I'm busy with cleaning for pretty much the rest of the evening. Especially the cauldron used to mix the mana potions is a chore. Now that it has had time to cool, the thin film of stone oil and ectoplasm with a few sprinkles of enchanting dust mixed in has become extra sticky. Even with the aid of soap and a rough brush it takes me forever to get rid of this residue. The whisk I used to stir the mixture is even worse, if that is even possible.
Maybe I should invest a little Karma into acquiring a spell for cleaning? I might be able to get the Cleanse cantrip, like Tamara. It shouldn't be too hard to acquire and it probably would be a great help in situations like this one.
Right now I have to cleanse myself though, as I have worked up quite a sweat while scrubbing that cauldron. It seems like I'll visit the bath twice today. Not right away though. Right now, in the evening hours, it still is the men's turn to use the bath.
Just as well. I'm not in a hurry after all. I might even have a chance to enjoy the warm water of the bath for a while later. Right now I make sure the shop is properly closed up. And, of course, Sour Cream gets some more of her namesake treat.
A little after my feline companion leaves the house, I leave as well, to head to the bath. I can still hear some noise from the direction of the inn, but otherwise it is pretty quiet.
The stars are out as well, and although it is a clear night, it isn't as chilly as the other night. This could very well be the first real summer night we have this year. What a pleasant surprise.
It is enough to make me wish I had brought some wine. Not much. Just a little. I look back in the direction of the inn briefly, but shake my head in the end. No, I don't need wine to enjoy a pleasant bath. It wouldn't hurt, but it isn't exactly a necessity either.
The bath is empty as I reach it, as I had hoped. Only a single enchanted lantern inside providing some light. I groan as I realize that I'm quite lucky that there is an enchanted lantern as I haven't brought any light of my own. I could, of course, wash in the dark just fine, but it wouldn't be a relaxing experience. No, it really isn't relaxing if you have to be wary of stumbling or knocking something over all the time.
A single candle lantern still doesn't exactly provide a lot of light though. It could be almost romantic though, if I were in a romantic mood. I'm not though. Not really anyway.
Thus I set aside the basket with the things I brought and get undressed to start soaping up and scrubbing down all the sweat from today. That on its own is already quite relaxing. It gets even better when I wash off the soap and the sweat with a bucket of water so I can slip into the basin with the warm water.
I let out a sigh and for a moment or two I just lean back and enjoy how the warm water envelops me. This is so good! Slowly my aching muscles relax and my eyes close. At the last moment they snap open again and I sit back up upright. I can't fall asleep in the bath! Accidents happen like that and I have had more than enough of those recently.
I lean back once more, at least for a little while, but in the end I get out of the water before sleep can overcome me again. Oh well. Maybe I can relax a little more another day.
And I probably should look into making more soap. No! Well, yes, I should do that, but I don't want to think about work right now. I shake my head and reach for the towel, only to stop dead in my tracks as a strange sound reaches my ears.
Stolen novel; please report.
At first I think that it might be some animal sound. Some of the animals out and about at night make pretty unusual sounds after all, but that isn't it. No, I come to realize, this is an animalistic sound of a different kind.
For a moment I stand there like a deer that has, by accident, stumbled across a mountain lion. Then I shake my head and roll my eyes.
For the briefest of moments I'm tempted to go and look who is having fun out there, but I quickly drive these thoughts from my mind. The last time I did something like that is still too fresh in my mind and these sounds are not coming from the direction of the village or the nearby farms either.
No, whoever is having fun is somewhere out there in the woods along the creek. For a moment I wonder where exactly they might be as I dry off, when the lover's spot I happened across while picking mushrooms comes to mind. Yes, that might be it. It wouldn't be too unusual this time of the year either, for some young lovers to sneak off to a place like that.
This brings back some more, less pleasant memories as well. It is the time of the year my parents would usually nag me about getting married. And usually they would always have some suitable young men in mind as well. I would just have to go and meet them and so on and so forth.
The worst about this is that I know that they do not in fact just mean well. Plenty of the suitors they have in mind are sons or other close relatives of various business or other associates of theirs.
So far none of the prospects had been really enciting. And of course they wouldn't stop it either. The only good thing about this so far has been that they never insisted.
Once again I shake my head to drive away these less than pleasant thoughts. I shouldn't let things like that ruin an otherwise pleasant day.
Finally I'm done and I get dressed again. Or rather, I get mostly dressed. Of course, I don't put my sweaty clothes back on. Instead I slip into the barely knee length nightdress I brought.
The rest of my things goes back into the wicker basket. I hesitate as I turn to leave the bath. After a moment's consideration I slip my sandals off again, to put them in the basket as well.
As I walk back home, leaving the sloppy sounds of carnal pleasure coming from the woods behind, I enjoy the feeling of the grass in between my toes and the slight breeze on my arms and legs.
While I can't hear the enthusiastic lovebirds anymore as I reach my house, I can't help but think of what I heard. At the same time what I saw of Agnieszka not too long ago comes back to mind.
I blush and my heartbeat quickens a little. I stop as I reach the back entrance of my house and lick my suddenly dry lips as I look around. There is no one around. The place is secluded enough. Maybe I could …
Instead of heading back inside, I set the basket with my clothes down next to the door and sit down on the wooden bench there. I bite my lips and look around once more to make sure I'm alone.
Satisfied that I can neither see nor hear anyone I slip one hand under the hem of my nightshirt. Or rather I try to. The way I'm sitting this isn't working though.
With a frustrated little moan I lift myself up just enough to hike the nightshirt up further until my lower half is pretty much completely exposed. I don't mind though. There is no one else to see it after all and I have easy access like this.
As I lower myself back onto the bench, sitting at the very edge of it, I run the fingers of my hand down through my fine but curly pubic hair to pleasure myself and another quiet little moan escapes my lips. Unconsciously I spread my legs further as I play with myself and the pleasure builds. I'm so close! So very close!
Just as I achieve climax a divine whisper startles me.
[You let desire and instinct guide you, gave in to temptation and exposed yourself to the world! For sating your own carnal desires and those of someone else for the first time the Moon Father gifts you 10 points for the Dragon Arcana as a reward.]
My eyes fly open at that proclamation. Oh gods and goddesses, someone saw!
Quickly I get up and straighten out my dress and hurry inside. I almost stumble over the basket with my things as I do. Once inside I close the door and lean against it, breathing heavy.
My eyes are still wide as I drop onto my bed and my heart is beating like crazy. Some saw. Someone saw and they enjoyed it? Enough so, to earn me ten points of Karma! Still, someone saw me and I have no clue who. For some reason that thought is doubly exciting and I rub my thighs together while burying my face in my pillow at the same time.