Pools
Elizabeth Knight
Chapter 11
Bra wiped her hair out of her eyes as she climbed up the ladder behind RepSarah and hurried back to Kyle's tree house. Things had settled down, but Bra still felt their hostility towards her ebbing in the think silence that hung around them. It was so terrifying that instead of risking the ugly issuing scene that would surely follow her attempt at a bath, she decided her bath could wait till she had the pools all to herself.
Kyle was inside and rounded on them in anger the moment they walked in the door. "Where the hell have you been?"
"I took her to the pools. She requested a bath. I didn't think you'd deny her such a simple comfort from the wearisome travel of the day." RepSarah replied to his question.
"I would have taken her when I got back. I hadn't planned on being gone that long." he grouched at them.
"Well, then I suppose that would be the best answer for your problems. There were several women already there, and I seriously doubt that they would have let her share their bath regardless of your feelings on the matter."
"They wouldn't?"
"What did you expect Kyle? Most of these people look at her as their enemy. You can't blame them for that."
"Perhaps not, but they will be held accountable for any harmful actions they might think of pursuing. I will not tolerate any insolent behavior from my people."
"If you want them to follow you then you'll have to earn their trust and respect in you first. You have to prove that you're worthy of their trust." The room went quiet and RepSarah left with Kyle glaring after her.
"Did you like your room?" he ask Bra, uncomfortable with the silence.
"It's fine."
"If you still want that bath later, I'll take you." Bra blushed slightly and looked down at the floor. Kyle approached her quietly and told her, "I can wait on the bank for you. I'd never presume to invite myself," He paused, "unless you wanted me too. Most familiars find it a pleasure to help each other bathe." he purred in her ear, nuzzling her neck. He left out the fact that only the familiar mates were allowed to bathe in privacy together.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"What?" his weary voice sounded slightly curious.
"What is soo-kah?" she sounded the unusual word out slowly.
"Sueka? Where did you hear that word?" he ask surprised.
"One of the women at the pool said it when they saw this." she told him holding up the necklace around her neck. He reached out and touched the dark green pendant and flames leapt in his darkening gaze. He looked back up at her, pulling her forward by the leather strap.
"Sueka. It has a nice ring to it don't you think? It will fit you perfectly." he murmured.
"What is it?"
"Nothing important." he told her, backing away unexpectedly. There was a loud snort from the door way as Isaru rolled his eyes and invited himself in.
"What does it mean? Please tell me." she begged of Isaru.
"You might as well tell her now. She'll figure it out soon enough. Remember I told you this would happen." Isaru griped at Kyle, paying Bra no heed.
"It's nothing Bra. Sueka merely means that you're an honored guest in my house."
Isaru snorted again and walked back into the farthest corner of the house. Opening up a small hatch, he pulled down a rope ladder and climbed up it. "Where does that go?" Bra ask, watching him curiously.
"My room. Isaru will be bunking with me until he goes back to his own village. If you're sure you're not interested in a bath this evening then I'll leave you to your bed, and I'll seek my own." He stood there waiting for her answer, but Bra wasn't sure exactly how she wanted to answer it. She shrugged her shoulders and made her way to the bedroom. "Bra!" Bra turned to look at him. "Sleep well."
Kyle sat up next to the railing on top of the tree house and looked out at the quiet darkness. His mind wondering, and his thoughts tantalizing. Sueka. He had known what conclusion they were going to draw, but he hadn't been prepared for the jolt of want that leapt up in his stomach and the slight tug at his heart. He could conjure her image up at will now. Everything about her he noticed. Like when she was nervous or unsure she'd chew on her bottom lip, and when she was frightened and confronted with situations she didn't like she became a fierce lioness barreling over her obstacles. He closed his eyes and imagined her sleeping form upon his bed downstairs. He could imagine her aqua hair spread across his pillows and her soft body under his blankets. He could imagine her lying in his arms, and he suddenly had an urge to see her and feel her.
Bra tossed and turned in the comfortable bed, but she couldn't sleep. Everything was pitch dark, which was fine because Bra wasn't afraid of the dark, but she felt so....alone. She didn't like it. Bra gave a sigh of frustration and sat up. Dropping her head into her hands, she noticed a slight scrapping sound. It was only there for a second before everything went silent again. The hair on her neck and arms stood up a moment later. There had been no sound at all, but she knew someone had just entered the room with her.
Bra's eyes frantically searched the darkness, but she couldn't see anything. Not even shadows playing across the walls. The room was pitch black. Bra's whole body began to quake with fear as the silence stretched on. When she heard Kyle's soft voice, she let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Bra! Are you awake?"
"Yes." she breathed in relief.
"Did I wake you?" His hesitant question sounded slightly guilty.
"No, I couldn't sleep."
"Me either. I'm going down to the pools, do you want to come?"
"Now?" she ask throwing the blankets back.
"You can always stay here, but it's now or never."
"Alright. I'll come." She jumped out of bed and made her way to where she thought he was.
"Bra. Over here." Kyle said laughing as he watched stumbling along the wrong side of the bed.
"Well don't just stand there. You can see, come help me." She heard him laugh as he came closer.
"Here. Take my hand."
"Where? I can't even see my own hand." she commented, peering into the darkness.
He laughed again and Bra jumped backwards as a paw brushed by one breast. "Oh I'm sorry. I missed your hand."
"Kyle! You did that on purpose."
"You'll never prove it, Sueka." he purred.
"May be not, but I'll wring a confession out of you yet!" she threatened him with a short jab to....to....well she wasn't sure where she'd hit him.
