Page 15 of Sins of the Stone

Ursulette

I t had been some time since Ursulette had arrived, and she noticed something that pricked at her nose. She knew exactly what it was—the sour stench of not having bathed in a while. Ramuz had given her a damp cloth when she asked for one. But she could only go for so long using that method before it was ineffective. Besides, when meeting back up with whoever was left, she wanted to look—and smell—her best.

Back at home, she could wash as frequently as she wanted, but this house didn’t have a tub or a source of water nearby. She wondered if Ramuz picked up on her bitter aura and hoped his heightened senses weren’t reeling. Of course, he was too kind to speak up.

He was always so sweet. His touch was always lingering, his breath always heavy, his eyes always remaining on her for far too long. She knew exactly what he wanted, but she didn’t want to admit it, let alone confess that she may be interested, too.

She shoved her thoughts down once more, nibbling her lip, hoping the slight pain would draw out the toxins invading her brain. Her immorality would be the death of her. Wandering into the living room, she saw him with his back to her.

“Ramuz,” Ursulette called, causing him to turn around.

“Yes?” he replied. She wrung her hands together, unsure how to convey her need or if he would even understand. Her silence earned her a concerned tone and the pinching of the space above his eyes. “Are you alright? ”

“I am,” she said with a slight smile, trying to avoid looking at him straight on to quell her sinful thoughts. “But I need a bath.” Once more, his ridged brow knit together, taking a step forward.

“Bath?”

“Yes, I need to be cleansed.”

“You are cursed?” he asked with a hint of concern. She giggled.

“No, silly. I’m dirty,” she said. His brow ridge raised as if still perplexed. She continued—this time in more vulgar terms.

“I stink. I need to wash.” She would’ve lifted her arms to demonstrate how she would scrub, but she feared what that would unleash upon their little home. To her surprise, he took a few steps forward, his face leaning in close.

“You do not stink to me,” he retorted, taking another deep breath. “In fact, you smell quite pleasant, and my senses are heightened above yours.” He pulled away, giving her a slight, wry smile. Ursulette smirked.

Such a charmer.

She wondered where he learned to be so sly or if it came naturally. Or maybe she invoked that attitude. She felt quite special to be the one to have done that to him.

“You may think so,” she countered. “But I don’t. So I would like to bathe.” A puff of air came from his nose.

“Alright, how do we get you to ‘bathe’?” he said, submitting to her proposal. Her smile spread from ear to ear, knowing she wouldn’t have to tolerate her stench anymore, and neither would he, despite his affirmation that she did not.

“Well,” she said, “you don’t have a tub, so we’ll have to go somewhere with water where I can be submerged.” He hummed as if checking off places in his head that would be a good fit. “And it has to be private.”

“Private? Why?”

“Because I don’t want anyone to see.”

“Hm,” he said, not commenting on her additional restriction. Relief washed over her. She wasn’t ready to explain shame and embarrassment to him just yet. “There is a stream nearby I can take you to if that is what you would like.” She gave another smile, thankful she could finally feel clean again .

“Yes, that would be great,” she beamed. Within the hour, they were ready to go, and this time, she climbed on his back, nestled between his wings. She gathered a towel, some soap, and a washcloth Ramuz had stashed away. Then, they headed off, Ursulette keeping pleasantly warm against his stony skin.

* * *

The pair arrived at the stream, and Ursulette was happy to see it was isolated. There were no structures, houses, or caves that prying eyes could peer at her private shame. Ramuz set her down near the water’s edge, and she shooed him away, insisting he do anything besides observe.

“But I need to be here in case anything happens,” he argued. She frowned. He was right, but she wasn’t excited for him to see her at her most vulnerable, even if a little piece of her may have enjoyed it.

“I need to do this by myself,” she said. “You can’t watch.” His expression fell as if he was pouting, and her hand hid her giggle. Though she couldn’t tell if the brightness in her chest was anxiety or joy.

“Alright,” he submitted. “You will call if you are in danger, right?” She nodded, holding the supplies in her hands.

“I will, don’t worry,” she said. “Now, go do something else.” He bobbed his head, then turned around to wander off, looking like a lost dog.

Once she was sure he was gone, she crouched beside the stream, setting her bundle down. With one last glimpse behind her, she began to undress, starting with her panties, then another glance. A feeling of discomfort took root in her stomach. Stripping in the woods where a creature potentially lurked behind every nook and cranny felt wrong. And without Ramuz’s protection, she would be vulnerable, besides being self-conscious.

