After walking around the mountains the whole day, the big red ball in the sky had turned it orange. It was now time to return to the palace, so they made their way back to where their horses were tied.
"Let’s go see the spring. It’s not far," Lirien suggested to the group.
The Crown Prince shook his head. "I need to prepare to receive Father and Mother. I can’t stay out here for too long. Let’s go home."
"No! Brother Conrad." The princess protested, "I already promised Freya to show her the hot spring."
Freya waved her hands. "We can come back next time."
"No, Freya. The beauty of this place is to see it at night," Lirien added. "Please, let’s go."
The Crown Prince sighed. "Rowan, can you please go with them? I have to go back home and make preparations to welcome the King and Queen."
Rowan nodded. "Not a problem," he replied in a calm voice. Since their walk in the mountains, he had been quiet, just watching Freya’s every move.
"You don’t have to listen to Lirien’s every request. She can be too demanding," the Crown Prince added, getting a small glare from his sister. He then turned and left the mountains.
Lirien clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay!! We are going to see the hot spring. Trust me, Freya, you’ll love it." She tugged at the girl’s hand, leading her toward the spring.
"How did you know about the spring? Have you ever been there?" Freya asked, trying to engage in conversation.
Lirien nodded with a mischievous smile. "I have, but it wasn’t at night. I heard that on some nights, you might see... don’t worry, let’s get there."
Rowan and the younger prince followed quietly behind.
They were almost close to the spring because the sound of water dripping down could be heard not far from where they stood when the princess let out a loud shriek.
"What is it? What happened?" a startled Freya asked, holding her chest.
Princess Lirien touched her neck. "My mother’s necklace, it’s missing."
"Were you wearing it?" Freya asked, raising her gown as she searched the ground.
The princess nodded. "My mother is going to kill me. Gerald, it’s the same necklace Grandmother passed down to Mother," the girl cried.
"You have to find it. It’s something precious," Freya suggested, getting ready to look for it alongside the girl.
Lirien exhaled. "I’m so sorry, Freya. I won’t be able to show you the spring..." She bit her lips. "I always cause trouble," the girl muttered.
"No, no, you don’t. We can come back later. Let’s find your necklace first," Freya suggested with a warm smile. She wasn’t feeling bad at all; she wanted to go home.
The princess snapped her fingers, her eyes shining with an idea. "We are close to the spring already; we can’t go back. That cave over there is where the spring is located. Maybe if you and Rowan go there, I’ll search around for the necklace with Gerald. When we’re through, we’ll join you."
"I want to go with Freya," the prince said with a frown.
Lirien rolled her eyes. "What is wrong with you today, Gerald? Rowan doesn’t know what Mother’s necklace looks like. Just come with me," she dragged her brother by the hand.
Freya, feeling bad, decided to join them. That was part of it, but the reason she wanted to go with them was that she didn’t want to be left alone with Rowan. "I’ll follow-" she didn’t take another step because Rowan curled his hand around her wrist, dragging her away.
"We’ll be back soon!" Lirien waved, walking back to look for the necklace with her brother.
Freya tried to push Rowan’s hand away from her, but she couldn’t. She had to run to keep up with his pace. Rowan dragged Freya until they got to the cave.
Just as the princess had explained, right there in front of them was a spring. Water flowed from a small opening in the cave wall, creating a tiny pool on the rocky floor. The water was crystal clear, and the dripping sound it made echoed off the walls.
Freya was mesmerized by its beauty, and for a minute she forgot who was holding her. When she remembered, she pulled her hand away forcefully.
"Why are you avoiding me?" Rowan asked, his frown deepening as he took a step closer to her.
Freya moved back, keeping a distance. "Rowan... I can’t do this with you anymore. It was a mistake; I shouldn’t have. I’m not the type of girl who gives her body to any man."
Rowan narrowed his eyes. "Did I ever treat you that way? And am I just any man?"
"It’s not that..." Freya sighed. "I can’t... I wanted to keep myself until marriage."
"Then marry me!" Rowan’s voice was low, his eyes glaring at the girl.
Freya scoffed. "Marry you? I don’t love you! And I’m sure you don’t either. Do you even know what love is? A person like you..."
"But a person like me had you screaming his name. I’m not the kind of man you want, but I’m the man your body deserves. You want me, and I know it. Stop running from it." Rowan’s eyes followed the girl’s movements.
Freya bit her lips. Rowan’s words were affecting her even at that moment. "I have to run from it. That’s the only way I can help myself. I can’t keep sleeping with you and lying to the princess and my father... we have to stop."
Rowan chuckled dryly. "Freya," her name rolled on his tongue. "You’re mistaken. This fire isn’t something you can stop so easily. You’re burning to have me buried deep inside you, and so am I. Why don’t we stop thinking about everything else and do what our bodies want?"
"I can’t," Freya shook her head. "I don’t love you, and I can’t keep doing this with you. You’re not the man I want to marry, Rowan."
"Then say no to me," Rowan replied, looking the girl straight in the eyes.
Freya furrowed her brows. "What?"
"Push me away when I hold you." Rowan continued moving closer to the girl, who kept backing away, not realizing she was getting close to the spring. "If you say no, I’ll let you be. I might not be gentle, but I will never force myself on a lady."
Freya pressed her hands together, moving away from Rowan.
"Say no," Rowan ordered, "if you can."
Freya raised her eyes. "Wha-" she was still talking when Rowan pushed her inside the cave, towering over her with his height.
"Ah!" Freya gasped when she felt the water soak her dress, but she couldn’t protest because the next moment, Rowan’s lips captured hers, pushing his tongue into her mouth as both of them got drenched in the spring water.
Rowan moved down, effortlessly lifting the girl up, moving her legs around his waist as he deepened the kiss. One hand held Freya’s waist while the other slipped into her cleavage, using his hand to get a hold of her breast, he squeezed them gently. Kneading her soft breast as he felt the hardness of her nipples.
"Uhm..." Freya moaned. She could feel the heat between her legs. She wanted this, and she couldn’t say no. Wrapping her hands around Rowan’s neck, she held him closely, moving with the kiss.
Rowan opened his eyes slightly when he saw the girl give in, his lips curling. Bringing out her breast, he moved his lips down to her nipples, giving her a deep suck that caused the girl to moan and throw her head back.
Freya’s sigh was mixed with the dripping water, and it echoed through the cave walls. She held Rowan closely, pushing him closer to her chest.
"Rowan..." she called, "we are going to get caught."
Rowan raised his head. "Then we better be hurry." Saying this, he pushed took Freya’s lips, kissing her with passion while walking until Freya’s back touched the cave wall. Then he positioned the girl properly, shifting her dress upwards, with no time left to spare Rowan used his finger to tear the part of Freya’s undergarment that covered her folds and when he did this his fingers brushed in Freya’s nubs.
"Mm..." The girl sighed, grabbing Rowan’s hair, as she leaned in closer for the kiss.
Skillfully, Rowan unzipped his trousers, and positioned his hardened cock at her wet entrance. Without warning, he rammed himself into the girl, and with their bodies wet, the sound it made everytime Rowan thrusted, aroused their desires.
Freya’s toes curled with pleasure. She held Rowan’s neck, her eyes closed as she felt him thrust deeper inside her. With every movement, she felt the length and how he filled every inch of her. She couldn’t deny she wanted to have it all.