“I’m perfectly fine.”
“I didn’t take too much?” She bites her lip.
I shake my head. “Absolutely not.”
“I’m suddenly quite ravenous for food,” she admits.
“Well, you did put in quite a workout before this.”
She smiles. “I’m glad the blood isn’t fulfilling that requirement. Food tastes too good to give up.”
I chuckle before picking up Raelyn’s fallen daggers, putting them away, and then pulling on my discarded shoes and shirt. “Let’s get cleaned up, and I’ll have food brought to our wing.”
“Sounds perfect,” she says.
I put an arm around her and pull her in close to my side, feeling oddly protective of her as we walk. She keeps her eyes trained on the ground, worried, I guess, of someone noticing the change in them.
When we get back to our rooms, she dashes into the bathroom to look for herself.
“Gods,” she calls out. “You weren’t kidding.”
“I hardly think anyone will notice,” I call back before pulling the bell to ring for a servant.
“Liar,” she grumbles under her breath before the sound of running water hits my ears.
After requesting dinner be sent up for us, I meander over to my room and pull off my soiled shirt. Some of my blood got on it, and I want to bathe regardless.
The bathroom door is still cracked open, so I assume she’s decent as I knock. “Rae, are you nearly finish?—”
My jaw drops as I step in and spy my naked wife rinsing soap out of her long auburn tresses in the tub. The streams of water gleam on her unblemished skin, caressing her as they slide down her back.
“Um, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—” I stammer as I back away and grip the doorframe to combat the need to go to her.
Raelyn looks over her shoulder and shrieks, her hands flying up to cover her breasts, even though I can’t see them from this angle. Shame. I’m sure they’re lovely.
“Kian! What are you doing in here?”
I point toward the door. “It was open.”
She flushes deeply. “That’s my fault.”
I grin. “It’s all good. I’m enjoying the view.”
“Get out!” she cries.
“Of course! Sorry.” I back out of the bathroom and lean against the wall. Shit. We could really use more rooms, especially of the bathing variety. The fresh longing and desire for her overwhelm me.
Water sloshes, followed by the sound of Raelyn leaving the tub. I feel bad for cutting her bath short.
“You don’t have to rush on my account, love,” I call out.
“It’s fine, Kian,” she replies. “I’m starving, remember?”
I turn to the door as she exits, her body wrapped in a fluffy towel. Her shapely legs make me think about how much I’d enjoy having them wrapped around me.Damn it. Stop, Ki. You’re better than this. She’s not interested.
I can’t help but watch a droplet of water trail down her leg until a squeak comes out of her as she trips and goes sprawling toward the floor.
I swoop in and catch her right before she hits the ground, one arm banded around her chest and one around her waist. The now-familiar scent of vanilla and citrus assails my senses, and I long to unravel the towel and take my time exploring . . . but our damned agreement.
