The interior of the pavilion was even more breathtaking than the outside.
As they crossed the threshold, the chill of the crater vanished entirely, replaced by the heavy, comforting embrace of warm steam. The heated marble floors felt like a blessing beneath their tired feet. In the center of the grand room lay a massive, sunken bathing pool lined with shimmering, iridescent tiles. Crystal-clear water cascaded smoothly from the jaws of a carved stone lion, filling the space with the soothing sound of a gentle waterfall and the clean, earthy scent of subterranean minerals.
But the most stunning feature was the wall facing the city. Just as Alaric had promised, the solid white stone from the outside was completely transparent from within. Through the sweeping, floor-to-ceiling crystalline structure, they had an unobstructed, panoramic view of the ruined landscape, the vast green-glass crater, and the sprawling city beyond—all while remaining entirely hidden and perfectly warm.
Sansa let out a soft sigh of pure relief as she unclasped her cloak, letting the heavy, travel-stained fabric drop to the floor. Words were no longer necessary. Within moments, the women had shed their riding leathers and silks, eager to wash away the grime of the road.
Alaric stripped down just as quickly, stepping into the expansive pool. The water was gloriously hot, a deep, penetrating heat that instantly began to soothe away the aches of the day.
Sansa and Roslin waded in a few moments later, gasping softly at the temperature before melting into the water. They moved toward the crystal wall, resting their arms along the smooth marble edge as they gazed out over the city in silent, naked wonder.
Margaery, however, had different priorities.
She slipped into the water with the grace of a siren, the warm, rippling surface clinging to her flawless skin. Instead of admiring the view of the city, she waded directly toward Alaric. With a thoroughly unapologetic smile, she closed the distance, backing up slightly to press her body flush against his. She let out a contented hum as she leaned her back against his chest, her head resting comfortably in the crook of his neck.
Alaric instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her slick, warm body closer. For a few minutes, there was only the sound of the cascading water and the quiet, awestruck murmurs of Sansa and Roslin by the window.
Then, Margaery shifted. She arched her back slightly, pressing her bare breasts firmly against his chest, her skin incredibly soft beneath the steaming water.
She tilted her head back, her lips brushing against his jawline. "My lord husband," she murmured, her voice a sultry, barely-there whisper meant only for him. "It seems something of yours is poking my stomach."
Before Alaric could even formulate a smug reply, Margaery shifted her weight. She slid one slender hand down his chest, dipping it beneath the bubbling surface of the hot spring. She glided her fingers purposefully through the water, finding his sudden heat and boldly wrapping her hand around him.
Alaric let out a low, sharp breath, his grip on her waist tightening instantly.
He leaned into her, his mouth hovering just over her ear as a wicked smirk spread across his face. "Well," he whispered back, his voice vibrating against her skin. "If you are going to press your bare breasts against me in a hot bath, my clever little rose... exactly what did you think was going to happen?"
Margaery let out a soft, breathy giggle, the sound easily masked by the steady splashing of the stone lion's waterfall.
She turned her head, casting a careful glance over her shoulder. Across the wide, steaming pool, Sansa and Roslin were perfectly still. They had both leaned back against the smooth edge of the basin, their eyes shut and their faces tilted upward, utterly melted by the soothing, mineral-rich heat. They were completely oblivious, lost in their own world of quiet relaxation.
Satisfied that they were thoroughly distracted, Margaery turned her attention back to Alaric. She shifted her hips against him, her hand giving him a slow, deliberate squeeze beneath the water that sent a sharp jolt of heat straight to his core.
"You make a very compelling argument, husband," she purred, looking up at him through her wet, heavy lashes. The playful, wicked spark in her brown eyes was unmistakable.
She leaned in closer, her wet hair clinging to his shoulder as her lips brushed against his earlobe.
"But," she whispered, her voice dropping into a velvety, demanding register. "Considering how thoroughly you exhausted those two recently... I feel entirely neglected. They have both had their share of you. I have not."
Margaery bit her lower lip, her fingers working a slow rhythm beneath the bubbling surface. She pressed her chest a little tighter against him, her eyes flicking toward the two resting women before locking onto Alaric's gaze once more.
"I think it is only fair that you remedy that," she breathed, her tone shifting into a breathless, daring challenge. "Right now. Quickly... and very, very quietly."
Alaric's eyes darkened, the teasing amusement shifting into something far more predatory. He didn't say a word. Instead, his hands slid to her waist, gripping her firmly beneath the water.
Margaery didn't wait for his permission. With fluid, silent grace, she shifted her weight, turning in the water so that she was completely straddling his lap. The bubbling surface concealed their lower halves entirely, but beneath the water, she moved with absolute, demanding purpose. Her hand remained wrapped around his rigid length, guiding him precisely to her slick, swollen core.
She paused there, the blunt tip of him pressing right at her entrance. She leaned in, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders and her lips hovering just millimeters from his.
"If I am about to moan," she breathed, her eyes dark with a mix of lust and fierce concentration, "kiss me."
Alaric's fingers dug into the soft flesh of her hips in silent agreement.
Slowly, agonizingly so, Margaery began to sink down onto him. The hot water rushed around their bodies as she took him inside, millimeter by millimeter. The profound, aching stretch—the sheer size of him filling her so completely—sent a violent shiver racking through her spine. Her eyes fluttered shut, her mouth opening instinctively as a helpless, breathy sound rose in her throat.
Alaric didn't hesitate. He surged forward, capturing her lips in a deep, forceful kiss just as the sound tried to escape. He swallowed her moan entirely, his tongue sweeping into her mouth as she finally bottomed out, taking every inch of him deep inside her.
Margaery's fingers dug into his shoulders, her body trembling from the overwhelming sensation. They stayed completely still for a long moment, locked together in the stifling heat of the bath, waiting for her body to adjust to the massive intrusion. Across the pool, the steady, rhythmic splashing of the stone lion's waterfall masked the soft sounds of their ragged breathing. Sansa and Roslin didn't stir.
Very carefully, Margaery began to move.
She lifted her hips just enough to draw him partially out before sinking back down with torturous, agonizing slowness. There was no aggressive thrusting, no sudden splashes—just a steady, rolling friction that made the muscles in Alaric's jaw tick with the effort of holding himself back. She rode him with calculated precision, her internal muscles clenching tightly around his shaft with every agonizingly slow descent.
When the need for air finally became too great, Margaery broke the kiss. She immediately turned her head, burying her flushed face into the crook of his neck to muffle her ragged breathing.
She rested her forehead against his wet skin, still moving in that slow, maddening rhythm.
"Gods..." she muttered, her voice barely a tremor against his collarbone. "I feel so full... I can't even describe it. It doesn't matter how many times we do this, every time you fill me, it just... it feels like you're touching my very soul." She gave a soft, stifled whimper against his skin, her nails lightly scratching the back of his neck. "Just stay completely still, husband. Let me do all the work."