Just do it already, you baby, she thought, pushing herself to grab the hem of her dress.

With a grunt, she tightened her grip, and finally, after pinching her eyes shut as if the darkness would take her anywhere but here, she peeled the garment off, tossing it to the edge.

With haste, she grabbed the bar of soap and plopped herself into the stream. It only came up to just above her waist, leaving a slight disappointment as it left her top half exposed.

She cupped the water with a sigh, goosebumps breaking out over her flesh. It was cooler than she thought it would be, and her teeth began to chatter. She wrapped her arms around herself, took an encouraging breath, and then decided to start.

Taking the bar, she lathered it between her palms. With a newfound delight, she passed it between her hands, along her shoulders, and beneath her breasts and armpits, working her way down, feeling the suds cleansing her soiled skin.

As she continued to scrub, a noise caught her attention, making her heart leap to her throat. The wind picked up, making her shiver again. She glanced around, looking for any creatures—or humans—there to bring her harm. There were none, making her even more nervous.

Her heart began to drum in her chest. She had never felt as vulnerable as she did right now. Besides the frigidness, another round of gooseflesh broke out, and she cupped more water, rinsing the soap suds quickly, anticipating having to flee. Another noise, this time much closer, now from behind, made her stomach lurch.

“Ramuz?” she said weakly, turning her head. Once more, nothing stuck out. She glanced over where her dry cloth was, tossing the bar to the shore, getting ready to sprint for the towel.

As she hoisted herself up, a familiar hand grabbed her, sinking her lower half back down into the water with a splash. She let out a cry and her eyes met with Ramuz’s. Before she inquired what was happening, she covered her breasts with her arms, hoping he didn’t get too much of a peek.

“What?” she hissed, her tone calm yet concerned. A stone was digging into the back of her thigh, but she was more concerned about exposing herself to him than the minor discomfort. She pushed her legs together, hoping she wouldn’t be too exposed, her face flaring with red. He gave a soft smirk, setting a small, folded cloth into her lap atop her pressed legs. Kneeling next to her, he spoke.

“You dropped this,” he said, his hand almost staying connected to the fabric for far too long. She could barely choke out a response between her trembling lips, a menagerie of emotions swirling in her head. Mostly fear and embarrassment, but there was something more there as her face remained tinged with scarlet from them all.

“T-thank you,” she stammered, his eyes seeming to flow along her curves. She cleared her throat, not wanting to acknowledge his prying gaze or the fire starting in her stomach. “I’ll finish up now.” She gave a wry smile with a face still burning. He gave her another charming grin.

“I still cannot observe?” he questioned. Her arms remained guarded along her body, and the square cloth remained stationary since being placed.

“No,” she asserted, trying to remain rational and not think about how she was bare in front of him and what it could lead to.

“Why not?” There was a hint of innocence in his tone. Or maybe that was just how she interpreted it. She was always na?ve, though. He didn’t have much experience with humans, and it could’ve been genuine curiosity. She questioned her intrigue now, wondering if her filthy brain had previously misconstrued his words.

“ Because ,” she said, her tone now stern. “I am self-conscious.” Ramuz pursed his lips together as if trying to decipher her sentence. His gaze was now away from her, glancing up as if this would help him understand.

“What does it mean to be self-conscious ?” he asked. She sucked her lip in between her teeth. She was unsure how to drive him away and hoped to get the conversation over with as soon as possible. Allowing her deviant thoughts to take control would be the death of her.

Literally.

“Like when you’re nervous about what people think of you or how you look or act,” she said quickly. “Now go, please.” She couldn’t wait until he was gone and get her clothes back on. His gaze was tempting her to be reckless. His eyes were prying—maybe not with malicious intent, but with something she wanted to avoid .

“You are worried about what I think about you? About your body?” He tilted his head to the side. It would’ve been rather cute had she not been completely stripped with a head full of perverse thoughts. She sighed, hoping the attitude would send him away and she would deal with the consequences later.

“Not just you. Everyone,” she said. “Now go .” The last word was drawn out into a whine, her voice chattering with the chill of the water. Yet, he continued to run his gaze over her pale flesh, like he was discovering a new species. She was alien to him, yet instead of being terrified, he was intrigued.

“There is no need to worry or carry this self-consciousness . You are not unpleasant to look at,” he mused. “In fact, I am quite curious about your body. I have never seen a human up close before.” He brought his clawed finger to her chin, her face bright red. He tilted her head to the side.

