“So we’re clear, these are staying on.” I gestured to my underwear as I dipped one toe in the water. “No way in hell am I having a weird magical creature swim up my vagina.”
Rudy laughed a full, deep laugh that echoed around the clearing. His head tipped back, eyes crinkled at the corners, and his shoulders shook with genuine mirth.
“What?” I stood there, half-naked and indignant, which only made him laugh harder.
“Nothing’s going to swim up anywhere, but keep your underwear on if it makes you feel better.”
I slipped into the water, moaning involuntarily as the heat enveloped my frozen limbs. “Holy shit, this feels amazing.”
I sank deeper, letting the heat seep into my bones. The mineral-rich pool wrapped around me like a warm hug, making my muscles loosen in ways no massage ever could.
Across from me, Rudy floated with his eyes closed, his massive frame somehow looking peaceful. I’d never seen him this relaxed before, with the permanent furrow between his brows smoothed out and his jaw slack.
The silence between us was comfortable, but questions bubbled up inside me. I watched the steam curl around his face, gathering my courage.
“Can I ask you something weird?” I traced my finger through the water, creating little swirls.
Rudy’s eyes opened slowly. “You’ve been teleporting, freezing time, and making snow sharks. Weird has lost all meaning.”
“Fair point.” I chewed my bottom lip. “Why is your entire herd... attracted to me? And why am I attracted to all of you? It’s not exactly normal to want to jump nine different guys.”
Rudy moved through the water toward me, each ripple spreading outward like my question had disturbed something deep. When he reached me, he brushed a wet strand of silver hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek.
“I don’t know for certain, but it’s not unheard of to be drawn to a mate. Your dad has also always had a special bond with his herd.”
My nose wrinkled involuntarily.
Rudy’s laugh echoed across the water. “No. Not like that. Though who knows? Your mother is an elf, and elves are notoriously a little more… wild.”
“Sweet mother of reindeer, stop talking.” I splashed water at his face.
His mouth fell open in mock outrage. “You asked!”
“And I immediately regret it.” I sent another wave of water at him, this one bigger.
Rudy’s eyes narrowed playfully. “You really want to start this fight?”
“Maybe I do.” I lifted my chin defiantly. “What are you going to do about it, Rudolph?”
His hand sliced through the water, sending a massive splash that hit me like a tidal wave. I sputtered, wiping water from my eyes to find him grinning with smug satisfaction.
“That was a declaration of war.” I lunged forward, using both arms to create the biggest splash I could manage.
Rudy ducked, most of the water sailing over his head. “You’ll have to do better than that, sugarplum.”
Before I could decide whether he was using a term of endearment, Rudy was advancing. I squealed and tried to swim away, my arms flailing as I moved through the water.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a wall of muscle. I could feel every hard plane of him against my back, my soaked underwear doing nothing to create a barrier between us.
“Caught you.” His mouth was so close to my ear that I could practically feel his lips, and my whole body reacted before I could think.
I turned in his arms, intending to push away, but the movement pressed my bare breasts against his chest. My breath caught as tiny blue sparks danced where our skin touched.
Rudy’s eyes widened, but he didn’t let go.
“I have another question,” I whispered, acutely aware of every place our bodies connected.
His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering there. “What?”
