The Huntsmen (5 page)

Watching a moment longer, Dierk left her alone to burn the gown and went to the kitchen to harass Baldric. Laughing with his friend, he grinned at Niklaus when he rejoined them and sat at the table. He listened as they ate and told of how they eluded the almighty Royal Guard making them into bigger fools.

Looking up after a time, Dierk murmured to them before moving across the room. Dropping down onto his haunches at her side, he tugged lightly on a chunk of her hair. "You alright, Snow?" he asked softly when she turned to look blankly at him. Lifting his hand, he rubbed a knuckle to her cheek, "You look so distracted and distant, Princess, anything you want to talk about?"

“Are you certain you wish to bring the Queen's wrath down on yourself and your friends? Dierk, what I’m asking you to do," she shook her head and took a deep breath before continuing, “She’ll never forget it. If somehow we aren’t able to beat that witch, she’ll never forgive what she sees as an injustice from you and your kin.”

"We're not going to back down from anything she throws our way, Snow," he said softly. Dropping his hand, he caught hers, "Come on, Princess. I think you could do with some uninterrupted sleep for a few hours. Then we’ll have dinner and see what we can come up with for entertainment," he murmured, standing, and gently pulling her to her feet.

Her hands in his she looked up into his face and asked, “Will you stay with me? I,” she chewed her lower lip and whispered, “I hate the darkness, I really do, but I hate being alone even more. Will you stay with me, please?”

"Of course I will, Princess," he said quietly to her with a smile. "Niklaus, you get to make dinner," he called over his shoulder as they walked down the hall toward his room. Pushing the door wide, he let her go first and then shut it behind them. Moving to the bed, he sat to pull off his boots as he watched her.

Snow slipped out of her shoes and climbed onto the bed. “Snow. Please, call me Snow,” she lay down on the pillows and gave him her back. “Will you cover us when you climb in as well?” She hoped she’d be okay when he blew out the candle if she were lying down. “And get the candle?”

Nodding to her, he moved to the window, pulling the little curtain open so there would be some sort of light when they woke. Moving around the room, he blew out the candles one at a time and took the last one to the bedside stand, setting it down before blowing it out. Sitting on the bed, he eased down and drew up the covers so she would stay warm.

Snow turned into him and sighed. Resting her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes and whispered, “I’ve always hated the dark.” Admission, stark and true. “She killed my father in the darkness,” she confessed. “I know I said I wanted him found but he’s dead. That's why I have to get to my uncles. They’ll help me regain my throne, the one that sits in the heart of all of their territories. They’ll ensure that all of her crimes are paid in full.”

Wrapping his arm around her, Dierk hugged her close, "We’ll help in any way we can, Princess," he whispered with a smile when she poked him. "Sorry, Snow White," he teased back. Kissing her forehead, he gave her a squeeze, "Close your eyes and rest, little one. I’ll be right here the entire time so you needn't fear anything in the dark."

“In any case I’m just happy you’re here with me and understand,” she whispered and moved in a little closer, wrapping her arm around his middle as well as her leg around his. “Good rest to you, Dierk.”

"Sweetest dreams to you, Snow," he murmured, shifting slightly and drawing her closer. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he settled down and let out a breath before he closed his eyes. He likely wouldn't sleep but one never knew, she was wrapped around him just right, her heat was soothing, and the feeling of her in his arms was right.

Chapter Three

Snow woke to the sounds of birds. While she wanted to do nothing more than curl closer into Dierk’s heat she knew it was time to get the day started. She moved from him slowly, cautiously, so as not to wake him and walked into the kitchens. She started going through the cupboards to find something to make for their meal. Pulling out what was needed, she set about trying to make them all breakfast.

"I thought I heard the pitter patter of little female feet," Niklaus said and smiled when she whipped around. "Calm, female person, friend not foe," he held up his hands as if surrendering to her intent. "I'm Niklaus if you don't remember from yesterday's introductions and you're Snow. So now that we've got that out of the way, what are you doing?"

“I thought I’d make you all breakfast,” she told the huge man before her. “You have bathed since I saw you.” Before his hair was a deep sandy brown and now it was almost wheat gold. It was, amazing.

