I woke up the next day with Julian’s leg sandwiched between my own, my back against his torso, and his breath on the nape of my neck.

He was warm and comforting and solid.

“Good morning.” I murmured, noticing the sunlight spilling in from the window. I made to get up, but a firm arm wound around my stomach, pulling me back.

“Good morning.” Julian rolled me underneath him and kissed me senseless. His morning stubble tickled my cheek.

“Wait!” I half-heartedly slapped his bare chest. It was a very nice chest.

“We can’t?” The half-elf leaned down and gently bit my ear, sending shivers through my whole body. He whispered, “or did you want me on my knees again, begging for it?”

“Julian!” I did think about it, but time wasn’t on our side. “Your Grace.”

My safeword made Julian pause, and then he had the audacity to pout. He sat up, and the covers fell back revealing all of him.

I took a second to appreciate what I saw, all while reminding him, "We have to go let everyone know we aren't dead-- and I need breakfast.”

We’d spent a lot of energy the night before, and I’d only just managed to drink a glass of water, use the restroom and half-heartedly brush my teeth before passing out in his embrace.

Julian climbed out of bed, giving me space to do the same. He unabashedly walked around with nothing on, teasing me with his cute butt.

I slapped it on the way to the bathroom. He spun and shot me a fiery look, and I smirked at him as I ducked through the door. I had it set to the bathroom, so he could only wait in my bedroom or join me.

He knocked when I turned on the bathwater.

I’d taken extra care with the crafting of my bathroom. The entire place was made out of red cedar walls, and decorated with hanging ivy. On one side, there was a wooden vanity with a natural woven wood framed square mirror, and a hanging net plantbox full of purple and green coloured velia ivy. I’d chosen it because it glowed in the dark. Beside the vanity was an enchanted toilet with three candles on top of the back. It was in a shape I was familiar with, and something I’d had custom made by an artisan dwarf in Frolin. It wasn’t made out of porcelain, but purple amethyst crystal.

I loved it.

The bathtub was also cut amethyst, and was six feet long, four feet deep and double sided. The faucet was a trough style that filled the tub with hot mineral water. The tub sat beneath a window looking out into kithbog. The window ledge was covered in jars and two lavender scented candles. And above the bathtub, I’d installed a huge rain shower perfect for helping wash my hair, which could take over an hour.

While the tub was filling, I sat on a stool beside the tub with a bucket of warm water and a jar of soap. Julian walked in as I was rubbing soap on my arms.

“You look beautiful against the morning sun,” He commented, kneeling down behind me. He snatched my bath sponge, re-lathered it, and set to scrubbing my back.

“You aren’t too bad yourself.” I told him, sighing with pleasure. “That feels amazing.”

“Happy to help,” He grinned.

I flicked suds at the half-elf. “Your turn.”

He obliged and we managed to rinse off and enjoy a half hour soak in the tub together before getting changed.

Since we’d taken longer than I’d planned, breakfast was fried floof-poof eggs on sourdough. I had some ready-made meals in my storage ring, but they were all sweet. I wanted a good helping of protein and a savoury flavour. I paired it with an extra strong black tea to get us going.

“So.” I said when we were almost done eating. I was trying to sound like everything was normal and I hadn’t pushed the Duke of the North into bed, literally, the night before. “What is the plan?”

“What do you mean?” He asked, enjoying a sip of tea.

“The plan.” I said, emphasizing my words, “for us.”

His silver eyes dipped into a half-lidded satisfactory smile as Julian gave me a look that made me want to melt into a puddle on the floor. He reached out and took one of my hands, threading our fingers together. “What do you think?”

Calm your pants Gerda. Focus.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Tentatively, I said, “Friends with benefits?”

That made him pause, his eyes flashing with something dark and possessive. He untangled our fingers and scooped up my hand, bringing it to his lips.

“More than that.” I thought he was going to kiss the back of my hand, but he flipped it over and bit the inside of my wrist, sending a shock of awareness through my whole body. “Try again.”

“What more do you want?” I shot back.

He dropped my hand and stood up. One step took him past the table's edge, directly beside me. He leaned down and kissed my cheek softly. “Let’s find out together. It’s time to get going.”

“You can’t just– there needs to be rules, Julian!” I sputtered, pushing my chair back and coming to my feet. I poked him hard in the chest. “You can’t just do whatever you want and apologize when you go too far. We need boundaries.”

He reached out and fiddled with one of my braids. “Like what?”

“Public displays of affection.” I stated. “Don’t kiss me in public.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Why not?”

“Because.” I told him.

“What else?” He asked, seeming to accept my request.

“You can’t interfere with my work.” I told him. “As a bridge troll, or as Madame Potts. And, and…”

“And?”

“And,” I said, “You should tell me what you actually want!”

