6.26 – ina


    ina knew it was probably a bitte to be checking in on the T delvers, but after such a ster response to the goblin raid earlier, she had wanted to congratte them firsthand. Hence why she was here, a few hours past sunset, heading up into the second story of <em>The Kraken''s Hearth </em>to track down Natalie—who ina had gotten the impression was the unofficial leader of the group, despite Elizabeth Beaumon''s inclusion on the team.


    And <em>that</em> was definitely why she tracked down Natalie specifically, ina told herself. Because she seemed to be their group''s leader. Not for any other reason.


    ina would admit she was a bit enthralled by the concept of delvers. As the daughter of a baron, she had seen plenty of high-levelbat sses, and they each had auras of mystique or at leastpetence. But few were T trained. That meant something. T—one of the most prestigious academies in the world.


    And for whatever reason, the team''s newness to their professions made ina even more interested in them. They felt more rtable for the fact, yet no less intriguing. Perhaps that had been why she''d volunteered to see to their needs as a show of grace … though Elizabeth Beaumon''s presence had all but demanded the Crestwood family show some level of humility on its own merit.


    She hadn''t thought it would be a chore in the first ce, but seeing just <em>who </em>she would be catering to for the short few days it took them toplete the quest had doubly stoked ina''s interest. Because what a fascinating group of five. Natalie especially. ina had seen plenty of beautiful women in her life, but of Natalie''s particr stature, with that roguish short red hair and stunning blue eyes? Those strong arms and idle confidence?


    ina didn''t even prefer women, but if she <em>did</em>… well, Natalie, she supposed, would be her type.


    She shook her head clear. Those thoughts were wholly inappropriate, she chided herself in reminder, not for the first time.


    Climbing into the lodging area of <em>The Kraken''s Hearth</em>, she scanned the numbers engraved on the faces of the doors, seeking out the number she knew belonged to Natalie''s room—which the innkeeper downstairs had provided to her. Seven, she thought, scanning. Seven. One, two, three … down the hall, then. She kept walking.


    Reaching the end of the corridor, she became aware of a noise that had been present from further away, but,ing into focus as she homed in on Natalie''s room, finally became <em>recognizable</em>.


    The pping of flesh.


    Moans. Whines. Grunting. The very enthusiastic squeaking of bedsprings, and a headboard hitting the wall.


    Oh.


    <em>Oh</em>.


    ina froze there, standing just outside Natalie''s door. Listening, though not in any voyeuristic way, but rather from shock, suddenly unable to move.


    Natalie had a visitor? Some gentleman?


    That hardly surprised her. The woman could obviously pull anyone she wanted back to her room. Who <em>wouldn''t </em>want to—um, be her guest?


    Except.


    Why did the grunts and moans sound like two different women? And not a man and a woman? Why the pping of flesh?


    ina''s face grew hotter and hotter as she stood there, frozen in ce. Yes, by the noises, there were definitely two <em>women</em> enjoying each other''spany, past that door.


    W-With the help of a toy, then? Or what? Because that was definitely one person hammering into another … ina wasn''t the most experienced, but she could tell <em>that</em> much by the very loud, enthusiastic noises.


    Oh, dear.


    Should she leave?


    <em>Obviously</em> she should leave.


    Natalie was clearly busy.


    But then why was ina''s hand raising, clenching into a fist?


    To knock at the door in several loud raps?


    The noises in Natalie''s room fell silent. It stayed that way for a few seconds, the upants surely having heard the knock. But then the sounds returned. Even louder. Reinvigorated. The moans and grunts took a fevered pitch. As if the two of them were working even faster, unwilling to be interrupted—and thus finishing as quickly as they could.


    ina listened, heart mming, as two women clearly came to groaning climax.


    A few seconds passed, the noises growing silent.


    She knocked a second time.


    Why hadn''t she just left?


    It took a few moments, but the door swung open, revealing, as expected, Natalie. Except in a thorough state of undress. She''d hastily thrown her bra back on and wrapped her waist with a thin towel.


    A towel that was … protruding outward?


    Like something was poking it out? Something hard and rod-like?


    ina''s mind went nk.


    The toy they''d been using? She''d kept it on to answer the door? Why?


    Except, as strange as it was to assume, ina did <em>not </em>think it was a toy.


    "I''m a little busy, if you can''t—" Natalie started dryly.


    Her words dried up before she finished. Blue eyes widened and widened as she saw who was standing in the doorway.


    "A-ina?" Natalie stammered, her casual amusement disappearing in an instant, reced by panic. She looked down at herself—at her bra-and-towel state of attire. "What are you doing here?!"


    Clearly, Natalie had answered her door expecting someone else. One of her teammates, most likely. Hence the state she''d answered in, assuming herck of dress would be, while inappropriate, not nearly as scandalous as it would be in <em>ina''s </em>presence.


    She probably hadn''t been thinking right. Which was fair. Considering what she''d just been doing.


    ina''s mouth worked soundlessly for several moments.


    Again, why had she knocked, despite knowing what Natalie had been up to? Then stayed even while hearing the two of theme to climax?


    And why was her heart mming so hard?


    The doorway obscured her sight of the bed. ina had to fight the urge to lean forward and see who Natalie''s conquest was. One of her teammates? Someone else?


    And she had no doubt it was indeed <em>Natalie </em>the one doing the conquering. She had gotten that impression only moments after meeting her.


    <em>Had </em>that been flirting in the wagon over, then? She''d convinced herself Natalie was just being friendly. But maybe ina had been wrong. That Natalie <em>had </em>been a bit too friendly in her responses.


    Her eyes flicked down, again, to the tent in Natalie''s towel.


    ina didn''t even prefer women.


    "Natalie," ina said faintly, dragging her eyes back up and finally finding her voice. "I just wanted to congratte you. On your sessful defense of our city. I didn''t realize you would. Um. Be busy."


    Busy.


    Fucking another woman.


    With her cock?


    <em>Her </em>cock.


    Oh, Heavens.


    Why did that have her thoughts melting down? She was growing genuinely dizzy. Maybe it was just the embarrassment of the situation.


    Seriously, why had she knocked?


    She preferred men. Not women.


    Though …


    Considering Natalie''s particr endowment …


    Maybe …?


    "Oh," Natalie said, looking as flustered as ina felt. "Um. Well. Yeah. Thanks. It''s what we do, right?"


    "That was it," ina squeaked. "Just a quick congrattions. I don''t want to be a burden. I''ll leave you to it. Have fun?"


    Have fun?


    <em>Have fun?</em>


    What was wrong with her? Ady was expected to keep herposure in any situation.


    Before Natalie could reply to the horribly flustered words, ina was already scurrying away, down the hall. Her face felt like it was on fire. And as much from the embarrassment of intruding on Natalie in that way, her head was spinning for a different reason.


    Because …


    ina might already have been <em>slightly</em> interested in Natalie, despite her preferences. Something she was just admitting to herself now.


    But with <em>this </em>reveal?


    Maybe she was a little more than just ''interested''.