When Althea made it back to her room, she changed into a simple, white, cotton gown. She wasn't sure where Jasper may be taking her, so just in case, she wore her elastic training shorts underneath and a white tunic that was hidden under the bodice of the gown. She combed through her still damp hair and applied some light cosmetics to her skin. Luckily she and Arsalan had ended training an hour early so she had time to get ready. Althea's mind still whirled with questions about him, despite her repetitive conclusion that it didn't matter. If that old librarian had been correct in whatever vision or riddle she saw, it wasn't worth worrying about until she had more of an idea of what exactly the ramblings had meant.
From her chamber window, she could see the sun shining high in the sky now. The storm clouds from earlier had drifted to the west, as had the freezing rain. Outside now, it was both muggy, and still a bit cool. She could feel it as she opened the latch on her window to test the air. Althea decided to bring a grey wool cloak with her just in case they were to spend time outside.
When she finally made it down the stairs to the main floor, she could hear the large clock in the centre lobby chime noon. This was normally around the time she finished her training.
As she walked out into the courtyard, the smell of damp decaying earth and fresh greenery filled her senses. She lifted her skirts, carefully avoiding the puddles on the cobblestone pathway.
"Allow me," a male voice rang out. She looked up and smiled as Jasper walked towards her. His eyes scanned her from her face down her body, and then up and down again before landing back on her skirts and cloak. He reached around to the back of her, lifting them so they didn't drag in the muddy water.
"You look," he paused and she craned her neck to smile at him, he smiled back, "vibrant."
"Thank you," she said as they reached a bench and sat down next to one another.
"My apologies, I had not predicted the arbitrary weather this morning or I would have thought over today's plans a bit better," he chuckled.
"Did you still want to go through with them, today's plans I mean?" Althea asked, looking up at the now clear blue sky. "It doesn't look like any more rain is coming our way right now."
It also hadn't looked like rain this morning. But Althea hated prolonged waiting and whatever surprise he had for her, she wanted to know sooner rather than later. Plus she needed some excitement in her day, she longed for a break from the repetition that was waking up, eating, training, and living out her existence in the institution. She enjoyed it here, but some excitement every now and again was always welcomed.
Jasper smirked at her, she wondered if he could read her aching need to know what they were going to do.
"Well, if you want to, I can still take you there. But I will warn you, it does require a bit of a walk through the woods just beyond the institution."
Althea shrugged and nodded, "that's fine with me." Her smile grew as did his and he stood to take her hand in his.
After changing into something more suitable for a trek through the misty, densely wooded forest, they spent some time in the courtyard together. Once the weather grew warmer, and the earth around them had dried more, they were on their way.
Everything around them was quiet as they walked through the trees, some of them shimmying the rain from earlier down in droplets upon them. The only sound aside from their feet snapping twigs and crunching leaves under them, was the chirping and croaking of animals and insects.
Jasper glanced back at her, as he led the way to wherever he was taking them. He smiled, showing off his pearly white teeth.
"I was born and raised here at the London institution before my parents moved to Rome when I was fourteen. I came back here a year ago to learn more about my ability and help the cadre with their missions. This was a place I found when I was a boy..." he trailed off looking forward. "It may sound foolish, but I've never brought anyone back here. This has always been my place to come and clear my mind when I wanted to be alone. But I think you may need a place to do the same." He turned back towards her again. His smile was small and gentle now, as if declaring that he could see through the way she hid her questions and did her best not to upset others with her curiosity.
She jumped over a mossy log, and grabbed his smooth, outstretched hand in hers. His other was holding a covered basket he had brought with them. She hadn't bothered to ask what was inside. He stopped his movement as he turned to fully face her now. Those warm eyes bored into her as he stared down. She delighted in the feeling of his soft skin as he rubbed small circles over her palm. Althea leaned up, standing on her tiptoes and kissed his silken lips. He tasted of something sweet. Maybe honey? When she pulled away, Jasper's hazel eyes sparkled back at her. He brushed his fingers down her back, over the elastic training shirt she wore.
"Thank you for trusting me enough to show me a place that you hold so dear," she said honestly. His smile only grew wider.
They walked for another fifteen minutes before they reached a dark cave with a narrow mouth.
"We're here!" Jasper said, motioning towards the cave entrance.
Althea glanced around a bit underwhelmed, though she tried not to show it. She supposed this was a good place to be alone with your thoughts, as it looked like nobody else came here minus the two of them.
