I reached for the door, but it swung open before I could touch the handle. How strange. My head felt fuzzy, in a pleasant kind of way. Probably because I knew I was about to get a hot meal and some cool water. Little bits of dust floated up through the air within the cabin, illuminated by the last little bit of daylight that was streaming through the trees. Dried flowers and herbs hung from the wooden rafters, along with what looked like animal bones. The small hallway spilled into an eat-in kitchen, and I nearly moaned when I spotted a large pot of something cooking in the fireplace.
“You look hungry,” a woman said, and I jumped, not having noticed her gathering bowls and spoons. It was hard to make her out at first, since the lighting wasn’t the greatest in this room. “I’ll feed you.”
Not a request. I didn’t object.
“Thank you so much. I must’ve gotten turned around. Do you happen to have some water?” I felt so much relief at knowing I wouldn’t have to be out in the woods after dark. I mean, I hadn’t asked yet, but she was already offering me food. I assumed she wouldn’t kick me out afterward.
“Of course, sweet girl. Sit, please. I’ll take care of you. The woods are a dangerous place for someone like you. I’m glad you found my cabin before nightfall.”
Nodding, I pulled out a chair. I still hadn’t gotten a good look at her face, but her frame seemed curvy beneath her long, dark green dress.
“Do you live here with your husband?” If it was dangerous for me, it was dangerous for her.
She laughed, and I watched her pour me a glass of water. I wasn’t sure what she found funny about my question, but all I could focus on was that damn glass. I was ready to leap out of my chair and drink until my stomach burst, but she returned to the table, holding the glass out for me to take.
“Oh, thank you.” I grabbed it, and my fingers brushed hers. A rush of heat hit my body, and I gasped, lifting my eyes from the water to her face. My brain seemed to be misfiring on all cylinders because I couldn’t form a single coherent thought. I was staring at the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Inky black hair, pinned out of her face with a string of flowers, combined with the most vibrant purple eyes that seemed to pierce me right to my soul. The woman was smiling at me as I sat there, practically holding her hand.
“Sorry!” I exclaimed, taking the water. “I zoned out for a moment.” My cheeks were so hot, I could only imagine how red my face was. I drank down the cool liquid in seconds, and my hostess removed the glass, refilling it without question.
“Drink this, and I’ll get you a bowl of vegetable soup. What’s your name?” She bustled back over to the kitchen, leaving me feeling slightly less parched.
“I’m Poppy. I live just on the edge of the forest. There was a kitten, and I didn’t want it to get eaten by coyotes or owls, but the little thing disappeared and the next thing I knew I was well and truly lost. Then I fell down a hill and spotted your cabin.”
The woman hummed as she brought two bowls of soup to the table. She placed one down in front of me, then took the seat next to me. “Poppy,” she mumbled, like she was tasting the weight of my name in her mouth. “You really are a little flower, aren’t you?”
I huffed a laugh to her strange response to my name. “What’s your name?”
“Iris.”
“Wow, that’s pretty. So we both have flower names? What are the odds?” I joked, taking a bite of hot soup. The flavors burst to life against my tongue: rich tomatoes, the distinct taste of celery and onion, and the earthiness of potatoes and carrots. It was delicious.
Iris propped a fist beneath her chin and watched me, like I was a fascinating mythical creature. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, smiling anxiously. “What?”
“Do you always moan like that when you’re eating?” she asked, and I watched, transfixed, as she bit down on her bottom lip.
My blush was starting to become permanent. “It just tastes so good.”
“Yes, I bet it does,” Iris practically purred, her eyes sliding from my face to my chest and then lower. I shifted in my chair, feeling that white hot sensation of the forbidden flaring to life right between my legs.
We didn’t speak again until I finished eating. Sighing, I leaned back and closed my eyes for a moment. “Wow, I feel like I could sleep for days now. Thank you for the soup and water.”
A crunching sound had my curiosity getting the best of me. I opened my eyes and nearly choked as I saw Iris take a big bite of a cucumber. A whole cucumber, with the skin on and everything. Visions of what I’d done to myself earlier invaded my brain, and I swallowed harshly.
“Mmm, I was right.” She slowly opened her mouth and her tongue darted out, tracing a line of pure fucking desire along the vegetable. “Fuckin’ delicious.” Then she winked and stood up, grabbing our bowls.
My heart was hammering. There was no way. Right? That wasn’t the same cucumber. For the first time since I’d walked in here, I was starting to feel fear. Not the kind of fear that sends you screaming into the night, but that little dash of danger that could get your blood pumping. A sprinkle of a scare that I shouldn’t like, that shouldn’t make my body hum with anticipation… but it did.
“I’ll leave the rest of this here,” Iris murmured, setting the cucumber down on the counter. “In case you decide you’d like some later.”
Oh my fucking gods.She knew. She knew what I’d done, and she… she…
I stood up abruptly, my chair noisily sliding across the hardwood floors. “Do you have a bathroom?”
“If you’re hoping for indoor plumbing, you’re not going to get that this far into the woods. There’s an outhouse in the back garden.” She pointed to the open door that led outside to what I assumed was the back garden.
“Thanks,” I squeaked, hurrying through the room as fast as possible. I was a fool. I didn’t know this woman and she… Oh my gods, she’d just munched on a cucumber I used to fuck myself, and she wanted me to know.
