The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 12
“Cassis-nim…”
“Did you call for me?”
The deep, steady voice came from directly behind her, and Evelyn nearly jumped out of her skin. She was naked! Panic surged through her as she froze, her mind racing. Was this pond sacred? Had she trespassed into some forbidden place? She couldn’t recall being warned about it, but then again, this was Jupiter, the land of the elves. The village chief had once told her that every step here was fraught with taboos. The thought sent a chill down her spine.
She didn’t dare turn around, her neck damp with nervous sweat. His voice broke the silence again, calm and measured.
“Have you adjusted a little by now?”
“Huh?”
“You were shivering from the cold earlier, and now you’re in the pond.”
Oh, that’s what he meant. Evelyn couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly her body had warmed up the moment he touched her. It was strange, almost magical. Gathering her courage, she glanced over her shoulder.
“Yes, I’m… I’m fine now. The water is warmer than I thought… Ah!”
“Oh dear.”
Just her luck. As she moved, a tangle of waterweed roots floating on the surface caught on her arm, pulling her off balance. She flailed helplessly, unable to steady herself against the slight weight. In an instant, Cassis was in the water, his strong arms catching her before she could sink.
His grip was firm, reassuring, but the situation quickly escalated. Worried she might swallow water, Cassis hoisted her up by the waist, lifting her clear of the pond’s bottom. Evelyn’s feet couldn’t touch the soft mud below, leaving her no choice but to wrap her legs around his thighs for balance. It was an awkward, intimate position, and she clung to his neck for dear life, her face burning with embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry…! You’re all wet because of me. Ah, I’m really, truly sorry!”
Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and to her mortification, it sent a faint thrill through her. Cassis, however, seemed entirely unbothered, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“It’s fine. I was in the middle of bathing myself when I rushed out.”
“What…?”
“Since we’re here, let’s finish today’s final lesson before the sun sets.”
As he spoke, Cassis carefully untangled the waterweed from her arm, his movements precise and unhurried. With just one arm, he held her steady, his strength and composure unwavering.
“Thank you…” Evelyn murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cassis’s gaze met hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. The pond, the forest, the fading light—it all faded into the background. There was only him, his presence overwhelming yet comforting.
“Don’t mention it,” he said, his voice soft but carrying a weight that made her heart skip a beat. “Now, let’s begin.”
Evelyn’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath shallow and uneven. The warmth of their bodies pressed together was overwhelming, her chest crushed against his as if seeking refuge in the curve of his neck. Every ripple of the water sent unfamiliar sensations coursing through her, making her feel as though her body no longer belonged to her. A feverish heat rose in her throat, threatening to spill over, and she fought to keep her composure.
She wasn’t blindly happy about being this close to him. In fact, part of her was grateful that half of her body was still submerged in the pond. The intense, damp heat she felt from their intimate contact was something she desperately hoped he wouldn’t notice. It was a small mercy, one she clung to as her face burned with embarrassment.
Cassis, seemingly unfazed, carried her effortlessly to the edge of the pond and set her down gently. His voice broke the silence, calm and measured, as if nothing unusual had happened.
“Evelyn. You know that even trees, when they return to their roots, cannot exist apart from water, don’t you?”
“Yes!” she replied quickly, her arms instinctively crossing over her chest to cover herself. In her flustered state, she had forgotten one crucial detail—the smooth curve of her hips, the water dripping from her hair and pooling where she sat, completely exposed.
Cassis stood just a few steps away, his piercing gaze fixed on her. His eyes, a deep, vivid blue like precious gemstones, seemed to see right through her. The pond was wide, and the nearby trees cast shadows over its edges, but the sunlight somehow managed to catch his hair, making it gleam brilliantly. It was as if the light itself conspired to highlight his ethereal beauty.
‘Ah…’
Evelyn found it difficult to hold his gaze, her eyes darting away only to land on the firm lines of his forearms and the broad, straight set of his shoulders. Her breath caught. He was beautiful. With the scattered lily pads framing him, he looked like a nymph born from the water itself, so enchanting that anyone would believe it.
