The Handsome Stranger
1222 Words
By the time I finally reach the tavern, my face is red and scratched from tree branches and the hem of my skirt is covered in mud.
Luckily the drunkards in here wont care if I’m a little messy.
I push open the heavy wooden door with a loud creak, and everyone inside turns to look at me. The murmur of voices and clanking of mugs suddenly stops.
“Dru!” Shouts the friendly ogre of a bartender, far too happily. “It’s been too long, my dear. Take a seat.” He slaps the bar with his sausage-like fingers. The hubbub around us resumes as he pours a very large ale and slides it over to me. This dark and dingy place smells of sweat and mold and freedom.
“Looks like you’ve had a rough night already, dear,” he says with a wink.
I take a long swallow, then plop my drink down with a slosh. “You have no idea, Ivan.”
“Pops is still trying to force you to join the queen’s court, eh?” He asks in a raspy voice as he wipes out a dirty mug with an even dirtier rag.
I pause. Should I tell him what I heard? No, what’s the point? Nobody would believe me anyway.
“Yeah,” I answer with a sigh. I look down at my mug and swirl my finger over its rim. “Who could predict that Merlin’s daughter would be born with no magical abilities at all? So apparently my only value lies in who I can trick into marrying me.”
“Oh, hush now! You’d make a fetching lady-in-waiting,” he says with a snicker.
Jerk.
“Hah hah.” I say, and stick my tongue out for good measure.
I finish my first drink far too quickly, and the voices around me start to sound garbled. It feels so good to let go.
I pat the bar, motioning for Ivan to refill my empty cup. As he does, the door behind me opens with a crash. I turn around, and in the darkened doorway stands the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life. His tousled hair is black, but I swear it has a hit of blue in the dim light of this room. His eyes glow bright amber, and his olive skin is glistening with sweat dripping from his rippling muscles.
Ivan leans into my ear, “looks like you’re not the only one who’s had a rough night,” he chuckles. He looks up and motions for the beautiful stranger to sit right next to me. “You can thank me later,” he whispers.
I throw an angry glare back at Ivan, pretending not to stare as the dark haired man pulls out the chair beside me. He smells of the sea and fire. How is that possible?
Ivan has already poured the dark-haired man a drink and refilled mine. This guy is an expert wingman.
“Cheers,” says the stranger as he lifts his drink to me. I nod back at him, lifting my cup in response.
We awkwardly sip our drinks in silence for several minutes, though I can’t help but stare at him out of the corner of my eye.
He wouldn’t be the first man that I’ve led to the spare bedroom upstairs, but he certainly looks like he’d be the most fun. Time to crank up the charm.
“So,” I begin, though I’m careful not to make eye contact yet. “You’re new around here?”
He nods. “I just arrived last night. Still looking for work and a place to stay though.”
He still hasn’t looked up from his cup. I have to do something to attract his attention.
I lean over the bar towards him, letting my bosom spill forward from my corset a little. “What do you do?”
“Well, I am a collector in my spare time.” He says, and his face lights up.
Oh Lord, he’s a nerd. At least he’s cute. I don’t plan on having much conversation tonight anyway. “Oh really?” I say with a little too much enthusiasm. “What do you collect?”
He finally turns to look at me, and I notice his eyes dart down to my cleavage for a moment. He clears his throat. “Oh, a little bit of everything. I enjoy artifacts from exotic cultures.”
I place my hand on his heavily muscled arm. He looks down at it questioningly, but doesn’t pull away. “I would love to see your collection sometime.” I say in my sweetest voice.
He seems unaffected, so maybe my usual game isn’t going to work on this one. “What’s your name?” I ask.
“Ladon,” he answers with a polite smile.
“Drusilla,” I say, putting my hand out for a shake. “Most people just call me Dru.”
He takes my fingertips in his hand and kisses the back of my hand gently. My arm feels as if it’s been hit by lightning.
“‘’It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dru.” He looks up at me with those piercing amber colored eyes. “Shall we have another?”
I nod silently. This boy is beguiling! He’s not jumping into my petticoats at least, which is refreshing. Though I’m not afraid to admit that I want to explore every inch of his muscled body.
Ladon motions for Ivan to fill up our drinks, and he does so without a word, but winks at me as he walks away. I roll my eyes. I don’t need his help to get a guy.
Ladon and I raise our drinks to each other, and take long swigs while stealing sideways glances at each other.
Just then, a heavily armored palace guard storms into the tavern followed by a gust of wind. They followed me here! My heart is racing. I can’t get caught again. I have to hide somehow. Or just hide my face...
Without a second thought, I grab the stranger’s face with both of my hands and find his lips with mine. The connection makes my heart stop beating for a moment. The kiss sends a jolt of electricity through me, he tastes of ashes and saltwater. It’s heavenly. I part my lips, caressing his tongue with mine fervently. It feels so good that I almost forget why I’ve started to kiss him in the first place.
“Attention!” Yells the guard over the din, “There have been dragon sightings in the area. For your own safety, the village will be on lockdown beginning at midnight.”
The crowd erupts in protest, but the guard has already left. The stranger and I reluctantly pull apart. We are oblivious to the chaos happening around us, only gazing into each other’s eyes. Whatever that was, he must’ve felt it too.
“What was that about?” He asks breathlessly.
I search his eyes for a moment. “Honestly?” I ask. He nods in response. “I didn’t want to get caught,” I answer with a shrug.
His eyes grow wide, he obviously didn’t expect me to be so direct. He chuckles under his breath.
“So, Ladon... it looks like we both only have one night of freedom left,” I say as I lean a little closer to him. “How would you like to spend it?
- Writer