“You have things I don’t, things that are different,” he said. He sheathed his claw, pulling her hair behind her ear, then ran his finger along the red ridge. “Like your ear, it is not pointed, like mine.” Her insides stirred instinctively at his tickling touch, sending her intestines into knots. She squirmed at the thought of him caressing her more.

“Your eyes are bright like the sky,” he said, dragging his finger from her ear to her face. “Then your face turns colors with your emotions, sometimes showing the delicate lines that bring you life.” She was trembling, feeling both cold and hot simultaneously. His finger trailed down her body, arms still wrapped tightly around her chest. He ran his finger in a zig-zag down the space above her chest.

“This space here turns colors too, sometimes. Mostly red, with your face. My skin does not change,” he murmured, trailing down and stopping above her bundled arms. Her eyes were glued to his hand, and her emotions swept up in a whirlwind.

“This part you cover is more personal. That is why you are guarding it, correct?” His words were hammering into her head, each one another nail contributing to her melting away down the stream. Before she could realize she didn’t give a response, their eyes connected, prompting an answer.

“Y-yes,” she squeaked, her voice falling out of her mouth recklessly. Her head felt light, and the tension made her almost dizzy.

“But you are also self-conscious about this,” he said, placing his palm on her stomach. “Yet, you do not cover it.”

“I—I—” She couldn’t bring herself to speak, his touch making her break out into more goosebumps. Before she could get another set of garbled words out, he placed his finger over her lips, causing her disjointed voice to silence.

“Don’t speak. I know you are nervous,” he said, his voice close to lulling her into a rest. “Do you trust me, Ursulette?” He let his finger fall from her lips, settling onto her forearm, making her tremble more. Despite her nerves, she nodded.

“If you would let me, I would like to explore more of your body,” he purred, his voice like a trance.

He is really a master of seduction, she thought, somehow.

And that was what she liked about him, besides his kindness, his smile, and how he treasured her. That affectionate nickname made her experience a flurry of feelings every time he said it. He wanted her more than other people, yet he was a monster. Throwing caution into the wind, she loosened her grip.

“I will not bring you harm,” he said softly, persuading her arms to her sides. With her body now exposed, Ramuz continued observing, his fingertip tracing the curve of her breast. She pinched her eyes shut, unsure what or if she felt too much. His touch made her insides flip. He continued to trace, all four digits now brushing the top of her breast.

“What is this called?” he asked, his eyes observing, drinking in this intimate moment she shared with him. Her tongue felt swollen, like she was about to swallow a bone-dry chunk of meat—and then choke on it.

“Ah, I, um—”

Ramuz chuckled, almost a giggle, a grin stretching across his stony face. “You’re very amusing when you’re nervous,” he beamed. “Maybe I should make you nervous more often.” If it were possible, her body would burst into a flame.

“I don’t think so,” she smiled nervously. His eyes got playful, making her heart leap to her throat .

“I think so.” He placed his hand back on her flesh, this time cupping his hand around her. “Now, satisfy my curiosity, Ursulette,” he purred. “What do you call this?” Curiosity would devour the both of them, it seemed.

“It’s, uh, a breast,” she managed to spill out. Ramuz nodded, squeezing slightly as if trying to feel what was inside. After probing her for what seemed like forever, his finger and thumb came together, pinching her nipple. Sucking in her bottom lip, she fought the urge to cry out and a bolt of lightning settled in the pit of her stomach, right between her hips.

His eyes were shaded, observing, poking, prodding, twisting again, more pressure, sending another storm brewing through her body. This time, she couldn’t stop the moan erupting from her throat, her eyes pinched shut as she jolted. Ramuz ripped his hand away from her.

“Have I hurt you?” he said quickly. “I did not intend to.” Ursulette’s eyes opened, and she shook her head.

“No,” she gasped. “It’s fine.” The feeling of his fingers lingered on her flesh. As if reading her mind, he placed his hand back to her, his thumb brushing over her hardened bud. Once more, the storm inside began to rage.

“And this? Tell me what this sensitive organ is.” His eyes were glued to her chest, his thumb pressing harder.

“It—” She gasped as he took the base in his fingertips, giving it another twist. She tilted her head down this time, hoping to avoid showing him her face in case he interpreted it as pain. After she gathered her breath again, she spoke.

“It is called a nipple,” she said, her voice threatening to crumble.

“I have never interacted with someone like this, so I would not know.” The idea made her sad, knowing he was lonely all his life. Surely someone would benefit from his company. She supposed that someone would be her now that she had nowhere to return to, but they couldn’t go further than they already had, could they? They could be friends, but she couldn’t be with him in the ways she was craving, right?

