The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 156: I hate being the responsible one

This is still fine, right?

"Okay, okay," I panted, my hands sliding from Fenric’s hair to cup his face. "I surrender. You win. Now... are we actually going to wash, or are you two just going to keep me as a trophy?"

Fenric’s hands tightened slightly on my thighs, his gaze darkening as a grin spread on his lips.

"Who says we can’t do both?"

My heart did a quiet thud again and I began to feel my face heat up.

There it was again. A gaze that told very much more than his lips did.

He wanted me.

The playfulness in the water shifted as the splashes settled into ripples. Fenric slowly lowered me from his shoulders, but he didn’t let me go. Instead, he pulled me against his chest, his hand positioned on my lower back, cupping my butt cheek in the cool water that was trapped between our skin, feeling like a velvet glove.

My heart hammered softly as I got lost in his eyes for a brief moment, reading into every flicker and every glint.

Damar drifted closer, his hands sliding up my back with a slow, possessive heat that made my breath hitch. His touch was firm and steady, his fingers tracing the curve of my waist beneath the surface.

"You’re so beautiful under the moon, Arinya," Fenric whispered, his voice a low vibration that I felt more than heard. He leaned down, his lips meeting mine in a deep, lingering kiss that tasted of fresh mountain water and pure, burning desire.

I felt Damar’s lips at the crook of my neck, his tongue tracing a path that sent shivers racing down my spine.

My hands tangled in Fenric’s damp hair, pulling him closer, while my legs instinctively hooked around his waist. The hunger in my belly flared, a demanding ache that begged for more than just a few stolen touches in a lake.

But as Fenric’s hand slid lower, his palm pressing against the curve of my hip, a spark of logic finally flickered through the haze of my desire.

I gently pushed against his shoulders, breaking the kiss. My chest was heaving, and my skin felt like it was on fire despite the freezing water.

"Wait," I panted, my voice sounding thick and unfamiliar to my own ears. "We... we can’t. Not here."

Fenric paused, his forehead resting against mine, his eyes molten and heavy with longing.

"Is it because it’s another territory?"

"Yeah," I whispered, glancing toward the dark cedar grove where we knew the rabbits might be waiting. "We’re in a new land. We’re exposed. And it’s already so late, the moon is starting to dip."

Damar let out a long, ragged sigh against my shoulder, his grip tightening for a brief, regretful second before he slowly backed away.

"You’re right. Caution over pleasure."

The regret was palpable between the three of us. I felt it in the way my body suddenly felt cold without their touch, and I saw it in the frustrated clench of Fenric’s jaw as he waded toward the shore to grab his clothes. We were all reaching our limits, both physically and emotionally.

"I hate being the responsible one," I grumbled, wringing the water out of my hair as I followed them onto the bank.

"You’re not the only one who hates it," Fenric muttered, though he reached out to help me onto the dry grass, his touch lingering on my hand for a moment longer than necessary.

We dressed quickly, and the cold night air acted as a sharp wake-up call. The scent of blood was finally gone, replaced by the crisp, clean aroma of cedar and pine.

"Ari, I’ll have to put more of the herbs on you again," Damar said, noticing the dried-up green stuff had cleared up.

"Oh," I exclaimed, just realizing it as I took a look at my reflection in the lake.

The scratches were still there.

"Do you have more?" I asked, because he had picked them up from the other side.

He nodded.

"Yes, I anticipated something like this would happen." He said, and just before I turned, he caught me by my waist and took the initiative to plant his lips on mine.

I don’t hate this direct side of him. In fact, I pine for it.

He kissed briefly and then glanced up to look at Fenric watching us.

He was probably doing this because he didn’t get his turn to kiss me before.

Well, I guess this makes them even.

He let go, helping me back on my feet but my eyes swirled with desire. I wanted more. My body wouldn’t listen.

"Shall we go?" He asked and I nodded, clenching my fist and locking up my desire.

"Y-yeah."

Not yet. Let’s just hold on a little longer. I told myself.

As we walked back toward the grove where Gram was waiting, I took one last look at the silver lake.

We’ll probably visit it a lot if we stay in the rabbits’ village a little longer than planned.

We went to where we left our stuff, but before Damar put the green paste on my face, the other four rabbits came and, seeing my face, they were dazed for a moment.

Especially Dani who had thought that I was ugly and looked like a monster. He was lost for words and blushed.

I grinned.

’Look at the little one blushing. Now you’ll think twice before you call me ugly. Hmph!’

But then the scratches caught his attention, and he pointed them out.

"Your face..."

"Ah, this? A jealous tiger wanted to ruin my face." I said, laughing like it was no big deal but it felt big to him.

"Did you get revenge?" He asked but I shook my head.

"I didn’t but Fenric did," I said. "My face is better than what he did to that jealous tiger. Now they’ll never forget crossing me ever." I laughed a little too evil and he shrieked.

"I’m done," Damar said and I nodded.

He had ground the herbs in his palm to make a paste and then smeared it all over the scratches on my face and my arm.

The rabbits watched, genuine curiosity seething in their faces.

"What herb is that?" Gram suddenly asked, but for some reason, Damar went defensive and glared at him.

This caused a chill to run down his spine and he immediately bowed his head in reverence.

"Please forgive my impudence."

The others followed, affairs of offending him and I waved it off, pushing Damar’s face aside.

"It’s nothing. He won’t harm you or anything." I said, smiling in hopes of easing their worry. "But we can’t tell you what herb it is. Even if we do tell you, you can’t get it because it’s on the other side so please understand and don’t ask."

I don’t know why Damar got mad at them asking but I should do what I can to ease the situation.

Once Damar was done applying the paste, I sighed.

I’m back to being a swamp monster. How terrific.

"I think we’re done now," I said, getting up. "Now, will you show us the way to your village? If it’s not too much to ask, we would like to settle there for the rest of the night."