Mason checked the map in his mind using his Wayfinder power, deciding exactly where to take Rebecca. There was still plenty of unexplored areas around Nassau in various directions, so he could clear a little grey at the same time.

But there was a smaller, branching river from the main Southern artery he’d been meaning to follow, and decided that was best.

“There’s probably nothing much interesting,” he said, “but I’ve been meaning to scout a river a few miles away. We’d have to follow it a few miles after that to be useful. Think you’re up to it?”

Rebecca’s brow rose slightly, and she looked him from head to toe before she met his eyes. “I am if you are.”

He laughed at the reaction, remembering Rebecca was a player too. But she’d been injured only a day before, so he kept his pace at a brisk walk. When she kept up without any problem at all, he sped up a little, and she matched him step for step.

“That infirmary is pretty amazing,” she said after a mile or two. “I don’t think a person is supposed to heal this quick, even with a good nurse like Aila.”

Mason shrugged. “After giant hyena-men, flying wizards, and trees as big as skyscrapers, I’ve pretty much just started accepting things.”

Rebecca smiled and shook her head. “You’ve seen some shit, haven’t ya?”

“I guess I have.” Mason tried to block out some of the more gruesome memories that liked to haunt his dreams. “But then I think we all have.”

Rebecca nodded at that, but said nothing more. They kept up the brisk walk and soon found the river, then walked along the bank as they talked about their tutorials.

Apparently Rebecca’s had been a kind of maze filled with monsters, but she’d found her companions along the way—especially Phuong.

“He sounds impressive,” Mason said. “I look forward to working with him.”

“He really is,” Rebecca beamed. “We all would have died without him. He has a sword that comes out of nowhere, cuts things to ribbons.”

Mason grinned, then held out his hand, summoning Claw.

“A man after my own heart.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened at the green blade. “Damn. Yeah that’s what he does, except it’s blue. Why don’t I get something cool like that? All I have is a stupid little disc thing.”

Mason laughed. “I’m sure you’ve got your own tricks.”

They walked in silence a little while, appreciating the soft sounds of the river and the birds calling in the trees as Streak grumbled and ran on ahead in boredom. They talked about their lives before the Great Game—growing up in Arkansas and Texas .

“You don’t have any kind of Texan accent,” Becky said after she learned he’d lived in Houston.

He shrugged. “Was born in the North somewhere. I remember the snow. Houston was just where my folks left me. No idea why. Accent never took properly.”

She pursed her lips and took his hand, but didn’t say anything stupid like most people did. He wasn’t sure if he could have liked the girl’s personality any more than he already did, but she was trying.

“My life was the opposite,” she said after awhile. “Four brothers, three sisters, a ton of cousins and aunts and uncles. Don’t think I was ever alone.”

“Holy shit,” Mason laughed, then turned more sober. “You worry about them? How they’re doing now, I mean?”

She nodded. “All the time. But there ain’t nothing I can do right now. I’ve had folk to protect since this all started. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to keep busy. You know? Keep from thinking too much.”

Mason nodded, his turn to squeeze her hand.

“If I can help you find them, I will,” he said, and meant it. The way Rebecca smiled made him want to stop walking right there and pull her to the ground.

Streak yapped once a little ahead, and Mason turned his attention and senses until he heard the same sound as the wolf. He smiled, and tugged Becky’s hand.

“What is it?” Becky’s face turned serious, and Mason wanted nothing more than to wipe away some of the bad memories she’d already gained of this new world. Because not everything you found was bad.

“Come on. I think we have our picnic spot.”

He led her on until they were close enough she could hear the constant roar. Then the air changed slightly, growing damp and cool and filling with the rush of falling water.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Oh my God.” Becky’s eyes widened as she saw the waterfall through a break in the trees. “It’s beautiful!”

They followed Streak as he sprinted ahead, ears down, likely used to stalking prey at such places. They emerged to some kind of giant pool, water falling from multiple angles, another river running South East from higher ground. Mason saw other, smaller pools around it, some emitting what looked like steam.

“It’s amazing,” Rebecca almost whispered. Mason smiled and pulled her forward.

“Now we just have to pick our spot. I’m thinking there,” he gestured to a little grassy rise that overlooked the pool, then started climbing up. It was steep but doable without having to use their hands, and soon enough they looked out over the water from a mostly flat patch of grass surrounded by a few rocks.

There wasn’t much space, so they had to sit close together as Mason opened his bag and took out some water bottles and lunch while Streak ran down and leapt into the pool. Rebecca smiled shyly and tried some of the…whatever the hell Haley made…eyes widening as she licked her lips.

“Oh my God. This is so good.”

Mason flinched, knowing he couldn’t begin to claim credit. “Haley made it. I can cook, but uh, nothing fancy. Bachelor jock kind of foods.”

“At least you're honest,” she laughed, then her expression faded a little. “Haley is pretty amazing. She’s your…assistant, right?”