As far as she could tell, he didn’t have anything between his legs, just a smooth pelvis. Not that she looked very often, but when her eyes did wander, she didn’t observe anything there. Ramuz interrupted her thoughts again .

“And this?” he questioned, sticking his finger into her navel gently. Still, the feeling surprised her, and she instinctively grabbed his hand with a slight smile.

“That’s a navel. A belly button,” she said, pulling his finger away.

“Belly button?”

“Yes,” she said. “That’s sensitive too, but different.” Ramuz nodded, sliding his hand to the top of her leg beneath the water. She wondered why he hadn’t probed further, then realized she hadn’t pulled his hand away previously. Which meant he would understand if she told him to stop.

But do I want him to?

Ramuz stood up and wandered off to where she placed her towel. He bent over, unfurling it onto the dirt, then headed towards her again. He hoisted her up effortlessly, turning and placing her onto the cloth as her teeth clicked from the bitter shiver.

“You are cold,” he said, placing the ends around her legs. The heat from her insides had made her forget all about the chill of the water. “But I am still curious what you hide here.” He grabbed the top of her thigh.

As if under a spell, she followed the grip of his hand, her legs falling open. With the same tenderness as before, ever so delicately, he slid his hand to her pelvis, connecting with her swollen bud at the apex of her body. Her eyes were hooded as her face was growing warmer by the second.

“It is a strange feeling here,” he said, his two fingers brushing over her exterior. “And you have more fur here.” With a shutter, she nodded.

Am I really enjoying a creature touching me?

I’m going to hell for sure.

Ramuz’s eyes fell to hers, his face leaning in to emphasize his words. “I want to know more about your strange, soft body.” His voice was barely a whisper. “Will you lay down for me?” Before she could talk herself out of it, she did so. He ran his fingers along her, each stroke sending an eye-rolling energy through her body. He tapped her hardened nub, circling it a few times, making her tremble.

Returning to the rest of her, he slid his fingers up and down, gathering her devilish moisture, then spread her apart. He ripped his hand away. She peeked at his face, and a look of what appeared to be genuine shock was etched upon it.

“I split you apart,” he said, his tone weaved with surprise. “I am sorry.” She shook her head, slightly amused by his ignorance.

“It’s supposed to do that,” she said. “You haven’t hurt me.” Ramuz hummed as if confused but returned his hand to her.

“It is like a flower,” he said, using two fingers to open her fully. “Strange, alien, but alluring.” He pressed his hand down, entering her body. Her back arched, biting her tongue to stifle a cry. His fingers probed further, his claws still tucked away.

As he tapped her most sensitive areas, she felt herself growing close to a feeling she wasn’t sure she was ready to experience with him—a gargoyle. Heat was pooled in her center as waves of ecstasy crashed upon her body. He continued to stroke her, and she felt as if she were approaching a climax.

I am terrible, she thought, shame consuming her.

Before she could reach it, she sat up, grabbing his muscular arm and removing his damp fingers from her.

“Do you know what you are doing to me?” Ursulette breathed, her firm gaze locked on his. Her heart was pounding, and her head was clouded with emotion. Ramuz gave her a devilish grin, his face mischievous.

“I understand, my treasure,” he grinned, freeing his arm from her grasp. Her jaw fell open. Placing his fingers to his face, he took a deep breath, then popped the digits into his mouth, savoring her taste all with his eyes locked on hers. At that moment, she could’ve succumbed to sweet unconsciousness.

“I understood the moment my hands tempted you,” he continued. “We may be different species, but I can smell your arousal from here.” He leaned in, his grinning face a breath away from her shocked expression. “I wonder if you can sense mine as well.” Her insides stirred, her head pounding with the heaviness of her heartbeat.

That cunning bastard, she thought, fighting off a grin or the urge to hit him or kiss him. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do.

“You’re—” she paused, trying to think of what to say, “— bad.” She drew her legs back towards her body .

“Do not be ashamed. I enjoyed exploring your body,” he said, leaning in and, to her shock, kissing her. “Would you like me to do it more?” Her face flushed. That could mean anything and everything, but she couldn’t resist. Before she could talk herself out of it, she nodded.

“P-please,” she blurted. It was all she could manage beneath the heaviness of her swirling, sinful thoughts. Their eyes met, and she felt her insides flutter.

“I would love nothing more,” he said.