The Huntsmen (6 page)

Snow snorted and shook her head. “I don’t know about that,” she whispered and shivered once more. “Would they make me feel like you just have?” She had never felt anything before like she had felt when his fingers moved in and out of her body as they had and his mouth moved over her neck.

"They could and if all three of us were with you at once you'd likely not have a thought in your head as the pleasure ripped through you," he murmured softly. Nipping her ear gently, he smiled and slid his hand from her pants, his finger flicking to her clit lightly before he fully withdrew. "But we won't tempt you with that before you’re ready to consider having all three of us with you for the rest of time."

“Is that something you want? To all have one woman to share? Could you do that without there being any jealousy, any upset that one was getting something another wasn’t.” Snow had to know, needed to know the truth.

"That’s something we've all dreamed of for a long time. We're not like most men," he said with a grin as he turned her in his arms and wrapped her close to him. "We get pleasure from knowing that between the three of us, we can take a woman and turn her inside out and yet make her feel whole. Most though won't do it for more than a night, and we've long been searching for one that would take us for the rest of time. While I'm sure there’ll be times we'll get on each other's nerves or just have a bad day, in the end it’ll be about the unity of our group that makes everything right."

“Sounds like my father and uncles,” she admitted quietly, giving this man a closely held secret. “They loved my mother, all of them. When she passed they all broke down.” Snow couldn’t look up into his eyes as she made her confession. “However, the uncles all withdrew and left me alone with my father. At least the one they all assumed was my father,” she added with a shrug. “That’s why I know they’ll do anything it takes to get my home back. When they lost my father, they were told they lost me as well. They lost not only my mother but they lost their daughter too.”

Hugging her to him, Niklaus stroked her back gently and just held her for long moments. "They’ll be very happy to see you, Snow, but you should know that it's not an unusual situation in our realms," he murmured. "Many a Royal house has a figurehead king and queen but in the bedchambers there are many more than just the two. I've heard of as many as six men to one woman, not sure how that would work but it’s just a rumor."

“Well when you think of it my mother had four kings that graced her bedchambers,” Snow reminded him. “If I could just find three willing to be mine I would accept that.” Dierk’s words coming back to her from the previous night about how he’d be able to tell her three that would take her no matter what.

"Are you taking requests or volunteers?" Baldric asked in a sleepy tone as he shuffled into the kitchen. "Because I'm totally volunteering," he murmured before collapsing into a chair.

"I’d also volunteer for such a delightful position," Niklaus said with a smile. "And I know for a fact Dierk would too, Princess, but are you willing to take on all three of us?" he asked softly.

Snow looked at Baldric and then Niklaus. “I think it’s something we’d have to discuss with Dierk. It’s not fair to have this discussion without him here. Now,” she looked up at Niklaus, “go sit down so I can get breakfast finished and hopefully Dierk will be awake by then.”

"Yes, Your Highness," he grinned at her and moved to the table. Sitting down, he looked to Baldric, "You're awake awfully early for you."

"I heard you two talking, then her climaxing so I thought I'd come and see what was going on, especially since there was an aroma of food in the air, which really had me curious," Baldric commented with a half grin at Snow.

Snow blushed at his comment and said, “I enjoyed it as well. So was it the food or sounds that brought you?” Okay so it was far bolder than she had ever dreamed she could be, but damn it, she had been locked away for many, many years and now these men were before her offering her a chance at happiness. Who wouldn’t be saucy?

"A little of both but the sounds definitely had my interest seriously peaked," Baldric smiled at her. "I was just curious what you two were up to and why I wasn't invited," he teased and chuckled softly.

“Ah, well next time we’ll have to invite you. I’ll start on the fried cakes so we can all have breakfast. Should one of you go and wake Dierk so he can enjoy a meal with us as well?” Snow asked with a smile.

"I'll go and wake him," Niklaus said, getting to his feet with a smile. "He'll be very upset if we let him sleep through our princess cooking for us.” Grinning at her, he headed off down the hall whistling softly under his breath.

"How are you doing, Princess?" Baldric asked quietly, his tone serious. "You've been through quite a lot of late. Is there anything you need to help you through it all?"