Jasper chuckled, seeming to have noticed her slightly dulled expression.
"Follow me," he instructed, reaching out to take her hand in his free one as he led the two of them into the darkness of the cave. It was wet inside, the walls sweating and dripping down over both of them. There was a deep earthy clay smell that surrounded them as they made their way deeper into the darkness.
Althea began feeling slightly nervous as the walls around them tapered, making it feel as though they were closing in around them.
"Are you sure we shouldn't stop?" Althea asked as a damp rock scraped against her ankle.
"Trust me okay, this will be worth it in about five seconds," he laughed. Suddenly they met what appeared to be the end of the tunnel. There was a large boulder keeping them from moving forward anymore.
"A rock?" she asked, trying her best not to laugh.
"Just bear with me," Jasper's voice was light and humorous as he handed Althea the wicker basket and pressed two palms to the large rock.
To Althea's amazement, it moved with surprising ease. Light trickled in around the large stone as Jasper pushed it out of the way.
Suddenly a mist sprayed Althea's face and she could hear a burble of water around them. The spray of freshwater illuminated against her as the full sight came to view in front of them. Up above them, cascading down from the hillside, swept a long, winding waterfall. Her mouth opened as she stared around them in awe. The mist spraying off the waterfall combined with the warm sun that shined down upon them now created a rainbow more vibrant than any she'd ever laid eyes on.
"Jasper," she blew out in a breathy whisper, dropping the basket at her side.
"Beautiful isn't it?" he asked. She could see him glance over at her but she couldn't take her eyes off of the scene in front of them. Beautiful was an understatement for what this masterpiece standing before them was. Althea had no idea there were any waterfalls this far south. She pulled her eyes from the rainbow shooting across the water, and let them fall upon the watering hole beneath it. The foggy mist covered the water, glimmering with flecks of rainbow hues throughout it as well. Around them birds chipped and other animals and insects sang in their own harmonic ensemble. She imagined each of them to be a colour in the rainbow, blending together perfectly to create an orchestra of light and dazzling colours.
"It's..." she paused, finally meeting his eyes, "it's enchanting Jasper." Althea's words were breathless as she reached her hand out, intertwining her fingers in his and hopping quickly down to the water below them. She kicked off the boots she normally wore to train, and let her feet touch the freezing water. The air, however, was surprisingly warm here, unlike it had been mere moments ago as they walked through the forest. Likely due to the thick canopy of greenery that trapped in the warm vapour rising from the water.
"Do you want to get in?" Jasper asked, a boyish innocence bestowed itself upon his face.
"What? Now?" she laughed, unsure if he was being sincere, "why, I don't even have a bathing gown!"
His eyes made a slow descent down her body in response to her words. "You could always take off your clothes before getting in." Althea's eyes widened at his suggestion.
"Oh and I suppose you would love to watch that wouldn't you?" Something in Althea's stomach roared with terror, but another side of her enjoyed the charming seductive tone that dripped from each word as he spoke to her.
"I will look away, and then you can get into the water before I turn back around," he declared quickly as if to save himself from her wrath.
She supposed it was a better idea than diving in, fully clothed. She glanced back at the water by her feet. She didn't really need to swim... but it would be awfully fun.
"Fine," she declared, waving her hand for him to go away from her so she could remove her clothes without his eyes on her.
He smiled mischievously before turning and walking a few yards away. She eyed him closely as she began stripping away her shirt. To Jasper's credit, he stayed facing the other direction. She wasn't sure why she had assumed he would peak at her, but he did no such thing.
She finished removing her clothes and put her feet in the water. It was freezing but she clenched her jaw and forced herself to walk in quickly. When the water approached her knees, she could see that with another step the watering hole plummeted deeper. Swallowing and looking back at Jasper who still faced the other direction, she breathed in deeply and jumped. The icy water nearly froze her completely through as it surrounded her. She opened her eyes, looking around at the dark blues and greens that surrounded her. To her surprise the watering hole was much deeper than she had expected it to be. She could see no end in sight, only a dark navy, almost black pit below. Small iridescent fish swam in schools of five or ten around her. One group made to approach her once the fizzing bubbles of her plunge made their way to the surface. The group surrounded her, tickling her feet as they touched her curiously. Before she could laugh, she swam to the surface, inhaling a deep breath.