Mason felt the urge to get up and run away. He chewed for several bites too long before he nodded. “Yeah. I actually saved her in a dungeon. She was…a reward, I guess? A bonded contract, if you know what that means.”

Rebecca shrugged like she probably didn’t. He could tell she wanted to ask, ‘have you slept with her?’, but she didn’t. She looked so cute and sexy and shy he knew he had to do something, or change the subject. Or…oh, fuck it.

He leaned forward and raised her chin with a finger, then kissed her lips.

She hesitated, clearly unsure and nervous, then she kissed him back. Her lips moving against his shot a lance of fire straight through his body. He was happy for a minute just to explore her lips and tongue, but finally pressed himself closer, running his hands down her body as he eased her onto her back. She was panting beneath him, looking up with her big, almond eyes as she quirked a brow.

“Are you telling me you really didn’t know about this place? That this ain’t some elaborate plan to romance me?”

Mason couldn’t stop the laugh. “Swear to God. I had no idea. But I’m really happy it’s here, and you’re sharing it with me.”

Her look softened again.

“Me too.”

Then he lowered himself enough to kiss her, feeling her push into his chest as he ran his hands up her legs. She closed her eyes as he kissed down her neck and opened her blouse enough to get a hand inside to cup a breast through her bra.

“Mmm,” she moaned and already seemed a little on edge.

But he couldn’t stop touching her, and raised himself up to get a hand all the way up her leg to her wide hips, then down her thigh towards his target. Her body went slightly rigid the closer he came, but she didn’t stop him. He kept his hand outside her jeans, but fortunately it was a stretchy material he could feel right through. He ran his fingers between her legs and cupped her sex.

“Does that feel good?”

“Mmhmm.”

“That’s what I want,” he kissed her closed eyelids, working down to her lips. “I want you to feel good whenever you’re with me. Safe, and good.”

“I think I do already,” she said between heavy breaths.

Her bra clipped from the front, so he unhooked it. Her chest was rising and falling with quick breaths as he ran a thumb over her small breasts and pert nipples, then kissed his way to suck on them.

She practically bucked against his mouth like a horse.

OK, he decided. Sensitive nipples.

He slowed down and went easy, but the girl was twisting in his hands, practically crushing the one between her legs as she pant.

“Um, Mason, I think I, um…”

“Relax, darling,” he said as he kept touching. “I won’t go any further than you want. We can stay just like this.”

She put her hands in his hair and moaned, and he could feel heat flushing up her chest and neck. She was so incredibly responsive. He couldn’t wait to actually start fingering her and getting her really…

Rebecca cried out and arched her back as her eyes fluttered and she pushed her whole body against his hands. She held her breath, and Mason blinked in surprise as he realized she was cumming.

“Oh God,” she finally breathed and sagged against the ground, steady breaths as she licked her lips and draped a wrist across her forehead. Mason was hard as a rock.

He just watched the beautiful girl in her post-orgasmic bliss, loving the sight and smell and feel of her. Finally she grabbed his shirt and practically yanked him down to her lips, her tongue wild and seeking his as she moaned against his mouth.

When she finally let him breathe, she opened her eyes and looked a little embarrassed. “I don’t um,” she covered her face with her hands, then took them off and slowly reached down to touch the hard erection pressed against her hip. “I don’t know what to do with that. I’ve never, um, I’m a virgin.”

Mason’s breath practically caught in his throat. He could tell she was inexperienced, but holy shit.

Rebecca covered her freckled face again and groaned. “Ah hell now you think I’m a little girl.”

Mason wanted to find and kill whoever convinced women they should have experience.

“Stop that,” he moved her hands away and stared into her eyes. “You have no idea how turned on I am right now. Being a virgin is a good thing, not a bad thing.”

“Really?” She didn’t look convinced, and he wanted to pull out his erection and show her exactly what he meant. But he started by burying his tongue in her mouth as he groped her tits and ass.

“Really,” he said when he could talk, and Rebecca was still wiggling her hips beneath him, and whether intentionally or not, it was driving him mad.

“I feel so wet,” she said, which didn’t help. “But I’m not sure I’m ready for sex. I think I want to wait a little while.”

“For what?” Mason practically groaned but managed to keep his tone simply curious.

“For me to feel like a lady,” Rebecca said with a bit more conviction, “and for you to feel like a gentleman.”

He laughed at that, loving the way the girl talked. “I’m no gentleman,” he growled, then forced his mind to take control of his dick. “But we can wait.”

“You don’t mind?” she said, looking the nervous virgin again.

“Oh I mind,” he chuckled. “But you’re worth it.”

She smiled and kissed him, then looked a little lost in her thoughts.

"I can't believe I'm here. Doing this. And having a picnic. After...everything."

Mason smiled, loving her post-orgasmic glow. "Get used to it."