Arya woke up feeling warm and cozy in the crook of the Hound's arms. She stretched slightly and slowly disentangled herself from his arms before climbing out of the bed. She moved to the window and peered out, noting the thick snow falling. Winter was definitely upon them - the snow was falling heavier and more frequently despite them moving south. She and the Hound would have to pick up the pace.
Returning toward the bed, she sat on the edge, wondering if she should wake up the Hound or let him sleep. She knew it would be awkward - it always was after one of these encounters and they seemed to be happening more and more frequently.
She felt a little sore in her lower region and could feel herself turning red just from the thought. The Hound and his nimble fingers... it drove her a little crazy and she was scared. Arya hated when she wasn't in control and the things he did to her made her feel like she had absolutely no control whatsoever. Even then, she longed for more.
Arya wondered if he was going to just take her completely one of these days. Just as she would get completely caught up in the moment, she knew he did the same. It wasn't like he actually liked her much, did he? She wondered too if she wanted him to. She knew enough about virgins and maidenheads to know that it was important to "stay pure" until marriage to a wealthy lord. Gross. Arya hated the idea of marrying anybody. The sooner she got married, the sooner she would say goodbye to her freedom to do whatever the fuck she wanted to do.
Turning her attention to the sleeping Hound, she moved to lay back down beside him, staring intently at his sleeping face. He appeared so much friendlier when he was asleep. It made her snort, but it was so true.
Reaching her hand out, she brushed a hand lightly on his face. She wasn't sure why she was possessed to do so, but she did not have much of an opportunity to even look at him very long when he was awake without a snide remark.
His hand shot up and grabbed her wrist, yanking it away sharply. Without even opening an eye, he growled, "What are you doing, wolf girl?"
"Nothing!" she replied defensively, trying to twist her hand free, but unsuccessful.
The Hound opened his eyes, glaring at her. "Does this seem like nothing to you?" He took his free hand and brushed it lightly across her face.
Arya shivered. "Whatever. Let's leave." She could feel herself turning red just from his hand caressing her cheek. She needed to get away from this man.
He released her and rolled away from her, climbing out of the bed from the other side. "I'll go get the horse. Maybe see about getting another horse for you. I'll meet you outside."
He brushed past her out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Sighing, Arya lay on the bed for another moment before climbing back out and gathering up their few items. She glanced at the bed again and noticed the blood on the sheets from the Hound's leg. She made a mental note to check out his leg when they made camp tonight.
Heading out of the inn, Arya was cornered by the innkeeper as she moved to leave toward the barn.
"Miss?" the innkeeper asked, his eyes lingering to her lip. "You have dried blood on your lip. Are you okay?"
Arya shot her hand up and felt the crusty texture and winced. "Oh yeah. I'm fine. I just... fell?" she offered, shifting uncomfortably before moving to duck around the man.
He stopped her, grabbing her shoulder. "I heard some of what was going on last night. It's none of my business... but if you owe the man a debt, perhaps we could work something out and you could work here. I always need a lady to help with the cleaning and the meals."
Arya's eyes widened. "Oh! Uh, I'm fine. Thanks for your concern. I'm perfectly fine traveling with him."
"Are you sure, miss? You're rather young and that man... well, he's frightening."
This made her laugh. "Yeah, he's not pleasant, but he's alright."
Looking unconvinced, the innkeeper just shook his head and let her move aside.
Rolling her eyes a little and still laughing, she headed outside to find the Hound standing there with Stranger only.
"What the fuck are you laughing at?" he grumbled.
"Just another kind patron attempting to rescue me from your evil clutches. Lift me up." She moved to the side of the horse, attaching the bags to the saddle.
"What the fuck." The Hound lifted her up before climbing on behind her, his arms moving around her to grab the reins and adjust. "Ready?"
Arya was in the process of nodding, when the innkeeper came outside again. He eyed the pair disapprovingly.
"Would you folks be interested in staying another night? It doesn't appear that this snow will let up any time soon. It might be cold travels."
"We're fine. Fuck off." The Hound tapped the reins and the horse began moving forward.
Arya smacked the Hound's arm. "Rude!" she hissed. Turning to glance back the innkeeper, she tried to smile. "Thanks for your kindness, sir," she called out.