She used her long dark hair to cover her chest as she heard Jasper exclaim, "my gosh, I thought you had drowned for a moment."
She turned to look at him. He had removed his shoes and tunic. Her eyes caught on his narrow chest and abdomen. Although he did not flaunt the broad form and sculpted body that Arsalan did, he was rather muscular for his size and age, being that he was surely younger than Arsalan.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
He smirked at her. His brown hair, that he wore down today, blew in his face.
"Well it's only fair," he motioned with a hand for her to turn around. She laughed, using her arms to swim in a circle so she couldn't see him. Although Althea could feel her own curiosity bubbling up inside of her as she listened to the rustle of him removing his clothes, she gave him the same courtesy he had her and remained facing the opposite direction.
She heard the sound of sloshing water and then a splash as he jumped in. Althea could feel the small rippling waves from his dive as they reached her.
After a moment of silence she turned, not seeing him in her sight. Suddenly she felt too bare. What if he were looking at her from beneath the surface right this very moment. Before she had time to cover herself, his head bobbed up from the watering hole, two yards in front of her. She shrieked, splashing him with the cold water.
"Jeez, you startled me Jasper!" He only laughed as he wiped the water from his eyes. "You better not have opened your eyes under there either," she said, ruffling her brows together, trying to look angry. She wasn't really, although he had actually given her a start.
"Sorry!" he chuckled, flipping back his hair from his face, staring up at the waterfall to her side. She had to admit he looked exceptionally handsome as he swam closer to her. His eyes shown more green as they reflected the water below, giving Jasper an earthy aura about him.
His jaw twitched and he glanced sidelong at her.
"Yes?" he asked with a smirk. As his eyes traced her face, he looked like he was fighting off the urge to glance lower. He didn't, to Althea's gratification. But he did turn fully towards her now. She hadn't realised how close he'd floated to her in the passing seconds since he'd risen from the surface.
A look of mischief dashed through his viridescent eyes as he suddenly splashed her right in the face. Wiping her now dampened eyes, her mouth gaped. Oh he would pay for that.
Reaching her hands to the surface in a gust, she let a tsunami rush over him. He quickly ducked beneath the water, missing the most of her fury. Swinging her arms backwards, Althea propelled herself away from him in case he had any intention of springing above the surface again to launch another attack.
Her heart pounded rapidly as she swam away, and for a moment Althea realised that she was having fun, a lot of fun actually. She felt like a child again here with Jasper, swimming and splashing as she once did in the river close to her fathers estate. She remembered the times in the summer months when she and her governess would sneak away after hours of studying to take a dip in the cold running water. She hadn't realised how much she longed for that side of herself. The side that was pure, and innocent and full of love and joy for the world around her. Though she enjoyed the institution and felt safe there, she also felt as though much more was on her shoulders now. There were so many people she didn't want to disappoint. But here in this small moment, she could be free. Right now she could do as she wished, with no rules or regulations. She felt alive and giddy within herself.
Jasper's head broke the water’s surface a mere yard from her. She screeched, turning from him to attempt a fast flee. Althea dove beneath the water, opening her eyes as she swam away from him. She lunged her arms out and swept them back, swimming farther from him and deeper so if he did catch up to her, she would be beneath him.
After a moment, she knew she would need air so she began her ascent towards the surface. As she did however, a wicked thought popped into her mind. Althea wondered if her powers worked even when she was beneath water? It had been a while since she'd practised it, considering Arsalan told her she needed to understand her body and mind better first, but she felt like she could do it. Unlike the first few weeks of training with Monique, Althea's confidence in herself had grown tremendously. Slowing her float upwards, she closed her eyes. Though she couldn't inhale, she let out what air was left in her lungs, blowing bubbles towards the glimmering sun filled surface of the water. Beneath it, she listened closely to the sound of the waterfalls flowing cascade, and felt the reverberations of the water as it fell. She felt that familiar buzzing within her own mind, seeming to mimic the water's vibrations around her. When she opened her eyes again, everything was still. The water felt like cold air around her naked body. As she stared down, the small fish were frozen in their places. She didn't look behind her, as she did not wish to look at Jasper without his knowledge. So instead, she went down further. Suddenly Althea didn't feel the heaviness in her chest from lack of oxygen anymore. She supposed that because time had nearly stopped around her, this meant that she wouldn't need to breathe until it moved again.
