I started the shower and let the water soothe me, the precious liquid a pale substitute for the balmy air that had lifted me earlier, but I was in no hurry to flex my wings again.
Just thinking about the crippling pain of losing a wing made me cringe. So I closed my eyes and faced the spray of warm water running over my body. And of course, Aerolus filled my thoughts.
How much should I tell him about what I was feeling? Wouldn’t my insecurities make me look weak? Perhaps I should keep to conversations about Dark Lords and wars and safety.
“Want me to scrub your back?” he asked from right behind me, startling me into a shriek.
I jerked around and slapped his naked chest with the soap. “Will you please stop doing that?”
His eyes darkened as he stared at my body, following the trail of bubbles down my front.
“By the Light, you’re beautiful.”
Oh, he was getting to me. And not by playing me but by being sincere.
“I don’t know why this is happening, Alandra.” He lifted my hand, staring at the magical shades of Light and Dark pulsing in sync, an identical match to the energy covering his own frame. “But it’s nothing to fear. My Light will never hurt you. On this I swear.”
My heart melted, though I tried to remain annoyed.
“I want you again.” He sounded strained as he stared into my eyes. “I can’t stop wanting you. You’ve bewitched me, and I don’t even know the first thing about you.”
I scowled, bothered by his honesty. It’s not as if we were complete strangers. By Shadow’s Bend, I’d watched him for over a year. “You know I’ve protected you.” I batted his large hands from my shoulders, wishing I didn’t desire him so much. “You know I’m from Aelle, and that I could have left you and your brothers to Sin Garu and Oxcen weeks ago.”
He nodded and drew me against him. I lost my breath, surprised at the carnal need I should have been too tired to feel. Aerolus did no more than hold me, providing comfort but not hiding his own attraction.
I conceded defeat and sagged into his embrace. I’d never felt so safe, so cherished, and though I knew he was more dangerous to me than any Dark Lord or Light Bringer, I succumbed to his touch.
“Shh, love. It will all work out.” He massaged shampoo into my hair, releasing knots of tension with a soapy massage. “Just leave it all to me,” he murmured and kissed me.
Not long after, under those sinful hands and mouth, I found fulfillment in the arms of my Storm Lord lover. And to my further surprise, he didn’t try to ease his own needs and instead just saw to mine.
Devoted, unselfish, and so blasted attractive. It was no wonder the sneaky Wind Mage was getting under my skin.
We rinsed and dried off together, and he wrapped me in his robe. I felt as if I could sleep for a week, completely relaxed by his tender treatment and the uncanny way he had of making my body hum.
I saw him stifle a smile.
He was laughing at me, but I couldn’t fault him for it. Aerolus was so caring, so protective, so… Oh!
The gleam of smug satisfaction in his silvery eyes was a dead giveaway.
“You underhanded Light Bringer!” I had to suppress a ridiculous urge to commend him on his craftiness.
“What?” He tried to look bewildered, but that spark in his eyes told me he knew he’d been found out. Talk about outright manipulation! Giving me orgasms, massages, acting so, so…nice.
“You know what you did.” Woo me with kindness, with flattery. Distract me with pleasure and I’ll be as pliable as a dishrag.
He’d been ingenious, exploiting my weaknesses. Something an Aellei would have done.
My heart took a suspicious tumble over the emotional cliff I’d been doing my best to avoid.
How could I possibly be falling in love with one of the Royal Four?
I swore under my breath.
“It’ll all work out,” he said and stroked my hair.
“Shut up.”