"How will you find my neck to wring it," he purred in her ear. "Or will you trust me to lead you to it?" Soft fur slid along her shoulders then disappeared for a moment. His paws ran down her arms to capture her wrists. She felt hard thick muscle and soft fur under her palms as he pulled her wrists lower, dragging her palms over his collar bones, down his chest, down his stomach, down....
"Kyle!" Bra yanked her hands away before they could be pulled any further down.
"Alright." he conceded, taking her by the hand. "Come Sueka, we go."
It was much easier to see once they were out side. Kyle climbed down the ladder first, holding it at the bottom to steady it for her. Bra noticed several fires still burning gibing off ample light to find one's way around.
"This way." Kyle took her hand again and drug her through the brush. The pools they had passed earlier this evening came into sight and then vanished as Kyle pulled her past them.
"Kyle! You missed them."
"No I didn't." He pulled her around the corner of a large rock mass, and into a small cave. Here a fire was kept burning as well. "Lay your clothes on that." he ordered, pointing to a natural rock bench that ran along the far wall. "You can use this until you get in the water."
Bra looked at the small hide he held out to her and frowned. Hadn't they ever heard of full sized bath towels? Apparently not. "What will you use."
The corners of his mouth twitched as he looked her in the eyes. "Nothing. Now hurry up. I'll meet you in the water."
"Kyle?"
"What?"
"We're bathing in the same pool?" Kyle gave a weary sigh. "No. There is another pool I can use this evening." with that he disappeared into the inner cave where the pools were. Bra quickly stripped out of her way into the inner cave as well. Kyle was already half submerged in the pool at the far end. There was only a small thin wall that came up in the center to divide the two. Noticing that Kyle had his back turned, she dropped the hide and scrambled into the water. It was pleasantly warm and very relaxing. She waded around in the water a while, bobbing her head into and out of the water.
"I brought soap sand along. It's in the pack on the divider." Kyle threw over his shoulder not turning around. Bra waded over to the wall to rummage through the pack. Not seeing the vial set in the corner she grabbed the rag under it and tugged. The small vial slipped over the top and splashed into the water on the other side of the divider. Bra leaned over and quickly dipped her hand down into the water and just as suddenly pulled it back it back out. Her eyes flew up to meet Kyle's.
"It's freezing!" she stated.
"It's the rinsing pool. It's supposed to be cold." he informed her.
"But you can't bathe in that."
"What other choice do I have?" Their eyes locked for a second, before she glanced down. What a mistake! Her eyes latched onto a glistening trail of water as it snaked it's way down his wet fur chest and into the water at his waist. She tried to force her eyes up or down or somewhere, but she couldn't tear her gaze away. The water covered him modestly and was too dark to see what hid just below it's surface, but the impact his body had on her nerves made her feel dizzy. Although the water on her side was bubbling hot, Bra still trembled.
She heard the growl Kyle emitted, but even as he stalked closer Bra couldn't take her eyes off him. He moved gracefully, gliding through the water toward her. When he finally reached out and shook her, her eyes flew to his face. His dark spiky lashes made his eyes stand out in contrast as they brightened and began to glow from the flames that were igniting in their depths. His lips moved and her eyes locked onto them. It was as if she were deaf. She saw his beautifully sculpted lips moving, but couldn't understand a word he was saying.
"Bra!" He shook her again. "Stop it. Don't look at me like that. You have no idea what your asking for."
Bra blinked, and came out of her stupor. "I'm sorry. Did you want to share this pool? I don't want you to freeze."
Kyle snorted and shoved the vial of sand into her hand. "I think I'll stay right here. I need the cold water anyway."
"But you might catch a cold."
"Finish your bath, Bra."
Bra watched him turn his back and wade away from the wall. Every muscle in his back was tensed and bulging from his restraint. She'd never really been able to just look at him in all his glory before. She did now. His long hair hung in a damp line down his back between his shoulder blades, ending somewhere in the middle. Fire light cast contrasts between the shadows and the glistening water that ran down the wide expanse of his back and arms. Soapy suds cascaded into the water right above his tail and an appreciative smile split her face as his tail swished back and forth slashing the water. It began to get slightly faster and faster, until Kyle turned around, head full of white bubbles, scowling.
"Bra!" he barked. If she could have seen the skin under that fur she was sure it would have been stained slightly pink. Just the frustrated tone of his voice and look on his face was enough to give him away.
"Yes?" she ask, slightly pulling herself up on the wall with her elbows.
"Go finish your bath, please." came out the strangled request. Bra shrugged her shoulders and glided away from the divider still facing him, and began to proceed with her bath.
When they got out and made their way back to the camp, Kyle was still being grouchy. She had expected him to lead her straight back to the tree house, so she was surprised when he sat down in front of one of the small campfires instead.
"Sit." he ordered, slapping the ground in front of him. She did what he ask, planting herself in between his legs on the ground. He dug around in the bag for a moment before producing a comb. Starting at the bottom, he carefully worked the comb through her hair, untangling the snares as he went. The warm fire dried her hair, and Kyle's gentle ministrations put her to sleep a stoke at a time.
Kyle ran the comb through her hair again and again, watching the fire light play upon the smooth strands. After a while, he laid the comb down and continued brushing his fingers through her hair, enjoying the feel of the silky locks as they slipped between his fingers.
He only allowed himself that pleasure after Bra had fallen asleep. He'd known the moment she'd finally given in and slipped away. Her arms had slid from their clasp around her legs and hung limp at her sides. Her head rested on her knees. Kyle reached forward to pull her back into his arms, her head falling back upon his shoulder. Kyle closed his eyes, brushing his face against her's, unaware of the numerous pairs of eyes gazing down at them.