"Yeah, that," he rubbed a hand through his hair. "It tends to stand out rather clearly in the dark colors of the forest. A little mud and muck helps to hide me from being spotted easily out there. Which given the viciousness of the guards was a good thing," he muttered, wrinkling up his nose.

“You weren’t hurt were you?” Snow asked and walked toward him. “Please tell me you weren’t hurt because of me Niklaus,” she whispered and touched her hand to the center of his chest. “Please tell me you weren’t hurt.”

"Not even a bruise," he smiled down at her. Lifting a hand, he pressed it to hers before capturing it and lifting it for a kiss to her fingers. "We're fine, Snow," he murmured softly. "Just a little exhausted from running around out there for hours on end, but it was a fine bit of exercise keeping them off your trail and making them chase their own tails for a time."

“Thank you so much for doing that for me,” she told him softly. “You have no idea what it means to me that you were willing to help me. Thank you very much,” she said with a smile. “For putting yourself out there for me as you have.”

Shrugging, he smiled, "Don't think of it, darling girl. It was great fun and a good use of all the skills we've learned over the years. Plus, we do like outsmarting and making fools of the bastard guards."

“My father’s guards were all retired and the Queen placed hers in as the Royal Guard. Most of my father’s men are with my uncles now,” she said sadly. “They all think I am dead,” she whispered. “At least that’s what I’ve been told.”

"Well then they’re all in for a surprise when we take you to them," Niklaus said softly. Smiling, he squeezed her fingers lightly, "So what are you making for our morning meal?" he asked her quietly, looking past her toward the kitchen.

“I was going to make some fried cakes and sausages. How does that sound?” she asked with a smile. “And how many should I make?” She wasn’t certain how much one would cook for three grown men. “I’m making the only meal I know how to make,” she admitted quietly.

"Well it's one that we'll all be grateful for," he grinned. "I'd make whatever you think you should and triple it. We tend to burn it off quickly, which means we eat a lot of food. Ensure there's a good mountain of food ready when the other lads finally crawl out of bed. Speaking of which," Niklaus eyed her up and down, "where did you sleep, Princess?" his grin got wider.

“With Dierk,” Snow said with a grin. “He has a massive bed, that was really warm and I feel comfortable with him. I slept better with him than I ever have before. I’m happy,” she said with a shrug, “very happy I was able to meet him, very happy I was able to meet all of you, and not only because you saved my derriere.”

"Good, I'm glad you feel comfortable in our home," he said softly. Letting her have her hand back, he waved her back into the kitchen. "Put me to work, my dear, and let's get all the food ready before the others wake. They’ll be hungry I'm very sure, especially Dierk, since you and he skipped out on dinner last evening."

“He and I ate a bit, oh wait that was lunch wasn’t it?” she suddenly blushed. "He shouldn’t have let me make him miss his meal,” she whispered. “Alright, let’s get our meal ready.” She pointed to the large bowl. “Will you mix the ingredients for the fried cakes while I get the meat started?”

"As you wish, Princess," he said with a grin and winked. Moving toward the table, he began to do as she instructed. Stirring, he leaned over to steal some of the meat she was cooking and chewed it slowly, "That’s very good."

Grinning, she winked at him, “Well that’s good because it’s meant to taste good. It’s the same meat you men had, I just added some spices to them,” she said happily. “Just help me out here then we’ll go from there okay?” Well, letting him eat that was.

Moving to her side, he set the large bowl down and peered over her shoulder. "What do you need help with, Snow?" he asked curiously. Resting a hand at the small of her back, he reached around her and grabbed another piece of the meat to nibble on.

“Will you grab another package of the meats so I can make it as well? We won’t put the cakes on until the boys are up. Oh, and do you have honey or something like that we can top the cakes with?” Snow found herself leaning against that large hand at the small of her back, and liked it, a lot.

"Of course we have honey and even some syrup that we got from a traveling man several months ago," he told her. Moving away, he collected more of the meat and handed it to her before returning to his spot and running a hand up and down her back.

“I like that,” Snow confessed softly. “You touching me,” she said over her shoulder to him. “I really like that, a great deal. I know I shouldn't because of how very much I like Dierk’s touch as well, but I do. I like the feel of you.”