Althea swam down before turning back towards the waterfall. She swam all the way towards it until she was directly in front of the frozen bubbles of air and water. Her head was beginning to ache slightly and she knew she better let up on her ability before she grew too tired to move. Closing her eyes once more she allowed her body to become light as a feather. Starting as a popping sound, then a roar, the waterfall regained its flowing stream. When she broke the surface of the water, the cool air and mist of the waterfall speckled her face. There was a smooth slick stone a mere foot underwater. Althea slid herself into it, letting her long dark hair drape over her peaked breasts to cover them. She crossed her legs, hiding any revealing part of herself, despite her bottom half being beneath the water.
She turned to see Jasper swimming with his head above the water in the opposite direction of where she was now.
Putting her thumb and index finger to her mouth, she let out a loud whistle that pierced through the otherwise quiet forest. Her father taught her to whistle that way when she was small. His words were only an echo somewhere deep within her mind from when she was maybe ten years old. ‘Now Althea, if any boys bother you, just let out a whistle like that and I will make sure they never bother you again.’ The memory tasted bitter. She wished he had honoured that promise once she stopped being a girl to him.
Jasper jumped at the sudden high pitched noise and turned to look at her, a stunned expression set into his features.
She just waved casually as if she had been sitting there the entire time.
"How did you..." Jasper trailed off, glancing back towards the direction she'd been swimming before she summoned her ability.
"I guess it pays to be able to temporarily stop time." She couldn't help the cocky grin that spread over her lips as the words escaped them.
Jasper's mouth gaped and his eyes widened from across the body of water. "You... you did..." he was at a loss for words as he glanced between where she was now and where she had been seconds before.
Turning back towards her, his eyes slipped down her wet glimmering skin and he smiled.
"I don't think I will ever get used to that," he said, swimming towards her now.
She stayed in her spot atop the large smooth stone. Althea could feel her heart begin to race faster and faster the closer he came to her. A deep part of her enjoyed the rush of adrenaline that took over her as he swam ever so menacingly forward.
When he was no further than a yard from her, she could see the distorted image of his chest and feet beneath the surface of the rippling water.
As her eyes remained fixed on him, she felt the weight of his gaze reciprocating, a silent dance of mutual intrigue unfolding between them. When her eyes reconnected with his, she found them etched with desire. She could feel it too, that yearning burning within her own body. Althea's mind roamed with thoughts of how his soft fingers might feel, grazing her thigh beneath the water. Her mind began wandering to rather, indecent places, as she wondered what his body looked like in the places she had not seen. The only reference she had to the male anatomy was that of Sir Herbert and his lover, but she didn't waste very much of her time staring at them as she was so terrified of her encounter that night. In the time since, she had pushed any and all thoughts of them from her mind.
Suddenly Jasper drew closer to her, so close his chest was mere inches from her crossed legs. Unable to resist the magnetic pull of self-awareness, she stole a glance downward at her body, desperate to gauge the impression she left on him. A silent plea echoed in her mind, yearning for a word, a mere utterance, to dispel the fluttering uncertainty in her stomach, dissolve the knot in her throat, and calm the rapid cadence of her heart beneath the sheen of dampened skin. Althea could feel the blood pumping in her ears, hear it, and it was all she could do to keep from diving into the water and swimming away from him. But as he reached his hand up and gently set it atop her knee, she knew it wasn't him which she wished to flee, but her own fear that beckoned her now as it had the first time he'd kissed her, touched her or even spoken to her. It was deep within, however, that she harboured an unspoken longing for understanding, a silent ache for love. Yet, entrusting another with the delicate tendrils of her very soul proved to be a formidable endeavour.
Swallowing back her unease, she bent forward, not caring as her hair released its hold over her chest, and kissed him. Althea wrapped both hands around his warm face, smiling into his lips, as he slowly began kissing back. She had caught him off guard, but he didn't seem to mind as he used one hand to grasp her forearm and the other braced on the stone which she sat.
As if by nature's own intervention, her body began slipping from the slick stone until she was fully in the water. She parted her lips slightly, beginning to pull away from him, but Jasper wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her so close that their smooth skin brushed beneath the surface.
He pulled away, looking into her eyes as she opened them.
"Is this okay?" he asked. There was something so comforting in his voice, his hazel eyes, now a light green in the sun, that it made her long to have him in ways she'd never thought of anyone.