The Hound snorted. "That cunt needed to mind his own fucking business."
Arya turned to scowl at him, twisting slightly uncomfortably as she was flush against his chest. "I know being nice isn't in your nature, but did it ever cross your thick skull that being a total dick will make them remember you even more. What if someone is looking for us?"
"Yeah it's going to be my temperament they remember and not my fucking face." The Hound pushed Stranger forward, saying nothing more.
She rolled her eyes, though he couldn't see her. "Whatever," she replied, adjusting herself and settling back against his chest.
The snow was falling thickly and she brushed away a few snowflakes from her eyes. "Maybe the innkeep was right - it's getting pretty snowy," she commented.
"The innkeep was a bloody cunt. I'm not afraid for a little snow. I wouldn't think you would be either, wolf girl. I thought you were a Stark."
"I am a Stark! Just because I can handle the cold doesn't mean I'm fool enough to go riding into it."Her annoyance was shining through slightly. Why did he have to argue about everything she said?
The Hound laughed rudely. "You can turn back if you want. I'm taking the fucking horse though."He stopped the horse abruptly, moving his arms aside so she could climb off.
Arya turned to glare at him. "Just keep going. Don't blame me when we freeze our arses off."
"I'm sure we can find a way to keep warm." His words were light and playful, but the underlying tone did not go unnoticed. He urged the horse forward and off the went again.
Arya shivered and said nothing. What was she supposed to say? Perhaps it would take an entire snow storm to bring the two of them together in such a way. Was it what she wanted? Probably yes.
Leaning her head back against the Hound's chest, she sighed and stared ahead. "It's just so boring when I don't have my own horse," she complained.
"I rather like when you're not running your filthy mouth," he retorted, shaking her slightly just to get under her skin.
"I have the filthy mouth?" Arya laughed, elbowing him roughly again. "You're like the only person I talk to so you can blame yourself for that, you fucker!"
The Hound grunted as her elbow made contact with him. "Knock it off and shut the fuck up. Just count the bloody trees or something."
She groaned and shifted in the saddle. "You don't get to tell me what to do. If I want to fucking talk, I'll fucking talk."
"And then I'm going to push you off this fucking horse." The Hound sounded like he was getting genuinely irritated. It really did not take much.
Smiling smugly, Arya glanced at the various trees they were riding through. "One... two... three..." she began, drawing out each number.
It was like she could hear the Hound grinding his teeth in frustration. This was fun. "Nine... ten..."
The Hound grabbed her thigh and gave it a rough squeeze, digging his fingers into her. "I said to shut the fuck up."
"And I said you don't tell me what I can fucking do. So fuck off." Arya bit her lip, feeling like bursting into laughter would just make this situation go from fun to dangerous. "Eleven..."
The hand that was grabbing her thigh suddenly moved to dip up to the hem of her shirt, slipping underneath it to her stomach. His fingers suddenly brushed her skin lightly.
Arya stiffened slightly. What the fuck?
"Something wrong?" the Hound asked innocently, his fingers just caressing her flat belly.
"No." Arya shivered. "Eleven... twelve..."
The hand dipped to play with the waistband of her trousers. "You already counted eleven. You're not that stupid that you forgot how to count, are you?" His hand was just toying with the waistband.
So this was how he was going to play. Arya could feel herself growing slightly excited. Just don't let him know it is bothering you, she told herself. "Fine. Thirteen... fourteen... fifteen..."
The hand moved beneath the waistband and was suddenly toying on the edge of her undergarments. Fuck.
"Sixteen..."
Suddenly his hand was on her lady part and she felt herself gasp slightly. The fingers began to slowly caress her, softly, deliberately.
"Uh..." she choked, letting out a slight moan as his fingers caressed her and then went still.
"I believe you were on seventeen..." the Hound offered. She could tell he was smirking despite not being able to see him. Damn him to seven hells!
"Seventeen..." Arya began. She noted how his fingers immediately started kneading her again as soon as she began speaking. So this was how he was going to play. She would not let herself fall victim to any of his fucking games. She was both angry, but also incredibly aroused which made her even angrier.
The Hound was breathing in her ear, navigating the horse with one hand, but caressing her gently with the other. "Keep going," he ordered, whispering softly in her ear.
