She held up a hand to stop him. “Stop right there. I am not inclined to display my wares to a man I met only yesterday.”
“The strawberry essence makes the water an effective curtain, my own. As much as I wish I could see ye, I cannot.”
The herd of butterflies shifted into high gear, beating their wings so fast that she swallowed hard. Where was Rill or Celestia with that coffee?
She cleared her throat and sank a little lower in the water just to make sure no parts were floating above the surface. “Fine. Come sniff my hair and tell me if it smells like head sweat.”
“Head sweat?” He sauntered closer, moving with more mouth-watering grace and predatory stealth than the Fae tiger ever could.
“Just sniff.” Why did she sound like an idiot this morning? Probably because she was naked in a bathtub in front of a man she barely knew.
Rather than smell her hair, he plucked the ponytail holder free and allowed her locks to tumble down across her back and shoulders. “Much better.”
“I thought you were going to check to see if it needed a wash.”
“Better safe than sorry.” He raked his fingers through her hair, deftly massaging her scalp and sending shivers of delight through her. “Submerge and wet it thoroughly. Then I shall wash it for ye.”
“I am perfectly capable of washing my own hair,” she said, but it sounded weak even to her. Especially since her voice had gone all squeaky while he continued to rake his fingers through her curls and mesmerize her with his touch.
“Submerge, my own. Allow me to give ye this simple pleasure, aye?”
Unable or unwilling to argue, she sank deeper, leaning back in the water until every bit of her was submerged but her eyes and nose. Ever so slowly, she shook her head to fan out her hair, then rose once more with her locks streaming down her back.
“Lean back and close yer eyes,” he said, his deep voice as enticing as the richest, most cocooning velvet blanket.
The end of the tub had the perfect slope for doing just that. Even though the water was deep enough, she crossed her arms over her breasts just to be sure they remained covered.
Jeros softly chuckled. “Such a shy maiden ye are.” He worked his wondrous fingertips through her hair, combing out the strands and gently untangling them. Every so often, his tender touch swept across her neck or the tops of her shoulders, making her tingle as if she’d connected with a bare light socket.
“I have never been so pampered before. I’m not used to it.”
“This could be yer treatment as long as ye remain at Sevenrest.” He leaned so close, his lips brushed her unscarred cheek as he whispered, “And this bath could be made large enough for two.”
She opened her eyes and immediately wished she hadn’t because the intensity of his gaze caught hold of her and refused to let go. “You are…”
A hint of a smile, the whisper of smug victory rolled off him, giving her the strength to hold steadfast against this sudden seduction that seemed oh so right, but she had no doubt would be oh so dangerous. She would regret it. Deep down, she knew she would. “You are the devil incarnate, aren’t you?”
His smile broadened, revealing perfect white teeth. “Nay, lass, but I do take that as a compliment. Lucifer Morningstar and I are longtime friends.” He tipped a nod at his cupped hand filled with a shimmering pink cream. “Close yer eyes whilst I lather yer hair with Mrs. Shimmerhill’s finest strawberry soap.”
She closed her eyes again, but remained on her guard. “You are telling me that you know Satan? I would have thought the devil to be friends with the Unseelie. Didn’t you call them the Dark Fae?”
“Lucifer knows no limits or boundaries. He accepts whomever accepts him.”
“And you accept him?”
“I do not judge him. That is not my place, since he is not a subject of the Seventh Realm.” The more he worked the soap through her hair, the more relaxed she became—except for the fact that she was now craving strawberries.
Her stomach growled, embarrassing her beyond words. “Sorry. I haven’t had my coffee yet to tame my inner beast.”
“That is my fault.” He gently poured water over her hair, rinsing it as she leaned back. He kept the suds out of her eyes better than any hair stylist. “I bade both Rill and Celestia to give us some time alone. Neither will enter until summoned.”
“It is a foolish man who gets between me and my morning coffee.” And she was only partially teasing. Several of those whom she worked with at Vinemagic Farms had commented more than once that they avoided her until she had finished off at least her first pot of coffee for the day.
Jeros laughed. “Duly noted. If ye like, I can help ye wrap in the warmed linen that awaits ye, then seat ye at the table beside the windows so ye might gaze upon the loveliness of Scotland as ye enjoy the first cup of coffee provided by yer destiny.”
Something about his tone or maybe it was his suddenly taut expression—whatever it was—her heart fell and the butterflies in her stomach dropped like rocks. He was trying too hard. This was not a pleasurable study in seduction to win her heart and make her choose to remain in the Seventh Realm because he wanted her. He was fighting to convince himself to want her as he would want any other woman—any other woman who wasn’t scarred. It hit her as soundly as if he had admitted it out loud. She pushed his hands away from her hair. “Just stop. Enough with the act. You’re making my bullshit detector kick into overdrive. Where’s the towel? I can wrap in it myself.” She hugged herself, keeping her breasts covered as she stretched taller and looked around for something with which to dry.
At least he had the courtesy to appear disheartened that she had caught him and figured out his game, when in all actuality, he was probably relieved that he didn’t have to continue the act. “My own?—”