“Alright.” Julian reached an arm around my waist and pulled me into his embrace. I let him. His free hand reached up to cup my cheek as he leaned down and kissed me. He wasn’t gentle, and I could feel one of my tusks scrape his lip when I gasped for air. His tongue slipped into my mouth to deepen the exchange. The hand around my waist pressed me tight against him and I could feel how much he wanted me.

And then he broke the kiss. Straightening, he licked the blood off his cut lip. The raw passion he gave off was so hot I debated throwing caution to the wind and jumping him in the dining room. The table was the perfect height…

“I want you. To be with you. To kiss you.” He said, cutting off my train of thoughts. “I don’t want anyone else seeing you like this.”

“Jealous much? Who else would?” My cheeks burned hot and I glared at him.

Julian looked like he wanted to reply but thought better of it. With a tortured sigh, he leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. “We can work the rest out later…”

He straightened, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck, sheepish. “I didn’t exactly tell my people that I wasn’t coming back last night.”

“Fine.” With that, I took hold of his clothes and portalled us back to the bridge at Fell.

It was still early morning, though the summer sun was already bright in the eastern sky.

“You're back!”

Before either of us could get our bearings, an almost crying Sir Tully was lunging our way. Julian, still holding me around the waist, brought up one arm to shield me. In fact, by the light shimmer of magic in the air, he’d erected an actual shield around us.

“What happened?” Julian’s face was back in an angry neutral frown. I wanted to poke his cheek, but resisted.

I was strong.

“Visha made me wait for you here. All night!” The human slouched, looking worse for wear.

“Is that all?” Julian said, heartless.

“Fell is the last comfortable bed I would’ve seen in months!” Sir Tully looked up at the sky.

His propensity for the overdramatic made him endearing, but sometimes there were places to be and things to do. I asked, “Did Visha tell you the plan, Sir Tully? Where is everyone?”

He waved back towards the large city wall that encircled Fell. “The plan was to bring you to the inn, or meet up for breakfast at the Piping Gorse. After that, check over the horses and ride out.”

I nodded, “You both go ahead. I have a few things to take care of.”

Julian’s arm tightened around me for only a second before he let go and stepped back. “Bridge troll things?”

“And we left the dishes on the table.” I told him.

I loved how the realization that we’d been so distracted kissing we’d forgotten to clean up made the tip of his pointy ears darken. He asked, “How long do you need?”

“Half-hour.”

“Alright.”

Sir Tully was looking back and forth in between us, confusion written on his face.

Our conversation lasted long enough for my ability to come off of cool down. I waved at the pair and then blew Julian a kiss goodbye before activating World Bridge and portalling away.

I didn’t go back inside, but straight to the young beastfolk girl running down a forest trail towards my bridge. It wasn’t on the main road, and she was obviously panicked and afraid, looking over her shoulder instead of the path ahead.

She stumbled on a tree root and fell hard enough that I flinched at the impact, her fluffy tail pointing up in the air. She was so close, just ten paces from the edge of my bridge. Still, I couldn’t help her up.

I could only do my job.

“I beat without a heart.

I carry without hands.

I travel with the wind.

Tell me what I am?”

“AH!” She had only just started to rise when my words startled her into a scream, and she scrambled backwards. Her knee was bloody and I sighed to see her terror. She was probably twelve if she was a day.

“I beat without a heart.

I carry without hands.

I travel with the wind.

Tell me what I am.”

I repeated my riddle, this time with emphasis.

“W-what?” She finally realized I wasn’t attacking her and calmed a bit.

“It’s a riddle.” I explained. “If you can answer my riddle, you can pass my bridge. If you can’t, then you will have to pay the toll.”

“But… I have nothing to give.” Tears filled the girl’s eyes now, despite her holding strong through the pain of her previous injuries.

“Start with the riddle.” I urged, repeating it a third time, very slowly.

“A…bird?” She asked.

“Try again.” I put up my hand beside my lips and leaned towards her as if sharing a secret. “You’re very close.”

“Ok. Um.” She closed her eyes and scrunched up her nose in thought. One of her fluffy animal ears twitched. I had no idea what animal she was, but she was adorable. “Wings?”

“You got it!” I smiled reassuringly. There wasn’t much room on the bridge. It was three planks roped together for hunters to cross the small creek. Usually I’d poof away at this point and let her pass… but I couldn’t just leave. “I have some ointment for that knee, would you like it?”

She nodded, though I could tell she wasn’t fully convinced from her hands clenched together at her chest. There was a moment of anxiety as I stepped off the bridge, but only just.

“Here you go.” I crouched down and handed over a small jar. She took it, and then her fearful expression turned into a sneer.

“Got you–” She tried to say, but I dodged the arrow her friend shot at me from deeper in the wood.

“Almost.” I booped her nose with my finger before vanishing.