This was just disgusting. And wrong. Arya was livid, but she obediently continued. "Seventeen..."
His fingers were working even harder. The angle was not the greatest as she was sitting on a horse, but they were nimbly working her over and she thought she was going to scream.
"Seventeen..." Arya bit her lip, trying desperately to remember which number. She was no longer looking at any trees.
"You said that one already," the Hound whispered, his fingers moving faster on her. "Eighteen now, wolf girl. Focus."
They were moving along slowly and Arya thought she was going to die. What number were they on? "Right..." she sighed. "Eighteen... um... nineteen?"
His fingers were moving quicker and they were getting slick from her arousal. "I said keep going."
Arya could feel herself wriggling and pressing herself closer into his back, writhing on the saddle trying to make room for him to push further. "Twenty!" she blurted out, feeling a finger slip inside of her.
"Good girl. Keep going," he growled in her ear, his hand moving slower again, deliberately.
"I..." Arya was not ready to give up, but she was having a hard trouble focusing on anything. "Um..."
The Hound jerked back on the reins and halted the horse. He pulled his fingers out of her and jumped off the horse.
"What the-" Arya began, but he had already yanked her off the horse and slammed her into the trunk of one of the many trees. "What are you-"
The Hound covered her mouth with his and she felt herself moan her approval as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
His hand was suddenly back in her trousers and had much more room to explore her. He had two fingers roughly inside her before she even realized what was happening.
Arya closed her eyes, feeling the bark of the tree scraping her back uncomfortably, but not caring in the least. All she could think of was the Hound and what he was doing with his hands and mouth. It was fucking amazing.
"Please..." she whispered against his lips, not sure what she was pleading for, but feeling herself growing closer and closer to climax. This was just too much. She could feel herself teetering on the edge.
"It's okay," growled the Hound, pressing another quick kiss to her lips. "You can, wolf girl." His fingers were working even harder.
The orgasm hit Arya like a tidal wave. She felt herself letting out a scream, but it was muted by the Hound's lips covering hers. Her entire body was trembling and she was clinging on to him so tight, unsure how she would be able to even let go if she wanted to.
The Hound pulled away as she slowly worked her way down from her intense climax. He eyed her curious and brushed a snowflake away from her forehead, tucking part of her hair behind her as well. He had an unreadable glance and he opened his mouth to say something, but then he stopped.
"What is it?" Arya asked softly, reaching up to brush her hand across his face.
He jerked his cheek away and set her down roughly, turning away. "We have a lot of day light left. We should keep going before we make camp."
Really? Arya shrugged and followed him back to the horse. The Hound lifted her up and then climbed on behind her, grabbing the reins and ordering the horse forward, not uttering another word.
Arya could still feel herself reeling from the experience they had both shared. How could he just go on acting normal after what had just happened? What was on his mind?
"Hound..." she began.
"Please can we just ride in some fucking silence for once?" His voice sounded colder than usual.
Opening her mouth to argue, Arya changed her mind. Perhaps now wasn't the time. "Fine," she said coolly, settling back against him and just staring straight ahead.
She was a little taken aback by his change in demeanor, but perhaps it was something she could explore later. Maybe when they made camp. She anticipated getting up close to him anyways. For warmth of course. Staring ahead into the thickly falling snow, she let out a soft sigh. At least she was not nearly as bored because she had her thoughts to occupy her. It just made her wonder what would happen next and if she could handle much more of this.
Hi Everyone,
Hope you enjoyed an all Arya chapter. I apologize for the delay in updating. It is a very busy time in the school year for me and the times that I usually have to write (weekends and the occasional evening) were filled with doing homework. I actually nearly pulled an all-nighter trying to reach a deadline for school. It really sucks and I just wish I could watch netflix, eat food, and of course update my story all day.
I really hope to work on the next chapter at some point this week, especially because this one was one of the shorter ones. We will see - I don't have any major deadlines for a while, but it is homecoming this weekend and I may choose to indulge in a little fun. We will see.
I greatly appreciate all the reviews I have received. Thank you very much! I'm glad you all are enjoying this story as much as I do. I am hoping to move the plot along a little more, but a little smut is necessary and also, fun! There may be some upcoming conflict coming soon. We shall soon see.
Have a great week, everybody! I will update as soon as I can!
~Pawprynt