Snow looked to him and sighed. “It’s been a struggle,” she admitted. “I was locked in a prison that was no larger than this kitchen and barely kept from starving. I swear she would have likely killed me if she didn’t have plans for me,” she said with a sigh, “and then she used me as a pawn to try to gain another kingdom to control.” She shook her head. “I’m as good as I’m going to get.”

Chapter Four

Getting up, he moved closer to her and held open his arms, "Hug?" he asked softly. Smiling when she moved into his arms, he squeezed her to him. "I'm sorry, Snow, I know it’s hard losing your father and having such an awful thing happen to you, but you survived and are stronger for it. Now you know what your purpose is and you’ll ensure she’s removed from the throne, punished and dealt with accordingly. In doing all that, you’ll show the people of your land that you’ll be a strong leader and give them hope."

“I’m going to be the one to kill her,” she said simply. “I really hate to admit it but I’m going to be the one that drives a blade through her black heart. I deserve that.” She knew as a Princess she shouldn’t be so blood thirsty, but she was. She wanted that woman’s last breath to be made while looking at her. She wanted that witch to know just who it was that had taken her life.

"That you do, Snow, that you do," he nodded and stepped back. Touching her arm, he squeezed gently, "But maybe you should turn thoughts to saving breakfast first," he pointed past her. "I think something’s about to go up in flames and that would just be bad, very bad."

“Oh crap,” Snow muttered and twisted quickly, moving far faster than a girl who’d been in captivity should be able to move. “There, much better,” she nodded. Looking to Baldric, she said, “Thank you. I needed that.”

Shrugging, he smiled, "Just wanted to see some of the shadows leave your eyes, Princess.” Turning his head, he chuckled, "Looks like Nik managed to convince Dierk to get up and stop being so damned lazy."

"Shut up," Dierk muttered as he padded into the kitchen. Moving to Snow, he pressed a kiss to her cheek, "You didn't have to cook for us, Princess."

“I know I didn’t have to but I really did want to. I needed to do something for you since you’ve already done so very much for me,” she told him with a smile. “You’ve done a great deal for me. Way more than I can even come close to repaying.”

"Hush," he murmured, cupping her face gently. "Don't even think about it, sweetheart. We did what we felt was right. That was saving you from the Queen’s plans. You don't owe us anything, Princess, I promise you that."

“I know,” she whispered, then smiled. “I’m just happy you’re all three in my life,” she admitted. “All three of you. I really do happen to like the three of you, a great deal. I want to do what I can to make you happy and if cooking breakfast for you is what it takes, then so be it.”

"Well that's definitely one way," Dierk said with a smile. Kissing her, he let her go, "So I won't interrupt your cooking anymore," he moved to the table. Sitting down with his friends, he took the pot that Nik had brought to the table and poured a cup of the dark brew into a cup.

When she had the fried cakes off the flames, she pulled the meat she’d cooked out of the small oven and passed it off to them. “Please, eat up. If I need to I’ll make some more food but please dig in,” she told them and took her seat as well, grabbing some of the sausage before it was all gone.

"I think there’s more than enough here," Baldric said as he began to scoop up the cakes then passed some to everyone else. "This looks amazing, Princess, thank you," he smiled at her before he got up to collect the honey and syrup.

“You’re very welcome. I’m not what one would call domesticated in any sense of the word but in the end as long as I can create one meal, that’s good right?” she said with a smile. “Besides, I think that we’ll all be able to take turns making meals, right?”

"We do it all the time," Niklaus told her sipping at his coffee. "Between the three of us we've figured out how not to completely destroy most things," he grinned. "It's been a little trial and error I should admit."

"A lot of trial and error," Baldric put out there with a chuckle.

"But we're all still standing and in reasonably good shape," Niklaus continued. "So obviously we've done something right."

“I’d like to learn to do a bit more. I’d like to be able to feed more than fried cakes and sausage. Although, when we free my kingdom we’ll have cooks to feed us, you do realize that right?” she asked softly. “If you want to remain with me that is,” she added because she’d made a massive assumption.