"Just because you like one man's touch doesn't mean you can't like another unless you are wed to the man," Niklaus said quietly next to her ear, "and since I know there aren’t any priests in these woods you have not promised yourself to Dierk yet unless you've handfasted with him. Have you, Snow?" he asked, brushing his lips over her throat gently. "Have you promised yourself to only Dierk?"

“No.” Snow tilted her head to the side and bit her lower lip. “Please, will you do that again?” she whispered and pushed back against him, loving the feel of his body against hers just as she loved the feeling of Dierk’s body against hers as well.

Sliding his hand around her, he pressed his palm to her belly and held her to him. Sliding his tongue slowly down her throat, he nipped gently at her skin. Nuzzling his nose to her, he inhaled deep, "You smell like a summer’s day," he whispered quietly.

That had her shivering and she clenched the wooden spoon in her hand in distraction.

Easing his hand down lower, he pressed her hips back and rolled his hips into her, his cock rubbing along the seam of her ass. "You taste so sweet and divine," he murmured before sliding his tongue up her skin. Capturing her earlobe, he tugged before suckling on the soft flesh while he rocked his hips into her.

Snow was whimpering. She couldn't help herself. “Oh God that feels so good,” she moaned and dropped the spoon so she could brace her hands on the front of the prep area for food. “Should it always feel like that?” She pushed back against his cock, “So large, and hard?”

Chuckling, he let her lobe loose and shook his head, "Only when it's feeling the need to plunge between silken thighs to the heat that all women hide there.” Moving his hand down, he cupped her between her legs and pressed his fingers to the seam of the bottoms she was wearing. "Are you wet here?" he whispered in her ear, "Do you ache here, Snow?"

“Yes. I don’t understand it but yes,” she ached so very badly. “I really like it and I want more,” she begged. “Please, don’t stop?” she asked quietly and pushed back against him again.

"I won't stop," he murmured, pressing his fingers harder to her pussy and stroking slowly as he rocked his cock to her ass. Bringing his other hand up, he cupped her breast and found the tight bud of her nipple with his fingers. Pinching lightly, he rolled the tight flesh back and forth as he suckled gently on her neck.

“Oh Gods,” she breathed quietly as she pushed back against him again. “That feels so amazing,” she admitted. How could her body be like this? How could she like this so very much when she had spent the previous night in another’s bed? What was wrong with her?

Smiling, he nibbled on her ear as he eased his hand into her pants to touch her wet pussy with his fingers. Stroking through the slick and soft flesh, he pressed a finger to her opening and stroked as his thumb found her clitoris and rubbed. "Never be ashamed of how your body reacts, Snow, it’s a beautiful thing to see. I really enjoy making you react"

“But what about Dierk?” she whispered and widened her stance to allow him more access. “Oh God that feels so good,” she whimpered. “Are you sure this isn’t wrong?” It felt so good, it had to be wrong, right?

"Nothing you do with any of us is wrong, Snow," he said quietly. Pressing his finger into her pussy, he moaned as her inner muscles clenched around the digit. "We’re all friends and we don’t mind if a woman such as yourself, with great needs, wishes to be with one or all of us. We’re more than willing to share a beauty such as yourself, Snow, if you’re willing to give us that chance."

She was pushing back against him, every single thrust of his finger into her pussy was killing her and had her crying out suddenly. “Oh God,” she sobbed and felt her entire body shudder. Licking her lips, she shook her head. “It feels so good,” but she shouldn’t feel so good. She had started with Dierk, it wasn’t right that she was feeling so much with Niklaus too.

Brushing a kiss to her cheek, he breathed in deep, "You’re thinking much too hard, Princess, but since you are I'll give you something else to think about," he murmured softly. "If you were to tell Dierk what we just did he'd be fine with it. Though," Niklaus smiled, "he would likely try to do one better."

“I doubt that. This feels so good,” she leaned back hard against him and shuddered. “Niklaus!” she half whispered, half screamed his name and her body clenched on his fingers tightly, liquid flowing heavily from her pussy and all she could do was make silly mewling sounds of need.

Holding her up as he stroked her through the orgasm, he chuckled. "Oh I'm quite sure he could give me a run for my money, Princess. So could Baldric for that matter, but if all three of us were to spend time with you, I'm very sure you'd be having a hard time walking."