked.

Well.

That escalated from accusation to cuddling very efficiently.

Treez spoke against me.

“This is your fault.”

“Everything?”

“You made me do this.”

I placed one hand gently against the back of her head.

“Guilty as charged.”

Treez's arms tightened around me.

Not desperate.

Not passionate like before.

Just affectionate.

Soft.

Comfortable.

Her cheek rested against my chest.

I let her stay there.

Didn't tease.

Didn't ruin it.

Well, not immediately.

There were limits to my self-control, but I possessed at least thirty seconds of emotional maturity.

I looked down at her.

Red hair.

Relaxed shoulders.

Hands resting against my back.

She was ridiculously cute.

And there was something different about seeing Treez like this.

Not the Legion Magus.

Not the woman commanding troops.

Not the general who had fought us at Dahera.

Not the drunk woman gathering courage at a city overlook.

Just Treez.

Quiet.

Affectionate.

Content to stand under a tree and hold me.

Honestly?

I couldn't help watching her.

The afternoon breeze moved through the branches above us.

Flowers shifted across the garden.

Sunlight slipped between the leaves.

Our abandoned picnic remained spread across the grass nearby, bread and wine waiting like nothing outrageous had happened.

I smiled to myself.

This was one memorable date.