Reaching out, they all touched her arms and hands but it was Dierk that spoke, "We're not going anywhere, Princess," he said quietly. "We want to be with you through everything we know you’ll face, and then be there with you after. If you want us there that is."

Looking at the men, Snow finally nodded, “Yeah. I really do want you to be there. I don’t think there’s anyone else that I’d rather have with me than you. If you’re willing,” she added softly.

"Absolutely," Baldric smiled at her as Niklaus nodded, squeezing her hand. "We're willing to be there however you want us, Snow. We rather like you," he teased with a huge grin. "And unless I miss my guess you rather like us too."

“Yeah, I kinda do like you boys,” Snow admitted. “I feel like lightning struck when Dierk touched me and then I felt it again with each of you touching me. It was amazing really, truly amazing.”

"Then we'll stay with you, Snow," Niklaus said, squeezing her hand before the men all sat back. "Eat up, no sense letting all our food become chilled when we can easily have this conversation later. Eat, we’ll figure out if you truly think this will work for us later."

“Yes please do eat up.” She grabbed a couple of the fried cakes for herself along with the syrup and a couple of portions of the meat.

Baldric smiled at her as he went back to eating. "It's all so damned good," he murmured happily as he took another bite of the fried cakes. Chewing, he smiled and winked at her, "You’re a very good cook, Snow."

Blushing, she bowed her head. “It was the one meal the cooks taught me to make. As I said, I don’t know how to cook a great deal but I can do breakfast. I’d get up with them and make my father breakfast, before he married that bitch.”

Dierk touched her hand, "We will make this alright, Snow, believe in that if you believe in nothing else. No matter what it takes we will see that her reign is ended and the rightful heir is put back on the throne."

“I hope you’re right. We have to end her reign of terror somehow, have to ensure that she no longer hurts anyone else in this world. She’s evil, in the purest sense of the word.”

"We know," Dierk nodded toward her. "We'll figure it out, Snow. Promise," he whispered. "Finish up your meal. We have much to figure out, including a note to the Elves to see if they’ll grant us safe passage.” Looking to the others, he leaned forward to explain, "If we can gain even a day by using their lands we can beat the guard to her uncle's home. We need to get there before the Queen realizes that’s where she’s going, which means we need to leave no later than tomorrow."

"I'm sure the Elves will grant us permission to go through their lands. I know several of the Elven Queen's personal guards and they’ll speak for us before her," Niklaus said. "Plus she still owes us several favors. We can call one in by asking for safe passage through their lands to gain time. I doubt she’d protest too much.

Snow looked at each man and smiled, “Thank you. I know you say you don’t need the thanks, but I thank you. I’d forgotten just how good it was to feel important, to feel as if I mattered to someone. Thank you for giving me a chance at life, a life with the three of you if possible.”

"Anything is possible, Princess, as long as you want it enough to fight for it," Baldric said, reaching over for more meat. Grinning, he shrugged, "Most people get all worried and bothered about obstacles. Like I say, if you can't go under it, over it or around it, bloody well go through it anyway you can."

“I like that saying. I think I might use it as my own personal motto if you wouldn’t mind,” Snow said and took a bite of the sausage she had in her hands. “In fact, I totally think I’m stealing that line whether you like it or not.”

"What is ours is yours, Snow," Dierk said quietly. "If it gives you what you need to see this through and get your kingdom back, so be it. Use it, breathe it, and live it. Heft it like a sharpened blade and wave it about to cleave the heads from your enemies’ shoulders, but remember, when it all becomes too much, do not close off. Turn to us and let us be there for you."

“I have a feeling I’ll need you far more than you could ever need me,” Snow admitted. “I have a feeling you gentlemen would go on easily enough without me and yet I know, that now I’ve met you, I don’t want to go on unless I’ve got you in my life as well.”

"Then you’d be very wrong, Princess," Niklaus told her softly. Reaching out, he placed his hand lightly on hers. "Now that we've met you and have begun to get to know you there’s no life without you in it with us."

“Then we’re all together in this. The four of us make a quad. We’re stronger for it, right? We’re stronger together than we are apart.” Of that she was absolutely certain. She’d never have enough of these men and she’d only spent a handful of hours in their company.