She nodded quickly before wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his once more. The kiss was soft and yet their shared yearning was evident. Jasper pushed her back into the stone behind her as he held on, being careful not to drown the two of them. On a whim, she wrapped her legs around his torso, letting her core be one with his warm, soft skin. She could feel his body stiffen around her, each of his muscles going taut. Her eyes shot open and she pulled away slightly at the feeling of something bobbing against her thigh. Althea looked down as if she would be able to see through their tightly wound together bodies. Jasper chuckled, his face turning red.
"Sorry," he said, looking between her deep, green eyes nervously. She bit down on her bottom lip and without another word she embraced his lips with her own again. He slid his tongue into her mouth, tangling it with hers as his fingers made a line down her spine towards her backside. Althea let out a hum of satisfaction as he cupped her in his palm. This sent a marvellous sensation through her body, causing her to tighten the grip of her thighs around his waist. Her body was begging for any small amount of friction she could get between her thighs. His mouth finally parted from hers, only to move to her neck, kissing and sucking his way down. He removed his hand from fondling the area between her bottom and her hips, squeezing her bosom instead. Suddenly the poking at her thigh grew more prominent. She swallowed and Jasper lifted his head, smirking as he adjusted himself so that he was placed snuggly between her stomach and his. He was a hard, smooth cylinder layer between them. Gripping her breast in his hand again, he put his warm mouth to it. Althea clenched, digging her nails into his shoulder as he sucked and rolled his tongue over her hard nipple. It felt... surprisingly good. Althea felt her own desire growing as the heat she felt in her core grew hotter and more evident with each flick of his tongue against her now slightly reddened nipple.
She hummed in satisfaction at the work he put into kissing her chest. When he finally pulled away, he grinned at her, showing off his white teeth. She used this opportunity to grip onto his long brown hair, pulling it back slightly so his neck was available to her. She pressed her mouth, in a series of kisses, down the side of his jaw and neck. He hummed out a vibration of satisfaction causing her to smile internally, thankful she was doing it right. Althea had never gone this far with a man, she'd never even kissed a man before him. So she was thankful for the small signs of satisfaction Jasper gifted her.
She stuck out her tongue slightly, letting it graze his neck up to his ear. Althea's mouth was filled with a mix of citrus and fresh earthy water from the body of it surrounding them. Her lips grazed Jasper's earlobe and she was shocked when his head knocked back. She was tempted to pull back to make sure she hadn't done something wrong, when he gasped, "Christ Althea, if you keep this up, I may not have control over myself."
She smiled into his skin and whispered back, "what's the fun in having control?" He groaned at her sultry words. Althea could feel his throat bob as he swallowed harshly. She was about to leave another kiss on his neck, when he loosened his grip on her slightly.
He looked up into the sky. The sun had dwindled from its place in the centre. She hadn't noticed the shade that had fallen around them due to the stone walls that grew up to conceal this place.
Looking back at her, Jasper smiled warmly. "We should probably get a move on if we wish to make it back in time to get ready for dinner.” He was right, she knew he was, but she did find herself wishing they could stay here together for longer. It would likely only lead to trouble for the two of them if they did stay, Althea noted. Already she had this deep, aching desire for him. She had never felt anything quite so powerful for anyone else before.
Nodding, she followed him to the shore. He glanced over at her before slipping out of the water, watching as her eyes took in the entirety of his angelic body. She swallowed, her mouth dry as she looked over his lower half, the full length of him visible to her now. Clenching her jaw, and pushing her fear away, she stood up out of the water as well, allowing her full body to be visible to him. Jasper’s eyes drank her in before he turned away, attempting not to stare as he reached for the basket he had brought with them.
Inside were two towels. She smiled to herself. He’d known she would say yes to swimming with him today hadn't he? He dried his hair with his towel, then wrapped it around his waist before taking the other, and wrapping it around Althea once she stood beside him. His eyes glimmered their usual hazel again, as his light fingers ran down the length of each side of her waist and hips.
Jasper leaned down one last time to kiss her lips. She placed a hand on his still damp chest. She could feel his heart beating as quickly as her own beneath his soft skin. Their lips seemed to move effortlessly in sync.
He was the one to pull away first, smiling at her with a controlled yearning. He wanted her, but knew when to pull away to keep himself from diving too deep, too fast.
Once they had both dried, they put their clothes back on and began their trek back through the cave and out into the woods on the other side.