Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

Eventually we have to get to work though. There is no way around it.

Elzbieta works the mana mill, and she does so a little more vigorously than usual, almost as if she wants to make sure she is done early. The songs she picks to entertain both of us today, songs about the amorous adventures of the miller's wife, reflect her state of mind.

Or at least it seems like this is the case to me. I certainly have a little trouble focusing. At least at first. Until I put on my trusty old sandals with the fancy new enchantment.

Once I tie the last knot my mind clears a little. It has to be the increased willpower at work. It, of course, isn't like going from dead drunk to stone cold sober in an instant, but the difference is still startling. The enchantment certainly is more powerful than I anticipated.

It helps to keep me from blushing, or rather blushing too much at least, as I go through the day. It helps me focus on the work at hand too, despite the distraction at hand and Elzbieta certainly is quite the distraction. Even more so since she doesn't even consciously try. Well, at least I think she isn't actively doing anything. It just is the way she is.

The day is pretty slow anyway, after a short rush in the morning with various adventurers all stocking up on healing potions for some reason. I probably shouldn't complain, as noting the sales down in the ledger feels pretty satisfying. The same is true for the sound the coins make as I drop them into the strongbox.

After this little episode I keep myself busy brewing a new batch of healing potions. I decide to use a recipe for the least potent version, as those are the ones most sought after. Maybe I'll make another batch of more potent potions tomorrow, since it is always better to have a little more diverse selection on the shelves.

Evening, and thus the time to close the shop again, is fast approaching when a surprising sight greets my eyes.

It is a familiar trio of adventurers, Odolan, Tamara and Szmuel, accompanied by Ryszard, Urszula's son. All are heavily burdened, but the young Ryszard even more so than the others.

By the looks of it, their trip so far is quite successful. I can see the containers for the ectoplasm, but that is far from all. They carry bundles of bones as well and of course they collected some gear they probably looted from the undead they put back to rest. Quite the haul overall.

I greet them with a wave as they walk by on the dirt road out front.

“You are back earlier than I expected. Done already with your quest?”

It is Tamara who stops briefly to answer.

“No, not even close. But we gathered so much stuff beyond the ectoplasm we need, that we decided to take a break and return with what we have got so far. We'll sell most at the smithy, and the bulk of the bones goes straight to Barter Town, but maybe you want to get some things as well? Some of that gear the skeletons used is in surprisingly good state.”

I simply nod.

“Would it be alright if I took a look tomorrow?”

The young dwarven woman smiles in return.

“Sure! Just drop by the inn. We'll take a day off tomorrow anyway, before we head back out to get the rest of that ectoplasm.”

And with that said she hurries to catch back up with her companions.

I, on the other hand, hurry and finish closing the shop. I still have to get ready for my evening with Elzbieta after all.

My preparations include a visit of the bathhouse. I don't soak in the warm water for a change. Instead I wash with very cold water to clear my mind a little. That is the intention anyway. I'm not sure it works though. As I return back home, I'm already thinking of Elzbieta again.

With trembling fingers I close the door behind me and as I head to the trunk at the foot end of my bed I slip out of my clothes to get changed. This is the first time that I actually will wear that special dress and my heart is racing at the thought alone.

Elzbieta said that she wants to see me wear it, and nothing else. For the better part I do as she wishes, with one exception. I wear my sandals. They and the dress are part of a set after all. Damn, if only I knew which other parts I'm still missing.

I shake my head and slap my cheeks, to drive away those thoughts. Then I slip on the sheer dress. It feels amazing on my skin. I can't even begin to describe how exactly though, as I have never ever experienced anything quite like it.

I blush heavily as I look down myself. I wish I had a mirror, but I really don't need one to realize that the sheer fabric really isn't hiding anything. Will Elzbieta really like it?

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. I'll find out soon enough anyway.

Afterwards I tie my hair into two neat braids, for good measure. It isn't exactly an extravagant hair style, but I like it. A little home made perfume completes my preparations. I'm ready. Or at least, I'm as ready as I will be anytime soon.

As I turn to the open window, to peek outside and check the time, the grinning face of my date greets me and I blush anew.

Her grin just gets a little wider.

“I already like what I see. Very much so in fact. But you said you wanted to take me on a stroll into the woods? Should we get going?”

As I leave the house, she is quick to sling an arm around my waist. She isn't wearing her usual clothes either. Instead she opted for a nice dress too. It isn't as fancy as the one I inherited from grandma, but it suits her anyway.

I'm quick to return the gesture and sling an arm around her in turn.

“Sure, lets get going. I found a nice little place during my first little excursion along the creek. Nothing fancy, but I liked it.”

As darkness falls and the first stars come out we follow the path I took back then, to get to the shallow spot along the creek.

The gurgling of the water provides a nice backdrop and the smell of the forest helps easy my mind at least a little.

As we reach the spot, Elzbieta takes a moment to trace some of the declarations of love carved into the bark of the trees all around. She giggles.

“It seems the place is pretty popular.”

I grin and point up a little further the trunk of a particularly old tree, where more carvings, faded and weathered, can be seen.

“It has been for some time.”

She nods, but before she can sit down on the large flat rock where I rested back then, I pull her close and out towards the sandy bank of the creek.

The dance lessons are paying off. The karma spent on skills and gifts probably helps too and so do my enchanted shoes. I barely have to think about what I'm doing, as I pull her into a slow dance.

It isn't any formal dance and it doesn't last long either, as we get a little closer to each other with each step, as we twirl across the soft sand of the riverbank.

Finally we meet and with my hands on the prominent curve of her belly , I bend down just as she rises onto her tiptoes until our lips touch.

By the time we part again, we are both breathing hard and I'm not the only one blushing this time either.

Elzbieta motions for me to come closer again, so she can whisper in my ear.

“I said that I want to see you wear this dress. I might have lied. I'd much rather see you not wear it.”

I swallow hard as I undo the strings holding it in place under her watchful gaze and as I slip the dress off my shoulders she licks her suddenly dry lips.

Now it is her turn to lead and she leads us right back to the big flat rock, where she is quick to discard her own dress as well.

Alone, illuminated only by the faint starlight we give in to our desires. I shower her body with kisses as my hands roam all over her curves and she returns the favor. Oh, gods and goddesses, how she returns it!

The things she does with her tongue! The things she soon makes me do with my tongue!

It doesn't take either of us long to achieve climax. Not for the first time at least. We don't stop there though, not until much later anyway. Not until we are both utterly exhausted and covered in sweat.

As we lie there, side by side, on the not terribly comfortable rock, I let my hand wander once more. I wish we could stay like this forever. Well, maybe not exactly like this. Not here on this rock.

It seems Elzbieta's thoughts follow a path similar to mine. She flashes me a mischievous grin.

“We should have brought a blanket, eh?”